NSW Fishing Monthly May 2018 by Fishing Monthly

MAY THE FISH BE WITH YOU!

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Fishing rocks and beaches Kayaking for bass in winter

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MAY 2018, Vol. 23 No. 10

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 29 Ballina 30 Yamba 32 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 34 Coffs Game 35 Nambucca 36 South West Rocks 37 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 38 Forster 40 Harrington-Taree 41 HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 42 Hunter Coast 43 Erina 45 Swansea 44 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 14 Sydney North 16 Pittwater 18 Sydney Harbour 20 Botany Bay 22 Sydney Rock and Beach 24 Sydney South 23 Western Sydney 25 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 46 Nowra 47 BATEMANS COAST Batemans Bay 48 Narooma 50 Merimbula 55

From the Editor’s Desk... DODGING BULLETS ON MARINE PARKS It’s been a busy month behind the scenes of fishing. The big story was that recreational fishing dodged a pretty big bullet with the passage of the latest Marine Parks plan from the government. In the opinion of Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA), Australian Recreational Fishing Federation (ARFF) the Game Fishing Association (GFAA) and even the Seafood Industry Association (SIA), the government’s plans for federal marine parks were balanced. They provide a great compromise between keeping fishing and seafood industries alive, while preserving areas for conservation. Heck, the associations even got together to co-operatively launch a press release telling the

politicians that they thought this. You don’t often see recreational anglers and commercials working together like that. The opposition tried to get the legislation thrown out by moving a disallowance motion. Luckily the government and every single

way, there’d be great swaths of the ocean tied up, never to be sensibly enjoyed again. Like deadly asteroids passing close to the earth, sometimes bad outcomes are closer to becoming reality than you may think. For that, I thank the dedicated volunteers who

crossbencher voted against it, and the sensible plan is a step closer to reality. A lot of this happens behind closed doors, but at the end of the day, it really does affect how and where you can go fishing. If the Labour/Greens had their

work behind the scenes to make sure that our businesses and pastimes are protected. To the Col Tannahills (President of AFTA) and the Brett Clearys (President of ARFF) of the world, we thank you for your hard work behind the scenes to

make sure that I can keep going fishing. To the government, thank you for letting common sense prevail and for listening to the user groups who actually spend time on the water, rather than just battling for the wilderness from behind a keyboard. And to the anglers of Australia, thank you for doing what you do, for buying licences and for being a force to be reckoned with when serious issues arise. There’s not a sane polly alive who’s not scared of a cranky fishing sector against them at election time. Want to play a small part? Like the ‘Keep Australia Fishing’ page on Facebook, and when there’s a call to action, become a keyboard warrior yourself. It’s the only way we will win the war on our sport.

EDEN COAST Bermagui 52 Tathra 52 Eden 53 Mallacoota 53

Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Cordelia Adams Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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Rocking around the beaches and headlands FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

There is little doubt that Australia is the lucky country. We benefit from a comparatively low population, yet have a diverse coastline stretching more than 25,700km. In NSW the seascape changes from high cliffs

temperature, which may also determine the particular food source the fish depend on for existence. Like any scenario, the middle ground is where you will find the greatest diversity of species, and this is where the greatest seasonal overlaps occur. The Mid Coast of NSW from Seal Rocks to Coffs Harbour is as vast as the species that live and visit the area. While offshore can

of the year for the beach and rock angler. The seasonal spawning run of mullet, bream and luderick is underway, and with it come the shadowing predators like sharks, pelagics and mulloway. LIVE BAITING Early autumn draws an incredible concentrated effort by anglers for pelagics. Longtail tuna, cobia, mackerel tuna and Spanish

When you see mullet cruising the beach through autumn and winter, close to shore, it’s time to get the mulloway gear out. and deep water in the south, to shallow fingers of rocks and broken reef around the Mid Coast. The common feature that extends around the entire coastline is the connection of headlands by golden strips of sand, interrupted only by coves, bays and entrances to estuaries. These coastal fringes also support a transition of angling species with seasonal overlaps, and species uniquely adapted to certain areas. The distribution range of species is often regulated by water

offer incredible fishing, it is the rock and beach fishing that attracts many anglers to the area at various times of the year. The autumn to winter transition is perhaps the most productive period BAITS Cooked prawns Live beach worms Cunjevoi Crabs Whole fish Fish fillets Yabbies Ganged pilchards Ganged garfish Ganged whole squid

mackerel all figure in the pursuits of the land-based game anglers that travel hundreds of kilometres to the local ledges. Shoals of garfish flood down the coast with the currents, followed by the HOOKS Mustad 542 1/0 and 2/0 Owner SSW 5111 for groper and pigs. Owner 1/0 SSW 5111 for bream, and 3 ganged 3/0 Mustad 4-202s for tailor and salmon.

cobia and longtails. From April to the end of May, it is not unusual to spin or live bait Spanish mackerel from the rocks. Each year the offshore spotty and Spanish mackerel fishery seems to get better and last a little longer, and this can be a bonanza for the dedicated rock anglers. The staple targets are certainly the cobia or longtail tuna, but with the pelagic fish come the sharks that ruin trophy fish and devastate anglers. Any headland that stretches to deeper water is worth a look and Charlottes Head (Seagull), Bennetts Head or Cape Hawke all come into play. Anglers who fish the rock and beach fringes generally do it to take a feed home. Whether it is fresh tailor from a gutter on the beach or a few rock blackfish from under a rocky wash, there is something for every taste. Except for tailor and mulloway, the majority of species are best targeted on a variety of bait, both bought and collected around the area you intend to fish. BEACH FISHING Beach fishing has a charm all its own, and having a stretch of beach to yourself is something special. The comfort of fishing in relative LURES Cordell Pencil Popper Gulp 7” Jerkshad on 1oz jighead 50 to 65g metal slugs safety from the soft sand, watching the sunrise and catching the early morning tailor bite is something many thrive on. The variety of species available changes with the sunrise, but can make a few hours on the beach very productive. Throwing metal lures to the back of a gutter or waves is

Tailor from the rocks or the beach are fun and good eating fresh. the easiest way to prospect for the tailor and salmon that haunt the autumn waters. Finding gutters to fish may take a bit of investigation, usually a day or so. If you have indulged yourself and have a drone, you can check a lot of potential gutters along the beach from the carpark. I find it generally sufficient to go straight up and just look along the beach from the high vantage point. Alternatively, if you don’t have sufficient time to do the leg work, or flight time, you can fish the transition from beach to rocks where there will be current and sufficient calm water to cast a lure or bait. This area attracts the bait, depending on the

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MAY 2018

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Targeted or by-catch, the blue groper has strict possession and size limits that you do need to be aware of.

direction of the swell, by creating an eddy. A pilchard or garfish rigged on a 3-4 hook ganged rig with a short trace to a sliding ball sinker may be old school fishing, but that’s because it works a treat and TIDES A rising tide is always the best option. Whether it is a predusk fish for mulloway on the beach or a midday pig fish, the rising tide provides a greater water depth and access for the fish to the intertidal zone. New and full moon periods will provide the greatest variation in depths, especially from the rocks. is a relaxed alternative to actively spinning the wash. As the sun and the tide rises on the beach, other species like bream, whiting, dart, flathead and trevally come into play. Beach worms are by far the best bait and can often be caught where you’re fishing. Alternative baits include yabbies, frozen worm and pipis that can be rigged on a bait keeper style hook, a short trace and a running ball sinker to keep the rig moving with the wave surge. Another popular rig is the paternoster with two droppers and a sinker at the bottom of the rig. The paternoster is certainly easier to cast and provides a second chance when the fish may be a bit picky, and each hook can have different baits. This rig

is great for fishing gutters where the outer breakers calm over deeper water before reaching the shore. While fish like tailor, mulloway and salmon are a chance during

transition zone of rock and beach. In the early morning and late afternoon, fish pass and hang around these areas waiting for the mullet and other bait to pass by. It’s also

Catching big bream on the beach or rocks is the norm through autumn and winter. They are often a by-catch while fishing for pigs. the daylight hours, it is best to concentrate your efforts on low light periods and at night to increase your chances of catching bigger fish. If you like to catch mulloway on plastics, the best tip is to fish the

no secret the mulloway like to eat kelpies (wrasse) and other rock species, so fishing close to the rocks isn’t a bad ploy for mulloway. ROCK SPECIES Perhaps the best eating fish you could expect from

the rocks is the eastern rock blackfish, often referred to as black drummer or pigs. It is related to the luderick and not a drummer at all, but what you call it changes nothing of the fish’s ability to fight hard and taste good. The true beauty of the rock blackfish is it is bound by tides and not the time of day, and during the middle of winter this is a bonus for anyone who doesn’t like the early morning cold. A rising tide over broken reef or a deep rock shelf is the only thing you need to make the most of their feeding habits. Exposed areas of rocks at low tide become a grazing paddock for pigs as the water rises sufficiently for them to access it. It is often possible ROCK SAFETY Wherever possible, fish with a friend and wear an automatic inflating PFD, or a PFD with head support. Manual devices are ok if you enter the water in a conscious state, but are useless if you strike your head when entering the water. The aeration of water around the wash areas can significantly reduce buoyancy, and even the strongest swimmers may be drowned in rough conditions.

Early morning is a glorious time of the day for spin sessions and give you a good chance at a salmon, tailor or tuna. to see the pigs’ tails waving above the water surface as they feed, head down over the rocks. Cunjevoi and abalone gut (ab gut was banned from use in 2007 by DPI) are the natural, non-herbivorous baits that anglers used to use. Over-harvesting of cunje can strip an area bare, and this is why I use Australian cooked or green prawns. The advantage is you don’t waste

time collecting bait, or risk your safety, and it preserves the natural growth on the rocks. Other advantages are the prawns are a relatively clean bait, the heads and shell contribute to the trickle of berley and they are readily available from major supermarkets for the planned or spur of the moment fish. Fish in the 1-2.5kg bracket are the best eating size for the pigs, with larger

specimens becoming tough when cooked. Rock fishing does present a vast range of options, and even if you are fishing for a particular species, you never know what is going to eat your bait. Groper are one species that will eat anything and will be attracted to the berley trail in no time. Size and bag limits for all species should be checked prior to To page 10

MAY 2018

From page 9

keeping any fish. If you don’t know what the fish is, it is best to release it. When fishing for pigs, there is a fair chance you’ll encounter a groper and this is why you should be sporting a fasttapered rod around the 3-4m mark, a large threadline reel of about 5000 size or bigger, and 20-30lb braid. On deeper ledges, you can get away with lighter line, but over shallow and broken reef you need to fish a bit heavier. Bream from the rocks are opportunistic when it comes to baits. There is generally only one rig I use for all my bait fishing from the rocks, and the only difference between fishing for groper or bream is the size of the terminal tackle.

I use a 2m length of leader tied to the mainline with an FG knot, then a 00-0 ball sinker running to a suicide style hook with a turned in or out eye. The reason I don’t use a swivel for the leader connection is because it puts more weight on the line and is a potential snag point between the reef crevices. Generally, bream are a by-catch of pig fishing for me, and while this time of the year will surrender fish over 1.5kg, they are generally released. The best of the bream fishing from the rocks is low light periods, and baits of yabbies, worm and prawns are perfect. Rock fishing for luderick is best done on the dark of the moon using a method called

‘potholing’. The larger tides during this phase of the moon cycle give the fish access to areas with the advantage of complete darkness. The school will swim into a pocket of water as the wave surges and fills the area, graze and retreat as the water drains out. Live and metho yabbies are the best baits on a rod length of leader. Most often it is a matter of dropping your bait in the water, allowing the surge to rise and poling in a fish. This does depend on you doing your homework and finding schools of fish first. The blackfish from the rocks, I believe, taste heaps better than any from the rivers and lakes. Fishing the rocks at night is not something you do without significant risk and

The transition from beach to rocks is a great area to concentrate your efforts for mulloway, tailor and salmon. You’ll also find rock species there too. without planning. Always have an escape path from your chosen platform, be very conscious of the stage of the tide, wear a lifejacket, have a waterproof torch tied to you somewhere, and never fish alone. The beauty of the Mid Coast area is that any

The key to success is to be mobile. If one spot isn’t fishing well, you can pack up, and with a short drive you’ll have another spot that may fire. Berley isn’t always essential, especially over the shallow reef areas. A trickle of mashed and

toads that can frustrate anglers and destroy baits. Before deploying berley, have a few casts to gutters in the rocks where channels are formed between rocky outcrops. I hope this information sees you taking advantage of this beautiful time of

The eastern rock blackfish or pig is the best eating fish from the rocks, by far. rocky headland will have populations of resident and transient fish, enough to satisfy any rock angler.

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MAY 2018

soaked bread will attract the desired species like bream and pigs, but it also attracts the butterfish and

year, and making the most of the great beach and rock fishing this part of the world is famous for.

If you put in the time and effort, big fish from the sand are possible. Fish the dark and a change of high tide and you’re halfway there.

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Swapping hands NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Which hand should you crank your fishing reel with? It seems everyone has an opinion on this contentious

Just about every spinning reel or ‘eggbeater’ sold in America, Japan or Europe arrives in the store with its handle factory-fitted on the left side of the body. Most threadline reels that reach our shores are set up this way, too, although the majority

The author reckons that cranking spinning reels with his non-dominant (left) hand — and therefore not having to swap hands after every cast — has caught him lots of extra fish over the years, along with avoiding plenty of snags. subject, so let’s examine the underlying principles once again! Left or right hand wind? It’s an age-old argument in fishing circles, and one I’ve written about many times before, including in these very pages just a few years ago. However, the regularity with which the question pops up tells me that it’s still a hot button issue with many Aussie anglers, and also something that puzzles lots of newcomers.

of Aussie buyers quickly swap the handle over to the right-hand side after buying the reel. But if you watch video footage of overseas anglers in action, you’ll see that almost all of them crank their spinning reels with their non-dominant hand. In almost 90% of cases, that means their left hand. That’s right: it’s accepted practice in most other countries is to crank spin reels (and some other styles) with the angler’s non-dominant

hand. Kids learn to fish that way and it’s seen as a perfectly natural thing to do. I can’t tell you why it never really caught on here… perhaps because there was no YouTube when fishing started in Australia! I’m right-handed, but I changed over to using lefthand drive spin reels (along with fly reels and centrepins) 40-odd years ago. While I can still ‘switch-hit’ reasonably effectively these days when picking up a right-handed outfit, I’m much happier and more comfortable cranking left-handed on the reel styles described… yet all my baitcasters, overheads and Alvey sidecast reels remain right-hand drive. You may well ask why, and I’ll do my best to explain. For me, it all comes down to the mechanics of the

The preferred casting grip for most people using spin reels involves wrapping their dominant hand around the foot of the reel, with its stem emerging between a couple of fingers. So, why swap hands after each cast? makes great sense (to me and many others) not to go through the motions of swapping the outfit from one hand to the other to begin the retrieve

I reckon cranking with my non-dominant hand while holding and working the rod with my dominant hand when using spinning tackle has

Most spinning (threadline) reels ship from the factory with their handles on the left, while most overheads are right-hand drive. Have you ever wondered why?

overheads and sidecasts, where the ideal casting grip differs from the preferred retrieving and fish-fighting grips. A change of grip is generally required on these outfits, and this switch-over is most efficiently achieved (in my opinion) by smoothly passing the outfit from one hand to the other at the completion of the cast, or even while the lure or rig is still in the air. However, none of this is quite as important as some people would have you believe. In the final analysis, there’s really no ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way to hold a particular style of outfit or to crank your reel. You’re probably better off sticking with what feels good and works best for you. That said, every angler I know who’s bitten the bullet and put up with the couple of days of clumsy, uncoordinated discomfort that’s generally

casting process. Most of us cast our spinning outfits by wrapping our dominant hand around the reel seat, with the reel’s stem emerging between two of our fingers: usually the pointer and middle finger, or the middle and ring finger. Whether we then go on to cast single-handed (with light outfits), or bring our non-dominant hand in to play on the butt end of the rod to perform a two-handed cast, it

The author still prefers to wind baitcasters and overhead reels with his dominant (right) hand… Go figure!

Lots of excellent anglers fish very effectively while using their dominant hand to crank their eggbeaters. The choice is yours. 12

MAY 2018

or fight a fish. The stronger, more dexterous dominant hand (the right, in my case) can stay exactly where it is after the cast is completed, while the non-dominant hand instantly comes up to perform the relatively menial task of turning the handle. Over the past 40 years,

caught me a whole heap of fish I would otherwise have missed, as well as avoiding quite a few snags, especially in shallow water. Once mastered it is simply a faster and more efficient technique. Things are a little different with other reels such as baitcasters (plug reels),

required to switch their brain and muscle memory from dominant to non-dominanthanded reel cranking with their spinning gear has said they would never, ever go back. As I wrote here a couple of years ago, and will go on saying, it’s definitely something worth thinking about…

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River booming with life THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

We have finally received some much-needed rain in the Hawkesbury’s catchment, although only just enough to top up the water tanks at home and put a little colour and nutrients in the creeks and main river. All forms of life flourish in these fruitful conditions, especially fish. The rain and cooler weather has dropped the water temperature around 2-3°C, with most

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inhabitants gorging on the abundant prawns and baitfish that are thriving in the current conditions. The whitebait will be starting to gather in Broken Bay, Pittwater and Cowan, along with the predators that feed on it. Flathead, bream, flounder, mulloway, tailor, frigate mackerel and mac tuna are all likely species to encounter when fishing around the dense schools of bait. A good sounder is paramount to finding these schools along the foreshores and into the back of bays, but some days the fish have pushed

the bait to the surface where diving terns can be the best asset to an avid angler. Small soft plastics and vibes that match the hatch are the most effective. I like to cast them on light 4-6lb spin tackle into the likely areas and hop them seductively near the bottom, or high in the water column when fish are seen to be hitting the surface. Look to arm yourself with 3” minnow and paddletail type soft plastics in white, silver and green colours, with the same size and colours in the vibes

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Kingfish will be patrolling the headlands and bays hunting yellowtail, squid and garfish. This 85cm fish fell victim to a downrigged yellowtail. working well. The kingfish usually have one last flurry in Pittwater and Cowan this month and are likely to be taking surface lures, soft plastic stickbaits, and micro jigs, as well as the usual live baits of yellowtail, garfish and squid. Lures that resemble garfish have been a standout in previous seasons, and this one should be no different, with good schools of gars moving into the estuaries in late March. Bream will be making their way to the mouth of the system in preparation for their annual spawn run north. Lure and bait fishing can both bring good results, as these fish compete for food to put on the muchneeded condition required for their long journey. Washes, rock walls and reefs will all hold good concentrations of hungry bream, and it’s just a matter

of moving around until you locate an active school. Keep your lines light at around 6lb and try to use as minimal amount of lead as possible, or better still unweighted baits to get the best results. It’s a similar scenario for lure anglers; you want the lightest jighead possible to waft your presentation into the strike zone. Flathead have been on the bite from Wisemans Ferry and down to Broken Bay, with baits and lures working equally well. Prawns have been the standout bait when rigged on light tackle and cast out the sides of an anchored boat and allowed to drift around in the current, and most bites occur before the line straightens up behind your vessel. Alternatively, drifting is quite a common and effective technique, especially if the wind is

against the tide. Lures for targeting flathead should be kept reasonably small, with 3-4” stickbait minnows, paddletails and curl-tail grubs the stand outs. If you’re after that large flatty, go with bigger lure at around 6-8” long. You won’t get much by-catch, but the fish that you hook will be rippers! While throwing bigger lures, you may cross paths with a mulloway, which will be making their presence felt in the lower parts of the system. I like lures at this time of year, as live baits start to get hard to catch at times, especially as we head into the depths of winter. Taking an active approach and chasing the tides up and down the system to capitalise on the best bite times around the tide changes is the key to success. Persisting with live baits can be advantageous, however, and anglers will do well with big baits of pike, squid, yakkas and tailor fished on appropriate tackle for those extra-large mulloway the Hawkesbury is well known for.

Big bream are a firm favourite with most anglers. Hussan had never been fishing before, but he came up trumps with this 38cm bream on a recent fishin’ tuition class with the author. Safe to say he’s hooked!

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Anglers heading offshore for an awesome season SYDNEY NORTH

Paul O’Hagan

The fishing around the offshore reefs over the last few weeks has been regarded as the best season we’ve had in a long time, with numerous species enjoying the hot water that continues to push down from the north, giving some anglers the opportunity to catch some of our better quality sportfish.

boats heading out towards the shelf in the hope of taking their first fish, or adding to the list of fish that they have already caught. There have been a lot of reports of anglers having two or three marlin at a time turning up in the spread, making it a very exciting time for all that can get out there. Lately some of our anglers have been reporting catches of yellowfin tuna up around the 50kg mark, and very large mahimahi patrolling up and

Col Ulvstrop with his first mahimahi taken on light tackle while on a charter with Steve Winsner from Fishing Sydney tours. With large blue marlin and some of the smaller blacks and stripies, there has been a continuous stream of

down the coast. Although a lot of these fish have been taken while trolling a range of small and medium skirted

lures, there have been a lot of fish taken for those using slimies set down deep with a downrigger. Hopefully the hot current will continue to hold and the fish will hang around for a bit longer than usual. With our inshore reefs and FADs holding large quantities of baitfish the mahimahi have been putting on the kilos over the last couple of months. A lot of anglers have had excellent days hooking up to a lot of good quality table fish. Closer in towards shore there have been good reports of decently sized kingfish feeding around the TwelveMile Reef, and they’re willing to take either large metal jigs or livies dropped down around them. Further in some of the secret marks have been producing good catches of mulloway for those who know where to find them. Anglers have been taking their bag limit in a very short space of time. Long Reef has been very consistent with a large mix of fish from quality snapper to some very large kingfish. With lots of bait about, a large number of pelagics and predators are willing to take baits and lures. Large numbers of fish gathering and chasing baitfish will always attract the bigger boys with the nasty teeth, and these predators will take their share of food and destroy lots of tackle. Bronze and dusky whalers seem to be causing most of the damage, but there have been reports of hammerheads and makos making an appearance as well. From our headlands there have been some very good days and some not so good,

Matt Marson got this kingy from the Sydney offshore reefs on a trip with Oceanhunter Sportsfishing. North and South Curl Curl have had bonito, tailor and salmon consistently again for those using live and strip baits. Fishing inside the harbour between the Wedding

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MAY 2018

mulloway and lots of very large tailor being taken in the early evening and into the night. In Narrabeen Lake the fish have had a good flush of fresh water stirring up

There’s been plenty of mahimahi hanging around the various FADs in the Sydney area and the action should continue. Cake marker and the Harbour Bridge there has been an array of pelagics chasing up and down, drawing a mass of

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some very good plate-sized bream and flathead taken in the shallows and among the boat moorings on a range of soft plastics and vibes. With squid on the increase, the Spit Bridge

has drawn in some good kingfish and lots of tailor and salmon, giving our landbased anglers the chance to pick up a feed. Moving on to our beaches, there has been an increase in the number of flathead and bream taken off Narrabeen as the lake was opened up to the sea again, which attracted some of our mulloway up and around the entrance. While there have been reports of fish taken on Narrabeen Beach, fishing further up the coast and around Palm Beach area the reports are of occasional

the bottom and cleaning the water, meaning the fish are very active and looking for a feed. Flathead seem to be a lot more active in the evenings on a run-out tide as they ambush their prey, while bream and whiting seem to enjoy the early morning on a run-in tide. For the flathead, small soft and hardbodied vibes have been the most successful method while worms and or prawns should pick up a feed for any angler. As always stay safe and enjoy the fishing.

Mark Taranto with a beautiful mahimahi taken off Sydney at one of the secret FADs. with fish turning up quickly and then disappearing just as quick. Most of the better fishing has been from North Head and around to Blue Fish Point in the early morning using a variety of metals and stickbaits when the sea has allowed.

sea birds looking for a feed. The most common method working lately is to troll some small bibbed lures around the schools and/or cast various sizes of metals in front of them as they move around. Down around North Harbour there have been

Phil Owen with a nice king taken around the 12 Mile Reef off Sydney.

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May is a magical month to be on the water PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Pittwater over the last few months has seen some brilliant fishing at times and even though we have May upon us there are still fish to be caught. Recently the water temperature was still hovering between 18 and 20°, which is still a little warm for this time of the year. With this warmer water we are still seeing baitfish being smashed on the surface most mornings. Even though the game hasn’t changed the rules are different and there are some new players on the field. We still have kingfish about willing to eat squid, but the gun bait at the moment is small live cuttlefish. These little ink machines seem to trigger a lethargic school of kingfish that are leaving live squid alone into a feeding frenzy almost instantly. As per usual, downrigging and covering ground is the best way to find the travelling schools of kingfish along Pittwater.

MAY 2018

This kingy was happily feeding on the baitfish (look near the fishing rod) until he saw a squid bait. Once an area has been found, start casting soft plastics to keep the kingies in feeding mode. If at all possible, get a double hook-up on kingfish to bring their mates closer to the boat. The kingies that are following these hooked-up fish are normally hungry ones, so make sure you have something to feed them – be

it a lure or another bait. Areas to find kingfish at moment don’t seem to really exist other than around Scotland Island. With this warmer water I have found that the kingfish schools are still moving around Pittwater and staying in the bays for only short periods of time. This is good for all of us as the moving schools will hopefully run into us anglers at some stage during the morning, giving us a chance to tangle with some of these hard-fighting fish. The areas to start are at Towlers Bay and Careel Bay first thing in the morning. As the day progresses you could do worse than try around Scotland Island. Also try the Kingfish Highway and the western side of Pittwater between Towlers Bay and Soldiers Point.

Some of the new players to tangle with are tailor, trevally and there are some bonito in the mix as well. These guys are easy to catch, especially when they’re

Beach as the smaller jigs sink slower, giving your lure more time in the strike zone. To catch cuttlefish along Pittwater, head to the rocky areas, use small jigs of 2g or less and don’t let your jig get further than a metre from the bottom. Be prepared for a messy time if you do catch these little ink machines, as they will be squirting you from the water even before they get to the boat. I can hear you all saying ‘yes, I have caught plenty of squid before and I know how these things work.’ These little critters are a whole new world of pain. Not only are they hard to keep on the jigs because they spin like a helicopter blade, but they squirt ink while doing it. On the Hawkesbury River and Broken Bay there are still some nice captures of flathead and mulloway being taken. The areas to try at Broken Bay are Juno Point, Walkers Point and near the channel entrance to the

Blue skies, flat water mean that kingfish are there for the taking. on the surface and feeding freely. Casting metal lures around 10-15g should see you wind a few into the boat. Tailor and bonito have been easy to spot on Broken Bay between Lion Island, Barrenjoey Head and Patonga. The easiest way to find them has been to watch for the working seabirds. Remember when approaching these schools to respect others that are already fishing. The easiest areas to catch squid have been in Careel Bay, the weed beds of Palm Beach, and on the ocean side of Barrenjoey Head. Most of the squid are quite sizable but don’t be afraid to use these large squid to target big kingfish. On many occasions customers have been amazed at the size of the live squid that I use, and have been shocked when a smaller kingfish has attacked the bait. They have been delighted when a monster is subdued as well. A good size jig to use at the moment is 2.5g in the natural colours. Smaller jigs will work over the weed beds of Careel Bay and Palm

Hawkesbury River. Drifting the points in these areas can also be quite productive and also gives the opportunity to find the schools of baitfish and any lurking predators nearby. Remember when fishing for

mulloway the change of the tide seems to give us anglers the best opportunity. Along the coast in close there are still schools of kingfish making their presence known from Sydney Heads all the way through to Barrenjoey. There are not fish at every headland, but if you manage to find balled up baitfish mid-water, the kingies won’t be far behind. The better baits to use have been live yellowtail or slimy mackerel. Further offshore in 35-50m of water, snapper, morwong, flathead and trevally have been showing up to eat wellpresented pilchard pieces and squid strips. Around the edges of the reef some decent snapper and flathead have still been found, and fishing these shallower waters gives anglers an opportunity to use micro-jigs or soft plastics to catch a feed. The areas where we have been having success are at Newport Reef, Mona Vale Reef and the drifting grounds off Long Reef. As usual before deploying your baits, find the baitfish and if there are no baitfish in the area, you may be better off heading into deeper water. I hope this report sees you grabbing a few friends to enjoy a great time on the water catching fish. If you are finding it hard to catch fish along Pittwater or your chosen part of the world, you could go out fishing with your local fishing charter. You will you pick up productive areas, correct rigging techniques and also have the opportunity to have many of your puzzling fishing questions answered. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www.estuaryfishingcharters .com.au

Get amongst the moorings to up your chances of tangling with a kingfish like this one.

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Water temps still high

580 WITH

SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

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The mornings and evenings are starting to chill but water temperatures will remain high for quite a while after the land has cooled down. Due to the nature of the currents, winter in the water comes sometime after winter on the land. What this means is that our activity will slow down regardless of the fact that there is still some excellent fishing to be had through May and June. I know it’s tough to drag yourself out of bed but at least for the next month it is still worth the effort, especially on the lower reaches of the harbour where the currents have the most influence.

morwong and drummer. The dory have already started to make an appearance with the odd one being picked up around Balmoral Beach and North Harbour. The kingies are still in the harbour in both good numbers and size although they seemed to have wised up to lures for this season. The best way to approach them at this time of year is with live baits, especially squid. This is the time of year when we get our biggest southern calamari squid. They move into the harbour from the close offshore reefs and ocean rocks to spawn and nearly all the big ones (up to 1.5kg) will have eggs. Curiously some of the big ones have both egg and milt sacks, which raises the question as to what sex they are. You will nearly always find the big ones in pairs, so

lower harbour at the moment. They are also getting ready to spawn along the coast. In May they will move back up the rivers, drawing the mulloway and bigger kings along with them. When you combine these two major food sources with the fact that fish are now concentrating on putting on some fat for the cold water, which is just around the corner, it’s fair to assume that now is the time to be targeting big fish. Numbers of smaller kingfish have started to thin out and move around, but based on previous years’ experience they will still be available for at least another month. The compensation for fewer fish will be an increase in average size. Your tactics need to change now, as the kingies’ holding positions will. You will still get them around

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The harbour’s snapper size has increased considerably since the removal of commercial fishing. The upper reaches – being shallow and more affected by air temperature – will start to shut down about mid-May. Although fish numbers will be down, this time of year has always accounted for the best quality fish of the season. My diary shows that May produced the biggest mulloway, flathead, kings and bream for last year. So, if you are after trophy fish then now is the time to concentrate your efforts. It is also the season for mixed bags as the first of the winter species start to move in and mingle with the remnants of the summer fish. These species include John dory, trevally,

keep an eye out towards the water behind a big squid as you bring it to the boat, as its partner will often follow it in. If this doesn’t happen then make sure that you throw your jig back to the exact same position that you caught the last one. They could be territorial, because I have never caught more than two big ones from one anchor point. If you want big kings or mulloway, don’t be scared to put one of these whoppers out live. They might look too big for a live bait but I can assure you that a 10kg king will have no problem swallowing a 1kg squid. We also have large swarms of mullet congregating in the

places like the Wedding Cakes and other navigation markers. They have become fussy and require a bit of berley and smaller, lightly weighted baits. Their interest in lures is slowing down as well. There are more fish concentrated around the heads and Sow and Pigs Reef as they commence their migration out to sea. The best bait is still squid; make good use of the prime baits like the heads and guts, and cut the tubes into smaller strips. Baits should be presented on lighter gear – use lighter leaders, less sinker weight, smaller hooks and put them down a cube trail. Live gar

work pretty well at this time of year as well. If you want to target the larger kings, use whole, live squid around the Spit Bridge,

North and South Head and the deeper channel markers like Nielson Park, Clifton Gardens and Rose Bay. Big kings have already

Huge kings like this dominate the harbour in May.

started to show and we have taken a few to 10kg in the lower reaches. The obvious spots to look for them are the deep water locations around structure. From my experience, kings and mulloway don’t like to be in the same spot at the same time, although they do like the same type of habitat. I’ve had a run of mulloway replaced by a run of kings on more than one occasion, with very little crossover. There’s probably a territorial battle going on down there and I’d put my money on the kings. The exceptions to this are in areas that are only used as feeding grounds rather than holding grounds, where you will find kings by day and mulloway at night. These

feeding grounds are usually in shallower water (10-20ft) than you would traditionally target holding fish, and will work best either very early in the morning or late in the arvo for kings, and at night for mulloway. These areas usually have kelp beds nearby. Holding spots will be deep (20-60ft) and have some structure, preferably with shade (buoys, jetties, bridges or rock ledges) and some current. Some harbour holding spots for big fish include: inner North Head, Nielson Park, the mouth of Rose Bay (particularly around Shark Island – please note that most of this area is a no

anchor zone and is therefore only suitable to drifting in reasonable weather or spotlocking for those with electric motors), inner South Head, the Wedding Cakes and Seaforth, VB Reef and Pickering Point in Middle Harbour. These are spots that you would typically fish through the day. Feeding spots include: Middle Head, Fairlight, Sow and Pigs, Washaway Beach, Obelisk Beach and Quarantine. These are good early morning, late arvo and night spots. There have been some better-than-average harbour snapper around, although they have been hard to locate consistently. I always put a

fresh prawn bait out on the bottom wherever I fish and this accounts for a few, but if you want to target them seriously, try the deeper reefs. The best spots are Parsley Bay, Taylors Bay and the yellow marker off Nielson Park. We’ve caught a number of fish up to 2kg, which is well up on previous years’ averages. Lightly weighted fresh squid baits will attract the bigger ones and the best bite usually occurs just on sunup. • If you are interested in doing a guided fishing trip on Sydney harbour with Craig McGill please call 0412 918 127 or email craig@fishabout.com.au.

FISHING NEWS

End nears for PFD trial The 18-month Randwick LGA trial of compulsory lifejackets for rock fishers is nearly over. From 1 June, rock fishers will be fined $100 if they are not wearing a lifejacket rated AS 4758 level 50S or greater. The RFA of NSW said the current level of non-compliance indicates a failure by the NSW Government to implement the policy. “Although three out of the 12 anglers we saw on a visit to the La Perouse rocks over the Easter holiday were wearing fishing vests that may be suitable, and three were wearing appropriate footwear, there was effectively 100% non-compliance to the Act,” a spokesman for the RFA of NSW said. “The RFA of NSW has been pushing for changes to the Rock Fishing Safety Act 2016, but to our disappointment these have been ignored by the Police Minister Troy Grant. Fine revenue is set to be

Glenn and Grant with a pair of cracker harbour kings.

re-directed to the Recreational Fishing Trusts, but the RFA will not accept any revenue under these circumstances and will continue to push this back to Troy Grant’s Water Safety Grants.” The RFA of NSW’s proposed changes include consideration to amend and improve the Act, adding a definition dealing with responsible anglers demonstrating alternative personal safety fishing

initiatives; engagement of the PFD manufacturing and retail markets; and research into AS 4758 ratings being fit for purpose and the likely coastal conditions users might experience, and the investment in an appropriate range of rock fishing life jackets. Updates on this issue are available on the RFA of NSW Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ RFANSW. – RFA of NSW

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Lucas Panagakis, 6 years old, landed his first 26cm bream drifting around The Spit bridge in Sydney Harbour.

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MAY 2018

Take the kids out for a fishing trip this month BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

One of the things that always brings a smile to my face is getting readers’ photos of the fish they caught, and what’s even more gratifying is when they are up and coming anglers. Gordon Barret sent me in a couple of photos of dusky flathead that his two grandsons Christopher and Daniel Gonzalez caught while using cooked prawns. It was a day that will stick in his memory forever. They were fishing from Gordon’s 5.2m Caribbean Crestcutter on Georges River near Lugarno on the last hour of run-out tide and the first hour of run-in. Christopher’s flatty was 64cm and Daniel’s firstever flatty was 42cm. Whether I am fishing out of a boat or off the shore, I also get so much pleasure taking out my kids and grandkids for a fish. It doesn’t have to be full-on session – it’s usually for a couple of hours. Just recently I took my son and his two boys out for a session on the flathead and bream while fishing from the boat. The outing wasn’t

Christopher Gonzalez caught this 64cm dusky flathead while fishing with his grandfather using cooked prawns. all about catching fish. It was making sure that they knew that they had to wear life jackets, have plenty of sunscreen on and wear a hat. After we anchored up in

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four-way hook-up of bream and dusky flathead. As with Gordon, you couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. If you are looking for somewhere to take the kids for a land-based fish for a couple of hours, you could try Frenchmans Bay on the northern side of Botany Bay. This is a small beach that faces south and is best fished in any other wind than a southerly. Early morning and late afternoons seem to produce the better catches. There is a small breakwall situated a few hundred metres along the beach that is a good spot to cast out into deeper water. To get there you would travel east along Botany Road then turn left into Bunnerong Road. Follow this down to the end of Anzac Parade. Parking here can be hard at times and you may have to park in a side street. Your targeted fish species would be bream, dusky flathead, sand whiting, silver trevally, flounder, Australian salmon, tailor and squid. It’s a great place to take the kids for a fish with their small rods, as they won’t have to cast out far. As the bottom is sand, they won’t get any snags, unless they hook onto a bit of passing weed or kelp. Don’t forget to take along those plastics and blades that you have, as the flathead that feed in close here won’t be able to resist them. Another place that you could try is the beach that stretches from Brighton to Dolls Point. To get there you could travel east down Bay Street from Rockdale or President Avenue from Kogarah until you find the Grand Parade. Then find yourself a parking spot and walk to the beach. The target fish species here are bream, dusky flathead, flounder, salmon, sand whiting and tailor. Use peeled prawns, strips of tuna and mullet for the bream and

trevally. Half pilchards work for the dusky flathead and whole pilchards or garfish are good for the tailor and salmon. Don’t forget to also try using pink nippers, bloodworms, tubeworms and beachworms. TT Switchblades would be great for the flathead and bream. During the spring and summer months this is a very popular spot with families, as you can have a swim in one of the netted swimming pools found along this stretch of

find four lanes, a wharf, floating pontoon, sandy beach at half-tide, a large car park suitable for cars and trailers plus a picnic area, children’s playground and toilets. From here it’s a short run in the boat out to Botany Bay. In the Georges River you might like to try the Georges River State National Park Ramp on Henry Lawson Drive Picnic Point. It is open from 6am to 7.30pm during daylight savings and 6am to 6.30pm the rest of the year.

Not to be outdone, Daniel caught his firstever dusky flathead (42cm) while fishing in his grandfather’s 5.2m Caribbean Crestcutter. It was caught on a cooked prawn. beach. If the fishing isn’t that good, you could always go across the road to the shops at Brighton-Le-Sands for a coffee and cake or take the kids for an ice cream. If you have a boat you could try launching at the Kyeemagh Boat Ramp Reserve, Cooks River at the end of Mutch Avenue, Kyeemagh. Here you will

There is a park entry fee of $8 via the coin-operated pay and display machines at the gate. You will need to have correct money. 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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MAY 2018

Terry sent in this photo of a bass that he caught while fishing using a Bent Minnow on the surface.

Don’t let the cool air stop you getting out SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

The surface bite from whiting may have quietened down a bit in the Port Hacking and there will be fewer kingfish smashing up the baitfish in amongst the boats during May. You will also find that there is a bit more of a chill in the air and there will still be people out wetting a line. Even though you may think that there is nothing happening, this shouldn’t stop you from getting out on the water – there is still plenty happening on the fishing scene. The small leatherjackets can be a bit of a pain, but if you work your way through the little ones, you will come home with a great feed of fan belly and yellowfin jackets. A paternoster rig with number 10-12 sized longshanked hooks and small pieces of prawn or squid would be ideal. Places worth trying would be the baths at Gymea, Lilli Pilli and Gunnamatta from the shore. If you’re in a boat I would find a rocky shoreline in South-

West Arm, Kitcheners Reef, the eastern point leading into Gymea Bay and the main channel off Lilli Pilli Point. There are plenty of leatherjackets to be found here and on another point; I wouldn’t bother berleying.

take some fresh green weed with you, as the luderick and drummer will come up with the wash at night and graze on the cabbage. The drop-off on either side of the flats at Lilli Pilli is worth anchoring

Jarrad caught this kingy using a Slippery Dog 65F out of his kayak – not a bad specimen at 53cm. Silver trevally will be about in numbers both inside the Port Hacking and off the rocks. I would try Windy Point and the eastern rocks off Jibbon Beach. Luderick will also be on the chew here as well. Make sure that you

and berleying for trevally and bream on all tides. Half pilchards and peeled prawns are the go. Salmon and tailor should also come up the berley trail, so I would also put out an unweighted pilchard on a set

of ganged hooks. During the cooler days the luderick will be worth a shot along the edges of the weed beds in the Port Hacking. When I am targeting them in the river I will usually use a 3-3.3m rod and have a small and steady berley trail of chopped up weed and sand. There should be luderick upstream of the ramp at Grays Point. Try the diversion wall from the boat and the picnic area downstream of the Audley Weir. Further downstream where the 8-knot area finishes you could try fishing for them from the sand bank half tide down on the run-out. If you are fishing from a boat you could try setting up along the shoreline at Deer Park. The beaches off Cronulla through to Greenhills will be worth a shot for bream and whiting on live beach worms. Sometimes I will take live nippers as well. Maybe take a few whole pilchards or metal slugs for the tailor and salmon that sometimes show up. The rocks off Kurnell will be worth a shot for trevally, bream, luderick, drummer, salmon and tailor. Just take care if there is any

swell. I would also put a few squid jigs in. The odd mulloway or two will be patrolling the gutters off Garie, Stanwell Park and Coalcliff beaches. Get yourself a few small yellowtail or larger poddy mullet (they don’t have to be live), whole or strips of fresh squid or whole pilchards. The best times would be early morning or late afternoon and into the night. The rock platform at Coalcliff is now accessible

from the small park above the rock swimming pool. Trevally, bream, squid, salmon and tailor can be caught here. Don’t fish it in a big sea. I find that you need to berley here for the best results. Cubed pilchards or white bread is best. 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.

Jarred Papworth caught his PB 62cm silver trevally caught on a 2.5” ZMan Slim SwimZ in pumpkinseed.

MAY 2018

A great time of year for mixed bags of fish SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

A southerly wind and swell direction is becoming more common now, taking the place of the nor’east weather that dominated in recent months. The water temperature is a balmy 21-22°C, so there’s no need to be concerned yet. It will hover around this temp for another four weeks or so. Right now is a cracker time of year for mixed species in the estuary, off the ocean rocks and beaches. Off the rocks, snapper, trevally, bream, bonito, salmon, tailor and more could be part of the bag on your outing. And in the sandy areas you can catch whiting, flathead, bream, trevally, snapper and more. Mixed wash fishing off the rocks is a rewarding way to fish at this time of the year. I just love it! You can have a flurry of one species, and then boom! A flurry of another type. Your imagination can run a bit wild because you’re not sure what’s going to pick up your bait next. It’s common to catch three or more species on one outing. Having a range of baits on hand is always a wise choice. Some of the larger squid you can purchase at

A deadly setup for kings is a sea gar ganged on four 6/0 7766Ds with powerful swivels in between the hooks, plus a plastic occy skirt. The trusty 7” Alvey landed this nice fish, and it was quickly released after this photo. tackle shops can be skinned, and strips of squid make great bait. The larger prawns from your local tackle shop or from a fish shop like the banana, medium king and endeavour (also known as a blue tail prawn) are good either peeled or whole. You can also use half to whole pillies (depending on the size of the pilchards), or fillet a freshly-caught tailor or bonito for strip baits. Salmon aren’t often used for bait, but they actually make great wash fishing fillet strip baits. They’re oily, smelly and you can cast out a sizeable bait. North Whale headland on the southeast point is a good spot to try. You can also

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go about 70m to the north of there and fish the white water, known as the wash zone, for better results. The berley will spread out to the fish that you’re pursuing. The front section approximately 60m in front of Mona Vale pool on the low tide period or on a flat sea day is an easy spot to get to, and is a good producer. Warriewood high cliff near the blow hole during a rougher sea is a good option and is relatively safe. These are just some of the wash fishing spots that have been producing of late. If you’re fishing from a high cliff spot, remember to take note of where you’re standing. There are also a few questions you should ask yourself. The cliff you’re standing on – is it stable? Is it thick enough to support you and perhaps others? Are there slippery sections (if so you should use your steel spike or stretch-on shoes). Are you able to land a fish without standing too close to the cliff edge? There are more things

Distance casting for snapper is another alternative to wash fishing. Casting out to the reef/sand edges, usually 30-100m out, will set your bait in a good area without too many snags. That’s compared to just randomly casting out to an undulated sea bed that is possibly bouldery, full of cracks and kelp. It’s a nightmare trying to retrieve your gear back in spots like this. Fishing the right areas is also a great way to get that variety that is around at this time of the year. Fishing with what I call aerodynamic casting baits will help you achieve the distance you need. You don’t want to use big baits, or baits that spin when cast, because they won’t just reduce your casting distance but could also cause severe line twist. The same spots that I mentioned above are good distance casting spots. There’s also South Curl Curl at a spot commonly called Flat Rock, and Queenscliff rocks casting towards Bluefish Point, which fishes well in a swell of less than 1m. This month you can also get into some kings, bonito, and other pelagics from the deeper headlands using sea gars, 9” Silstar Slapstix and Daiwa Dorado 180mm stickbaits, as well as metals for your smaller pelagics. The SureCatch Knights from 25-45g work a treat. May is a really good month for anglers who want variety off the ocean beaches. In amongst the tailor and salmon that you’ll encounter while throwing out your ganged pilly baits, you could also catch trevally, bream, flathead, and even

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The author feels privileged to work with the great team from the Department of Justice, Recreational Fishing Alliance NSW, Department of Fisheries and Marine Rescue NSW to do rock fishing safety workshops all over Sydney. to take into account, but these are some of the critical questions to ask yourself if you’re considering high cliff fishing. And of course, you should always wear a life jacket.

a possible mulloway. While whiting fishing with worm baits you can expect a possible by-catch of bream, tarwhine, dart and maybe even salmon and flathead. It is worth having some

fish baits as well for the species that may prefer a fish bait above a worm, such as flathead, salmon and tailor. Even the bream may prefer a fish bait. Pilchard fillet, mackerel fillet, mullet or any oily fish cut into a thin strip around 10-15cm long by 2cm wide will suffice on a long shank hook (I use a Mustad no. 1 to 2/0 92247). A long shank hook will keep your bait straighter than a short shank suicide pattern

in relatively flat conditions. Also go for North Narrabeen, and the Long Reef section of Dee Why Beach. Just a quick report of the Harbour. At Georges Head you can cast out wide with a paternoster for trevally, plate-size snapper to 37cm, bream and some flathead. Luderick are in good numbers at Middle Head, but remember that it’s a 4m vertical climb down a chain. I recommend taking your

Rayner Christian with one of the many dusky whalers caught and released that evening. Sometimes you’ll catch the same shark more than once in the same session. You can see stacks of people around, and lots of light, and there were even swimmers close by. hook will. You also want your hook to have some bait holder slices on the shank, which help keep the bait up to the eye section of the hook, reducing the bait bunching up towards the bend. On a lot of our east coast beaches, and in my part of the world on the Northern Beach suburbs of Sydney, the dreaded kelp is a common problem. Before you fish, it’s a good idea to stand on an elevated vantage point and look for those tell-tale darker patches out in the surf. If you can’t do that, because it’s perhaps a bit dark to see properly, look for kelp washed up on the beach. Now let’s look at some beaches to fish this month. Avalon is a beach that’s not often heavily fished, but it can be a great producer for several species. Yes, it’s notorious for kelp, but often beaches with some kelp fish really well. Another beach worth a fish lately is Mona Vale. It is also not heavily fished. Little Narrabeen is another, but I like to fish the latter

own rope. I don’t like relying on climbs that have existing old ropes or chains. You can also try Clontarf’s Sandy Bay, also known as the ‘low tide dog sand flat’. A lot of dog owners unleash their pets there, but it can be a great sand flat for whiting, bream and some flathead. I recommend spinning with the 5” Storm Slow Run Joker Shad in electric chicken. Another great flathead lure that has been working consistently is the Daiwa IZM Double Clutch. It is a minnow which stirs up the bottom and has a sensational action. Enjoy your April fishing trips and, as always, don’t try to fish for everything in one outing! Successful anglers generally target a certain species, and any other species are a by-catch. • 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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If you’re fishing from a boat, drift around drop-offs or down along sandy channels and hop soft plastics or the good old prawn (peeled or unpeeled). If you’re using prawns, try and get local Hawkesbury River prawns for the best results. Switching to soft plastics will see your catch rate go up as you move around a bit more and literally

slack line at the end of your rod), take up the slack line and ‘hop’ it back, lifting the lure no more than 2m off the bottom. Mix up your retrieve, from small hops, to big double or triple ones until you crack the pattern. Some of my favourite plastics for flathead are Squidgy Wrigglers in either 80, 100 or 120mm. Bloodworm is

Gulf Runner 550 D

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Mark Lock with a nice Hawkesbury flathead.

easily the best colour for plastics right now, although some will argue black/gold or gary glitter work just as well. Paddle-tail soft plastics in 3-4” also work very well. There has been a big surge in the number of people targeting carp recently. These ‘mud marlin’ are underrated as a fighting fish and by removing them from the waterway (please dispose of them humanely) you are helping our natives. These are best targeted with light line and small hooks under a float. Berley up with bread or corn pieces before using the same thing as bait. If you’re feeling adventurous though, sight casting to them with small very lightly weighted soft plastics in less than a foot of water is great fun. The key to hooking them this way is the strike – if you think the carp has touched the lure, strike. Carp will suck the plastic in, then spit it out again almost instantly when they feel it. You only get a split second to set the hook, but if you do, they go on long blistering runs and your little 2500 size reel will make that zzzing noise we all love to hear. At Thompsons Creek Dam the same technique for carp can be fruitful on the trout – just don’t set the hook as hard. Some decent fish of 55cm or around 6lb have been caught and released recently. Look for the rocky points leading into shallow bays and be prepared to walk a little. • 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.

cover more water. Braided line is best for plastics and a leader of around 10lb is sufficient – just remember to check the leader for damage after landing your flathead, as their teeth can rub like sandpaper. Using a jighead of 1/4 or 3/8oz and either a paddletail or wriggler style plastic, cast out and let the lure hit the bottom (watch for the

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With the closed season (1 May to 31 August) for bass and estuary perch now upon us, we’ll leave them to migrate downstream for the spawning run. We’ll see them again on the other side of winter and hopefully they have lots of offspring that all grow to be 50cm… With river bass out of the picture we spend a few months focussing on something else – unless of course you are heading to one of the dams like St Clair or Glenbawn, both of which have been fishing well lately. The Hawkesbury is well known for stonker winter bream, and the number of people targeting mulloway on plastics will grow and grow as it gets colder. However, it’s the humble flathead that becomes a crowd favourite; they’re fast growing, relatively easy to catch and great on the plate. I saw flathead fillets at $45/ kg at my local fishmongers the other day and almost fell over in shock. If you are keen to feed the family, a couple of nice flathead around 50cm in size are perfect. Let the bigger girls go and breed – the larger models don’t taste as good, and they’re more susceptible to worms and other parasites.

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BASS

Get out in the yak for bass during winter HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

Now, just when you thought it was time to pack the kayak away for the winter months, I urge you to reconsider and read on. When you think of typical kayak bass fishing your mind often wanders towards tiny creeks and rivers – the sound of cicadas

up in holes in heavy tidal current flow, which makes it very hard to fish from a kayak. Plus, the closed season comes into play on 1 May, so while you can target bass during this time, the bag limit is zero. General consensus amongst most river bass anglers is to leave these wild fish to do their thing over the closed season to maximise the numbers for the following generations.

apart from a few die-hard tournament anglers. In the winter time, impoundment bass fishing is when it’s at its best. You can almost get sick of catching them some days, as they feed up and put on massive amounts of weight. Most fish during winter will weigh up to 200-400g heavier than their summer weight. This extra bulk, combined with crystal clear water and

Packing a few essential things makes those winter trips more bearable.

Being able to stand up in a kayak gives you a higher elevation for spotting holes in the weed where the bass live. singing in the treetops, bass actively feeding on top and warm summer days. Most people chase the wild bass during this time, as they have pushed as far upstream as they can reach, into all these small tributaries.

On the other hand, the impoundment bass do not have a closed season. Australian bass don’t breed in lakes because they need brackish water to spawn. All these fish are hand placed into the lakes as

The stealth of a kayak is hard to beat when fishing shallow. The author watched this bass come off the weed and eat the plastic grub. As we enter the cooler months now, chasing bass from a kayak isn’t a typically considered idea. The river fish will start to migrate downstream now in preparation for spawning. In these lower sections of the rivers they tend to school

fingerlings, so you can actively target them during winter without the fear of disturbing the breeding cycle. As someone who fishes the lakes all year round I find it quite baffling to see so few people fishing the lake during winter,

light line, makes for some exciting fishing. Now the daily movements of impoundment bass in NSW are totally dependent on available light, and the water temperature over the seasons will position them shallower or deeper in the water column. During the summer months bass fishing from a kayak can be great, but you will find it at its best during the low light periods. Around sunrise and sunset, the fish move more freely around the water column and come up shallow to feed. During daylight hours in summer, impoundment bass usually hold up in deep water as far down as 40-60ft. Targeting these fish from a kayak can be difficult compared to a boat. Without the aid of a sounder and the ability to hold directly over the top of fish it becomes quiet challenging to target them. However, during the winter months the water temperature drops dramatically; water

Tournaments have certainly helped pave the way for exploring the lakes in a kayak in winter. 26

MAY 2018

temperatures below 14°C are more common compared to 28°C+ over summer. The winter months start a transition for the bass. As the water cools, they will move shallower more freely and stay there for longer periods throughout the day. They will use the available cover as ambush points for any small baitfish that swim past. Weed beds, rock walls and timber are the main areas where you should be looking. As

these. Small plastics, stickbaits, jerkbaits and fly are all effective over winter. When starting out for the day I love to use a suspending jerkbait first thing. During low light, these are very quick at determining whether the fish are up high in the water column. An aggressive 2-3 rips to get the bait darting around followed by a three-second pause is an all-round good retrieve. As you bring the jerkbait

When it comes to colours I’m a big fan of chartreuses, whites and silvers in low light or overcast conditions. More natural translucent colours like greens and browns seem to produce in sunny, clear conditions. Lure lengths around 50-90mm are best suited to closely represent the small baitfish. Having a selection of different diving depths is advisable. Have a shallow water one with a small bib and diving depth

Making the effort to be on the water early is worthwhile, as the fishing is always at its best around the light changes. a kayak angler I know I certainly prefer to actively cast towards structure in cold water so clear you can see the bass come out and eat your lure, then fish deep water in summer. Over the winter months the fish will be spread out throughout the whole lake. They’re quite accessible from a kayak, so you won’t need to go far from where you launch. Unlike their wild relatives these fish don’t have the urge to travel downstream and school up. Their main food sources over winter are smelt and small baitfish. When they are keyed onto this bait, you should choose your lures accordingly. Small, slender baits work best for imitating

out into deeper water you may pause a little longer. This gives fish that are sitting slightly deeper on the structure some time to swim up and intercept your bait. A common mistake I see with people starting out is swimming the jerkbait with the reel. You really need to focus on moving the jerkbait with your rod. The jerking or ripping motion you put into the rod tip will spring the jerkbait into action, darting around and turning back on itself. This really gets the fish’s attention and creates those aggressive strikes that bass are known for as they hit them on the pause. The reel should only be used to wind up the slack or bring a fish in.

around 0.5m for fishing high in the water, over the top of weed or casting parallel to structure and the bank. A deeper diving lure (to 1.5m) is suited for fishing the deeper edges like rock walls. However, use some caution when selecting small deep diving suspending hardbodies. The deeper models that can reach 2.5m+ have a longer bib. While they can reach those depths, the long bib inhibits the darting side-to-side action that is required to get the bites; they tend to just surge slowly ahead as that long bib digs in. These deeper styles are mainly suited to a crankbait rather than a jerkbait. To maximise the amount of water you can cover and

BASS get the most depth out of the jerkbait, you need to be able to cast it some distance. I highly advise picking ones that have a casting transfer weight. This allows the weight to move towards the tail of the jerkbait on the cast and create an aerodynamic profile. Some with the fixed weight in the belly have a tendency to helicopter through the air dramatically and reduce your casting distance, the area you can cover and the maximum depth the jerkbait can reach.

Small 2-3” curl-tail grubs and paddle-tails are absolute slayers at this time of year. These are a perfect imitation of a baitfish and allow you to cover lots of water looking for active fish. Rig them on a light jighead like a 1/12oz and fish them up and over weed beds or rig them on a 1/4oz and fish them down deeper along steeper edges. When retrieving these plastics, keep a tight line as you slowly wind in and impart some small twitches with your rod tip. It gives

the plastic a natural little surge as it swims along. This imitates a baitfish in the water as they move along darting forward, looking to escape predators. These plastics, like the grub and paddle-tail, are your all-rounder for this time of year. They are so versatile with how you can use them, whether you work them super slow along the bottom or up high in the water column. I always have a rod rigged up with one of these on the kayak.

One of the author’s favourite wintertime lures is the Daiwa Double Clutch.

Ideal shallow water conditions, like fog, help prolong the bite long into the morning.

Another great bait to use over the cooler months is a soft plastic stickbait. Long and slender in design, these imitate a wounded baitfish perfectly. They have a similar action compared to a jerkbait but these sink and allow you to reach greater depths. They are best unweighted with 1/8oz jigheads. You should always choose the lightest jighead possible to fish, given the conditions such as wind and water depth. The reason for using such light heads is so you won’t send the stickbait plummeting to the bottom.

The light head allows the plastic to slowly sink down; this gives the fish plenty of time to react. Throughout your retrieve you should attempt to follow the contour of the structure, whether it’s weed or just the bottom. Little twitches up with your rod tip will make the stickbait dart around. As you let it fall on a semi slack line it will tumble and turn on descent, imitating a dying baitfish. Most plastic bites over the winter months usually happen as the lure falls back towards the bottom. The bites could be a little tap or a

full-on engulf and streaming drag from your reel. For those tentative bites you need to stay in contact with your lure as it falls. Winding up the slack and closely watching your line for the tell-tale tick is important, so you don’t miss any fish. Most bass will hold onto a plastic if you let them eat it. They have a soft mouth and really do not need an aggressive strike to hook them on a jighead. Once you feel the bite, simply continue your slow roll or wind up the slack line feeling for extra weight. This will be the bass To page 28

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MAY 2018

BASS From page 27

with the plastic in its mouth. Then wind quicker while leaning back on the rod; this is enough to hook the fish. If you start striking aggressively you will rip the plastic away from the fish, often scaring them off. When you just continue

Kayak bass fishing over winter might not sound the best but the rewards far outweigh the negatives. Proper preparation towards safety can see you having a ball out on the water. The recent NSW Maritime law brought in requiring all canoe and kayakers to wear

reach the shore or get back on your kayak. The modern inflatable style PFDs are easy to wear and fish in, with the added security if anything should happen. I also like to pack a dry bag with a change of clothes, even when I am fishing from my boat in

This heavyweight bass was caught over some shallow weed.

Warm, glassed-out, bluebird sky days often follow those frosty mornings in NSW. your retrieve, feeling for that extra weight, you can get them to come back and eat it. Some fish may bite a plastic numerous times before you actually hook them. Patience is required, but once you resist the urge to strike you will catch a ton more fish.

a PFD at all times is a great ruling, especially in winter when you are going to have extra clothes on during this time of year. In the unfortunate event that you do end up in the water, the added weight of heavy clothes will fatigue you and make it hard to

winter. If you do end up in the water, a dry set of clothes will warm you up quickly compared to a long paddle back to your vehicle. Some extra items that will make your trip a little more enjoyable are things like a thermos with a hot meal, coffee or tea. Having a

short break on the shore to recharge and warm up will get you keen again to get back out there. Another item I feel is a must-have is a pair of wetsuit boots. It is almost inevitable that you are going to get your feet wet while launching your kayak. A set of thick diving or wetsuit boots can help keep your feet dry, and the snug fitting material traps the body heat in to prevent

your feet from getting cold. Some fingerless gloves and hand warmers in the pockets can keep the feeling in your fingertips too. Most modern-day weather apps and forecasts are quite accurate these days. Having winds forecast by the hour and being able to track storm fronts and rain makes it easier than ever to plan fishing trips in the open waters of a lake. Fishing with

a friend is always advised, or at least tell someone your expected return time as an added insurance. Adding a couple of extra items to your existing kayaking gear can help you enjoy the excellent winter bass fishing that the NSW impoundments have to offer. Bass fishing doesn’t always have to be a spring and summer option. I think you will be pleasantly surprised!

n o e b o t t Wan f o r e v o C the ? y l h t n o M Fishing Do you love your monthly issue of Fishing Monthly? Do you think it’s about time you were on the cover? Well, we think that too, and are offering you the chance to do just that. The June, July and August issues of Queensland, NSW and Victoria/Tasmania FMs will all feature readers’ pics on the front covers. And there’s no reason why it can’t be you... 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’. • • • • • • •

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. Be sure to include your details, too, because we’ll post out a framed copy of the winning covers to the entrant.

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MAY 2018

Anglers enjoying a mix of seasonal species THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

With all the bad weather over the last few months, most systems in the Tweed have had a good flush and as the old saying goes, ‘out with the old and in with the new.’ The Tweed is fishing well; as we get more of the season change, we get

river mouths and on close isolated reefs. There are still good whiting and flathead around in the skinny water. The bass are really firing up as they start to go into spawning mode and make their way back to the salt. Dams and back creeks are still fishing well this month. Offshore there have been a few pelagics around over the last month. Blacks,

Obi Baines with a little Tweed GT. more species overlapping – a blending of the species, so to speak. This is great for all anglers in most styles of fishing. We’re still seeing the odd pelagic here and there as a few loose stragglers make their way back up the coast to warmer water. Some Spanish mackerel are still hanging around as they make their way back up the coast. Snapper are becoming more prolific on close reefs, as are a few mixed species such as pearlies, spangled emperor, golden snapper and Maori cod along with the summer pelagics. There are still a few jacks being caught with the warm water still in the rivers. GTs and bigeye are starting to feed up more around the rockwalls. With the dirty water the mulloway have come on the bite around the

blues and wahoo are still being caught inside the 36s, outside the 24-fathoms and especially around the 80m lines. Trolled skirts are still catching the bigger and better fish.

Spaniards are starting to bite better this month as the second run of fish make their way back up the coast. Trolled baits and lures are working best. Try NineMile, Five-Mile, South Reef and around the cape for the best results. Spotty and school macks have been caught on metals and drifted pilchards. Try Fidos, the Five-Mile, South Reef, Point Reef, the Canyons off Kingy and Black Rock Reef for a bit of toothy fun. Snapper are starting to come on the bite and bigger models are moving onto closer reefs like the 24s, 36s, and 50-fathoms. Most close reefs are seeing better-sized fish, and sunup is still best time to target them. Drift baits, plastics and micro-jigs are working best and will get you a nice feed. There are still mixed reef species on these same reefs. Yakkas and bonnies can be caught around Point Reef, Kirra and 10-Minute if you need fresh bait. With all the storms over the last few months, the estuary systems have had a really good flush, which has moved all the bait out into the main section of the rivers and fired the jacks up as they feed up before spawning. Some really good fish are being caught, especially with the northerlies. The best fishing is still at night on the run-in tides, which have been producing more and bettersized fish. Live baits and large strip baits work best at the moment. Some really big cod are being taken this way too. Remember estuary

Mason Maloney with a big end-ofseason wahoo, which went 23kg.

Paul with a haul of flatties and whiting caught on a charter with Brad Smith. cod are a protected species in NSW and must be released. GTs and big-eye have been chasing bait along the rockwalls and around the bridges of a night. Live herring are still fishing best. Whiting are still up in the skinny water; stickbaits and popper lures are fishing well, as are yabbies and worms. Look for filling sand banks with good, clear water flowing over them. Working these same banks on a run-out tide with plastics, vibes, blades and hardbody lures will see you connect with a lot of goodsized flathead. The bream are starting their season and will school up on structure around the bridges, rock walls, and most structure. Fishing these areas with small plastics, artificial lures and lightly weighted baits is your best bet. There are still a few crabs moving around; try the bigger tides and the various holes around the Tweed and the Tweed Coast. The beaches have seen great numbers of dart moving around the various gutters, headlands and rock walls. Fish with small strip baits, white bait, small metals and plastics; these have been catching some great fish over the last month. A few tailor

have been found in these spots as well. Try bigger metals, poppers, shallow diving hardbody lures and stickbaits. Try the southern beaches in the northerlies and northern beaches in the southerlies. Crushing up pilchards in the sand or deploying a

Chris Butler with a solid cobia. slow trickle of cubes will keep the fish in the gutters in front of you rather than moving around. Mac tuna and bonnies can be found in these places too. Look for birds working. The odd mulloway can also be caught on beach worms in the bigger gutters at night. Try down Hastings Point to Byron Bay for the best results. The odd

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large silver bream will hang around in these gutters too. The freshwater fishing is really starting to fire up. The weather has flushed most systems and has the bass munching as they race to the salt to spawn. Any weir, dam walls, drains or areas under structure near the salt and fresh to salt runoffs are fishing really well. Cicadas, frogs, bugs, vibes and blades are working well at dusk and dawn, and deep diving hardbodies are working better once the sun is established. Clarrie Hall Dam and the back creeks around Uki are fishing well this month too. As we get further into the season change we will see more of the winter species come in and play. The weather should start to settle down and we should start seeing some really good winter days. The currents will slow down on close reefs again, which open up bottom bashing and jigging to anglers. The snapper and mixed reefies will thicken up on close reefs. The mackerel will start to go off the bite with the water temperatures dropping, and the pelagics will keep heading north on

their migratory journey. Cobia should start to follow the whales up the coast too. Jacks, whiting and cod will start to slow up as they finish their spawning season. Mulloway, bream and luderick should start to school up more. Tailor will start their run up the coast to Fraser. We will see the packs of tuna start to show up too.

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MAY 2018

Dirty water has stirred up decent fishing BALLINA

Joe Allan

The beaches and rock walls around Ballina have had some great activity over the last month. The dirty water has really stirred up the mulloway and they’re on the chew big time. There have also been some tailor showing up in very consistent numbers with the best spots being out the front of Boundary Creek and along the front of the Broadwater rocks. The tried and tested blue

pilchards and metal slugs have been great during the day but the better fish have been coming on pilchards and cut baits. Between the tailor, some quality snowy bream have been showing up. Offshore has been going well for mackerel with these showing up later than expected. Trolling 100-150mm divers seems to be working very well. Once you’ve found the active fish try casting lures for them. Out the front of Lennox Head, the 32-fathoms have seen good numbers

of juvenile snapper and surprisingly good numbers of flathead around the edges of the reefs. Out wider there are also great numbers of quality amberjack being taken. The north and south walls of the Richmond have been fishing well for bream. The pick has been south wall on the run-out tide. Try fishing surface lures like the Atomic Pop50 and crankbaits like the Crank 38 Mid Diver over the porpoise wall when the water is flowing over. There can be some great visual action as the fish come from

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Bass can still be targeted in the Richmond River, however anglers should be reminded that these are no take species for the next four months. the depths to hit your lures. As the tide gets lower and you can’t fish over the wall anymore, try hopping blades and prawn imitation soft plastics down the rock face. The bigger holes behind the town have been producing good numbers of mulloway and this should continue as the water starts to cool down. Live mullet

chasing anything that comes in front of their faces. Just remember, the big girls are the breeders, so please put them back. Once they get big they’re not that nice to eat anyway. Take a couple of snaps and quickly get them back into the water. It’s great watching a big crocodile swimming back down to the depths.

frames. One little secret from an old local crabber is to save your luderick frames and use them for crab baits. The oily frames seem to bring good numbers in. Before and during the big wet the freshwater stretches of the river were fishing well for Aussie bass. Big spinnerbaits with gold willow blades were

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MAY 2018

Mackenzie Luck and Steven Pryke with some snapper from a beautiful day offshore. have definitely been the best bait, but you will get them on big soft plastics during the day. If you’re chasing the beasts, the best fish have come on the making tide during the night time. You will find some big flathead will come along as by-catch; these guys are in the holes

Crabs have been around in really good numbers. The dirty water around the Easter break definitely stirred things up a bit, and this should continue over the next month or so. Try mostly upriver from Pimlico towards Wardell. The best baits are whole mullet or mullet

producing the best numbers along with chatterbaits. One cool thing about the dirty water runoff coming out of the drains is you can actually fish some pretty big topwater baits during the middle of the day. The dirty water makes the bass a lot less skittish and more aggressive.

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Cooler water invites fish closer YAMBA

Dave Gaden

May usually means the water temperature is starting to drop in this part of the coast. This can be a good thing, as a lot of the target reef fish actually like colder water and come in close, making them more accessible to us anglers trying to catch a feed.

that there may be a heap of cobia following them. Having a live bait at the ready as a few whales cruise past the boat can produce some of the biggest cobia you may ever catch. The mackerel seemed to go around us this year, and we had a pretty average run. There were almost more Spanish and wahoo than spotties, which is a little weird. This happened

right up to 21 June. I think the huge bait shoals held them, and with the amount of frogmouth and white pilchards out the front at the moment, this could be a fun month. May is also the month I like to head wide on those dead calm slick mornings. Heading out to the 50-fathom line both northeast and southeast of the bar, you can expect to get good numbers of pearl perch and snapper this month. The blistering currents that had kept us away for the last of summer and early autumn should have eased, making this ground a lot easier to fish. If you are new at this deep water fishing, you will find it easy to see the snapper and

kingfish as they will bunch up tight and give you a good show on the sounder. This doesn’t happen so much with the pearlies. Pearl perch on the wide ground are usually spread well apart over the hard rock with wire weed. Quite often you will just pick up consistent blue spots close to the bottom on the sounder, and this is the ground you need to drift. Pig fish will be mixed amongst them, and these are one of my favourite table fish. For those not heading wide or who for some reason don’t like mackerel, the southern reef from Angourie through to Sandon will have nice snapper, teraglin and Venus tuskfish. You can start to get in a bit shallower for

Carly Harrison with a double header of snapper and trag!

Lynn Squire from Gympie nailed this cobia. For the last five years I have seen humpback whales go past Yamba on the second week of May on their migration north. This is a good sign that the season is changing, but a better sign

about four years ago and although they were almost non-existent on the south run, they were fantastic on the return north. The spotties turned up at the start of May and we caught them

David Farawell was pretty pleased with this quality mulloway.

your snapper this month, with unweighted floating baits or plastics. The Bommie, Shelly Headland and Plumbago are all worth a shot. The north ground will have a lot of teraglin this month from Black Rock and Italian Grounds to South Evans Reef. Look for the shoals of baitfish close to the bottom and try to anchor 10m upcurrent from the shoal. Make sure to use as light a sinker as you can comfortably get to the bottom using blue pillies and mullet fillets for bait. I’d also put a bait jig on and send another

rig down with a live bait on. This will get the bigger trag but also the mulloway that will be lurking under the shoal of bait. Off the rocks this month there should be some reasonable tailor about. The breakwalls on both the Yamba and Iluka side will hold reasonable fish, but the bigger tailor always seem to come from either Iluka Bluff or Frazers Reef on the north side. There is still a very good chance of a longtail tuna or Spanish mackerel from the walls this month, so don’t go fishing too light

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MAY 2018

or you may lose the fish of a lifetime. In the estuaries this month, with the water temperature dropping and the river having a nice fresh in March, things should really start to liven up. Bream will start to build up in big numbers in preparation for the June spawn. Night fishing for bream in May is great. I like to anchor near Middle Wall and spend the first 2-3 hours of dark catching these sliver beauties. Light and fresh bait is the secret, and

I like to use prawns and live yabbies, but honestly, when the fish are there in good numbers you could catch them on kitchen scraps. Luderick or blackfish will be extremely hungry, as the fresh would have diminished their food stocks, and just like the bream they will bestarting to bunch up for the spawn. If you are having difficulty getting green or black weed, the cabbage from the surf rocks will be the best choice. You can keep this cabbage

alive for some weeks in a bucket full of saltwater with a good amount of sunlight on it during the day, just remember to change the water every second day. One trip to the rocks should give you enough cabbage for the week. Flathead will be moving into the shallows this month keeping their backs warm. I really like the entrance to Serpentine Channel upstream from Browns Rocks on the edge of Turkey Island. Soft plastic fishing around the old

a Prawn Blade Yamb s” “ While the season hasn’t been terrific, the Spanish mackerel are still available, as Khye McEwan found out recently.

Mahimahi are another species that’s still being taken out wide.

cane barges will get a feed every day. The entrance to Lake Woolawayah around Joss Island will fish well this month on the start of the run-out. A larger and darker plastic seems to bring them unstuck up here, but don’t discount using a small hardbody like the Zerek Tango shad or Atomic Hardz if the plastic doesn’t produce. As always, if you are visiting beautiful Yamba and need some advice or would like to jump aboard one of my charters, call into my shop at Yamba Marina and we will do all we can to help you catch a few.

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Time to say hello to the cooler side of fishing COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

Although much of the offshore fishing will persist in warm water mode for a little longer, May brings a few official signs that the warmer half of the year is winding up.

The start of the month brings a close to the bass fishing season in NSW. The rain during the early parts of autumn means the bass will already be on their way down to the brackish water to do their thing. May signifies the beginning of the no-take period, which means that any bass caught must be released immediately unharmed.

As the bass use this time to spawn and produce the future bass populations, most anglers choose to leave them alone completely. The more the bass are hassled during spawning, the less bass will be produced and therefore there will be less bass to keep the population going strong. Those who are fishing the upper estuaries

Jason O’Brien threw his Sugapen at some tiny ripples on the flats. His 4lb gear was thoroughly tested when this river kingfish grabbed his lure.

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for other species are likely to come across some bass, so make sure they’re kept in the water if possible and released as soon as possible. May also signifies only a bit over a month left for the trout season. We will usually see active trout during this last month as they prepare for the winter and their spawning time, that is for the ones that bother with that side of the life cycle. Although many trout in our rivers may not be too successful at sustaining their own populations, they do still go through the motions. Just as if they were in some Californian alpine stream or babbling brook in England, some of the bigger fish in our streams will eat up, go searching for the right area and set up camp for the winter. The good news is that during this month you should find the trout quite active, eating up the last of the summer bounty of insect hatches and enjoying the milder water temperatures of autumn. Streamers are the go-to for fly anglers in the deeper, darker rivers at this time of year; use them to search for the more active fish. Small Woolly Buggers and the like also work well in smaller streams where you can see the fish. You need to stay small to avoid spooking the fish

May can offer some sensational days for family fishing. Zarli Grace Boney caught this bream using the classic kids estuary technique of a float, a small hook and bread. Spin rods offer the only way to cover the ground in these larger sections of river. Diving minnows, spinners and even small spinnerbaits can work well in rivers like the Nymboida where the area is large and the fish numbers low. Target the likely areas, like flowing water over bouldery riverbed, under trees, little eddies behind

Bethany Worley had to get right down near the river mouth to find some clearer conditions in Boambee Creek after rain. The bread under a float trick worked for her too. in a shallow stream and be very patient. It’s best to only move to dries and emergers if you’re seeing rises, or if there’s a hatch that utterly convinces you. Most fly anglers don’t take much convincing to switch to dry fly though – I certainly don’t. This is also the time of year when you will find some trout running further than expected. It’s unknown why some trout migrate to spawn and some don’t, but at this time of year you can expect to find some decent trout in parts of the rivers that you normally consider too low.

rocks or on a river bend – anything that looks like a good ambush predator haunt. It may be less fun than sight fishing and a bit slower fishing than the alpine creeks, but generally it’s not going to be fingerlings hanging out in these sections – it’s going to be much bigger fish. We will see a cooling down in the estuaries over this month as the active summer species such as mangrove jack and trevally dial down their aggression and hand back the stage to the bream and mulloway. This month is a great time for some night time estuary

sessions. Tide changes an hour after sunset are prime times for targeting mulloway and big bream around the bridges, breakwalls and deeper holes in our local estuaries. This month sees them mingling with schools of bass in the upper estuaries following the masses of white bait moving up the rivers. Obviously matching the hatch is the plan. White bait is the obvious choice if you’re using fresh or frozen bait. If using lures, 4 and 5” pearl watermelon PowerBaits are one of the most popular choices. Try anything that mimics a small baitfish. Offshore is one area of fishing that won’t quite be ready to transition towards the cool side. Water temperatures in the ocean will usually remain warm well into winter, so while we can still expect to see some movement of the snapper towards inshore grounds, we will also enjoy the mackerel and other warm water predators for a little longer. The autumn has been slow in parts on the mackerel side of things. Heavy periods of rain and a wandering East Australian Current have left us with periods of cooler, green water that have seen the mackerel fishing less consistent than other years. Hopefully as the autumn progresses we will see less rain and fewer northeasterly wind patterns leading to warmer and bluer inshore waters. May is a month of warm and cold mixing. Whether you’re hoping to hold onto those last grasps of summer, or you’re busting to break out the winter fishing beanie and thermos, I hope your mixed bag is full.

Gamefishers are still having the billfish blues COFFS GAME

Glen Booth

Boat ramp or not, Coffs Harbour remains in the gamefishing doldrums, and many of us continue to question why this once great gamefishing destination has had so many dud seasons in a row. Sure, there’s the occasional spike in activity, but when you note the steady bites happening to the north and south of here, you do wonder where our consistent seasons have gone. Indicative of this was the Solitary Islands Game Fishing Club’s final Heavy Tackle Challenge, which was a fairly subdued affair. Wind from every direction and bucketing rain made for a truly horrible day on the water on the Saturday. Fortunately, the only activity was inside the shelf line and out of the current. Sunday was only slightly more fishable, but still hard work. There were a couple of blues caught, which saved the reputation of the event. All up there were nine blacks, three blues and two striped marlin tagged from 14 boats. Seaborn won the event with three blacks, She’s A Dream was hot on their heels in second, and Phillet was third. SANDBAR STILL NEEDS WORK Don’t come fishing at Coffs! That seems to be the attitude of Coffs Harbour City Council, who once again failed to maintain the boat ramp approaches to a navigable standard over the

Easter long weekend. A sandbar at the entrance to the ramp needs ongoing removal and the council has a long arm excavator for that very purpose, but it’s no good sitting there parked on

After numerous complaints to the council hotline, a couple of hours’ digging late on Saturday morning was too little, too late. Over the following week the sand build-up was

unless you have wheels on your boat you’re going to get stuck. And plenty did. If it was a car rally, a triathlon, or a touch footy event, this would not be a non-issue, but the council’s

skewed priorities and total disregard for the fishers of Coffs and the tourists they supposedly want to attract is just staggering. Somebody is going to get seriously hurt, or worse – killed, before anything is done. Major infrastructure changes such as a permanent dredge or

even a rock groyne are too expensive apparently. Well how about some simple ongoing maintenance then? It’s not that hard. Council, we know about the sand movement issues, so stop sooking about it. You’ve got an excavator there – use it.

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every bit as bad. A spokesman for the CHCC, who didn’t actually visit the ramp to see for himself but was apparently all over the situation, questioned the experience of those using it and claimed locals didn’t have any problems. Absolute rubbish! Every boat I saw strike trouble was a local, and no matter how experienced, if there’s a sandbar in the way,

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MAY 2018

Surprises are coming up all over the place NAMBUCCA

Riley Wilson

May in the Nambucca Valley normally marks the back end of the pelagic season and with that, a whole bunch of new species will emerge for the masses to target. While the pelagic season has been good this year, with some great mackerel and cobia caught, it’s not over yet! There have been a few times when friends of mine have been spinning for tailor and connected to a runaway tuna or cobia. Even worse, some have been

snipped off by a mackerel. This time of year can yield many surprises, so it’s worth being ready for anything. With the cooler weather it can be a great time to

This lure could not escape the tailor.

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bream with good old cooked prawns on a mid-weight spin rod. After a bit of rough weather and swell these three will bite really well, especially if a bit of bread berley is introduced to the wash you are fishing. A rising tide in the morning or evening is my favourite; throw in the possibility of a tailor or salmon and it’s a winning session – just make sure you are wearing a set of appropriate footwear and be safe. Having another rod rigged and ready with a metal lure, popper or diving minnow is a great way to capitalize on the sudden arrival of flocks of birds over a foaming mass of salmon or to cast with pinpoint accuracy in front of some skipping garfish obviously trying to evade the scissorlike jaws of pursuing tailor. It’s amazing how it can happen; one minute you are feeding another prawn on your hook or unhooking an undersize bream when all of a sudden mayhem breaks loose and you can almost hear the snapping jaws of the tailor decimating a school

of anything they decide to attack. Throwing a lure in with the fleeing bait can be an almost certain hook-up and the feeling right as they hit your offering is pretty cool, especially because you were anticipating it with every crank of the reel handle and then ‘wham!’ Right on cue for the end of bass season we got a good flush of rain here in the Nambucca and I wouldn’t be surprised if we had some early migrators coming down ready to spawn over the coming months. It’s nothing but good news for our native fish stocks when the weather plays the game and allows them to do their thing. The one thing that isn’t good news though is the presence of koi carp in Warrell Creek and (I’ve heard) in some of the main river sections as well. Big, speckled, mud-sucking, bank-eroding, baby-basseating carp! They have been there for a few years and I personally reported it to DPI. They responded to the local fishing club saying that floods and sharks will do the job to clean them up. It has been three or so years

The last of the bass season. and they are only gaining prevalence, so that idea hasn’t worked. If you are already having freshwater withdrawals then maybe a trip up Waterfall Way will cure your problems with a calming stroll along the small streams looking for a

few trout. It always does me well just being up there. • If you are fishing on the Nambucca or just want some great gear and the best advice, drop in and see Riley or Rob at the Boatshed Cafe and say hi they will be happy to help with all your fishing needs.

This time of year can yield many surprises, so it’s worth being ready for anything. Now where are those tailor?

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Cooler water and bigger fish SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

May is here already and you can feel the change in the air. Cooler starts and shorter days bring with them a whole new range of species to target. Although it can

Just look for something that imitates the baitfish that are present in the area and you are in the game. Early season tailor numbers are good, with some solid fish amongst them. Most have been taken from the rocks, but there have still been some crackers taken from the surf.

increasing every day around the rocks and along the beaches. Fishing the lightest line possible for the location is always the key to success when chasing bream, whether it be bait or artificial, and you only want to be using just enough weight to get you into the strike zone where the fish are holding.

A quality end of season wahoo taken on the troll. sometimes be hard to find the motivation in the cooler weather, if you put in the effort, you will definitely be rewarded. A lot of the focus in the Macleay Valley will shift towards beach fishing over the next few months. Large schools of mullet are already on the move ready for their spawning run. With the commencement of this run, it is time to start targeting the larger predatory species such as mulloway, tailor and big flathead. After some very heavy rain before Easter, the river rose quite considerably. Good numbers of mulloway and flathead have been congregating in the first few kilometres of the river, where most of the baitfish from the entire system have been pushed to. Fishing live baits will be very effective, and they should be easy to gather in these areas. Big soft plastics and large hardbody lures can account for just as many fish as bait on any given day.

Longtail tuna are everywhere of late, taking everything from live baits to metal lures and stickbaits. Rock hoppers, boaties and beach anglers have all been in on the action, with plenty of fish in the 15-20kg range. Bream numbers are good in the estuaries and are

We are now heading towards the end of a fairly average mackerel season, however the late season bite has been fair and there has been the inclusion of some good wahoo and plenty of tuna. Pearl perch and trag have been coming in reasonable numbers from the deeper

reefs with most of the action from outside of 60m. Snapper have also been on the bite on the mackerel grounds, although thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no real size to them as yet. Yellowfin and mac tuna are mixed in with the beforementioned longtails all along our coastline. These smaller tuna are awesome sport on light gear, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well worth having a lure set up, as they tend to pop up anywhere at any time. Moving upstream, the cooler weather has kick-started the bass migration. Decent rainfall has lifted the river levels, allowing for the fish to have a relatively uninterrupted run. The fish are still hitting surface lures hard during the low light hours. Throughout the day, spinnerbaits and divers are more successful. Catches upstream are thinning out, but are ever increasing in the tidal zones around Kempsey. There are still a few months left to target this species before they are closed down for winter.

Sam with a nice clean beach bream.

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Let the winter season begin THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

Even though we are now starting the colder part of the year the fishing remains hot and hopefully

Plomer Bay has again produced the goods, with a flotilla of vessels trolling lures and live baiting this area consistently. There have been plenty of livies on the bait grounds, so procuring some decent bait is not a problem. If you can get out

live baiting and spinning for them have been getting a few. Locals walking the Camden Haven walls have seen the bluefin inside the mouth of the river smashing up the plentiful bait that has been in the area of late, so an early morning spin

or 10/0 size snelled hooks, a running star sinker off a shorter lighter trace running to a quality swivel. My beach rods are 12-footers and I run 25-30lb mono as main line; the hook trace is 60lb and sinker dropper usually about 20lb. In most locations on the beach you won’t encounter much gear loss, however there will be spots near reefs where you may and the occasional shark will bite you off, so have a few rigs ready. Personally I love fish baits at this time of year, hence the tailor fishing, but I will also use fresh mullet and I’ve caught beach mulloway on salmon fillet as well. On the beach, if conditions allow, set your big rod up in a sand spike and in the meantime flick around with a smaller strip of mullet on a 1/0 size hook. This can get you a nice feed of big silver winter bream – just be wary not to wander off too far from your

On a recent trip to Copeton Mandy landed her first metre cod! RIVERS May heralds the mullet run. Bream start their spawning movements and to the local river sport fishos this means deep water vibing or soft plastics and maybe a bit more of the slow pitched jigging. Bream will school up in the deeper areas of the rivers

numbers of bream as well as the school-sized mulloway that also take these lures – these will really liven up your fishing day! Metal vibes are great and my personal favourite is the soft vibes from Samaki. These lures will get a serious workout over the coming months. May is

Todd with a good-sized whiting caught on plastics in 6m. the Spanish mackerel, spotties and cobia will hang around for a few more weeks. The season has been patchy by all reports with some real good days and then also the dreaded donut days!

during the week to try, you won’t have quite as many boats to contend with. SPEEDSTERS OFF THE ROCKS Point Perp’ south of Port Macquarie has had a good run of bluefin and the fishos

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off the breakwall may be worth a try. BEACH FISHING May is a good time to be hitting one of the many local beaches in the area as bream, mulloway, salmon and tailor will start to fire. The mullet will be doing their spawning thing so mulloway over the next few months will be a real chance. I like to choose my spot in the daytime by checking the local beaches for gutters, spits and holes. Once I’m satisfied I have a location I will come back an hour or so before high to start my session; this will often include an hour or so of trying for tailor, as live or freshly dead bait is primo for a mulloway caper. My rigs will all be prepared at home and put into snap lock bags so it’s easy to change rigs without wasting too much fishing time. My main rig is two 8/0

Zac Watts with a top Spanish mackerel from a recent trip. mulloway rod, as I have seen anglers do in the past. Make sure your bream gear is up to scratch – the next big mulloway that takes a small strip will not be the last!

and the breakwalls will be main areas for you to try. At this time of the year you can have some incredible sessions using vibes. You catch big

here so get out on the water and don’t miss out on the fun – just remember to only keep what you need for a feed, as it will not be hard to get a few.

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A couple of great bream caught on Samaki vibes for Jason Hicks.

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The best month of fishing FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

Well, I asked for rain in March and April, and we got way too much all at once! The end of March saw a rain event that we haven’t seen the likes of since 2000, where flash flooding, road closures and safety concerns were on everyone’s mind. Never the less, the local rivers and estuaries got a good flush, a flush that would have been better timed around Christmas for the saltwater fishing and in late June for

the fresh. We got a rise in the river like we did this time last year and now it should be almost back to normal; provided there’s no more rain. The significance of such a rain event is it can shove the bream, mullet and luderick along and encourage them to head offshore. Bream are already showing up along the coast and while there only a few decent fish in the schools at the moment, there should be a big push this month for more fish to make the run. OFFSHORE The rain hasn’t slowed the offshore fishing in the

slightest, with mahimahi all over the FAD. Small black marlin are pushing in close to the coast and bait bouncing the reefs will

now. They started to appear mid-March with a trickle of fish, but they are certainly thicker now. I’ve seen a few pictures of Spanish from the

Great-eating fish like pearl perch are hanging around the offshore reefs this month, along with trag, dory and small snapper. The size and quality of the pigs, even from a local beach, is impressive, and with luck this will lead to a top season of burning drags and busted tackle.

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surrender flathead, trag, pan-sized snapper and the odd pearl perch. So life is good when the conditions allow access to the big puddle off the coast. Spotties and Spanish are making a good show

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MAY 2018

they head out to do the wild thing. Whether you’re using plastics, hardbodies or bait, the bream will be eager to eat. With some luck, the last of the decent surface bite will still be happening too.

Spotties and Spanish are the primary targets during their brief visit to the coast.

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rocks south of Forster, and have even heard a few were caught at Black Head, so I guess if you put in the hours you may get rewarded. It isn’t surprising, considering the mass of garfish that have been hugging the coastal

dark. No doubt you’ll catch bream and school mulloway on the yabbies, but the blackies will eat them if they are in the mood. I think May would have to be one of the best months

rocks. Shane Crockett from Forster Sport and Game fishing charters sent me some of the pictures for this month’s column and he has certainly been doing a great job for his clients. Whether it is game, sport or bottom bouncing, he has you covered. ESTUARY The breakwall should fish well for bream, blackfish and mulloway this month. There is still a hint of run-off in the water and plenty of mullet darting through the entrance as they run to sea. This is enough to have the mulloway haunting the rocks on the slack and first of the run-out tide. Evening and early mornings are best for the bream, and the luderick often just need the first of the run-out tide. If you can’t find weed for the luderick, try them on yabbies after

for big bream in the oyster racks. The rain has shifted a lot of fish into the lower section of the rivers and they will be putting on as much condition as they can before

ROCKS When things slow down in the estuary after this month, it’s nice to know the rock fishing will be hitting To page 41

Don’t neglect the benefit of a live bait close to the bottom. Mulloway like this one and big trag love them.

Bream are on the move HARRINGTON-TAREE

Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

Thankfully we have had some rain in the upper reaches of the Manning River. It was not enough to put a decent fresh in the river, but it did put enough flow in the river to allow the mullet to come down the river. The dirty water ran out to the sea for about a day at Harrington and then the clear, blue seawater pushed in to the wall on half tide in. There was still dirty water coming down the river on the run-out tide last month, but from half tide in to half tide out the clear seawater was lapping up against the river wall. The bream are biting very well while the salty seawater is pushing into the river. Some nice catches of bream have been taken on baits of mullet flesh and gut. The small fresh will also bring some of the flathead back down the river for a few weeks. ESTUARY The small fresh has really stirred up the fish. Bream and whiting are taking baits when the seawater pushes into the Manning. The sand spit in the mouth of the river is producing great catches of whiting on yabbies, beach worms and pipis. As the blue seawater pushes father up the river on each tide, we can expect the small tailor and mulloway to come back into the estuary. Bream can be caught from the river wall at Harrington, the spur wall on the Manning Point side and anywhere up river where there are oyster racks, wharves or rocks From page 40

its stride. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good numbers of pigs being caught lately, and in good sizes, and this is great encouragement that we are in for a better winter on the rocks than last year, where the water took a long time to cool down and it stayed clear for way too long. Tailor, bream, salmon, silver trevally, pigs, silver drummer and mac tuna are potential customers off the rocks and I am very much looking forward to the action. Remember that you should never use imported uncooked prawns for bait. For more information, search for biosecurity on the DPI website. BASS ARE BACK ON IT The rain has been a godsend with regard to

on the edge of the river. Luderick will have made their presence felt by this time and will take green weed during the day and fresh yabbies at night. Mullet are still moving out of the river and these schools of fish attract the big predatory fish like sharks and mulloway, as well as the bream and tailor that feed on the scraps dropped by the big fish. BEACH AND ROCK Once the discoloured water is moved from the beaches and headlands, we will have the schools of small baitfish coming in close to the land, and with them will be the schools of chopper tailor and the fish that feed on the tailor. Mulloway and some of the small mackerel species will be able to be spun from

the rocks and the beaches. Tailor will also be able to be caught on pilchard and garfish baits. Drummer and groper can be caught from the headlands fairly reliably at this time of year. OFFSHORE When conditions have allowed, some great fishing has been experienced by the anglers outside. Spanish mackerel, longtail tuna and bonito have been harassing the schools of small baitfish in the area. Around the close in reefs, snapper and trag have been most prolific, while flathead are still being caught on the drift. May is one of the top months to fish the Harrington area, so make sure you find time to enjoy this wonderful part of the coast.

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Rod Stokes with a couple of river bream caught on mullet strips. the freshwater fishing, and the bass in particular. From water restrictions to plenty for everyone, the rise in the local streams was more than enough to revive what was looking very dire. The rain was too early to do more than shift the fish a

little downstream, so you will be able to enjoy some bass action in your regular haunts. With a bit of luck, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get more rain in June that moves the fish to the top of the brackish water. Enjoy May and make the most of all it has to offer.

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The small mahimahi have grown over the last month or so, and at this size they are very tasty. MAY 2018

Crossover month will bring great rewards PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

May is one of the most productive fishing months of the year in Port Stephens, as it tends to be a real crossover period, where the season for many fish over overlap. Fish like snapper, bream, luderick, tailor and salmon all become more active this month, but at the same time it’s not to late to catch longtail tuna, cobia, flathead, whiting or even a marlin! Inside the estuary, luderick will begin to take up residency along Nelson

Bay, Anchorage and Winda Woppa rockwalls. I find that luderick prefer cabbage baits over weed at this time of year, which is convenient, as the weed can often be hard to source this early in the season. The bream fishing is only going to get better and better over the next few months, with just about every bit of structure from Tea Gardens to Karuah potentiality holding kilo plus bream. Casting small hardbodied lures or lightly-weighted plastics around these kinds of areas should prove deadly, or alternatively you could anchor up and send some unweighted nippers down a berley trail.

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Flatties will still be in good numbers until the end of May, before quickly going quiet as the water cools down for winter. This time of year I find the fish will be moving back up the bay, with the mouths of Tilligery and Karuah systems holding numbers of fish. On first light, schools of tailor have been busting up through the moorings at Shoal Bay and around the boulders on the inside of Yaacaba Headland. Small metal lures in the 10-25g range will be perfect to get connected to a few, and there should also be the odd salmon moving with them. It’s not too late for a longtail tuna, so be sure to have a rod rigged up ready to cast at them if they suddenly bust up next to your boat.

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Luderick are a fantastic fish to target using cabbage weed during the cooler months. of bonito, mac tuna and tailor around. Drummer should start to get thicker around the white

month, with good whiting still around and plenty of bream moving along the beaches too. Stockton, Samuari, Fingal

Big mulloway are always a chance when the mercury drops! OFF THE ROCKS Spinning a metal or stickbait will be highly productive this month, with longtail tuna still a chance. There’s also plenty

water and will take a liking to an unweighted bit of cunjevoi or large peeled prawn cast out on a 1/0 hook with a running size 0 ball sinker. THE BEACHES There is some brilliant beach fishing to be had this

and Hawks Nest beaches should all be firing, just pick a good looking gutter and fish it with live worms or pipis an hour before the high tide. OFFSHORE Longtails are still firing around the headlands and

there is always a chance of a cobia in May, especially when live baiting around the shallow reefs in less then 30m of water. You’ll also find plenty of other species to keep you entertained while live baiting at this time of year, with everything from kings and bonito through to mac tuna, and even the chance of a late season inshore black. Snapper should really be on the chew now as the water begins to cool off. Quality snapper to the magical 10kg mark can be caught around the shallow reefs and islands from Fingal Bay through to Seal Rocks, but you need to fish for them the right way to have success. The biggest mistake many anglers make fishing for reds is drifting the shallows using paternoster style rigs with large snapper sinkers. While this technique is fine on the deeper 50m plus reefs, the shallows require a more stealthy approach, with casting and retrieving soft plastics on 20lb braided outfits or anchoring up setting a berley trail and drifting down some unweighted baits being the best options.

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MAY 2018

Good hauls of flathead will still be possible during May.

A true test for all anglers HUNTER COAST

Shannon Malone

With winter fast approaching, and the end of those warm autumn days we had in April, its time to dig out the jumpers and beanies as the temperature begins to fall. The colder months are a true test for all anglers, as the keen ones still get amongst the action while others prefer the comforts of a warm bed. It might be tempting to stay indoors, but now is one of the best times of the year to fish. Target species include flathead, mulloway, salmon, tailor, squire (juvenile snapper) and bream, just to name a few. Although traditionally baitfishing is the usual approach by anglers, methods such as flicking soft plastics, hardbodies and vibes are increasing in popularity. Vibes are becoming a yearround choice for many anglers, and both soft and metal blade styles work particularly well at this time of year for enticing fish from the deeper water and dropoffs of the harbour. With so many lure choices and equal amounts

of species on offer, if you haven’t tried soft vibes yet you are missing out on one of the best options to awaken fish from the wintery depths. The 70mm, 100 and 125mm Samaki Vibelicious are good all-round performers in the harbour. The 100 and 125mm are the standouts, but the 70mm size will get devoured by 10kg+ mulloway. It’s hard to pick a favourite colour, as they can all catch a range of species on a fairly consistent basis. The most likely victims when you’re fishing soft vibes are flathead, bream and mulloway, but many other species such as flounder,

juvenile snapper, salmon and tailor will happily eat these lures – although it rarely ends well if you hook a tailor on a 70mm model. ROCK AND BEACH Off the beaches, large schools of salmon are schooling up along with a few flathead, some nice bream, tailor, whiting, mulloway and salmon. Oily baits are proving to be the best at this time of year, with strips of mullet, salted pilchards and mackerel all working well. Having said that, squid strips and prawns will still be on the menu, and beachworms or live tubeworms can score

Paul Guilfoyle with a nice snapper on a 100mm Samaki Vibelicious Thumpertail.

you some nice whiting. Don’t forget that it’s always a productive approach if you use a paternoster type rig with bait on the bottom and a surf popper on the top arm. These simple lures are hard for many beachdwelling fish to resist, and can sometimes catch more fish than bait does. Of course, it’s good to always have a metal slice or five in your kit for spinning. They cast like bullets so you can cover a lot of water in each cast, with species like tailor and salmon being the likely victims. The rocks and break walls are firing up with reports of plenty of luderick (blackfish), some nice drummer and bream as well as bonito, mac tuna and kings. Some quality longtail tuna and cobia are also among the line-up, with plenty of toothy critters taxing fish and baits intended for more desirable species. A lot of luderick fishers are leaning towards using weed flies, because good quality weed can be hard for some to find, and these flies are a great substitute for targeting luderick. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried one! They come in different colours

The author and Lewis Ireland with some nice mahimahi trolled up on skirts off Newcastle. like bright green, olive and the blended fly, and you fish them as you would fish a normal weed bait. OFFSHORE There are some quality species being landed on the inshore reefs and out a little wider, with snapper, morwong, trag, bonito, perch and kings on offer. At this time of year we are entering the prime jigging season, with a number of species such as kingfish, snapper and perch among some of the main targets. Out wide it has been an epic season on billfish. There are still a few marlin and mahimahi around, as well as tuna, which will be one of the main targets soon. Over the last few months

we’ve seen yellowfin in the 50-60kg range being landed. After coming off one of the hottest marlin bites in recent years, we have to be content with the options over the next few months while we await the next season’s offshore bounty. After all, that’s why it’s called ‘fishing’ and not ‘catching’. Live baiting has been the most productive method, but don’t rule out trolling skirts as it’s a lucky dip of species willing to hit a spread. Tight lines, fishos! • For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop in and see the team at Fisherman’s Warehouse Tackle World at 804 Pacific Hwy, Marks Point, or call them on 02 4945 2152.

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Offshore action still going off SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

Well I guess for many locals the summer marlin fishing is a highlight and the season just wrapping up now has been one of the better ones in recent years. Game fishing in general was really good this summer. Plenty of mahimahi were on offer, with loads of great marlin as well in one of the hottest East Coast bites in years. There was also no shortage of other great fishing on offer either, and it really is no wonder that so many anglers love coming to and fishing the Lake Macquarie region. By far the biggest news is the sensational run of sharks. Seawandera from Newcastle scored a huge mako that pulled the scales down to 417kg, and with only two guys on board and a 10 hour fight that went well beyond nightfall, these anglers certainly had their work cut out for them and

managed a capture that they will never forget. Still on the shark front, there have been other great captures with a tiger shark that went over the magic 1000lb mark and never too far from the action, the boys on board Redemption scored some good fish too, with a pair of solid tigers recently weighed and a larger one lost boat side. It’s the time of year for the toothy critters, so things are certainly looking up for the next month or two. Still offshore, the kingfish are about right now. Some very solid fish are coming from the reefs offshore, and many nice fish have been landed, but plenty of better ones are failing to be stopped. Jigging has proven a very effective technique, and although hard work, the rewards make it worthwhile. Some really good fish in that 80-90cm range are coming aboard and some much larger fish clearly over the 1m mark are beating many anglers out there. Live baits are also proving effective

and deep set live squid and live fish baits such as yakkas are scoring good numbers. The mahimahi are now thinning out a little. Some days they are on and the next few they are not. A few crews pulling plastics for marlin are still coming across the odd better mahimahi, but overall the season is nearly done for 2018. Moving into the lake now and the fish may not be as big as those outside, but the numbers are there. When considering the light tackle often used to secure

Tailor are also about, with some very reasonable fish being encountered. It seems the fish in the schools busting up are the smaller ones, while the better ones are being taken by bait fishers after dark. It’s not a bad time of year to be out on the lake after dark at the moment. Temperatures are generally mild and it can make for a great way to spend a few relaxing hours. Bream are also available, with some really good fish around. I love flicking lures

Local angler Murray has been enjoying chasing one of his favourite sportfish, the mahimahi.

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Rodd with a nice mahimahi. Rodd and fishing partner Murray have scored well on them this season. the bite on these lake fish, the battles can often be just as intense. Good numbers of mulloway have been getting about. I sound like a broken record, but it’s a nice problem to have to be able to report good mulloway every month. Most fish are not huge, but they are certainly good fish and there’s still many in the 80cm bracket. Like I mentioned, on light gear these fish provide awesome challenges for anglers looking to chase big fish in calm waters. Live baits fished after dark are producing the goods, but if the nighttime fishing is not your thing, don’t worry, there are more than a few being landed in daylight hours. Lure fishing is often the more productive method when chasing these daytime mulloway. A few lately have even been caught by yak anglers trolling deep diving hardbody lures in those deeper locations during the day, mostly in the 8-10m depth range. 44

MAY 2018

for bream during May, and it’s really hard to beat fishing the flats on a cloudy day at this time of year. If that coincides with a southerly

change, then all the better. Throwing small hardbody lures during these periods can provide some memorable sessions on Lake Macquarie. I generally start off with some brighter options such as greens or oranges when these overcast southerly conditions are about, but I’ll always have a few subtle colours rigged and ready to go just in case they are needed. May is not only a great time of year for anglers chasing the bream. Those who have followed my reports over the years will know that May and June are some of my favourite months of the year for chasing big flathead in deep water. I really love this style of fishing and the results can be awesome. Some days you may find the numbers of fish a little on the low side, but often even if it’s a day where you may only hit a handful of fish, they are generally good

quality fish and big girls over 80cm can be expected. You will also be surprized at the number of mulloway you encounter as by-catch when chasing these flathead in deeper water during the cooler months. When chasing these big girls, I like to run 4-8lb braid and around 14lb leaders. I’ll start off with larger plastics around the 6” mark in a fish profile, but if after a good work out they have not produced, I’ll drop down to 4” offering, and often this change will secure a few fish for the table. I like to stick with soft plastics for these deep water flathead and white is by far my number one colour option, but on their day, greens, pinks and golds are also productive. So there it is, the weather is starting to get a little cooler now but the fishing should remain hot, so get out there and a find a few!

A good 90cm flathead that was caught and released in Brisbane Waters by Ron Court on a black blade.

Gamefish still available ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

The rocks have come alive this month with a stack of small baitfish about.

There has been a good run of bonito, frigate mackerel, mac tuna and we even saw a decent inshore run of striped tuna. It hasn’t been hard to get some action; most anglers are spinning with small chrome

Whiting are still biting on the surface.

metal lures in the smaller 10-20g size. Some of the best action has been early in the mornings, so it pays to set the alarm clock for this type of fishing. I’ve also heard of a few bigger kingfish about chasing the tuna, so now’s a great time to start throwing some bigger stickbaits and poppers from the stones on heavy gear. You could also try live baiting with small live tuna under a biodegradable balloon. When you hook one you’ll wish you didn’t! Brisbane Waters has been reasonably quiet this past month and should start to transition into winter mode shortly. Bream will be on the move this month as they start to school up and some great fishing can be had if you can find some of these schools. You can either anchor and berley the fish to your boat or drop some lures down and fish them slowly through the fish. This will be your last chance at a feed of blue swimmers and they have been about in numbers, so take some fresh mullet and handlines and don’t forget that all crab traps are banned in Brisbane Waters. April is an awesome time to fish our beaches for tailor;

Bream are starting to school. places like Avoca, Wamberal/ Terrigal and the entrance have all been fishing well, mainly pilchards on a set of 3/0 gang hooks has been the go-to bait, although some locals prefer larger fresh ocean garfish for the larger tailor. The best time is usually right on sunset, so don’t pack up too early! What a season it has been on the gamefish off our coastline – it would have to be one of the best in recent memory. Blue, black and striped marlin have all been about in numbers and some nice-sized yellowfin tuna the fish have mostly been

taken from just inside the shelf to well beyond it. Local keen angler Matt Zhara has been having some awesome days out fishing

solo from his 4.5m Polycraft centre console. He has been hooking marlin of all species. He even caught a 55kg yellowfin recently.

Matt Zhara tagged another solo marlin.

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Calm waters pleasant for fishing ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

The days are much shorter now and May is usually a calm month with the weather, so chasing nocturnal species during the evenings from the beach is much easier. Unlike summer, when it didn’t get dark until quite late, it is now black at 6pm, so you can fish an hour or so after dark and still be home, fish cleaned, showered and in bed at a reasonable hour, ready for another shot tomorrow! Mulloway will be the species of choice and there are some nice fish prowling the beaches and close reefs, so a high tide just on sunset will be the optimal time to

hit the sand. Fresh baits of mackerel, tuna, tailor or bonito are great baits, but if you can get a live mullet, tailor, or yakka, all the better! If you can get them in the harbour and keep them alive, you should be in with a proper shot. The tailor can usually be caught where you are chasing your mulloway. A light outfit with ganged hooks and pilchards will score you some tailor, then it is straight onto the heavier tackle and out it goes. A massive cast is not required, as the mulloway are often right behind the shore break just after dark, and the tailor will swim out with just a light lead attached. There’s no need to worry about feeling a bite, as it will be smashed and you will be losing line in seconds. Fish to 25kg are not out

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of the question, but most will be between 10-15kg, and they will be around for quite a few weeks yet and by using live baits you won’t have the problem of all the bream that are about at the moment tearing your slab baits to pieces every five minutes. You can downsize your hooks and line to chase bream, but the moment you do you can be sure you will hook that big fish and everything will go pear shaped pretty quickly from there! In some instances, you fight that protracted long battle with a big mulloway on light gear, land it and become a legend among your peers! Most beaches with good gutters are worth a look, as there really aren’t any local beaches that don’t hold mulloway at some point as they travel along the coast Sometimes it is nice just to chase the bream, and if the big mulloway comes along, you take your chances, and there are plenty of bream

A few nice snapper like this will be hanging around the shallow reefs this month. about this month on all the beaches. Time of day doesn’t really seem to matter, and if it is overcast, even better. Plenty of big ‘blue-nose’ bream over the kilo mark are on all of our beaches and a good gutter next to the rocks would be a great spot to start looking. Fresh bait is always the best, with fish fillets easy to

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MAY 2018

obtain, but a bit of chicken, chicken gut or even chuck steak will get the job done, but many anglers prefer beach worms. The worms will score any of the big whiting that are about at the moment too, as they pretty much won’t look at any other bait. The joy of whiting at this time of the year is they are always big, but not so numerous, so if you pick up half a dozen in a session you have done well, but you won’t need any more than that anyway. Salmon are on most beaches as well, and they will eat just about anything. They always pull well above their weight and if prepared correctly, they are too bad on the table, but they do need a little help. Tailor are also about in good numbers on most beaches, and they always go well in the smoker. Throw in the odd stray dart and even a blackfish, trevally or flathead and you can have

13 12 69

yourself a fun session! The estuaries on the other hand start to slow right down this month, as the still waters get cold. The channel of both Minnamurra and the lake will hold fish for a bit longer, as the incoming tide brings a bit of warmer water, but for the most part the flathead are shutting down for winter. If you work the main channel with plastics you may score a few, but it is mostly casting practice. Bream on the other hand don’t mind a bit of cooler water, and the areas along the edges of the weed beds and the deeper holes in the channel and around the bridges in both systems are the places to look with both bait and lures. A few whiting are hanging around the entrances, and as with the beaches they are good fish if you can get some worms for bait. On the rocks there is still a bit of land-based game action with kingfish, bonito, salmon and a few longtails and mac tuna moving along the deeper southern ledges. Live baits are always the best

Kings are always a good bet in May, especially if you’re fishing downrigged live baits. option, and once you have your bait out, start throwing those shiny metal lures at the horizon and crank them back again. It can be hard work, but when everything comes to that shuddering halt and line starts pouring back out, you know it is worth it. The alternative is to throw in a bit of berley and chase the bream, trevally and snapper. Unweighted baits, particularly garfish, work well this time of the year for reds, while pieces work well for the bream and trevally. Alternatively, you could also grab a bit of cunje and flick unweighted baits into the shallow washes around any headland for some solid drummer action, both black and silver. Offshore can be a bit of a lottery this month, with snapper still sitting close

bouncers, with quite a few mowies and pig fish as well. A few trevally are moving in, with Samson fish and even a stray amberjack showing up as well. The trag seem to have moved on, but the sand areas are still producing some nice flathead. They don’t seem to have slowed down just yet, so they could run on into winter this year. Further offshore, if the water stays as warm as it has the past few years there will be a few mahimahi around the FADs, but more attention will probably be focused on chasing a yellowfin tuna, as there have been quite a few solid fish to 60kg caught during April, so there is a chance they will hang around if the currents are kind. Blue and striped marlin are always out there

The flatties haven’t slowed down too much and should keep biting for a while yet. inshore on the full moon. It’s well worth worth fishing the close inshore reefs late in the afternoon with bait and berley, while the day time can be spent with plastics a little deeper. The reefs are holding good numbers of smaller snapper for the bottom

during May, and they are always bigger fish at this time of year. Closer to shore, the kingies are still hanging around their usual spots and the big bonito of last month are still stealing baits. Good luck out there this month.

Fishing only getting better NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

In May you think the fishing would start to slow down a bit, but let me tell you, it hasn’t!

is the case, you will see the photo in next month’s issue. So there’s the easy part done – I’ve come up with the idea – now just to find the motivation to stand on a cold, lonely beach in the middle of the night and wait for one of those silver

Chris Neville with a nice silver beach-caught mulloway. Offshore has seen a run of good yellowfin tuna wide of the continental shelf, while in close around the reefs some big snapper have been showing their knobby heads. Fish up to around 7kg have been getting caught since around the end of March, with the soft plastic fishers and micro jiggers getting the best results. Those bottom fishing have been getting good numbers of flatties with a few smaller reds and mowies mixed in amongst them. It is definitely mulloway time on the beaches, and there have been plenty of fish around the 10kg mark being caught. I’m yet to hear of a real big fish to come in, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. Maybe it’s time I dust off the old ABU 7000 and my FSU 4120, don the waders and a nice warm jacket and hit the sand! Maybe I’ll be the lucky one to get that big fish! If this

giants to swim on by and like my offering. If you’re not into your beach fishing for the mulloway, there are still plenty on offer in the

Shoalhaven/Crookhaven River system. Right up past the Nowra Bridge, there are fish being caught and lost! Here’s a funny story from the other day: I was talking to a mate on the phone who was fishing just below the Shoalhaven hospital off the bank. He was getting some really good bream up around the 1kg mark on soft plastics fishing light with 4lb braid and leader. While talking to me and catching fish at the same time, he quickly stops our conversation with the words that would make any fisho jealous. He said “Oh there’s a jew,” followed by “I reckon he’s around 10kg – hang on I’m just going to cast to him”. I then hear, “Oh yep! He’s taken it!” Followed by “…and he’s gone”. It lasted about three seconds. Then next minute he tells me the fish is back again in the same spot. He later told me the fish then swam off upstream along the rocks. It’s also good to see the big bream return to the river in numbers, and so willing to take lures. Remember that 1 May is the start of the closed season for Australian bass and estuary perch in NSW rivers and creeks, so it is a zero bag limit. Catch and release is still permitted, you just can’t keep one for a feed. It’s now a great time to start thinking about making the annual trip down to trout

country that many Nowraidians make before the close of season each year! At the end of March I gave it a go, heading to Oberon for a few days. But with very little water in the rivers due to lack of rain, the dam was a better option. No trout were caught, but there were plenty of redfin willing to hit my lures. I had fun, and they were pretty good chewing too. Let’s hope the Eucumbene area gets some rain in the coming weeks to tempt those big browns out of the lake and up into the river! May you have a fishy May and enjoy the last month before winter hits!

Danny Turner was pretty proud of his grandson, who caught his first legal bream recently.

Dane Lyons caught this cracker bream recently.

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The end of autumn is awesome on the water BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Autumn is almost over and we can start saying goodbye to those summery days and hello to snapper and tuna. What made summer and the beginning

of autumn that little bit sweeter was the presence of yellowfin tuna. We had a great end to summer with the marlin run not letting up. We had another spectacular season with solid mahimahi and good kings also knocking around. Good schools of

yellowfin tuna moving up and down the south coast made it that much better; some of these fish were as big as 60kg. Let’s hope this is a sign of things to come for the winter ahead. Right now we are sharpening our tuna hooks; recently Gary Cairns ordered

Tony with a nice early morning mulloway.

MAY 2018

500 circle hooks for this season and his supplies. Not much has changed when it comes to catching tuna. Troll a spread of lures, cover a lot of ground, find the right area to travel to, use lots of berley, and have live bait rigs and lures to cast – that pretty much sums it up. We saw nearly everybody buy up on the strip teasers this year with the strips of reflective fish being attached to a dredge and dragged behind the boat. These teasers proved very successful on raising marlin over the last few years and I think they will be a good addition to the tuna setup this winter. At the shop we have them in several sizes and if you thought they could be too big for a trailer boat then think again, because we have some good medium and small ones that are easy to manage and they could be just the edge you need to raise a school of bluefin this winter. This time of the year is a great time to be targeting snapper and big kings. With big numbers of squid spawning inshore these predators are going to be close by, so obviously fresh squid and squid presentations would be a smart move over this period, and there’s nothing more realistic looking than the Chasebaits Ultimate Squid lure. Use a 1/4-3/8oz jighead on a 5/0 hook with these guys, fish the shallows early morning for the snapper and move out as the day goes on. Last year the squid spawning throughout autumn was a major event. I’ve never seen so many photos of cooked squid on Facebook in all my life. It was an ink fest – everybody was walking around town with ink on their clothes, every boat ramp and squid ledge was covered in black. You know it’s going to be a good run when they are being caught off the breakwall and wharves in the estuary and this has been occurring. If you want to get in on the action this autumn then get a pocket full of cheap squid jigs and a couple more expensive ones and head to the local boat ramps and bays that have dark water and weed beds. Use your light gear, a nice light, long rod will get cast distance and you’ll cover more ground, increasing your chances of catching more squid. If you’re afraid of losing your squid jig to a snag then start with a slow roll and keep it off the bottom. If you can see them or you’re having no luck, you can proceed with some pauses and some twitches. Changing the sizes and colours of your squid jigs

might do the trick sometimes, but I find changing to ones that rattle or glow makes the difference. Practise makes perfect and I tend to go late in the afternoons and into dark until I get a result. Off the rocks and onto the beaches, we are seeing a good run of salmon and tailor and they are being caught on pillies and spinning metals from 20-50g. The run of these guys will continue through to winter. Whiting tend to subside going into winter, although they have been very quiet anyway. The Durras and Bawley area can fish okay

a lot of fishos are throwing hardbodied lures at them while they have a bait out and are having some success. The Rapala XR-12 and the Rapala SXRT-12 in the new mangrove minnow colour have been favourites. If you are an estuary lover for the bream and flathead then get out now while the weather is balmy. Soon it’s going to be very fresh and layers will be needed. Also the bite is good now on bream and some decent flatties are getting around; these fish will slow down and go into hibernation mode soon and will prove to

‘The Spruce Goose’ going large this autumn squid run. for whiting as we approach the colder months. Coming into the estuary we tend to associate autumn with mulloway. In autumn two years ago we had mulloway madness and last year we had a good run but not as good. We have had a sensational run of mulloway since spring last year, so it will be interesting if it can improve on top of that. I’m not expecting anything like two years ago – I just think we have a healthy supply of mulloway in our area and they seem to be a year-round fish that can be found in all our areas from estuary to beaches and bays and even offshore. With the increase of mulloway bites in our area

be harder to catch over the colder months. Go out and chase a marlin, look for a tuna, switch to a sword or try your luck on deep dropping for blue-eye. Come inshore for snapper or kings or have fun with all the squid. Spin metals on our beaches or plastics in our estuaries. You’ve got some great options in autumn because autumn is awesome! • For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff. They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

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Estuary fishing at its best MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

It’s been a busy month around the Merimbula region with the Easter school holidays, but for those anglers venturing for a fish, some great action has been had. Offshore boaties have seen some great weather of late, making the trip to the shelf and beyond that much more

enjoyable. To make things better, the marlin action is still in full swing, with most crews getting multiple opportunities to catch a billfish or two. Some crews are getting 6-8 shots a day on stripes, especially when a bait ball is found with marlin on it. Slow trolling a live mackerel has seen plenty of action, and if you’re in the right spot at the right time, pitching baits to several fish has occurred. This is crazy

Casting a range of smaller soft plastics will see a quality feed of flatties for the pan in no time, as Will found out.

fishing when you can see four or five marlin around the boat, and you can almost pick out which fish you want! Yes, this isn’t the norm, but when it happens the deck becomes alive with excitement and usually mayhem as well. Most of the stripes are averaging 80-90kg, which is not huge, but still a stack of fun. A few boats have still done okay while trolling a mixture of skirts, and these same boats have encountered a few school yellowfin tuna to 30kg as well. One local boat got four yellowfin around this size, and saw a few bigger fish on the surface jumping, so all looks good for a solid tuna season thus far. A little closer to shore the FAD in 70 fathoms has seen stacks of mahimahi to a meter getting caught. They’re responding well to live yelowtail, although a floating un-weighted full pilchard seems to be getting a few of the bigger fish, which is interesting. There’s also been plenty of kingfish holding deeper under the mahimahi, and dropping down jigs in the vicinity of the FAD has also seen some great action. The kings are not big, at around 70-80cm, but on the right tackle they’re still awesome fun. With the water

still around 21-22°C, I can’t see this changing anytime soon, and if the temperature charts remain the same, we should see quality fishing for the next few months. On the beaches, the salmon action has really picked up, and it has been quite slow over the past month. We’ve seen a lot more swell, with better gutter formations forming on most local beaches. This has really helped the fishing, with Tura Main, North Tura and even Merimbula Main all firing at present. The sambos can be targeted on shiners, larger soft plastics and paternoster rigs, with salted pilchards being the best bait. The mornings seem to be best for consistent results, but a lot will have to do with what tides you have for when your fishing. If you’re after a feed, the bream and whiting have still been good, particularly on Merimbula Main out the front of the airport. Use a mixture of pipi and beach worms with a little berley, you should be able to get a nice feed there. For the rock hoppers, salmon have been around in good numbers. Some big black backs to 4kg have been caught with quite a few tailor thrown in too. What has been quiet on the

Blades have worked a treat on the bream, and the main basins in Merimbula and Pambula lakes are holding plenty at the moment. rocks is the bonito. We usually see good numbers throughout this month, but their absence is a bugger. There’s the odd one being spun up, but definitely not in the numbers that we are used to. Both Tura Head and the main wharf in Merimbula Bay are the go to spots for the pelagic species. In the estuaries it’s been excellent. Merimbula Lake has been a standout with bream, trevally, flathead, whiting, tailor, blackfish and flounder all chewing at certain times. The flatties in the top are in solid numbers, with a dozen or more fish per session the norm. Smaller softies are working a treat, with bait anglers doing it a little tougher. There’s still the odd big girl getting caught, with the best I’ve heard of

lately going 94cm, which is a cracking fish. The lower sections of the channel is fishing the best I’ve seen it for quite a long time The place is loaded with fish, with stickbait presentations the go to method. The draining tide is perfect for this type of fishing, as the water dirties up a little in the usual crystal clear water. We have had bags of 20-30 legal fish there in recent weeks, and it should continue as we head further into the cooler months. This type of channel fishing will be the same in Pambula River, so it too is worth a look. I know the shallower section near the mouth has fired nicely, with trevally and bream being the main species caught.

Fishing fantastic despite heavy pressure NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

Despite the increased boat traffic that the Easter holiday period brings, some exceptional fishing is still available, especially in the estuaries. Both Wagonga Inlet and the Tuross Lake system continue to fire for a myriad of species using a variety of different techniques. Anglers using a range of soft plastics, blades, surface walkers and fresh bait have all done well at certain times. Those fishing the low light periods of dawn and dusk have fared best when the traffic is at its lowest. Even though both these systems are quite big, the fish do become spooky when you put 50 or more boats on them. Up at Tuross, the lower sections from the 8-knot speed limit sign downstream on the draining tide have seen mulloway and some crocodile-sized flathead being caught. These species have been good on soft vibes, with mid range soft plastics from 80-100mm catching plenty too. Using a slow methodical lift-anddrop approach is the go when it’s busy, and you can 50

MAY 2018

expect the bites to be light. There’s been a few mulloway to 11kg caught with quite a few others lost as well. Anglers fishing fresh squid baits and live tailor after dark have also done well, with angler fella I know catching three in a night session, which is exceptional fishing in anyone’s books. This action should continue as long as the conditions remain the same and the bait stays there. Further upstream, the snags have been very good for EPs and a few bream. Not every snag is holding perch, but when you locate one that is, you’re in for some fun. The majority of EPs are 30-33cm, but there is the odd bigger fish amongst them. Try using lightlyweighted grubs or wriggler style plastics in 65-80mm for best results. Up At Narooma, the channels between the highway bridge and main charter boat wharf have been excellent for bream, trevally and flathead. Both bait and lure enthusiasts are catching plenty, with the draining tide fishing better. Again this area can become congested with boats, so it’s not for everyone, but the fish are there. On the beaches, things have been a little up and

down depending on what you’re targeting. If you’re after salmon, it’s been great, with anglers having a ball on most local beaches. Casting chromed lures has been

a nice. It’s great to see these salmon back in numbers, as they provide great sport and you can generally rely on catching a few of them. There’s still good number

Estuary perch are a favourite, and the Tuross River system is loaded with them. effective on lighter outfits, while fishers using bait are getting bigger fish. A whole pilchard rigged on ganged hooks has worked well, with surf poppers in red and white producing fish as well. Some of the salmon have been huge, with fish to 3-3.5kg common, but most are around 1.5kg, which is still

of bream and whiting on most beaches, with Brou just north of Dalmeny being a standout. Fishing the close in gutters or rockier sections on this beach with fresh beachworms or pipi will see some quality fish caught. Off the rocks, drummer, blackfish and bream will still call the suds home,

but a lot will depend on conditions as to how they feed. Fishing a ledge with white water is ideal; the rocks at Dalmeny are perfect for this, especially if the seas are calmer. Fresh cabbage, cunjevoi or cut up black crab are great baits, with berley a must for consistent results. Expect these species to really fire up with the cooler water approaching as the month progresses. For the anglers who target pelagics off the stones, this month is ideal. Bonito, mac tuna, kingfish, salmon and northern bluefin tuna are all possibilities with lures and live bait the best methods. Throwing ganged pilchards a long way out and slowly retrieving them will also pay dividends. Mystery Bay to the south of Narooma would be the pick, but the rocks at the golf course are worth a look too. Inshore, the snapper have been going great guns for months now and that should continue. The close in reef at Brou fires up at this time of year, with fresh squid or cuttlefish the best baits to use. The cuttlefish run is in full swing, so those bigger snapper have come in close to feed. Anchoring up here and using berley will help and with the tougher baits being used, the pickers shouldn’t

become a problem at all. Don’t be surprised to see a few kingfish come from this same reef, as every year there’s a few around at this time and with most deep water headlands seeing a few kings, they might just be on this piece of reef as well. At Montague Island, kingfish have been plentiful with all techniques working. Jigs have been dynamite, with fish around the 70cm the most common. There’s been the odd better fish pushing a meter, but most of these have been caught on live bait. The kings are widespread, with the Southern Pinnacles and Fowl House reefs holding plenty. Mixed in with the kings are loads of bonito, with striped tuna schools also thick at times. I’ve heard of a few black marlin hooked at the rock, mainly as by-catch when targeting kings on live bait. It would be good to slow troll a live stripy out the back like the old days, but unfortunately the seals would make it almost impossible to do. It might be beneficial to troll a range of mid-sized skirts if there’s a few blacks around, but you would probably have more success fishing.

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FISH SPECIES ABCS

ABBOTTS MORAY AMBERJACK ANGLERFISH BARRAMUNDI BEARDIE BICOLOR BLENNY BIRD WRASSE BLACK MARLIN BLIND SHARK BLUE MORWONG

BLUE TREVALLY BROWN TROUT BUTTERFLY PERCH CARP CLOWN TOBY COBIA COMET CORAL COD CORAL TROUT CROCODILEFISH

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

NSW MAY 2018

Phone (day):

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

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 Hamish Clark from Wyong, 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 winner for March is R Venn of Bomaderry, who won a Tonic sunglasses and watch. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

Sanson of Melrose Park, W Keeley of Glen Davis, T Maroney of Gunnedah, D Allen of Gorokan, C Cooper of Boorowa, L Stewart of Capalaba, R Chown of Glendenning, B Schniteer of Cooma, S Cook of Seven Hills, T Kennedy of Karuah, R Gill of Lake Munmorah, A Bird of Singleton Heights, D Petterson of Goulburn, C Engelbrecht of Wagga Wagga, R Wicks of Forbes, D Jones

of Kelso, G Waugh of Greystanes, M Claydon of Karuah, M Clerke of Attunga, E Ristau of Ilford, R Jones of Toronto, J Jerman of Emerton, G Tasker of Belfield, M Baker of Gorokan, J Bonadei of Queanbeyan, P Bak of Monash, J Cupitt of Sanctuary Point, R Waters of Temora, B Laurenson of Oakville. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE GAMAKATSU LOGO

The answers to Find the Gamakatsu Logo for March were: 14, 16, 21, 29, 33, 35, 44, 47, 50, 54, 63, 68, 78, 88, 99. – NSWFM

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Rainbow Trout

The Find the Gamakatsu prize winners for March were: D Martin of St Andrews, C West of Dapto, F Bubas of Albion Park, L Bennett of Murrangaroo, B Bailey of Ulladulla, P Lyneham of Fern Bay, N Butler of Clunes , N Webster of Berambing, F Seal of Junee, G Hall of Grenfell, B Hall of Balgowrie, G

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer:

Get out and have a go BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

After a great marlin season, can the yellowfin follow in their footsteps? Marlin are still hanging around in sufficient numbers to warrant targeting and things are shaping up to be a good tuna season, so nowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the time to get out and have a go. Trolling is a way to start looking for tuna with a good

spread of both skirted and bibless lures raising fish; starting this way will also give you a chance at a billfish. Tuna can be widespread, so it often pays to set your lures close to shore and work your way out to the major grounds like the Twelve-Mile Reef, along the continental shelf out to and beyond the 1000fathom mark. There are plenty of striped tuna and a few albacore, with the odd mahimahi also taking a liking to lures. Once the tuna have been located and signs

show they are concentrated within an area try cubing; this can bring the fish to the boat where the excitement intensifies with screaming reels going up a notch or two in the absence of motor noise. The added bonus of this style of fishing is the chance of a shark. A big mako is on top of the list, so have some wire handy if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not already deployed in the water. While it has been the best season for marlin in recent years, the kingfish action around Montague Island has

Bermagui is famous for its garfish, however the river still produces stud whiting.

An adrenalin rush for any angler is a tuna coming up from the depths. been fantastic and is sure to continue for some time yet. This season anglers arriving at the island soon after daylight have bagged out most days by 9am. These fish have been of reasonable size. With the water cooling expect some large fish. With winter approaching, this is good news for anglers wishing to pursue snapper. Already they are starting to show in reasonable numbers around the coast on the shallower reefs where they are being captured by drifting with the common paternoster rig or by berleying, bringing the fish up through the water column. Those other common bottom dwellers are also on the chew in the form of morwong, ocean perch, nannygai, both species of flathead (tigers and sandies) plus the odd gummy shark. Most of these species are also being found out wide on the Twelve-Mile Reef

while further out those with electronic reels are reaping the rewards of deep water fishing in the form of hapuka, mulloway, blue trevalla and many other oddballs. Calm conditions with slight seas are allowing anglers access to the rocks where there is action aplenty. Lots of those small pelagics are providing good lure fishing for those in the mind to use them. Most commonly caught are the bonito, salmon and tailor with the odd kingfish providing a pleasant surprise. As the water cools both drummer and groper are making their presence felt with increasing numbers. Berleying with a little bread as the shadows creep over the ocean â&#x20AC;&#x201C; afternoon is the best time. You can also expect to see a few bream or trevally reacting to the berley. The estuaries in and around Bermagui have been sensational this season and

should continue to be. Wallaga Lake to the north has been the highlight with some fantastic lure fishing for flathead in the main lake and the occasional mulloway, small snapper and plenty of tailor ranging in sizes. Live mullet have also produced these species within the lake for those who wish to relax a little. The highlight has been the bream fishing between the bridge and the entrance; here there are plenty of sand flats where nippers and squirt worms call home. As the tide moves over these flats the floodgates open, where bream, luderick, mullet and whiting swim shoulder-toshoulder with each other to the better feeding zones. These zones are often in very shallow water, so when you can bounce your boat into them or even wade and sight fish, be there to experience some of the best exciting shallow water fishing on offer.

Rebuilding after the devastating bush fires TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Sadly on Sunday 18 March, a devastating bushfire raced along the shores of the Bega River, jumping the river and engulfing Tathra. Some 65 houses were destroyed along with many more damaged, however many more were saved due to

the efforts of the many firefighting services that attended. Tathra is a close community and are bouncing back and re-building in a positive way. For those who visit or are wishing to visit the Tathra area, I can assure you the town is open for business. The main shopping centre, caravan parks, pubs and clubs escaped damage along with the historic wharf,

although the fire burnt out the adjacent headland. So, what does this mean for fishing in the area? As yet, I do not know what effect it will have on the area, but what hs been affected the most is the Bega River, however the surrounding estuary systems along with the offshore fishery are still producing as well as they have in the past. For the Bega River, there has been a lot of riverside vegetation destroyed,

The Bega River has some exciting bass and estuary perch fishing. How will the fires affect them?

Glen (left) and Ricky (right) went fishing on Wapengo and Ricky caught this bream. Wapengo is fishing well. 52

MAY 2018

especially upstream from Tathra in areas where you generally encounter species like bass, estuary perch and bream. The main effect here is likely to be the lack of terrestrial food sources in the form of insects, but the ash and soot may find its way into the river as well, which is bad news. For now, areas like Wapengo Lake are still producing consistent catches of bream, flathead and plenty of garfish. The beaches surrounding Tathra have some excellent

gutters on them, with salmon being the number one species. By running a little berley, expect to find some very nice yellowfin bream, along with plenty of sand mullet and the odd flathead migrating out of the river systems. While offshore, anglers can expect some very good reef fishing, with snapper now starting to show in reasonable numbers. To the north out from Nelsons and Middle Lake over the sandy and muddy areas, sand flathead are in good numbers, with some very nice gummy

sharks mixing in with the catch. It is also the time of year where yellowfin and albacore tuna start to show in good numbers out toward and over the continental shelf. Anglers trolling a good spread of lures or fishing baits in a berley trail are now likely to encounter these fish on a regular basis. So if you are a keen angler and want to assist in the rebuilding of Tathra, go visit the area and enjoy the many fishing options it has to offer.

Quality fish are available inshore this month EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

With all the rain that has fallen in NSW over the past month, it has missed the far South Coast. All the rivers are in need of a bit of a flush to liven things up for the coming months. Despite this, the good weather has seen the town busy, with more visitors to the area enjoying the fishing. Good fishing has been reported on the local beaches with good numbers of salmon being caught. The fish are up to 2kg and have been caught on both lures and baits. The water temperature has been up and down as we head

towards winter with one day around 20°C and the next as low as 16°C. Yellowfin bream and sand whiting are also being caught with fresh bait. Beach worms and prawns are good choices of bait. The high tides around dawn and dusk have been the best conditions to catch fish. Fishing into the night at this time of year you’ll have a good chance of encountering a mulloway. The salmon are in the same gutters through the day and it’s worth fishing for them around the top of the tide at night. Anglers have had good fishing from the local headlands, with drummer and luderick being caught. The odd yellowfin bream will also turn up in the berley trail.

The inshore reefs have been fishing well for snapper. The average size of the fish has been around 1-2kg. Sand flathead and tiger flathead are also being caught with some good fishing reported down around Disaster Bay and to the north up around the Pinnacles. Fishing for gummy sharks has been good lately and at its best around the full moon. Out wide there have been reports coming in of mahimahi being caught along the shelf. Plenty of bait has been hanging around and as long as the bait is there, striped marlin won’t be too far away. Yellowfin tuna should also make an appearance over the coming months. In the estuaries the water

The snapper are starting to get bigger. This one went 30cm. is still warm enough to see the dusky flathead biting well on both bait and lures. Good fishing has been had in the front sections of the river, with sand whiting and yellowfin bream being

caught on a variety of baits and lures. Around the new moon prawns are still being caught with each moon seeing the prawns getting bigger. The next dark will see the end

of prawning as we head into winter. The freshwater sections of the rivers are still seeing some good bass catches. With little flow the rivers are in need of rain to liven things up.

Cool weather ahead for Mallacoota anglers MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen the water temperature start dropping as we leave summer behind. The town usually starts to quieten down once the Easter holidays are over, but at the time of writing there are still plenty of visitors around. Fishing off all the local beaches has seen plenty of good-sized salmon caught, and they are being

fish being caught. The fish are definitely out there, with some boats coming across fish regularly, but some others are missing out completely. A few boats have been chasing kingfish, but there’s been very little to report on over the past month, but at some time over the coming month the fish should put in an appearance before the water temperature drops right off, putting an end to the offshore fishing. After last months excellent game fishing experienced out over the shelf, there has been little

easy as it has been in the past months, but the rewards are there if you put in the effort. With no rain to speak of, the lake level has dropped due to seepage and evaporation, and this means care needs to be taken when travelling, as you just might run aground where you least expect it. Good size prawns are still about, and this means the fish are well fed, making them difficult to catch. One of the advantages of the lake being closed is the number of pinkie snapper that are trapped inside, and with no way of heading out to sea

Black bream are on the bite, and with the water temperature cooling down it is a bit more to their liking. Once again, finding numbers of fish can take a bit of time. The past month has seen

a few more mulloway caught on live baits, so putting in the time at night is the way to go. The full and new moon is the best time to see some action. The tailor that are trapped in the lake are getting bigger

with plenty of food such as whitebait. It won’t be long before some really big fish get caught. There are some big fish available now, but most encounters end with a bite off.

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FIRST 20 Customers Matt with a great black bream caught on a vibe. caught on both lures and bait. Finding fish has been easy, with plenty of good gutters on all the beaches, and fish to around 2kg are not uncommon. Offshore the fishing for flathead, both sand and tiger, has been good, with good numbers of quality

to report. The few boats that have ventured out wide have not encountered the striped marlin, but with the water temperature still good there is every chance the fish could put in an appearance before winter rears its ugly head. Fishing in the lake has still been good. It’s hasn’t been as

they just keep on. There are plenty of fish to around 32cm, so it won’t take long before these fish get to around the 40cm mark. Dusky flathead are still showing up, but they are starting to spread out and finding fish in numbers can be tricky.

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18 Exist – 60 years on Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, which is why Daiwa say they’ve held nothing back in creating the all new 18 Exist LT. Traditionally their flagship model, Exist has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new Exist LT introduces even more ground-breaking technology. The Exist LT features Daiwa’s brand-new Light and Tough (LT) concept, reducing reel size while at the same time increasing strength and power. It’s an evolution in design to suit the new generation of PE/Braid lines for higher line and drag capacity, stronger gearing, improved handling and increased performance. Monocoque body also debuts in Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body produces a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear and drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity.

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the aggressive strikes of fish. • Air Rotor – the innovative design and construction works to reduce weight, stress and flexing, whilst enhancing transmission of vibration and allowing the rotor to spin with perfect balance. • Perfect Line Stopper – a larger rectangular flexible clip that can be used from all line angles and from light to heavy lines. • Aluminium Air Handle – the new handle design is slimmer, more compact, and now up to 50% lighter. For more detailed information on the new 18 Exist LT, visit www. daiwafishing.com.au. You can also check out some cool new Exist LT videos on the Daiwa Australia YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/ DaiwaAustralia. – FM

FISHING NEWS

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New styles from 2C Solar For years 2C Solar Light Caps have been helping anglers, boaters and campers to light their way in the dark without needing batteries. These caps feature ultra-bright, warm white LEDs. On full power they will shine or three hours, or they can run all night on the dimmer setting. The lights are powered by a large, flexible, USA-made solar panel which charges in both full sun and cloud. These caps are also certified IP66 waterproof. The 2C-One series incorporates all the awardwinning technology of the original 2C Solar Light Cap, in a smaller, lighter

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popular demand. As well as caps, the 2C Solar range includes broadbrimmed hats, legionnaire style hats and more, in a range of colours and styles. To browse the range or to place an order visit www.solarlightcap.com. – 2C Solar MAY 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA TD SOL III BAITCASTER

With a combination of TWS, Air Rotation, Digigear, Magforce Z, SV Spool, CRBB and UTD, the new TD Sol SV TW is one of Daiwa’s highest performing reels. TWS delivers unparalleled casting performance and line control, a reduction in line noise and friction, and improved reel stability and balance. SV concept with its lightweight spool, and high precision design improves spool rotation. SV spool braking power automatically adjusts depending on lure weight, and the friction-free levelwind allows for the smooth release of line, drastically reducing backlashing problems. The ideal setting of the spool braking system is not too tight and not too loose. The Digigear design combines with the Air Rotation system to create a reel that is silky smooth and effortless on the crank, and flawless and refined under load. At the core is precision designed and machined gearing, which makes for buttery cranking and unrivalled smoothness. Daiwa’s Magforce Z magnetic cast control system offers anglers of any skill-level a cast control system to maximize casting ease, distance and performance. www.daiwafishing.com.au

GAMAKATSU EWG MONSTER

threadfin salmon and other species as well as flathead down south over flats. www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

SHIMANO NEXAVE

SUGAR DEEP 90 BARRA TUNE

MUSTAD BIG EYE BUCKTAIL JIG

MAY 2018

HOBIE BARNACLE + 5

The Hobie Barnacle + is a durable floating speaker with Bluetooth connectivity, a built-in microphone for taking hands-free calls, and the capacity to hold 1000 songs, so you don’t have to use your phone. It mounts to any smooth surface using an industrial suction cup base, and is perfect for the kayak, SUP or tinny. This new speaker is designed to go where other speakers can’t; it’s 100% waterproof, and can be submerged to a depth of 6ft for up to an hour. It also floats! No matter how it is dropped in the water, the Barnacle will always surface with the speaker facing up, keeping your tunes afloat and jamming. As well as being waterproof, the Barnacle is sand and dust proof. Its all-terrain design is sealed tight, and is engineered to withstand the most demanding elements. No matter how dirty your speaker gets, you can freely wash it off in water and you’re good to go. It also has built-in 4GB memory, produces surprisingly bold sound, and has a battery life of up to five hours. www.hobie.com

Japan produce some of the most lifelike lures in the world and the Bassday Sugar Deep 90 Barra Tune is no exception, except this time it’s been tuned for Aussie conditions. This realistic 90mm jerkbait is available in seven fish-attracting colours, covering everything from clear to dirty water, making them ideal for inland dams as well as rivers, streams and estuaries. The Bassday Sugar Deep 90 Barra Tune has heavy-duty construction and extra strong trebles. It has a life-like appearance and can be cast accurately, quickly diving to a depth of 2.5m. This versatile lure can be used with a slow, steady retrieve producing a sharp wobble or a fast erratic stop-start retrieve which will have the lure darting about, imitating a dying baitfish. It also works well in heavily fished waters or on days where the fish are timid, as its neutral buoyancy lets you pause it near structure and it will suspend right in the strike zone. The Barra Tune will be perfect for barra,

Shimano’s Nexave spin reels represent great value for money for an entry level series, perfect for newcomers and kids who need the right start in fishing. There are five models in this new FE series, from 1000 through to C5000, with the 3000 HGFE and the 5000 HGFE being of compact body design. The cold forged aluminium spool with AR-C lip promotes longer casting without wind knots, and smooth transmission through the stripper guide, which is important when using fine diameter braid. Varispeed II assists in this regard, as it ensures that line lay on the spool is neat and even. An XT-7 body keeps weight down, while three shielded stainless SS bearings and one roller bearing makes winding the single piece aluminium handle effortless, whether retrieving or hooked up. Gear ratios range from 5.0:1 to 6.2:1, and drag power is from 3kg on the 1000 size, up to 8.5kg in the 3000, 4000, and 5000. And despite all these features, the price will come as a pleasant surprise. www.shimanofish.com.au

Gamakatsu have added two new sizes to the EWG Monster worm hook range. The new sizes offer more versatility, and build on the popular 7/0 EWG Monster. A 5/0 and 6/0 now complete the range of the strongest worm hook on the market. The EWG Monster was designed for only the largest plastics, and features extra heavy-duty wire, an inline hook point and an impressive black nickel finish. Coupled with Gamakatsu’s chemical sharpening procedure, the EWG Monster has impressive hook setting power, which is crucial when throwing big baits for large fish. The EWG Worm hook allows anglers to rig their lures in the traditional way with the hook point well exposed, or weedless. This offers incredible versatility, and the hooks can be used effectively in areas of heavy weed or timber, which are commonly encountered when chasing iconic species such as barramundi. EWG Monster worm hooks are also perfect in shallower water for offshore species such as snapper and kingfish with a slow sink offered by the unweighted hook. www.gamakatsu.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

Mustad has released a range of bucktail jigs designed for fishing freshwater through to the deepest saltwater ledges. Built on the 32824NP-BN 2X strong hook, the Mustad Big Eye Bucktail Jig features two line tie positions to give the angler options. The nose tie lets you cast and retrieve the jig, mimicking a swimming action. The top tie lets you employ a more traditional jigging retrieve. But don’t think there are only two uses for these jigs – clever anglers are already fitting them out for trolling dead baits for mackerel and more. Featuring oversized 3D eyes, the Big Eye Bucktail Jig has hand-tied deer hair and crystal flash to give the jigs a lifelike appearance in the water. There is also a keeper wire located near the lead head so you can add bait or a soft plastic trailer. An epoxy finish gives the head maximum durability. There are eight colours in the range, and sizes range from a 3/4oz jig with a 5/0 hook, all the way through to 8oz with a 9/0 hook. www.wilsonfishing.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING SHIMANO STELLA FJ

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It’s been 26 years since the first Stellas hit the market, and the innovation continues with the new FJ series. One of the latest features is MicroModule II. Unique gear teeth surface design makes the FJs even smoother and quieter, and with Improved Hagane Gear they’re now twice as strong and durable as before. The Long Stroke AR-C spool increases casting distance, and the line clip has been improved so light leaders aren’t damaged during storage. There’s also a Tangle-Proof Rotor design. SilentDrive reduces handle play and eliminates the clicking noise and feeling from the worm shaft when winding. EI Surface Treatment protects the exterior, while the X Protect labyrinth system keeps water and dirt at bay in key areas. All these advancements are housed in a Hagane Body with 12 SA-RB bearings and one roller bearing, with X-Ship bearing supported pinion gear, plus a G-Free Body where the centre of gravity is closer to the rod. There are five models, with drag power from 3-11kg, and gear ratios from 5.1 to 6.4:1. www.shimanofish.com.au

BLACK MAGIC BMAX 8 COLOURS Black Magic has updated their range of bibbed BMax lures by adding five new colours. For those who haven’t tried one, the BMax 60 is designed as a subsurface lure ideal for numerous freshwater and estuarine species across Australia. This lure measures 60mm long, is an ideal weight for casting, and is perfect for both spinning and trolling. The short bib lets the lure dive down to 1.2-1.8m, and ensures a very enticing swimming action. The BMax 60 is rigged with two strong, sharp treble hooks – one on the belly and one on the tail. It’s available in a range of 10 colours designed to suit a range of species and conditions. These lures are well priced and are available now from Black Magic stockists. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA HELIOS SX SPIN 12

The new Okuma Helios SX is all about high end performance and cutting edge features at an affordable price, and it’s now available to Aussie anglers in a 20, 30 and 40 size. Okuma’s new C-40X long strand carbon fibre technology is substantially stronger than standard graphite material, and is also 25% lighter and 100% anti-corrosive. Combine this with Okuma’s TCA: Torsion Control Armor, a double-arm design in the reel stem that reduces twist and torque, while keeping internal parts perfectly aligned, and you have a lightweight, rigid reel that sees power transferred effectively. Other features include 8HPB + 1RB corrosion-resistant SS bearings for silky smooth performance, ALG: Precision Alumilite alloy main gear and oscillating gears, heavy-duty, solid aluminium bail wire, RESII: Computer Balanced Rotor Equalizing System, CBD: Centrifugal Disc Bail for smoother and easier bail operation, and Progressive Drag, a 1-K woven carbon fibre drag knob that reduces weight and creates a more progressive drag setting. Price: SRP $189.90-$219.90 www.okuma.com.au

WILSON NEOPRENE 10 WADERS Winter isn’t far off, and Wilson Fishing has released new neoprene chest and hip waders for the colder months. Featuring a 4mm neoprene construction that is welded and glued to a sturdy boot, these waders will go the distance. The Hip Waders feature adjustable Velcro straps that hold these waders in place with the aid of a belt. Internally, all seams are covered for comfort, and the boot is lined to provide the ultimate in comfort for your feet. The Chest Waders feature an oversized chest pocket for storage of tackle and the same internal construction for maximum comfort. The Chest Waders are also attached via Velcro straps that allow ultimate adjustability. The Wilson Neoprene Wader range is available in boot sizes from 8 through to 15, and you can find more information on the Wilson Fishing website. You can also see the latest news and tips on Facebook (www. facebook.com/LWilsonAndCo), and great catch photos on Instagram (@wilson_fishing). www.wilsonfishing.com.au

BERKLEY GULP 6” SWIMMING MULLET 11 The Berkley Gulp 6” is the big daddy Swimming Mullet. The Berkley Gulp Swimming Mullet’s ‘fat’ profile and flickering curl-tail is a deadly fish magnet, and is now available in 6” size for those big occasions. The swimming action of the large curltail, combined with an enticing ‘body roll’ at a slow retrieve, makes the 6” Swimming Mullet a slow roll specialist. Add in fish attracting Gulp Scent, with its powerful scent release properties, for a perfect cod and barra hook up. Gulp releases 400 times more scent than plastic baits, expanding the strike zone so you catch more fish. Made from 100% natural ingredients, Gulp is environmentally and fish friendly. The 6” Swimming Mullet comes in chartreuse, glow and pearl white. Price: SRP $13.99 Berkley-fishing.com.au

NEW FROM STRIKE PRO

Strike Pro has released two new colours (A68 and A93-CP) in the popular Bob N Spoon range. The Bob N Spoon is a new take on an old classic spoon; it is plastic with chambers that allow for features like inbuilt rattles to be included, and have transparent finishes. The Bob N Spoon has an erratic swaying action and it can be reversed to change its action. It is 5.5cm long, weighs 7.3g and comes with quality trebles. It’s proven to be very effective on trout, bass and redfin. Strike Pro has also released eight new fish-catching colours in its 1/4oz and 3/4oz Spinnerbaits. Many hours of testing have gone into producing these colours for the Australian market. These spinnerbaits feature the highest quality USA skirts that are rounded silicone silk cut to produce the ultimate pulsating action. They also feature holographic colour matched blades, quality ball bearing swivels and R-bend arms. Strike Pro Spinnerbaits are super effective on Murray cod, yellowbelly, bass and redfin. www.jurofishing.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au MAY 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING RHINO-RACK BATWING AWNING

TSUNAMI SOFT 13 VIBE SHADS

Rhino-Rack’s new Batwing Awning provides 270° of refuge, and comes with top quality brackets that have a high and low fitting position. Its integrated legs simply unclip from the storage position and drop into place, making it a oneperson job. The rare earth magnets, which click to hold the arms in place, allow for quick and easy storage, and there are thicker Velcro straps to keep the awning secure when packed in place. The lightweight, durable powder-coated aluminium poles have an easy grip handle to loosen and extend, up to 2.3m. If it’s windy, the moulded fittings on the end of each pole can accommodate two pegs through the base of the leg. And for extreme conditions, included with the Batwing are eight guy ropes with inbuilt hooks and 10 pegs that are easily stored in the new pocket. Made from heavy-duty rip-stop fabric, the awning is water and mould resistant, and rated to UPF 50+. It comes in a UV resistant PVC bag, and it’s compatible with existing additions like sidewalls, extensions, and tents. Price: SRP: $849 www.rhinorack.com.au

REDINGTON MINNOW COMBO

The 580 Minnow from Redington was designed and tuned to meet the needs of younger anglers. This 5wt rod is 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. Features of this four-piece rod include: easy casting medium action; supplied cotton rod sock, and alignment dots for easy rod setup. The combo includes a Minnow rod and Crosswater 4/5/6 reel pre-spooled with RIO Mainstream WF fly line, and a Cordura rod tube. This great looking rod is also backed by a 1-year warranty. For more information on the 580 Minnow, or any of the other rods and reels in the Redington range, visit the JM Gillies website. www.jmgillies.com.au

PLANO WEEKEND SERIES

For 2018, Plano’s successful Weekend Series includes three distinct, reimagined models that work as hard as you do. These models are called the Weekend Series Tackle Cases, Weekend Series Softsider Tackle Bags and Weekend Series Speed Bags. Each one is available in Plano’s popular 3600 and 3700 sizes to build – or integrate seamlessly into – any tackle management system. And they look better than ever in brand new, classy and clean tan or grey colour schemes. In addition to standout new aesthetics, these bags feature upgraded, no-fail zipper pulls and tactical-inspired MOLLE exterior webbing for easy attachment of fishing tools or accessories. Best of all, these handsome and durable standout performers are available at very reasonable prices that any working angler can afford. For more information on this and other Plano tackle storage solutions, visit the JM Gillies website. You can also get all the latest news and catch photos on the JM Gillies Facebook page at www.facebook. com/jm.gillies. www.jmgillies.com.au 58

MAY 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

Tsunami Soft Vibe Shads are moulded from supple, yet tough plastic that maximises action and enhances durability. The wirethrough design and sharp Mustad hooks add further strength to the lure, tipping the odds of landing big fish in the angler’s favour. The precisely balanced internal weights produce an enticing shimmy action that drives predatory fish into a frenzy. The translucent bodies, foil flash, natural colour tones and 3D eyes will even fool timid fish. Soft Vibe Shads are available in two sizes (60mm, 14g and 90mm, 20g) and five colour combinations (chartreuse/pearl/orange, sand eel, clear/gold/pearl, red head and golden bunker). The 60mm shad is ideal for freshwater native fish such as Australian bass, golden perch and sooty grunter, while the 90mm model will entice bites from barramundi, mangrove jack, mulloway, threadfin salmon and more. You can skip these lures along the bottom, drop them down weed edges, or roll them across the shallows to get the predators’ attention. www.jarviswalker.com.au

DAIWA TD HYPER

Rocketing onto the scene is Daiwa’s latest weapon – TD Hyper. Combining Daiwa cutting-edge blank design with striking looks and excellent value, the TD Hyper series is built to perform and destined to turn heads. The foundation of the TD Hyper series is Daiwa’s HVF Nanoplus graphite technology, with HVF combining precise resin control with unidirectional graphite fibre to produce a blank that is outstandingly light, crisp and responsive, while X45 blank technology further enhances rod performance eliminating blank twist and distortion to further increase rod strength, function, and sensitivity. TD Hyper’s hardware is equally top shelf, with Fuji Alconite O Ring guides, Daiwa’s famous RR (reduced resistance) guide design system and Surround Hold reel seats, and custom alloy componentry enhancing rod performance and style. Additionally, its matt green colour offers a unique look and swagger rarely seen down under. If you’re looking for performance, style and value for money, check out the TD Hyper at your favourite tackle store. Price: SRP $129 www.daiwafishing.com.au

GALAXIA MINNOW NEW COLOURS

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The Strike Pro Galaxia Minnow was the first Strike Pro lure released in Australia, and over many years it has been extremely effective in both fresh and estuarine waters. The Galaxia Minnow has now been released in six hot new colours that are certainly going to be very effective on many species. This deep diving baitfish profile lure is 6cm long, weighs 7g and dives to approximately 9ft on the cast and retrieve and dives to 16ft on the troll. The latter technique in particular has been deadly on estuaries and has accounted for many species. It features a tight shimmy action and has a superb sonic rattle. The Galaxia Minnow is very effective on bream, bass, estuary perch, flathead, snapper, mangrove jack, trout and redfin, and these new colour are bound to rack up even more fish. www.jurofishing.com

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Phenix Rods – I saw, I purchased, a big thumbs up Phenix Rods are a US-based rod manufacturer which has had a couple of incarnations here in Australia. My interest in them was sparked by a conversation with Julian Frank, who is the new Australian importer of the brand through his Southbound Custom Tackle business. After a phone call with Julian, I had a good look through the US website for the rods, and I was immediately intrigued. One of the main headings on the page was ‘Trout’, with a dropdown box of a number of trout-specific rods. The Elixir series drew my attention – high modulus graphite rods based on traditional fast taper fly rods. I prefer fast taper rods for the majority of my fishing, but with my trout fishing in recent times I have had no choice but to use slower taper rods. This is mainly due to the lack of stretch in braided line, and a trout’s inclination to jump and spit lures. To avoid this you need to have a rod that absorbs the shock of these acrobatics, and to keep your leader intact. This focus on fast taper rods also had me looking at other options for the fishing I do here in Queensland. A big part of that is targeting flathead in the salt, and bass in our impoundments. The freshwater M1

The author’s first fish on the Elixir Trout rod was this quality brown trout caught in Lake Eildon.

Another feisty trout from the Eildon area. The Elixir FX701 has become the author’s favorite trout rod. series tickled my fancy, with its carbon fibre nanotube technology based blanks. Nano technology has become a big part of rod ranges for many manufacturers in the last five years, mainly due to the additional strength it offers under load (to avoid rod breakage) and power when fighting a fish. However, I would not put any of the nano rods I have seen in the fast taper category; they’re medium fast at best. I was so interested in the Phenixes that I got my credit card out and ordered two rods, the Elixir FX701 and the M1 MX72ML. I have now had eight months to thoroughly test them, and share my findings. ELIXIR SERIES RODS I don’t get to trout fish as often as I would like, and when I do get to go I want a rod specific for the task, rather than compromising with other rods.

Unpacking my Elixir FX701 was exciting, and I was amazed at how incredibly light it was. It is definitely a fast taper, but I wondered whether it would cast my favourite trout lures. Interestingly enough, my first chance to test this wasn’t with my own purchase. A trip to Lake Eildon working for the magazines provided the opportunity to trout fish, but I hadn’t brought my new rod with me. Fortunately, Gary Constantine from Eildon Bait and Tackle stocks the rods, and he kindly lent me his own Elixir that just happened to be the FX701. I needn’t have worried whether it would cast my favourite lures; it cast them easily and a very long way. I knew the ultimate test though would be how it would deal with the area’s feisty trout. Luckily for me it didn’t take very long to find out. Several decent browns came on the first morning from the lake, and a few rainbows followed from the Goulburn

TESTED River. The rod did exactly what I had hoped it would. There was plenty of power to fight larger fish, with the finesse and shock absorption to not pull hooks when using braid. It’s the perfect trout rod for me. M1 SERIES RODS The MX72ML was always going to be the rod of the two that got the most use. I went for the 7’2” version because I wanted to be able to cast lighter weights further, but still have the ability to comfortably throw the 3/8oz and 1/2oz jigheads I regularly use. As soon as I had unpacked the rod, I matched it with a 2000 size reel and 6lb braid, and was on the water the next day. Like the Elixir series rods, the M1s feel as light as a feather. My M1 MX72ML has some serious kahunas for a medium light rated rod, with plenty of hook setting power and plenty of grunt to stop larger fish on what is a light rod. The flathead may not have played the game that first trip, but some decent snapper did and I was a very happy camper with my new purchase. Eight months down the track and I still enjoy using the M1. It has done battle with a couple of nice mulloway in that time, as well as quite a few flathead. The mulloway certainly tested it, and the M1 won. Is it the perfect rod for what I wanted, like the Elixir? Probably not. In hindsight I think I should have purchased the 7’

Although purchased to target flathead, the M1 MX72ML has proven it is a quality rod on plenty of other species like this snapper.

This solid mulloway was no match for the Phenix MX72ML. Although only a light rod,it has plenty of power to deal with quality fish.

version of the rod, because 3/8oz and 1/2oz jigheads test the limits of what can be cast comfortably. Not so much with your standard casts, but when you want that bit of extra distance, the extra length and taper feels like the rod is being overextended. Vigorous hopping these same heads and larger plastics also works the rod tip a bit too much. Would it break? Absolutely not, but the slightly shorter version is most probably the way to go for my needs. CONCLUSION If you are a fan of fast taper, well presented and made fishing rods with quality components, then Phenix rods are well worth looking at. I am glad I have dabbled, and given the opportunity I will look at other options in the future. To find out more about stockists in Australia, check them out on Facebook on either the Southbound Custom Tackle or Phenix Rods Australia pages. - Peter Jung

MAY 2018

May is a truly magical time in Canberra CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Most Canberra anglers consider themselves very lucky to live in the nation’s capital because of the angling opportunities right in the centre of the city.

the small but ever growing group of bass fishos who reside in Canberra and who, throughout bass season, make the short journey down the South Coast in search of these bronze brawlers. I finished my first full bass season this year and

So as winter rolls around and the action in Canberra slows, do a bit of research through the colder months and have a think about getting amongst the Aussie bass on 1 September. LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin had a blue green algae outbreak

Googong has finally slowed down, but there are still fish being caught. The author’s new PB from this season. There are an abundance of well-stocked dams throughout the ACT that provide opportunities to chase Murray cod and golden perch along with pest species like redfin and carp, while the Murrumbidgee also runs along the outskirts

have been blown away not only by the amazing fishing mere hours from my door, but also at how supportive the community of bass fishos in Canberra have been in nurturing my interest in this type of fishing and helping me develop my game. I finished the season with a

Exciting bass fishing lies mere hours from Canberra. of Canberra and on its day, can produce some magic fishing. What a lot of locals and interstate anglers may not be aware of however, is

new PB, made some great mates and discovered a plethora of new locations including Danjera Dam, which is one of the nicest dams I have ever visited.

in April and this did deter most locals from fishing the waterway (with good cause). This type of issue is common and can sometimes occur more than once a year. However, once the bloom subsided, the fishing improved dramatically and we are now into ‘magic May’, when the larger goldens fire up, looking for one last big feed and the larger redfin come on the bite. There have been plenty of big Burley reds coming to the net at the entrance to Sullivans Creek caught by those fishing small poppers, while the points around Black Mountain Peninsula have also proved good hunting grounds for fishos slow lifting lipless cranks off the bottom in search of golden perch. The Murray cod in the lake are best targeted at dawn and dusk using large divers and spinnerbaits cast into overhanging cover and slow rolled back to your position.

Lake Tuggeranong is fishing well for redfin and carp, with some absolutely enormous mud marlin landed along the flats near Greenway. Fly anglers have been cleaning up using black Woolly Buggers, and have also done the lake a service by humanely dispatching all carp caught. I was amazed to see one angler land half a dozen fish in just over an hour by simply sight casting and slow retrieving the fly through the middle of the water column. If it rains over the next few weeks, crack out the cod gear and work the points around the lake with suspending swimbaits like the Westin Ricky the

casting plastics intended for redfin and lost a reasonable cod right at the kayak after casting a Jackall TN70 parallel to the old police jetty. It could be that the lake will fire late in May, so it will be worth a crack as the water cools significantly and the weed recedes with the colder conditions. Gordon Pond has provided good fishing over recent weeks for those casting from the bank using shallow running divers and soft plastics. There are plenty of redfin in the pond and these provide good sport on light tackle and will keep the kids entertained. That said, there have also been

There have not been a lot of large fish caught throughout the season so far, but the smaller specimens are hitting topwater and medium to large-sized swimbaits worked slow along the bottom. These smaller fish should shut down over the next month, which means that if you do hook something in late May, you can almost be guaranteed that it will be big. SURROUNDS Googong Dam has really slowed down over the past few weeks. This will be a relief to the rangers who had to deal with illegal fishing throughout summer and copious amounts of rubbish left behind by those with little

A quality golden from Lake Burley Griffin.

Now is the time to target big reds at Burley Griffin. 60

MAY 2018

Roach. These lures appeal to cod cruising the flats looking for an easy feed. Lake Ginninderra has been very hit and miss over the last few weeks. The large packs of redfin that made up the bulk of catches have moved deep, and very few golden perch have been landed since late March. I have picked up a few carp along the dam wall

a number of good-sized goldens landed by those fishing from kayaks, along with a few small cod caught by anglers casting surface lures parallel to the reed lines banks. This is a wellstocked little fishery and definitely a go-to if the larger lakes are slow. The Murrumbidgee is reasonably clear for this time of year and flowing well.

interest in looking after what is one of the best fisheries just outside of Canberra. That said, there have been a few big goldens caught in the middle of the dam along with the occasional cod. Googong has to be one of the toughest winter cod fisheries, but the rewards are there for those willing to put in the time on the water. That’s it for this month!

Local freshwater is firing on all cylinders CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

Media coverage of bushfires, such as the recent one at Tathra, predictably concentrates on injury to humans and loss of material property such as housing. What might also be of interest

safest location in case even a small fire erupts, away from flammable vegetation and in the largest cleared area available. I think ahead of the safest way to exit an area if a fire develops and what to do if escape by vehicle is not possible. Other precautions include carrying a mobile phone and an EPIRB to report fires

thinking of our unfortunate angling colleagues at Tathra at the moment – the big mountain lakes are as good a place as any. Trollers have taken some reasonable browns and rainbows with hardbodied minnows on flatline techniques and sometimes on one colour of lead core line. Early to mid-morning has been the

This Tuggeranong Murray cod was a surprise catch on a small Strike Tiger.

Redfin are being caught almost everywhere in both the shallows and deep water. to anglers, but which is rarely covered, is the risk posed to them and perhaps their vehicles while they are outdoors enjoying their sport when a bushfire does occur. Over the years I have seen enough bushfires to be aware of the risk taken in many of the areas where I fish and I have developed some simple precautions in case the unthinkable happens. When I park my vehicle, I automatically choose the

and check on fire locations, speed and direction of travel. And of course, keeping an eye out for signs of smoke and the smell of fire is just plain common sense. These are simple precautions that might one day save your vehicle and more importantly, your life. BIG LAKES FISHING WELL For those lucky enough to have the time, money and the opportunity to relax and go fishing – and I’m

In the big mountain lakes, anglers have been taking reasonable browns and rainbows on trolled hardbodies.

best time. Small soft plastics with especially wriggly tails have been a useful substitute and are cheap enough to risk in situations with lots of snags, such rocks, flooded trees and old fences. Tasmanian Devils also have been productive. They seem to have made some sort of resurgence lately and have accounted for a lot of fish. Some anglers have done well also of late, trolling a single large wet fly such as Mrs Simpson, Hamills Killer, Craigs Nightime or Lords Killer on lead core line. Big trout in particular can’t believe their luck when they see an apparent juicy food item wandering by and quickly snaffle it. Fly fishers have found some reasonable fish during the afternoons in the big lakes. Try to find some protected water with the wind at your back and work the water in detail as you move forward. Concentrate on two-fly rigs, starting with perhaps a nymph and a large wet, and then varying as required. BAIT WORTHWHILE Bait fishing has been a relaxing way of passing the time on the warm and balmy days we have experienced in recent weeks. Some nice fish have been taken on bardi grubs, scrub worms, mudeyes and PowerBait, with the best results in mid-morning. NATIVES DIFFER It’s been good fun on the natives lately, with

golden perch and Murray cod both at peak activity and some good catches have been reported on bait and lures. There has been an interesting change in the normal catch and release attitude, with both fish in higher than normal demand for lunchtime barbeques on lazy summer weekends. As

a consequence, presumably short term, far more fish than normal are being killed after capture at locations such as Burrinjuck where there are plenty of large social gatherings. While killing fish for the table may be accepted practice, make sure the bag limits aren’t being exceeded.

REDFIN EVERYWHERE Redfin are showing almost everywhere in the shallows and in deep water and provide good fun on scrub worms and a myriad of lures. Spinning blade lures is the most productive method, but bibless minnows are quite useful on larger specimens and in deeper water.

BUY & SELL LURES TACKLE BARGAINS FREE ONSITE PARKING Adults $10

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www.lureshow.com.au AUSTRALIAN LURE EXPO

MAY 2018

Tough going in the New England impoundments TAMWORTH

Jackson Faulkner

The fishing over the past month hasn’t been as good as you’d expect; April is normally one of my favourite months for fishing, but not this year. The weather has remained pretty warm in recent weeks, as opposed to last April which had cold nights that made for good fishing. We had some good

night trips in summer, but right now we’re stuck in a bit of an in-between period. It’s as though the fish are waiting for that cold change, which should set in around the middle of May. Although there haven’t been as many big fish caught consistently in the dams as there were last year, there have been some big fish caught. Some reasonable ones are being caught at Copeton on surface lures and spinnerbaits, and closer

The average size of fish will increase as temperatures drop. around here they’re taking spinnerbaits as well. With the dams being pretty slow, we’ve been doing

The author with a quality cod caught on a 150mm King Hit Surface Paddler.

a lot of river fishing. The rivers have been producing some really nice fish. All our fish have been caught either off the surface, on King Hit surface lures, or on big swimbaits. The size you throw depends on whether you’re looking for that one big fish, or whether you just want to get a few fish on the board and don’t care how big they are. My lures are anywhere from 100mm to 250mm, and I particularly like the Jackall Gantarel and Chibitarel. We’ve also been getting a few on the new Jackall Mega Pompadour, which has been working in the dams as well. I tend to throw bigger lures in both the rivers and the impoundments, trying to entice the big beasts. You don’t have to though, if you want to maximise your chances of getting fish.

When it comes to the time of day, some rivers are currently doing very well in early mornings, while in other rivers it’s better to fish at dusk. THE MONTH AHEAD If you’re been fishing the impoundments over the last month and haven’t been

that happens, anglers will tend to catch fewer fish, but they’ll be bigger. The littler fish tend to get less active in the cold, but the big fish still want to eat, especially the big impoundment cod. In May and June there will be big fish caught in Copeton, Keepit and Split

This river cod that couldn’t resist a Jackall Mega Pompadour. doing very well, don’t be disheartened – they have been a bit slow for everyone compared to this time last year. Things should pick up in the middle of May as the weather cools down. When

Rock. Yes, it’s hard work and very cold, but winter is the best time for targeting those trophy 1m fish. I’m very excited for this time of year, waiting for the cold to set in!

Dam fishing improving ORANGE

Michael Collison

The fishing in the dams has been good lately. Wyangala is improving now that the weather is starting to cool down. The bigger swimbaits, up to 200mm, are still working really well on the resident cod. We’ve had good success on Lucky Craft Real Blue Gills and the Westin Barry the Bass and Percy the Perch. The

best results come just on dark and a few hours after, and we’ve been catching fish in the high 80s to 1m. Windamere is still fishing pretty well. The yellowbelly are spawning at the moment so they’re schooled up on the flats, and you can target them with soft vibes such as Jackall Transams and Mask Vibes. If your budget doesn’t cover Jackalls, you can also get good success on the more affordable Zerek Fish Traps and Trollcraft Mijyn Forktails.

You want to work your vibes slowly on the bottom with little lifts, and you could also add in a bit of a shake with your rod tip. Darker colours, such as red bellied black, are best at Windamere. A little tip is to put some catch scent on them, such as S Factor. You can catch the yellas all day, but earlier in the morning and later in the afternoon are the most reliable times to target them. The yellowbelly at Burrendong are holing up on

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the flats, just like Windamere. What’s different is the best method to catch them: vertically fishing with soft plastics. I don’t know why the Burrendong fish require a different approach; maybe because there are more predators in Burrendong, so the fish are more wary than the ones at Windamere. One of the best soft baits at Burrendong is the 3” Gulp Minnow Grub in camo, black or watermelon. Pro Lure Live Yabbies are working well too, with the addition of catch scent. I’ve found that S Factor is the best because it has UV added.

THE MONTH AHEAD As the weather cools down a bit more this month, the yellowbelly should stop spawning and start to move to the trees. You won’t catch as many but they’ll be better quality fish. It’s a similar story for the cod at Wyangala, with the bigger fish coming out. You’ll catch them in a metre of water over there. The best approach will still be using swimbaits on dark, and you can catch them with topwater lures on dark as well. I’ve caught a few there off the surface on Koolabung Cod Crackers. There are a few fishing

comps coming up this month, so hopefully the fish will play the game in the coming weeks. • For all your tackle needs, as well as caravans, camper trailers and marine and outdoor equipment, drop into Canobolas Caravan & Marine Centre. You can find them on 166-172 Bathurst Road, Orange, call them on 02 6361 3014 or visit their website at www.canobolasmarine. com.au. Canobolas is the local supplier for Jayco, Quintrex, XFI, Skicraft, Mercury, Evinrude and more.

All prepped for the spawning season ahead JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson steve@swtroutfishing.com.au

Welcome to May and the last month of autumn. Lake Jindabyne’s water temperature has dropped to a more comfortable level for the trout, and there is much better surface fishing happening now and they will soon be thinking about spawning. Remember, the Thredbo River rules change this month to allow only one fish to be kept and that fish must be over 50cm. All other fish must be released, no matter what species. The close of the rivers and streams to fishing occurs at midnight on the Monday of the NSW June long weekend. The rivers open to fishing once again on the Saturday of the October long weekend. Let’s look at what we should expect with the fishing over the coming month. This month is one of the best months for the bait angler fishing the edges of the lake. Big brown trout are cruising the edges looking for a feed before they head into the rivers on their spawning run. Worms teamed with artificial baits and fished off the bottom is a method that is working well at the moment on Lake Jindabyne. The best areas to try over the next couple of months will be Waste Point at Creel Bay, as this is where a lot of the trout will congregate in readiness to move into the mouth of the Thredbo River on their spawning run. Hatchery and Hayshed bays are also both worth a try. When trout move into the river on their spawning run they get very territorial, so if you are a lure angler, minnow lures are now best. The big trout love chasing away the smaller trout. Small lures like

StumpJumpers and Bullet lures are now starting to work best, but there are so many lures that you can choose from. Some anglers prefer bigger Rapala lures, and anything up to 11cm and even 13cm lures will attract an aggressive big brown to strike. Picking the right colour lure and getting the right depth can sometimes be the secret to success. Use sinking or deeper diving minnows when the river is high and stick to smaller lures when the water is low and clear. The Thredbo River is my river of choice from now until rivers close on the June long weekend. On the lake, the water is cooling down, so the lake spinning will improve, but lure colours will be important. Tasmanian Devil lures in

to try are Creel Bay, Waste Point, The Snowy Arm and for fish still actively feeding, try Curiosity Rocks, Wollondibby Inlet, Hatchery Bay and The Claypits area. Lake trolling is interesting in autumn, as some days the fish will strike out of aggression and some days they will be feeding. Knowing what the weather is about to do will help. If there is a cold front approaching, the fish will often get territorial and this is big lure time, so big jointed lures are well worth a try for big browns. The weed beds are close to the edge, so if trolling early in close, you don’t need any lures that dive too deep. The Rapala Pinkie is a good aggression lure. Even at this time of year, the day will often warm Julian Congues-Straub caught this rainbow while fishing with the author. It was one of four trout caught for the session.

Julian with a decent brown trout. colours that have a bit of orange and pink are always regarded as aggression colours for when the trout are in spawning mode, but other colours that are consistent are holographic and also number 48, or the red nosed brown bomber. It’s also worth trying some bigger jointed Rapalas as well, and 11 and 13cm is not too big for aggressive brown trout. Good spinning areas

up and the fish will still go deeper. Lead core lines and downriggers will still be very useful over the coming month. Remember all the photos in the magazines of big fish caught off downriggers with big minnow lures trolled slowly? Duel Depth Tasmanian devil lures rigged through the side hole to troll deeper to 4m will also help during he middle of the day, but make sure you

don’t troll too fast when this lure is rigged in the deep dive hole. Lion and Cub islands always fish well in autumn for rainbow trout and as the brown trout move to the end of the lake ready to spawn, Creel Bay and the Snowy River Arm are well worth trying. The fly fishing on streams and rivers will still have good days even this late in the season. You will possibly still even find that fish will still take a well presented dry fly. Over recent weeks, however, most fish have been taken on brown or black nymphs out of the running water. As the rain comes, and more trout move into the Thredbo, anglers’ minds will change to chase big trophy fish and fly anglers will have the best success using Glo Bugs and nymphs. Black and brown nymphs in about a size 10 or 12 are good, just make sure you have some weighed flies for when the river is flowing hard,

as you need to get the fly down to the fish before you will see them. Lake Jindabyne will fish better this month as the edge water cools down. Water temperatures have a big effect on how close to shore the fish come, but it’s

during the late evening! • If you would like some personal guiding, I will be available over the coming months for fly-fishing tuition and lake trolling trips. Lessons can be booked from 2 hours’ duration, and trolling trips

MAY ROUNDUP – THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method: Surface trolling early and then using lead core lines at 30m out Best depth: Trolling at 10 feet deep in the deeper middle of the day Best lake lure: Tasmanian Devils in pink or orange and big Rapalas up to 13cm trolled very slowly Best lake area: Creel, Hatchery and Hayshed bay Best fly method: Glo Bugs and nymphs on the Thredbo River Best River: Thredbo River cooler now and the fishing is much better and will continue to improve as the water cools even further. Flies to try over the coming months will be the purple/ black Woolley Bugger and Mrs Simpson. Don’t forget the Williamson’s Gold Fish around the creek inlets

from 3 hours to a full day. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions, just give me a call on (0264) 561 551 or check out my website at www.swtroutfishing.com.au. You can also see our daily Facebook updates at https:// www.facebook.com/LJTFA.

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

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To round out the day, Julian also managed a lovely brook trout on a Steve Williamson Jindabyne Goldfish fly while casting from the shore of Lake Jindabyne.

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Upgrade the gear for monster cod in the cold WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

The past month has seen some amazing fishing conditions, but from now on, the weather gets cooler and the activity slows down. This doesn’t mean that we pack up our rods… we do the opposite! We upgrade our rods, lures and leader for those monster cod that come out to play during the cooler months! MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER The Murrumbidgee River fishes incredibly during autumn and as May kicks into gear the rivers get lower, clearer and cooler. The start of May is still a great time to be out on the water casting to bankside structure. The smaller fish will slowly go off the bite through

Tallis Cotterill with an armful of metre Murray cod taken on surface late in the evening on a low flowing river. mid-May, especially as we start to see the cooler nights. If the weather stays warm, the fishing will continue to be great. We are expecting a relatively dry and cool winter, so through May we

will start to see the transition from high fish activity to low. In saying this, we want to upsize the gear and target the larger logs in the river. This is by far the best month to chase down that trophy fish.

keep close to the structure and make sure you lure is right on the bottom or at least tapping along the top of the logs. Bait fishing will be slow, but if you target the big logs with large bardi grubs and yabbies, you’ll be in for a good chance at the larger fish. The Murrumbdigee River will be better at the start of May than it will at the end, but the bigger fish will come out to play as it gets cooler. Another thing to mention is if we receive a large amount of rain like we did two years ago, the fishing will be a total write off and you’ll be best off making alternate plans. BLOWERING DAM Now onto my favourite winter location, and May is the warm up for the rest of the season. The big fish will

the grassy banks is the go-to method. It can be boring and you will have to do a lot of casts to get results, but it is worth it. The top end of the lake around the wall will be good to troll. Start using larger lures, as you’ll want to have

structure in Blowering Dam. As it gets cooler through mid-May, you’ll want to start fishing shallower. If you are casting plastics fish from 3-6m and when trolling fish in 4-7m. One last thing that you should always have on

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Casting 5/8-1oz spinnerbaits with upsized plastic tails and large Colorado blades is the go-to option. Make sure you repeat your casts on large logs, and don’t be afraid to spend 10-20 minutes on the one snag repeating the casts – especially if it’s a monster log, with a lot of depth and in little current! Other good lure options are large weedless soft plastics like the big Powerbait Ripple Shads rigged on a 12/0 Flashy weedless hook. Big hardbody lures work wonders as well, especially on the troll in the deep holes. The 90mm AC Invader is my favourite for this style of fishing, I also like the 130mm White Crow. Make sure that if you are going to troll to select the slow flowing outside bends or straights that have a lot of submerged timber and depth. Anything deeper than 3mls perfect. Troll upstream,

already be on the move in search of a big feed to keep them sustained during the cooler months. Targeting monster Murray Cod in Blowering is exceptional during winter, and towards the end of May is well worth a crack. If you’re searching for that fish of a lifetime, then casting large plastics along

Mud Guts Spinnerbaits are the go-to lure in the clear and low running Murrumbidgee River. If you’re fishing down the other end of the lake or through the middle sections, target the points that have rocky patches or large logs. You can never go wrong with targeting timber and

Weedless soft plastics are a great option in the clear water at this time of year.

OLD MAN CREEK Old Man Creek is another location that will fish very similar to the Murrumbidgee River as the weather cools. It will drop in height and will be very low, exposing plenty of snags. The best technique here is to walk the banks early in the morning casting surface lures. As the water is slow flowing, your lures can be walked straight back to your feet leaving a bubble trail, which is the perfect conditions for surface fishing. This is the best time and technique to tempt those big fish that call the creek home. Good luck with your May expeditions! Rug up because it is cooling off, but be ready for a fish of a lifetime!

Mayhem in May on big browns at Lake Lyell LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

The first glimpse I caught was out of the corner of my eye – just a hint of movement in 6” of water. I turned quickly and zeroed in on a lovely, big old brown trout cruising at a lazy pace a rod length out from the bank – 10m in front of me. I had to wait and I had to be patient – one false move now and it would all be over. Don’t move a muscle, I thought. It didn’t matter when she got level. She bolted quick as a flash and left me wondering, what the hell… Was it clothing, some glint off my sunglasses? Or was it something unfamiliar on a regular beat? I think the latter. Lake Lyell brown trout and, I suspect, many other impoundment brown trout work regular beats on a daily basis sometimes in ridiculously shallow water. I’m sure that any sudden

better than two. One person higher and slightly forward (spotter) needs to be closer to the water’s edge, but not to close. Try 2-3m away from the edge, depending on slope. The spotter calls the shots. Good communication skills are handy and keeping it simple is the key. ‘Cast 3m in front of that next log 2m out from the bank.’ If their skills are up to task, or should I say cast, then your odds of catching one of the ‘uncatchables’ has just taken a quantum leap forward. All that said, it’s still challenging but it’s one of the most enjoyable forms of freshwater fishing you will do. The banter between spotter and fisho is comical at times. Obviously you need to keep things in check because chances are when it’s your turn to be the fisho things can go pretty pear shaped as well… I’ve had success with fly and lure fishing while walking the banks of Lake Lyell and I’m sure a well-

The commitment required to chase big cod in the colder months will not be everyone’s cup of tea. For one, it’s cold enough to freeze the round ones off a brass monkey, the casting aches and pains after 3-4 days are real and the payoffs are few and far between, but when you get one it makes you forget all the bad. nearly half their size to get a response. At other times it doesn’t seem to matter, so it really does pay to be flexible in this regard. Pack everything.

for a big part of the brown trout’s diet. Obviously time of year and water temperature have a big effect on the numbers of fish in shallow margins, with autumn and spring months being prime times. As water temperatures drop even further you will see a shift in aggression, particularly with the male fish. Sometimes

presenting a longer minnow, or baitfish profile can elicit a savage response. BIG COD FEVER Now is the time to put all the light gear away, shed the silks and get bloody serious. You would have to have been hiding under a rock not to hear or realize the developments taking place in the Murray cod winter impoundment scene. A

lot of ground breaking stuff is happening all up and down clear western water sheds. I think the penny has dropped – actually a bloody big anvil. The scary part is, I think we really are only still scratching the surface…. Big fish of any species are different. They eat different foods (usually much bigger) and tapping into this is one of the keys, but there are many more and the best part is it’s a work in progress… each and every fisho has the potential to break new ground when chasing these big cod. Casting swimbaits, big wakebaits, big plastics and surface lures won’t be for everyone. It’s not easy; in fact it’s hard work, but the rewards are enormous… Preparation and planning play a huge role in success, as does commitment from your fishing buddy. You both need to be on the same page and this is going to sound really selfish, but if your mate’s not into it like you are, you might be best leaving him or her at home. It really is a 110% commitment and worthy of a full article, even just for the mindset needed. Tight lines and hope to see you on the water soon.

It’s time to put the light gear away and get a bit fair dinkum. This is the author’s light finesse outfit. changes would be noticed. Depending on your approach you can use this to your advantage; it’s a lesson I learned after that very day. Try if you can to work in pairs – four eyes are

presented bait would work just as well. The key is to keep things as light as possible, leaders, hooks, main line. Lure size is tricky, we have sometimes had to trim soft plastics to

Lake Lyell is not alone; this style or method of fishing for brown trout in impoundments, in my opinion, is totally underutilized, especially where yabbies make up

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Big Lake Lyell brown trout are an untapped resource. There are a few little keys to unlocking some of the secrets of catching the ‘uncatchables.’ The best part is these tactics will work for any trout dam in the country with similar topography, clarity, and food items.

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Welcome to New England’s five-month winter NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

The five months of winter have pretty much started in the New England Ranges. The nights have cooled off dramatically, and although the cold can be hard to get used to, it can make for some pretty exciting fishing around this time of year.

is where slowing down retrieves and replicating baits that are more more abundant will increase your chances. Especially as it is not just the bait life that get lethargic, but the big natives themselves! Pindari Dam has been fishing well lately for both bait and lure anglers. Working the bottom around thick timber and rocky points have been the most productive

releases. Having several different lures in your tackle box helps. Some areas of

are really dirty in colour. Don’t let this discourage you however, as fish can

This cod was taken from the Severn River on a weedless frog.

A nighttime Copeton cod that ate a Cod King Lures chatterbait. As the crayfish head back into hiding and the baitfish become more lethargic, there’s less food available for the predatory fish. This

places to look for active fish. Blades hopped slowly across the bottom proved to be the most effective method on a recent trip I had out there.

Small spinnerbaits or soft plastics are also good options for targeting golden perch around the banks as well. Copeton Dam has continued to produce some very nice fish in recent weeks, but in saying that, it has proved to be pretty tough going, with a lot of anglers having to work pretty hard for results. There have been several lure types catching fish, although chatterbaits have seemed to be the most consistent lure to use recently, with many big fish being caught on these lures day and night. Surface lures

have also been effective, and as the water temperatures get colder it should only improve on the fishing front. I think in many cases it comes down to time on water and being in the right place at the right time with these fish. The Severn River is also fishing well both above and below the dam, despite the conditions after irrigation

This Pindari Dam golden perch took a liking to a ZX blade hopped amongst some timber. the river are a bit weedy, so it is hard to retrieve lures properly, while other parts

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Not something anglers see a lot of – a healthy and chunky silver perch taken on a beetlespin!

still be caught. Personally, I like to use big spinnerbaits in these conditions, as they make lots of commotion and put out a good silhouette in dirty water. The Beardy River is much the same, with weeds and stained water. The odd redfin has been caught using small vibes or worms. The days and nights are only getting cooler in the New England and if fishing in freezing cold temperatures is not your thing, then this month should be a perfect time to make the most of the still bearable conditions, as it is predicted to be one of the coldest winters yet! You might as well enjoy it before the big frosty mornings arrive! Tight lines.

DAM LEVELS Dam............................... % Full

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

Dam Feb March April Blowering 39 39 44 Brogo 96 101 100 Burrendong 46 40 39 Burrinjuck 56 46 40 Carcoar 74 66 59 Chaffey 78 73 68 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a n/a Copeton 31 29 29 Dartmouth 89 89 88 Eucumbene 39 36 31 Glenbawn 79 77 75 Glenlyon 60 57 55

Dam Feb March April Glennies Creek 71 69 71 Hume 60 51 36 Jindabyne 70 64 56 Keepit 19 14 13 Lostock 61 57 100 Oberon 72 69 65 Pindari 65 60 60 Split Rock 19 16 16 Tantangara 30 22 21 Toonumbar 100 101 100 Windamere 44 43 42 Wyangala 75 72 68

(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.)

First frosts signal big cod COPETON DAM

David Allen

A U S T R A L I A

manager@copeton.com.au

As we enter May in the cod capital of Australia, everyone is thinking about one thing only: metre plus Murray cod! May marks the real start of our big fish season at Copeton, and will also see us again kicking off the Wilson Tackle King & Queen of Copeton Comp. This Comp runs from 1 May until 30 November and is easy to enter. Just photograph your catch on a brag mat, showing the entire fish and its length, upload the photo to our Facebook page along with the details of the catch including date, and you’re in the running. The winners will be decided by the longest fish caught by a male and female, hence ‘King & Queen’. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the first fish of that length caught (date is important). So get your entries in! The first frost of the year will usually coincide with a start to our now famous winter

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A beautiful Copeton Cod caught on the new Mudeye Cousin IT. surface bite at Copeton. With current water levels at about 29%, some of the best flats will be available through this winter and lots of Copeton regulars are expecting an exceptional season this year. I know areas where I caught many cod in past years are going to be fishable again this year. Cod fishing at Copeton

Lochie Condon took this 105cm beast from his kayak.

is consistently evolving, with new tackle and techniques every year. Although lures have been getting bigger each year, on a tough bite it might be something out of left field that makes the difference. I have been trying to find some of these options and one that was met with some success last year was surface stickbaits, worked in the ‘walk-the-dog’ fashion. Other options may be big surface soft plastics or the biggest frogs you can find, or maybe a big buzzbait! There’s just so many possibilities. The real fun is trying something different. May will also see very stable weather conditions, with cold nights and warm days. It is also a time of year that can see beautiful big high pressure systems moving very slowly over our region. Just remember the old saying, ‘pressure at 1020, cod aplenty’, and these systems will often have reading up to 1030! When you see these conditions, you do whatever it takes to get to Copeton, because it could see

you landing multiple big fish in a session. Our best effort a couple of years ago was eight strikes and four fish landed in 1.5 hours one morning, with the smallest fish going 83cm and best 109cm. May doesn’t mean that cod are the only option at Copeton, so if you want to fill in time while the sun is up, then yellowbelly and catfish are still options. The catfish will still be taking bait, with a big bunch of worms on an appropriate hook one of the best options. Yellowbelly will be back into structure at this time of year, so target them by trolling through the timber or casting the edges where the water will warm during the day. • Copeton Dam is one of the best lakes in NSW to catch a trophy Murray cod. Dave runs the Copeton Waters Holiday Park and is a great source of up to date, local information on what’s biting. Contact the park on (02) 6723 6269 for information and accommodation bookings.

FISHING NEWS

Find an Aussie icon at the pub Scouting pubs and clubs in the Murray-Darling Basin sounds like a good way to spend your study time, but for Matt O’Connell it’s all in the name of science. Matt is looking out for the fish that did not get away—the ones that were stuffed, mounted and often displayed in country hotels and clubs. “The mounted Murray cod is a unique part of Australian culture, and is largely a thing of the past,” he said. “As part of my research with the School of Environmental Sciences at Charles Sturt University, I want to find as many real mounts as possible and hear from the people who display these fish and have a strong connection to them.”

Matt has already received leads on nearly 300 mounts. The older and whole skin mounts are rarer, he says, however all ‘real’ mounts with records are potentially valuable – big or small, head or whole fish, old or new, pub or home. For years, the population of this iconic species of

the Murray-Darling Basin has been in decline. Matt’s study, part-funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA), could improve the Murray cod’s chances in the future. Fish that have undergone taxidermy provide tangible evidence from which to gather accurate information.

Matt O’Connell with examples of mounted Murray cod.

They can serve as valuable time capsules and give us a picture of the Murray cod’s past characteristics and range, which will build our understanding of fishery conditions in years gone by. If you know of a mounted cod, please complete the brief stepby-step survey at codspot. com.au. The potential scientific value of a mount is improved if there are photos of the cod mount and copies of any records (e.g. source, size, preservation history), and if the owner provides consent to access the mount. Matt has made a video at www.codspot. com.au/resources that outlines how you can take photos and register mounts. - MDBA

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It’s time for the winter edge bite HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

As I sit in my office writing this, I can hear the rain lightly coming down outside, hoping it will continue long enough to turn around this dry cycle. Apart from Lostock, both Glenbawn and

headwaters. With May right upon us, I would expect to start seeing some consistent frosts in the Hunter Valley. These cold nights and mornings really start to bring the water temperatures down. We will start to see the fish move into their prominent winter patterns this month. The closed season comes into effect this

of cool months should see this all turn around. There is a typical winter edge plastic bite that happens every year and May is the month to try it out. A 1/4oz jighead with a 2-3” paddle-tail or grub is a deadly combination for casting the edges. These plastics perfectly represent the primary bait in these waters this time of year,

Dave Diggins with a bass caught on a deep curl-tail grub. St Clair have not had a significant rise in the past 12 months. Autumn so far has been reasonable for us in inland NSW. While we have had some rain, there’s been nothing that has dramatically changed things, yet. I am always hopeful as I watch the weather, looking for that one big rain event to top up the lakes and get the smaller rivers and creeks flowing again in all the

month in the rivers, which will have most of the bass downstream in the brackish water ready to spawn. In the impoundments, this cold weather will hopefully bring the fish up shallower in the water column, making them easier to catch. GLENBAWN Lake Glenbawn can really start to fish well at this time of year. April was generally a tough month for the lure fishers, but the start

which is smelt, gudgeons or minnows. Around 20ft of water seems to be the key depth they like to hold at over the winter months at Glenbawn. This seems to be their comfort zone and they will move shallower to feed from here. They should be easy to find, virtually spread

Casting out parallel to the bank and focusing on the fish you can see beneath the boat in 20ft, you can target these schooling fish if there is no fish up shallow. A deep-diving suspending jerkbait will also work in low light when the fish are high in the water column. Work them with short pauses over the shallow water, and as they come out in 10-15ft, try pausing a little longer. A long pause will give enough time for the fish to swim up and intercept the bait. Another plastic that works well this time of year is 2-3” stickbait on a 1/16-1/8oz jighead. Because these plastics mimic a dying baitfish, the light head is needed, so they don’t fall to be bottom too quickly. Twitch them up then let them sink on semi slack line, following the structure out off the banks. There are always some deeper schools at Glenbawn in 40-80ft of water, and out off prominent main points or along rock walls will be the places to look. A slow-rolled plastic or ice jig worked in their face will work on these schooled fish. Small slender blades can also be worth a try on any of these schooled fish, either shallow or deep. ST CLAIR Lake St Clair’s fish will follow a very close pattern to Glenbawn at this time of year. The fish will start to

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the levels and encourage some more growth. Although the weed improves the fishing generally, the less weed there is, the easier it is to fish shallower towards the edge. The fish will be able to easily spot your lure from some distance and track it down. Less weed will mean that the fish will not have as much cover and shade like

suspended. An ice jig can quickly work out if these fish are active. If the ice jig fails, try slowing down with a plastic or slow roll a blade. RIVERS AND CREEKS Many of the bass in the river systems will have started their migration downstream. The closed season has come into play this month and the bag limit is zero, until September.

An awesome-looking bass that chose to munch on a plastic.

Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors

The author with a decent Glenbawn bass on a plastic.

The shallow water jerkbaiting starts to hit off in May. throughout the whole lake at this time of year. Low light situations such as early morning and late evening seem to always be the easiest time to catch the ones that have moved up shallow. Make a long cast up towards the edge while keeping your rod tip up high to control the depth your plastic is running at. Slowly wind your plastics back to the boat, trying to follow the contour of the bottom, lowering your rod tip as you bring it out into deeper water. Some little twitches can be thrown into your retrieve if the slow roll is not getting any action. If it is sunny and calm, try focusing on bottom contact more often. Allow your plastic to hit the bottom, twitch up a few feet, then let it fall back again – very similar to a flathead retrieve.

focus on smaller lures and be less inclined to hit reaction style baits. Small plastics, jerkbaits, ice jigs and small blades will be your main staples for putting fish in the boat. The weed beds really suffered from dropping levels over the end of summer. Hopefully, whatever autumn rains we have will maintain

do they normally do, and this causes them to retreat slightly deeper when the sun is out. Fish your jerkbait and plastics up in the shallows during low light, and focus on moving deeper and more parallel to the bank as the sun gets up. Weedless rigged plastics are handy for putting your lure where the standard jighead cannot go. Focus on the holes and pockets in the weed. Out deeper you will find schools anywhere from shallow flats in 20ft out to 80-100ft, where fish will be

An ice jig will become more productive this month.

While it is not closed to fishing for bass, you must be wary of what impacts you could have on the spawning. Fishing smarter, as sitting on a school of fish pounding them repeatedly may be detrimental to their spawning. A quick photo and speedy release with have the fish returned to its routine unharmed. The fish will be not be as aggressive as they are in summer, but they can still be caught. Small plastics like paddle-tails, curl-tails and shrimp imitation plastics will work. Lightly-weighted and fished with the current down rock walls and into holes, they should catch a few fish. You can also try fishing the shallower cover around timber and rock. Casting accuracy is very important when targeting the shallow structure in the tidal areas. Focus on cover that breaks the current flow and gives something for the fish to sit behind and ambush prey.

It’s spawn run time! BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

If you don’t like the crowds associated with the Eucumbene spawn run but still want to fish it, I’d suggest keeping an eye on the weather, and if there is even a small amount of rain early this month, you should head up for a fish.

the month and there will be that many fish in the system that it won’t matter that you are shoulder to shoulder with other anglers. If you do fish the river when it is really busy, then I suggest treating others the way you’d like to be treated. Don’t jump in on someone else’s hole unless you are given permission from the other angler or anglers. If you happen to be on a hole that

much for you, or you have reasons not to get amongst what most anglers consider a slaughter, then there are plenty of other trout options available in the area. The Tumut and upper Murrumbidgee rivers fish great at this time of the year and have very little angling pressure. There is also a bunch of smaller streams in the area that provide great fishing without the angling

The Eucumbene River spawn run is great fun for the whole family, just make sure you rug up. almost all of them have trout in them. Some are teeming with smaller fish, while others have fewer numbers but may hold bigger fish. Trial and error will eventually get you amongst some incredible fishing, and having done the hard yards yourself should have you feeling much more satisfied as an angler.

fish, meaning you will hook fish all day long. You can use this same set up on spin gear, however a small split shot sinker may be needed to get you to the bottom where all the fish are. This is known as spin drifting or poor man’s fly fishing, but it works incredibly well and is a great way to fish if you can’t

will swipe at these lures to get them out of their area. If you’re a bait angler and are not fishing one of the blue ribbon rivers and streams that don’t allow bait fishing, than it will be hard to beat drifting some sort of dough bait that resembles fish eggs like PowerBait. To get the most out of this bait in

It may be shoulder to shoulder at times, but how could you get sick of catching trophy-sized fish like this all day long. Early in the run there is less angling pressure and less fish, but the size of the fish is almost always bigger than the later part of the run. The bigger fish sense the first rains and often make up most of the early fish that run. Alternatively, you could wait until substantial rain later in

is stacked with fish, consider inviting passing anglers into your hole to share the love. If we all did this then there wouldn’t be a need to consider having to implement a bunch of rules to try and regulate this fishery. If all the fuss of the Eucumbene spawn run is too

pressure of the more known systems. Jump on Google Earth and suss out your own smaller streams away from the crowds and you will be able to find countless smaller streams that have little to no angling pressure. From Tumut to Jindabyne there are countless streams, and

Bright lures like this Insanity Tackle Sso Mino will also get you amongst the action this month.

There will be plenty of hungry trout in our smaller creeks and rivers this month for those not wanting to fish amongst the crowds.

If you are fly fishing this month, it is impossible to beat a two fly rig with one Glo Bug and one nymph of your choice. I personally opt for a gold bead red Copper John nymph with my Glo Bug, as this gets me to the bottom where all the fish are, and having that little bit of red on it triggers an aggressive response from the

fly fish or don’t own a fly rod. Alternatively, you can use lures to catch these fish, and at this time of the year the bigger and brighter the lure the better. You can also trigger the trout’s competitive nature by using a lure that resembles another rainbow or brown trout. The spawning fish are super aggressive and

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streams and rivers, it pays to have it weighted so that it gets to the bottom, but then drifts along naturally with the current. Keep adding or taking away split shot sinkers until you get that bait slowly bouncing along the bottom naturally, and you will catch fish all day long just like the fly fishers.

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Mulwala is getting ready for the drawdown! YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

The word on every Mulwala anglers’ lips of late has been ‘drawdown’. When will it happen, for how long and how much? In an official media release from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) head of River Management Andrew Reynolds said “Lake Mulwala will be lowered by about 3.5m this winter to facilitate works around the lake foreshore and weed control. Lake levels will start to fall slowly from 30 April by about 70cm until mid-May when the irrigation season ends. Once we are sure that irrigation water delivery to customers is finished for the year, we’ll accelerate the drawdown until Lake Mulwala is 3.5m lower than normal – a level we expect to hold until mid-July when refilling will start. People will still be able to boat and fish in the main river channel that runs through the lake.” How will the lake fish in this time? If past drawdowns are anything to go by, the answer should be brilliant!

As the lake recedes, all flats-dwelling cod retreat back into the deeper holes and the original river course itself. Resident cod tend to defend their home snag with vigour and this leads to some exciting fishing. Using 100mm+ hardbodied lures and larger profile spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will produce the goods. Last time we had a drawdown, swimbaits and the like were only talked about by those who were really switched on. I’m sure they will play a big part in many captures this time round. Don’t miss this great opportunity to have a look at the lake at this low level. I can guarantee you will get a greater understanding of structure, timber and drop offs, and it’s sure to influence your future fishing for the better. Launching in the lake does become difficult, with the ramp at the Yacht Club giving you the best access for the entirety of the drawdown. Looking back, reports of quality cod continued throughout March with the undoubted king being Nick ‘Gambie’ Gamble. Gambie has invested a fair bit of time into his fishing over the past couple of years. He was

Bryn Mathews with a magnificent 103.3cm cod from the Cod Nationals. rewarded big time when his Jackall Gantarel swimbait was intercepted by a monster cod measuring 120cm. A few quick pics and this true Mulwala monster was sent on its way again. Great effort Nick! To mention all others who gave us reports over the last month would fill this magazine twice over! The 2018 Great Northern Cod Nationals took place

mid March and proved an outstanding success. An impressive 66 of the finest cod anglers descended on the country’s undisputed cod capital, Lake Mulwala! The ‘Cod Nats’ is fished over four days, with a varying fishing format each day. An outstanding 408 cod were caught, with 86 of them measuring in excess of 55cm. There were four that

surpassed the magical meter mark, with special mentions going to Stephen Booth with his fish of 102.2cm, Luke Quarrell and his 102.9cm beast, Bryn Mathews, who cracked a 103.3cm fish, and Mick Beale who landed the biggest for the comp, stretching the tape out to 104.4cm and taking home the Tonic Sunglasses big fish bonus!

Finishing in a very creditable third place in the teams section was Team KD, a father son combo of Derek and Kade Blow. Runners up went to one of Australia’s premier tournament anglers Kris Hickson and partner Bryn Mathews of Team Minn Kota/Hummingbird. The Champion Team was taken out by Corowa brothers Ian and Matt Rogers of Team Wilson. A consistent four days fishing saw them take home close to $10K in cash and prizes. Team Wilson landed 30 cod, with 11 of them being of legal size. This was a very popular win, as the Rogers brothers have been a big part of the Cod Nats since its inception eight years ago. Ian also took home the title of Champion Angler, with his total of 20 cod, six of which were legal. • If you are visiting town, I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski (opposite the post office) in Mulwala and say G’day. We are your largest Murray cod-specific shop in Yarrawonga/Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (03) 5744 3133.

Changes spark cod bite ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

The chill of the pending change in season has me reaching for a jacket as the boat is backed down the ramp in the early morning light. The flicker of silver baitfish breaks the river’s mirrored surface like rain. Beneath the commotion,

December, these iconic fish are about to swing into full on feeding mode as the water temperature begins to turn and drop. It happens every season and the signs are there if you know where to look. The drop in early morning temperature is just the first sign. This in turn drives other events, as all of nature is in tune. On the roads, long lines of hairy caterpillars end to end snake

Bardi grubs also begin to change to chrysalis form, soon to become ghost moths, and they will hatch with the first of the season’s rains. This will in turn provide the Murray cod with a fat-laden winged package to be eaten from the river’s surface as many find their way into the water. These large moths are a substitute bounty to replace other meals soon to be lost.

Pip Clement matching his lure and shirt! The result was this nice Murray cod caught on a StumpJumper lure!

Swimbaits have been working well lately, and this Murray cod took a liking to the 180mm Goodoo Bait. Murray cod wait in ambush, with the chance to snatch an easy meal often but a tail beat away. While the Murray cod season has been open since 70

MAY 2018

their way on a journey to who knows where. Soon to become bag moths, these furry grubs so often caught in the vacuum of a passing car are scattered to the wind.

As the water temperature drops away, yabbies and shrimp become harder to find. A plentiful bait during the warmer months, their numbers will thin and their

easy availability to fish will be gone. Native fish are in tune to this event and glut before they all but disappear. It’s these and many other events that stimulate the Murray cod bite, and for the next few months the best of the cod fishing is there for those who wet a line. Swan Hill tackle shop proprietor Jim Credlin says it has been a ripper season locally along the Murray River, with plenty of good Murray cod landed on both bait and lures. This past month, several large Murray cod over a metre have been caught, with the best section of water being from the road bridge upstream to Pental Island.

Golden perch too have been a frequent catch, with most fish caught on bait. Scrub worms and small yabbies have been the best. A little further downstream, the section of Murray River between Wood Wood and Tooleybuc has also been fishing well for Murray cod on lures, with several metre plus models landed this past month. Boundary Bend is producing Murray cod to 70cm on bait and lures in the Murray River. Good numbers of golden perch are also being caught on bait and lures in this area. At Robinvale, good numbers of golden perch and the odd small Murray cod have been landed on lures. It’s

a similar story downstream at Wemen. There is finally a bit of good news further downstream from the Murray around Mildura and Wentworth. At least two Murray cod over a metre have been landed on lures. These are the first sizable Murray cod reported by anglers at these locations for well over 12 months now. Hopefully, it’s just the start and cod catches will continue as we head towards the winter months. All up, the fishing has been quite good in most sections of the Murray River and I would expect it to only get better as things continue to cool down.

Cod and perch feature in Murray River catches MILDURA

Rob Oswin

Along the Murray River the fishing has been consistently good with a good assortment of both Murray cod and perch both being caught on both lures

With the cooler months approaching many anglers are taking advantage of the lower water temperatures and targeting the fish holding higher up in the water, allowing for some great fish to be caught. With the water temperature dropping fish in the area are holding

fast approaching. I expect the fishing to begin to slow down but for the time being both cod and perch are biting aggressively on bait. There have been plenty of smaller sized cod being caught in the area around Hattah. These smaller cod have been being caught on

Cod like this can be caught all day long; early morning and late afternoon are the best times. and bait. Anglers and fish alike have been enjoying the cooler temperatures and allowing for some excellent fishing.

higher in the water and biting especially hard, creating for some excellent fights. Don’t expect this to last forever with winter

Decent-sized golden perch have also been falling to baits, like the cod.

mostly baits such as the larger shrimp being caught lately and also on grubs, but don’t forget the yabbies, as these have been essential in catching cod and more predominantly the perch. Some good-size golden perch are also being caught on baits such as worms, grubs and local shrimp. With winter just around the corner anglers can expect the fish to be feeding intensely before the cold winter weather really sets in. Anglers can expect to see the fish starting to move off the bite as the month continues to progress, so get out there and get them while they are really biting hard and fast. During this time for bait anglers placement will become even more crucial than ever as fish will be holding around snags more and moving less. Don’t be afraid to give walking the bank a go. Don’t forget about carp; they are good fun to catch

and easy to target. They’re especially fun for younger kids and families. Carp are great for those who want to have some fun and don’t want to work as hard to target more preferred fish like cod and perch. Carp can be especially fun for more experienced anglers, especially on light gear as they fight well and can reach a decent size. Due to their abundance, European carp are extremely easy to target. Worms are the most popular choice to target this species. For those willing to put in a bit more effort lures are a great resource to have. Noisy lures will be the way to go, so vibes, hardbody rattlers and spinnerbaits are a must. Spinnerbaits are a great option because they’re extremely versatile and allow you to bounce them off logs, imitating something falling into the water and getting those great reaction bites from fish. With any lure repetition is a must. Don’t be afraid to throw your lure in the same area as the first cast or two may be missed and it doesn’t hurt to cast from a multitude of different angles either. Be patient. The key to success is targeting fish

at the appropriate times; I’ve found that at this time of year early morning and late afternoon are great

The fishing on the Murray River has been consistent for golden perch and cod recently, keeping anglers like this young fisho happy. times to target cod and work perch during the time in between, but both can be caught all day round.

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Cooking

Tasty golden squid rings – spice up your squid CLEANING SQUID

BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, is most commonly used in powdered form to add an attractive earthy hue to Asian and Indian dishes. While most herbs are happily stored on display in airtight glass jars, turmeric is often marketed in light-proof airtight containers. Turmeric should be stored in a cool, dark cupboard to increase its shelf-life. Ingredients • 500g squid rings • 1 small red chilli, finely chopped • 1 cup plain flour • 1tsp turmeric powder • 1-2tbs cooking oil

6 72

MAY 2018

Been out for a fish lately and want to use your cool calamari catch in this recipe? Scan this QR code to read Lynn Bain’s article online about cleaning squid. Calamari seem to love the cooler weather that we’ve been getting lately, so April is the perfect time to get your own fresh ingredients. There’s something special about knowing you caught your own dinner, don’t you think? We think so too.

On a hotplate, heat a non-stick frypan over a medium heat. Add the chopped chilli and chilli seeds to the frypan and toast them for a few minutes, then add the oil.

Shallow fry the coated squid rings with the chilli-infused oil in your frypan. Use tongs to remove the golden fried chilli squid rings from the non-stick pan and then drain the squid rings on some paper towels.

Clean your squid and keep the calamari tubes to slice into squid rings (the heads and tentacles in this case were left intact to be used as reef fishing baits). Turn the tubes inside out and give them a rinse, then slice them into rings.

While the chilli is cooking, add the turmeric to the flour. In this case there was only a handful of flour remaining in the bag so turmeric was added directly to the bag. You may substitute dry mustard for the turmeric.

Finely chop the chillies and keep the chilli seeds to infuse into the cooking oil.

Add the turmeric and flour mix to a plastic bag containing the squid/ calamari rings, then toss the squid rings through the mixture of flour and turmeric powder.

Serve with a light salad on the side. Salad will not overwhelm the delicate flavours of the squid. You can add extra chilli if you’re a fan of spice, or double-coat your calamari for more crunch.

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Pirtek remains world’s biggest fishing comp The tenth annual PIRTEK Fishing Challenge, which attracted almost 9000 participants, has been recognised as the world’s biggest competition for anglers. With entrants from every Australian state and territory, the event also raised funds and awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the Peter Duncan Neurosciences Research Unit. Australia’s unique landscape was subject to an equally varied range of weather conditions for this year’s challenge, which produced an endless list of tales and interesting images loaded to the event’s official website. There were some mighty fish caught including a 112cm barramundi in Queensland,

Murray Cod over the magic metre mark and some big top-end trevally. The southern states produced great results with flathead over 90cm, cracking snapper and a 77cm brown trout from Tasmania. There were 157 individual prize winners across Australia all sharing in the $210,000 prize pool. PIRTEK provides $90,000 divided between 25 mystery length target fish, providing all entrants the opportunity to win big without necessarily catching the biggest fish. One of the highlights of the challenge is the On The Water prize draw and this year’s major winner was Chris Rossetti from Charlestown (NSW) who won the $29,000 boat/motor/ trailer package thanks to Stacer and Evinrude.

John Didge with a winning bream.

Fishing Challenge was something that all his company’s staff, suppliers and franchisees could be enormously proud of. For further information

about the PIRTEK Fishing Challenge and more results, visit www. pirtekfishingchallenge. com.au and check out their Facebook page. – PIRTEK

NSW/ACT RESULTS

Parker Strickland won the 2nd place Junior category-winning flathead in Victoria. Other major prize winners included Dale Cooper and Patricia Johnson, who won Snap-On Tools tool kits valued at $5000, Wayne Gibbs who won a Lowrance Hook2 12” FishFinder valued at $2149, Ken Osborne who picked up a $2000 tackle pack thanks to ABU Garcia and Berkley, Todd Pickering who will be adding to his tackle box thanks to a $1700 BCF gift card and Nicole Wicks who took home a $500 Valvoline care pack. Tournament Director Michael Guest was delighted with another recordbreaking year. “I was very proud to see so many keen anglers

supporting the challenge and our charity partners in this year’s challenge,” said Guest. “It goes to show what a bunch of dedicated anglers can achieve when we all get together for a good cause. “I know conditions were tough in some parts of the country, especially in Darwin while battling cyclone Marcus and the fireravaged area of Tathra in southern NSW, but it didn’t slow too many fishers down with thousands of photos uploaded to the website across the country.” PIRTEK Australia’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Dutton, said that the success of the PIRTEK

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Place/Category Bream 1st 2nd 3rd Junior 1st Junior 2nd Mystery Length 36.5cm Flathead 1st 2nd 3rd Junior 1st Junior 2nd Mystery Length 69.0cm Leatherjacket 1st 2nd 3rd Junior 1st Junior 2nd Mystery Length 36.0cm Tailor 1st 2nd 3rd Junior 1st Junior 2nd Mystery Length 41.0cm Whiting 1st 2nd 3rd Junior 1st Junior 2nd Mystery Length 38.3cm

Angler

Length (cm)

Joseph Borg Jake Marks Daniel Cusick Lachlan Coe Nikki Croker Joe Chu

42.5 42.2 41.8 42.0 39.8 36.5

Matthew Kyle Paul Gilroy Brice Hayward Macie Armfield William Shaddock Sean Greentree

91.8 91.6 90.0 89.5 78.7 69.1

Tim Dekruif Connor Cook Robert Elias Samir Ekermawi Charlet Keen James Richards

47.6 34.7 34.6 33.1 32.1 36.4

Josh Wenzel Daniel Wild-Mclaren Ronald Rapmund Declan Newman Charlotte Duff Taigan Heath

56.7 54.4 52.6 48.5 42.5 41.0

John French Jake Duncan Michael Baker Amali Henderson Ryder Cook Alan Manning

43.6 43.3 43.1 40.4 40.1 38.1

Brought to you by

2018

MAY

JUNE

5-6 May

ABT BREAM Series Round 6 Swan River, WA

www.abt.org.au

13 May

Round 1 WSBB East Coast Bream Series Botany Bay

www.wsbb.com.au

19-20 May

ABT BASS Pro Round 2 Glenbawn Dam

www.abt.org.au

22-23 May

ABT BASS Pro Round 3 Lake St Clair

www.abt.org.au

26-27 May

SCFCA Rock Competition Berry Bowling Club

southcoastfca@yahoo.com.au

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

www.abt.org.au

10 Jun

ABT BASS Electric Series Round 3 Wyralong Dam

www.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

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. 74

MAY 2018

Round two of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10 The Rhino-Rack, JML and Hobie Polarized round two of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10 saw anglers from all over Australia compete in the two-day competition at the oyster lease and rack fishing Mecca of Forster – a coastal town north of Sydney and next to Tuncurry. Pre-Fish Day on Friday saw competitors return to the event arena with a reasonable number having pulled in solid bags from the famous Forster racks as well as the flats the system has on offer. The forecast for the competition over the weekend was spot on with both days seeing wind blowing in from the south to southeast across Wallis Lake. Saturday was the windier of the two days with the wind peaking at 27km/h around 1pm, while on

Kris Hickson took the win in round two of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series 10, as well as the Atomic Big Bream prize. the Tournament Director counted down, competitors would pedal off until the final angler headed out to their preferred location. FORSTER RECORD SET In the past Hobie Fishing

EVENT STATS Total Fish Caught on Day One........................ 173 Total Fish Caught on Day Two........................ 169 Total Fish..........................................................342 Total Weight of Fish................................ 156.16kg Average Fish Weight......................................460g Sunday things started off in glassy conditions with wind reaching a maximum strength of 12km/h. Anglers took off from the Power-Pole starting line one kayak at a time, using the Order of Entry format. The first angler to enter the event was the first to leave the start, and as

HICKSON TAKES THE WIN Port Macquarie-based angler Kris Hickson was the only competitor to move into the 4kg+ range over the weekend which saw him take the win. Hickson’s day one bag (three-bream bag-limit each day) was the clear standout of the event at 2.71kg and with the day two bag he brought back to the weigh-in – although much lighter at 1.66kg –his six-fish aggregate

feeling well coming into the tournament. He thought his lack of preparation might have seen him out of contention. “The way I was feeling I was hoping but not confident of being in the top ten, but I was absolutely stoked to take out the event.” Hickson was using a Daiwa TD Sol 701L rod with a Daiwa Exceler LT 2500 reel, J-Braid 8 and 6lb leader. His lures were a Megabass Dog X Modena Bone and an OSP Bent Minnow. He fished the event from a Hobie Revolution 13 kayak. ALLEN – MR CONSISTENT Glenn Allen took out second place with consistent bags each day. Day one’s bag of three bream was 1.98kg, while his day two bag was 1.90kg, giving him a total of six fish for 3.88kg. “I found big fish on pre-fish day on Friday at the top of the lake in Charlotte Bay. However, it was a two-hour journey each way, so four hours of my day

Series tournaments have regularly featured in Forster, however, this weekend 86 anglers entered the tournament topping the previous record of 71 entries set back in 2016. The excellent turnout follows the amazing 102 anglers who competed in round one of the series at Bemm River (Vic) at the start of the season.

Top: Kevin Boese came third in the competition. Above: Glenn Allen brought consistent bags to come second.

Hickson with a handful of his tournament-winning bream.

Tameika Purnell took out the Women’s division.

of 4.37kg was enough to snatch the win. Hickson took home a sizeable cash payout of $2500 for his weekend on the water in his Hobie Revolution 13. “With the wind forecast to be south-southeasterly, I made the decision to head into the wind first and enjoy the slow drift back to the event weigh-in site. I mainly fished in shallow water over the flats using topwater lures most of the day to secure my bag limits,” said Hickson, who had not been

The forecast for the event was windy and this proved to be accurate.

was just getting to and from my spot was a lot to ask. But I made the call early on Saturday morning to head back up there and it paid off! The same for Sunday, I did the miles to get the smiles,” said Allen. Allen was using a SAMAKI C12 Gen2 7ft light rod matched to an Ecooda 2500 reel with Samaki 6ld braid and 6lb leader. His go-to lures were a Samaki avocado boom bait grub on a 1/16oz jighead, green Juro bait on a 1/28 jighead and a Bassday SugaPen. Kris Hickson was the Atomic Big Bream winner with a 1.21kg fish. James Kilpatrick won the Mortgage Corp Monster Mover prize. The division winners were: Youth (16-20 years old) – Jack Gammie, Women’s – Tameika Purnell, Master’s (60-64 years) – Gary Hanson, Grand Master’s (65 and over) – John Ellis, Pro Angler 17 Tandem (Teams Event) – Jamie Bowden and Tammy, and First Time Competitors – Sean Muxlow. – Hobie

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Marchant marches to victory

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Simon Marchant punched his ticket for the 2018 Rapala BASS Pro Grand Final and added his name to the growing list of BASS Pro event winners with the NSW tournament basser claiming victory in the opening qualifier event of the season, the Hobie Polarized BASS Pro (10-11 March). For the first of the two river rounds (out of six qualifying rounds) of the 2018 Rapala BASS Pro Series, Marchant like many anglers in the field chose to target estuary perch for the weekend rather than Australian bass. Fishing upriver from the tournament start line at Wisemans Ferry, Marchant fished the Dargle area focusing on bends in the river and pressure points where the current would create undercut banks or eroded shoreline that fish would hold and feed on. “We could see the fish sitting in deeper water and we were confident that the fish would move up onto the nearby drop-off, flat, weed line or structure to feed,” explained Marchant. Marchant’s number one spot featured weed tight to the

Simon Marchant with the rewards of his Hawkesbury BASS Pro victory. fish were located, and with only one fish in the well and time running out to get back for the weigh-in, we decided to stay and try to nut out what the fish were doing and where they were holding. Jason Martin and I chatted and we formulated an idea and plan on where they were and how to catch them. We tried the flat in 15” of water plan and it

Returning to the bend in the river and the location that delivered him three quality fish on day one, Marchant and his day two non-boater Rebbeca Fazio arrived there expecting a quiet reception from the fish. “The current was slow when we arrived and I expected the fish not to be active, but that was far from how it played out. Rebecca caught the first fish, and then three more came in quick succession and we had our limit,” explained Marchant. One more location beckoned for Marchant – the spot that delivered him his biggest fish on day one. On arriving there they found another boat fishing the location. Content with what they had in the well the pair headed back to the weigh-in. Hoping to simply cash a

cheque amongst a talented field, Marchant was ecstatic when his 4/4, 3.35kg limit was enough to elevate him onto the winners podium and secure the victory and 11th place finish for Rebecca. Post-victory Marchant was both humble and elated with his win. “It wasn’t that long ago that I was fishing my first event as a non-boater. To now be fishing as a boater and to win in a talented field like this one is the stuff of dreams,” explained Marchant. For his victory Marchant cashed the $2100 winner’s cheque, grabbed the lead in the BassCat BASS Pro Angler of the Year points race and pencilled his name on the start list for the Rapala BASS Pro Grand Final at Lake Somerset in September.

GARMIN BIG BASS Mark Lennox secured the Garmin Big Bass Prize with the former AOY and Grand Final champion capturing a 1.6kg EP at Singleton’s Hill on a muscadine coloured Slider Grub rigged on a 1/6oz Nitro Dam Deep jighead.

Simon Marchant with one his Hawkesbury-winning EPs.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 76

MAY 2018

bank that then dropped off into 15ft of water onto a small flat, then dropped off again into the main channel of the river. The fish would move up onto and hold on this small flat ambushing food that the eddy and current brought to them. His go-to lure was an ayu coloured 2” Keitech Easy Shiner rigged on a custommade 1/8oz jighead. The presentation of the Keitech involved casting tight to the weed line then letting it sink back down to the flat and the waiting fish with a series a shakes. The EPs would intercept the plastic as it fluttered down; a subtle tick of the line was the tell-tale sign that a fish had taken the lure. While catching fish wasn’t overly difficult, locating and landing legal size fish proved more challenging, particularly during the first session. “In session one we hadn’t pinpointed where the bigger

paid off, so we kept catching fish for the rest of the session,” explained Marchant. Weighing in no fish for session one, Marchant made amends in session two weighing in 4/4, 3.03kg to be sitting in 4th place heading into day two and the 3rd and final session of the tournament.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: 7ft 6-10lb Kistler Magnesium 2 Reel: Daiwa Luvias Line: 8lb Sunline FC Sniper Leader: 8lb Sunline PE8 Lure: 2” Keitech Easy Shiner (ayu) rigged on a 1/8oz Jigpro jighead

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg) Payout

Simon Marchant 8/12 6.38 $2100 Ross Cannizzaro 8/12 6.37 $1300 + 1st Evinrude Bonus ($250) Alan McNamara 10/12 6.32 $900 Joey Urquhart 6/12 5.21 $500 + Duffrods Big Bag Steve Morgan 5/12 5.13 Wally Fahey 5/12 5.09 Brian Everingham 6/12 4.10 Tom Slater 5/12 3.49 Christian Wardini 6/12 3.44 Mark King 4/12 3.41 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Cannizzarro comes 2nd Last year’s Hawkesbury River BASS Pro winner and 2017 Bass Cat BASS Pro Angler of the Year champion Ross Cannizzaro put together another solid performance on the Hawkesbury River with the Abu Garcia tournament pro finishing 2nd in the Hobie Polarized presented event. Fishing the back eddies with his loved Berkley T-Tails, Cannizzaro targeted both bass and EPs for the tournament running spots on the river where he’d caught fish over many years of fishing the river. “It’s a hard time of the year to fish the Hawkesbury River due to the amount of boat traffic from the ski and wake boats that tend to congregate on the best

fishing stretches of the river. When it gets like this I find you need to be methodical with your fishing and focus on peppering the back eddies. This style of fishing is not my strong point – I prefer to target moving or active fish, however over time I have learnt to compete to the conditions,” explained Cannizzaro. Fishing his Berkley T-Tails rigged on a 1/8oz Nitro Dam Deep jighead Cannizzaro’s presentation involved casting the plastic into the eddy then twitching it like a prawn. “The EP’s suck the plastic in like a barramundi does so you have to be quick to respond when you feel that tick of an EP, and for that a sensitive rod is essential,” explained Cannizzaro.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Bass gun Joey Urquhart secured the Duffrods Big Bag at the Hawkesbury with the Valley Hill Bass Pro securing the prize on day two for his 4/4, 3.79kg limit. Urquhart secured the quality bag within sight of the event start line in a hot ten-minute bite window when he caught a string of fish in a back eddy feeding on prawns.

The rod that fits the bill for Ross is an ABU Garcia Salty Stage Light rod, yet he still finds it powerful enough to pull larger fish out from structure. When targeting bass Cannizzaro tricked out his T-Tails rigging them on a beetle spin and fishing them on the coffee rock on the edges. The two-lure approach paid off for Cannizzaro with the multi-event winner weighing in fish each session. However, the majority he caught were undersize. “It wasn’t easy fishing and all I could do was keep casting and put more lures in the places where I thought the fish would be holding. It was then just a matter of hoping that the fish that bit would be big enough to make it into the livewell. I got the bites I needed each session to win – enough of them just weren’t big bites unfortunately,” concluded Cannizzaro. Cannizzaro’s second place cemented him a berth in September’s Rapala BASS Pro Grand Final and also started his AOY title defence in grand style.

BASS PR O

Ross Cannizzaro (right) secured another podium finish at the Hawkesbury and claimed 2nd to go with his win from last year.

Martin’s nonboater win Jason Martin added his second non-boater winner’s trophy to his trophy cabinet in as many years with the Taree basser adding the Hawkesbury River round win to his victory from the 2017 Cania BASS Pro last July. An angler with considerable experience

where we where and work out where they were and what they wanted to eat,” explained Martin. Early in the second session the pair cracked the pattern finding fish holding on a submerged flat out from the weed edge. With two fish in the well and the clock

2” Keitech Easy Shiner

Champion non-boater Jason Martin was ecstatic with his win.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg) Payout

Jason Martin 8/12 6.44 Prize Pack Paul Piper 6/12 5.84 Prize Pack Nicholas Fouche 5/12 4.94 Prize Pack Brett Hyde 6/12 4.66 Prize Pack Lochie Rutherford 5/12 4.55 Prize Pack Orton Marchant 4/12 4.40 Prize Pack Tony Khouri 7/12 4.25 Prize Pack Kevin Yang 6/12 4.04 Prize Pack Thomas Konen 4/12 3.84 Prize Pack Simon Johnson 5/12 3.77 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

chasing riverine bass, Martin targeted estuary perch on day one fishing with Simon Marchant. “We started out fishing upriver of the Colo River fishing a rock bar that was in about 10-15ft of water. I caught the EPs hopping 2” Keitech Easy Shiners down the rock bar, and while I caught plenty of undersize fish after about an hour we called it quits and changed location,” explained Martin. A move to Skeleton Rock followed and with nothing to show for an hour there they moved again, this time heading upriver of the Colo Ferry. With only undersize fish and hard work to show for his efforts Martin’s fortune didn’t change until the second session. “We didn’t weigh-in in the first session, with little fish to deliver to the scales we decided to stay

showing 12.30pm, Martin and Marchant moved again, this time heading upriver of Dargle and fishing a similar staging flat to the spot they’d just left. “We used the same technique and at 1.15pm I

picked up a solid 40cm fish. We then fished it until 2pm then headed back downstream to fish the spot where we picked up our first legal,” explained Martin. It was here that the pair picked up the final fish for the bag – a bag that would go 3.03kg on the scales and had Martin sitting in 4th place at the end of day one. Fishing with Mark King on day two the pair headed upriver looking for active fish feeding on weed edges. The approach paid off with the pair catching multiple fish and filling out their limit by 10.30am. Content with the limit they had the pair fished hard until the end of the session then headed back to the weigh-in. Presenting a 4/4, 3.41kg limit to the weighmaster Martin secured a comfortable winning in the end, claiming victory with a 600g margin over 2nd place non-boater Paul Piper. The tackle Martin used to claim victory included a Daiwa TD Sol 702LXS rod, 2500 Daiwa Exceler LT reel, 8lb Daiwa J-Braid mainline, 10lb Sunline FC Sniper leader and an electric shad coloured 2” Keitech Easy Shiner rigged on 1/8oz Nitro Dam Deep jigheads.

Mark Lennox claimed the Garmin Big Bass Prize for his 1.6kg kicker fish. MAY 2018

Crompton goes wire-to-wire

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The Franklins Australia BREAM Australian Open (5-7 March) delivered in spades with a big field, big weather and big limits, combining to make it an action-packed event with Daiwa and Hobie Fishing sponsored tournament pro Mark Crompton claiming victory in the prestigious event. Australia’s only boateronly bream event, 29 teams hit the start line on the opening day of competition at Drummoyne Sailing Club, with Sydney Harbour and the Hawkesbury River set to challenge their bodies, boats and mental toughness over three gruelling days of competition. For event winner Mark Crompton it was a wire-towire victory with the Southern Highlands breamer grabbing the lead on day one courtesy of a 4kg limit then not letting go as he powered to a comprehensive open win. Fishing with a renewed focus

day of competition, Crompton was the only angler to drop a 4kg limit on the scales. His effort provided him with the reward of leading the field out on day two. Hitting the launch site at Bayview Park at Pittwater on day two Crompton was greeted by near gale force winds – weather that made him reconsider his day two Hawkesbury River tactics. “I had planned on running a long way upriver and throwing Cranka Crabs into the nasty rock sections of the Hawkesbury, but when I saw the wind and the conditions when we got Bayview I thought let’s scrap that and go hit the flats instead.” And that’s exactly what Crompton did heading to the famous ‘car park flats’ at Palm Beach. With his Cranka Crabs replaced for Juro Firebaits Crompton would make long wind assisted casts across the flats then work the lure back to the boat with a

A calm and collected Crompton heads off on the final day of competition.

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MAY 2018

and mindset, Crompton went into the event with two goals: chasing numbers of fish rather than more purposely seeking out big fish, and fishing the event expressly to win. “In the past I’ve fished with the goal of catching big fish; this time I tried something different and simply went about catching plenty of fish with the hope that the bigger fish would simply come along as I put fish in the boat,” Crompton said. Fishing Sydney Harbour on day one Crompton adopted a hard bait approach crankbaiting boat hulls, shallow flats and heavy structure. The key to the success was current flow, as Crompton explained. “The fish were very much keyed in on water movement, with the best fish holding where there was tidal flow. If you have flow you often have food and the bream knew that.” Crompton’s cranks of choice were two main choices a Cranka Shad and Zipbaits Khamsin, with a slow rolling retrieve his go-to for enticing the harbour bream to bite. Crompton’s approach was spot on with the Australian Open champion filling out his limit by 8am and catching 20 fish for the session. Weighing in a 4.02kg limit for the opening

slow roll interspersed with sharp twitches. “The fish were really on the chew and they would nail the Juro off the top as it was skipping through the choppy surface. I had only planned to fish here for half an hour, but then I caught a 38 and 36, so that was it. I stayed a fair bit longer and when I felt like I’d caught all I could from here I headed upriver and fished Cranka Crabs,” explained Crompton. The rapid-fire early action saw Crompton catch his limit by 8.30am and land 10 legal fish for the session. Weighing in another 4kg bag for the tournament Crompton not only retained but also extended his lead heading into the third and final day of competition. Crompton’s win was anything

The Franklins Australia BREAM Australian Open winner Mark Crompton with a brace of Open-winning bream. but a fait accompli with the Daiwa tournament pro fully aware of what can transpire in this event, on this waterway and in a field of anglers of this calibre. “The Open is the hardest tournament there is and you need to catch a quality bag each day. You need to be on your A game every day to win. If you’re not, these guys are going to smash you and when you’ve got Ross Canizzarro hot on your tail heading into the final day you know full well that you can’t rest easy and that you’re going to have to catch them, and catch the big ones, to win,” explained Crompton. Back on Sydney Harbour for day three Crompton fished similar locations to day one; the lure the fish wanted however was different. “I thought the fish were primed for a Cranka Crab assault but they didn’t quite want them today. Instead it was the motor

oil colour 2 1/2” ZMan GrubZ that did the damage,” explained Crompton. The standout retrieve to trigger the best response from the bream was a quick roll punctuated with a series of double jerks. The lure and technique saw Crompton catch his limit by 9am and land 30 fish for the session. Crompton was conscious of what his competitors could deliver to the scales to derail his fairy tale win and then he lost a key fish. Crompton explained, “I dropped a really big fish today; it came out, looked at me and started shaking its head, spat the hook at me, then swam off. It was a good 40 fork fish and I thought right there, that’s it – there goes the Aus Open.” Crompton’s suspicions proved unfounded and his 3.58kg final day limit was enough to deliver him a comfortable wire-to-wire Frankins Australian BREAM Australian Open win.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Daiwa Zero 701LXS and Daiwa Zero 701ULXS Reel: Daiwa Exceler LT 2500 Line: 6lb Daiwa Evo 8, 3.5lb Sunline FC Game (crankbaiting) Leader: 4lb FC Rock Lure: Cranka Shad in blue gill, olive and cockle Cranka Crabs 65mm (Hawksbury) and 55mm, custom colour (Sydney Harbour), OSP Bent Minnow 76 (pink belly and orange back), Juro Firebait Longtail Minnow (colour 05), ZMan GrubZ (motor oil, bloodworm and gudgen colours), TT 1/16 and 1/20oz jigheads, Berkley Nitro 1/32oz jigheads.

RESULTS Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Mark Crompton 15/15 11.76 $5000 Ross Cannizzaro 15/15 10.71 $3000 Kris Hickson 15/15 10.37 $2500 Peter Cook 15/15 10.15 $2000 Denis Metzdorf 15/15 9.98 $2000 Liam Carruthers 15/15 9.94 Steve Morgan 15/15 9.65 Daniel Bonaccorso 15/15 9.62 Michael Colotouros 15/15 9.55 Christian Wardini 15/15 9.46 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Cannizzaro comes close again One of the anglers to watch in any event on Sydney Harbour or the Hawkesbury River, Ross Cannizzaro once again brought the big bags to the scales in the Open to claim another podium finish. Cannizzaro fished west of the Harbour Bridge hitting hardcore unforgiving structure like old wharves and poles in the main channel. “I looked for water 10-15ft deep and when fishing water this deep with

current flow it’s very difficult to let your lure sink to the bottom, so in the morning when the tide was strong I targeted the suspended fish in these locations,” explained Cannizzaro. Later in the day as the sunlight increased and the shade took over the hard to reach crevices and holes, Cannizzaro fished lighter, downsizing to a 1/32oz jighead for his camo Gulp Crabbies and presented them tight to the poles and jetties.

“The fish are used to the waterway traffic and commotion on the harbour, so they’ll sit high and tight to the structure waiting for a feed,” explained Cannizzaro. Cannizzaro would spot hop for the first hour to fill his limit before slowing down and fishing deep and tight to the nastiest country he could find, hoping to find the bigger fish he needed to anchor a quality bag. “I’d fish a lighter outfit to begin with each day – a

Ross heads into battle on the opening day of competition.

Cranka Shad

Cranka Crab

Juro Firebait

6’8” ABU Garcia Stage 1 rod and Revo reel spooled with 4.4lb Fireline – before upgrading to a heavier outfit – a 7’3” ABU Garcia Veritas 3.0 rod and Revo MGX reel spooled with Fireline Ultra 8,” explained Cannizzaro. Cannizzaro’s approach paid dividends allowing him to weigh in a 5/5, 3.63kg limit on the harbour on day one and a 5/5, 3.22kg bag on day three on the harbour. Fishing the Hawkesbury River on day two, Cannizzaro followed a similar approach as he did in the harbour. He fished nasty country for the biggest fish he could find, and this time he opted for a crankbait to catch his fish. “I fished upriver between Spencer and Bar Point and targeted natural rocks walls with Berkley 3B cranks. The tide was important though and you needed flow for this approach to work to its best, so early in the session when the tide was low and the flow wasn’t there I fished docks and boats in Berowra to fill my limit,” explained Cannizzaro. Ross’ plan paid off with him catching his limit by 8.30am. With the tide starting to flow at 10am Cannizzaro hit the rockwalls with his crankbaits, with the

Ross Cannizzaro once again shone in the open, finishing second yet again. bite improving as the tide rose and the fish moved into the flooded rock country. “I didn’t get the big bites that I was hoping for but I caught plenty of 32cm fork fish,” explained Ross. Just as he did on the harbour Cannizzaro used a two outfit approach to catch his fish – a light and heavier outfit. His crankbait outfit comprised of an ABU Garcia Villain rod and ABU Garcia Revo MGX 3000 spooled with 6lb Berkley Ultra 8 mainline and 10lb Toray

fluorocarbon leader. Post-victory Cannizzaro was content with his result, but hopes to go one better in 2019. “To win an event, especially a marathon event like the Open you need everything to go right and very little to go wrong. Hopefully next year is the year for me when that finally happens and I can hold the Franklins BREAM Australian Open trophy aloft,” concluded Cannizzaro. – ABT

The 29 boats waiting patiently on Sydney Harbour for the Franklins Australia BREAM Australian Open to kick off.

Crompton delivered 4kg limits for two of the three days of competition to claim a wire-to-wire victory.

Quality fish were brought to the bump tubs and scales in the Open. MAY 2018

Shane Ling shines at St Helens Shane Ling has tapped into his years of experience on the always-challenging waterways of St Helens to take out his maiden ABT victory with 10/10 fish for 10.6kg. With challenging wind conditions greeting the anglers over the course of the tournament Ling knew it would take a well-planned approach for the tournament to take the win. “The fish at St Helens can be hard to tempt and very susceptible to pressure, but when you find them the fishing can be some of the best,” explained Ling. Starting at the back of the field on day one Ling knew that many of his first choice locations would already have anglers on them and he would need to rely on his knowledge bank to find some clean water.

Shane Ling dominated at St Helens to claim victory in the Mercury-presented event. session and found a good number of fish holding in Moulting Bay. Ling finished day one with 5.35kg, a small

“I was sight casting to the fish but I still needed to impart an erratic short twitch followed by a 5-10 second

STORM

Shane Ling was all cashed up with his St Helens victory.

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

MAY 2018

“During the Tas Classic series I found a few good low-tide spots where I thought there wouldn’t be any anglers targeting, so I headed there to start the tournament,” said Ling. His key starting location was an area known as ‘Horseshoe Flats.’ Within the expansive area Ling targeted the larger fish holding on the drop-off from the main flat. “The key was to find the deeper holes on the edge of the flat and work the lure slowly across the area, giving the fish plenty of time to look at the lure. I would twitch the lure moving it the least distance possible and follow with a five-second pause. My aim was to keep the lure in the strike zone and move it sideways,” said Ling. With his limit filled on the flats, Ling switched into pre-fish mode for day two, spot hopping around the area looking for a productive areas that wouldn’t be affected by the wind change that was due to come in overnight. During his searching Ling continued to upgrade throughout the

lead and confidence heading into day two. Haunted by the memory of failing in previous ABT events on day two Ling stayed with his plan and targeted the flats in Moulting Bay. With the fish holding shallower Ling adjusted his plan slightly and downsized to the shallower running Zip Bait Riggie 56, again in his favoured 650 colour (chrome with orange bottom).

pause to tempt the fish to bite,” Ling said. It didn’t take Ling long and he had filled his limit and the nerves began to settle. “Once I filled my limit the schools of fish became skittish and I decided to move around a few spots and see if I could get a couple of upgrades,” Ling said, “I moved through a range of flats and oyster racks, but really just spot hopped for the rest of the day.” With 5.25kg hitting the scale Shane Ling showed supreme consistency over the two days and won the event by over 1kg. “It feels great to get the first win and even better to see Tassie anglers take out the top three spots in the event. I also need to thank Mad Keen, Mark Wilson at Zip Baits and Benny from BK Custom Rods for all their support.”

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Shane Ling took the Duffrods big bag thanks to his day one bag of 5.35kg, which he caught on the dropoffs in Horseshoe Bay with a Zipbait Rigge 70F.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: BK Custom S Ling custom Reel: Shimano Nasci 1000 Line: 10lb Sunline Siglon PE8 Leader: 6lb Sunline Shooter FC Lure: Zip Baits Rigge 56f and 70f

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg) Payout

Shane Ling

10/10 10.60

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Adam Crick 10/10 9.18 Josh Williams 10/10 8.63 Steve Morgan 10/10 8.59 Mario Vukic 10/10 8.57 Warren Carter 10/10 7.96 Charlie Saykao 10/10 7.83 Leigh McKenzie 10/10 7.83 Michael Alexander 10/10 7.81 Liam Carruthers 10/10 7.63 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

$2,600, 1st Mercury Bonus ($250), Duffrods Big Bag $1900, 2nd Mercury Bonus ($150) $1250 $950, 3rd Mercury Bonus ($100) $630, Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream ($500)

Crick twitches into second place Launceston-based angler Adam Crick started his ABT Tasmanian Tour with an impressive 2nd place with 10/10 fish for 9.18kg. Playing to his strengths Crick headed to the flat near the mouth of the system in search of clear water and active fish. Starting in the area known as ‘Stockyard Flats,’ Crick targeted fish holding in the deeper holes off the main flat while waiting for the flat to become covered by the tide.

“I knew the start would be tough down near the mouth and I was just waiting for the water to push up on the flat,” Crick said. Once the flat filled Crick was able to cast his Ecogear MW62 in 309 colour across the flats and work it over the edges between the grass and sand with short erratic twitches mixed in with pauses of 2-5 seconds. “I really tried to give the lure the most action while moving it the least distance and also

targeted the edges of the weed and sand,” Crick said. For this presentation Crick opted for a ‘crank and twitch’ JML Alliance Perfection Series rod matched with a Daiwa Luvias 2504 reel spooled with 6lb Suline Siglon PE8 braid and 6lb Yamatoyo Chinu Harris FC. Once Crick had exhausted his first flat he then spot hopped towards the entrance targeting flats that held a combination of broken weed beds, rubble and sand before finishing the day in the oyster racks for one final upgrade. “I only got six fish on day one but they were all the right size fish,” explained Crick. With the wind changing direction Crick decided to change his starting location and targeted the town flat at the start of day two. “The flats

near the entrance tend to shut down under pressure so my plan was to fill my limit on the town flat which is home to better numbers of fish.” While he started with one fish early the flat failed to produce the result Crick wanted and he returned to his day one honey hole. The return to the front proved to be fruitful with Crick repeating his shallow twitch and pause presentation for another quality limit. With a great result at the tour opener Crick was heading into his preferred Derwent River event full of confidence. “It was a great way to kick off the two events. I really have to thank Tony from JML for all his support and the products that helped me get the result over the weekend,” said Crick.

BREAM SERIES

Adam Crick fished shallow jerkbaits to finish second behind Shane Ling.

Hodge holds on for St Helens win Adam Crick with his second place winnings.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM Mario Vukic claimed the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream at St Helens with the 2018 Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier winner securing the $500 prize for his 1.41kg kicker fish caught on a ZMan GrubZ rigged on a 1/12oz jighead.

Victorian black bream specialist Mike Hodge has converted his first 5kg single day bag into another tournament win with 9/10 for 8.39kg. Fishing with Mark Alexander on day one, Hodge started the morning fishing the town flats putting one fish in the well early while his boater went to work filling his limit. “Mark had a well thought-out plan for the day, so I started the day full

Zipbaits Rigge 70F (650)

Twitch and roll retrieve

Weedy bottom

Rocky bottom

of confidence and knew we would be on for a good day’s fishing,” said Hodge. The pair then moved to Alexander’s second location, which held a good amount of broken weed beds with a distinct line of thick weed 2m from the edge, which proved to be the key hunting ground for Hodge. Once in location Hodge would cast a Cranka shallow minnow in jolly tail over the thick weed line and work the lure with a

Zipbaits Rigge 56F (824)

slow draw and pause routine. “I would draw the lure down slowly and pause it for up to five seconds. For most of the fish you would feel them rattle the lure and it was just a process of leaning back on the fish and letting it load up,” explained Hodge. His go-to outfit for this presentation was a Penn pinpoint 6’10” 2-4kg rod matched with a Fin-Nor Affinity reel spooled with 6lb Berkley Nanofil and 4lb Sunline FC Rock leader. While Hodge had filled his limit there was still one small fish sitting in his limit, which he was keen to upgrade. “I had a productive time on the second area we hit but it wasn’t until we hit the town reaches of the system late in the day that I was able to upgrade my 26cm for a 34cm fish,” said Hodge. That final fish proved to be all the difference at the end of the day with Hodge cracking his first 5kg+ bag with 5.2kg. Day two saw Hodge paired with Daniel Homes. The pair headed down to the flats near the mouth of the system to target the dropoffs from the main weed flats. It was a fast start for

Hodge who managed to put four fish in the well early in the session. He again used his favoured Cranka Shallow Minnow in jolly tail, casting it on top of the weed bed before drawing it off and allowing the fish to cruise up and take the lure. “I had four fish in the well early but the bite really shut down and it was a long end to the session, but I really have to commend Daniel who tried his best to get me my five fish. He really went above and beyond trying to guide me onto that last fish,” said Hodge. When asked about the event Hodge went on to say, “I really enjoyed coming over to Tasmania. The fishing and the people really make the trip worth all the effort. To have both my boaters go above and beyond to help me catch fish shows how great the people are down here.” With the first of two Tasmania events run and won, attention now turns to Hobart’s Derwent River system. For the results and story of that tournament and any other event near you head to abt.org.au.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

10/10 8.39

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mike Hodges

Weight (kg) Payout

Costa Prize Pack, 1st Hobie Bonus ($200) Roan Van-Berberg 10/10 8.29 Prize Pack, 2nd Hobie Bonus ($100) Brendan McNamara 9/10 7.03 Prize Pack, 3rd Hobie Bonus ($75) Stuart Walker 8/10 6.30 Prize Pack, Jesse Rotin 8/10 5.90 Prize Pack Jordan Armstrong 9/10 5.56 Prize Pack Shaun Egan 6/10 5.28 Prize Pack Bernard Kong 6/10 5.22 Prize Pack Peter Mazey 9/10 4.41 Prize Pack Neil Chegwidden 5/10 3.95 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Mike Hodges claimed top honours in the non-boater division. MAY 2018

Crick cracks the Derwent code

STORM

Adam Crick has proven that there are consistent tournament-winning fish in the big fish haunt of Ralphs Bay at the Costa Derwent River BREAM Qualifier with a 10/10 limit for 11.03kg taking his maiden ABT event with over 1kg on his nearest competitor. Coming off a strong showing at St Helens, Adam Crick was full of confidence heading into the Derwent River event and with the confidence in his key location he knew he was in with a shot. “I have spent a lot of time working out the low tide pattern on Ralphs Bay. It is high risk and high reward, but I felt I would fish to my strengths,” said Crick. On day one Crick headed down to hit his milk run of shallow broken reef flats dotted throughout Ralphs Bay. In each area Crick would cast an Ecogear MW 62 in 309 colour across the broken rubble before imparting a short erratic twitch mixed with pauses ranging between 2-10 seconds.

To target these shallow fish Crick would cast the same Ecogear MW 62 tight to the edge and twitch the lure with his rod held up high to work the lure out over the structure. With two key upgrades late in the session Crick ended the day with 5.9kg and headed out on day two with the lead. With a cold front pushing through overnight Crick was concerned Ralphs Bay would fail to fire and decided to stop at a rock point at Howrah to fill an early limit. “It can be hard to fill a limit at Ralphs Bay, so I used a productive smaller fish point at Howrah to fill a limit and calm the nerves,” explained Crick. With a calm mind he then headed to his day one honey hole. There wasn’t the same number of fish but Crick was able to find a couple of key upgrades to keep his bag weight climbing before returning to his milk run of spots in the Lindisfarne area. “It was a slow process of upgrading my bag throughout the session; it wasn’t until my

Adam Crick brought the big fish to the scales to claim victory on the Derwent. an angler to watch when ABT next returns to Tasmania. When asked about his win Crick replied, “It was a great feeling to win the event in the style of fishing

that I enjoy the most and I really have to thank Tony at JML for all his support. His lures have been the key to my success in the past two events.”

WINNING TACKLE Rod: JML Alliance Perfect Series Reel: Daiwa Luvias 2500 Line: 6lb Sunline Siglon PE8 Leader: 6lb Yamatoyo Chinu Harris FC Lure: Ecogear MW 62 (colour 309 and 328)

One of the fish that delivered Adam a 1kg average for his win.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 82

MAY 2018

“The key was to get the lure to move erratically without it moving too far forward; to do this I would hold my rod tip up with slack in the line and only just come into contact with the lure,” said Crick. His tackle of choice for this technique was a ‘crank and twitch’ JML Alliance Perfection Series rod matched with a Daiwa Luvias 2504 spooled with 6lb Suline Siglon PE8 braid and 6lb Yamatoyo Chinu Harris FC. Crick fished the Ralphs Bay area until 11am and then changed tact as the tide began to run in. Returning upriver to the Lindisfarne area he targeted fish moving into the shallow edges. “On the run-in tide the larger fish tend to push right up on to the edge to feed,” Crick explained.

final upgrade five minutes before the end of the session that I felt like I had won the event,” said Crick. Crick took out the event with an over-1kg winning margin and that combined with his second place at St Helens will show him to be

Bernard Kong secured the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream prize at the Derwent.

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg) Payout

Adam Crick

10/10 11.03

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Josh Williams 10/10 9.88 Warren Carter 10/10 9.83 Charlie Saykao 10/10 9.77 Alan Lister 10/10 9.62 Andrew Krushka 10/10 9.54 Mark Crompton 10/10 9.38 Mario Vukic 10/10 9.37 Steve Steer 10/10 9.27 Cameron Whittam 10/10 9.20 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

$2,250, 1st Mercury Bonus ($250), Duffrods Big Bag $1600, 2nd Mercury Bonus ($150) $1100, 2nd Mercury Bonus ($150) $800, 3rd Mercury Bonus ($100) $500

Josh fires for second In only his second event as a boater Josh Williams showed his skill when it comes to black bream fishing with an impressive 10/10 fish for 9.88kg. Williams started fishing near the start/finish areas of Bellerive in an attempt to fill his limit early as the tide dropped. The key area for Williams during this section of the tide was the deeper edges of the quickly draining flats. He would cast

a Daiwa Presso Minnow in sushi prawn up onto the shallow flat holding his rod tip up flicking and twitching the lure out over the drop-off before moving his rod tip down and ripping the lure down into the depths. With his limit filled early Williams then moved up to the middle reaches of the river working similar rocky drop-offs waiting for the tide to start moving in. Once the tide had

Josh added $1600 to his bank balance with his 2nd place win.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Adam Crick took the Duffrods big bag with his day one limit of 5.91kg, which was the perfect start to his Derwent River event. The key to his day one bag was his Ecogear MW62 in 309 colour.

shifted Williams moved up into the shallows behind the entertainment centre in search of fish moving up into the shallows. He then cast a Daiwa Presso Minnow in creeping iwashi tight to the edge before ripping it down into the structure and allowing it to slowly float up out of the structure. “The fish would hit the lure as it came clear,” said Williams. His tackle of choice was a Nordic Stage Sharpshooter 1-3kg rod matched with a Shimano Twinpower 1000 reel spooled with 6lb Platypus P8 brain and 4lb Platypus Stealth FC. Day two proved to be a slower start for Williams who started the day at the golf course stretch of the Derwent, which proved to be successful for his non-boating partner, but it wasn’t until the tide started pushing in that Williams started to fire. With a stronger wind pushing on day two and a distinct dirty water line forming in the back of the entertainment centre bay, his day one location fired. The added wind allowed Williams to make longer wind-assisted casts and cover more water with each cast, “I slowed my presentation down on day two and used a 7m leader to get more bites,” said Williams. This change proved fruitful with his day two bag hitting the scales at 4.78kg.

BREAM SERIES

Josh Williams brought his good form from St Helens to the Derwent to claim second in the boater division. “I really enjoyed stepping up as a boater for both rounds and encourage any other

Tassie anglers to get out and give it a go,” said Williams, “I also need to thank Platypus

Lines for all their support and products that helped me over the weekend.”

Egan mixes it up for win Shaun Egan has taken another ABT Non-Boating victory with 10/10 fish for 8.44kg, showing he has consistency across any bream waters around Australia. Fishing with Tony Robinson on day one Egan fished the middle reaches of the Derwent along a range of rock walls and drop-offs. While his boaters targeted the hard edge Egan opted to target fish sitting wider with a slow rolled OSP Dunk in ghost colour. “I thought there would

Dunk and managed to fill his limit quickly, taking the pressure off and allowing him to mix up his presentation to find bigger fish. While the pair moved around before the tide change Egan was able to pick up key upgrades on the rock walls and gravel patches near Mona before the tide began to turn. Once the tide started pushing in the Egan changed

2000 Daiwa Sol reel spooled with 6lb Daiwa J-Braid and 5lb FC Rock. When asked about his win Egan was quick to point out the key to his result was to think outside the box and not just replicate what his boater was having success doing. “I always try to look past what my boater is doing and try to target fish they are missing,” said Egan. He was

Ecogear MW62F (328 and 309) Twitch and pause retrieve

Shaun Egan was a happy man with his non-boater title win.

Weedy bottom

Rocky bottom

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

10/10 8.44

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Shaun Egan

Weight (kg) Payout

Costa Prize Pack, 1st Hobie Bonus ($200) Jesse Rotin 10/10 8.14 Prize Pack Roan Van-Berberg 10/10 8.04 Prize Pack, 2nd Hobie Bonus ($100) Jordan Armstrong 10/10 7.75 Prize Pack, 3rd Hobie Bonus ($75) Suzanne Siranovic 10/10 7.52 Prize Pack Paul Siemasko 10/10 7.26 Prize Pack Stuart Walker 10/10 7.07 Prize Pack Wally Fahey 10/10 6.95 Prize Pack Neil Chegwidden 10/10 6.82 Prize Pack Brendan Ayers 10/10 6.77 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

be fish sitting wider that my boater wouldn’t be targeting, so I decided to cast the lure wide of the drop-off and slow roll the lure back, mixing it up with a slight pause,” said Egan. His go-to tackle for this presentation was a Shimano T-Curve Flight 7’2” 4-6lb rod matched with a 2000 Daiwa Sol reel spooled with 3lb FC Rock. Day two saw Egan paired with Josh Williams. He again started the day fishing wide of his boater with an OSP

his lure to an Ecogear MW62 in 309 colour and cast his lure tight to the edges of the entertainment centre bay. Much like his boater, Egan worked his lure across the shallow flat with his rod tip up in the air imparting short, sharp twitches mixed in with pauses ranging from 2-10 seconds allowing the fish to hunt the lure down. To extract the fish from the shallows Egan used a Shimano T-Curve 7’2” 4-6lb rod matched with a

also quick to thank his travel partners Danielle and Mark Crompton, “It makes it a lot easier traveling when you have a good group to travel with and I can’t thank them enough for their support,” said Egan. With the Tasmanian Leg of the Costa Bream Series run and won, attention now turns to the next event on the Gold Coast, to get involved with this or any other ABT event head to abt.org.au.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM Bernard Kong cashed in on the Derwent with the ABT tournament veteran claiming the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream Prize for his 1.53kg fish caught on day two on a Daiwa Double Clutch. MAY 2018

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The home tournament ground advantage SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

One of the fun parts of being involved with the ABT is in watching the coverage. As I wrote this it was Tasmania’s turn with tournaments in St Helens and Hobart, and truth be told I was enjoying the warmer climate in Queensland while Steve

time on the Fitzroy. Having said that, anecdotal doesn’t always translate to reality, so data in hand I set about establishing if there is an advantage and if so, just how big is that advantage. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE With that in mind, I thought I would dive into the ABT data and see if there is anything to the home field advantage. Most sports have a definite bias to the home field, so why not

a dataset as you will find. Still, I didn’t want to waste time if there was no smoking gun. Running a couple of summary queries, I noticed a pattern: in each year some fishers compete in one or two events only. A reasonable explanation for this would be that some anglers choose to fish in events nearby to home but skip the rest of the circuit. With that in mind, I extracted the number of boaters and non-boaters that have won and fished three or less events (<=3) vs. the

Figure 3

Figure 1

events per year rack up more victories than anglers that fish more often. Wins from fewer tournaments fished is evidence that there is a home-field advantage, as I would expect fishers that fish more tournaments would win more often, after all, they should be most used

a significant difference in performance across all the events that they competed in between these two groups. If the local advantage is real, fishers fishing fewer tournaments should end up with a lower average placing overall. Based on Figure 2, that

they compete in the regions they know. The results were again consistent for boaters and non-boaters, with the gap wider for non-boaters. LOOKING INTO THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE With that established, I spent the day coding up Figure 4

Morgan was in his rain gear live streaming to the world. This year I had my first insider’s view of the live weigh-in, despite the

fishing? Before I decided to dive too far into data, I wanted some evidence of a home river edge. First, I needed to decide on how to

number that has fished more than three events (3+). The result is in Figure 1. There is a definite pattern there. Fishers that fish fewer Figure 2

to the ABT system and rules. The surprising thing is that the non-boaters had a much more material difference. That was enough to convince me to clean up the data, but first I wanted one final confirmation, in this case, if there was remote location, which was an exciting experience. I didn’t realise how the adrenalin starts to flow the closer you get to the final result! In Hobart, a local took out the first day by a healthy margin, and with only three odd kilos to take the event out, I was pretty confident he had the win even before his final day 5.12kg bag came in. That got me thinking, as you do, about how much of an advantage it is to be a local in fishing? Anecdotally from events like the Rocky Barra Bounty, I knew local knowledge did play a role – nobody has won the bounty without spending a lot of 86

MAY 2018

assess what defined a home field advantage and for simplicity sake, victory is the best measure. Wins are simple enough to calculate, but the ABT database doesn’t have a neat dataset that links victors as locals. Before I went through the exercise of mapping out the winners to their origin, I wanted to see if I could use wins alone. First up, how many events were available? Excluding grand finals and kayak events, I ended up with 111 tournaments since 2005 covering all states. Given that the rules have been consistent across that time, this is about as good

indeed looks to be the case as fishers who fish fewer events and win end up with a better average than fishers that fish more often. In other words, they aren’t getting blown away in the other tournaments they are fishing, which suggests

In the 2017 BASS Pro Grand Final, the top three boaters were all familar with the area.

which winners were local for boaters and non-boaters. Establishing exactly who was local took some detective work and some of the results swapped around from the previous result because fishers who fish the whole tour do still win on their home patch. Figure 3 is the resulting chart. The result is pretty clear, there is a homefield advantage in fishing, so much so that over time, local boaters have a 33% advantage and local non-boaters end up with more than a 300% advantage. It doesn’t pay to be a visiting non-boater it seems! HAS IT CHANGED? With a clear answer that locals do have an advantage, I was curious if that has remained true over time. In other words, is there still an advantage? First, I ran the time series for boaters, which provided something of a surprise. It seems that the visitors are at parity with

the locals now in a trend that has been heading in favour of the visitors since 2010. Check out Figure 4 for the long-term trend. Note, 2014 only had three valid events, and locals won all of the tournaments against the longer trend. I think that is an outlier due to the specific circumstances that year and with a small set of events, I

develop skills, you know that pretty much each time you turn up you will be facing the best locals. That presents a serious hurdle to jump over. Based on all known athlete development, if you are the kind of person who is up for a challenge, solving the problem of taking them on will make you a weapon.

at competition time, so the development of knowledge of local conditions would be limited. In any case, for both boaters and non-boaters, WA is an absolute fortress. Checking out boaters first, the most surprising one is Tasmania, which I picked as being the next most likely fortress – wrong! If you are a visitor, Tasmania

Figure 7

Figure 5

blunted the local advantage. Victorians have also had success at home in keeping out the invaders. I wonder if, in a year where there were a lot of events in Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria, would Victorians to dominate nationally?

pulls its socks up with the non-boaters restoring some state pride and keeping out the invaders. Victoria, interestingly enough, is even more of a fortress for non-boaters, and WA once again is the hardest place of all. Just like every non-WA

of Origin? Granted, there are more events in NSW (cue the excuse-making), and so NSW has less to do to maintain the invader advantage. I am sad to say as of 2017 that they have the bragging rights by a whisker. Queenslanders Figure 8

believe it’s better left aside. I am open to suggestions as to why the visitors have been improving since 2010. One obvious answer is that the visitors have competed enough times at each venue that their local advantage has been nullified to a degree. However, there may be a technical fishing reason that one of my readers may observe – feel free to let me know! If the boaters spending more time in other regions is

In fact, as crazy as it might sound, if you are lower down on the boater section, you may well be better off going non-boater and progressing through those ranks first. HARDEST STATES TO CRACK? With that out of the way, even if I feel a little unsatisfied that I understand what is going on with the boaters, I thought I would look at one last question: which states are the

is the one place you might chance your luck. I did some digging into the data as to why that might be, and it appears that Victorians are the biggest reason for the difference. I take this to mean that Victorians don’t mind visiting the Apple Isle, which the tourism people should take note of. The other conquered state is South Australia. Again like WA, SA has hosted less events, but like Tasmania, it’s the Victorians that have

The ABT BARRA Tour is a tournament circuit where locals almost always take the win. the cause, I would expect the trend within the non-boaters to be steady because looking at the individual records it seems there are a lot fewer non-boaters that compete on the entire tour than boaters. Looking at Figure 5, this turns out to be the case, over the last 12 years the locals have held an unassailable advantage. The bottom line is, if you aren’t a local, your chances of winning the non-boater section fall off a cliff. From a developmental point of view, this represents an opportunity. If you are a non-boater wanting to

hardest to crack. Figure 6 has the breakout by state of the % of local winners across time – not quite the result I expected. I predicted that less visited states would have a higher percentage of local winners, which is at least partly right, but just as in life, things are a bit more complicated than that. WA is the one state you don’t want to visit, because the locals dominate, partly because of the limited number of events run in that state, and also partly because non-locals would visit only

The other surprise among boaters is that Queensland is the second biggest fortress state. I am not too sure why that would be, as I expected that fishers from Northern NSW would regularly compete in Queensland. New South Wales, on the other hand, suffers from the twin invaders from the North and South. Figure 7 shows the picture for the non-boaters, and again some exciting results. The NSW-Queensland axis reverses somewhat with NSW being a better fortress for local fishers than Queensland. Tasmania

AFL team to visit the sandgropers, there is little joy to be had on the field, so best be taking advantage of the local tourism options while you are there. Either that or spend the trip in the pub… STATE OF ORIGIN – WHAT’S THE SCORE? Us Queenslanders like the State of Origin, mostly because we have dominated for a long time. Despite all the collective hand-wringing over sandpaper and balls in the last month, we Aussies do love a winner. So as the last exercise, how do we stack up in the ABT State Figure 6

have won 20% of NSW events, while NSW has taken out 23%. All I can say is, our fishers need to get onto Youtube and reacquaint themselves with the immortal words of Billy Moore: “QUEENSLANDER!” THE WRAP UP I have to say that despite the 1 am session analysing data this particular exercise was one of the most fun I have had in a long time. All things being equal I have more questions than answers particularly when I look at the dynamics of individual states. I chose the ABT Bream series because there aren’t too many National competition series to look at, but I would love to have a different style of fishing to compare. If you have any ideas let me know. What I can say is that the home field advantage is real. Even if you allow for the evening up of the results for the boaters you are still on pretty safe odds with one event in two going to a local. So over to you - any ideas on how you overcome the local advantage or is it just a case of sucking it up and make them pay when they come onto your patch? MAY 2018

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

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6 66

21 2121

7 77

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9 99

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10 1010

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28 2828

14 14 14 15 15 15

1 11

16 1616

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3 33

18 1818

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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

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19 1919

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20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

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8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

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10 1010

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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

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13 1313

28 2828

13 1313

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13 1313

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14 1414

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14 1414

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30 3030

15 1515

30 3030

15 1515

30 3030

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. 88

MAY 2018 APRIL 2018

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat Inside story...

Sportsman Boats builds the fastest growing line of family-friendly centre console boats in-class. They are built with the latest designs, procedures and materials to give you and your family unparalleled performance with a dry, safe and comfortable ride.

Made for...

Designed to be budget-friendly, the Island Series offers the essentials for any boating family that likes to fish. These are perfect boats to earn your captain’s hat!

This month...

Steve Morgan will be checking out the classy 19 Island Reef, powered by a Yamaha 115hp.

91 Time for Tuggers! Toby Grundy takes you back to where it all started for him, in a little suburban lake on Canberra’s southside.

92 Kampey’s new rig one year on

Wayne Kampe was happy with his new 4.5m Galeforce one year ago when he bought it, but has it stood the test of time?

94 KISS kayaking

Justin Willmer highlights the importance of being able to ‘keep it simple stupid’, and how this applies to kayak fishing.

98 Sea Jay 460 Velocity Sports Editor Steve Morgan has a run in this rig with Gary Fitzgerald from Sea Jay Boats.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING TOHATSU CELEBRATES

LOWRANCE OS UPGRADE

On the 11 January 2018, Tohatsu Corporation President, Mr Isami Hyuga released a statement that “the manufacturing plant in Japan – reached the cumulative production of 4 million units of outboard motors. It is a great honour to be able to celebrate this moment of such achievement”. This sort of achievement can only happen with support of distributors, dealers and customer’s throughout the world, to whom Mr Isami Hyuga passed on his appreciation. Manufacturing outboard motors since 1956, Tohatsu is known as a pioneer in the Japanese Outboard industry and today they continue to expand their product range and distribute to over 100 countries worldwide. With some of the most advanced new technology, class-leading products being developed and offered to the market, Tohatsu felt that a new era had begun. For more information on the new products including the class leading MFS15/20E fuel-injected four stroke, visit Tohatsu’website. www.tohatsu.com.au

Lowrance, a world-leader in fishing electronics since 1957 — announced recently the release of a new software update for HDS Carbon™, HDS Gen3 and Elite-Ti displays that includes sonar enhancements and improvements for C-MAP charting. At the heart of the release is FishReveal™, an exciting new sonar feature that makes fish easier to see on DownScan Imaging™. FishReveal is a massive leap forward in fish finding technology that allows anglers to quickly and easily discover how fish orient themselves in and around cover and structure, with clearly defined fish arches. Unlike traditional CHIRP, FishReveal™ smart target viewing blends the best data from both technologies, eliminating the need for splitscreen viewing and interpretation. The upgrade also includes significant enhancements to StructureScan® 3D and StructureScan HD; plus, a new, easy-tointerpret C-MAP navigation palette. For more information about the Lowrance software update, HDS Carbon, Elite-Ti or other Lowrance marine electronics, or to locate an authorised Lowrance dealer, please visit Lowrance’s website. www.lowrance.com

YAMAHA BLUE CARD

NEW SCOTTY RELEASES

Yamaha Motor Finance (YMF) is pleased to announce one of the most exciting products to be launched in the 15-year history of YMF – the Yamaha Blue Card. The new Yamaha Blue Card is a line of credit with similar features to a normal credit card – but with significant advantages and only for use in Yamaha dealerships. Customers can finance everything available from a Yamaha dealer – including servicing and insurance premiums – up to a maximum of $5000. One major advantage of the Blue Card is that once you are approved for finance, there is no need to re-apply. So Yamaha Blue Card offers the ultimate in quick, easy and convenient finance. Plus the card comes with a 90-day interest free period on all purchases made before 31 May 2018. Visit your local Yamaha dealer to apply for a Yamaha Blue Card, or call Direct Sales on 1800 123 100.

MINN KOTA ULTREX

Now available in Australia, Minn Kota’s Ultrex™ gives anglers the control and responsiveness of a Fortrex, plus effortless Power Steering and i-Pilot features, like Spot-Lock. Paired with Steering Lock, which allows you to take your foot off the pedal without losing motor heading, Ultrex will change the way you fish. “We continue to set the bar high for breakthrough innovations to help anglers catch fish, and Ultrex is no exception,” says Shaun Clancy, Minn Kota Product Manager. “We’ve combined the reliability and responsive ‘wired-to-the-water’ feel of our tournament-proven Fortrex with the GPS technologies of i-Pilot, i-Pilot Link, and SpotLock electronic anchoring. It’s the best of both worlds.” The Minn Kota Ultrex product line-up will consist of numerous i-Pilot- or i-Pilot Link and US2-enabled combos, including 24-volt 80 lbs. thrust and 36-volt 112 lbs. thrust versions in 45”, 52” and 60” shaft lengths. Price: RRP from $4,599 www.bla.com.au 90

MAY 2018

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The new #282 spinning and baitcasting rod holder from Scotty is a versatile rod holder for any angler. This combo comes with the 438 Gear Head track adapter which quickly slides into place and locks down to any Scotty rod holder and accessories. This allows the user to quickly change the rod holder position with a simple twist. Also included in the combo is the new Scotty 440-4 low-profile track, which is quick and easy to install on any watercraft, including kayaks. In addition, Scotty’s most popular 12V electric downrigger model is now available in a compact version. The new #1099 Compact Depthpower features a 24” boom arm, supplied with a #1023 tilt up mounting bracket, a #358 rod holder and a Power Grip Plus line release. For more information on the Scotty range of rod holders, downriggers and accessories visit the JM Gillies website or look them up on Facebook. www.jmgillies.com.au

RAYMARINE LIGHTHOUSE 3.3

PRODUCT GUIDE

Raymarine’s new Lighthouse 3.3 software update offers increased functionality for Axiom and Axiom Pro users, as well as Raymarine eS and gS series users. This update provides numerous enhancements and an even more intuitive user experience. Owners of Raymarine eS and gS systems who upgrade to the latest LightHouse 3 operating system will experience faster performance and streamlined operation. They can also network eS and gS-Series MFDs with Axiom and Axiom Pro. The feature set and operation is identical regardless of whether you have an Axiom, Axiom Pro, eS-Series or gSSeries. eS and gS Series users will now be able to view RealVision 3D display data if there is an Axiom or Axiom Pro on the network. Axiom owners can get the update by connecting their MFD to Wi-Fi or a mobile phone hotspot. You can also download Lighthouse 3.3 via Raymarine’s website. Owners of eS and gS systems will need to download it from raymarine.com and install it with a microSD card. www.raymarine.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

Take the time to fish Tuggers CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

My dad bought me a fishing rod when I was nine years old and it sat in a corner of my old bedroom for almost a decade.

Tuggeranong town centre, which is about 30 minutes from the middle of Canberra. There are plenty of picnic spots and BBQ facilities scattered around the lake, a paved footpath, and lots of places to park (and launch) along with public toilets.

just in case, as it can get choppy in high wind. SPECIES Lake Tuggeranong is packed full of giant European carp as well as redfin, golden perch and Murray cod. I always focus on the cod, yellas and redfin on surface,

The fishery is in good shape due to consistent stocking efforts. During my gap year, my best mate called me up on my day off and told me we were going fishing and asked if I had a rod. I wiped the dust off the Silstar combo and met him at Lake

There are also plenty of cafes and restaurants lining the banks of the lake on the town side, along with a BCF close by if you need to stock up on tackle before hitting the lake.

There are enormous numbers of redfin in Lake Tuggeranong. Tuggeranong. At that time we had no idea what we were doing but we had some hooks, sinkers and two nets one of which (thankfully) had very fine mesh. We walked around the banks for a while and found, in one particular bay, a stack of shrimp piled up near a drain. My mate scooped the shrimp up and we baited our hooks. Within a few minutes we had our first redfin and it started me on my angling journey. Since that first session on Tuggeranong I have returned many times, but decided recently to try my luck from the kayak and found a really interesting fishery that is slowly developing into one of better places to target golden perch on vibes and redfin on surface in Canberra. FACILITIES Lake Tuggeranong is located next to the

Although there is phone reception right around the lake and life jackets are not required, I always wear one

but have been surprised at how often I catch carp on lures meant of other species. TECHNIQUES My favourite technique for cod and yellas is vertical jigging Jackall TN50s and 60s parallel to the concrete walls which run along the town side. I find the fish using my sounder and drop the lure down just past the fish. I then slow lift the Jackall about 30cm up off the bottom and allow it to sink again, which is often followed by a pause. The fish will usually hit when the lure settles back on the bottom. This technique is deadly, especially in late autumn and early winter. I like to fish small poppers for redfin, and they will hit surface right up until the start of winter. This is an exciting form of fishing and it is not uncommon to see a pack of a dozen reddies (or more) barrelling towards

a popper twitched and then paused near the wood pylons next to the college. Plastics around 65mm80mm long with a 1/8oz jighead twitched around the dam wall also work really well. I let the lure sink in amongst the sunken rocks and twitch the rod while retrieving, then allow the lure to sink into the next crevice. I have caught all four species using this method. THE KAYAK We took three different yaks (two paddle and one pedal) out on Lake Tuggeranong and all performed well, although the stand out was my Native Slayer 13, which was wellsuited to the type fishing we were doing in the deeper sections of the lake. Having a reverse function made it easy to hold over certain areas and allowed me to jig the lure in the right spot. The reverse feature was a benefit when fishing the shallower bays as well, as I was able to move into deeper water and play the fish. That said, it is a lake that is quite safe, so any yak

Check out this massive carp from Tuggers! overall it is shallow and relatively flat. Finding these little pockets of deeper water is hard without a sounder and there is one particular section just off the dam wall that produces the best fishing that

around the dam wall. For cod, I run a Daiwa Air Edge heavy rod matched to a Daiwa Millionaire 103 spooled with 20lb braid and 20lb leader. I haven’t encountered a really big cod

The guys from Rod N Paddle have the lake worked out. is fine provided there is a bit of storage for water and room for a second rod. THE SOUNDER Tuggeranong is a weird fishery, because while it does have some deep pockets,

You may just find yourself getting smoked by a big yella when fishing this lovely lake.

is virtually impossible to find without a decent fish finder. However, if you are just targeting the carp and redfin, a sounder isn’t necessary, as they hang around the fringes of the lake and are easily found. LOCATIONS I usually start around the islands at Greenway, as this area always produces redfin and carp along with the odd golden. This area is a great confidence builder, and will give you an indication of what to expect in other areas of the lake. It is possible to sight cast fish in this area, and watching a big carp inhale a plastic is always a rush. TACKLE I use my Daiwa Harrier 6’4 light spin stick coupled with a Daiwa Certate 2004 spooled with 6lb braid and 6lb leader when fishing Tuggers. This stick is capable of throwing TN50s and 60s but also has plenty of finesse in the tip for working plastics

in the dam yet, but because there isn’t a lot of structure, I’m confident this combo would be enough to out muscle a larger green fish. TIMING Tuggeranong fishes especially well through autumn and into winter. It is shallow, and because there is not a lot of oxygen in the water, the fish don’t really fire until the water cools right down. However, once the water cools and the big goldens fire, it is, on its day, a great fishery. CONCLUSION Tuggeranong is where it all began for me and is definitely worth a look over the next few months as the water cools and the big fish come on the chew. Although it can be a bit of a heartbreaker, it is a relatively small lake that can be covered in a day and does hold some of the largest cod and yellowbelly in or around the ACT. MAY 2018

Galeforce 4.5m CC with 75 E-Tec after extended use BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s hard to form a true lasting impression of a boat in only a short time of ownership. The glow surrounding any new rig is just too brilliant for you to detect things that could have been done differently

THE EXPERIMENT WORKED Our 4.5 Galey was a newby – a boat never previously laid up in a mould, yet with a heritage that meant the experiment was unlikely to fail. In essence, I wanted a craft I could move about the place by myself at home or elsewhere, that could be used in Moreton Bay and surrounds and in

and decent freeboard are the same format as the 4.8, 5.5 and even 6m Galeforce models. Accordingly, the 4.5 sees less hull in the water at any given time, which must have had some effect on issues such as stability, overall performance and other things. We’ll look at these and other factors later. One thing was always certain – there was never

There’s no denying the 4.5 Galeforce is a small boat but it certainly fulfils a number of roles with ease. deck up front for best storage capacity. Time off the trailer in an entirely open boat has shown this was a smart choice. Everything I needed out of the weather has been

The console choice was difficult: in such a small craft why take up so much room with a full sized console? What would be wrong with the smaller single console?

A generous rail on the console has also made it very safe to go forward to fish or attend the waterproof – note, waterproof – hatches within the deck. So while things

The high bow and generous freeboard mean that this small craft can handle less than ideal conditions quite well. or better. Everything is shiny and new, and when initial sea trials seem to justify your choice, the rosy glow about the craft just seems to get brighter the while. Time spent in different boating conditions can change this perspective.

any impoundment or other place along the east coast where I could get the hull off the trailer. Since last June I have fished everywhere from Luggage Point to Lucinda and several freshwater dams in between, really putting the boat through its paces.

going to be the same amount of fishing room in the 4.5 as the 5.5 that preceded it. However, I knew that 99% of the time the only people aboard would be me and my wife Denise, and I reckoned we could live with this prospect fairly easily.

The author’s eyes under the water – two fish are in sight, so how many others are also there? easily stored, plus there’s a full width-of-boat insulated icebox ahead of a full-sized centre console. The icebox has a sloping floor and bung to port, great for a clean out.

Our requirement for plenty of storage space within easy reach for cameras and other equipment plus a decent dash area to set up a big screen sounder sealed that deal.

are a little tight skirting the console, for us it works. LOVE THAT SOUNDER The Lowrance Carbon 12 has been simply brilliant once I understood that this

In this photo you can get an idea of the space between the console and side deck. Sometimes you’ll get an increased appreciation for certain aspects of the boat, while at other times you’ll wish you’d done one or two things differently. In this article I will outline exactly what almost a year of ownership of our 4.5 Galeforce centre console has brought to light. But first, some background. 92

MAY 2018

Some notable fish have been welcomed aboard: a 1m+ barra from Peter Faust, some big mulloway from the Brisbane River and a 121cm thready from the same area. As a fishing boat, it certainly works! So what is the 4.5? It’s precisely the 4.8 with 30cm removed from the stern. The deep vee format, Delta plank, reversed outer chines

And as the previous owner of both a 4.8 and a couple of 5.5 Galeforce models, I’m in a good position to note the changes brought about by such a reduction in hull size. A SUCCESSFUL LAYOUT In setting out the needs and wants with Galeforce Boats of Maryborough, I opted for the normal cast

The Evinrude E-Tec 75 has proved a great investment with ample power and pleasing fuel economy.

very high tech bit of kit was as much a computer as a sounder. All systems need to interface on the Carbon 12 and once they do it’s game on! I’ve learned to distinguish mulloway from threadfin in the Brisbane River and bass from tilapia and golden perch in the southern stocked impoundments. Barra in the

The 75 E-Tec was the lightest low emission 75 on the market, yet as a fuel injected 2-stroke the engine has serious grunt, lifting the deep vee shorty up onto the plane in around three boat lengths. Additionally, it will run all day at over 30kph (3000rpm) with a fuel consumption of 13L per hour.

north Queensland via Lake Proserpine and Lucinda, and inland to fish Cania Dam as well. This strong and reliable trailer has proved its worth every metre of the way. THE FINER POINTS OF THE DASH LAYOUT I opted for I-Command dials as my primary information source. Along

power-to-weight ratio here! Moving from a 5.5m Galey I noticed that the 4.5’s hull can be influenced by wave action when travelling briskly in cross chop or swell simply because there is – when compared to the larger Galeys – far less boat in the water to counter this type of wave action. Mind you, I’ve been in other similar sized and even larger craft where this situation occurs, so it’s not unusual to have some helm input to keep on track in these sea conditions. The next observation was an eye-opener. Despite its smaller size, I found the ride of the little 4.5 to be as good as the other Galeys I’ve owned (sometimes better) when travelling into short, sharp chop – the sort of stuff we see with wind versus tide.

you need to wear your spray jacket. This is an open boat, remember – there’s no half cabin for protection. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Interestingly, I found the 4.5’s hull was inclined to be weight-sensitive underway. As the Mercury Xi5 and the large deep cycle battery to power it were both located to port of the hull’s centre line, the craft tended to lean underway, much the same as side console runabout can do with just one aboard. I corrected it by extending the cables and moving the big battery from the forward port hatch to the starboard hatch – half an hour’s work. The big questions remain: what’s the rig like to fish out of? Are there shortcomings? As planned, it’s a two-person

Mrs Catchem goes forward while I fish aft. Sometimes I choose to remove a pedestal seat to make more room (usually when flyfishing) as the seat stem slips into or out of the floor spigot with ease. This is a very simple method of providing more workroom in a jiffy. Shortcomings are simply that the room that we were used to has been reduced. If you moved from a smaller rig up to the 4.5 Galey, things would obviously feel different. Stability-wise there are no shortcomings. We move about freely within the rig as necessary without any drama, thanks to the rail on the console. And when locked onto a big fish it’s surprising how easy it is to move or position things to

Denise likes to fish up front against the lean post, which is an excellent brace point. northern dams? On the sonar section of the screen these are red runways of motion, and on the structure scan they’re shiny grains of rice. In retrospect, that Carbon 12 has been one of the best investments in fishing pleasure I’ve made. THE 75 E-TEC In a boating era dominated by 4-stroke outboards one might wonder why I opted for a 2-stroke, albeit a leader in

I can go much faster, but I have little need for speed and like the low revs/low fuel consumption combination. Telling it as it is, I concede the E-Tec with its distinctive resonance is not as silent at idle as some engines, but it differs little in decibel level at 3000rpm and above compared with most other outboards on our market. MOTORGUIDE XI5 Along with the Lowrance Carbon 12 sounder, the

with engine rpm, these multifunction instruments provide me with everything from engine temperature on warm up to fuel use per hour, plus fuel used since the last fill up of the 60L under-floor tank. This last aspect I treasure; it’s brilliant to know that there has been, for example, exactly 18.8L used over the last couple of excursions. Resetting the fuel usage gauge is a ten-second job once the tank is refilled.

Here’s some idea of the space between the console and side deck.

An exact record of fuel usage is a highlight of an Evinrude I-Command gauge. Along with other useful information, the Evinrude I-Command gauges provide useful engine warm up data at start-up. ultra low emission output, on the transom of our boat. For a start, I have owned five Evinrude E-Tecs and fully understand the power, reliability, and economy that these engines provide. The choice of a 75 E-Tec has been a good one given the design of the little fibre glass hull; with it’s 21° Vee the rig sits well down in the water at rest (thus providing a lot of stability) and I wanted plenty of power to get the hull up and on the planing plank.

MotorGuide Xi5 55lb thrust electric motor has been a great asset for virtually every aspect of our fishing. The Anchor Lock, GPS tracking, and the small increments of adjustment available for precise fishing work have been the big attractions for us. DUNBIER SR4 MULTI ROLLER TRAILER The trailer turned out to be another good choice for our fishing lifestyle. The Dunbier SR4 has been under the boat on a trip to Tully in

AND NOW FOR THE HULL Coming to terms with the entire Galeforce 4.5 package was an interesting business. As mentioned, the 75 E-Tec kicks the craft onto the plane very rapidly, seconds after the throttle lever moves hard forward, but once the ride levels out the next move is always to back power off rapidly to avoid heading towards top speed regardless of conditions. There’s obviously a very favourable

Don’t get me wrong on this; I’m not talking about bar crossings or wild bay waves that are so widely spaced that the hull drops fairly off one green one into the base of another. I’m referring to the sort of short, close-spaced stuff that fresh breeze kicks up on dams or estuaries. I’ve found that instead of slackening off it’s always fun to pack on some power, marvel at the ride quality and grin at the way displaced water is kicked well aft and away from the hull. As with the other Galeforce rigs I’ve owned, if you’re travelling with strong wind on the quarter and in a paddock of white horses as far as the eye can see,

fishing boat, or three, if they all know what they’re doing. Having said that, the rig can certainly handle the rated four persons with one seated on each side of the console if necessary. The 75 E-Tec has the juice. When onto fish I remain aft of the console to keep an eye on the Carbon 12 sounder. Denise fishes up front against the lean post, which really is one of the megastars of our boat. It’s handy to the electric motor and makes a fabulous brace point. Typically, we tuck in behind the console seats underway and then, when it’s time to remove rods from their side holders,

counter the actions of the fish, or to lead it to the outstretched net. As an all-round small craft for a two-person team, I believe this boat will take a lot of beating. Other potential owners might opt for a smaller console to enhance workroom, maybe fit a smaller motor, but this little unit does thrive. The things I’d regard as very important, regardless of the budget, would be the console grab rail, the lean post up front and the movable pedestal seats, which can rapidly provide more workroom and an easy clean out. What would I change if I were to order another one? Nothing. MAY 2018

KISS kayak fishing BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

The ‘KISS’ principle, or ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’, is referred to often and in relation to many aspects of our lives, with fishing being just one of them. When the rudder cable on my pedal kayak snapped in the lead up to the Easter long weekend, I decided to

happening until I heard a noise and then the kayak turned aggressively to one side. Once I felt that the hand lever that controls the rudder had gone completely slack, I realised what had happened. Being only half a kilometre from the ramp and just 50m from shore I wasn’t in any danger, however with a gusty breeze and reasonable chop, it was the perfect opportunity to learn to handle the kayak with a broken rudder cable.

The simple solution would have been to limp to shore, turn the rudder straight and then continue on my journey home. What if I was offshore? Or the water was cold and there was risk of exposure, making it difficult to access the rudder? I have always carried a quality paddle with me in my pedal kayak and would recommend other pedal kayak users do the same, just in case they may need to paddle home.

A solid little golden trevally on light gear to wrap up the long weekend.

Simple setups ready to launch for a Good Friday adventure. do some KISS kayak fishing, keeping it super simple. I only had a couple of short windows of time available over the break, so my smaller paddle kayak came down off the wall rack in the shed and I assembled a basic kit of gear for my adventures. Before we launch the little yak in search of a few fish, it’s probably worth mentioning the rudder cable breakage and the paddle home that followed. It’s important to have a backup plan when things go wrong and I always make the most of these opportunities to learn more about myself, my vessel and how to better manage similar scenarios in the future. The rudder cable breakage took me by surprise, and I had never even thought about this

The author hooked up to a golden trevally and enjoying the ride!

One of many flats bream that couldn’t resist a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ.

It was very windy out on the chosen flat for the author’s Good Friday session. 94

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It was impossible to paddle the kayak home, with the rudder at full lock, however I was able to pedal slowly and dig the paddle into the water on one side of the kayak to counteract the kayak’s desire to turn with the rudder. As I gained better control with the positioning of the paddle, I was able to increase speed using the pedals and was soon making good progress. I didn’t break any speed records, but it was pretty satisfying to overcome the breakage, come up with

a game plan and effectively execute. Next time something goes wrong that isn’t life threatening, take the opportunity to assess the situation and maybe explore a few different solutions. The knowledge you gain may come in handy if you find yourself in a sticky situation. Back to gearing up for some KISS kayak fishing, it’s refreshing to just grab the basics and hit the water. The setup and clean up is quick and easy, it’s an inexpensive way to fish, you can be on the water quickly

and in turn better make the use of short windows of time, launch pretty much anywhere, access harder to get at locations and enjoy the sense of freedom. BASIC SETUP My basic kit consists of a small, easy to handle kayak, a quality and durable paddle leashed to the kayak, C-Tug trolley that allows you to wheel the kayak long distances across varied terrain and an icebox strapped on the back with a couple of ice bricks, stored in a zip lock bag to make clean up easy. If the wind is blowing or the tide is running hard, an anchor is handy for holding position, with a Cooper 1kg poly anchor a reliable option. I didn’t have time to set up an anchor running rig, so I simply tied my anchor rope to the front kayak handle at the required length for anchoring and then

tied another short length of rope around the anchor rope, with a loop that slid along the anchor rope. I could then simply drop the anchor and when I wanted to retrieve it, pull this second rope, the loop would then slide along the anchor rope, pulling it back into the kayak so that I could grab the anchor rope and retrieve the anchor. Other basics worth attaching to your kayak and keeping within arms reach include a landing net, and mine is slid into the flush mounted rod holder behind the seat, a set of lip grips attached via a retractable gear tether, a ruler and a Boomerang Tool retractable line snip for rigging. I prefer to take several smaller bottles of drinking water, rather than one large bottle, just in case it is punctured or lost overboard. A dry bag, that can be

stowed or leashed wherever convenient, contains one tackle tray of jigheads, blades and a few other lures, along with some packets of soft plastics, leader, scent and sunscreen is also helpful. This keeps everything dry, can be rolled to lock in some air so that it floats and keeps all of the smaller items safe and out of the way. Once I am out on the water, the scent comes out of the dry bag and is generally stowed in the kayak drink holder. When it comes to rods and reels, I always carry two combos, even when KISS kayak fishing, as it is much

commenced a drift. Drifting down the centre of a large flat, we were casting 1/4oz 1/0 jigheads and 2.5” paddletail plastics, allowing them to sink to just above the bottom, giving them a couple of hops and then rolling them back with a steady retrieve. As the wind pushed us across the flat, we used it to make long casts across the flat and slightly ahead of the drift. By casting across the flat, rather than directly with our drift, I believe our lures are swimming across more varied bottom structure and water depths, while also hopefully being put in the

The C-Tug trolley makes transporting kayaks to and from the water easy. You can strap it on the back or stow it in your hatch. lightweight craft onto the C-Tug trolleys and rolled them the kilometre or so home on the bike path beside

sure I had an anchor in the kit, however the predicted wind direction would be directly against the tide when it turned to run-out, effectively holding the kayak back on a slow drift. Halfway along the flat and I was on! This was followed by another, and then a third in three casts. They weren’t big fish, but still plenty of fun on light gear. It was 2.5” paddle-tails again doing the job, rigged on a 1/4oz jighead and retrieved steadily across the flat. When I hook a fish, I try to make note of landmarks around me, be it beacons, crab pot floats, mangroves or bridges, water towers, unique trees and other structures that can assist me to return to where I landed the fish. A

school produced 14 bream before the tide dropped and the lack of water on the flat saw the school move on. Moving to the edge of the flat produced something different, a fringefin trevally, that was released after a quick photo. It had been a fun session and the basic setup hadn’t stopped me from getting into a few fish. I decided to call it a day, and as if on cue, an aggressive strike loaded the rod and I kicked back and enjoyed the sleigh ride. There was no doubting this was a trevally, it was just a matter of if it was a golden or GT. The fish turned and screamed across the flat with me in tow, a smile spreading across my face, while the 6lb braid cut through the

A less common capture in the author’s local waters, a fringefin trevally. easier to rig up at home than when on the water. It saves time if you are busted off during a hot bite, and it also allows you to have two different presentations rigged, such as a surface and subsurface, light and heavier weighted plastic, small and larger plastic, or two different colours such as a dark silhouette colour and lighter, natural colour. My wife Sheri and I hit the water Good Friday as we traditionally do, our basic rigs wheeled to the water in search of a fish for dinner. We battled the wind, paddled to our chosen location and

face of more schools of fish that were travelling with the current. Sheri had a couple of solid bites without hooking up before something started tapping on my plastic. When rolling plastics, I find it most effective to continue with the same retrieve speed even while a fish is biting and the bites generally continue until the fish find the hook. Sure enough, I eventually felt weight and the hook found its mark, the drag screamed and a solid bream took off across the flat. It was soon slid into the net and then dispatched into the icebox.

We generally don’t keep bream, preferring to keep a flatty or two for a feed, however strong winds and

Everything is within reach in the cockpit of the kayak, with two-rod combos rigged and ready.

What a way to finish the long weekend – a nice golden in the net!

The unlucky bream that scored an invitation to dinner on Good Friday.

rough conditions gave us the feeling that this may be our only keeper for the session. Strong winds forced us off the flat and into the shelter of the mangroves, where we landed one flathead that was just undersize and had a few more bites. Not keen to paddle home into the gusty breeze, we simply paddled into the bank, loaded our

the water. Simple kayak setups, a simple adventure, and a fish for dinner. I was keen for another quick and simple adventure on Easter Monday, so I planned to fish the last of the run-in and first hour or two of the run-out, targeting bream on the same flat we had fished a few days earlier. It was again windy, so I made

GPS or sounder with GPS is handy, however I was KISS kayak fishing and enjoying the simplicity, so I lined up a beacon with a crab pot to give me a basic idea of where the fish were schooled. Returning to the school, that was probably holding around weedy structure or in a depression on the flat, and it was fish on again! The

water and the little 6’6” spin stick doubled over. It was a great way to end the session, with a lovely golden trevally sliding into the net. It’s hard to beat the feeling of watching fish like jacks and trevally swim away, with the hope that they will eat a young anglers lure one day and spark the same passion that we have for the sport. Over the weekend I also had turtles, dugong and a couple of big dolphins swim within metres of the kayak, I saw a big bust up of fish and met a few other keen kayak anglers in my travels. One angler I met was a guy called Scott, who I met at the ramp and chatted about his new Bixpy jet motor setup on his kayak, allowing him to travel and troll for a couple of hours or more on a single charge. I love gadgets and think I need to investigate this cool little jet motor further. So that was our Easter on the water, KISS kayak fishing. I hope you managed to get out on the water and find a few fish yourself. Don’t forget that you don’t need to plan an epic adventure or have the most elaborate setup in the world to get out on the water. Enjoy this magic country and maybe even score a few fish. MAY 2018

Sportsman 19 Island Reef with 115hp Yamaha - SC

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for fishing offshore in less than perfect weather. The console is easy to walk around and has all-round grab-rails for your mates. The helm is offset to the port side and there’s a flush mounted 7” Simrad as standard. All other switches are available and

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Admit it – you’ve all dreamed about it – heading off into the sunrise in a slick, fibreglass American fishing boat. The boat’s landing softly into the small swell, your rod racks are loaded with premium gear and there’s a dozen live baits happily swimming around in the livewell, blissfully unaware of their impending fate. Then you wake up and the alarm is telling you it’s time to go to work instead of the ramp. Brisbane’s Northside Marine is doing its very best to help you achieve this dream. Stalwart salesman Bill Hull recently talked to FM about how the Sportsman dealership came to be. “Like everyone, I had the dream of selling this kind of boat, but it wasn’t

PERFORMANCE

Main: There’s no denying that the Sportsman hulls look good on the water – clean lines and an upswept bow make the 19 Island Reef a rig that’ll turn heads on the water and at the ramp. Above: With the hammers down on the 115hp Yamaha, it’s definitely hold onto your hats time. boats on order – plenty of which were pre-sold to keen anglers in the Brisbane area. The Island Reef 19 is a great all-round boat to cross over between inshore and offshore waters. Taking it out

SPECIFICATIONS Length........................................................5.8m Beam..........................................................2.3m Capacity ......................................... Six persons Fuel ............................................................ 113L Max hp ......................................................... 115 until recently that things fell into place,” Bill said. Sportsman is a brand that is only six years old in the USA, but is growing in leaps and bounds. It was a perfect match for Northside, who are meticulous in their preparation of boats to deliver to their customers. At the time of the test, there were 16 Sportsman 96

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complete with straps to lock it in. A couple of non-skid SeaDek pads are at the helm as well – good looking and practical. There’s a livewell in the starboard transom corner and the entire deck is self-draining. I imagine this would be an easy boat

on a nasty test day in Moreton Bay, it demonstrated an ability to drive soft and dry at the right combination of speed and trim. It’s simple and effective as a fishing platform and is guaranteed to turn heads both at the ramp and on the water. Let’s look at a few of the features. Packages from Northside for this model

start at $60k, which include a Yamaha 115, Twin Axle trailer and a 7” Simrad. We didn’t have the metering available to do the economy figures, but there is data available for a Yamaha 90hp, which will display very similar economy figures. Delivering 2.6km/L at 4000rpm, the 90 would give a theoretical range of over 250km – ample for nearly every weekend trip you’ll ever do. With the rough conditions, we didn’t get a top speed reading on the 115, however it was spinning an identical alloy 19” propeller, so you can add a couple of km/h for the extra few revs. From the upswept bow back, there’s a raised casting deck with dry, under-deck storage for anchors and other bulky items. It’s a one-person deal, so it’d be

a great spot to throw casts at pelagic or reef edges while the other angler is at the helm. The rest of the floor is low and eminently suitable

RPM Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 1000 ............................. 6 ..............................4 2000........................... 10 ...........................2.5 3000........................... 17 ...........................1.6 4000........................... 39 ...........................2.5 5000........................... 52 ...........................2.3 6000........................... 67 ...........................1.8 *Supplied figures are for 90hp Yamaha with 19” alloy prop. easy to reach. There’s also dry storage underneath the console for your valuables. The helm seating is flexible, with a removable backrest and space for a cooler underneath –

The variable deadrise and upswept bow mean that you have the best chance of a dry ride with the correct trim and attitude.

to keep clean, with not too many corners to get the blood and guts stuck in. The battery sits in an under-deck compartment. Of course, you can go crazy on the options list on this boat and add anything from factory T-Tops to cushion packages for the bow, but just as it is, there’s so much scope for fun fishing all over Australia that your head will be swimming with options. For more information, contact the guys at Northside Marine at www. northsidemarine.com. au or you can check out the Australian Sportsman website at www. sportsmanboats.com.au. Make sure you also watch the video test of this boat to see it in action – there’s a QR code to scan hereby or you can search for it on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

Under the front casting deck there are a couple of dry hatches – one for the anchor and the other for your bulky gear.

The Yamaha F115 fitted on Northside Marine’s Sportsmans are factory fitted but are still backed by Yamaha Australia for a full local warranty.

That 16° of transom deadrise takes the sting out of landing on windy days.

The stainless steel bar that wraps around the console is handy for the driver and passengers alike. There’s extra storage under the front seat.

The seat back is removable and you can fit a cooler under the seat framing. Vertical rod storage is provided on each side of the console.

A 7” Simrad comes standard with the boat and is covered by a full, local warranty.

Top Left: You can sit a couple more people comfortably on each side of the outboard and the space underneath is also available. The battery is under the floor hatch. Top Right: The rear starboard seat hides a built-in livewell with horizontal divider. Above: Supplied on a hydraulic braked, twin axle I-beam trailer, the Sportsman rig is safe and 100% Australian compliant. MAY 2018

Sea Jay 460 Velocity Sports with Mercury 75hp

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SPECIFICATIONS Overall.Length......................................... 4.74m Bottom ............................................4mm (5083) Sides ..........................................................3mm Beam..........................................................2.3m Depth .......................................................1.24m Floor.Ribs ...................................................... 11 Capacity ....................................... Five persons Hull.weight .............................................. 495kg Max.HP ..........................................................75 Rec.HP ...........................................................60 Max.motor ............................................... 175kg

Cruising at 4500rpm, the 75 Mercury delivered 2.4km/L at 46km/h. 98

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What do you get when you cross one of the proven Sea Jay Samurai hulls with a console of a 5.9m boat? You get this – the new Sea Jay 460 Velocity Sports. In Say Jay speak ‘sports’ means ‘side-console,’ so this is basically a Vision hull with a side-console. Based on the popular Samurai hull, the shell features a 4mm 5083-grade bottom sheet and 3mm side sheets. Samurais also have reverse chines, a heavy duty capped keel and a visually pleasing upswept bow that turns heads at the ramp and on the water. The 4.6m hull is also very beamy. In fact, the beam of 2.3m is exactly half the length of the hull, making it very stable in the water. Combine this with high gunwales and raised casting decks and there is a ridiculous amount of under-

As such, the boat more bounced than chopped the waves and we know that it’ll ride a lot more smoothly with some real-world weight holding it down. Powered by the maximum 75hp Mercury 2.1L 4-stroke, the Velocity jumped onto the plane and displayed best economy figures at 4500rpm, where it delivered 2.4km/L of fuel burned. That’s right in the zone of what you can expect from a rig this size. Drop the hammers and the speed went up a little and the economy drops markedly. We achieved 48km/h and

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

deck storage up the front. You can see in the images here (and in the Video Boat Test on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel), that the biggest compartment easily swallows Rob Gaden Jr. There’s room up there as well for a couple of trolling motor batteries and of course there’s a fabricated mount for your choice of long shaft electric motor. With that 100kg or so of weight up there, the boat will feel a lot less flighty than it did on the test day. We rode this rig basically empty with a couple of 80kg humans on board as ballast.

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Main: Sea Jay’s 460 Velocity Sports brings the features of the larger Velocity models into a smaller package. This one was powered by Mercury’s rock solid 2.1L 75hp 4-stroke. Above: With a beam of 2.3m and a length of 4.6m, this hull is half as wide as it is long. The end result is that it’s pretty stable. 48km/h at WOT. It was a bit rough to open the throttle fully on the test day. At full speed expect around 2km/L. The Sea Jay arrived at the ramp on a single-axle Sea Jay trailer, manufactured by local giant, Dunbier, to Sea Jay’s specifications. Like all Sea Jay trailers, they add a year to the boat’s warranty if they’re ordered on one. And, like all Sea Jay trailers, there’s a dearth of places for salt water to pool while at rest. They like C-Section or alloy I-beams which are easily washed down after use. Basics aside, the 460 Velocity Sports is a blank canvas that you can personalise to your own needs. Factory options like upgraded steering or a factory-installed wrap will help this boat reflect your fishing personality. Then, of course, you’ll

want to add electronics. The big-boy console can hold bracket mounted units up to 16” as well as all of the switches you’ll need to control the on-board accessories. The console also comes with a rail the full way over the windscreen, giving passengers and the captain something to hold onto in less than ideal conditions. Easily towable by the family car, the little sibling in the Velocity Sports family has

all of the big boat features at a small boat price – the test rig weighed in the low to mid $30,000 and you could drop the price even more with a 60hp motor. If you want more information, make sure you check out your local Sea Jay dealer or visit them on www. seajayboats.com.au. Like them on Facebook at Sea Jay Boats and you’ll be kept up-todate on all of the latest Sea Jay releases.

PERFORMANCE RPM........................Speed........................km/L 700 ................................. 3 .......................... 2.3 1000 ............................... 5 .......................... 2.1 2000 ............................... 9 .......................... 1.7 3000 ............................. 13 .......................... 1.2 4000 ............................. 38 .......................... 2.2 4500 ............................. 46 .......................... 2.4 5000 ............................. 48 .......................... 2.1

The rear of the cockpit is clean and clear with high gunwales and offers plenty of room to fish all around the back of the boat.

The console in the 460 Vision is the same as in the 590, so it looks big. The advantage is that you can fit the same electronics in the smallest Velocity Sports as you can in the largest one.

Above: We loved the all-round grab rail on the console and the multiple seat base points. Inset: The front deck is beamy and high enough to offer great vision (pun intended about the sister Sea Jay hull).

Did someone say that there’s plenty of capacity under the decks? This space holds at least one Rupe. And maybe also a swimsuit model, although we didn’t get to test the theory.

Supplied on a Dunbier-built Sea Jay trailer, this rig – and all rigs bought with a Sea Jay trailer – gets an extra year of warranty.

The 2.1L 75hp is the smallest horsepower in that configuration, so you know it’ll be underworked and over-performing.

The test boat was basically empty, so the boat more bounced over the waves than worked to chop them like the Samurai hull does. This will be fixed by addition of all of your fishing and day-trip essentials.

Yep – that’s a wide ass. It makes this rig really stable.

That’s the beast-mode console. Plenty of dry storage underneath and room for a 16” sounder on a bracket up top. MAY 2018

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