New South Wales Fishing Monthly - July 2016 by Fishing Monthly

DEPTHS OF WINTER • FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE

Features

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Bag a blue groper • The mystery of Bemm • Buying an all-rounder boat • Sydney Boat Show • The Australian Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo •

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How-To

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Sydney Boat Show

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Stacer 469 Outlaw • Savage 455 Scorpion • Daiwa Black Sniper rod • Schneider 8 Carrier braid • Samaki Silver Bullet rod •

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July 2016, Vol. 21 No. 11

Contents 13

From the Editor’s Desk...

101

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

Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham Office Manager: Marie Dykstra

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Rock spinning specialist Tony Smith nailed this whopper chopper, which came in at a whisker under 10lb (4.5kg). This fish ate a popper in the middle of the day.

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baitcast or spin travel rod. You have to be dedicated to travel to the Expo, as it’s located in Ipswich, west of Brisbane. But really, can you call yourself a lure aficionado if you skip this one? Well yes, probably. But we’re sure you’d still really enjoy seeing a gorgeous array of lures all under the one roof! BRAVING THE COLD This issue we have a comprehensive feature on catching blue groper, and we also have a great article on the beautiful Bemm River, which has been looking decidedly less beautiful since the recent flood event. Watching the backed up floodwaters draining out of the entrance is an amazing sight, and you can see a video of it on Bemm River Bait & Tackle’s Facebook page. Anglers can look forward to some good fishing there in the coming months. We hope you enjoy this jam-packed issue, and we’ll see you at the Show!

all come to expect from Fishing Monthly, we have another cool subscription offer: the first 40 people to sign up for a 1-year subscription will receive a free, limited edition Gobsmacked lure. Designer Jamie Judd will be at the show to personally sign your lure for you. And if you sign up for two years, you can get your choice of a 13 Fishing Black baitcaster rod, or a Daiwa Phantom X baitcast

a 2-year Fishing Monthly subscription you’ll get your choice of a free Silstar Presia spin reel or a Daiwa Phantom X spin or baitcast travel rod. Our friendly staff are always happy to have a chat as well! LURE, FLY & OUTDOOR EXPO For the lure and fly fans, we’ve got a great feature on the upcoming Lure, Fly & Outdoor Expo on 16-17 July. As you’ve

PRO

To those anglers who are braving the cold weather to reap the fishy rewards: we salute you. Your dedication is inspiring. To everyone else who doesn’t like having frozen fingers, that’s OK – there’s still lots of stuff to do that won’t turn you into an icicle. Here’s what’s in store. SYDNEY BOAT SHOW This issue we’ve got a fantastic feature on the Sydney International Boat Show – 31 pages of boating awesomeness. There will be over 700 boats at the show this year, along with a glittering array of electronics, so we weren’t able to cram them all into the mag. Instead, we’ve hand-picked some of the best boats and accessories for anglers, to give you a taste of what will be on display at this iconic event. While you’re there, don’t forget to take advantage of our subscription offer exclusively for show-goers: if you buy

JULY 2016

AUST

BYRON COAST The Tweed 22 Iluka 25 COFFS COAST Ballina 24 Coffs Harbour 26 Coffs Game 28 South West Rocks 29 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 30 Forster 32 HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 36 Hunter Coast 37 Harrington-Taree 35 Swansea 38 Central Coast 39 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 13 Pittwater 14 Sydney North 15 Sydney Harbour 16 Sydney rock and beach 17 Botany Bay 18 Sydney South 20 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 40 Nowra 41 BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 44 EDEN COAST Bermagui 46 Merimbula 42 Tathra 47 Eden 48 Mallacoota 49 FRESHWATER Mildura 96 Robinvale 96 Yarrawonga 97 Canberra 98 Wagga Wagga 99 Jindabyne 100 Batlow 101 Lithgow-Oberon 103 Hunter Valley 102 Tamworth 104 Orange 105 Copeton Dam 106 REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 12 Boating 74 Dam Levels 99 Fun Page 128 Kayak Fishing 124 Tides 129 Trade Directory 130 Tournaments 118 What’s New in Fishing 83 What’s New in Boating 127 Technique 86 SPECIAL FEATURES Getting the winter blues 8 Tying the dropper knot 50 Sydney International Boat Show 51 Bemm River feature 88 Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo 109

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Blue Groper

Getting the winter blues FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

This tenacious brawler is, in fact, the largest member of the wrasse family of fishes with the western blue groper (Western Australian species) growing substantially larger than its cousin, the eastern blue groper, on the other side of the country. Attaining a maximum size of around 25kg and 1.2m in length, the eastern blue groper is a formidable fish whether encountered as by-catch

while general bait fishing or indeed targeted by anglers. The groper’s distribution is widespread, touching South Australia, the east and north coasts of Tasmania, and the entire eastern seaboard of Victoria and NSW. MEET THE GROPER Groper on the NSW coast are prolific and there’s been a change from the mid 1960s where it was exploited by anglers, spear fishers and commercial gill netting until the protection order in the ‘70s and the prohibition of their sale in 1980. Since the lifting of the fishing ban in 1974 to rod and line anglers, the species has once again adopted its place in amongst the broken rocky shorelines of the state and the close inshore island refuge of deeper water. Unlike other fish, where the female is the largest of the species, the large, distinctive blue specimens of groper are male and command a territory or area of coast filled with smaller females. What is interesting is that should the local male fish die or be taken from the water, the most dominant female changes sex and adopts the role as the propagating

Super Smooth to touch...

There are few more challenging fish from the ocean rocks, for the bread and butter angler, than the blue groper. Winter is the best time to target trophy groper from the rocks, but remember to be gentle and return the big blues to the water.

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A big male groper is unmistakable with the metal blue colouring.

This 6kg groper is a beautiful example of the species with brilliant colouring and eye patch. Truly worth the respect of release. male. This ability to change sex is called protogynous hermaphroditism, and with the role and responsibility of the male comes the blue metal to bright blue colouration. The sex change doesn’t happen overnight, and there may well be a long period of dormancy in a given area should the large male be dispatched or die. That in itself is reason enough to treat the blue males with the respect of a large female

flathead and release them; they may also be more than 40 years old. The fact that the groper are slow growing and

maturing means as anglers we need to regulate our demand on the coastal fish communities. This can be done by limiting the

FISH FACTS: EASTERN BLUE GROPER • They have pharyngeal teeth – throat teeth for crushing. • Is the NSW State fish – adopted in 1996. • Is NOT a groper but the largest of the wrasse family. • Sexual maturity may take 10 years to achieve at a length of only 450mm. • Blue coloured groper are males while females are brown/green to blend into their weedy surrounds.

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With hillbilly peg teeth the fish have no problem up crabs and urchins. The pharyngeal teeth (throat) further destroy their food for easy digestion.

smashing 11:54 am

fish we take over a given period and, at least, adhere to the legal limits of two fish with a minimum size of 30cm and only one fish over 60cm. I’ll target these fish every couple of months or longer and only take a single small female (often brown or green in colour) of around 45cm. Even though there is some transient migration of groper between headlands, when it comes to preserving fish stocks it is up to us to demonstrate good judgement. THE BAIT Gropers are often caught as by-catch while anglers are targeting more prolific species like bream and rock blackfish (pigs or black drummer). The voracious nature of the groper’s diet means it will eat

pretty much anything, but it has a definite fondness for red crabs and sea urchins. While these fish are known to graze on weed, they prefer to seek out crabs and urchins, extending their thick, rubbery lips into crevices and picking out their meal with their hillbilly peg teeth. Like most fish living along the rocky coastal fringes, the groper will eat other baits like cunjevoi, cooked and green prawns and even squid. Catching crabs for bait can involve running your hands under rock ledges in the intertidal zone or through mats of bubble weed, so it is definitely for the brave and reckless. The alternative is to gather the green crabs that you see retreating into the drier ledges and cracks in the rocks as you approach. Baiting a crevice with some prawn heads and waiting for the crabs to sneak up to the bait is one way, or you can actively seek the crabs out and extract them from the cracks in the rocks. What makes the crabs the best bait for groper is their resistance to the hordes of pickers that descend on baits as they hit the water. Toads, butterfish, kelpies and small wrasse love to tax the bait before the larger fish get a chance to feed. The hard shell of the crabs deflects the picker’s attempts to eat the bait while the same hard shell is like candy for the powerful jaws

can take a while to find the fish. One way to get the fish to your location is to introduce a trickle of berley to create interest. The groper is fundamentally a curious fish, which is one

The author’s PB to date. At around 10kg this big male may be as old as 35 years so a quick, healthy release was a no brainer. reason for their decline in numbers due to spear fishing. Divers welcome the closeness and patting of groper and the only thing

Rough water, rough and tough fish. The groper will do their best to snag or snap your line. It’s a matter of go hard or go home. of a groper. If you are specifically targeting a large trophy groper for a few photos or a challenge, then crabs are the way to go, though it

same job for the angler by encouraging their curiosity and attracting them for a possible meal. THE TACKLE Most of the groper I catch are taken on cooked

you need to encourage the fish to approach is to start chopping up a sea urchin; it brings them from all around. Berleying with prawn shells and heads does the

prawns or green king prawn heads. The broken reef and kelp beds in the local area hold good numbers of eastern rock blackfish (pigs) and as a result of fishing for them the groper frequently show up on the catch sheet. Although it’s great to catch groper as a bonus, if your tackle isn’t strong enough, your efforts will be wasted. While some anglers may advocate hooks up to 5/0, this isn’t necessary because it eliminates a lot of smaller but legal fish in the process. A compromise where you will catch both pigs and groper is a 2/0 Mustad 542 Bronze hook tied to the leader with a snell knot around the shank. I always carry a pocket stone to sharpen the hook before use, but this is more for the penetration into a pig’s mouth than the rubber lips of the groper. The snell knot, around the shank, is tied for two reasons. The first is to provide a straight pull on the hook when you strike and the second is it will eliminate your sinker damaging the knot and line with the inevitable snagging, and ensures the running ball sinker slides freely at all times. The rig for groper is simple enough and involves only three items: the hook, the sinker and a leader of around 1.5m. The leader material can be from 30-50lb and I prefer mono rather than fluorocarbon. The sinker will range To page 10

JULY 2016

Blue Groper From page 9

from 00-2 ball sinker and will ultimately depend on the stage of the tide, the swell, surge, depth of water and structure in the area. The important thing with sinkers is that you don’t want to anchor your bait on the bottom. It will only get snagged as consecutive waves plait your line though the kelp and rocks. The idea with the sinker is to suspend your bait where it is visible and available to the fish but

few sinkers in a range of sizes that I can use to suit conditions and locations. A bobby cork is also a useful item if you find the weight of your bait is causing your rig to sink too quickly. Simply suspend your bait under the cork with an adjustable stopper and regulate the depth to suit the conditions. A bobby cork will also help to suspend your mainline away from weed and broken reef areas. The mainline, I have found, is a very personal

braid of around 30lb because I fish a lot of broken reef and there may be a few shallow kelp beds between me and the gutter. I started with 50lb for groper fishing but the weight of the line when wet would drag itself down and tangle in the reef in front of me. The 30lb red Spiderwire I have on at the moment is a perfect compromise and unbreakable through the rod. Another personal choice is the type of reel

Green crabs are far more plentiful and easier to catch than the red crabs that live in the lower part of the intertidal zone.

The sturdy head and rubbery lips of the groper assist in the gathering of food from rocky crevices and hard to reach places. have enough weight to stay in contact to feel bites. For that reason I carry only a

choice with some anglers extolling the virtues of mono vs. braid. I prefer

you use. Alvey side cast reels are still popular but I prefer to use a 4000 size

or bigger threadline. The quality of the threadline reels these days is ridiculous and they are very practical and versatile from the rocks. The Penn Battle II 5000 I use has served me very well and is relatively inexpensive for what it delivers. There is a wide range of decent threadlines on the market and many are ideal for heavy rock and outside fishing applications. Rods need to have a little length to them and

2.7m and over are good. As you could imagine, pulling 6-20kg of stubborn, paddletailed groper through the water will need a sturdy rod that will handle the fight but be sufficiently flexible so it doesn’t inflict crippling back injuries on the angler. There is also the consideration of the location you’re fishing. Is the platform into deep water or is it shallow reef? Both spots require a slightly different rod style, length and properties.

TIME AND TIDE One of the best times to fish is during a westerly weather event that knocks the seas clear and flat. While other species are spooky and reluctant to feed, the groper can often be seen and cast to. A rising tide is great because you have more water between your line and the reef and it also encourages fish to explore the low tide inaccessible or exposed areas. There is no doubt that the winter months provide the best opportunity to tangle with a big groper.

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Working with water temperature NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Water temperature can be a key factor that dictates where fish will be found and what ‘mood’ or activity level they’re likely to display. In other words, how ‘catchable’ they will be. At no time of year is this more critical

given volume of water tends to take a relatively long time to heat up or cool down, and this property is magnified by the size and depth of that body of water. So, for example, oceans tend to be much more stable in temperature than very small ponds. Most of the temperature sensors built into modern depth sounders measure water temperature at the

few metres deeper in the water column, but it’s still a good way for anglers to monitor what’s going on around them. Learning to watch the temperature readout on your sounder, or to carry a handheld thermometer if you’re land-based, can make a big difference to your overall fishing results. Different fish species have varying ‘preferred

that drags these temperatures down to the 13-14°C that trout love can result in fish kills in our stocked barra dams. While preferred temperatures for barra vary between southern and northern strains, the range from about 25-30°C is considered ideal, with a real sweet spot existing around the 28°C mark. All that said, fish can adapt. At one end of the scale, I’ve chased barramundi and other Top End species (with at least some success) in late dry season billabongs with a tepid, bath-like surface temperature of 37°C! At the opposite extreme, I’ve pursued spawn-run trout in the Eucumbene River near the end of the season when the water was just a couple of degrees above freezing, the air was a numbing -9°C, and my line was constantly freezing onto the rod’s runners! Having an idea of the preferred temperature range of the target species you’re chasing can be a big help when it comes to finding concentrations of those targets

While the ‘optimum’ water temperature for rainbow trout might be 13-16°C, you can certainly catch them in both warmer and cooler waters. However, when lakes and rivers heat up in summer, it can really pay to look for cooler areas.

In most areas, barramundi become much more active when the water warms above 25°C. However, in mid-winter when estuaries chill to just 20°C or less, finding areas even half a degree warmer can produce the goods. than in the depths of winter. Water temperature obviously varies considerably from place to place, throughout the year and even across a day. However, compared to air, a

sounder’s transducer, which is often submerged just a few centimetres beneath the surface. This surface temperature fluctuates more rapidly than the temperature a

temperature ranges,’ as well as extreme highs and lows that can potentially prove fatal if exceeded for a certain period of time. For example, rainbow trout become lethargic and stressed if the water exceeds 22-23°C. Their VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see Starlo finding freshwater natives in winter dams ideal zone is between about 12-15°C. Exposure to water over 24°C for even a day or two will almost always kill adult rainbow trout. By contrast, barramundi tend to shut down completely when water temperatures drop below 18°C, and a cold snap

At the southern end of their range, snapper tend to be more ‘catch-able’ in summer, while up north, they’re traditionally a winter target. This is all about water temperature preferences.

SEASON

IS HERE!

Yellowfin bream generally prefer slightly warmer water than their southern or black bream cousins and can go a bit quiet when it’s really chilly. in a feeding mood. Even if conditions (where and when you’re fishing) are less than ideal, you can at least chase down spots that lean in the right direction. So, for example, if you’re hunting warm water natives such as bass, barra, cod or yellowbelly in winter, you need to look for any area where the water is

slightly warmer, such as along north-facing banks with lots of rock (that trap daytime heat from the sun and radiates it back into the water), or bays into which the prevailing breeze might push surface water that’s been warmed by the sun through the day. Even a lift of half a degree can sometimes spell the difference

between success and failure. Keep water temperatures in mind every time you fish, and watch my short video on finding freshwater natives in winter dams for some more clues. You can access it by scanning the QR code, or go to my ‘Starlo Gets Reel’ channel on YouTube and look for ‘Where’s The Dam Fish?’

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Mulloway falling for live bait THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

The river and its tributaries have turned on some fantastic fishing over the last month or so. Mulloway have been the stand out, with plenty of bream and flathead to keep punters amused in between bites.

mullet are all great live baits and last for long periods on the hook. My clients have been getting some great action on school-sized fish and a few over the magic 1m mark when the conditions are favourable and the fish come on the chew. Soft plastics will take over this month as the live bait gets harder to source with the onset of winter.

important thing is to rig it straight on the jighead. If it falls down all the time and is not snug against the lead head, replace it or re-rig it. This month bream will be hugging the deeper rock walls in the lower reaches from Sentry Box to the headlands. Small vibes and soft plastics have been standout lures. The trick is to get them down to around 8-10m on light leaders and

The author’s client Lochie lost a good fish on the morning tide change then nailed this 1m long mulloway on the next tide change to make up for it. Live baiting was the stand out technique with fresh whole and strip squid baits a close second for

Colour selection is always debatable, but anything natural looking always gets a run on my boat whenever

do small lifts and drops to entice a bite. Vibes from 3.5-10g can be used, as long as they have a small profile for their weight. Small grubs and minnows from 1.5-3” are the go-to for the soft plastics. Baitfishers will do well with a heavy berley mix to get

down in the current. The best baits are fresh prawns, squid, yakka fillets or some of the bonito you may have caught earlier in the season. Estuary perch are spread through the lower reaches, and incidental captures are made on just about every outing at this time of year. They take up station on reefs and dropoffs where anglers hunt for mulloway. I can only assume from the teeth marks on some of them that the mulloway don’t want them there either. It’s illegal to be in possession of estuary perch at this time of year, so remove the hook and release the fish back into the water. There have been a few salmon and tailor on the headlands recently. Troll around the washes and cover the water until you can find where the fish are on the day. Keep your eyes peeled for any bird activity in the river, as the salmon headed upstream last season and several were caught around Spencer. The hairtail have moved into Cowan Creek and anglers have fared well using whole pilchards, fillets of yakka and small live baits suspended under a float. Waratah Bay, Coal and Candle creeks and Jerusalem Bay are all favourites for hairtail through the cooler months. Reports of daytime captures are common from places like Flint and Steel, Gunya and Box Head with fish to over 1m common. For a shot at catching a mulloway, try to keep live

Some impressive mulloway were captured leading up to winter. They will be in the lower river and can be caught on well-presented lures fished on light tackle this month. bait down deep, no more than 1m off the bottom. It’s generally a good idea to run a fair-sized ball sinker to keep this bait in check and not tangle other lines. Night fishing is rewarding at times, but bloody dangerous most

of the time. Remember to wear your life jackets where required, display the correct navigational lights and take lots of warm clothing because when that sun drops below the horizon the temperature goes with it quickly.

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Finding the bait balls PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Over the last month, anglers along our part of the coast have once again seen some pretty patchy fishing. The quiet days see the whole river system closed down and it’s hard to get a bite, whilst the good days see fish almost jumping into the boat. I suppose it’s that time of the year when the water temperature is dropping and a new set of predators are starting to show up. Along Pittwater there are still kingfish, tailor, flathead, trevally, bream and salmon being caught when schools of small yellowtail are located on the sounder. The deeper water along Pittwater still has some small

will eat prawns or frozen squid, but to give yourself the best chance at tangling with one of these fish it’s best to catch some live bait first. For those that want to target kingfish along Pittwater, I have some good news. The kingies seem to be eating small yellowtail as well as small live squid. This means that instead of spending a couple of hours catching squid, you can head out to West Head and catch some small yellowtail. I do suggest that you cover your bases and collect both though, if you can. Squid at this time of the year can be harder to find than in the warmer months. The bigger breeder calamari squid are normally located around the weed beds or rocky areas with weed. If you do catch one of these larger squid, don’t be scared to

Check out this purple tuskfish for an odd catch! mulloway actively hunting on the tide change. The key to targeting any of these species has been to cover ground and use fresh caught bait. There are days when the larger predators

JULY 2016

whack it on the downrigger to see if you can tempt one of the larger kingfish that are lurking along the river. In previous years, I have found that these larger kingfish prefer to eat small

cuttlefish that are found along the rocky shoreline of Pittwater. These tiny little ink machines don’t last long when a school of hungry kingfish has been found. The funny thing is that most of these small cuttlefish tend to pull the bigger fish out of the schools. As mentioned previously, the better all-round bait if you are going to use squid seems to be the smaller ones. These small squid are hard to find along Pittwater, but if you venture out into Broken Bay you may have some better luck with finding arrow squid around Lion Island and smaller calamari squid around Barrenjoey Head. The jigs to use seem to be either the flashy hardbodied jigs or the natural colours with the cloth covered jigs. Along Pittwater the best size to use has been 2.5, but when fishing out in Broken Bay the larger 3.5 jigs are working well for the aggressive arrow squid, and the 2.5 jigs are working better for the southern calamari squid. The areas to target kingfish along Pittwater are varying from day to day with some days not seeing any action at all on the surface. This means that you must cover ground to find baitfish that are balled up. If the baitfish are balled up and appear as a soccer ball shape on your sounder, then they are under attack by larger predators. If you find baitfish schools that are spread out on the sounder, you will usually find that unless you are targeting species on the bottom, you won’t have much luck. The bays that have been producing kingfish are Careel Bay, Towlers Bay, The Basin, along the river around Scotland Island and amongst the moorings at Clareville.

Trag jew have been in great numbers out wide. For those of you who are chasing flathead, bream and trevally, berley around structure and use light lines. If the water is clear and clean, use fluorocarbon traces, but if the water is dirty or full of particles you may be better off just using your normal light leaders. Be prepared to move around a fair bit if you are not finding fish. Hairtail have shown up along the Cowan Creek River system, and if you can withstand the cold, foggy nights you should have some fun. These toothy chrome bars can be a lot of fun the catch, especially when using lighter tackle. There are many ways to catch hairtail and with each passing year new techniques emerge. At the moment, hairtail are not thick along the river but when an area with them has been found there seems to be a steady bite. The baits to use are small live yellowtail that can normally be caught while at anchor and berleying. Pilchards and pilchard fillets floated down the berley trail will also see a few fish caught. If you wish to try something different, you can use lures and soft plastics to catch hairtail. Flutter jigs or barra spoons are my favourite lures to catch hairtail. These jigs are designed to flutter through the water column and once the lures hit the strike zone they can be kept there by just raising the rod to lift the lure and then letting it flutter back down into the strike zone again. Soft plastics can also be used in this manner with great results as well. Remember to take with you some green glow lights, but don’t put them on all of the baits you send out. Also, it may be worth putting out a mulloway bait while you are trying to catch hairtail. There are a lot of school mulloway encountered around the schools of yellowtail

along the bays and in the deeper holes. The areas to try are Waratah Bay, Illawong Bay and Jerusalem Bay. I am sure there will be schools along Smiths Creek as well. If you see schools of small tailor, you may find hairtail underneath as well. Offshore on the reefs we have been finding nice snapper, lots of trag and

micro-jigs and soft plastics when the current allows. When fishing this deeper water, to increase your chances of fish finding your bait, try rigging your paternoster rig with red lumo beads. I have found over the last six months of reef fishing that by using these lumo beads, you can attract fish to those baits. On many occasions, I will

Snapper can be found on most of the close in reefs. decent flathead. There has been quite a good bite in water depths of 60-90m with quite a variety of fish. Around the edges of the reef where it drops onto sand or gravel, there have been good schools of baitfish and the predators have been close by. We have been finding quality fish around the ordinance grounds, the trap grounds off the Central Coast, the Esmeralda Wreck and the Container Ground. All types of bait have been working very well including

put one of these beads above the top hook and a fish will be caught on this hook, yet there will be baits left on the hooks below. I hope this report sees you grabbing some warm clothing, the family or friends and getting out on the water to enjoy our wonderful part of the coast. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www.estuaryfishing charters.com.au.

Who knows what lurks in the deep dark depths SYDNEY NORTH

Darren Thomas

As the cold sets in the last thing you should be doing is putting away your fishing gear. Fish have to eat all year round and although some species go off the chew in the colder temperatures, it really is just as simple as chasing different species.

species, particularly when a fish of half this size is outstanding. Great effort mate. The bait of choice was mullet fillet as it is solid bait and will survive the trip to the ocean floor where these fish live. Lots of deep dropped baits don’t make it to the bottom due to pickers and water pressure on the way down, so choose wisely. Squid is another great option.

floating unweighted baits at some of the local reefs. With a lightly weighted bait sent down the trail, it’s only a matter of patience to hook bonito, mackerel, kingfish and snapper. Current, wind and tide determine sinker size. Try and use the minimal sinker weight to get to the bottom and a running sinker straight to the hook is suitable. As you all know, we can target

Paul O’Hagan’s cracking bonito. What a smile!

Lin Yidhuo with a great kingfish from The Peak.

Wayne Thorncraft with the huge blue eye trevalla he caught fishing the icy depths. For the offshore boys, some tuna reports are filtering through. Live baits, cubing and smaller skirts like Billmarks and Marlin Magics trolled at 10-12 knots have been successful. Most of the tuna reported are yellowfin, hopefully with some of the bigger SBTs showing up soon. We all know that the ocean has some awesome looking bottom fish, and some absolute rippers have been caught and reported. Wayne ‘Pud’ Thorncraft chased the elusive blue eye trevalla out wide around Browns Mountain in 450m of water. Pud used an electric reel, which is highly recommended for this style of fishing in these depths when he hooked an absolute monster of a fish weighing in at 37.9kg. This is a very big model for this

This month has seen excellent weather and good water conditions, and inshore bottom fishing has been a

a species but it’s not always what we catch particularly in a trail. Staff member Paul O’Hagan landed

Craig Butcher with a winter snapper surprise. good way to get a feed. Craig Butcher landed himself some very nice snapper by laying down a berley trail and

a ripper bonito chasing reds recently. Kingfish on the offshore reefs are still giving

anglers a bit of a headache. Topwater popper lures and whole squid baits are enticing these fish to bite. Oceanhunter Sportsfishing have been solid in the king department this report, with client Lin Yidhuo catching a monster king out at the Peak using live bait. Plenty of squid have been caught at the favourite local haunts inside the harbour lately, which is a promising sign for the next few months ahead. Squid aren’t just a great bait, but are very good on the tooth – it’s certainly worth the effort to chase some of these cephalopods, as in the coming months we will see some rather large models move into local areas like Balmoral, Middle Head and The Spit and they certainly are one of the easiest meals to catch. The harbour is still providing some decent kings (as it generally does all winter), and live squid is the preferred bait. Make the effort to catch a few and you will up your chances

of a king by 50%. As usual it’s not always about the bait, finding the fish is also a major key so be sure to

move around and try a few spots like Quakers Hat Bay or Seaforth Bluff. As the water cools you may have to go down in leader size to get a better bite. The beaches have provided some stable fishing at the moment with tailor, bream, salmon and flathead all appearing in reports. Most of the hot bites have been in the darker hours, with pillies and fillet baits working a treat. Some of the tailor have been up to 68cm. Just wait until one of these greenbacks attacks your gear – it’s like trying to hold a frenzied dog on a chain. Good luck and good fishing. Make sure you stay warm and safe.

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Go deep for a tasty feed SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

With the warm currents retreating north so slowly this year, it’s anyone’s guess what this month will bring. We are still catching kingfish, there has been a good run of sub-surface salmon, lots of big tailor, fantastic big flathead and plenty of leatherjackets. Blue swimmer crabs have been grabbing baits and while they are not in numbers, they are very big. This is also the time of year for huge squid. Jacket numbers seem to be better than they have ever been. This is possibly due to the vastly increased habitat and food supply created by manmade structure. There’s at least 10 different species of leatherjacket available to harbour, bay and offshore anglers and most can be caught all year round, but are a particularly great standby for the slow days in winter. They cover a wide range of habitats from well up into the estuaries to the open sea and can be relied on even when all other species have gone off the bite. Although not generally highly regarded as a sportfish, they do give a good tussle on light line. They are very accessible and delectable on the plate. They are also very high in those healthy omega 3 fats. Good spots to try include around bridge pylons, marinas, jetties, reefs and rocky points. They love tiny pieces of prawn

bait and, as they have a very small mouth, hooks need to be kept small. Fish your baits about 1m off the bottom and wait until you feel that slow suck characteristic of jackets.

There are plenty of salmon around, but you will need to fish deep to find them.

Now is the best time of year to target big flatties. Don’t strike immediately, wait a few seconds to let them get it into their tiny mouth. There has been a good showing of salmon but they are deep and are mainly being caught on baits and trolling deep divers.

There’ll be plenty of krakens getting around, so break out the jigs and target the deeper water. 16

JULY 2016

Most people I know would rather cast to salmon than troll for them. What do you do though if you want to cast a lure or fly to pelagics but can’t find them on the surface?

Troll until you find them and then cast. Trolling lures is a legitimate fish finding tool, even if you do not like or intend to catch them this way. Trolling the headlands, particularly North, South and Middle heads is the preferred option when the fish or the baitfish cannot be visually or electronically located in open water. Of course, with their highly mobile nature, salmon can be expected to turn up anywhere and we have even caught them as far upstream as Bantry Bay in Middle Harbour. In fact, strong concentrations of baitfish have been known to lead them well up into the mangrove country, but this is the exception rather than the rule. Trolling is best done with minnow style lures. Metal baitfish profiles and skirted type lures the likes of Christmas trees are good when the fish are high up in the water. Those types of lures will ride high at the trolling speeds required for pelagics (4-6 knots). Minnows offer deep diving capabilities or at least reliable depth control. A trolling pattern must be established in order to locate the concentrations of fish. This usually involves a close run first and then moving a little bit wider on each run after that. Troll both directions on each run, because it’s common to find fish biting in one direction and not the other. Keep an eye on your sounder for baitfish concentrations, other boats

trolling (to see where and what they are catching and so you don’t run into them), birds working the surface, current lines and most importantly, gnarly waves and bommies. There are some good squid around at the moment but they are generally sitting in much deeper water than you would normally find them in the summer months. Work big jigs and keep them deep. You will find them at your normal squidding spots, but instead of casting towards the shore as you would in summer, try casting to the deep water on the blind side. • If you are interested in doing a guided fishing trip on Sydney harbour with Craig McGill please call 0412 918 127 or email craig@fishabout.com.au.

Succulent blue swimmer crabs will be around for the next few months, so get excited!

AUTHOR’S OPINION

Sydney Marine parks update To give you an idea of how recreational fishing is doing in the Sydney Marine Parks debate, rec fishing is listed alongside recreation and tourism as ‘high risk’ activities by the Marine Estate Management Authority (MEMA). To put this into perspective, commercial fishing is listed as ‘medium risk’. And according to MEMA the risk posed by recreation and tourism are increasing while the risk from commercial fishing is decreasing. Divers (recreational diving) are not listed at all, which is interesting, as they are one of the main lobby groups pushing for angler lock-outs. Chowder Bay (Clifton Gardens) is one of the 15 sites listed by MEMA earmarked for lock-outs. Chowder Bay is a small bay of which approximately half its area is taken up by a major navy refuelling facility. I don’t know what MEMA has set down as an assessment criterion for suitability for a marine park, but I can’t imagine that a working shipping refuelling facility, taking up half of

the proposed marine park area, would fit the equation. Could it have something to do with the commercial dive business working in the bay? Chowder Bay jetty is one of most popular land-based fishing sites in the harbour that is both kid safe and suitable for disabled anglers. Manly shire residents, who lost a huge chunk of safe, shore-based fishing coastline in the form of Cabbage Tree Bay reserve (angler lock-out zone) should be aware that all of North Harbour has also been earmarked for lock out. If that goes ahead then that’s all of Manly’s safe, kid friendly fishing shoreline gone. This lock out will also include the site known as the ‘old gas works’, which is one of the few access points for fishers with disabilities. Divers and green groups are trying to sell us the line that we can expect ‘better fishing’ from the ‘spill over effects’ of marine parks. That is to say that fishing everywhere will be better as a result of fish ‘spilling over’ out of the marine parks. Worldwide studies on marine park ‘spill

over’ has generally shown little to no spill over from parks under 10 thousand hectares. The biggest park proposed by MEMA is one and a half thousand hectares. In fact, if you combine all 15 of MEMA’s proposed parks it doesn’t even come close to 10 thousand hectares. Furthermore, even in the large functioning marine parks, spill over has shown to extend only a few hundred meters from the park boundary. We need to do something as a body. If we don’t, we may wake up to a ‘NO FISHING’ sign. References: • http://saveourmarinelife. org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2015/06/ mpa-review.pdf • http://www.marine.nsw. gov.au/__data/assets/ pdf_file/0009/595044/ hawkesbury-shelfdiscussion-paper.pdf • The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of Fishing Monthly Magazines.

Drummer up a cracking big bag off the rocks SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com

The seas are very cool this month, but don’t be overly concerned. The winter species we catch off our diverse range of rock and beach platforms means you should keep those rods out! Let’s check out what’s biting and what you can expect this month! On the ocean beaches, the Australian salmon are as thick as the crowd at a tackle shop’s 50% off everything sale. Every beach along Sydney has produced these hard fighting, leaping fish. There are several ways to target salmon. A lazier approach is to cast out a heavy sinker with about 60cm of heavier mono as leader and then your three-hook 2/0-4/0 gangs. There are several variations of rigs. Vary your sinker weights according to the current and you will be in for a better result. The bait looks more natural in this manner. Another method is to use metal lures. Some of my favourites at a reasonable price are the Snipers and Knights from 25g. When the salmon are feeding on whitebait-sized fish, step up to the 45g size

fish, use the 65g size. I recommend moving from gutter to gutter. All you need is a carry bag, a small tackle box full of metals, braid scissors, and Suffix or SureCatch fluoro carbon leader in 12-20lb. Go back to the ganged pilchard rig and tie a 20cm length of leader on the top section of the swivel then on a surf popper. At times the popper gets a hook-up and the pilchard nothing – other times you could be at the end of a double hook-up! If you want to learn how to catch salmon off the beach with comprehensive tips and techniques, or to learn how to target particular species off the beach and rocks then give me a call. Like last season’s whiting run, it appears these fish have not gone off the bite yet, although they are in more selected areas compared to the warmer months. Manly, Dee Why near the southern corner, Warriewood and Bungan beaches all have a few. There are some bream mixed in with the whiting as well as a chance of a rogue salmon, which make for fantastic sport on 3-4kg mono. As the whiting are few in numbers you have every reason to use the very best bait. Typically, live are best, and beach worms, tubeworms, and bloodworms are the

Stewart Lever was impressed by the delicate bite of a sizeable groper. When you hook-up all hell breaks loose! similar to large whitebait and small pilchards. When they’re feeding on small to medium pilchard-size

supreme choices. Because of the clearer water at this time of the year I recommend a lighter leader for your rig.

Instead of using 10-12lb fluorocarbon leader, drop down to 6lb – especially if

breeze change from the west and feel it on the right hand side of my face, I

Curl (approximately 150m past the swimming pool), and the eastern point of Warriewood to name a few. Remember, this is more for the advanced angler, not the adventurous! For the regular spots when the swell is a little larger try Little Bluey at Manly, the southeast section of North Curl Curl, Long Reefs in the southwest/south area and Bungan Head. There you can catch the much sought after rock blackfish (pigs), groper, luderick, and other species like silver drummer, leatherjackets, bream (generally in smaller quantities at this time of the year), salmon and some tailor too. Take at least a couple of outfits with you so you can either have a

spin for the smaller pelagics like tailor and salmon, and a robust rod for the pigs. Also keep a heavy one on hand to tackle a groper. Fishing for me is an adventure, a test of skill and patience. Partly due to the limited resources us land-based anglers have. The rewards come from going out of your way to do it all as correctly as possible. I have been rock and beach fishing for decades now and still get really excited about all the species that we have on our Sydney rocks. • For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www. bellissimocharters.com, email alex@bellissimocharters.com or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

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“Pimped” Amir Arzany with the first fish he ever caught in Australia – and what a fine bag it was. Groper, drummer and a token bream all fell to his charms. Wash fishing at this time of the year is great for mixed species. the seas are quite flat. SEA SAW At this time of the year the swell size is often extreme or flat. During the colder months the swell often comes from a southerly direction and the southern oceans normally generate a ground swell. This term is used to describe the depth of the swell energy that can be sensed from the ocean floor up and visually seen on the surface. The swell has a lot more thickness in comparison to a wind wave. Also, the waves normally come from much farther away than a wind wave, which gives the wave more substance and strength. The reason why I am mentioning this is when you’re facing out to sea look more so to the right (southsoutheast) to determine if you will be battling the swell I’ve described. The other extreme is the westerly winds. When they are blowing at more than 15 knots and consistently for more than a couple of days it is normally going to make the seas very flat, generally no more than 0.7m. When you look out to sea towards the horizon you will note a very tumultuous, undulated sea. When the westerly backs off substantially or if there is just a few degrees of wind direction change from the west to southwest or south/southeast then beware! When I sense the

know there is a change and I high-tail it out of there – especially if I am night fishing. This is more in regards to the deep-water fronts. I could go into more detail as far as rock fishing safety is concerned. I teach preventative measures to my clients when rock fishing. I feel safer on the rocks than driving on our busy Sydney roads! When it’s flat you can get to areas that you would not attempt to go regularly. I am only suggesting this to the more advanced angler. Places like the western section of the Hat at Manly, the southeast point of Dobroyd Head in the harbour, further north to the front of North Curl

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Luderick for the taking BOTANY BAY

Gabe Quercigrosse gabeandgabe@bigpond.com

Winter has finally caught up with us. There’s a distinctive hill in the air, and the water temperature is hovering around 14-15°C. This has obviously reduced the number of anglers trying their luck, but there’s always a loyal band of passionate diehards who brave the cold weather and reap the rewards.

The rocky shoreline just downstream from the Alfords Point bridge is called Blackbutt, and it’s a good run-in ground. The further you get back from the point, the better. This has been the premier spot, with consistent catches right throughout the month. Other spots which have produced include Russell Jones, which has a permanent eddy right underneath the overhead wires; Bakers Rock on the other side of the river opposite Little Moon Bay; Lambeth

the bridge can be good to try, so long as the tides are not too big. Boaters will find the third pylon on the northern side the prime spot during the last of the run-in tide. This spot is best fished from off the pylon blocks on the bridge itself, where you can tie your boat alongside and fish in complete comfort. Chipping Norton Lake to Liverpool Weir is another area which has been fishing particularly well for bream and flathead. Mainly fished from small boats and kayaks,

Bob recently got this mixed bag from Pulpit Point. lake. This is possibly the most consistent possie in the system, and all species can be taken here. There’s good country at Strong Park and

along Wildlife Island as well. Rowley Park, Cabramatta Creek and William Long Bridge are good places to pump shirt worms, especially

You don’t need a boat to catch big fish – just ask Hassan Alameri with his ripper king from Sydney Harbour! This is the case in the upper reaches of Georges River, where bag limits of luderick have been the norm. Locals are cashing in on the run of fish between 30-35cm, with the odd 40cm specimen appearing in catches. I’m told the feeding habits have changed, with tides dictating terms. Land-based spots are the way to go, with the fishing no more than two boat lengths from the shore.

Reserve along Henry Lawson Drive; Mickeys Point; and the wire fence. Green weed has been at a premium, and almost impossible to find. Anglers have had to travel long distances to gather enough for a day’s fishing. One location which stands out, and which is not fished a lot, is Como Railway Bridge. For landbased anglers, either end of

this stretch has enormous potential as there is plenty of food in the shape of squirt worms, prawns and small poddy mullet for the fish to chase. There are several well-maintained boat ramps only a short distance from the fishing grounds. You should also give Homestead Park a try. This is a long, rocky finger of land which extends into the

John’s catch from Lambeth Park on nippers.

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JULY 2016

near the mangroves. Two Pipes Bend just upstream is another great spot. The Woronora River, which has its entrance on the upstream side of Como Bridge, has been fishing well for school bream, luderick and the odd large flathead. Bonnet Bay has been the standout location and is a proven spot. I recommend that you fish side-on to the current on a run-out tide anywhere between the mouth of the bay and the front of the houses 100m downriver. Berley heavily and the fish will find you. Another area which has been producing top catches of bream, whiting and flathead has been the stretch between Pelican Point and Towra Point. Peter McCormick, one of the local top rods, has been getting 12-20 mixed species per trip. Peter uses only live nippers, which he

pumps from Douglas Park flats on the low tide, and fishes the incoming flow. At times he is in water that’s only 1ft deep, but that’s where the fish are. This is an area worth exploring as the sand keeps on shifting and new corridors are formed regularly, creating feeding passages for the fish. The old oyster leases behind Charters Island are always worth a try, as stud bream lurk here. However, they are difficult to land due to the rugged terrain. The fishing in the bay itself hasn’t been too bad, with plenty of trevally and tailor on offer. The artificial reefs in Yarra Bay have been the main providers, with fish up to 45cm taking peeled prawns and ganged pilchards. The same applies to the structures in Congwong Bay and Astrolabe Cove, with the latter providing bycatches of calamari squid on the weed bottom. Yarra Bay continues to provide dusky flathead on the drift, with the eastern side the most productive. The 70cm Squidgy Pro Fish in grasshopper has been doing all the damage, especially when coupled with a 3/8oz, 2/0 jighead. The airport runways have been fairly quiet, with only trumpeter whiting and the odd bream taken. The kings have disappeared, and may be found in Cooks River just above the road bridge. The mulloway are still on at the Marsh Street bridge, and are taking 4” PowerBait Minnows in watermelon pearl, cast as close to the bridge as possible. The bridge is in close proximity to the Kyeemagh boat ramp and always fishes well at this time of year. The offshore scene has been very good, with Browns Mountain the hot spot. Bianca Charters has been bagging out on gemfish and getting blue-eye trevalla to 28kg. For anyone that hasn’t had a feed of blue-eyes, you don’t know what you’re missing!

The only drawback is the number of boats which frequent this bump, so it may be better to fish during the week if you can. Other alternatives on the way include the Plonk Hole and Dumping Grounds. You should be able to get a feed of big Chinaman leatherjackets there. The Pear has been the surprise packet with good catches of kingfish to 85cm

Bay as your best option. Target flathead, bream and whiting, in that order. The main time to fish for bream is on the big tides, as this sees them coming off the oyster leases as the water drops. Fish the channels any time of the tide or at any time of day, but leave the night fishing alone. Flathead are the best picked up by drifting anywhere in the bay, depending on the tide

are sheltered from most winds and offer both deep and shallow water options. Luderick, bream, whiting and flathead can be taken in good numbers in relative comfort. If you’re land-based, try the back of the tennis courts on Washington Drive, Bonnet Bay. This is a narrow stretch of the Woronora which produces consistently. It’s a very safe spot with a lot

Reno enjoyed a successful Port Hacking squid session recently. reported consistently. This is good news for the smaller boats, which can get there in only 20 minutes from Botany Heads. The charter boats have been doing well on blue-spot flathead with the Maroubra Wide, Mistral Point and Botany Heads faring well. The fish are not large, averaging 45cm, but there is no shortage of them. Prawns, strips of squid and pilchards are doing the job here. THE MONTH AHEAD The westerly winds will dictate your location and I would suggest Woolooware

and the wind. Just off Pelican Point there is a deep hole where good school mulloway can be taken. Bream and whiting will also fall for bloodworm bait. Other options include the drift between Tom Uglys and Captain Cook bridges. The northern side of the river is the most productive with school flathead around the 1/2kg mark taking Hawkesbury prawns. This is a good spot to take the family and enjoy the day. If you’re heading upriver, the Moons are your destination. They

A healthy bonito taken off the rocks at Port Kembla.

of possibilities. For the best results use live bait such as bloodworms or nippers. The entrance and bridge at Cooks River produces many species. I have taken big whiting to 800g during the incoming tide using bloodworms on the southern side of the river approximately 100m upstream of the main road bridge. It’s a very comfortable possie, and if you want to brave the elements head to the northern side directly opposite for similar catches but during the outgoing tide at night. I would suggest that you lower the breaking strain of your leaders a kilo or two. I have found that 2kg is ideal for bream and whiting, and 4kg is excellent for flathead. For school mulloway, 6kg is perfect. Sure, you may lose a few fish, but if you set your drag properly on your reel your losses should be minimal. Your lead should be just enough to hold the bottom. I’ve found that a moving bait will account for many more fish. Should you require further information, feel free to ring me at Gabe’s Boating & Fishing on 02 4647 8755 and I’ll be happy to answer your questions. • For all your fishing needs, as well as the latest info on what’s biting, drop into Gabe’s Boating and Fishing at Narellan (4/1A Somerset Ave), or Silvania (268/264276 Princes Hwy). You can also call them on (02) 4647 8755 or (02) 9522 5100 respectively, or visit the website at www.gbaf.com.au. JULY 2016

Grab a groper this July SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

One thing that I can’t predict is the weather, and I have to rely on the local weather forecast or a number of websites. Do they always get it correct? No, but at most times it does help me to organise my fishing trips. One of the main things that I look at is which direction the wind is coming from, and at what strength it will be.

preferred for bream fishing in this way. Try using peeled blue tailed prawns, strips of tuna or mullet. Make sure that you have a small, but steady stream of bread berley. If you are after silver trevally you could try fishing the end of the Cooks River wall on the run-out tide. I tend to use a running sinker down onto the swivel with a leader of about a metre long. Pink nippers or bloodworms would be good for bait. At times, it can get a bit crowded on the Cooks River

If you are fishing off the rocks, you should find a deep pool to store your fish after you have caught them. Based on previous experience, I would expect to be able to get yellowfin bream, silver trevally, luderick, drummer, groper, john dory, squid and leatherjackets throughout July. To help you out I will give you a place to try, a technique to use, a time of the tide and what bait to try for each of the above species. The rest will be up to you! Yellowfin bream will be moving about the deep water sections of the bays, the beaches and off the rocks. Try locating a deep gutter that is running parallel to a rocky headland, and coincide your fishing time to when the sun is just coming over the horizon and the tide reaching high about an hour after sunrise. Or if you prefer, you could start your fishing about two hours before sunset and where the high tide is about an hour before the sun sets. This way you will only need to fish for three to four hours and then you can go home. A running sinker rig is

wall, so it doesn’t matter whether you fish on the northern or southern side. Luderick will have come into the estuaries by now and would have been feeding along many of the rock walls or over the weed beds. Soily Point in the Georges River, just up from the Moons will be producing fish on all tides. You can fish either from the shore or out of a boat. The tricky part with luderick will be finding the weed that they like. A good place to start getting your weed would be near a storm water outlet or off the ocean rocks. If you can’t get any weed yourself, you could always give Macs Bait Bar at Blakehurst a call on 9546 1341 to see if they have any in supply. On the other hand, you could always substitute the fresh green weed for a green fly, which are readily available. One of my favourite fish species during winter to target is the drummer. Not only are they great fighters,

they are great on the plate. One of the places to try would be off the rocks at Long Bay. You don’t need much tackle, just some 1/0-2/0 hooks, a ball sinker between 000-3, a 3.6m 6 wrap rod with either a threadline reel or Alvey side cast spooled with at least 15lb line. I like to carry a bag full of bread for berley. As for drummer baits, try using prawns, nippers, cunjevoi and bread. Any time of the tide seems to work for drummer, it will just depend on the depth of water you are fishing in. If you are going to target groper, you will need to remember that you are only allowed two per person per day and that you will have to have plenty of patience when targeting them. The best groper baits by far are red crabs, but you can also try the green and black ones off the rocks. Gather your bait at low tide and fish the rising tide for your groper. If you are fishing over a snaggy area or where there are big boulders, you could use a paternoster rig, consisting of one hook only, as you don’t want to be fighting two groper at the

A pair of groper caught while using red crabs off the rocks at Cronulla. same time! If that happened, I think the groper would win most of the time. I haven’t caught a john dory for a while, so this July I am going to get myself a few small yellowtail and target them in the deep water off Trevally Alley, the Drums and at the end of the third runway. The only problem you may have is that a mulloway or kingfish may take a liking to your bite-sized yellowtail. If you can’t get

yellowtail, you could also try using poddy mullet, small sweep or mados. Squid can be caught all year round in numbers in Botany Bay and the Port Hacking River. At this time of the year the squid can also be found on the close offshore reefs and milling around rocky headlands. The stage of the tide doesn’t seem to matter, as long as there is some movement in the water. What does seem to matter is that they

Elyse Holmes with the longtom that was caught while fishing at Forster.

don’t seem to like the water too dirty. Long casts of the squid jig, then allowing it to slowly sink to just above the bottom is the best way to connect with a squid. Once it gets to the required depth, you can slowly lift the rod tip to give the jig a hopping motion. Allow the jig to slowly sink, and then repeat the process. Leatherjackets are another favourite of mine, as they are fairly easy to catch while using a paternoster rig with small pieces of peeled prawn or squid as bait. Whether you are fishing out of a boat or off the shore, you need to have enough weight so that there is a slight bend in the tip of the rod when you have the sinker just off the bottom. I would not have the length of the line where the hook is attached too much longer than 12cm, and the hook size would be between a no. 8-12 long shank when fishing in the estuaries or bays. Time of the tide or day doesn’t seem to matter, just as long as there is some water movement, as this will keep the rig tight. Well, there you have it, a list of different species that you can target during July. Don’t forget that if you have any reports and photos of fish that you have caught, just send them into me with some details of where and how you caught it and you could find yourself in the magazine. Email me at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au.

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Testing Booth

Samaki Silver Bullet Technology put to the test FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Rarely do field tests go this well. There was no need for the Tackle Junkie team to do mountains of beach or rock fishing – we just handed the Samaki Silver Bullet rod that arrived in the office to rock spinning expert Tony Smith, from northern NSW. Apart from being able to smell mulloway as they swim past in the waves, Tony’s claim to fame is that there aren’t many predators that live around the ocean rocks that he can’t catch. How do I know this? One day Tony said to me, “Do you want to film some jew on lures?” “Yep.” “Let’s go,” he said. Middle of the day. Sunny. Summertime. “Now?” I asked.

what his feedback would be about the spin-configured Samaki. Not long after I gave him the rod, an MMS from Tony appeared on my phone. It was written in his usual nonchalant style. “Nice rod, thanks Steve. Looks like it works. Caught this nice one on my second throw.” Attached was the amazing pic which went on to feature on the cover of the July issue of NSW Fishing Monthly. The fish was a whopper chopper a whisker under 10lb (4.5kg). The fish in question ate a popper. Middle of the day. Shallow water. Boom. SPECIFICATIONS • Oval Blank Technology • Fuji K Guides • Super hard EVA grips • Fuji reel seat • Japanese Toray carbon fibre blank

Not a bad way to test Samaki’s Oval Blank Technology – 10lb of Northern NSW tailor. Middle of the day. On a popper. TEST MODEL Silver Bullet SSB-1202SH Length: 12ft Action: Heavy Line: 15-30lb Cast weights: 2-4oz surf casting. Built to withstand the elements, the Silver Bullet consists of Japanese Toray Carbon Fibre 36 and 40 tonne combined, Fuji K Guides and

The Silver Bullet boasts Japanese Toray Carbon Fibre 36 and 40 tonne combined, and is fitted with Fuji K guides.

If you catch a fish good enough for the Fishing Monthly cover on the test rod, you get to keep it! “Yep.” He then proceeded to pull six soapies to 80cm in 30 minutes, fishing water no more than 4ft deep. At the time, he was throwing minnows with filed-down bibs on a glass surf rod, Alvey reel and 30lb mono line. Job done! After seeing what Tony was capable of, I wondered

According to the Samaki website: “The base section of the rod utilises an oval blank construction, thus enabling a greater, more powerful cast

to launch your lure further. With a tip designed for greater sensitivity so you can feel the strike as it happens, you have got yourself one weapon for

Fuji reel seat for longevity, and super hard EVA grips for comfort.” That’s great, but we were interested in what the rod was

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Scan this code to see a video of the Silver Bullet at the AFTA Trade Show.

like in the real world! I had a hunch that Tony would be a fan. Plenty of Northern NSW guys used to use old FSU4120 blanks extended with a couple of feet of carbon fibre canoe paddle shaft to achieve the same result – a light-yet-strong butt that can launch a lure out of sight. “I could cast it a million miles,” Tony said. Which, of course, is standard hyperbole for an angler, but a seal of

This rod turned a lot of heads when it was launched at the AFTA Tackle Trade Show.

approval from a hardened lure caster. Tony coupled the rod with a Shimano Baitrunner 6500 with 20lb braid and a 30lb mono leader about 3m long. The longer leader suits his style of big-fish-in-shallowwater fishing, but he said if you want to cast even further you could use just 60cm of leader and eliminate any line slap. “Ideally, my style of fishing would use a rod with a shorter butt,” he said. “Because I spin from the waterline, the tip up and the longer butt is uncomfortable for me. However, if you were using this from above the waterline with the tip down, the butt would fit under the arm nicely.” I told Tony he was free to hacksaw away to his heart’s content, and last I heard that’s exactly what he was off to do. After all, a 10lb tailor on the front cover means that you don’t have to give the rod back. Thanks, Tony, for testing the Silver Bullet and giving her the thumbs-up!

ABOUT THE BRAND Samaki is a brand that has earned a reputation for high quality without a premium price tag, and every product has been designed for Australian conditions. The flagship of the brand is the highly refined rod range, made from top quality components and covering nearly every angling application, from finesse fishing for bream through to offshore and surf fishing. Samaki has also created a range of lures that are proven fish catchers. Many anglers would have heard of the versatile Vibelicious soft vibes, which can be seen hanging out of fish mouths all over social media and in magazines. Samaki’s soft plastic Boom Baits also stand out from the crowd, with raised markers on their backs to help anglers line the hook up perfectly every time. The Samaki range also includes jigs, high speed trolling lures, fishing shirts, line and more, and you can see the full range at www.samaki.com.au. The latest news and photos can be seen on Facebook at www.facebook.com/samakifishing, or you can follow them on Instagram. JULY 2016

Looking danger in the face THE TWEED

David Solano

Up Cobaki way it’s been very quiet fishing wise. Every time I head there I’m dumbfounded by the amount of debris floating around, from grass clippings to weed and logs, as well as a heap of rubbish. In some places

it’s impossible to get a cast in and I found it pretty similar up at Terranora Broadwater. Terra is holding a lot of fish around the Jew Hole in particular on the run out. If you get there early try a surface lure on the high tide in the oyster leases for some cracking bream. There’s lots of small tailor in the river too and they are the

perfect schoolie attraction, so expect to see a few showing up in the area. I’m not sure where all the rubbish in the river has come from, but after a good rain it should clear out. By contrast, the Mar-bah arm of the river, from the seaway to Condong is beautiful water, and good bream have been caught off the rockfalls, as well as whiting on the flats

Scott and his terrifically fought mulloway prize!

around the golf club right back up to Ukerebagh Island. There are some nice flathead around the golf course too; try the deeper, murkier water for them. The little creeks around the area where they enter the main river are well worth a look at too. Jacks must have travelled to Italy for the summer, as I haven’t heard of any caught recently. The good news is the winter species are showing up in numbers. Recently my mate Scott and I headed out to the south sea wall at day break with a variety of lures and bait, including live worms, pilchards and of course the trusty chicken. We went right to the end only to find the place crowded. I know this wall really well and I thought you could always find a spot somewhere, but something had changed. Previously you would have to trek up a narrow track until it widens as you hit the beach, then take a tricky walk out over uneven rocks. This used to weed out the super keen from the regular keen. But now there’s a proper road going right out to the point, which makes getting out there much easier. The place was chockers!

Disappointing to see such rubbish in the river, but hopefully a good rain will flush it out. We got out there and saw a spot on the river side. Just as we were about to head there a guy fishing the waves facing the pumping jetty changed spots and headed where we were going, so we took his old spot. I was tying a rig on when Scott yelled out to me and I saw his rod bent, with the drag screaming. He said it bit like a bream, then took off like a rocket. Ever so slowly he brought it in and there it was – that purple silver shine of a nice mulloway. It was great how we all worked as a team to get this fish up. The fish had gone under the rock shelf and was stuck there, so it was proving very difficult to gaff it and pull it out. I

spotted a good spot further down and proceeded there, but two men yelled at me not to go down there. “It’s only a fish, Dave!” Scott said. “But it’s a good one,” I said back. I grabbed the 40lb mono, and when the next surge came through I popped the fish out and Scott gaffed it – wow, what a fight that was. Remember, rock fishing is dangerous. I always have a fully kitted out life jacket on, and I even wear knee pads. I highly recommend these around the rocks, but the main thing that gave me the confidence to go down there was the tide was coming in so if I fell in I’d float to the beach.

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Fishing Fill-its

Hastings Marine now Streaker Boats dealer The market researchers tell us that there is quite a cross over between boating and caravanning. It makes perfect sense then that Hastings Marine has been appointed as an authorised Streaker Boats dealer. Hastings Marine is situated on the mid north coast of NSW at Port Macquarie. Hastings Marine is owned by the Watson family who also own Watsons Caravans of Port Macquarie immediately alongside the marine business. With existing franchises for Mercury Outboards and a line of quality aluminium hulls, Hastings Marine is an excellent addition to the growing group of elite Streaker Boats dealers. “We actually bought Hastings Marine because we wanted the land to expand our Jayco caravan dealership,” Dane Watson of Hastings Marine explained. “However, when we had settled on the purchase and we looked more closely at our situation, we reconsidered. We decided to use some of the space for the caravans but we

also decided to continue the boat business. “There was an untapped opportunity with the marine business and we firmly believed that if we could apply our caravan methodology to selling boats, we could do well. So here we are in the boat business and trading successfully already.” Hastings Marine had an existing business relationship with Peter Benston, the Dealer Manager of Streaker Boats. As a Mercury dealer they were an ideal candidate to take on the Streaker Boats dealership. “This was an opportunity made in heaven,” Peter Benston reflected. “A Mercury dealership on the mid north coast, looking for a quality fibreglass brand and run by an astute Jayco caravan dealer. What more could we ask for?” The Streaker brand is an ideal fit for the Port Macquarie region. This is an all-round fish, ski and cruise market and there is a Streaker boat in the range which satisfies each of these demands.

From a business perspective, Dane Watson brings a different kind of customer-focussed approach to the marine business. Successful Jayco dealers have an approach to the customer, which enables them to sell caravans, literally by the truck load. “It comes down to three elements,” Dane Watson said. “Professionalism, customer service and carrying stock. If the customer can’t see it on the lot, then they’re not going to spend tens of thousands of dollars buying something which they have not seen. “The stock, sales staff and all aspects of the business need to be professional in every detail. And of course customers need to be properly serviced with information and after sales support. “We are applying these standards to Hastings Marine and although it is early days yet, we are already seeing the benefits start to flow.” The appointment of Hastings Marine as a Streaker Boats dealer is an important one for Streaker

Boats. Not only is the Mercury dealership a key fit with the Streaker/Mercury BMT packaging approach, but Hastings Marine has

Peter Benston said. “Dane Watson and his family know exactly how they want to shape their dealership and we’re

packing is important. They embraced this years ago and have been practicing it in their caravan business with great success.”

the style of management which represents the future of boating. “This is a very professional operation,”

excited to be a part of the transformation. We don’t have to convince them about the need to carry stock or why BMT

Hastings Marine is committed to stocking a variety of the Streaker models across the range. – Streaker Boats

JULY 2016

Big snapper storm in Spotty mackerel start to drop off the bite and the Spanish really start to take over at this time of year. If the water clarity stays pretty clean this will happen quickly. Try trolling any shallow diving lures over 100mm, or if you’re into cast and retrieve, the Bassday Bungy Cast is a must in your tackle box. At 30g you can cast these things an absolute mile. The tailor really bite well now with catches becoming more consistent over the last month. The gutters along 7-mile Beach are worth a throw and the best thing about this time of year along this beach is the stud bream you are likely to encounter. They’re beautiful in condition and taste amazing. Remember a big bream is a very old

BALLINA

Joe Allan

Snapper have been coming in good numbers and sizes lately. The best areas to target are the close-in reefs in approximately 10-15m. If you want to soak some bait, I recommend that you float out cut baits, squid and blue pilchards with the current. If you’re into throwing lures, try 60-80mm lipless crankbaits around 1/2oz in weight. On the soft plastics side of things, try 4” Atomic Prongs in white, ghost pearl or electric chicken. Using 1/2oz weights with hooks to 4/0 should do the trick. If the current is running harder, you may need to go heavier.

EVANS HEAD DEEP SEA FISHING

fish so only keep what you’re going to eat that day. If you’re up for a challenge, the Ballina Village Caravan Park is holding a Greenback Tailor Competition on 16-18 June. There are categories for males, females and children so it is a full family affair. The cooler westerlies can bring on luderick, so if this cold snap keeps up, don’t be afraid to try for these guys a little earlier then you normally would. The flathead will start to become patchy in the river along the Ballina town stretch while the bream start to fire in the deeper drop-offs. The top

Jake Stewart with a 20kg mulloway.

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GAME FISHING OPTIONS

CHARTERS

Josh Carter with a great snapper caught off his jet ski from a close in reef off South Ballina.

of the tide is the pick to chase the big sea run specimens that come into spawn. Try throwing blades and plastics off the end of the South Wall, as well as hardbodies over the Porpoise Wall. The winter whiting will kick off over the next few weeks. Try the bigger tides over the sand flats along the town stretch, the area out the front of the Oyster Farm in North Creek and possibly up as far as Pimlico Island (if the water stays clear). The size of the mulloway being pulled out of the river lately is nothing short of amazing. There are some beasts caught at night, mostly on live mullet in the deeper holes or a shallow diving 200mm crankbait off the walls. Hold on because these things are beasts.

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We are pleased to announce that Avante Marine Silverwater and TR Marine World will join forces, but will continue to operate their businesses as usual, including customer service from both sites, until 30 June 2016. From 1 July, 2016 the Silverwater site will close, and all operations will be undertaken from TR Marine World at their McGraths Hill facility. This will include sales, full service and parts supply for Bayliner as well as

their existing brands Quintrex, Yellowfin, Camero, Stejcraft, Supra, Moomba, Mercury Outboards and Mercruiser Sterndrives. Avante Marine and TR Marine World will have a joint Bayliner stand (337) at Sydney Boat Show in July 2016. We would like to thank Avante Marine’s customers for their long term patronage at the Silverwater site. However, due to the site being too large for its current business operations, it was

decided to integrate our existing Bayliner business with TR Marine World in McGraths Hill. We are confident that this move will benefit all of our customers with more efficient and more effective service and sales of our products. TR Marine World is currently Mercury State and National Dealers of the year and are located at 4 Curtis Road, McGraths Hill. The Dealer Principal Ian Tricker can be contacted on 02 4577 3522.

Avante Marine is located at 210-212 Silverwater Rd, Silverwater and Avante staff, under the charge of Andrew Hazlett, will continue the Silverwater operation until 30 June 2016 and can be contacted on 02 8756 3400. The distribution business for Bayliner, Crestliner and Karavan Trailers will remain in control of Berowra Waters Wholesale under the management of Todd Kay who can be contacted on (02) 4774 6015. – Avante Marine Group

More mulloway to come as the river clears up Ross Deakin

It’s been an awesome time to be fishing in the Iluka area, and anglers have revelled in the fabulous weather both in and offshore. OFFSHORE Starting offshore, some very nice snapper, trag jew and cobia have been taken from Black Rock, Woody Head and South to the Angourie grounds on a mixture of live and dead baits. Anyone after a feed should time their trip offshore with good weather, as it can turn ugly very fast. The mackerel and tuna action has quietened down, but there was still some very nice fish still being taken on live bait and pink squid skirts.

especially on the bream and mulloway front! • For all your fishing needs and up-to-date information and tips for spots and fish drop into the shop for a chat. Iluka Bait and Tackle is located at 3 Owen Street, Iluka NSW 2466. Give us a call on (02) 6646 5217 or 0402 997 572. We are available online at www.ilukabait.com.au or visit our Facebook page.

local Dan nailed a absolute donkey of a bream weighing 1.5kg! We saw some nice flathead around Browns Rocks, Collis Wall and Middle wall. The usual mix of live dead baits as well as hardbodies and soft plastics are working well on the flathead. Now’s the time to be hitting the water, and things should only get better,

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Longtails are still available, but they won’t be for much longer. Some have even been taken land-based, but it won’t be long before these fish have gone for good this year, not to return until next year. INSHORE Anglers on the Iluka wall have also had luck with

longtail on live baits, and with all this fresh coming down the system, some very good size mulloway have also shown up. We have seen mulloway caught off the beaches, headlands and in river recently, and it’s

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beaches and headlands with fish up to 3.5kg being weighed in. There are also some very nice bream being found with 1kg turning up regularly in the river. Just recently, Woombah

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Last chance for a Spanish mackerel this season COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley worleybirdfilms@hotmail.com

This winter has been in stark contrast to what we saw in 2015. Last year there was practically a five-month extension to the summer season fishing. This year, although the summer fish hung around into winter, the typical cold water fish came on strongly almost as soon as the first chill crept into the air. The mackerel were barely on the fade before the kings turned up. There are decent kingfish in the area right through the year, but winter is the prime time for the big kings. There appears to be plenty of them around at present. These areas where anglers had caught mackerel on stickbaits and live baits from early May have started to produce goodsized kingfish. There is still the odd mackerel around

even now, but in the washes and deep reefs the kingfish are dominating. Live baits around the islands or dropped down onto the deep reefs out further has proven to be the most successful technique to net a big fish. Soft plastics, stickbaits or the smaller slow pitch jigs are the go-to methods for the mediumsized fish in the washes. There are a few schools of rats around, so if you find them it’s probably time to move, or it’s sometimes worth trying something a bit slower underneath those rat schools. A slow jig or sinking stickbait is likely to find snapper, cobia or bigger kings hanging out under the smaller fish. As always, the everpresent snapper are on the cards anywhere offshore, but at this time of year large numbers of big reds will be moving into the shallows of the inner reefs, gravel beds and headlands. Whether you’re using bait or lures, stealth is a very important

strategy in these shallow water situations. Ensure that you’re not motoring

you drift over the reef or mark. Berley works quite well if you’re anchored

shallow diving hardbodies may be a little harder to fish than the plastics, but they

Jason O’Brien with a quality Spanish to finish off the season. over any ground that you plan to fish. Motor around the area and set up so that

up, but will also attract the smaller fish. Now is the chance for land-based anglers to target good snapper from the rocks. Headlands like Boambee and Muttonbird Island offer good access to reefy headland with nearby gravel beds where the snapper will congregate. Berley can work well, but will increase the number of pickers that are about. The mulloway have also been caught in good numbers around the headlands. Most are school fish between 4-10kg, but there has been the odd big silver slab captured. Soft plastics are the easiest way to cover the ground and have had the best results on school mulloway. Large

have had a better success rate on larger fish. Tailor have also been in good numbers around the headlands and beaches and have been taking bait and lures. Cubed pilchards combined with a bit of berley trail will have you onto tailor, snapper or mulloway this month. Along the beaches the gutters have held mulloway, tailor and bream and the odd school of salmon. The same pilchard approach will work well here but if you can locate schools of baitfish via the diving birds, a well-placed metal slug will easily be the undoing of a tailor or a salmon. The ending of the El Nino and possible development of a La Nina

means there’s a little more promise for the odd rain event this winter. The flooding river mouths provide the ultimate conditions for mulloway fishing and are an excellent time to try lure fishing for this species. With the water brown and flowing hard you need something to draw a little attention. A lipless crank vibe for fishing deep and a noisy hardbody for the shallower waters are up to the task. These lure types send out a lot of noise and vibration, the very cues the mulloway will be responding to in these visibility-reduced waters. Usually the conditions are windy, wet and cold but those anglers who put in the effort and time are the ones who will come away with that fish of a lifetime. Sometimes winter feels like it’s made for the saltwater angler, as freshwater fishing in winter is not very relevant here on the Coffs Coast. The bass and trout seasons are over and so there’s not a lot on offer, but for those that just want to get out on the sweet water and earn yourself some numb fingers and toes there’s always a trip over the range. The Murray cod are only about two hours from the coast and have been firing in many rivers and dams. It might be a bit of a drive, and may leave you fending off the frostbite but there’s no reward like releasing a big cod after a massive surface strike and a hectic fight. Wherever you decide to wet a line and enjoy the cold, I hope you have great fishing and tight lines.

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Mulloway on the headlands are a winter staple in this area. Jason O’Brien caught this fish on light spin gear and a soft plastic.

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Looking at the game fishing season that was COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

As we coast into winter, it’s interesting to look back on the game fishing season that was on the

Coffs coast from the catch stats of the Solitary Islands Game Fishing Club. With a few weeks still to go at the time of writing, club members had tagged 99 marlin and weighed just one that

The autumn blues were of a high standard. Mark Smith successfully tagged this 220kg blue aboard Better Than Vegas.

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came up tail-wrapped. The breakdown was quite an even spread, with 34 blues, 34 blacks and 31 stripes. Billfish-wise, this is the most successful year in the club’s young history. The summer influx of black marlin were a touch bigger than past years, although there were still a few rats inshore. These proved an annoyance for mackerel trollers, who were often too lightly rigged to handle them. Some problem… Blue marlin are the marque billfish species of the Coffs coast though, and the season was steadysteady without the crazy hot bites of 2015. As numbers thinned out in autumn, the size increased dramatically, with a few fish over 200kg tagged and more lost. Numbers of striped marlin got the season underway in September and October, and then bobbed up again in late summer/ early autumn, giving a few boats a shot at a coveted Grand Slam (a black, blue and a striped, or a sailfish, in one day). A number got two legs of the trifecta in but missed out on the third, although local charter boat Black N Blue did tick all the boxes in this regard. The ever-reliable mahimahi that used to take the sting out of a marlinless day were practically non-existent in 2015/16. However, the gap was admirably filled by hordes of wahoo that lobbed in early summer and were still about, albeit in reduced numbers, in late autumn. No real monsters were caught, but honest fish of 8-15kg meant freezers remained stocked. It was certainly the best wahoo bite Coffs has seen in a long time, possibly ever. We ran a jethead lure

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Another brilliant mackerel season has come to a close.

Black marlin were more numerous, and a little fatter than summers past.

members of the razor gang, it was a corker of a year for Spanish and spotted mackerel yet again. The bite continued into the start of winter, although as always angling effort declines as the days get shorter and the mornings colder. That’s not to say the fish aren’t still present though. The late autumn fish weren’t a whole lot longer than the summer ones, but they were substantially deeper through the flanks and carrying a couple of extra kilos than when they first arrived in the state. Their favourite food fish, the slimy mackerel, were abundant all season, with the Wide Bait Ground and other lesser-known spots holding bait much of the time. It always amazes me though, how you can sound around a reef pre-sunup and not see a single slimy patch, but once the sun gets over the horizon they’re marking in droves. So now it’s winter and much of the effort switches to eating fish like snapper, teraglin and pearl perch. To page 29

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Mulloway make waves SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

After a pelagic season that seemed to go on forever, winter has finally decided to show its true colours in the Macleay Valley. While day temperatures have been fairly mild, there have been plenty of sub zero mornings in Kempsey and further upriver into the mountains, making the winter westerly winds as cold as ice. Finding motivation during the colder months is always challenging to say the least, especially when early starts are involved. For those who are keen, there is still a vast array of species available to get you through to the warmer months. Rock and beach anglers are currently experiencing an extraordinary run of mulloway. These fish have ranged from goodsized schoolies through to absolute monsters. The annual mullet migration was very late this year, and even when they ran the volume was down considerably. As a result, the large predatory mulloway have been laying From page 28

For the super dedicated, there are yellowfin tuna to be had, and striped marlin also, the only drawback being those incessant sou’westers are often a

in wait for the spawning fish to arrive. Most rocky outcrops, inshore reefs and headlands along our coastline have been absolutely loaded with mulloway for months now. This pattern seems to be similar both up and down the coastline of New South Wales this year. Larger paddle-tail soft plastics like the Lunker City Shaker 6” as well as large whole live and dead baits consistently catch the bigger fish. Big tailor are also in abundance this winter, especially when spinning the washes during the low light periods of dawn and dusk. Bream, drummer and groper are just a few of many other species that can be targeted off the headlands. The best time to chase the above species is directly after periods of larger swell when the waves loosen up all the food from the rocks that these fish feed on. Kingfish are another species that have revived in the area lately. These fish have shown up in the river and along the beaches quite frequently, which is not that common. They have also been around their usual haunts – around the

headlands, Green Island, Black Rock, Fish Rock and just about every wreck and pinnacle located out to about 250m or so. It is hard to go past a live slimy mackerel or yellowtail when chasing kingfish. In most of these situations remember that bait cannot be used within 200m of Fish Rock and Green Island due to grey nurse shark sanctuary zones. Knife jigs and larger octo jigs can be just as productive on any given day and can be legally used within these sanctuary zones. Bottom fishing is at its most productive out in the 60-80m regions at present. Pearl perch, teraglin, venus tuskfish and snapper are all on the cards when fishing this depth. As we progress into winter the shallow reef fishery will become stronger and light jigging and soft plastic fishing will be successful, as well as the good old method of anchoring up and setting a berley trail to drift baits down. Mackerel and yellowfin tuna are still around the place along with some straggling longtails. Troll lures from spot to spot while bottom fishing to get into a

lot stronger out on the shelf than they are along the coast. With the current easing out wide and in light of the success in Tasmania,

Victoria and on the NSW south coast, there’s going to be greater interest in deep dropping for broadbill swordfish this winter and spring. A few people have

Martin Nicholls with a mulloway caught off a wreck offshore. few mackerel and wahoo. As with the rocks and beaches, the Macleay River has also been loaded with mulloway. While some of the fish are smaller in the river, it is still definitely the place to catch the fish of a lifetime. Live baiting is probably the best method to snare a big mulloway in the

river. The phrase ‘bigger is better’ is definitely relevant when live baiting in the river as bigger baits keep the bream at bay and cut out the chances of catching one

of the resident undersized schoolies. Just remember if you use a fish for live bait it must be of legal length if a legal length is applicable for that given species.

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Andrew Barter hooked up to a stubborn blue of over 200kg on Seaborn. Photo courtesy of Tony Zann.

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Mandy Saxon with yet another Samaki Vibelicious victim. the Camden Haven waterways producing bream along the rock walls and in a few of the deeper holes. Vibration blades, soft vibes and deep worked plastics will get you into the action – just be aware the leatherjackets are on the walls in the Hastings and they love plastics! I lean towards the vibes when they are around as it is easy to lose a packet of plastics pretty quickly on the jackets. For the shorebased bait anglers the bream will take a lightly weighted

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Shelly and John hold this cracking 110cm mulloway that Shelly caught on a plastic in the Hastings. whitebait or a live nipper, and you can definitely tell when the bream are around as all the regulars gather on the wall of an evening for their bream fix. Try to get to the walls an hour before the high tide for an attempt at the bream there, and fish the top and the start of the run-out. July is a good month to chase mulloway in the river, and the Hastings and Camden Haven rivers will throw up some big girls this month. Night forays are the go, and fishing from a boat will give you some great advantages. Anchor along the coal wall in the Hastings and live bait with mullet, tailor or herring to connect with a silver slab. You can also use fillets of fresh tailor and mullet as

sometimes this will work better than livies. On my boat I like to have a live bait on one rod and a slab bait on another. Don’t dismiss casting around a hardbodied mulloway lure while you wait for a run on one of your bait rods. This can certainly get interesting when you hook-up and have two lines out anchored. Have a fishing companion on board to assist. For daytime anglers mulloway will be present in most of the deeper holes in the river systems and we use lures to catch them in this situation. Samaki 100mm Soft Vibes have been excellent, and a mix of 4-7” plastics will do the job also. Some of note that have worked well recently for

me are the Dragon Maggots, the 5” Fish Arrow Flash Js and the new 5” Boom Bait Bomb Shad – the tail action is a winner on these. Good luck and remember that persistence produces! The luderick scene is alive and well with the rocks and the rivers producing. I’m still amazed to see the old blackfish crew all out and fishing with their weed flies. For these tasty critters try the bend on the south wall near the police station. The town jetty and also Settlement Point Road are two other noted spots to watch a float. Flathead become a little less active when the cooler water appears, yes we can still catch them but a change of tactics is in order. Firstly, I tend to slow down the retrieve more than usual and secondly, I use bigger curl-tails as they don’t have to be worked that hard and the tail action is always pulsating with the slightest of tidal movement. Even dead sticking can get results with curly grubs. BEACH FISHING If the sand is your go, now is a great time for salmon. Lighthouse, Cathie and North beaches have a fair few around. Pilchards on ganged hooks have been getting results and there have been a few nice tailor in catches as well. Fish the run-up on dark or first light in the morning for consistent results. Another great way to enjoy a few hours when the salmon are there is to flick around a 4-5” soft plastic. The Squidgy Slick Rigs are great for this type of fishing, as they are already rigged with weight and it’s just a matter of tying one on and casting and retrieving into the likely holes and gutters you find. OFFSHORE I haven’t had any chance to get out myself lately but the word is there have been some nice reds on the Laurieton grounds in depths of 15-40m. Not a lot of bigger fish have been found, but who doesn’t like reds at 2-4 kg? The Cathie grounds have been patchy. If you make a good catch, email me a picture so we can put it in the mag.

Scott and Aiden with a couple of nice school mulloway from upriver.

Getting that cold winter bite FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

With the winter chill finally making its presence felt, along with the short days, there is no real escape from the cold. The best part about winter is there is still plenty of action around the place to make the cool starts well worthwhile. There are big bream in the estuary, snapper and trag off the coast and tasty drummer and blackfish around the

Paddock racks and the bridge pylons ideal areas to start a search for the trophy blue-nosed bream. It’s often possible to locate big schools of snowy bream (covered in yellow scale spots) fresh from the coast and they will fight over your lure and bait. It’s a combination of competition and the necessity to put on condition after the torrid mating that has left their bellies empty. The larger fish tend to be a looser group of fish that hold station pre and post spawn. Basically, all

The bream need to travel along the breakwalls so this is another spot that deserves a fish. Through the day the blackfish dominate the walls, but as night falls the bream get involved. The mulloway fishing from the walls has been mixed, though the remnant mullet schools are enough encouragement to get down and try your luck. There have been a few fish over 20kg I’ve been alerted to, so a live bait or slow rolled plastic may be just the ticket on the slack water of a run-out.

Drifting whitebait or soft plastics prawns is the go for the flathead and the resident bream that have held up in the rivers. Yabby baits in the rivers will attract the attention of some stud whiting, but don’t be surprised if you encounter the occasional school mulloway as well. Rock fishing at this time of year has to be my favourite activity without doubt. Apart from the early morning chill chasing tailor or bream, most of the day you can challenge the pigs to a tug-o-war, and the best time is a rising tide with a trickle of bread berley and about 1kg of cooked prawns. The pigs will bite at any time of the day and often into the night if you can tolerate the cold. A leader of around 20-30lb, a 0-00 running ball sinker to a 1/0 hook and you’re in business. Pick a wash or deep channel close to the rocks and the fun begins. For the nocturnal anglers, the options from the rocks include throwing yabbies into the washes and potholes for the travelling schools of blackfish. It isn’t a style of fishing for everyone and I’d suggest an auto lifejacket and a quality headlamp as part of your kit. The best of the night fishing is when the tides are at their biggest, so new moon

Big blue-nosed bream are lurking around the lower estuary structures, and once hooked are hard to extract in the cooler months of winter. The tailor quality from the rocks and beaches has been mixed, from small choppers to fish over 1kg. Early mornings before the sun peaks over the edge of the world would be my choice, though nights are productive too. Ganged hooks and

beaches, but nothing I’ve heard of was over 15kg. Still, I’m sure we’d all be happy with a silver slab that size. Bream, dart and silver trevally are all possible from the beaches, and are more likely the closer you fish to a headland.

Catching bream from the rocks is an easy deal through winter, and there are big fish amongst the scores of smaller fish. rocks, so everyone should be catered for, no matter what their preference. The beauty of winter and bream is they are accessible from the rocks and the lower estuary. The crossover of late and early spawning fish makes The

the bream returning from or leaving to the coast have to pass through the structures near the bridge and the bridge itself. Evening is generally when the majority of movement happens with the relevant tidal flow.

The flathead have thinned out in the lower estuary and are often caught as a result of fishing the racks for bream. For more consistent flathead fishing, I’d suggest the river mouths or the shallow bends of rivers themselves.

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School mulloway will be taken from the rocks, beaches and rivers… They spread far and wide. periods are my pick. The bigger tides give the fish better access to areas that may have been inaccessible on smaller tides. It also makes it easier to fish with more water in and around the given rock formations.

pilchard or strip baits are easily cast and soaked in the gutters but a 65g Raider pelted beyond the breakers is a great way to keep warm and active. There have been a few mulloway reported from the

Offshore there have been plenty of reds, morwong, flathead and straggling pelagics. The best advice is to fish the inshore gravel beds for a mixed bag of fish, and don’t forget the plastics to bounce for the stud snapper.

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Rain to dictate future HARRINGTON-TAREE

Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

The weather here has been cold enough, but as July rolls around it will be much colder and wetter. We have experienced a bit of a drought in the Manning since January and the freshwater part of the Manning is barely flowing. However, the local old timers predict that we are in for a wet winter. Some of them are in their nineties and have been correct with their predictions in years gone past. With a La Nina weather pattern predicted for the Australian side of the Pacific Ocean, there could easily be heaps of rain over winter. This would certainly help the fishing with a bit of a fresh coming down the river to flush it out a bit. If we get some solid rain in the upper reaches of the river then we could have a decent winter flood. A winter flood disrupts the fishing and is no good for the farmers especially if the water stays up for a few days. ESTUARY The big seas, large swell and the west to southerly winds have not helped fishing in the Manning area. Bream have

both the inside and outside of the wall. There are still a few mullet in the system but not much is happening with them.

stayed late this year and provided some great fun for anglers. Usually they leave by the end of February. The water was extremely warm

Len Verankamp with a fly-caught bream from the Manning. Saltwater flyfishing is becoming more popular here. BEACH AND ROCK Prior to the bad weather there were good schools of tailor on Crowdy Beach with a few salmon as well. The southern end of the beach produced some nice-sized bream and the occasional whiting in recent weeks. Presently, the sea is too rough for safe fishing on the beach

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Putting up with cold, wet conditions paid off in this instance, with a quality flathead making it all worthwhile. been scarce for a couple of weeks and it looks as if they will not school up to spawn for two or three weeks. Flathead are on the bite from the wall at Harrington. Anglers who use live herrings as live bait for mulloway have landed quite a few fish over 75cm on the slack water. There have been some nice luderick taken on green weed fished on a float from

or on the rocks. The tailor should be back when the seas calm down. OFFSHORE The rough weather has had the same effect on fishing as it has on the beaches and rocks. However, prior to the bad weather the fishing was great. Spotted mackerel, spanish mackerel, longtail tuna and bonito were all on the go. The mackerel

beaches and around the headlands. If they don’t then it will be bream in the estuary, luderick on green weed during the day and on yabbies at night. The flathead will be buried in the mud and only take a bait if it is dragged past its nose. Assuming no flood comes along, then there should be great breaming to be had in the lower part of the estuary. JULY 2016

Port Stephens rocks in July! PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Despite July being smack bang in the middle of winter, it’s always a good month for fishing in Port Stephens. If you can put up with the cold, there’s some great fishing to be had, with bream, luderick, drummer, tailor, salmon and snapper all on the chew. ESTUARY The luderick fishing in Port Stephens at this time

It’s not hard to catch bream in Port Stephens right now. All you need to do is fish around high tide with a unweighted prawn or nipper and you will rack up big numbers of them with some pushing well over 1kg. A few good areas to target them is off the rockwalls, inside Nelson Bay Marina and off the Jetties at Shoal Bay and Little beach. If you have access to a boat, the bream fishing is even better. Just about all the islands, rock bars and oyster leases throughout the port

year, especially around calm bays and gutters that have lots of sea lettuce growing adjacent to the edges of the waterline. Drummer, which are the bigger meaner cousins of luderick, are also peaking in numbers around the wash zone and will readily take a cunjevoi or peeled prawn bait. They also respond well to a bread mix berley. The beauty of fishing this way around the wash is you will also pick up plenty of welcome by-catch, like bream and

common. The best areas to try will be along Stockton and Hawks Nest beaches, as well as Samurai and One mile. Keep an eye out this month for schools of salmon in the surf, which make for fantastic fun, when throwing small metals or stickbaits, especially on lighter gear. Fingal Spit will be worth the walk if you’re casting a few pilchards or garfish around for tailor with quality green backs to 2kg a real chance. OUTSIDE Regardless if your bait or lure fishing, there will be good numbers of snapper around this month from Fishermans Bay all the way to Seal Rocks. The secret is going to be concentrating your efforts around the shallow reefs during dawn and dusk times and moving onto deeper water (30-50m) when the suns up. Al-mark Mountain is accounting for plenty of kingfish with 300-400g jigs doing the job, but if your feeling a lazy, live baits will also get scoffed. If you do go out to Al-mark it pays to have a bottom fish with plenty of tasty critters on offer in the way of longfin perch, snapper, bar cod and gemfish.

This is ideal environment to target luderick off the rocks.

If you’re heading offshore, it’s all about snapper this month. Luke Cameron nailed this big brute, which looked to be pushing 20lb on the old scale! of year, particularly along the Nelson Bay Rockwall, is arguably the best you’ll find anywhere in Australia. The prime time to fish for them is around 1 hour before the tide change through to about 2 hours after. While weed has been a bit scarce locally, you should have no trouble getting yourself a bucket full from the ocean rocks. Make sure that when you go collecting cabbage, it’s low tide and on a calm day.

will be holding bream. Squid won’t be hard to find this month with Shoal Bay, Jimmys and Little Beach great places to catch them in the estuary. There’s good mulloway to be caught on lures through the winter months with Oyster Cove, Karuah Bridges and the Salamander Wreck all worth a shot. OFF THE ROCKS Luderick are plentiful off the rocks this time of

juvenile snapper right up to thumping blue grouper that call this area home. Tailor and Australian salmon are another good option from the stones, with early morning and late afternoon fishing around the points and headlands very productive. OFF THE BEACH The beaches often produce good numbers of mulloway with schoolsized fish to about 10kg

It’s a fantastic month to target big mulloway using live baits and larger lures.

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When cold meets warm HUNTER COAST

Gary Earl earlybird13@optusnet.com.au

By the time you’re reading this our warm weather should be cooling, and no one can say it’s been uneventful. What a great warm season we had with the currents running solid very close into the coast bringing fish with it. It let medium size fishing boats get out and have a go. It’s been one of the best seasons in years. Offshore the big guns got stuck into marlin, mostly striped and small blacks, and the numbers were great with some boats tagging and releasing up to ten fish per day. The same can be said about the mahimahi. Then we had snapper and kingfish in a little closer. The snapper were around in good numbers

A bait that no bream can pass up. Mussels might be hard to keep on a hook, so put two or three on then wrap a small piece of cotton around them, that way bream can’t get them off so easy.

A salmon spun on a lure on a beach in Newcastle. These fish will start to move through in huge schools, just look for birds or dark patches of water.

Barry Latham with a huge flathead taken on a strip of mullet off Stockton. along with some great morwong, both red and blue. Tailor were mixed in with spats of school kingfish, and it’s highly likely the kingfish will get bigger and better from here on out. The back of the washes off Stockton out from the waves have had plenty of anglers filling their eskies with sand flathead, which I can say were probably stacked on each other. Most aren’t huge, but just over legal size. The beaches themselves off Newcastle have produced great whiting, bream and flathead, with

tailor in the afternoons. The rock hoppers are in on the action with luderick and drummer (both are in big numbers), but very few have been landed. I talked to a few scuba diving shops and some divers that were leaving the water near the Carry Hole, all said big drummer were out from the rocks along with the luderick, and they said they had another dive the day before off the Glen Rock area and they were thick in close. So I am sure they will start to feed and move around a little more as the water cools. In the river itself, drifting for flathead has been what has been working the best. Both baits and lures have seen some good catches, and the usual sandy patches out from the north end of Kooragang Island have been the best spot where the two rivers meet. I can’t quite pin it down as to why this area is flathead city, I have jumped to the conclusion that the different arms of

the river are at different temperatures, so they congregate there and look for whitebait, sprats and prawns that are washing down back out to sea. School mulloway alsolove this area, as there are areas of depths that can go from 12ft down to over 100ft into the shipping lanes. If you can sit over these away from any vessels and have

live or the freshest mullet or squid under your boat, you should hook into some nice mulloway and sharks. Unfortunately super sized eagle rays also hang around here, so have your baits up from the bottom. The blue swimmer crabs kept some people busy and the numbers that were taken were incredible. Some families that went out came back with big bucks

in a spot I unfortunately can’t tell you, as I’m sworn to secrecy. Even as I write, it’s fairly mild, but not super cold. We may see what happened about ten years ago, that being warm water and cool water coinciding around all areas of reef, beach and offshore, and we were catching fish that should have moved on… here’s hoping.

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Snap to it and brave the cold the better the results you will see. Spend a few dollars to get good, warm clothing, and take a few extra moments to make that thermos of coffee before you head out. Trust me – you will be glad you did! BREAM ANGLING Some bream anglers I know don’t get overly excited about lure fishing for bream during the cooler months. They love topwater hardbodies, a technique that won’t achieve as much at this time of year. In saying that, I love slowly working 2-3” soft plastics or

SWANSEA

Jason Scerri jayro@hotmail.com.au

The cold was a little late this year but it certainly hit with a bang. The ambient and sea temperatures have fallen dramatically and we finally have the winter we are used to. With temperatures now averaging 15-20°C, anglers must adapt to the cooler conditions if they are to ensure they get their share of the action in the cooler months. There are a few key things to remember when it comes to fishing during the cooler months of the year here on Lake Macquarie, NSW. The fish are still there and for some species they’re in better numbers and quality during cooler periods, so make a few small changes and capitalise on it. The main thing for lure anglers is to slow down your retrieve. As a rule I also tend to downsize my lures a little as well. Regardless of species, if you slow down that retrieve, and add a few slightly longer pauses, that may be all that is needed to turn an ordinary day into an action packed one. As regular readers of my article know, I love to hit the deeper water during the cooler months. Just as you need to adapt your fishing style to maximise your chances in the winter months I also believe if you ensure you are dressed to the conditions you will be far more comfortable out there, and you will enjoy it more – and the more relaxed you are

rocky edges drop into the deeper sections. It may not be as exciting as topwater fishing, but it is still a great option and trust me, plenty of fun is to be had along with good results if you do opt to give it a go. Chain Valley Bay has been a favourite for many anglers over the years during winter months, although it has lost a little of its appeal over recent years with poorer results. Still, I for one will be back down there again this year to try my luck as I’m sure there are still good fish to be found.

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good tailor and salmon schools have been working the beaches up and down our part of the coast. Bait anglers are doing well on fish baits such as pilchard cubes and strips of mullet. A few anglers have also thrown around soft plastics from the beaches, and

Rodney Austin with a nice 60cm snapper. Rod has managed a few this season on soft plastics.

small 3-5g vibes/blades around deeper sections of the lake that may be over cockle beds or weed beds or even where

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I often get asked what an Aquaventure is. The Aquaventure is exactly what it sounds like, an aquatic adventure chasing Australian native fish. The adventure part comes with the terrain these fish live, getting there, and catching them on either lure or fly. The best part of the Aquaventure experience is the increased accessibility to great Australian fish for the general public. The main target of Aquaventures is the wily sooty grunter, which in my opinion is a very underrated sportfish. They are formidable fighters with an aggressive appetite. Other species on offer are jungle perch, mangrove jack, barramundi and tarpon. These fish live in a diverse range of waters, but we concentrate on targeting them in rivers. I use my Argo, which is an 8-wheel ATV vehicle that floats (it’s even rated to a 9.9hp max outboard) to cover

a lot of distance. This makes larger rivers and bigger holes more comfortable to fish in, such as the Burdekin River

in the Charters Towers region where 10km+ can be covered in a day with ease. I also have kayak trips available that cater for one angler. One angler per trip on the yak trips creates a more

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personal experience between guide and angler and avoids separation, which can happen in a group of yaks. This

Big sooty grunter are the prime target of Aquaventures, however, many other species can and will be caught during the outings.

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they too have nailed some good fish. So there you have it for this month. Sure it’s cold and it’s a little hard to get motivated. But do yourself a favour, put the effort in and give it a go. You might just be pleasantly surprised at your results.

An Aquaventure for everybody!

Bream anglers should also score some good numbers by using these same methods around boat moorings and off the edges of jetties. You may find small tailor a problem at times but it’s just a matter of persisting and sifting through them for the better bream that are in the mix – or trying another bay until you find the bream. Salts Bay and around Moon Island are jam packed with solid salmon schools again this year. It really is great fun and bait anglers, fly fishers and lure throwers are all out there getting into them. Generally half pilchards 15 Wallarah Street Watkins Road or even whole pilchards with no weight is the key for bait Swansea Wangi Wangi Crescent Street 30 Gommera Street Street 15 Wallarah Street Watkins 24 Paley Crescent 24 Paley 30 Gommera 15 Wallarah Watkins Road anglers, and Road lure fishers love Belmont South Blacksmiths Swansea Wangi Wangi A spacious tree filled park Nestled between the shores Belmont South Blacksmiths Swansea Wangi Wangi Located on a peninsular Juststroll a shortfrom stroll from quiet and A spacious tree filled park Nestled between the shores Located onLocated a peninsular surrounded small a short on a peninsular Just a shortJust stroll from A spaciousthe tree filled park Nestled between the shores 3” minnow style soft surrounded the Lake, with the quiet andand patrolled on the shores of the Lake. of Lake Macquarie and on the shores of the Lake. ofthebyLake Macquarie surrounded the Lake, with quiet and patrolled on the shores of the Lake. of Lake Macquarie and by the Lake, by with waterfront Blacksmiths beach. 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Lovelyfish in the deep and there are ampsites modern accommodation or options and family friendly quiet settings for campsites andand campsites and modern accommodation or options and family friendly quiet settings for campsites A range accommodation land. and Lovely forsettings for campsites modern accommodationand or campsites options familymodern friendly accommodation quiet settings for campsites andofand or Park options familyquiet friendlysettings quiet nient location. large campsites available. facilities. and accommodation. convenient location. large campsites available. facilities. and accommodation. 24 large Paley Crescent 30 Gommera Street 15and Wallarah Street Watkins Road campsites available. facilities. accommodation. options and family friendly facilities. campsites and accommodation. convenient location. large campsites available. facilities. and accommodation. a few mulloway in the mix as Belmont South Blacksmiths Swansea Wangi Wangi F3 well, which is great news. 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Young Bella with a 40cm flathead that fell for her Keitech soft plastic.

FISHING FILL-ITS

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out of sight and I can only assume that these quality snapper are also a result of the ban on commercial fishing here on the lake. Lure anglers have been catching some very nice reds in that 50-65cm range which is fantastic to see in our lake and a great sign for us in the years to come. OFFSHORE ANTICS Offshore anglers have come across the odd blue marlin but they are few and far between that’s for sure. Some reasonable yellowfin tuna have also been encountered. Most crews pull a spread of skirted game lures in that 6-8” range. Most boats will include a deep diving hardbody lure in their spread if they are specifically targeting tuna on the troll. The offshore reefs are producing some quality table fish. Nice-sized snapper and plenty of great kingfish are filling the eskies of many boats heading offshore. Live baits are proving effective and claiming a few very nice mulloway, which is not bad by-catch in anyone’s language. The beaches have also produced the goods for many anglers. Some really

The Argo, decked out and ready to go!

way the angler is placed in prime position for the first cast at the new spots, which increases your catch rate and experience. I also offer walking/ hiking trips. These days are geared to chase jungle perch in the remote mountain streams between Townsville and Ingham. The client’s fitness level will be the deciding factor of where and how far we walk. I am extremely flexible with my trips and like to plan to the individual’s specific needs and quote accordingly. I love teaching and sharing my fishing knowledge, so not only will we be fishing but I will also offer tips and advice as we go along. – Vinnie Versfeld

Midwinter mulloway madness CENTRAL COAST

Jamie Robley jrobley@iprimus.com.au

The depths of winter can spell tough fishing along this stretch of coast and there’s no denying that early starts aren’t exactly pleasurable. Throw in an icy southwesterly wind or a dreary, overcast day

this time of year, luderick are one of our main species worth chasing. Recently I witnessed a couple of blokes hooking into a few at Budgewoi and a few days before that I also spotted a huge mob of luderick darting out from a weedy lake bank while I was lure casting for bream. Although I don’t fish for estuary dwelling luderick much

cost much to put together and you’ll be good to go. Some reliable winter luderick spots along the Central Coast include Woy Woy Channel, the bridges on the northern side of Woy Woy, throughout The Entrance area on both sides of the bridge, either end of Toukley Bridge and Budgewoi Channel. There are, of course, plenty of

The author with an average lake flathead, which is an ideal size for the pan. A few of these should be on offer at The Entrance and throughout Brisbane Waters this month. and simply being out there may become challenging. On the flip side though, it’s common to score a string of nice, sunny days and an afternoon mission can be relaxing and potentially rewarding. Due to the shallow nature of Brisbane Waters and our lakes, water temperatures can actually rise slightly through the day, and a minor increase of only 2-3°C is often enough to get fish to open their mouths and take a bait or lure. As is always the case at

these days, it was one of my long time angling interests for many years, and seeing a few caught always sparks my enthusiasm. For those who are yet to try luderick fishing, I strongly suggest making the small investment in a proper blackfish rod and traditional centrepin reel like one of the Alvey models. A small tackle kit with a few stem floats, small hooks, split shot and some decent quality 4-6lb fluorocarbon leader doesn’t

Yes, the salmon are here now. This one smashed a surface popper at Catherine Hill Bay.

other spots where they can be caught, but any on this short list should probably be investigated first. Stringy green weed, found growing right around the fringes of Tuggerah Lakes, is the main type of bait used on our local fish, but if it’s a bit hard to find then most of the better bait and tackle shops sell the stuff. It can also be worth trying green sea lettuce or cabbage that grows around the ocean rocks, and several types of dark brown coloured lake weed. So if the standard green weed isn’t working, take a look around and see if other anglers are catching fish with a different type of weed. Bream numbers have been reasonably good this year, but the coming weeks can be tough. So the very best baits like bloodworms, mullet gut, chicken gut, freshly cut garfish or tailor and good quality prawns will be in with a better chance than second rate stuff. Lighter or finer lines and minimal sinker weight also help the cause. At this point, my favourite cold water bream lure is the Daiwa Tournament Baby Vib and I have a particular preference for the matt shad colour, which has grey sides and an orange belly. I’ve also had good success with some other colours in the range, but for whatever reason, bream really do

love that one! Regardless of the exact lure type chosen, the general strategy over the coming weeks is to cast out wider, into deeper water and work lures at a slow pace, with plenty of pauses. Even when using metal vibes it’s quite common for bream to pluck at it on the bottom even after it’s been sitting there motionless for a while. Berkley Gulps are another winter favourite and despite the popularity of some other plastics on the market these days, I reckon Gulps are still the deadliest overall for bream. The extra flavour or scent can be just enough to flick the switch and get a hesitant bream to take a bite, rather than just look or follow. As I often mention, rock fishing is quite reliable through the winter months and it’s a great way to stay warm, climbing or walking around and hopefully finding a nice spot to fish in the sun, rather than shade. Having said that, if fish like bream or drummer are the target, then shaded water is normally more productive than spots with the sun beaming into the water. When it’s dull and overcast though, this obviously matters less. Love them or hate them, salmon are now with us in their usual winter numbers. Last year we had a lot of very small salmon along the rocks and beaches. They’re okay to catch, but a tad boring compared with the 3kg sambos that used to be a lot more common through the cooler months. Other fish that are on the cards this month are tailor around the rocks, beaches and inshore bommies as well as snapper, trevally and kingfish. There’s also a chance of mulloway along the beaches, but you’ll certainly have to be rugged up and wearing waders to fish into the night this month.

John Grant with a school mulloway caught soon after sunset. While it hasn’t been a great year for beach mulloway, there’s always a chance for those who put in the effort with good quality baits.

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JULY 2016

Looking for the floaters ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

This is it, we are right in the middle of snapper season all along the Illawarra coast. The new moon is at the beginning of the month, and the full moon is on 20 July, so those two weeks in between should be prime snapper time. The morning high tides should fish well close to the new moon, while afternoons will fish better nearer to the full moon with the high tides later in the day. LOOKING FOR FLOATERS At this time of the year, most methods work well but the top two are to either berley using cuttlefish for bait, or just look for the floating cuttlefish and cast unweighted baits at them. Cuttlefish is best. It doesn’t happen every day, but the sight of two or three large snapper on the surface taking turns at grabbing hold of a spent cuttlefish and driving with their tails to drag the cuttlie down and tear a piece of flesh off is amazing. Early mornings on weekdays with little boat traffic will work best, usually with a light westerly blowing, making conditions in close smooth and often only a few hundred metres from the shore. You can see the spray flying into the air from a kilometre away. Rushing over to feeding snapper for a look won’t get you anywhere. This is where patience is a virtue as a very slow approach is the only way when they are

on the surface. They may be feeding, but when up on top and in shallow water the danger sensors are still finetuned, and too much noise or speed will see them gone before you get anywhere near casting distance. You can spot them from shore at times, but it hurts too much to look if you can’t get at them. Approach into the wind so you blow away from the activity, so if you miss you can motor back and have

This is what it is about, a 7kg snapper taken from under a cuttlefish. These fish are fit and fat after gorging on cuttlefish.

This is what you are looking for, a floater. The albatross and the snapper will demolish it in a short time. This one has already been chewed on. another crack. Drifting onto them just puts them down. Cast as close as you can to the cuttlie and leave the bail open so the line peels off the reel as you drift away, allowing the bait to sink down below naturally. If a snapper grabs your bait

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the line will fly off the reel rapidly. Most times you won’t see snapper, only the floating dead cuttlie, often with a few albatross grabbing a feed, so spotting floaters and albatross and casting as you find them is the way to go. Picking a good reef and berleying will get you way more fish over the season, but it is nowhere near as much fun. Then again, a big red smashing your bait in the berley and

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taking off has some merits. Snapper aren’t the toughest fighters, so fishing as light as you dare will get many more bites. Lines around 4-8kg of nylon are ample. For some reason braid and berley trails hasn’t worked that well for me, so clear or green nylon is my preference. There’s no need to feel sensitive bites, as the reds usually smash and grab it, and a little stretch in the line never hurt anyone. Once you get into 10kg breaking strains or better, the strike rate goes right down. You might get the few fish you hook rather than lose one or two of the multitude you hook when using lighter lines, but it is much more fun on the light stuff. You never know what will grab a piece of cuttlefish at the moment with anything from groper to kings all getting in on the act. OTHER OPTIONS Plenty of bream are still hanging around the shallow bays and in the washes, around the headlands and islands with small pieces of cuttlefish great bait for these too. Salmon, tailor and trevally all come into the mix as they pick up the

scraps left by the albatross and larger predators. Further offshore, there has been the odd report of a yellowfin or two out around the shelf and beyond, and the eagerly awaited arrival of the southern bluefin usually happens in July, but as usual they will be so far out when they get this far up the coast you will almost need to get your passport stamped. Heading 60km and more out in a small boat in winter is not a great idea for any fish, so make sure your boat is suitable for this venture. Out around the shelf with the current backing off, the bottom fish will be worth a look with blue eye trevalla, gemfish and the odd hapuka lining up at the Kiama Canyons. Mako sharks often tax a few fish,

and just about every type of reef fish have been sent into a frenzy with all the cuttlefish about, and if you like leatherjackets, now is the time to get out the long shank no. 4 hooks and drop down over any reef with a small piece of cuttlefish. You’ll pull them up with every drop. They are thick over the reefs at the moment. Off the rocks, it is bread and butter fishing with bream, drummer and blackfish the main targets. Most of the headlands and washes have a few fish with cabbage weed and prawns being the prime baits for the drummer, and blackfish and cuttlefish for everything else. On the deeper ledges there are some solid salmon and a few trevally

is still worth the cold for a bronze slab. Salmon are the mainstay for the beach anglers, with most good gutters holding fish early in the mornings. A few whiting are even about and they are whoppers, but getting worms is difficult and will make you very cold. A few bream will round off the catches over the coming weeks. It is also not uncommon to catch snaper in the surf in July, particularly if there is a bit of southeast in the wind. This blows the floating cuttlefish into the surf and the snapper will often follow them right in, usually if it is very overcast and rainy or during the evenings and nights. For the estuaries, my advice would be to give it a miss. If you are desperate

When it gets tough in winter, you can always rely on a few salmon to show up. but they can add to the fun. For the close in bottom bouncers, there are still a few good-sized flathead about, but they’re not in any great numbers. The snapper are the main target, with good catches falling to the drifters. The mowies

taking pilchards, and some nice snapper during the late afternoon and early mornings. On the beaches, there is still the odd mulloway popping up here and there. You have to work a little harder this month, but it

there will be a few bream in the lake along the edges of the weed beds and rocky shores of the islands and around the bridge. The feeder streams will throw up a few more bream later in the month around the snags.

Mega mulloway on the march NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

July on the south coast of NSW is make or break time for us fishers. We can either harden up and put up with the cold, miserable conditions this time of year usually dishes out, or we can be like a big fat grizzly bear and sit in our caves, hibernating and sulking for the next few months until the weather warms. It’s been a long season for the mulloway anglers off the beach this winter, with plenty of smaller fish being caught earlier on before a long lull with not many

fish. This was partly due to conditions not being right and a lack of concentrated bait on our beaches like tailor and salmon. Now things are looking up with a few better sized fish being taken by those willing to put in the time and effort. It’s no secret that Seven Mile Beach that runs from the mouth of the Crookhaven River right up to Gerroa produces some of the best fish on our coast. It’s not the only one though, so do your homework and reconnaissance and you may surprise yourself with where you catch one of these monsters of the beach. The river on the other hand has had some awesome

Karen Orford got stuck into the plus sized mulloway and had this giant to show for it!

mulloway fishing, not only in the winter months, but for most of the year. It’s continuing to fish well, and the soft plastic fishers are

what happens, and when it all comes together and you get onto a good school, you get to reap the rewards and brag about getting your arms

Tom and Allan Shackleton with a nice pair of Block jigged kings on a recent charter aboard Sea Lady Charters with Roy Brooks. Kane Martin with the rewards from a recent mulloway session. getting plenty of smaller fish while the better fish seem to be coming under the cover of darkness and are being caught by the bait anglers using either yakkas or slimies when available. Offshore there have been some nice kingfish at both the Banks and the Block And Cheese. However, they have been on the move and you can’t predict their day-to-day location, so it’s a bit of a ‘suck it and see’ situation at the moment. Sometimes you just have to go and see

pulled from their sockets by these hard-fighting fish! Not to mention the delicious steaks or fillets you get from a reasonable sized fish. I never thought of kingies as much of a table fish until I was told how to cook them, or should I say, how to not overcook them. St Georges Basin’s water temperature has now dropped to around the 13-14°C mark, which is typical for this time of year. The local population of massive tailor are causing havoc for anglers

fishing for the bread and butter species like bream and flathead. Not only are they biting their lures off mid retrieve, but they’re also chomping anglers’ catches in half before they get them back to the boat! Some of these tailor are up around the 1m mark, making them awesome predators, and perhaps their only predator is the mulloway, which are becoming more and more prevalent in the basin. The winter run of reds has started in the basin with the night time bait fishers getting some great catches, with plenty of fish around

the 1kg mark and some of the better fish upwards of 3kg. Floating baits in a berley trail while on the pick, is still one of the most productive and fun ways to catch reddies in the basin. Sitting back waiting for the unmistakable run of a good red as it screams off with your bait is pretty cool and always gets the blood pumping! We’re almost on the downhill run now to summer, and it won’t be long and we’ll be chasing marlin, bass and surface feeding whiting again! See you next month. Johnny out!

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JULY 2016

Red hot beach action MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The beaches surrounding Merimbula are some of the most productive along the coast, especially in the midst of winter.

Pelagic species like salmon and tailor are prolific at present with bream, whiting, mulloway and gummy sharks also making anglers’ happy. Most beaches are holding fish with North Tura, Tura Main and Pambula the better ones to try as all these

A couple of deep-sea ooglies destined for the pan.

JULY 2016

beaches have decent deep gutters along their length. Pambula has been a standout with the mouth to the river section excellent. I know of several mulloway up to 11kg plus a handful of gummy sharks coming from this area over recent weeks, so it’s certainly worth a look. The anglers I talked to have been using fresh tailor fillets for bait and fishing the evening run-in tide into the night. Big bunches of live beach worms have also worked with some solid yellowfin bream finding the wrigglers hard to resist. Offshore it’s exciting times too, with tuna on everyone’s lips. The yellowfin have been sporadic, they are there but there’s plenty of miles between them. This month should see more numbers and bigger fish if the reports north of us are anything to go by. What we will definitely see is SBT. This month is the start of it all for these brutes, and fish to well over 100kg are possible with trolling the better technique early in the season. As for their whereabouts, only time will tell, but I suspect the usual 60km+ drive east will be on the cards. There’s been

Black bream are a popular target species during winter. the odd fish caught further south of us, so it won’t be long before they’re on our doorstep. Another exciting fishery that’s opening up, but I suspect has been here all the time, is the broadbill swordfish. These creatures of the deep have been actively targeted and captured during daylight hours, which has never really been done before. It was always thought of as a nighttime gig, but that’s been proven wrong with 7-8 fish caught along this part of the coast over recent weeks. These things

are big too, with 100kg fish the norm, and many bigger fish captured and lost also. It’s only a matter of time before a 300kg broady is caught, then the heavens will open up. Closer to shore the snapper are in full swing. They’re not big fish, but there’s plenty of them. Most reefs are holding fish with Horseshoe a standout. It seems that a lot of the good fishing of late has been south around Pambula, so I know here I’d be going. In the estuaries, both Pambula and Merimbula are

firing nicely without being red hot. The channels in both systems have been productive for trevally, salmon, tailor and the odd flathead. Anglers fishing soft plastics in the fast water are faring best with sessions of 20+ fish the norm, which isn’t bad for the middle of winter. In Pambula, these same channels are loaded with big tailor all around 40-50cm. Yes, they are great fun, but you’re going to go through some tackle chasing them, so using a heavier leader than normal is certainly the go. To page 43

NSW South Coast

Kingfish conquer coast NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

Even though it’s the middle of winter, some exceptional fishing is still on offer for those willing to brave the elements. Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet should be in shut down mode with the water at a cool 15°C. But this isn’t the case, with a host of

vibes and metal shiners will have success, with 70-80mm fish style plastics a stand out choice at present. Bigger than average mulloway is also on the cards and fish to 20kg are a possibility. I know of one visiting angler who rang me and told me of the one that got away. His voice told it all, with his estimation of a 22-25kg silver slab gaining freedom after a 45-minute tussle when the hook pulled.

current is there, the western and southern end of the Island is where most of the action happens. Troll smaller deep divers for numbers, but the bigger fish respond better to live bait. The bigger fish have been on the surface at times, so pitch livies to them if you get close enough. Surface fishing is rewarding and exciting. The kings are good fish too, averaging 6kg with the odd hoodlum nudging 15kg.

A nice Montague kingfish that fell to a larger stickbait presentation. few yellowfin tuna. The next few weeks should really see the place fire up for these giants. Switched on crews doing the miles and hard yards have caught a good amount of broadbill swordfish. It’s a very exciting fishery opening up, who knows where it will end, it just may be a year round fishery, which would be

awesome for all anglers – only time will tell. On the beaches and rocks it’s the usual story with some solid fishing to be had. Salmon are abundant on any beach with a half decent gutter and most headlands are producing results. The main beach in town has been excellent, there’s a cracking gutter right

shiners on lighter gelspun tackle a fun way to target them. There have been a few reports of kingfish from these rocks, I haven’t seen these fish but it certainly wouldn’t surprise me. Bigger kingfish have made a welcome return in close every winter for the last few seasons, so drift a larger live bait for a good chance. These fish

Mulloway like this 8kg fish love soft plastics when fished at the right time. species playing the game. Bream, trevally, flathead, salmon, tailor and blackfish continue to do the right thing by anglers, with some sessions topping 40 fish which is pretty good in the cold conditions. The key to these solid bags and consistent results is to find the bait. Once you have done this, fish will follow. The main basin is loaded with whitebait, and a dead giveaway as to their whereabouts is the presence of diving terns and feeding pelagics like salmon and tailor. It’s not uncommon to see three or four different patches on top at any given time, so concentrate your efforts around these schools for great success. Anglers who cast a mixture of soft plastics, From page 42

The main basins in both systems are very clear at present, and we desperately need some rain to give them a flush as it’s the clearest I can remember for a long time. This has made it a little more difficult to catch fish, and the only way we have been able to get quality bags is to fish very light leaders. I’ve been going down to 4lb for the flatties to get the bites, and it’s working, but you do rub a few off, especially the bigger fish. It’s a little frustrating at times, but at least you get the bites. The stones are okay at the moment, but you do have to work for the eating fish. The westerly winds we have had of late have made it difficult, with little or no wash. Again, anglers who have done well have fished

If the bigger prey isn’t for you, then the lower sections of the system in the channels on the eastern side of the Highway Bridge also fish well. Some cracking bags of blackfish have come from the walls, especially on the inside edge of the southern breakwall. Anglers who fish the flooding tide with fresh weed and nippers have had the best luck. The channels in winter are excellent for bream, trevally and tailor and anglers using bait and soft plastics have really got stuck into them them. The draining tide is the time to fish, with the last two hours the optimum. Offshore the kings at Montague are still going strong, which has a lot to do with the current. When the

Closer to shore the snapper have been excellent. Every season the red fishing seems to get better and the fish seem to be getting bigger. This is awesome for the locals and visitors as it gives you another option if the kings don’t come to play. Local skipper Ben from Playstation said every year improves, which is great to see and I can’t see any reason why it would change. Potato Point and Tuross are snapper hotspots, and fishing in 50-60m will see fish caught with fresh squid, pilchards and tuna strip baits all working wonders. While you’re catching snapper, put live bait out too, as these areas hold some thumping kings. Further offshore SBT are starting to show alongside a

light and used a lot of berley. This will change once we get some swell and white water

happening, which will help things enormously. Both Short and Long Point are the

A solid feed of kingfish caught aboard Playstation out of Narooma. places to fish, but if the swell comes then Tura Head would be the pick.

in front of the surf club that has been serving up the goods for weeks now. It should continue to fire as long as the gutter stays there. The golf course rocks has been firing on all cylinders for pelagics with salmon to 3kg a common capture. Anglers using a variety of different techniques have caught plenty with metal

should be at Mystery Bay and to the south of Narooma as the water here is a little deeper and a known kingfish hot spot. In the washes blackfish and drummer will keep the bread and butter brigade happy with bream on the cards as well. Cabbage, peeled prawns and cunjevoi should do the trick. Berley will also help.

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Cracking croakers are crowding the beaches BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

I’m not one to complain about the winter, as I love all the seasons and the fishing they bring, and this winter is looking to be a cold one.

bluefin turn up, so by the time you read this they should be on our doorstep. Last year was very patchy and they seemed to have preferred the waters further south, and the southern part of Australia had a mindblowing run of them. This has put into the minds of

they have the time. That could be a good idea, but keep in mind that it’s going to be packed down there. Still nothing beats catching amazing fish in your own backyard. If this year is like previous years, these fish are going to be wide,

Andrew McAlister with a beast from the epic mulloway run we are having in Batemans Bay. OFFSHORE It was the end of June last year when we had our

JULY 2016

anglers up here to make a planned trip for the bluefin rich waters of Victoria, if

very, very wide. So a good understanding of charts, a good depth sounder and a

big fuel tank can put you in the zone for an early season bluefin. You’ve got to cover the miles to get the smiles when it comes to bluefin. As we move through July, we are hoping these guys will be moving and schooling closer to the coast. A lot of people come into the shop asking about lures, brands, sizes and colours. I don’t think it matters too much, just as long as you’ve got four or more out there behind the boat and maybe a teaser. The favourites of the past in hardbodies have been Rapala X-Raps, Halco Laser Pros, River2Sea Killer Vibes and the Halco Max. In the skirted lure department, I run medium size skirts from 7” up and I’ll put out a bright pink, lumo and a dark or purple colour combo. I like running the heavyweighted heads of the Marlin Magic Baby or Infant Blues. They are heavy jetheads that run perfect in any sea. So if there is a bit of chop you can rely on them to stay in the water and swim perfectly. Other lures I run are Black Barts, Polu Kai, and to support the Aussies, I run JB, Tornado, Star Lures and Southern Cross lures. I have my spread of lures spread out at different lengths with the shotgun lure running right out the back so there is a great area being covered by your lures out the back of the boat. Having lures running in different positions, different depths, different lure colours and different lure sizes is a great idea. If you do find what you think is bluefin on the sounder and they don’t come to the surface, the quickest way to hook up is to drop jigs down to them and then while you are doing that, start cubing. There is a lot of talk on what to cube with and how much to pay. You can use trap bait, IQF pilchards or even freshly trolled up stripy tuna for cubing. Bluefin aren’t too fussy and if you opt for the cheaper option, being trap bait, then that is okay. You can expect to pay $40-50 for a 15kg box. Then there are IQF single frozen pilchards, but I think there is some various quality out there and buying from trusted tackle shops is a good idea. I have heard of 15kg boxes going for as low as $60. But knowing the prices of the wholesale distributors, I find it hard to get good quality IQF pilchards from Western Australia under $70 and expect to pay $80-90 for a 15kg box. When you are paying that, you know you are getting the goods. Moving inshore, people have been getting their arms stretched by the odd winter king, but they remain a very ellusive fish. Ulladulla

anglers are good at keeping their bite quiet and enjoyed a good little run through autumn. Montague remained the most consistent area in the region. The Batemans area and to Moruya had some moments, but the fish were very fickle. We should see these guys getting overshadowed by a more reliable snapper bite. They have been consistent leading into winter with some good shallow water snapper being on the chew. ROCKS AND HEADLANDS For most anglers, the action at this time of the year is on the rocks and off our beaches. The ever-consistent drummer is the main target if you want fish on the table for winter. This would be my main priority if I wanted a

tempted with plastics. Groper are the crab munchers but can be a surprise catch when they are tempted by any of the above mentioned baits. BEACHES The beaches are another great place to be this winter, and those chasing salmon and tailor throughout the day with metal lures should be in for a good time. During the nights, our beaches will be alive with the sound of massive croaking mulloway! Layton Brant has showed persistence pays by cracking not one, but two nice ones coming in at nearly 130cm each! It looks like they are off to a good start for this winter. ESTUARIES The estuary? What are you doing in the estuary!? But if you must, you would be one

You know there must be masses of big mulloway if Aaron Knox can manage one. feed for the family. After the drummer, the snapper is your prize rock platform catch. Throw in some bream and the odd groper, and you’ve got the reason why rock fishing on the south coast is a stable past time. Nothing much has changed when targeting these fish. Mix your leftover bread in a nearly empty rock pool with a bit of sand added, and berley every 10-15 minutes. Pick out some cunjevoi at low tide or bring along cooked prawns and you’ll be converting that into drummer. Snapper still love squid and bream fall for unweighted prawns, but are occasionally

of those flathead lovers who won’t give up. There are some monster flathead caught here every year, so flathead fishing is worth a shot. You can also search the deeper holes for bream as they retreat to deeper water as the weather cools. Bass, you are dead to me. It’s winter, so come in a buy a pie oven for your boat and live like kings! Happy fishing. • 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).

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Cooler, calm conditions make for stellar days BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Sometimes we can have some exceptional weather at this time of year, when those big highs move across, the

days may start crisp but warm to extremely calm conditions, allowing great opportunities for those who wish to do some offshore bottom fishing. The options can be in the form of simply drifting on the currents over the reefs, through to anchoring,

berleying or jigging with plastics for a host of different species. At this time of year, species you would expect to encounter include snapper, morwong, ocean perch, flathead, salmon and gummy sharks. Reefs like the Twelve Mile or

Trevally are just one species to be found around the cleaning tables.

Tailor can be found just about anywhere in winter.

beyond out over the shelf are producing large Tassie trumpeter, blue eye cod, mulloway and the odd big hapuka. With some of the modern tackle now available, these areas and species are now more accessible. Offshore the game fishing can be pretty hit and miss, but those who rug up

to brave the cool conditions can be rewarded in the form of tuna, albacore, big eye and the odd yellowfin, but the main target species will be those hard pulling southern bluefin. Bluefin will frequent our part of the world at this time of year and the best way to target them is on lures. A wide variety

of lures will work, from skirted marlin styles through to both deep diving and bibless lures and where you find them will also vary. Over the years I have seen bluefin that close to shore you were almost landing the lures on the rocks casting at them. These were mostly To page 47

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES 525 SCORPION CUDDY

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JULY 2016

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Cool fun on the beach TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

It may be cold, however a lot of cool fun can be had on the beaches at this time of year, with the westerly winds and calm conditions along the coast. This is a great time to walk the beaches surrounding Tathra and toss

mackerel, a few garfish and during the night squid are also appearing. This is a great time to fish the rocks with the winds blowing from the west the calm conditions allowing for a variety of angling. My favourite thing to do at this time of year by far is chasing black drummer, and this is best done early in the morning or late in the afternoon, with the

which often may last for an hour or two. These fish, plus various other species, are easily accessed from the ocean by boat. This is great light tackle fishing, which can be done in many forms including trolling, jigging or casting. Expect other species as well, for there are some nice winter kingies patrolling the coastal shore-line, and bonito may well be another

Big bream can be found in winter, but be prepared to work for them. it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter if you drift or anchor, either way it sure is a lot of fun. Estuaries are generally not the best option, but although there is strong winds, there will be lulls. When this occurs, it is the best chance for anglers to

target estuary perch in the Bega River system. These fish will congregate around most of the rock walls around Thompsons, towards the river mouth, and around the bridge pylons. There are some black bream also responding to

lures, but a lot of work is needed to provoke a strike. If it is flathead you are looking for, think shallow water over the flats or close to the shore, as like most lizards they will find a sunny spot in the shallows to warm their bodies.

Sliding a salmon up the beach in the cool days of winter. a lure or two into the many gutters that have formed. Salmon are the most likely species to be encountered, however, expect plenty of tailor and the odd mulloway. With the use of some fish berley, you can maximise your chances and expect some interesting fishing. Tathra Wharf is a place to focus on, and with cooler water temperatures the trevally have moved in. These fish are providing plenty of action for young and old, as well as some lovely fresh fish for the table. There are plenty of yellowtail, the odd

best areas being from the northeastern point adjacent to the wharf right round to Kianinny boat ramp. Trevally, silver drummer, jackets and wrasse will all be part of the by-catch while pig fishing, providing plenty of entertainment. With these calm conditions, pelagics patrol very close to shore, and often anglers are best casting along the rock shore line rather than straight out. What usually is on offer is salmon and some very big fish at that. Once a school is located, every lure presented is likely to be seized upon,

added bonus. Jigging the inshore reefs close to shore with soft plastics or small metal jigs often can provide some very rewarding fishing. The variety of species captured in this manner can be extremely varied. Snapper are a short list specialty only too willing to attack a lure, while other species like flathead, sergeant baker, cod, wrasse or a host of varying predators are rarely shy of a lure. The best areas to do this style of angling is to the north around Goalen Head, Nelsons Headland or south around White Rock, where

From page 46

small fish with the larger fish generally out wider towards and beyond the Continental Shelf. These fish will often respond to berley trails on both cubes and live baits, and if this occurs, can result in spectacular visual fishing as they barge their way through the trails. Expect sharks wherever you find tuna. Both makos and blues are common at this time of year, so make sure you have a rig handy to toss at them. Back on shore, westerly winds are allowing rock anglers easy access to the stones. There they are encountering good numbers of drummer, some very large groper, bream and trevally deeper down while on the surface,

Luderick are around in good numbers at the moment.

Garfish might be small and skinny, but they sure are tasty and a lot of fun in the cooler months. tailor, bonito and salmon are there for those casting lures or pillies. Visiting anglers can stay at the caravan park in town situated on the main headland, where they have easy access to the rocks only a short distance away where the best fishing takes place. These conditions also allow for schools of salmon will pass on a basis. Standing on the dunes will allow you to polaroid these fish as they come close to shore, within easy reach of light spin gear, providing heaps of fun. If lure fishing is not your cup of tea, traditional bait fishing will produce results too and at night, if you are willing to brave the cold, gummy sharks will feature. In the estuaries, things are pretty quiet, especially in the upper reaches. Down

towards the entrances there is some action in the form of trevally, tailor, bream and plenty of luderick. Luderick are being targeted in the traditional method with both green and cabbage weed for some excellent results with the bridge pylons, rock walls, entrance to the harbour and main jetties all producing. The other species can be sought after with baits like striped tuna, mackerel or nippers, and keep in mind to fish near the fish cleaning tables where offal thrown in the water provides a berley source. The tuna that are being caught offshore are being cleaned, so source some of the tuna for bait and fish around the tuna frames in the water. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have long to wait! JULY 2016

Let the hot fishing action roll on in for July EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Winter is here and the far south coast is at its quietest over the next few months. There are plenty of fishing opportunities though, and those who manage a getaway at this time of year will enjoy the area, with very few visitors around. There has been very little rain, and typically windless days, clear skies and ideal winter weather has dominated. Plenty of boats have headed offshore and with great conditions some good fishing has been reported. Good catches of sand flathead have been had with tiger flathead caught out in the deeper water. REVA G.T

L LY . S N A P P E R

. EST

weather allows the boats out when the fish are there. With the water cooling down, the variety of fish on the beach isn’t like summer. Whiting and bream become scarce, while salmon are about in big numbers, along with good-sized tailor. The local rivers have fished well with flathead firing up on those glorious winter days. You just need to find the area with the warmest water, as this is often where the fish are. The bream have started to get ecited as we head into winter with black bream moving upstream. Good fish have been caught on fresh bait of prawn and nippers. Those who use lures have had success on both soft plastic lures and hardbody lures, with the rocky edges fishing well on the high tides.

FISH WITH A LOCAL AT

PE R RY

. WH AD

Once again, you need to keep moving until fish are found. The inshore reefs have fished well for snapper and over the coming months this will only get better. When the cuttlefish wash up on the beaches the snapper are at their best. Anglers who chase gummy sharks have had some success with good fish caught. Fresh fillet baits fished in a berley trail is the way to go. Some good kingfish action was had over the past few months, but as we head into winter the water cools and the action slows down. Out wide only the odd yellowfin tuna has been caught, with sharks about in numbers. Southern bluefin are due to turn up any day, and there is a small window of opportunity to catch one. Hopefully the

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Quiet days, busy fishing has encouraged salmon to turn up in numbers. You will catch salmon as they move from gutter to gutter fishing the local beaches on a rising tide. Quarry Beach is the spot to try for a gummy shark, with deep gutters present and big tides at night. The lake has fished well over the past month with all the usual species on the go. There have been plenty of silver trevally caught in both the top and bottom lake with some of the bigger models up around 2kg, they have been caught on bait and a variety of lures. Bream, both black and yellowfin

MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

After six months of constant visitors, the town has finally quietened right down as we head into winter. Weatherwise you wouldn’t know that it’s winter with mild nights and warm days. The fishing over the past few months has been excellent with plenty of variety both in the lake and offshore. The water temperature has cooled right down along the beach. Sitting around 17°C, the cooler water

are around, but you have to keep moving to find the fish. Bream have been caught as far upstream as Gypsy Point. After a quiet season for mulloway, the past month saw a flurry of catches and encounters. Most of these were around the recent full moon with fish caught to 16kg. Plenty of small flathead are still being caught along with the odd bigger fish. If chasing flathead at this time of year keep an eye out for the patches of warmer water as this is often where the fish are. The sand whiting have really slowed down as the water temperature has

FISHING FILL-ITS

Manning River Marine news Taree based marine dealership and tackle shop - Manning River Marine, have just taken on the well known aluminium boat brand Sea Jay boats to complement their already existing brands and services. Manning River Marine owner, Jim Hickson advised he was looking for another brand to add to the business

stable and is pleased to form the new relationship. “Sea Jay have a strong reputation in the marketplace for quality workmanship and we look forward to getting as many of our consumers out on the water and into a Sea Jay. We have already sold most of the boats from our first delivery, so our second order is already in

the works!” If you’re in the area, pop in and see Jim and the team and check out their range of boat, motor and trailer packages. Manning River Marine is located at 13 Victoria Street, Taree NSW. You can visit their website – http://www. mercurydealertaree.com/ or give them a call on (02) 6552 2333. – FMG

Wintry days see the bream come to life in Mallacoota. cooled and the odd fish has been caught, however, don’t expect to catch numbers. We have had some excellent days of still and cloudless weather, but remember, these conditions are the hardest to catch fish during. Offshore there have been some good flathead

both tigers and sandies caught, with boats catching fish around the Ariels along with some good gummy shark out around Gabo Island. Some great kingfish action has been had over the past month with plenty of rats caught alongside quality fish to

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The dropper knot 4 BRISBANE

Kim Bain

Last edition we completed the sinker loop options for a paternoster rig; this month we tie the hook loop using a knot simply called the dropper knot (or dropper loop). Knowing this knot will be

very helpful, especially if you plan on doing some offshore work in deeper water. For further discussion and information on this knot and the paternoster rig, please see the previous issue of QFM, and if you don’t have it, my articles on these subjects will be on the Fishing Monthly website website at www. fishingmonthly.com.au soon.

Then take the ‘outer’ loop and push it through the centre opening; once it is a little of the way through, grip the loop lightly with your mouth and gently pull it through as far as it will easily go.

First form a loop in the line (do not tie a loop, just form a loop) and insert a finger on one side of the crossover.

Now pull the two standing ends of the line away from each other while holding the loop with your teeth... but don’t pull the knot snug just yet!

Now, with your mouth, moisten the wraps either side of the centre opening and then pull the knot slowly tight.

Pull one side of the loop down and start twisting/wrapping it around the standing line. Keep the centre open (with your fingers). An alternative is to twist from/around the centre, wrapping an even number of turns of each side of the centre opening. Have a go and see what works best for you and your dexterity.

After between four to ten turns, the number of turns will be governed by the diameter and stiffness of the line in which you are tying the dropper loop, widen the centre open (using your fingers; and use at least one finger to keep it open).

JULY 2016

The Sydney International Boat Show 28 July to 1 August 2016

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

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SydneyBoatShow.com.au Proudly owned & organised by

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COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Welcome to the Sydney International Boat Show The largest boat show in the southern hemisphere, The Sydney International Boat Show (SIBS), returns in 2016 for its 49th year. SIBS brings the best information and range of product to Australians who love and live the recreational boating lifestyle. It’s the premier place to see and buy boats. The show will be held in dual locations, at Cockle Bay Marina at Darling Harbour and Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island from Thursday 28 July to Monday 1 August. Owners and organisers of the event, the Boating Industry Association say

that it has never been more important to ensure the event delivers what the public want to remain the leading event serving recreational boaties. The success of the event can be attributed to its ability to attract quality exhibitors in the most challenging of times. Recreational boaters have the opportunity to see a broad representation of the products that make our time on the water enjoyable, safe and successful. In 2017, the show heads to the International Convention Centre, Sydney upon the completion of the Centre at the end of 2016. This means the show will

TICKET PRICING Adults .................................................................$21 Family (2 adults and 3 children, 6-17 years).....$49 Children (aged 6-17 years).................................$13 Children (5 and under)..............................Free entry Guest pass (2-day)..............................................$30 Guest pass (3-day)..............................................$40 Aged pensioners.................................................$15 Seniors................................................................$19 52

JULY 2016

returns to its original home in the Darling Harbour precinct, and the immense hall displays and majestic on water views can once again be united. After three years at the interim venue, the move will help celebrate the Sydney International Boat

Show’s 50th Anniversary next year. WHAT TO SEE The Sydney Exhibition Centre’s opaque ceiling casts a bright glow over the exhibition display of over 700 boats. With the undercover displays

EVENT INFORMATION Date:.............. Thursday 28 July – Monday 1 August Venue:.......Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island. Cockle Bay Marina, Darling Harbour, Sydney Time: .....Thursday, Sunday and Monday: 10am–6pm. Friday and Saturday: 10am – 7pm

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

hosting the leading brands of trailer boats, kayaks, canoes, electronics, tourism, ancillary products and services, as well as all factors necessary for a healthy and rewarding boating lifestyle. The on-water displays of 145 boats too large to take out of the water in Darling Harbour have to also be recognised as a huge and popular feature for show goers. Among the impressive displays, visitors to the show can expect to enjoy the community atmosphere and be entertained, educated and inspired. The Boating Safety Zone returns with a friendly team on hand to welcome you with information desks and guides in relation to anything you may need at the show and to understand how safe boating is good boating. The Show’s Partners in Safety – Transport for NSW, have brought the Boating Safety Zone to you through the office of the Maritime Management Centre and with the support of Roads and Maritime.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

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28 July to 1 August 2016

From page 53

Remember, a lifejacket never ruined a day on the water, and this zone will show you how to provide your family peace of mind while enjoying our beautiful waterways. There will be plenty of entertainment and education features at the stage area all day every day. Make sure you keep up to date with this information as it is released.

LOCATION & TRANSPORT The event will be hosted at a dual location, with 20,000m2 of undercover displays at the Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island, and the on-water component at the showâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doorstep in Darling Harbour. The split location has created a number of positive opportunities, with the venue easily accessible for visitors and a refined

transport arrangement will see guests transferred easily between the two locations by a free ferry service, taking approximately 25-minutes, complemented by the awe-inspiring Sydney Harbour backdrop. The Exhibition Centre will house over 200 exhibitors through four enormous halls. The Marina will showcase more than 170 boats. Parking options are available at both Glebe

Island and Darling Harbour for those wishing to drive to the show. Darling Harbour is the main hub of entertainment for Sydney; as such there are plenty of public transport and accommodation options. Visitors can drive directly to Glebe Island. Glebe Island can be accessed via James Craig Road at Rozelle. No advanced parking bookings are required. Those choosing to visit Darling Harbour first will have a number of parking options within walking distance of the boat show entrance. TICKETS Tickets for the show can be purchased in advance online, or at the door to the Show. Ticketing offices will be operating on Show days at Palm Grove in Darling Harbour, and the two entry points at Glebe Island. These are located in Hall 1 (ferry terminal entry) and Hall 3 (car park entry). Make sure to collect your Official Show Program when you purchase your ticket, as it will serve as a comprehensive guide to exhibitors, brands on display, visitor information, what to see, and articles to keep you interested post-show! The Official Show

Program also includes handy maps detailing the layout of the hall and marina.

For further information keep an eye on www. sydneyboatshow.com.au.

The door to getting Australians onto the water

28 July to 1 August DARLING HARBOUR & GLEBE ISLAND The largest boat show in the Southern Hemisphere returns delivering the best of recreational boating to Australians who love the lifestyle. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best place to see boats and the best place to buy boats.

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JULY 2016

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

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

The Sydney International Boat Show 28 July to 1 August 2016

2016 opening address

Welcome to the Sydney International Boat Show for 2016. This event, now in its 49th year has long been the hub of boating experience for many recreational boaters as well as those looking to learn more about the lifestyle. The Sydney International Boat Show will operate from the 28 July to 1 August across two locations. The large on-water vessels will be hosted at the beautiful Darling Harbour only minutes walk from the CBD, and the undercover displays housed at the unique Sydney Exhibition Centre at Glebe Island. Connecting the two is a courtesy ferry service that also gives show visitors a bonus voyage across the magnificent Sydney Harbour. The event is well known to deliver a comprehensive variety of products, across all boating sectors. Joining local visitors, the show receives a large number of guests from across the country as well as overseas, making it the ideal location for the marine industry to use as a base to launch new products and services.

Our vision is to treat guests to an entertaining journey of education about the boating industry. Visitors to the show are assured a great day out for themselves, family and friends. Our research shows that more than 53% of all visitors to the event have a primary interest in fishing. As such, visitors to the show will be assured that the event will bring out the best from manufacturers and distributors of all the boats and gear for fishers of all ages, to help them succeed in their sport of choice. To add to your Show experience, a great array of speakers to help you understand the extra trick you have been waiting to learn. It’s difficult to go past identities such as Tim Simpson and Steve Starling, who will be able answer all questions between them! Not only Tim and Steve, you can hear a great array of speakers prepared to help both the novice and experienced angler. Pop down and visit them on stage. The philosophy of our Association is that safe

boating is good boating, and with this we urge all visitors to take a moment to visit the Boating Safety Zone that can be found as you enter the Glebe Island exhibits from Hall 1. Together with our Partner in Safety – Transport for NSW, the BIA has assembled some great organisations to help you to be a better skipper, not only for your mates, but also for your family. Boating Safety should not be a chore, more so a way of life. We urge you to start planning by putting the show dates in your diary. The show will run from Thursday 28 July to Monday 1 August 2016. Visitors can start their journey at either Darling Harbour or Glebe Island. It will be open from 10am6pm, with the show closing an hour later at 7pm on Friday and Saturday nights. We hope you take the time to bring your family or friends for what will be a great and rewarding day out. – Domenic Genua (National Manager, Boating Industry Association)

JULY 2016

The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Good Times Marine – Haines Signature

Good Times Marine will once again be attending the Sydney International Boat Show this year, with some great packages to get you out on the water. This year, Good Times Marine will showcase Haines Signature’s fibreglass boat range exclusively, including the all new 550F. The team will also will also have Australia’s most awarded Bow Rider – the

Signature 580BR as a special tow sport package with Roswell fit out. All up the team at Good Times will have 7 Haines Signature boats on display with a model to suit everyone’s needs. All boats provided by Good Times are matched up with the ever-popular Mercury outboards. For more information, check their full range out at www.goodtimesmarine.com.au.

Raymarine

Raymarine’s new line of ClearPulse sonars feature game-changing digital filtering technology that eliminates unwanted clutter and allows anglers to distinguish bait from predator fish with stunning clarity. Leading this powerful new bluewater line-up is the CP570 professional CHIRP sonar, with up to 4kW of power. Next are the high performance CP470 CHIRP sonar with 2kW output and the CP370 digital sonar with 1kW power output. These sonars can see through dense schools of baitfish, identify thermoclines, and target gamefish with exceptional clarity, so anglers can spend more time fishing and less time adjusting the sonar. All three models are compatible

with Raymarine LightHouse II-powered multifunction displays. Saving up to RRP $399 and available during the Sydney International Boat Show, Raymarine has launched a Dragonfly Value Pack that includes a Dragonfly 5M 5” GPS / Chartplotter and a Dragonfly 5DVS 5” Dual-Channel CHIRP Sonar. The Dragonfly 5DVS is equipped with Raymarine’s wide spectrum CHIRP sonar technology and has an all-weather Display, guaranteed not to fog. Combined with the Dragonfly 5M Chartplotter, this pack provides superior fish finding capabilities at a great price. For more information visit www.flir.com. au/marine.

Minn Kota, Raymarine, Savwinch, Tohatsu, Karnic Fibreglass Boats, Horizon and Pro Craft Aluminium boats. “All we do at Aussie Boat Sales is build custom boats to suit our customers’ needs. Our customers fish in all different conditions and areas so we make sure the boat is designed around their needs and experience. These days we have to cater for the whole family.” So if you fish offshore or inshore, waterski or wakeboard or just love cruising

our Aussie waterways, Aussie Boat Sales can cater for your every need. Selling some of Australia’s best known and iconic brands, you can be reassured you will get the best possible set-up available on the market. If you want to talk with Jason you can ring him on 0433 531 226. The team look forward to you visiting them at stand 400 at the Sydney International Boat Show. For more information visit aussieboatsalesactnsw.com.au/.

Aussie Boat Sales (ACT/NSW) At Aussie Boat Sales (ACT/NSW) Jason, Johanna and the team are proud to bring the best possible customised service to the Australian market. Based in the Australian Capital Territory and with offices at Bateman’s Bay Marina on the South Coast and Sydney, the team are able to cater for customers all over Australia. The Aussie Boat Sales ACT/ NSW team also service customers as one of the biggest suppliers of Redco Trailers. Aussie Boat Sales can deliver trailers and boats Australia wide. In the Alloy Plate Range, Aussie Boats has partnered with Formosa and are Australia’s largest dealer of both the Tomahawk and Sea Rod ranges. Together with Ross and Duncan of Formosa Marine, Jason and Johanna are stretching the boundaries of the Formosa range with the introduction of a number of new designs. The new Offshore 660 and 700 series boats come with enclosed glass hard tops in both the Centre Cab and Half Cab configurations. These boats will be on display at stand 400 at the Sydney International Boat Show in July. At the show the team will launch a brand new design and concept in the Formosa line up, which is hugely exciting and will be extremely popular in Australia. All Jason will say is, “You will just have to come to the stand and see for yourself! We know that the Australian family boat market has had a big hole in it and with this new design and Honda Marine on board we have successfully filled that gap.” The growing range in the Formosa 56

JULY 2016

line up has meant that at Aussie Boat Sales are able to find a great quality plate aluminium boat to suit all customer needs and budgets. “The Tomahawk and Sea Rod range of plate alloy boats are undeniably Australia’s toughest, and I am only too happy to show any of our potential customers just how fantastic they are by taking them on the water to experience for themselves just how good these boats are,” says Jason, “we’ve already had five customers purchasing their second or third Formosa – that says a lot about the quality of these boats, and the clients all bought bigger!” Along with Formosa, Aussie Boat Sales ACT/NSW has just joined with International Marine in Melbourne and are the proud new dealers for Caribbean Boats. Since 1958 Caribbean Boats have had a formidable reputation and the quality of their build and integrity sets them apart from competitors. Jason said, “I am proud to be a part of the group of dealers within Caribbean, and know that these boats are just built with love.” Jason and Johanna will have a Caribbean 2300 and a Caribbean Concorde on display at the stand, so if you want to see a beautifully finished iconic boat, get to the show for a look. Aussie Boat Sales ACT/NSW business as now one of Australia’s largest Honda Marine Dealers with the market leading 7-year warranty. They deal for Regal Sports Boats, Chris Craft, Zar Formenti Inflatables, Redco-Tinka galvanised and aluminium boat trailers, Saltwater Aluminium Trailers, Fusion Electronics,

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Hobie

Hobie’s newest innovation is the Mirage Stand Up Eclipse Series, which will take centre stage at the Hobie stand at the show. The patent-pending Eclipse Series capitalises on the appeal of stand-up paddling, and translates it into literally walking on water. Hobie fans love the MirageDrive with Glide Technology. When the drive is pedalled the fins flex, powerfully moving the watercraft forward. In the Mirage Eclipse, designers have rotated the pedalling action from the familiar back and forth to up and down for use while standing. The cranks interact with a pair of large, flat pedals mounted to the Mirage Eclipse board. They flip up and out of the way for installation and removal.

The fins are different too. Although the new Flow Fin 90s are as long as ST Turbo Fins, their squared off shape generates greater resistance and transfers much more power. The resistance of the pedals is adjustable, accommodating users of all sizes and strengths. The Stand Up Eclipse Series features two board sizes, a 10.5 and a 12.0. Both are constructed of strong and lightweight ACX Advanced Composite Epoxy. The Eclipse boards are wider than most SUPs for maximum stability, and glide easily through the water. Be sure to check out these and other Hobie watercraft at the Hobie stand! For more information visit www. hobiecat.com.au.

Ausmarine

The Ausmarine team say there’ll be a lot to be excited about at the Ausmarine stand this year. On display will be a range of affordable boating products, from car toppers to forward control boats. Ausmarine has released five new boat models – the 4.9m Bowrider, 4.9m Cuddy Cabin, 4.9m Runabout, 4.9 Side Console and 4.3m Runabout. All models have modern walk-on transoms and are fully painted. Standard features include a transom door, deck wash, live bait tank and large cutting board on the 4.9m boats. The Ausmarine Seatrail trailer range continues to grow, with a large range of trailers suitable from 2-7.8m hulls.

From small folding tinny trailers up to large 8m boat trailers, Ausmarine has your trailer situation covered. Ausmarine also has a range of box trailers and car trailers. Ausmarine has just released three new electric brake trailer models, with ATM from 2800-3500kg for 6.4-7.8m boats. Whether it’s a hot dipped galvanised trailer frame or an aluminium trailer with alloy wheels you’re after, you can rest assured the Ausmarine Seatrail trailer and Seacraft boat range will have exactly what you need – not to mention the great boat show specials! The team have promised their prices will shake up the competition. For the full range and more information, go to www.ausmarine.biz.

SAFE

BOATING IS GOOD BOATING.

Join us at the Boating Safety Zone at the 2016 Sydney International Boat Show Our partners will be on hand to answer all your questions and provide you with the latest information on safe boating. You can find us in Hall 1, located on Glebe Island. For more information: sydneyboatshow.com.au

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JULY 2016

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

The Sydney International Boat Show 28 July to 1 August 2016

Penrith Marine

Penrith Marine are a premium dealer and service centre for Mercury outboard motors, Mercruiser inboard motors, Bluefin, Brooker Boats and Trailers. Penrith Marine will be taking Brooker Marine with Mercury motors to the Sydney International Boat Show. A variety of vessels will be on display to represent most of the Brooker Marine range, from the smaller tinny 340V to the runabout 420R and 455, and the XTD

version of a 485. To add intrigue to this awesome stand, there is a whisper of the possibility of a new Brooker to be unveiled at the Show. If you are a Brooker or Mercury enthusiast, this is your chance to find the boating outfit of your dreams. Don’t miss their stand at the Sydney International Boat Show. For more information visit www. penrithmarine.com.au/.

Stacer

Check out the brand new 2016 Stacer models at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. Stacer dealers Blakes Marine and Huett Marine Centre will be attending the show to display an impressive range of Stacer boats. Make sure you check out Stacer’s brand new Crossfire – the innovative design features a removable front casting platform so you get the practicality of two boats in one. Designed 80% for fishing and 20% for fun, the front casting platform provides a sturdy surface to fish from, but can be removed to reveal a v-berth with plenty of seating room for the family. The new 619 Ocean Ranger hard top will also be on display. The beauty of the 619 is the versatility of strage and towing

considerations. This model is perfect for fishing adventures and includes the features of the larger hard top models. With so many models on display you’re sure to find a Stacer model to suit you. There will also be a large range of smaller boats on display including Easy Riders, Bay Masters, Outlaws, Sea Runners and many more. To simplify your purchase, both Blakes Marine and Huett Marine Centre have Stacer models available as ready to go packages that includ boat, Evinrude motor and trailer. Visit the staff at the Blakes Marine and Huett Marine Centre stands for some great deals. For more information on the Stacer range visit www.stacer.com.au.

JULY 2016

The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

JN Taylor – Furuno The experienced team from JN Taylor – Furuno will be on hand at the 2016 Sydney International Boat Show to discuss a range of quality marine electronic solutions. The compact Furuno DRS4D-NXT is new solid-state radar with pulse compression and Doppler frequency shift sensing technology, built into a compact 24” Radome. This radar is designed for use with both NavNet TZtouch and TZtouch2 MFDs and it boasts the Target Analyzer feature. If a target is getting closer at a speed of 3 knots or more, the echo will be depicted in red on the screen, while everything else will appear as green. In the accompanying images, you can see two approaching targets in red when Target Analyzer is on. Bird Mode is another feature of the DRS4D-NXT. When selected, the radar adjusts its settings to help you locate birds above bait balls. Another enhancement is ActiveCaptain – a community-based database of user-generated information about marinas, anchorages, marine hazards, fuel lists, and local knowledge. Additionally, the TZtouch2 MFD now lets you back up user settings via a cloud and soon will enable you to back up your vessel data online, ensuring you will never lose your marks again. In the pipeline is a C-Zone interface that will enable users to control their on-board

electrical switching directly from their TZT2 via a built-in interface. As well as the latest from the Furuno, the JN Taylor – Furuno stand will have 2016 equipment releases from FLIR night vision, Maxsea PC based fishing and navigation solutions, and WASSP multi beam systems. For more information visit www. jntaylor.com.au.

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Bayliner

Bayliner has turned its attention to the fishing market with the release of the Element F16 and F18. Built on the highly awarded M shaped Element hull, these centre console fishing boats represent a completely new direction for one of the world’s biggest brands. The F16 and F18 come on the back of the development and release of the Element and Element XL. They were developed as a solution to the ever increasing cost of boating and designed from the ground up for new boaties. The hull performed extremely well, was stable at rest and was competitively priced. It’s that hull which now underpins the F16 and F18 fishing boats. Bayliner has added a large centre console with storage underneath, a forward facing seat at the front and generous inbuilt rod storage either side. There’s a grab bar running up and over the windscreen and dash space for a sounder. The helm seat is a bench style with a built in cooler underneath

the cushion and what appears to be an adjustable backrest which can be swung so you can sit conventionally or facing the back of the boat. More rod storage runs up the sides of the gunwale and the bow and stern both feature casting platforms. Three storage hatches are located underfoot at the bow and an electric engine can be added. The stern platform includes two jump seats with a live bait tank in between. The seats are designed to double as hatch covers and hide a battery compartment and storage bin. They also fold flat creating part of the casting platform. The overall length of the F16 is 4.93m, with a beam width of 2.26m. Fuel capacity is 68L with a maximum 80hp. Five people will fit comfortably on the F16. The F18 is larger at 5.57m in length and with 2.26m in beam width. Fuel capacity is 114L with a maximum 115hp. Six people will journey on-board comfortably. For more information visit bayliner.com.

Hunts Marine

Hunts Marine will run two separate stands at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. Cruisecraft Boats will be displayed in the front of Hall 3 on stand 316 next to the Yamaha stand and will feature all factory packaged Yamaha powered product. Quintrex, Whittley and Glastron boats will be on display at stand 239 and 240 in Hall 2. We will have 16 Quintrex models on

display including the newly release Yellowfin 6700 Hardtop. Other Quintrex models available to see include the five Renegades in the range, three cabin models including a 610 Trident, plus a selection of bowriders and runabouts. Come and check them out! For more information visit www. huntsmarine.com.au.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Garmin

Garmin will be showcasing its latest marine gear at the show via a number of its retailers. The new Strikers feature a rugged design and a keyed interface, advanced CHIRP sonar and a built-in high-sensitivity GPS antenna and waypoint map. The 5dv, 7dv and 7sv versions also incorporate CHIRP DownVü and SideVü scanning sonar (75sv only). The latest echoMAP CHIRP series units have built-in CHIRP and CHIRP DownVü scanning sonar, while the 75sv and 95sv also incorporate CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar and support Panoptix all-seeing sonar. All new echoMAP CHIRP models have an internal 5Hz GPS antenna, are pre-loaded with AU/ NZ BlueChart g2 coastal charts and feature Garmin’s new Quickdraw Contours. Selected models also include NMEA 2000 support. The GPSMAP 7400xsv series boasts 1kW true dual CHIRP sonar, and DownVü and SideVü scanning sonar with CHIRP technology. This sonar/chartplotter series has multi-touch screen control, comes with BlueChart g2 coastal charts and is fully networkable.

Panoptix PS21-TR is a compact new transducer optimised for mounting on an electric motor. It delivers LiveVü Forward sonar to see ahead and around your boat in real time. The PS21 is compatible with Garmin’s new echoMAP CHIRP 75sv and 95sv, as well as the GPSMAP 7400series, GPSMAP 8000 series and GPSMAP 751xs, 820xs, and 1020xs series. The new CHIRP transducers is compatible with the Striker, echoMAP CHIRP and GPSMAP series, as well as Garmin’s GSD 25 black-box sonar. The transducers are available with various configurations of CHIRP traditional, CHIRP DownVü and CHIRP SideVü scanning sonar technologies, in transom mount, thru-hull and in-hull options. The Garmin quatix 3 marine GPS smartwatch streams NMEA 2000 data from compatible onboard Garmin marine electronics. Users can also start and stop recording video or take still images with a Garmin VIRB action camera, control their Fusion stereo and more. For more information visit www. garmin.com.au.

Honda Marine Honda Marine has announced the extension of Australia’s leading 7 Year Domestic Warranty and 3 Year Commercial Warranty – available free of charge, on any outboard that is purchased between now and March 31 2017. To qualify, the outboard must be serviced for the entire warranty period by an authorised Honda Marine dealer, in line with the recommended service schedule. Chris New, National Sales Manager for Honda Marine, said Honda was committed to ensuring that the end user has complete ease of mind. “Honda outboards are the toughest and most reliable on the Australian market, so why wouldn’t we back our product with an industry leading warranty?” he said. “Honda outboards are designed to be depended on day in, day out and shine in the harshest operating conditions. With the extension of Australia’s industry leading warranty, Honda is showing its commitment to the customer. Best of all the warranty does not change – you will receive the same fantastic coverage on the last day of your warranty that you would on day one!” Unlike other brands that exclude many high value engine components, every Honda part is covered. If it is a manufacturing fault, it is covered under the warranty. Honda’s range of 4-stroke marine outboard engines are supported by Honda’s extensive national

dealer network and Honda Australia’s dedicated after-sales support team. To view the range get down to the Sydney International Boat Show and visit Aussie Boat Sales to learn more about the industryleading warranty, and to get a great deal! *To be eligible for the last two years of the warranty, the outboard must be: sold and set up by an authorised dealer; serviced for the entire warranty period by an authorised dealer, in line with the recommended service schedule; and serviced for the entire warranty period using genuine Honda parts and lubricants. For more information visit www.marine. honda.com.au.

Yamaha

Marina Bayside

Marina Bayside Sales are a newly established dealership in Taren Point (south Sydney) with a brand new showroom that display brands such as Haines Hunter Boats, Seajay Aluminium, Cayman Inflatables, Bluefin Boats, Yamaha outboards and WaveRunners. The Boat Show will see Haines Hunter packages powered by Yamaha outboards, with some new models on display include the new 2100SO ski boat. Haines Hunter and Marina Bayside are serious about giving customers a range that caters from runabouts to offshore fishing rigs and lifestyle boats. Seajay Boats will also be displayed with Yamaha outboards at the show, with a versatile range of boats from centre console, runabout and side console models. Customers will be 62

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able to see the build quality of these boats against other brands under the one roof. Yamaha WaveRunners offer a range of craft that gives you affordability and power. The boats in the new 2016 range are in a class of their own. With the new Ride System and Nano Excel Hull, these boats are light and tough. The Boat Show will deliver savings of up to $2,000 on selected models and 2.99% finance offered on promotional models only. Marina Bayside will also have Cayman inflatables, paddleboards and more on display. These products have developed over the last twelve months and offer fun in the sun inflatable products that are easy to use and store. For more information visit www. marinabayside.com.au/.

Yamaha is particularly excited to exhibit the latest in outboard and personal watercraft technology at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. Showcasing for the first time in Sydney is Yamaha’s latest VMAX SHO models, with the gamechanging VF115 and VF150 joining the Australian range. Also debuting in Sydney, is Yamaha’s new-addition F90 Four-Stroke, which is the perfect option for savvy boaters looking to extract the maximum performance from their 90hp rated trailer boat. On display across the show through Yamaha’s New South Wales dealerships, is an array of Yamaha powered locally built, and imported boats. Powering a number of these boats is Yamaha’s contemporary light-weight F130A. Outboard which will be positioned front and centre on the Yamaha display. Complementing the new Yamaha Outboards, is a new range of Yamahaexclusive rigging. A shock and noise-reducing, Shift Dampening System (SDS) Talon series of propellers joins the range, giving boaters a ‘clunk-free’ propeller option on all Yamaha outboards from FT60 through to F350. These are available in both alloy and polished stainless-steel.

Yamaha is also showcasing the all-new, all-in-one, colour high-def LCD gauge which relays real-time information from the outboard and sensors, back to the helm. The new 6YC Command-Link Digital Gauge is compatible with Yamaha’s complete EFI 4-stroke range from F30-F350. 2016 marks the 30th anniversary of Yamaha WaveRunners. To celebrate this milestone, a wide range of Yamaha WaveRunners will be on display, along with a selection of key historical models which made Yamaha the market leader it is today. Yamaha’s awardwinning TR-1 Marine Engine and SVHO Marine Engine will also be on display, giving enthusiasts a rare glimpse into what beats in the heart of a Yamaha watercraft. Yamaha’s Time-Trial RiDE Challenge is returning to the Sydney Boatshow. The Yamaha RiDE Challenge is a fast-paced WaveRunner simulator, which gives showgoers the chance to race against the clock to win some cool Yamaha prizes. For more information visit www.yamaha-motor. com.au/RIDE. For general information visit www. yamaha-motor.com.au/outboard and www. yamaha-motor.com.au/waverunner, or drop in to Yamaha next to Gate #3 at the Show.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Lowrance

The Lowrance stand will showcase the latest releases from both Simrad and Lowrance, and two of the newest products to hit the market are the Simrad GO5 and GO7 XSE chartplotter navigation displays. The GO XSE series delivers powerful, full-featured standalone marine chartplotter/ fishfinders packed into compact, easy-to-use 5” or 7” displays. They have multi-touch controls that smartphone and tablet users will instantly find familiar. The XSE’s Cruise Charting page combines crucial navigation data and charts into one easy to read display, plus new TripIntel technology. XSE displays connect to any NMEA 2000-compatible equipment including outboard and inboard engines, as well as fuel flow, fluid level, speed, heading, and water temperature sensors and more. The chartplotter supports the widest available range of cartography options. Anglers can add a suitable transducer for accurate, real-time depth tracking and

fishfinding. A scrollable depth history view lets boaters track back and easily set waypoints. Other features include StructureScan HD Imaging, DownScan Imaging view, CHIRP Sonar and ForwardScan sonar. The Simrad SonicHub2 marine audio system brings complete control of on-thewater entertainment to GO XSE displays, eliminating the need for a separate stereo head-unit. The GoFree Controller App gives boaters the capability to connect the GO XSE to Android and iOS devices. Also on display will be the Lowrance Elite-5 and Elite-7 Ti touchscreen fishfinder/ chartplotters. Features include an easyto-use touchscreen interface, Bluetooth and wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology and high-performance sonar, plus a highly accurate, built-in GPS antenna and wireless connectivity. For more information visit www. lowrance.com/en-au/.

MERCURY MARINE The Mercury stand is going to be packed with a full line-up of cutting edge marine power technology – including a full range of outboards from of 2.5-400hp, MerCruiser inboards and sterndrives, quiet and clean diesels, and MotorGuide trolling motors. Mercury’s new 115 Pro XS 4-Stroke outboard will attract huge interest, as it delivers significantly better performance than any other 115hp outboard on the market today. Tested mercilessly to ensure reliability, the new 115 Pro XS FourStroke is 4% lighter than its nearest competitor and boasts a 2.1L displacement to deliver an superb combination of torque and performance. No doubt visitors will also be eager to learn more about MerCruiser’s new 6.2L V8 towsport inboard, created to provide towsport enthusiasts with a flawless blend of torque, pulling power, and launch propulsion. Available in either a 320hp or 370hp configuration, MerCruiser’s new 6.2L V8 is highly durable, reliable, fuel efficient and delivers more of the muscle needed to pull people out of the water and get them carving a line through it. But Mercury’s not just about power, it also leads the way in controlling that power, to ensure the best performance for everyone on the water. For example, visitors can check out Mercury’s new Active Trim system, which automatically and effortlessly trims an engine (or engines) while also improving 64

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engine performance and cutting fuel costs. Active Trim leads the competition because its patented integrated GPS-based control system takes into account boat speed and rpm when deciding on the ideal trim position. Show-goers will also be able to experience Mercury’s clever joystick control technology, which is now available for outboards and sterndrives. Mercury technology lets you move sideways, diagonally or spin the boat on its own axis. And with the wind and tide no longer a factor, it means even a novice can handle close-quarter docking with throttle, shift and steering right under their fingertips. But of course, that’s only the start. Mercury also has the largest range of propellers in the world, with something suitable for every boat and every application. There will also be a selection of inflatable boats, from tiny tenders to serious blue-water craft. A massive range of parts and accessories will also be available and expert staff will be on hand to discuss Mercury’s finance and insurance products, which have been specially created by Mercury to take into account the special needs of both commercial and recreational boaters. If you’re in the market for an industryleading outboard motor, make sure you visit the Mecury stand at the Show. For more information visit www. mercurymarine.com.

Blakes Marine

Blakes Marine carries a wide range of boats and motors to suit all your boating needs. From the hard-core fisherman to the family weekender, Blakes Marine will tailor packages to suit all your needs and wants. Blakes Marine are the NSW distributor of Bar Crusher Boats, the plate aluminium boats with a varied range to cater to all your fishing requirements with models consisting from hard tops, cuddy cabins, walkaround, side and centre consoles. Blakes Marine also deals Stacer Boats. With 74 models in 7 ranges there will always be a Stacer Boat to suit your needs. Customise your Stacer with either a Suzuki engine or Evinrude Etec with a wide variety of colours and stripes that you can choose from. For the fibreglass enthusiast we stock Baysport Boats. They are the Hyundai of the marine industry, and are Australian built for

Australian conditions. Chapparral Boats are one of the worlds leading boat manufacturers. They have an extensive range of bowriders to cabin cruisers to suit everyone’s needs. Whether you fish, ski, tube or wakeboard, you can do it all in the same boat on the same weekend – step on board the sensational SSX Series Chaparral and experience the perfect mix of classic elegance and high tech innovation. For families on the move, come and take a look at the Chaparral Vortex Series – a jet boat that’s priced right, built right and exactly right for you. The Chaparral and Rotax (a twinengine performance) speeds you to new levels of excitement. Come and see one of our friendly staff at the Sydney International Boat Show. For more information visit www. blakesmarine.com.au/.

THE SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

Note: Pictures may include optional extras. Please check with your dealer for more information.

ALUMINIUM PLATE BOATS BY FORMOSA MARINE

The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Fishing Monthly

To reward new and renewing subscribers at the show, NSWFM will have plenty of free gifts to make your decision to subscribe an easy on. Daiwa travel rods (both spin and baitcast) and Silstar reels are up for grabs, so make sure you sign up at the show. Already a subscriber? We’ll give you the same gift if you do a renewal at the show.

Can’t make the Sydney International Boat Show? Give us a call on 1800 228 244 (during office hours) and we’ll have a special deal for those who missed out. I think that as everyone covered. Apart from those who wait a month and read it online for free at issu.com. Don’t worry – we’ll still be doing that, but we won’t be giving you a gift for doing so.

Boating Safety

The Boating Safety Zone returns with a friendly team on hand to welcome you with information desks and guides in relation to anything you may need at the show and to understand how safe boating is good boating. The Boating Safety Zone partners include; BIA, Department of Primary Industries – Fisheries, Marine Rescue, Paddle NSW, Australian Maritime College and BOM, Surf Lifesaving NSW, ABC Marine Training, Surf Lifesaving NSW, ABC Marine Training, Service NSW, and RMS. The Boating Safety Zone is brought to you through the office of the Maritime Management Centre and with the support of Roads and Maritime. The Old4New Van

will feature at the event. Now in its third season running, the program is helping to promote wearing a lifejacket when you’re out on the water, especially when in smaller craft. Advice and guidance on lifejacket maintenance and servicing is provided through the Old4New program and skippers are strongly encouraged to service their lifejacket in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. An inflatable lifejacket will only work if it’s kept in working order. Remember, a lifejacket never ruined a day on the water, and this zone will show you how to provide your family peace of mind while enjoying our beautiful waterways.

Quintrex The Haines Group

Hunts Marine and TR Marine will have an impressive range of Quintrex models on display at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. With a vast range of models and sizes on display including Renagades, Fishabouts, Cruisabouts, Tridents, Yellowfins and many more, you’re sure to find a model to suit your needs. Quintrex released the new Yellowfin range in 2016 including eight new models: 5800, 6200, 6700 and 7400 all available with a hard or soft top. Be sure to check out the legendary Yellowfin ‘Body Armour’ for ultimate protection from the elements. The 6200, 6700 & 7400 feature 6mm plate bottom sheets (5mm for the 5800), 5mm transom material and 4mm side sheets. If you’re looking for a family boat, look no further than the Cruiseabout range. With a lounge area, the 530 Cruiseabout features a sleek and modern look internally including luxe premium carpet and a 68

JULY 2016

moulded, UV stable plastic top deck. The 530 Cruiseabout is the perfect addition to the family and comes complete with a deluxe folding rear lounge, rod holders, underfloor storage, rear ladder and a 95L fuel tank. TR Marine has a Quintrex best seller on display, the 481 Top Ender. The Top Ender range is a popular fishing favourite Australia wide. The 481 Top Ender features are endless, with Quintrex Blade Hull, Flared Bow, casting platform with storage, side sports console, side pockets, live bait tank and more. Hunts Marine have Quintrex models available as instant boating packages including boat, Evinrude motor and trailer so you will be out on the water in no time. Be sure to get down to the Sydney International Boat Show to get a great deal on a Quintrex. For more information on the Quintrex range visit www.quintrex.com.au.

Marine industry icon, The Haines Group, are excited to once again show off a great cross-section of their quality, awardwinning products at this year’s Sydney International Boat Show. As the world’s biggest private distributor of the award-winning Suzuki Marine outboard motors, visitors to the show will be spoilt for choice with Suzuki products on display across three NSW dealer stands including Blakes Marine, Hunts Marine and Northern Beaches Marine. Our dealers will have the latest DF4A/5A/6A motors on display. Recently released to the market and weighing just 23.5kg (S-shaft), these motors are the lightest 4-stroke motors in their class and are packed with a range of new and improved features, while boasting a sleek new look in Pearl Nebular Black. With three-way storage, improved portability and a new tilt system, check out the latest innovation from Suzuki Marine. This will also be your chance to see the newest member of the Signature Boats

family, as Haines Signature debuts the 550F in Sydney. Almost a foot wider and with a 77% increase in fuel capacity (compared to its predecessor, the 543F), the 550F is the ultimate family offshore fishing boat and will be on display alongside a range of Signature Boats at the Good Times Marine stand. This will also be your opportunity to see our line of Tournament Pleasure Boats, on display for the first time at the Sydney Boat Show. Designed for the true anglers, Tournament offers an award winning range of trailerable sports cruisers, day cruisers and fishing boats from 16-26ft. Head over to see the 2000 Bluewater Gen2, which recently received a stylish makeover including the addition of a hardtop and interior upgrades. Whether it be Suzuki power for your boat, a complete package to get your family on the bay or if you’re a serious angler set to brave all conditions, The Haines Group has a product for you at the 2016 Sydney International Boat Show.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Savage step it up again BRISBANE

Elliot Fooks

Savage Boats have provided versatile, practical and durable boats for anglers and families to enjoy since 1898, and the latest range of offerings is no exception. The team at Savage have taken on lessons and feedback from

heritage in mind, the team at Savage have gone back to the drawing board to create a boat that takes the Jabaru to the next level. The Raptor range comes in two configurations, the Raptor and Raptor Pro. The 355, 395 and 425 Raptor offers an affordable option that any angler would be keen to start their next adventure in. With plenty

The Raptor Pro 405 has all the storage to keep your tackle out of the way. their customers to expand on their range and improve the boating experience for all. The new range includes a new Jabaru, a larger Scorpion, updated Bay Cruisers and improved alloy trailers. ‘RAPTOR’ THE JABARU REBORN The Jabaru range of boats personifies the Savage mentality of practical boats for generations. With this

of internal space and bench seating, each model can take up to four people, while still remaining light enough to be towed behind the family car or used as a car topper. With the option to add in features such as a bimini top, rod holders and carpeted floors, the Raptor can be much more than a bare bones tinny. Coming in three size options, the 405, 425 and 445 Raptor Pro provides an

A Scorpion on the run. 70

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option to suit any avid angler. Each model comes standard with front and rear casting platforms and ample storage, to allow the angler to focus on catching that next fish. With a revamped hull design, the V-nose allows anglers to venture into shallower water and is teamed with wider chines to provide more stability at rest and a softer ride than previous models. For those wanting more storage, the deck layout can be customised with extras such as live bait tanks and rod pockets. 525 SCORPION FOR THE ANGLER WANTS IT ALL Many of Savage’s valued customers have called for a larger Scorpion – and Savage have delivered. The new 525 Scorpion and Scorpion Pro provides the serious angler with a boat that can cover all their needs and wants. The larger size provides ample storage and deck space to allow you to bring your entire fishing crew along for the adventure. The front deck can be optioned up with roto molded storage options, which can be plumbed into a live well. While the spacious rear casting platform comes standard with a live bait tank. The hull is designed to allow anglers access to small waterways while remaining

Top: The Raptor range has a boat for every sort of angler. Above: The 485 Bay Cruiser can carry the whole family. up to the task of tackling rough offshore conditions. With a 77L fuel tank and maximum horsepower rating of 115, the 525 Scorpion is a boat that can do it all. UPDATED BAY CRUISERS TO ACCOMMODATE THE WHOLE FAMILY Savage have updated 485, 515 and 545 Bay Cruiser models to provide a more practical and enjoyable boating experience for the whole family. The Bay Cruisers have had a redesign from the front to back, with the new larger dash area that provides space for larger electronics and improves the driving position. The new lean through dash allows for greater access to the anchor well and all boats can now be optioned up to

include an electric drum winch to make it an easier day on the water. At the rear of the boat, the Bay Cruiser has been designed with larger gunnels to provide a more comfortable space to sit on or lean to while reeling in a fish of a lifetime. The Bay Cruiser is a family all rounder with all the trimmings to provide a great day on the water. The 485 is a great example of this, with two seats in the front and a folding bench seat in the rear the boat can be set up for a day drifting live baits in the bay or a family trip to that picnic spot upriver. ALLOY TRAILERS FOR ALL With fuel economy and durability becoming more of a concern for all consumers, Savage have developed

a complete range of alloy trailers to satisfy these concerns. The C-section alloy trailers have passed accelerated lifecycle testing to ensure that each trailer will withstand a lifetime of use. This change in material also gives a dramatic weight saving of 40kg for a small trailer, making it easier tow with smaller vehicles and providing less strain on the vehicle. All of Savage’s new alloy trailers are made from the ground up and in house, which ensures that it is the perfect match for your boat. With all the new improvements, there is sure to be a boat in the Savage range to suit your needs. For more information or to find your local dealer head to www. savageboats.com.au.

The Bay Cruiser has space for all of your electronics.

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Since 1898 Savage has been helping Aussies escape the 9 to 5 grind and get into the action on rivers, lakes and bays across the country. There’s not a lot we don’t know about catching fish and having fun on the water! With an Ultra Lift Hull designed to get you there fast and dry, as well as tough plate sides on the 385 and up, Savage boats can handle just about anything. At a price that makes our competitors wonder how we do it! The weekend’s coming - Be prepared - Get Savage.

Find your nearest dealer at savageboats.com.au

The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Torqeedo shock the Australian electrics market BRISBANE

Tom Slater

German engineered Torqeedo electric outboard motors are set to explode into the Australian market thanks to their newly formed distribution agreement with Melbourne-based Power Equipment. Fishing

Australian consumers will have no worries finding a dealer for the Torqeedo range anywhere in the country, now that the brand is supported and backed by Australian industry powerhouse, Power Equipment. Torqeedo Product Manager Jason Hodder is excited to have a brand such as Torqeedo, operating with

on the market. We’ve already seen the response in only a short time. It’s a fantastic product and people are excited they can now access it easier through our network.” ULTRALIGHT The Torqeedo range extends from 1hp equivalent motors, right through to 80hp weapon. The 1hp equivalent Torqeedo Ultralight 403 is perfectly matched to any kayak or canoe, and pushed the Aquayak Scout (3m) at an impressive 8.6km/h. What is probably more useful, is when backed off to a cruising speed of 4km/h, the included Torqeedo Lithium-ion battery gives the user an amazing 4-5hrs of running time. Integrating with the kayak’s steering and tilting system, the Ultralight 403 is easy to operate and features a small, easily mountable hand control for throttle. It retails for $2,750, including GST, and is also available

as a package deal with Aquayak Kayaks. TRAVEL The Torqeedo Travel 503 (1.5hp) and 1003 (3hp), as their name implies, are the perfect electric outboard

equivalent models. Standing proud as a standalone electric outboard, the Cruise models are powered with a separate Torqeedo Lithium-Ion Power 26-104 battery, but can also be run

The Torqeedo Travel 1003 features a modular design with integrated lithium battery and detachable tiller arm.

Fishing Monthly recently attended the media day celebrating the new distribution of Germanengineered electric outboards, Torqeedo. FM was very impressed with the efficiency of these great motors. Monthly recently attended a Torqeedo launch event at Sandringham Yacht Club and trialled three different models from Torqeedo’s extensive electric outboard range.

the backing of Power Equipment’s infrastructure and dealer network. “It means Australian consumers will now know where to get information on the best electric outboards

Torqeedo also offer their Power 26-104 lithium powerpack for use with their Cruise outboards. The lithium battery is under half the weight of equivalent lead acid systems.

JULY 2016

high output electric motor. Weighing only 25kg, the Power 26-104 is under half the weight of equivalently powered lead acid systems. Lithium batteries also benefit from their inherent

for the nomadic traveller. Featuring a modular design incorporating the main motor leg, tiller arm and integrated lithium-ion battery, the Travel series can easily be moved to and from the boat, or switched between vessels. The integrated lithium-ion battery means you don’t need a bulky heavy leadacid battery to be mounted anywhere, simply plug and play and enjoy up to 3hp of electric propulsion. The two models start from $2,530 including GST and spare integrated batteries are available for increased range if necessary. CRUISE For serious electric enthusiasts, the Torqeedo Cruise offers 5hp, 8hp and soon to be released 20hp

off any suitably powered deep cycle battery on the market. On a Quintrex 3.2m punt, even the smallest Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 (5hp) model, produces incredible torque and thrust with instant throttle response and up to planing speeds. Starting from $5,610 including GST, these aren’t for the faint-hearted, but if you want to plane on an electric boat, these are one of the only options. LITHIUM POWER BATTERY The Torqeedo Lithium Power 26-104 battery caught our eye. The 24v lithium power pack is designed to power the Torqeedo Cruise range of motors, but is more than capable of powering any

ability to retain full output until reaching a state of no charge. Unlike lead acid batteries where power output tapers off as the battery decreases in charge. The Torqeedo Lithium 26-104 retails for $4,290 including GST and is rated for 800 full discharge cycles before the battery will lose 25% of its capacity. CONTEMPORARY TECHNOLOGY All Torqeedo electric outboards are equipped with an on-board ‘brain’ that will tell you specifics, such as ground speed, range to empty, wattage draw and current battery power remaining. The Torqeedo Torq Trac app, which is available in both the Apple and Google Play Store, links your smartphone to your Torqeedo outboard for even more information. The To r q e e d o range of outboards are manufactured in Germany and are absolutely top quality. The motors are quiet and deliver punchy throttle response. Torqeedo specifically design every aspect of their motors for ultimate efficiency. We were impressed by the motors and look forward to seeing the Torqeedo range supported by a company with the distribution and support network of Power Equipment. For more information on the Torqeedo range of electric outboard motors, visit Power Equipment’s website at www. powerequipment.com.au/ products/torqeedo/.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Boating made easy: the all-rounder solution BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Very few manufacturers classify their craft as all-rounders. However, quite a lot of boat owners refer to their craft as all-rounders because they like to do a range of on-water activities, not just fishing. Such rigs see a lot of family use, which can often involve nights spent aboard in a selected anchorage, and often combine tow sports and fishing with whatever else is going on. The same craft might be used within an estuary, out on the bay or even involved in an upriver or offshore run. Impoundment fishing? Certainly! The next 6m rig to launch at Lake Awoonga won’t be the last. So what do we look for in a boat for general all-round use, one that can fulfil all of these functions? Family touring and overnighting aboard the rig means there must be ample room, protection from weather, bunks to snooze on and lots of storage space under them. Certainly, provision for a toilet might well be part of the criteria, as well as enough dedicated batteries to accommodate a portable refrigerator and the like. This selected criteria will rule out specialised sportfishing craft such as bass boats, high-end punts, and all other open craft that have plenty of fishing room but limited or no protection from the elements. Considering that the weather protection, storage

and creature comfort side of things are paramount, it makes the most sense to opt for a cuddy cabin or centre cab rig. There are plenty of boats that are suitable for family boating, water fun and fishing, all neatly combined in the one package. The selection of a cuddy cab rig is perfect. Coming in second is the centre cab, provided the craft is large enough to feature a cabin of some size, and maybe with optional storm covers to provide weather protection if you’re planning to do some overnighters. Surprisingly, a larger bow rider can constitute a handy all-rounder, especially if you don’t want to spend time on the water overnight. Even these are open boats. Larger bow

The Evolution 552 powered by a 150 Mercury 4-stroke is a compact glass craft that has sufficient desirable attributes to qualify it as an all-rounder. riders do offer plenty of storage area and lots of seating. They are usually powered to the limit as well, and offer a huge amount of fishing room. Now that we have covered the best boat types, let’s turn our attention to power issues. POWER IS THE KEY Larger craft require larger motors, and if tow sports are involved there’s

revs in reserve to save fuel. Fuel savings are always important, whether you’re off on a long coastal jaunt chasing fish or doing some serious point to point inshore cruising. My concept of an all-rounder would see the craft equipped with an engine near to top power specifications. A large fuel tank, say around the 200L mark, would always be an asset.

The Grady White 226/300 4-stroke Yamaha combination easily fulfils multiple roles. This boat has plenty of everything, with both a galley and marine toilet inside the cuddy cab, and fishing features galore in the main cockpit area.

Seats that stretch into decent beds help qualify the Sea Fox 226 Traveller as an allrounder, particularly for families.

The Sea Fox 226 Traveller bow rider qualifies as an all-rounder due to its size, which incorporates ample storage, lots of work room, plush seating, a toilet within the console and no shortage of power from the 250 Yamaha 4-stroke. 74

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certainly a need for power to spare. On top of this, extended cruising is easiest with a powerful engine working with plenty of

OTHER REQUIREMENTS The next factors to consider are seating, general equipment levels

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

The Sydney International Boat Show 28 July to 1 August 2016

and work room for fishing. Cuddy rigs usually have additional seating aft, which is often able to be lowered when fishing to increase fishing room. This is a very handy feature. Some craft even have modular lounge seating which can be moved or

protected storage space, and somewhere to store the catch which can be drained at the end of the day. You’ll also want to have decent off-floor side pockets within the cockpit area to accommodate a wide range of gear, from skis to gaffs, and to tuck your feet under

A bait station aft is important, as is a bait tank which can also be filled with ice and cold drinks on long runs or when skiing or towing. Rod holders are virtually essential, both in the gunwales and on the bait station. When preparing tackle it’s very handy to

One handy thing about the Evolution 552 is the ease in which the rear seat can be dropped to enlarge the fishing area. This boat also gives users the protection of a cuddy cab with bunks, it has excellent fuel capacity and a range of other desirable attributes.

The all plate Iconic 5.5 is a compact cuddy craft that certainly can double as an all-rounder thanks to plenty of features, ample weather protection plus good power from the 140 Suzuki. removed at will – brilliant! Next comes equipment levels. A good all rounder should have weather

when bracing against the sides if conditions are unsettled or a big fish is causing mayhem.

Combining all of these attributes is not difficult, and the larger the boat is, the easier it is to get all of these features in the one unit. If you’re looking at something a bit smaller you’ll find it harder to fit everything, but it’s still not out of the question; there are several manufacturers, both plate alloy and glass, that do offer useful rigs that make excellent all-rounders. Two examples that come to mind

are the Iconic 5.5 plate boat that I reviewed recently, as well as the Evolution 552 fibreglass cuddy cab. Having said all that, the main consideration when choosing an all-rounder boat comes down to what each particular owner wants the boat to do. If you mainly want to do family trips, you can’t go past a cuddy cab. As well as creature comforts, there’s always sufficient

room aft for fishing when it’s planned. Alternatively, a team of angling aficionados might well see the centre cab as their all-rounder. And last but not least, if there’s no intention to overnight on the water, the bow rider can be in the equation – especially if it’s equipped with a decent bimini to provide some weather protection. Choosing an all rounder? It’s not hard at all.

have somewhere to set the rod into and then work on the business end to replace gear or set up bait correctly.

If you mainly want to do family trips, you can’t go past a cuddy cab.

As an all-rounder the Sea Fox 226 Traveller sports a lot of seating, with storage modules under each area.

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Stacer sets the pace with the 469 Outlaw BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Stacer offer a veritable feast of boating experiences these days, from small tender-sized punts and tinnies right up to offshore rigs with all the bells and whistles. It means there’s an alloy boat for virtually all fishing requirements. As a mid-sized rig easily towed by the family car and suited to either

family or more dedicated angler/boaters, the 469 Outlaw ticks a lot of boxes. A close look at the rig reveals just why this model, in particular, is so popular. One of the obvious reasons for the Outlaw’s popularity is Stacer’s skilful blending of fishing features and functionality into a boat that falls into today’s ‘just right sized’ category. It’s a class of craft that has captured a lot of the budget based boating market. This particular craft did come with several

Powering along smoothly, the Stacer’s well designed Evo Hull cuts an impressive figure.

Here you can see the rear casting area adjacent to the transom.

major options to upgrade its fishability, yet the package price with options was certainly not excessive when compared to similarly-equipped craft within the market niche. A STYLISH RIG On its custom Stacer trailer, the rig looked stylishly neat – even eye-catching. White 3mm thick plate-style sides were jazzed up with a go fast decal. Handy fore and aft grab rails gave the craft a finished appearance, and the Stacer brand was prominent astern. Left: A neat dash layout set-up on the Outlaw’s sports-style side console is an eye-pleasing feature. Below: The handy forward casting platform with its hatched compartments and catch well is one optional extra that most 469 Outlaw owners will select.

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A view of the Outlaw’s cockpit area. Note the large seats on pedestals as well as the minimal intrusion of the side console and the side pocket on the skipper’s side. Stylish practicality is what this craft is all about. It’s small enough to be launched and retrieved by just the one person yet

would fish three or four anglers, depending on their plans for the day. In addition, Stacer have ensured the 469 Outlaw’s

design and set-up never strays far from the ‘looks good, goes great and works well’ overall concept. Up front, an elevated carpet-covered casting deck came set up with storage hatches each side of a big catch well. An electric motor bracket was tucked to port of an open anchor well. Stepping down into the main cockpit work area, the craft’s windscreenequipped side console came equipped with a glove box, gauges and bank of main switches with the wheel lower. I found the console caused minimal intrusion into fishing space. Twin Stacer Sea Pro seats on pedestals were placed side by side aft with another seat position further forward. COCKPIT SET UP FOR COMFORT While at the helm I noticed that Stacer had

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

The Sydney International Boat Show 28 July to 1 August 2016

The 469 Outlaw lets two anglers comfortably fish up front, with the potential for another one or two working aft. done an excellent job of setting up the skipper’s seat in the perfect position. I could easily make myself comfortable, there was plenty of room for my legs under the console, and the windscreen blocked slipstream quite well. Cockpit storage space for longer items was provided via paired side pockets while a battery compartment to starboard, live bait well to port were set into the transom with their hatch covers providing further casting platforms as

is standard in many smaller craft these days. Note that paired rod holders were installed astern within gunwales. In short, comfort levels were high. TEST DRIVE Driving the 469 Outlaw was nothing short of fun with two aboard. Engine ratings were from 50-75hp, and the boat tested ran a 70hp Yamaha. With nearly maximum horsepower on the transom the craft jumped straight onto the plane at a very modest 14.2km/h at 2700rpm.

SPECIFICATIONS Hull length.......................................................4.97m Length on trailer.............................................6.16m Beam................................................................2.22m Depth...............................................................1.08m Construction.......... bottom, sides, 3mm alloy sheet Engines........................................................ 50-75hp Fuel......................................................................77L Persons...................................................................5 Towing...........................Family six or big four sedan

It reached 3000rpm at 21.6km/h, 4000rpm at 34.7km/h, and 4500rpm saw a very reasonable 41.8km/h. With a rev range going to 6000rpm, you could easily speculate as to speeds around the 60km/h mark being standard for the Outlaw. It was interesting to note that Stacer’s engine ratings began at 50hp, This, to my mind, might somewhat restrict the craft’s excellent performance capability. The Stacer Evo hull is a time-proven design with easy planing capability, ample stability and soft riding characteristics that will endear it to owners, but at some 4.97m long, 2.22m wide and with a basic weight of 422kg without engine or passengers, it needs power to perform well. I’d be reluctant to nominate less than 60hp on the transom unless a

two-person team would be aboard most times. FISHING RIG Looking at the 469

Outlaw purely as a fishing rig, I saw it as a very comfortable three to four person outfit. Although ratings are for up to five aboard, that sort of team would likely be family orientated, not a group of anglers – unless everyone was working as a very well organized team and were fishing in favourable conditions. Ride and handling tests were undertaken in an estuary/river setting, and the Outlaw came through with flying colours. There was power to spare, and the rig – whether two or three up – had a very sweet feel about it. When crossing wash at speed to see if I could invoke some hard bumps or jarring, the result was always pleasing. I’d see the rig very suited to most bay or estuary conditions, and it would certainly handle a run offshore on the right day and conditions. In many respects, with its 1.08m side depth,

ample width for length ratio, flexible seating and the large range of options from bimini to electronic packages that Stacer offer, the 469 Outlaw is a genuine all rounder. It’s ideal for buyers seeking a smaller craft to fulfil options from fun boating to serious fishing. Being a keen fisherman, I would like to see some of the more desirable fishing options as standard equipment rather than options, but I still consider this craft to be excellent value for money. If you would like to see more of this boat and are interested in a package, give the good people at Blake’s Marine a visit at the Sydney International Boat Show, or call them on (02) 4577 6699. Alternatively, you can drop into their premises at 1 Railway Road North, Mulgrave. They can package up this boat with a great Suzuki or E-TEC package to suit your individual needs.

This image gives us a look at many of the Outlaw’s cockpit features such as the large port side pocket, cast decks aft and the seating arrangements.

One person launch/retrieval of the 469 Stacer Outlaw is a bonus for lucky owners to enjoy.

An important component of the Outlaw’s optional forward casting deck is the large catch well. JULY 2016

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The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

Savage 455 Scorpion FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

On water boat testing can be a lot of fun. The opportunity to spend two or three hours putting a boat through its paces and getting to know the people that are putting the package together provides a great insight and knowledge of variety boats and what they are capable of. A recent visit to Warragul to visit the team from Warragul Marine Centre provided the opportunity to take an in-depth look a number of boats from the Savage Aluminium range.

taking a boat and took dibs on towing the Scorpion. The Outback 3.6R I had been given is a typical family vehicle with a few Subaru bells and whistles. I had no concerns that it would tow the boat, but the bonus was that you got a feel of what you would be able to see behind you and how it would effect the vehicles performance. In a nutshell, I had to remind myself that the boat was there. You had good visibility and the Savage I-Beam trailer with its alloy wheels looked an absolute treat (more about the trailer later in the review). Launching the Savage

rear casting areas. It had a MotorGuide Xi5 wireless 55lb trust bow mount electric motor and was powered by a Mercury 60hp CT 4-stroke engine. Other options, on the test boat, were a Lowrance Elite-7 HDI combo, offshore motor-well and vinyl wrap. Included in this configuration was a twin live well in the forward casting deck, a full-length rod locker and an additional live bait tank in the offshore rear well/casting deck. There is also plenty of gear storage available for your safety gear and fishing tackle to ensure your casting area is clear to maximise your fishing space.

The vinyl wrap on the 455 Scorpion makes it look a treat. Lift Hull. The Ultra-Lift Hull design is an extra large extended reverse chine with an increased deadrise. This effectively maximises spray reduction and neutralises chop. Lake Narracan was never going to truly test this. The only real chop was being made by us and the Scorpion dealt with this no problem at all. I found the stability underway and during cornering to be a pleasant surprise. It was difficult to make it play

up without doing something out of the normal, which you wouldn’t do when heading to or from your favourite fishing spot or during normal use. A very important test for me with this style of boat is stability at rest. For a vast majority of the time you are using it as a casting platform. I had David Garcia go and have a cast around and I used the boat as a camera boat for the majority of the time and the stability at rest was excellent.

The 455 Scorpion was impressive at full noise. Arriving at their new premises I was immediately drawn to a wrapped Savage 455 Scorpion and I hoped that this was one of the boats they wanted tested. It was, and we headed to Lake Narracan the following day to see if it performed as well as it looked. FIRST IMPRESSIONS The first impression you don’t generally get is the chance to tow the boat to the water. It is a short drive from Warragul to Lake Narracan and as I had a loan car from Subaru I was able to assist in QR CODE

Scan the QR code to see the Savage 455 Scorpion taken through its paces. 80

JULY 2016

455 Scorpion was simple with its drive on/drive off trailer, which could easily be done on your own if required (something that is essential for this size and type of boat). Simon took the boat off the trailer, but it was left to me to take it up the lake to where we would be running around and taking photos. I may have taken this chance to have a bit of a play. I liked what I found. It tracked nicely and got onto the plane with little fuss. Simon and David did mention that it looked like I was having too much fun. THE BOAT AS TESTED Savage Aluminium boats are the oldest aluminium boat manufacturer in Australia and are recognised by many as building tough and affordable boats. Until this trip I had had very little experience with the brand and the range of boats they have to offer, but I was looking forward to seeing the 455 Scorpion in action. The 455 Scorpion falls directly into what I would call a sport fishing boat. The model tested was a side console with forward and

A quick explanation about the offshore motorwell. You have the option of getting the 455 Scorpion with an open or standard transom or the offshore version that has higher splashguards around the motor, and both configurations are fitted with the rear live bait tank as a standard feature. The motorwell does make lure fishing from the back a little more challenging, but would be a godsend when soaking a bait for snapper or gummy shark in any bay or inshore grounds. The console set up while simple, was comfortable (the seats were great), with the seating configuration well thought out. At 6’2” there was plenty of legroom for me and still enough space to store a tackle bag or the like out of the way. There is also enough room to place any electronics and gauges you may need or want on the console itself. THE RIDE Getting wet while using an open boat is something we all like to avoid. The majority of Savage Aluminium boat range comes with their Ultra-

Top Left: The full-length rod locker provides enough room to store rods and reels out of harms way when not in use. Top Right: The boat tested had the offshore motor well option. It provides a great working space if bait fishing. Above: The front casting deck housed plenty of underfloor storage and a twin live well. Right: The addition of the Motorguide Xi5 provides the stealth and maneuverability that a sport fishing boat needs.

FISHABILITY The reason I was drawn to this boat in the first place was that it would meet the needs for the types of fishing that I do. It is small enough to fish shallow water estuary systems, ideal for fishing impoundments and lakes, has inshore capabilities and will get you offshore in the right weather conditions. The addition of the electric motor further opens up your fishing options and your ability to target fish in and

The Sydney International Boat Show

COCKLE BAY MARINA IN DARLING HARBOUR & SYDNEY EXHIBITION CENTRE @ GLEBE ISLAND

28 July to 1 August 2016

around structure. Perfect for those lure anglers amongst us. I do however have a pet hate, which is an open anchor well (not a big deal I know), they tend to provide a tripping hazard and/or something to catch your gear on. This may be because I very rarely anchor and fish. For those that do, it provides easy access, deployment and retrieval of your anchor with minimal mess going into the boat. Snap out of it I say to myself.

the command trust gearbox gives you a hole shot that would rival most 2-stroke motors. Added to that they have great fuel economy, so the 70L underfloor fuel tank of the 455 Scorpion will last just that much longer. On the other end of the spectrum, if you enjoy trolling for natives and trout in the freshwater or flathead and salmon in the salt, the Mercury will do that with bells on.

SPECIFICATIONS Length of Hull..................................................4.55m Beam................................................................2.05m Depth...............................................................1.07m Bottom Sides....................................................3mm Top Sides...........................................................3mm Weight (boat only)...........................................350kg Min. HP..............................................................30hp Max. HP.............................................................60hp Fuel Tank..............................................................70L Warranty........................................................ 3 years Max. people.............................................................5 TRAILER AND TOWING I wouldn’t normally say too much about a trailer because it is in a dealer’s best interest to ensure a trailer matches the package it is on. However, I have to mention the Savage I-Beam trailer. It is bolted together so any piece can be replaced if required. It is easy to get to and wash down all the places that need to be washed. It had alloy wheels

The Savage 455 Scorpion is well suited to being used as a casting platform.

and a spare tyre. As Simon said to me, he has had plenty of enquiries on the trailers, let alone the boat. As far as towing goes, a larger 4-cylinder vehicle or above would get you on your way to and from your favourite fishing location. IN SUMMARY The Savage 455 Scorpion has a lot of things going for it as far as a sport fishing boat is concerned. With 3mm bottom and sides, it will take the inevitable bumps that fishing can sometimes bring. Savage Aluminium Boats may not have some of the bells and whistles that their Telwater cousins have, but they are built with practicality and a purpose in mind and over 100 years of experience to produce affordable packages to get people on the water. I can’t say enough about the trailer, I may need to go and see Simon myself.

Last but not least the vinyl wrap on the boat really stood out. This may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it appealed to me and finished the package off for me nicely. The package we tested sells for $31,990, but has a base starting price point of $20,875 with a 40hp 2-stroke Mercury electric start, power trim outboard, alloy trailer and wheels, rego’s and safety kit. To find your nearest dealer, visit www. savageboats.com.au and check out our range. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

Below: Although simple, the side console is practical and comfortable. Below Right: The Mercury 60hp 4-stroke CT motor was a great match for the Scorpion.

MERCURY 60HP COMMAND TRUST 4-STROKE Maximum horsepower for the Savage 455 Scorpion is 60hp. The team at Warragul Marine Centre felt that a motor at the top end of the horsepower range is the best option for the Scorpion. Base packages starting with a 40hp are available, however I agree, if you are going to get this type of boat, the maximum horsepower maximises what you can do in it. It is hard not to be impressed by the Mercury 60hp 4-stroke with a command trust gearbox that was on the back of the 455 Scorpion. These motors are super light for their size and

Left: The Savage I-Beam trailers are well made and I was very impressed. Right: The Ultra-Lift hull at work. Lake Narracan didn’t really put this to the test, but the stability underway was excellent. JULY 2016

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FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TESTED: Schneider Super Smooth 8 carrier braid holds on

Frogging thick weed mats is a real test for braid, especially when you risk running 10lb braid with bass this big! Schneider’s Super Smooth 8 Carrier Pink Braid has a lot to offer for anyone who’s new to braid, or who is frustrated with the well-known shortcomings of most braids. These ‘shortcomings’ are usually wind knots, weak abrasion resistance and

coiling, the latter of which is caused by the braid being too stiff and having too much ‘memory’. I put 200m of the 300yard spool of 10lb onto my old Daiwa Luvias, and gave it my usual test drive in the backyard, casting plugs instead of lures, and attracting cats

instead of fish. Being strung from eight parts makes Super Smooth rounder than 4-ply and 6-ply braids. This roundness prevents knotting, and increases the abrasion resistance. The braid’s smoothness makes it sit nicely on the reel without springing off or coiling when it comes off. Despite this, it also retains a level of stiffness, which helps with casting distance and accuracy. To conduct a proper test, I needed an activity that would test out every quality of the braid and push it to its limits. I found the answer in my favourite way to target bass: frogging. Frogging involves throwing weedless frog imitations over thick weed/lilies, and walking the frog over the weed and into little pockets. When a bass hits you have to furiously set the hook and crank hard. Most seasoned froggers use slightly heavier gear than usual, and I believed 10lb would be very testing in my chosen location: a pond off a tributary of the Clarence. I had caught 50cm+ bass there before, and the weed there has become very thick. I cast out, and before long a bass smashed my frog. I stuck like I was swinging a baseball bat and the fight was on! Unsure of the true capabilities of the braid, I stupidly allowed the fish to dive down into the weed, but when I applied ample pressure the braid held. Before I knew it, I had a bass just shy of 50cm. Soon after the frog got smashed in a

The author was very pleased with the performance of the braid. small pocket between the lilies. I decided the only way I could land it was to skip it across the lilies. Skipping a 50cm bass across lily pads isn’t something you see every day, and my mate Lachlan laughed to see a 2kg fish zoom across the surface. All boxes ticked Schneider’s Super Smooth 8 Carrier braid ticked all the boxes for me. It allowed me to cast light frogs a long way, it didn’t tangle once, I didn’t get any wind knots even with the jerky retrieve I was using, and it stood up to harsh punishment in the pads against some chunky bass. As a bonus, the high-visibility pink made it easy to see. I’ve had no problems with it, and plan to keep it on my Luvias. Super Smooth comes in 10-50lb in 150 or 300yard spools, and prices start from a reasonable SRP $49.95. For more info visit www.schneiderfishinglines.com.au. - Bob Thornton

TESTED: Ideal travel kit: Black Sniper and Ballistic line travel. DAIWA BALLISTIC EX3000H REEL The new generation Ballistic EX3000H is a state-of-the-art reel that’s lightweight, well balanced and smooth. It combines an excellent retrieve speed with a saltwater standard of build. Thanks to 10 corrosionresistant bearings plus impervious Zaion material in both the side cover and main body of the reel, Ballistic owners can expect a long and useful work life from their investment. Other features include a totally sealed drag, air rotor and Digigear system. The gear ratio is 5.6:1 which sees over 1m of line

An air rotor and inherent smoothness are features of this well performing reel.

This chunky cod was happy to scoff the Murray Moth in pitch darkness in surprisingly shallow water. The 4-7kg Black Sniper 703MHFS 3-piece rod, rated for lures from 7-21g, is one of Daiwa’s Generation Black series of travel rods. These rods incorporate Daiwa’s High Volume Fibre graphite material for maximum strength and lightness. This rod’s MH designation denotes a medium heavy action. This, linked to a fast taper design, makes the rod ideal for solid lure and plastic work, casting slugs and frogging for barra in the dams. The rod also has a sensitive tip.

Finished in matte black, even on the bindings, the 7’ Black Sniper looks good, feels good in the hand and is a very powerful casting tool thanks to well placed Fuji Alconite guides, which combine strength and sufficient size to offer maximum casting distance from minimum casting effort. A custom Daiwa reel seat sees the screwdown foregrip locking the reel in place rigidly, yet comfortable to use for extended periods thanks to an EVA insert. The rod comes in its own carry pack with sling, and I found it easily fitted into one of my fly rod tubes for air

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

Compact size make this the powerful rig ideal for the travelling angler. retrieved with each reel handle revolution. The line capacity is 170m for 12lb line, which saw me load the spool with 200m of 20lb braid for a recent trip to Weipa. I gave the outfit a serious workout from the shore, and its balance sheer ease of fishability really impressed me. We had no ice so we needed fresh fish every day for dinner, and that was no problem. Queenfish and golden trevally were

easily handled, but the jewel in the crown was barra. At times I needed to reach barra a fair way from the shore holding around rocks, and the ease of casting a light lure or plastic a fair distance, plus the strength to turn a hooked fish, made it invaluable. Without this outfit I’m sure we would have had to eat a lot more queenies than we did! - Wayne Kampe

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

What’s New FISHING

DAIWA BLACK LABEL V2 AIRPORTABLE

Daiwa’s Black Label V2 Airport range of multi-piece rods has been designed for ultimate transportability, and features many of Daiwa’s latest design and blank technologies. Crisp and lightweight in the hand, yet powerful and responsive in the heat of battle, Black Label delivers cutting edge blank performance. HVF graphite is the foundation of the blank, and the rod’s performance is further enhanced courtesy of X45, 3DX and Bias Wrap Construction blank technologies. These combine to increase power and eliminate blank twist and collapse, and allow the rod’s power to be located at the lower section of the blank for maximum power and reduced angler fatigue. These rods are finished off with the best components, including Daiwa High Grip/Air Beam reel seats, triple A-grade cork and Fuji SIC guides that are highly sensitive, ultra strong and maximise rod performance and sensitivity. All this comes packed in a heavyduty case that is ready to head off to distant piscatorial locations. www.daiwafishing.com.au

TOURNAMENT 8 BRAID EVO

Over the years Daiwa Technology has set the standards for reel and rod development, and now in 2016, Daiwa has raised the bar and introduced a new premium 8 ply braid: Tournament 8 Braid Evo. Tournament 8 Braid Evo is available in high visibility chartreuse and multi-coloured, metered offerings, in 150m, 300m and bulk 1000m spools. Tournament 8 Braid Evo features a round profile, extra high abrasion resistance and a super smooth surface coating that delivers maximum casting distance. It’s super soft and flexible, Evo is available in the following breaking strains: PE 0.6 (2.7kg/6lb, 0.08mm, 150m); PE 0.8 (3.6kg/8lb, 0.10mm, 150/300m); PE 1 (4.6kg/10lb (0.12 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 1.2 (6.8kg/15lb, 0.14mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 1.5 (9.1kg/20lb, 0.16 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 2 (13.6kg/30lb, 0.18 mm, 150/300/1000m); PE 3 (18.2kg/40lb, 0.26 mm, 300/1000m); PE 4 (22.7kg/50lb, 0.30 mm, 300/1000m); PE 6 (36.4kg/80lb, 0.45mm, 300/1000m). www.daiwafishing.com.au

FISH INC. FULLBACK STICKBAIT

The team at Tackle Tactics have added the Fish Inc. Lures brand to their stable of quality, innovative products. Australian anglers will now have access to Fish Inc. Lures range of stickbaits, poppers and hybrid baits that feature awesome finishes, come fitted with Owner trebles and have actions that have already proven to be dynamite on a range of reef and pelagic species during the testing process. Starting off with the largest stickbait in the range, the Fullback is a 190mm, 79g floating stickbait with a reinforced ABS body that comes fitted with heavy-duty Owner trebles. Action wise it responds well to a sweep of the rod tip or a quicker retrieve and the profile, size and floating design make it ideal for targeting larger species feeding on or near the surface. The Fullback is available in three colours: maasbunker, pink foil and bonito. To view the full range visit the Tackle Tactics website. Price: SRP $39.95. www.tackletactics.com.au

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

NITRO BREAM PRO

Berkley Nitro Bream Pro jigheads feature a newly designed head and keeper for even greater performance. The new style head brings a smoother glide and flutter as the plastic falls through the strike zone, and the segmented quad keeper ensures that the plastic stays firmly in position. Built on ultra-sharp Owner fine wire needle point hooks, Berkley Nitro Bream Pro jigheads provide ultimate performance for the best soft plastic fishing experience. These jigheads are available in weights from 1/50oz to 1/4oz, and hook sizes from #4 to #2/0. RRP $8.95 berkley-fishing.com.au

YAMASHITA NAORY RH 490 GLOW

The Yamashita Naory RH 490 Glow is a new addition to the Naory RH series of squid jigs. Yamashita have incorporated their latest technology into the Naory RH 490 series, drawing on research showing that the best wavelength of visible light for squid to detect is 490nm. The full body 490 glow grabs the squid’s attention and draws them in. Add to this Yamashita’s Warm Jacket technology (the cloth converts light into heat for added attraction), and these small profile squid jigs pack a serious punch. The Naory RH 490’s entire body glows in a striking turquoise colour. Seven colours are available in a moderate sinking rate in three sizes: 1.5B (3.5g 5.0-5.5 sec./m), 1.8B (5.5g 3.0-3.5 sec./m) and 2.2B (8.0g 2.22.7 sec./m). These jigs are ideal for targeting smaller squid in shallow water or arrow squid at night. Price: from $19.95 www.ejtodd.com.au/Lures/Squid_Jigs/

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SQUID MEISTER SQUID JIGS

Squid Meister is launching a new range of squid jigs in August 2016. These squid jigs are designed for Australian anglers, and are currently being tested with outstanding results by anglers all around the country. Ashley Hallam in Tasmania is one of many anglers strategically selected by Squid Meister to already have put the jigs into the water with excellent results. As we all know, Tasmania is home to some of the biggest and meanest calamari, so it’s an excellent testing ground. Ashley’s results, and those from field testers around the country, prove just how effective these jigs are. Squid Meister specialises in cloth-less jigs, and the new range will feature five cloth-less jigs as part of the RAW collection. For the cloth fans, Squid Meister has created the RAPz series – Japanese cloth with simple designs, including some unique patterns. Keep an eye on the Squid Meister website for photos and more info on the launch. Price: SRP $20-$26 www.squidmeister.com

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

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

What’s New FISHING

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REUSABLE HAND WARMERS

Designed in Australia, Pocket Balls are reusable pocket-sized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of novel sport themes, including footy, soccer, golf, cricket, tennis, basketball and the magic eight ball. These environmentally friendly heat packs provide instant heat anytime and anywhere, all with the simple click of the inner metal disk. As well as warming your hands while fishing, they’re good for warming children up during a game of weekend sport, or providing relief from sore muscles. Pocket Balls are made from reusable, nontoxic elements, and provide up to an hour of deep, soothing heat. They can be used again and again once the heat pack has cooled, by simply placing it in boiling water until all crystals are liquefied, allowing it to cool and then reusing once more. Pocket Balls are available at Newspower stores and other selected retailers nationally. You can also purchase them online from the Pocket Balls website. Price: SRP $12.95 for a 2-pack www.take5energize.com.au/Pocket Balls

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

EXTENDED DEEPER RANGE

The compact Deeper Fishfinder can be cast on most standard lines, and it floats and transmits detailed info to the screen of your smartphone or tablet. The new extended product line delivers extended casting distance and depth range, GPS and more. The Smart Fishfinder 3.0 has a Bluetooth range of up to 40m, and the Smart Sonar PRO and PRO+ use Wi-Fi (no internet or cellular connectivity required). The Wi-Fi range is up to 100m, perfect for long range fishing, and the maximum depth is 80m. The Smart Sonar PRO+ also has a high accuracy GPS receiver, and all area maps are free to download with the free app. The app is regularly updated, and includes Solunar Calendar, Fishing Notes, Offline Maps, and more. On your smartphone screen you can adjust details of the sonar info including sensitivity and beam width, and you can set an alarm to alert you to when a fish passes underneath or when you hit a certain depth. www.buydeeper.com

BERKLEY DAY BACKPACK

Berkley Fishin’ Gear Tackle Management Systems offers a range of storage solutions to suit every angler. Whether it’s a few packs of Gulps, or everything to hand for a day on the water, there’s a product in the range to suit your needs. The backpack features heavyduty fabrics for style and durability, comfortable handles and corrosionresistant zips and fittings. A 30L fishing and lifestyle backpack rounds out the new Berkley Fishin’ Gear range. Packed full of features, the FG 30L Day Backpack includes an internal organiser and mesh pockets for tackle boxes and tools, plus a padded pouch designed as a reel compartment. Extra innovations include an integrated Nano Shade cover for protection from heavy rain, and the provision to carry a 15” laptop. Price: RRP $74.95 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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

VALLEY HILL ROCKETEER SLICER SQUID JIG

Japanese squid tackle giant Valley Hill has updated their range of technologically advanced squid jigs. The Rocketeer Slicer stands out as a jig that combines traditional design with modern ingenuity. From the unique metal plate head situated at the nose of the jig (which allows the angler to secure line in two places depending on casting requirements, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris), to the Rocketeer tail system, which essentially enables anglers to cast more effectively into the wind, the Rocketeer Slicer is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering. The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and in a range of 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective in Australia’s calamari-abundant southern waters and is now gaining momentum across the eastern states. For stockist or trade enquiries, or for more info on the Valley Hill range, visit the Dogtooth website. Price: SRP $19.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

DARK HORSE POPPING RODS

Casting stickbaits, poppers and metals at tuna and pelagics has never been so much fun. The Dark Horse Popping rods from N.S Black Hole feature balanced blanks for optimal casting and fighting performance. The long fighting foregrip, striking blue blanks and latest carbon cloth technology make the Dark Horse Popping rods excellent value for money with impressive performance. The long foregrip provides excellent comfort when fighting the fish, and the blank uses a new CF-1115 fabric which minimises twisting and improves strength. There are two models: the S-833 (8’3”/2.5m, 2-piece, 161cm closed, 322g, 2.4mm top dia, 17.7mm bottom dia, 40-100g, 3.0-6.0PE), and the S-794 (7’9”/2.35m, 2-piece, 147cm closed, 327g, 2.4mm top dia, 17.7mm bottom dia, 40110g, 3.0-6.0PE). Price: RRP $340 www.ejtodd.com.au

ZEREK DRY FIT JERSEYS

Designed to keep you cool and comfortable while you’re fishing, the Zerek Dry Fit Jerseys have been released in black and white colours with the distinctive Bluewater Craft logo. The Dry Fit material actively moves sweat away from the body to a separate fabric layer where it can evaporate away. This leaves you feeling dry at all times while fishing, and the UPF rating of 25 gives you confidence when out in the harsh Australian sun. Available in sizes from medium (M) through to 3XL, and with sizing that suits Australian bodies, the Zerek Dry Fit Longsleeve Jerseys will keep you fishing longer and catching more fish in comfort and style. www.wilsonfishing.com

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

Technique

Get maximum distance with a slide bait rig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the last few years, slide baiting has become a popular technique for anglers targeting large gamefish from the beaches and rocks. This effective technique basically allows you to deploy a large bait further from the shore than previously possible. You don’t cast the bait, only the sinker. After you have cast the sinker, you attach the slide bait rig with the bait attached and float it out using the current, or coax it out with gentle lifting of the

rod tip. After numerous large Spanish mackerel to over 40kg were caught with this technique at Fraser Island, more anglers have been keen to try this exciting form of fishing. The sinker commonly used is a grapnel (sometimes referred to as an anchor sinker) which has forward facing wire arms which help it bed down and hold into the sand or debris on the bottom. Many of these sinkers have the arms fixed in place but some have a release system where the arms fold back when extra pressure is applied. This is usually when the angler lifts the rod abruptly to

wind in or a fish grabs the bait and goes for a run. Once the sinker has hit the bottom you need to do small lifts with the rod tip (without retrieving line), tightening and relaxing the line to get the sinker to bed into the sand. Once your slide bait rig is set up with the bait, you attach it to this taut main line and put it into the water where the wave action and decline of the line angle will coax it to gradually make its way out to the sinker. This approach allows you to cover a broad area of water and permits you to deploy a large (often live) bait out as far as you can cast the grapnel sinker.

For large baits, live bait sliders are ideal. Casting only the sinker and not the weight of the bait will greatly increase the distance out that the bait can be fished. Additionally, live offerings will be a lot healthier as they aren’t subjected to the forces involved during the cast, or from plummeting into the water. Slide bait rigs have accounted for some pretty spectacular fish in the few years that they have been fished in Australian waters and are fast becoming an essential piece of any serious beach or rock fisher’s arsenal. There are numerous types of slide bait rigs

on the Australian market these days, some locallymade and others imported. Some rigs can be made with hi-tensile wire ranging from 1.2mm to 2.2mm in diameter. Locally, anglers fishing the surf and rocks commonly use the 1.6mm and 1.8mm slide bait rigs. If larger sharks are your target, 2.0mm and 2.2mm would be your best choice to put the odds in your favour. The smaller rigs are used for lighter lines or where the target species is not likely to be large. Most slide bait rigs are of the non-return variety, which means they are shaped so that a bait can only go down the line.

If a live bait turns and swims towards shore, the rig slightly kinks the line and limits the bait’s transit shorewards. Slide baiting is very popular in New Zealand and South Africa, and there are specific rods made for this form of fishing, with tapers designed to increase casting distances with large sinkers. Their length increases the angle in relation to the water which aids in getting baits out more efficiently. Many hard-core anglers use overhead reels for this type of fishing but large spinning reels and Alveys will suffice. Now it’s time to get sliding!

Monofilament is reputed to give the slide bait rig a smoother transition down the line, so many anglers solely run monofilament on their reels. However, for increased capacity, some anglers predominately load their reels with braid and just use monofilament for the final 100150m that the rig slides on. If they hook a predator which takes heaps of line, those anglers always have a good capacity of braid backing line, which will increase their reel’s line-holding abilities. If you want to add a monofilament leader or top shot of monofilament to your braid, you’ll need to use a low profile knot. This will let the slide bait rig pass from the braid to the monofilament leader easily, or for the top shot to exit and enter the guides without fouling. The knot that’s pictured above is an FG knot, however PR knots and other similar low profile knots could be used.

For the attaching the sinker you will generally use slightly lighter line than your main line. This will break first if the sinker becomes snagged, so you won’t lose the entire rig and hooked fish. Generally the length between the sinker and the swivel will be 0.5-1.5m, depending on the ability of your outfit to cast this length and how far off the bottom you want the bait to rest. The swivel and solid ring combo should be supplied in the packet with your slide bait rig. Attach one end of the leader material to the grapnel sinker and the other to the swivel.

To sinker

For setting up your basic rig for fishing the Southeast Queensland surf you will need a 1.6mm or 1.8mm slide bait rig, some 20-40lb monofilament or fluorocarbon, some 60-80lb monofilament or fluorocarbon, some live bait hooks and a grapnel sinker. Quality scissors or mono shears will also be useful. An alternative to heavy monofilament is wire, which may be required if you are going to target some toothy creatures like mackerel, big tailor and sharks. 86

JULY 2016

To rod

Attach the main line or leader to the solid ring with a sliding uni or a blood knot. It is important that this part of rig is the correct way around, as the slider needs to rest against this solid ring once the bait is fully deployed. The sinker is now ready to be cast out and allowed to settle on the bottom.

Technique

The rig you can use for your bait can vary. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re targeting mulloway, snapper and the like, a monofilament leader will suffice. I usually attach two or three hooks to the leader using a simple snell. How large the hooks are and the distance they are spaced apart will vary depending on the bait being used. For toothy creatures such as large greenback tailor, Spanish mackerel and sharks, you will need to have a wire leader. You may decide to run only a short length of wire between the hooks and then use monofilament as your main portion of hook rig leader. The leader configuration is generally determined by the possible target species.

Repeat this process five or six times or until the main line is running straight through the wire spiral as shown. Close the clip, making sure that the lumo bead is still in position directly under the spiral. This is to ensure that the clip does not open under extreme pressure once the spiral is resting against the solid ring.

Rig in use

Attach the hook rig leader to the swivel on the slide bait rig. I generally keep this leader less than 1m long in turbulent waters as it decreases the chance of it tangling with the main line. However, in stronger currents and when using larger live baits, a longer leader is desirable.

This is how your grapnel sinker will sit once it is set on a sandy bottom. Light lifting of the rod tip, and turbulence on the bottom, will help it to sink into the sandy bottom and bed right in. A good purchase will allow you to keep the main line tight, which will aid the baitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transit down the line to its destination. With the sinker set in the bottom and the rig on the main line now you just have to add the bait (dead or alive) to your hook rig and put the bait in the water. Repeatedly putting tension on the line and then letting it go slack will help to coax the rig and bait out along the line until it reaches the solid ring. Sometimes you can use the current to your advantage to help drag the bait out as well.

Once youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve cast out your sinker and it has bedded in the sand and silt, the next step is to attach the slide bait rig to the main line. The rig needs to be put on so that the arm of the rig is facing towards the sinker and the spiral portion is facing towards the rod. Hold the front of the slider rig and the main line (going to the rod) between your thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Pass the line around the back side of the rig (furthest from you) then between the main arm and opened clip before winding it around the spiral closest to your left hand, as seen in the photo above.

With this kind of fishing the baits are generally left out in the water for a long period of time, especially large live offerings. A solid strike of the rod will lift the sinker from the sand when you want to wind in. Once retrieved, your rig will look somewhat like this, the same as it does when out in the water. You than unclip and remove the slide bait rig from the line so you can cast the sinker out again and repeat the process. JULY 2016

Welcome to

BEMM RIVER

VICTORIA Bemm River

The mystery of Bemm FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

My fascination with Bemm River started many years ago. The first time I heard about the place was through a couple of episodes of Rex Hunt Fishing Adventures. Rex fished Bemm with a local guru, using a stake as an anchor, and fishing unweighted baits in shallow water to catch monster bream. Not long after that I couldn’t help but be inspired watching Kaj ‘Bushy’ Busch blading

up a storm. He seemed to catch bream with ease, using Bemm River as his base to test lures that are now part and parcel of any bream lure angler’s arsenal. A number of years later, the former Managing Editor of our magazines, Stephen Booth, told me stories of monster estuary perch stacked up in the snags in the river, and how he targeted them with lures before many people even considered this to be an option. He also explained that with a bit of effort there is also a viable bass and trout fishery in the freshwater reaches

upstream, all only kilometres from the township itself. So you can imagine when I received an invitation from the Bemm River Progress Association to come and see them about a tagged fish program running through the winter period, I didn’t need much convincing to spend a few days with them. It was a great chance to go through the details of what was happening in June, July and August this year and to check out what Bemm River has to offer. BEMM RIVER Part of the beautiful East Gippsland coastline of Victoria, Bemm River

Hire boats are available through Bemm River Accommodation and Boat Hire. 88

JULY 2016

The Channel on Sydenham Inlet has many fishy looking areas. is approximately five and a half hours from Melbourne, seven hours from Sydney and four hours from Canberra. The last 20 minutes is from the turn off from the Princess Highway; a winding road that takes you to the coast through tall trees and pastures. The final s-bend leads you into town. For me the unwinding process starts from here. There is something about the water and the salt air that has a calming effect, and when you add to that the friendliness of the locals you have the start of a great holiday. AMENITIES One thing you need to be aware of at Bemm is that there is no fuel available. The nearest fuel can be

purchased at Cann River, which is 45-minutes away, so it is wise to fill up before you head in. Alternatively if you are coming from Melbourne you can buy fuel in Orbost. Have some spare fuel for the boat if you are heading out on the water. Other than that, there is a small well stocked general store and tackle shop for essentials, a café attached to the pub for a coffee fix and a wide range of accommodation options to suit everyone. THINGS TO DO Fishing Bemm River and Sydenham Inlet are premier fisheries. They offer a range of species from bream (one of the best black bream fisheries in Victoria),

flathead, whiting, tailor, estuary perch, Australian salmon and luderick. There is also a freshwater fishery upstream that holds quality brown and rainbow trout, as well as bass (a rare but special capture). Land-based Anglers without a boat are well catered for at Bemm, with three fishing platforms to allow anglers of all ages and skill level the opportunity to tackle a fish. The first of these is at the main boat ramp. I managed to spend an hour fishing there using small surface poppers and had a ball catching some of the many tailor that were in the system at the time. They may not have been big, but any fish clearing the

Welcome to

BEMM RIVER admit I may have been a few minutes late to dinner as my last cast turned into a few more casts! Last but not least is Dolly’s Garden Fishing

BEMM RIVER

Beach Fishing When I did my research before heading to Bemm River, there was very little said about beach fishing. In fact, most sources said

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WALKING TRAILS IN THIS AREA: • Forrest walk along river and Middle Rd • River walk to temperate rainforest • Mt Cann Tower Walk

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fishing, particularly if you head to the channel and park your boat there. Access is reasonably close and there is plenty of good fishing to be had. However there is

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accommodation. Parking is on the side of the road and you then have a short walk to a large platform on the river. This is a great looking area and I have to

Cape Conran. It is an all vehicle access road to Pearl Point, but please be aware that it does have severe corrugations in places and care should be taken. There are a number of tracks off the road that take

water to take a surface lure is good fun. The second of the platforms was put in place by the Rex Hunt Future Fish Foundation. It is towards the end of Sydenham Road, just past Cosy Nook

Ocean Beach

Croajingolong Coast

Gunnai Py-yoot Bay

Shore-based anglers are well catered for at Bemm River. The Rex Hunt Future Fish platform towards the end of Sydenham Inlet Road is a great place to spend a few hours.

Platform. There is a small dirt track just before you get into the town that takes you to a parking area with picnic tables and a fishing area. This is a very fishy looking piece of water on the river with great access. The outlook from the picnic tables was beautiful; it would have been great to have a sandwich here and soak a line at the same time. Another fantastic access point is the area at the Old Coast Road turn off at the s-bend leading into town. There is parking on either side of the road before going over the bridge. Many kayak anglers use this area to enter the river as it has plenty of space to soak a bait or cast a lure around. You can also see a set of rapids upstream from the bridge. This is where the fresh water meets the saltwater and is a great mixed fishery. It is not unusual to catch a bream and a trout in the same piece of water.

that access to the beach was limited to boat only across Sydenham Inlet. This is definitely one way to access good beach

a much easier alternative, which is via Pearl Point Road. Pearl Point Road is a dirt road that takes you along the coastline towards

you to the beach and give easy access to fishing. The three I stopped at were Ocean Beach, Py-yoot Bay To page 90

Three fully equipped 2 bedroom cabins 40 powered and 40 unpowered sites 50 metres from the waters edge Camp kitchens with electric BBQ’s

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Great ac cess to for kayakthe water s

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WE ARE PET FRIENDLY! Resident Managers Greg & Mandy Forrester

The main boat ramp on Sydenham Inlet has great launching facilities, a fish-cleaning table, a fishing platform and plenty of parking.

0428 557 438

2-14 Sydenham Inlet Road Bemm River Vic 3889

bemmrivercaravanpark@gmail.com www.bemmrivercaravanpark.com.au JULY 2016

Welcome to

From page 89

and Pearl Point. The weather was not the best on my visit, but the potential of the beach fishing was blatantly obvious. All your standard beach species are available, like Australian salmon, tailor, bream, flathead, whiting, gummy shark and mulloway. I had always scoffed at the notion that you could smell when fish were feeding in an area. I am now a convert to this belief after the short walk to Ocean Beach. That distinctive smell of fish oil was obvious. The surf in front of me had two large gutters converging and water flowing out to sea. I was pretty confident that somewhere along these gutters baitfish had been smashed by predators, if only I had a rod with me. Py-yoot Bay is between two headlands and has some rock platforms and reef areas that, in the right conditions, I am sure would fish well. The section of beach between the two headlands would act as a highway for fish between these structures, which is always a nice thing to find for any beach angler. The last stop on the track is Pearl Point. Pearl Point is a great vantage point to get a real feel for the area. There is a whale-watching platform there that is popular with visitors when these majestic

BEMM RIVER

Fingerling Wharf provides an alternative boat ramp for smaller vessels and is another land-based fishing option. creatures push up and down the coastline. There is also a track leading down to the bottom of the headland, giving access to a rock platform and the beaches below. Again the weather meant that neither was a viable option on the day I visited, but there was a small protected section just off to the right as you reach the bottom of the track. If the school of salmon in that area was anything to go by, the fishing I am sure could be amazing. Again I lamented why I didn’t a take a fishing rod with me?

Sydenham Inlet The main body of water at Bemm River is Sydenham Inlet. I won’t delve into the fishing here too much as Brett Geddes has provided an in-depth look at what it has to offer. I do want to mention that if you don’t have a boat, hire boats are available through Bemm River Accommodation and Boat Hire. David has five Polycraft boats for hire. I took one out for a few hours to have a look around and they are fantastic little boats. Great to fish out of, stable on the water if you have people

BEMM RIVER COSY NOOK Owned and operated by Rob & Chris Foster Fully Self Contained Units. Beautiful Bush Setting, Relax and Enjoy the Tranquility.

Fish Cleaning Facilities

Huge Camp Kitchen

have protected water. I had westerly winds while I was at Bemm (the worst winds to be on Sydenham Inlet) and the river was still well protected. It would have been a pleasure to meander around in the river and take in the scenery. Walking trails The area around Bemm River is a mixture of grazing land and forest. There are a number of walking tracks that allow you to take a closer look at these areas. Most of the tracks are suitable for people of all ages. The better tracks are accessed via Old Coast Road with the River and Middle Road Walk (which

Coast Road to Little River that will be of interest to the 4WD explorer. The track beyond Pearl Point Road takes you to Dock Inlet (well worth a look), on to Yeerung River and eventually all the way to Cape Conran. I have not done this trip, but I look forward to doing it at some point in time. Heading north is Old Coast Road. It will take you to Little River and beyond. Areas like Swan Lake have limited access via this route. Please be aware that there is little or no phone coverage in these areas. Ensure you let somebody know where you are going and that you have the appropriate gear with you,

This picture was taken from the Old Coast Road Bridge. The rapids above the bridge are where the freshwater meets the saltwater. on board who are not used to being in a boat. David tells me they have pretty good fishing mojo as well. Kayaking If there is anywhere that is suited to kayaking, it’s Bemm River. You have fantastic access points to launch in the river at the fishing platforms previously mentioned, and the foreshore along Sydenham Inlet has a plethora of room to launch and retrieve your kayak. The beauty of Bemm and a kayak is whether you just want to paddle and explore or you want to fish, you

includes a beautiful piece of rainforest) and the Mt Cann Tower Walk - the most popular. It is advisable to use insect repellent and make sure you have plenty of water with you. 4WDing For those of you who wish to explore the outer reaches of Bemm, there are a number of 4WD only options available. There are a few tracks that simply take in the area west of the Pearl Point Road (Hekarwe Track and Fletchs Track), but it is beyond Pearl Point and the area along the Old

to get yourself out of trouble if a mishap occurs. Swimming and Surfing None of the beaches at Bemm River are patrolled and I would suggest care should be taken when swimming. There is a beautiful area at Py-yoot Bay that is protected and would be ideal for younger children. It was also the most protected beach I saw. Other options for swimming are to head across to the channel. There are some amazing sand dunes there and lots of safe places to swim. Surfing really isn’t my cup of tea, but it would be remiss

Air Conditioned, Self Contained Units

Bemm River Cottage

larger Great for eps 10, le groups, s g, fully self kin boat par tained o cn

03 5158 4231 – 0488 672 260

bemmcosyaccom@gmail.com 93 Sydenham Parade Bemm River Vic 90

JULY 2016

Dolly’s Garden has a picnic area with beautiful views of the river.

Welcome to

of me not to mention it as I couldn’t help but be impressed by the waves when I visited. The reefs off Py-Yoot Beach and the headland off Pearl Point were pumping. I would suggest only for experienced riders on the day I was there, but I am sure with slightly better weather the area would provide good waves for surfers

BEMM RIVER of all levels. ACCOMMODATION There is a guide to the accommodation options available in Bemm River at the end of this feature. One thing you can say about the Bemm River accommodation providers is that they

The local pelicans know they are on a good thing at Bemm River, with plenty of food in the system and plenty of fish scraps from anglers.

This is the path leading down from Pearl Point. The quieter area in the bottom right corner was stacked full of Australian salmon and would have provided a lot of fun for many anglers.

understand the needs of their customers. All provide plenty of boat parking, have fish cleaning facilities, are family, group or fishing club friendly and are proud of the area and what it has to offer. They can all point you in the right direction as far as the fishing goes and want you to get as much out of Bemm River as they do. WINTER TAGGED FISH PROMOTION The cooler months of the year are a great time to visit Bemm River. Although the temperature may be a little on the chilly side, the weather patterns tend to be settled which allows visitors to take in everything Bemm

River has opened my eyes to what a special place it is. The locals are friendly and super proud of their little piece of heaven. Although fishing is a huge component and the biggest drawcard to Bemm River, there are still plenty of other options to keep you busy (or you could just chill out). For me, there is no doubt I will be back and I will make sure I have more than a couple of days to take it all in. Like all the visitors I met at Bemm I can see myself returning for many years to come. If you haven’t been to Bemm River yet, it’s time to change that!

has to offer. It is also less crowded than the summer period. Another reason to stop in at Bemm is the Tagged Fish Promotion. A number of the businesses in Bemm have come together and organised five bream to be tagged. All you have to do is catch one of these fish during June, July or August and you have a chance of winning part of the $10,000+ worth of prizes. There is no cost to enter; you simply register at one of the business houses listed on the advertisement in the feature and then go and try to catch Megan and Steve Coffee were kind enough to show the one of the tagged fish. SUMMING UP author around during his visit. Like everybody in town My first visit to Bemm they are keen to show off how beautiful Bemm River is.

Bemm River – Tag-A-Fish Promotion by Conducted gess iver Pro The Bemm R ement and Improv c. In Association

Over $10,000 in Prizes

The pristine tranquil location of Bemm River will be the scene of an exciting ‘Winter’ promotion this year in the form of ‘Tag-A-Fish’ This comprises 5-tagged bream, tagged by Fisheries Victoria representative, Craig Ingram. Entry is by registration, no entry fee required. This promotion opens on June 01, 2016 and concludes 31 August, 2016.

Registration forms are available from the following Bemm River business houses:

Bemm River Cosy Nook Flats Rob & Christina Foster 93 Sydenham Parade (03) 5158 4231

Bemm River Holiday Accommodation & Boat Hire David & Robyn Sturgess 41 Sydenham Parade (03) 5158 4233

TERMS AND CONDITIONS - BEMM RIVER – ‘TAG –A-FISH’ PROMOTION 01 JUNE – 31 AUGUST 2016 1. The promoter is ‘The Bemm River Progress and Improvement Association Incorporated’, whose registered office is at 41 Sydenham Parade, Bemm River, Victoria 3889 2. Members of ‘The Bemm River Progress and Improvement Association Incorporated’ or their family members or anyone else connected in any way with the competition or helping to set up the competition shall not be permitted to enter this promotion. 3. There is no entry fee and no purchase necessary to enter this promotion. 4. Registration/entry forms for this promotion are available from the participating business houses: Registration covers for days competing. If entrant returns at a later date, they must re-register. 5. Closing date for entry will be 31/08/2016. After this date no further entries to the promotion will be permitted. 6. No responsibility can be accepted for registrations not received for whatever reason. 7. The promoter reserves the right to cancel or amend the promotion and these terms and conditions without notice in the

Bemm River Hotel Ray & Debbie Bowen 3 Sydenham Parade (03) 5158 4241

Bemm River Caravan Park

Greg, Mandy & Carl Forrester 2 Sydenham Inlet Road 0428 557 438

event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of the promoter’s control. Any changes to the promotion will be notified to entrants as soon as possible by the promoter. 8. The promoter is not responsible for inaccurate prize details supplied to any entrant by any third party connected with this promotion. 9. No cash alternative to the prizes will be offered. The prizes are not transferable. Prizes are subject to availability and we reserve the right to substitute any prize with another of equivalent value without giving notice. 10. The winners will be notified by telephone, email and/or letter within 28days of the closing date. 11. The promoter will notify the winner when and where the prizes can be collected. 12. The promoter’s decision in respect of all matters to do with the promotion will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. 13. By registering in this promotion, an entrant is indicating his/her agreement to be bound by these terms and conditions. 14. The winner agrees to the use of his/her name and image in any publicity material. Any personal data relating to the

Bemm River Bungalows

Gordon & Annie Pearl Point Road (03) 5158 4225

Bemm River Holiday Houses Lisa Fitzgerald Banksia Street 0438 525 818

winner or any other entrants will be used solely in accordance with current data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party without the entrant’s prior consent. 15.Registration into this promotion will be deemed as acceptance of these terms and conditions. 16. You are providing your information to The Bemm River Progress and Improvement Association Incorporated, not to any other party. 17. The tag must NOT be removed from the ‘fish’ and the ‘fish’ preferably kept alive. 18. The ‘fish’ must be presented to the Bemm River Hotel to have ‘tag’ number and details recorded. This will then go into the ‘draw’ at the conclusion of the promotion to determine the tag and the winning prizes. Prize draw will be Saturday 03 September, 2016 at the Bemm River Hotel at 2:00pm. 19.The tagged fish must be caught within the Bemm River and Sydenham Inlet system. 20. The ‘tagged’ fish must be angled with the use of artificial lure, fly or legal bait only. 21. The winner of the major prize, being boat, trailer and motor combo, agrees to leave advertising details on the boat for a period of 12 months.

JULY 2016

Welcome to

BEMM RIVER

Bemm fishing secrets GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

I reckon you experience as much excitement and pleasure while organising, planning and driving to a much-loved fishing location, as you do actually being there and hooking fish. During the weeks leading up to a trip you get restless or

perch and bream. ESTUARY RICHES Anglers have always been aware of the abundance of fish that Bemm provides, and without commercial netting for about 60 years now I think it will remain a very special place for decades to come. When you get to understand and catch fish in this mighty waterway you will be amazed at how the place continues to turn out prodigious amounts

of finned critters. Nobody ever goes to Bemm once – some families have three or four generations that call this place their second home. For as long as anyone can remember, Bemm has had the reputation of bream capital of East Gippsland. You can also expect flathead, salmon, trevally, tailor and at times luderick, mullet, whiting and estuary perch. The river also surprises

A 43cm bream caught on an unweighted plastic under the bridge near the freshwater falls.

Tailor like this 72cm donkey will test your bream gear out. They bite off expensive lures and empty your wallet! excited with the anticipation of what might happen. Every excursion to Bemm River has had this effect on me, and the mates I travel with. On the long road trip into East Gippsland our talk in the car is full of past glory, personal bests and not one mention of bad weather or fishless days. Two things about Bemm River – you will become addicted to it when you crack the fishing secrets, and when you leave the only thing you will be thinking about, is how you can get back there! Let me share this East Gippsland paradise with you and impart some of the latest secrets and up-todate trickery to hook the two most popular species that call Bemm River home – estuary

Luderick can be a surprise catch at Bemm when fishing the lake or deep channel.

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with a few trout and bass. Through summer and early autumn the prawn run hits East Gippsland and feeds plenty of hungry fish. The food chain has to be amazing in this place to support the biomass of fish that live in its waters. There are also plenty of sandworm, baitfish, shrimp and shell to dine on. The other important feature of the place is the relatively pristine water catchment that backs up into the foothills of the Great

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Dividing Range. Like every living thing on the planet, you’re only as good as what you’re fed. I reckon Steve Starling summed this place up the best when about 16 years ago I was lucky enough to spend two days on the water with him. We netted over 90 fish at a time when bream lure fishing was still mystical and big tallies blew our minds. It was the first time I saw bream caught on surface lures. Starlo wrote a story about our trip and he called it ‘Bountiful Bemm.’ The perfect name for an incredible place. What’s more, Bemm seems to produce more fish with every passing year. FISH POPULATION Nothing proves Bemm’s huge fish population more

than the bream competitions held there each year. Over 100 anglers turned up for a recent Hobie kayak tournament and just about every angler weighed in full bags each day. Not to mention upgraded bream, tailor and flathead. A conservative estimate would find that 1,500 or even close to 2,000 fish were released that weekend. That doesn’t include the bait anglers also there, who probably counted another 300 or more fish that would not have been released. Bag limits at Bemm are the same for all Victorian waters but I’m perplexed at how Bemm suffers the huge take of bream from its waters each and every week of the year. Some anglers seem to have little respect for minimising their take from Bemm, thinking that it will go on producing forever. Gladly these people are a dying breed and on a more positive spin, the younger, smarter anglers coming through these days grasp the significance of catch and release. On the other side of the coin we don’t want the option of keeping fish for a feed to be taken away from

us. I eat fish and love to do so. I would hate to see rogue and feral anglers spoil it for all of us. Some of these idiots are still taking more than the legal bag each day and even worse they brag about it. BREAM ON BAIT Bemm might not be renowned for really big bream and rarely do we release fish exceeding 42cm, but the huge population of bream in the system sure makes up for it. I’ve noticed over the last few years more pictures of 43-45cm bream are turning up before being released. When they are really on the chew, multiple bream from consecutive casts can go on for hours. The best sign of a healthy population of fish is to see a whole range of sizes. Size variance suggests successful spawning – and believe me, there is phenomenal breeding going on at Bemm. Most lake bream you encounter will be around 24-36cm, although during the breeding season when they school in the upper river I’ve caught countless numbers with most 38-40cm. Another sure fire measure to find where the bream are

Jamie Robley from NSW joined the author for a trip to Bemm and they caught lots of fish right near the second boat ramp

Welcome to

biting, is to look at where all the other boats are parking as those anglers have probably done a few days of homework already and they will be fishing the prime locations. Nobody ever sits in a spot for long if the action is slow and if you see boats parked for hours on end you can bet your house on them hooking heaps. The local sandworm is

BEMM RIVER heavier, worked fairly fast, but with the odd short pause. This technique is much more effective than lighter jigheads. Amber, chartreuse and motor oil a good colour starting point but always explore different colours and retrieves. These days we find watermelon, copper penny

Curl-tail StreakZ soft plastic and said the fish attacked them so hard they almost swallowed them down past their throat! As with all lure fishing it pays to try plastics that the fish have never seen, or use a different or even radical retrieve. Another tip for using soft plastics is to use super

Blades work especially well in the shallows. a must, and if you are lucky enough to get hold of the local live prawns then you will need to double check your knots and reel drags. Expect very big bream or flathead and a few surprise perch when using live prawns. Live shrimp and crab also work wonders. Little known to a lot of bait anglers is the use of unusual baits like whitebait or fresh tuna and even mussels or raw chicken meat! I know a few cagey anglers that swear by those curious baits and they can often out-fish more traditional baits. LURE TACTICS When it comes to bream on lures, Bemm shines like no other system I know. I wish I had space to explore the endless discussions and techniques that lure specialists continually uncover there, but let me get into just a few of the really deadly and essential lure tactics. Most lake fishing is in fairly shallow water, so ZMan GrubZ are a must. The trick is to use heavier jigheads than you would probably use elsewhere. For some reason we find a 2-3g head, or even

and bloodworm colours as effective because the bream have probably seen way too many motor oil grubs. I know one mate who only uses violet sparkle, and he will probably

glue on them. I put a drop of glue behind the lead head of the jig and stick the plastic to it when I push the lure all the way on. I even put a tiny drop of glue back at the

rise up to suck and slurp at your lure. You might miss a lot, but sometimes you will hook many more bream than using underwater lures. The trick to using bent minnows is to keep your rod tip low to the water and impart the most action to the lure you can without moving it far. Pause the lure often and if you see a boil or swirl near your lure then stop winding immediately. Leave it motionless for at least five seconds and if the bream doesn’t attack then give the lure a few sharp twitches and another five-second stop. It will take a while to master this technique, but when you do get it right, your hook-ups will go through the roof. Sadly tailor will monster surface lures and put a decent in dent your bank balance! The good news is when you do get a tailor it can be an absolute truck. Just recently I’ve seen pictures of tailor 60cm+ and they will take some serious line off your bream reel. Estuary perch absolutely love surface lures, and Bent Minnows are their favourite by far. When they suck down a topwater lure with their huge bucket mouth it may shock the hell out of you, and I’ve often said the

Jason Deenan releasing a big Bemm River yellowfin bream. have a contract out on my life now that I have made this public knowledge – that’s how deadly this colour is. Cam Cleal and Justin Dingwall recently caught a lot of bream on the much larger ZMan 4”

Bemm has stunning wildlife like this handsome red belly black snake – more than just a fishing experience.

gape of the hook to glue the lure where the hook comes out of its back. Using glue gives the soft plastic a much longer life and stops it from being ripped open or having its ‘pants pulled down’ all the time. Always carry super glue with your soft plastics and even better glue them up a day before you go fishing. HURRICANE BENT MINNOWS The hottest and most exciting lure technique these days is using surface lures like bent minnows. The smaller 66mm style lures will get you more bream so look up the Hurricane brand of Bent Minnows and choose from their extensive range of colours. They outscore other brands and are nearly half the price – yet twice as good! Searching the edges around the lake shallows or even out in deeper water will amaze you with continuous action. You’ll love seeing bream

sound is like throwing a brick into the water! Sometimes flathead will grab surface lures and they can thrash around madly and even jump

Sinking hardbodies like this pink Hurricane Kaplunk are a must in river snags. clean out of the water. Using bent minnows is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before in any type of lure fishing and for some reason their erratic or almost whimsical action drives fish insane. METAL BLADES Blades are an essential lure for Bemm, especially down in the deep channel area but few anglers realise that they are also lethal in shallow water and will often out-score hardbody lures. Small black blades between 30-45mm will have the best result, but most colours will catch plenty of fish. I always use the shrimp or prawn type blades that have trailing stinger hooks. I reckon they appeal to all species of fish with a greater by-catch of other species like whiting, flathead or luderick. The stingers have a better hook-up rate on fish while not snagging the bottom as much. I hate treble hooks because they get caught on snags too often and get so tangled up in the mouth of bream and especially flathead. You will need to explore a whole range of techniques when using blades, like deep water jigging straight up and down or tea bagging. The methods I call the ‘Lipton Lift’ or the ‘Tetley Tweak’! Also try fast ripping and slow rolling. Let the fish tell you what works on any given day, but as always try every trick you know and spy on other lure anglers who are busy netting bream! Tony Pettie showed

me recently how he leaves the blade totally still and sitting on the bottom for painfully long pauses. Up to ten seconds left motionless – a technique some of us find almost impossible to do, but at times it can be all that will work on cranky bream. Keep this method in your bag of tricks for sure. ESTUARY PERCH River snags are the main habitat for the mighty EP. They can turn up in any part of the entire river, from the falls to the mouth and even right at the channel entrance near the surf. Use the same sinking lure techniques that you employ for bream and concentrate on the bent minnows early morning or dusk and even deep into the night. I suggest you use minimum 5kg breaking strain lines – I use up to 8kg. Not only will this ensure landing most hooked perch but there’s nothing gained with busting off EP and very cruel leaving lures stuck down their throat or treble hooks preventing them from even opening their mouth to feed. I guarantee hooks do not dissolve over night or even within weeks and perch wont miraculously throw lures within hours. These facts are complete nonsense and lost lures stuck in or on perch may cause major damage or even death. So think about fish welfare and besides there’s hardly a lure on the market under $20 dollars these days so it makes perfect economic sense too! Trust me, heavy To page 94

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From page 93

lines used in snag fishing will never compromise your success rate. In fact it’s quite the opposite and because I use 8kg gear I’ve landed massive EP at Bemm from 48-55cm, and I hardly ever bust lures off. Sadly perch numbers are not what they were and even in the past 18 years since I started catching them, I’ve seen a dramatic decline in numbers landed. Even worse, I’ve seen hardly any small year classes come through and this suggests that breeding is very poor. It’s a major worry and fisheries have released a heap of juvenile perch recently and it will be interesting to track their progress. Most of us know that EP should be a catch and release species and it’s only the few older anglers these days that believe it to be their right to kill perch and eat them. Legally that’s correct,

BEMM RIVER speed up. Every trip I do to this wonderful retreat recharges my batteries that flatten out during my hectic life back home. But the best thing of all is that everyone becomes a much better angler at Bemm River. Why? Because there are so many more fish to catch. The place changed my life because it’s where I caught my very first estuary perch. That day in 1998 was the start of my obsession and hopeless love affair with this iconic native

ACCOMMODATION GUIDE AND SERVICES Justin Dingwall recently battled huge nasty tailor at Bemm like this one over 60cm. hardbodies are a must, and it can take every ounce of nerve, guts and courage to haul big fish out of deep tree snags. Some battles can get

Water dragons are common in the upper reaches of the river – be careful, they pounce on surface lures! but morally they are not thinking of the future and their grandkids. Sadly at Bemm I still hear horrible stories of fishers taking more than the EP bag limit. RIVER TACTICS The river is a whole different story compared to the lake, and the following tactics work the same on perch or bream. Deep edges and snags are best worked over with slow sinking hardbodies and light weighted soft plastics. Another little known tactic for snag action is to use the same bent minnows that I described before. Surface hits have the benefit of dragging the fish up and out of the structure to help avoid shredding! Sinking

sportfish. Last check of my fishing dairy indicates I’ve now caught 10,779 EP – you get the idea of my addiction, but what a nice problem to endure. The town itself is actually quite unremarkable; it’s just your ordinary small town. But the experience is fantastic. There’s a terrific caravan park, a shop and pub that both have everything you need but refuse to be dressed up with whistles or bells and there’s neat and clean

very ugly indeed. A part of the river often over-looked is the deeper lower section. Not so much the edges of the river but out in the middle. At certain times bream can turn up in massive schools near the bottom and they have even been caught near the surface free swimming in the same big numbers. The upper reaches of the river is my favourite area and I’ve caught trout, bream, perch and tailor all from the bridge down to Dolly’s Garden, on the same day using the same lure. Can you believe I even caught a heap of Australian salmon just below the falls one year! Even an odd huge poddy mullet has eaten my lures up

there. Expect the unexpected when you’re up in the river and that includes catching nothing – it can be very slow going when the conditions are not suiting the fish. BEFORE YOU GO There is a general store with groceries, newspapers, bait and all sorts of tackle on offer. If you forget anything from home, this is a good place to pick it up. You can also top up your fishing tackle at the Bemm River Holiday Accommodation and Boat Hire. Most of the accommodation places will also have the essentials, such as ice, milk and basic tackle. If you’re lucky you might even bump into a local fishing guru around the place. These guys know the area inside and out and have been fishing all the local hotspots for years. Bemm somehow attracts an array of the nicest people who are willing to share. LIFE CHANGING? The thing about Bemm River is that a trip includes much more than just a fishing experience. The scenery and wildlife are stunning and even during bleak stormy wet weather the landscape is still impressive, even from the windows of the pub – a perfect retreat during a big blow. I think it’s the people that really make this place special as the shopkeeper or publican will take the time of day to listen and talk to you, and remember your name! At Bemm you find life slows down but friendships

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accommodation without the ritzy pizzazz. Remember, you can’t even purchase fuel at Bemm, so stock up before you head in. Nothing seems to have changed at Bemm for decades, which reminds me of the friendly easy living in the great days of the 70s or 80s. As humans we don’t always like change, so we tend to be grateful for and utterly cherish things that stay the same. So have I over-cooked the magnetic charm and compelling allure of Bemm River? No way!

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What’s up with the pressure? ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As we learn from the best of bites, we equally learn from those trips that fail to tempt a single bump.

tongue to the tune of ‘1020 fish are aplenty’. This is normally so, but obviously someone forgot to tell the cod this season. I have now had several fishless days where the barometric pressure hovered around this so-called ‘scripted mark’.

high rolled in and pushed the pressure past 1030. The bite was nothing short of hot with several cod pushing the tape past the 125cm mark. It seems the keg-sized cod were all but in sync to the pressure as far as size was concerned.

Sandy Tarrant with a new PB Murray cod taken on the troll using a StumpJumper lure. Each as important as the other, they are mulled over in anglers’ minds until a link or pattern begins to form. What I have noticed this past month is the correlation between high barometric

Perhaps it is the condition of the fish that sees them reluctant to commit under such conditions. Almost as round as they are long, these fish can afford to be fussy and bide their time. What we have found

Each time we hit the water we began to connect the bite to the highest point of the daily pressure. A good mate smashed out two keg-sized cod inside of an hour as the pressure peaked at 1027. It was only there for

In between, I shall acquire as many brownie points as possible for several long distance barra trips after the cod season is over. Most of the big cod action has come on trolled lures, but as the water temperature continues to fall we can expect to see many big cod move shallow, providing some excellent casting opportunities. The perch bite has slowed, but the size seems to have increased, especially for those using lures. Bait anglers are still cleaning up on the perch drift fishing with shrimp or small yabbies. Cod captures on bait have been slow with just a few tempted by grubs and chicken fillets. Several good cod have been landed at Tol Tol upstream of Robinvale on the Murray. Wemen is also producing some good-sized cod.

One of two giant cod landed as the pressure pushed through 1027.

Brave the frosty winter MILDURA

Darcy Scherger

With the frosty mornings and cold days well and truly here, getting out of the warmth and comfort of the house is becoming hard. We all know what it’s like though, you have to

just manage to hold onto it. Not to mention the rush of the fight that gets you up and onto the water at this time of year. That rush at the moment can be found downstream of Wentworth, Curlwaa and the Mildura area, mainly for goldens. These areas have been producing solid numbers of goldens both on bait and lures. Rigging up a

The important thing at this time of year is to try different things to finally hit the right spot at the right time. The cod have been much quieter around this time, which has made it hard for anglers, but persistence is key. VFM writer Neil Slater recently visited the Merbein to Wentworth region for a fishing and camping trip

Another huge cod taken trolling a large hardbodied lure. pressure and the window of opportunity it provides. It’s scripted in cod fishing folklore and rolls off the

this season is that the best bites have come when the pressure pushed above 1025. One such weekend

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a short period of time and slipped back down cutting the bite as the next front rolled in. Unfortunately, we were sizzling up a feed at the time and missed the short window of action and the big fish it provided. For most fishers, it’s hard to correlate trips with high pressure systems, especially if you don’t live close to your intended destination or you need to take time off work to get there. I for one will bide my time for the rest of the season and chase the high-pressure systems that are forcing the bite.

Releasing a chunky cod back into the cold waters of the lower Murray. listen to your heart because your body is probably quite happy tucked up in bed. You will be desperate to get that hit of a green steam train – the mighty Murray cod this winter. That rush you get when the rod is nearly pulled out of your hands, but you

juicy scrubworm and fresh shrimp will put you in for a good chance at tricking a solid golden perch. For those chasing that heart racing rush from the green specimens, you’ll need to put in endless days out on the water trolling and casting.

over several days. He and another boat fished the area, which saw good numbers of golden perch, though no cod on this trip. Neil mentioned to me that he mainly worked the deeper water around 8m To page 97

Quality over quantity for cod bite YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

As the temperature takes a sharp nose-dive, so too does the constant stream of productive fishing reports. On a positive note though, the cod we are hearing about are generally of above average size. At this time of year big lures equal big fish. If you’re looking at having a shot at a ‘fish of a lifetime’ before season’s end, gearing up to 120mm+ hardbodied lures,

spinnerbaits with a bulked up profile or large noisy surface lures with a big action will be your best bet. It has been proved that there is no hard and fast rule as to preferred depth, as you will find them hanging anywhere, but slightly warmer pockets seem to hold the key to big cod. Throughout late autumn there were plenty of good cod reported with 1m+ models popping up regularly. Scott McRae gave us the best report of a 110cm model while Corowa boys Ant Grant nailed a 106cm and Painter Rogers managed to subdue a 105cm

beast. Les Miller had a good day out landing a 94cm and 72cm cod, while Helen Wilson found her new PB of 93cm. Mulwala boy Joel Thomas hit a purple patch during the recent lure casters event to take the chocolates with his five fish for the day, with Kyle Dalrymple finishing a creditable second with three cod. Others to have productive outings over recent weeks include Andrew Jacotine and local couple Steve and Tanya Cannon, who have been blitzing them in their secret spot landing numerous species on each outing.

From page 96

holding deep structure. Over the winter months, standard diving lures will be the go-to choice lures. Work the more open water column instead of right on the structure. Nonetheless Neil and his crew had a ball chasing golden perch around on scrubbies with decent results each day, making the trip up to Mildura worthwhile and enjoyable. Solid golden perch were caught and released with the biggest coming in at 52cm, and that is very decent for the river.

Cod will be best chased with trolled hardbodies at this time of year.

Cray season is here, and once again these spiny critters will become a favourite target species for a while. Anglers must keep in mind that it is only legal to target Murray crayfish locally between the Hume Weir downstream to the Tocumwal road bridge. Minimum carapace length is 10cm with maximum being 12cm. The daily bag limit is two per person with a possession limit of four. Anglers are allowed a maximum of five hoop nets with the letters ‘HN’, the anglers initial, surname, year of birth and postcode on the float. In closing, one of Yarrawonga’s favourite anglers, George ‘Whoppa Stoppa’ Jovanovic has spent a bit of time in the sick bay recently. We wish George a speedy recovery and hope to see him back on the water soon. • If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod-specific shop in Yarrawonga/Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133.

Tanya Cannon with her 46cm silver perch that she caught recently.

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Trophy fish galore in pre-spawning trout run CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

Despite indifferent weather, with several heavy snowfalls, winds up to 120km/h and night temperatures of -8Â°C, anglers have gathered in large numbers in an attempt to catch a trophy brown trout. The fish are on their annual pre-spawning run in the Thredbo River at Lake Jindabyne and at Providence Portal and the mouth of the Eucumbene River at Lake Eucumbene. The main access points have been crowded during each day and night with anglers from various parts of Australia. On one occasion there were more than 50 vehicles parked at Providence Portal, many of them Victorian and others from the ACT and NSW. Some anglers also have visited from South Australia. It was all a mad rush to get that trophy fish before the stream season closure on 13 June. Despite the crowding there has been reasonable camaraderie amongst anglers, and some good fish have been caught. Most anglers have used the traditional Glo Bug and trailing nymph combination,

Many of the fish have been of good size. Fish in the 2-3.5kg range have been common and occasional specimens to nearly 5kg have been reported. Some catches have been spectacular for their size and number. Nathan Walker and Chris Skillin flyfished Providence Portal in an all-night session and finished with 20 and 10 fish respectively, all in the 2.2-4.2kg range. Nathan top-scored with a 4.2kg fish

Nathan Walker with a magnificent 4.2kg brown trout caught on a size 16 black nymph in the Eucumbene River. The fish was well upstream on its annual pre-spawning run and was fighting fit, providing a good test for the 3.6kg fluorocarbon leader in the fast-flowing water.

Chris Skillin had a magnificent introduction to his flyfishing career, landing 10 fish like this, all over 2kg, in a night session at Lake Eucumbene. This was his first-ever flyfishing trip and he is now as firmly hooked as the fish he found in his new-found sport.

Some of the big browns were strikingly coloured, a common feature of the pre-spawning development. Soon after some male fish develop even more striking colours and strongly hooked jaws. This was one of 20 fish weighing 2-4kg taken in an overnight fly session at Providence Portal. weighted with just enough split shot to keep the rig near the bottom, and used on fly or spinning gear. Other anglers have used straight spin gear and have caught some nice fish on spotted dog coloured Rapalas and dark-coloured Tasmanian Devils.

continue their pre-spawning journey upstream. There are exceptions, however. One Canberra angler reportedly was caught with two fish in possession, one of them undersized, and was fined $270 by NSW Fisheries who keep a strict eye on the fishery. One negative aspect of the annual invasion by hundreds of heavy 4WD and other vehicles has been the damage done to river banks and the other wet access

but Chris was more than happy because it was his first ever flyfishing trip. Even though anglers are entitled to retain one trophy fish per day if it is over 50cm, most fish are released unharmed immediately after the ritual photographs are taken, to

areas. Unthinking drivers striving for just that further bit of access have churned up large areas of fragile National Park and there has been no restorative work. Obviously some form of control is desired and discussions are underway to determine whether vehicles should be restricted to formed car parks and anglers required to proceed on foot from there on. It is a serious problem and it is up to anglers to take the initiative and come up with a workable solution to the problem. Failure to do so might mean that vehicles are entirely prohibited in the relevant areas. OTHER TROUT AREAS Some nice trout, mostly rainbows, have been caught in areas other than the pre-spawning runs. In Jindabyne there have been catches of up to eight fish in a session on PowerBait, scrub worms and especially wood grubs. The best areas have been Creel bay, Hatchery Bay and Kalkite. In

Lake Eucumbene there have been some nice fish caught on fly in Rushy Plains Bay and Yens Bay. Flyfishers have had some good fun with mostly smallish fish in the streams. There have been plenty of insects around, including a surprising number of late-season grasshoppers along the Tumut River, and dry flyfishing has accordingly been good. URBAN LAKES Despite the water temperature dropping quickly in Canberraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban

lakes there have been some reasonable catches of golden perch and occasional Murray cod, nearly all on yabbies and scrub worms. One angler has regularly caught two to five golden perch in a session and recently landed an 18kg cod near Scrivener Dam in Lake Burley Griffin. Redfin also are still active and remain the mainstay of the catch for lure anglers. BURRINJUCK STABILISING Burrinjuck Reservoir is back to 33% full after

cessation of release for downstream irrigation and a little rain in the catchment. Most cod chasers have used spinnerbaits and big deep divers, with surface lures in otherwise quiet parts of the lake, during low light periods. Golden perch are relatively easy to find around flooded trees in the Murrumbidgee and Goodradigbee arms using yabbies, shrimps and the now-famous Zerek, StrikePro and Berkley black plastic grubs.

Browns migrating upstream on their pre-spawning run were often visible in the clear, cold flowing water of the Eucumbene River. This often made it easy to drop the fly in the best position to attract a strike.

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Patience is the key to unlocking the big cod WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

When it comes to fishing in the Riverina region – July is probably the toughest month to fish. This is probably the same for most freshwater fisheries in the country. Everything shuts down – with one exception.

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER How good is the water clarity during winter? Everything clears right up due to the low flows, the slowing down of the carp and the lack of boats on the water. It’s incredible to actually see further than a foot into the water. When we have 10 days free

that goes for lures and bait is make sure you work the areas in the sunlight more than usual. This goes against the normal practice of targeting areas of shade, and July is when this rule doesn’t apply. As the water is around 8°C, the cod are far from comfortable and the spots that are in the sun will be slightly warmer

Just a usual July morning on the Murrumbidgee River – make sure you pack the gloves! bit of movement in the dam. Casting the rocky edges with large spinnerbaits, mumblers and large plastics will be worth a shot late this month. August will be the month that fires, but the last week of July can start to see results of

some big cod. This is a great way to target Murray cod on the cast with little boat traffic. It’s a cold time of year, so make sure you dress accordingly. Something else that can keep you out of trouble is to pack a spare

set of clothes when heading out fishing. It may sound stupid but you can fall in and it has happened to me on many occasions. It pays to be prepared. Until next time, happy fishing.

Jack Zyhalak with a monster Blowering cod taken by working a soft plastic. The water temperature will reach its minimum in the heart of winter. All the food in the waterway like shrimp, small baitfish, yabbies, bugs, moths, and small animals along the bank edges have all but disappeared. That one exception I was talking about is the biggest of predators that will still be on the hunt, and with little food around our lures are looking tasty. I talked about fishing

without heavy rains you will be able to see over a metre into the water around Wagga. This makes for some visual native fishing as you can actually see the shape of the fish come up from the depth rather than just seeing it when it breaks the muddy surface. This clarity can also be against you as the fish can see further as well, which makes them feel a little more threatened and not as confident. Make sure to

from the shaded areas. Seek the warmth to find more active fish. Baitfishing will be very slow during this month, as the fish won’t move far for food. I recommended casting big lures. As I said, make sure you think big and this all starts with your lure choice. Casting and trolling large hardbodies in the 90-120mm range that are large and have a big profile will do the trick. I like to use the 90mm AC Invader as it

The clarity of the Murrumbidgee River is at it’s best this month.

DAM LEVELS

This big trout cod was taken on a delightfully rainy day on a spinnerbait. in winter in the previous report and the same styles and techniques are used this month as well. However, the conditions will be colder and fishing most likely slower. You need to make sure you have patience and put in the effort and most important of all – think big!

stay an extra few metres away from the structure than you normally would when casting lures, especially if you are in a boat. You want to avoid casting a shadow over the snag or making too much noise. Another really helpful tip for fishing in winter

produces a big thump under the water. Upsize the blades on your spinnerbaits to large Colorado blades to produce more thump. Fish the big logs hard and don’t give up. BLOWERING DAM I have yet to touch on Blowering, but now is the time we start to see a little

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

Blowering............................. 55

Glennies Creek....................... 85

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

Hume.................................. 26

Burrendong........................... 11

Jindabyne............................. 56

Burrinjuck............................. 33

Keepit................................... 9

Carcoar................................. 8

Lostock................................ 98

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

Oberon................................. 51

Clarrie Hall.......................... n/a

Pindari................................. 35

Copeton............................... 15

Split Rock.............................. 5

Dartmouth............................. 43

Tantangara............................ 14

Eucumbene........................... 31

Toonumbar............................ 98

Glenbawn............................. 81

Windamere........................... 38

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

Wyangala............................. 38

(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.) JULY 2016

If you’re not sure, fish the shore JINDABYNE

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Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

Winter has finally arrived after a very slow start. Again June’s temperatures continued to be a little above average, which did make it quite pleasant to sit by the lake and trout fish. Winter fishing is always good as there is less terrestrial food about for the trout, so they are more likely to be cruising all day looking for something to eat around the edges of the lake and amongst the

Bait fishing is a very productive method of fishing in winter and simple rigs work best. Worms and artificial baits have always been a favourite way of winter fishing and it always brings results. When worm fishing, use plenty of tiger worms or a single scrub worm, and fish them off the bottom using a running sinker. There is a lot of weed and slime on the bottom of the lake at the moment, especially in sheltered bays like Curiosity and Hatchery bays, so it is best to put mucilin on your line to keep it floating above the bottom. You can also suspended

Pantera II 2016

Jye Murphy with a great brown trout of about 2kg taken land-based, which is a good option at the moment.

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JULY 2016

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If you are fly fishing or spinning with lures you have to also be aware that you need to slow down your retrieve and leave the fly or lure in the fishes’ faces longer. Trolling is one of my favourite ways to catch trout in winter, because I can sit back, relax and wait for

Ellis Murphy with a 3kg brown trout he caught spinning from the shore. weed beds where insect larvae and nymphs are found overwintering. Shore-based angling is the way to go, and the worse the weather in the mountains the better the trout will bite. With the lake level still quite high this winter and very little change in the level over recent months, the edge fishing has been very good with areas like The Claypits and Curiosity Rocks area fishing very well. These areas are also where some of those very big ex-brood Gaden Trout Hatchery Atlantic salmon and brook trout that were released late last May are hanging out at present. Most of the early spawning brown trout are also now back from the rivers and into the lake, so you can expect them to be cruising the edges looking for some food and lures, flies and bait will all catch these fish. So with lots of winter fishing still ahead, grab a good pair of boots and a warm jacket and come down and try for a winter trout fishing experience! At this time of the year it doesn’t matter what method of fishing you are doing, all you need to know is the fish are close to the edges and you need not cast out too far. This year with the lake so high, there is a lot more cover for fish to hide amongst.

The best lures to use when trolling the lake for big trout in winter are the big jointed minnow lures, even as big as 13cm in various colours, however a touch or orange on the lure is a great attractant for trout in winter. If you like using Tasmanian Devil lures, the best colours have

JULY ROUNDUP - THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method: Best lake lure: Best lake area: Best fly method: Best river:

Bait fishing Tasmanian Devil in pink 55 or holographic. Rapala brown trout 13cm Claypits and Banjo Patterson Park Williamson’s Gold Fish or a similar fly to represent the food the fish are feeding on Rivers are closed and reopen on October long weekend

a bait under a float and if you want to use artificial bait (most floats) try a little split shot on the hook to keep the bait down. As the fish move about the lake so much over in winter, there is no particular spot better than another, but a hint is shallow water early and late and slightly deeper water in the bright sunny parts of the days, but not too deep, a few metres of water is as much as you want! Spinning from the shore of the lake is another method that works well during winter and Tasmanian Devils are probably the best lures to use in the middle of the day. Colours like pink number 55, yellow wing number 36 and brown number 48 work best at a slow retrieve. A variety of soft plastics also work well and the Strike Tiger plastics have proved to be fantastic on the Snowy Mountain trout. It’s best to use natural or gold colours when fishing plastics around the inlets and weedy bays and orange or pink colours are better for open water.

the fish to bite. If you’re out in a boat on the lake over winter, trolling lures a lot slower than summer is also the way to increase the number of trout you catch.

been pink 55, orange 57 and brown number Y48. Y82 and holographic are another couple of colours worth a try, but again, slow

Ellis Murphy took this great female Atlantic salmon from the bank.

To page 101

Rug up and get amongst them! BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

It can be pretty cold up in the greater Batlow area during July, but if you dress appropriately it can be a great time of the year to be on the water. Thermals, beanies, hoodies and a jacket are necessities at this time

general rule though, especially at Blowering Dam, start searching in around 30-40ft of water. I find most often this is the ideal depth, but if you find they aren’t sitting in this depth, slowly work your way deeper until you find where they are most concentrated on the particular day that you are fishing. Once a school is located, remember to keep your presentation moving,

small but subtle lift and drop of the rod, commonly known as yo-yoing. Using your bait this way will entice fish from a much wider area, which will help you hook into more fish. Lure anglers don’t need to get too fancy and only really need a small selection of lures. I always start by using an ice jig, but if I find the fish are being a bit tight lipped I will opt for a blade and if the fish

Once I find an active school, I then find it is best to try and position your boat above the school and either stick with the same lure, or change back to an ice jig until the fish move on or go off the bite. After the fish move or shut down, you can repeat the process with another school. JOUNAMA DAM Anglers who are still keen to get a trout fix will have to fish the lakes now that all the creeks and rivers are closed. What better lake to target big trout, both rainbows and browns, then the mostly overlooked Jounama Dam.

Murray cod will be worth targeting in both the lakes and rivers this month.

Releasing another trophy sized trout to breed, grow bigger, and be there for some other lucky angler to catch. of the year and if you buy quality gear, you will barely notice the cold. At this time of the year, most lakes in the area are regularly glassed-out, which goes well with beautiful scenery. With no ski boats to contend with and a lack of other die-hard anglers on the water, you have conditions that make for a great day on the water. As a bonus, the fishing can be sensational at times, particularly if you’re after a feed of succulent redfin. Redfin can be caught in huge numbers through the winter months and a lot of these fish are large models. When targeting them, jigging vertically with lures or bait will work best. The schools are normally sitting fairly deep at this time of the year, and anywhere from 30-80ft, but once a school is located, it is quite easy to entice them with any vertically presented bait or lure. As a From page 100

your trolling speed down for winter. July is also the time when we get most of our snow on the mountains and the weather can change very quickly, so always check for any major changes before heading out in a boat. It only takes minutes for the lake to go from mirror flat to over 1m high waves and 100km/h winds. Just remember that when on a boat all rugged up, sometimes with waders on, you are a death wish

Another big lake trout fooled by an Insanity Tackle Mini Vibe. These big trout will be about in good numbers this month.

especially when bait fishing as this will entice far more bites. When bait fishing for these redfin schools, it’s hard to beat garden worms, but small to tiny yabbies are very hard for them to resist. Use the bait on a paternoster rig and keep the bait moving by employing a

still won’t play the game, I then swap to a heavily weighted soft plastic. The beauty of the blades and plastics is that you can cast them well away from the boat and slow roll or hop them back to below the boat, and this really helps when trying to find active fish.

This picturesque little lake is a great place to take the kids and family for a fun-filled day beside the water. The big trout and redfin this lake houses fire right after the official close to the trout streams. This is a bonus for those addicted to trout fishing in the area, as you can successfully fish for good-sized trout in good numbers all year round without having to venture too far. Jounama has fished well over the last couple of months and this should almost definitely continue through this month. Casting lures or flies from the bank is very productive, and is

waiting to happen if you aren’t wearing a life vest. If you were to fall into the water, which is getting colder by the day, once you get wet – there is a very good chance that you will die. If not by drowning, when all your wet clothes drag you to the bottom or your waders fill with water, you will not last long before hyperthermia will get you. Trolling flies off fly lines (harling) is also very productive in winter and trolling flies on lead core lines during the middle of

the day produces some big browns if you stay just over the weed beds. We have some flies in the shop that are designed for trolling and can be dynamite over the weed beds on the lake. Good areas for trolling this month are the South Arm, the Snowy Arm, East Jindabyne Islands and Hayshed Bay. If you’re up for polaroiding trout, it is best done on the sunnier days and that is the time I like to fly fish the lake anyway. I don’t usually go fly fishing

when it is snowing or during the cold winter nights. A well-presented fly, something like a brown nymph, a Mrs Simpson or a shrimp pattern will get good results during the winter months. Don’t forget my Williamson’s Gold Fish when fishing the weedy bays. The best areas for winter polaroiding in Jindabyne are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay, Sids Bay, the Kalkite end of the lake, the Snowy Arm and Wollondibby Inlet. July and August are

While targeting Murray cod in the rivers this month, you may come across one of these magnificent hard-fighting Australian icons, the trout cod. They are protected and must be released.

my preferred way of fishing the lake, but bait fishing with dough baits, grubs or worms is also a great way of hooking into a trout or two at this time of the year. MURRAY COD The king of freshwater fish, the Murray cod, will also be a viable target this month. The lakes such as Blowering and Burrinjuck are renowned for yielding monster-sized fish at this time of the year and are worth the effort required to catch them. Often long days of casting and trolling are required for one fish, but at this time of the year more often than not that one fish will be of trophy size. the months when the township of Jindabyne is flat out with snow skiers and most accommodation is either booked out or very expensive however since you don’t need to get out of bed early to catch a trout in winter, you can always stay in towns close by where there is accommodation at a reasonable rate. Cooma, Berridale and Dalgety are towns that come to mind that have great accommodation at reasonable rates. • If you would like some

The Murrumbidgee and Upper Murray rivers are often overlooked at this time of the year and it might surprise some anglers to hear that good numbers of fish can be caught in the rivers, even in winter. The fish will be a bit slow and lethargic, but being an opportunistic river fish means if a really good meals swims right by their nose they should eat it. In saying this, accurate casts to within a metre of where you think the fish might be holding is required to catch fish at this time of the year. As you can see, there is still plenty of options for anglers in the area this month. Rug up and go get amongst them. personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly-fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours’ duration, and trolling trips from 3 hours to a full day. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, just give me a call on (0264) 561 551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com. au. You can also see our daily Facebook updates at https://www.facebook. com/LJTFA. JULY 2016

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Getting deep with bass fishing HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Fogarty bakerods@hotkey.net.au

The water temperature has really dropped off, bringing those big winter bass to the edges. In the early morning I head to the western side of the main basin from the Sunken Cabins and up to the Land Side and around Black Boy Bay. I like to use 3” grub style soft plastics when fishing the edges. Jighead size may vary depending on the depth I am fishing or how heavy the structure. Over the past couple of years, anglers seem to prefer glitter or sparkle colourations in their plastics. I think it’s to do with how clear the water is at Glenbawn, however at St Clair, anglers seem to use more natural colours. In winter, the fish’s metabolism slows down, which makes them lethargic, so you have to keep your casts closer to the shore and work harder to get the bites. As the sun reaches higher in the day, bass tend to head for the deeper

water and steep drop offs and vertical structure is where they will school up. Target these fish with ice jigs or small grubs. The downside to deep fishing is barotrauma, which is caused from the swim bladder expanding as the

fish ascends. It’s like the bends for humans, and the fish cannot stabilise or deflate themselves and often belly up if they aren’t treated. There is two ways to help the fish. Firstly, if the fish was caught from

around 50ft, release it as quickly as possible and try not to handle it as its internals are stretched and can be easily damage. It’s best to release them back to similar depth. The second method is to vent its swim bladder.

Ty Marchant with a typical little Glenbawn battler!

Ryan Jones and Mark Lennox with a full bag of Aussie bass!

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There are a few tools for this, but I just go to the local vet and get a 16-gauge needle. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that will explain how to do it step-by-step. You should not rule out using shallow divers or suspending lures. As anglers we all seem to use what won the last comp and forget all the other ways

we used to catch them. For other shallow water options, you could also try swim jig or chatterbaits, which have been around for years. Over at St Clair, look for the deep weed that usually sits around the 15ft20ft mark. Casting blades or a swim jig adjacent to the weed line should bring To page 103

TCD trout challenges LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

I was struggling to sleep; the moon was so bright it was like somebody had left the bedroom light on, only there was no switching this one off… My only option was to pull the swag flap up a little higher and just grit and bear it. It did get me thinking though… moon phase and fishing has been linked for thousands of years with arguments for and against; it’s one sure way to get some interesting opinions around the campfire. I am not totally committed to any phase, preferring to fish during the twilight of early morning and late afternoon. For the most part, I am visually stimulated, so casting at things I cannot see just doesn’t do it for me. Each to their own, I guess. When I did wake up it was much darker, some high cloud had rolled in silently like a thief in the night, robbing the moon of its glory, and small holes in the cloud base let shards of light down onto the water that danced in the ripple. I sat, watched for a bit and took it in. I took a deep breath and wished I

had the knowledge and know how to capture it on film… maybe one day. WYANGALA WINTERS They’re not for the fainthearted, and the weather

can be downright ordinary. Weather windows do open up for those who can pick and choose, and flexibility is the key. Be prepared to put the trip off and pick it up in

Imported offerings on the swimbait scene are very low and hard to find. Local offerings are springing up as we speak; it’s a developing market still very early in its infancy.

The physical effort required to cast big swimbaits for long periods will put many off the opportunities on offer, quietly trolling them could be an option worth visiting for some.

Post spawn and pre spawn trout can be targeted quite effectively with soft plastics, the 3.1” OSP HP Shad tail has been a standout performer for me this season.

a week or so when conditions are better. Cod are now quite popular to target at this time of year, and we have our fishing buddies to the south (pool water on the Murray) and more recently to the north (Copeton) to thank for that. If you think that the cod water in-between is any different think again… I’ve seen and done enough lately to be well and truly encouraged. Deep trolling is one tried and proven method of catching these fish, but what’s not widely known is the potential for catching big fish in much shallower water. From what I have been able to work out thus far, it’s more food chain related, and these are big fish actively chasing fish that are preying on baitfish away from cover. The window of opportunity seems to be very short, with low light times the key. Good structure close by in the form of a major change in depth, some form of cover in logs, trees, boulders also seems to be a must. It’s still very early days with this style of fishing for cod in home waters, but the potential is untapped. By the same token, it won’t be the style of fishing that suits everyone, as for starters it’s quiet physical and involves throwing big heavy swimbaits non-stop. The expense

involved will also put many off, as some swimbait offerings are in the $70 range, and add to that the gear upgrade to throw such lures. It’s a pricy exercise. TCD MECCA A Mecca for some, a place of mass frustration for others… if seeing your fly or lure being constantly rejected in clear water by large rainbow trout isn’t your thing, then you might be better to stay away. If you like a challenge, and if you like to adapt, then we might just have the fishery for you. I touched on Thompsons Creek Dam (TCD) last month in my column, and to recap it is located between Wallerwang and Portland. At this time of year, the rainbow trout false spawn on the windswept gravel points, and the fishing is very much a

visual affair in quiet shallow water, which brings about its own set of frustrations. Cautious, spooky fish that still want to hang around despite your best efforts to chase them off drives most anglers around the twist… the good anglers fish fly, down size everything, keep low, and hit them early in low light conditions. Those who have the time will chase them mid-week, away from the weekend crowds for best results. Lure fishing is best done for TCD trout in pre-spawn or post-spawn away from the gravel beds using small soft plastics, although having said that the next one that grabs a big spoon or minnow won’t be the last. Hope to see you on the water soon, until then, tight lines.

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these fish undone. You could also try at the dog leg in the Fallbrook Arm as there is a lot of sunken timber there. The weed edge near the Cattle Yards is also usually worth a try, and move out into deeper as the day gets on. Good luck finding bass this month! • Peter Fogarty runs the popular Lake Glenbawn Kiosk - offering fuel, tackle, ice and the best food on the lake. Make sure you drop in when you visit the lake for the latest reports. You can also visit them on www. lakeglenbawnkiosk.com.au or call on (02) 6543 8355.

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Die-hards braving the cold get cod aplenty! TAMWORTH

Adam Mears adam.mears@hotmail.com

We’re well and truly into winter now, and if you’re not debating staying home and warm by now, then you are a hardy and seasoned angler who lives and breathes fishing. Or maybe you’re like me… just plain crazy! In all seriousness though, the cold weather is something to keep in mind. In summer, many anglers who snag a lure would happily jump in to retrieve their prized possession, but winter time is a whole new ball game, and many times I have considered jumping into the cold and clear water to save a few dollars, but the risks are not worth it. The cold water can cause you to cramp up very quickly and potentially drown, or even then, the shock from the cold could cause your heart to stop. In either instance, your life is worth more than a piece of wood or plastic. As predicted, the fishing has slowed down

Hayley McDonald with a lovely little cod caught on a pink Full Moon spinnerbait. considerably with the change of the season. Those fishing for golden perch have retreated to fishing baits around the trees in the dams, and if you can find any shrimp, you can almost consider fish a guarantee.

is swimbaits, and those from Jackall, Koolabung, Mudeye and Gobsmacked are all extremely tough and durable lures capable of handling the XOS Murray cod that they attract. Fishing these lures around the shallow margins around dawn, dusk and right through the darkness is where they will get the most attention, so stick with it and be rewarded with a monster! LAKE KEEPIT The dam has been quiet on the yellowbelly front. The Australian Yellowbelly Championships were held on 28-29 May, and from most accounts it was a very slow affair with many anglers struggling to bring back a bag or even a single fish! Once again, bait fishers would have a slight advantage, but don’t give

few green monsters. I also think big surface lures could also bring these goodoo undone as they have in other dams around the New England region. These big surface lures have been a revolution, so watch this space. PEEL AND NAMOI RIVERS After a recent drop of rain, the rivers have got a little bit of flow going through and that has fired up a few local Murray cod. A few reports have come in from in town and the Jewry Street bridge has had plenty of small cod harassing baits and lures in the afternoons, as has the area behind the velodrome. Further out of town, the Namoi River at Manilla has had a few good fish show up. Walking good distances and finding a few deeper holes will certainly be

For those who insist on throwing lures around, use a depth sounder to locate schools of fishing holding out on the deep rocky points or deep flats that have some structure under the water, and then

O/W On/ Off Dimmer

Pretty shy for a fly guy! The author might be hiding his face here, but be assured this cod caught on fly came with a grin.

5m Cig Lead

work them over thoroughly with soft plastic or ice jigs. Keeping these lures in the strike zone for as long as possible is important, because you need to entice that strike. The flavour of the month

$119 RRP 1.2m O/W LED Strip

up entirely on lures. A few switched on anglers have still managed the odd big cod, the main basin area is the key and fishing tight to the edges with spinnerbaits and chatterbaits has undone a

worth it to find the bigger cod, but getting them to play is a different story. So brave the elements, put in the hours, think outside the box and enjoy your fishing as each minute and every cast counts!

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JULY 2016

Not all cod are caught at dusk. This little cod took a small spinnerbait while chasing golden perch.

Look under the surface ORANGE

Michael Collison thegurusgear@gmail.com

Surface fishing is one of the most addictive ways to target Murray cod. When you get your first boof on the surface you will be hooked for life!

Surface luring for Murray cod is rapidly growing in popularity. It is not as productive as diving hardbodied lures due to the poor hook-up rates, and the fact that it is best done at the low light periods of the day, or during the night. However, it is an extremely exciting form of fishing for

those willing to stay out late. You can catch a small fish on a big lure but it’s unlikely you will catch a big fish on a small lure in winter. At this time of year, BIG lures are best. Murray cod are well known as being a lazy fish at the best of times so, as you can imagine, in cold water temperatures they

Surface luring for cod is best done during low light periods of the day, or at night.

Although you get fewer hook-ups on surface lures than you do on hardbodies, it’s a very exciting way to fish.

aren’t going to make much of an effort for a measly 70mm lure. You need to use big presentations that represent a worthwhile meal to these fish. From a hardbody perspective, 90-150mm lures are prefect. Try targeting shade or structure. Big rocks and tree laydowns on the edge of the river out of the main flow are good places to start. The

FISHING FILL-ITS

Korr Orange and White Easy Fit Light Korr lighting have provided the camper with some great products over the years, but this one is especially handy when heading to areas where insects are a real pest. As an example, I recently had the privilege of spending time up on Cape York. You could be forgiven for assuming that in winter the mosquitoes would call it quits, but this is not the case, because as stream and lagoon flows slow down, the little darlings have a chance to hatch in their millions. Smoke can keep them at bay to an extent, but one thing I’ve discovered for certain is that Korr’s 1.2m Orange and White light is a certain winner at keeping them away from camp. Tests were carried out with a standard white strip light set at one corner of the Cape York camp, the Korr 1.2 Orange/White

strip light set at the other extremity of camp with the selector button pressed to the Orange setting. To my amazement, the orange strip light did not attract one insect whereas the standard white light was supporting a veritable swarm. The orange LEDs in the Korr certainly did the job of repelling the little critters, no question about it! The Korr 1.2m orange and white Easy Fit light is a very comprehensive unit. The standard kit in its small zip up carry bag contains the 1.2m long light strip in a plastic and canvas fabric sheath with Velcro operated strips, plus a karabiner clip at each end for an easy attachment to a pole or strut. Accompanying the light with its dimmer cum selector switch is a 5m lead, a connection onto a battery via alligator clips or

The orange light during daylight. Note the canvas sheath the light is installed in for best protection.

cod in winter don’t want to work too hard for their food, so they will be sitting out of the main river current, saving their energy for the next meal that swims by. THE GEAR I use a baitcast outfit for this sort of fishing. It’s a blue Gomoku from Rapala matched with a Shimano Chronarch. In the river in summer I use 20/20 (i.e. my braid is 20lb and my leader is also 20lb) but in winter I step my leader up to 30lb as I know that fish of a lifetime could be in the next cast. The best lures I have found are Jackall Pompadours, as I find the hook-up rate is a lot better than most of the others. The only thing that I do is upgrade the split rings and the hook, as I have had a few fish lost on the standard hooks and split rings. There are a lot of colours out there, but most of the time I find that darker colours are better. Occasionally white ones have their day in winter, too.

TIMING I fish around the moon phase, and try to fish three days before the full moon right up to the full moon. I have found the cod to be a lot more active in the river and the dams at this time. I have caught a lot of cod over the years but the best way to catch them is off the surface. You just don’t know where the big greenback is going to hit your lure. Most of the time, if the fish are on the bite the boof will come as the lure hits the water, or as you turn the hand over for the first time after a slight pause in the retrieve. The best boof, however, is the one at your feet just before you pull your lure out of the water. That really gets the heart rate going! • For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop into Tackle World Orange at 66 Peisley St, Orange or call them on (02) 6361 8924. You can also see the latest specials and catches at www.facebook.com/ TackleWorldOrangeNSW.

The kit is compact and easy to set up and comes in a carry case with all power leads and connections. a simple push on connection to a car or boat outlet similar to the old cigarette lighter outlets. Note that there’s easy connection between the cigarette lighter connection and the alligator clip, so both options are on hand to suit available power outlets. The Korr Orange and White Easy Fit Light Flexible Light Kit is very easy to use and can be attached to tent awnings, or virtually any place there’s a requirement for light. The light is set up, power provided and then there’s the choice of either white light, which is very bright at 1100 lumens.

The orange (Which can be chosen by pressing the dimmer/selector switch), which is not as bright, is certainly ideal for camp site use to prepare meals and other after dark chores without being pestered by things that have a liking to human flesh. Having tested this compact but very effective lighting unit under extreme conditions, I must say I endorse it fully and recommend it to anyone heading into mosquito territory, as it certainly will not attract these pests. Note that each light kit comes with a two-year guarantee. – Wayne Kampe

ORANGE

NOW OPEN!

We sell everything for your fishing + hunting needs. Unit 1,66 Peisley Street, Orange OPEN Ph: (02) 6361 8924 7 DAYS www.facebook.com/ Tackleworld Orange NSW JULY 2016

105

BOATS FOR SALE on

Giant cod fever sweeps Copeton COPETON DAM

David Allen manager@copeton.com.au

ROBALO R206 CAYMAN BAY BOAT Location: VIC

$69,999 CLARK DOMINATOR / 115 OPTIMAX Location: QLD

$30,000 SKEETER ZX190 / MARINER 175 Location: QLD

Winter is well and truly here and as predicted the fishing has been exceptional over the last month. It seems that there are metre-plus fish are being caught and released every other day. The biggest during last month that was reported to me was an absolute howler at 127cm caught by regular visitor from Melbourne, Dean Norbiato. Copeton local gun anglers like Brook Stewart and Josh Usher are also racking up impressive numbers of fish with many over a metre. A crew from Wilson Tackle have also been down to try their hand at Australia’s greatest freshwater fish In the last few weeks, most of the fish have been coming off the weed bed edges in the main body of the dam. It appears that all manner of fish are working the weeds and looking for food and trying to avoid becoming food. It’s the circle of life – little fish eat smaller pray items and big fish eat little fish. The lures of choice have varied from day-to-day with a mix of surface lures, spinnerbaits and swimbaits getting the job done. For fishing the surface, a mix of paddlers and wakebaits have

been producing consistent results. The new triple jointed wakebait from New England Lures is proving very effective, as is the Mudeye Snake. There are a number of new lures coming out of the woodwork as the interest in surface fishing for big cod continues to gain momentum. Some of

hardbodies. The lures that are proving very effective this year are swimbaits. These lures have a subtle and very lifelike action in the water and depending on the make and model, will float, sink or suspend at rest, making them very versatile. Spinnerbaits seem to be getting bigger, with

a 120mm paddler for an hour for not a sign of a fish then swapped to a 220mm wakebait and had two big hits in 15 minutes, from the same areas I had worked with the smaller lure. • Copeton Dam is one of the best lakes in NSW to catch a trophy Murray cod. Dave runs the Copeton

Dean Norbiato with his 127cm beast that ate a triple jointed wakebait! the lures turning up now are pushing up towards 400mm in length. Once the sun is up the fish lose interest in surface feeding, so then it’s time to change to spinnerbaits and

most suppliers adding 2, 3 and even 4oz models to their range. Big lures are the secret to big fish, and I had a quick fish before work the other morning and tossed around

Waters Holiday Park and is a great source of up to date, local information on what’s biting. Contact the park on (02) 6723 6269 for information and accommodation bookings.

FISHING FILL-ITS

$36,000 SKEETER 21ft / 300 YAMAHA Location: QLD

Reel Action new season – starting June Michael ‘Guesty’ Guest and his mates are back for another season of Reel Action. The fishing show that focuses on technique and tackle to target Australia’s favourite fish commenced Series 4 on Saturday, 11

June on ONE and Southern Cross nationally. Episodes air 4.30pm Saturdays with encore viewings at Sunday 10.30am and Wednesday 8.30am. The series is made up of twenty 30-minute episodes covering a vast range of

species and locations; with everything from Murray cod to marlin. “We’ve put together

search of some great fishing.” Make sure you tune in and catch all the action. – Reel Action

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Guesty and his mates are back with series 4 of Reel Action.

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JULY 2016

Series 4 of Reel Action will cover a vast rage of species, from Murray cod to marlin.

an amazing series this time around with some incredible action, seriously good fish and most importantly lots of information for the average angler,” Guesty said. “Our show involves myself and other keen anglers trailering our boats, exploring with ATVs and even blasting around on SeaDoos. All in

Scan the QR code to see the series 4 trailer.

Product Profile

All new Lowrance/Simrad Structure Scan 3D SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

It seems that almost yearly there are new advances in sonar technology.

back one step. If you have any experience with fish finders over the past few years, you will have heard about or used or even owned a sounder with Side Scan capabilities. That is,

plan in conjunction with the front and side views and 3D perspectives that you can fully understand and appreciate what it is you are looking at. This is where structure

The new Structure Scan 3D Module and the new Transducer. Both similar to their predecessors. The new transducer is slightly deeper to include for the additional elements. For long periods, small changes were the norm with nothing out of the ordinary coming out, that is to say, nothing mindblowing. Now we are lucky enough to get to see exciting new products almost yearly! Much like how smart phones develop, so is our fish finding technology! Some may call it an unfair advantage, but I think any advantage we can get over the fish is worth using. I enjoy catching fish! Having said that, this review is on a product that Navico (the parent company of Lowrance and Simrad) have recently launched – Structure Scan 3D. WHAT EXACTLY IS IT? So what do they mean by 3D? Well, firstly let’s go

a sounder that can scan either side of the boat, not just directly underneath. These images appear flat as they are basically a floor plan view. There are cues you can use to gauge the depths and heights of objects, but for the most part, gaining information on the height of an object in the water column was achieved by going directly above. Structure Scan 3D now adds the height aspect of what we see on Side Scan to help anglers better understand what is going on beneath us. As an example that I can easily relate to, as an architect, looking at floor plans of a house can only give you so much information. It is only once you read the floor

We can see the boat in the middle of the screen, this represents where we are. The cone is covering a large area to the left and right of the boat, this represents what we are scanning.

You can see the contoured ‘jagged’ nature of the bottom and where it meets with the flat ground. 108

JULY 2016

A typical Side Scan image showing the left and right hand side of our boat. In this image we can see a boat wreck on the left hand side.

scan 3D comes into its own. Anglers often struggle to grasp how to read the Side Scan images, as it can be tricky to understand the concept from just one image. The new 3D now makes things a little easier by putting the seabed and the boat into perspective, basically adding an extra view to help us understand. As we drive around, we are given a 3D view of what is underneath and to the side of the boat. Any objects that protrude from the bottom will be easily detected. This is great for sounding reef or bommies. Fish are also shown on 3D as small dots in the water column. We can now see how far away from the boat they are and in what depth of water they are sitting. These fish can be easily marked by touching the screen and creating a

new waypoint. SHOTS IN ACTION To give you a bit of an idea, below are a few screen shots with some explanations of what you are looking at. These were taken on the Gold Coast. Below is a typical image that Structure Scan 3D will display. The orange cone also known as the ‘Leading Edge’ shows the area that is currently being scanned. We can also see that any current waypoints we have will show up as we drive through the area. This is handy when you have marked a school of fish and are positioning the boat to anchor or drift through the school. The next image was taken at the same time, although this time the screen was panned to change the direction of the view. We are able to move

180° around the boat to view from different angles. The last image shows a view from behind the boat, on the left hand side we can see the structure coming up. This was actually a rocky reef that met with a sand edge. You can see the contoured ‘jagged’ nature of the bottom and where it meets with the flat ground. INSTALL AND COMPATIBILITY The Structure Scan 3D is an addition to Lowrance HDS Gen3 and Simrad NSS Evo 2 models. It comprises of a Sonar Module and a new Transducer. This new transducer now has 7 elements as opposed to 3 in previous models. These now allow for greater coverage and clarity. Side Scan is now greatly enhanced, with the ability to scan more than double the area that we were previously able to. The installation process is simple, fit the Lss3 (3D) transducer and plug it straight into the Sonar Module. The sonar module then connects to your HDS or Simrad unit. The sonar module will need to be powered and wired up to a power source. It will be very interesting to see how anglers use this new technology to help them locate and catch more fish. For me, the enhanced Side Scan coverage and clarity is just mind-blowing. That in itself has made the upgrade worthwhile! It is only very new tech, and in it’s early days, so I’m sure there is still plenty to learn, it is definitely a handy tool to add to the arsenal and I’m looking forward to playing with it more.

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

l l e S p a w S y l T F y y i n g u B s n o i t c e l l o C e r u L Lure Ma king y a l p s i D h s i F e iL v Brought to you by

2016 – THE AUSTRALIAN LURE FLY & OUTDOORS EXPO

SPECIAL FEATURE

OFFICIAL SHOW GUIDE JULY 2016

109

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

Australian Lure & Fly Expo 2016 Make sure you get all your household jobs done before July 16-17, as you will be extremely busy that weekend at the Australian Lure & Fly Expo, the biggest collection of Australian-made lures and flies in the world. The Expo is the epicentre of the Australian lure industry,

throughout the expo to wow crowds with his expert casting abilities and will be sharing tips on fishing, knot tying, rigs and cooking. With a huge smile and even bigger handshake, The Barefoot Fisherman is always a favourite for anglers of all levels. Some of Australia’s

and most valuable lures in Australia’s history, including famous lure makers like Newell, McFeeters, RGM, StumpJumper, Deception and Moller. Anglers are encouraged to bring their old favourites for the experts to identify and evaluate, as there may be an original timber lure

EXPO INFORMATION The 2016 Lure and Fly Expo will be held on June 16-17 weekend at the Ipswich Show Ground Exhibition Centre, 81 Warwick Rd, Ipswich. There is plenty of free parking and the venue is undercover so come rain, hail or shine the show will go on. Entry fee is still $10 for adults and children under 16 enter free, and if one day’s not enough to see it all you can also buy a two-day pass for $15. The National Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo has grown from strength to strength, each year bigger and better than the last – the 2016 event will be the premier angling event of the year – don’t miss it. For more info, visit www.lureshow.com.au where manufacturers exhibit their latest innovations and masterpieces, collectors buy, swap, sell and anglers shop, drool and talk tackle. You can expect two days of non-stop action including demonstrations in lure making and tips on timber lure carving, shaping, moulding and painting. The Barefoot Fisherman, Dave Hodge will be on hand 110

JULY 2016

best fly tiers will also be spinning fur and feathers into realistic fish catching imitations and giving tips and demonstrations for both the experienced and the novice. Lure collecting has taken the world by storm and Australia’s rich heritage in hand-carved timber lures rivals the best in the world. The Lure Expo will have on display some of the rarest

worth a fortune in your tackle box! With so many lure makers in one location, it’s also the ideal time to top up the tacklebox! Visitors can buy the latest, the hard to get, or the cottage industry lures not seen in the tackle shops. The Lure Expo is also the place where manufactures release their

latest models and colours and sell some lures at below retail prices, so bring your piggy bank, because there will be bargains galore. This is the Expo’s fifth year running, growing from strength to strength from 2012 to one of the most anticipated and best run events on anglers’ calendars. The concept of an Expo to celebrate Australian lures was the brainchild of Garry ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald. After a successful pedigree of running events to raise money for fish stocking, Fitzy decided there was a need to showcase Australian lures and help promote Australian lure and fly makers. Fitzy wanted to develop an event where people could learn how to make their own lures and flies as well as help promote lure collecting and preserve the history and products of the Australian lure making industry. The challenge was to put a world-class event together on a shoestring budget that didn’t fleece the pockets of the angler, but instead gave them valuable information, tips and realistic priced products.

The Barefoot Fisherman Dave Hodge will be onsite to share his immense knowledge of lure fishing. Now five years on, the Australian Lure and Fly Expo has exceeded all expectations, embraced by both industry and anglers as one of the not to be missed event of the year. FISHING STAGE Throughout the expo there will be a range of guest speakers sharing their knowledge on everything from fishing locations, species and how to use your fish finder. BOATING HUB Most boats shows tend to be mostly boats with a little bit of imported rods and tackle thrown in. This show spins it the other way, with wall-to-wall lures,

flies and tackle, with some space allocated to showcase Aussie made boats. With the demise of Brisbane’s Tinnie and Tackle Show, the Lure Fly and Outdoors Expo is also a great place to check out some of the various brands of tinnies that will be on display. WHAT’S NEW It seems that the expo is attracting a new wave of lure makers eager to show their wares off to the evergrowing crowds who flock to see the best lure on offer in Australia. Check out some of the newbies in 2016. We hope to see you there! - Australian Lure & Fly Expo

The Australian

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

MUGGO’S LURES

EDEN LURES

KUTTAFURRA LURES

• • • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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A first timer at the Expo, Muggo’s Lures are made on the Darling Downs and have a capture sheet of native fish that would be the envy of any lure maker.

SANDFLY LURES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Aaron Young’s work is always in high demand. He never brings enough lures up from Victoria, so be sure to get in early. Coming down from Central Queensland, Eden Lures offer a mix of good design with a good finish. Be sure to stock up on these for your next trip into barra country.

GOBSMACKED LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

THUG LURES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Made in Dalby, these lures cover functionality for fishos and artistic flair for the collector. These lures are not to be missed!

WATER STALKER LURES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With the keen eye and trained hand of a tattoo artist, the attention to detail on Thug Lures needs to be seen to be believed. LURE OF THE YEAR AWARDS What started out as a bit of fun at the first Lure Expo back in 2012 has blossomed into the equivalent of the Golden Guitar of the Australian lure-making industry. With an expanded group of categories catering to commercial and cottage makes of all types of lures, from timber minnows to bladed lures; winning a LOTY is guaranteed to increased demand and sales from both tackle stores, collectors and the general public alike. In 2016, the LOTY Awards and Hall Of Fame dinner will be held in a separate function room only 100m from the expo site itself and will be open to the public. Tickets for the awards dinner will be on sale at the expo food court on the Saturday morning of the expo.

It’s hard to find an angler from Inverell who doesn’t make lures. Water Stalker has a proven track record of catching big New England cod and other natives.

JUNGLE LURES

FERAL CATT LURES • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Previous Lure of The Year winner big Jamie Judd will have a huge range of his popular lures available here from his base in Goulburn. He will also be giving demos on wood turning throughout the Expo.

LIVELY LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Lively Lures have a long history, and cover everything from bream to sailfish. Lively Lures have been attended the Expo since the kick off and will be back again.

FUGLY LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

•• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Functional and tough, Jungle Lures are produced in North Queensland with local species in mind. They certainly catch fish, and have proved their worth on tropical species.

Greg Catt has been making lures forever. These lures have a huge following down in the southern states, and Queenslanders who are yet to see them are in for a surprise.

Fugly Lures are back again in 2016. Chris Sinclair’s creations have previously taken out ‘Most Artistic Award’ at the Expo, and when you see his work in the flesh you will understand why. JULY 2016

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Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

AC LURES • • • • • • ••••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

With a huge following across the eastern states, AC is a household name to many anglers. Anthony always brings something a bit different each year up from Wagga Wagga on the NSW Riverina.

BILL’S BOXES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

If you’re a lure collector, or just appreciate fine craftsmanship, be sure to find Bill and his boxes.

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS If you’re interested in anything from trout to barra and flatties to mackerel, then you’ll need to check out the range of Zerek Lures. Visitors can check out the range of Tango Shads, one of the dominant flathead lures available, Fish Traps, the soft vibe with a difference, and the Flat Shad, the most unique soft plastic swimbait on the market. You can also check out the range of Live Shrimp and Live Shrimp Hot Legs, Live Flash Minnow Wrigglies and bluewater lures including the Pelagic Z and Zappelin. If you’re into retrofitting your lures with the right hooks, then you need to drop in and discuss the range of hook options Mustad provides. From the lightweight bream treble through to the ultra-tough Kaiju 7x singles and trebles, Mustad has a hook that will enhance your fishing success. Highlights include the incredible 4x Saltism and the unbelievable KVD Elite Extra Strong trebles, both of which are finding favour amongst many lure anglers who are looking for better hook ups and results. And it’s pointless having the best lures if you don’t have the best rods, and the Aussie Built Live Fibre Venom rods are at the elite level of rods. Making use of a patented blank building process, each Venom rod is hand built at head office to ensure a quality control that is unmatched in the market today. With rods from light spin through to heavy duty popping rods and the award winning Venom Game series, there is a rod to suit your lure fishing needs.

LIVELY LURES TO LIVEN UP THE SHOW • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

KUTTAFURRA KILL IT ON NATIVES

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WILSON STAND TO DISH OUT VARIETY

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The famous Micro Mullets have caught just about everything with fins, however it’s on big flathead that they really shine.

Zerek lures have become a staple in many Aussie tackle boxes. This flatty was taken on a Tango Shad in gold spotted dog.

The Lively Lures stand at the Australian Lure Expo is always a popular one. There isn’t a fish that swims that the range of Lively Lures doesn’t cater for. From the ever popular Micro Mullet for flathead, bream, bass and trout, to the Mad Mullet and Arafura Barra to chase mangrove jack, trevally and barramundi, these lures have proven for years that they can catch anything. Since their release, Mack Bait lures have also proven deadly on mackerel and many other bluewater species. It is always worth stopping in at the stand, even if it is just to catch up with Alan and check out his lures, so when you get home you can jump on his website at www. livelyluresonline.com.au and purchase the lures you want, having checked them out at the show.

At this year’s Lure Expo, Wilson Fishing will be showcasing a range of Zerek Lures, Mustad trebles and Live Fibre Venom rods.

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STONES CORNER MARINE

Kuttafurra lures and natives go hand-in-hand, and both anglers and big natives appreciate the incredible finish of these great lures.

18 Kerwick St, REDBANK QLD 4301 info@charltonsfishing.com.au

Ph: 07 3818 1677 Mail Order Welcome

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Kuttafurra Lures will again be attending the Australian Lure Expo this year. Aaron’s reputation for producing quality lures has continued to grow, and the demand for his lures has ensured that every hour available has him making lures. This demand has come about due to the quality finish of the lures (his paint work is second to none) and because they catch fish. His range of lures is slowly expanding, however the most excitement has been around his Surface Rat and a prototype of a Super Rat. Some huge fish have already been caught on the prototype, and the final version hasn’t even been finished yet. The Australian Lure Expo is a great chance to have a chat with Aaron and understand the genius behind the lures. It’s also a great opportunity to buy some lures like the Mudhoney in various sizes, the Redfin, and hopefully some of his surface offerings, but get in early because they won’t last long. At worst, say g’day and buy a bottle opener as a reminder that you should get some more Kuttafurra Lures.

Stones Corner Marine will have four boats on display at this year’s Lure and Fly Expo. Each boat has fantastic features that make them perfect for the weekend angler or a hardcore lure fisho. Starting with the little 370 Creek Masta, this boat has a front casting deck, electric motor plate, transducer bracket and sounder mount plate. This boat also has one of Sea Jay’s wraps on it, which makes it really stand out. Also on display will be the new bigger brother of the 370 Creek Masta the 398 Creek Masta. This boat will be great for estuaries, rivers, creeks and the dams. It’s definitely worth checking this new Sea Jay model out. Moving to the bigger side, the 425 Avenger Sports has a side console, front and rear cast platforms, free flow live bait tank and anchor well. There is plenty of room under the front cast platform for all your safety gear and another hatch to store a deep cycle battery for the electric motor. The flagship on display at this year’s show is the Bar Crusher 575XS. At 5.75m the fishing options in this boat are endless, with everything from flathead, barra to small marlin off the coast on the cards. The boat is fitted with a Minn Kota 80lb I-Pilot electric motor and a Humminbird 899CXI HD SI Sounder/GPS combo. The 575XS has a massive front casting deck with a huge amount of storage. Three quality pedestal seats make the long days out on the water comfortable for the skipper and two mates. All boats on display at the Stones Corner Marine stand will be powered by motors from the fantastic range of Yamaha outboards. We look forward to catching you at the show!

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

The story behind Gobsmacked FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

Gobsmacked Lures is an Australian owned, family run business based in Cowra, NSW. Founder Jamie Judd originally started tinkering with lure making just for himself, but – you guessed it – his friends wanted some, then friends of friends started buying some, and all of a sudden he had a business! We had a chat to Jamie to see what it’s like to be an up-and-coming lure maker in Australia, and what the creation process is like. STARTING OUT Jamie said the best thing about lure making is the creativity. “It’s all about the challenge of coming up with something that nobody

Americans catching bass, and people in other places using my lures as collector’s pieces. It never occurred to me that people would collect my lures. It was quite a surprise!” So what makes a lure a collector’s item?

Gobsmacked creator Jamie Judd (left) is no stranger to the Lure Expo.

The 175mm Leviathan claims another big cod. Photo courtesy of Rhys Creed. else has done, and it’s really rewarding,” he said. “The business side of it is just a bonus!” Making lures full time is not a career option to take lightly, however. “Five years ago I was a concreter, making lures on the side,” he said. “When I wanted to quit my job to make lures, everyone told me it takes years for new lure makers to get their foot in the door. I braced myself for tough times ahead. “I was lucky though – the second time I went to the Lure Expo I entered one of my lures and won. That fasttracked everything! Funny thing is, I hadn’t planned to enter the lure in the comp. I was just selling them at the Expo and had one left in my cabinet. I thought I might as well throw it into the running, and it won!” “When I first started, all my sales were through Facebook, but I now have a website and I also stock quite a few tackle stores around Australia. I even have customers overseas – there are guys in Germany and Switzerland chasing pike,

THE CREATION PROCESS So how does a hand carved lure go from being a block of wood to hanging on a tackle store wall? “After I have carved the lures on my lathe and by

“It’s hard to say,” Jamie said. “I used to think it had to be something unique, but that’s not always necessary – if a lure is really well made then that can be enough. Doing something unique definitely helps though, especially when people know your brand catches fish.”

hand, I put them in a sealer for 24 hours, to seal the wood and make it waterproof,” Jamie explained. “After that I sand the lures, then apply a filler prime coat to provide a smooth surface for the paint. I sand them again, and then they go into the spray booth for painting. “After the paint is dry, I clear coat them, then hang them up to dry again. Once they are dry, I fit the bibs and the eyelets. All the terminals I use, including split rings and hooks, are of the highest quality, so there’s no need for customers to upgrade them.” The whole process, from go to whoa, takes around four days. It’s definitely a labour of love, and you can see the process for yourself on Gobsmacked’s Instagram page. Some of Jamie’s most popular photos are the ones of him making his lures. “People think it’s really interesting to see the building

process, although it’s just a regular working day for me!” he laughed. Jamie said learning to make lures isn’t easy, but it’s a lot of fun. “I definitely recommend having a crack at it,” he said. “and don’t get discouraged when you don’t succeed right away. I had boxes and boxes of lures that just didn’t swim! I kept at it though, and eventually came up with lures that swam the way I wanted them to.” Jamie added that lure making also requires learning about which timbers are best. “Different timbers suit different lure types,” he explained. “Heavier timber like white beech is good for suspending or sinking lures, and lighter timber like huon pine is good for surface lures and divers. “Jelutong timber is good for collectables because it’s easy to carve, and camphor laurel is also great because it simply looks gorgeous!” WHAT’S NEW Visitors to the 2016 Lure Expo who purchase a 1-year Fishing Monthly subscription have the opportunity to get a free limited edition Gobsmacked lure. This 100mm surface walker is a custom version of the popular Rattlesnake, painted in the Fishing Monthly colours.

Jamie Judd still hand carves all his lures. “Each one is signed and numbered, so they’re a great collector’s lure, and they’re only for the first 40 people,” Jamie said. Show-goers will also be treated to some brand new Gobsmacked creations. “I’ve been making a lot of unusual stuff for the Expo, and posting progress photos on Instagram,” Jamie said. “For example, I’ve been carving the Anglerfish from the Gobsmacked logo. The first one took me 20 hours!

Fishing Monthly Group’s show subscription lure.

The spines up his back did my head in. I tried everything under the sun to make them, especially that front one that acts as the lure. Eventually I found shaping them out of metal was the best option, and it looks brilliant. I am hoping to have at least five smaller versions for sale. Plus I am working on a huge one that’s 30cm high!” Jamie will also be unveiling some new lure models at the event. Two of the standouts are a deep diving, deep bodied redfin imitation, which he predicts will be very popular, and a Barra Jew lure. “The Barra Jew is the first of my new saltwater range,” Jamie explained. “I hadn’t planned to make saltwater lures but I had too many people demanding it! I don’t want to give away too much at the moment though. Everyone will have to wait until the Expo!”

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www.livelyluresonline.com.au JULY 2016

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Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

The allure of modification CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

It’s hard to find an angler that doesn’t love lures. The prospect of flicking out an artificial offering

your way. The biggest modifications undertaken by lure anglers are the replacement or modification of terminal gear such as split rings and treble hooks. The main reason for this is that many lures come

consider when terminal changes are to be made. MODIFICATION PROS The obvious pros are heavy rings and trebles will provide a better success rate when targeting big fish. For example, when chasing power houses like big barra

Using heavy duty trebles are a must when fishing around timber. However, they can also do plenty of damage, as can be seen from this barra, which had lost half its jaw in another encounter. and fooling a fish into feeding is hard to beat. While lure fishing may seem pretty straight forward, in reality it can throw up challenges, especially when you begin to make adjustments and modifications. BASIC MODIFICATIONS The smallest extra bit of weight here or the lack of weight there can have a dramatic effect on the performance, action and most importantly, fish catching ability of your lure. Understanding the pros and cons of lure modification is an essential step to lure fishing success. Here are a few tips to help you on

with lighter gauge hooks and rings, which can be a weakness when targeting large fish. The reason for this is pretty simple, and it’s because the rings and trebles are often the most expensive items in terms of production costs per lure for the manufacturer. Admittedly, many lure manufacturers are now selling lures with quality terminals, however, there will always come a time when hooks and rings need to be replaced. The issue with upgrading, changing or modifying rings and trebles is you begin to play with the balance, weight and design dynamics of the lure. There are both pros and cons to

and giant trevally without the use of heavy set hooks and rings, your chances of landing a fish dramatically decrease as they will straighten out the steel in no time. There is an incredible amount of pressure on terminal gear in a fight with a big fish, especially when heavy drags are applied or the fish gets hooked in an awkward position. The other less obvious advantage to switching up your terminal gear is the change in weight can create a suspending, sinking or floating effect on your lure. Heavier trebles or rings can make your lure sink faster, suspend and swim deeper. Lighter terminals can have the opposite effect. These changes can be significant and useful when trying to get in the strike zone. Sometimes a change in terminals, even as small as the use of heavier split rings, can turn a floating lure into one that suspends or rises incredibly slowly. These newfound abilities can separate those who catch fish and those who don’t. In fact, many lure

Big single hooks cable tied together are a popular modification for big surface lures, as they don’t weigh down lures and provide plenty of hook points for big predators.

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Having the same lure with different variations of hooks and ring sizes is always a good idea. anglers will spend plenty of time on the water testing the effects of such changes before throwing them into the fray. Pool testing is also a good idea, however, remember the level of salinity will always effect the action, suspension and sink rates of lures. As always, time on the water is hard to beat. MODIFICATION CONS Obviously there are also cons to lure modification. The most obvious is the effect on swimming action, which is often what is sacrificed when going to heavier terminals. While most still swim the same, it is often the side-to-side roll that is lost when moving to heavier terminals. Some lures can become

like dead weights and become like stickbaits, which require plenty of rod manipulation to get them to perform. Some of my favourite hardbodies and vibes in particular become really ineffective when fitted with upgraded hooks and rings, so it can often be a case of finding a compromise between drag pressure and terminal strength (praying sometimes helps as well when you hook a big one!) The other con of modifying trebles and rings is the lack of movement your trebles can have due to the thickness of the tow points. Many lures have small tow points, which makes using heavy duty rings difficult as they just don’t fit. This can restrict

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The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS movement of your trebles, which can affect the way your lure swims. There are ways around the extra weight issues and lures running three trebles are very useful. They allow the angler the opportunity to compensate for the extra weight of the heavier terminals by removing

action of lures. They are also much less damaging on fish and when you do hook up they tend to stay on a bit better then trebles. At the same time your lure has less hook points, which means hook-ups are harder to achieve. Another viable option is to use a different design

EXPO

for a lighter gauge and lighter weight hook to be used without compromising too much strength. That’s not to say they still don’t get bent straight, of course, but can be very handy on lures that don’t respond well to change. Another really cool option is to use doubles or

Lighter gauge trebles are excellent for pinning fish like jacks, but you always run the risk of them bending them straight.

When chasing smaller natives like jungle perch, it really is a case of using as sharp and light as you can go to get as much penetration as possible. However, go too light and they will bend them with ease. the middle hook entirely without losing too much hook-up effectiveness. Using single hooks is also an option, as heavy set singles can weigh far less and tend to have less impact on the swimming

of treble, such as a wide gape treble. These trebles have a much wider mouth then your standard ‘J’ hook treble construction, which means there is less pressure placed on the hook point during the fight. This allows

Wide gape hooks are an excellent compromise between weight and strength.

devil hooks. Doubles are really strong as well, and are perfect for light lures that just can’t take any form of heavier gauge treble. They are a top alternative and are becoming more common in tackle shops as well. The final con of modifying your trebles is your penetration rate. Small lighter gauge trebles have awesome penetration as they can slice through skin and find their way between cartilage and bone quite easily. Thicker gauge hooks have much more resistance and thicker points making them harder to sink below the barbs. To get around this it is a good idea to buy and use a hook sharpener. Sharpening your hook points when using these heavy gauge trebles and hooks is really important and can be the difference between landing a trophy or watching one throw the lure back at you. OTHER MODIFICATIONS While terminal modifications can have a dramatic effect on lure performance, there are other ways also to modify your lures. One of my favourite modifications is to make slight adjustments to hardbody lure bibs. The slightest bend downwards or sideways can sometimes bring some pretty cool actions to lures. Often a tweak to the side will make the lure side flash or roll to one side, which can create a more wounded baitfish effect. Alternatively, a tweak upward can see the

lure swim shallower. Older metal-bibbed lures were a little easier to play with, but plastic bibbed lures can still be adjusted quite easily. The key is to make very small adjustments and to take a softy softly approach. If you are really keen to modify your lures then, why not try playing with different toe points or even drilling a hole here or there, as this

can create bubble trails. Taking it to the extreme, you can also achieve some really cool bent minnow style effects by simply applying some heat in the right places, especially with many plastic moulded hardbodies. Alternatively, if you live in North Queensland you can just leave them on your car dash!

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GET MODDING! Modifying your lures is a great way to bring something individual and different to the fish that they otherwise wouldn’t see. Often it is this subtle change that can brings results. The best thing about it is that it costs very little and it can be a whole lot of fun. Have fun with your modifications!

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16-17 JULY 2016 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXHIBITOR MAP UPPER FLOOR

EXHIBITORS

• AC Lures ...........................................................42 & 43 • All Fly Outfitters ........................................................ 78 • Aklure ........................................................................ 26 • Balista Lures ............................................................. 38 • Barambah Lures ....................................................... 25 • Barz Optics ............................................................... 62 • Bills Boxes ................................................................ 53 • Boating & RV .......................................................29-33 • B.R.A. Lures ................................................................ 1 • Beardy Lures ............................................................ 21

• Eden Lures .................................................................. 3 • Feral Cat Lures ......................................................... 49 • Fish & Boat Magazine ............................................... 76 • Fish Head Tackle ...............................................56 & 57 • Fishing Monthly Magazine ................................64 & 65 • Fishing Unlimited ...................................................... 36 • FFSAQ ...................................................................... 83 • Fugly Lures ............................................................... 18 • Gobsmacked Lures .................................................. 91 • Hillies Spinners & Lures ............................................ 40 • Honey Hole Lures ..................................................... 50 • Humminbird .............................................................. 59 • Ipswich Marine ................................... Outdoor Pavilion • Jackpot Lures ........................................................... 44 • JH Lures ................................................................... 23 • Jungle Lures ............................................................... 2 • Karee Marine ...................................... Outdoor Pavilion • Kneebone Lures ....................................................... 24 • Kuttafurra Swagman Lures ....................................... 51 • Jungle Lures ............................................................... 2 • Lively Lures ............................................................... 63 • Loola Lures ............................................................... 16 • Lobby Lures .............................................................. 34 • Mastering The Murray PTSD .............................92 & 93 • Mick Molnar Marine Art ............................................ 19 • Mencho’s Lures ........................................................ 28 • Minn Kota ................................................................. 59 • Muggo’s Lures .......................................................... 46 • MB Custom Lures .................................................. TBA • MJT Lures ................................................................... 5 • Nicho’s Maulers ........................................................ 18 • Ninja Lures ................................................................ 22 • Obsession Spinnerbaits............................................ 81 • Powell Lures.............................................................. 26 • Revenge Lures ........................................................... 39 • RV Lures ................................................................... 50 • Sandfly Lures ............................................................ 75 • Secret Creek Lures .................................................... 79 • Shad’s Lures ............................................................. 20 • Somerset Fishing Tackle ...........................84, 85 & 100 • Southern Cross Lures ............................................... 41 • Southeast Qld Flyfishers............................................ 86 • Sportsfishing PNG ..................................................... 45 • Stingray Lures ........................................................... 27 • Stones Corner Marine .........................................66-71 • Sun 2 Sea Clothing ................................................... 87 • Thug Lures .................................................................. 8 • U-Make-Em Soft Plastics .................................88 & 89 • Viper Lures ................................................................ 27 • Water Stalker Lures ................................................... 35 • Wilsons Fishing ................................................. 72 & 74

• Brisbane Fly Fishing Club .......................................... 52 • Brisbane Yamaha .................................................94-99 • Bush N Beach Fishing .............................................. 90 • C & S Horsey Lures .................................................. 48 • Caino Lures ............................................................... 37 • Cod X Lures t ............................................................... 5 • Compact Fishing Australia ...............................80 & 82 • Cooby Cobba Lures ................................................... 4 • Cod Hound Lures ................................................... 101 • Daryl Reeks Archery .........................................Outdoor • D & S Lures ................................................................. 7

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2016 JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

Jul 2-3

Rnd 10 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Mandurah

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jul 8-15

Evans Head Fishing Classic Evans Head

www.evansheadfishingclassic.com.au

Jul 16-17

BASS Pro Qualifier #5 Boondooma

www.abt.org.au

Jul 23-24

Rnd 11 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Lake Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jul 23-24

MBTBC Fishing Classic Moreton Bay

(07) 3396 8161

Jul 23-24

Rnd 11 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Lake Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Jul 29-31

Isisford Fishing Competition Oma Waterhole

Sally (07) 4658 8914

Aug 6-7

Central West TackleWorld Masters Rnd 4 Lake Windamere

Ian McLean 0478 083 066

Aug 7

BASS Electric #5 Hinze Dam

Justin Thompson 0421 476 392

Aug 20-21

BREAM Qualifier #7 Clarence River

ABT (07) 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Aug 24-25

BREAM Qualifier #8 Gold Coast

ABT (07) 3387 0888 abt.org.au

Aug 26-28

Grabine Freshwater Fishing Tournament Wyangala Dam

grabinefishing@gmail.com

Aug 27-28

Rnd 12 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Wallis Lake

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 3-4

Central West TackleWorld Masters Rnd 5 Lake Burrendong

Ian McLean 0478 083 066

Sept 10-11

Rnd 13 Hobie Kayak BREAM series Nelson

www.hobiefishing.com.au

Sept 10-11

BASS Pro Grand Final Bjelke-Petersen or Borumba

www.abt.org.au

Sept 17

Central Coast Mini Bucks Brisbane Waters

Michael Shaw 0431 344 656

Sept 17-18

Bowen Family Fishing Classic Bowen

Russ McCabbin (07) 4786 3899 www.bowenfamilyfishingclassic.com

Sept 23-24

WTF Women That Fish Barra Classic Fitzroy River

Shara 0429 923 243

Sept 25

BASS Electric #6 Lake St Clair

Daniel Clancy 0419 690 418

Oct 8-9

BASS Electric #7 Borumba Dam

Steve Noble 0409 239 065

Oct 8-9

Hobie Bream Classic Nelson

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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. JULY 2016

117

Morgan the master of St Helens if they didn’t I wouldn’t really work the bait at all, rather just wind it in and

buoyant and combined with a meagre 1/32oz weight, the bait sank incredibly

and commit to eating the presentation. Morgan sifted through

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Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 118

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Steve Morgan has tasted victory at St Helens for the second time in as many visits, as the QLD BREAMer claimed his first victory since 2012. Eclipsing the rest of the field by almost 2kg, Morgan took notice of anglers fishing the Scamander Hobie Kayak event for lure inspiration after finding the fish were not committing to other offerings. “The kayak guys really smashed them on ZMan GrubZ at the event at Scamander, so I made sure I got a few packets before hitting the water at St Helens,” explained Morgan. Morgan isolated a good population of fish holding in the oyster racks Steve Morgan won the St Helens round with some monsters off the oyster leases. on the western side of Georges Bay. “I really only fished an re-position the bait further slowly, which allowed the over a dozen fish each area about the size of a along the rack.” ZMan maximum amount of time session to bring his limit football field,” he said. “I GrubZ are inherently for the bream to locate to the scales, and he was chuffed with the fact that would fish a small flats area both his non-boaters were adjacent to the racks as the also able to bring a full tide was low, and catch a 5/5 limit to the scales for couple of fish with shallow the days they fished on jerkbaits.” board his boat. As the tide rose, Morgan He explained that turned his attention to the the oyster racks found in oyster racks where he piled Tasmania differ from those on the majority of his 10/10 found on the mainland 9.33kg tournament limit. in that there is very little He rigged his 2.5” ZMan growth on the outside of GrubZ on a light 1/32oz the baskets or poles that jighead, and targeted the support the leases. shady side of the oyster “In Tassie you can get racks. This positioned the away with fishing lighter bait to free fall while he .................................................................................................................................... in the racks because the paid close attention to .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... poles are so smooth,” his line. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... The 2.5” ZMan Curly Tailz GrubZ on a 1/32oz jighead said Morgan. “Almost all the fish hit .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... in motor oil, was the lure of choice for Steve Morgan. His rack fishing outfit the bait on the initial fall; .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... consisted of a Daiwa AGS .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Ajing rod, paired with a .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... KEY 2506 Daiwa Steez reel. He .................................................................................................................................... St Helens .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... spooled the outfit with 10lb L Low tide fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Unitika braided line and .................................................................................................................................... M Mid tide fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... topped it off with 5 and 6lb .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... H High tide fish .................................................................................................................................... Yamatoyo Harris Fighter .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Oyster Rack fluorocarbon leaders. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Weed Flat “You normally would .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... never get away with 5lb Exposed at .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... leaders around oyster racks low tide .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... on the mainland, but here .................................................................................................................................... L .................................................................................................................................... Land .................................................................................................................................... you can just stick your .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... rod tip down in the water .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Deep Weed Flat M .................................................................................................................................... and slowly wind the fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... back around any poles that .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... it happened to wrap you .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... around,” he said. H .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... This approach worked .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... wonders for Morgan, as .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... the experienced BREAMer .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... only lost a couple of fish .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... each day on his way to s .................................................................................................................................... k .................................................................................................................................... ac .................................................................................................................................... R claiming victory. Morgan r .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ste pocketed the $1750 .................................................................................................................................... Oy .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... winner’s cheque, plus the .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... first placed $250 Mercury .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Bonus cheque, which he .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... donated back to ABT to Weed Flat .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... continue the development .................................................................................................................................... Deep .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... of tournament fishing in .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... Australia. .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... .................................................................................................................................... ....................................................................................................................................

Captain Risky takes out second place extract some of the larger fish that committed to his offering. On the second day however, Hickson was met with either small fish that were easily extracted, or Tasmanian giants that proved too powerful to subdue in the small window of opportunity he had. Hickson relied on a black bream favourite in the form of an Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn, which he re-rigged weightless on a Vanfook worm hook. No particular colour was more effective than another, but Hickson favoured lighter coloured baits so he

CE 2ND PLA Taree’s Kris Hickson continued his fine form in the BREAM competition with a runner up finish. Hickson also relied on the oyster racks in Georges Bay to wind up with a 10/10 7.52kg tournament limit. Hickson fished the same oyster racks as event winner Steve Morgan, however Hickson was on the other side of the lease and was plagued by lost fish. “That’s the difference between winning events and coming second – generally when you win you’ve had a tournament where nothing goes wrong, this tournament definitely wasn’t like that for me,” he said. Targeting

With no non-boater successfully filling their 10/10 tournament limit, it

Kris Hickson came flying into 2nd place with a handful of Tassie’s finest! the almost impossible gap between the baskets, Hickson only had a conversion rate of 1 in 7 fish landed to fish hooked. Despite the absence of oysters on the outside of

the baskets and poles, hooking them between the baskets in a very small corridor meant Hickson’s approach was fraught with danger from the get go.

“I’ve always believed that you have to get the bites first before you can even think of landing them,” explained Hickson. The first day Hickson was able to

was always going to come down to the wire when it was time to crown a champion. Local angler Michael Alexander ended the tournament as the most consistent angler and weighed a 9/10 limit worth 6.37kg to take the title over Number 1 ranked non-boater and

Mark Crompton stormed home on Day 2 of the event to win the Austackle Big Bream Prize with his 1.28kg fish.

Name Steve Morgan Kristoffer Hickson Andrew Krushka Mario Vukic Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Shane Ling Gary Alexander Steve Gill Tom McLean

Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 7/10 9/10 8/10 8/10

Winning Tackle

Rod: Daiwa AGS Ajing Reel: 2506 Daiwa Steez Line: 10lb Unitika braided line Leader: 5/6lb Yamatoyo Harris Fighter fluoro

Winning Edge

Austackle Big Bream

current AOY leader Grayson Fong. Despite being a complete newcomer to the sport of bream fishing, Alexander fished like a seasoned pro, pulling out a shallow jerkbait and working edges with a stopstart twitching retrieve. “This is only my 6th day of bream fishing in my entire life, so to come away with the win is something I’m really proud of,” said Alexander. A diehard trout fisherman,

Alexander took the skills and techniques from his trout fishing background, and executed them perfectly to take victory over a much more experienced field. His lure of choice was a Zipbait Rigge 70f which he threw on a Fenwick 2-4kg rod paired with a Shimano Stradic 2500. Alexander thanked ABT for returning to Tasmania and opening his eyes on a totally new species for him to sink his teeth into.

Mark Crompton stormed home on Day 2 of the event after the mainland BREAMer failed to weigh a fish on the first day of competition. Returning on day 2 with a 5/5 limit for 4.51kg, Crompton salvaged an 11th place finish and secured the Austackle Big Bream with a 1.28kg St Helens monster that anchored his Day 2 comeback. Crompton caught the big bream on a Daiwa TD Minnow which he fished over shallow flats with a twitch and pause retrieve. He took home $500 for his efforts.

OSP Rookie Award

With non-boater champion Michael Alexander kindly forfeiting his inclusion for the OSP Rookie Award, third placed Gard Saxon won the prize pack, courtesy of FishTec Solutions. The OSP Rookie Award is awarded to the highest placed angler either boater or non-boater that has previously not fished an ABT event in that respective species. Anglers who have transitioned from non-boater to boater are also eligible for their first year of competition. For his efforts, Saxon will be awarded a $150 prize pack full of OSP lures, which are some of the most sought after baits on the ABT circuit.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

could easily see the bite from a hungry black bream. His outfit consisted of the Daiwa Silver Wolf 2506 reel paired with the matching Silver Wolf Zentetsu 6’8” 2-5kg rod. He spooled the outfit with 15lb Daiwa Evo 8 braid to add pulling power when he needed it. Hickson said even without the podium finish in the first event, making the trip over from the mainland to Tasmania was definitely worth the great fishing experience the state has to offer.

Morgan found an area of oyster racks and adjacent flats that good populations of bream were using to transition with the rising and falling tides. Concentrating on this one area and moving and adjusting with the changing water levels was the key to Morgan claiming his second win in a row on the Tasmanian fishery.

A regular trout fisher – Michael Alexander turned his hand to bream, and nailed the brief, taking out 1st place in the non-boater division.

Place

Hobie

WINNING NOTES

Alexander wins -BOATER 1ST NON

BREAM Presente SERIES d by

Weight (Kg) 9.33 7.52 7.16 6.46 6.2 5.82 5.56 5.43 5.28 4.62

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

Prize

Place Name

$1750 $1200 $850 $625 $500

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish Weight (Kg)

Michael Alexander 9/10 Grayson Fong 7/10 Gard Saxon 7/10 Michael Hodges 7/10 Bernard Kong 8/10 Neil Chegwidden 7/10 John Galea 6/10 Jonathon Thompson 6/10 Mark Hayes 6/10 Nick Mace 6/10

6.37 5.43 5.43 5.23 4.59 4.32 4.24 4.20 4.16 3.79

Prize Costa Sunglasses Pack Samurai Reaction Rod Berkley Prize Pack Tonic Sunglasses Pack Spotters Sunglasses Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au JULY 2016

119

AFT GES Forster round Round 2 of the Gamakatsu Elite Series sponsored by Samurai Fishing Rods was contested by Australia’s best bream anglers in the beautiful Forster on the weekend. The weather was perfect and the bream were biting. Team Carpet Court/ Cranka Lures rose to the occasion narrowly beating Lowrance/Evinrude. CARPET COURT/ CRANKA LURES RACK UP Team Carpet Court/ Cranka Lures, consisting of Mike ‘The Beard’ Nelson and Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu, once again proved they are the team to beat in Forster, stringing together two great bags of bream. The first session on Saturday afternoon saw them concentrate their efforts around The Paddock for an hour or so then as the tide slowed, they headed out to the lake. In the lake, Mike and Grant fished a Dog-X Jr coupled with a ZMan GrubZ. Picking up fish here and there, they put together a reasonable bag with a couple of good fish in amongst some stock standard Forster bream. For the last two hours of the day, they move back to The Paddock and surrounding areas to fish the now running tide. This proved key to part of their success as they managed

another two or three upgrades that saw them weighing a bag of five fish for 3.55kg. The second session on Sunday morning saw them kick off at The Paddock again, and they picked up a couple of fish before moving up the Wang Wauk River. Mike and Grant used ZMan 2” GrubZ on hidden weight jigheads and fished mangrove-lined edges. They key to success in the river was being able to cast within an inch or two of the structure as this is the only way they could get bites. They decided to leave the river after

fishing saw Mike and Grant donate quite a bit of gear to big fish but also saw a couple of good ones upgrade their bag of fish. These upgrades proved paramount as Lowrance/ Evinrude was putting together a huge bag of fish and these last couple of upgrades made the difference. Bringing 10 fish to the scales with a weight of 5.21kg saw them keep first place by 440g. BIG BREAM The Samurai Reaction Big Bream was taken out by Team Berkley. Russell

TOURNAMENT TECHNIQUE RACK FISHING Rack fishing can either make or break someone, and more and more people are starting to realise the pain and loss of tackle while fishing the racks. Although big fish hold here, you have to use heavier gear to try and pull these monsters away from their homes. Surface lures, crankbaits, jerkbaits, plastics... throw anything in there and it will get taken. It’s getting it back that is the main issue! Upgrading your gear is the main thing to keep in mind, and going from a spin set-up to a baitcaster can pay off, as more pulling power will allow you to land these fish time and time again. Heavier leaders are required in situations like this, and anything from 8-20lb can be used to secure yourself a solid rack bag! Next time your struggling everywhere else and you need a cracking bag to come back, head to the racks and keep your mind strong, as many times it can be broken! getting their full bag and move down to the lower leases to finish out the day. Some tough

Babekuhl and Nathan McInnes did what they did best and chased monster

Mike ‘The Beard’ Nelson and Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu of Team Carpet Court/ Cranka Lures put together two solid bags to take out the tournament! fish in very nasty territory. Unfortunately for them, the fish won too many of the battles but they took out Big Bream for the event, which was 40cm to the fork but a lean 1.24kgs. They took home a Samurai Reaction rod for their troubles valued at $489. LOWRANCE/EVINRUDE CRANK UP A SECOND! Finishing in second place was team Lowrance/ Evinrude. Mark Healy and Jack Dihm are no strangers to Forster and Mark has a heap of top 5 finishes at this venue. The first session saw them concentrate on weed beds with Cranka Cranks and 3B Cranks. The pair only

managed an average bag of five fish for 2.44kg. This style of fishing is really wind dependent and with Saturday being so still, it was a tough afternoon at the office. Going into the Sunday session they knew they had their work cut out for them and used their first day knowledge to go back to where they found fish. After two hours of pounding these areas, they hadn’t boated a fish and decided to make a move. Mark and Jack moved until they found fish, fished them until they stopped biting and then moved again. Mixing up between

crank baits and surface was successful for them and the continual moving to fresh fish saw them put together a great 10 fish bag of 5.88kg. Mark said at the presentation that the accuracy of the Lowrance GPS played a big part in them following tracks through weed beds that held fish. A huge thanks goes out to the series sponsor Gamakatsu and Samurai Fikshing Rods. For a full list of sponsors and any up and coming tournaments go to www. fishingcomps.com.au/gts and remember to support the sponsors that support your passion! – AFT

AFT GTS Taree round Round 3 of the Gamakatsu Team Series sponsored by Samurai Fishing Rods was run and won over the cold and windy weekend of 28-19 May in Taree. Team Baitshop Toukley/ Crony Rods were too good for the field of talented anglers. Taree is well known for good bags at this time of the year and anglers were hopeful of catching good numbers of big fish.

Team Baitshop Toukley/ Crony Rods consisting of Daniel Wright and Nathan Settree were good enough to rise to the top of a very talented field of anglers and take out the win on the mighty Manning river. The pair amassed a massive bag of five fish for 3.98kg, blitzing the nearest team by 850g! In the interview Dan said that they played around a few different spots and struggled

TOURNAMENT TECHNIQUE DEEP WATER STRUCTURE It is well known to many anglers that deep water is where the big fish like to play, especially when you have structure such as rock walls. Tournament anglers generally head to these well-known big bream spots after they have successfully secured themselves with a bag of five fish. The ideal area of a deepwater situation is where the structure meets the bottom from 10-35ft of water. Fish will hold right through the water column as the currents push food up against the rocks a break it up, allowing for an easy feed for these bigger specimens. Wafting your lure presentation down the water column with the current creates a ‘natural’ looking food item inciting an aggressive strike! Being persistent with deep water structure is always a good idea. Specific tides can affect the way bream feed on these walls. Many anglers find when the tide and current stop the bite time stops leading to the term ‘no run no fun’. Next time you’ve landed your bag, head to the rock walls and see if it turns on for you! 120

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to get fish so they moved out to the front of the system and decided to stick out as long as time would allow. The pair were hopeful to find some of the bigger sea run fish or ‘snowies’ against the wall early in the season and after sounding a good patch of fish, they sat on them until they bit. Dan and Nathan managed to get their five reasonably quick and spent the last hour or so of the session upgrading their entire bag twice over! Both of them said that it was one of the best bite windows they had ever fished. Using Crony rods and a mixture of Shimano and Daiwa reels, the pair fished all the way down to 3lb to tempt these bigger, smarter fish. The entire bag was caught on Prolure yabbies and the only thing they varied was jighead weight to suit the speed of the currents. Having weighed in one of the biggest single tournament bags in AFT history, the pair were over the moon with the win. A special thanks goes out to Rob Roy at Baitshop Toukley for his support. BIG BREAM The Samurai Reaction Big Bream prize went

Team Baitshop Toukley/Crony Rods’ Daniel Wright and Nathan Settree won the day by 850g! to Team Pontoon 21/ Masterangler.com.au. Denis and Justin are no strangers to the limelight in the GTS series and Denis was extremely happy with taking home a Samurai Reaction RE-101 for his trouble. TEAM ECOGEAR/ YAMATOYO TAREE SLIDE IN SECOND Finishing in second place was the gun duo of Rodney and Zac O’sullivan fishing as team Ecogear/Yamatoyo Taree. Rod and Zac concentrated their efforts on every bridge in the Taree area mixing up techniques between crankbaits and

plastics parallel to the pylons. The team’s vast knowledge of the system saw them moving a lot, trying to get to each bridge at what they know is the perfect stage in the tide. This knowledge put together a 3.13kg bag, that in any other event would have more than likely been heavy enough to win, but they were just short this time round. Rod and Zac both commented on their key to success being Yamatoyo Pre-Resin Sheller and Harris Fighter fluorocarbon. Using a Samurai Infinite rod to fish this line gave them

the ultimate in feel and castability. Their hardbody of choice was the CX35 in multiple colours and the 50mm bream prawn in King Prawn colour. A special thanks goes out to Spotters sunglasses and JML Trading for their support. A huge thanks goes out to the series sponsor Gamakatsu and Samurai Fishing Rods. For a full list of sponsors and any up and coming tournaments go to www.fishingcomps. com.au/gts and remember to support the sponsors that support your passion! – AFT

Tassie Hobie Worlds Qualifer SOMERTON’S SWAN SUCCESS Richard Somerton from Victoria kept the interstate success theme rolling on the second stop of the Hobie Tasmanian Bream tour. The seasoned kayak angler has now qualified

area for the second and final day of competition. Somerton went looking for upgrades, and though he was successful in hooking the class of fish he wanted, he was unsuccessful in extracting them from the oyster racks. “I donated a

Somerton’s tournament outfits were both Duffrods Highstix series rods, paired with Daiwa Certate reels. His lures of choice were the shallow Cranka Minnow in smoked prawn colour, and the ever-popular Cranka Crab.

Anglers paddling out for the start of the Swan River tournament. Nothing beats a beautiful Tassie sunrise. for the national Hobie Grand Final to be held in Queensland later in 2016. Beating the kilo average over the two days of competition was always going to be necessary to take victory on the Swan River, and Somerton’s limit of 6.94kg was good enough by a 150g margin to second placed Chris Burbidge. Somerton looked to target a shallow flats area in Pelican Bay, adjacent to one of the many oyster leases that are scattered throughout the Swan. “First up in the morning I turned to a shallow Cranka Minnow, which I twitched and paused around the flat to quickly fill a bag,” explained Somerton. He left the fruitful area part way through the first session, so as to rest the

few Crabs to the fish on the first afternoon, I tried free spooling a couple and even they buried me too far to ever get out.” The second morning started off much the same, as Somerton quickly filled a bag throwing the shallow Cranka Minnow. “I had a bag of around 2.8kg, and I knew I needed a bit more weight to get up over that kilo average,” explained Somerton. Knowing that he needed an upgrade, Somerton turned back towards the starting area, and focused on a small depression behind a rock structure. “I got there and caught a couple of small fish around 800g, then I hooked the fish I really needed, a 1.2kg kicker that pushed my bag over 3kg and gave me the win.”

Kevin Varty shows off the fine Tassie black bream he caught over the event weekend to secure him a spot to compete in the Hobie Worlds in Louisiana later this year.

around the shallower drops, and retrieved with a twitchpause retrieve. “I retrofitted the lure with Decoy YS-25 trebles, they’re sharp and strong enough for these big Tasmanian bream,” explained Burbidge. As the day wore on, Burbidge moved to the slightly deeper drops, were he used a Tournament Baby Vib 47S to capture a few key upgrades late in the session. “I threw the vib up onto the shallows, and retrieved it gently back down the drop into the deeper water. Some fish hit it on the drop, and some ate it off the bottom,” concluded Burbidge. Having now qualified for the Hobie Grand Final, Burbidge turns his focus to the Queensland fish. VARTY CLAIMS SCAMANDER WORLDS QUALIFIER Kevin Varty of Nowra, NSW took victory in the Hobie Worlds Qualifier, held on the picturesque Scamander River on the east coast of Tasmania. Held as part of the combined ABT/Hobie

Richard Somerton was happy to take the scoop at the Swan River event with some great bream. feeling proved correct, as he proceeded to catch over 40 fish on the first tournament day. “I probably caught close to 40 small undersize fish, and upgraded maybe four times throughout the session.” His day one limit of 2.37kg had him in good shape, sitting second overnight. Varty didn’t experience the same sort of quantity that propelled him up the leader board on Day 2, but when his second cast of the day netted a 37cm fork Tassie thumper, he knew he was on the fish to win. “That big fish straight

Winners are grinners at the Scamander Hobie Worlds Qualifier event. From left to right, David Ayton, Kevin Varty and Aaron Williams. BURBIDGE BATTLES FOR SECOND Another Hobie kayak veteran, Chris Burbidge ended up in second position. His 6/6 limit for 6.79kg was a great example of the exceptional fishing Tasmania has to offer, but fell just short of Somerton’s 6.94kg. Burbidge turned to his prior experience on the venue, having fished the Swan River some 4-5 years previously. “I found fish back then fishing drop-offs, so that’s really all I planned to do. I spent pre-fish day searching for drop-offs and found the fish willing.” His go-to technique was a combination one-two punch. He started every morning throwing a Daiwa Double Clutch 60, a slim profile jerkbait that he threw

Tasmanian Bream Tour, the Scamander Hobie event attracted over 50 anglers from all over Australia, to sample the fantastic bream fishing that Tasmania has to offer. It was an interstate affair in the end, with the top three anglers all travelling across the Bass Strait with great success. Nowra’s Kevin Varty took top honours, weighing a very respectable 6/6 5.03kg limit over two days of competition to take home $1,490 in prize money, and lock himself into the Australian team, which will travel to Louisiana, USA to compete at the Hobie Fishing Worlds later this year. “I found these fish on the pre-fish day and didn’t even throw a lure at them,” said Varty. “I just had a good feeling that they wouldn’t move much.” Varty’s good

away just settled the nerves, and made me totally committed to that area.” Varty’s approach was a popular one among bream fishing enthusiasts over the

last twelve months. The everpopular ZMan 2.5” GrubZ was Varty’s go-to bait, which he rigged on a 1/8th jighead. “The technique was fairly straightforward, I’d llet the lure sit on the bottom for 10-seconds, then retrieve it for a few metres fairly quickly with small sharp hops, trying not to lift the bait too far off the bottom.” Varty rigged the GrubZ onto a 4lb fluorocarbon leader attached to 3lb Stren Microfuse braid. Coming to the scales with the largest second day bag, Varty leapfrogged overnight leader Murray White to claim victory by over 600g and secure his spot in the Australian team to take on the world in Louisiana come December. WILLIAMS GOES OLDSCHOOL FOR SECOND Aaron Williams from Victoria was the second angler lucky enough to qualify for the Hobie Worlds team, after finishing with a 6/6 4.40kg limit. Williams fished a similar approach close to the mouth of the river to catch his fish. Using the old school Snapback grub, rigged on 1/12th or 1/16thoz jigheads. “I like to fish really light, so I used a long length, maybe 4-5 rod lengths of 2lb spinning fluoro attached to my braid as a leader, it allows for a little stretch, which is important when fishing leaders that are so light,” explained Williams. The pair have now qualified for the Hobie World Championship, which is to be held in Louisiana, USA later in 2016.

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McHugh wins big at Toonumbar Clear skies greeted 32 excited anglers on the morning of the Toonumbar BASS Electric round. The anglers reported that the desired big fish chose not to play the game for the entirety of the tournament, as only the small fish came out to play. Most competitors caught plenty of fish, but many were under-sized and barely stretched to the 30cm mark – even if they did, they were lean. The majority of the fish were caught at the top end of the dam where the creek runs in. As you can see by the results the margin in the weight of the fish was minimal making for a competitive contest all the same! The three anglers that stood out over the weekend were Charles West in 3rd place, Adrian Wilson in 2nd, and Paul McHugh who took out the competition. Charles fished at the back of the dam with soft plastics tight to the edges on a 1/12 jighead. Adrian (Charles’ fishing partner) fished the same area – tight to the weed edges using a Megabass Baby PopX on a Barrabass custom rod with a Daiwa Certate reel and 6lb

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

ramp. He fished an OSP Bent Minnow with heavier gauge hooks so he could fish the lure into deeper water. This allows the lures to semi-suspend and slowly rise back to the surface. Paul cast behind the lily pads and once the fish was hooked he didn’t give it an inch and was able to extract his bag limit. On Sunday morning he continued with the pattern he used on Day 1 and had success once more using the Bent Minnow technique. His fish came early in the session again, within 500m of the boat ramp. He hooked three more fish and lost them but was happy with his catch he weighed in early. Paul used an Edge Rods Black Widow rod (SC-LSR703) matched with a Daiwa Steez 2500spin reel spooled with Sunline Castaway 12lb braid and Toray Superhard 10lb Natural leader. The OSP Bent Minnow was fitted with Size 6 Owner Hooks ST-41. Thanks to everyone who turned out for the event. It was great weather, great company and as always we look forward to next year.

Toonumbar has absolutely gorgeous surrounds, and the anglers were fortunate enough to experience beautiful weather.

Paul McHugh with his tournament winning bag of bass.

WINNING NOTES

Winning Ways

As the sun came up the bass shied away, so Paul used heavier hooks to suspend his lure deeper and tease them into biting.

Winning Tackle

Paul used an Edge Rods Black Widow rod (SC-LSR703) matched with a Daiwa Steez 2500-spin reel spooled with Sunline Castaway 12lb braid and Toray Superhard 10lb Natural leader. The OSP Bent Minnow was fitted with Size 6 Owner Hooks ST-41.

Adrian Wilson took out the Big Bass award for the day

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 122

JULY 2016

Superfive PE braid coupled with Toray Superhard 6lb leader. Adrian also took out the Big Bass, weighing in a 853g fish. The winner overall was Paul McHugh who weighed in a total bag of 2.536kg for a four fish limit. Paul headed to the main basin where he fished a small bay only to catch undersized fish using beetle spins and blades. At around 4pm he moved to a shaded bank halfway back to the boat

TOP 10 BOATERS Place

Anglers

Fish

Total Weight (kg)

Prize

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Paul McHugh Adrian Wilson Charles West Les Smith Nathan Swanson Chris Lindsay Tom Reynolds Prue Urquhart Steve Mclean Glen Swanson

4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2

2.536 2.494 2.437 2.313 2.090 2.001 1.829 1.595 1.190 1.032

Pack+$380 Pack+$240 Pack+$160 Pack+$140 Pack+$120 Pack+$100 Pack+$80 Pack+$60

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

16th Annual

Grabine Freshwater Competition All thanks to a small group of volunteers, who have worked tirelessly, the Grabine Freshwater Fishing Tournament will hold its 16th Annual Grabine Classic on the 26, 27 and 28 August at Wyangala Dam. Since its debut in 2000, the tournament has become one of the longest running

while allowing less stress on the fish as they are spending less time out of the water. These positive changes have promoted sustainable fishing for future generations and have the tournament’s future looking bright! Over the last 16 years the tournament has relied on the generous support

shows goodwill behind companies willing to help out community events. Tickets for our trailer raffle are available all weekend along with our new custom tournament fishing shirts for 2016. Prize categories will comprise of first and second place in both Senior and Junior divisions. Categories are:

fish to be eligible to win the camper trailer and boat combo but you do have to be at Sunday’s presentation to claim any prizes. This year the committee has decided to give funding to the farming communities in the district by donating $5 per entry to the Crookwell Community Trust. The Crookwell

26TH – 28TH

AUG 2016

WELL

OVER

20,000

IN PRIZES

The Grabine Freshwater Fishing Tournament Committee are getting ready for this year’s comp in August. of its kind in the Central West with a prize pool well in excess of $20,000. In 2014 the committee made the change to a 100% catch and release tournament (excluding carp). This move to a modern and more

of many local businesses, as well as a few larger sponsors. Every year we are blown away by the growing prize pool we are able to offer to our entrants. This year we are very pleased to welcome BCF Goulburn as a major

Murray cod, golden perch, silver perch, catfish, carp and biggest bag of carp (open division). Every year on the final day of competition, one lucky entrant is drawn from our entries for our major prize this year

Kevin McCarthy from Brooker Marine giving away last year’s major prize to lucky winner Andrew McKeller. responsible competition format lessens the impact on decreased fish numbers in the dam over the weekend of the competition. The introduction of a photographic entry format has given anglers more serious fishing time,

sponsor with them donating all the prizes for both senior and junior largest cod. BCF Goulburn opened its doors mid last year just in time to donate a fishing kayak as a prize in our 2015 comp, having them come on board this year is fantastic and

we have a Blacks Series Alpha Camper Trailer with a Brooker 340V car topper boat mounted on top. The camper is a lucky door prize drawn from all entries at the end of the presentation on Sunday, you don’t need to enter a

Community Trust provides aid to people of the Upper Lachlan Shire who have experienced extreme difficulties due to personal trauma or natural disaster. The Trust are creating a pool of money whereby funds can instantly be made available to persons in distress without the need to always raise money after an emergency had arisen or without the need to await the receipt of government assistance. Delays are normal in raising funds after an emergency or in awaiting government assistance and this buffer will assist anyone in need. Entry for the tournament is only $25 per person at the Camp Kitchen Grabine, from 8am Friday 26 August. For more information look up our website at grabinefishing. com.au, email us at grabinefishing@gmail. com, ring Grabine Lakeside State Park on (02) 4835 2345 and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook. So grab your camera, bring the family or grab a mate and head to Grabine for a great weekend of fishing and maybe even take home a new camper trailer. See you there. – Chris Wray, Committee Lackey.

MAJOR PRIZE DRAW

ALPHA CAMPER TRAILER & TINNY TOPPER

y supported by:

The Grabine Classic is proudl

Registration from Friday 26th August, 8am at the Park For further information contact Grabine Lakeside State Park

(02) 4835 2345

grabinefishing@gmail.com find us on facebook/ Grabine Freshwater Fishing Tournament

JULY 2016

123

Looking into kayak clothing BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Appropriate clothing is an important part of any angler’s kit, whether they’re fishing the surf or rocks, hiking trout

size, flexibility, zip and Velcro closures, UV rating and so on. Although often not considered as attractive as the lures, rods, reels and other components of kayak fishing, once you start delving into clothing you will find that there is some cool gear available

that are made from soft, quick-dry, hi-vis material to make them more visible featuring a strap to secure them in place in wind and swell. In calmer conditions, I opt for a wide brim hat, but in windy conditions it can be painful to keep it on my head, so I switch to a cap, with the addition of a Buff, Headsox, Solar Sleeve, or one of its many other forms, and use this to secure the cap in place, while also protecting my face, neck and ears from the sun. A Buff covers all of the bits that you normally miss with the sunscreen and it can also be a good addition to your kit on chilly mornings and windy days. I have recently added a mosquito head net to my kit in preparation for some kayak crabbing deep in the mangroves and skinny creeks of my home waters.

eyes from the sun’s rays, while cutting the glare off the water so that you can better locate structure, bait and even spot cruising fish. You only get one set of eyes, so invest in a quality pair of sunnies. It’s a good idea to have a strap on your sunnies so that they don’t end up in the water if dislodged and so you can hang them around your neck when holding a fish for a photo. GLOVES When my wife first came kayak fishing with me she sledged me for wearing gloves fishing… and she now owns a nice blue pair herself. Gloves can serve many different purposes, including sun protection, warmth, protection from fish and grip for a comfortable and confident paddle stroke. I now own a variety of gloves for different applications, including gloves

Wide brim hats offer better sun protection than caps. to protect the neck and there is even a hooded model. Even better, they’re made in Australia.

A light raincoat is an option for cooler weather and summer showers. streams, venturing into the northern mangroves or paddling local waters. For kayak anglers, clothing choice can be even more important as you have a limited payload, can be more exposed to the elements and travel times can be longer than in motorised craft. Paddlers need to take into account elements such as sun, wind, rain, cold, heat and insects when considering clothing features such as weight, durability, waterproof ratings, breathability, pack

that will make your kayak fishing experience more comfortable, safer and more enjoyable, while also allowing you to spend more time on the water, especially when the weather cools. HEADWEAR I wish I had worn a hat more when I was younger and made a point of being more sun smart in my adventures. If you Googled images of hats you would find a million different types and it’s important to select one that suits your adventure. Offshore anglers often wear bucket style hats

Robbie and Sue from Sun2Sea UV Protection live and breathe the outdoors. SUNGLASSES Sunglasses not only protect your eyes from objects such as lures, rod tips and branches, quality polarised sunglasses also protect your

A lightweight raincoat can be handy in cold or wet environments. 124

JULY 2016

without palms and lightweight gloves that are designed for sun protection and stretch gloves with Velcro cuffs and reinforced palms for longer paddles and missions that involve a fair amount of portaging. Look in my kit and you’ll even find a pair of SealSkinz Waterproof, windproof and breathable gloves that are awesome for early winter starts and cold, wet, windy days. TOPS In tropical conditions you may opt for a long sleeve cotton fishing shirt or one of the many colourful tournament style shirts, some of which will carry a UPF rating tag such as UPF 45. If you are looking for a quick dry, UPF 50, wet and dry lifestyle shirt, then check out the range from Sun2Sea UV Protection. These shirts have become extremely popular with those spending time outdoors and especially within the kayak fishing community, and they feature longer sleeves for additional protection, stand up collars

When it comes to wet weather gear, you may be able to get away with a light raincoat in warmer weather, with some options available that pack into a small bag or even into their own pocket. When the weather gets more serious or during the cooler months, I will often step up to a purpose designed waterproof/breathable option from brands such as Sea to Summit Solution. These jackets are extremely weather resistant and keep you dry where many other jackets fail, including cuffs, zips, necklines and hoods. BOTTOMS After too many doses of red legs… including filming a kayak fishing DVD many moons ago where I applied sunscreen to the same leg twice and not to the other, I prefer to wear long pants when kayak fishing. The various lightweight and zip off models are a good starting point.

A neck sock offers anglers additional protection from sun, glare and wind.

Recently the team at Sun2Sea UV Protection husband and wife team, Robbie and Sue Wells, developed long pants in their Stealth Series that have been designed from the ground up for kayak and adventure anglers. Tech Pants are durable, hardwearing and comfortable, with loads of features including button and zip, belt loops, elastic waist, quick dry, loads of pockets, D-Clip and most importantly excellent sun protection. Your legs got wet getting into the yak and are dry ten minutes

FOOTWEAR Over years of kayak fishing, I have moved away from the sneaker style water shoes due to their weight, bulk, slow drying time, lack of dexterity, difficulty to keep mud free and general level of comfort, preferring neoprene style dive boots or water shoes. There are some flash models available, including versions with a separate big toe, or all toes separate for more feel, but hands down my favourite have been the Sea

LAYERING For those who are spending long hours on the water and especially those touring and camping from the kayak, layering is important. Rather than put all of your eggs in one basket by wearing one heavy pair of pants or jacket, wearing multiple thinner layers allows you to remove or add layers to better regulate your body temperature as the day warms up or weather changes. It also means that if you do end up wet, it is much easier and quicker to dry multiple thinner

Gloves can make paddling more comfortable and help with fish handling.

Sheri is comfortable and protected from the harsh sun. laterâ&#x20AC;Ś or at the end of a session you have avoided the dreaded red legs, that these pants are all about function, while still looking good. When it comes to wet and windy, or cooler weather, I slide on some Sea to Summit Solution Access Splash Pants. These pants are lightweight, waterproof and breathable, featuring Glideskin neoprene adjustable waist and ankles, waterproof/breathable 2-layer barrel GP fabric and a mesh pocket for storing scent and other bits and pieces within easy reach. You can wear them standalone in warmer weather or over other long pants in cooler weather. Kayakers faced with extreme cold often make the leap to wetsuits and dry suits.

to Summit Solution Bomber Booties. These water shoes are comfortable, flexible and constructed from 3mm neoprene, with an extremely secure Velcro strap, heavy rubber toe, heel and sides, and a 0.5mm polymer midsole for rock protection. A cool discovery I have made in recent years has been SealSkinz waterproof, windproof and breathable socks. These make winter fishing more comfortable and are excellent for kayak campers who are able to set up camp, take off their wet shoes, dry off their feet, slide on the warm, dry, waterproof SealSkinz socks and then put their wet shoes back on while their feet remain warm and dry.

layers of clothing. I will often start my day wearing a tee shirt or dry tee, fishing shirt, light fleece jacket and finally a light raincoat, shedding layers as required. OTHER TIPS Carrying a change of clothes in a dry bag is a good idea, and I also include a lightweight Tech Towel, for use in the kayak or when I get back to the car. When camping from the kayak itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good idea to carry a couple of dry bags for clothes, one for clean clothes and a second dry bag to house those clothes that need to be quarantined. Having a selection of different coloured dry bags makes it quick and easy to set up camp, locate items and sort gear as you travel.

Steven kitted out to handle the elements both in and out of the yak. SUIT UP! This article simply covers some of the clothing that has proven effective for me, while also noting that clothing selection is an important aspect of kayak fishing, camping and touring. Check out the variety of hiking, sports, camping and water sports clothing that is out there

There are plenty of fishing shirts available, but are they UPF rated?

A sun smart kayak angler anticipates a bass surface strike.

and remember to consider your level of comfort, the elements that you will be dealing with while out on the

water and your visibility to other vessels when selecting clothing for your adventure. See you on the water. JULY 2016

125

Fishing Fill-its

Mercury Marine’s best in ANZP named for 2015 Sydney’s TR Marine World has been named as Mercury Marine’s 2015 Dealer of the Year for Australia. The winners of Mercury’s annual Dealer Awards were all revealed at a special ceremony in China, during a strategic study tour involving leading Mercury partners from Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific. “These are great businesses we’re very proud to be associated with,” said Will Sangster, General Manager of Mercury ANZP. “To decide these awards we look closely at a dealership’s entire business, not just their sales, so I congratulate Ian and his team

at TR Marine World for their continued drive and growth in a very competitive market.” Among the other big winners: • Inflatable Dealer of the Year: Waves Overseas (Sydney) • MotorGuide Dealer of the Year: In & Outboard Marine (Darwin) • Parts and Accessories Dealer of the Year: Aquasports Marine (Perth) • MerCruiser/Mercury Diesel OEM of the Year: Rayglass Boats (Auckland) • MerCruiser Dealer of the Year: The Boat Business (Perth) • MerCruiser Towsport OEM of the Year: Sterling Marine (Adelaide)

• SA Dealer of the Year: Hodge Marine • NSW Dealer of the Year: TR Marine World • WA Dealer of the Year: Aquasports Marine • QLD/NT Dealer of the Year: Nitro Marine • VIC/TAS Dealer of the Year: Channel Marine • South Pacific Distributor of the Year (Mercury): Sin Tung Hing Marine, Tahiti • South Pacific Distributor of the Year (Mariner): ETS Emile Vongue & Fils SA, Tahiti • South Pacific Outstanding Sales Achievement: Vila Marine, Vanuatu Dealers earned a ticket for the eight-day trip based on their year-on-year sales

Leading Mercury dealers at the 2016 China Study Tour. These participants got to see firsthand how Mercury is developing in the Asia-Pacific region.

Left to right: Ian Tricker from TR Marine World and David Meehan, Mercury Marine Director of Sales Australia, New Zealand, Pacific. growth in 2015, and got to see firsthand how Mercury is developing in Australia’s neighbouring region. “As Mercury continues to invest in product and plants around the globe, this Asia study tour to Brunswick and Mercury locations was really important,” Will said. “It is vital to make sure our key dealers and boat builders share this experience and bring back vital knowledge to pass on

the Mercury difference to consumers, through their own businesses.” Headquartered in Illinois, USA, Brunswick Corporation endeavours to instil Genuine Ingenuity in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land ‘N’ Sea, Kellogg Marine,

Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; Arvor, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Kayot, Lowe, Lund, Maxum, Meridian, Ornvik, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats. For more information visit www. brunswick.com or www. m e rc u r y m a r i n e . c o m . a u . – Mercury Marine Australia

You’ll find them where the fish are... since 1967 Mako 214 CC

Mako 234 CC Mako 284 CC

The latest offerings from Mako feature the deepest internal freeboard of any boats in their class, while still providing large underfloor fish boxes, and the huge safety benefits of a true self-draining cockpit and foamfilled hull. You’ll enjoy your offshore fishing more knowing that Mako’s 100% composite construction is totally rot-free, enabling Mako to give you the best warranty in the business – the Mako Assurance Life Time Warranty

Australian Release of the 2017 World Cat 320 DC (Dual Console) with on-board accommodation and separate toilet and shower. Never been seen before in a 32ft boat. COME AND VISIT US Special introductory pricing for the boat AT THE show only.

Call Tim Stessl now on 0429 680 504 to arrange a test drive or em:tim@flboats.com.au Hopefully it will be rough, as you’ll be stunned by the performance of these boats when the weather gets challenging!

Fishing and Leisure Boats, 165 Currumburra Road, Ashmore, QLD 4214

www.fishingandleisureboats.com.au 126

JULY 2016

VIEW THE BOAT IN TH E WATER AT COCKLE BAY ON THE FISHING & LEISURE BOATS STAND

What’s New BOATING

SIMRAD EVO2/ RADAR BUNDLE

Simrad has announced its latest deal: a discounted introductory price of SRP $3129 on the NSS7 evo2/3G Radar bundle, saving customers over $800. The promotion will last until 31 July, 2016. Order books for the bundles will open on 9 May, 2016, with shipments scheduled to start immediately. The Simrad NSS evo2 features TouchSensible multi-touch control with logical keypad input and push-to-select rotary knob for precision control in any sea conditions. The system offers quick and seamless multitouch access to performance features with an intuitive icon-driven menu interface. Charts can be moved, zoomed and personalised with familiar tablet-like gestures, while new pre-set split-screens and data panel configurations are optimised for widescreen viewing. Simrad 3G radar boasts a 24NM range, unmatched resolution and clutter reduction, extremely low emissions, InstantOn technology, low power consumption, and simple installation and ease of use. www.simrad-yachting.com

GARMIN GMR FANTOM

Garmin’s GMR Fantom is the first 40W solid-state, pulse compression, Doppler marine radar series. Available in a 4’ (1.8° beam width) or 6’ (1.25° beam width) open array, the Fantom incorporates Garmin’s MotionScope technology, which uses the Doppler effect to detect and highlight moving targets and track weather in a single ping. Realtime moving targets are highlighted with an easyto-see colour, and the Auto Bird Gain lets boaters easily locate feeding birds. Fantom delivers high resolution while maximising energy on targets, and pulse expansion maximises target size. The Echo Trails setting can help identify the direction of the moving targets. These radars deliver high sensitivity for both close- and long-range (from 6m to 72nm) without compromise in reliability. Dynamic Auto Gain and Dynamic Sea Filter continually adjust to surroundings, water and weather conditions, while MARPA settings enable the tracking of 10 targets simultaneously. Fantom is compatible with the GPSMAP 7400 series, 8000 series and 8400 series. Price: SRP from AU$10,999 www.garmin.com/en-AU

RAYMARINE PAIRS WITH NAVIONICS

Raymarine and Navionics have collaborated to make new features available on Raymarine’s LightHouse II based multifunction displays, including Navionics’ Dock-to-dock Autorouting, SonarChart Live and Advanced Map Options. Dock-to-dock Autorouting creates detailed routes through narrow channels. When you choose your start and end points, Autorouting calculates a route that takes into consideration chart data, navigation aids, and depth. SonarChart Live works with Raymarine multifunction displays, letting you create 0.5m HD bathymetry maps in real time. You can engage your sonar to survey new areas or places where bottom conditions have changed, and create new bathymetric charts that appear instantly. You can also upload sonar data and download updated charts easily. New Advanced Map Options let you highlight shallow areas, select a fishing range, and adjust SonarChart contour density. The updates are available for Raymarine a, c, e, eS and gS Series MFD models produced after 2011, updated with LightHouse II Release 17 software. www.raymarine.com/lighthouse

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TIMBER-FREE CRUISE CRAFT

Every Cruise Craft boat is now 100% timber free, completely eliminating the opportunity for timber rot. In a conventional fibreglass hull, timber was principally used in the transom and sub-floor system. However, after extensive R&D, Cruise Craft now has construction process which provides a 100% composite Cruise Craft boat. The composite build process focuses upon two key areas of the hull – the transom and the sub floor system. All Cruise Craft models now have a full composite, rot-free transom. This is manufactured by laying up panels to create a thick sheet of composite material to suit each specific Cruise Craft model. In the sub floor, Cruise Craft’s Matrix Grid Construction process is employed. Formed from composite material to profile the cavity between the inside of the hull and underside of the fully moulded fibreglass floor liner, the sub-floor composite matrix provides rigidity and support for both the cockpit floor and the hull itself. www.cruisecraft.com.au

LOWRANCE WINTER SALE

Available from 1 June to 20 September, Lowrance is dropping the RRP by $200 on each sku across the HDS Gen3 range. The HDS Gen3 is available in 7”, 9” and 12” models, and has enhanced, built-in fishfinder technologies. With an improved user interface plus multi-touch and full keypad operation, the HDS Gen3 series provides quicker, fingertip access to all features – along with an enhanced processor for more responsive performance. The commands are easy to learn, and features such as scrolling menus, cursor assist, snap-to setting markers and preview panes are similar to operating a smartphone or tablet. The promotional pricing is: HDS-7 Gen3 - $1799, HDS-9 Gen3 - $3099, and HDS-12 Gen3 - $4499, all with 83/200 and LSS transducers. Options are also available for head only and alternative transducer skus. www.lowrance.com

YELLOWFIN RANGE REVAMPED

Quintrex has revamped its range of Yellowfin plate boats. The new range is made up of eight new models: 5800, 6200, 6700 and 7400 all available with a hard or soft top. The 6200, 6700 and 7400 have 6mm plate bottom sheets (5mm for the 5800), 5mm transom material and 4mm side sheets. There’s a completely new hull design including a variable deadrise to 19° at the transom, and 1.2m freeboard. The checker plate floor is fully welded, with box section floor frame offering extra strength. The self-draining floor features a no return scupper drainage system, and the newly designed full transom extends the waterline length, giving more lift and offering superior stability and buoyancy. The design allows for larger outboards, and the Evinrude G2 sits further back on the transom, freeing up space on the duckboard. There’s a massive list of other features and upgrades, and you can read all about them on the Quintrex website. www.quintrex.com.au

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

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION THE EMOTIONS OF A CRAB

ANGRY ANNOYED BOTHERED CANTANKEROUS CRABBY CROSS ENRAGED FUMING FURIOUS GROUCHY GRUMPY HEATED

INCENSED INFURIATED IRATE IRRITATED LIVID MAD OFFENDED PETULANT SEETHING TESTY TOUCHY

Win a pack of Pocket Balls – instant reusable pocketsized heat packs that are safe, waterproof and available in a variety of sport themes, including footy, cricket, golf, tennis, soccer and more! Activated by simple click of the disk inside the ball. To find out more visit www.take5energize.com.au/Pocket-Balls.

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

NSW JULY 2016

Phone (day):

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to R Doughty from The Rock, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a Pocket Balls prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. Special message to prior winner M Fullagar: we got an RTS from your address. Please email us at sub.ed@ fishingmonthly.com.au with your new address. – NSWFM

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for May was P White of Woongarrah, who won a Silstar/Okuma/Sufix prize pack. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

FIND THE ZEREK LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The answers to Find the Zerek Logo for May were: 9, 13, 24, 32, 36, 44, 46, 49, 56, 59, 61, 63, 66, 71, 73, 74 The Find the Zerek logo prize winners for May were: W Rowan of Young, F Seal of Junee, K Bell of Laurieton, D Harvey of Strathpine, J Mackay of Greenwell Point, M Farrell of Stirling , R Poplin of Boorowa, R Hall of Balgownie, J Haddow of Brandy Hill, C Portelli of Colyton, G Galvin of Warabrook, C Wood of Penrith, J Thompson of Ermington, P Herbert of Emerald Beach, A Bock of Wollongbar, S Cook of Seven Hills, M Dunford of Young, M Hughes of Uralla, J MacDonald of Petersham, R Small of Hobartville, A Brayshaw of Tumut, R Waters of Temora , J Stranner of Rose Bay, C West of Dapto, B Stokes of Morwell, W Forbes of Nambuca Heads, P Evans of Unanderra , R Pretty of Blayney, C Engelbrecht of Wagga Wagga, R Allen of Umina Beach, C Cooper of Boorowa , G Hall of Young, K McInnes of Hunter View, J Farrugia of Kiama, D Kennedy of Edgeworth, B Fisher of Pacific Palms, K Carter of Shepparton, M Blake of Walcha, J Lollback of Ballina, C Taylor of Albion Park Rail. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

MAJOR FIND THE PRIZE

The Major prize winners for the Find the Zerek logo: 1st prize of $600 prize pack goes to K Culshaw of Banyo; 2nd prize of $400 prize pack goes to G Arnold of Sunshine Bay; 3rd prize of $200 prize pack goes to C West of Dapto. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

128

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2016 2016 Local Local Time Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY DENISON) – – SOUTH SYDNEY (FORT (FORT – NEW NEW SOUTH WALES WALES LATDENISON) 33° 52’ LONG 151° 13’ MAY MAY mMAY

Time Time Time 0238 0238 0927 0238 0927 1540 0927 1540 2126 1540 2126 2126 0345 0345 1023 0345 1023 1640 1023 1640 2234 1640 2234 2234 0448 0448 1115 0448 1115 1732 1115 1732 2336 1732 2336 2336 0545 0545 1203 0545 1203 1823 1203 1823 1823

m m 1.58 1.58 0.52 1.58 0.52 1.38 0.52 1.38 0.71 1.38 0.71 0.71 1.61 1.61 0.45 1.61 0.45 1.50 0.45 1.50 0.61 1.50 0.61 0.61 1.67 1.67 0.38 1.67 0.38 1.64 0.38 1.64 0.50 1.64 0.50 0.50 1.72 1.72 0.32 1.72 0.32 1.77 0.32 1.77 1.77

0033 55 0033 0641 0033 0641 1251 TH 1251 TH 0641

0.38 0.38 1.74 0.38 1.74 0.29 1.74 0.29 1.90 0.29 1.90 1.90 0.29 0.29 1.74 0.29 1.74 0.29 1.74 0.29 1.99 0.29 1.99 1.99 0.23 0.23 1.70 0.23 1.70 0.32 1.70 0.32 2.03 0.32 2.03 2.03 0.21 0.21 1.63 0.21 1.63 0.38 1.63 0.38 2.03 0.38 2.03 2.03 0.24 0.24 1.55 0.24 1.55 0.46 1.55 0.46 1.98 0.46 1.98 1.98 0.30 0.30 1.47 0.30 1.47 0.55 1.47 0.55 1.89 0.55 1.89 1.89 0.38 0.38 1.40 0.38 1.40 0.65 1.40 0.65 0.65

SU SU SU

22 MO MO MO

33 TU TU TU

44 WE WE WE

1912 TH 1251 1912 1912 0130 0130 0734 0130 0734 1339 FR 1339 FR 0734 2000 FR 1339 2000 2000 0224 0224 0830 0224 0830 1427 SA 1427 SA 0830 2049 SA 1427 2049 2049 0318 0318 0924 0318 0924 1515 SU 1515 SU 0924 2139 SU 1515 2139 2139 0414 0414 1019 0414 1019 1604 MO 1604 MO 1019 2230 MO 1604 2230 2230 0510 0510 1115 0510 1115 1656 TU 1656 TU 1115 2321 TU 1656 2321 2321 0608 0608 1214 0608 1214 1749 WE 1749 WE 1214 WE 1749

77 88 99

10 10 11 11

0015 0015 12 0707 0015 0707 12 1314 TH 1314 TH 0707

1847 TH 1314 1847 1847 0111 0111 0805 0111 0805 1416 FR 1416 FR 0805 1952 FR 1416 1952 1952 0211 0211 0900 0211 0900 1518 SA 1518 SA 0900 2101 SA 1518 2101 2101 0314 0314 0951 0314 0951 1615 SU 1615 SU 0951 2208 SU 1615 2208 2208

13 13 14 14

15 15

1.78 1.78 0.46 1.78 0.46 1.35 0.46 1.35 0.73 1.35 0.73 0.73 1.66 1.66 0.53 1.66 0.53 1.33 0.53 1.33 0.78 1.33 0.78 0.78 1.56 1.56 0.57 1.56 0.57 1.35 0.57 1.35 0.80 1.35 0.80 0.80 1.50 1.50 0.59 1.50 0.59 1.40 0.59 1.40 0.78 1.40 0.78 0.78

LAT 33° 52’ LONG 151° 13’ LAT 33° 52’ of High LONG 151° 13’ Times and Heights Times and Heights of High and and Low Low Waters Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters JUNE JULY JUNE JULY JUNE Time m JULY m Time m Time m

Time Time Time 0412 0412 1038 0412 1038 1703 1038 1703 2307 1703 2307 2307 0503 0503 1119 0503 1119 1746 1119 1746 2358 1746 2358 2358 0549 0549 1158 0549 1158 1825 1158 1825 1825

m m 1.47 1.47 0.59 1.47 0.59 1.47 0.59 1.47 0.73 1.47 0.73 0.73 1.46 1.46 0.57 1.46 0.57 1.54 0.57 1.54 0.67 1.54 0.67 0.67 1.46 1.46 0.56 1.46 0.56 1.61 0.56 1.61 1.61

0043 0043 19 0632 0043 0632 19 1232 TH 1232 TH 0632

0.61 0.61 1.46 0.61 1.46 0.55 1.46 0.55 1.68 0.55 1.68 1.68 0.55 0.55 1.46 0.55 1.46 0.54 1.46 0.54 1.73 0.54 1.73 1.73 0.51 0.51 1.46 0.51 1.46 0.54 1.46 0.54 1.77 0.54 1.77 1.77 0.48 0.48 1.44 0.48 1.44 0.56 1.44 0.56 1.80 0.56 1.80 1.80 0.46 0.46 1.43 0.46 1.43 0.57 1.43 0.57 1.81 0.57 1.81 1.81 0.46 0.46 1.40 0.46 1.40 0.60 1.40 0.60 1.80 0.60 1.80 1.80 0.47 0.47 1.38 0.47 1.38 0.63 1.38 0.63 1.77 0.63 1.77 1.77 0.49 0.49 1.36 0.49 1.36 0.67 1.36 0.67 1.73 0.67 1.73 1.73 0.51 0.51 1.35 0.51 1.35 0.71 1.35 0.71 0.71

16 16 MO MO MO

17 17 TU TU TU

18 18 WE WE WE

1900 TH 1232 1900 1900 0122 0122 0713 0122 0713 1306 FR 1306 FR 0713 1934 FR 1306 1934 1934 0200 0200 0751 0200 0751 1340 SA 1340 SA 0751 2008 SA 1340 2008 2008 0237 0237 0830 0237 0830 1414 SU 1414 SU 0830 2043 SU 1414 2043 2043 0315 0315 0910 0315 0910 1449 MO 1449 MO 0910 2118 MO 1449 2118 2118 0354 0354 0951 0354 0951 1527 TU 1527 TU 0951 2156 TU 1527 2156 2156 0435 0435 1034 0435 1034 1608 WE 1608 WE 1034 2236 WE 1608 2236 2236 0519 0519 1120 0519 1120 1652 TH 1652 TH 1120 2320 TH 1652 2320 2320 0607 0607 1211 0607 1211 1743 FR 1743 FR 1211 FR 1743

20 20 21 21 22 22

23 23 24 24 25 25

26 26 27 27

0009 0009 28 0700 0009 0700 28 1307 SA 1307 SA 0700

1842 SA 1307 1842 1842 0105 0105 0755 0105 0755 1408 SU 1408 SU 0755 1949 SU 1408 1949 1949 0208 0208 0852 0208 0852 1511 MO 1511 MO 0852 2102 MO 1511 2102 2102 0315 0315 0947 0315 0947 1610 TU 1610 TU 0947 2214 TU 1610 2214 2214

29 29

30 30 31 31

1.68 1.68 0.51 1.68 0.51 1.36 0.51 1.36 0.73 1.36 0.73 0.73 1.64 1.64 0.50 1.64 0.50 1.40 0.50 1.40 0.73 1.40 0.73 0.73 1.61 1.61 0.48 1.61 0.48 1.47 0.48 1.47 0.69 1.47 0.69 0.69 1.60 1.60 0.44 1.60 0.44 1.58 0.44 1.58 0.62 1.58 0.62 0.62

Time Time 0421 0421 1040 0421 1040 1705 1040 1705 2320 1705 2320 2320 0523 0523 1131 0523 1131 1759 1131 1759 1759

m m 1.60 1.60 0.40 1.60 0.40 1.71 0.40 1.71 0.51 1.71 0.51 0.51 1.61 1.61 0.37 1.61 0.37 1.83 0.37 1.83 1.83

0022 33 0022 0621 0022 0621 1222 FR 1222 FR 0621

0.40 0.40 1.61 0.40 1.61 0.36 1.61 0.36 1.94 0.36 1.94 1.94 0.31 0.31 1.60 0.31 1.60 0.36 1.60 0.36 2.02 0.36 2.02 2.02 0.25 0.25 1.58 0.25 1.58 0.39 1.58 0.39 2.05 0.39 2.05 2.05 0.24 0.24 1.54 0.24 1.54 0.43 1.54 0.43 2.04 0.43 2.04 2.04 0.26 0.26 1.49 0.26 1.49 0.49 1.49 0.49 1.98 0.49 1.98 1.98 0.31 0.31 1.45 0.31 1.45 0.57 1.45 0.57 1.89 0.57 1.89 1.89 0.38 0.38 1.40 0.38 1.40 0.64 1.40 0.64 1.77 0.64 1.77 1.77 0.46 0.46 1.37 0.46 1.37 0.71 1.37 0.71 0.71

WE WE WE

22 TH TH TH

1850 FR 1222 1850 1850 0119 0119 0718 0119 0718 1313 SA 1313 SA 0718 1941 SA 1313 1941 1941 0215 0215 0815 0215 0815 1402 SU 1402 SU 0815 2030 SU 1402 2030 2030 0308 0308 0909 0308 0909 1453 MO 1453 MO 0909 2120 MO 1453 2120 2120 0400 0400 1003 0400 1003 1543 TU 1543 TU 1003 2210 TU 1543 2210 2210 0452 0452 1056 0452 1056 1633 WE 1633 WE 1056 2258 WE 1633 2258 2258 0543 0543 1148 0543 1148 1724 TH 1724 TH 1148 2345 TH 1724 2345 2345 0633 0633 1242 0633 1242 1817 FR 1817 FR 1242 FR 1817

55 66 77 88

10 10

0034 0034 11 0722 0034 0722 11 1335 SA 1335 SA 0722

1915 SA 1335 1915 1915 0125 0125 0810 0125 0810 1430 SU 1430 SU 0810 2016 SU 1430 2016 2016 0221 0221 0857 0221 0857 1525 MO 1525 MO 0857 2124 MO 1525 2124 2124 0319 0319 0944 0319 0944 1616 TU 1616 TU 0944 2229 TU 1616 2229 2229 0417 0417 1029 0417 1029 1704 WE 1704 WE 1029 2326 WE 1704 2326 2326

12 12 13 13 14 14

15 15

1.64 1.64 0.53 1.64 0.53 1.36 0.53 1.36 0.77 1.36 0.77 0.77 1.53 1.53 0.58 1.53 0.58 1.37 0.58 1.37 0.80 1.37 0.80 0.80 1.44 1.44 0.60 1.44 0.60 1.41 0.60 1.41 0.80 1.41 0.80 0.80 1.39 1.39 0.61 1.39 0.61 1.47 0.61 1.47 0.77 1.47 0.77 0.77 1.36 1.36 0.60 1.36 0.60 1.54 0.60 1.54 0.71 1.54 0.71 0.71

Time Time 0511 0511 1111 0511 1111 1747 TH 1747 TH 1111 TH 1747

m m 1.36 1.36 0.59 1.36 0.59 1.61 0.59 1.61 1.61

Time Time 0507 0507 1107 0507 1107 1740 FR 1740 FR 1107 FR 1740

m m 1.47 1.47 0.42 1.47 0.42 1.83 0.42 1.83 1.83

0015 0015 17 0600 0015 0600 17 1152 FR 1152 FR 0600

0.63 0.63 1.37 0.63 1.37 0.57 1.37 0.57 1.67 0.57 1.67 1.67 0.57 0.57 1.38 0.57 1.38 0.56 1.38 0.56 1.74 0.56 1.74 1.74 0.50 0.50 1.39 0.50 1.39 0.55 1.39 0.55 1.79 0.55 1.79 1.79 0.46 0.46 1.39 0.46 1.39 0.54 1.39 0.54 1.83 0.54 1.83 1.83 0.42 0.42 1.40 0.42 1.40 0.54 1.40 0.54 1.85 0.54 1.85 1.85 0.40 0.40 1.40 0.40 1.40 0.55 1.40 0.55 1.85 0.55 1.85 1.85 0.39 0.39 1.40 0.39 1.40 0.56 1.40 0.56 1.83 0.56 1.83 1.83 0.39 0.39 1.41 0.39 1.41 0.59 1.41 0.59 1.79 0.59 1.79 1.79 0.40 0.40 1.41 0.40 1.41 0.62 1.41 0.62 1.73 0.62 1.73 1.73 0.41 0.41 1.43 0.41 1.43 0.64 1.43 0.64 0.64

0015 22 0015 0609 0015 0609 1200 SA 1200 SA 0609

0.41 0.41 1.47 0.41 1.47 0.41 1.47 0.41 1.91 0.41 1.91 1.91 0.32 0.32 1.47 0.32 1.47 0.40 1.47 0.40 1.98 0.40 1.98 1.98 0.26 0.26 1.48 0.26 1.48 0.41 1.48 0.41 2.00 0.41 2.00 2.00 0.24 0.24 1.47 0.24 1.47 0.43 1.47 0.43 1.98 0.43 1.98 1.98 0.26 0.26 1.45 0.26 1.45 0.47 1.45 0.47 1.92 0.47 1.92 1.92 0.31 0.31 1.43 0.31 1.43 0.53 1.43 0.53 1.82 0.53 1.82 1.82 0.37 0.37 1.41 0.37 1.41 0.59 1.41 0.59 1.71 0.59 1.71 1.71 0.44 0.44 1.39 0.44 1.39 0.66 1.39 0.66 1.59 0.66 1.59 1.59 0.50 0.50 1.38 0.50 1.38 0.72 1.38 0.72 0.72

16 16

1827 FR 1152 1827 1827 0059 0059 0644 0059 0644 1230 SA 1230 SA 0644 1905 SA 1230 1905 1905 0139 0139 0726 0139 0726 1308 SU 1308 SU 0726 1942 SU 1308 1942 1942 0216 0216 0807 0216 0807 1345 MO 1345 MO 0807 2018 MO 1345 2018 2018 0255 0255 0848 0255 0848 1425 TU 1425 TU 0848 2057 TU 1425 2057 2057 0334 0334 0930 0334 0930 1506 WE 1506 WE 0930 2137 WE 1506 2137 2137 0415 0415 1015 0415 1015 1550 TH 1550 TH 1015 2218 TH 1550 2218 2218 0459 0459 1102 0459 1102 1638 FR 1638 FR 1102 2302 FR 1638 2302 2302 0545 0545 1152 0545 1152 1730 SA 1730 SA 1152 2351 SA 1730 2351 2351 0633 0633 1245 0633 1245 1827 SU 1827 SU 1245 SU 1827

18 18

19 19 20 20 21 21

22 22 23 23 24 24

25 25

26 26

0045 0045 27 0725 0045 0725 27 1343 MO 1343 MO 0725 1932 MO 1343 1932 1932 0145 0145 0819 0145 0819 1444 TU 1444 TU 0819 2045 TU 1444 2045 2045 0251 0251 0915 0251 0915 1544 WE 1544 WE 0915 2200 WE 1544 2200 2200 0400 0400 1012 0400 1012 1643 TH 1643 TH 1012 2311 TH 1643 2311 2311

28 28 29 29 30 30

1.65 1.65 0.43 1.65 0.43 1.47 0.43 1.47 0.66 1.47 0.66 0.66 1.58 1.58 0.44 1.58 0.44 1.53 0.44 1.53 0.64 1.53 0.64 0.64 1.51 1.51 0.44 1.51 0.44 1.62 0.44 1.62 0.59 1.62 0.59 0.59 1.48 1.48 0.43 1.48 0.43 1.72 0.43 1.72 0.50 1.72 0.50 0.50

1833 SA 1200 1833 1833 0112 0112 0707 0112 0707 1253 SU 1253 SU 0707 1925 SU 1253 1925 1925 0204 0204 0801 0204 0801 1344 MO 1344 MO 0801 2015 MO 1344 2015 2015 0254 0254 0853 0254 0853 1433 TU 1433 TU 0853 2102 TU 1433 2102 2102 0341 0341 0943 0341 0943 1522 WE 1522 WE 0943 2148 WE 1522 2148 2148 0426 0426 1030 0426 1030 1609 TH 1609 TH 1030 2231 TH 1609 2231 2231 0509 0509 1116 0509 1116 1656 FR 1656 FR 1116 2314 FR 1656 2314 2314 0551 0551 1201 0551 1201 1743 SA 1743 SA 1201 2355 SA 1743 2355 2355 0631 0631 1248 0631 1248 1833 SU 1833 SU 1248 SU 1833

44 55

66 77

88 99

10 10

0038 0038 11 0713 0038 0713 11 1337 MO 1337 MO 0713 1930 MO 1337 1930 1930 0128 0128 0758 0128 0758 1430 TU 1430 TU 0758 2035 TU 1430 2035 2035 0226 0226 0846 0226 0846 1525 WE 1525 WE 0846 2145 WE 1525 2145 2145 0330 0330 0937 0330 0937 1618 TH 1618 TH 0937 2251 TH 1618 2251 2251 0432 0432 1028 0432 1028 1709 FR 1709 FR 1028 2346 FR 1709 2346 2346

12 12

13 13

14 14 15 15

1.48 1.48 0.55 1.48 0.55 1.38 0.55 1.38 0.76 1.38 0.76 0.76 1.38 1.38 0.58 1.38 0.58 1.40 0.58 1.40 0.77 1.40 0.77 0.77 1.31 1.31 0.60 1.31 0.60 1.44 0.60 1.44 0.75 1.44 0.75 0.75 1.26 1.26 0.61 1.26 0.61 1.49 0.61 1.49 0.70 1.49 0.70 0.70 1.25 1.25 0.60 1.25 0.60 1.56 0.60 1.56 0.62 1.56 0.62 0.62

Time Time Time 0529 0529 1115 0529 1115 1754 SA 1754 SA 1115 SA 1754

m m m 1.27 1.27 0.58 1.27 0.58 1.63 0.58 1.63 1.63

0033 0033 17 0617 0033 0617 17 1159 SU 1159 SU 0617

0.54 0.54 1.30 0.54 1.30 0.55 1.30 0.55 1.70 0.55 1.70 1.70 0.47 0.47 1.33 0.47 1.33 0.52 1.33 0.52 1.77 0.52 1.77 1.77 0.40 0.40 1.37 0.40 1.37 0.48 1.37 0.48 1.83 0.48 1.83 1.83 0.34 0.34 1.40 0.34 1.40 0.46 1.40 0.46 1.87 0.46 1.87 1.87 0.30 0.30 1.43 0.30 1.43 0.44 1.43 0.44 1.88 0.44 1.88 1.88 0.27 0.27 1.46 0.27 1.46 0.44 1.46 0.44 1.86 0.44 1.86 1.86 0.27 0.27 1.48 0.27 1.48 0.45 1.48 0.45 1.80 0.45 1.80 1.80 0.29 0.29 1.50 0.29 1.50 0.49 1.50 0.49 1.71 0.49 1.71 1.71 0.33 0.33 1.51 0.33 1.51 0.53 1.51 0.53 0.53

16 16

1836 SU 1159 1836 1836 0115 0115 0702 0115 0702 1241 MO 1241 MO 0702 1916 MO 1241 1916 1916 0154 0154 0745 0154 0745 1323 TU 1323 TU 0745 1956 TU 1323 1956 1956 0232 0232 0826 0232 0826 1405 WE 1405 WE 0826 2036 WE 1405 2036 2036 0312 0312 0909 0312 0909 1449 TH 1449 TH 0909 2117 TH 1449 2117 2117 0352 0352 0954 0352 0954 1535 FR 1535 FR 0954 2200 FR 1535 2200 2200 0435 0435 1041 0435 1041 1625 SA 1625 SA 1041 2246 SA 1625 2246 2246 0519 0519 1130 0519 1130 1718 SU 1718 SU 1130 2334 SU 1718 2334 2334 0606 0606 1222 0606 1222 1816 MO 1816 MO 1222 MO 1816

18 18

19 19 20 20

21 21

22 22 23 23

24 24 25 25

0028 0028 26 0656 0028 0656 26 1318 TU 1318 TU 0656 1921 TU 1318 1921 1921 0128 0128 0750 0128 0750 1418 WE 1418 WE 0750 2035 WE 1418 2035 2035 0236 0236 0849 0236 0849 1522 TH 1522 TH 0849 2153 TH 1522 2153 2153 0350 0350 0950 0350 0950 1627 FR 1627 FR 0950 2306 FR 1627 2306 2306 0500 0500 1050 0500 1050 1726 SA 1726 SA 1050 SA 1726

27 27

28 28

29 29 30 30

0009 0009 31 0603 0009 0603 31 1147 SU 1147 SU 0603

1.60 1.60 0.38 1.60 0.38 1.53 0.38 1.53 0.56 1.53 0.56 0.56 1.48 1.48 0.42 1.48 0.42 1.57 0.42 1.57 0.57 1.57 0.57 0.57 1.39 1.39 0.46 1.39 0.46 1.62 0.46 1.62 0.54 1.62 0.54 0.54 1.33 1.33 0.47 1.33 0.47 1.69 0.47 1.69 0.47 1.69 0.47 0.47 1.33 1.33 0.46 1.33 0.46 1.76 0.46 1.76 1.76

0.39 0.39 1.35 0.39 1.35 0.44 1.35 0.44 1.83 1147 SU 1821 1821 0.44 1.83 1821 1.83

MO MO MO

TU TU TU

WE WE WE

TH TH TH

FR FR FR

SA SA SA

SU SU SU

MO MO MO

99 TU TU TU

Time Time Time 0103 0103 0659 0103 0659 1241 0659 1241 1912 1241 1912 1912 0152 0152 0748 0152 0748 1330 0748 1330 1959 1330 1959 1959 0235 0235 0834 0235 0834 1417 0834 1417 2043 1417 2043 2043 0315 0315 0917 0315 0917 1501 0917 1501 2124 1501 2124 2124 0354 0354 1000 0354 1000 1545 1000 1545 2202 1545 2202 2202 0430 0430 1039 0430 1039 1626 1039 1626 2240 1626 2240 2240 0505 0505 1118 0505 1118 1709 1118 1709 2317 1709 2317 2317 0540 0540 1159 0540 1159 1755 1159 1755 2357 1755 2357 2357 0617 0617 1244 0617 1244 1847 1244 1847 1847

Local Time AUGUST AUGUST AUGUST Time m

0042 0042 10 0659 0042 0659 10 1333 WE 1333 WE 0659

m m 0.31 0.31 1.39 0.31 1.39 0.41 1.39 0.41 1.88 0.41 1.88 1.88 0.26 0.26 1.42 0.26 1.42 0.40 1.42 0.40 1.89 0.40 1.89 1.89 0.25 0.25 1.44 0.25 1.44 0.40 1.44 0.40 1.87 0.40 1.87 1.87 0.26 0.26 1.45 0.26 1.45 0.42 1.45 0.42 1.81 0.42 1.81 1.81 0.30 0.30 1.44 0.30 1.44 0.46 1.44 0.46 1.72 0.46 1.72 1.72 0.35 0.35 1.43 0.35 1.43 0.51 1.43 0.51 1.63 0.51 1.63 1.63 0.41 0.41 1.42 0.41 1.42 0.57 1.42 0.57 1.52 0.57 1.52 1.52 0.46 0.46 1.40 0.46 1.40 0.63 1.40 0.63 1.42 0.63 1.42 1.42 0.52 0.52 1.39 0.52 1.39 0.68 1.39 0.68 0.68

Time Time 0046 0046 0638 0046 0638 1218 0638 1218 1849 1218 1849 1849 0126 0126 0720 0126 0720 1302 0720 1302 1931 1302 1931 1931 0205 0205 0802 0205 0802 1347 0802 1347 2014 1347 2014 2014 0245 0245 0845 0245 0845 1434 0845 1434 2058 1434 2058 2058 0325 0325 0930 0325 0930 1522 0930 1522 2143 1522 2143 2143 0408 0408 1017 0408 1017 1614 1017 1614 2230 1614 2230 2230 0452 0452 1106 0452 1106 1708 1106 1708 2320 1708 2320 2320 0538 0538 1158 0538 1158 1807 1158 1807 1807

m m m 0.41 0.41 1.31 0.41 1.31 0.48 1.31 0.48 1.74 0.48 1.74 1.74 0.32 0.32 1.38 0.32 1.38 0.41 1.38 0.41 1.81 0.41 1.81 1.81 0.25 0.25 1.45 0.25 1.45 0.35 1.45 0.35 1.86 0.35 1.86 1.86 0.19 0.19 1.51 0.19 1.51 0.31 1.51 0.31 1.87 0.31 1.87 1.87 0.17 0.17 1.56 0.17 1.56 0.30 1.56 0.30 1.84 0.30 1.84 1.84 0.18 0.18 1.60 0.18 1.60 0.31 1.60 0.31 1.76 0.31 1.76 1.76 0.22 0.22 1.61 0.22 1.61 0.35 1.61 0.35 1.64 0.35 1.64 1.64 0.29 0.29 1.61 0.29 1.61 0.41 1.61 0.41 0.41

0015 0015 24 0629 0015 0629 24 1254 WE 1254 WE 0629

1.50 1.50 0.37 1.50 0.37 1.60 0.37 1.60 0.47 1.60 0.47 0.47 1.37 1.37 0.45 1.37 0.45 1.59 0.45 1.59 0.50 1.59 0.50 0.50 1.27 1.27 0.51 1.27 0.51 1.59 0.51 1.59 0.48 1.59 0.48 0.48 1.24 1.24 0.53 1.24 0.53 1.63 0.53 1.63 0.43 1.63 0.43 0.43 1.26 1.26 0.51 1.26 0.51 1.68 0.51 1.68 1.68

16 16 TU TU TU

17 17 WE WE WE

18 18 TH TH TH

19 19 FR FR FR

20 20 SA SA SA

21 21 SU SU SU

22 22 MO MO MO

23 23 TU TU TU

1915 WE 1254 1915 1915 0117 0117 0725 0117 0725 1356 TH 1356 TH 0725 2030 TH 1356 2030 2030 0230 0230 0829 0230 0829 1504 FR 1504 FR 0829 2149 FR 1504 2149 2149 0348 0348 0936 0348 0936 1613 SA 1613 SA 0936 2300 SA 1613 2300 2300 0500 0500 1042 0500 1042 1715 SU 1715 SU 1042 SU 1715

1.32 1.32 0.56 1.32 0.56 1.39 0.56 1.39 0.71 1.39 0.71 0.71 1.24 1.24 0.60 1.24 0.60 1.40 0.60 1.40 0.71 1.40 0.71 0.71 1.18 1.18 0.63 1.18 0.63 1.43 0.63 1.43 0.67 1.43 0.67 0.67 1.17 1.17 0.62 1.17 0.62 1.49 0.62 1.49 0.59 1.49 0.59 0.59 1.20 1.20 0.59 1.20 0.59 1.56 0.59 1.56 1.56

25 25

0.51 0.51 1.25 0.51 1.25 0.54 1.25 0.54 1.65 1132 MO 1806 1806 0.54 1.65 1806 1.65

30 30

1948 WE 1333 1948 1948 0137 0137 0749 0137 0749 1430 TH 1430 TH 0749 2100 TH 1430 2100 2100 0244 0244 0846 0244 0846 1530 FR 1530 FR 0846 2212 FR 1530 2212 2212 0356 0356 0945 0356 0945 1629 SA 1629 SA 0945 2314 SA 1629 2314 2314 0500 0500 1042 0500 1042 1720 SU 1720 SU 1042 SU 1720

11 11

12 12 13 13

14 14

0003 0003 15 0552 0003 0552 15 1132 MO 1132 MO 0552

  Copyright Copyright Commonwealth Commonwealth of of Australia Australia 2014, 2014, Bureau Bureau of of Meteorology Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2014, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tidedaylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times Times are are in in local local standard standard time time (UTC (UTC +10:00) +10:00) or or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New First Moon Full New Moon Moon First Quarter Quarter Moon Phase Phase Symbols Symbols Full Moon Moon New Moon First Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon

26 26

27 27

28 28

0000 0000 29 0558 0000 0558 29 1140 MO 1140 MO 0558 1809 MO 1140 1809 1809 0049 0049 0647 0049 0647 1232 TU 1232 TU 0647 1857 TU 1232 1857 1857 0131 0131 0731 0131 0731 1319 WE 1319 WE 0731 1941 WE 1319 1941 1941

31 31

0.37 0.37 1.31 0.37 1.31 0.46 1.31 0.46 1.73 0.46 1.73 1.73 0.31 0.31 1.37 0.31 1.37 0.42 1.37 0.42 1.75 0.42 1.75 1.75 0.28 0.28 1.42 0.28 1.42 0.39 1.42 0.39 1.76 0.39 1.76 1.76

Last Last Quarter Quarter Last Quarter

Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. JULY 2016

129

Trades, Services, Charter BAIT & TACKLE BYRON COAST Yamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

COFFS COAST

NEED REPLACEMENT MARINE ENGINE PARTS OR ACCESSORIES? has you MOBY MARINE covered

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

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

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EDENS COAST Bermagui Bait and Tackle (02) 6493 5444

FRESHWATER Loomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

BOAT IMPORTS Import USA Boat 0435 476 177

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FISH TAXIDERMY

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MARINE MECHANICS SYDNEY Greg’s Mobile Marine 0424 046 060 Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250 Moby Marine (02) 9153 6506 or www.mobymarine.com.au Aqua Marine 0415 600 301 or www.aquacash.com.au Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575 Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699 Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400 Neken Marine (02) 9979 9649 Boat Assist 24 - On Water Mechanic (02) 9746 6224

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CENTRAL COAST

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Central Coast Holiday Parks 1800 241 342

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

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory Jan’s Retreat (02) 4441 7000 Currarong Beachside Tourist Park 1300 555 515 Sussex Inlet (LJ Hooker) (02) 4441 2135 Riviera Caravan Park, St George’s Basin (02) 4441 2112 Killalea State Park, Shell Cove (02) 4237 8589 Holiday With Us, Sussex Inlet (02) 4441 2135 Surf Beach Holiday Park (02) 4232 1791 Kendalls on the Beach (02) 4232 1790 Werri Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1285 Seven Mile Beach Holiday Park (02) 4234 1340 Kiama Harbour Cabins (02) 4232 2707

Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters Swains & Coral Sea 0427 125 727

COFFS COAST Oceanic Sea Urchin II Charters (02) 6566 6623 or 0428 650 321 South West Rocks Fishing Charters (02) 6566 5298 or 0429 995 390 The Rocks Fishing Charters 0412 074 147 Wooli Deep Sea Tours (02) 6649 7100 Trial Bay Fishing Charters, 0427 256 556 South West Rocks Fishing Adventures 0411 096 717

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MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS // BOAT & TRAILER Bold Trailers (02) 8544 8114 www.boldtrailers.com.au Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

SYDNEY The Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

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

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

SWAINS

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EXTENDED QLD REEF TRIPS

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

TRADES AND SERVICES ADVERTISING Line listing from $90 + gst 6 months* 2cm x 2 from $195 + gst 6 months* 4cm x 2 from $320 + gst 6 months* 8cm x 2 from $590 + gst 6 months* Rates exclusive to Trades and Services Directory *Conditions apply Call (07) 3387 0833 or email rlimpus@fishingmonthly.com.au

If you have any other trades or services that you would like to see in this section please don’t hesitate to give us a call

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SAMPLE AD BUSINESS NAME This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 40 words within a 10x2 ad size.

Email: rlimpus@fishingmonthly.com.au

ILLAWARRA COAST

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Blue Bottle Fishing www.bluebottlefishing.com info@bluebottlefishing.com Ph: 0409 333 380 Mo Tackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au U-Make-Em Soft Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au

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

EDEN COAST Esprit Fishing Charters 1300 556 658 Freedom Charters Eden (02) 6496 1209 or www.freedomcharters.com.au

QUEENSLAND

MV CAPRICORN STAR EXTENDED FISHING CHARTERS

Techni Ice www.techniice.com J Roc Tackle www.jroctackle.com.au Jayro Tackle www.jayrotackle.com.au

CHARTER BOATS BYRON COAST Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters, 0428 828 835 Sea Master Fishing Charters, (07) 5524 8849 or 0415 593 901 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0428 231 962 Coffs Coast Sport Fishing 0434 517 683

ads@fishingmonthly.com.au FISHING GUIDES

INDIVIDUAL ENQUIRIES WELCOME Swains Reef • Bunker Group • Coral Sea • Shoal Waters and Beyond

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

ILLAWARRA COAST Bay & Basin Sportsfishing 0413 610 832

BATEMANS COAST Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

EDEN COAST MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 or www.amytiadventure.com.au

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

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

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