NSW Fishing Monthly June 2018

FISHING IN A WINTER WONDERLAND

Features

Boating & Kayaking • • •

Gearing up for a sword fight Last chance for New England trout •

•

Tried & Tested

Doubling up with kayaks New engines from Mercury A Stacer revolution

Halco Madeyes • Clark 520 Legend SC Bar Crusher 575C & 615C •

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June 2018, Vol. 23 No. 11

Contents

It’s a little cool this morning as I write this Editorial. For anglers, the drop in temperature means lots of things. It gets the bream and tailor moving, the Murray cod start to get itchy and you put the warm water techniques in the cupboard for another season.

But for the last few years, winter is becoming all about the Lure Show.

The brainchild of freshwater fishing advocate Garry Fitzgerald, it’s grown to become a festival of Australian lure making and innovation. And it’s populated by the coolest group of Aussie-backyardshed innovators you’ll ever meet.

From humble beginnings in the Fernvale community centre in the Brisbane Valley, it quickly outgrew that venue and was welcomed by the Ipswich Showgrounds.

The key to the show’s success is its accessibility.

Stands are only 20% of the price of a booth at a big boat show, and entry is $10 with free parking. Kids are free.

What that means is that those guys and girls who literally run a garage business can afford to come and sell their wares. And a family can come and join in the fun for $20 entry. I can’t even park a car for a day in Brisbane or Sydney for that.

EDEN COAST Bermagui 54 Tathra 54 Eden 55 Mallacoota 55

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REGULAR FEATURES Cooking 52 Dam Levels 70 Fun Page 74 Tides 86 Trade Directory 82 Tournament News 75 What’s New Fishing 56 What’s New Boating 88

www.lureshow.com.au AUSTRALIAN LURE EXPO

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The first winner of our front cover competition, Harrison Saunders, caught this 94.5cm mulloway from Lighthouse Beach near Port Macquarie.

An Andrew Saunders image.

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SPECIAL FEATURES Time for a sword fight New England trout

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BOATING AND KAYAK

dirt cheap and there’s the odd early morning around the campfire with an ale or three.

So why am I banging on about it? If you’re jaded by boat shows that are big on boats you can’t afford and low on tackle, we know that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what these little Aussie battlers have on offer.

Of course, Fishing Monthly will have a stand there and will be offering great gifts for those of you who choose to sign up or renew at the show.

And I’ll be kicking around the show all day, either at the Fishing Monthly stand or at the Social Media hub. Make sure you come and say gidday – I love talking fishing with keen readers.

See you there! The details are in the Lure Show article inside this magazine, or you can visit www.lureshow.com.au.

BUY & SELL LURES TACKLE BARGAINS FREE ONSITE PARKING

BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 50 Narooma 53 Merimbula 53

FRESHWATER Jindabyne 62 Wagga Wagga 63 Canberra 64 Lithgow-Oberon 65 New England 66 Hunter Valley 68 Batlow 69 Robinvale 70 Orange 71 Mildura 71

And then there’s the other half of the equation: nearly all of the lures are for sale.

As a keen angler, I find it hard not to become excited when browsing the stalls and indulging in the creations that lure makers have spent the best part of a year devising, carving, painting and presenting.

So be warned. The impulse buying can be hard to control!

Plenty of exhibitors also camp at the Showgrounds. It’s

AT

ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 48 Nowra 49

From the Editor’s Desk...

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SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 12 Sydney North 14 Pittwater 16 Sydney Harbour 17 Botany Bay 18 Sydney South 20 Sydney Rock and Beach 22 Western Sydney 24

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HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 42 Hunter Coast 43 Erina 44 Swansea 45

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MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 38 Forster 39 Harrington-Taree 41

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COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 34 Nambucca 36 South West Rocks 37

10

PRO

BYRON COAST The Tweed 28 Ballina 30 Yamba 32

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ING TRADE

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Fishing Diary Angler: Andrew Garner Location: FAD off Coffs Harbour Date: March 3rd 2018 Conditions: NE 8 kts, turn of tide Black Magic Tackle: KS 7/0 hook 60lb Tough Trace Note: “Black Magic gear never fails me, even when dealing with an acrobatic fighter like this fella”.

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SWORDFISH

It’s time for an epic swordfight PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

A few years ago if someone said you could catch a swordfish in daylight hours, you would have thought they were on the crazy pills, but that was quickly changed when anglers overseas started to catch these giants of the ocean with a bit of regularity. It also gained momentum

Coyne and Richie Abela when we went to Mallacoota in search of a marlin bite.

While we were there Richie said we needed to drop a bait for a sword. When the water we were fishing held no marlin, our plans changed and a bait was sent down.

That trip changed our lives forever as the bait was eaten as soon as it hit the bottom by a swordfish that we later landed. Then to back it up we got two more the following day. This

now is the time to go and catch one.

SAFETY FIRST While we have worldclass swordfish opportunities here, our only downside is that the good areas are all long hauls from land, 60-90km runs offshore are fairly standard.

LOCATIONS One thing that has become very apparent is that swordfish can, and do, cover a lot of ground in their endless hunt for food. Luckily for us, the coastline between Lakes Entrance and Mallacoota has kilometres of good areas to

This is what 197kg of sword looks like in the boat – take the time to get good pictures.

Tom Hall does battle with a 197kg sword off Lakes Entrance. very quickly as anglers also realised that there were good numbers of swords feeding all day long down in the depths.

Fast forward a few years and anglers have started to make a few attempts at catching swords, and catch them they certainly did. The lid was blown off in our own Victorian waters back in 2016 when Matt Porter landed the first one in Victoria. Funny thing was that after getting that fish Matt realised that he had in fact had bites and hooked several other swords before he landed this one.

A week later I was fortunate enough to be on board the boat with Julian

had our heads spinning, as we couldn’t believe it was possible to catch broadbill and multiples of them on a daily basis.

Since that trip a lot of miles have been covered, things learned, techniques refined and tackle developed for catching these giants in our own Victorian waters.

The other thing that has quickly become apparent is that not only are there numbers of fish in our waters but the size of some of the fish is gigantic. Even the averagesize fish in Tasmania would rival any other swordfish location in the world and best of all it’s on our doorstep.

From what we have learned so far, it seems that right

This is a belly flap bait for a sword.

Adding to this the ramps are not suitable in all conditions, so having a large enough boat and enough fuel capacity is paramount. Choosing calm weather patterns is also a must, and it also makes fishing for these fish much easier and more comfortable.

Make sure all safety gear is well and truly up to scratch as the water police often run out to the shelf to check anglers for safety gear and licenses.

find swordfish. The key areas to search are along the outside edge of the continental shelf in anything from 300-600m of water, with kinks, canyons and any change in feature generally being prime areas.

The other key factor to finding swordfish – just like any other gamefish is to find the bait – as these guys have big appetites and will always be in areas of high food concentrations, which down deep is called a ‘scatter’ or ‘feed’ layer. This is made up of micro-organisms and small baitfish and squid. This in turn

attracts bigger fish and squid, which then attract the swords.

To find these key areas to fish you require a good sounder and a suitable deep water transducer. I run a Simrad EVO3 12” unit with a 1kw low chirp transducer. Not only does it read the bottom clearly at these depths, it also highlights the feed layer and where it’s thicker or more densely packed, which highlights key spots to fish. A good sounder setup will also help to clearly mark any fish in the area.

TACKLING UP People often ask me what swords fight like and while they can have incredible bursts of speed and perform some spectacular jumps, for the most part it’s like being hooked up to a 4WD in low gear. For this reason, some serious tackle is required to

land them.

When it comes to reel choices there are plenty to choose from. While any 50W game reel will do the job when filled with braid, due to their smaller size by the time the bait is down on the bottom there isn’t a lot of line left on the reel. Most anglers prefer to use reels like the Tiagra 80W, Makaira 80W or the Penn 70VSX, as these hold loads of braid and the bigger spool diameter also means you get great line retrieval.

The other super popular reel nowadays is the Talica 50, which has a large spool diameter and high retrieve speed in a compact overhead.

Reels are filled with anything from 50-130lb braid with 80lb being the most popular. Attach a topshot; 50-100m allows a good bit of stretch in the system.

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Near the end of the battle, Jules Coyne prepares to take the leader on a sword.

SWORDFISH Saying that, the great thing about this emerging fishery is that anglers are evolving and coming up with new ideas and theories, so the length of topshots is creating a lot of discussions.

When it comes to the rod, I recommend a soft tipped

rod (to be able to see the bite) which folds away to a powerful butt section capable of comfortably fishing 12-16kg of drag. As for the guides, most anglers use rollers, but I love full fixed guides; they allow leader knots and wind-on leaders to

These are sounder shots of a Simrad showing the thick feed layer and also the marks of a swordfish holding just near it.

pass through the guides easily and, best of all, the rod can sit in the holder waiting for a bite or even loaded up on a fish with the line able to pull at any angle without any worry of braid slipping between the roller and frame.

My sword rods are 80 Fathoms custom sword rods and I’ve caught a bunch of fish and, more importantly, spent a lot of hours fighting fish. I prefer a bent butt system on the rod as they are made for up and down fights on heavy drag.

IT’S TERMINAL While you need to get a bit of stuff to chase swords, the upside is that it doesn’t require six rods and a million lures. What you will need, however, is a few lights to go on your rig. These are super important to your success – these lights will attract the swordfish to your bait in the darkness below. While there are loads of lights to choose from, Lindgren Pittman offer a bunch of colours; my favourite are the disco colours. These lights aren’t cheap but are fully water and pressure tested, so you know they are working properly 500m below you. Add to this a few small diamond lights, big rubber bands, wax thread, stitching needles and rigs.

Most of our rigs are made up on 300lb leader, but some anglers use up to 600lb.

Good quality lights attract those swords to your lures and baits once they’re down deep.

Hook choice is a personal one. You should have a few hook options. It’s important to match the suitable hook to the bait. The Black Magic Big Game 9/0 and 10/0 are great hooks for belly flaps, while the Mustad 7699D in 12/0 and 14/0 is perfect in a squid.

A lot of anglers are now going towards circles as they allow for a good release and are a great way to fish for swords, as the hardest part is often hooking them. The most important part of using circles is to make sure the bait is well clear of the hook.

Move towards fish baits such as mackerel, small tuna or belly flap baits, that way it won’t foul up on the hook like a squid might.

HARNESSES, GLOVES AND GAFFS If you don’t have a harness, definitely get one and make it a good one. Have it adjusted to the angler who is going to be on the rod before you hook up. As an added extra, you can also upgrade the gimbal belt from the standard to the XL size, as the bigger size spreads the load better on heavy drag,

making it more comfortable to fish over extended periods.

Good tracing gloves are also important; with the heavier leader you can hold on when you get that sword in range. When you do, if you’re keeping it, make sure you have a few gaffs ready. Have at least one but preferably two fliers tied off. I also like a good fixed gaff that is small and ultra tough.

GOING DOWN You’ve got the gear and the bait and you’re out over the shelf, now you need to To page 10

JUNE 2018

9

SWORDFISH From page 9

get that bait down to the bottom hundreds of metres below. One thing’s for sure, it’s going to take more than a snapper lead to do it.

Getting your bait down to a sword has seen anglers come up with plenty of clever ideas that range from rocks to bottles filled with sand and bricks. No matter how you get it there, it needs to be attached to the rig with a few metres of light mono that is used as a breakaway, that way once the weight and bait are

down you can either leave the weight attached or break the weight off and allow the bait to slowly float up.

HOW IT HAPPENS When the weather’s on your side and you’ve made the run out to the chosen area you plan to fish, sound around and find a solid feed layer down near the bottom.

Then it’s time to get a bait in the water and hopefully into the mouth of a sword.

Lights are attached up the line away from the bait, the weight is dropped and the

the rod tip for any sign of a bite, which is usually a subtle bump on the rod tip – this is where a properly developed swordfish rod comes into its own. It’s worth noting a lot of the

At this point the angler sits back and uses the harness and the tackle to beat the fish, while the skipper changes angles on the line to try and break the fish and get it to surface. The fight may last

The by-catch is also good with big blue-eye like this one caught by Lee McDuffie.

This angler is all smiles while pulling up a hefty sword.

The author with a swordfish.

bait races away behind it with flashing lights in tow and a reel in overdrive as it dumps line off the spool.

After several minutes it hits the bottom and the decision is made to crack the

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weight off; this is done by winding up the slack then, once rod is loaded, giving it a few sharp winds and jerks of the rod to snap the breakaway.

With the weight off it’s critical every eye is watching

bites come in the first few minutes, as any sword in the area comes racing in to see the commotion of lights.

Five minutes later it happens. The rod registers two subtle knocks then the line appears to go slack – the sword has the bait and is now racing to the surface.

It’s time to start winding.

With only a hundred metres or so to go everything stops, the rod loads up and gets really heavy before line starts coming off the reel under serious drag pressure.

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less than an hour or it could still be going when the sun sets. Either way, you’re tight on one of the most impressive fish in the ocean, so enjoy it.

At the end if you choose to keep it or release the sword its your choice, but if you do keep it, respect the fish for the gladiator it is, take the time to get good photos in the boat, and back on land take the time to cut it up and package the meat properly as it makes great eating, and best of all it freezes well so none should go to waste.

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SYDNEY WEST PENRITH MARINE

Fish enjoying the cooler water THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

It was such a lovely autumn on the Hawkesbury, with very stable weather and water conditions, allowing for some great captures.

Most species have been revelling in the favourable conditions including some big bream, mulloway and flathead, plus the odd capture of estuary cod in late April well upstream of Bar Point.

Bream should be in great numbers around Broken Bay for those prospecting with lures and fresh baits.

They typically sit deeper at this time of year at around the 6-8m mark, so make sure your presentations are entering this zone for best results. It can be challenging, but the quality of fish on offer

is surely worth the effort.

Scents or scented lures give you an advantage when lure fishing into winter, and berley a must for bait fishing. Pick ingredients that have a bit of weight to them like soaked barley or wheat.

Another alternative is to add some sand in with soaked bread and some additional flavour of tuna oil or mashed up pilchards. They sand will add a bit weight to help get your berley deeper if there is current flowing.

Lures to tempt winter blue nose bream include small blades and vibes in 30-75mm sizes, and 50-75mm curl-tail or paddle-tail grubs rigged on 1/8-1/4oz jigheads. The bites can be very subtle with the angler only registering a bite at times when they’re about to hop their lure and come up tight to a fish. Light and long leaders are a must if

fishing in clear water.

Flathead had a great run through autumn, with anglers scoring fish right upstream to Ebenezer, with the odd bream thrown in. They were having a ball in 21°C water temperatures well into May. These fish should have retreated downstream with the dropping water temperatures and would be distributed through the lower

a prospecting float on a drift into the unknown, anticipating that first down and subsequent hook up to a bronzed brawler.

Bass and estuary perch have been slow to move downstream this year, and with higher than average water temperatures coupled with the lack of rainfall they will likely spawn higher up the system where the

Some big flathead turned up in catches during autumn, with the author scoring this healthy specimen on a Prolure 105mm Fishtail soft plastic.

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Big bream are common through the colder parts of the year on the Hawkesbury. Deep presentations with lures and baits are the key to catching quality fish like this one John caught on a soft plastic recently.

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river from Berowra to Broken Bay, gorging on the winter white bait schools. Searching the foreshores with your depth sounder is the best way to find concentrations of bait, and hopefully some hungry flathead. The best lure is a white bait imitation soft plastic or vibe around 75-100mm long. You will encounter other species on these schools including some respectable tailor, salmon, bream and even mulloway at times.

Blackfish have been schooling well along the many rock walls in Broken Bay and are readily taking weed and bread baits drifted under a float rig along the rocky foreshores. Their fighting ability and edibility are top notch, which gets me excited each season to find some weed, select a suitable location and send

salinity levels will suit their requirements.

Lure fishing is my go-to method in winter time if I want to encounter one of the Hawkesbury’s most desired species, the mighty mulloway. They are a smart choice, given the effort it requires to source live baits in the leaner times of the year often causing anglers to miss that crucial bite time for the mulloway right on dawn.

We got off to a great start to the season, with plenty of clients getting first and PB mulloway on lures and live baits throughout

Joe was pumped with his first ever mulloway on a lure measuring in at 109cm. He chose to release his prized capture.

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autumn. Smaller 3-4” lures were doing most of the damage rigged on 1/4oz jigheads and subtly twitched on deeper reefs, drop offs and rock walls around the tide changes.

Key tips for winter are keeping it light with your line and leader, which should preferably be fluorocarbon.

Use as little lead as possible when presenting lures or baits. Slow down your retrieve when using lures, employing longer pauses or smaller more frequent twitches. Berley little amounts, but frequently.

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Offshore action still hot SYDNEY NORTH

Paul O’Hagan

Fishing around Sydney over the last month has been exceptional for our anglers, with a variety of species on offer from the simple flathead to some of our more sought after gamefish.

Offshore there is still a large concentration of mahimahi holding on the FADs and around the fish traps willing to take lures and live baits.

Yellowfin tuna have been taken by those prepared to go further out beyond the shelf,

but from all reports there has not been big numbers and a bit of luck is needed to bag one of these quality fish.

Marlin fishing seems to have gone quiet at the moment, with not many reports coming in, but like everything else things change from one day to the next and you are always in with a chance if you are trolling a good spread of lures and skirts.

Large kingfish are still available in and around the Twelve Mile Reef and the fish traps, with most anglers taking fish with live squid and or slimies set out on a downrigger.

With good quality fish available, there is always a problem with leatherjackets in big numbers, and they’re very eager to snap off anything that will fit in their mouths, with swivels a particular favourite for them.

Closer in shore from Manly to Palm Beach, our reefs have been producing the goods, with good quality snapper being taken off Long Reef by those fishing baits in a berley trail to bag limits of flathead while drifting along the sandy bottom at Narrabeen. As well as good snapper and flathead there is still a large amount of pelagics and kingfish on offer while live baiting and trolling.

Over the last few weeks fishing from our rock platforms has been

Zane Levett with a mahimahi taken on a recent trip with Ocean Hunter Sports Fishing.

Beach fishing at the moment seems to be a hit and miss effort, with some beaches producing large bags of whiting while others seem to be dominant with tailor

Specialising in small group offshore charters

and salmon hoping for an easy feed. Inside North Harbour, anglers who get up before daylight will find some good flathead around the drop off using a variety of soft plastics and hardbodied lures, as well as some of the pelagics that patrol around the boat moorings.

Clontarf Reserve is a peaceful area to fish, with not many fishos using it, but the results can be very

over once again, but the fishing is still very good, with good numbers of whiting and bream eager for a feed. For a few anglers fishing small vibes and soft plastics, there have been some nice flathead taken in the early evening.

There has been a lot of anglers reporting that very large longtom are on patrol around the road bridges.

They are willing to take

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dominated with bonito and tailor taking all manner of metal lures and stickbaits, and for a lucky few there have been some excellent catches of kingfish, with north and south Curl Curl producing the goods.

There is still a feed of luderick to be had for those fishing with weed and cabbage when the sea conditions are favourable, and even the odd groper for those fishing with crab baits.

and all manner of sharks.

Early morning on a rising tide is the key at the moment, and as always it’s important to find a good gutter to fish.

For those who have had a lot of good results lately, they have had to travel up and down the different beaches to find one that is working well.

Inside Sydney Harbour the fishing continues to be very good, with lots of small kingfish following the bonito

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A nice kingfish for Clayton Brown while on a recent charter with Sydney Harbour Fishing Tours.

Raphael Callen with another mahimahi from the Sydney FADs while out on charter with Ocean Hunter Sports Fishing. good. Casting a variety of small metals in and around the netted swimming area can usually produce a fish or two like small mac tuna, as a lot of fish travel in and out under the spit bridge looking for a feed.

Anyone who wants to fish into the night are in with a chance of picking up a mulloway on a live bait or a shark on a fresh fillet of fish.

Fishing from the boat or headland around Old Mans Hat there has been some excellent captures of kingfish and bonito taking anything from lures to live baits, and with all that activity there is a gathering of boats at all times.

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There have been some good reports from some of the kids on school holidays that Manly Dam is offering up small bass for those fishing surface lures in and around the weed beds, but it will not last much longer as the weather changes and the water temperature drops and the fish start to slow down.

Queenscliff Lagoon still has a large quantity of small bream and whiting, and this makes it a perfect spot for new anglers to get into fishing, as you will always get a take of some description.

As always stay safe and enjoy the fishing.

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The kingies are still biting PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Last month saw some great fishing along Pittwater and I hope it’s just as good over the coming month.

Over the last month we have seen our regular species such as kingfish, tailor and salmon, but we had a couple of surprise captures of small spotted mackerel as well.

At the moment our water temperature along Pittwater is still a toasty 21°C, which is keeping our pelagic species rather active.

Unfortunately, as the water temperature drops we will see some species become less active, but for those in the know, other species show up to take their place.

If you are going to come to Pittwater to dangle a line, kingfish are still worth targeting. Over the last few charters I have noticed how big the squid are getting that we use for live baits. Some of these foot long squid will still get attacked while downrigging, but smaller baits will see more fish caught. I live by the ‘big baits big fish’ theory, so let us see how the next month stacks up.

Finding a small squid at the moment is a bit of a task, but with some persistence the weed beds around Palm Beach are providing a few.

The gun bait at the moment is those small cuttlefish that can be caught around the rocky and weedy edges of Pittwater. These little ink machines are usually pounced upon when

Mike with a hard-fighting samsonfish pulled from the moorings. What a fight!

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JUNE 2018

around the tailor schools, as most are very small, but those same tailor will gleefully demolish your hard-earned live baits. It’s a risk versus reward type of situation. Pittwater is a big river, so keep the eyes peeled for working seagulls or even a single gull working the surface to help find a school of pelagic fish.

The good news is that live yellowtail are still being eaten by kingies with this warmer water on the odd day. The larger yellowtail aren’t being touched, but the smaller 4” ones are being attacked.

In the above-mentioned areas, while downrigging keep an eye on your sounder for schools of balled up baitfish. Once found you should stay in the area, and it is better to have your live bait around the upper part of the bait school rather than below it, unless you are targeting bottom dwelling species.

Kingfish prefer to rise to a bait over diving for one.

Areas to target squid have been the weed beds at Palm Beach, Mackerel Beach, Careel Bay and Barrenjoey Head. Most of these areas are shallow areas, so using heavier squid jigs is asking to be fouled up with weed. The better colours at the moment seem to be the natural colours of browns, greens and iridescent blues and pilchard colours.

Young Xavier was delighted with his biggest ever flatty! target. If you fish the edges of the weed beds, leatherjackets will test your skills if you use light berley to tempt them out of the weed. Using light leaders, long shank hooks and small pieces of prawns will see the kids and kids at heart having a ball. There are bream and trevally getting in on the act, so make sure you keep the noise down to a minimum while fishing the shallows.

There are still some very decent flathead to be caught

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targeting kingfish, and rarely see you wondering if there is a kingfish in the area.

The areas to try for kingfish at the moment are the Careel Bay area, Sand Point, The Basin and Towlers Bay. Before deploying your downrigger, check out the area for any surface activity and watch out for the tailor schools. There are kingfish

The kingies are very fat fish this year and take some stopping once they’ve spotted structure.

Remember to swipe your jigs near the spikes with some scent for better results.

The scents come into play when a squid attacks your jig. They just don’t want to let go. On many occasions I have had squid bought into the boat with not a spike touching them, they just refuse to let go of the jig even out of the water. They love the taste that much!

For those who like to use baits to catch some dinner, there still seems to be some flathead, flounder, leatherjackets and bream to

on the Palm Beach drop-off and shallows as well as in Careel and Towlers Bay. Drifting while casting soft plastics will see many being caught, but if you want to drift with pilchards, the drop-off outside Palm Beach or at Sand Point have to be the pick of the areas.

Broken Bay has been a little bit quiet over recent times, but with a lot of baitfish starting to show up around Flint and Steel, Juno Point and Walkers Point, I’m sure there are some decent fish not far behind. These

areas are all great mulloway areas as well, and I am sure that there will still be a few being caught this month.

The Middle Ground area and the drift from Patonga to Lion Island should see a few flathead and flounder caught while drifting. Paternoster rigs with two hooks so you can vary your baits is one of the better methods to use when drifting the areas. The better baits to use have been prawns for flounder and fish strips or squid strips for the flatties.

Reef fishing offshore has been a little bit quiet, but this is only due to lack of current on the close in reefs. We have been starting off in 40m of water and if the fishing is slow, I have been heading further east to deeper reefs and areas until we find current.

Some days there just doesn’t seem to be any current in the water depths and you don’t have to use an electric reel to see your sinker again. Once in an area where there is a little bit of current, the fish that have been found at the reefs have been snapper, nannygai, flathead, trevally and the odd morwong.

Before drifting, it is always best to find baitfish, especially towards the edge of the reef, so don’t spend hours trying to find a bite or two.

Drifting the sand in water depths of 60-70m is seeing blue spot flathead being caught. Remember to use your plotter, so if a successful drift is completed, you can drift the same grounds again.

So as you can see from this report, there are still fish to be caught and found, but more importantly a great time on the water can be had by all.

Mulloway are the highlight in the harbour SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

It’s probably the best time of year to target mulloway (jewfish) in the upper reaches of the harbour. It seems the mulloway follow the mullet run upstream and it’s no coincidence that some of the best mulloway spots are near the areas of the greatest mullet concentrations.

If you’re chasing mulloway through the daylight hours, there’s no question that fresh squid baits are the first choice. Live squid aren’t necessary as most of our daytime mulloway are caught on strips of the tube or, ultimately, the heads and guts. If you’re after really big mulloway then live squid and big live baits like mullet or pike are probably the way to go.

Night fishing is a different matter. While I’m sure that squid are still the best bait, they are hard to use, because

Harbour; and Neilson Park, Clifton Gardens, the red marker inside South Head, Blues Point, Balls Head and the deep holes around Gladesville in the main harbour.

Bridges are top mulloway spots. Mulloway are an ambush predator, so they use dirty or dark water to hide in.

This differs from structureoriented predators like flatties, who bury in the sand, or bass who hide in a snag or weed bed. Lights on a road bridge illuminate the water next to the bridge and cast a shadow of the bridge under it. This sets up three ideal situations for mulloway to feed: the light water attracts bait like squid and mullet, the shadow gives the mulloway a place to hide and mount their attack and the pylons create a pressure wave for the mulloway to rest in while they aren’t attacking.

The scenario is like this: bait swarms in the light water, mulloway hide in the dark water and every now and then burst into the light water to

You must learn to consistently catch squid if you want to master king or mulloway fishing. they get hammered by tailor and many other non-target species. Generally, you can’t keep a bait in the water long enough to attract a mulloway.

The good news is that tailor make great live baits so that if you do lose your squid baits to tailor, at least you can put the tailor straight back out live. Don’t be scared to use big tailor for live baits, as even a 10kg mulloway will have no problem swallowing a 1kg tailor.

Spots worth a try are: Fairlight Point, Reef Beach and Cannae Point at North Harbour; the hole at the Spit, Killarney Point, Seaforth Bluff, Pickering Point and under the power lines above Roseville Bridge in Middle

grab a feed. Mulloway and the baitfish will always face into the current and the bait, at night, is generally on the surface. From all this we can see that the best way to catch mulloway around a bridge at night is with surface lures/ poppers, on the side of the bridge where the current is flowing onto and right along the line where the bridge casts a shadow on the water.

It’s also a very good time to be targeting big kings in the harbour. The winter kingfish run gets better every year as a result of the average size increasing. Small kings can’t tolerate the cold harbour waters and move offshore to where the water is warmer.

Big kings were rare 20 years

Fish like this are becoming more common in the harbour with the removal of the commercial fishing fleet. ago, so the winter fishery was almost non-existent. Oddly enough the best of the big winter king fishing happens where the water is at its coldest. If you are looking for big kings now then I would suggest looking upstream of the harbour and spit bridges.

Whether you decide to target kings or mulloway, there is no better bait than a big squid. The best mulloway and king fishers that I know are also the best squid fishers.

Huge quantities of squid can be found in the harbour and can present a great alternative on the slow days.

Not only are squid excellent table fare, but if they’re looked after properly they make an excellent bait supply.

There are two main types of squid found in the harbour – calamari (southern squid) and the common (Hawkesbury) squid.

Calamari are the bigger of the two and are found around structure. They are particularly fond of kelp beds but can often be located around jetties, bridge pylons and boat moorings. They are often encountered by live bait fishers who consider them a nuisance, although I never understood why. A live squid or even a strip of squid will out-fish a yakka any day.

Even if you don’t use them for bait, how could anybody complain about a fresh feed of calamari? Most of you will probably laugh, but when it comes to mulloway or king fishing I’d prefer a fresh squid strip over a live yakka any day.

The best way to catch calamari squid is with the standard prawn imitation style jig. A good jig will have needle sharp jags, securely fastened jags and leads, and – most importantly – it sinks horizontally and slowly. The bottom line on squid jigs is, like most things, you get what you pay for. If your jig sinks too fast or head down, take to it with your wire cutters.

Slowly clip little pieces of lead off the weight until you have it sinking to your desire.

After you snip each bit off, drop the jig in the water to see

your progress before snipping the next bit.

Calamari squid can be lured by working the jig very slowly with regular stops about 2m above the kelp. The retrieve is similar to what you would use when jigging the bottom for flathead with a soft plastic – just a lot slower. Give it a couple of sharp flicks then let it rest for a while before the next flick. The length of the rest intervals will depend on how deep the water is. Obviously in deep water you will need to let it sink for longer than in shallow water.

BRE

Southern squid can grow quite big – we’ve caught them up to 1.5kg – and because of the snaggy nature of the bottom, I’d recommend using no less than 8kg line. I’d also recommend using a net to land the big ones as they do have a habit of dropping tentacles under strain. They also like good water quality, so if you’re struggling to locate one, go in search of clean, clear ocean water.

Southern calamari differ from common squid, mainly in appearance. Calamari are proportionally shorter and have larger green eyes, but the most obvious difference is in the length of the wings.

Calamari wings run the full length of the tube where common wings run slightly less than halfway down the tube. You are much more likely to find common squid upstream whereas calamari mainly congregate in the lower reaches.

Catching common squid requires a slightly different approach. They are a schooling squid, while calamari are loners or at best found in small groups of 2-6.

Common squid congregate in large numbers in the deep bays and are much less structure-orientated. They

hang close to the bottom and are caught by letting the jig sink right to the bottom and then slowly jigging it back up.

Quite often they grab it on the way down and are snared on the first retrieve. They are highly excitable and can often be caught one after the other, up to the stage where the large quantity of ink expelled by their panicking mates puts them off the bite. At places where there is some flow in the water to take the ink away they can be caught in large numbers.

Whether you are collecting squid for bait or food, they should be iced down immediately. Squid for bait are ultimately used fresh but for prolonged storage they are best frozen whole.

Whatever you do, don’t put whole squid directly in your icebox. Put them in some sort of container and put in the icebox. The ink is a nightmare to clean up.

If you’re collecting squid to use the next day, I would suggest putting them in two zip lock sandwich bags and then submersing them in an ice slurry made on salt water. Try to avoid letting the water (particularly freshwater) come into contact with them.

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17

Plenty of action in winter BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

It may be the beginning of winter, but that shouldn’t stop you from going fishing, as there are plenty of fish on the chew.

Luderick can be caught from Chipping Norton Lakes to the entrance of Botany Bay throughout this month.

It’s just a matter of getting yourself some fresh green weed, your favourite luderick outfit, a bit of berley, a couple of floats and setting up off the shore or out of

the boat and waiting for that float to go down.

Some likely land-based places that are worth a look would be the rock wall at Chipping Norton Lakes, Picnic Point, Cattle Duffers in the Georges River State Park, Soily Point, the Lugarno board walk, Como

If soft plastics aren’t working, you should try a few small hardbodied lures like this Gladiator Bingo that this trevally took a liking to.

Bridge, Bald Face Point, Captain Cooks Bridge, Dolls Point baths, the breakwall at the entrance to the Cooks River, Muddy River, La Perouse, Bare Island and Sutherland Point.

For those of you with a boat, I would try the shoreline upstream of the speed cameras near Cattle Duffers, just downstream of Kelso Park, the southeastern rock wall adjacent to Alford Point Bridge, the Moons, the southern side of the old Lugarno ferry, the baths in Jewfish Bay, just downstream of Como Bridge, Oatley Point, Kangaroo and Towra Points.

The odd mulloway or two have been taking live mullet, squid and yellowtail in the Georges River from Lugarno to the Captain Cooks Bridge.

Try concentrating your fishing time to about an hour either side of the tide change for best results.

For those of you who like fishing off the rocks for luderick and drummer, you could try Little Bay, South Maroubra Point, North Bondi, Sutherland Point and Kurnell.

Even though the kingfish may have moved on in the bay from their

Sheryl Kelly caught this 31.5cm flounder using a soft plastic. usual haunts like the poles, markers and drums in the bay, you can start fishing for leatherjackets at these same spots. All you need to do to catch some jackets is to anchor up, berley, use a single hook paternoster

rig and either small pieces of peeled prawns or squid for bait. There should be plenty of fan-belly, six-spined and yellowfin leatherjackets about.

Bream, whiting and dusky flathead can all be

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caught on both bait and lures while drifting along the beach from the entrance of the Cooks Rover to the sand bar at Dolls Point.

The best plastics in recent weeks have been the ZMan 3.5” Trick SwimZ in sexy mullet and motor oil, and the ZMan 4” SwimmerZ in gold rush and red shad. Jigheads of 1/4-3/8oz are the go in 2-4m of water.

For those of you who prefer bait fishing, you

can be caught during the day and night in these locations, although the tailor and salmon tend to frequent this stretch of beach during the night. There is plenty of parking during the day and it’s just a short walk to the beach.

The Woronora River is currently worth a shot for luderick at the old Woronora Bridge from the shore and also the bridge at Prince Edward Park. Whiting are

deep divers fished along the shore and plastics and blades worked over the shallow areas seem to be the key.

The beaches off Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Maroubra are all worth a shot for whiting, bream, trevally and dart. The best bait by far is the beach worm.

If you can’t get any beach worms, I would recommend that you try using whitebait, half pilchards or mullet throughout June.

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Rob West only took a few soft plastics with him while drifting off the beaches at Brighton-Le-Sands and landed this 52.5cm dusky flathead. should try strips of fresh mullet, pillies or squid on either a short leader or have the ball or bean sinker running down onto the top of the bait.

If you don’t have a boat, don’t worry, as you can try fishing from the beach from Brighton to Dolls Point in the southwest, Silver Beach at Kurnell and Fishermans Beach near Bare Island.

Whiting, bream and flathead

taking both blood worms and tube worms on the flats.

I recommend using small soft plastics like the 2-2.5” ZMan GrubZ rigged on 1/20oz jigheads. Small blades in bright colours have been working for me over the same set of flats as well.

If you have a boat or kayak, you could try working your lures further upstream for bream, bass, flathead and estuary perch. Shallow and

Tailor and salmon should also be on the prowl on these beaches during the low light periods in the morning and afternoon. Night time will produce the larger fish, along with a few sharks and rays.

Don’t forget to keep those reports and photos coming in! If you have anything to report or have a picture of your latest catch just email it to me at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au.

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Allen Delaney got this 41cm whiting on a Gladiator Kozami 60 walker while fishing the flats along the Georges River. This beautiful fish slammed the lure and took off with lighting speed. Allen was glad his 3lb leader held up for the fight.

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19

Time for a bit of bait fishing SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

There are about five main species of fish that I will target during June in the Southern Sydney area. They are luderick, drummer, leatherjackets

freeze it, so that it can be chopped up for the next lot of berley.

There are times when I find it hard getting any weed, so this is when I will revert to using white bread for berley and bait. What usually happens with bread is that you will also attract drummer when you are targeting

June in the Port Hacking, they are a year-round species to target. You don’t have to have a sophisticated rig.

All you need is a one-hook paternoster rig. You only need to have a short distance (10cm) of leader from the main line to where you attach the hook. The piece of prawn or squid only needs to

anglers out and about. As for bait, beach worms would have to be my favourite, followed by pink nippers and then strips of filleted pilchards.

The main rig that I use is the double hook paternoster rig, where the length of the leaders are no more that 15cm. The star or snapper sinker size will vary with the condition of the surf. Early morning, late afternoon and overcast days will get the best results. The stretch of beach from Boat Harbour to South Cronulla will produce whiting throughout this month. It’s just a matter of working out which gutter is holding them.

To help me become more mobile, all I will have when chasing whiting from the beach is one outfit, a shoulder bag, a bait bucket, pliers and a knife on a belt.

This allows me to move from gutter to gutter in search of the whiting.

If targeting whiting in the estuary, I will tend to fish the outgoing tide and I find that the bigger ones tend to

This youngster caught this crimson cleaner wrasse while fishing on All At Sea Charters. be at the edge of the dropoffs, especially towards the last part of the tide.

Whether you are fishing from the shore or out of a

The author took Len Pascoe and Brad Chin out on the Port Hacking River for a luderick session and also managed to get yellowfin bream on weed. and whiting and dusky flathead with bait. I sometimes throw in a few large soft plastics and blades for the flathead.

As most of you would know, luderick are mainly caught on either green weed or cabbage that can be collected from the rocks, rivers and creeks. As with most anglers who fish for luderick, I too like to keep the places that I find my weed close to my chest, and I make sure that I only take enough for my next session.

If I do have some left, I will

luderick off the rocks. So, I will always have a heavier back-up outfit so that I can muscle in the drummer.

Places that are worth a try for luderick off the shore in the Port Hacking would be the ramp at Yowie Bay, Gymea, Lilly Pilly and Gunnamatta Baths and the downstream point from the ramp at the end of Swallow Rock Drive. Off the rocks you could try Kurnell, Jibbon Point and Marley Point in the Royal National Park.

Even though I like to target leatherjackets during

be small enough to fit in the gape of the hook. The rod that you use needs to have a fast-tapered tip, so that you can see the bite rather than feel it.

When looking for a spot to target leatherjackets you can’t do much better than fishing off a wharf or a pontoon from the shore.

If you are out in a boat I would suggest that you look for areas that have rocky boulders adjacent to the sand, weed beds that are adjacent to the sand and rocks and kelp.

One thing about chasing whiting off the beach during the cooler months of the year is that there are not so many

The will be plenty of leatherjackets about this month.

This one was caught while fishing in 50m south of the Port Hacking entrance aboard All At Sea Charters.

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JUNE 2018

boat, I would try the bay at Bonnie Vale or the creek entrance that leads from the basin.

Last, but by no means least, I like to target dusky flathead with bait during the cooler months of the year.

This will be mainly done up in the backs or the bays and those deep-water areas near to drop-offs.

If using whole dead garfish or pilchards, I will use ganged hooks. If using a large strip bait, I will use a double hook rig, where the top hook is placed near the top of the bait while allowing enough room to do a double hitch around the pointy end. The bottom hook is placed so that the hook point and barb are protruding out of the skin.

When using strips of squid that have been sliced at the bottom to make it look like tentacles, I will only have a single hook placed at the top. I find that the flathead will just engulf this bait.

Sometimes the strip bait needs to be of a smaller size.

This is where I put the hook through the top twice and have the line half hitched around the pointy end. The hook is then placed so that the hook point and barb are protruding out of the skin towards the bottom of the bait.

If using a whole dead bait, I will pin the hook through the eye or through the nose, making sure that I have broken every vertebra in the bait so that the body looks more lifelike.

Don’t forget to keep those reports and photos coming in! If you have anything to report or have a picture of your latest catch just email it to me at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

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Blackfish catches ramp up SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

Every year I look forward to the winter rock blackfish season. This species thrives in the cooler months, and the fish caught lately have ranged from 600g to 2.9kg, which is an impressive size. I prefer to release pigs around that size or larger, as there may be the risk of them being somewhat tough. Besides, they are great breeding stock, producing many thousands of eggs.

Although winter is a great time to target these fish, bear in mind that in Sydney they can actually be caught all year round. In my April column you may have seen a photo of Andrew Morgan’s whopper 4.8kg pig. The water temp was a balmy 24°C at the time.

I love pig fishing, partly because of the other species you may encounter on the outing. Groper, bream, trevally, luderick and of course leatherjackets and even snapper can be amongst your catch. I have had outings where kings, salmon and other pelagics

have picked up the prawn, bread or even weed baits.

“Wait a minute, you caught them on weed baits?”

I hear you say. Well, as I wound in the weed bait

that was suspended under a float, it resembled a green baitfish, and bam! A king found it enticing. I’ve had salmon smash weed baits as well – even pelagics like

Alistair Pearson and 10yo son Hamish with their first two whiting. These fish will be in good numbers this month. Be mobile and fish as light a sinker as possible to maximise your catch rates.

bonito, mac tuna and frigate mackerel have been caught in this way.

However, don’t go out there and start spinning cabbage weed baits for your pelagics. It just happens occasionally!

Some of the locations I suggest for pigs are Barrenjoey Head on the Central Coast side (be prepared for a long walk in), Mona Vale Headland (in flat conditions), and also Warriewood Head. There is a rope climb involved on the northeast face, approximately 4m and very steep. Otherwise there’s a lengthy walk in from the Turrametta side.

Rock blackfish are cave and ledge dwellers, so look for bouldery areas where the pigs can hide. Preferably fish the half tide into high, through to about one and a half hours out.

SILVER TREVALLY The silver trevally are in large numbers, and this is one of the peak months for these fish. From the ocean rocks, Botany Bay, Sydney Harbour and Pittwater are just some of the estuaries they are caught from.

Silver trevally are a hard fighting fish, ranging in size from 15cm to sizeable

A nice bag of rock blackfish. The largest fish and four more were released to live long and to rejuvenate stocks. Please only take what you need. Remember they are a residential species so stocks are limited.

50cm+ (the legal length is 30cm). The fish I prefer to take home for the table are from 30-40cm. If you take fish above 45cm they often have that honeycomb flesh parasite, and the larger fish also get quite dry. One of my very favourite sashimi fish of all time is a small trevally from that 32-35cm size. If you have not tried them, you’re missing out.

Absolutely sensational!

Trevally, like the rock blackfish, are often caught with other species. You can expect to catch bream, luderick, leatherjackets, groper, rock blackfish and more when pursuing trevally.

The exception is when the trevally are in plague proportions; when this happens they seem to deter a lot of other smaller species,

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Entry is simple. Email us your cover-worthy pic. Remember, though, that it needs to be the right composition and resolution to work. After that, it just needs to get through the Grumpy Old Men committee (Steve Morgan and Matt Drinkall) and then BOOM, you’re the latest cover model.

Be creative - we like images that aren’t just ‘person holding fish’.

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Other parameters of which you need to take note: Portrait format (photo must be taller than it is wide).

Leave enough room for a magazine masthead at the top of of the image.

Leave enough room for the bottom banner and bar code area.

Shoot in the highest resolution your camera can take.

Use fill-in flash to help remove any shadows under caps or biminis.

Live fish look way better than dead ones.

Any fish must be legally captured (within season/size limits).

Head not too high in the shot to allow for Masthead Portrait format

And then email your image to: frontcovercomp@fishingmonthly.com.au with a description of the what/when/where/how of the capture.

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JUNE 2018

because of their very active nature while in a berley trail.

Some of the trevally hot spots are Mona Vale pool ledge out the front section in relatively calm conditions (in swell of 3-4m or less).

You can also try Long Reef’s locally named Snapper Rock Ledge, approximately 300m east of the old cleaning tables, and North and South Curl Curl front ledges. Around the North Harbour area, try Fairlight pool, the gas works, and Dobroyd front ledges in flat conditions. Good baits

are peeled prawns, half pilchards (preferably the medium-sized ones), or pink nippers if you want to put in that extra effort. For berley, add whatever you are using for bait, and you can put in some bread as well.

SALMON AND TAILOR At the moment you can catch a range of species from Palm to Manly beach.

Anglers are picking up salmon and tailor in the evenings, and some of them are good size fish. The die-hard mulloway fishos

Alex Deakin with her largest bream, which was caught in the harbour at Balmoral. There is some quality to be caught there at times.

have been catching salmon over 3.2kg, and tailor in the 2kg size range. The most popular rig is the traditional 3 x 4/0 size gangs with swivels in between the hooks. If you don’t use swivels in your ganged hooks, the hooks can get cramped up and bend your pilchard into a banana shape. Having strong swivels below the first and second hook will allow the hooks to be much more freed up, much more malleable and much easier to bait up. You will notice a straighter pilchard bait and your bite ratio will increase simply because the presentation looks better to predatory species. I even use swivels in between my gang hooks for my gars and even when using whitebait.

WHITING There’s hardly a whiting angler to be seen at the moment, but several of the beaches have whiting in good numbers. Some are quite good fish to 37cm. Amongst that are some late season flathead picking up the worm baits, and sizeable winter bream to 35cm. Clients often ask me whether there are many whiting around, and I tell them the whiting are around most years until late July. After that, there will be only selected beaches that have some residential whiting in late July, August

Archer Huang with a 81cm kingfish caught on a very fresh squid strip. June produces kings of this quality and way larger, so don’t put the gear away just yet. and September. For those anglers that can catch their own beach worms that is a plus. But for those who cannot, well… you’ll have to fall back on alternatives.

You can try peeled prawns; nearly all tackle shops stock prawns like the Hawkesbury or other river prawns.

Another popular option is metho worms – so called because they have been soaked in methylated spirits.

If you’re overly cautious

about using metho worms, don’t be, as they work quite well. Remember that methylated spirits is water soluble so the smell will disperse in 30 seconds or so, providing they haven’t been soaked for too long.

If you’re lucky, you may be able to find some fishing tackle shops that will still have live tube or beach worms. Do some research.

For this month, even though the days appear to

be generally cold, just rug up well and you’ll be OK. For the rock fishers, do not pile on too much clothing, because if you get into a bad predicament your mobility will be vastly restricted.

• For rock and beach guided fishing or tuition in the northern Sydney region, visit www.bellissimocharters. com.au, email alex@ bellissimocharters.com.au or call Alex Bellissimo on 0408 283 616.

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Get out the winter gear WESTERN SYDNEY

Cameron McDonald

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

The days are getting shorter and colder. The tee shirts and shorts are gone, with jumpers and beanies now standard fishing wear. I have been known to wear ugg boots on the boat, and laugh all you want, my footsies are nice and warm. A personal pocket warmer has almost (but not quite) replaced the thermos of coffee.

My favourite fishing techniques change as winter approaches. Bass and estuary perch are left alone to breed, and other species become the challenge. From chasing trout at Thompsons Creek and Lake Lyell, to the hard-core pursuit of cod at Copeton, it’s an exciting time.

Locally though, I tend to focus on big blue nose winter bream, and the silver ghosts of the estuary: the mulloway.

The author caught this typical early season mulloway. choices. A slow drift will see more fish come to the boat, but if anchoring is your choice, then berley will definitely see your catch rates go up. An hour each side of the tide change is prime time, as the Hawkesbury has a huge current, and a poorly chosen location will see it tough to keep your bait near the bottom. The Vines behind Bar Island is a popular location, and it’s

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A cracker pair of bruiser bream for Imran.

The Hawkesbury River is well known for producing some big bream, and with good reason. Sure, there are lots of little specimens, but a 40cm+ fork length bream is a realistic goal for the dedicated angler. Remember, bream are one of the slowest growing fish in the country, and a true stonker is probably as old as you are. Even if a family feed is the day’s goal, at least consider releasing the bigger models, as they aren’t an everyday fish.

Lots of bream tournaments are held on the lower Hawkesbury, and recent results have shown that crab imitations are reliable lures. Crab lures must be worked super slowly. If you think you might be retrieving too fast, you probably are.

If crab imitations aren’t working, slow rolled crankbaits, particularly suspending models, are a great searching weapon, as you can cover more ground than you can with a crab.

For the bait fishos, fresh Hawkesbury prawns, nippers, beach worms or half a pilchard would be the top

unlikely you will be the only boat there.

Daytime mulloway are a very achievable target.

During the colder months, there is no need to get up early or fish throughout the night. Whether using fresh squid, live yakkas, or soft plastics, patience is the key.

‘A fish of a thousand casts’ is an apt description. Live bait becomes a little harder to source, and if intending to

do so, allocate a bit of time to get squid or yakkas. They aren’t so easy to catch as during the warmer months.

The Pillboxes at the mouth of Pittwater is a top spot to gather some bait. Sabiki jigs with a sliver of pilchard on the hooks and berley should see some into the live well.

Once you have a few, move to your spot and drop the rods in. Try Flint and Steel reef, Juno Point, or a drift around the headlands. Rig the yakka or squid with at least a 5/0.

A variety of methods work, and it pays to have multiple rods out with differing techniques. A livey under a float approximately 3m down is one, with another dropped to the bottom and wound up a metre or so being the second. The third technique is a dead bait on the bottom, and this will see some fish come to the boat, but it might not be the mulloway you are chasing. Rays, sharks, flathead and a myriad of others all like dead fish sitting on the sand. Remember legal sizes and bag limits, and only keep enough for a feed. Mulloway are under increasing pressure and if we want to keep the population healthy we should be releasing as many as possible.

• The expert staff at Australian Bass Angler in Penrith specialise in all fields of fresh and saltwater fishing.

If you want to know about the latest tackle or techniques, kayak fishing, or tournament bass boats, drop into the store at 105 Batt Street, Penrith or phone (02) 4721 0455.

Zach with his first tournament bream.

The lowdown on leaders: why should you use them?

The best leader materials are generally clear and not too glossy. Their clarity allows light to pass through, reducing visibility and the creation of shadows, while a low gloss finish minimises the incidence of flashing in bright sunlight.

A third and final reason for always using a mono leader when you’re running

NSW STH COAST PART 1

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

These days, the addition of a leader of some sort at the business end of your line is regarded as almost mandatory, especially when using braided or fused gel-spun polyethylene (GSP) main lines. But why is that so, and how do you choose the best leader setup to use?

These days, a large and growing percentage of keen Aussie anglers have made the switch to using braided or fused GSP main lines for at least some of their fishing. They’ve done this

Braided main lines offer all sorts of advantages, but you really should add a mono or fluorocarbon leader.

Sharp-eyed and finicky fish like this whiting are far less likely to detect a length of fine mono leader.

Tying your braid straight to the lure or hook would almost certainly cost you bites in finesse situations. because these ‘super lines’ offer distinct advantages in terms of casting ability, bite detection, hook-setting power and sheer fishfighting strength.

Braided or fused GSP lines are extremely thin for their breaking strain, meaning it’s possible to fit more line on a reel, cast further and work lures or baits deeper in the water column without adding too much extra weight to the line.

You’ll also maintain much better contact with your lure or bait, as the very low stretch characteristics of braid really enhance the angler’s sense of feel. However, one of the downsides of GSP is the fact that its use practically demands the addition of a leader for most common forms of fishing. There are a couple of reasons for this: Firstly, while gel-spun

fight, when there’s only a short length of line between angler and fish.

If we accept that the use of leaders is virtually mandatory when running GSP lines (for the three critical reasons just explained), and often highly advantageous even with monofilament main lines (especially where a length of

the way they’re constructed, using thousands of minute fibres known as ‘angel hairs,’ these multi-strand lines quickly lose strength when abraded.

Tying braid straight to your hook or lure exposes the last metre or two of line to all sorts of damaging contacts with rocks, oysters, snags, pylons and so on, and that’s before a fish ever gets involved.

Fine, sharp fish teeth such as those found in flathead or Murray cod are kryptonite to these super lines, especially when the fish that own them begin shaking their

leaders virtually mandatory whenever you’re running gel-spun main lines.

There are more reasons for always using a leader with GSP lines; as thin as braids are for their strength, most are also opaque. In other words, light doesn’t pass through them. This can potentially make these lines more visible to fish in many lighting conditions, as well as increasing the density and definition of the shadows they cast.

Adding a leader of single strand (monofilament) line, either nylon or fluorocarbon, is generally accepted as being the best way to separate these solid, visible, multistrand lines from your bait, lure or fly.

A leader of nylon or fluorocarbon adds a small but valuable degree of stretch to the equation when a powerful fish is close to the boat or bank, thus helping to prevent pulled or straightened hooks. braid is related to the very low stretch of gel-spun lines. In many cases, it can actually be an advantage to incorporate a small amount of controlled stretch into your rig, and using a monofilament leader is the easiest way to do that.

Having a slight ‘cushion’ or ‘spring’ in the form of a few metres of relatively stretchy leader material can be a real bonus, especially in the closing stages of a

stronger, tougher and more abrasion-resistant material is needed at the working end of the rig) then how do we pick the optimum leader setup for each fishing scenario? How long should that leader be, what should it be made from, and how is it best connected to our main line?

These are questions I’ll answer in depth next month, in the second part of this double-header on leader lore.

Even the widely-spaced, conical ‘holding’ teeth of a mulloway are capable of damaging fine braids. polyethylene (GSP) line is very durable and hard wearing when dealing with smooth surfaces like reel spools, rod runners, bail rollers and clean boat hulls.

It abrades quickly when it comes into contact with rougher surfaces, especially while under pressure. Due to

heads from side to side. The same goes for species with rock-hard, sandpaper jaws like barra, queenfish and threadfin salmon, to name a few. Even without the next two factors described, GSP’s lack of abrasion resistance under tension makes the use of monofilament

Queenfish have hard, sharp-edged jaws that could easily wear through braided line if it were connected directly to the hook or lure.

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The world’s easiest fish finder?

It was announced as ‘the world’s easiest fish finder’, which is a big claim to make.

Given that marine technology is advancing at an incredible rate, ease of use is something that can often be missed with some complex features becoming available of recent times.

The Lowrance Hook2, with its additional features, needed to tie high-end specs with ease of use. Has the Hook2 achieved that?

Available in wide range different options, the Lowrance Hook2 comes in five different screen sizes, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 12”. Depending on the size screen you pick, the units are also available with three different sonar capabilities – Bullet offers traditional sonar with a GPS Plotter, SplitShot, which offers DownScan and Sonar with GPS mapping. Lastly the TripleShot which offers, SideScan, DownScan and Sonar with GPS mapping. So basically, there are plenty of options! For me, I went with a Hook2 9” TripleShot unit, which I mounted into a kayak.

When it came to the installation, I had it all set up within about 30 minutes. It was simple. There are two cables, one goes to a battery and one goes to the transducer. Both plug into the back of the sounder unit and it’s done! For the kayak,

It’s a great feeling when you can see the fish on the sounder and then catch them!

I went with a 12amp battery and mounted the transducer off an arm screwed into the rear of the kayak.

The first thing I noticed upon turning the unit on was that the menu is incredibly simple to understand. If you have used a smart phone, it’s much the same. The HDS units also offer a similar set up, which is what it initially reminded me of.

I’m used to touch screen, and I have been using a touch screen sounder for a few years now. One of my concerns was if it would be easy enough to navigate around with the use of buttons. The intuitive layout of the menu meant that it was easy and you didn’t have to scroll through a large list of items either, which is a pet hate of mine.

My first trip out with this sounder was an eye opener.

Hooked up on the kayak, I fished an area I had fished plenty of times in the past, but never with a sounder. I took this opportunity to sound around looking for structure that I had not seen or fished before. Using the SideScan, I found a small boat wreck and then proceeded to catch a number of bass off it. I was sold at that point. I had caught fish that I definitely would not have targeted without it. I ran my settings on auto out of the box. It provided me with clear definition on side, down

These fish were showing predominantly to the right side of the kayak, so the author knew exactly where to cast.

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Two plugs in and away you go. Simple and easy!

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JUNE 2018

The Hook2 made finding schooled fish a breeze.

and standard sonar. All I changed was the colour palette.

I was able to customize my screen to show exactly what I wanted too, such as the size and layout of each panel, depth, temperature, time, speed. It can be configured to personal tastes, which is great!

So what’s it worth? The Hook2 price range started from $159 for the 4” version. I did a comparison of other similar spec units of a range of brands and the Hook2 came in best at price and features. There’s no other sounder out there under $1,000 that can do what these can!

My favourite thing about this sounder is that it is just easy.

Easy to install, the settings can be left on auto. Basically, you don’t need a degree to run it! When I take my kayak out, it’s usually a spur of the moment decision to have a quick flick.

The last thing I want to worry about is taking time to set up my sounder. The Hook2 is perfect for this scenario, and the more I use it, the more I enjoy it. I could go on about how good it is, but at the end of the day, you have to see for yourself! Get down to your local boating store and have a play with one.

They are going to be a very popular addition to the Lowrance stable. A sounder that combines, usability, with high-end technology, what’s not to love!

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Slow currents and big smiles for offshore anglers the rock walls and headlands at first light are catching some good tailor. These fish seem to go off the bite after the sun is up. There is also the odd one in the beach gutters of a night, and they seem to be responding to whole pilchards.

Some good dart and bream are also being caught around the headlands and rock walls. Strip baits, half pilchards and beach worms are working best.

The odd mulloway is sitting in the deeper gutters of a night. Live bait, beach worms, and large strip

THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

It’s that time of the year again when the gentle giants grace us with their presence, and this means a few things for anglers. Slow currents, snapper, kingfish and cobia!

Slowing currents are finally giving anglers a chance at keeping on the bottom, and it opens up various techniques such as bottom bashing, soft plastics, drift baits and micro jigging in most depths off of Tweed.

Close reefs are fishing well for snapper, tuskies, Moses perch and spangled emperor.

A few packs of tuna are starting to feed up on bait schools and the kings and cobia aren’t far behind. Most smaller boats are finally taking advantage of the weather and are able to get out and amongst it.

The estuary has had a bit to offer in recent weeks.

Bream are starting to school up on most rock walls and bridges. School mulloway are sitting in the holes around bridges. There are still good flathead and whiting up in the skinny water sun baking.

The beaches are all starting to fish well this month. Metals at dusk and dawn off the rock walls and headlands are catching some nice tailor, but it is only a small window as the sun rises and sets.

It’s now closed season for bass in the Tweed region, but it doesn’t mean you still can’t fish for them.

Everyo

Glen Miles with a nice spangled emperor from a close reef off Tweed.

Most impoundments are still fishing well. The wild bass are still fishing well, just remember there’s a no take rule on bass now. The submerged rock walls around the brackish and up to weir in the Tweed have been fishing well for the river bass.

OFFSHORE The weather has finally settled down and so have the currents. Most reefs off the Tweed coast are fishing well for mixed reefies. Try 3-7” plastics, drift baits, and small micro jigs around Fidos, Mudhole, Five Mile, Nine Mile and Kingscliff Reef and 5-9” plastics, jigs, and patanoster rigs on the 24s, 36s and 50s. Large jigs are getting the kings and larger snapper out wider.

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season. Now is a good time to target them around the brackish water, weir, and submerged rock walls.

Working vibes, crankbaits and plastics around these areas will still put you onto a good bass. A clean release is crucial, because it is their spawning season.

Clarrie Hall Dam will still fish well this month. Try up in the skinny water around the lilies at first light with surface lures and jig spins for best results.

NEXT MONTH As winter fully decends upon us, we will see more

floating around Nine Mile and the Mudhole. Trolling live baits over the shallow reefs and locating bait with arches sitting around it on your sounder, then going to neutral to allow your bait to get down to them is the key to getting a big kingy or cobia.

Down rigging baits and livies is equally good.

A few packs of tuna are starting to show up this month. Finding working birds and targeting them with metals on light gear is pretty addictive. Boat placement is crucial. Tuna normally feed into the wind, so doing a wide loop around them and positioning yourself 50m in front of them should see you on the money with reels screaming.

There is the odd large mulloway sitting on isolated wrecks in 40m and deeper.

Soaking a live bait such as a pike has been catching a few recently. There’s plenty of bait schools at Kirra Reef, Point Reef, the sand pumping jetty, Ten Minute Reef, the south side of Kingscliff Reef and the eastern yellow marker of Cook Island.

ESTUARY The cooler water in the estuary has triggered the bream to start schooling up in good numbers around the various rock walls and bridges, and anglers are having fun on the light gear.

Targeting these areas and good structures like oyster racks with small lightlyweighted plastics, crankbaits, blades, small crab lures, small vibes and drift baits on 6lb leader can test the best of anglers. Try the oyster racks in Terranora lakes, Boyds Bay bridge, Nusics Hole, the Blue Hole, Jack Evens rock wall, the trawlers and Barneys Point bridge for some fun.

Some good flathead are being caught up in the shallows this month.

Throwing 3-5” plastics is a technique that is catching a good feed. Working vibe lures off the bottom in deep holes is

also catching the big girls.

You can expect good numbers of GT, big-eye and the odd school mulloway and large flathead out at the river mouth sitting along the rock walls. Plastics and small micro jigs are working best.

The odd trevally is falling to a high speed metal, and the right weight is critical when fishing these areas. Current and structure will dictate your weight.

There will be mulloway sitting in the various holes around the Tweed. The bigger holes have been holding the bigger fish. Live baits on a run-out tide of a night or at dawn in one of these holes should put you onto a silver ghost. Live pike and mullet seem to be the best baits at the moment.

There is still the odd bigger whiting up in the skinny water. Yabbies and worms are working best for the bait anglers. A few diver whiting are also popping up in the deeper holes of the Tweed, and again, worms and yabbies are working best.

BEACH The beaches and headlands have been fishing well this month. Metals off

Mako Dillion took this nice Brunswick Heads flathead. baits will do the damage this month.

For beach and rock action this month, try Tweed rock walls, Snapper Rocks, Fingal Headland, the south wall at Kingscliff and Hastings Point.

FRESHWATER Just because it’s ‘closed season’ on bass, that doesn’t mean you can’t still target them, because the next four months are a no take period, and not a proper closed

Finny Ay was stoked with this solid Tweed mulloway.

whales move through our area, which means less current, colder water and sunny but crisp days. The snapper and other reef fish will start to move to shallow grounds and onto the closer reefs.

Packs of cobia and kingfish will also torment the bait schools on close reefs.

Anglers will have access to deeper waters and more techniques for fishing that deep water.

The mulloway, bream, flathead, GT and big-eye will be the go-to for most estuary fishers, but they should also be more predominent over the next month as well.

Diver whiting should start moving into the holes and deeper channels in the systems.

The beach will get cleaner and the gutters and headlands will fish really well next month. Tailor should start their run up the coast as they migrate north.

Mulloway will move into these gutters to feed up and make the most of the mullet and tailor run.

Bass will move down to the salt as they start their spawning season.

Remember, it’s strictly no take, and a quick release is important to ensure the future of the species.

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Beach fishing improving BALLINA

Joe Allan

The beaches both north and south of Ballina have been fishing well over the last month with good reports of tailor, whiting, bream and dart being caught.

Fresh baits like blue pilchards gang rigged on three 4/0 hooks have been getting the best results. If you’re into throwing slugs, try 20, 30 or 40g models, depending on the size of the swell, and choose a run-in tide. The last half hour before the sun sets in the evening is really the perfect time to be trying this, and there have been quality numbers caught in this short period.

The flathead have been pushing up past the ferry and into the lower reaches of Emigrant Creek, although this time of year isn’t the time the big girls come out to play. You will get some nice fish as by-catch when fishing for mulloway, as they start to become more active around now.

The deeper holes along the town stretch and past the ferry will produce the best chance for a big mulloway, with live mullet being the

best bait on either of the slack tides.

Most of the bream are still hugging the rock walls,

but the odd one is out on some of the sand flats during the run-in tides. There do seem to be some good quality

fish amongst them, and with the water starting to drop in temperature, the big snowies, as they’re known around here, can’t be far off. Fresh prawns and nippers can be really productive for these guys, and can be fun for kids to collect. You are always pretty much guaranteed to catch some nice fish with fresh baits and quality hooks.

If you’re into lure fishing, give small crankbaits a go and get them tight into the rocks and hang on. With light line the bream you hook can give you some stick and provide some great sport.

The run-in tide has also produced some luderick along the walls on cabbage and peeled prawns, or yabbies on the run-out.

If you can find any weed flies, it’s worth giving them a crack too, either under a float or fished on a very light weight like you would an

Ben Rampling with his children and his 15kg mulloway.

Bryce Cameron with a cracking Spaniard caught on a stickbait.

Anthony Melchior caught these nice tailor along Patches Beach using blue pilchards on gang hooks.

unweighted soft plastic down a wall. A lot of old timers will swear by long soft rods for this type of fishing, which are tried and tested, however don’t be afraid to give your normal bream rods a go though. Although they handle the fish just as easily, they just don’t have the same reach when landing a fish on the rocks, which the longer rods help with.

Offshore fishing has been alright, with decent catches of snapper off the close in reefs likes Riordons, and also up towards Lennox Point. When the tide isn’t pumping, try fishing really light jighead rigged soft plastics up on the top of Riordons Reef. As light as a 1/6 or 1/4oz isn’t too light!

The snapper will come off the bottom and hit the plastic on the drop most of the time.

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JUNE 2018

Cold weather worth braving YAMBA

Dave Gaden

June is here, winter is here, cold is here! I hate the cold, but I love winter.

On a personal level, I can’t stand to be cold like most normal-minded people, but winter and the cold make for great reef fishing in shallow water as well as calmer seas.

hot snapper bite at daylight is very appealing.

The close grounds are the go for those who get going early. Plumbago and Red Cliff as well as Shelly Headland in the south are easy targets from Yamba.

To the north, Black Rock, South Evans Reef and even just in front of Woody Head are great close grounds. Get in close in around 10m of water or less and look for

head straight down into the kelp bed and bust you off.

If you can’t stop them and you can feel the line running through the kelp, free spool the fish, as nine times out of ten it will swim up once the pressure is released.

If plastics aren’t for you then floating baits with very light or no sinker (depending on current) will get a feed in no time. Just get a nice long strip of mullet flesh or half a pilly and flick it out 20m behind the boat and that’s all you will need.

The shallow water fish really are an early start

target, and I usually give up on them around 8:30am, as I think they move wider. Mind you, plenty of my mates catch them all day there and think I’m crazy for leaving.

But, as the morning breeze abates I like to chase the fish in 40m of water.

Winter is the time they really school up, making them a lot easier to find on the sounder. Unlike summer and autumn, where we drift over the ground, you can set an anchor on a patch of fish and load up when they are bunched like this. The ground from Red Cliff to

Nathan with a mulloway from a local reef.

Laurie from Werribee took this lovely spotted mackerel.

Around Anzac Day each year they get their first frosts up in the tablelands to the west of us, with freezing southwesterly winds blowing down the hill, making the water cold. Setting up the charter boat at 4:30am and then playing with frozen bait isn’t that appealing, but the expectation and results of a

the kelp on the sounder, as big snapper will be cruising these areas for the next three months, giving you plenty of time to hone your skills.

The guys flicking big plastics will find the fish very close to the surface so use as light a jighead as you can, but don’t go too light on the tackle. The bigger fish will

Jason caught this snapper in relatively shallow water.

Brooms Head in 40-45m of water would be a good place to start, and similarly the north ground outside South Evans break in the same depth will hold good fish.

If you want to try your hand at fishing a bit deeper, then this is the month. The current on the 50 fathom line should have dropped away enough for you to comfortably fish this depth.

The grounds themselves may be more difficult to find if you haven’t been out there before. As a base mark, if you travel ENE or ESE from the mouth of the Clarence for 19 nautical miles, you will start to find reef in 85-100m of water. It will be easier to find the fish on the sounder than to wind them up from that depth, I will guarantee you!

In the estuary, the signs are pretty good for a big luderick season. The middle wall is a great spot to start, around the tide gauge on

the Iluka side of the wall, if you haven’t a favourite spot, will produce fish.

Other spots to try will be Turkeys Nest on Iluka side, the Peninsula units near the Yamba Shore Tavern (easy stop for a counter lunch as well) and the sides of Oyster Channel bridge.

Bream will be schooling up for their spawn, and this normally happens on the full moon at the end of June or early July. Night fishing for these guys is one of my favourite things. Nothing fancy, just anchor up on the middle wall with a heap of good berley and some prawns and mullet strips for bait. It is not uncommon to land 50 fish in a session at this time of the year, keeping just a couple of studs for a feed. It really is great fun.

If you haven’t fished much at night, there are a couple of things you need to know. The law will require you to have an all-round

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white light (commonly called an anchor light) turned on in your vessel the whole time the sun isn’t up; you may also need other lighting to see what you are doing while fishing.

To some people this would seem to defeat the purpose,

because of the fact that a light may frighten the fish off. This is the case if you turn up at a spot in the dark and turn a light on, but if you get set up while it is still light and turn your lights on before it gets dark, then the area hasn’t changed for

the fish, as with a well-lit bridge. I fish with a light on all the time (but never shine a bright light into the water).

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Summer and winter species are both an option COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

This month you have the option of summer or winter species. While the

trevally and jack showing up, as they will all winter, but they are no longer the targets.

River mulloway are one of the major targets this month. As the cold winter nights set in, you can expect

morning chasing a nice slab of river chrome. Many will fish with strip baits, pillies or live bait, if they can get them. Fishing with lures for mulloway, however, has become the most consistent technique for finding

in most river systems; the rock walls, bridges, river junctions and drop-offs are the areas to focus your attention.

Large soft plastics, swimbaits, jointed stickbaits, vibes and hardbodies all do their part.

There are two main options in terms of action on the

vibe or stickbait twitching and jumping constantly while trying to keep it in the zone for the longest time possible. Don’t retrieve much line during twitches.

Both of these methods have their place and will produce results on their day.

Big winter bream are another popular target for

long pauses and subtle movements. There are good bream spread throughout all the Coffs Coast estuaries at the moment. Lures imitating whitebait or glass bait are going to be the winners on the larger bream, with massive bait schools moving through the local systems at the moment.

Winter means big bream if you’ve got the patience for some subtlety and finesse.

Matthew ‘Macca’ McEwan found this fella grazing around on a cool autumn day. estuaries have certainly moved into winter mode, there is still the occasional

to see anglers subjecting themselves to the elements until the early hours of the

the schoolies, as well as the bigger fish. The key locations remain the same

On the Coffs Coast snapper season is never ending, but at this time of year they get a lot easier to find. Jason O’Brien found this one close to shore and enticed him aboard with a soft plastic jerk shad. retrieve. The first is low and slow – slow rolling paddle-tail soft plastics and hardbodies down around the structure. The second is twitchy but static – a method of keeping your soft plastic,

June. As the waters clear up over this month, a little finesse will be required for these finicky feeders. Soft plastics and hardbodies should generally be fished slowly on light gear, with

Offshore you still have decisions to make about whether you hit the surface for the summer pelagics or go deeper with snapper and kings in mind. While the current continues to push

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There’s nothing like getting your first mackerel on the run into winter! Jordan Voglsinger got this Spaniard during a sneaky mid-week fish off the harbour.

warm water our way, we can expect the mackerel and tuna to continue their current form. The mackerel have been reasonably consistent in the back half of the season, but I

wouldn’t label this season as being prolific.

The longtail tuna, on the other hand, have been popping up everywhere in really good numbers and sizes. This month we may

see them hanging around for a little longer, as long as the warm water stays around.

Mullet are always a top bait option when coinciding with the offshore mullet run, especially for the Spaniards.

This schoolie was fooled twice by the Sebile Magic Swimmer in its mouth. The author hooked and dropped him the cast before, but the fish jumped all over it again as soon as the next cast was made.

Even with the mackerel and tuna still dominating the surface waters offshore, the snapper have begun to move closer to the coast, preparing for their winter in the shallows. Good snapper are being caught from out on the deeper reefs, into the shallow bait reefs, and near shore rubble grounds.

The headlands and breakwalls are also offering a mix of summer and winter. The washes have been crowded with tailor and luderick. Whether you fish old school or new tactics, these have been two traditional bread and butter species responsible for many a family feed.

Luderick have come on the pole and weed, or maybe on the fly, and tailor on the pillies and ganged hooks, metal lures and stickbaits.

These techniques offer great fun on any of our headlands at the moment and can produce a feed to boot.

If you’re throwing a metal, hardbody or stickbait around the headlands this month, it’s not just the winter tailor that are in for a run – mackerel and longtail tuna have frequenting the headlands offering great excitement for the land-based lure anglers.

Stickbaits and metals have been the biggest winners, but if you can snag an

offshore wind to drift your livey off the rocks, you could be in for mackerel, tuna, kingfish, snapper and jumbo tailor.

One sure sign of winter is the closing of the trout season. Monday the 11th will be the last day of the season, so you only have a few days to catch the last of the summer fish amongst the wintery background of the Dorrigo plateau in

June. I find these last days of the season the most enjoyable time to be up there. Sometimes it’s cold, wet and miserable, but usually the fish are active and nothing beats camping when the air is frosty and the campfire warm.

Whether you chase summer or winter species, or a bit of both, I hope your fishing is anything but mild this June.

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Glassed out days the norm just a pleasure to be on the water. In this situation there is a downside though: the

NAMBUCCA

Riley Wilson

There are just so many opportunities for the adventurous angler in June. Sure, it’s getting colder and it’s harder to get out of bed, but the rewards are worth it.

Pick the right day and the weather can be really kind, with mild temperatures, albeit a little chilly in the mornings. This time of year can see those darn northeasterlies disappear and have most of the day calm, especially under a high pressure system.

On days like these the river can be glassed out, the clarity can be great, and it’s

A better class of tailor will show up along the headlands and beaches this month.

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and lining the rock walls waiting for an easy meal to drift past. I love bridges

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fish can become very wary, and one species famous for this is the bream.

Areas with fair fishing pressure that are top tourist destinations generally have a highly-educated population of bream, and Nambucca is no exception. The only way I know to combat this is to go tournament bream style and finesse my way to success. I am a big fan of this style of fishing, and it probably is a basis for most of my fishing to this day. Finesse breaming to me involves casting lightweight lures, be it hard or soft, and subtly working them trying to figure out what is going to get a bite. This is a pretty standard affair for anyone who follows the tournament scene, or even scours magazines like this one for techniques, but many people in the area are yet to catch one to this style of fishing.

I am sure that will change in time, but if it doesn’t, then all the more for us!

There are plenty of resident bream that are quite cagey, but when the big sea runners arrive, that’s when things can get interesting, with big schools of hungry bream on their spawn run sitting up under oyster racks

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I have seen times when 4m swells are pounding in and spots you wouldn’t ever think of chasing a tailor in because they are so calm fill up with the likes of gar and mullet seeking shelter, and mid morning on a cloudy day with a mid-rising tide, some of the biggest greenback tailor invade and send the baitfish scattering amongst the whitewater!

It’s an awesome sight that I hope to see every time I am spinning in those conditions.

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Using finesse tactics in the estuaries will account for more bream this June.

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Find the baitfish for great results in winter the winter spawning run of bream, blackfish and mullet progresses through the region. Some massive tailor and mulloway have accompanied these fish. On occasion, these rampaging tailor have been leaving behind a trail of half eaten small fish to wash up on the beaches.

Rock fishing is still a very productive activity at this time of year. Tailor and

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Winter is here again on the mid north coast of NSW, and although it does get a little cooler the fishing and variety of fish that are available in this region still makes it worth getting out there and getting amongst them.

This time of year brings with it the added bonus of uncrowded boat ramps and bait reefs due to the pelagic species that frequent the area during the warmer months slowing right down. The odd mackerel will more than likely still be found around the place, but they will become less and less likely as the month progresses and the water temperature starts to drop.

As the currents slow down, the focus for most offshore anglers will shift towards fishing the bottom.

The inshore reefs are producing plenty of snapper

A good berley trail will hold these fish in an area for longer and will also increase the variety of fish.

Fishing the river during winter can be quite successful, especially when targeting larger mulloway.

The majority of this fishing will take place along the rock walls of the first few kilometres of the river, however when bait is plentiful it is possible that

Flathead should be active this month. along with some good-sized pearl perch.

Out into the 80m-100m zones it becomes very diverse, with a whole

array of species being a possibility when fishing this depth. Snapper, trag, pearl perch and pigfish have been as reliable as ever, as well

It’s still worth running lures on your way out to the reefs as you never know what may still be around.

as plenty of kingfish and mulloway getting in on the action, especially when fishing with live baits such as yellowtail and slimy mackerel.

Venturing further afield, the deep water is coming into its prime due to low current activity and settled weather. Bar cod and Bass groper are the main targets when fishing the deep, however you never know what could be down there with john dory, hapuka and gemfish often encountered. Striped tuna are quite plentiful if you looking for fresh bait on the way out, and simply trolling at high speed should do the trick.

Kingfish are around Fish Rock, however the majority of these fish are of a small size and are playing hard to get when there is no current. The beaches have been a hive of activity as

You know it’s on when a longtail tuna pinches a bait being floated down for snapper. mulloway are in abundance around the headlands, along with plenty of big-eye trevally and even some longtail tuna.

Bream and drummer are being found in the washes.

big mulloway can be found as far up river as Smithtown.

Bream, trevally and flathead will also be on the cards, it is just a matter of working areas where baitfish are present.

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June mullet run madness THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

At this time of the year the mullet will be doing their spawning run and will be in big numbers along the local breakwalls and beaches.

Bream will also be on the move, and this means some great fishing action can be had! Both of Port Macquarie’s breakwalls offer excellent winter bait or lure fishing. Bream will be caught on many baits, but my preference is mullet strips and nippers fished off the walls.

If chasing mulloway, baits should be as fresh as possible, and preferably alive. Baits to use are live mullet or tailor, but slabs of both these species catch their share as well, although bream can pick your baits to pieces quickly if you are using slab baits. Casting big hardbodied or plastic lures

around the turn of the tide is a productive technique in the winter months of the year.

Winter will see a dedicated bunch of boaties fishing for mulloway at the Hastings River coal wall, and my tip is to anchor up a couple of boat lengths from the wall and send out your live bait. We use slightly heavier gear for this, with reels loaded with 50lb braid and 60lb leader. While we wait for our live baits to get smacked, we often flick for bream with lightly or unweighted mullet strip.

Last June we managed some cracking bags of bream while waiting to hear the ratchets on our heavier gear.

After having a recent fresh in our local waterways, fishing has been improving, with plenty of flathead, bream and mud crabs on offer. The front of the systems has been very good, but by the time you read this the water will be much better upriver, so fishing

options will be available upstream as well.

Fishing deep this month will produce bream, and if you’re keen start upriver and work your way through the deeper sections, you will be able to see bait and schooling bream on your sounders. You

as this next couple of months should be excellent on the beaches. Once again, fresh bait is desirable and a legal tailor makes a great bait for bigger fish like mulloway.

Pilchards and beachworms are also worth casting out, with pilchards on gang hooks

Jason Isaacs with an 8.95kg red caught in 30m off Lighthouse Beach.

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Bream on vibes are a June special! can have great sessions when you do find them using vibes and plastics with heavier jigheads. Bait fishos using nippers, mullet or pudding baits will catch heaps of these winter bream.

Local luderick anglers have been getting mixed results lately, with a few reasonable catches but no consistency yet. This month could see the float brigade in all their piscatorial glory as the big fish show along the walls.

Beaches have been producing some good bags of tailor and the beaches around Lauriton have been excellent. This trend should continue this month with the addition of bream and mulloway. Don’t miss out,

a great way to get a few tailor to eat or use as bait.

Offshore anglers have been getting a few good snapper and this is a great month to try for a few.

Mornings are chilly, but being out on the water for sun up is brilliant and if you throw in a screaming run from a snapper that has engulfed your plastic or bait, then the day will only get a lot better! Jason Isaacs from Ned Kellys Bait and Tackle has landed a few crackers in recent times. All the reefs from lighthouse to Cathie in the south all are worth a look.

Enjoy June and stay safe.

Martin Denlow with a very nice flathead taken on a blade.

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Dylan Saxon with a nighttime metre mulloway taken off a rock wall.

Will we get a mild winter?

FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

Winter is supposed to be cold, right? With the extended warm temperatures through autumn you could almost expect that winter will be mild like last year, but don’t count on it.

ESTUARIES For many anglers the winter months mean a change of tactics, species and even location. The lake and rivers have been stripped of bream, mullet and blackfish while many of the flathead and whiting retreat to the muddy flats of the tributaries. Lure fishing, and fishing in general, is tough in the lake during winter. The bulk of the bream have skirted out to the coast, with the blackfish and mullet and the frantic fish activity that summer and autumn brings now gone off the boil.

Like all seasonal spawning migrations of fish species from the estuaries, there are always a few fish that don’t go anywhere. Bream that haven’t left the system will be hanging around the weed flats in the main lake and around the oyster leases in the lower part of the lake closer to the entrance.

The yabby and sand flats opposite Rest Point Road in Tuncurry, the mouth of the Wallamba River, fish well for pan-sized flathead through the next couple of months. Due to the shallow nature of the flats, it is best to fish it on a rising tide and drift over the patchy weed with the motor trimmed up.

Shrimp imitations or 5” jerk shad style plastics cast forward of the drift and retrieved around the weed patches and depressions is the best approach to these flats. If you find the drift is too fast, just drop an anchor, pepper the area with casts, lift the anchor, drift a little

and repeat. The area can fish well with baits too, and the area is littered with yabbies, so as the tide is coming in, it is easy to gather bait where you intend to use it. Overall, it can be a tough month in the lake, which is a good reason to adjust your focus to the rocks and breakwall.

ROCKS The breakwalls can be a mixed bag, but can fish at

ocean rocks. Passing tailor and salmon schools can be spun up during the early and late light of the day. Bream are well populated along the coast, and they will get involved mostly in the early morning and late afternoon.

A steady stream of bread berley will keep the bream hanging around after sun up, and a mixed bag of pigs and bream is on the cards.

at the end of last month and with a bit of luck, it will only get better. The cuttlefish spawn around this time of year, so the snapper won’t necessarily be hard to the bottom. If the current allows, anchor up and get a berley trail going and you may find you raise more than the odd snapper.

Trag, mulloway and pearl perch have added to the snapper to make up the

Livies caught from Middle Head drifted around close to the bottom can turn up a few surprises like this mulloway.

The bridge is always worth a fish during winter, as it acts like a holding station for fish moving in and out of the estuary. their best during conditions that keep most anglers at home. Big tailor are always a chance during winter, and a run-out tide and a southerly wind can be a great opportunity to have a spin from the ends of the structures.

Pigs are also stirred up with rough water, and the Forster breakwall will produce fish if you target them. Baits of cunje or cooked prawns are best, and rig your line as you would if you were on a rock ledge.

The breakwalls will also produce bream, blackfish and mulloway at this time of year, so there shouldn’t be a lack of bites.

The real action, for my money, happens off the

After a slow start the other morning along Pebbly Beach, between The Tanks and Forster Public School, I ended up with half a dozen pigs between 1.5-2.5kg, a swag of bream, a few chopper tailor and a lone bonito. All the fish were taken on cooked prawns and all were released, except for two of the pigs. Any of the popular rock fishing haunts should produce if you employ a trickle of bread into the mix. Burgess Beach, North Blueys Beach, South One Mile and Bennetts will be worth a serious look if you are after a mixed bag from the rocks to take home.

OFFSHORE A few big snapper started to turn up in 10-30m of water

best of the mixed bags from the inshore reefs.

Flathead over the gravel and sand patches are a good backup plan if the reef species don’t play the game.

You may find a small mac tuna or bonito on the troll to use for bait, otherwise fresh

squid or cuttlefish is as good as anything.

The winter sea conditions can be brutal and prolonged, so the time to go offshore is when the opportunity presents. Don’t put it off or you may be waiting a while.

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At the time of writing this report, the mullet have started to make their run north to spawn. There are schools of mullet from the Manning and other schools of fish in rivers and lakes further south.

The mullet usually stick close to the beaches on their way north, but if the weather is stormy and the seas rough, then they can head out to sea and not touch the beaches until they find shelter from the storm or the seas abate and it is calm enough to move in on the beaches.

The schooling mullet attract predatory fish to the river and headlands in our area. The lower part of the Manning, Crowdy Head and Diamond Head are all places where the sharks, mulloway, tailor and snapper will wait to ambush the travelling schools of fish. Bream also follow the mullet schools, picking up the scraps of fish left by the big predators.

ESTUARY The Manning has continued to fish well for bream, flathead and whiting.

The bream are taking mullet strips, mullet gut and yabbies fished with a small sinker down to the hook. Plastic crabs, soft plastic lures and hardbodied lures have also captured fish. From the middle of May to the end of July can be described as the best of the bream season.

Mullet strips, mullet gut, yabbies, prawns and crabs will all take fish. There are usually no monster fish caught in the Manning. Lots of fish will go 900g-1kg, but not many larger. Bream are the main species to target, and also tailor from the beaches and headlands.

The flathead are falling to baits and lures. Both soft plastics and hardbodied lures have taken fish. The upstream areas of the Manning have fished best.

Pipis, yabbies and beach worms have all taken whiting

from The Spit in the mouth of the river.

Mulloway have not been around for the last couple of days, but earlier in the month quite a number of fish were taken from the river and beaches. Fish from just legal to 24kg were landed.

good-sized tailor have also been spun from the rocks in the early mornings and late evenings.

Usually the keen anglers can pick up a tailor of 3kg from the rocks if they concentrate on early mornings and late evenings

A fantastic pairing of eating fish – a tailor and a mulloway.

BEACH AND ROCK The sea side of the sand spit has fished well for tailor and mulloway. The best of the tailor usually go a couple of kilos, but one fish of 7kg was caught by Dicky Dees recently. Most of the mulloway caught on the sand are in the 3.5-6kg range. They have been taking worms, pilchards and bonito.

Crowdy Head has been producing catches of black drummer to 2kg on cunjevoi and prawns. No doubt Diamond Head would also produce fish. Some

into the night. The large tailor of 6kg and upwards don’t appear on the beaches until after high tide at night.

The later the tide the better.

OFFSHORE When sea conditions have allowed, snapper, trag, pearl perch and flathead have been boated by fishers trying the northern grounds.

Trolling has produced some mac tuna, but the striped and spotted mackerel and bonito have disappeared.

The Spanish and spotties have left for good, while the bonito will be back when the baitfish return.

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A rare and intriguing striped threadfin taken in the Manning.

JUNE 2018

41

Fishing options are changing for the better PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Fishing takes a drastic change in June, with many species that were here last month now having moved

and luderick all coming into their peak period.

ESTUARY Luderick season has started strong, with good numbers of fish being caught from Winda Whoppa rock wall to the anchorage and Nelson

Quality bream in excess of 1kg will be lurking around most structure. on for another year. The good news is the fishing during winter is fantastic, with fish like bream, tailor, salmon, snapper, drummer

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Bay breakwalls. Try to fish the tide changes with fresh weed or cabbage for best results and be sure to use a berley of sand and diced up weed.

Bream are abundant throughout the system right now, with most structure between Tea Gardens to Karuah River holding stonkers to well over 1kg.

Look for areas such as rocky shorelines, oyster racks, rock bars or wrecks and fish them using unweighted baits or small soft plastics or hardbodied lures.

Mulloway are well worth a shot in June, especially around the wreck at Corlette and deeper water near Middle Island.

Live baits such as squid, yellowtail and slimy mackerel will massively improve your chances when chasing mulloway around these areas.

Tailor can be found in numbers off the Nelson Bay and Anchorage rock walls, as well as the Torpedo Tubes and Little Beach jetties. Fish for them early in the morning with small metal lures from 10-15g.

BEACHES The beaches will be fishing well this month, with whole ganged pilchards or metal slices in the 20-40g range producing catches of tailor on first and last light.

Australian salmon are also coming into season, so keep an eye out for schools of

them when you’re down at the beach. They are fantastic sportfish and provide plenty of fun, especially on light gear.

The best beaches to target tailor and salmon off will be Fingal, Box, and Samurai beaches. The corners of most of the ocean beaches where they meet the rocks should yield big bream at this time of year, with live worms or pipis being the best baits to target them with. The southern end of Stockton Beach will be well worth fishing for mulloway during the evening, especially around the high tide.

Mulloway action should be on in the bay this month.

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Tailor will have a presence through the winter months.

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ROCKS With the typical westerly wind patterns at this time of year, often the ocean rocks will be the best place to be offering protection from the wind.

Luderick should be abundant off the rocks and holding in most of the protected bays between Rocky Point and Fingal.

Drummer will also be coming into their prime months from now on, with lightly-weighted cunjevoi or peeled prawns cast around the white water the best way to catch them.

The headlands should still produce some bonito, tailor and salmon action for guys spinning off the rocks.

OUTSIDE The best thing about winter in Port Stephens is the snapper fishing, with fish well in excess of the magical 20lb a possibility.

Shallow water less then 30m fishes best at this time of year and the two secrets to success are to fish light gear and during low light periods.

By far the most effective methods of fishing for reds is either bait fishing with lightly weighted baits cast down a berley trail, or to drift and cast plastics.

Port Stephens–Great Lakes Marine Park extends from Cape Hawke near Forster to Birubi Beach at Anna Bay and includes the Myall and Smiths Lakes, the Myall and Karuah rivers, and offshore waters to approximately three nautical miles.

If you’re hooked on fishing, be a smart fisher and check out the FishSmart app from NSW DPI for information on local weather, tides, bag and size limits, fishing gear rules and more. By activating the locations setting on your device, you can access real time maps and see your location in relation to nearby Marine Park zones, so you won’t end up being the ‘catch of the day’.

For more information contact: Port Stephens-Great Lakes Marine Park

Ph: 02 4916 3670 or Email: psglmp@dpi.nsw.gov.au 42

JUNE 2018

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salmon. Australian salmon off the beach are prolific at this time of year. They’re often impossible to avoid at this time of the year and they’re a great way to keep the kids occupied, getting their arms stretched by one of the speedsters. Add the aerial acrobatics and it’s no wonder they got the nickname ‘southern barramundi.’

Hairtail are again in good numbers for those who chase these chromed critters; just steer clear of that mouth, because it’s a nasty bit of gear if you get too close.

Offshore continues to produce good numbers of snapper, trag, kings, morwong and a few bonito.

The inshore reefs and places like Broughton Island, the grounds off Merewether and Redhead, and if you want to travel a little further south, areas off Catherine Hill Bay and Wybung are also coming up with the goods. Out wide the billfish are all but done for this season, but some big tigers and makos are about for anglers geared up for a fight.

AN

and some of the handmade timber lures such as Mad Dog Lures, which are a great quality lure at a reasonable price, or large paddle-tail plastics should do the trick.

Patience is the key and it’s good to soak a bait on one rod while casting a lure on another. You never know your luck – it only takes one well-placed cast to get that trophy fish of a lifetime.

Luderick are plentiful along the walls, rock platforms and the many of the other hotspots in the area.

In recent years some fishos have struggled to find quality weed, so when you do, don’t tell anyone, as it may not be there the next time you want it. Use a berley mix of chopped weed and sand to get them firing. Another good tip is if you can get your hands on some cunjevoi, the juice from them is irresistible to luderick and is sure to get them in a frenzy.

Some good-quality 50cm+ tailor (greenbacks) have also been coming off the beaches with nice bream and large numbers of

•A

The author with a late season striped marlin on 15kg line class trolling skirts in 70 fathoms.

MA

The cold of winter is here but the fishing is heating up. With so many species on offer you can hardly stay at home and wonder what’s biting. Reports are coming from the harbour and surrounding vantage points like the beaches, break waters and rivers, so there is little reason to not be out there having a red-hot go.

Bream have been firing in the harbour for anglers fishing structure like wharves, pylons and rock walls. Small hardbody cranks (both shallow and deep divers), soft vibes and metal blades are very effective. For those fishing from a kayak, accessing under the wharves and jetties is a lot easier.

From a boat, a well-placed anchor or – even better – an electric trolling motor with a GPS anchor lock feature, will allow you to pinpoint and manoeuvre with ease.

Cut baits will also work well. Strips of mullet, prawns or the old chicken gut make great baits. Chicken gut has its own berley that oozes from the intestines; these days it often comes in aniseed flavour, which bream and many other fish – such as flathead, which are also on the chew – can’t resist.

Mulloway will continue to fish well through the colder months with some XOS models being landed on both the Newcastle and Stockton breakwalls as well the other usual haunts like Stockton Beach and some of the deeper parts around the basin.

Using large hardbody lures such as 150mm mulloway lures, X-Raps and Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows

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Fish starting to adopt cool weather patterns you can start to work out some of these patterns, then you will be in for some great action.

Brisbane Waters has been fishing brilliantly for nearly all species lately.

Flathead have been about in good numbers and from now on you should try fishing for them a bit deeper than you usually would in the summer months. Places like Half Tide Rocks, Paddys Channel and The Broadwater are good areas to try your luck.

Bream at this time of year are schooling up, and some of them seem to move

ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

Things have really changed in a short amount of time, and thanks to more rain and colder water the fishing around the coast has slipped into winter mode, and it’s not such a bad thing.

In fact, it can be the time of many great sessions because it’s a time when most of our favourite species tend to form larger schools, either for spawning or for moving to their winter feeding locations. If

which was a great effort in anyone’s books.

Now is the time to try for some winter whiting at night. A lot of guys will anchor up in shallow water

Rock fishing has been firing and plenty of big bream have been caught and lost lately. They move up into the shallowest water to feed at times, so

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There have been some really nice mulloway caught in the last few weeks, and James Moller caught a 111cm fish on a soft plastic from the shore,

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lightly-weighted baits and even lures can get you into some nice ones. Try fishing the run-in tides, as that’s when the hungry fish move up to feed on all the food washing around the rocks. Any platform from The Entrance to Box Head can be productive, just look for a nice bit of wash, especially when the sun is high above.

Blackfish have been starting to show and some big schools are starting to come up and graze on the fresh weed in the shallows.

They should just get better in the coming weeks.

I seem to say this every report, but the gamefishing has continued to fire locally, and both marlin and some real solid yellowfin have been consistently caught, especially out toward the bait station in the south and the Norah Canyons up North. Let’s hope the run continues and we see a great tuna season in the coming months!

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Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

It’s certainly cooled right off now. Summer was just plodding along nicely and then bang, before we knew it the temperatures had chilled right off and all of a sudden those 6am fishy starts became harder to do.

The fishing has also dropped off a little bit, but to be honest there is still plenty about for anglers, it just might take a little more effort and a little more time to get the results. It will still be worth it in the long run. I’m sure I say this every year, but it really is amazing what a difference it makes to your time on the water when you head out there dressed appropriately. Some years back, I invested in some quality clothes to keep me warm during my winter fishing trips. I found just by doing this that my winter fishing became so much more enjoyable and as a result, I was spending many more winter days on the water than previous years. If you’re dressed for the occasion it is very pleasant out there regardless of how cold it gets here. And hey, with today’s technology and batterypowered coffee makers, life can hardly get any better.

OFFSHORE Offshore has well and truly slowed up. I’m sure there will be anglers reading this saying “nope we are still getting a few”, and that may be the case, but it has certainly tapered off for the offshore crews and particularly game fishing crews.

Water temperatures remained warm right into May, but are now starting to drop off, which is to be expected. The mahimahi have all finished up for the season and the marlin are scarce.

There is the odd blue marlin

about, but they are few and far between.

Shark anglers, on the other hand, continue to produce the goods, with so many massive tigers coming in it’s quite amazing to see. Many solid sharks and a good number of 1000lb+ beasts have been weighed.

A few reef fish are on offer, but for the better quality kings and reds they seem to be coming from the deeper reefs and marks that anglers have.

We will also start to see quite a few whales making their way up the coast, so keep an eye out for them. Keep a safe distance for both the whale’s sake and yours, and just enjoy them as they really are magnificent out there in the ocean.

LAKE Moving inshore and the fishing continues to be productive. Some good quality tailor are coming from the lake and the better fish are coming after dark. Anglers fishing baits are doing well and there are numerous spots around the lake producing the goods. Belmont barge can produce and Swansea Bridge is another productive spot. The key to fishing the bridge is to keep the rod in your hand.

The minute you set it in a rod holder you are de-baited before you know it. Hold the rod continuously and strike at every little touch – you will be pleasantly surprized.

Mulloway continue to be on offer for anglers putting in the hard yards. Live baits are as good an option as any.

I’ve found that you don’t need to be out all night to score a few. Generally nice and early or a good afternoon session is just as productive, if not even more so than an all-nighter. I fish only lures for my mulloway these days but the same locations generally produce the goods. I have found that on lures, I can

nab them throughout the day during winter as well, but the less boat traffic the better.

This is a really good time of year to chase a few flathead. With the cold water temperatures, the fish move into the deeper waters every year during winter. I slow my retrieve right down, as the flathead are much slower when the temperatures are cool. The bites often come much more slowly than when they nail a soft plastic in summer. A lot of the time you will find that if you pause the lure for around 10 seconds or so, on the next lift that a big girl has come along and inhaled your lure. I think most of us know this by now, but I’ll say it anyway – when possible it’s a great idea to release the big girls. There is no shortage of flathead around the 50cm mark, so you won’t go hungry, and setting these big girls free makes you feel warm and fuzzy as well, trust me.

The lake is producing its usual run of winter bream, with some real hefty specimens in the mix. As with the flathead fishing, it really pays to slow your retrieve right down in winter. Regardless of whether you’re throwing soft plastics, blades or hardbodies, it is so important to slow your retrieve down. You will see your numbers really improve just by slowing down the retrieve. Also just like the flathead, many of the bream will be found in the deeper areas throughout the lake over these cooler periods. Bonnels Bay and Chain Valley Bay are producing some good fish at the moment. The other good thing with these locations at this time of year is the noticeable absence of jet skiers and speedboats, so make the most of that.

For those looking for a little more fast paced action, you’re in luck. If the salmon schools have not yet moved into the lake then they soon will. Slats Bay at the mouth to Lake Macquarie is always a favourite spot for crews chasing these fun light tackle sportfish. There are many methods that work on them.

Trolling, spinning or bait fishing all produce on their day, and it’s just a matter of trying a few different techniques until you find what’s doing the job on the day. Small soft plastics are often the go-to lure for these salmon. Basically any small slim profile soft plastic in a clear or a white colour should produce. Some days they can be so picky, and then other days it seems like you can catch them on a jighead CRUSADER and forget the soft plastic altogether!

Yes it is cold, but there are fish there to be caught. Rug up in the good stuff, take some hot coffee with you and make the most of what’s on offer over these cooler months ahead.

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LURE, FLY & OUTDOORS EXPO

2018 Australian Lure Expo – Don’t miss out!

Whack the dates in the diary, on your phone or up on the wall in the shed – you’ll want to make sure you’re making the trip to be at Queensland’s Ipswich Showgrounds on 16 and 17 June for the 2018 Australian Lure, Fly and Outdoors Expo (or as it’s fondly known – The Lure Show!)

It started seven years ago as a celebration of Australian lures and lure making, and has rapidly grown to an event which satisfies all anglers whether fresh or saltwater focused.

Unlike every boat show you’ve ever been to that leaves you wondering ‘where’s the tackle?’, The

Lure Show will completely satisfy your need to add to your tackle collection.

It’s two days of non-stop fishing focused action. With Australia’s biggest collection of lure makers under one roof, the expertise on offer is unparalleled. Carving, painting, lure swimming demonstrations and general lure making advice is as thick on the ground as the tackle bargains.

Everyone is selling.

The Lure Show turns the Ipswich Showgrounds into the biggest, most diverse tackle store around. You are guaranteed to find things that you didn’t know you can’t live without

You won’t want to miss the lure demonstrations at the casting tank. Here you will find the actual lure makers giving guidance on how their lures have been designed to swim and how to get the most out of them.

The presenter’s hub is where you’ll be able to pick the brains of some of most knowledgeable anglers around including Jake Newmarch (Newmarch’s Fishin Mission), Liam Fitzpatrick (JML Pro Staffer) and Brendan Goulding (Fish and Whipz).

You’re likely following them on Facebook, watching their YouTube videos or checking out their Instagram – now is your chance to meet them

face to face and talk all things fishing!

Got some old wooden Australian lures lying in the garage that need a new home? Bring these to the show, as you won’t find a hungrier pack of collectors anywhere in this wide brown land! These guys are also keen to help you sort your own collection out and are more than happy to help with identifying any lures you’re not quite sure about.

Love an artistic lure or new design? The Lure Show Award entries are always a crowd favourite and are a brilliant showcase of the craftsmanship, creative talent and skill of our local

lure makers. They seem to get better and better every year.

When is the last time you paid $10 to get into a show? Combine this with free parking and you get in and out of The Lure Show for less than half the price of any boat show on the East Coast!

Tickets are available online now. Group discounts available for fishing clubs, get in touch at www.lureshow. com.au.

Don’t forget to ‘like’ The Lure Show on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ AustralianLureExpo and stay up to date with all the 2018 show news. – Australian Lure, Fly and Outdoors Expo

DETAILS When: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 June, 2018 Where: Ipswich Showgrounds, Ipswich Time: 9:30am-3pm (Saturday), 9am3pm (Sunday) www.lureshow.com.au Tickets: Adults $10, Kids Under 16 enter free (when accompanied by an adult). Pre-purchase tickets online to avoid the lines.

CURRENT EXHIBITOR LIST Stand No. Exhibitor 53 AC Lures 80 AFN Fishing & Outdoors 73 Allfly Outfitters 93 Balista Lures 84 Barrambah Lures 200a Bass Cat 57 Bass to Barra 86 Bassman Spinnerbaits 89 Beardy’s Lures 45 Bills Boxes 40 BRA Lures 140 Brisbane Yamaha 112 Bush’n’Beach Fishing Magazine 82 C-Map / Navico 50 C&S Horsey Lures 19 Caino Lures 12 Charlton’s Fishing 46

JUNE 2018

Stand No. Exhibitor 5 Chilton Tackle Co. 40 Cod Hound Lures 81 Cod King Lures 83 Crossfire Lures 6 D & S Lures 22 Dave’s Lures 13 Dynamite Lures 14 Farm Creek Lures 60 FFSAQ 37 FG Wizz 96 Fish King 36 Fishing Unlimited 58 GLO-X Powerless Illumination 64 Humminbird / Minn Kota Ipswich United Sportsfishing Club 44 4 Jollip Lures 1 Jungle Lures

Stand No. Exhibitor 18 Kneller Lures 77 Kuttafurra Lures 78 Lively Lures 17 Lobby Lures 16 Loolah Lures 30 Lure Collectors Precinct 21 Mac Lures 61 Mad Dog Lures 43 MB Custom Lures 39 Mencho’s Lures 42 Mick Molnar Marine Art 51 Morry Kneebone Lures 2 Muggo’s Lures 89 Ninja Bibs 89 Ninja Lures 200b Northside Marine 15 One Cast Lures

Stand No. Exhibitor 38 Predator Lures 70 Queensland Fishing Monthly 56 RodZilla Adventure Tackle 65 Sandfly Lures 52 SEQ Fly Fishers 75 Shads Lures 57 Smak Lures 69 Sommerset Fishing Tackle 41 Southern Cross Lures 8 Thug Lures 54 Tonic Eyewear 20 Tricky’s Lures 55 Variety Fly Fishing Competition 81 Waterstalker Lures 3 Whiptale Lures 76 Yak Hunters 39 Zoomy Lures

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You don’t have to travel too far for action!

ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

It’s been all beer and skittles for the past few months, with plenty of fish caught.

You haven’t had to work too hard to get a feed or a bit of fun with the larger warm water predators.

Now it is winter and the days are short and cold, and most days the wind howls through, chilling your fingers to the bone.

This month you will have to think about what you will chase and how you will go about it, not just throw a lure out the back and burn some

pretty much eat anything in their field of vision but that is only for the lucky few who venture wide. But for most, it is time to pick your target species and work on the best methods to catch them, and with a bit of luck, pick up a bit of by-catch on the way.

The beaches have slowed considerably over the past few weeks and the sand is cold between the toes at this time of the year, but there are some nice fish still about.

Some big whiting are available if you have beach worms, and it is cold work getting them, but with many fish well over the 600g mark the effort is worthwhile. They are not in great numbers, but

If you can’t get worms, then fish baits will score all of the above except the whiting, but you can now add some solid tailor to the species list as well. If you don’t mind rugging up and fishing in the dark, the biggest drawcard on the beaches this month will be the extra large mulloway that move along the beaches.

The big high tides just on dark, which is about 5pm these days, are the best times to target them, even if the wind is ripping from the west and making life cold and miserable. The wind just helps you cast further. Fish to 25kg are not uncommon, but you have to stick at it as they

that come out to play at this time of the year.

If it gets rough, and it certainly can in June, join the crowds and head for the sheltered bays and boat harbours like Bellambi,

bluefin show if they push up from down south, but they are more likely to show next month.

In closer there have been a few kings around the islands, but they are

on bream while talking to people on the shore.

Later in the month a few better snapper should start to show as they get ready for the main game when the cuttlefish spawn next month

There are some solid pigs around the rocks and white water at this time of year, just watch those waves!

No points for guessing where this bream came from, and there are plenty more if you use some stealth early in the morning! fuel in the hope something will grab it. You will need to be the thinking angler to have consistent success.

Having said that, the southern bluefin will probably show and they

they are worth targeting.

Big bream will be more prevalent, with 1kg fish pretty standard, and they are on most beaches. Throw in some salmon and the worms are really worth the effort.

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JUNE 2018

are not on every beach every night. Pick a good deep gutter and if you are able to fish it regularly with good fresh squid or fish fillets, you will be rewarded.

There will be some by-catch as well, with smaller mulloway and the usual salmon and bream even on the bigger hooks.

The estuaries have pretty much shut down for everything except bream.

The winds make it hard to fish any open water but if you can, the edges of the weed beds where they drop off into deeper water are worth a try but they get flogged pretty hard by the pros with nets so it can be hit and miss.

You could try fishing peeled prawns in the feeder stream snags for some nice fish but it is usually tough going.

If you can get some weed for bait and berley, then you will get a few blackfish along the weed bed edges and breakwalls in the lake channel.

On the rocks there is still some hope for the live baiters on the deeper ledges, with a few kings poking around early in the mornings and the odd big bonito and even a stray mac or longtail tuna, but you will have to be lucky. You’re better off chasing salmon, trevally and bream in the washes with ganged pilchards and fish bait, or you could try some cunjevoi for the big drummer

Wollongong, Port Kembla, Shellharbour, Kiama and the Boneyard for the blackfish and bream that shelter and feed during the rough times.

Even if it is freezing and pouring rain, the diehards will be there watching their floats and waiting for a down. As always, stay away from the open rock platforms in any rough weather or large swells. The bays will hold a few bream and trevally even in the calm weather, particularly early in the mornings, so there’s no real need to put yourself in danger.

After the bump when the swell allows and it is safe, head for the deeper ledges.

You can try for any snapper that have moved in to feed on any creatures that have succumbed to the rough conditions. Keep an eye open for the sets and fish with a friend, and don’t ever turn your back on the sea or take any risks near the edge.

Offshore still has a bit to offer, and if the currents are right as they have been for the past few years, there is still a chance of mahimahi this month, but only if we are lucky again.

A few yellowfin tuna have been around over the past month, so again if the currents hold and the water is right we may still get a few solid fish this month, with fish well into the 60kg bracket not uncommon.

They are generally at the shelf and beyond, but a few may come in close, so always keep an eye out for the birds and those big splashes that give away feeding fish.

Later in the month, we may even see the southern

very hit and miss with live mackerel and squid pretty much the only thing they will look at.

You will probably be better off picking a shallow reef to put the anchor down and put out a bit of berley for some snapper, bream and trevally. A few bonito are getting around for some fresh bait and there may even be a few striped tuna about for even better bait.

The shallow bays near the boat ramps are well worth a look for bream and trevally and are very economical. Some days I use less than a dollar’s worth of fuel and bag out

and August. You always see the odd one pop this month, so it is worth a cast for any early arrivals. If you don’t get a fish then you pick it up for fresh bait. You can’t lose!

For the bottom bouncers, there are still a few nice flathead about and they seem to last longer into the colder months each year.

Small snapper in good numbers are making it worth drifting the reefs out to 50m, and with some nice samsonfish, mowies, trevally, pigfish and the ever-menacing leatherjackets, there is always a feed available.

Good luck!

When all else fails, there is always poor man’s lobster, the mighty red rocky!

Temperature drop breathes life into the system NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

It’s winter time on the south coast of NSW, so it’s time to rug up and harden up. Not only has the air temperature cooled down, the water temperature too has dropped quite

water ooglies, chasing big winter kings around the rock ledges of Jervis Bay or catching a feed of flatties in the Shoalhaven River, there are plenty of winter options on the cards for those committed to the cause.

SHOALHAVEN RIVER Over the last six or so weeks there have been

Kingfish from the shore is what the South Coast is known for. considerably, but there is still some good fishing to be had throughout our region.

Whether it be offshore on the continental shelf dropping down several hundred meters for deep

some very large tailor cruising the river and chopping through schools of baitfish. Fish in excess of 3kg are giving anglers plenty of fun on their bream and flathead tackle, that’s if you’re not bitten off on the

SEASON

5

first run! Fish this size have some serious chompers, so if you’re going to target them, a short piece of light wire leader will greatly increase your chances of staying connected to them.

Often underneath these schools of tailor other species lay in wait for the aftermath of a feeding frenzy. The scrappers like bream, flathead and sometimes mulloway will feed on the leftovers of a school of baitfish that has been chopped to pieces.

These species themselves can then get into a feeding frenzy, so it’s a top place to cast a soft plastic or vibe, once the tailor have moved on of course.

In the past couple of years the winter flathead fishing has either equalled or bettered the summer fishing. This year is no exception, with good numbers still right throughout the river being taken mostly on soft plastics and soft vibes.

The estuary perch have now made an appearance downstream through the canal around the ferry and a little further along around the sunken trees. There are some stonkers amongst them, so be prepared to lose some tackle and remember it is closed season for these guys, so all fish must be returned to the water.

KINGFISH FROM THE ROCKS A half hour drive from Nowra we have some of the best ledges in Australia for chasing big kings from the shore. From Kiama down to Jervis Bay, there are numerous points dropping into deep water that the big kings call their home.

Knowing these fish are there is one thing, but extracting them is another kettle of fish all together.

Live baiting has always been popular, but more and more fishers are getting into stickbaiting and popper fishing and more recently, shore jigging.

There have been some big fish around in excess of 20kg, but most being landed have been rats and a little bigger which, if over the 65cm mark, make pretty good chewing and are great

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on

fun on the appropriate tackle. But as Murphy’s Law has it, as soon as you downsize your tackle, that big hoodlum will more often than not show up and destroy you in seconds.

SNAPPER There has been an awesome run of snapper in close since the water temperature dropped several weeks ago. Fish around the 2-3kg mark are in good numbers, and some real horses upwards of 8kg have been taken in some quite shallow water.

Soft plastic anglers are having good success in the shallower locations such as Jervis Bay and the washes around the front, while out a little further the bait fishers fishing cube trails in the slightly deeper water are producing the goods.

ON THE BEACHES There have been some really good looking gutters on our ocean beaches and they are holding plenty of mulloway, but there’s still no real big fish, with around 10-12kg being the biggest.

Seven Mile, Five Mile and Kinghorne Point are all worth a look, and have all produced fish over the past weeks for those willing to

Flathead will be on the chew in the Shoalhaven River during June. put in the hours.

Toothy critters in the form of big tailor and sharks are also patrolling the gutters, so it can be hard keeping a bait in the

water long enough for a mulloway to find it.

So that’s it! There’s plenty to do this June, let’s hope for good weather for the long weekend.

There has been an awesome run of snapper in close as the temperature has dropped.

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday JUNE 2018

49

It is time to tune up for South Coast tuna BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

I can’t believe it’s June already! Winter is here, and I’m starting to get psyched for bluefin tuna. We can start to expect them from June onwards and usually it’s July when they are in full swing. The Batemans Bay Game Fishing Club will be capitalising on this date by holding the new month-long Batemans Bay Tuna Classic.

As we all know, winter can produce some big low-pressure systems that bring big southerlies and rough seas that can put an end to a fishing tournament.

It is a big ocean when it comes to chasing tuna, and quite often the bite can be very slow or non-existent at times, and every year the tuna tournament out of here usually faces one of these factors – usually it’s the bad weather. So the BBGFC committee came up with the idea of having a monthlong tournament that gives everybody the chance to get out on a nice day that suits their calendar. Brilliant!

What this means is that the BBGFC Facebook page will have the most up to date information on the bluefin tuna run along the East Coast, with daily reports and information.

There is no pressure on the entrants and they can come and go as they please and pick the weather that suits on the date. Why wouldn’t you come to Batemans Bay to chase bluefin in July for your chance to win cash and prizes? Having a complete month in the peak season of the bluefin run means more fish being tagged for research and the waters being monitored, which adds more safety over that month.

This is great for the area and has so many positives. Look out on the BBGFC Facebook page for information and accommodation deals.

Speaking of tuna, there seems to be a few yellowfin out there and the water and currents are good at this stage. There has been the odd nice yellowfin being captured between 40-60kg by recreational anglers, and commercial boats have been showing us that there have been some good numbers out there since the beginning of autumn.

What has gone bananas over the past weeks offshore has been the bottom fishing.

If you miss the tuna, then you can always stop and fish the bottom, which has been producing great numbers of large ling and some good blue eye. This seems to be the case right up and down the coast. This style of 50

JUNE 2018

fishing requires electric reels and lots of braid attached to a bent butt rod.

We have noticed the Shimano electric reels are getting more traction now, and for good reason. On a trip to Japan I have seen them put through their paces in a controlled environment to see which reels performed

and late arvo soft plastic flicking for snapper in the lesser depths from 5-15m.

You can’t go wrong with soft plastic jerk shads and large grubs, but if there is a lure that out fishes all lures then the ZMan 5”Curly Tailz in motor oil is it. I’d keep it my secret if I wasn’t selling them – they are so good! I can’t

It’s tuna season and when it’s on, Team Compleat Angler get busy! the best and the results were obvious. It’s definitely worth spending that tiny bit more for such a big difference.

What also makes a big difference is fishing with thin strong braid such as the Berkley Whiplash. At 100lb it has a diameter of 0.28mm, which is thinner than most 50lb braid. Being so thin means you cut through a lot of current and when you are dropping 400m it doesn’t take much for it to pick more cumbersome gear up off the bottom. Justin Evans was out one day around a few other boats and he was the only one getting fish because he was using the Whiplash and the only one getting to the bottom.

On our inshore reefs the snapper should be going well, as they do at this time of the year, with the chance of some winter kings. There should be some big squid getting around, and catching them for some downrigging could be what is needed to get into the action. Jed Shielsy did just that a few weeks back for some kings.

This is a good time of the year for some early morning

keep the fish off them.

Our beaches have just had their big mullet run, with the salmon and tailor also being in good numbers and very large! A couple years back we experienced some massive missiles with long green backs, and this year has been similar with some salmon over 3kg and some tailor as long as 70cm. Spinning metals off our beaches and headlands wouldn’t be a waste of time.

It goes without saying that if none of the above are working for you, then there is the reliable drummer that will always bring you some joy over winter.

We can expect the estuaries to become cold and slow over this period, but it is always worth the trip when the sun is out and you want to practise your cast in amongst some of the greatest scenery this world has to offer. To top it off, you might catch the odd fish too! Those who are brave enough to tough out the cold at night are always in for a chance of a mulloway, and with a big live winter squid for your presentation, that

20kg plus model could be staring straight at it.

THE TRAWLERS ARE COMING It’s unbelievable that bottom trawling our inshore fishing grounds is a possibility in this day and age of Marine Parks.

But what is a Marine Park?

Once a political tool used for votes 10 years ago, now it’s as though it doesn’t exist, which is probably why they still can’t give us any data on the science of it to this day. It just goes to show the state of our politics!

Now our politicians are trying to sell off our South Coast by putting the state waters in the hands of the federal government, which means AFMA will manage our state fishery, and as we know they can’t be trusted.

Just to add more reasons not to trust them, they tried to sign our waters away without any consultation with the relevant stakeholders or the public knowing. It doesn’t get any more fishy than that!

Commercial fishing and recreational fishing can coexist within our marine environment, so long as it is managed correctly in a way that it has no detrimental impact on the marine life.

We don’t want our waters in the hands of groups who put money first and environment last. We need proper management and a proper discussion to find a balance that works. We don’t need corruption and being sold out to the highest

Don’t rule out bream this winter. This image from Georgia Poyner shows she knows how to get them. bidder, as that does nothing for our area or country in the long run. I hope by the time you are reading this there has been some better news on this matter.

So there’s little not to like in June, except for the possibility of senseless bottom trawling. So get out there and get amongst it and submit your emails to bega@

parliament.nsw.gov.au and say no to the SE Trawl!

• For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff.

They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

Marli looks serious, but his kingy isn’t a serious size. You may be able to get better sizes this month though.

News

Consultations continue on trawl arrangements The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is continuing its consultation on the proposal to transition from the NSW Southern Fish Trawl Fishery (SFTF) into the Commonwealth Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF).

As part of the proposed change, fish stocks would be managed by one jurisdiction, removing unnecessary

duplication and administrative burden and operate under a quota system, based on the best available science.

The DPI is listening to all concerns raised and will consider the feedback provided before moving ahead.

The Southern Fish Trawl Transitioning Working Group (SFTTWG) is advisory only. It has been tasked with identifying and resolving issues, negotiating

arrangements and providing advice to DPI and theAustralian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA).

Recreational, Aboriginal and environmental stakeholders were given the opportunity to comment on the proposal during the consultation period and were also invited to attend the final working group on Friday 4 May. The working group consisted of members from

the Professional Fishermen’s Association, AFMA and DPI. The NSW DPI also posted the following on their Facebook page: “We’ve read some of your thoughts about our post about possible changes to commercial management arrangements for Southern Fish Trawl. And, we’d like to clear up some misinformation: • The number of commercial fishing trawlers will

NOT increase.

• Those that do operate will have the SAME boat length restrictions as currently in force.

• All commercial fishers will operate under STRICT quota restrictions rather than the wasteful trip limits currently in force.

• This is not about increasing the amount of fish that are caught, just improving licensing arrangements.

• There is NO plan to change access arrangements for recreational fishers.

We will continue to listen to all genuine concerns before any changes are made. Some genuine issues have been raised during consultation and if these issues are not addressed by the working group, the DPI will further consult with other stakeholders before proceeding.” - FM

FISHING NEWS

Fishers get the message with Operation Small Fry Fishers across NSW heeded the rules during the Easter holiday period and fished within the regulations in most cases.

NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Fisheries officers targeted

“So far, fisheries officers have been pleased to see a high level of voluntary compliance,” Mr Tully said.

“However, to date we have more than 40 offences reported, including 34 written cautions and eight penalty

During the operation, officers seized 267 undersize fish including 137 sand whiting. Image courtesy of NSW DPI. known fishing spots during the last two weeks under a state-wide crackdown on prohibited-size fish being taken.

DPI Director of Fisheries Compliance, Patrick Tully, said anglers were made aware ahead of the operation that fisheries officers would be focusing on increasing people’s awareness of fishing rules and regulations.

notices being issued. 33 information reports were also received relating to the alleged taking of prohibited size fish – most of these were reported between Newcastle and Kiola on the south coast.”

Officers seized 267 prohibited size fish including 137 sand whiting, 51 abalone, 18 mud crabs, 16 yellowfin bream, 14 turban snails and 10 snapper.

As the Operation continues across the state Mr Tully says he hopes there will be an increase in public knowledge and understanding of fisheries compliance and any illegal fishers and retailers will face the full range of penalties.

One of the targeted patrols conducted in the Batemans Bay and Durras area during the Easter long weekend was specifically aimed at illegal intertidal collecting activities.

“Fisheries officers detected 21 offenders and 38 offences including the possession of prohibited size fish and shellfish. More than 800 intertidal invertebrates including abalone, eastern rock lobsters and turban snails were confiscated,” Mr Tully said.

Another seizure included two prohibited size Murray cod from a camp on the Murray River downstream of Moama.

“This inspection occurred after a NSW Fishers Watch report was made of campers using a crossline at the location,

and Fisheries officers ended up seizing 25 rigged lines from this report. This shows that protecting our sustainable fish stocks and aquatic habitats is everyone’s responsibility and making a report can lead to prosecution,” Mr Tully said.

Penalties for prohibited size fish offences can range from $500 to $22,000 in on-the spot fines or six months in prison, or both, for a first offence.

Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local DPI fisheries office, call the Fisher Watch phone line on 1800 043

Prohibited size Murray cod and set lines seized from the Murray River near Gunbower State Forest. Image courtesy of NSW DPI. 536 or report illegal fishing activities online. For more information or to get the free

FishSmart app visit the DPI website at www.dpi.nsw. gov.au/fishing. - DPI

Cockle collector fined The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says a recent court ruling to fine a fisher $10,000 for illegally taking shellfish should serve as a harsh reminder to people to adhere to the state’s fishing rules.

The man, a repeat offender, was among a group of four other men apprehended for illegally collecting nearly 2000 shellfish by NSW DPI Fisheries Officers in the Port Hacking River.

DPI Director of Fisheries Compliance, Patrick Tully, said the apprehension was the result of a coordinated approach by Fisheries Officers and Boating Safety Officers from NSW Roads & Maritime Services.

“This is an excellent result and will help to protect our fish stocks from overharvesting,” Mr Tully said.

“The bag and possession limit for cockles is 50 per person, and only in waters where their collection is permitted, so for this man, who has been caught illegally collecting shellfish in Port Hacking previously to have offended again shows blatant disregard for the rules.”

The man and the rest of the group were apprehended at Costens Point in the Port Hacking River which is closed to the taking of shellfish.

It is one of a number of areas within the Sydney Metropolitan area where fishing restrictions have been enacted to protect shellfish species from depletion due to overfishing.

“Intertidal invertebrates like pipis and cockles are at particular risk of overfishing because of their accessibility at low tide,” Mr Tully said.

“The waters from Simpsons Bay Beach to Costens Point within Port Hacking are protected from recreational fishing year round, and this includes any fishing method.”

Legal fishing methods for marine plants and shellfish around Sydney are provided in six languages other than English. The maximum penalty for taking fish from declared waters, and possessing fish over the bag limit is $22,000 and/or 6 months imprisonment for a first offence and $44,000 for subsequent offences.

Anyone with information on suspected illegal fishing activity is urged to contact their local DPI Fisheries office, call the Fisher Watch phone line on 1800 043 536 or report illegal fishing activities online at www.dpi.nsw.gov. au/fishing. - DPI JUNE 2018

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Cooking

How to tenderise a bigger squid for the table BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

This month we’ll continue from last month’s squid/ calamari theme. When those bigger squid come aboard, you can use this neat tenderising trick.

Many believe that the bigger a squid gets, the more likely the flesh will be tough when cooked.

To reduce the incidence of toughness, the squid flesh can be treated with a natural tenderiser. For example, the enzymes in either kiwi fruit or pawpaw (papaya) will tenderise the squid flesh.

To achieve this tenderness, the fruit is mashed and mixed through the squid rings. The squid and kiwifruit mix is then stored for around two hours

in your fridge while the enzymes do their thing. Be mindful that the enzymes may overly soften the squid, so unless you desire mushy squid (you don’t) don’t marinate the squid in fruit for longer than four to six hours.

Ingredients This recipe has only two ingredients – squid rings (and tentacles, optional) and an unpeeled kiwifruit.

CLEANING SQUID

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Scan the QR code to read up on how to clean and prepare a squid for the table.

The tentacles can either be used as bait or chopped into 8-10cm length pieces for this recipe.

Cut the hood into rings.

Bag the kiwifruit and squid mix and place the sealed mixture into the fridge for two hours while the kiwifruit’s enzymes do their thing.

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First catch your big squid and clean it.

4 Slice the ends off the kiwifruit and halve it.

You can rinse the kiwifruit flesh off the calamari with fresh water if you like, but it’s not neccessary.

Oil a hot BBQ plate and cook the calamari rings on all sides.

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Mash the ripe kiwifruit with your fingers over the tentacles and rings. The kiwifruit doesn’t need to be peeled, and squishing the fruit through your fingers is the simplest way to mash the fruit. Toss the kiwifruit flesh through the calamari.

A stacked pyramid of large barbequed calamari rings – enjoy!

Expect some intense action around the region MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

The Merimbula region has experienced some cracking good weather of late, making it ideal for anglers fishing offshore. For those who have taken advantage of the perfect conditions, they have been rewarded handsomely with excellent fishing, especially for those after a feed from the reef species.

Snapper is the word, with this fine table fish in solid numbers on most local reefs.

The fish are averaging 2kg, with the odd better model upwards of 5kg. These bigger fish are a little wary and have

been around for a while, with the fishos catching them by fishing the freshest of bait with squid and cuttlefish definitely the standout baits to use.

A few switched on lads are getting them micro jigging with lighter gel-spun lines, with jig sizes down to 30g on some occasions when the sea and current conditions allow. This may seem light tackle to some, but you will be pleasantly surprised at the size of fish that can be caught on 6lb braided line.

Snapper isn’t the only reef fish being caught, as morwong, pigfish and a few kingfish to 8kg have also come from the same grounds, so a mixed bag can be expected. The only down

The Commens boys with a few salmon on soft plastics taken from Pambula Lake.

side to this fishing is the amount of green toads that have infested some reefs. If this happens to you, then a move is required or the tackle account will rise dramatically.

Better reefs at the moment include Whitecliffs, Horseshoe, Turingal and old faithful Long Point straight out the front of Merimbula.

If you’re after a feed of flatties, try 40-50m of water off Tura Head. These tasty morsels have been in deeper water, with a mixture of sand and tigers playing the game.

Further offshore, the marlin have slowed up somewhat, but there’s still the odd bigger striped marlin patrolling the shelf line. A lot more crews are trolling later in the season as the bait balls have dried up, so doing the miles will still get you results.

The bonus of trolling skirts is yellowfin tuna come into the equation, especially if trolling skirts around 8-12” size.

There’s been some decent tuna to 51kg caught recently, and I expect quite a few more to make their presence felt over coming weeks.

We should see a few more albacore, plus an influx of mako sharks as the water cools that little bit more as well.

In the estuaries it’s firing on all cylinders, with the top lake in Merimbula looking excellent. This tiny bit of water looks featureless, but it is loaded with fish at the minute. There’s plenty of flathead to be caught, with water depths of 4-7m being ideal along the ribbon weed edges on the southern part of the lake. Casting a range of mid-sized soft plastics and soft vibes will see plenty caught, with the best I’ve heard of recently going 86cm.

Most are averaging 40-50cm, which are good eating fish, with the run-out tide producing better specimens.

The time of day doesn’t seem to make a difference, but the tides certainly do.

In these same areas trevally, bream and flounder have also been caught, especially when fishing vibes.

If you’re after tailor, then you’re in luck, as the place is loaded with them. They are big too, with local gun Dave getting greenbacks to 2kg and loosing bigger ones, so some heavier leader or wire may be needed!

On the beaches, it’s slowed up somewhat with the calm seas, especially for the pelagics like salmon and tailor, but there’s some nice

It won’t be long before these SBT turn up. This fish was estimated at 60kg and was released. bream and still a few whiting around. Look for beaches that have some sort of rocky formations, and both Middle Beach and the northern end of North Tura would be the pick. Both are fishing well for the above species. Try using beach worms or pipi as bait, with lighter running sinker rigs the preferred method in the calm conditions.

Those anglers fishing the stones have had the best of it, with salmon to 3kg, big tailor and still the odd bonito all succumbing to metal shiners in the 40-60g range. Some days are better than others, but if you strike

the right day, they’re on and you’re in for some serious fun. A few locals are getting 15-20 fish per session, with the morning definitely being more productive. The bite windows may only be an hour or so, but fast and furious with almost a fish a cast.

Make the most of it, because just as quick as it turns on, it turns off. The trick is to be there when it fires, which is easier said than done, but time on the stones should see you rewarded. The better ledges are Tura Head and Short Point, although I know the rocks off Tathra point have been okay as well.

Awaiting the seasonal visitors this June NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

Winter fishing isn’t for everyone, with cool, brisk mornings the norm, but if you’re willing to brave the cold conditions some exceptional angling is still on offer.

Outside sportfishers targeting the pelagic species like albacore, SBT and yellowfin tuna are feeling a tad excited, as some solid models have already turned up. The best yellowfin I’ve heard of lately went 74kg, which is not a jumbo but still certainly a solid fish. As we head further into winter, I’m expecting more yellowfin to turn up, plus a few decentsized mako sharks, as every June a few of these bigger bities turn up.

For those after the SBT, traveling a longer distance will be the key to success.

Fish that have been sighted, and a few smaller fish caught, have been 35-45 miles offshore, so if you venture that far out, make sure your boat is safe and your crew is experienced.

It’s a long way to get home if something happens.

There’s reports of a few long liners getting some bigger SBT further south of Eden, so it shouldn’t be too long before the bigger

barrels hit our doorstep. Better methods to use for both tuna species would be a cube or berley trail, although trolling bibbed minnows and skirted pushers will produce the goods as well. We quite often troll first, locate the fish then revert to a berley or cube trail.

You do need to be organised, but if you get them up behind the boat you can hold them there for hours.

here all June and July. Let’s hope this season is the same.

Those after the bread and butter species like snapper, morwong and flathead are doing well on most trips, but they have been a little sporadic and hard to find at times. When you locate them you will get an excellent feed, but they seem to be very concentrated at present, so finding them is the key for great results. The

extremely well fishing deeper with water depths of 55-60m being ideal.

On the beaches the salmon have been going well with the calmer conditions, but that will pick up once we get a little more swell. Anglers using paternoster rigs with a bait and popper combinations have been doing the best, although casting smaller shiners seems to be working pretty good

Shark anglers should see a few of these blues over the cooler months.

At Montague Island there’s still a few kings to be had, and live bait seems to be the best way to tempt one, although a lot will depend on the tide, current and water temperature as to whether they hang around or not. Last season these big hoodlum kings upwards of 20kg were

only problem at the moment is the amount of green toads and leatherjackets. If these pests thin out a bit more, expect some even better fishing.

Better areas to try include the southwest corner at Montague, and the reefs north of Narooma around Potato Point. Some of the local crews have done

too, especially on smaller fish around the 1kg mark.

There’s been greenback tailor mixed in with the salmon on the beaches, with a few models nudging 70cm, so they’re decent-sized fish.

These toothy critters are menacing on mono leaders, so those who are landing them

are using short wire traces.

I’d expect a few gummy sharks this month, with winter usually producing good fish on those moonlit nights. If you brave the cold, you may just be rewarded. Better beaches to try include Tilba, Narooma Main and Brou just north of Dalmeny.

Off the stones, the pelagic species, like salmon and tailor ,have kept most anglers happy.

Casting lightly-weighted pilchards on ganged hooks just past the wash zone has been very effective. The bonito have been slow this season, but when they come through in a school you can get several fish before they head on. In previous seasons, it was nothing to get a dozen fish in a session, but this year they’re just slower, which is unfortunate. Better spots to try include Mystery Bay to the south at High Rock or the golf course rocks in town.

Those targeting the more preferred bread and butter species like drummer, blackfish and bream are doing fairly well, but it has been a little slower this season so far, but this will pick up.

Anglers that are faring well are using the freshest of baits in conjunction with berley, just remember to use it sparsely or the pickers will drive you nuts.

In the estuaries, things have slowed somewhat, but that’s to be expected when the water is

a chilly 15°C. The smaller systems like Corunna and Mummaga Lake are holding a few smaller flathead, but that’s about it. At Narooma, Wagonga Inlet has been steady without being red-hot, but if you put the time in you will get results.

The pelagic species are what most anglers are after, with tailor still abundant in the main basin. Casting small chromed lures to working birds or trolling has seen good captures. This season the tailor are quite big, with fish averaging 40cm, and the odd thumper pushing 60-70cm.

There has been a few bigger trevally under the tailor schools feeding on whitebait scraps, so try using soft plastics or whitebait for best results.

Some reasonable snapper and flathead will be caught at times.

Those anglers fishing the channel on the eastern side of the highway bridge should have good results on bream, trevally and blackfish. There’s a chance of a stray flatty as well, and you can expect the mullet to be in big numbers towards the 8 knot sign just past the charter boat wharfs. These little speedsters are great fun using a float and dough and smoke up pretty good in the smoker for a feed.

JUNE 2018

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The local fishing conditions are changing BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

It has been a very dry autumn this season with very little likelihood of any rain in the foreseeable future so conditions are changing, especially for the lakes and rivers. I suspect that Wallaga Lake will close to the ocean in the

targeted up in the shallow margins or over the flats where visual fishing will be your best option, and you will need to move around to find fish.

Kingfish have been consistent all season. There are some very big winter fish up at Montague Island and along the coastline. These fish are responding well to live baits at the island, either drifted or slow trolled.

Luderick are a great winter option for both younger and older people. near future and may stay that way for some time; without tidal influence the fishing becomes very testing. Bream, flathead and whiting can be

Bonito are also likely to also get into the act. Snapper are plentiful around Montague and all the reefy areas along the coast, providing many a meal for anglers.

The close to shore areas are providing plenty of options for those interested in working lures for the snapper, while those using more conventional methods are producing on the deep reefs. With the aid of electronic reels, extra deep water fishing is catching on with anglers fishing regularly targeting fish like hapuka, blue-eye trevalla, gemfish or cod in depths of 100 fathoms or more, which is an added bonus when berleying for the tuna.

These cooler months also see plenty of sand flathead close to the coastline out from most beach areas. Simply drifting in water depths of around 30m should be all that’s needed for anglers to acquire a tasty meal.

Those who venture offshore know water temperatures are around the 20°C mark and if the quality is there, so are all sorts of fish species. For the game fishers this means tuna, and lots of them. Yellowfin are on top of the list with good numbers hanging around the continental shelf or beyond to the 1000-fathom drop-off.

With the right weather conditions, berleying is proving popular with some very large fish being taken.

Mixing in with the yellowfin

Kingfish have been consistent all season around Montague Island. are some very nice albacore tuna, which become only too eager to take a cube or live bait. These live baits may also attract a late season marlin, so use sufficient trace line to handle one such encounter.

Berleying will also attract sharks, especially those hard-fighting acrobatic makos, which are also good chewing. Having a shark rig employed or close by may result in a capture of a shark – makos, blues, whalers or the occasional tiger may also

appear. If there is no action on the berley, try trolling; the tuna will definitely respond to this as will any marlin in the area and there is always that chance of an early season southern bluefin tuna, although I think July will be better suited to them.

Back onshore, the beaches are producing exceptionally well. There is a multitude of salmon around and anglers take very little time to acquire their bags then they proceed to catch and

release even more. Mixing with them are some quality tailor, the odd mulloway and gummy sharks. Bream and sand mullet are the go in the shallower gutters.

Rock fishing is also excellent because with the cooler weather comes the drummer. These fish are abundant, providing excellent angling with the added bonus of other species like luderick, bream, groper or trevally to keep anglers entertained.

A month of many migrations TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Come winter, a mass migration of grey nomads and other people head to the tropics to escape the winter cold. This is also the case with fish species of all different types in

many areas, but just like humans, not all of them leave, so how do we target what is left? And how do we catch those that are just about to migrate?

Starting in areas like the Bega River, one particular species on the move are the estuary perch. These fish can be found in the deeper low sections of the river where

they can be sounded on your electronics, and once found may provide plenty of action.

Also moving in the river are flathead that are more active towards the entrance, along with some lovely yellowfin bream, silver trevally, tailor and the occasional mulloway even if the system is closed to the ocean. Black bream are

Bass fishing is still an option in June but remember all bass must be released during this closed season.

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JUNE 2018

spread throughout the system and are a good lure option, although many casts may be required to coax them out of their lairs.

Luderick are a prime target species, and you’ll find them hugging structure.

It’s not only the rock walls or bridge pylons either, you will also locate them around coastal rock platforms as well as the popular local wharf.

The wharf is a prime area for migrating fish, with species like salmon, bonito and kingfish coming within range of anglers.

They are visiting, following the smaller baitfish, which in themselves provide lots of fun on light gear. They are in the form of slimy mackerel, yellowtail, garfish and pilchards, with some sizeable silver trevally to wrap lines around the pylons.

Of a night, tailor can also be taken and are a good option, as they too seek out the baitfish.

Lots of these species already mentioned like salmon, tailor, mulloway, bream and whiting are also moving along the beaches providing excellent angling.

There are plenty of very deep gutters to accommodate these fish and for the real keen anglers willing to brave the conditions of a night, you

Yellowfin bream are one species that is good to target as they start to migrate. may find yourself attached to some tasty sharks like gummies or whalers.

Out at sea is no exception to migrating fish, with snapper moving along the coast and appearing on most of the reef structures within the area. With calm conditions, try anchoring and berleying in various depths of water to attract them, where lures like soft plastics or baits will produce.

There are also plenty of other species on offer like kingfish, which in the past couple of seasons have appeared more frequently in the winter. There are also the regulars like morwong, leatherjackets, perch and nannygai.

Those with the right gear to reach the deep water of the canyons will encounter some interesting fish like those tasty deep water giants the beautiful

big-eye trevalla, hapuka, some of the biggest ocean perch you may encounter, cod, gemfish, sharks and others that will have you searching the fish identification books.

Back closer to shore, it’s sand flathead time with plenty to be found in about 30m water depth. Gummy or whaler sharks are also on the short list, along with some nice gurnard.

Finally, the last of the migrating species that are available is for the game fishers, and it’s tuna time!

The normal small species like striped or albacore tuna are around in reasonable numbers, while the mighty yellowfin have appeared out over the continental shelf, so let’s hope this season will again see those beautiful bluefin tuna once again appearing along the east coast!

Take extra care while the lake level is low MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

You wouldn’t know winter was here, with hot days still the norm and only the odd morning that you would call cold. The weather has been exceptional and with

over the past few months, so extra care needs to be taken when navigating in the lake or there is a good chance of running aground.

Recently the boat ramp at Bastion Point has silted right up with a sandbank going from one side to the other, stopping the boats from heading out to sea – you know it’s bad

Tyrone was happy with this good flounder caught on a blade.

As the lake is closed, this is the only access to the ocean, which is ankle deep at low tide. the good weather there are still plenty of visitors here to enjoy it. There has been no rain and the lake level has dropped at least a foot

when the abalone divers can’t go to work – at low tide you can walk from one side to the other with it being ankle to knee deep. If you’re planning

to come to Mallacoota to do some offshore fishing, it could pay to make some enquiries about the condition of the ramp before you come, as it is constantly silting up.

Boats heading offshore have still been catching good bags of sand and tiger flathead along with a few gummy sharks. There are plenty of schools of slimy mackerel about and with any luck the kingfish could turn up chasing the schools. It’s that time of year again when boats are heading out wide chasing the broadbill swordfish and over the past few weeks there have been a number of fish caught along with a few hook-ups.

There have been no captures or encounters of southern

bluefin tuna, but with the cold water on the way they shouldn’t be far off.

Fishing the local beaches has slowed down with only a few salmon being caught from Tip Beach and down towards Davis Creek. The fishing in the lake over the

past month has been hard work with plenty of visiting anglers finding it hard to catch fish. The water temperature in the lake is dropping lately and it was around 18°C; this has really slowed down the flathead. The key to catching a feed now is to slow down

your retrieve – the slower, the better.

Plenty of tailor are being caught, with some big fish amongst them. Fish to around 2kg aren’t uncommon. The pinkie snapper in the lake are growing quickly. The biggest I’ve seen was 38cm. The flounder in the lake that were a regular catch over the summer months aren’t featuring in the catch now that the water has cooled down.

Very few yellowfin bream are in the lake, so the bream fishing is relying on the native black bream. The best fishing has been around the schools of whitebait in both the top and bottom lakes. Unfortunately they are not around in the numbers and sizes they were years ago. Anyone who remembers why the winter bream fishing Mallacoota was famous would be amazed at the decline of an amazing fishery and it’s not going to improve quickly, as the big fish we used to catch were all around 30 years old. It wasn’t so long ago that 1.2kg fish were encountered on a regular basis.

Plenty of fish still about EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Like the Mallacoota area to the south, Eden is in bad need of rain. The ground is that dry that the water won’t soak in so any substantial rain could see some flooding on the Far South Coast.

Fishing-wise there are plenty of fish still on the bite in the area. The water temperature is a lot warmer than the water down south and this means the fish are more active.

The good weather has allowed boats to head out wide where there has been some good fishing for a variety of gamefish.

Striped marlin are still being caught along the shelf by boats trolling skirted lures. The water temperature is around the 22°C mark and the reports coming in are that they are big fish around the 120kg mark. There have

also been reports coming in of yellowfin tuna out along the shelf, so fingers crossed the fishing will improve as it has been a while since the Far South Coast has fired up for the yellowfin tuna.

This time of year would probably be the best time for fishing offshore in the Eden area. There has been some great fishing for kingfish around Mowarry Point with 15kg fish around and reports of bigger fish seen. As yet the big ones have avoided capture. There is plenty of bait in the area and by all reports the fish are playing hard to catch.

Like a lot of fishing, being in the right place at the right time when the fish are on the bite is the key.

At other times you can try everything and still not get a bite. Tiger flathead and sand flathead have been on the bite with plenty of goodsize fish being caught. A few snapper are also being caught. The snapper aren’t big fish – they are around the kilo mark, which is the

best eating size.

There have also been reports of bonito being caught with fish caught on the inshore reefs and off the local headlands. The same headlands have also been fishing well for drummer with anglers using berley to get the fish going and using cunjevoi for bait. Hold on and pull the fish out before it gets back into a cave and busts you off.

Fishing the local beaches has seen some good action on the tailor and salmon with both lures and bait catching fish. The key is to find a good gutter then fish it towards the top of the tide.

With the water still warm the fishing in the estuaries has been good.

Dusky flathead are still being caught along with sand whiting and yellowfin bream. The fishing should stay good as long as the water temperature stays warm. Once it cools right off the fishing will again slow down for the winter months.

With the lake still closed, the tailor are growing fast.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA RYOGA 1520

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Dark in looks and big on style and swagger, the Daiwa Ryoga 1520 baitcaster sets a new standard in baitcaster power, performance and precision. An ultrastrong alloy frame and side plates are the foundation of the Ryoga, and provide an immoveable foundation for this stunning reel, regardless of what’s thrown at it.

Integrating many of Daiwa’s most famous technologies, the Ryoga once again takes baitcaster design to the next level with Magseal, ATD, Hyper Mesh Gear System, Speed Shaft, Magforce Z and Zero Adjuster combining to deliver a level of refinement and power rarely seen in heavy-duty baitcasters.

A G1 Duraluminium spool, swept handle, and clicking star drag further enhance performance and features, and combine with the new High Grip I Shape knobs to provide superior cranking power, balance and control.

Flawless in design, stunning in looks and style, and unparalleled in performance and power, the new Ryoga 1520 is the pinnacle of heavy-duty baitcaster design and the ultimate big bait reel. www.daiwafishing.com.au

BLADE N TAILS ULTRALIGHT ELITE

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The Live Fibre Blade N Tails Ultralight Elite redefines what Australian built quality is in a market full of imports.

The Ultralight Elite uses K-Frame silicone guides to deliver smooth casting and high performance, whether that’s casting small bladed lures or jigging soft plastics in the trees or over the flats. The guides are strategically placed to increase casting distance and minimise friction or sharp angles.

The rear end has been upgraded as well, with high performance EVA merged seamlessly into a comfort grip reel seat that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.

The rear grip has been split to provide the perfect balance while in use.

Rated at 4-8lb, the 7ft one-piece Ultralight Elite is ideal for fishing small blades for bream, flathead, golden perch and bass, as well as fishing lightly-weighted plastics for a host of estuary and freshwater species. www.wilsonfishing.com

ATOMIC TIMS PRAWN COLOUR

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Prawns are a staple for feeding fish in all depths of water, and it makes sense that the Atomic Semi Hardz range adds a colour already present in the iconic Atomic Hardz range. Tims Prawn, a shrimp pattern, quickly became a go-to for anglers all over the country when it was introduced in the Hardz line-up, and now that popular natural colour is available in the full range of Atomic Semi Hardz Vibs in sizes 40, 50, 60, 75 and 110 as well as the Minnows in 40, 55 and 65mm models.

Semi Hardz can be fished from the surface down to any water depth, making them usable in a wide range of conditions and for a huge range of species. Our ambassadors have already landed whiting and flathead as well as offshore favourites like snapper and pearl perch, and even coral trout. Semi Hardz are also very effective on mulloway.

Tough rubber construction with wire running through the lure allows them to stand up to even the toughest adversary.

Price: RRP $13.95 www.atomiclures.com.au 56

JUNE 2018

ZMAN BEANIEZ

PRODUCT GUIDE

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With the weather cooling it’s perfect timing for the arrival of ZMan’s BeanieZ. Constructed from quick-drying 100% acrylic, these comfortable beanies feature four topseam knit construction and embodied ZMan ‘Z’, in a one size fits most cool weather headwear option.

These beanies are a quality Richardson Sports product. Richardson Sports is a company who has served the team sports market both in the US and internationally since 1970, and its products are known for their quality and reliability. Today Richardson is recognised as a leader in the sports product industry, delivering performance-inspired headwear to millions of athletes around the world. It makes sense then that they should make headwear for the largest recreational sport in the world: fishing.

The new ZMan beanies come in two shades, charcoal and grey, and are available now.

Price: SRP $19.95 www.z-man.com.au

BLACK MAGIC FLIPPER JIGS

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Black Magic has added the exciting slow pitch Flipper jig to their range.

Their original design stands out with a dramatic spoon-like scoop on one side of the jig. They fall with a wide and sweeping side-to-side flutter and retrieve with a large darting action, giving them a strong visual presence which will be attractive to a wide range of species.

Flipper Jigs come in four striking colour options with lumo spots or stripes. There are two strong hooks attached with Kevlar thread, and the available weights are 60g, 80g, 100g, 150g and 200g.

Flipper Jigs are available now from Black Magic dealers nationwide. For more information, photos and videos, visit the Black Magic website or check them out on Facebook (www.facebook. com/blackmagictackle), or Instagram (@ blackmagictackle). www.blackmagictackle.com

MUSTAD XL JIG WALLET

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Jig fishing anglers will love the Mustad XL Jig Wallet, a jig wallet designed to accommodate all of your jig fishing needs.

The XL Jig Wallet contains storage pockets that are constructed from tough mesh to allow the jigs to breathe and dry, yet remain safe in transport and use. There are five extra large jig slots that will take jigs up to 30cm, 18 jig slots that will take jigs up to 20cm and 12 jig slots for smaller jigs up to 15cm. That’s a total of 35 jigs that can be carried in one handy wallet that is easy to store and transport.

The XL Jig Wallet also features a large mesh pocket on the outside to store accessories such as assist hooks, leader and more.

If you’re into fishing jigs and you’ve been having trouble storing them, then the Mustad XL Jig Wallet will give you the answer you’ve been looking for. www.wilsonfishing.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EUREKA JELLY VIBES

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Eureka Jelly Vibe lures are made from a durable soft material and feature a balanced internal weight system, for superior vibration and action on the drop and lift.

Eureka Jelly Vibes also feature a multistrand wired through construction, a holographic head for added attraction and quality black nickel chemicallysharpened treble hooks. They are superb on mulloway, barramundi, mangrove jacks, flathead, bass, bream, redfin and more.

The Eureka Jelly Vibes are available in two sizes, a 67mm model that weighs 7g and a 95mm version that weighs 20g, and both lures are available in four brilliant colours. www.jurofishing.com

SHIMANO TIAGRA ULTRA RODS

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All serious gamefishers know that their gear needs to be up to the challenge of prolonged fights with exceptionally large fish. This is why the new Shimano Tiagra Ultra series are proving so popular, especially with increasing numbers of bluewater anglers using braid.

Factory built, but with that custom rod style, the componentry on the Tiagra Ultra series is first class: braid friendly Alps RX guides, Winn foregrips for comfort and grip, and either detachable Pacific Bay Channel Lock straight carbon or curved butts depending on the model.

The blanks all this wizardry sits on though is where the action begins: Biofibre High Pressure Carbon 300 blanks across five line classes from 10-15 to 24-37kg, with sweet, smooth parabolic actions. This is just what you need when fishing braided line for marlin, tuna, swordfish and sharks.

Match one of these beauties up with a Talica overhead and enjoy all the advantages braided line brings to game fishing. www.shimanofish.com.au

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ABU GARCIA REVO ALX

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Based on high quality components and a lightweight design, the Abu Revo ALX incorporates new technology including the Salt Shield Concept bearing and AMGearing systems within the compact Revo design.

SSC (Salt Shield Concept) bearing employs newly developed ball bearings coated with a water-repelling shield, which greatly reduces rotation noise caused by salt adhesion, improving operation and durability.

SSC is applied to key HPCR (High performance corrosion-resistant) bearings to provide an increase in durability, smoothness, and corrosion resistance.

The AMGearing System combines a precision-machined aluminium gear with Abu’s COG (Computer Optimized Gear) gear design, for the ultimate in smoothness and durability.

The C6 carbon body and rotor provides significant weight reduction without sacrificing strength and durability.

Revo ALX is equipped with the Rocket Line Management System, which is a combination of bail angle, spool lip design and slow oscillation that gives anglers the ability to cast further and manage line more effectively.

There are six models, ranging from 2000 to 5000, for everything from bream on hardbodies to snapper on plastics. sizes.

All models feature 7+1 bearings with super

smooth carbon drag systems, with drag force from 3-10kg.

Price: SRP $299 www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

REDINGTON MINNOW

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The new Redington Minnow rod was designed and tuned to meet the needs of younger anglers and flyfishing novices.

It’s built with enough power to throw a wide variety of flies, but the shorter 8’ length offers less swing weight to make it easier for casters of smaller stature to make effective stops at the end of their casting stroke.

This 2-piece, 8’0” 5/6wt graphite rod has a medium action, attractive trim details and cosmetics, and alignment dots. The packaging design is kid and parent friendly with additional tips, techniques and games for kids to get started flyfishing.

The Minnow rod is matched to a Crosswater 4/5/6 reel, which as lightweight construction that lessens the overall weight of package. It has a large arbor design for easier and quicker retrieve, and a durable design with an easy to change spool. It also has a strong disc drag system for great fish stopping power. The reel is pre-spooled with backing, RIO Mainstream WF fly line, and knotless leader.

This combo comes complete with a Cordura rod tube and is backed by a 1-year warranty. www.jmgillies.com.au

LIVETARGET BAITBALL 11 SPINNER RIG

The LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is one of the latest LiveTarget lures to be released by Australian distributor EJ Todd.

With three different wire-frame sizes, the LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is a versatile lure which can be fished at any depth. The three teaser bodies and willow blade create a vibration and flash which call in nearby predatory fish. When bass or cod see the BaitBall, they will strike the primary target body, which is strategically placed away from the teaser fish in the BaitBall.

The LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is available now in six colours to match various water conditions. There are three sizes – small (11g), medium (14g) and large (21g).

For more information head to the EJ Todd website, or for news, photos and videos check them out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ EJ.Todd.Australia) or Instagram (@ej_todd). www.ejtodd.com.au

REESE TARP CLIPS

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Quick and easy, the Reese Tarp Clips are designed to create a handy anchor point anywhere along the edge of a tarp.

There is nothing worse than trying to secure a tarp when the eyelet is broken. The Reese Tarp Clips eliminate this issue. The handy tarp clips provide a vise-like grip on the material to supply additional attachment points.

Quick and easy to tighten and release, the Reese Tarp Clips are ideal for tarps, canopies, awnings, tents, covers and much more. Made with high impact resistant material the tarp clips are heavy duty and crack resistant.

Sold in a handy 4-pack, the Reese Tarp Clips come in a handy reusable container.

They are available for purchase from Repco stores nation-wide.

Reese has been producing a quality range of vehicle accessories since 1952. Full of features, the quality designs are safe and reliable for everyday use.

Price: SRP $9.99 reeseproducts.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JUNE 2018

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

PRODUCT GUIDE

Halco Madeye soft plastics tick all the boxes

The author’s biggest bream in quite some time was caught on the Madeye Flutter Shrimp in coffee’d shrimp colour.

Australian lure company Halco began manufacturing lures in Western Australia back in 1950. Their range of products includes iconic lures like the RMG Scorpion, Halco Laser Pro, Twisty and many more. There would have to be a Halco lure in most keen anglers’ tackle boxes.

After many years of being at the forefront of hardbody lure design, Halco have branched out into the soft plastic side of things with their purchase of Madeye soft plastics. As you would expect, the company has expanded and developed this budding range with the same vigour and quality that defines their hardbody lure ranges. They have six styles in the Madeye range, and I grabbed four of them to test out for the magazines.

MADEYE SOFT PLASTICS 101 The range of Madeye Plastics covers the full spectrum of soft plastics fishing from finesse styles for bream and whiting through to deep water jigging with larger offerings. The six styles of plastics are the Paddle Prawn, Flick Stick, Octoskirt, Flutter Shrimp, Whippy Worm and Mad Craw.

These days most anglers expect their soft plastics to have substantial longevity, and Halco has achieved this with their Rubber Stretch Technology (RST). The copolymer material that the plastics are made from has up to five times the durability of a regular soft plastic, and it is also incredibly buoyant. The advantage to the angler with this is that pickers are less likely to destroy your plastic before your target species has a chance to have a crack at it, and if pickers do attack the plastic they are less likely to render it unusable. The buoyancy also adds to the natural look of the lure; it sinks in a realistic manner, and at rest it sits upright and has a natural movement to attract predators.

Mad Craw The Mad Craw is a lifelike yabby imitation that is 2” long. The attention to detail in this plastic is second to none, right down to the fold in the tail of the yabby. The Mad Craw comes in four colours, of which I grabbed three – the Jelly Prawn, Salt and Pepper, and Marron.

My first intention was to use these lures to target bream. These fish love what

The Madeye Paddle Prawn has a sensational action and the flathead loved them.

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JUNE 2018

Flounder are a welcome by-catch. This one took a Paddle Prawn in the raw prawn colour.

many people would call a creature bait, and the Mad Craw fits into this category.

During my testing, the bream definitely took a liking to the Mad Craw. The various legs and claws provide plenty of movement, and most of the bream caught grabbed them as the lure was dropping. I guess they had to, because if their prey did reach the bottom there was every chance a flathead would grab it before the bream had a second chance.

No complaints here, but you will note in the images that the flathead didn’t mess about.

On a side note, it is really surprising just how buoyant these plastics are. I would normally use a 1/24oz jighead in the areas we fished, and had to up it to a 1/16oz or 1/12oz jighead depending on the current.

Also, I found that a small drop of super glue on the grub keeper helps reduce the plastic slipping down the hook.

As well as chasing bream, I can also see me using these lures chasing trout in the lakes and the rivers. What trout can resist a yabby if it’s on offer?

Flutter Shrimp The next plastic I tested was the Flutter Shrimp. This small prawn imitation is pretty much the opposite of the Mad Craw in that it has a simple design – a traditional prawn profile with a small curly tail. It is available in five colours and is 2.5” long. I grabbed the Jelly Prawn and Coffee’d Shrimp colours.

When the plastics arrived I was most excited to see the Flutter Shrimp, because small curly tail plastics have been the undoing of many species of fish, especially the bream I wanted to target with it. I was a little surprised by the smaller profile the Flutter Shrimp had (I had pictured something a little less finesse), but was stoked with the colours I had chosen. They were spot on.

Like the Mad Claw I used slightly heavier jigheads and targeted bream around man-made structure and across the flats.

I was met with instant success, and was immediately wondering why I hadn’t gone to this lure first. While hopping it across an open area with structure nearby, I scored the biggest bream I have caught in some time. It went nearly 40cm to the tip, which is a solid fish for the area. Both colours were effective and, unlike the Mad Craw, super glue wasn’t a necessity when rigging them. The plastic still slips, but mainly due to a fish grabbing it, rather than it moving by itself.

Paddle Prawn When it comes to the Paddle Prawn,

The unexpected bonus when fishing the Mad Craw was how much the flathead loved them. There is a marron-colored Mad Craw in there.

PRODUCT GUIDE there is a lot going on. It is available in four sizes (3, 4, 5 and 7”) and has up to seven colours, depending on the size. The profile of the plastic is a prawn-style head with legs and feelers attached to a body that tapers back to a paddle tail. The wrist of the tail is thin, maximising the action.

I chose to use the 4” version, and picked the Ivy Flash, Jelly Prawn and Raw Prawn colours to test.

WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

Flick Stick The Flick Stick is the most traditional of the profiles in the Madeye range. It has a largish body that tapers to a long tail. Available in three sizes (3, 5 and 8”), it is a baitfish imitation and comes in up to seven colours depending on the size of the lure. The model I tested was the 5” version.

The beauty of a plastic with this profile,

Double hook-ups are always welcome.

Nicholas Willett showing off a couple of nice fish caught during the fishing challenge.

to make excuses, but given slightly better wind conditions, I am pretty confident the challenge would have been achieved. The results are a great testament to how well the Madeye plastics work.

My final word Testing the Halco Madeye Soft Plastics has been great fun. Overall, each had the correct attributes to be successful and this was proven during the fishing challenge.

Traditionally plastics made of tougher material tend to be a problematic to rig, but I didn’t find this to be the case with the Madeyes. A dab of glue on the Mad Craw was my only thing out of the ordinary, and the longevity of the plastics themselves was great, with only the paddle tail of the Paddle Prawn going a couple of times.

I would love to see a few more natural

Some solid bream came to the author’s Madeye party!

The Paddle Prawn was the surprise packet of the plastics tested. You cannot understand how much movement this plastic has until you rig it and get it into the water. The tail has a very strong movement, as you would expect, but it is the body roll that is awesome. The vibration this plastic produces can be felt

is that with its streamlined design is it gets into the strike zone faster and stays there better during a retrieve. The trade-off for this is that the angler needs to impart the action to the lure. This is the case with the Flick Stick, however with the suppleness of the tail there is some movement, which can’t hurt the effectiveness of the lure. A

The jelly prawn coloured Mad Craw was the downfall of this bream. testing the Madeyes. The challenge was this: five hours on our favourite waterway to catch a fish on each Madeye plastic and each colour tested, making it 10 overall. We picked favourable tides and had a crack.

In total, three species and 19 fish were caught in the five hours, and we managed to get fish on all bar two of the plastics. Not

colours in the range, as my preference with most of my fishing is to use natural colours, but I am sure that will be in Halco’s plans, as I believe the Madeye plastics are well and truly here to stay.

To find your nearest stockist and more about the Halco Madeye soft plastics, go to www.halcotackle.com. They are well worth trying. - Peter Jung

The author generally prefers natural colours when fishing for flathead. However when fish like this take your jelly prawn coloured Paddle Prawn, you can’t help but smile. with every movement of the fishing rod and wind of the reel.

During testing the target species was flathead, and it was no surprise that they took a liking to the Paddle Prawn. Fished on a 3/8oz jighead, you can use a hop or slow lift retrieve. It was extremely effective during the slow movement periods of the tide, when the action of the lure really came to the fore. When there was a lot of flow, the buoyancy and action of the lure means it grabs too much water, moving the plastic more than you would like. A simple adjustment to your retrieve helps keep it in the zone and catching fish.

All three colours were effective, but I need to make special mention about the Raw Prawn colour. It looks fairly plain in the packet, but the clear UV belly provides added appeal, and if the fishing is tough I believe that UV makes a difference.

jerk shad shape is a proven fish catcher, and the team at Halco have done a good job with the Flick Stick. I used the raw prawn and ivy flash colours during testing, and both proved to be big fish catchers.

The majority of the better quality flathead fell to them.

The Fishing Challenge It’s always fun to get to test lures for the magazines, but it’s not always easy to find new ways in which to do it. Most of us tend to have favourite species or types of fishing we prefer. Certainly in my case, chasing flathead and our other estuarybased species is what I love. My friends and I tend to have reasonable success, and have a lot of fun doing it.

Given the fact that we know how to consistently catch fish in our local waterways, I decided to set a high bar for myself and friend Nicholas Willett while

The Flick Stick is the most traditional of the Madeye plastics tested. It proved to be the big fish catcher, with plenty of flathead over 50cm hitting the deck for the author.

JUNE 2018

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Last chance for some New England trout BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The 2017/18 trout season started with a good flush of water in the streams, and some sensational trout fishing was experienced throughout most New

just on dark, but a calm, overcast day with little wind is like gold to the angler.

At times like these, the fish will usually rise discreetly all day long.

CONDITIONS FAVOUR THE FISH Fortunately, with winter now officially declared, the New England weather

of these wily trout detects any bumps or thumps from the bank, or you make any sudden movements, it’s game over. As soon as the fish detects vibrations or other danger signs, it will head for the nearest bit of cover and remain hidden for quite a while.

To illustrate this, I once

Beautifully-marked brown trout are found in some New England waters, with this fish being an exceptional one. so therefore they will be far easier to spook. The angler will also be somewhat easier to frustrate with the sight of bow waves from worried fish as they head for cover.

All is not lost though – you just need some

holds a fish on one day is likely to hold another fish on another day – it’s the name of the game.

We don’t all have local knowledge of course, so here are some clues on how to approach a stream that

river. This fish could be right beside a rock or other item of cover, or sitting square in the deepest section of the water leaving the pool. No matter that it just covers the trout’s back, it’s still a great little lie.

Big trout like this one held by Denise Kampe don’t come along very often in the New England, but it still can happen.

South Wales streams. It’s a long-standing system; when the streams are wellsupplied with water the fishing is at its best.

Up in the New England area, which is the most accessible trout fishery to my home in southern Queensland, the numbers of rainbows and browns in the rivers recently were as good as any I could

is going to favour the fish.

Really cold nights are par for the course at this time of year, along with cool days that mandate the wearing of a few layers of clothing to keep warm.

While we anglers might be a bit soft and feel the uncomfortable change in season, the fish aren’t bothered by it at all – they actually revel in it. Cool

waited quietly on a spooked trout, as it was a particularly large one, to see how long it would take to come back on the job, and I was surprised to find it took over an hour for the next rise to occur.

There’s no happy ending to this story, as I missed the strike anyway!

So assuming that the weather conditions are good the fish will probably be

A typical New England stream with some trout action taking place. forethought in your approach to skinny water, to turn the tables in your favour.

Let me add here that local knowledge is a great asset to trout angling, as it can familiarise the angler with likely lies and places where trout have been hooked previously, or at worst scared from a particular spot. An area that

you know is acclaimed as trout habitat, but which you haven’t fished before.

TREAD GENTLY AND WATCH CAREFULLY A first step is to approach each pool from the back of it, with the idea firmly in your mind that there is likely to be a fish sitting right at the very back of the pool, waiting for a tasty morsel to come down

Unfortunately, unless the fish rises it’s going to be hard to see, but a trout in this situation will either be rising or making some interesting swirls that are still quite easy to detect.

Obviously, a very gentle approach to a ‘tail end Charlie’ (as I call them) is required, so unless you are very gently casting a tiny

Small water fishing is part of the charm of New England trouting, and you can expect fish in these small tributary streams this month. remember. Successive trips saw even more top shelf flyfishing when the weather played the game.

Always weatherdominated, the New England trout waters hold plenty of fish but success usually depends upon just what the day throws up in the weather department. Too clear and hot conditions tend to make the fish very shy. Cold, bleak conditions will usually see them feeding very early or 60

JUNE 2018

to cold weather will see the trout feeding hard to build up condition for the spawning runs to the smaller headwaters in all streams, which means that both browns and rainbows will take virtually all offerings that we anglers throw their way.

Seasonally hungry these trout may be, but stupid they are certainly not. Whether it’s a fly, soft plastic or tiny spinner on your leader, if one

about their business, so what could go wrong in the last gasp of the 2017/18 season?

Rainfall records indicate that there has been a bit of a dry time in parts of the New England region, which means that streams could well be lower than expected for this time year.

Lowered water levels make things tough for both fish and anglers, as the fish will probably have less water to be comfortable in,

Western flowing waters also hold New England trout. The angler on the right actually took a fish from this pool.

plastic on the lightest of leaders or presenting a fly as gently as possible, that trout will spook from your efforts and put down most other fish in the pool as well. An alternative scenario is that the angler knows his or her

a bit lower in the water column. When you detect some midwater action, you’ll find that a soft plastic or other lure will be in its element, as will wet flies such as a black Woolly Bugger, leech pattern or Red and Black Matuka.

This small but beautifully-marked brown trout was taken by Denise from the outflow area of a New England pool. stuff and is happily rewarded with a hook up, so the fish can be played out away from its mates.

If a diligent search of the tail of a pool does not reveal a fish, a short, 10-minute wait will usually reveal a rising fish, or swirls or other movement from fish feeding

These flies are best on size 6-8 hooks.

It’s pretty evident that low water levels in trout streams are going to benefit the fly angler more than the spin aficionado. Flies that work in late season New England streams, along with the couple of wet flies I’ve

mentioned, include dry flies such as the Black Spinner, Black Cricket (both size 14) or Royal Wulff in size 16. Remember that fine and far off is best for all trout fishing, and the angler who goes about things quietly but methodically is the one likely to be bringing the best fish to the net.

Suitable fly tackle for New England waters can be a 5-6wt rod, a floating fly line plus a 2kg leader tippet.

As a last thought on angler tactics, if the day is not quite as friendly as it might be due to winds or other weather influences, there is no harm at all in simply casting flies or lures to likely areas and waiting for the line to tighten as a trout takes hold. Provided the fish are not alarmed, there is every chance of success, so get cracking prior to the season closing on the Queen’s Birthday weekend.

IMPORTANT FISHERIES MEETING THIS MONTH Have you ever wondered what happens to the money you spend on buying a NSW fishing license?

Surprise surprise, a lot of it goes towards actually improving fishing, and in mid-May the Department of Primary Industries (which encompasses Fisheries) held a very important Trout Strategy Workshop at various venues

Small water and smart fish. Keeping the outflow section under observation yielded a small trout for the author’s wife in this pool. in the state (including one in the north) to consider many aspects of the recreational trout fishery. This fishery is estimated to contribute around $250 million to inland NSW annually.

Trout angling is naturally only a part of the inland fishing picture, but it still has a mighty big influence on those towns and services that are in or close to tout angling areas in the more higher altitude upper tributaries and streams of both eastern and western river catchments.

It’s estimated that good trout fishing can be found within two hours’ drive of most major NSW towns and cities, so it’s certainly a serious business proposition in the grand scheme of things.

The New South Wales government is looking at ways of future-proofing their trout fisheries, so they are embarking on a comprehensive and effective strategy to take fishing into the future successfully.

Initiatives being considered include involving

anglers in the Trout Strategy, investigating and changes to waters and annual seasons, targeting research to monitor and assess trout data, and other important items.

Most importantly of all, the NSW DPI are committed to working cooperatively with all stakeholders to develop and implement a workable strategic framework to nurture and develop their unique trout fishery. A sound plan! To find out more head to www.dpi.nsw.gov.au and search for ‘Trout Strategy’.

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61

When one door closes, another will open JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson steve@swtroutfishing.com.au

June is here and so is the end to another river fishing season on the Monday of the June long weekend. We will then concentrate on fishing the lake until the start of the new season on the October long weekend.

While it’s an end to the river fishing season, it is also the end to my 29th season as a professional trout fishing guide with the big 30 years about to come up!

It’s been a lot of fun, but now that I am ‘officially’ and old age pensioner, it’s also time to slow down and restructure my business between guiding, working in my tackle shop and my social life. With the slow down comes a very sad decision to discontinue writing fishing reports for New South Wales and Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly magazines.

I have really enjoyed sharing my experiences with the readers and I would hope that you have also enjoyed reading my reports.

With my semi-retirement comes a bit more time travelling and enjoying fishing for myself for a change instead of watching other people catch fish.

I will however continue to share some of my experiences from time to time in a series of articles for Fishing Monthly, so I won’t disappear totally.

So I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve Morgan, Jacqui Thomas and all the other

staff at Fishing Monthly for allowing me to share my trout fishing experiences with you all each month. Thanks again and I hope you enjoy reading my very last fishing report!

This month is when you hear about the big Atlantic salmon getting caught in Jindabyne. It’s also the month the brook trout turn

what I think will happen over the month in more depth.

Boat trolling over the last month has been good, with plenty of 1kg rainbow trout and some big brown trout in excellent condition giving the lake trollers a lot of fun, and I would expect this pattern to continue as it usually does over winter.

Luke and his niece Matilda Winter with part of their catch. up in the lake. Both moment to head into the river to spawn. Remember, big lures catch big fish!

Anyhow winter fishing is great, so let’s have a look at

As reported, those big Atlantic salmon come on the bite this month, and if you troll around in the weedy bays you might just find a school of brook trout. Rapalas and

JUNE ROUND UP – THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method:

Bait fishing with worms teamed up with artificial baits.

Best depth:

Bottom fishing.

Best lake lure:

Tasmanian Devil in pink 55 or Rapala brook and perch.

Best lake area: Creel Bay at Waste Point and The Claypits near town.

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

Best fly method: Williamson’s Gold Fish in the weedy bays.

Best River:

Gaden Trout Hatchery Rivers all closed to fishing until October.

See how premier sport fish are bred and raised!

Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.

Self-guided tours on selected days.

Small admission fee.

Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au 62

JUNE 2018

method works any time day or night. Artificial salmon eggs have been very good for catching some bigger trout at the moment. Both the worms and artificial baits are fished off the bottom with a running sinker.

Artificial baits are great in winter and you only need to use a small ball of artificial bait, just a little bigger than a pea, and a small size 12 hook will catch more fish than big hooks and big bits of bait.

Gamakatsu do a fine wire hook called a Single Egg Hook, and these are great for PowerBait. You can use a size 8 or 10 hook for trout in winter.

Over the next few months, the areas to catch a trout on

bait are Wollondibby Inlet and Creel Bay at Waste Point and Stinky Bay nearer to town. Just remember the lake is weedy, but that’s where the fish like to hang out.

Fly fishing is June and July on Lake Jindabyne would have to be the hardest and coldest months for fly fishing. If you want to fly fish over the winter months, you will find the fish hanging about the bays, and the better areas are Creel Bay, Hayshed and Hatchery Bay, Mill Creek Inlet, The Claypits and The Snowy Arm. So rug up and enjoy your trip to the Snowies, and if coming down for a snow play trip, don’t forget your fishing rod!

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leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. *

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Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.

Luke Taylor with a rainbow caught trolling a Tasmanian Devil number 111 Willy’s Special.

FISHING & BOATING LIFESTYLE PROGRAM

Gaden Trout Hatchery Open 10 am–4 pm daily.

other big lures up to 13cm, mostly unheard of usually in trout fishing, will get the big trout for you. Size does not matter when the big browns are spawning, as the bigger aggressive males will chase anything, no matter how big it is.

Other lures to use in the middle of the day are Tasmanian Devils in pink number 55, or orange number 56 colours. These are aggression colours in winter, and the trout will strike these hard. Also keep in mind a number Y36 yellow wing for the sunnier days and Tassie Devil holographic, or number 48 or Y48 are always worthwhile early and late in the day off three colours of lead core line.

Lure spinning around the lake margins is the best way to find the fish. Keep moving and don’t stay in one spot too long. I find that in winter that smaller 7g Tasmanian Devils are best for the deeper water on still days and the 13g Tassies on the windy days. Another lure that has been worth a throw is the 3” StumpJumper.

Pink is a great colour in winter. orange Rapala Minnow Spins are also great off the bank.

If you like to use soft plastics, the Strike Tigers in vodkar, orange and princess pink colours are worth a shot and the Tasmanian Trout Frogs are also going great.

Flicking soft plastics out and working them slowly through the snags and above weed beds when the lake is low is the best way to catch trout.

Bait fishing over winter is always a favourite for those who just want to sit by the camp fire and keep warm. You can fish all day during winter, but don’t fish too deep, as the fish often feed in close to the shore.

Bait fishing with scrub worms or artificial bait works well in winter, so long as you don’t mind sitting back and waiting. This

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Now is the time to get serious about big cod!

WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

We are now in winter and the fun begins! Long cold days (and nights), rugged up in ski gear and casting oversized lures for monster cod is on the agenda!

light are good times to be on the water fishing. During the night is a great, if not the best, time to fish.

Both casting and trolling will work well. As always, casting is my preferred method, as not only is it more enjoyable and a more exciting way to catch fish

environmental flow, which could raise the levels, but as long as the river stays below 1.2m at Wagga Wagga it should be on your list.

Casting large lures at the big logs is your best option.

Try to find the biggest

During the night is by far one of the most successful times to target monster Murray cod.

You couldn’t wipe the smile off Mitch’s face when he landed this cracking cod from the ‘Bidgee.

Over the past few years this has become the norm for dedicated anglers chasing big winter time cod. It’s like a new craze and winter is fast becoming the prime time for metre plus Murray cod.

Forget 1 December, this is the new cod opening! The fishing is going to be tough, hard work and the conditions aren’t comfortable, but it’ll all be worth it.

BLOWERING DAM It has been pushed down the list of spots to target over the past few months, but now it jumps back to the top! Blowering Dam is by far the go-to location for the next three months and June is one of the best times.

Early June still sees the warm days and cool nights.

These are perfect conditions for chasing big cod, as all the food disappears and our plastics become intriguing to the cod. The water is also still not too cold, usually around 14-12°C. The fish will be active and feeding up as much as they can before all the activity stops for the winter.

During June you can fish almost all day and still find fish. The middle of the day when the sun is high in the sky will be slow, but the first and last 2-3 hours of

but it is also more successful.

Casting allows you to present your lure to the fish without spooking them (this can sometimes happen with trolling as you are driving the boat over the fish).

Casting big soft plastics, spinnerbaits and surface lures is the best option.

Surface fishing is best during the dark and at first light. My pick of the lures is the FX Fury soft plastics.

Casting these along the grassy banks is the best way to find monster fish.

The fish will be starting to move into the shallows to feed so fish in 1-4m during the dark, and once the sun is up push out slightly deeper into 4-7m.

If you are using soft plastics, it is vital to make sure they are rigged correctly. I can’t stress how important it is to get this spot on! Just rigging them normally with a jighead and a fixed stinger will result in multiple missed fish. We missed 13 fish in a row one winter before we designed a new rigging system that sticks almost every hit.

If you’re wondering, large swimbait rods are the best for casting these large lures. I use the Abu Garcia Villain 7’9” matched with the Revo Toro Beast, 50lb Whiplash braid and a 50lb fluorocarbon leader. Run a rod length of leader and then attach your plastic or surface lure with a loop knot, and locked blood or uni knot for spinnerbaits.

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER This time of year is always hard work on the river, but it’s the best time to target trophy-sized Murray

Trout cod will still be active upstream of Wagga during June. Adam Smith shows off a great example. logs in the section you are fishing, in the deepest holes and slowest water.

When the river is low, this is usually along the outside

This is the time of year when you can chase those once in a lifetime fish that fill your arms. cod. It will only be worth fishing if it is low. We are expecting to have a cold and dry winter, which means there is a high possibility that the river will run low.

During June there may be an

option for larger fish. If you want a small option, a standard 5/8oz rigged with a large plastic and stinger will work. Also try large hardbody lures like the 90mm AC Invader, 100mm Strike Force Cod Stalker

bends of the river.

Large spinnerbaits like the Mud Guts Big Quaddie are the perfect

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and the 130mm White Crow in the shallow bib.

Colours a r e n ’t important, but it’s always safe to go with natural and dark colours with mixtures of green, black, purple and red.

From Wagga to Hay will fish really well, with good numbers of large fish through this section. You will be able to navigate in a boat, but you will just have to be careful for shallow sand bars. If you are looking to fish upstream of Wagga, there will be plenty of trout cod and golden perch that will still feed, but you can’t access this water in a normal boat. The river turns into a set of stone rapids and pools meaning it is only accessible via shallow watercraft.

I’m predicting a great month of fishing! I know it’s going to be cold, but get out there and give it a crack!

Chatterbaits

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The early warm June days can still see some great fishing along the Murrumbidgee in the clear water.

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Local lakes prove fruitful CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

The cooler months are always a challenge in Canberra, especially for those anglers with limited time to hit the water due to jobs and kids.

trapped in small areas where they grow to a large size and eat everything in sight.

One such location is Nerrang Pool, which is attached to Lake Burley Griffin. This large pond contains plenty of redfin, huge numbers of carp and some yellas, all of which

These fish are responding well to vibes cast near the bank and slow rolled back to the boat or kayak. However, they are also hitting soft plastics twitched along the middle of the water column and small divers.

Golden perch can still be found along the flatter areas

switch to lures, chase the mighty green and practise catch and release.

I was lucky enough to witness one angler catch a good-sized ‘muzza’ outside the college, wet the brag, get a quick measure followed by a photo and then release the fish to fight another day.

Tuggeranong will continue to produce right through winter and is a great option for those looking for light line reddy action around the edges on plastics as well as those chasing goldens near the dam wall.

Lake Ginninderra has not produced for some time. I’m not sure if it was the high levels of weed in the water through summer or other pollutants, but the fishing has not been easy. Yes, there are redfin hanging around

River gold is always a possibility in winter. the pond. This pond does hold some decent-sized cod that can be targeted using surface lures at dawn. The edges near the dam wall are productive at this time of year, and if you do get a few half-hearted surface hits from a cod, switch to a spinnerbait and slow roll back to your position. Sometimes, this is all that’s needed to produce a solid strike.

That said, there are plenty of river goldens on offer and these can be a good option if the cod fishing is slow. Working lures like the Westin Swim 100mm around the rocky outcrops near the middle of the river is a great way to convince a yella to strike, as is slow rolling lipless crankbaits along the edges of overhanging trees.

Victoria Cameron caught this stunning cod using a purple StumpJumper.

However, there are always options available for the savvy fisher, and one such choice is ‘pond hopping’ around Canberra’s local creeks and wetlands in search of pest species and the occasional native. This type of fishing involves a light spin rod, a handful of soft plastics and a half hour after work and can produce some memorable fishing.

Unfortunately, the majority of Canberra’s waterways are plagued by redfin, which have either swum into the area during heavy rain or have been released by those who are perhaps unaware of rules and regulations. This does, however, mean that huge numbers of these fish get

swam in and are now stuck.

They are great fun to target on light gear, are an easy option despite the shorter days and freezing cold and will keep your angling game sharp in preparation for the spring gold rush.

So give ‘pond hopping’ a go over winter and you may be surprised by the calibre of fish on offer and how easy it is to keep up your hobby despite the chill.

LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin is fishing reasonably well for all three major lure targets – cod, yellowbelly and redfin.

There are schools of feeding redfin prevalent around the reed-lined banks near Yarralumla Bay and off the points at Springbank Island.

and can be caught using a variety of techniques from slow rolling plastics through to twitching small flies around the margins of the lake near the National Gallery.

Now is also a great time to focus on casting big lures around the willows near the peninsula, as cod tend to bite well right through until mid July.

Lake Tuggeranong has been a very consistent fishery over the past month. Plenty of small to medium Murray cod have been caught at dusk by anglers using surface lures and medium-sized spinnerbaits. It has been great to watch this fishery evolve throughout the last few months as more and more anglers ditch the bait,

CODGER TOPWATER

Pond hopping in winter can provide some memorable captures. the dam wall, which can be targeted with soft plastics, small deep divers and vibes, but the goldens are proving tricky to catch and I have not heard of a large Murray cod being caught for a few months. That said, carp can be easily caught using soft plastics twitched near the margins of the lake around John Knight Park.

Gordon Pond continues to be a good option for anglers looking for a big score of small redfin. These fish are easily targeted using small soft plastics like the 2” Strike Pro Enticer Finesse Grub in motor oil, which best represents the bait in

RIVER The Murrumbidgee River really is a confusing fishery at present. There have been some great captures over the last few weeks like Victoria Cameron’s 104cm green powerhouse, but, for the most part, the fishing has been really slow for this time of year. This could be due to the fact that Canberra experienced a warmer than usual April and the first frosts did not appear until May, or it could be because of the lack of rain. Whatever the reason, the ‘Bidgee will continue to confuse cod anglers until the real cold weather arrives.

SURROUNDS Googong Dam has been hit and miss recently. There are a few local guns who have the dam sussed like Adam Rolls who racked up a cricket score of goldens during one session a few weeks back.

However, for most anglers, the fishing has been tough, despite the fact that the dam is low and clear. Even so, the dam is always worth a go this time of year because the larger green fish are active and do respond to spinnerbaits and swimbaits slow rolled parallel to the points in the middle of the dam.

That’s it for this month!

Good luck!

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Adam Samios with a solid ‘Bidgee cod.

Embrace the misery in June LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart

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stewie72@bigpond.com

It had been a cold night, it was early August, and I had endured many like it chasing cod over the winter period since June, but this was different.

My first cast was a good one, my next not so good.

I must have picked up a loose loop around the tip. On closer inspection I realized all my runners where frozen solid… a quick dip in the water nearly up to the reel had me casting again, the dipping continued for the next hour or so.

How cold it was is anyone’s guess, but when the sun eventually peeked its head over the hills I was very thankful to say the least.

DO YOUR RESEARCH In relative terms, winters in Australia are quite warm when compared to far-flung countries closer to the poles.

Our need for quality outdoor clothing built to handle such conditions in short spells is

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Bigger winter redfin are few and far between, but three or four quality specimens for a session are good enough. redfin. Both species are very well adapted to cold water.

The rivers and streams will be closed for trout fishing come the June long weekend, so I suggest you make the most of it.

Rivers such as the Fish River, depending on

from the spawning beds, and you can do this by targeting the bigger pools casting with oversized minnows up to 80-90mm if you dare.

Not all fish run at the same time, and it’s nature’s way of not putting all her eggs in the one basket. Pre-spawn fish in

Dress for success this winter, do your research, and stay out longer – the results will follow! very limited, but it’s not until we specialize in outdoor activities at such cold temperatures that we create the need to feel warm, which in turn lets us concentrate on the task at hand, not on whether your fingers and toes are just about to snap off…

Outdoors men and women overseas continue their pursuits in conditions we would consider abhorrent, and not just for a few hours, but days and days on end.

They are not super human, they are not used to it; they just wear the right gear. Yes it’s expensive, but you won’t be complaining when all of your mates have gone home, tail frozen between their legs, and the biggest cod you have ever seen has just eaten your swimbait at the rod tip and is slowly peeling line towards a rising sun.

TROUT AND REDFIN Of course, winter fishing is not all about cod – far from it in fact – and for consistency you’re possibly better chasing trout and

flows, can offer limited opportunities on spawning fish, and the distances involved in walking between spawning beds will put most off. Needless to say, depending on how you view the subject, you may have already hung your rod up and walked away.

There are still many opportunities to target some of the bigger specimens away

impoundments such as Lake Lyell and Thompsons Creek Dam (no run as such, just a false spawn on windswept gravel) can be very aggressive towards larger offerings, and if you see what gets thrown in overseas countries for big trout, you will soon come to realize how much more we have to learn.

Capitalizing on the cannibalistic nature of trout

and redfin in the bigger size brackets is something we are going to be hearing a lot more about. The ripples from throwing swimbaits for cod has and will continue to change the way we chase other species on lures and flies for years to come.

Winter redfin for the most part seem to be a lot bigger, and I’m not totally sure why.

Maybe their body mass is just able to handle the colder temperatures better than the smaller ones and they remain active for longer… who knows! Whatever it is I’m not complaining, as three or four bigger specimens for a morning’s work in Ben Chifley or Carcoar Dam are way better than 40-50 small ones in my books.

Bigger specimens will hunt the smaller offerings, picking off the sick and injured out of the schools, so observations on your sounder are key. Representing the size, shape and sickly action of a dying redfin is a sure way to get a response. Doing it at the depth required is the hard bit, and some of the bigger but lighter flutter spoons have definitely sparked my interest of late.

It’s a work in progress, and not just for redfin!

Hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines.

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Ice and fog are part of the package when fishing in winter. Embrace the misery! It’s not all bad.

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Rug up and rug up some more for winter!

NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

June can be one of the best months of the year to be targeting XOS Murray cod. The first frost has landed and water and air temperatures have dropped, seeing the fish move shallower or higher in the water column looking for bait that is actively feeding in the warmer water. I like to look at June as the month where slow and steady wins the race.

Fishing swimbaits for example, some casts might take two or three times longer to retrieve than they would in summer when the water is warmer and bait life isn’t so lethargic. This also means when it comes to fishing structure, I like to put twice as many casts in as usual, as big Murray cod are known to be pretty stubborn or lazy at times when it comes to making them bite, so presentation is a major factor. They’re a lot smarter than people give them credit for.

Finding what bait is active in the waterway you are fishing will give you the best chance at catching a fish of a lifetime. My PB swimbait Murray cod was caught around this time last year on the smallest lure I had in my tackle box at the time, which is no surprise when I think of it, because it’s exactly what the big cod were feeding on in that waterway at that time. Matching the hatch at its best!

Copeton Dam is once again living up to its name as the big cod capital, with some

This Murray cod engulfed the author’s Cod King Chatterbait in the Severn River gorge.

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absolute monsters caught already this season. Water levels have not really changed too much since the last report, and this usually sees the fish get more comfortable and feed more consistently. Most methods and lure choices have been catching fish from surface to sub-surface right through to working swimbaits and spinnerbaits along the bottom throughout the day after the sun has come up.

If you’re working surface lures, long pauses between retrieves has been effective at producing a bite.

Pindari Dam has also been fishing well, although it doesn’t quite the class of fish that Copeton does. It does have some awesome quality fish nonetheless, with cod and yellowbelly and even the silver perch! They can all be good fun to target this time of year for both the bait and lure fishers. Pindari is also sitting around the same percentage as last report. This time last year the dam was sitting over the full capacity mark.

Working rocky points or big heavy tree lines will put you in with a good chance at catching one of these fish.

This Pindari Dam cod fell to a Westin Percy the Perch swimbait.

Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and lipless crankbaits have been the most productive lures in recent weeks.

The condition of the Severn River hasn’t been the best, with low and stained waters where the flow has almost stopped running further upstream. In saying that, there have still been a few fish caught on a range of lures. Chatterbaits worked along the bottom in the deeper holes have been the most effective in these

FISHING FILL-ITS

River flows and fish In recent years we have gained a better understanding of how fish numbers are linked to the way water flows throughout river systems.

There are 46 native fish species in the Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), and each one has evolved differently to the boom and bust nature of flow common in Australian rivers.

This means they rely on the variety of different flows to breed and thrive.

Due to this dependence on flow variability, most native fish in the MDB are suffering from changes humans have made in the river system.

The protection and recovery of native fish stocks provides a range of environmental, social and economic benefits. Fish play a critical role in the river system by cycling nutrients, providing food for other parts of the food web like waterbirds, and sustaining a billion dollar a

year recreational fishing industry. They are also important in the social wellbeing of local communities.

ENGAGING WITH ANGLERS In a recent survey anglers from across the MDB asked for better information on the way fish respond to changes in flow, and what that could mean for fishing in their local rivers over both the short and long term.

NSW DPI Fisheries, in partnership with the MurrayDarling Basin Authority, has worked with keen anglers from across the NSW Basin to answer common questions posed by anglers: • How do flows help fish?

• Why are the flows I see in my river given different names?

• What do different flows look like in my river?

• Do the fish I like to catch really need different types of flows?

To view the information,

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conditions.

There have been no reports for the Beardy River, however from the June long weekend this waterway will be closed, as it is listed as trout water. Check the DPI for more info.

Good luck to everyone chasing big Murray cod this month. Rug up and pack some more clothes just in case, because you never know when you will end up in the water with that fish of a lifetime. Tight lines!

The Murray-Darling Basin Plan is achieving positive outcomes in our waterways. Image courtesy of NSW DPI.

go to www.dpi.nsw.gov. au and search for ‘Fish and Flows’.

DPI Fisheries in partnership with the MurrayDarling Basin Authority has also developed a short video on the positive outcomes of environmental watering from an angler’s point of view. You can find the video on YouTube by searching for ‘Recreational fishers understanding flows’.

WHAT IS DPI DOING TO HELP? DPI Fisheries is helping to implement the MurrayDarling Basin Plan, a major Basin-wide investment, to achieve positive environmental outcomes in our waterways. Water for the Environment provides opportunities to assist fish communities in recovering from impacts associated with river regulation and human uses of water.

The DPI also works with other government organisations and communities to get the best outcomes possible through efficient use of environmental water and by undertaking parallel complementary actions (such as improving fish habitat through re-snagging, restoring in-stream vegetation, riverbank management, fish passage, screening pumps and diversions and controlling invasive species). - DPI

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HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

June marks the beginning of winter and your typical cold water patterns should be in full swing by now. It has been publicised that we are expecting a wetter than average winter in some parts of Australia, and I am hoping the Hunter Valley catches the edge of some of these systems passing through.

The water will be cold and should be around 16°C or lower. The rivers and creeks are under the bass closed season and while fishing for bass in the rivers is not banned, the bag limit is zero. Some anglers prefer not to target them and let them do their business for the future stocks.

Winter is a great time of year to fish the impoundments, as even though the dam bass do not breed they feed up in

general baitfish will be the main source of food for the fish this time of year. Leave the big style reaction lures at home, as finesse techniques dominate this time of year.

The crawfish population will be nearly in hibernation by now, and smaller less aggressive lures that represent a baitfish are what you’re aiming to imitate.

A suspending jerkbait is a great shallow water structure lure. Anywhere that you can see some cover, whether

Mitchel Cone with a shallow water brute.

This bass crunched the author’s jerkbait in shallow water.

The lakes have been on a constant decline over summer and autumn.

Apart from the weed beds not being able to survive and thicken because of the dropping levels, it’s not all doom and gloom for the fishing. The fish still need to eat, irrespective of the weather; it’s just a matter of where and how you target them this month.

readiness for spawning.

Fat-bellied full of roe and mouths crammed with baitfish, they will be in good condition when they hit the deck, and this month and the next can be the best fishing you’ll see for numbers all year.

Both Glenbawn and St Clair will fish very similarly this time of year. Smelt, gudgeons, minnows, fry, or

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it is weed, rock or timber, chances are there will be fish close by. Low light, overcast and windy conditions are best suited for the jerkbait.

When the water is either stirred up or at low light, this allows the fish to get comfortable moving freely around shallower cover. A jerkbait worked nice and close to the structure, with a good hard 2-3 twitches and then a pause, will work.

This style of fishing is very visual, as you can sometimes see your lure disappear behind a dark flash as your slack line rips off the water’s surface. It feels like they line your jerk bait up from 6ft away before slamming it. If the fish are active, the pause doesn’t need to be very long at all, but you may have to slow down the retrieve and extend the pause if you feel the fish aren’t being aggressive.

When fishing a jerkbait out into deeper water, pausing longer allows any fish to swim up that may be sitting deeper in the cover.

A jighead rigged plastic like a paddle-tail or grub is going to be your main producer this month. Rig them on a 1/16oz head and work them shallow over cover; you can go as heavy as 3/8oz and fish them deep along the bottom. They are the most versatile lure you can throw, as you can fish them anywhere in the water column. Little twitches in your retrieve can turn lookers into biters.

Keep the colours nice and basic. On sunny days I like to use natural greens and

browns and in low light or on overcast days I like whites and chartreuse. You can use plastic dyes like Spike It to give your natural colours some added spice, however you should be more focused on where and what you’re doing with your plastic than what colour it is.

When casting to an edge, concentrate on keeping your plastic close to the structure by following the contour all the way back to the boat. If you’re lucky, they might be up high and eating throughout the water column, but the closer you can be to the weed, rock, or timber the more fish you will catch.

Dropping your plastic down to fish on the sounder will work as well. Both lakes have plenty of fish in them

fish it. Smaller sizes with baitfish colours can be swum, hopped and slow rolled higher in the water column to imitate small baitfish. On a heavier jighead in blacks and browns, these can be slowly dragged along the bottom to mimic any crawfish that have not hidden away for the winter yet. Typically, a hair jig will give you a lot more movement in cold water than a silicone skirt. These little subtleties can mean the difference between getting a bite or not.

If you are faced with some glassed-out bluebird sky days and find the fishing dying off as the sun gets higher, spybaiting can produce when other baits seem to fail. Designed to swim with a very subtle roll with spinning props on the

Small lures are key over winter, and this is a good selection to cover all water depths. and your sounder should be constantly seeing fish come through. Slow roll, burn, twitch or hop your plastic in front of these fish if the ones on the edge are not biting.

Another style of lure that has been producing for me the last few years has been a hair jig. Hand tied from natural or synthetic materials and put straight onto a straight ball jighead, these things can work a treat.

The best thing about a hair jig is that it can imitate many things depending on how you

nose and tail, these baits can have a knack for catching suspended bass that aren’t really in the mood to eat.

Make a long cast over where you have found some fish then count the bait down to the depth they are holding at.

Follow this with a super slow roll back, just enough to get the bait working. The bites are generally very subtle, so a soft rod and light drag pressure is required. The soft bite sometimes only catches the fish by a single hook of the treble, so a gentle

approach when fighting fish is suggested.

For the deep water bite, an ice jig is an effective lure the winter months. Moulded from lead with wings on the tails, these quickly sink down in front of the fishes’ faces. Small sharp hops send them darting around in circles looking like an escaping baitfish. Mix up your retrieves on any day, as they can want it slightly different depending on the day. Constant hopping, or ‘hop-pause-hop’ and even sharp hops then dead sticking will work. I like to stay mobile with ice jig fishing, always slowly moving around looking for active fish.

Sometimes, if it is tough, staying put and waiting for the fish to bite is the only way. A nice, small profile that’s not too heavy is the key, so look at an ice jig under 60mm long. Colours can be another debate with ice jigs, as everyone has their favourites that they swear by. I prefer lighter colours like white, silver, fluorescents and even UV colours, but don’t stress too much. As with most of your freshwater fishing, concentrate on what you’re doing with the lure rather than what colour it is.

Spoons are another lure making a big stamp in impoundment fishing lately.

In the last few years the larger heavier variety have been used with great success in Queensland. Smaller profile ones can work just as well in NSW at this time of year. Spoons around 7g or 1/4oz and under 50mm long is a good starting size, and long casts over schools of fish and hopping it back through the fish works well.

Dropping straight down and targeting fish underneath the boat is another option.

Vertically jigging them up and down is an aggressive technique, as it sends the spoon twisting and fluttering around quickly, forcing the fish to react.

Enjoy June, and remember to rug up!

One last charge in June BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

I expect most anglers will be hitting the trout streams and rivers hard until the season closes officially at midnight on 4 June.

This is not just because the season will be closing, but because most trout are in full spawn mode or are getting very close, and this means there can be some spectacular catches, with so many big fish moving

which means there will be fish feeding heavily on them. Any fly that represents or looks something similar to an egg generally gets sucked up by any nearby fish. Given that anything that even looks like an egg will get eaten, it pays to use two flies, one with an egg imitation like a Glo-Bug or similar and the other with a red Copper John gold bead nymph. I find with this rig, if there aren’t too many eggs about, the fish will happily take the nymph, but if there are enough eggs around for

Lures like the SSO Mino pictured that look like other trout will be hard to beat when targeting spawning trout this month. out of the lakes and into the creeks. Taking this into consideration, it is easy to see why so many anglers salivate at the thought of the last month or so of the trout season.

Lure angling can work really well late in the season, and it often pays to up the size of your lure to really get that competitive nature of the trout going. Often this late in the season the trout aren’t thinking of eating, but rather concentrating on spawning almost entirely and trout attempting to spawn are very aggressive and will frantically drive off any nearby competitors in hope of holding that prime position. Using a large lure that could represent a challenger will often be met with an aggressive swipe at your lure, resulting in a hook-up.

FLYFISHING Fly anglers can also get in on the action with large wets stripped through shallow runs and deeper pools, but given that there will be fish spawning, there will also be eggs around,

them to be looking for them as a food source then you have that base covered with the Glo-Bug or other similar egg imitation as well.

It is important to note that the fish will be holding tight to the bottom, so make sure your flies are weighted enough to keep you down there. A small piece of split shot sinker may be required to get you to the bottom, depending on the creek or river’s flow. Get all of this right and you should hook a few nice fish to close out the season.

TROUT LAKES Those who don’t fish the running water or would prefer to get away from the often-crowded creeks and rivers can still do well in the lakes. Some of the larger fish in the lakes might still be upstream trying to spawn, but some will not have made it yet and some may have even returned already, and they will be keen for a good feed.

On top of still having a chance at a trophy in the lakes at this time of the year, there will also be stacks of smaller fish about to keep anglers entertained all day.

With the temperatures at this time of the year just about perfect for trout, they will often feed freely all day long. Due to the water temperature also dropping right into their comfort zone, they will be spending most of their time up around the surface, making them much easier to target no matter what your preferred technique is.

Being land-based at this time of the year is often the best option, as trout will be cruising around in the cool shallows all day long looking for any easy meals.

Fly anglers should do well slow-stripping medium to large wets like Mrs Simpsons, Hamills Killers and Woolly Buggers. In conjunction with that, it often pays to have a small bead head nymph on until you find what the fish are preferring on the day.

Lure anglers will also do well this month, and casting and retrieving lures while walking the bank just doesn’t get much better than at this time of the year. Once you work out what lure is working best, it is simply a matter of walking along casting ahead of where you’re going and seeking out any active fish. On a good day you don’t get far, as the action can get insane, but at other times you may need to cover half a kilometre of shoreline before you find an active fish or several active fish. Just like the running water, it is hard to beat the larger lure models at this time of the year.

Giant trout like this will be at their easiest to catch this month, so rug up and go get amongst them.

Nathan Foley with the fish that has the whole industry talking. Is it a true trout cod or just another increasingly common hybrid?

Soft plastics also work really well on the trout and are deadly up in the extreme shallows where anything with too much vibration or flash will often scare fish.

Bait anglers also do well at this time of the year, with plenty of hungry trout about and not that much food on offer, so most wellpresented baits will get eaten. Garden worms, wood grubs and dough baits like PowerBait will be all you need. Rig any of these baits or a combination of these baits on light line no heavier than 6lb with the smallest of sinkers or no sinker at all if possible, and you are virtually guaranteed success.

It is also worth noting that even though there will be fish all over the lakes, the biggest concentrations of trout at this time of the year will be around the mouths of the feeder creeks and rivers, so if you can access these parts of the lakes, I believe the time and effort required to get there will be well and truly worth it.

HISTORY IN THE MAKING In this day and age it is very rare to catch a fish that may be the biggest ever caught and photographed.

There are many reasons for this, but in general all of the biggest recorded fish for most species, especially in freshwater, were caught long ago before rules and regulations came into play to help protect them. There may be one exception to this, as recently gun angler Nathan Foley caught a beast of a fish out of the Upper Murray River that has had the whole industry talking. I, like many other very experienced anglers, believe that the fish he caught is the largest trout cod ever caught and photographed. Social media lit up with anglers opinions as to whether this fish is a trout cod or a hybrid, but without DNA testing it is very hard to confirm one way or another.

Regardless, this is super exciting, as most anglers

believe that fish of this size have long since been caught and killed, but this one fish has renewed excitement levels in many seasoned anglers. This fish has got me and many

other anglers thinking about the possibilities of what is still out there to be caught.

Could we see the largest Murray cod ever recorded caught sometime soon?

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69

Warm spell keeps them biting Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

Fishing in our local waters this past month has been nothing short of excellent.

In the Murray River, anglers fishing baits and lures are still catching some very

good Murray cod around Swan Hill. The unseasonal late run of warm weather has kept the fish on the chew, with Murray cod up to 1m landed upstream of the Swan Hill road bridge on fresh bardi grubs.

Some good-sized golden perch have also been caught at this

Good numbers of golden perch have been on the chew this past month, eating a variety of different lures including this 180mm Goodoo swimbait.

location on baits of fresh river shrimp. Most bait anglers fishing the Murray River will be aware that as the water temperature drops away, shrimp will become much harder to find. Preparation is the key, with many anglers freezing shrimp in small trip-sized portions during the height of summer when they are about in large numbers.

When shrimp are hard to find for fish and angler alike, they are great bait.

This goes for most native fish baits like yabbies and grubs. A backup supply in the freezer is a sure fire way to put a bend in the line.

Anglers trolling small lures at Wood Wood on the Murray River have picked up a few cod to 70cm. Bait anglers are also landing a few good fish on fresh bardi grubs and cheese. The Murray River at Boundary Bend has good numbers of golden perch on shrimp and scrub worms. A few cod to 60cm have also been caught in this area, as well as carp and the odd catfish.

From Robinvale downstream to Euston and Wemen, the Murray River continues to produce good numbers of golden perch on bait. Shrimp or small yabbies fished on the eddy line close to timber have been very productive.

Vertically bobbing shrimp amongst the snags from a boat has also been a sure fire method of catching some solid perch. Murray cod are still a rare capture in these waters, and those landed are mostly small.

The Murray River at Mildura is fishing well for golden perch on bait and lures. Good numbers of perch are taking smaller

DAM LEVELS Dam............................... % Full

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

Dam March April May Blowering 39 44 47 Brogo 101 100 91 Burrendong 40 39 37 Burrinjuck 46 40 40 Carcoar 66 59 55 Chaffey 73 68 65 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a n/a Copeton 29 29 27 Dartmouth 89 88 88 Eucumbene 36 31 28 Glenbawn 77 75 72 Glenlyon 57 55 58

Dam March April May Glennies Creek 69 71 70 Hume 51 36 31 Jindabyne 64 56 45 Keepit 14 13 13 Lostock 57 100 100 Oberon 69 65 62 Pindari 60 60 59 Split Rock 16 16 6 Tantangara 22 21 22 Toonumbar 101 100 100 Windamere 43 42 42 Wyangala 72 68 65

(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.)

70

JUNE 2018

lures on the troll. Mildura tackle shop proprietor Kym Sykes has had several recent trips where he boated some good-sized perch to 45cm.

Sykes said sometimes the bite was slow at first when trolling but he found that increasing the speed seemed to switch the fish on. When there is less time to look at the lure the fish are more likely to make the instinctual bite.

Murray cod continue to be few and far between, with only the odd fish landed. In truth most of the locks are fishing well for perch and the further down the Murray you go the more likely you are to find some big Murray cod.

The lower Murray around Waikerie and the locks below have fished well this past month, with reports of Murray cod to 1.25m landed on lures.

If you are serious about catching big Murray cod, then the bottom locks are a sure fire option over the coming month.

The Darling River upstream of Wentworth is producing Murray cod to 1m and good numbers of golden perch. Most catches

Allan Collins caught this solid Murray cod on the cast using a Custom Crafted Jaws lure sporting the ARB Logo. are coming in on small lures and spinnerbaits. All up there are plenty of goodsized golden perch at most

locations while the field for large Murray cod has been narrowed somewhat to a few specific sections of river.

Glen Casey, maker of Bassman Spinnerbaits, with a solid Murray cod caught on a Koolabung surface lure.

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A cool change for big cod enthusiasts MILDURA

Rob Oswin

Over the last month there have been many reports of larger cod and golden perch being caught, with the vast majority of these reports coming from anglers who have been using hardbody lures and spinnerbaits.

With cold weather setting in, some nice Murray cod up to 80cm have been caught trolling hardbodies and casting spinnerbaits. The 75-105mm hardbody lures and 1/2-1oz spinnerbaits seem to be the most popular size lately with both the cod and perch. Although there have been gradually fewer numbers of fish caught per session, the size of the fish have been notably increasing.

This is no doubt due to fish

Early winter is a pleasant time to be on the Murray River. wanting get some larger meals before the water temperature decreases too much.

The cooler months in Mildura are going to be mostly about the bigger

Murray cod, as golden perch numbers will drop this month.

Anglers willing to put in the time with trolling and casting will manage to pull in some larger Murray cod.

However, there are still good amounts of golden perch for the time being, so get out there and get them while they are still biting. Lure or bait placement and location are

becoming more important than ever. Getting close into the structure and allowing for precise casting is going to be key to bagging the bigger fish.

It’s around the willow trees that cod seem to thrive along the Murray, and not just for the cod, as they offer a huge area for fish to hold.

You’ll often find different size fish holding in and around these large trees. Any of the areas offering the deeper holes are worth a try.

The big, deep bends around Red Cliffs and down around Hattah are going to be ideal. There will be fewer anglers out on the river and barely any camps, so don’t discount the more shallow sections of the river. Make sure to get right amongst the timber, with reports of surface lures being effective in the shallow waters. There are

plenty of great lures out there to choose from these days.

The hardest decision may be which colour to use, and I find natural colours to be the most affective, but it’s best to go out with a combination of both dark and lighter colours to get the most out of the upcoming shorter days.

Not only will the colder weather produce some great fish, it will also produce some great moments around the campfire as well. There are not too many things better than being around a warm fire on a cold morning on the banks of the Murray River. Crawling your way out of the swag and boiling the billy while thinking about the day’s fishing ahead is one of the best things about being down the river, so take the time to enjoy these moments.

Cooler water tactics around Windamere ORANGE

Michael Collison

The fishing over the last few weeks has been good with lots of yellowbelly, which anglers have been targeting in the weed over at Windamere Dam.

The dam is fishing well at the moment. The fish are hunting in the weed for food and they are eating shrimp, yabbies and small baitfish in about 12ft of water. The best way to target these fish is with blades and the best colours are black, gold and brown.

The action on live yabbies and plastics in the trees will start to warm up. I target about 20ft in trees near the main rivers. The best tactic to use on the trees with these lures is a slow roll – the slower, the better. Over the next month or two rocky banks will start to fish well. As the water starts

Windamere Dam is fishing well at the moment with great yellowbelly like this available for anglers to catch in the cooler water.

The author recommends a 7ft light tipped 2-4kg rod for those long casts around the weed. The light tip will also help the hook-up rate with the plastics in the trees.

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to cool down the rocks will hold heat from the sun, so the rocks will warm the water up and the fish will hang around the warmer water and feed. If you want more fish in your boat, you need to be fishing these areas of the dam.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE You’ll need a 7ft light tipped 2-4kg rod for those long casts around the weed.

The light tip will also help the hook-up rate with the plastics in the trees. I use 1000 or 2500 size reels, like the ones from Shimano.

For line, use 10lb braid and 6-10lb leaders.

If you’re heading over to ‘Windy’ in the next month or two, you’ll need some lures. I would recommend Jackall Mask

Vibes, Mazzy Vibes in ninja sound, ZX40 blades, 3” Gulp Minnow Grubs, Pro Lure plastics and a handful of jigheads. I have fished with these over the past few years with a lot of success.

If you have these tools, they will go a long way to putting more fish in your boat.

For servicing we offer full engine services & rebuilds; safety checks; upholstery repairs & replacement; valuations

Blades have been an effective lure choice for anglers targeting the yellas.

JUNE 2018

71

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FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS STUFF YOU FIND INSIDE FISH

ANCHOVY SHAD ALEWIFE PILCHARD MINNOW KILLIFISH GUDGEON BALLYHOO GARFISH ROUND SCAD MULLET

LEATHERJACKETS ARROW SQUID CARPET SNAKES CICADAS FROGS CORMORANT SHRIMP PRAWNS CRABS SOFT PLASTICS

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

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The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: NSW Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

NSW JUNE 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering.

The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind.

The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Bob Hall from Balgownie, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for April were L Hall of North Richmond, T Walden of Muswellbrook, B James of Orangeville, P Walters of St Clair, I Eggins of Port Macquarie, T Markich of Maroota, who won a prize pack of Sufix braid and leader.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

Hester of Beverly Hills, B Mannering of Blue Haven, J Szabo of Penrith, K Beckhouse of Wyee Point, P Dobson of Glenmore Park, A Muscat of Wattle Grove, F Seal of Junee, K Carter of Shepparton, B Gorham of Toronto, J Gill of Laurieton, D Allcroft of Caringbah, M Eddy of Cowra, D Turner of Kincumber, P Henderson of Denham Court, J Ruggier of Harrington Park, C Bryce of Old Erowal Bay, J Gowan of Nerambi, A Pennisi of Five

Dock, R Kroll of Minnie Water, M Horgosi of Ngunnawal , L Cupitt of Goulburn, D Collister of Hillvue, D Nisbet of Tuncurry, B Bell of Wodonga, B Armstrong of Colyton, J Page of Wingham, L Guy of Coal Point, R Dixon of Comboyne, D Burgess of Elermore Vale, K Baker of Gloucester, J Cooper of Merrimac, R Webster of Booral.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE GAMAKATSU LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Gamakatsu Logo for April were: 8, 14, 20, 25, 29, 32, 42, 44, 52, 63, 69, 72, 83, 95, 105. – NSWFM

74

JUNE 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Redfin

The Find the Gamakatsu prize winners for April were: J Robertson of Tolland, B Whyte of Myers Flat, A Zoneff of Aberdare, P Stever of Austinmer, S Ramage of Davistown, C Colley of Mount Panorama, Z Mosessen of Wanniassa, T McFarlane of Bow Bowing, K

Answer:

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Brought to you by

2018

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

2-3 Jun

Round 5 Hobie Kayak Bream Series Gold Coast

www.hobiefishing.com.au

2-3 Jun

ABT BREAM Series Round 7 Hawkesbury River

abt.org.au

10 Jun

ABT BASS Electric Series Round 3 Wyralong Dam

abt.org.au

9-10 June

Tweed Coast Marine Greenback Fishing Comp Tweed Coast

Stephen Duffield 0421 052 135

24 June

Round 2 WSBB East Coast Bream Series Sussex Inlet

www.wsbb.com.au

7-8 Jul

ABT BASS Pro Round 4 Lake Boondooma

abt.org.au

11-12 Jul

ABT BASS Pro Round 5 Cania Dam

abt.org.au

23 Jul

Round 3 WSBB East Coast Bream Series Hawkesbury

www.wsbb.com.au

29 Jul

ABT BASS Electric Series Round 4 Lake Macdonald

abt.org.au

11-12 Aug

ABT BREAM Series Round 8 Lake Macquarie

abt.org.au

25-26 Aug

ABT BASS Electric Series Grand Final Wivenhoe Dam

abt.org.au

8-9 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Round 6 Clarence River

abt.org.au

15-16 Sep

Round 6 Hobie Kayak Bream Series Central Coast

www.hobiefishing.com.au

22-23 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Grand Final Lake Somerset

abt.org.au

23 Sep

Round 4 WSBB East Coast Bream Series Lake Macquarie

www.wsbb.com.au

13-14 Oct

ABT BREAM Series Round 9 South West Rocks

abt.org.au

20-21 Oct

ABT BASS Australian Open Lake Glenbawn

abt.org.au

21 Oct

GF WSBB East Coast Bream Series Parramatta River

www.wsbb.com.au

3-4 Nov

Round 8 Hobie Kayak Bream Series Lake Macquarie

www.hobiefishing.com.au

19 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 1 Kinchant Dam (evening event)

abt.org.au

20 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 2 Teemburra Dam (evening event)

abt.org.au

21 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 3 Peter Faust (Night Championship)

abt.org.au

23-24 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 4 Peter Faust (evening event)

abt.org.au

30 Nov-2 Dec

ABT BREAM Series Grand Final Marlo

abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

JUNE 2018

75

Round 3 of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10 results Atomic Round 3 of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10 was contested over the April 7-8 weekend in unseasonably warm conditions in Sydney.

Anglers who made use of the pre-fish day on Friday reported that there was a lot of fish activity in a variety of locations on the Georges River system, all well within reach of the event site at Donnelly Park.

The record field of 70 entries was the biggest for a Sydney round since the Series’ beginnings in 2009.

Anglers came from all over Australia and for many it was their first time fishing the Sydney arena.

On day one 157 fish were brought back to the event site, weighing a total of 83.83kg. On day two 135 fish were caught weighing a total of 71.75kg, WINNING TACKLE Rod: Duffrods 6’10” 1-3kg Totally Immersed Custom Rod Reel: Shimano Sustain 1000 Line: OH Dragon 6lb Leader: FC Rock 3lb Lure: Pro Lure Matt Black S36

Chris Purnell travelled almost to Kurnell to fish on his own; his two-day total of 5.05kg was enough to win 1st place and $2070 in prize money. producing a two-day total of 292 fish for a total weight 155.58kg. Surprisingly, the average weight of 530g was approximately 20% larger than the average fish caught in all rounds across Australia over the last 10 seasons.

A large proportion of competitors had planned to fish the flats at the front of the system. They had to take on the long 8km+ pedal from the start location to reach their spot in Woolaware Bay, but

www.fishin.com.au ONLINE TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

most felt the haul would be well worth the time. Some headed directly there, while others stopped along the way making use of the early morning to try to bag out, or at least get some fish in their well hitting the bridge pylons, boats and channel drop-offs along the way.

Once they finally hit the flats there was still a lack of wind and for some anglers the fish weren’t reacting to presentations, so they headed for heavier structure and cover. Up among the old boat hull wrecks, abandoned oyster paddocks, oyster racks and mangroves, anglers cast into places no boat could get anywhere near and there were plenty of good-size fish to be found. New to the environment, some anglers struggled with technique and lures, while others found the right combination and were topping up their bags with 500g+ fish.

With the main body of anglers up in Woolaware Bay, others were in small, scattered groups in the deeper channels, regularly pulling in fish that would see many of them bag out and upgrade up to around 1.5kg at the close of each session.

Other solitary anglers were regularly on the move, hitting the variety of built-up and natural structure that hugs the shoreline in the endless number of small bays and jutting headlands sitting in the Georges River.

angler came within 1km of him over the two days of competition.

“We don’t have a lot of structure down the south coast where I come from, so I thought if I want to fish the way I like to fish then I’m going to have to do the miles.”

At the close of the day one session, after cranking all day on the flats at Towra, except for a few casts at Towra Point, Purnell had only caught three bream. However, his bag was big enough to see him sitting in 2nd place with 2.25kg, 180g behind Kane Terry on 2.43kg.

In the morning on day two with no early fish in the well, Purnell was getting edgy, feeling his place near the top of the leaderboard was slipping away. He relaxed a little after catching his first fish just before 9am, with two hours of the day gone. By 11am he had a full bag.

He only caught four fish on the day, upgrading

Adam Costa took out 2nd place for the event.

PURNELL PACKS A MIGHTY PUNCH One angler did more legwork than most and headed to the flat weed beds in 1-1.2m beyond the shores of Towra Point. Chris Purnell from Sanctuary Point travelled almost to Kurnell to fish on his own; no other

around 11:30am, but his excellent three-fish bag of 2.80kg took him to a two-day total of 5.05kg, enough to win 1st place and $2070 in prize money.

COSTA CLAIMS SECOND Adam Costa from Sydney was competing on the verges

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JUNE 2018

of his home waterway Port Hacking, but was sitting well back in the field after the day one session in 18th place on 1.74kg. He had been among the crowd that hit Woolaware Bay and was mainly targeting fish around the boat hulls.

On day two he pulled two excellent fish, one at 820g and another spot on 1kg. His third fish was just over the average for the tournament at 560g, giving him a 2.39kg bag for the day and 4.13kg for the tournament.

Costa took home $1080 for his effort over the weekend.

HICKSON HAULS IN THIRD Kris Hickson has been putting in a big effort this season in the Hobie Kayak Series and has built an impressive score in Angler of the Year with just three rounds completed.

After he started day two in 17th position, and particularly as he was on an

Kris Hickson has been putting in a big effort this season and ended up with a two-day total of 4.08kg and 3rd place.

arena he had never fished before, Hickson was stoked to get a 3rd place. Hickson ended up with 1.80kg on day one and 2.28kg on day two for 4.08kg and a handy $700 prize purse.

ATOMIC BIG BREAM Kevin Varty from Nowra caught the Atomic Big Bream of the weekend. His fish, weighing in at 1.18kg, was dragged aboard his Hobie up in Woolware Bay making the long haul each day worth the trip.

MORTGAGE CORP MONTER MOVER The Mortgage Corp Monster Mover over the two days was Craig Wallace, who moved up from the bottom of the field with zero fish on day one to bring home a solid 1.75kg bag on day two and finish in 49th position.

SPONSORS Round 3 of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10 was sponsored by Daiwa, PowerPole, Atomic, Gerber, RhinoRack, Lowrance, Hobie Polarized, Lurefans, Strike Pro, Mortgage Corp, Pro Lure, Cranka Lures, TT Lures, and JML Anglers Alliance. – Hobie

Swanson swoops in for win The Casino Outdoors BASS Electric Series bounced back with a vengeance after a fishless opening round of the series with 66 anglers and plenty of limits featuring at Clarrie Hall Dam for the second event of the series.

One of the more popular stops of the BASS Electric Series, it was Casino local and BASS Electric regular Nathan Swanson who claimed top honours at Clarrie weighing in a 2/2, 2.185kg limit to secure the win. With no pre-fish under his belt Swanson started his tournament in the upper reaches using a three-lure approach, throwing an OSP Bent Minnow, Jackall TN50 and a beetle spin rigged jighead soft plastic.

STUART STRIKES GOLD FOR SECOND Stuart France continued his good form on the BASS Electric tour with the former BASS Electric Convention champion securing a podium finish at Clarrie Hall.

Fishing behind the island in the middle reaches of the lake, France starting off throwing a ZMan CrusteaZ topwater for little reward.

France pulled the pin and moved down the lake to a location where he’d caught fish while pre-fishing the week before.

“I caught my first fish at around 8.30am on a plastic in the back of shaded bay in 18ft of water and it took the plastic tight to the weed edge,” explained France.

Nathan Swanson with his brace of Clarrie Hall winning bass.

BIG BASS

STORM

Nathan Swanson secured the Big Bass prize at Clarrie Hall with the event champion value adding his event winnings for his 1.155kg fish caught early in the session on an OSP Dunk.

fresh fish. It was during this move and search that he found his third fish – an upgrade – once again caught on a soft plastic. This fish would prove to be his last fish for the session and was the fish that moved him into second place.

The tackle France used included a Barrabass IP841

and XSB822 rods, Daiwa Luvias 1003 and Caldia 2500 reels, 10lb Sunline Siglon PEX8 mainline, 8lb Sunline V Hard fluoro leader, camo coloured Berkley Gulp Worm rigged on a 1/6th jighead, and an ayu coloured OSP Power Drunk crankbait.

Stuart France returned to the winners podium, securing the runner-up position at the second event of the series.

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

Moving through a weedchoked section that narrowed as the lake merged into the river Swanson swapped lure and began working an OSP Dunk in about 13ft of water.

“The water was a milky colour up there. I threw the crank tight to the weed edge and worked it with a pausejerk retrieve, allowing the lure to suspend and sit still for 5-10 seconds,” explained Swanson.

The approach paid dividends with Swanson putting his first fish in the well at 7.30am when it slammed his paused crankbait. Swanson fished his way further up the creek until he reached the bridge then he turned around and fished his way back down the lake.

“I caught nothing until I got back to the spot where I caught my first fish and at about 10.30am another fish ate my crankbait,” explained Swanson.

Swanson’s second bite and fish was it for the session, and he got no other bites. Swanson’s quality certainly made up for his lack of quantity with his limit securing him a 120g winning margin over 2nd place.

He second fish came at 9am, this time it was on a hardbody, an OSP Power Dunk fished at suspended fish holding on a main lake point.

While France could find suspended fish getting them to bite proved very difficult.

“They seemed to be between seasons – not in summer mode, yet not quite in winter mode – when they schooled up on a point,” explained France.

France decided to move up the lake to get away from the crowds and hopefully find

Anglers waited patiently in the rain for the 7am start.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: 3-8lb, 6’7” NS Blackhole Reel: Daiwa Certate 2004 Line: 6lb Sunline Super PE Leader: 8lb Black Magic FC leader Lure: OSP Bent Minnow, Jackall TN50 and a beetle spin rigged jighead soft plastic, OSP Dunk

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler 1st Nathan Swanson

Fish 2/2

Weight (kg) 2.185

Big Bass (kg) 1.155

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2

2.065 2.005 1.940 1.835 1.825 1.790 1.755 1.655 1.625

1.075 1.045

Stuart France Luke Clark Jesper Noisen Chris Osley Deegan Graham Scott Byrant Steve Kanowski Shaun Falkenhagen Darren Painter

1.080

Prize $440,Trophy, $150 Big Bass $320, Trophy $240 $200 $180 $140 $120 $100 $100 $80

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au JUNE 2018

77

Howarth homes in on the Goldy

STORM

The 2018 Costa BREAM Series has returned to the spiritual home of tournament bream fishing – the Gold Coast – for the Ecogear BREAM Qualifier and has seen the coming of age of bream young gun James Howarth with his first tournament victory with 10/10 fish for 5.5kg.

On day one Howarth took the long journey to Raby Bay canals. “I really wasn’t confident in the canals of the Gold Coast, so I took the hour-long journey up to the less-pressured waters of Raby Bay and targeted fish around the pontoons and boat hulls with a mix of Ecogear SX40 and Cranka Crabs,” said Howarth.

Once in location Howarth would use a two-pronged approach to extract the most fish from each location. On the boat hulls and expansive pontoons he would target fish with an Ecogear SX40 in bluegill making long parallel casts to the structure before starting an aggressive retrieve along the structure with the intent of keeping the lure away from the smaller

The champion James Howarth and his spoils of victory. fluttered to the bottom or as it just came in contact with the bottom.

While his day one limit of 2.46kg kept him in touch of the leader, he knew he would need to find bigger fish on

area. With the water being a dirtier Howarth changed his key crankbait to a Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR in a chrome finish to grab the attention of the fish in the area.

pontoons with cleaner water and wind pushing on them.

From there it’s just about triggering the big bites and an erratic aggressive retrieve gets them to bite,” said Howarth.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG The Duffrods Big Bag went to tournament winner James Howarth with his tournamentwinning 3.04kg day two bag. The key bait for his big bag was a Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR.

Howarth’s plan of attack was a carbon copy of his day one approach – using his aggressive and erratic retrieve on his crankbait and mixing it up with the slower presentation of the Bream Prawn and Cranka Crab on the poles and vertical structure. With his limit in the boat by 8.30, he was able to focus the rest of his session on upgrading his bag.

“The key for me on the Gold Coast is to find the

This change in location paid dividends and saw Howarth take the Duffrods big bag with a 3.04kg limit.

“I really had a great weekend catching up with all the other anglers. I need to thank everyone who helped me out: Lowrance Electronics, Northside Marine, my work and Minn Repairs and Servicing who came out on Friday night to fix my wiring issues,” said Howard.

WINNING TACKLE James Howarth proudly holds two of his Gold Coast winning bream.

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

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bream that plague the canals and tempting one of the bigger fish.

His tackle of choice for this presentation was a Nordic Stage matched with a Daiwa Ingis spooled with 8lb Daiwa J Braid and 6lb Yamatoyo FC leader. Once Howarth felt he had extracted all that he could from his crankbait presentation, his attention would then turn to the poles and anchor structures.

For these areas Howarth used a combination of lightly weighted Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns and Cranka Crabs.

His aim with these lures was to cast his lure tight to the structure before allowing it to slowly float down the side of the structure with most of his fish intercepting the lure as it

day two if he was going to step it up and take the victory.

With this in mind Howarth opted to stay closer to the start/ finish area and targeted similar structure in the Jumpinpin

Rod: Nordic Stage Reel: Daiwa Ignis Line: 8lb Daiwa J-Braid Leader: 6lb Yamatoyo fluorocarbon Lure: Ecogear SX40 in bluegill colour, Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR, Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns and Cranka Crabs

TOP 10 BOATERS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler James Howarth Wally Fahey Denis Metzdorf Steve Morgan John Siggs Chris Britton Todd Riches Aaron Sharpe Michael Thompson Kristoffer Hickson

Total Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10

Total Weight (kg) 5.50 5.13 5.01 4.89 4.74 4.68 4.57 4.38 4.24 4.01

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

Fahey finds them upriver Wally Fahey has continued his strong form in his maiden season as a boater on the Costa BREAM Series taking out second place with 10/10 fish for 5.13kg.

In contrast to Howarth, Fahey headed upriver to the area around the casino to start his session fishing pontoons

and bridges in a milk run of spots throughout the area.

When targeting the pontoons Fay used a combination of Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns in salt and pepper colour and Gulp Crabbies in camo rigged on 1/40oz TT Hidden Weight jigheads.

To cast his plastic tight into the cover Fahey used a

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM Walley Fahey secured the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream Prize at the Ecogear-presented event with the SA local value adding his event winning for his 1kg+ kicker fish caught on day one.

Daiwa Sol UL701 matched with a Sol 2000 spooled with 6lb Evo8 Tournament Braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock.

While the pontoons allowed Fahey to fill his limit early, he knew there would be larger fish holding tight to the bridge pylons.

When targeting the fast flowing waters of the bridge pylons Fahey opted for the ever popular Cranka Crab heavy in olive colour, Fay would cast his crab tight to the structure before allowing it to drift down into the eddies. For this presentation Fahey used a Daiwa Zero

BREAM SERIES

701ULXS matched with a Sol 2000 spooled with 6lb Evo8 Tournament Braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock.

While he was able to get the bites around the bridges it proved to be a hard challenge extracting the better fish. While on day one Fahey was able to extract those better fish, on day two he was unable to seal the deal and missed that one key upgrade to clinch the win, but with his experience as a boater growing, it won’t take long for Fahey to put it all together and take his maiden ABT victory.

Ecogear SX40LC

Walley Fahey lead on day one of the event but was overtaken on the final day to finish second.

Pontoon

Quick retrieve with regular twitches and jerks of lure.

Thompson tames the Bay Popular angler Mick Thompson has taken victory in the Non-Boater division Ecogear Bream Qualifier with 3.67kg and in the process reached his goal of making the 2018 BREAM Grand Final.

Thompson was paired with Aaron Sharp and Steve Eldred, which played to his bay fishing strengths, “I love fishing the shallow stuff, so I had the perfect draw for the tournament,” said Thompson.

On both days Thompson fished shallow broken weed and rubble areas in 3-6ft of water. In

these areas he would make long wind-assisted casts throwing his Atomic Crank 38 Deep in ghost gill brown as far as possible before dragging and bouncing his lure through the weed and broken, reefy bottom. With lots of fish only biting the lure tentatively, his key adjustment was to hold off striking on the fish and slowly winding fish onto the lure.

While the big bream that the bay is known for didn’t show their heads, his slight adjustment meant Thompson had a consistent tournament catching over 20 fish each day and managed to fill his limit by 9:30 each day.

To land all his fish Thompson used a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7ft 1-3kg rod matched with a Daiwa Certate 2506 spooled with 8lb J Braid and 6lb Sunline Bream Special FC. When asked after the event, Thompson explained that his aim was to qualify for the 2018 Grand Final, “All I wanted to do was to come here and qualify for the Grand Final; to finish first is unbelievable,” explained Thompson.

On stage he was also very quick to thank the people that have helped him get into tournament fishing, “Everything I know about bream fishing has come

from Grayson Fong – we fish together a lot trying to perfect a lot of different techniques. I also have to thank both Aaron and Steve for all the little things I picked up off them over the weekend,” said Thompson.

With the Ecogear round of the Costa BREAM Series run and won attention now turns to the West Coast Qualifier and Hawkesbury River Qualifier.

For information on this or any other ABT event near you head to abt.org.au.

Mick Thompson was a popular victor, claiming the non-boater title at the Ecogear-presented event.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Michael Thompson Paul Langley Grayson Fong Mark Saric Tyson Hayes Khoi Pham Louie Wardini Colin Wilson Rodney O’Sullivan Cristian Bermudez

Total Fish 10/10 8/10 8/10 8/10 7/10 7/10 7/10 6/10 7/10 6/10

Total Weight (kg) 3.67 3.34 3.10 3.09 2.93 2.81 2.64 2.55 2.53 2.42

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

The boys cashed in for Hobie Bonus bucks.

JUNE 2018

79

This year’s Lake Mulwala Cod Nationals wrap-up The 2018 Lake Mulwala Cod Nationals were held from March 15-18 and is regarded as the pinnacle of Murray cod lure fishing events in the country. This year saw a host of guest anglers attend and the team numbers bolstered up to 33.

It really was the crème de la crème of Mulwala cod fishers with past winners, big fish magnets and longtime fishers all coming together to compete.

Every team is out to do well, but after-hours the tournament makes a point of keeping everything in perspective and ensures the social side of fishing is well looked after.

Each night has a different theme with a bonfire and pizza night, triathalon night and yabby racing night, making the nightly activities a reason to compete in themselves. All meals are provided and this takes the pressure off the teams and allows them to concentrate on the fishing itself.

in the lake despite fishing the Mulwala area for 17 years.

Team Wilson (Ian Painter Rogers and Matt Spider Rogers) had a great

TOP 10 TEAMS Position Anglers Total Points 1 Ian Rogers/Matt Rogers 36.79 2 Kris Hickson/Bryn Mathew 21.77 3 Derek Blow/Kade Blow 19.44 4 Craig Leehane/Luke Quarrell 17.23 5 Thomas Pinter/Mick Beale 17.22 6 Chas Bunting/Sunny Martins 4.47 7 Corey Goldy/Ben Faro 12.44 8 Phil Keetelaar/Richard Cambridge 2.00 9 Anthony Pavlou/Michael Haley 11.87 10 Michael Massier/Matthew Pejkovic 11.68 with 2514.20 points. Matt Rogers was the runner-up with 2278.70 points.

For the competition there were 408 Murray cod (including undersize fish) landed by the 66 competitors.

Among these were four 1m+ Murray cod – a first for the

Team Wilson took home $6000 and a custom-made lure from Chamos Lures. first day, finishing in 2nd place with some sensational fishing. Ian Rogers landed seven fish himself to give the team a great start.

Their tactic was to fish

Angler Ian Rogers Matt Rogers Bryn Mathew Mick Beale Anthony Pavlou Mick Massier Luke Quarrell Derek Blow Ben Faro Chas Bunting

DAY ONE – ANY LURE DAY The first day was sponsored by Zerek Lures and that meant that any fish caught on a Zerek lure received bonus points. Plenty of Live Mullets, Giant Rubies and Flat Shads were being thrown around.

The biggest fish for the day was a 102.9cm cod taken

by Luke Quarrell. For Luke this was a massive milestone.

The metery was Luke’s first

DAY THREE – HARDBODY LURE DAY Day three saw teams restricted to using hardbody lures with the sponsor of the

Team Venom with Anthony Pavlou and Michael Haley bringing in two legal fish to the weigh-master at the ramp and securing the win for the day. This earned them 10 points and shot them into 9th place overall at the end of the competition. Dash 4

TOP 10 INDIVIDUALS Pos 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ordinarily this fish would be a contender for biggest fish of the day, but only 20 minutes later it was nudged from that spot by Quarrell’s catch.

Total Points 2,514.20 2,278.70 1,926.90 1,719.00 1,460.50 1,443.00 1,398.70 1,394.70 1,354.60 1,284.60

spinnerbaits in the weed – a tough place to fish, but a rewarding one.

It certainly was a great day of firsts; Team Zerek (Stephen Booth and Vanessa Bennett) had a good day with Stephen Booth landing a cracking fish of 102.2cm – his first metre-plus Murray cod from Mulwala in 30 years of fishing the area. This big fish helped Team Zerek finish in 5th place for the day.

DAY TWO – SPINNERBAIT DAY Day two was co-sponsored

by Bassman Spinnerbaits and Edge Lures and the entire field had to fish spinnerbaits for their fish to count.

Team Wilson stuck to their day one plan and had another great day finishing with a fantastic 16.38 team points to take them to the top of the Team’s table. Fishing Bassman Spinnerbaits on the Venom Crank Bait PE 2-4 rods, the team targeted holes and channels in the weed as well as fishing snags in the weed to amass their fish.

The big fish of the day went to Team Humminbird’s Bryn Matthews, a cracking fish of 103.1cm that propelled the team into 2nd place. Bryn and Kris Hickson had found a good patch of legal fish and were slowly working their way into a good day when the fish slammed Bryn’s lure. This beast – Bryn’s first metery from Mulwala as well – turned a very good day into a brilliant day for the pair of anglers.

day being Gidgee Lures.

Team Wilson chose to use Gidgee Fatty Juniors for most of the day and again patterned the fish in the weedy shallows. Their method was solid again with the team adding another 11.41 points to their tally, giving them an unassailable lead with a total score of 36.79 points – more than 15 points ahead of the nearest team.

The big fish for day three was taken by Mick Beal at 104.4cm, bringing the total number of 1m+ fish caught in the competition to four. Mick’s fish slammed a Jackall Dowz Swimmer in shallow water alongside a lay down. Interestingly the boys had stirred up this fish in pre-fish and chose to leave it alone in the hope the fish would bite when it mattered – and bite it did!

This fish went on to take out the overall biggest cod for the tournament for Mick.

Team Venom (Mike Haley and Anthony Pavlou) took out the final day Dash for Cash at the Mulwala Cod Nationals.

Cash Day revolves around the teams earning more fish points the earlier they catch their legal fish, so fast boats and good tactics help out a lot.

THE WASH UP Although it seemed a foregone conclusion by the end of day three, the crowd was very excited to see Team

competition. This shows just how good the anglers are getting at fishing Lake Mulwala and how many larger fish above the 75cm maximum size are in the lake.

It’s exciting for the future of Lake Mulwala and the event.

Next year’s Lake Mulwala Cod Nationals will be held on 14-17 March next year

Matt Rogers with another scorer – fish over 55cm legal minimum were a rare commodity and highly valued by the competitors.

It was a 30 year wait for Stephen Booth, but he caught his first metre-plus cod from Mulwala.

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DAY FOUR – ANY LURE DASH 4 CASH DAY With a 40 knot wind forecast, the Dash 4 Cash Day was moved to Bundalong and competitors were restricted to the river areas to avoid the lake and the problems the wind was creating.

This day belonged to

Wilson crowned as Overall Champion Team. The team landed 11 legal fish over the competition, easily the most by any team with only 82 legal fish landed in total for the entire competition.

This win was made even more special with Ian Rogers taking out Champion Angler

and will see team numbers limited to 40 with priority given to existing teams. I’m going to tip that they’ll have teams waiting for a drop-out, so get in touch with the crew at Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski in Mulwala to secure your spot for next year. – Stephen Booth

Evans Head Fishing Classic returns with AFT On the back of the successful 2017 Evans Head Fishing Classic, Australian Fishing Tournaments (AFT) is returning and will once again be managing this world-class fishing competition and making a significant contribution to the local economy in the process.

The Evans Head Fishing Classic will be held from 6-13 July and concludes with the main prize draws and presentation on the Friday.

There is a Cadet Competition

also on from 8-9 July with a kids activity day on Sunday.

The event takes place behind the Evans Head Woodburn RSL Club on the river; the event site features a food alley, displays from sponsors and a tank to show off some catches. The Woodburn Evans Head RSL Club are also strong supporters of the event.

The Evans Head Fishing Classic is synonymous with family fun and now well into its 20s it has continued to add new and exciting ways to get everyone

luderick and flathead. For cadets, there are the usual estuary suspects: flathead, whiting and bream and trag are back in the mix this year.

Over the weekend, come down with the little ones in for the Cadet Competition on Saturday and Sunday, a junior two-day competition

the chance to win one of two boat motor trailer packages sponsored by Quintrex/ Evinrude E-Tec. There is a host of other prizes from sponsors like Lowrance, Samurai Rods, Wilsons, Hobie Kayaks, Frogleys Offshore and others. The pool is going to be better than ever.

All seven-day competitors have the chance to win one of two boat motor trailer packages sponsored by Quintrex/Evinrude E-Tec.

The Evans Head Fishing Classic is a family-friendly event spanning over an even wider area this year.

involved. Last year the organising committee made changes to the event with the addition of the Catch ‘N Snap entry system. It allowed anglers to enter photos instead of whole fish.

Anglers photographed their competitive catch on brag mats, then had the option to keep the fish or release it.

The photographed catch is judged on length only. This system was a huge hit and will continue in 2018.

The broadened competition fishing zones

continue opening up more space and places for anglers to fish from: you can launch from Byron to Yamba and fish both estuary and offshore. For AFT and entrants, this delivers a contingency for bad weather conditions and opens more fishing opportunities. It also takes pressure off the local fish stocks.

Fish categories include snapper, pearl perch, mulloway, tailor, king/ cobia, amberjack/samson fish, whiting, bream,

Get the kids involved! The Evans Head Classic has a kids activity day and a Cadet Competition for the juniors. with prize pools open to all buddling anglers under the age of 16.

Champions, competitors and all attendees will be in the running for a total prize pool of over $100,000. All seven-day competitors have

Come on down to check it out – you might even enter once you see the prizes! To enter or find out more, visit www. evansheadfishingclassic. com.au – Evans Head Fishing Classic

JUNE 2018

81

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JUNE 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory KAYAK DEALERS

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83

Tech Tricks

A few reasons to change the hooks on your lures PART II BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

In the April issue we looked at some of the different types of split ring pliers and various things you need to know when using split rings to attach different

hooks to your lures. This month we will explore the various reasons why you rig some lures with particular hooks, ways to overcome the torsion that can be created when a fish is hooked, plus a few other facets involved with lure rigging. Additionally there will be a few tips to

enhance action from your favourite lures.

I often play around with lure hooks to change the lure’s intended floatation rate. For example, when chasing barramundi I like a minnow lure which floats up very slowly in the water during a pause. Often the strikes come on the pause as

the lure rises. I will adjust my treble hooks and split ring size until I can get it right. In salt water there is greater buoyancy, therefore a lure that suspends in the freshwater may still rise or float in the salt water.

Often, something as simple as changing one split ring to a different size

or adding an extra split ring will attain the desired floating, suspending or sinking of the lure.

However there is obviously no point using treble hooks and split rings on our lures that aren’t up to withstanding the rigours of the target species so this is another big consideration.

There’s a lot to consider when you are rigging your minnow lures, however you can greatly improve a lure’s action, the hook-up rate and the likelihood of the hooks staying set during a fight. Therefore a little bit of thought and preparation can greatly increase your success when lure fishing.

3

1 With some lures you’ll need to link two split rings to get the hook to sit at the correct position. Without two split rings on this lure, the hook point would face out to the side of the lure instead of upright. Another option with this lure would be to use a single split ring and an inline hook (a hook with the eye in line with the shank) instead of the J-pattern. However, the double split ring decreases torsion between the lure and the hook, decreasing the chance of the hook being bent or the ring distorted.

2 A different way to decrease the effects of hook-to-lure torsion is to use a swivel, which totally eliminates it. Many lure makers put these swivels directly on the lure eyelet during production, which eliminates the need of the second split ring to attach swivel to the lure’s eyelet. Additionally, this is also sometimes done to increase distance between the hook and lure, and makes the whole lure less inhibited and promotes more positive action. However, you would commonly only do this with larger lures designed for big bluewater adversaries.

Here we have two chromed metal lures designed for high-speed retrieves when targeting mackerel, tuna and other pelagics. The top one has been rigged with an inline single. A single hook sets well around the jawbone of quality predators, is easier to remove and less dangerous to the person removing the hook. This is great for catch and release fishing as the fish can be unhooked quickly (often without removing it from the water) and sent on its way with minimal damage. The lower lure has been rigged with a quality treble, which is more likely to find a mark on the strike but will do more damage to the fish and be harder to remove.

5

4

This is the same lure rigged two ways for two different requirements.

The top lure is for barra, and sports the stock standard trebles. However, when used for bluewater trolling, you might choose to replace the trebles with singles as they tend to hold in better and give the lure better action at speed. Singles are also easier to get out of a thrashing fish, and are less dangerous.

When rigging inline singles, the rear hook should face upwards and the belly hook should face downwards to offer maximum hook-up potential. With trebles, it doesn’t matter at what angle the rear hook is attached, however it does with the belly hook. The belly eyelet should be in line with the eye of the treble hook, and the hook should sit so that two points are against the side of the lure and the other point faces straight down in the centre of the lure.

This will allow the lure to be trolled at the maximum speed, as there is no preference for the treble to sit to one side. Taking the time to fit quality hooks and rings in the correct manner is worth it, because your lures will swim better and everything will hold when a big fish hooks up.

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JUNE 2018

Vibration lures (both hard and soft) can be rigged in numerous ways, often depending on the intended use and the owner’s preferences. The Samaki Thumpertail at the top is rigged with two trebles that offer great hooking potential when the lure is hit on the drop when hopping or taken during a slow roll. The clever design of this lure has the rear treble held in place at the tail, which is where the majority of strikes are received.

The middle blade comes with single hooks, which offer a great hook-up potential but can often suffer from torsion as the hook is held quite rigidly against the lure. The front hook has the points facing upwards towards the body, which eliminates the chance of the lure fouling.

Light double hooks like these are okay for small fish species, however they can suffer in the strength department when connected to larger game. The lower lure is a larger blade, which can be used for everything from barramundi to dogtooth tuna. In addition to being a casting lure, these also troll well. For bluewater use I prefer to rig them with single hooks.

6

For lures aimed at mid-range pelagics (tuna, mackerel, mahimahi, cobia, wahoo and others), anglers often use single hooks instead of trebles, as a larger single offers better purchase around the jaw and permits the lure freer action.

With inline singles you will only need a single split ring to rig the lure correctly if the hook eye is in line with the lure eyelet. However, this particular lure has its rear eyelet at 90° to the hook eye, therefore two split rings are required when using an inline hook. Sometimes an assist hook (a hook on a Kevlar cord) is used as it also offers a great hook-up ratio, no hook to lure torsion and there is less need to use two split rings. However, for toothy species such as mackerel, this is not desirable as they will often bite through the cord.

Tech Tricks

9

Most minnow-style lures, both floating and suspending, are rigged with treble hooks because these offer the best hook-up potential with slow moving lures. With trebles, one of the biggest issues is linking.

This happens when trebles are close enough together that one hook can snare the one beside it. This can decrease the lure’s action and greatly reduce the hook-up potential. Choosing trebles that are a little shorter in the shank may reduce the likelihood of treble linking

7

Here we have some stickbait style lures rigged in a couple of ways to demonstrate your options. While a single tail hook is used for the top two lures the belly hook is either two J-pattern singles rigged back to back (with a zip tie or rubber band to hold them in place) or a treble.

The lower lure is rigged with conventional trebles at the belly and rear.

Try different combinations on lures of these types until you are happy with your rigging option. Factors to consider are how the hooks hang during pauses in the retrieve and also when the lure is worked. Do the lure hooks foul on the leader during the cast? Is the gape in the hook (or hook combination) wider than the lure to improve hook-up rates? Swim the lures with different hook combinations until you are happy you are getting the best possible hook-up rate and the most prominent action from the lure.

10

Here are two identical lures. The lower one is rigged with three treble hooks as intended. Linking between the front two trebles is highly likely with this lure, so I have removed the middle one. When doing this you can upgrade the front and rear treble to slightly larger or heavier duty models without affecting the lure’s action. These larger hooks are far enough apart that they can’t link, and they’re also likely to increase hook-up ratios. Due to the wider gape, which offers better purchase, they are more prone to staying set during the fight. Win, win, win!

8 Poppers also offer anglers plenty of rigging options. The stop and start retrieve of poppers, the fact that they sit on top of the water and common occurrence of them getting eaten during a retrieve pause offers anglers plenty of things to consider. The top rigging option is my personal choice as the hook gape of the rear hook is wider than the lure and the flexible swinging head hook offers many good attributes. Whether at rest or during movement, this hook will be in the head area of the bait, which is where many large pelagics such as GTs initially attack.

As poppers can cartwheel during retrieve in rough, turbulent water this flexible hook offers almost no chance of permanently fouling with the leader. It will simply fall back into place. Additionally the single hooks do less damage to the fish and are less dangerous to the person releasing the fish. However I know plenty of seasoned popper fishers who wouldn’t dream of using anything other than treble hooks.

The back-to-back belly hooks also have a lot going for them.

In conjunction with a big single tail hook you have hooks that protrude out each side of the popper and one that is wider than the rear of the popper. Again, trying different hook combinations will soon give you a good idea as to what you are happy with for your chosen lures.

11

Another reason to adjust the size of your lure hooks is to change how your lure sits in the water and also how it performs. This particular lure will float with smaller trebles on it, however the manufacturer has added a larger belly treble to get the lure to suspend (neutral buoyancy). By adding the treble to the belly, the lure will still sit fairly horizontal in the water. If the larger treble were on the tail, the lure would sit tail down and head up at rest, which isn’t natural and will stifle the lure’s action on the retrieve.

I often play around with lure hooks to change the lure’s floatation. For example, when chasing barra I like a minnow lure which floats up very slowly during a pause. Often the strikes come on the pause as the lure rises. I adjust my trebles and split ring size until I get it right. In salt water there is greater buoyancy, so a lure that suspends in the freshwater may rise or float in the salt.

Often, something as simple as changing one split ring to a different size or adding an extra split ring will attain the desired floating, suspending or sinking of the lure. Just remember there’s no point using trebles and split rings on lures that can’t stand up to the rigours of the target species.

JUNE 2018

85

2018 2018 2018 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY(FORT (FORT DENISON) NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY DENISON) – –NEW WALES LAT 33° 52’ LONG 151°SOUTH 13’ JANUARY MAY Time JANUARY Time m

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

Time m m Time m m Time Time 0213 0.53 0141 0.34 0812 1.96 0846 1.72 0242 0.32 0309 0.42 0213 0.53 0141 0.34 1451 0.19 1525 0.39 0844 1.60 0909 1.52 0812 1.96 0846 1.72 TU MO 2116 1.33 2049 1.48 TU 1436 0.41 1459 0.51 1451 0.19 1525 0.39 WE MOTU 21011.33 1.99 21241.48 1.80 2116 2049 0233 0.32 0250 0.51 0904 2.04 0922 1.75 0333 0.29 0351 0.45 0233 0.32 0250 0.51 1544 0.12 WE 1559 0.37 0936 1.55 0950 1.45 0904 2.04 0922 1.75 TU 2144 1.50WETH 2152 1.35 1522 0.45 1532 0.57 1544 0.12 1559 0.37 WE TU 21491.35 2.00 21591.50 1.77 2144 2152 0326 0.32 0327 0.50 0956 2.07 0958 1.76 0427 0.29 0432 0.49 0326 0.32 0327 0.50 1636 0.09 1633 0.35 1031 1.38 1031 1.50 0956 2.07 0958 1.76 WE TH 2238 1.50 THFR 2229 1.36 1606 0.63 1613 0.51 1636 0.09 1633 0.35 WETH 22351.50 1.73 22401.36 1.98 2238 2229 0419 0.34 0404 0.50 1047 2.05 1033 1.75 0524 0.32 0515 0.53 0419 0.34 0404 0.50 1728 0.12 1708 0.36 1130 1.44 1113 1.33 1047 2.05 1033 1.75 TH FR 2331 1.48 FRSA 2305 1.36 1706 0.58 1642 0.69 1728 0.12 1708 0.36 THFR 23341.36 1.91 23131.48 1.67 2331 2305 0514 0.38 0444 0.51 1139 1.97 1109 1.72 0625 0.37 0600 0.58 0514 0.38 0444 0.51 1818 0.18 1743 0.37 1231 1.40 1158 1.28 1139 1.97 1109 1.72 FR SA 2345 1.37 1806 0.65 17230.18 0.75 SASU 1818 1743 0.37 FRSA 2355 1.61 2345 1.37 0025 1.46 0524 0.53 0609 0.45 1146 1.68 0033 1.83 0650 0.62 0025 1.46 0524 0.53 1230 1.84 SU 1819 0.39 0729 0.41 1249 1.25 0609 0.45 1146 1.68 SA 1909 0.27SU 13380.39 1.39 1813 0.81 1230 1.84 1819 MO SASU 1914 0.70 1909 0.27 0120 1.44 0026 1.38 0706 0.52 0608 0.56 0044 1.55 0138 1.74 0120 1.44 0026 1.38 1321 1.69 MO 1226 1.61 0832 0.44 0745 0.65 0706 0.52 0608 0.56 SU 1858 0.42 2000 0.36MOTU 1446 1.41 1349 1.24 1321 1.69 1226 1.61 MO SU 20270.42 0.71 19140.36 0.85 1858 2000 0215 1.42 0111 1.39 0806 0.60 0658 0.60 0246 1.67 0143 1.50 0215 1.42 0111 1.39 1415 1.53 1310 1.53 0930 0.46 0845 0.65 0806 0.60 0658 0.60 MO TU 2049 0.45 TU 1941 0.45 1550 1.46 1455 1.26 1415 1.53 1310 1.53 WE MOTU 21400.45 0.70 20250.45 0.85 2049 1941 0201 1.41 0313 1.42 0352 1.62 0248 1.48 0754 0.63 0913 0.66 0201 1.41 0313 1.42 1400 1.45 1513 1.39 WE 1024 0.47 0941 0.62 0754 0.63 0913 0.66 TU 1646 1.54 1557 1.32 2029 0.48 2140 0.52WETH 1400 1.45 1513 1.39 WE TU 22480.48 0.65 21350.52 0.82 2029 2140 0411 1.43 0257 1.44 0452 1.59 0352 1.49 1023 0.68 0900 0.64 0411 1.43 0257 1.44 1615 1.29 1501 1.37 1113 0.47 1030 0.58 1023 0.68 0900 0.64 WE TH 1737 1.63 1648 1.40 2124 0.50 2230 0.56 THFR 1615 1.29 1501 1.37 WETH 23490.50 0.59 22380.56 0.76 2124 2230 0508 1.47 0358 1.51 0545 1.55 0446 1.53 1133 0.67 1016 0.61 0508 1.47 0358 1.51 1156 0.48 1114 0.53 1720 1.23 1615 1.32 1133 0.67 1016 0.61 TH FR 1822 1.70 1732 1.50 2320 0.58 FRSA 2225 0.50 1720 1.23 1615 1.32 THFR 23310.58 0.67 2320 2225 0.50 0600 1.52 0501 1.60 0535 1.56 0042 0.54 1237 0.62 1133 0.53 0600 1.52 0501 1.60 1153 0.47 0635 1.52 1820 1.22 1731 1.32 1237 0.62 1133 0.53 FR SA 18131.22 1.62 SASU 1236 0.49 2329 0.47 1820 1731 1.32 FRSA 19040.47 1.76 2329 0009 0.58 0603 1.71 0019 0.57 0129 0.49 0647 1.57 1244 0.42 0009 0.58 0603 1.71 0621 1.60 0720 1.49 1329 0.56 SU 1841 1.35 0647 1.57 1244 0.42 SA 1232 0.43 13131.35 0.51 1913 1.24SU 1329 0.56 1841 MO SASU 18531.24 1.73 1943 1.80 1913 0053 0.56 0029 0.43 0106 0.47 0211 0.47 0730 1.63 0702 1.83 0053 0.56 0029 0.43 0706 1.62 0803 1.45 1411 0.49 MO 1345 0.29 0730 1.63 0702 1.83 SU 1311 0.40 1348 0.54 1958 1.27MOTU 1943 1.41 1411 0.49 1345 0.29 MO SU 19331.27 1.84 20191.41 1.82 1958 1943 0134 0.55 0127 0.38 0153 0.38 0251 0.46 0810 1.68 0758 1.94 0134 0.55 0127 0.38 0754 1.62 0845 1.42 1449 0.44 1440 0.19 0810 1.68 0758 1.94 MO TU 1352 0.39 1423 0.58 2038 1.30 TU 2038 1.47 1449 0.44 1440 0.19 WE MOTU 20161.30 1.93 20551.47 1.82 2038 2038 0221 0.33 0330 0.47 0851 2.01 0221 0.33 0925 1.38 1530 0.12 0851 2.01 WE 1458 0.61 2130 1.52 1530 0.12 WETH 21301.52 1.80 2130

Time m m Time m m Time Time 0311 0.46 0315 0.30 0943 2.04 0936 1.75 0416 0.22 0409 0.48 0311 0.46 0315 0.30 1618 0.11 FR 1605 0.34 1020 1.49 1005 1.35 0943 2.04 0936 1.75 TH 2203 1.44 2220 1.54FRSA 1559 0.47 1533 0.65 1618 0.11 1605 0.34 THFR 22281.44 2.04 22051.54 1.77 2203 2220 0348 0.44 0407 0.30 1032 2.00 1012 1.75 0513 0.25 0448 0.51 0348 0.44 0407 0.30 1705 0.14 SA 1638 0.33 1118 1.47 1046 1.33 1032 2.00 1012 1.75 FR 2310 1.55SASU 2239 1.47 1655 0.53 1612 0.69 1705 0.14 1638 0.33 FRSA 23211.47 1.96 22431.55 1.72 2310 2239 0427 0.44 0459 0.33 1047 1.72 1120 1.91 0610 0.30 0530 0.54 0427 0.44 0459 0.33 1712 0.34 1750 0.21 SU 1130 1.30 1217 1.45 1047 1.72 1120 1.91 SA 2316 1.50 2358 1.54SUMO 1654 0.73 1755 0.59 1712 0.34 1750 0.21 SASU 23231.54 1.67 2316 1.50 2358 0508 0.45 0550 0.39 1126 1.67 1207 1.77 0018 1.85 0615 0.57 0508 0.45 0550 0.39 1746 0.36 1833 0.30 MO 0707 0.36 1217 1.29 1126 1.67 1207 1.77 SU 2357 1.51 1318 1.44 17410.30 0.78MOTU 1746 0.36 1833 MO SU 19001.51 0.64 2357 0553 0.48 0045 1.51 1206 1.60 0643 0.48 0007 1.61 0117 1.72 0553 0.48 0045 1.51 1824 0.40 1254 1.61 TU 0703 0.60 0803 0.42 1206 1.60 0643 0.48 MO 1916 0.41TUWE 1310 1.28 14200.40 1.46 1824 1254 1.61 MOTU 18350.41 0.81 2009 0.68 1916 0040 1.52 0134 1.48 0642 0.51 0738 0.57 0058 1.55 0220 1.60 0040 1.52 0134 1.48 1250 1.51 1341 1.45 WE 0755 0.60 0858 0.47 0642 0.51 0738 0.57 TU 1905 0.45 1959 0.50WETH 1407 1.31 1520 1.50 1250 1.51 1341 1.45 WE TU 19380.50 0.83 21210.45 0.69 1905 1959 0128 1.53 0226 1.45 0838 0.64 0738 0.55 0324 1.50 0155 1.50 0128 1.53 0226 1.45 1431 1.31 TH 1342 1.41 0845 0.59 0948 0.50 0838 0.64 0738 0.55 WE 2045 0.58THFR 1952 0.51 1505 1.36 1617 1.56 1431 1.31 1342 1.41 WETH 20460.58 0.82 22310.51 0.67 2045 1952 0320 1.43 0223 1.53 0945 0.69 0845 0.58 0426 1.43 0257 1.48 0320 1.43 0223 1.53 1531 1.21 FR 1445 1.32 1036 0.53 0935 0.56 0945 0.69 0845 0.58 TH 2136 0.64FRSA 2050 0.56 1709 1.62 1559 1.44 1531 1.21 1445 1.32 THFR 23340.56 0.62 21540.64 0.76 2136 2050 0419 1.44 0327 1.55 0522 1.39 0357 1.48 1057 0.69 1002 0.57 0419 1.44 0327 1.55 1643 1.16 SA 1602 1.26 1120 0.54 1021 0.52 1057 0.69 1002 0.57 FR 1756 1.68 1647 1.55 2235 0.67SASU 2200 0.58 1643 1.16 1602 1.26 FRSA 22560.67 0.68 2235 2200 0.58 0519 1.46 0437 1.61 0453 1.49 0029 0.57 1205 0.65 1122 0.51 0519 1.46 0437 1.61 1752 1.17 SU 1724 1.28 1106 0.48 0613 1.36 1205 0.65 1122 0.51 SA 1734 1.67 1201 0.55 2334 0.66SUMO 2312 0.56 1752 1.17 1724 1.28 SASU 23520.66 0.57 18390.56 1.73 2334 2312 0615 1.51 0546 1.70 0547 1.51 0114 0.52 1300 0.59 1232 0.41 0615 1.51 0546 1.70 1150 0.44 0700 1.35 1851 1.21 MO 1835 1.34 1300 0.59 1232 0.41 SU 18191.21 1.80MOTU 12411.34 0.56 1851 1835 MO SU 1918 1.76 0028 0.63 0018 0.49 0155 0.48 0045 0.45 0702 1.57 0648 1.80 0028 0.63 0018 0.49 0742 1.35 0640 1.53 1346 0.52 TU 1331 0.30 0702 1.57 0648 1.80 MO 1318 0.57 1236 0.42 1938 1.26TUWE 1933 1.43 1346 0.52 1331 0.30 MOTU 19551.43 1.79 19061.26 1.92 1938 1933 0114 0.59 0118 0.42 0137 0.35 0232 0.46 0745 1.63 0745 1.89 0114 0.59 0118 0.42 0733 1.54 0822 1.35 1425 0.45 WE 1424 0.22 0745 1.63 0745 1.89 TU 1323 0.40 1355 0.58 2018 1.32WETH 2026 1.51 1425 0.45 1424 0.22 WE TU 19541.32 2.01 20301.51 1.80 2018 2026 0155 0.54 0229 0.27 0308 0.44 0824 1.68 0155 0.54 0828 1.54 0901 1.35 1500 0.40 0824 1.68 WE 1413 0.41 2054 1.36 FR 1431 0.59 1500 0.40 WETH 20441.36 2.07 2105 1.79 2054 0233 0.50 0322 0.22 0345 0.44 0900 1.72 0233 0.50 0924 1.52 0940 1.34 1533 0.36 0900 1.72 TH 1504 0.43 2129 1.40 SA 1509 0.61 1533 0.36 THFR 21341.40 2.08 2141 1.77 2129

m Time m m Time m m Time Time 0214 0.51 0213 0.34 0837 1.94 0832 1.69 0452 0.18 0422 0.45 0214 0.51 0213 0.34 1511 0.17 FR 1459 0.37 1059 1.51 1019 1.33 0837 1.94 0832 1.69 TH 2100 1.50 2114 1.58FRMO 1642 0.43 1547 0.63 1511 0.17 1459 0.37 THSU 2304 1.93 22171.58 1.74 2100 1.50 2114 0304 0.30 0251 0.45 0926 1.94 0909 1.72 0544 0.24 0500 0.47 0304 0.30 0251 0.45 1555 0.17 SA 1531 0.34 1153 1.50 1100 1.32 0926 1.94 0909 1.72 FR 2200 1.62SATU 2135 1.57 1739 0.49 1629 0.66 1555 0.17 1531 0.34 FRMO 2357 1.79 22551.62 1.69 2200 2135 1.57 0354 0.29 0330 0.41 1014 1.89 0946 1.72 0635 0.33 0540 0.50 0354 0.29 0330 0.41 1636 0.21 SU 1604 0.33 1144 1.32 1248 1.49 1014 1.89 0946 1.72 SA 2244 1.64SUWE 2211 1.62 1714 0.69 1841 0.57 1636 0.21 1604 0.33 SATU 23351.64 1.62 2244 2211 1.62 0443 0.32 0411 0.39 1059 1.79 1026 1.70 0051 1.62 0621 0.52 0443 0.32 0411 0.39 1716 0.29 MO 1638 0.34 0726 0.42 1230 1.33 1059 1.79 1026 1.70 SU 2327 1.63MOTH 2249 1.66 1345 1.48 1803 0.73 1716 0.29 1638 0.34 SUWE 1946 0.63 2327 1.63 2249 1.66 0531 0.38 0455 0.39 1143 1.66 1107 1.64 0020 1.55 0149 1.47 0531 0.38 0455 0.39 1754 0.38 TU 1715 0.37 0706 0.53 0815 0.49 1143 1.66 1107 1.64 MO 2330 1.69 13210.38 1.35 TUFR 1445 1.50 1754 1715 0.37 MOTH 1900 0.75 2058 0.67 2330 1.69 0009 1.60 0542 0.41 0619 0.46 1151 1.57 0111 1.48 0252 1.34 0009 1.60 0542 0.41 1225 1.52 WE 1754 0.43 0753 0.54 0906 0.55 0619 0.46 1151 1.57 TU 1830 0.48WESA 1415 1.39 1543 1.52 1225 1.52 1754 0.43 TUFR 20040.48 0.76 2210 0.66 1830 0052 1.56 0015 1.69 0709 0.55 0634 0.44 0209 1.43 0357 1.27 0052 1.56 0015 1.69 1308 1.38 TH 1240 1.47 0842 0.53 0957 0.58 0709 0.55 0634 0.44 WE 1837 0.50 1907 0.57THSU 1511 1.47 1638 1.56 1308 1.38 1240 1.47 WESA 21150.57 0.72 2316 0.63 1837 0.50 1907 0136 1.51 0103 1.67 0803 0.62 0732 0.49 0313 1.39 0500 1.24 0136 1.51 0103 1.67 1356 1.27 FR 1335 1.37 0933 0.51 1046 0.59 0803 0.62 0732 0.49 TH 1948 0.66FRMO 1928 0.58 1605 1.56 1729 1.61 1356 1.27 1335 1.37 THSU 22250.66 0.64 1948 1928 0.58 0200 1.64 0226 1.46 0419 1.39 0011 0.57 0841 0.52 0904 0.67 0200 1.64 0226 1.46 1443 1.29 1453 1.18 SA 1025 0.49 0554 1.24 0841 0.52 0904 0.67 FR 1700 1.68 1132 0.58 2030 0.64 2040 0.72SATU 1443 1.29 1453 1.18 FRMO 23300.72 0.53 1814 1.65 2030 0.64 2040 0324 1.43 0306 1.62 0522 1.41 0056 0.51 1014 0.69 0958 0.52 0324 1.43 0306 1.62 1604 1.15 SU 1602 1117 0.45 0641 1.27 1014 0.69 0958 0.52 SA 1752 1.81 1216 0.57 2146 0.67 2146 0.75SUWE 1604 1.15 1602 1.27 SATU 1854 1.69 2146 0.67 2146 0.75 0430 1.43 0420 1.64 0028 0.40 0134 0.46 1123 0.66 1112 0.48 0430 1.43 0420 1.64 0622 1.44 0723 1.29 1721 1.17 MO 1722 1.31 1123 0.66 1112 0.48 SU 1210 0.41 1256 0.55 2257 0.75MOTH 2303 0.63 1721 1.17 1722 1.31 SUWE 18440.75 1.93 1931 1.73 2257 2303 0.63 0533 1.47 0531 1.69 0123 0.28 0210 0.42 1222 0.61 1217 0.41 0533 1.47 0531 1.69 0719 1.47 0801 1.32 1824 1.22 TU 1827 1.40 1222 0.61 1217 0.41 MO 13021.22 0.38 TUFR 1334 0.53 1824 1827 1.40 MOTH 1936 2.03 2008 1.75 0000 0.70 0011 0.55 0216 0.19 0245 0.39 0628 1.52 0634 1.76 0000 0.70 0011 0.55 0815 1.49 0838 1.34 1311 0.54 WE 1313 0.34 0628 1.52 0634 1.76 TU 1357 0.36 1412 0.52 1912 1.29WESA 1921 1.50 1311 0.54 1313 0.34 TUFR 20291.29 2.09 2043 1.76 1912 1921 1.50 0051 0.64 0111 0.47 0309 0.14 0318 0.38 0715 1.59 0729 1.81 0051 0.64 0111 0.47 0910 1.51 0915 1.35 1351 0.48 TH 1400 0.29 0715 1.59 0729 1.81 WE 1450 0.36 1449 0.52 1951 1.37THSU 2009 1.59 1351 0.48 1400 0.29 WESA 21201.37 2.09 2117 1.75 1951 2009 1.59 0134 0.57 0204 0.39 0400 0.14 0352 0.38 0755 1.65 0819 1.83 0134 0.57 0204 0.39 1004 1.51 0951 1.36 1426 0.42 FR 1445 0.27 0755 1.65 0819 1.83 TH 1545 0.38 1528 0.53 2027 1.44FRMO 2053 1.66 1426 0.42 1445 0.27 THSU 22121.44 2.04 2153 1.72 2027 2053 1.66 0254 0.35 0427 0.39 0906 1.80 0254 0.35 1030 1.37 1525 0.28 0906 1.80 SA 1607 0.55 2135 1.71 1525 0.28 SATU 2229 1.67 2135 1.71

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

25 2525

10 1010

11 1111

26 2626

27 2727

12 1212

13 13 13

28 2828

14 14 14 15 15 15

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

10 10 10

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

25 2525

10 1010

11 11 11

26 2626

12 12 12

Local Time Local Time APRIL AUGUST Time TimeAPRIL m

m Timem m Timem m Time Time 0212 0.40 0241 0.34 0819 1.68 0851 1.74 0555 0.34 0502 0.41 0212 0.40 0241 0.34 1428 0.36 1502 0.33 1213 1.53 1109 1.38 MO 0819 1.68 0851 1.74 SU 2043 1.79 2115 1.73 1818 0.50 1650 0.58MO TH 1428 0.36 1502 0.33 SUWE 2307 1.60 2043 1.79 2115 1.73 0327 0.36 0256 0.36 0934 1.65 0903 1.65 0023 1.48 0540 0.44 0327 0.36 0256 0.36 1538 0.40 1505 0.38 0640 0.44 1152 1.39 TU 0934 1.65 0903 1.65 MO 2155 1.73 2124 1.84 1305 1.50 1737 0.61TU FR 1538 0.40 1505 0.38 MO TH 1920 2348 1.52 2155 1.73 2124 1.840.58 0412 0.41 0344 0.34 1016 1.54 0950 1.60 0619 0.46 0116 1.33 0412 0.41 0344 0.34 1613 0.48 1545 0.42 0727 0.53 1239 1.40 WE 1016 1.54 0950 1.60 TU 2233 1.70 2208 1.86 1400 1.47 1830 0.65WE SA 1613 0.48 1545 0.42 TU FR 2030 2233 1.70 2208 1.860.63 0456 0.47 0434 0.35 1058 1.44 1041 1.53 0036 1.43 0218 1.21 0456 0.47 0434 0.35 1645 0.56 1630 0.48 0704 0.49 TH 0818 0.60 1058 1.44 1041 1.53 WE 2311 1.65 2255 1.85 1330 1.43TH SU 1500 1.47 1645 0.56 1630 0.48 WE SA 1933 0.66 2143 2311 1.65 2255 1.850.64 0542 0.54 0530 0.39 1135 1.44 1140 1.34 0328 1.15 0133 1.35 0542 0.54 0530 0.39 1718 0.56 1720 0.65 0915 0.63 0755 0.51 FR 1135 1.44 1140 1.34 TH 2346 1.80 2350 1.59 1600 1.48 1429 1.48FRMO 1718 0.56 1720 0.65 THSU 2250 2046 0.64 2346 1.800.61 2350 1.59 0631 0.60 0630 0.43 1226 1.26 1235 1.37 0436 1.15 0243 1.29 0631 0.60 0630 0.43 1800 0.72 1815 0.64 1014 0.64 0852 0.52 SA 1226 1.26 1235 1.37 FR 1657 1530 1.56SA TU 1800 0.72 1815 0.641.51 FRMO 2345 0.55 2203 0.57 0035 1.53 0045 1.75 0726 0.65 0739 0.47 0534 1.18 0357 1.28 0035 1.53 0045 1.75 1320 1.21 1345 1.32 1108 0.61 0954 0.50 SU 0726 0.65 0739 0.47 SA 1851 0.78 1921 0.70 1746 1.56 1632 1.67SUWE 1320 1.21 1345 1.32 SA TU 2314 0.46 1851 0.78 1921 0.70 0130 1.48 0152 1.70 0829 0.67 0850 0.48 0030 0.49 0508 1.31 0130 1.48 0152 1.70 1428 1.18 1501 1.33 1056 0.46 MO 0621 1.23 0829 0.67 0850 0.48 SU 1958 0.82 2038 0.71 1731 1.79MO TH 1156 0.57 1428 1.18 1501 1.33 SUWE 1830 1958 0.82 2038 0.711.61 0235 1.45 0305 1.67 0109 0.43 0015 0.33 0934 0.66 0956 0.46 0235 1.45 0305 1.67 1542 1.21 1612 1.39 0701 1.29 0611 1.37 TU 0934 0.66 0956 0.46 MO 1238 0.52 1154 0.40TU FR 2114 0.82 2154 0.68 1542 1.21 1612 1.39 MO TH 1828 1.91 1908 2114 0.82 2154 0.681.66 0345 1.46 0415 1.68 0144 0.38 0110 0.21 1034 0.62 1055 0.43 0345 1.46 0415 1.68 1645 1.27 1711 1.48 0738 1.33 0707 1.44 WE 1034 0.62 1055 0.43 TU 1317 0.48 1250 0.34WE SA 2222 0.78 2301 0.61 1645 1.27 1711 1.48 TU FR 1944 1921 2.00 2222 0.78 2301 0.611.69 0445 1.50 0515 1.70 0200 0.13 0215 0.34 1124 0.57 1145 0.40 0445 1.50 0515 1.70 0800 1.49 TH 0813 1.37 1735 1.35 1801 1.58 1124 0.57 1145 0.40 WE 1345 0.29TH SU 1354 2319 0.70 1735 1.35 1801 1.580.45 WE SA 2013 2.04 2019 1.71 2319 0.70 0534 1.56 0001 0.53 0250 0.09 0248 0.32 1205 0.51 0609 1.70 0534 1.56 0001 0.53 0852 1.54 FR 0847 1.41 1815 1.44 1230 0.38 1205 0.51 0609 1.70 TH 1438 0.27FRMO 1431 0.43 1847 1.67 1815 1.44 1230 0.38 THSU 2104 2.03 2053 1847 1.671.70 0006 0.62 0054 0.47 0338 0.10 0319 0.32 0617 1.61 0658 1.68 0006 0.62 0054 0.47 0943 1.56 SA 0922 1.43 1243 0.45 1312 0.39 0617 1.61 0658 1.68 FR 1531 0.28SA TU 1509 0.43 1852 1.53 1930 1.74 1243 0.45 1312 0.39 FRMO 2154 1.95 2129 1852 1.53 1930 1.741.67 0048 0.54 0142 0.43 0425 0.15 0352 0.33 0658 1.65 0744 1.64 0048 0.54 0142 0.43 1032 1.57 SU 0958 1.46 1317 0.40 1349 0.41 0658 1.65 0744 1.64 SA 1626 0.33SUWE 1549 0.44 1928 1.62 2009 1.78 1317 0.40 1349 0.41 SA TU 2243 1.82 2204 1928 1.62 2009 1.781.62 0130 0.46 0227 0.41 0510 0.23 0426 0.35 0738 1.68 0827 1.58 0130 0.46 0227 0.41 1122 1.55 MO 1036 1.48 1351 0.37 1425 0.46 0738 1.68 0827 1.58 SU 1720 0.41MO TH 1632 0.46 2004 1.71 2047 1.80 1351 0.37 1425 0.46 SUWE 2332 1.66 2244 2004 1.71 2047 1.801.54

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

25 2525

10 1010

25 2525

11 1111

26 2626

11 1111

26 2626

27 2727

12 1212

27 2727

12 1212

27 2727

13 1313

28 2828

13 1313

28 2828

13 1313

28 2828

29 2929

14 1414

29

14 1414

29 2929

14 1414

29 2929

30 3030

15 1515

30

15 1515

30 3030

15 1515

30 3030

31 3131

31 3131

31 0500 1117

0.39 1.49 FR 1719 0.50 2326 1.45

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteorology Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2016, Bureau Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of of Australia 2016, Bureau of of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of are Predictions is Lowesttime Astronomical Tideor daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times in local standard (UTC +10:00) Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions.

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JUNE 2018

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 89 Yerrabi Pond Inside story...

Something of an Aussie icon, Clark Aluminium Boats has earned this enviable status by serving generations of commercial and recreational boaters. In the boating world, Clark Aluminium Boats is a name synonymous with strength, durability and safety. Combine these features with class leading levels of performance, a quality finish and modern fit-outs and it’s easy to see why for nearly four decades, Clark have been the first choice of many boaters.

Made for...

Clark Aluminium Boats will provide you with many years of safe, trouble-free boating enjoyment!

This month...

V&TFM’s Peter Jung has a run with the Clark 520 Legend SC powered by a 115hp Suzuki 4-stroke.

Again this month, Toby Grundy checks out another great urban lake in Canberra for yak fishers.

90 New from Mercury Steve Morgan recently caught up with Mercury to see what’s new in the Mercury world.

92 Stacer’s revolution Wayne Kampe has a look at some new and innovative designs from Stacer.

94 Doubling up!

Justin Willmer looks at the joys of joining two kayaks together for a different kayaking experience.

98 Bar Crusher head to head – which is best?

The boys from FM put the Bar Crusher 575C and 615C head to head to see which is best for you.

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WHAT’S NEW BOATING HAINES SIGNATURE 1 545F

RAYMARINE LIGHTHOUSE 3.4

The new 545F from Haines Signature Boats is aimed squarely at anglers and families.

Measuring 5.45m in length and 2.13m across the beam, the 545F gives you the space to move around freely thanks to its huge open floor plan and a high freeboard for added safety, particularly when it comes to family boating.

The open half cab features windows and bunk cushions with storage underneath, a split dash with walk-through windscreen for easy access to the anchor and a helm console that has room for gauges, controls and state-of-theart electronics up to 12”.

Extra-wide side pockets, a live bait tank and glovebox means there’s plenty of storage space. A 100L fuel tank, four stainless steel rod holders, transom door and a sports steering wheel are just some of the standard inclusions, with plenty of options available.

The 545F is rated to 90–150hp and has a soft and stable ride, and it’s available on a single axle trailer to make towing and launching a breeze.

Price: from $49,990 BMT drive away www.signatureboats.com

Raymarine has announced LightHouse version 3.4, the latest free update to the LightHouse 3 operating system.

Axiom users can now stream entertainment from Netflix and Spotify, as well as access Theyr’s GRIBview precision global weather service app.

LightHouse 3.4 also adds Bluetooth audio output. Connect Axiom’s Bluetooth to your marine stereo system or Bluetooth enabled speakers and enjoy digital audio from your streamed movies and music.

Other features include: Vessel Alarm History and Management; Chartplotter ‘Find Nearest’ Hot-Spotting (use a long-press anywhere on the chart and trigger the ‘Find Nearest’ menu to see points of interest); Chart Tide Mode for tides and currents; fuel management tools; and Network Dimming for MFDs and instruments (one command dims the entire helm).

LightHouse 3.4 is available free at the Raymarine website, or via your MFD’s built-in Wi-Fi if you’re in wireless range. Certain features are available only on Axiom and Axiom Pro. www.raymarine.com

LOWRANCE CASHBACK PROMO

MERCURY’S 6-YEAR 5 WARRANTY

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Lowrance has announced its latest promotion in Australia and New Zealand.

Up until 31 July 2018, Lowrance is offering up to $500 cash back on each SKU across the entire HDS Carbon range.

The Lowrance HDS Carbon adds a highperformance dual-core processor, multi-touch SolarMAX HD screen, dual channel CHIRP and Network Dual Sounder to the proven features that have made HDS multifunction displays the choice of anglers at all levels. The HDS Carbon series includes 16”, 12”, 9” and 7” models.

Anglers in the market for a want-it-all integrated system need a processor that can smoothly drive the high-tech capabilities of HDS Carbon, like StructureScan 3D with SideScan and DownScan Imaging, new FishReveal, dual channel CHIRP sonar, StructureMap and Broadband Radar support.

HDS Carbon takes processing power to a new level with a dual-core processor that allows anglers to switch between applications and simultaneously view independent sonar feeds with ease. www.lowrance.com

SNAP-LOC ROD HOLDER

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The Snap-Loc Rod Holder is a unique, onestep, instant strike Rod Holder that’s ideal for general light to medium trolling and bait fishing. It’s versatile and adaptable to any boat or fishing situation. The Universal Rail and Deck Mount Rod Holder offer many different mounting possibilities.

When you place the rod, either spin or baitcast, into the holder, it pushes the front lever down and locks the rear lever over the top of the rod butt. The weight of the rod is sufficient to firmly lock the rod. Any additional downward weight, even the drag of a sinker or lure, locks the rod more securely in place.

Key features include: additional security lock fitted; most combos can be locked on foregrip or rear grip; clip-in insert allows use of very small diameter rod butts; overhead reel stays upright; heavy-duty vertical and horizontal adjustments; heavy-duty lift and rotate lock for total flexibility and precise rod direction control. The rod holder can be quickly removed and fitted to another mount, and its slip-resistant universal rail clamp fits 1 1/4’ (32mm), 1’ (26mm), 3/4’ (23mm), and 1’ square (26mm). It features stainless steel components and is UV, salt and oil resistant. www.jmgillies.com.au 88

JUNE 2018

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For 2018 Mercury has announced an extended 6-year warranty for all recreational outboards. This covers everything from the lightest 2.5hp model all the way through to 350hp Verado outboards.

To be eligible, simply have your Mercury engine serviced at an Authorised Service Centre at the recommended servicing intervals and you’re covered by an additional 3-year factorybacked warranty, which is on top of the first three years of coverage.

The warranty is non-declining, meaning that the coverage is the same on the last day as it is on the first. The warranty is also fully transferable, meaning that if the outboard is sold during the warranty period, the second (or any subsequent) owner also gets to enjoy the peace of mind of the 3+3 = 6 year factorybacked warranty.

Mercury’s new 3+3 = 6 year warranty automatically applies for new outboards purchased in 2018. The warranty applies to all Verado, FourStroke, OptiMax and TwoStroke outboard engines. www.mercurymarine.com.au

SIMRAD SPECIAL OFFER

PRODUCT GUIDE

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Simrad has announced its latest deal in Australia, offering a pair of Apex Mako Sunglasses (polycarbonate), valued at RRP$199, with the purchase of any NSS evo3 multifunction display.

Next generation Simrad NSS evo3 multifunction displays feature new SolarMAX HD screens, Dual Channel CHIRP sounder compatibility and an expanded keypad, plus a host of premium features.

The NSS evo3 series include 16, 12, 9 and 7” models. An easy-to-use interface, and support for full operation via touchscreen or keypad ensures trouble-free operation in all weather conditions and while the boat is in motion.

Mako sunglasses produce leading, fashionforward fishing frames catering to those who not only need effective sunglasses but also want to look good wearing them. The Apex is made of tough, warp-resistant TR90 nylon composite material, delivering a light and comfortable feel.

The fit reduces fogging, while rubber inserts in the nose and on the arms reduce slippage.

The offer is available until July 31, 2018. www.simrad-yachting/mako

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

If you’re up for a challenge, check out Yerrabi Pond constantly having to bring up the propeller and remove strand after strand of green mush. A paddle yak would be more suited to the pond and would add extra stealth, which isn’t possible with a noisy pedal yak.

THE SOUNDER The first time I fished Yerrabi from a kayak I didn’t have a sounder and I didn’t catch any fish. The second time I fished it, I had a sounder and I ended up with a dozen reddies and a golden.

It’s a lot easier with a sounder, that’s for sure. It is certainly possible to fish without a sounder though,

CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Yerrabi Pond is by far and away the most difficult waterway that I have fished from a kayak. Since October 2016, I have fished for bass at Glenbawn and Murray cod at Burrinjuck along with flathead at the Clyde River and whiting on surface at Conjola but none of these locations have puzzled me like Yerrabi.

It’s packed full of fish and is also badly affected by weed, so most anglers give it a miss. When it does yield, it has provided me with some of the best fishing experiences I have had from a kayak since I started this column.

FACILITIES Yerrabi Pond is located in Gungahlin, which is a district within Canberra about 30 minutes from the CBD. There are lots of picnic areas and concrete walking tracks running around the length of the pond along with cafes and public toilets.

Certate 1000 spooled with 4lb fluorocarbon straightthrough. The fish in the pond can be extremely fussy and shut down so light line is a must, and I have found the extra stretch means they hold onto the lure for that split second longer, giving me the chance to properly set the hook.

I’m no expert at catching cod in the pond, but I always take a cod stick with me and always finish each session by casting suspending swimbaits parallel to the dam wall. For this, I use my Daiwa Air Edge (heavy) rod matched to a Daiwa

Mark Hay caught this solid cod after working a spinnerbait near the weeds.

SPECIES Yerrabi Pond is packed full of big golden perch and redfin along with European carp and a decent population of Murray cod. I always focus my attention on the goldens, but more and more

imitation soft plastics (rigged weedless) near the edge of the weed. This is a really effective method to use when chasing the goldens or redfin in the pond and limits the chances of weed becoming wrapped around the lure.

method is to use a grub imitation soft plastic cast right up against the concrete walls that line the pond, and giving the lure a few quick twitches before quickly retrieving it back to your position near the top of the water column.

The weed runs almost throughout the entirety of the pond, however I have found that there is usually a 30cm gap or so between the weed and the edge of the pond.

Fish sit facing the bare patch, nestled in the weed waiting to ambush anything that is stupid enough to chance open water. They rarely resist a lure like the 80mm

Ecogear ZX blades are a good choice. especially if you focus your attentions on the points and fish weedless offerings.

LOCATIONS Try the bridge pylons under the Eastern Island Walkway after some rain.

I have caught plenty of

Millionaire 103 spooled with 20lb braid and 20lb leader.

TIMING Yerrabi fishes well in winter when the weed recedes and the ACT government removes the weed floating on the surface.

Luke Molyneux has solved Yerrabi’s weed puzzle.

It’s best to stock up on tackle before heading to the pond, as there isn’t a fishing shop close by.

While there is phone reception right around the pond and it is quite shallow, I would recommend wearing a life jacket just in case.

anglers are turning their focus to the cod as there are some genuine beasts lurking in the pond.

TECHNIQUES I like drifting my kayak around the points along the edges of the dam and gently twitching worm

The weed issue is such a problem in the dam that most anglers steer well clear, but by rigging weedless and twitching a worm imitation, you dramatically increase your chances of bringing the lure back clean.

Another really good

Pulling the kayak over and having a cast in the bare pockets can result in fish like this.

Rigging weedless is best.

Squidgy Wriggler bouncing around under their nose.

If all else fails, pull the kayak over and have a fish from the bank. There are a few good spots along the margins of the lake where it is easy to spot gaps in the weed and cast accordingly.

A good lure to use in this circumstance is the Ecogear ZX blade, as it can be hopped along the bottom and mimics a fleeing baitfish or shrimp.

THE KAYAK I have fished Yerrabi a few times from my Native Slayer 13 and though it performed quite well, it is a pedal yak, meaning it picked up a lot of weed and I was

reddies here along with a few goldens and this is a good place to start; there are usually a few fish willing to hit a lure and this will help build confidence. Directly opposite Soroptimist Point is also a good spot to try for reddies, yellas and cod. Drift into the middle of the pond, cast a small spinnerbait near the edge of the weed and slow roll it back to your position.

TACKLE I have downsized my tackle several times since my first kayak mission to the pond. For yellas and reddies, I now run a Daiwa Harrier 6’0 ultralight spin rod matched to a Daiwa

Unfortunately, by the time summer rolls around the pond is usually in bad shape again and hard to fish.

CONCLUSION Yerrabi Pond is a tricky fishery that requires a completely different approach to any other waterway I have visited. This isn’t a place for the novice kayak fisher and it’s tough to fish from a pedal yak due to the weed and shallow water. That said, if you’re up for a challenge and looking for something a little left field, Yerrabi Pond is certainly worth a look, especially now that the water has cooled and the weed has backed off a bit.

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Mercury’s 4.6 litre 4-strokes from 200 to 300HP FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

You will have read earlier in the year about the big Mercury launch Fishing Monthly attended in Miami, Florida. At that time, the American outboard giant released a naturally aspirated 4-stroke outboard platform with large capacity (3.4L), abundant mid-range torque and fantastic efficiency in a package whose looks divided customers. Some loved it and some were a little standoffish when asked what they thought about the futuristic design.

Fast forward a couple of months and it’s like déjà vu, only this time on the Gold Coast in Queensland and in conjunction with the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific region Mercury Dealer Conference.

Mercury were very serious about keeping this product under wraps until the 18 May embargo date. At the

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Top: If the AMS (Advanced Mid Section) of the Verado was made of glass, this is what you’d see - latest technology balancing to reduce noise, vibration and harshness and integrated power steering. All AMS is silver, so you can pick a Verado build from a mile away. Below: Here’s where the power is generated. The 4.6L V-8 builds upon the 3.4L platform with two extra cylinders in the 4-valves-per-cylinder, double overhead cam design. Importantly, there’s no service required for the life of the valve train, keeping costs down.

JUNE 2018

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1: At the initial launch of the modern design of the 3.4L in Florida, there was divided opinion about the styling.

Fast forward to the Aussie launch and everyone now loves the shape. But they love the performance even more. 2: Just like their smaller brothers, the new V-8 4-stroke Mercurys are available in black or white. Any of them with this silver mid section (called AMS or Advanced Mid Section) is a Verado iteration. These will replace the current 200-300HP L6 Verado line-up. 3: In the USA, saltwater boats usually run the white motors and the freshwater dudes choose the black. Both colours are available in the standard range and they all can be fitted with the custom colour panels, just like the V-6 3.4L models. 4: Usually, Mercury designs a motor and then beefs it up to become a commercial workhorse Sea Pro version. In the V-8 design process, Mercury started at the SeaPro and then worked down to the recreational models. This means that their DNA is tough! launch event for the dealers, mobile phones and cameras were banned!

Media were allowed a little more flexibility, but I wouldn’t want to be the guy who broke the official embargo date. So here’s some news that we’ve been sitting on for nearly a month!

Mercury have built upon – literally – their 3.4L platform and have now released an 8-cylinder version of the 6-cylinder technology.

Displacing 4.6L and massively lighter than the L6 Verado lineup, there was no reason to keep any of the original Verado 200-300HP engines in the range – as well as the entire direct injection OptiMax 2-stroke outboards. All of these will now cease to be available after stocks run out.

The same way the 3.4L killed the L4 Verados, this 4.6L platform has killed the

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have packed in more torque throughout the rev range, particularly in the mid-range, which is the part of the curve where you’re pushing your rig up and onto the plane.

On the dealer test day, everyone was talking about how, irrespective of the load carried, these motors threw the craft up and onto the plane.

Turning the capacity into horsepower is the four valveper-cylinder, dual overhead cam design. And as with all modern Mercury platforms, they are designed to require no valve train servicing for the life of the engine. That’s one of the main reasons that these four strokes will be cheaper to service than ever before.

VARIOUS VERSIONS On paper, there seems to be many iterations of the platform to suit all of the market segments that these motors will service.

VP of Sales, Randy Caruana, explained one of the differences in design.

“Previously, we’d created a platform and then derived a commercial

Now there’s a twin rig with a whopping 9.2L of displacement. This Southern Formula is right at home in its natural environment - the ocean. And at the dock, you can push a button on the VesselView and open an exhaust port to make these Verados sound just like the V-8s that they are. Boat porn excellence.

Pro XS isn’t just for bass boats. It’s for anyone who wants lighter weight, better hole shot and optimum performance at a small price premium.

bigger OptiMax and smaller L6 Verado outboards.

Forever.

Let’s take a few steps back, though, and recap the benefits of this platform, as it shares so much with its 3.4L siblings.

UNDER THE HOOD There’s a saying in boating – and in fact for most engines – “there’s no replacement for displacement”. By now, you’d have deduced that these V-8s have a 4.6L capacity.

How does that compare with the models they are making obsolete? Well, the 200-250HP OptiMax were a 3.0L engine and the supercharged Verados only 2.6L. Where you feel the difference is how the motor performs when you punch the throttle down – Mercury

grade SeaPro model for the commercial market. In this case, we designed the commercial motor first and then created the recreational derivatives,” he said.

The V-8 4.6L motors will be available in 250 and 300hp in a CMS (conventional mid section), or AMS (advanced mid section which will be the new Verados). The Pro XS models will span 175 to 300hp where the 175hp is a V-6 3.4L and 200, 225, 250 and 300 are the V-8 4.6L. The cool thing is that no matter whether you are re-powering from a OptiMax or Verado with cable, hydraulic or electro-hydraulic steering, all current versions of Mercury compatible steering will work with these motors.

Keeping your current steering

and SmartCraft gauges will help keep your repower costs down. A lot.

LIGHT WEIGHT One of the first questions on everyone’s lips after the unveiling was about weight.

To really be competitive in the smaller boat marketplace, it needed to be significantly lighter than the L6 Verados they were replacing.

stepped out of the boat with the same windswept smile.

“That guy knows how to drive a boat,” was usually followed by, “that torque just pushed me back into the seat.”

And these were experienced boat dealers.

EXCELLENT ECONOMY Kris himself admitted he was still getting used to the lack of weight on the transom

The V8 package is surprising light weight and compact. This 225 Pro XS weighs in at the same weight as the V6 it replaces. And it plugs straight into your current Mercury rigging - whether you run Verado or OptiMax.

Dealers in particular love the cowling access panel. You can check and fill the oil from here and also remove the cowling with a one-pull handle.

It beats hanging over the back of the boat if you’re trying to do this with the boat on-water.

The answer was greeted by silence and nodding of heads. The 4.6L weighs in exactly the same as the lightest of the motors it replaces. A 250 ProXS 4.6L weighs the same as an OptiMax 250 Pro XS at 229kg.

Wow. “We’ve had some of the professional bass anglers running these motors on Lake X in Florida recently and they all had just one question – ‘when can I get one?’” said the Mercury Professor, Robin Senger while detailing the performance advantages of the ProXS platform in his Fishing Monthly video interview (scan the QR code hereby on your smartphone to watch it).

A CMS 250 4.6L is a staggering 49kg lighter than an L6 Verado of the same horsepower.

That’s a performance increase equivalent to chucking a small adult (or large child) off the back of the boat - permanently.

IMPRESSIVE TORQUE When I was reporting on the 3.4L 175-225HP platform earlier in the year, I said that they “delivered the same hole shot and ‘sit down’ style punch in the 2,000 – 4,000rpm range that makes you smile and giggle.”

Well, add another 1.2L of displacement for an extra 14kg of weight and it only strengthened my opinion.

Interviewing dealers who were taken on a ride by Kris ‘Captain Risky’ Hickson in a 225HP Pro XS version on his 19ft bass boat, unanimously

but marvelled at the economy improvements over his current Verado Pro 225.

“I’d use around 113 litres per hour at wide open throttle, but I’d struggle to use over 80 with this motor,”

interviews by scanning the QR codes on this page.

AMS, ASC, ARO If you’re researching this new motor platform, there’s a few acronyms that you’ll need to know. Lots of it is the same technology that we reported on in the 3.4L, but let’s recap.

ASC: Adaptive Speed Control. This is a paradigm shift where the throttle governs the RPM of the engine rather than the amount of fuel delivered. It means that if you set it to 3,000 rpm, it’ll automatically add or subtract throttle to keep the motor at 3,000 rpm.

When you turn a corner, you usually have to add throttle yourself to keep revs high. ASC does this for you and improved the driving experience.

AMS: Advanced Mid Section. This is the part of the outboard between the powerhead and the gearbox.

Do you love it or hate the look of it? Starting down a 4.6L V-8 ProXS in the wild.

Kris remarked.

He went on to mention that the lack of weight in the rear end meant that he could now fish shallower water and access areas that he’d been unable to with the L6 Verado.

Al McGlashan had similar feedback. He’s been running a pre-production V-8 for a little while now and has spent more time running them than anyone else on the test day.

“I’m excited by the extra range that I get. This motor uses 20% less fuel than my L6 Verado and to me, that means that I can go father with less pain at the fuel pump.

Watch out New Zealand,” he exclaimed.

You can see both of their

SOUNDS LIKE A V-8 Lastly, I’m sure that you’re wondering if these motors actually sound like a V-8?

Well, they do and they don’t. Apart from the mean, V-8-sounding Pro XS versions, the exhaust is geared for quietness over turning heads at the ramp.

But if you have a Verado version, there’s a sneaky button that you can push on your Vessel View that opens one of the exhaust ports and most definitely created that distinctive V-8 tone.

That will turn heads… and it automatically kicks back into ‘quiet mode’ at a pre-set rpm.

It’s audio-bling at the push of a button.

Gun ABT angler, Kris Hickson from Manning River Marine, wore a 4.6L for the launch week. I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t want to take it off. The Pro XS weighs the same as the OptiMax model it replaces and a whopping 60kg less then the L6 Verado that he usually runs. He also reported over 20% less fuel used at WOT. AMS is what turned a supercharged 2.6L Verado into a smooth, whisperquiet outboard.

AMS in all of the 4.6L outboards is silver. Whether the motor is black or white, a silver mid section means that it’s a Verado. And it means that the noise, vibration and harshness of the powerplant is at a minimum.

ARO: Advanced Range Optimisation. Mercury’s Chief Technology Officer, David Foulkes, explained this to me in Florida at the 3.4L launch.

“Basically we have an algorithm that works out which area of the rpm versus engine load we could change for the benefit of fuel economy, and we wanted to apply that in as wide a range as we possible can so that you get the biggest benefit,” David explained.

“The secret is, however, to be able to switch between

the standard mode and a leaner air-fuel mixture mode and for the customer to never know that they’ve made the switch. We’ve patented a series of algorithms to make that customer experience exceptional.”

It means that these motors share the exceptional fuel economy of the 3.4L platform.

SNEAKY COWL HATCH How’s this for unique?

The ability to remove a cowling with a handle and a single unlatch point is innovative. Add to that a point to check and fill the oil under the same lid and you have a point of difference that users will really appreciate.

Owners of the V-8s will share this ability and the inspection hatch is on all models in the platform.

AVAILABILITY Released after the 3.4L platform, expect these engines to be in-country from July onwards. Demand will obviously be high initially, so Mercury’s Nicholas Webb gave some advice to customers who want the latest technology first.

“Put an order in with your Mercury dealer as soon as you can. Supply will improve over time, but your Mercury dealer is the key to earlier supply,” Nicholas said.

So how did I enjoy my first V-8 motor launch experience? Fantastic! It’s an exciting time to be involved in the industry with lighter, faster, quieter and more technically advanced motors than ever before.

As a customer, it doesn’t get any better than that.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

Steve Morgan tests the new Mercury 4.6 litre V-8s at the Australian dealer and media launch on the Gold Coast.

Al McGlashan has put more hours on the new V-8 than any other Australian media after running one in secret recently. Hear his views on the motor here.

“Professor Mercury”, Robin Senger, explains the differences between a standard mercury 4.6L 4-stroke and the Pro XS platform.

It wouldn’t be a V-8 Pro XS if Kris Hickson wasn’t running one. Hear what ‘Captain Risky’ thinks about his time in charge of the 225 Pro XS. JUNE 2018

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It’s a widespread revolution at Stacer Boats BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Stacer Boats have recently seen a revolution at their huge factory, with the alloy manufacturer pulling the covers off a brand new hull design for the 2018 model year.

Coinciding with the release of their Revolution hull design, this progressive Gold Coast company has also reduced the number of models in their 2018 range of boats, which is in many respects a revolution in itself! Whereas some manufacturers strive to increase their presence, Stacer have consolidated

2018 has also seen construction now centring around plate, like smoothed side sheets, with increased bottom and side sheet thickness and fully welded side decks being standard fare within the range. Smoothed (pressings free) side sheets are the modern way of catching the buyer’s eye, and let’s face it – those smooth side sections

The Assault Pro irons out a bit of wind chop. Hold onto your hat! based rigs (along with other newly-upgraded Stacer craft). As luck would have it, the day was a shocker.

There were strong winds and frequent rain squalls –

One thing that did brighten up an otherwise soggy time on the sea was the sheer capability of the craft we had at our disposal. From the little Territory 389 right

blew the rain in under the canopies anyway.

That aside, the sheer enjoyment of driving different boats, assessing handling and performance –

A rainy and bleak day failed to dampen the enjoyment of the Stacer small craft line-up, seen here on the beach at Southport.

In a nutshell, Stacer’s Revolution hull has combined the best features from the maker’s acclaimed Barra and Assault Pro craft, and the company is claiming enhanced performance, increased stability plus other desirable features. The new hull features a more concave

their models to simplify customer choice as well as make life easier for dealers to maintain readily identified yet quite distinct craft in their yards.

Some examples of range consolidation include Stacer’s Crossfire and Nomad, which are now

simply beg for colourful wraps to bring on the bling.

The enhanced 3mm minimum bottom and sides ensure extra rigidity and overall strength, while fully welded side decks conveniently eliminate any gaps along gunwales and top side decks.

The Crossfire range featured the new Revolution hull, and there were plenty of smiles from those aboard the 469, despite the rain. the kind of weather that has you scrambling for your rain jacket. Those attendees who hadn’t brought one just had to grin and bear it. With people coming from as far away as South Australia, the show had to go on, so it was all aboard.

up to the feisty 529 Assault Pro Tournament, with its all grunt 150 Evinrude G2 150, there was fun for all.

A couple of the Stacers with biminis were understandably popular, although it didn’t really matter as the wind

often with near maximum loads aboard – cut through the gloom with ease.

THE 2018 RANGE Territory Stacer’s Territory, which comes in 349, 369 and 389 sizes, remains the maker’s

The 389 Territory with its Striker hull retains the title of Stacer’s ideal car topper. It drives and rides beyond expectations. bottom section, and pressing techniques carried over from the well established Evo hull range which ensure inherent strength. There’s also the addition of a raised chine line.

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offered simply as a newly designed Crossfire; the Seaway and Bay Master, now called the Sea Master; and the Nomad Ranger and Sea Ranger, which have become the Sea Ranger.

ON THE WATER WITH THE 2018 STACER RANGE Stacer arranged a date for boating press reps like myself to inspect and drive some of the new Revolution-

A glance at the well-proportioned Stacer Sea Master 499 reveals the depth of sides, rubber gunwale tops and nice lines.

cartopper of choice. This year’s models are 160mm deeper, 90mm wider and have welded seats and a steeper deadrise. The timeproven Striker hull remains the build format for the Territory. The bigger 389 model is rated for engines up to 30hp so there’s some performance there as well.

Crossfire In sizes 469, 499, 519, 539 and 569, the new hull shape is a great upgrade for this family fishing favourite.

Standard across the board are increased freeboard, alloy live well with glass window, welded side decks, scupper drainage system, underfloor storage, and

through dash and a flat panel dash section with lip on some models. A factory-fitted drum winch is a popular option for the new Sea Master range.

Wild Rider An entirely new model, the Wild Rider has replaced the Easy Rider range with 499, 519, 539, 589 and 619 sizes now standard. As these

Many of the features in Stacer’s 2018 range can be seen in this shot of the Wild Rider 539 at rest. Note the full height transom, high sides offering plenty of freeboard, and the great proportions of this rig as a whole.

The Wild Rider 619 proved to be a bowrider with bite; there’s 200 horses on the transom there.

Assault Pro The Assault Pro Tournament is the big news in Stacer’s competition-style craft. These rigs feature the new Revolution style hull along with options for dual consoles and expanded live wells (80L), as well as over 30 other options!

Sizes are from 469/509/529 to suit any budget. All come with a 50L live well, rod lockers, extendable front and rear cast platforms, lockable

options for side or centre console drive systems. Drum winches are offered for all versions, including the new fishing iteration, called the CrossFisher. This model sports a raised front platform with space for a 100L icebox under it, a lockable rod locker and extra large transom.

Sea Master In sizes 429, 449, 469, 499 and 519, the new Revolution hull is also standard in this handy-sized runabout with its bucket

are larger craft, the option list is also expanded to take in over 50 different items.

The seven person 619 I drove was equipped with a bimini and envelope which were, fortunately, now standard along with the Revo hull, a drop nose, very smooth rolled side decks, fully welded sheets, 3mm topsides, 4mm bottoms, and concealed anchor well under the bowrider front cushioning. It also has increased underfloor storage

transom, the Wild Rider was a bowrider with bite, being seriously fast and just plain fun to drive.

Sea Ranger The Sea Ranger stays with the Evo Advance hull but now offers buyers additional sizes. In the side console range there are 499, 529 and 559 models, with

With over 40 items on the options list, the Sea Ranger is a serious offshore rig with credentials to match.

Ocean Ranger These are the big hitters in the Stacer range of offshore craft. The are available in both soft top, hard top and centre cab styles, with all three variants gracing the

station with enclosed storage is also a useful option.

All Ocean Rangers feature self-draining floors – a useful feature for offshore work and the clean-up afterwards.

SUMMING UP So that’s the rundown on the new Stacer lineup. In many respects it is

With the rain temporarily eased off it was time to open the 150 Gen2 E-Tec’s taps to see what the Assault Pro could do.

Stacer’s range of Revolution-based rigs exhibit higher and flatter sides, along with bucket loads of bling. hatches and standard thruster brackets.

The 520 Assault Pro was a big favourite on the press day, with the 150 H.O. Evinrude G2 E-Tec really turning heads and treating the occupants to some eye-watering, high speed rain in the face!

pedestal seats up front, and wide bench aft. Sea Masters all feature the standard smooth sides, along with 3mm topsides, rubber gunwale extremities, welded side decks, carpeted floor, storage under the floor as well as under the dash, and a stainless ladder aft. There’s also a step-

space. This big bow rider pretty much has the lot, with everything from a sound system to a recessed ski locker. An optional Angler Pack provides a live well and an aft seating set-up that converts into a useful casting platform. With a 200 Evinrude G2 on the

centre console rigs available in 499, 529, 559, 659 and 709 sizes. New standard features are 4mm bottom and sides on the 449-559 models, 5mm bottoms, 4mm sides on 659-709 with fully welded floors and casting platforms also standard. A self-draining floor with scuppers makes sense on an offshore rig of this quality, as does a raised front cast platform able to conceal a 100L icebox. The Sea Ranger’s big kill tank drains straight overboard, which is useful, and welded rod holders come standard.

There’s also a glass-sided live well along with big cockpit side pockets.

boat yards in 589, 609, 659, 709 and 759 sizes.

Interestingly, all cabins are the same size in all models. These Stacers also come with a strike chair with swivel backrest, swept gunwale, windscreen wipers, optional electric toilet and over 30 other options. It was good to note that the hard top features carpet lining overhead.

An Expedition Version (709/759) is part of the package, and these are built with extended hard tops over enlarged cabins with lockable doors, electric toilets, plus a bow mount plate up front. An aft bait

indeed a revolution, with the introduction of a brand new hull and a swag of new features across the range, from the smallest car toppers right through to the largest of their offshore trailer boats. Unfortunately, press days are always busy events, and between dodging rain squalls and moving between boats for assessment, it wasn’t possible to compile enough notes and photos for a thorough report on any one rig. However, I’m looking forward to reviewing some selected models from Stacer’s new range later this year.

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Double your fun by doubling up your kayak BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I affectionately refer to my adventurous parents as the ‘Grey Nomads.’ They travel, fish, camp, 4WD and even in their 70s can regularly be found kayak fishing the rivers and

about fitting out the kayaks for SA. I thought, ‘Here we go…’ The rest, as they say, is history.

So, the plan was to join two kayaks together to make a larger craft and here’s why: my folks had previously travelled to SA caravanning and kayaking with Dad’s brother Neville and his wife Michelle, the four of them

offering additional stability and structure, should they actually get up close and personal with one of the local sharks.

At first I wasn’t too keen about them building a craft to take on the sharks, however I then thought the chances of them actually coming face to face with jaws were pretty minimal, while the project

The boys were all smiles when their combined kayak setup proved successful on the water.

A feed of blue swimmer crabs in the rear well after a successful mission. estuaries. My dad (Ron) is also a bit of a tinkerer.

He added a hoist to one of their vehicles to lift their kayaks onto the roof, rails to the rear of his kayak along with an electric motor and steering system,

paddling Malibu Mini-X kayaks. During a couple of their paddle adventures they came across sharks, including one larger specimen, without incident but enough to open their eyes to the presence of these apex predators.

would be fun and they would end up with a cool platform to fish and crab from, if we could come up with a suitable design. Dad and Nev decided to join their kayaks together as they would be venturing further in search

struts across the kayaks – one mounted in front of the paddler’s feet and a second one mounted behind the seat.

Although they wouldn’t be venturing into rough waters, the system for joining the kayaks had to be solid and sturdy, so as not to fail or damage the kayaks, while also being simple and relatively quick to install, lightweight and manageable.

Dad came up with two perfect struts from his shed – nicknamed the ‘shed of death’ because there’s so much treasure (junk) stacked up to the ceiling in there – and we were underway. The struts were actually a couple of lengths of aluminium channel that were left over from when they had solar panels mounted on the roof of their house and they were perfect. Tick that off the build list.

When it comes to mounting items on the kayak, my go-to mounts and accessories are without

doubt Railblaza, so I went and had a dig in my Railblaza crate in the shed, coming up with a StarPort HD mount.

This mount is lightweight, solid, secure, and it mounts

version of the Mini-X kayak has both the luxury of plenty of flat surface space for mounts, as well as access for mounting via a front and rear hatch.

The Railblaza StarPort HD is a solid mount option with an ingenious and simple star insert and sliding lock system. across a larger area than the standard StarPort with four bolts rather than two.

This would be rock solid once fixed in place on the kayak, and the fishing

These are important things to consider when mounting accessories on your kayak: do I have a suitable mounting location?

Can I access the area for

The front strut also created a storage platform for the crab nets, making more room for the pilots. and numerous other mechanical and electronic additions. When I visited them prior to their recent South Australia caravan and kayak adventure, my dad said he had an idea 94

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Dad’s theory was that if they join two kayaks together for crabbing and fishing it would give them the added security of a larger profile in the water, making them less attractive, while also

of blue swimmer crabs. We figured that both kayaks being the same model should make joining them together simpler, so we used Dad’s as a reference point and nutted out a basic plan with two

It all looked solid during the initial assembly at home prior to the adventure.

mounting? Will it interfere with my paddle or pedal stroke and will it interfere when transporting and storing the kayak?

After a quick call to Jason at Viking Kayaks on the Sunshine Coast I had

Job done, these arrived by courier and I passed them onto dad, hoping they would be suitable.

It didn’t take long until the mounts were on the kayaks, the Attachment Adaptors were mounted onto the two

The Railblaza StarPort HD is a solid mounting point on the kayak. eight StarPort HD mounts ordered (Part #03-4046-11) – two for the front and two for the rear of each kayak, along with eight Attachment

aluminium struts and the two kayaks had effectively become one super-stable, larger watercraft for fishing, crabbing and exploring. I

or closed, then removing or adding the two lightweight but sturdy aluminium struts – a success. We farewelled the Grey Nomads and looked forward to hearing how the double kayak went once they returned.

South Australia is a great place to visit and fish with plenty of kayak-friendly, sheltered waters, unpressured fisheries and shallow, clean waterways. There’s also the snook, KG whiting, salmon, snapper, squid, blue swimmer crabs, razor shells, oysters and plenty more.

Favourite destinations along the way for my folks include Coffin Bay, Streaky Bay and, the location where the double yak had plenty of use, Smoky Bay. The boys said everything went to plan with the double yak and it was almost too smooth. They wheeled their kayaks to the water, with the aluminium struts simply laying in the kayak,

Batteries for the electric motors are stowed in the centre hatches and there’s storage for the crab nets on the front strut. the locking switch to lock them in place – ready to adventure.

The test drive went well and the craft was stable. The boys found that they had plenty of working space with the ability to stack their crab nets on the front strut that joined the kayaks. The two motors, one Watersnake 18lb and one Watersnake 24lb, pushed the craft along at a fast walking pace and Dad said one motor would have effectively done the job if the currents weren’t too strong.

With crab nets set, the boys had some fun cruising and enjoying the stability of the craft.

When it came time to check the crab nets the boys realised that they again had the benefit of increased working area and stability, while also having two sets of hands at the ready

A tasty feed of blue swimmer crabs, destined for sandwiches, Mornay and seafood pizzas. with the squid that the ladies had landed while they were chasing crabs.

A kayak fit-out idea had become a reality, from the idea phase through the planning stages, the

spend some time exploring what is available from kayak specialists and hardware stores, and spend some time planning your fit-out. The old saying always rings in my ears when I start a fit-out

The struts are attached to Ron’s kayak via four mounts, then Nev’s was simply floated under and attached via his four mounts.

Adaptors (Part #02-404311); this ingenious little star locks into the mount and can be added to almost anything you want to attach to your kayak using a StarPort mount.

was pretty impressed with the old bloke’s handiwork.

The two kayaks could be separated or joined in minutes by simply sliding the locks on the eight mounts open

launched, attached the struts to one kayak, floated the other kayak under the struts, put the Attachment Adaptors into the StarPort HD mounts on the second kayak and slid

Michelle landing a nice squid – they were another target species on this adventure.

And they’re off! It was a good day to take the double for a test cruise.

to sort the crabs and the crabbing equipment. The quality crabbing continued from their previous South Australia adventures, with a couple dozen crabs for the session and plans for crab sandwiches, crab mornay and seafood pizzas, along

construction and finally the field testing. There are so many accessories you can add and fit-out options for your kayak, from seats, coolers, sounders, anchor running rigs and rod holders to sails, outriggers, lighting and even bimini tops. Remember to

project: measure twice, cut or drill once!

If you keep these few things in mind when planning and implementing fit-out projects, the projects can be almost as fun as getting the kayak on the water to chase a few fish… almost.

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Clark 520 Legend SC with 115 Suzuki 4-stroke - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Overall Length... 5.38m Beam.................. 1.35m Depth................. 1.06m Hull weight........ 560kg Min hp.................. 70hp Max hp................115hp Bottom and sides.3mm Max people............. Six FIRST IMPRESSION The 520 Legend really gives the feeling of being bigger than it is. The cockpit area is wide and open, with high gunwales and grab rails.

The skipper’s seat and console are roomy, with the console providing a reasonable amount of space for gauges and switches as well as room to mount a good-sized sounder.

The forward casting deck is 96

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The Clarke 520 Legend was launched at the 2017 Melbourne Boat Show and has proven to be a very popular addition to their range. We have wanted to test one for a while, but sales have been so strong that it has taken us up until now to find one available to review.

The range of Clark Boats available on this year’s boat show circuit will have the 520 Legend the headline act.

This is the largest of the Clark boats we have tested for the magazines, as the majority of boats tested in the past have been focused on fishing in our estuaries, lakes and rivers. The 520 Legend offers a greater range of opportunities for fishing and recreational boating.

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3.6km/L of fuel burned – that’s nearly 400km out of the boat’s 110L fuel tank and plenty for any day’s fishing!

At the end of the test, Mark Frost volunteered to have a ski behind the boat (the outside temperature was nice, but the water temperature had

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package is likely to be doing a fair bit of travelling – the dual axle trailer provides better highway towing. It was also set up to be launched and retrieved by one person if necessary, and on the day we drove the boat on and off the trailer with ease.

PERFORMANCE

Main: The Clark 520 Legend SC was a pleasure to drive. It really shows what a well-matched hull and outboard can offer.

Above: Aimed first and foremost at the sportfishing market, Mark Frost shows here how stable a platform the boat is for casting lures. also a good size and has a huge amount of storage beneath it.

If there were a single word to describe it, that word would be ‘uncluttered.’ This space and a solid hull design are the base of what proved to be a very nice boat to test.

VERSATILITY EQUALS OPTIONS The Legend is definitely targeted at the sportfishing market. The large forward casting deck, option to put an electric motor on the bow and excellent stability at rest all make it a great platform to cast lures from. Add to that a livewell and plenty of storage for your gear, and you have a boat where 2-3 anglers can comfortably terrorise all the fish in a location like Lake Mulwala, where we did this test.

From a fishing perspective, the additional option with the higher gunwales and width of the hull mean fishing bays and even open waters is possible in the right weather. The bait board, rod holders, cockpit space and live bait tank at the stern of the boat make soaking a bait or swimming a livey feasible.

From a family perspective, fishing is not the only option.

The bait board is removable and can be replaced with a ski pole, so you can spend a few hours fishing and then tow the kids around on a tube or water ski, depending on their age. To swap the board and pole is simple and takes less than a couple of minutes.

Towing an adult is also no issue, depending on the motor you match with the hull.

RIDE AND PERFORMANCE The test boat had a Suzuki 115hp 4-stroke outboard on the back of it, which is the maximum horsepower for the 520. Simon from Boats and More explained to me that they had sold a number of packages with a 90hp and they had performed well, but running the maximum horsepower opens up the full range of options of the hull. He also mentioned that you could upgrade the 3mm bottom sheet to 4mm plate and increase the rating to 150hp.

Driving this boat is an absolute pleasure. The transition from at rest to on the plane and full power

was smooth and effortless.

Minimal trim was required to get to the sweet spot for maximum output and steering.

Sharp cornering and turning at speed were done easily.

It really shows what a wellmatched hull and outboard offer. The maximum speed achieved during testing was 66km/h, with the most economical cruising range at 3500 revs. At this rpm the package achieved 37km/h at

RPM......Speed (km/h)............Economy (km/L) Idle (850)...................3.................................. 3.4 1000..........................7.................................. 4.5 2000........................ 11.................................. 2.6 3000........................ 16.................................. 1.7 4000........................ 42.................................. 2.8 5000........................ 54.................................. 2.0 WOT (6000)............. 66.................................. 1.7 a little chill to it). Within five minutes we went from fishing to skiing, and again the motor and hull did this easily.

LAUNCH AND RETRIEVE Boats and More had the 520 Legend set up on a dual axle Alloy Series Dunbier trailer. A dual axle trailer is not a necessity for this hull, however – keeping in mind that a person buying this

The versatility of the 520 means you can fish in the morning and ski in the afternoon.

Always tell your dealer what your needs will be when it comes to towing, launching and retrieving. They will know the best option, like in this case; a slightly upgraded trailer provides hassle-free travel and makes it easy to get your boat on and off the water.

CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF It’s hard not to be impressed by the Clark 520 Legend SC. It’s a combination of multiple use options: it’s family-friendly, fishing-friendly, ski-friendly, tows well and is a fabulous boat to drive with good economy. If I was going to ask anything, I would like to see some fishing rod storage, as most anglers tend to have multiple rods. Some storage out of the way would make the Legend even better than it already is.

As tested, the 520 came in at $52,490. The starting price is $36,990 with a smaller outboard. You can find and contact your local dealer by visiting www.clarkboats.com. au. Ask them for a test drive – you will enjoy the experience.

The Clark package was on a Dunbier Alloy Series trailer. This trailer upgrade offers great towing and an easy launch and retrieve.

The transition of power of the 115hp Suzuki was smooth and effortless.

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The forward casting deck has a huge amount of storage, as well as a large livewell.

There are two side pockets to store all those things you need to get your hands on quickly.

A great feature of the Clark 520 Legend is that the bait board can be removed if not in use, or replaced with a ski pole for a bit of family fun.

The nose of the 520 has a self-draining anchor well and a plate to install an electric motor.

The cockpit of the 520 has plenty of space and multiple seating positions.

There is a live bait tank in the transom if live bait fishing is something you enjoy.

The console is large enough to hold all your switches and gauges, and to mount a reasonably sized sounder.

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Bar Crusher 575C vs 615C, which is best for you? *Manipulated image

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and want a cheaper (by around $10K) rig that’s a little easier to launch, store and handle by yourself, then the 575 may be the rig for you.

If you like to travel more to fish and do it with a couple of mates and want a bigger tank that translates to more range, then the 615 will offer all of these benefits, and it’s

DIFFERENCE TABLE Main: Definitely not the natural environment for a pair of tough-as-nails Bar Crushers, but even a thoroughbred needs a little bit of quiet paddock time, right?

Above: All Bar Crusher hulls feature their unique water ballast system that fills while the craft is at rest and empties quickly as the boat takes off, giving the best of both worlds – stability and performance with minimal beam. through its water ballast system. Both of these boats feature Bar Crusher’s Gen 2 hull design with incorporated water ballast system.

Overall, the Bar Crusher hulls are a little narrower than most hulls for their length, which explains their sea legs. At rest, the water ballast fills up and sinks the

chines deeper in the water, giving the hull greater stability.

When you take off, the water virtually instantly runs out the back of the cavity, vented through the anchor well. It’s a neat system that’s stood the test of time.

“The length beam equation in a bit of a dark

Feature Length: Beam: Material: Trailer: BMT weight: Internal gunwale height: Height on trailer: Horsepower: Price: Top Speed: Best economy: Theoretical range: Price: that are options on most other brands.

“These boats come with a bait board, boarding ladder, through transom door, bilge pump, twin batteries, live bait tank, hard top roof,

575C

The 615 is 10cm wider than the 575 and offers an extra 5cm of internal gunwale height.

Doesn’t sound like much but it makes a difference, especially offshore.

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We recently had the opportunity to test a couple of Bar Crushers out on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne; the 5.75m and 6.15m Cabin versions that are incredibly popular rigs in the Bar Crusher range.

Instead of presenting a couple of very similar boat tests, we thought it’d be a great opportunity to look at the similarities and differences in these two rigs to help you make the decision about which one is the best for your fishing and boating needs.

And although there’s only a legal snapper-anda-half difference in length between these boats, it equates to a lot more than you’d think by the time the boats are on a trailer and ready to fish.

BAR CRUSHER 101 Bar Crusher is a Melbourne-made boat that’s famous for its build quality, finish and stability at rest

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clears and a rocket launcher,” said Matt, “You only need to choose your electronics like sounder, radio and maybe an anchor winch to complete the package.”

WHAT DO WE RECKON? After looking at the differences between these two rigs, there’s a couple of conclusions that

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art that I think we’ve got pretty much right for both these hulls,” said Bar Crusher’s Sales Manager, Matt Urzia, who is much more comfortable 10ft above the water off the back of a wave than he is in front of a camera.

Matt also outlines the standard feature list in these boats, which includes many

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575C 5.75m 2.15m 4mm bottom/3mm sides Single axle for local trips 1360kg 730mm 2.15m 115hp from mid-$50K 62km/h@6,000rpm 2.6km/L@4,400rpm 280km from mid-$50K we’ve come to.

Firstly, these rigs’ standard inclusions are, indeed, very generous and the fact that they’re matched with locally made Easytow trailers means that Bar Crusher will ensure that the cradle is suitable for the hull.

Urzia also says that if you want a single axle or twin axle on either rig, that’s legal and achievable.

So, you’d opt for a twin axle if you’re doing a lot of highway miles; or, a single if you need manoeuvrability or use your boat locally most of the time.

We’re particularly impressed with the cleverness of the fold-down hard top and windscreen that allows you to fit these boats in most garages.

If you usually fish with one to two anglers, locally,

615C 6.15m 2.25m 4mm bottom/4mm sides twin axle for longer trips 1500kg 780mm 2.20m 140hp (max. 150hp) from mid-$60K 60km/h@6,000rpm 2.7km/L@3800rpm 370km from mid-$60K price tag justifies the extra abilities.

It’s a simple conclusion and definitely stands up to the ‘boat ramp test’, which is the nautical version of the ‘pub test’.

Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy the features and never break these Aussiebuilt tanks of boats. Make sure that you watch the video review of this comparison on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel - you can do it on your smartphone by scanning the QR code hereby.

For more information, visit www.barcrusher.com. au or talk to the guys at the Melbourne Boat Show.

They’ll have everything you need at both of these places to help decide which is the best Bar Crusher for you in their range.

615C

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You’d think that the 140hp was faster than the 115hp? Wrong. The 575 was a little bit faster than the 615 at WOT, even if slightly less economical.

Although both models can be fitted on single or twin-axle Easytow trailers, there’s a good case for twin axle for long trips and a single axle for local journeys. Single axles can also be manoeuvred around easily in a tight garage.

Interestingly the 140hp Suzuki delivered marginally better fuel economy than the 115hp on the 575.

Erected, the folding hard roof/top offers rod storage and shade. The 575 folds down to 2.15m while the 615 is 2.20m high when folded down.

Both the windscreen and folding hard roof/top folds down on both models and there’s ample space to flush mount electronics of your choice.

Both models feature an enclosed cabin with bunks for overnight comfort. The 615’s wider beam gives it a little more space.

Bait boards are options on most boats on the market. On the Bar Crushers in this size range, they are standard.

Plumbed livewells and transom doors are also Bar Crusher Standard. Take this into account when comparing boats of different brands.

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A NEW ERA in FourStroke

The All New Mercury V-8 & V-6 175-300hp FourStroke Range The new era of revolutionary Mercury FourStrokes deliver unprecedented performance, reliability and efficiency, never before imagined in an outboard.

Mercury’s advanced design and engineering delivers best in class performance, with superior torque and faster acceleration in a smooth, compact, quiet and fuel-efficient package.

With features previously not seen in an outboard including Advanced Range Optimisation (ARO), Transient Spark Technology, Adaptive Speed Control and Idle-Charge battery-management.

The all new range of Mercury V-8 4.6L and V-6 3.4L 175-300hp are the only choice when considering high horsepower outboards.

All round excellence. A performer in every situation.

mercurymarine.com.au