NSW Fishing Monthly September 2017 by Fishing Monthly

BASS OPENING SPECIAL • 2017 BEST PRODUCT AWARDS

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Kayaking the Molonglo River • Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ • Part II: Trailer bearing maintenance • Heading offshore with Jason Milne • Aquayak Scout • Ultraskiff 360 • Haines Hunter 565R •

Features

Bass season is open • Bass lolly basics • Update your flathead techniques • 2017 Best New Product awards Lure Making: Doc’s Shallow Minnow • Wild River Bass 3 review •

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September 2017, Vol. 23 No. 2

Contents BYRON COAST Tweed Inshore 27 The Tweed 32 Ballina 33 Yamba 34 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour Coffs Game South West Rocks

36 38 39

MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 40 Forster 42 Harrington-Taree 43 HUNTER COAST Hunter Coast 46 Swansea 47 Port Stephens 48 Erina 49 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 16 Sydney North 18 Pittwater 19 Sydney Harbour 20 Sydney Rock and Beach 21 Sydney South 22 Botany Bay 24 Western Sydney 26 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 52 Nowra 53

From the Editor’s Desk... AFTA GETS THE THUMBS UP! We always love the September issues of Fishing Monthly. It’s like Christmas a few montths early. Why? Because we’ve all been to the latest AFTA (Australian Fishing Trades Association) Trade Show on the Gold Coast and been exposed to the latest and greatest fishing tackle that’s either been launched at the show or has made the journey from overseas and earlier launches at the American ICAST show or the European EFTTEX Show. What sucks for the general fishing population is that these shows aren’t open to the public. Luckily, the media gets to come along and document the latest gear to present to you. With launch dates varying from ‘immediately’ through to ‘close to Christmas’, not

everything your read about in the ATFA Special inside this magazine will be available straight away. Within the slew of new products launched, nearly 300 get entered into the 19 divisions of ‘Best-of-Show’ at the AFTA Show. Best of Show trophies are awarded to the products that get the most votes from retailers who attend the show. There are strict rules and every store only gets to vote once. Distributors of the products aren’t even allowed into the Best of Show precinct until after the trophies have been awarded at the Gala Dinner. It’s serious business. We’ve collated all of the Best of Show winners on the pages inside. What we’ve also done are some awards of our own. While presenting products on our multiple TackleJunkie LIVE shows that we broadcast during the event, there were

some products that made us (that being Simon Goldsmith and I) feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Those products got a ‘Thumbs-up’ trophy for their efforts. Totally subjective, we know, but sometimes the media’s perspective is different from the retailers who vote on the AFTA awards. It’s all a bit of fun, but we have collated the Thumbs-up products inside the AFTA feature as well. All up, there’s 12-pages of cool new stuff that we’ve distilled down from the entire show. It’s a tough gig - we know that - but somebody has to put in the hard yards for the readers. We hope you enjoy the feature and get inspired for some new additions to the tackle collection for this season. SAW YOU AT THE SYDNEY BOAT SHOW! We enjoyed meeting hundreds of readers and

subscribers at the Sydney Boat Show, which was back at Darling Harbour at the new International Convention Centre for the first time in years. Thanks to all who dropped in and said hello to Rob, Gary Brown and I. As usual, we gave away a pile of free magazines – we always pick up plenty of new readers from the free samples and enjoy introducing anglers to the magazine that is the most relevant to them – the one which covers NSW only! Thanks also to Tim Simpson and the Fishing Seminar crew who welcomed me to do some fill-in talks for some legends who weren’t able to make it to the show this year. It was great rubbing shoulders with the royalty of who-knowshow-to-catch-em in NSW. I think it took me two Australian Open wins to make the grade!

BATEMANS COAST Narooma 54 Merimbula 55 Batemans Bay 56 EDEN COAST Bermagui 60 Tathra 60 Eden 61 Mallacoota 61

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

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OUR OUR COVER COVER

Kit de Borton with a feisty lower Hunter bass taken on fly in skinny water, sight casting it with the help of his new Spotters sunglasses.

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SPECIAL FEATURES Bass season is open Bass lolly basics Update your flathead techniques Lure Making: Doc’s shallow minnow 2017 Best New Product awards

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ING TRADE

Fishing Diary Angler: Melissa Location: Rob’s secret spot Date: 14/12/2016 Conditions: 22 , NNW 12km/h Black Magic Tackle: C Point 8/0 hook and 40lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader.

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Note: C Point hooks easily handled the challenge of this fantastic 10kg+ snapper.

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BASS

Bass season is open for business FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

There is little doubt that spring is marked with a highlighter on the bass angler’s fishing calendar and, in NSW, 1

DPI imposed closed season, ethical reasons or basic comfort considerations. When the first blush of red appears on the riverside bottlebrushes the bass are well on the move back into the freshwater and the time of this migration is staggered depending on

autumn triggers the fish to make their way downstream to the brackish reaches of the system. With the correct salinity levels, the bass will congregate and spawn in large schools where the vast majority will survive the nets of the commercial fishers. With the spawning job done,

water temperature. Why the fish travel vast distances to the estuary to spawn is, perhaps, to provide more sustenance for the fry in their early development. Whatever the reason, it also provides an important key to understanding how to target these fish as they migrate back into the freshwater. POST-SPAWN Early season bass fishing provides the best chance of large fish in numbers. The concentrated schools of breeding stock move back into the freshwater from mid-August through to November, and there are key areas to target. Where the seasonal migration coincides with a rise in the river level the fish will take advantage

A quick measure of big fish can make or break the magic 50cm fork length target. looking to put on condition after a prolonged period of having a distended gut cavity, full of roe or milt. With the warming water comes an explosion of activity and the breeding

food sources and, as a result, alter their predatory habits. What starts as a fishless day can soon turn into a bounty if you’re prepared to cycle through lures to pinpoint the focus of the fish.

The author caught this 52cm midday bass on a 2” Gulp Shrimp at the base of the rapid to the right in this picture. September marks the end of the anxious anticipation and the beginning of planned reality. For most anglers, the winter months are a barren and fishless period, generally because of the

your geographical position on the coast. The basic cycle of the eastern flowing rivers and the bass that inhabit them is simple. A drop in water temperature and a rise in the river level at the end of

the bass prepare to undertake the journey back to the upper freshwater reaches. With a bit of luck and a few good rain events the upstream movement accelerates with a springtime rise in water levels and

Canoes and kayaks make ideal platforms to travel the east coast rivers in search of that trophy bass. of the increased water levels to negotiate rock bars and shallow rapids. Fishing the head of a pool below rapids will produce the best fish as they gather to make their advance upstream. Remember, the fish are

cycle of creatures like firetail gudgeons, Australian smelt or the translucent, freshwater shrimp that make quick meals for bass. While bass are an aggressive, active feeders they can also be distracted and set their focus on certain

Early in the season, when the fish are snatching up the shrimp, I use Berkley 2” Shrimps (my favourite is camo colour) and fish them on a 1/24-1/16oz no. 2 jighead along the bottom. This came about after

Rapids provide staging points for the bass as they migrate back into the freshwater. THE AUTHOR’S KIT Soft plastics tackle Lures: Gulp 2” Shrimp and 3” Jigging Shrimp Jigheads: Unweighted to 1/8oz Nitro Bream Pro Gen 2 jigheads Leader: 10-12lb fluorocarbon leader Main line: 6-8lb braided line (Fireline Ultra 8 Carrier) Rod: a fast taper (sensitive tip) 6’8-7’2 Veritas 3.0 and Salty Stage Light Casting Reel: 2000-2500 spinning reel (Abu Garcia Revo SX 30 or ALX2500SH) Spinnerbait tackle Lures: 1/8-1/4oz black and purple tandem Colorado blade Hook: stinger hook* Leader: 14-16lb leader Main line: 8lb braided line Rod: a medium/light 3-6kg rod around 6’3 Reel: 2000-2500 spinning reel (Abu Garcia Revo SX 30 or ALX2500SH) Surface lures Jointed Jitterbug (3/8oz) in black Berkley Scumdogs Lucky Craft Sammy Tiemco Softshell Cicada *In heavy cover remove the stinger hook to reduce the risk of snagging.

SEPTEMBER 2017

With water this clear, presentation and patience is everything.

BASS fishing for five hours with all manner of lures, looking for a reaction bite, only to land two small fish. The last of those fish had a mouth stuffed full of small shrimp. The penny dropped and over the next two hours, from midday, I landed 17 fish over 36cm with 50 and 52cm fork length monsters amongst them. I managed five from five casts in the exact spot I had flogged hours earlier. The key was bouncing the shrimp profile

lure along the bottom, where the fish had their heads down and focused on the shrimp. I doubt the fish even noticed the earlier lure offerings, so don’t expect the crunching hit from bass all the time. Sometimes they’ll gently pick up a bottom bounced plastic and spit it out again, if you are not quick enough to strike. DAY OR NIGHT The bass tend to move at night, so the areas around rapids are great spots to

target with surface lures in and around the eddies created in the broken water. Large profile lures like black Jointed Jitterbugs are perfect and my favourite because they plough through the running water, maintaining tension on the line ready for the strike. Other lures that float and slide on the surface tend to offer little resistance to the river flow and create a bow in the line. Attempts to correct this only serve to

Firetail gudgeons, shrimp and other aquatic species make up much of the early season diet of the bass.

Measuring fork length or overall length with the fish’s mouth shut can make a significant difference in the tail length.

skid the lure faster across the surface. For the fast water at the head of a pool, select a surface lure that sits low in the water, and provides some form of resistance to the flow and reduces line drift and bowing. During the day, the bankside shaded areas at the base of the rapids are perhaps my favourite spots to target. The fish that mingle in the open water through the night take refuge out of the current and stick to the shadows or rock crevice cover. This is

where soft plastics really become an effective tool for attracting the bite. Cast well up current and as close to the bank or shade as possible. You need to allow the plastic to sink to the bottom and then, with a series of rod lifts to recover line and hop the lure, start the retrieve. While fishing plastics, you need to watch your line for pauses or movement against the flow and any pulse from the rod tip. Bass will drift with the lure, pick it up and spit it out without

the slightest indication, so it pays to concentrate. WARMING WATER From November onward in most areas the water temperatures tend to increase steadily, promoting the rapid growth and activity of aquatic life and an exponential expansion of weed. The bass too are more active, and this is arguably the most consistent and predictable time of the year for planning a fishing trip. Early morning and evening To page 10

Sunline’s newest braid SIGLON PE offers incredible performance at an amazing price! Made from EX-PE fibres, SIGLON PE offers a tightly woven braid that provides superior abrasion resistance, a very thin diameter for its breaking strain and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage with a stiff yet ultra-smooth and round profile and is available in striking colour options. Available in 8 carrier PE (PEx8) and 4 carrier PE (PEx4).

PEx8 150m: Light Green, Orange, Multi Colour PE0.3 (5lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m: Light Green, Orange, Multi Colour PE0.6 (10lb) to PE10 (130lb)

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SEPTEMBER 2017

BASS From page 9

sessions with surface lures are the most exciting times to fish, while the daytime temperatures are not so oppressive that they drain your energy. It’s possible to enjoy a midday session with soft plastics or spinnerbaits in the snag piles. At the height and end of summer where the river flow is slowed by irrigation, evaporation and a lack of rain, the bass can get lethargic with the increasing water temperatures. The depletion of soluble oxygen in shallow pools can stress the fish to a point where they either die or cope by feeding at a time the water is at its coolest and

Jigheads with weight distribution along the shank are ideal for use with small plastic profiles like shrimp and curl-tails. hide in the deepest section of the pool and shade during daylight. Instead of fishing from dusk into dark, it’s often more productive to fish

these spots from predawn to daylight after the river has surrendered much of the previous day’s heat to the night. Many systems will have stocks of bass in the upper estuary yearround. It all depends on the geography and environment.

Spinnerbaits are a versatile lure for exploring water quickly.

SEPTEMBER 2017

WHEN AND WHERE Without doubt, I prefer the new moon period to fish the evening surface sessions. Complete and utter darkness robs you of your sight and seems to heighten your other senses like hearing and feel. It also creates a spooky, uneasy feel and when fish hit a lure at the rod tip, you suddenly know what adrenalin is. Some systems fish better with a full moon and others totally shut down to surface action once the

moon appears, so it pays to fish a full cycle of the moon phases on a selected river to determine the best time for that system. The new moon is, however, a great time to start this process of elimination. Early season in the lower reaches will fish better after a gully-raking flood in April and May than a dry autumn and winter. When no flood event occurs, the fish tend to shift downstream to the next big pool to wait. While the urge to spawn may drive

them, they need water to carry them to the estuary and in drought years a successful spawn may not be possible. Knowing the seasonal events that affect the river system you fish can greatly influence your bass fishing success. By making calculated decisions on where the bulk of the fish will be at any give time and factoring in the effect of rain events that have occurred, you have almost guaranteed your bass season will be off to a great start.

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Understanding the basics of bass lollies this category is football style jigs, which have made the transition from the US largemouth market to our golden shores. They’re particularly effective in dams, where you can work them quite slowly with minimal movement and really annoy the bass into the strike. The fun part is doing it with a reasonably soft rod and setting the hook like everyone’s expat hero Carl Jocumsen and his FLW tour mates. It’s a lot of fun and can keep your lure in front of the target for a long period of time. Personal preference and past success sees the lures in my tackle box being predominantly crayfish colour variations, as that’s what I feel I’m closely imitating.

FMG

Rupe Instagram: @ruperbad

After spending the weekend at the Australian Lure & Fly Expo at the Ipswich show grounds insisting to just about everyone who walked through the gate that I’m not a lure collector, I actually started to wonder how much truth was in my answer and in reality, there’s not a lot! I lied to the good people at the lure show. All weekend. I am a lure collector! Maybe not in the truest sense of the word – I don’t have a cabinet lined with timber treasures or a shelf above the bar with retired relics as reminders of simpler times, but I do have around 30 tackle boxes of all shapes and sizes stacked in my shed begging me to pick them up and take them close to water so they can feel alive again… Perhaps this is why I was asked to write a piece on bass lures to coincide with the ‘opening’ of the bass season in NSW, which in reality is never really closed but that’s an argument for another day. The not so humble Aussie bass has been a mainstay for me since I was a little kid and has held a place in my heart ever since. I just love them. Big, small, wild, impoundment bruiser – I don’t care. I just want to catch them and there lies the reason of why I own so many (too many) lures that I’ve forked out cash for, hoping each will be the one to catch me my PB, which would get me over the fabled unicorn mark of 60cm.

The visual aspect of catching bass on lures is perhaps the most thrilling. This Hinze Dam fish ate the author’s OSP iWaver in the morning sun; a special experience that won’t be forgotten any time soon.

Soft plastics and soft vibes Soft plastics really don’t vary as much as their hardbodied relatives, so can be covered without too much fuss or expense. In the bass world, you’re probably using a soft vibe, a paddle-tail, or a flick bait. Advances in technology have meant soft vibes have exploded in popularity. Older models had some trouble staying together, but if you invest in quality you’ll find plastic, wire and terminal tackle that are more than up to the task. These lures come in a variety of sizes and with different tails for different actions and appearances under water. Forked, thumping and curly tails make up the majority of what you’ll find in stores and unsurprisingly, catch the majority of bass.

This fish ate a 70mm Samaki Vibelicious fork tailed soft vibe. The author likes to fish these lures by casting them over the ledge of a drop off and fishing them back towards the boat. Pound for pound a decent bass, especially one living in flowing water, is right up there for the hardest and dirtiest fighters an angler is likely to encounter, so not only is choosing the right lure important, that lure and the gear you’ve used to get it to the ‘strike zone’ had better be up to the challenge as well! Let’s take a look at what you should be equipped with when you next head out to tame a bronzed brawler. LOOKING AT LURES The reality of a species that will live in dozens and dozens of different habitats means your tackle box should consist of a good mix or lures both hard and soft, surface, diving, sinking, metal and bladed models. 12

SEPTEMBER 2017

Paddle-tail plastics for me have a place when searching for lone fish in medium to heavy cover situations. Think fallen timber intermingling with weed beds and rocks. They are virtually snag free when rigged correctly and with the help of a well set up spin combo, you can punch a cast a million miles and slow retrieve it with the odd ‘wiggle of the tip’, as recent ABT BASS round winner Tommy Slater describes it. Just keep pinging it ‘til you’re buckled. The flick bait style of plastic in my experience is best applied when fishing a school. You’ve probably spotted them on the sounder and now you just need to get one to eat to turn the rest on. A frantically worked flick bait jerking up, down and darting side to side should get you the eat and hopefully rile its school friends up for a fight too! My biggest tip here is don’t go too big with your jighead and hook selection and totally kill the lure.

Jigs On the hard side of the ledger, let’s start with the sinking type and work our way up the water column. For me, the first type of lure that comes to mind in

Bladed lures Slightly higher in the water (depending on retrieval speeds) will be your bladed lures. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, mumblers, buzzbaits and a host of others have all caught a lot of people a lot of bass. Simplistic in their approach of using flash and vibration to draw the strike, they can be used by even the most novice angler with a simple cast, sink, retrieve method and will catch fish from 1 foot to 100 feet deep. Maybe not the most exciting lure in the bunch, but right up there on my scale of effective bass lures. The big pluses here are that they’re relatively snag friendly and there’s a host of fantastic Australian made brands available and they’re very customizable, limited only by your imagination. If you’re in the market, start with something around 1/4-3/8oz and pick a couple of colour variations. If we were standing in a tackle store together like two wide-eyed little bass buddies, I’d recommend a black/purple and a white/chartreuse.

Bob with the rewards of a well worked soft plastic bait.

BASS

Lipless crankbaits The next lure type is the lipless crankbaits. They’ve been around almost as long as anyone has been fishing for bass in this country, with American lures like Rattlin’ Spots and Rat-L-Traps accounting for big bass since the ‘50s, but nothing really took off or was accepted as the ‘go-to’ bass lure, particularly in dams and especially at $25 a pop, as quickly as the Jackall TN series – mostly the TN50 and TN60 in their many variations.

Get the point about the chemically sharpened black nickel hooks? This bass probably missed his target a little but was still close enough to get stung. Much the same as the bladed lures, they can be swum at just about any depth and retrieve speed. You can slow roll them or hop them like a soft plastic, and fish will often eat them on the drop or while at rest on the bottom.

Any of your major lure companies will have their own versions of a lipless crankbait nowadays, and all will work in the right circumstances. Walk into your local tackle store tomorrow and you’ll find that they not only come in a billion colours, there’s also variations on sound. Silent, wood rattles, soft tungsten, single ball bearing and steel rattles are some options. My suggestion with these is fish them low and slow. Just start casting, rolling them in and hang on tight.

Diving hardbodies Next up is your bibbed diving lures. Every seasoned bass angler has a favourite with battle scars to show their mates. My personal favourites range from some cool (expensive) Japanese versions that I had to hide the receipt from the wife when I got home for to some proven timber battlers that my old man used knock up for me if I nagged him hard enough. Ideally you want something from 35-70mm (yes, they will eat bigger) with a rounded bib to give the lure a smooth, subtle wobble. If they don’t come as standard, I prefer to swap most of my hooks out to something with a black nickel finish. These hooks are chemically sharpened and very sticky when a bass swims close enough. They can be the difference between a big hit followed by many, many swears and a big bass hitting the deck of your boat. The only down side to this category is that in my experience they are the most likely to swim into, and get stuck in timber. You want to rattle the cage so to speak and stir up the fish, but a lure retriever won’t be the worst investment you make in your bass fishing life. My tip here is to go for natural, baitfish type colours in most cases. Match the hatch as they say. Pay attention to what sort of food is around in your local waterway and offer them a beefed up version of that. If bass can get a meal of out one movement they will. OK, if you’re still with me, we’re just about to get to the activity that to me is the absolute most fun you can have with your clothes on.

This girl couldn’t resist a silent model Imakatsu Piranha vibe worked in front of her in around 20ft of water. Jackall TNs, Atomic Vibs or any number of metal blades will do the trick equally as well.

Kaboom! This bronzed battler ate a Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada and towed the author’s kayak around before being landed.

SURFACE FISHING FOR BASS Surface fishing for bass on a calm spring afternoon as the sun sets behind the hills is as good as it gets. Many a pair of underpants have been ruined and discarded in shame from the instant, in your face sensory overload given when the surface of the water erupts and your line comes tight. To get to that point though, you first need to select your lure and how you’re going to treat it. Whether you go for a paddler, walker, popper, fizzer, floating

swimbait or any other type, you still need to keep a few things in mind. They can call be worked in many ways and the hardest part is that none of them are necessarily wrong. Each fish will react in different ways to different techniques, so my suggestion would be pick something and stick with it until you find fish that like what you’re doing. I personally prefer paddler style lures like the Tiemco Soft Shell Cicada or the smallest jointed Arbogast Jitterbug and like to use a nice long cast and a slow, steady retrieve with minimal pauses. The only time I like to stop is if I do land a cast right near a snag. I’ll bring it around 4-6 feet, then stop it dead for up to 20 seconds. The first turn of the handle after that pause you’ll need a tight grip on the rod, as there’s every chance that’s when you’ll get belted. To page 14

ABT angler Tom Slater used a Pro’s Factory jig to perfection adjacent to the lillies on the steep drop off pictured. SEPTEMBER 2017

BASS From page 13

Success is still a long way away though. You’ve successfully enticed the target out of its home and fooled him or her into eating your lure, but they’re a long way from being beaten. You’d better hope your knots are sound, your terminal gear is up to task and that $6.50 blue Powerade from the servo that you necked on the drive to the water has filled you with the energy it promised, as these guys will play up deluxe and do

whatever they can to escape with whatever lure you’ve thrown overboard to tempt them. At the end of the day, no matter how you do it, if you’re catching bass on lures, you’re having a blast. That’s living. While they’ll most certainly eat bait, the difference in ferocity you’ll feel on that crunching bite and first big surge through the water as you scramble to compose yourself just cannot be matched. I have goose bumps just thinking about it!

You should all have your tax returns back by now, so there’s never been a better time to head into your local tackle store with a fist full of cash and a glint in your eye and boldly/loudly declare to your rod bending brothers and sisters that you, are ready to lure some bass. Or estuary perch, they’re fun too, and everything above applies to them as well! Now, go forth and bass. They are waiting for you.

A typical NSW Mid North Coast bass, caught in clear, swift-running water. Try to land your lure as close to structure as possible in this type of environment.

Surface Lure

Hard Bodied Diver Soft Plastics Spinnerbaits

Lipless Crankbait and Soft Vibe Football Jig

Kit put the hurt on this football shaped impoundment bass, which couldn’t resist the call of a perfectly weighted, baitfish coloured soft plastic.

Australia

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SEPTEMBER 2017

The start of another great fishing season THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

The vast Hawkesbury Valley will be a hive of activity with the warming of the land and water temperature this month. This will bring all manner

of life back to the estuary and signal the start of another great fishing season to come. Don’t expect big temperature rises, though; this month is still quite cool. Water temps will build as we near October. You can experience some sensational fishing this month in the

lower estuary, as there will be a crossover of winter and summer fish. The bass and EPs will still be in the lower tidal water and anglers are encouraged to be responsible now that the closed season has ended on 31 August. Adhere to the two-fish bag limit (only one over 35cm) and four-fish possession limit. These two species have been showing up in catches all throughout winter in the lower reaches from Wisemans Ferry to Broken Bay and are quite vulnerable to overexploitation from unscrupulous persons who stumble onto a patch. Luderick were in good numbers around Broken Bay through August and this should continue this month before they start to disperse into the river proper. I’ve

most charters. The size can vary dramatically from one day to the next. In the cooler months live bait is hard to secure and I find it a lot simpler to start out fishing soft plastics, as it basically puts a live bait of any type in your hand from the word go. It also allows you to change to a different bait if you see something that is more prevalent in the area you’re fishing. This month poddy mullet, herring, squid and yakkas will be easier to FIND, so they’ll be good options for live baiting throughout the lower reaches. Employ a two-hook rig on your live baits for those tentative fish and try to always have a strip bait of some description wafting out the back. It’s quite surprising how often the strip bait gets nailed

Spring is big flathead time. These big breeders will usually fall victim to large soft plastics and live baits aimed at mulloway. The author releases all flathead over 65cm to ensure a healthy future for these amazing fish.

Decent bream are moving upstream following the school prawns.

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Luderick like this are the norm – not an exception – when drifting a float along the plentiful rock walls and washes in Broken Bay. found most likely looking places that create back eddies behind a big rock or major point will hold luderick at some stage of the tide. Berley isn’t all that necessary when you find a good fish-holding structure. Just get your float cocked right, set at an appropriate depth and use fresh local weed where possible. The other winter species that will still be loitering around will be the Aussie salmon and tailor as they herd up all the small baitfish referred to as ‘eyes’, and smash them on the surface around Broken Bay and Pittwater. This is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon session-casting small metal slugs, poppers and small soft plastic minnows at the leading edge of a school of ravenous fish. Don’t forget to let a bigger offering like a 6 or 9” stickbait sink down below the salmon and tailor to pick up larger fish feeding on the natural berley trail they create. With all this activity going on, the mulloway have been busy feeding in the fruitful conditions too. We have been catching them on

when you have gone to all the trouble OF catching and keeping live baits. Maybe live bait brings the mulloway into your spread, and then they take the easiest option. Who knows? The school prawns will start to filter back into the river and this can be marked by the trawler activity from Wisemans Ferry to Spencer

as the month wears on. You can expect all manner of fish in the general area to be gorging themselves on these high protein snacks. Bream, flathead and mulloway will feature in most bags for anglers fishing in these areas with whole prawns, live or fresh, frozen and peeled. Soft plastics that represent the relative size of the prawns will also account for some good fish. Bream are already being caught around Wisemans Ferry and up to Dads Corner. Fish the rock walls with 2 and 3” soft plastic grubs and minnows, and allow your lure to follow the contours down to the depths with the odd hop and flick. Pumpkin seed is a great colour to start with in these areas, due to the

turbid stirred up water you’ll often encounter here. The flathead will really come on strong as the month progresses and will push up as far as Lower Portland chasing the Nepean herring and school prawns. Places like the Wind Sock, Dads Corner and Upper Half Moon will have a few boats scoring their bag limits around the tide changes on lures and baits. It’s still a little early for mud crabs, but the blue swimmers should still be hanging around the Brooklyn and Berowra areas for those who like a fresh feed of crustaceans. Give it another month or two when the water temperatures reach 20°C or so before chasing the muddies.

Rising water temperatures will bring on the bigger predators like this mulloway that Jarrad caught on a recent charter with the author.

Anglers enjoying the spring variety of fish SYDNEY NORTH

Paul Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Hagan

We have just come through the winter and the kids have their school holidays looming over them. While some children take off on different holiday camps, others take up fishing with their school friends

or parents on our beaches and lakes with some great results on our common table fish like bream, flathead and whiting. In the early morning you can see these kids gathering armed with a light rod and reel and a bunch of worms to hopefully catch some of these species. A lot of fun can be had learning the art of beach

Andy James holds up an inshore reef king.

worming with a sack of berley and a pair of worm pliers or your fingers. Fishing through the colder months can be slow at times. With a bit of planning and maybe a change in target species, it can be quite enjoyable and you can take some nice fish for the table. Narrabeen Lake has been a good backup for anglers when the seas and beaches are not fishable and the methods to catch a fish could not be any easier. A simple rig of a light sinker and hook and a good bait fished early in the morning or evening can produce good results. The beaches have been firing with a variety of fish from the early morning bream, whiting and trevally to the late evening tailor, mulloway and odd shark. The early morning crew have been using simple methods like a ball sinker on a running ledger fishing in

Andrew and Darren Young with a whopper John dory and pearl perch. could catch the odd mulloway or kingfish. Offshore fishing has had its ups and downs. The conditions arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always

winter kings can be found using the same methods. Browns Mountain is still giving up a feed for those using the deep drop method,

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the gutters with worms. Even through the day on a rising tide a good feed can be taken. In the evening with large tailor, sharks and mulloway, the outfit gets a bit heavier and the baits change to squid, mullet or pilchards fished on gang hooks. Sometimes a wire trace can make the difference between catching or not catching some of these species. Sydney Harbour is still producing the goods. Salmon, bonito, tailor and some very large winter kings have been causing havoc with anglers targeting some of these speedsters. Casting small metal slices and stickbaits can usually pick up the tailor, bonnies and salmon. Trolling bibbed lures close to the headlands with fresh squid or live yakkas slowly trolled from a downrigger can set you up for a good fight with some of the big kings that patrol the area. At North Harbour fishing a range of soft plastics or vibes will still account for plenty of flathead around the moorings. With light lines and well-presented baits, you

good, but for the days that are fishable, it has been a bonanza for some. Anglers putting down a continuous berley trail are catching good quality snapper and a range of species like pearl perch, samsonfish and leatherjackets. Further out around the Twelve-Mile Reef leatherjackets and very large

although encounters with mako sharks and blue sharks seem to be increasing as they come into the cube trail and give some fishos a workout. Rock ledges and platforms are still fishing well with the hard-fighting drummer and luderick for anglers using weed and crab baits. Throwing a range of

metal slices or stickbaits can entice a range of our pelagic species like tailor, salmon and bonito. While fishing can be very productive off our ledges at times, safety must be the number one priority. Proper cleats or rock boots and a life jacket are a must. Let someone know when you are going out and where you are going with an estimated time of return. As with all of the platforms and ledges, when you finish fishing for the day please take a few minutes before you go to tidy up anything that you have brought with you. Leave the area clean and free from bottles, discarded line and bait packets. No one wants to have to pick up rubbish that has been left by someone else. While everyone has prepared for the elusive tuna off Sydney with all manner of lures and rigs, the currents have still not been kind to us. Hopefully over the coming weeks we can see a change when all manner of anglers and crafts can get out there and find some of the these excellent table fish. Stay safe and happy fishing.

Vic Levett with a ripper snapper.

September means sensational spring fishing PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Spring is here and we can start to thaw out and enjoy our waterways once more. Fishing during September can see a wide variety of species being caught with the winter fish slowly disappearing with the water temperature increasing.

small metal lures on light tackle are the best way to have some fun. Remember to position your boat up wind of the melee and turn your motors off to drift towards all the activity. Often it is extremely difficult to drag yourself away from the hot feeding frenzy on the surface and start thinking about the predators lurking beneath all of this activity. When you catch a salmon

Tasty leatherjackets are being caught near the weedy areas of Pittwater. The changing of the guard starts in September and the water quality, temperature and quantity of baitfish will dictate what predators will be on offer for us. Most seasons when the salmon start to show up there are also kingfish and tailor mixed in. Sometimes trevally, bream, flathead and mulloway will hang underneath these schools and the feeding frenzy. When they do come into Broken Bay and the Pittwater River system, sunrise, tide changes and sunset will often see a lot of surface activity, so they’re not too hard to find. Areas to find these feeding frenzies vary from day to day. If you head out to Lion Island and watch for all the bird activity, they’ll show the areas to start fishing. When targeting salmon and tailor, small soft plastics or

or legal tailor, don’t be scared to drop it to the bottom as live bait. If the salmon and tailor are ridiculously large, kill them humanely and use one of their fillets to drift towards the bottom with as little lead attached as possible. Hopefully there will be some larger predators such as mulloway, XOS flathead and even sharks to give you something else to play with while casting to the surface activity. It’s highly recommended before lowering one of these large live baits or strip baits to the bottom, that you make sure the rod holders are secure and you have a safety strap on your favourite fishing rod. If you venture out and there isn’t any surface activity, don’t despair; you can always drag some bait around the bottom on Broken Bay to pick up some nice fish for a meal.

For those of you wanting to chase kingfish on Pittwater, there are some big fish about. Unfortunately, they didn’t get big by eating everything that swims past, so bait presentation and having a variety of baits can be the key to picking up one of these frustrating, tacklesmashing bruisers. These larger kingfish seem to be showing up around Scotland Island one day and out towards the mouth of the river the next. I have found when they are moving around as much as they are, they are more willing to eat a variety of baits. Baits to gather before starting are squid, cuttlefish, yellowtail or slimy mackerel. All of these baits have a chance at being smashed at this time of the year and if I had to choose one bait, it would be small live cuttlefish. September is normally the time when we start seeing kingfish while targeting squid on the shallows. With this in mind, it has been important to at least have a lure of some description, preferably an unweighted soft plastic pre-rigged, so a few casts can be made before they disappear. Targeting squid is a little bit difficult at the moment, as there are a lot of small squid around. With the small squid it’s a lot better to use the smaller jigs with the 2g and even 1.8g jigs out-fishing the larger models. They don’t seem to have a preference at the moment colour-wise, but my suggestion is to try the natural colours first. Most areas of Pittwater seem to have some small squid as long as there are some weed beds where you are fishing. The better areas at the moment are at Palm Beach, Mackerel Beach, West Head and the Careel Bay area. For those wanting to target some bottom dwelling species there are a few available. Near West Head on the Pittwater side there are some bream to be caught at first light while drifting down fish strips. On the opposite headland at Barrenjoey Head on the Pittwater side, in close towards the rocks, there are some flounder to be caught right near the edge of the weed beds. Using a berley trail and floating baits down

This decent mowie was a big fight for little Johnny and he fought it like an expert. Well done, Johnny. will see a few being caught as well as the odd flathead and bream. Flathead, flounder, tailor and the odd mulloway have been caught in Broken Bay. Drifting and covering ground is a hassle-free way to tangle with these species. For those wanting to anchor and berley, anglers have caught a few fish at Flint and Steel Reef at the change of tide. When fishing this area, it’s better to anchor on the edge of the reef, because it’s a lot more productive than anchoring on the reef and you will lose fewer anchors. Once again, you need berley to bring the fish closer to your boat and the use of a weighted berley bucket will be of great benefit in this area. By using a weighted berley bucket as the tide races you can lower it towards the bottom, thus keeping the berley near the bottom and within range of your boat. As the tide slows you can then raise the berley bucket off the bottom to mid water to once again spread the berley in the area that you can fish instead of miles away. At the moment when fishing Flint and Steel there are still trevally, the odd bream, flathead, flounder and tailor. Make sure you find baitfish first. This area has been great providing you find the baitfish first. For those wanting to try for a mulloway, the better areas of Broken Bay at the moment seem to be Juno

Point, Elanoras Bluff and Walkers Point. Offshore anglers are catching a variety species while reef fishing. There have been snapper, morwong, flathead and trevally caught. The shallower reefs seem to be more productive than the deeper reefs, as there are a lot of toadfish and small leatherjackets destroying fishing gear on the deeper

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reefs. Water depths of 50m or less have been targeted with great success. Snapper can be caught first thing in the morning in water depths of 30m or less. As the sun rises higher in the sky, they seem to be moving into waters of around 50m. Morwong have been caught in the same areas and seem to be staying around when the snapper move on. The wrecks off Narrabeen, Mona Vale Reef, Newport Reef and Avalon Gutter have all had fish in recent times and are all worth checking out during the day. As always, before deploying your baits it’s better to find baitfish balled up on your sounder instead of blindly drifting. The better baits to use have been fish strips or pilchard pieces with squid coming in a close second. I hope this report sees you excited and cleaning off your tackle ready for the new season ahead, or calling us to enjoy a day on the water. • Peter Le Blang operates Harbour and Estuary Fishing Charters, phone 02 9999 2574 or 0410 633 351, visit www.estuaryfishing charters.com.au

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SEPTEMBER 2017

Winter kings will still be around through spring SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

Winter kings seem to be getting more common with every passing year. There was a time when they were so rare they were not worth targeting through the

shallow upper reaches with water temperatures as low as 11°C. I believe that the flatties are actually going up there to put themselves into a sort of semi-hibernation. I’ve pulled them into the boat so motionless you could be excused for thinking that they were sick or even near dead.

water pushing onto the face of the deep points. You want to fish the front face, not the eddy behind it. Wrecks that sit mid-stream can work well on both run-in and run-out tides. Bait is critical. Cephalopods – namely cuttlefish, common and southern calamari – are the

Live cuttlefish or squid are essential for cold water kings. cold months. While their metabolism slows down in the chilly water, there are certainly enough around these days to make it worth the effort of having a shot at them. The increase in numbers is easy enough to explain, but why they head for the coldest water in the harbour is a bit of a mystery. At this time of year you can expect water temperatures to be sitting around 19°C off the coast, 17°C in the lower harbour and about 12-15°C in the upper reaches, depending on water depth. Why do harbour winter kings choose to go and sit in the coldest water available to them? Flathead do it too. There is an unusually high concentration of really big flatties to be found in

These big lizards might have more in common with their terrestrial namesake than we realise. Likewise, kings caught in cold water tend not to put up as much resistance as they are renowned for in summer. They are, however, much tastier being full of fat that they have layered on to deal with the cold. There is a big price difference between sashimi kingfish and the kingfish belly (the fatty bit called sunazuri) and even a price difference between summer and winter sunazuri. To catch winter kings you need to look upstream, either above the Spit or harbour bridges. Look for prominent deep points and wrecks that have good water flowing onto them. The best tide varies; as a general rule, fish on the tide that has the

best with cuttlefish being the pick of these. The relatively small species of cuttlefish, known as ‘mourning cuttlefish,’ are very common through the harbour. They

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grow to about 15cm, but are usually a bit smaller than that. They make great live baits for kings. The trick to catching them is to work the bottom slowly with very small jigs. Down on the lower reaches the blackfish (luderick) have been on fire. Blackfish are possibly one of the most reliable species found in Sydney Harbour, especially at this time of year. They are found throughout the system from the heads right through the freshwater reaches. I’ve even seen them in pure fresh water in the head waters of Middle Harbour. Although they are the same species, blackfish often get categorised into ‘river blackfish’ and ‘ocean blackfish.’ River blackfish are generally smaller, darker fish found in the upper reaches of the harbour. They usually don’t exceed about half a kilo and therefore require a scaling down in tackle compared to the tackle used to catch their much larger ocean brothers. Rods still need to be long with a lighter construction. There are a couple of reasons for the long rods used for blackfish – the main reason

A quality winter king from Middle Harbour. is they are required to lift the belly of line that often forms between the rod tip and the float. The other is to cushion against the fish’s numerous powerful lunges and avoid pulling the tiny hooks from their small mouths. I prefer an eggbeater reel to the traditional centrepin and load it up with 2-3kg line. Quill floats are far more efficient than the heavy, long stemmed floats used for the ocean fish. A number 10 Mustad Sneck hook completes the rig. River weed, which is the hair-like weed found in the brackish reaches, is the preferred bait for river blackfish. Some of the better spots in the harbour include Greenwich, Long Nose Point, Lane Cove River, Blues Point, Balls Head, Valentia Street Wharf and the wall near Luna Park. In Middle Harbour, Roseville, Killarney Point, Spit Bridge and Beauty Point. The lower harbour has a number of spots that attract some superb quality blackfish. These fish are in the same class as the fish you would expect to find off the ocean rocks. They are of a good average size at

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around the kilo mark and are much lighter in colour with prominent bands running down their body. They are found in much rougher country, so your tackle must be scaled up accordingly. The rod should be slightly heavier in the butt section and 4-5kg line is more appropriate. The heavier, long stemmed floats are better and a no. 8 or 6 hook is more suited to these larger fish. The other main difference between these ocean fish and the river fish is the bait. Cabbage weed commonly found on the ocean rocks grows in abundance on the lower reaches of the harbour and is therefore the obvious bait. You’ll have to gather your cabbage from the ocean platforms though, as taking anything from the intertidal zone of Sydney Harbour is prohibited. A berley consisting of chopped weed and sand is a big advantage for both river and ocean fishing. • 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.

Sussing out the shallows SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

I would like to start my report by mentioning Alvey, and the achievements of this wonderful and iconic Australian company. Bruce Alvey announced on Facebook that they will be shutting down in the coming months, and this news shattered myself and thousands of devoted

surprisingly large fish in only 1-2m of water. One of the blue groper’s very favourite crustaceans is the red crab. As the tide runs in and starts flooding areas, the crabs move from their crevices to feed on the ledges and boulders that are covered by red weed. The groper use their keen eyesight and their lips to feel around for their food, and when they sense a crab (or small lobster) on their lips they quickly elongate and

Robert West, Keiran Gorman, Anthony Doheny, and Carsy Mac with part of their bag of luderick. Even though the surf conditions were flat, there were still fish to be found. Be prepared to move around. Alvey reel users. I have been endorsing his products for around 10 years to a couple of thousand anglers as a rock and beach fishing guide, and been endorsing his gear for nearly four decades to many more hundreds of anglers. I will keep using Alvey reels until the day that I cannot fish anymore, but I’m saddened at the thought that future anglers won’t get to use them. It is a travesty that this has happened, and I am heartbroken, like many other anglers are. I want to thank Bruce Alvey, his family, and the loyal Alvey staff members for all of the wonderful years they have given me – and I ask you all to support this iconic Australian company. I’m hoping that as the old saying goes, ‘It ain’t over until the fat lady sings’. There may be a small chance that Alvey can continue in some form. We’ll have to see what happens. WHAT’S BITING The rock fishing at the moment is dominated by luderick, groper, rock blackfish and trevally. Salmon numbers are on the increase as well. The eastern blue groper is a great calm water species. You’re best off targeting them either in a cliff shadow or when the sun is lower in the sky. However, where there is some white water cover and deep water, they can be caught during light periods in virtually gin clear water. You can get

snap with their peg-like front teeth, and crunch the crab. It is in these areas that you will occasionally see a dorsal fin, tail fin or pectoral fin for just a second or two as the fish turns, or has its head straight down attempting to get its prey while hunting in the shallows. Hooking a big groper in the shallows is an experience not to be missed, especially on slightly lighter gear like a 10-15kg outfit. Generally 24kg gear is a safer alternative though.

Long Reef on the northern beach suburb of Collaroy is a great example of a productive shallow water area. There a lot of shallow ledges there which go into deep water, so the groper can enter the shallow rock flats when the tide is building. They generally like to have deep water fairly close by to retreat to, although in saying this the best spots to fish for groper are normally in 3m+ of water. Try Bluefish’s eastern front, Dee Why approximately 150m past the swimming pool, and South Avalon. These have been the places producing groper of late, and they are best fished on flat days. Luderick are another species that don’t mind getting in the shallows to feed on the short weed growth on the ledges, which cannot be accessed until there is at least 30cm or more of tide. Generally there are deeper pond-like areas and gutters that the fish can access first, then they enter and feed on the shallows. You will often see their tails on the surface while they graze on the short hair weed with their heads down. You can see their tails flapping on the surface at times. Hair weed is normally a great bait choice, although cabbage is OK too. When fishing these shallows you should use a small foam float rather than the conventional luderick float with a stem. A small foam float is less visible to the fish, and allows you to fish a shallower area more successfully. Other spots that are producing are Little Bluey at Manly, the end of Bower Street, South Curl Curl’s Flat Rock on

Darryl Walker, a first time Alvey fisho, caught his first beach worm and a mixed bag of whiting and bream on this outing.

Carrington Parade, and the shallows of Long Reef. Currently the rock blackfish are tapering off from their peak in early winter. They are still in reasonable quantities but this won’t last for more than a few weeks. There will most likely be a resurgence of pigs in another month or so, but this can vary from season to season. Cunjevoi is a hard bait to beat for pig fishing, but you can also catch them on peeled endeavour or banana prawns, or just white sliced bread. Bread can even out-fish prawns at times, but you’ll also catch fewer undesirable species using bread. Just be sure to use bread berley if you’re using bread baits. The rock blackfish will often not bite in numbers unless they are activated by the bread berley. One spot to try is the front of Mona Vale headland. Note that it is best fished in flat conditions as it is very exposed to any swell from a southeast and north direction. Warriewood’s northeast side of the headland in amongst the boulders in a swell less than 1.2m is good too, as is North Curl Curl in amongst the boulders approximately 150m north of the swimming pool. This area is best fished in a swell less than a metre. It is also dangerous to enter and exit these rocks in a moderate swell and a making to high tide period. There are still some whiting off selected beaches in my area. They’re on Manly on the last 400-500m of the beach heading towards to and past the Corso, at Dee Why Beach from the surf club to the rocks (which I have often referred to as the corner of the beach), and recently I caught a few with a group at Newport Beach with a couple of bream thrown in. As I have mentioned before, the supply of beach worms from tackle shops is unreliable at this time of year. Most anglers who like to pursue beach whiting generally don’t purchase worms from June to near October, so most shops don’t supply them. If you want good bait, you have to get it yourself. One option is to pump pink nippers, but I believe catching your own worms is the best choice. Squirt worms are the best whiting bait you can get, and you can catch them with a pump or just pop them out. Their holes are smaller than a pink nipper hole. You will often see sand-encrusted worm casings in amongst these small holes; the worms secrete slime and the sand sticks to it, making a sand/ slime tube for the worms to live in. To pop them out,

Archer Hung with three brown groper to around 4kg. Two were released and one kept for the plate. Sometimes you can catch these fish in less than a metre of water. use a tin can with the label peeled off, or an empty honey plastic tub. Place it about 1cm above the squirt worm holes and very suddenly push down. The air pressure in the container will have nowhere to go but into the hole where the squirt worms are. The pressure will pop the worms out. This is only done at low tide and is only moderately successful. Remember not all the holes you see have worms residing there. Australian salmon have been the most dominant

species of size off the beaches lately. All the beaches mentioned above for whiting have also been good for salmon. Curl Curl, Bilgola and Avalon all have good numbers. Ganged pillies and small surf poppers have been working well. • 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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Have a go on the challenging Port Hacking River SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

I may have said it before, but to many anglers the Port Hacking River can be one of the hardest estuary systems to fish on the east coast of Australia. To me it’s up there in my top ten estuary systems to fish. All manner of fish species can be caught in the Port Hacking throughout the year. It’s just a matter of working out how the system

functions. Sure, I have gone out on some days to target particular fish species and not caught them. I always have a backup plan or two. For those of you that have never ventured onto the Port Hacking either from the shore or out of a boat, you’ll need to do a fair bit of research before you go out. For instance, you should have a look at websites like Six Maps and Google Earth (satellite) and search for the river. Check out where the sand beds, drop-offs, weed beds, rock foreshores,

deep channels, marker poles, pontoons and boat concentrations are. All of the above will hold fish throughout the year. The next thing that you need to do when bait fishing the Port Hacking is to make sure that you have some kind of berley trail going, whether it’s just chicken pellets (wet or dry), bread, chopped up old pilchards, breadcrumbs or left-over fish frames. I have found that to be consistently successful in a hard waterway, you need to berley and bring

The ramp at the end of Swallow Rock Drive has a lot going for it. It’s best fished at the top of the tide.

Yowie Bay Boat Ramp is a great place to take the kids for a couple of hours. Just remember it can get very busy with boat traffic.

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Shark Island will also hold good concentrations of leatherjackets and squid. When there is a bit of a sea running from the south, the corner just inside Jibbon Headland will also produce the odd fish or two. You just need to watch the waves as they wrap around the corner. Another good species to target during September is whiting. These great little fighters can be caught while fishing in the estuary out of a boat or off the shore. I love to get my feet wet and find myself a nice gutter off one of the beaches in Bate Bay. The main bait that I use is beach worms that I catch myself and if I get a bit lazy, I’ll venture over the Macs Bait Bar at Blakehurst and buy about $20 worth of tube worms. Not only will you be in with a good chance of taking home a few whiting, you can also catch bream, dart, the odd flathead and possibly a mulloway.

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the fish to you. This makes a big difference due to the clarity of the water. Sometimes you can see the ripples on the bottom when in 5-6m of water. Secondly you will need to make sure that you have good bait. This may be in the form of frozen prawns,

freshly caught or brought fillets of fish, or live bait like poddy mullet, squid and pink nippers. If you are targeting luderick, you’ll need to have fresh cabbage or green weed. Thawed out frozen green weed can be successful, too. During September, you’ll find that the numbers of luderick are still up and some of the places that you will find them feeding are along the edges of weed beds, rock bars, along the edges of pontoons in slow running current and beside marker poles. Leatherjackets will also be around in good numbers and can be a pest for anglers using soft plastics. Sixspine, yellowfin, fanbellied and chinaman jackets can be caught in bays like Gymea, Yowie, Great Terrell, and the South West and North West arms. The rocky shoreline from Salmon Haul Bay and around to

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Brad Chinn caught this trevally while working the boat hulls with an Atomic Metalz 35 in the ‘hay u’ colour.

The tailor and salmon should be feeding in the high tide gutters off the beach in the early part of the morning or an hour or so before the sun sets. Whole pilchards or garfish on a set of ganged hooks are the go. The rocks off Jibbon to north Garie will be producing tailor and salmon on whole pilchards, bream and trevally on half pillies and prawns. You can also try for drummer and luderick in the washes while using either a stemmed float or bobby cork to keep the bait off the bottom. If you’re looking for a few shore-based spots to take the kids for a couple of hours, you could try any one of the five boat ramps found in the system. Just remember to take some berley with you. The offshore reefs have been producing squid, morwong, pigfish, trevally and snapper. The largest offshore artificial reefs in NSW will be installed just south of the entrance to the Port Hacking, providing anglers with a better chance to hook the big one. The identified deployment zone is a sandy area situated approximately 2.5km southsoutheast of Jibbon Point in 25-30m of water 1km offshore from the Royal National Park. Hopefully they will be in the 30m+ mark. Only time will tell how good they will be. Keep an eye out for the GPS marks on the NSW Fisheries site. • If you have been out lately and you would like to see yourself in the magazine, drop me an email to g b ro w n 1 @ i p r i m u s . c o m . au with a picture and short explanation of how and where you caught your fish and I will endeavour to get it into my column.

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for Australian conditions different from designing a rod for fish in other parts of the world?” The easiest way to answer that is that the majority of light tackle rods that get imported to Australia come mostly through Japanese or American companies. These companies are predominately designing rods for largemouth bass. Even though largemouth bass are somewhat similar looking to some of our Aussie fish, they are in fact very different in the way they breed and, more importantly, very different in the way they eat and feed. So, when purchasing your next rod, make sure it has been designed for Australian species and conditions. This series has been designed for both bait and lure angling, and features three ranges: Estuary, Offshore and Barra. The Estuary Series has six spin models: from designated individual surface and crankbait models, to the finesse special 70SUL designed for ultra-light bait and lure fishing, to the heaviest model in the series, the 70ML. This series delivers refinement, precision, and lightness.

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Warm and windy weather coming this month BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

By now the waters of Botany Bay and its tributaries will have started to warm up a little. Even so, there have been a few odd reports of barracouta being caught at Trevally Alley and Bare Island.

The end of September also heralds the start of the school holidays are some anglers will have started to get their fishing gear ready in anticipation of getting out during the weekends leading up to them. It’s also a time when many boaters will check over their boats in readiness to take the family out or a few mates. September is also the windy month of the year. Check

Dallas Ale was using his favourite technique of flicking Squidgy soft plastics around the Sticks in Botany Bay and caught and released this 80cm dusky.

your weather forecast before going out. This aside, September – or any month of the year – is a great time to get out on the water for a fish. Whether it’s from a boat or off the shore. There are literally hundreds of places that you can go in Botany Bay and the Cooks, Georges and Woronora rivers. There are also plenty of places to fish offshore when heading out from Botany Bay. It’s just a matter of deciding on what fish species you want to target. Over the past few months Dallas Ale and his brother Dylan have been targeting squid and dusky flathead in Botany Bay. Both species will continue to be caught while fishing throughout September along with bream, whiting, trevally, tailor, salmon and luderick in the estuaries. Offshore you will be able to target sand flathead, snapper, morwong, trevally, leatherjackets and squid while drifting or anchoring up on the reefs off Botany Bay. You could also try casting a bait or soft plastics into one of the many washes found off the coast. You just need to remember to keep

The repaired boat ramp on Silver Beach at Kurnell is a great place to launch when the wind is from the south. It’s best for small to medium boats. an eye on the swell. Scotty Lyons and Dave Austin report that the squid charters are going well with five anglers catching plenty of squid and each angler releasing plenty. They also took a few home for the table. Rolland from All at Sea Charters reports that the

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pilchards on ganged hooks or 60g slicers. Look out for those deep gutters and cast towards the edge of them. Bream, whiting and dart have also been on the chew, with beach worms being the best bait by far. Further south the beaches in Bate Bay have also being producing tailor,

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salmon, whiting, dart, bream and the odd mulloway or two. Try using whole mullet for the mulloway, pilchards and either tube or beach worms for the rest. If you can’t catch your own worms, you can always call into Macs Bait Bar on the northern side for Tom Uglys

Bridge and pick up a few tubeworms from them; you can’t get any bloodworms as the white spot disease has closed the worming spots in Queensland. Off the rocks drummer, luderick, bream and trevally are around in numbers. My favourite bait for them

Dallas Ale and his brother Dylan caught a couple of beaut squid in Yarra Bay.

would have to be royal red prawn or the larger green prawn. Not only is it a great bait, it will add to the casting weight enabling you to fish with a smaller ball sinker. When fishing off the rocks, don’t forget to take a few squid jigs and metal slicers for the squid, salmon and tailor that will be about. In the estuaries you’ll have a good chance of getting a few dusky flathead, mullet, garfish, leatherjackets, bream, trevally and whiting. I have always found that if I berley when at anchor, the fish will come to me. I prefer to keep my berley simple – white bream, smashed up old pilchards and chicken pellets. Sometimes I’ll just use chicken pellets. If you’re fishing in the Georges River, try drifting from the Como Bridge to Kangaroo Point for flathead, whiting and bream. If you’re fishing from the shore, you could try Lugarno and the Georges River State Park. Both of these places are great to take the kids for a fish. The Woronora River flats are producing whiting, bream and flathead. Try drifting from the entrance back up to Bonnet Bay and the stretch of water just downstream of the Woronora Bridge.

If you haven’t had your boat out for a while, make sure that you check your bearings before you go. Another really great place to take the kids for a couple hours to fish is one of the many boat ramps that are found in the area. If you think about it, what do many boat anglers do

at a boat ramp other that launching and retrieving their boats? Yes, that’s right – they clean their catches. • If you have been out lately and you would like to see yourself in the magazine,

drop me an email to gbrown1@iprimus.com.au with a picture and short explanation of how and where you caught your fish and I will endeavour to get it into my column.

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Bass fishing is back on the spring agenda WESTERN SYDNEY

Peter Jacovides

Bass season – sweet, sweet bass season – is upon us. With it the days are slowly getting longer and warmer. Although the fishing somewhat differs to warm mornings in shorts and t-shirts casting cicada imitations under every tasty overhang, the early spring fishing is still eventful. Subsurface options are

the most popular choice around the Hawkesbury River at this time of year with the ever-faithful Betts Spin/ soft plastic combination proving to be highly effective on hungry post-spawn fish. It’s wise not to discredit the use of small topwater stickbaits in the early morning followed by suspending jerkbaits and oversized spinnerbaits for a reaction bite. Using these lures, the best way to target the early season bass is to focus

Kai with a Greenland bass caught on a blade.

on key structure like rock walls and weed edges in the brackish and tidal freshwater. Being slow and methodical is often the best bet in tempting the larger fish to bite. Although the use of reaction lures close to edge structure is the popular choice for early spring anglers, hopping blades through schooling fish in deeper water can result in high numbers of fish and give you the opportunity to follow a school as it moves with the tidal movement. As the weather warms it isn’t just bass that begin to look upwards for the chance at a small protein meal. Trout in the lakes begin looking as the ground warms and bugs begin to hatch. There are often hatches of flying ants and caddis, particularly if there are any warm days! For those anglers waving the wand, it’s imperative you begin matching the hatch. The lake fish will still be dealing with cool clear waters and may still be quite fussy on presentation. Those fishing with bait should look towards the use of small yabbies and crickets as they emerge from the winter hibernation, with light line and little or no weight.

Travis caught this fantastic rainbow on a Daiwa Double Clutch. If the lake trout missions fail, there’s always the safety net of redfin; these fish have become prolific in the mountain lakes. Although they’re a pest, they will provide a lot of fun for anglers willing to give them a go. They make for a great day of fishing with friends or family and are a great way to introduce many anglers to lure fishing.

At this time of year, they get aggressive as the post-winter chills wear off, so catching cricket scores of fish is not uncommon. While many of them will be small, persistence and the use of slightly larger 3-4” soft plastics will help persuade the bigger models. Turning to the salt has seen the daytime mulloway captures decline. A slight change in tactics will see

those willing to persist in hunting the estuary ghost rewarded. With large numbers of individuals focusing their winter attention on these fish they have become accustomed to the pressure, so switching up the lure or bait presentation to something slightly different is one way to attempt to fool these fish. Using a little more finesse in the approach with downsized lures and line is the best way to try and get these fussy fish to bite. Instead of a 5” plastic, try 3”. Skip that usual hole you fish and try another hole with similar features. In reality, it’s working out what these fish will take now the weather has shifted. They don’t disappear as the water gets warmer, they just shift in how they act. • Peter Jacovides has been the owner/operator of the Australian Bass Angler tackle store in Penrith for more than 20 years and is available to offer advice or have a chat most days. If you want to know about the latest tackle or technique, kayak fishing, or tournament bass boats, drop into the store at 105 Batt Street, Penrith or phone (02) 4721 0455.

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Can’t get any better than spring on the Tweed River whole water column. Make sure you make constant contact with the bottom using short rips of the rod tip and work the lure right back to the boat as by-catches of mulloway, tailor and even trevally are quite common. Please remember to only take what you need for lunch, as our tiny system cops a fair share of pressure

THE TWEED INSHORE

Tim Latter

September is here and that means crisp early mornings on the river chasing big flathead. Historically, spring time produces quality fishing on both baits and lures and is a favourite time of year for many anglers who enjoy a cool start to the day with the anticipation of a beautiful lunch of fresh fillets. Most stretches of the river will fish well for flathead this month. Just like the rest of the year, I prefer to fish the drains and drop-offs on the run-out tide and the flats or flooded sandbanks on the run-in. You can try different approaches, however the tried and tested methods usually come up trumps. Try plastics on the run-out and trolled hardbodies on the run-in. If you are a numbers fisho,

from both commercial and recreational fishers. Ethically, all fish over 60cm should be released to go on and reproduce and keep the dream of landing a lure-caught Tweed River flathead over the magic metre mark alive. Be kind and courteous on the water this month and remember it’s just lovely being out there.

Brock Perry with a quality fish taken from deeper water. covering lots of ground trolling pink lures could see you reaching your targets. This is a technique used

An early morning flathead in the lakes means lunch is sorted.

by many diehard flathead fishers, especially around this time of year when the Gold Coast Flathead Classic on. Those chasing the bigger specimens tend to up their lure size in order to ween out the smaller fish. During the start of the run-out tide a lot of the big girls will sit in the deeper holes of the river. Persistence is key. Good numbers of smaller males hitting the net can only mean that a big breeding female is within close proximity. As far as trolling lures for the bigger fish go, just run them long to get them deep in 5m+ of water. The early morning run-out tide in Cobaki Lake can produce some awesome fishing. Sit in 3-5m of water and hit the edges. You’ll find when the sun first hits the water, the flats will come alive with bait and the flathead sit just off the edge waiting to ambush. ZMan 4” Curl TailZ are my go-to for this style of fishing. The colour depends on water clarity, but golden boy is usually the first colour I try. Long hops and short pauses work well, but different techniques work on different days. Casting small bream style crankbaits and

suspending shallow running jerkbaits over the flats and weed beds of Terranora Lakes on a late afternoon run-up tide can prove successful. Small stickbaits and poppers will also work as the sun almost drops. Mid-week when there is less boat traffic you’ll have better catch rates as this area gets hard hit and the flathead spook easily in this part of the river. In the middle reaches of the main river between Chinderah and Tumbulgum a lot of anglers hop small metal blades along the bottom and achieve great success. The weight of these lures allows you to cover lots of ground and fish the

Ben Phillips with a monster flathead going over the metre mark.

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Flathead

Are your flathead skills up to the challenge? BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

We’re finally at that stage along the east coast where the weather is warming but the water is still cool, and for the estuarine angler this can only spell one thing – dusky flathead! Whether or not you’re planning to fish the famous Gold Coast Flathead Classic this year, I’m sure you’ll be keen to hear what’s hot in the world of flathead fishing. I’m going to go through some of the innovative techniques that emerged around last year’s Classic, and also touch on some proven methods of fooling flatties. There are many species of flathead, but this article will focus on dusky flathead. UNDERSTANDING FLATHEAD Tides Anyone who has spent a bit of time chasing flatties will tell you that they don’t mind getting up real shallow, especially if there’s food up there for them. But exactly how shallow should you go? And at what stage of the tide? As a general rule, the high tide will see them hanging out over flats that would otherwise be high and dry at low tide. During this time, they will be spread out,

running into them. The mouths of creeks and drains are classic points of ambush for our flat-headed friends, and they’re seldom alone in their ceaseless search for

Michael Fox doesn’t mind chasing a few flathead, and feels at home chasing bigger models in shallower water. food, with other predators like bream, tailor and trevally often hanging out in these same places.

While flathead are a highly sought-after table fish, smart anglers will choose to release the bigger models. so it goes without saying that an angler needs to cover water to find them. As the tide drops away, however, flathead will feel more comfortable sitting in the channels and holes, preferably with current 28

SEPTEMBER 2017

holes or any rock or mud is usually a pass for me. I find flatties don’t like stuff that’s hard to bury themselves in. Additionally, these barren areas offer nothing for small

Terrain The type of bottom is something that some anglers fail to take into consideration, but it should be one of the first things you assess when you pull up to a spot! Hard sand, with no yabby

aquatic life like baitfish, crustaceans or cephalopods, which flathead eat. I usually like something with a bit of softness. Squishy sand, or even mud, with yabby holes and uneven topography is perfect for flatties, and a bit of structure in the form of weed, rubble, pylons or even the odd rock is a bonus, and should attract some potential food items. Behaviour If you can find areas like the ones mentioned above, and you start catching flathead, there’s one other rule to remember: keep fishing the area! If you catch a flathead at this time of year, even if it’s tiny, it should have others around it. If you’re lucky enough, you may find yourself locking horns with a big female. During the spring months in South East Queensland and northern NSW, groups of sub-legal male flathead will congregate around a single big female in the hope of mating with her. A single large female can have dozens of tiny little boyfriends that she could eat (and probably does) if she wanted to, so keep casting in an area that’s producing, even if what you’re catching is small! LURES All the tried and tested lures we’ve been using for flathead for years are still working incredibly well, and we’re also saturated with new gear to choose from. It’s just a matter of finding lures that suit your fishing style,

and this is where a little trial and error can come in. Diving lures Diving lures from Lively Lures, Zerek, Lucky Craft, Rapala, Attack Lures, RMG and many others still work very well for flathead, particularly when trolled. Divers can also be cast, and provide a very easy method of covering water, particularly in shallower water. Soft plastics Soft plastics are also still catching many flathead, and recent years have seen so many different plastics added to the range we already had. Shad-styles, creature baits, paddle-tails, curl-tails, twintails, jerk shads, flukes and grubs will all work – it’s just a matter of fishing them with the correct weight. With my plastics, I tend to fish as light as I can get away with, taking depth and current into account. Plastics that plummet to the bottom look less natural and don’t give the plastic the fall time that flathead like, as they’ll often scoff a plastic on the drop. Vibration baits Vibration baits have become a stalwart in flathead anglers’ boxes in recent years, in both the hard and soft varieties, and there’s so many to choose from now. Once we only had vibes in small sizes, but now they range from tiny bream-sized options to stuff designed for impoundment barra, so whatever the situation, you should be able to find a vibe or blade for your needs. Surface lures Believe it or not, surface

Long shallow flats are great places to chase flatties on fly, even if they are just little scrappers. lures can actually be an entertaining and sometimes effective method of catching flathead, especially in shallow water. Flathead are implosion feeders, so they make quite a commotion when they eat a topwater offering. Next time the water gets a bit shallow, make sure you give it a peppering with a popper or small walking bait – you might be surprised. Fluff Who could forget the

fluff chuckers? Flyfishing for flathead is incredibly effective if you go about it in the right way. In my opinion, you only need one type of fly for flatties, and that’s the Clouser Minnow in a variety of colours and weights. Sure, some anglers experiment with different patterns like bendback style flies, and various shrimp and crab imitations, but the Clouser has one thing that is advantageous to a flathead

Calm and clear days make shallow water flathead fishing much easier, with just about everything visible to the naked eye.

angler – it’s simple. Flathead chew flies, and having something that is both cheap to buy or tie yourself is a big plus. Additionally, they ride hook point up, which makes them slightly more user-friendly to use around structure. Other presentations I’ve done a fair bit of experimentation over the years, and have found flathead aren’t particularly fussy – this is what makes flathead such a great sportfish. My experimentations have led me to try lures such as flippin’ jigs, spinnerbaits, swimbaits, metal slugs and more. Getting a bit creative can sometimes give you an edge and present the flathead with something they haven’t seen much of. TECHNIQUES Trolling Trolling is of course the best way to rack up numbers of fish, and has won a number of Classics in recent times. Despite the opinion that it is an easy ‘cop out’ technique, there are a number of subtleties that go into making a seasoned troller. Experimenting with different amounts of line out the back of the boat can be beneficial, particularly with lures of different sizes and diving capabilities. I know some people who like to troll lures around 3-4m back, basically in the prop wash! Others prefer to send their lures to around 30m back, so as not to spook the fish with the boat. A good way to hedge your bets is to fish two smaller presentations around 20m back, and have a larger diver in the middle only 4-6m back to dredge up the bottom

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Chris Byrnes has run a lot of tournaments in his time, but still doesn’t mind competing in the Classic each year. This fish was caught trolling. and create some commotion. It may be obvious, but when trolling for flathead, you want your lure making at least occasional contact with the bottom, whether you’re trolling a bibbed lure, a soft plastic or a vibe. While rough terrain can be good for flathead, it can be frustrating to troll through, with constant hang-ups and snagging. The trick is usually to find a balance between uneven ground that harbours bait and a barren, featureless sandy shoal.

Remember, as with all trolling, you’re steering the lure, not the boat. Always be aware of where your lure is and put it where you think the fish are, and watch the flathead start coming over the gunwale! Casting This is perhaps the most popular method of tangling with flatties, and for good reason. Casting for flathead is a very active style of fishing, and often it can be very visual as well. To page 30

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Fishing deeper water seems to be a way of finding concentrated larger fish, but a good sounder is important for taking on this challenge. SEPTEMBER 2017

Flathead From page 29

Any areas with water running over or off them, such as sand bars, drains or creek mouths are excellent places to cast at. Casting into the shallows and bringing your lure into the deeper water with the current is about as deadly as it gets, as flathead sit and wait for their quarry to be brought to them. Big and obvious pieces of structure can also hold good numbers of flathead. Snag piles and pylons can be good places to fish, as

they often hold bait. Small baitfish like to use big pieces of structure to escape the current, and this will in turn attract the larger predators. Even in the shallowest of water, these current-breaking baitfish havens can hold flathead. Always work the front and back sides of these structures. Fishing deep is another way to cast for flathead, and is a relatively new technique, made popular by the Whyte brothers, who won a Classic a few months back. Using

a high-tech sounder, anglers can find structure and bait in deep water, and hopefully larger flathead will be in the area. Another technique that has emerged recently has been fishing the super shallow water with huge soft plastics, sometimes up to 9” long! By working long muddy flats gliding these huge jerkshads just off the bottom, anglers have found some massive fish in the 90cm+ range. Franco Martinese, who won the

Every year some truly massive fish are caught in the Flathead Classic, but no angler has ever cracked the magic metre mark. Maybe this will be the year!

individual competition in the Classic last year, told me big flathead will sometimes get airborne while attacking the lure when fishing this way. I’ve no doubt this technique will feature heavily in this year’s Classic! Flyfishing As a bit of a fluffknuckle myself, I feel I need to add in that this is a worthy technique. I’ve already spoken about flies, so now it’s time for the technique. You can essentially fish fly the same way you would when casting in shallow water, but waiting for the fly to sink can be tiresome work, particularly in strong current and with wind. Where the fly is most deadly is in shallow flats, shallower than 1m, where an angler can get away with using a floating line and a long, tapered leader. With the sink time required, a flyfisher can walk or motor his or her way along a flat, covering water with probably the most natural artificial presentation available. In areas of high boat traffic and angler pressure, this can bring a lot of solid flathead undone. GO FORTH Thousands of people, whether fishing the Flathead Classic or not this year, will hit the water in search of flathead in the coming weeks, because it’s such

Flathead colours can vary greatly, but often reflect the environment they’ve come from, and this flathead is a perfect example. an enjoyable pastime, and accessible to so many people – you don’t even need a boat! Each year, inventive and innovative anglers set the

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September fishing options abound in the Tweed THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

Spawning time sees pelagic species chasing fry in the rivers, creeks, bays and on close reefs. September is such a great time of the year for fishing in the Tweed region, and with light westerly winds and small swells, it opens up many locations anglers normally can’t fish in the summer period – wide offshore areas, beaches, headlands and groins. The water temperature rose slightly and was sitting around 20°C recently. This will see large bumpy headed

snapper visiting the close reef in good numbers. Mulloway are still taking advantage of the mullet run around headlands and rock walls, while bream have been schooling up for spawning on most rock walls. Luderick are starting to school up around most bridges, rock walls and headlands. Tailor, GTs and bigeye are chasing prey around the breaking wave on the beaches, headlands, rivers and most creeks. Big female flathead are moving through the systems looking to spawn, with most sand banks around the river mouths holding good fish. Mud crabs should start coming out of hibernation and start

Nick Dillon with a knobby snapper on a jig off Brunswick.

moving around a lot of the sand flats and lakes. OFFSHORE This time of year sees a lot of northern species and southern species mixing together to feed on fry and coral spawn. It’s all about the big bumpy headed reef munchers this month, with the bigger fish sitting in the shale between most shallow reefs. The smaller pan-sized juvenile are sitting on top of the reefs. Large 3-7” plastics in pearl before sunrise and natural colours such as pumpkin seed after the suns up are catching more of the bigger snapper. Drift baits such as half pilchards and strip baits are catching more of the pan-sized fish over the reefs. For a good feed of mixed reefies, try Fidos, the Five-Mile, NineMile, South Reef, Mudhole and the 10-Minute Reef, which are all holding good pan-sized fish. Pearl perch, tuskfish and the odd cobia can be caught out on the 24 and 36 fathoms. Kingfish are around the bommies off the Tweed reefs. Live baits are catching more over the reef, where micros, pangolin and octa jigs are catching more kings and mulloway out wide. Try Deep Southern, the 200m line, Windarah Banks, the back

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Brett Stevens with a stonker tusky taken on an isolated bommie off of Tweed. of Nine-Mile and isolated bommies and wrecks. Large packs of tuna should be gracing us with their presence this month. If you see busting tuna, don’t just drive up to them or over them; you’ll send them down and they won’t resurface until they are a fair way away from you. Your best bet is to drive around them by at least 100m and position yourself on the windward side of the pack. Tuna will always feed into the wind, so this way they will come to you. Flicking 20-60g metals always works best on these speedsters and they’re a lot of fun on light gear. They make really great snapper baits too. You can grab tailor and yakkas at the sand pumping jetty, or macks, bonnies, pike and snapper around Kirra Reef if you need any fresh baits. Bait jigs, small plastics, metals and small baited hooks are working best. ESTUARY There are still a lot of mulloway in the system chasing the mullet on their annual run. Soaking a big live bait such as mullet, pike or tailor is still your best bet for a big mulloway. Try the south wall at the mouth, Blue Hole, Barneys Point Bridge, Boyds Bay Bridge and the various holes throughout the systems. These fish like to move around at the moment, so you might have to find which one holds more bait. Bream have been schooling up for spawning. Most rock walls, bridges and holes are holding good numbers this month. Try small plastics, crab lures, blades, vibes, hardbodied lures and drift baits for the best results. Luderick are starting to school up around most bridges and rock walls with stringy weed catching more fish. Try Barneys Point, the Chinderah rock walls, Blue Hole, Boyds rock wall, Dry Dock, Cobaki rock wall, Kingy rock wall and Hastings Point. Tailor, GTs and bigeye are in good numbers in the rivers this month. Try plastics and metals at Barneys Point Bridge, Boyds Bay Bridge and the Jack Evans rock wall.

This is the month for big female flathead to start to enter our systems to breed up.Try the river mouth and sand banks around the mouth of the river for the best results. If you find a few smaller models, keep casting around that area; chances are there is a bigger one sitting there. Big females will emit an odour to attract smaller males to breed with and eat them. Vertical jigging with a heavier weighted jigs and a 3-5” plastics works best. The mud crabs should start moving around this month with the rising water temperatures. Try shallow water where the water temperature is warmer, then the holes and main river. These areas will catch more crabs. Please note they will be a bit empty due to hibernating. BEACHES Beaches are looking really good this month, with good gutters right down to Byron Bay. Try soaking a ganged up pilchard or whole beach worm. Big plastics and metal lures are catching more and larger fish out of these gutters. Crushing pilchards at your feet

will keep the fish in the gutter in front of you. Spinning metals off headlands and rock walls is doing well at sunup and sunset at the moment. The south wall at Kingscliff is fishing really well with snapper, mulloway, tailor and large bream sitting in the gutter at the moment. Try a half pilchard on a single hook rig for a bit of fun. A few bigger greenbacks are at Flat Rock at the moment. Try ganged up pilchards of a night. There are heaps of beach worms and pipis on most south beaches if you need fresh baits. FRESHWATER The water temperature rise and high barometric pressure should see more bass firing up in local rivers, creeks and dams. Cicada lures are working best around sunup and in structure. Deep diving lures work best once the sun is up. For a bit of fun try soaking a grub, maggot or earth worm around the timber. This can produce bigger and better fish. NEXT MONTH Summer species such as mangrove jack should start coming out of hibernation and move around chasing mullet, fry and bait. Whiting should start to thicken up in spring. Targeting these species with beach worms and yabbies will be the best way to get a feed, but popping is a very fun way to catch a few bigger models. Bass will start to bite and thicken up in the creeks and dams. Look for a barometric pressure above 1020hPa for them to really fire up. Winter offshore species will be feeding up this month, trying to fatten up before they move on to their summer homes. Now is the best time of the year to get a whopper snapper, large tusky or pearly.

Malcolm Scott with a solid flathead caught in the lakes on a plastic.

Opportunities to catch a feed this month You’ll get everything from flathead to whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids. The luderick numbers will start to dwindle around the end of August and the start of September. There will still be a few good fish around. The bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around

BALLINA

Joe Allan

There have been nice catches of mulloway offshore recently and the best seem to come from the night time expeditions. Live bait has been by far the standout. There have also been some snapper in good numbers and quality sizes around the close reefs off South Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range with the odd bigger fish around 70-80cm thrown in there. If you’re after a feed, then there are plenty around. The best baits for snapper would be cut bonito or squid, however the bigger fish will be coming on the soft plastics. Don’t be caught up in chasing the snapper in close

Broadwater and Wardel. Fresh prawns and yabbies are always the best baits at this time of year – the fresher, the better. If you’re into throwing lures, start by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work your way shallow up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop your line size to 4-6lb leader (6-7ft). This

should bring on a few more bites. Keep your crankbaits handy as well, as the fish should start to hold on the rock walls rather than the deeper holes. Towards the end of September we should see some mud crabs show up. The best baits for these at this time of year are your leftover luderick skeletons. Until next month tight lines.

The author with a bass caught on the new Atomic Metalz 1/4 blade while chasing deep bream. on good days. If the weather allows, get out to the 100 fathoms and try for some blue-eye trevalla and bar

Bryce Cameron with a cracking night time mulloway caught on live bait off Byron.

cod. Good baits for these guys are fresh squid and cuttlefish. It can be hard work on tradition tackle fishing this deep, so electric reels are essential in this style of fishing. On the 32s there are good numbers of pearl perch and trag jew. If you’re after having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some amberjack around the 48s. Off the beaches and headlands there are some quality tailor showing up. Get out your spinning gear and throw metal slugs for these fish. This can be a great way to spend a morning and catch some fresh fish for brekkie. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on gang hooks. There are good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters of South Ballina. There are still heaps of these fellas around and these are dynamite. You’ll come across some pretty nice snowy bream too. Towards the end of September when the westerlies start to blow the swell flat, it’s definitely worth throwing some soft plastics into these gutters.

The author with a solid bream on an Atomic Crank 38 in ghost gill brown.

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September southwesterlies blow YAMBA

Dave Gaden

September normally means wind. Consistent southwesterlies making it choppy offshore seem to be the norm for this time of the year. I personally don’t like westerly wind for offshore fishing. There’s no science behind this dislike, I

everything that moved and left. The snapper, having finished their spawn in the shallows, will move back out once the jackets have gone. This makes these grounds very fishable for other species like teraglin, pearl perch and more. The current in September is usually mild as well, so if you can pick the days with light wind or just put up with the horrible offshore slop, there

the yakkas and send them back for the bigger fish. You’ll catch great snapper and other species on the north grounds. I prefer the grounds off Red Cliff and Brooms Head to the south for snapper, pearl perch, Venus tuskfish and others. I’m not sure why, but the south reef seems to hold more of the round-bodied fish and the north more of the long-bodied ones. I like to fish

of things happening in or adjacent to our water that will affect where you should fish in order to catch a feed. Under construction at the moment is a new bridge over the river at Grafton, a new bridge at Lawrence, new bridges at Harwood and Mororo on the highway and the widening of the bridge at Romiaka on Yamba Road. A lot of the construction on these bridges requires the pounding of huge steel pipes into the riverbed, among other associated noises and disruptions to the riverbed. Fish will move away from these areas pretty quickly, so you need to find spots that are far enough away for the fish to feel comfortable. That being said, lately there have been some great catches made lately by people who have been prepared to find those backwaters away from the noise. Flathead should be found in reasonable

Luca Topolini was all smiles when he pulled up this whopper 16kg mulloway.

Brad Dargusch with an awesome 13kg mulloway. just find it harder to catch fish with the wind in the west. Similarly, when I used to do a lot of freshwater fishing on the western side of the ranges, I struggled to consistently catch fish with an easterly blowing. That being said, my diary entries show some really good catches for September in past years. Things change at this time of the year; the leatherjackets that have run ragged over the last few months have usually left the wider grounds around 50 fathoms. They’ve eaten

may be a feed out wide. If going to the horizon for a fish is not for you, then the trag and mulloway will be in good numbers north of us. Black Rock, the Italian Grounds and South Evans Reef will have great fishing this month. A dead giveaway will be the shoals of yakkas or yellowtail hanging off the reef. Some people avoid these as they steal a lot of bait, but I love them. Even a just-legal trag of 38cm will swallow a 15cm yakka with ease and a 12kg mulloway will swallow a 38cm trag just as easy. Catch

around 40m on average in this area. There’s no shortage of reef at that depth, either. You would have around 2x6.5km of area to play in. The Clarence River is a fantastic system with the water being tidal all the way to Grafton – almost 100km by water upstream. Most who have fished this river know how good the fishing can be. Recently, though, our part of the world is having one of the largest booms in infrastructure it’s ever seen. What’s that got to do with fishing? There are a lot

Cameron Mcleod with his PB snapper.

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numbers in places like the North Arm behind Goodwood Island and the entrance to Lake Woolaweyah around Joss Island. They will also be around the middle wall this month. Try drifting on the Iluka

side of the eastern end of the middle wall with a run-in tide, as close to the wall as you can, with just a humble prawn and running no. 4 sinker set about 60cm from the bait. It might surprise you how many are there.

Luderick (blackfish) have had a good crack this winter again. There’s no sign of them slowing up much. With the work noise upstream they may just be content to stay in the lower reaches of the system, making them an easier target for us. Bait for them (weed), will be harder to get than the fish themselves this year. Along the beaches there will be good tailor and nice mulloway in the gutters. Late afternoon and into the night as the wind dies off will make for

excellent fishing. Easy access to the gutters on the south side of Pippi Beach makes for a good fish and if the gutters don’t produce then Flat Rock should. One good thing about westerly winds is they do make rock fishing safer and easier. Good luck this month and remember if you’re coming to Yamba for the first time and need some fishing advice or would like to join one of my deep sea charters, call into my shop – Marina Boat and Tackle at Yamba Marina.

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Hamish looks pretty chuffed with his pearl perch.

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Winter fire still burning COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

It may be the end of a season, but the Coffs Coast fishing is going to keep the winter fire burning a little longer yet. Winter 2017 has been a memorable one, with epic months of clear blue skies and glassy mild afternoons. Autumn this year was marred by the lack of conditions, suitable for getting out for a fish. The fish

were there, but there were such long breaks between access, due to swell, wind and rain, that it was difficult to really stay in the swing of things. Winter has been the opposite. A few windy or wet days here and there, but overall it has been prime day after prime day. The veritable ‘pile’ of sugar on top has been that during these epic conditions, the fishing has been on. The hot fishing looks set to continue this month and hopefully the weather will follow suit.

Offshore the fishing has been most consistent. The king fish have been almost ever-present around the islands, which means so have the fishers. With the pressure high on these schools, they can end up a little shut down and more wary than a school with no pressure. Enticing a school with something too good to pass up is one way to get the shut down fish to bite. Live baits are a good option to try this with, and don’t be shy about offering a large bait if you’ve got the gear. A decent salmon is ideal. Paul Wray found this solid red milling below a school of mixed seriolas.

Sam Gilchrist enjoying the after effects of releasing the jerkshad into the pack. No matter what size, once you’ve found a school of samsons, you know it’s gonna be fun!

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The other option for tempting these fish is giving them no time to hesitate. Sending a lure over the top, or underneath a school and retrieving as fast as you possibly can will give the fish no time to think. They either have to give chase or miss out. This will usually liven up even a fairly uninterested school, although it tends to attract the smaller fish rather than the hoodlums you’re likely seeking. Soft plastic jerk shads and stickbaits have been the best performers. To save all that hassle, you can just search around for your own, ‘care free’ school of kings. The deeper reefs and pinnacles out wider have been holding good schools of kingfish, samson fish, amberjack, snapper and pearl perch. If you can find these schools in the more remote, less-pressured areas, you will find the fish a lot more willing. These locations are also far more likely to produce a mixed bag, either for interest’s sake or for some variety on the table. Tailor have dominated the inshore washes, becoming easy captures most days on the medium metals and plugs. The headlands have also consistently produced snapper this last month, although I’d expect that to slow down as we get further into spring.

Mulloway have been active on high tides around breakwalls and headlands, responding well to soft plastic lures, or squid if using bait. The calm weather at times has meant you really need to search for locations that offer enough cover from structure or wash for the bigger mulloway to feel comfortable in the shallow water. If you find those locations, you should find the fish. The estuaries have been a little quiet down low. Most sessions are producing smaller bream and flathead. The middle estuary stretches is where most of the action is. The bigger bream and flathead seem to be holding in these sections and have been very active on lures. There are a lot of tiny baitfish in the middle reaches of our estuaries, so smaller lures have been the most successful. Small jerk shads as well as diving stick minnows have been picking up their fair share of the action. School size mulloway have been regular captures in the middle to upper estuaries, along with the odd larger model. The road and rail bridges have been the pick on a nighttime high tide. Don’t be surprised if these sessions in the brackish yield a few bass to kick off the season with either!

September sees the opening of the official bass season again, which means they have done their dance in the brackish and will start to move up the catchments as the water flows allow. Last year we saw the bass around the top of the estuaries for a good month or so. We don’t have a lot of rain in the long term forecast, so I’d expect them to be reasonably slow in the upstream travels this year too. All your normal estuary lures will be effective while the bass are still downstream. The bass will usually show quite a lot of interest in the prawn imitations, especially when gathered up in schools. As they move up into the freshwater reaches, the normal upstream bass tempters will be the more critter like, surface-based offerings. Not all the bass will have made the trip down to the salt, so if you’re just keen to get out in the skinny stuff there will be bass there. There hasn’t been a lot of flow in the upper catchments though, so stick to the bigger rivers like the Bellinger and Nambucca and find those sections with good deep holes for the bigger fish to be holding up. There will be hotspots all over the place this month so no matter where you choose to find them, I hope your sessions are hot, actionpacked and full of fish.

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Live baits often attract the larger kings, and a live yakka was the offering required to get Sam Biddle his first ever kingfish.

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Mitch Maric

The first month of spring presents exciting new fishing opportunities. Beach, rock and offshore will continue to fish well for all the species we have loved to catch over winter. September also marks the beginning of bass season, and I am one of many anglers who are itching to get back onto the fresh. BASS As is the case every year, the rainfall will have a massive influence on where and how we target bass this season. It was an early spawning run with fish moving into the salt back in April. After a very dry winter I would say they are eager to move up pretty quick if we get some good early rainfall.

The upper tidal limits always fish very well at this time of year. Plenty of rain is needed early on in spring to set us up for a good summer. Hopefully we won’t see a repeat of last season, where we had a severe lack of rain and extremely low water levels. FLATHEAD The warmer days also mean flathead in the shallows. The flathead fishing has been well above average all through winter due to some unseasonably warm water and a lack of rain. However, it’s now that we will start to see more of the Macleay River monsters emerge. There is every chance to catch 80cm, 90cm and even meter long flathead, and in shallow water they have some serious get go. I recommend targeting the sun-warmed shallows during the late morning and early

afternoon. Slightly larger plastics and heavy leader around 15lb-20lb are all that is needed to target these fish. BREAM AND WHITING Whiting numbers will begin to increase in the river in September, and towards the end of the month they will start to take surface lures. Bream have been a real standout this winter, with not only numbers but also size. Fish over 40cm have been common so this will great time of year to target big bream on surface lures.

of the mullet run back in March right through to the end of August, 15kg-20kg fish have been common. By common I mean that anyone who put in the effort after dark had some success. These fish will be leaving the river now but we should see plenty more quality fish coming from Smokey and other beaches as we have done this past month. Tailor numbers were up last month on the beach, and they should stay around for a while longer.

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MULLOWAY AND TAILOR It’s safe to say we experienced one of the best big mulloway runs in a long time this year. From the start

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OFF THE ROCKS The rocks have also been fishing very well with good numbers of tailor, bream and drummer on offer all last month. Large schools of bream have been hanging around the gaol, with many fish over 1kg. Black drummer are also in big numbers right along the coast, averaging 1-2kg.

There have also been some much larger specimens mixed in, which have proven difficult to beat. Rat kingfish and decent size trevally surprised and beat many anglers spinning for tailor. OFFSHORE The standout offshore has been the good catches of snapper and pearl perch in close. Many anglers have had little trouble filling the esky with these quality tablefish. Tuskfish have been a common by catch and the pearl perch seem to be getting bigger by the week! Seriously, the size and number of pearl perch last month was phenomenal. In many cases they outnumbered and outsized the snapper. Fish

over 3kg were common, with some fish ticking over 5kg! Hopefully this will continue this month, and no doubt we will see plenty more quality reds coming off the inshore reefs as well. Bigger kingfish will also be on offer in close, with fish up to 15kg already stretching some angler’s arms last month. For all the latest information on what’s biting, drop into Outdoor Adventure South West Rocks at 100 Gregory St or call them on (02) 6566 5555. As well as tackle and bait, they stock ice, camping gear, kayaking, surfing, spearfishing, boating and more. You can find them on Facebook by searching for ‘Outdoor Adventure South West Rocks’.

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Solid spring catches as the water warms up SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

Winter has absolutely flown by this year and 1 September comes the opening of the NSW bass season. After spending the winter down in the salt water regions around Smithtown, the fish will have spawned and should be on the log trek back upriver.

Most of the fish will be in the stretch of river from Smithtown up to Belgrave Falls at the top of the tidal zone. Targeting these early season fish is usually done in the deeper holes, especially around structures like bridge pylons with soft plastics, blades and soft vibes. Bigger lures are doing a great job of singling out the bigger fish from the pack. The lower reaches of the Macleay have had great numbers of flathead

from the entrance through to Jerseyville and 5” soft plastics have been doing the job on these fish, and you never know what else you may pick up when presenting a lure of this size. Whiting are starting to show up again on the sandflats and their numbers will improve as the water warms up and these fish become more active on the surface. School mulloway have been along the rock walls, along with the odd big kingfish and even a few squid. Solid tailor are being found along the beaches at dusk and dawn and these fish have been in huge numbers. Bream and flathead have been in the gutters during the day. The headlands have had bream and drummer in the washes

fish are just legal there are definitely some bigger models amongst them. Most fish have been taken on plastics and jigs from this area. The surface bite is just starting to happen and will only get better as we progress towards summer. Large stickbaits and poppers are an exciting way to tangle with kingfish, especially when they are in the mood to play. The annual Macleay River bass catch is on again from 8-10 September. This is a catch and release competition held by Bass Kempsey in conjunction with NSW Fisheries and is basically a survey of the fish in the river and where they are located, which gives a great insight for the season ahead and into the state of the river.

The average size of the snapper has been fair this season.

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Another plate-sized snapper bound for the table.

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Darcy Plunkett with a tailor taken on a Yakamito Soft Vibe aimed at snapper.

Chris Webster with an awesome mulloway taken off the stones on a telescopic rod.

quite frequently and there are still a few luderick around. Mulloway have been on the chew around the rock ledges with the prime time being from sunset through to dark. Great snapper have been on the reefs lately; these fish have been found from right in on the close grounds out to about 80m. Fish around the respectable 3kg mark have been quite common, although there have been plenty of big fish caught. Soft plastics, micro-jigs and octo jigs are all doing the job for the lure fishers and fresh bait accounts for just as many fish as always. Kingfish are around Fish Rock now in reasonable numbers and although most of these

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The river bass days have finally come back THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

September marks the start of the bass season. If you are like myself and hold off chasing bass during the spawning period then you will now be eagerly awaiting the first explosion from a bass hitting your surface or subsurface offering, depending on how you target them. Dedicated bass fishos

will have their gear sorted and I’m pretty sure there will be a few new bass offerings in most anglers’ lure arsenals. The start of the season can see the fish spread downstream. If you’re fishing the Hastings area, the Maria River where it intersects with the Wilson River can be a good starting point. Last season the better fish we caught early came from the lower sections. Sharpen up the casting skills and have a great season.

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RIVER FISHING The Hastings has been fishing well and should continue this month with bream moving back through the system to find their summer residence. The walls fished exceptionally well over the last few months with plenty of bream being caught from both main walls plus the coal wall and Settlement Point Road as well. When we managed to get out for a night bait fishing session it seemed relatively easy to put a decent bag together; the trick was to use a very small pea sinker and a 1/0 hook. A strip of mullet cast close in to the rocks was very productive. For the anglers that toiled

Martin Denlowe loves September when he can get back to the bass. fish. When the tide comes in these fish will come back up into the area. Usually towards the end of this month we can also start to look for a few whiting on surface lures and most years Lake Cathie is my first place to try. Results vary, but you can have some fun on the whiting during footy finals time. School mulloway are throughout the system this month and there is also a chance of tangling with a bigger up river specimen as well. The trick will be to work your lures close to the bottom. Plastics and vibes have been getting many fish and will continue to do so. Once again, with so much more knowledge of these great fish, we need to show them some serious respect. While I like a feed of mulloway as much as anyone, the latest fisheries research shows that mulloway are now

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Harry Grady is one super keen young flatty angler. away for mulloway after dark with lures and bait, some great fish were caught. I personally had the pleasure of netting my wife Mandy’s first 1m+ mulloway, which was tagged and released after a few quick pictures. Flathead activity will increase over spring and become more predominant in catches as the water temperatures rise. Angler pressure on these great sportfish will also increase, so remember to treat the big girls kindly. Take a quick pic and release them. Ask yourself if taking a feed, how many do you really need? Soft plastics will be the easiest way to get into a few and curl-tails, paddle-tails and prawn imitations should see you tick a few off, look for weed beds, shallow dropoffs and, most importantly, keep an eye out for lay marks on any flats you may

SEPTEMBER 2017

in the overfished bracket. As responsible anglers we may need to be more thoughtful of how many we keep for the table. MULLOWAY TAGS Over the last few years a lot of keen mulloway fishers have been tagging and releasing fish for the mulloway tagging program. Several have been recaptured, but the fish from the Hastings and surrounding systems seem to be a bit smarter and more elusive as they don’t get re-caught. For those who capture a tagged mulloway, all that is required is the tag ID (which is on the yellow tag) and a measurement of the fish, then release or keep it if needed. You can forward the information onto the local fisheries or if you’re not sure, contact myself via castawayestuarycharters@ bigpond.com.au and I will help you out.

Bream will spread out through the river system and you’ll be able to encounter fish like this beast Mandy landed on a Samaki vibe.

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Wait is over: bass, squid and snapper are go FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

Most of the bass anglers in the state have been anxiously waiting for September. It marks the start of another bass season, with increasing daytime temperatures and longer day to enjoy it. With some luck, a reasonable rain event will help raise the rivers to give them a little push to clear the banks and prepare them for summer. OFFSHORE Offshore is still offering a tub full of leatherjackets and flathead over the gravel shoals, while the snapper have been consistent right along the coast. Soft plastics or baits like squid, pilchards and garfish are the go for the

snapper close to the coast. You will need to pick your day to head wide, with the seasonal winds picking up throughout the day. This time of year, the fishing can be a bit hit and miss with each day offering its own difficulties. Head out with a variety of baits and techniques in mind and fish a few different spots to make the most of the session. Collecting live bait shouldn’t be a huge challenge behind Haydens Reef and Middle Head, and if you want a few squid the kelp beds behind the Bull Ring are worth a try. Fish your squid jigs slowly over the weed and you should pick up a couple of squid for bait or the table. Most of the squid I’ve caught lately have been in the 35cm hood length size, so the heads and tentacles are an ideal size for baits.

ROCKS Rock fishing has been a little slow with the clear water and low swell not producing the fish you’d expect. Early morning and late afternoon are possibly the better times to fish the rocky fringes, as travelling schools of tailor can make the effort worthwhile. The rock blackfish (black drummer) are there, but you will have to pick a deep wash with plenty of white water to

around the rocks. Lightlyweighted yabbies of an afternoon on a rising tide is my pick for the luderick and don’t discount fishing into the night. LAKE The last time I fished the break wall it was very disappointing. Two small mulloway and a lone bream, all released, were all there was to show for four hours of fishing. The walls should be fishing better this month,

the drop offs along the edges of the channels or fish the shallow flats that have some weed scattered through it. The Zerek Live Shrimp 89mm is a must over the flats and weed beds. Tie it to your leader, about 10lb, with a loop knot to allow it to swing and move

from the beaches. Janes Corner has had a fair population of anglers lately and other spots to try are Elizabeth, the south end of One Mile and Blueys beaches. Raider type metal slugs are ideal to pelt out the back of the waves and

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This is the quality of snapper getting around the Mid North Coast lately.

Bait or plate, squid like this provide plenty of options. take advantage of them. Until now, the luderick have been lacking in numbers, but there are still stacks of bream of varying sizes making their way

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with many of the bream and blackfish returning from the coastal rock. I’d give it another crack, but be prepared to change baits and locations if necessary. The bream in and round the entrance of the lake have been a saviour for those that want to tangle with some solid fish. By far the best approach, if you are looking for a feed, is to drift baits close to the oyster lease structures. A little berley trickled behind the boat is a sure-fire way of getting them interested, and with the right sized hook you’ll even end up with a few leatherjackets. The leases are full of seven spine and fanbelly leatherjackets at the moment and it can make fishing with soft plastics both frustrating and expensive. If you are interested in keeping the kids amused, a no. 8 long shank hook and small pieces of squid bait is the best way to target the jackets. For flathead, drifting the channels and casting soft plastic minnow and grub type lures is producing fish. Target

freely on the line, then hop and swim it around the holes and weed of the flats. They are a killer on the flathead. BEACHES One species that seems consistent are the tailor

are great tailor lures. This month can be a challenge, but the options are open for those who just need to escape the house or van for some quiet time and a few fish.

Who doesn’t like a good bass fishing session when fish like this are on offer?

Cold winter has passed Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

This winter we finally experienced some winter weather of old. The nights were freezing and some nasty winds were blowing from the west and southwest. It was like the winters used to be back in the 1970s. Winters from the past 25 years have rolled past without a frost or a decent batch of cold weather to mention. Cold winters not only help the farmers by killing off a lot of pesky insect eggs and larvae that attack the crops, but seem to set up the freshwater part of our river for a great season of spring and summer fishing. Lately there are plenty of mullet schooling in the high up waters of the Manning and bass have been observed in most parts of the river. September is not the best month of the year to fish our area, but there are some species to catch. Luderick and bream can be caught

in the estuary while tailor will still be on the beaches. Drummer and groper will be on the bite at Crowdy Head, especially if a bit of berley is used. ESTUARY Bream and luderick have been the most sought-after species with good bags of fish coming from the river wall at Harrington and the spur wall at Manning Point. The bream are biting best on mullet strips while the luderick are taking green weed during the day. A few flathead have been caught in the lower parts of the river, but the best bags have been scored in the upper parts of the Manning. Some small mulloway to 10kg have been caught from the river wall on live bait and a couple of big fish around 25kg have managed to escape. A couple of weeks ago chopper tailor were patrolling the wall at first light and at dark. They were taking small white bait and small silver lures. It was possible to catch a bag of fish any morning you liked to put in an appearance.

BEACH AND ROCK Tailor have been the only species to turn up on the beaches in the past few weeks. Abbeys Creek and up around Kylies Beach have fished well for fish to 1.5kg. The average fish would be about 800g. A few black drummer were caught from Crowdy Head on prawns and red crabs and there’s been some bust-offs when a big blue has scoffed a crab. The spit at the northern end of the beach at Manning Point has fished well for mulloway and tailor. Quite a few vehicles have been there at first light and at sundown. OFFSHORE Fishing has been pretty good for the outside boys over the past few weeks. Snapper and trag have been boated from both the northern and southern grounds. Leatherjackets, bar cod and gemfish have been caught out wide in deep water. No surface fish have shown up for a few weeks and we will probably have to wait until the water warms up a bit for them to put in an appearance.

NEWS

Digital boat licences for NSW More than 30,000 digital licences have been downloaded since the digital licence platform was launched last year. Boat licensing and renewals are now available under ‘My Licences’ in the Service NSW app. The Responsible Service of Alcohol/Responsible Conduct of Gambling Competency Card and Recreational Fishing Fee became available digitally in November last year. Boaters can now download a digital boat driving licence, following the rollout of digital boat licences and vessel registrations across the state. In Pittwater, Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight

Melinda Pavey announced the new digital service. “The NSW Government issues more than 23 million licences and permits each year, covering more than 760 different categories. This means customers could be carrying up to six different government licences or permits in their wallet at any one time,” Mr Dominello said. “By removing paperwork and embracing technology we are providing customers with a product that is fit for purpose in the digital age.” Mrs Pavey said the move to a digital platform not only makes it easier for boaters, but also helps authorities make the waterways safer. “Digital licences can be accessed or renewed within minutes, not days, which is great news for boating enthusiasts,” Mrs Pavey said.

“Tide times, lifejackets, fuel, fishing tackle – there’s a lot to keep in mind when heading out on the water. Soon there will be one less item you will need to remember and as long as you have your phone, you’ll have your licence.” The only exception is for personal watercraft licence holders who need to carry physical licences when out on a jet ski, as photo identification is required. Users who choose to carry only a digital licence must ensure their device remains charged and accessible. Digital licences can be accessed on another smartphone or tablet by securely signing into the Service NSW app when in mobile reception. For more information, visit a Service NSW Centre or go to www.service.nsw.gov. au. – Service NSW

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‘Trophy’ fishery to protect big breeding dusky flathead An initiative developed by NSW anglers is protecting breeding size dusky flathead while providing enhanced opportunities for the state’s 850,000 recreational fishers. Bega MP Andrew Constance said the introduction of a trial Code of Practice for the release of ‘trophy sized flathead’ in two South Coast estuary systems was a great example of modern recreational fisheries management. “Local anglers at Tuross Head and St Georges Basin approached the Department of Primary Industries last year to develop management strategies to enhance flathead fishing in their local fisheries by promoting catch and release of these popular estuary sportfish,” Mr Constance said. “The result of this collaboration between the recreational fishing community and DPI is the development of a trial ‘trophy fishery’ concept where anglers are encouraged to release big female flathead more than 70cm in length. “The trial includes surveys, tagging and research to provide more information on dusky flathead populations in these locations.” The trophy fishery concept protects these mature fish while allowing anglers to experience the thrill of catch and release fishing. Catch and release is recognised as an important means of ensuring the sustainability of recreational fisheries. Research by NSW DPI indicates that dusky flathead have very high survivability when released. The Code of Practice developed for the trophy fisheries provides detailed

information on best practice catch and release techniques. A video promoting handling and release of big flathead is available at on YouTube, called ‘The secret to more trophy-sized flathead’. Mr Constance said as well as maximising flathead stocks and providing enhanced angling opportunities, the trophy fishery concept has the potential to increase local tourism. “These areas will be promoted as great spots to go if you want the best chance at catching quality fish,” Mr Constance said. “Both Tuross Head and St Georges Basin are designated Recreational Fishing Havens where no commercial netting is allowed.” The trophy fishery Code of Practice is voluntary and specific to these two locations. After a 12-month trial period, the benefits will be reviewed and community support will be assessed. If the trial project in St Georges Basin and Tuross Lake is successful, there is potential to expand the concept to other systems for flathead, as well as other suitable species. The trophy flathead Code of Practice is as follows: • Use appropriate tackle to enable fish to be subdued as quickly as possible. 4-6kg outfits are preferred when targeting trophy flathead. • Use lures when possible to avoid deep hooking. If using bait, non-offset circle hooks in 1/0-4/0 are preferred. If a fish is deep hooked, cut the line as close as possible to the fish’s mouth before release. • Use a large, knotless landing net to land trophy flathead.

Leaving the fish in the net in the water for 3-5 minutes will allow it to recover, making for much easier and safer handling. • Handle flathead with wet gloves or a wet towel. If measuring your fish on a ‘brag mat’, ensure the mat is wet. Minimise the time the fish is out of the water. Support the fish’s weight with both hands. Do not hang the fish by its jaws, either by hand or with lip gripper style tools. • Carefully release the fish as close as possible to where it was caught. If required, hold the fish in the water until it recovers and can swim away. • If keeping flathead for the table, humanely dispatch the fish and place it in a saltwater ice slurry. More information on the trophy fishery concept will be available as the trial progresses. See dpi.nsw.gov. au/recreational for information on flathead bag and size limits. – NSW DPI VIDEO

An animated video by Steve Starling explains how to catch and release big flatties. Search for ‘More trophysized flathead’ on YouTube, or scan the QR code on this page.

Axiom Pro launched in Aus FLIR Maritime Asia (Raymarine) were pleased to be hosting the Australian launch of the new Axiom Pro – a high-performance multifunction display – recently at Sydney International Boat Show. Axiom Pro is engineered for captains that want it all. Available with RealVision 3D, 1kW CHIRP sonar, and Raymarine HybridTouch control, Axiom Pro is the new standard for ‘all-in-one’ displays. With a blazing fast quad-core processor, a super

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3D model of the underwater world, in real-time. Adjustments to sonar gain, sensitivity and filtering can also be applied to recorded sonar history, enabling you to reveal previously concealed fish and structure. Rewind, pause and play back recorded sonar history to take a closer look fish and structure, and easily plot waypoints. For more information visit www.raymarine.com/ multifunction-displays/ axiom-pro. – Raymarine

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SEPTEMBER 2017

The fishing is hot and cold on the Hunter Coast HUNTER COAST

Gary Earl earlybird13@optusnet.com.au

It has been mild, cold, warm and then hot on the Hunter Coast, and so has the fishing. The westerlies haven’t shown up, which is a good thing, as boats can get further than usual out

to sea. The reefs have goodsize trevally, nannygai and juvenile snapper on them; late afternoon just before dark has been the best time. I have had reports from some of the tackle shops that there has been an unusual amount of red and blue morwong over the shallow reefs. They are around year-

long in areas such as off Redhead, Merewether and the shallow reefs, and a lot of anglers I have spoken to said they couldn’t get away from them. Not that they were complaining, they’re a great feed on the barbecue. Small, just legal-size juvenile snapper have been schooling with them. Recently we have

A number one bait for a mulloway or snapper, these beauts are around the Adolf Wreck and you can get them there or dance a jig over the North Reef for them.

been blessed with table fish when the rotten rock cod left the reefs and the snapper moved in. The beaches have been in their usual year-round pattern with salmon, tailor, the odd mulloway and bream. I watched a bloke toss a sizable lure out off Nobbys Beach not long back; he hooked something ,chasing it up the beach towards the lighthouse. I wasn’t close enough to see what it was, but it spooled him and he was running fast. I figured he might have hooked a large shark, as no mulloway takes off like this fish did. It could have been a sizeable kingfish, as they sometimes come in into the very end on the rocks and feed on squid and yellowtail. Bream have been on the chew around the pylons around the Lee Wharf area. Flick small blades or tiny soft plastics and hope you can pull them into the open water, as they try to bolt into the pylons. You can float prawns around here with split shot on the line so they sink slowly, and when the sneaky little buggers suck them in, give them about half a foot of line by letting the rod go to them. When

Try floating a squid in to grab a school mulloway around the pylons. you’re sure you have the bait is in its mouth, strike them then. School mulloway have a habit of hanging around these pylons and I hear so

many stories of big fast bust-ups when they grab the bait, so have a try around dark and float a squid in to try and get one out.

Morwong, both blue and red, are covering the reefs. This one took half a pilchard, over the Marbles Reef.

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A good month for bread and butter species SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

Happy Fathers’ Day to all the fathers reading Fishing Monthly. Yes, it’s September already. It seems to go so fast these days. September is a wonderful month to hit the water. The weather is

There is plenty of good news on the fishing front. Plenty of good fish come from the lake and good numbers of 1kg bream are about, which is great to see. A recent bream tournament held on Lake Mac produced some cracking five-fish bags of over 5kg – another example of how well this lake can fish. I also caught up with an

still breeding at these sizes and others that state these big girls are the breeders. Either way, they are a great fish to catch and there are certainly better fish to put on the plate such as 50cm models, so I’m all for putting the big girls back for more anglers to catch. If they keep breeding then that’s even better. Generally each summer we get a run of kingfish that move into the lake. It may still be a little early for these brutes, but it won’t be long now and anglers will be getting shredded by a few Lake Mac hoodlums. With a bit of luck I might even get out there to tempt one of my own this summer. Generally the markers throughout the lake are the best places for a shot at one. Live squid is the number one bait by far, however, large soft plastics have their days, too. Offshore fishing is also on the improve. Hopefully the coldest of the winter weather is now well and truly behind us. Game anglers will now be turning their attention to marlin. This will often mean big seas, big days on the ocean and hopefully the reward of big marlin. Off our lovely part of the coast these fish can be anywhere from the shallow inshore grounds to the wide, deep waters out over the continental shelf and beyond. It’s important to listen and speak to other club boats if you’re in a game fishing club and also keep an eye on social media. Don’t believe all you read on Facebook, but it can give

you a heads up about a hot bite if you know who to believe and who not to. At this early stage of the season I would certainly suggest running a spread of skirted lures. If you want to stay on the inshore grounds, work a spread of 6-8” lures. If you’re working wider ground out around Norah Canyons, for example, then I’d be upping the ante a little with lures in the 8-14” range. Keep the big lures closer to the boat and place your smaller offering in the longer positions. Don’t get too caught up in colours. We lure makers can sometimes confuse things a little with so many wonderful skirt colour options available these days. Personally I’d go for a couple of darker offerings in close such as dark green, purple, blue or even black. Then out wider I’d be throwing out something like pinks, light blues or light lumo type colour options. Shark anglers are also looking far and wide at the moment for some good currents to soak their baits. Like most years you can be assured that we will see some absolute monsters weighed in at the local weigh bridge. Big tigers, makos and hammerheads are sure to be on the cards for the crews chasing them. It’s the big tigers that most crews are looking for. Anglers wanting a feed of fish from the ocean are in luck. Kingfish numbers are on the rise for inshore anglers. Bird Island to the south has some good fish on offer. Lures and live

baits are working best. Snapper are thinning out a little, but there is still some great fishing on offer for those that put the effort in. Rock anglers are starting to gear up for the warmer weather as well. We should see good numbers of pelagic fish such as kingfish and bonito start to fire up

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and the rock anglers will be hopefully enjoy good fishing with high-speed spinning, flicking soft plastics and floating out the ever-hard-to-resist live bait. Whatever your preferred form of angling is, I hope the summer ahead provides plenty of good fishing and please stay safe.

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A great pair of flathead that were perfect sizes for the dinner plate. now starting to warm up, even if it’s just a little. To be honest, we can’t really complain. Overall, winter was relatively mild here on Lake Macquarie this year. September is not only a good month to hit the water from a socialising point of view, due to the improved temperatures, but it’s also a great time of year to be on the water fishing. Bread and butter fishing is what it’s all about in September. Plenty of nice flathead and bream are about to keep everyone entertained and enough are about to keep anglers’ tummies full as well. The council upgrade of boat ramps around Lake Macquarie is continuing and I have to say, it’s fantastic to see. I hope anglers appreciate the ramps, as we are all very quick to criticise governments and councils. I’m certainly happy to say, ‘job well done’ when they deserve it. The latest upgrade I’m aware of is the completion of the Summerland Point launching facility. That’s another good upgrade, as the ramp was a mess with pot holes. It’s much more user-friendly now after the recent upgrades.

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older gentleman at the ramp Ph: 0402 859 308 E: info@ezybeach.com.au recently. He had a nice bag www.ezybeach.com.au of bream that he managed during an evening bait session. He has a few spots around the edges of the lake and fishes unweighted baits on light lines and does very well. Lure anglers are now starting to find a few bream moving back up onto the shallows. This will only increase as the waters warm. The salmon run continues to improve and there are acres upon acres of salmon about in Salts 30 Gommera Street 15 Wallarah Street Watkins Road Bay. 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Species springing to life at Port Stephens PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

September is the wake up month for many fish with warming air and water temperatures springing life into species like dusky flathead and mulloway. It’s also a good time of year because those cooler month species are also still around, so you get a bit of both worlds going on in September. Inside the estuary system there are still plenty of luderick being caught

along both the Anchorage and Nelson Bay rock walls as well as the Tommaree torpedo tube and Windy Whoppa rock wall. Use lots of berley (a sand/weed mixture) and fish the tide changes with the freshest of weed or cabbage. This is the key to consistently getting good catches of luderick at this time year. Bream are also prevalent throughout the system. Anywhere from the rock bars and racks out the front of Tahlee through to the Short Cut is worth a throw.

The author releasing a solid deep water mulloway.

Owen Penn with a cracker early season lizard.

Flathead will begin to wake up and become more active, particularly in the back half of the port up the Karuah and Tilligerry systems. At this time of year in those upper parts of the estuary prawn pattern plastics in nice natural colours become extremely effective when fished on a

run-out tide over the flats. Mulloway will also become a better target this month, particularly from the deeper holes and dropoffs around Soldiers Point

with live baiting being by far the best method to hook up to one. You’ll also have a chance if you drift in the same areas teabagging with larger 6-9” grub or curltailed plastics. Just be sure to concentrate your efforts around the tide changes. Over the last two months cuttlefish have been in crazy numbers through the weed beds around Shoal Bay with small jigs in 1.8-2 sizes working best. Squid have been a bit hot and cold through those same areas; use a larger 2.5 sized jig if that’s your preferred target. On the beaches bream are still being caught around Fingal Spit as well as a few whiting and some cracker tailor on dawn and dusk. Samurai and One-Mile beaches are producing much of the same with even bigger tailor up to 3kg reported down there. Stockton has been producing some reasonably sized mulloway to 15kg, especially down the southern end close to the breakwall. Off the rocks drummer haven’t showed any signs of slowing up yet with plenty of fish reported from Boulder Bay through to Tommaree

Head. Cunjevoi and large peeled prawns are the best baits for pigs and you’ll further increase your catches if you berley for them with a mixture of bread and prawn shells. Box Beach, Tommaree and Sunny Corner have all been producing tailor late in the afternoon and early in the morning. Whole pilchards or 30-50g sinking stickbaits or metals work best. Outside the snapper fishing has been pretty good with fish reported from Fishermans Bay to Seal Rocks. As always with snapper, it’s just a matter of fishing the right way at the right time in the right place. Stretches of shallow reefy bottom that provide a long drift will be the best areas to target with plastics during low light periods. For bait fishing, stick to the more isolated bommies and drop-offs. Charter boats have also reported excellent snapper and trag coming off the 21,Vee and Gibber reefs. There are plenty of sand flathead on the drift inside the Vee to the fish farms and out the front of Fingal Island in 40- 50m of water.

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Young champ Jack Hammond with a cracker rack bream.

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Cold climate is still great fishing weather ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

The winter species were firing recently. It’s funny – years ago winter was the time to sit at home and ready the gear for the upcoming season. Now it’s my favourite time of year, as new gear and techniques in the last decade have allowed anglers to target deeper schooling fish, which means cricket score catches can be taken in the coldest weather. The other thing to enjoy is that the best fishing is usually in the middle of the day as the water warms slightly.

whiting and the odd mulloway will dominate the catch. Plenty of salmon have started their run into the estuaries, particularly around Swansea. They seem to be getting thicker every year and are a hell of a lot of fun on light spin or fly gear. The Hawkesbury system has been relatively quiet and this is probably due to the lack of rain we’ve had in the area. However, there is always a fish or two to be caught by those who know the area well. Rock fishing has been a saving grace. The ocean luderick have turned it on and schools have been

Berleying heavily with bread in the washes and casting lightly-weighted bait like cunje, cooked prawns and bread will usually bring results. Just be ready – if you don’t drag them out real quick, you’ll need a new hook and sinker real quick! Good places to try include Fraser Park to the north, Norah Head, Bateau Bay, Foresters, Terrigal and down towards Box Head in the south. The beaches have been going well and some great fish have been encountered. Local anglers have been braving the cold and casting lures to land a few nice fish around the

A great bass that was caught and carefully released. Estuaries have been fishing well. Keep looking to the deeper areas this month and try fishing smaller, heavily scented plastics. It seems like single and double tails draw the bites, as do blades in the 2-4m zone. Usually silver trevally, bream, flathead,

tailing a lot. During my last session I hooked a stack of big fish all in 6” of water, so it’s good to see the fish are moving up into the shallows. It’s also a great time to target drummer. These rock brawlers would have to be one of the best eating fish around.

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The spawning schools of salmon will begin to show as well shortly. These fish provided great entertainment when they last turned up in schools so huge you could nearly walk on them. They were feeding on bait you could barely see, so lures had to be small to get the bite. Offshore has been very quiet compared to previous years. Barracouta have been a real problem out there. It has been a fight to get a bait past them. Anglers have found them all the way out in 40m of water stacked all the way to the surface! Snapper fishing is worth trying in the 40-90m area. Using your sounder properly to locate the fish and correct anchoring are paramount. Anglers who do these have some fantastic action at times. If the current allows, fishing a larger floating bait out the back will often produce the biggest fish of the day. Kingfish should start to fire out wide off the Terrigal/ Norah Head area this month in 90-120m of water. These fish seem to be starting to wise up to the bigger jigs, so try some smaller sizes or even try dropping a 100g lure straight to the bottom then wind back at high speed. This tactic is often employed by the pros to trigger a bite when times get tough out there. In closer there are still a few small kings around and the snapper fishing is starting to get better everyday. It still surprises me how many anglers drive straight out into deeper water and disregard these shallower areas, especially early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Quality fishing can be had with some lightly-weighted

An angler hooked up to a luderick in the surf. These fish are on at the moment. plastics in the 4-6” size. It’s the ones you lose that leave you wondering. Game fishing has been super quiet with the tuna season an absolute non-event up our way this year. There has been the odd striped marlin about,

but there’s a lot of water between them. Maybe some yellowfin tuna will turn up soon to give us something to play with until the marlin reappear. I’m sure by next month we’ll get some more rain and the action will improve.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

DIY Lure Making

Doc’s Shallow Minnow 70mm BRISBANE

LURE EYE

Greg Vinall support@makewoodenlures.com

My lure-making obsession has little to do with money and everything to do with adrenaline. If you reckon nailing a trophy fish on a ready-made store-bought lure is a rush, try it just once on a lure you designed and made with your own two hands! Over the next six months, I will be getting back to basics and sharing how to make six simple wooden lures. Lures that anyone can make and designed to catch bread-and-butter species like bream, lizards, small trevally, trout, bass and so

Twist eyes are ideal for beginners as they are simple to do. They are designed for small, light duty lures like the ones we’ll make in this series, but if you’re making lures that will be fished on lines greater than 6kg breaking strain you’d be better to use a through-wire and/or harder timber. on. There will be a total of two crankbaits, a stickbait, a lipless crankbait, a popper and a glider, which is enough to cover a wide range of fishing scenarios. The tools and materials list is super simple. In fact, it’s pretty much identical for all six lure designs. You probably already own the tools or you’ll get most of them pretty cheaply at Bunnings or online.

Template: 1 Square = 1cm

As for timber, I’m going to use balsa. Yes, it’s soft but it’s easy to work, readily available and gives lures an incredibly crisp action. Plus, balsa is pretty forgiving if your skills aren’t quite 100%. DOC’S SHALLOW MINNOW 70MM The 70mm shallow running minnow is a great pattern for slinging around rivers and estuaries. It’s great for casting up-current on the

flats during a run-out tide, then cranking it back just a little faster than the current – flathead city! Alternatively you can paint it brown trout colours and take it into the sweet water. PAINTING AND CLEAR COATING I use water-based airbrush acrylics to paint my lures, then I clear coat them with a super clear, tough PAINTING For a free beginners course on airbrushing lures, go to lure painting website: www.crazylureart.com/ free-lure-paintinglessons-register/

100% Scale

Tools Utility knife, battery drill and bits, hacksaw, pliers. Materials • 12.5mm x 75mm balsa plank • 120 and 240 grit sandpaper • 240 grit wet sanding paper • 1-1.2mm stainless steel wire • Epoxy adhesive (with syringes and mixing sticks) • Ball sinkers (size 00) • Methylated spirits • 1.5-2mm thick clear polycarbonate offcuts epoxy. If you have an airbrush or can borrow one, great! But if you’re just getting started then the odds are that you won’t have an airbrush – and that’s fine! Just get to work with artists brushes, aerosol packs or whatever you have. I know some awesome lure artists who use nothing but brushes and toothpicks to paint their wares.

One thing to watch out for though is that not all paints play nicely together. If you are going to use model makers enamels, for example, you’re best to use only these paints, not mix them with acrylics or urethanes. It can take some experimentation to figure out what works, so test paints on some scrap wood first and have fun figuring it out.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

Cut out the template, place it on the balsa and trace the side profile onto the wood. Use an utility knife to slice between the outlines and separate the blanks.

Glue 120 grit sandpaper onto a square block of scrap wood. Then place the block on its edge on a flat surface like a table top. Keeping your lure blank flat on the table, rub it back and forth against the sandpaper to square up the sides. Use a curved sanding block to reach the concave part of the lure body.

Mark a centre line on the underside. Then lay your side profile template on the lure blank and mark the location of the tow point, hook hangers, weight and diving lip. Use the tip of a nail, small drill bit or pen to make a tiny dent for your drill bit to centre on.

Now make all the holes and slots for your hardware. These need to be properly aligned, or your lure will be off balance, which is why it’s best to do it while the wood is still square. I’m using a 1.5mm drill bit for the tow point and hook hangers and a 4mm one for the weight. These can be opened up with bigger drill bits later if necessary.

Use a thin bladed saw to cut the slot for the diving lip. A tenon saw is fine, but a band saw is better as it provides a more precise cut to ensure that this slot is as accurate as you can get it. A crooked diving lip can make it difficult or impossible to tune your lure when it’s finished. So if you’re not 100% happy, throw your lure out and start again – don’t waste time finishing it.

Pare away the bulk of the waste using the utility knife. It’s important to keep the wood square at this stage as later on it will make it easier to get the components all properly aligned.

SEPTEMBER 2017

It’s time to rough out the top profile, so centre the top template on the lure blank and trace around it. Then slice away the bulk of the waste, and use your sanding block to refine the final shape, just as in Step 2. The two sides of the lure need to be mirror images, so the lure body is well balanced and the action is crisp. By the time you’re done, the lure body should still look square when you view it from the front and back.

DIY Lure Making 8

This is now the fun part, final shaping of the lure body! Working by eye, mark centre lines on all of the long sides of your blank, then mark carving guidelines. The carving lines should be halfway between the edge of the wood and the centre line you just drew. Go to work with your utility knife, trimming the waste between the guidelines. It’s much easier to control the cuts if you slice off lots of small slivers, rather than large chunks.

Use a small piece of 120 grit sandpaper to smooth out the lumps and bumps – be careful not to sand too much and spoil the shape. The trick is to not press too hard on the sandpaper and to do a few strokes on one side, then switch and do a few strokes on the opposite side. Keep checking the lure from in front, behind and above to make sure it’s symmetrical. Left: Using the template as a guide, cut your diving lips from polycarbonate sheet - don’t use Perspex, it will break. Strong scissors make this job very easy, but make sure to smooth the edges of the lips with wet sanding paper to avoid burrs or barbs that can snag or cut fine leaders. Glue the diving lips in with slow curing epoxy and your lures are ready for painting. Glaziers are a good source of polycarbonate offcuts.

FINISHED LURE

Now it’s assembly time. Start by twisting up some small pieces of stainless steel wire to make eyelets. The idea is to make these as long as will fit into the lure body. Then use a good quality, 24hr cure time epoxy adhesive to glue these into the lure. Don’t be tempted by the convenience of 5 minute epoxies, they’re not strong enough and will weaken more over time. Using a flat stick, work as much epoxy into the hole as possible, then smear some epoxy onto the shaft of your twist eye. Rather than push it into the lure, twist it like it’s a screw. By twisting the opposite direction to the thread, you’ll push the glue into the hole, rather than squeeze it out. For the weight, use half of a size 00 ball sinker. I simply split these in two using my utility knife. Fill the hole with epoxy, push in the weight and fill over the top with a little more epoxy. Now put the lure aside for at least 24 hours to cure. • For extra information and video tutorials please go to Greg’s website MakeWoodenLures. com/Fishing-Monthly/ and complete the free registration. To check out Greg’s other work visit crazylureart.com and his Facebook page Wooden Lure Making.

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Tangle with a mighty mako shark this month ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

We are in transition during September with cooler water hanging around and limited options available in most instances, but it only gets better from here. With the equinox this month we are heading towards summer at a rapid pace. Offshore the game fishos can get an early start on a few species. While there is an off chance of a marlin, there will be better odds tackling yellowfin tuna, albacore and a few shark species with the mighty mako at the top of the list. Makos gather off this part of the coast during spring for whatever reason and they can come as small economy-sized packages of less than a metre or scary monsters of 250kg and better. No matter what size they come in, they’re magnificent creatures. They seem to just materialize behind the boat and are quite welcome if you are purposely berleying for sharks off the shelf, and not so welcome when one just swims up a snapper berley trail in close. While makos are one of the worlds’ premier game sharks, they are just poetry in motion in the water as they chew on your berley pot and outboard leg. They aren’t always welcome when fishing for snapper, but the small ones are great tucker and completely manageable

if you keep away from their pointy end and wear them out before bringing them in the boat. Sometimes heroes free gaff them and pull them straight into the boat. I have never heard of this ending well. They are powerful even when small, so all care should be taken. The bigger ones should only be tackled by anglers with a bit of shark experience. Even more exciting, they are lightning fast and, more often than not, jump when hooked. The jump isn’t like a marlin; they just launch straight up at random in any direction, tumbling end over end. If you’re under them when they come down, again, it doesn’t end well. Boats, tackle and anglers get trashed. On the other hand, yellowfin and albacore are a bit less rowdy. They relying on pure speed to

evade capture when hooked. Usually when chasing tuna, anglers troll around looking for concentrations of birds in a small area or even the fish free jumping. When one is hooked, throw over a handful of pilchard cubes and then maintain a trail until they come up to the boat. One or two smaller skirts in the spread should pick up any striped tuna that are around. These fish make great cubes – even better than pillies as snapper bait for another day in closer. Then it’s on for young and old. Always keep the pilly cubes going to keep them around. This sounds easy, but as with all fishing you still have to work hard on most days for results. The current hasn’t been pushing too hard, so a bit of deep dropping over the Stanwell and Kiama canyons should produce plenty of gemfish with a few blueye,

There are still a few reds about if you put in the time. Cuttlefish still work if you have some left. the odd hapuka and other assorted deep water ooglies thrown in. Closer in, most of the snapper have moved on as the cuttlefish have thinned right out over the close reefs. A few will hang around as they always do for those using good pilchards, fresh slimy mackerel or tuna baits in a berley trail. You could also move out a bit deeper over reefs like Bandit, Wollongong or the

Makos are around this month and just look awesome in the water, even little ones. Hump up north and drift the plastics around. At this time of the year you must keep your eye on the sounder and fish any bait schools that may appear or any shows that look like stray reds for the best results. Usually if you find the bait, bigger reds won’t be too far away. Kingfish used to really get going this month, but they have been absent over the past few spring seasons. They would concentrate over the deeper pinnacles as well as places like the church grounds and the Humps off Shellharbour where the big slimy mackerel would be schooling. Those days seem to be long gone, but who knows? Does anyone look at these places anymore? They’re worth a try. Salmon are schooling all along the coast and can be quite difficult to coax into taking your offering as they are feeding on tiny baitfish. The striped tuna are in much the same boat as they tear along at breakneck speed picking off the baitfish in their path while small kingfish from undersized fish to 70cm beasts will be milling on the surface, particularly around the Port Kembla breakwalls if we have a few early northeasterlies to push

the baitfish into the corners where they meet the beach. Barracouta aren’t so fussy. Usually the first indication that they’re about is when you get bitten off. Throw in the odd bonito, some trevally and a few tailor and you can have plenty of fun in early spring. The bottom bouncers are getting a bit more excited as the tiny baitfish that appear this month really kick the sand flathead into gear. Good catches are coming in after a few months of ordinary flatty fishing. Small snapper, trevally, small samsonfish, mowies and pigfish are all over the reefs along with toothier creatures like barracouta and leatherjackets, so be ready to lose some gear if these guys arrive. On the rocks the drummer are the fish to target with spring storms providing plenty of wash to stir up their tucker. Cunje and peeled prawns are the best baits. A single hook and small ball sinker will do the job or a bobby cork float set at the desired depth works well, too. Make sure they’re Aussie prawns; we don’t want to introduce diseases into the food chain by using imported prawns with the white spot disease.

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SEPTEMBER 2017

A few striped tuna will show up in close. This one took a small metal slug cranked back at speed.

Bream, trevally and even snapper will get in on the action. By using a bit of bread berley you can have a good session on the rocks this month. There are plenty of salmon and nice tailor on the deeper ledges late in the afternoon and early in the morning with the odd big king following in a hooked fish. The kings are worth a look very early in the morning (before sunrise) with live squid. As soon as it becomes close to sunrise, give it away and chase other fish. On the beaches the salmon are the dominant species as always. They have thinned out a bit now that the pros can net them down south again, so the schools are much smaller. You can catch a few very solid tailor during the evenings on whole pilchards. If the guts are being eaten out of the pillies, try a fillet or small piece for the bream – they’ll be the culprits. A few school mulloway have been about and they have been hard work. You’ll find them north around Stanwell Park, Coniston and in the deep gutters at Bombo. Go with hopes, not expectations. The estuaries are still a bit quiet with the deeper water remaining cool. Bream can be found in the feeder streams on small lures and bait. Also try down around the bridges of the lake and Minnamurra at night on bait. During the day they are almost all undersized. Quite a few luderick hang around the weed beds on the run-out tide if you can get some good green weed. The entrance to the lake has some salmon and tailor chopping about on the start of the run-out tide. Towards the end of the month the water in the shallows will get warmer and a few flathead will start to make their presence felt. It will only get better from there.

Warmer water is getting anglers excited NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

Spring fever is taking over. I’m glad to report the days are getting longer, temperatures in and out of the water are beginning to warm and there is just a hint of excitement

always gets some attention from a few budding anglers keen to be the first to flick a lure in their favourite little stream or hole that has been unfished for several months. There is nothing like an early season surface session on the good old Aussie bass to get you excited and filled with anticipation for what

Danny Turner with a superb eating blue-eye from the depths. in the air around most fishos after a pretty bleak, blustery and cold couple of months. September and the months following can be pretty exciting down in our neck of the woods. The opening of bass season on 1 September

we’re all hoping will be an awesome season. Just remember when you’re trudging through the bush to that favourite secret location, bass aren’t the only critters to show their heads in spring! I’m talking about snakes. If last year

is anything to go by, there will be plenty of snakes out and about early in the season. Tread carefully. For the beach fishers there has been a nice run of small to medium-sized mulloway on several of our well-known beaches; Seven-Mile, Five-Mile and Kinghorne have all had a spattering of fish over winter, but those really big fish of yesteryear seem to be evading most fishos. Saying this, there have been some crackers in the adjoining estuaries, so maybe these fish are just too comfortable with their current surrounds and supply of food and just aren’t leaving the sheltered waters. With plenty of bait in the Shoalhaven River, we should also see a good run of big spring flathead moving through the system. With the current swimbait craze I’m sure there will be some big fish caught on these big lures. Swimbaits have been around for years, but are relatively new to the Australian style of fishing. Working on our big freshwater species such as barra and cod, these lures are now being adapted to the larger saltwater predators and mulloway and flatties are on that list. Most good tackle shops have a range of swimbaits on their shelves these days, so go in and check them out. It may just give you the edge over your mate.

Chris Heffernan with one of the few yellowfin caught from the season that never was. For offshore game fishing, it has been one of those seasons with only a handful of bluefin, albacore and yellowfin being taken by amateur fishos. Deep dropping has been one saviour for fishos

showed his head. In Jervis Bay the leatherjackets have finally subsided and the squid are thick. Some real crackers have been caught with the hoods between 30-40cm. With the clear water during

Ground out to about the 40-50m mark. South of there, heading down to Stony Creek some nice mowies and pan-sized reds are helping to fill anglers’ bags. Closer to shore in this area, luderick and drummer

Danny Turner with the swordfish they pulled up on the deep drop line.

Brendan Burgman with another swordfish.

SEASON

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on

venturing out wide with catches of blue-eye, ling, gemfish, ocean perch and even a small swordfish that was caught recently on a deep drop line; I bet those guys were surprised when they thought they were bringing up a big ling or blue-eye and a little sword

the westerly winds they have been a little bit fickle, so early mornings have been producing as well as after dark, for those who don’t feel the cold. There have been some quality sand flathead around the mouth of Jervis Bay on the eastern side of Middle

fishos are doing well on floating cabbage baits and bread baits. Anglers targeting blue groper on red crabs are continuing to lose gear to these power houses of the stones, landing the occasional smaller fish. Enjoy the start of spring, everyone. I know I will!

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Fishers have heaps to choose from this spring stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The local estuaries around the Narooma region have continued to produce. The smaller closed systems like Mummaga Lake near

Dalmeny and Corunna Lake to the south are the better ones to try. A lot of anglers have been targeting flathead as they come out of their winter slumber with both bait and lure anglers having success. These smaller systems have fished quite well over

winter for eating-sized models, but this month the big girls will get active and I expect some crocs upwards of 90cm to be caught. Early in the season these breeders will be hungry. I like targeting them with big lures – 100mm and bigger with 1/2oz heads fished slowly

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A couple of deep water ooglies from the lads on Playstation.

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A solid black bream on cranks is stacks of fun.

near the bottom. These fish will still be a little lethargic, hence the slower retrieval. Instinct and hunger will take over, so expect the bite to be quite aggressive. Concentrate your efforts around the lake margins; water depths between 3-5m are ideal. If you’re fishing further north up at Tuross then the river is a great place to start. Every season some donkeys come from here and in shallow water, so it’s certainly worth a look. If flathead isn’t your go, there’s a heap of other species willing to fill the gap. The numbers of bream will increase, especially yellowfin bream, as they head back into the estuaries after spending the winter spawning along the beaches and rocks. In September the lower sections of the estuaries are usually best for bream, so concentrate your efforts in the channels that feed water into the basins themselves. You should be able to get trevally, luderick, a few flatties and whiting in the same areas with plastics and fresh bait like prawns, worms and tuna cubes. Offshore anglers after kingfish will be getting a little

Stuart Hindson

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SEPTEMBER 2017

It’s a warm up for the summertime species MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

It’s a cracking time of year to fish the local estuaries with the transition period in full swing. With the water temperature around 18°C and getting warmer by the day, those summertime species are getting active once again. Big flathead will be on most estuary sport fishers’ lists as September sees the big girls wake up and

come out of their winter hibernation. Both Merimbula and Pambula lakes can expect crocs to 90cm+ and bigger this month. The main basins are the places to fish. I’d be concentrating around the ribbon weed edges in 4-9m, depending on which system you’re fishing. Casting your offering to the shallower edge and working it back to the deeper sections is the go. Soft plastics and larger vibes work a treat. If you can locate whitebait schools, this will only enhance your chances as

well. There will be plenty of eating-sized fish to 55cm, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a feed for the family. Anglers who like to target mulloway will be getting excited with the top lake in Merimbula the place to fish. Every year we see fish to 20kg caught, mainly by bait fishers. This is a great time to put the effort in. The flooding tide is best. Anchor up on the eastern weed bank and fish back into 7-10m of water. The better baits to use are tailor fillets, fresh squid and live mullet if you

A great pair of salmon from Pambula Lake.

Stuie Cattanach with a beaut bream from a southern estuary. From page 54

excited, as these superb fighting species should be in good numbers on the reefs and at Montague Island. Over recent weeks there have been a few kings about, but this will definitely get better as we head further into the month. At this time of year jigs are popular and highly effective with most kings averaging 3-5kg. You’ll get the odd bigger fish to 8kg, but school-size fish are usually the norm. If you’re after the bigger models, using live bait will be more effective. You can get all the livies you want out the front of the golf course rocks or the reef off Narooma main beach. Where the kings will be will depend on a number of factors, but if you look around the western side of Montague (Fowl House Reef) or down south around the pinnacles, you should be in business. Mixed in with the kings will be big bonito. These speedsters have been catchable all year with some nudging 7kg. At that size they certainly have a go and aren’t too bad on the plate if they’re looked after correctly. On the reefs the

snapper have been ok without being red hot. Crews putting in the hard yards fishing around Potato Point have done well with fish to 4kg. The reds being caught are an early morning proposition, so latecomers need not try or you’ll be disappointed. Water depths of 55-60m have seen most of the action and I’ve heard of the odd kingfish being caught by the snapper fishos, too. It may be worthwhile taking a jig outfit and a few livies if you’re planning a snapper trip; you never know when the kingies will turn up. Anglers after flathead are doing very well on sandies in 30-35m of water straight of Kianga. Once you locate a patch it won’t take long before your bag is reached. Tiger flathead can be found a little further out in 60m+ and these excellent-eating fish are in awesome numbers lately. Some days you may have to move around a little to get away from the leatherjackets, but your effort will turn to reward with some tasty fillets for the pan. The ocean rocks are in the transition period like most forms of fishing at this time of year. It’s possible to get a feed of luderick, drummer and bream, then follow up

and get into the pelagic action using whole pilchards or chromed sliced lures catching salmon, tailor, bonito and smaller kingfish. To me that’s a cracking mix. Sure, it’s not for everyone, but at least what you want to go and target is there for the taking. The better ledges to try include Dalmeny headland, the ‘Golfie Rocks’ in town and Mystery Bay’s high rock to the south of Narooma. It’s exciting times for beach goers as well. Bream and mulloway are definite target species this month and both will be entering the various estuaries along the coast – the mouth of Tuross is a hotspot to target. Every year solid mulloway get caught on the southern end of Blackfellows Beach, and if the early reports are anything to go by then that’s the area I’d be concentrating on. Better baits to use include squid, pilchards, salmon and tailor strips. The best of them all is big bunches of live beach worms. When using worms, don’t be afraid to cast your offering just past the shore dump – mulloway don’t need a lot of water to feed and you would be pleasantly surprised at how many fish come from this skinny water.

can get them. If the bigger fish aren’t for you then the lower sections of the channel below the main bridge in town will see bream, trevally, luderick and flathead all there for the taking. As the month progresses, whiting will start to enter the system and be a viable proposition on the flats with live squirt worms or bass yabbies the preferred baits. Outside anglers have had sporadic fishing at best with the wind that’s been blowing. When it has abated some exceptional fishing has been had and will continue to be on offer. The local reefs are still producing good bags of snapper for those who put the hard yards in. Switched-on anglers get their bags on most outings. The reds are widespread so you have to put the time in to locate them. Once you do, you’re in business. Most fish are averaging 1.5-2kg with

the odd better red nudging 5kg – solid models. The better baits are squid strips, pilchards and tuna cubes. Mixed in with the snapper are morwong, trevally and the odd kingfish. In fact, the kings should really turn up this month and in October. Most years we start to see good schools of kings around the 3-5kg mark. Long Point and Haycock reefs are good places to start looking. They should respond well to live bait, jigs and squid. They can be fussy early in the season, so it’s best to have all bases covered. Those heading out wider looking for tuna may be rewarded, but a lot will depend on conditions like water temperature, current and bait activity. The last few weeks have seen albacore and a few stray SBTs (southern bluefin tuna) caught, but there’s certainly no guts to them. It would be a little hit

and miss at the moment, but you never know. Trolling smaller skirted pushers and bibbed minnows would be the go if you decided to take the long drive out. Personally I’d be waiting another month or so and save the fuel for when the fishing really hots up. On the beaches and rocks the usual culprits will be there ready and waiting with beach goers getting some great results of late. Bream numbers are increasing recently with the estuary mouths the place to fish. The bream are heading back into the systems after spawning on the beaches and I expect this great action to continue right through the month. Mixed in with the bream are some solid whiting and Merimbula main produces exceptional fishing. The flooding tide has been best with live beachworms and pipi the gun baits.

SEPTEMBER 2017

This past winter was a little hard on anglers BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Winter lived up to its reputation, not so much in the weather side of things and too much in the fishing side of things. We haven’t seen much rain and we haven’t seen a great deal of fish. The weather has been quite mild with lots of sunshine and the days have been very nice in the sun, although people will be people and still complain about how cold it has been. We are actually seeing some very warm currents offshore and it has been very unstable in regards to sea surface temperatures. The warm water still pushing down from the north has kept the water so warm offshore that we could see an early marlin season and that would be good, because the currents and wind haven’t been favourable for the tuna season this year. The tuna have been there, but mostly south or way offshore. Then when it looks as though it could be good in closer the wind blows up. It was a slow

A few snapper have been caught off Batemans Bay in glamourous conditions! winter on the tuna due to these factors. Like the last few years, you can expect to catch bluefin tuna into September. Usually it’s the commercial fleet who tend to go that extra distance to where they are. Don’t give up on the tuna just yet, there is the chance of seeing them in closer and

if the weather favours the bigger boats or bigger fuel tanks, there is always a chance if you are willing to travel. So while the tuna have been hard to get so too have the snapper on the inshore reefs. Like the tuna, there has been the odd hot bite and then for most a lot of

misses and less hits. The winds from the west have been making sure that a lot have missed out, especially if you only have the weekend to make the most of it. We usually get these strong westerlies later, so it’s hard to say what’s to come. Fingers crossed they blow out and we see a bit of rain and plenty of sun this spring. When we come onshore to land-based fishing the news doesn’t seem to get that much better, still we are hindered with strong westerlies. Anglers who have continued their rock hopping rituals, such as the Ward family, have managed nice snapper and drummer for their efforts. If all else fails over winter and spring, chasing drummer off the stones is always a sure

bet. If you target correctly and put the hours in, you can turn black into red and you’ll find the odd snapper. Headlands and the rocks are good locations for spinning up salmon and tailor on lures. These guys are also a very reliable species through the colder months. Fishing for drummer out in the oceanic bays, you can catch the odd big bream as they are moving out of the estuary to spawn. If you suddenly get buckled fishing these areas then you have most likely found yourself a grouper, which is always a possibility and a few have been caught on prawns lately for anglers chasing drummer around cliffy areas as they try and get cover from the wind. The beaches were

getting fished quite a bit at night leading into winter with a lot of sharks being caught. As the cold nights kicked in the long rods have nestled back in along the garage walls to hibernate until now. During the day the beaches have been semi active with some schools of salmon and the odd tailor. The tailor have been quite big to very large in some spots. The estuary, to be expected, slowed down over the cooler months, but it seemed a little quieter than usual because many anglers gave up and threw the towel in. Anglers who ventured out and had a crack have surprised themselves with good flathead. We had one lucky customer visit the area and I To page 57

Paul Ward and his big pig.

Adam Flagg was visiting Batemans Bay and caught this fantastic mulloway. 56

SEPTEMBER 2017

fisheries news

A nasty nip was delivered to illegal crabbers DPI Director of Fisheries Compliance Patrick Tully said a recent compliance operation, codenamed ‘Portunus,’ involved hundreds of patrols aimed at targeting illegal crabbing to apprehend offenders creating deterrence, coupled with an educational campaign designed to increase knowledge of crab fishing rules. The compliance operation, conducted by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) from December 2016 to May 2017, resulted in the seizure of over 1000 illegal crab traps and nets, as well as 920 crabs. “Fisheries Officers detected 440 recreational crabbing offences and 26 commercial crabbing offences,” Mr Tully said. “Fisheries Officers used high-tech equipment including long-range surveillance cameras and

drones to locate illegal traps and illegal fishers and will continue to use innovative methods to improve compliance. “In one operation on the Far North Coast, NSW Police assisted Fisheries Officers in detecting a commercial fisher ‘rolling’ or ‘looting’ other commercial fishers’ traps. “We recognise the support of the industry and coastal communities for this operation. The Fishers Watch phone line received approximately 240 reports of suspected illegal crabbing activities which assisted Fisheries Officers in apprehending numerous offenders.” Most of the offenders have been issued penalty notices of up to $500 each, while some will be issued court attendance notices and face fines of up to $22,000 or six months imprisonment, or both, for the first offence. These

penalties double for second or subsequent offences. A total of 10 offences were detected in the retail sector, mostly in the greater Sydney and Central Coast areas. “Any seafood that is not handled, stored and prepared in the proper manner may pose serious health risks to consumers, therefore it is vitally important that people buy their fish and crabs from legitimate sources,” Mr Tully said. “Although Operation

Portunus has officially ended, DPI will continue to target the illegal capture and unlawful sale of the valuable crustaceans.” All fishers are reminded that if they are going crabbing to check the rules in the area by visiting the local Fisheries office or dpi. nsw.gov.au/fishing. Report suspected illegal fishing activity by calling the Fishers Watch phone line 1800 043 536 or report online at dpi.nsw.gov.au/ fishing/compliance/reportillegal-activity. – NSW DPI

Fisheries Officers used high-tech equipment including long-range surveillance cameras and drones to locate illegal traps.

Operation ‘Portunus’ involved hundreds of patrols aimed at targeting illegal crabbing. From page 56

sent him to a little-known hole in the river. On the first cast he got a great 80cm flathead and next cast a mulloway around 90cm. It’s always worth a shot on the estuary, even through the cooler months. You can have your best days fishing at any time of the year. I must say most have struggled. It has been tough lately and it’s even more important to target with laser precision if you want results. If you are in the estuary then go down to 4lb all the way through fluorocarbon to get a bite. If it’s on the beach then keep moving from day to day to find the salmon schools and match the hatch with the lures you are spinning. If you’re going off the stones for snapper then get there on dawn

for that early bite and use good baits or try your luck on plastics. If you’re chasing drummer then berley regularly around suitable wash zones and go down on ball sinker size. Let your cunje or cooked prawn presentation waft down with the berley. It hasn’t been easy this winter and plenty of fishos are having a whinge. It’s times like these when you can sharpen your skills and you can get some growth and appreciation for the sport. Get out there – the weather is great and nature is great. Sharpen your skills! • 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). SEPTEMBER 2017

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News

Applications now open for Habitat Action Grants Habitat Action Grants are available again this year and applications are now open, giving fishers a great chance to put some of our license fees back into improving the habitats that support the sport we love. Twenty-six projects were funded in the 20162017 Habitat Action Grants. Funding provided totals over $554,000, with applicants providing over $1.3 million in contributions as well. These grants will assist recreational anglers, local councils, environmental and community groups and private landholders to enhance and rehabilitate degraded recreational fish habitats through a range of on-ground works. Rehabilitation of fish habitats provides longterm sustainable benefits for native fish stocks and in turn provides substantial

The Habitat Action Grants give anglers a chance to improve the habitats that support the sport we love. Photo courtesy of Shane Chalker Photography. benefits for NSW recreational fishers who will enjoy more healthy and productive fisheries. Improvements in fish habitats will also provide more opportunities for rural and regional communities to promote local tourism. For some, applying for funding may be a daunting task, but Fisheries NSW has tried to make the application

PROJECT IDEAS •R emoval or modification of barriers to fish passage •R ehabilitation of riparian lands (river banks, wetlands, mangrove forests, saltmarsh) • Re-snagging waterways with timber structure • Removal of exotic vegetation from waterways • Bank stabilisation works • Reinstatement of natural flow regimes

form and process as easy as possible. Here are a couple of pointers if you are thinking of applying. Before you do anything, have a look at the webpage to see examples of other projects that have been funded at www.dpi.nsw. gov.au/hag. Projects don’t have to be massive – you are better off starting on a small patch and working to improve that, rather than trying to fix everything at once and failing. Remember, you can’t eat a burger in a single bite. For this reason there are small grants up to $2000 available as well as grants to fund projects up to $40,000. If you have a project idea, but aren’t sure how to

go about it or whether it is appropriate, have a chat with one of the contacts listed in the application form. This will save you time in the

long run and help speed the process along. The form itself is pretty self-explanatory – get yourself a catchy title, include your contact details, identify what you want to do, where it is, how you will do it, how long you will need and who will benefit. A budget is essential to show how much cash you will need and who else is contributing. There is an example budget to use as a guide, but again, talk with one of the Fisheries staff to see how much detail you need. Generally cover the number and cost of each item (eg. 200 tubestock for $2.50 each = $500). Funding is on a 1:1

ratio, meaning that for every dollar requested, a dollar ‘in-kind’ is needed. In-kind includes time put toward the project by the applicant(s), site maintenance, use of machinery, or contribution of matching funds. Getting the support of landowners (private or public) and involvement or support from fishers is a key part of the application. Get your thinking caps on and talk to other fishers, neighbours, farmers, or councils about the projects you can do to improve fishing by improving fish habitat in your area! Call Scott Nichols (02) 6626 1396 for more information. – NSW DPI

Habitat Action at work: volunteers planting tubestock on the banks. Photo courtesy of NSW DPI.

Want more of me? Well do something about it! Photo thanks to David Seaman

HABITAT ACTION GRANTS are NOW OPEN for projects to improve fish habitat in your area. Act now – Applications close

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For more information contact PH: 02 6626 1396 or email: fish.habitat@dpi.nsw.gov.au

or visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/hag SEPTEMBER 2017

Plenty of stuff to target and it’s barely spring TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Recently the Bega River was still closed to the ocean. If it stays that way, expect good fishing throughout the whole system, as it will be warm towards the entrance as well as the upper reaches. Upstream is likely to be best. If it’s an early spring, the freshwater sections are likely to warm up and bass

may start to feed. There are plenty in the Bega system and there have been some exceptional, large fish in recent years. Further downstream into the brackish or salt sections of the river, estuary perch and black bream are a target species. These fish inhabit the same areas where both will attack a well-presented lure or bait. Areas to concentrate your efforts on are shallow gravelly areas where you can more often than not sight cast

The Bega System is capable of some great catches like this.

to cruising black bream for some exciting angling. The estuary perch are more likely to seek cover in areas like large log piles or deep rocky shorelines. Here a sounder is an advantage where you can locate the fish down deep then work them. Sometimes you may make a few casts to gain a response and other times you can make hundreds with no response. Other species that are starting to move are flathead, tailor and there are some reasonable mulloway in the system if you can locate them. Don’t rule out the other estuaries surrounding Tathra, as they are also starting to warm and the fishing will only improve from here. Around on the wharf the trevally action is pretty hot with plenty of silver bullets to wrap anglers’ lines around the many pylons. There is plenty of yellowtail to keep the kids amused, while of a night you can expect tailor and squid. The rocky platforms adjacent to the wharf and around to Kianinny Bay are attracting plenty of anglers with the many black drummer that call these rock shores home. Cabbage

The Bega River system is full of bream. weed and cunjevoi are best for these as well as for some of the wrasse, luderick, silver drummer and silver trevally. The trevally will react better to cut fish strips, as will southern yellowfin bream. Consistent passing schools of salmon offer an alternative fishery for anglers. These salmon are occurring in good numbers along the beaches surrounding Tathra and are being taken on lures and bait regularly. Baits are also accounting for many other species including

tailor, bream and the odd mulloway. Now that things have warmed a bit, night time fishing for gummy sharks on the full moon is a great option for anglers. Offshore anglers are having fun chasing a range of different species from mid-water pelagics through to bottom dwelling thugs close to the stones. For the mid-water species, expect salmon or tailor to be on your short list with a chance of a stray kingfish. The bottom fish species will vary from wrasse, cod and morwong to the more

sought-after snapper, and there are plenty of areas to try north or south of Kianinny Bay. For the bottom bashers, flathead are now in season and are increasing in number every day. The prime area is south out from Bournda in about 50-60m of water. You can also try north out from Wapengo where sand flathead lurk with the tigers or travel a little further north to Goalen Head to some good reefs for snapper and morwong if the flatties won’t play ball.

The warm water will whet the fish’s appetites BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Offshore flathead are starting to appear in good numbers and are starting to come on the chew with some excellent bags being achieved. North out from Tilba, the area we call the ‘Step’ is producing plenty of tigers. Mixed in with them are some good sandies, red gurnard and the odd large gummy shark. Other successful areas are the edges of the Four and Six-Mile reefs. If you’re up to fishing the deeper water of the Twelve-Mile Reef, the tigers you get out there are monsters. Not to be outdone, snapper and morwong are also plentiful on most of the reefs, which is a definite bonus. Start up on the reefs for these fish and as you drift off them, the tigers will start to appear. For those wishing to chase gamefish things are pretty slow. There are a few striped tuna, an odd albacore and the even odder kingfish at the island. Those wishing to lay a decent berley trail may be in with a better 60

SEPTEMBER 2017

chance of attracting a mako or blue shark, which is best done out over the shelf. Back on shore the beach fishing is probably one of the best options with the huge salmon schools passing on a regular basis. These fish can be targeted with the usual bait fishing methods or by tossing the odd lure. Lure fishing is simple in that all you need is a light spin rod, a handful of metal slugs and a little bit of fitness. Just start walking and casting to the gutters that have formed along the beach you

have chosen to fish. Gummy sharks have been a regular catch off the beach this year and are mainly being targeted on the full moon. While chasing these gummies, an increasing number of mulloway are being captured as by-catch. The beaches around Bermagui are not noted for these fish, but recently more are showing in anglers’ bags. Spring means bass fishing. These fish are in the fresh to brackish water of the river systems along the South Coast

Lure casting the beaches is a lot of fun.

as well as in the great fishery in Brogo Dam. The rivers are probably the best option with the Brogo River below the dam wall being a prime area. Fish will be moving back up the river after spawning and most holes will hold their share of fish. In the dam itself, the water is still pretty cool. Find a warm, balmy evening (hopefully during an ant hatch) and you may well be pleasantly surprised. However, things are still pretty slow. The upper reaches of estuary systems that are open to the ocean are definitely worth a look, even those that are closed to the sea. What happens here is that the land mass is slowly warming and so too is the water around it. Fish find these locations where they can be more active feeding on the available food sources created by the warmer conditions. Baitfish, prawns and terrestrial life are the main food sources available, so when these are around it’s great news for anglers. Whether you lure, fly or baitfish, these areas have lots to offer. Small soft plastics will take the usual species like bream, flathead, estuary perch and, more recently, some big bully mullet. Most of the time these mullet will shy away

Colours in flathead are spectacular, whether they’re caught inshore or out at sea. from most hardware tossed at them, however a few anglers have stumbled onto a method – surprisingly, when you rip a small wriggling plastic across their noses, they respond. Hang on, they are explosive. Tidal systems that have plenty of flats are prime areas to target. If these flats have been exposed to the sun at low tide for some time, the warmth

created brings the fish to these areas on a rising tide where they know plenty of food will be available. When enough water covers these flats to allow both anglers and fish to move over them, simply pick an area, anchor and scatter baits such as nippers or worms randomly over the area. Then sit back and wait for the action.

Lakely the best option MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen plenty of windy, cold days with just enough rain to discolour the lake. At this time of year the town is typically quiet with only a few keen fishers heading here to sample the fishing in the lake and rivers. Offshore water temperatures have been cold and anywhere between 13-15°C; this pretty well shuts down the offshore fishing options. If you are really keen, you can get out there around the full moon and new moon period and chase a few gummy sharks. If they’re going to bite, it’ll be around this month. Southern bluefin tuna have been passing by out wide with a few fish caught further up the coast. You have

to pick the right weather and be super keen, as these fish have been caught over 65km from land.

Salmon are still along the local beaches and will be there up until the water warms up. They love the cold

A blade-caught bream from the deeper waters of the bottom lake.

Eden feeling the cold EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

As with the rest of the South Coast, the Eden area has been feeling the cold with few visitors to the area at this time of year. Nearly everyone would be looking forward to summer and the busier times that come with it. The offshore water temperature is around 16°C and out wide it’s not much warmer. All the local beaches in the area have schools of salmon moving along them frequenting the gutters at different stages of the tide. The best way to stay with the fish is to toss metal lures and move from gutter to gutter

until fish are found. Decently sized tailor are also being caught in the same areas as salmon. A few yellowfin bream are about with fresh baits of beach worms or prawns the best option fished around dawn or dusk. This has been rewarding anglers with a feed of fish. The odd southern bluefin tuna has been caught, but they are a long way out. Few anglers are getting out there to chase them and it’s much the same with the broadbill swordfish. Around the inshore reefs anglers have been getting a feed of fish with snapper, morwong and flathead – tigers and sandies – being caught along with snotty-nose trevally. There have been a few anglers chasing the snapper with soft plastic lures. When

the fish have been found, they have been caught on a variety of soft plastic lures. Around this time of year the water is at its coldest. The coming months will see the water temperature slowly rising and with it the fishing will only improve. Fishing in the estuaries has seen silver trevally around the entrance area along with yellowfin bream and the odd sand whiting. Nippers and small soft plastic lures are catching their share of fish. The odd dusky flathead has been caught, but the cold water really slows the fish down. Further upstream anglers have been catching black bream. These fish can be hard to catch one day then the next day they come on the bite.

The author with a nice black bream caught in the top lake. water and when it warms they’ll disappear. They are constantly moving up and down the beach visiting all the gutters. It’s just a matter of keeping on the move until fish are found. The lake is the drawcard for visiting anglers over the cooler months with the black bream fishing better than usual at this time of

year. Having said that, you have to know what you’re doing, as they can be hard to catch. The best fishing is on the cloudy, windy days and it’s near impossible to fish when there is no wind and the sun is out. Fish can be found anywhere in the bottom lake right through the top lake and up towards

Gypsy Point. The challenge is catching them, as they have seen more than their fair share of lures. Silver trevally and tailor are also being caught along with a few dusky flathead. All in all, the fishing has been pretty tough and you really have to work at it to come up with a few fish.

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David Edwards with a lovely Murray cod from Copeton Dam, caught on a 4-6kg Shimano outfit.

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Find the bait, find the fish! NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

It makes sense: find the food that predatory fish like to eat and those hunters shouldn’t be too far away! If you hang around other anglers long enough, you’re sure to hear the expression, ‘find the bait and you’ll find the fish,’ or some version of it. This concept is especially well established in the ranks of offshore fishers chasing tuna, billfish and so on, although it’s also a popular concept with many inshore and estuary anglers, and even amongst some savvy freshwater fishers. It makes absolute sense when you think about it. Just as lions will shadow herds of wildebeests and other potential prey across the vast African veldt, so predatory fish tend to follow concentrations of pilchards, krill, squid or other so-called ‘bait’ in the aquatic world. Naturally enough, the actual definition of ‘bait’ varies, depending on where you fish and what you hunt. While anchovies, sprats,

pilchards, garfish and whitebait are all obvious contenders for the title of ‘bait’, it’s worth remembering that larger predators can consume surprisingly hefty prey. Billfish, for example, can swallow items weighing

at least 10% of their own body mass. So, for a big, bruising blue marlin, the sort of yellowfin tuna most of us would be happy to target on light or medium tackle is little more than a snack! Some predators also

favour certain prey types over others. We’ll probably never know for sure whether this preference has to do with the actual taste and texture of the food, or its availability and familiarity. Whatever the reason, some predator/

Squid are the favoured food of many marine predators.

One angler’s proud catch is another angler’s bait. This handsome skipjack or striped tuna would be little more than a snack for a big marlin. prey relationships are wellknown. These include GTs (giant trevally) and fusiliers, mahimahi (dolphin fish) and flying fish, blue marlin and skipjack (striped tuna),

yellowtail kingfish and squid, mulloway (jewfish) and small tailor, barramundi and popeye mullet, or even trout and mudeyes (dragonfly larvae) in freshwater environments. Smart anglers recognize these hardwired, predator/ prey relationships and respond by seeking out concentrations of those preferred food items when hunting their chosen target fish. They also use those favoured prey items as bait (alive or dead), or attempt to closely imitate them with their lures and flies. This is one of the core tricks that separates the ‘10 percenters’

(that small portion of the fishing community who catch most of the fish) from the rest of the pack – the anglers from the danglers, if you like! Intelligent observation and an understanding of core predator/prey relationships is a skill worth honing. It will definitely make you a better and more consistently successful angler, wherever you choose to cast a line and whatever species you chase. It all begins with simply opening your eyes and your mind to what’s going on all around you… and looking for the bait.

The presence of worm burrows and yabby or nipper holes on an estuarine tidal flat is a strong indicator that feeding fish won’t be too far away.

Schools of baitfish aren’t always easy to spot. Can you see the patch of bait over the sand?

Brock Stewart took this healthy Copeton cod on a handcrafted JJ’s Plague timber lure using stealth tactics at first light. He even went to the trouble of camouflaging his legs to remain hidden!

Here’s a closer look at a baitfish school. SEPTEMBER 2017

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AFTA Show gets the thumbs-up If you follow fishing and didn’t know the AFTA Trade Show was held on the Gold Coast in July, you must have had a dodgy internet connection for the last month! Plenty of new products were released, some making their Australian debut after being launched at the ICAST show in the USA mere weeks before, and others being displayed for the first time. Like always, AFTA ran Best of Show awards that were contested by over 280 entries in 19 categories. The winners are published here. Fishing Monthly’s own www.tacklejunkie. fish, which powers the What’s New sections of the magazines, also handed out its own ‘Thumbs Up’ awards that were presented on the five live shows that Steve Morgan and

Simon Goldsmith broadcast from the show floor. You can watch recordings of the live shows on the www.tacklejunkie.fish Facebook page or just the Thumbs Up products on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. The award winners as well as Hall of Fame inductees and Industry Awards were presented at the AFTA Gala Dinner. Hosted by Nova Brisbane radio star Ash Bradnam, and attended by a who’s who of the industry and government, it was great to see people like Bruce Alvey acknowledged for their decades of tireless service to the industry. Was the AFTA Show a hub of activity for the Australian tackle industry? You bet! We gave it the thumbs-up. - FM

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - John Millyard John Millyard joined Basser Millyard in the early 1970s to assist his father with the heavy workload. Upon joining the business John went on to acquire some great agencies including Pradco, Scotty, AFTCO, Everol and Mr Twister. In 1993, John decided to expand the business and acquired Killalure. He used his training and expertise in plastic moulding to take this brand to a new level by re-tooling existing models into plastic. New models were designed in the coming years, and the Killalure range firmly established its place as a major player in the Australian market. In 2000, John bought Classic Lures from

Rob Gaden and again used his skills and knowledge to upgrade the brand’s foam lures to injection plastic. Many new models were developed, and the brand has gone on to enjoy great success in both Australian and international markets. John was a founding director of the Australian Fishing Trade Association (AFTA) in 1981, and took on the role of running the industry trade show with the goal of promoting fishing to the public. The first show was a public show held at Birkenhead Point in Sydney in 1981. John ran the AFTA show for many years in venues including Homebush, Rosehill Racecourse, Penrith Panthers, Flemington Racecourse, the Brisbane Showgrounds and finally the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre where it continues to be held to this day. Together with John Dunphy, John Millyard spent countless volunteer hours lobbying state and federal governments for the benefit of recreational fishing.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Trevor Maundrell Trevor Maundrell started with Jarvis Walker in 1984 as a sales representative, alongside his brother Max. He quickly progressed through the ranks, becoming the NSW State Manager, then the National Sales Manager and finally was appointed at CEO in 1988. Trevor took Jarvis Walker from an Australian rod building business to the international fishing tackle company we know today.

Over the years Jarvis Walker has had overseas ownership by companies including the Penn Fishing Tackle Company and Ryobi. One of Trevor’s proudest achievements has been bringing Jarvis Walker home to 100% Australian ownership. Trevor has dedicated many volunteer hours to working with recreational fishing industry bodies. He served two terms on the board of the Australian Fishing Trade Association and continues to serve of the board of the Future Fish Foundation. During his time on the AFTA Board, Trevor oversaw many initiatives that raised the profile of recreational fishing in Australia, and made the nation’s leaders sit up and take note. Trevor’s leadership is described as ‘nothing short of inspirational’, and the loyalty and years of service of the staff at Jarvis Walker is testament to the team environment that he has created.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION - Dick Lewers Richard ‘Dick’ Lewers was best known for his long running Modern Fishing column ‘Ask Dick Lewers’. Dick was also involved in various recreational fishing bodies, and was a fixture at both the Sydney and Melbourne boat show fishing clinics for many years. Dignified, quietly spoken, but with a devilish sense of humour, Dick personified the term ‘nature’s gentleman’ and was revered by all who had contact with him. The ‘Ask Dick Lewers’ column was the

longest running question and answer column in the world. Aside from his column writing, Dick was an accomplished book author, with his first work being published way back in the 1950s. Understanding Fishing Tackle was the ‘bible’ in the 1970s, and Fabulous Bass and How to Catch Them, published in 1995, was a true labour of love for this warm, genuine and humble man. A superb communicator, it wasn’t just about tackle and technique with Dick though. A number of past and present day fishing writers sought his advice about becoming magazine contributors, and his well considered, thoughtful replies were of sufficient encouragement for them to put down the rod, pick up the camera, and get their thoughts down on paper. With Dick’s passing in December last year, at the age of 92, Australian recreational fishing lost one of its true champions.

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NS Black Hole make rods for jigging, popping, and slow jigging in their brand new Boca range, but it was the popping model that got runner up for Best Rod at AFTA. The Boca Popping rod beat a large number of excellent rods to snag this title, as the Best Rod division is always hotly contested at AFTA, with a large number of entries. Popping has become very popular in the last few years, and this addictive fishing demands the best quality in hardwearing equipment. This is why the Boca Popping rods are such a good option. The Boca Popping rods come in four sizes, with a 7’9” PE 2-4 stick that will throw baits up to 125g, an 8’3”, PE 6-10 stick capable of casting baits to 180g, an 8’6” version of the PE 6-10 that will cast up to 150g, and a 10’ PE 3-6 stick that can throw baits weighing up to 140g. All rods are 2-piece, come with Fuji LRV Titanium guides and have nano carbon blanks and a double locking reel seat. Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store in the coming months, or for more information on the NS Black Hole range head to the EJ Todd website. www.ejtodd.com.au

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The Best Rod division of the AFTA Best of Show Awards always attracts a large number of entries, and this year was no different. After a flurry of voting, the rod that came out on top in 2017 was the 6’6”, 4-piece Combat Beast Travel Baitcast (PE 1-4, 70g) from Wilson Fishing. The Combat Beast series of rods, as the name suggests, is built specifically to take on the biggest predators that fishing can throw at you. Crafted using high performance Toray carbon material, the blanks have a fast taper that allows for a solid hook set and a high back bone that allows the angler to turn the heads of powerful fish. An ingenious 4 axis carbon slit cross wrapping eliminates blank twist and reinforces the overall structural stability giving these rods an incredible strength and ultimate performance in the field. The rods are fitted with high quality Fuji components including Fuji K-SIC guides that have been optimally placed to maximise blank integrity, making the Combat Beasts the ultimate performance rods developed to take on the ultimate beast. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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Shimano Sustain 2500 HGFI

13 Fishing Concept Z

The brand new Shimano Sustain FI comes in 4 sizes, but it was the smallest version, the 2500 HGFI, that won out over others at the AFTA trade show. By leveraging the benefits of the Aluminum Hagane Body, the Sustain FI possesses the rigidity of a metal outer shell that maximizes impact resistance whilst eliminating body flex under load. To provide enhanced sensitivity, a Magnumlite Rotor has been fitted and offers an effortless low inertia rotation – a significant improvement on the previous Sustain FG model. X Protect technology provides the Sustain FI with Shimano’s highest degree of waterproofing protection. Such technology leverages both a water repellent treatment and labyrinth structure that blocks any saltwater entry into the reel’s internals. The cold forged Hagane Gear and X-Ship provide a gearing system that is smoother and stronger than any other on the market. This gives the reel a much smoother gear transition but also unrivalled pulling power. The 2500 HGFI has a gear ratio of 6.0:1, can put out a maximum of 9kg of drag, and weighs just 235g! Make sure you add this one to the wish list! www.shimanofish.com.au

It’s time to rethink everything you know about bearings! Introducing the newest member of the Concept range of baitcasting reels from from 13 Fishing, the Concept Zero. The Concept Zero features bearings that use 13 Fishing’s proprietary new space-age polymer material to replace all ball bearings. This is where the Concept Zero gets its name – it has zero ball bearings! That means there will be no more performance loss due to debris, no more corrosion and environmental wear, and no more noise. Some of the other cool features include 6-way centrifugal braking, 22LB Bulldog drag and Japanese Hamai cut gearing. The Concept Zero is currently available in 6.6:1, 7.3:1 and 8.1:1 in the right hand wind configuration, and 7.3:1 in the left hand configuration. The Zero is a fantastically durable reel that won’t break the bank, and it looks pretty damn good too! Welcome to the future of baitcasting. For more information on the 13 Fishing rod range, visit the Nomad Tackle website or like them on Facebook. Price: SRP $200 www.nomadtackle.com

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The runner-up for Best Combo at the 2017 AFTA Show was the Penn Conflict II and Regiment II. Incorporating a lightweight yet strong RR30 (Rigid Resin) body and rotor, the Conflict II can withstand the high pressures that braided lines and powerful fish generate,while being light enough to comfortably cast all day. Housed with the RR30 body are seven stainless steel bearings and a computercontrolled CNC gear technology system. HT100 carbon fibre drag washers ensure smooth and consistent drag pressure. There are four models, covering everything from snapper on plastics through to pelagics on metals. Gear ratios range from 6.2:1/83cm on the 2500 to 5.6:1/90cm on the 5000, and maximum drags range from 5.5kg to 11kg. Penn Regiment II rods are new gen super light but powerful graphite rods featuring SLS3 construction with dual layer graphite wrap for added twist resistance. Other features include strong and furable Fuji Alconite K-Guides and a lightweight Fuji graphite reel seat. SLS3 construction uses inner and outer spiral wrap layers of carbon fibre to sandwich middle layers of alternating longitudinal carbon and glass. The spiral wraps maintain a round cross-section in the blank when under load, which helps the blank handle higher loads. The middle layers of unidirectional carbon and glass create the backbone, delivering a strong, balanced, and thin rod blank. www.pennfishing.com.au

For a winning combo designed for throwing big lures at big fish, look no further than the Jewel Swimbait 7120 rod paired up with a Tranx 300A reel, both from Shimano! The Shimano Tranx 300A is designed to go toe-to-toe with the toughest predators. The Tranx series comes in a range of sizes, but the 300A comes in 5.8:1 and 7.6:1 ratios, and has an ergonomic double handle. The Hagane Body provides a rigid yet highly durable outer shell that’s free from body flexing. Additionally, High Efficiency Gearing (HEG) leverages an enlarged drive and pinion gear that is further supported by X-Ship for the ultimate in smooth operation. The Jewel Swimbait rod is 7’10” and comes as a 2-piece. This beast is rated at 8-15kg, and can cast baits weighing up to 5oz! Like all the rods in the upgraded Jewel series, the Jewel Swimbait rod is built on a T45 blank and fitted with Fuji K Alconite guides, combining high end contruction and superior value. The construction of the T45 blank sets the Jewel apart from traditional graphite construction, where a graphite tape is linear rolled at 45° and is then reinforced by two opposing angled premium graphite sheets, creating a light yet extremely strong blank. The Tranx 300A and Jewel Swimbait rod are definitely a match made in heaven for the big bait lovers! www.shimanofish.com.au

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The Zerek Stalker was created to make a unique sound while being retrieved, appealing to large surface-feeding predators. The Stalker has a snake-like swimming action that rocks the internal rattles and knocks the lure’s section together creating the unique sound this lure emits. A jointed, three-piece wakebait with through wire construction and large boot tail, the Stalker is built to handle the extreme tackle anglers are using with these lures. Fitted out with 5x strong Mustad trebles to ensure a solid and secure connection, the Stalker exudes strength in all areas. Make no mistake, this lure is designed to be fished hard for big predators that includes Murray cod, barramundi, trevally and a range of other reef thugs. Initially released in the 250mm Mega version, the Zerek Stalker will be also be available in an 18cm version by the end of the year. The Stalker will add a tough lure to your kit that will take on the biggest predators in your area. Available in eight colours. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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The Best Hard Lure category was hotly contested at the 2017 AFTA Show. There were many quality contenders, but the Gillies Bluewater Saury lure topped the pack. It's designed to mimic the popular pelagic baitfish and will be in its element chasing tuna, mackerel and all other predatory species. The Saury comes with 10/0 VMC single hooks and heavy-duty rings and hardware. The heavy duty, stainless steel, wired through construction ensures the lure will stand up to the toughest sports fish. A new reinforced bib design compliments the nose wired tow point to ensure the lures swim perfectly out of the box and require minimal tuning after use. The Saury is available in 10 colours and some of those feature the patented ‘LiveGlo’ fluorescent technology. The technology incorporates luminous and ultra violet additives that are somewhat invisible to the human eye but not to predatory fish. The innovation and design in Lance Butler’s lures is something that sets his lures apart from most mainstream lures. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Halco's Madeye range has been winning fans ever since its release. A big part of this is their new soft plastic Rubber Stretch Technology . RST is a unique rubber copolymer that's up to 5x more durable than standard plastic, and is also boyant, enabling the lure to float and wriggle when sitting on the bottom. One of the most popular models in the range is the Paddle Prawn. It was initially released in 3”, 5” and 7” sizes, and is now also available in a 4" version. With its RST technology, the 4" Paddle Prawn is very durable, and can withstand repeated savage strikes. It's enhanced with a natural squid scent, and many colours are highly UV reactive. These babies are unbeatable in the water! All Paddle Prawns have a thin, lightweight yet durable tail that is buoyant and sends irresistible vibrations through the water when jigged or in a current. In addition, the legs and feelers add to the natural appeal, making the Paddle Prawn look incredibly lifelike in the water. The Madeyes 4” Paddle Prawn is available in all your favourite colours, including 200 amber oil, 204 ivy flash, 206 jelly prawn, 207 fluoro orange, 211 raw prawn (new colour), 212 fluoro pink, 215 pearl. It’s available in packs of six. www.halcotackle.com

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The new ChaseBaits Smash Squid from River2Sea looks exactly like a real squid, right down to the wings that ripple through the water. It’s so lifelike that a video of it swimming received over 214,000 views in a matter of days! Creator Grainger Mayfield from River2Sea says it’s the most realistic squid ever made, but added that creating it wasn’t an easy journey. “It took 18 months to get the design right,” he explained. “The rolling wings were particularly challenging. Early versions simply vibrated or flapped in the water. We had to get the thickness and shape absolutely spoton to achieve that perfect roll.” Other features include lifelike 3D custom squid eyes, supple tentacles and a potent squid scent for maximum attraction. You can work the Smash Squid in a variety of ways – twitching, jigging or just adding it to a dropper rig to waft naturally in the current. In field testing the Smash Squid has been smashing the snapper, catching them even after its tentacles are gone. As well as catching every predator in the salt, lateralthinking anglers should also be able to catch freshwater species too. Keep an eye out for it in stores later this year! Price: from SRP $19.99 www.river2sea.com.au

Chasebaits 75mm Smash Crab

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Live Target has combined nature’s best with modern technology to create an exciting new collection of swimbaits, and it caught the eye of many industry members at t There are 11 different types in the series, all representing different forages such as mullet, sardines and perch, but the one that received the most appraisal at the AFTA show was the Trout Swimbait! The Trout, as with every other swimbait in the range has been fitted with a strategically engineered oscillator that generates a sideto-side tail swing action. Each swimbait has been anatomically scaled, so they look ridiculously realistic. As a bonus, they also feature a hook guard built into the dorsal fin of each swimbait, so you can throw them into some gnarly cover! The Trout will be most at home in Murray cod fisheries, where trout often dine on these foreign delights. It’s 190mm long, weighs 3.25oz, and comes in two colours, representing brown and rainbow trout! www.ejtodd.com.au

After the release of the hugely popular 100 Smash Crab, the team at River2Sea were flooded with requests to make a smaller version to appeal to more species. River2Sea responded by creating the 75mm Smash Crab, which promptly achieved runner-up position at the ICAST 2017 tackle trade show in the USA. In Australian field testing the 75mm Smash Crab has been picking up flathead, trevally, snapper and more. You can work the Crab by dropping it down ledges or pylons and let the legs create all the action on their own. Alternatively, you can jig it back to you, or even add it to a dropper rig. The leg vibration is very tight and erratic, with little to no angler input needed. The 75mm Smash Crab is made from 10x material with a custom Shogun 4/0 hook rated to 20kg+, and it comes in five lifelike colours. It’s perfect for all estuary and shallow offshore species. Price: from SRP $16.95 www.river2sea.com.au

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Fins ‘Evolve’ is constructed from a next generation Hybrid Fibre Concept (HFC), meaning it’s hardwearing and perfect for going up against some of the toughest animals with fins in the world. It has been formulated and designed for the tough Australian conditions and Australian fish. State of the art fibres combine to provide maximum casting distance, ultra smooth presentation and yet still meets all the toughness and reliability that you come to expect from Fins lines. Ultra-thin diameters combine with silky smooth outer coatings to provide the softest and most efficient casting line on the market, and also ensures that you get some serious mileage out of one spool. The round profile suits both spin and bait casting reels and is available in hi-vis chartreuse for all water visibility. Make sure you give this stuff a look when it’s time to re-spool your favourite reel! www.jmgillies.com.au

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Sunline’s newest braid, Siglon PE, comes in both 4-carrier and 8-carrier, but it was the x8 that won praise at the AFTA show! Made from EX-PE fibres, Siglon PE is a tightly woven braid that provides superior abrasion resistance, a very thin diameter for its breaking strain, and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage, with a stiff yet ultrasmooth and round profile, and is available in striking colour options. Both the PEx8 and PEx4 are Japanesemade, featuring great lineal and knot strength. The PE fibre provides high sensitivity and low colour bleed. Siglon PEx8 is available in light green, orange and multicolour. It comes in breaking strains of PE0.3 (5lb) to PE3 (50lb) in 150m spools, and PE0.6 (10lb) to PE10 (130lb) in 300m spools Siglon represents absolute quality at an affordable price, and is a definite winner, whatever you plan to fish for with it. www.ejtodd.com.au

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The new Bluewater Trolling lures from Gillies feature unique hand-poured heads, attractive graphics and finish detailing their trademark Bluewater logo in the eye. Other features include a supple silicone skirt, a quality finish to the resin head and skirt attachment, two different swimming actions, and tried-andtested, fish-catching colour combinations. The 6”, 8” and 10” Bluewater Lures are considered small to medium in size and ideally would perform better if rigged with a single hook. The 8” and 10” versions could accommodate a two-hook shackle rig, however if the gauge of the hook is heavy this could dampen the action of the lure. It is recommended that chafe tube be used over the leader through the lure head to avoid abrasion, and a stopper used above the rigging inside the lure skirt to stop the rigging inside the lure skirt to stop the rigging pressing against the head at the point of connection. There are two head types – plunger and pop – and the target species are billfish, tuna, wahoo, mackerel and mahimahi. www.jmgillies.com.au

The FatBoy Devil is a slant-face, short plunger-style design with a gentle angle and moderate taper, which gives a consistent and reliable action that works well across all sea conditions. This very stable and easy to use slant design pumps out a strong bubble trail. The Devil comes in two sizes, 8” (pictured) and 6”, and both models are keel weighted for prefect balance and true running performance. It’s versatile enough to be used from any position in the spread, although the short and long rigger are recommended as the best positions to try it. The FatBoy Devil has proven to be deadly for all marlin species, as well as yellowfin and southern bluefin tuna. Like all FatBoy lures it features a hand-poured head that uses high-impact, UV-pigmented resin which makes it extremely durable (it will not chip or crack). Chrome mirror inserts reflect sunlight and throw off a great flash underwater which, when combined with the blood red eyes, acts as a powerful strike trigger for sharp-eyed predators. www.unitedtackle.com.au

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Sage Salt HD

Hardy Zephrus Ultralite

Building on the success of the X using KonneticHD technology, Sage introduces the Salt HD. This rod offers more pulling authority and increased line lifting power than standard fast action rods, and will ensure anglers can tame any saltwater species. The Salt HD features KonneticHD Technology for ultralight, strong, and slim blanks to help reduce fatigue and slice through the wind. The oversized hard chromed snake guides and tip-top ensure large saltwater knots slide smoothly, and the heavy-duty anodized aluminum reel seat is uplocking to ensure stability. Combined with a full-wells cork handle and a laser etched line weight on the slide band, these rods are ready to go when the fish of a lifetime swims by. Available in 6-16wt, each model is purpose-built for a specific saltwater application. The Squid Ink blank colour pairs perfectly with black thread wraps and blue trim wraps. The Salt HD comes with a custom rod bag, powder coated aluminum rod tube, and of course is backed by Sage's lifetime warranty. For more information visit the Sage website. www.sageflyfish.com

New for 2017 is the Hardy Zephrus Ultralite range, which came runner-up in the Best Fly Rod division of the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show. Hardy Zephrus Ultralite Fly Rods are premium rods made for the most technical and delicate presentations to wary fish – the ultimate light line, technical fly rod for the advanced angler. Designed and manufactured with Sintrix in the 440 configuration, the Zephrus Ultralite sets a new standard for durability in an ultralightweight rod. Custom design reel seats reduce the weight further, and the slim, cigar-style grip adds feel and refinement to what is sure to become the ultimate technical fly rod on the market today. The medium-fast blanks feature Fuji titanium-framed stripping guides, REC blackpearl snake guides, and are equipped with beautiful custom reel seats. All rods in this series are 4-piece, measuring from 8’8” to 9’9” long in 2–5wt sizes. A custom aluminium rod tube is included. For all the latest information on Hardy releases in Australia, plus recent captures, go to their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/hardyflyfishingaust. fly.hardyfishing.com

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Hardy Ultralite MTX 5000

Sage Spectrum

It was no surprise to show-goers when the Hardy Ultralite MTX took out top spot in the Best Fly Reel division of the AFTA Best of Show Awards. A new benchmark in reel design, the Hardy Ultralite MTX is Hardy’s first fly reel to feature a hybrid carbon fibre/alloy main frame construction. Strong, lightweight and with a stunning industrial design, the Hardy Ultralite MTX features a carbon fibre drag system with 340° colour-coded regulator, captive spool release and high line capacity. There are currently three sizes in the range, going from a smallwater 3/4/5 through to a 7/8/9. For more information on the Hardy Ultralite MTX, as well as other new Hardy releases, log onto the Hardy website. It features videos, catch photos and more. You can also find them on Facebook (www.facebook. com/hardyflyfishingaust) and Instagram (#hardyfishing). fly.hardyfishing.com

Modeled after the popular 4200 series, the Sage Spectrum is a true large arbor performance fly reel. With concave spool surface, for optimal line capacity and drag-assisting smoothness, the Spectrum is lightweight, extremely durable, and packed with features you’d expect on higher priced reels. The features of the new Sage Spectrum include an SCS Drag, one revolution drag knob with numbered and detented settings, a large arbor for fast line pick-up, concave arbor for greater strength and capacity, fully-machined 6061-T6 aerospace grade aluminium construction, cold forged and tempered for superior strength and rigidity, hard anodized for surface protection and corrosion resistance, and a machined and anodized aluminium ergonomic handle. Additionally, there’s easy conversion from left to right-hand retrieve, and vice versa,, as well as a neoprene and embroidered ballistic nylon reel case. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Airflo Forge is a new, all-around line designed for all levels of fishing and casting experience. It takes advantage of the latest material technology to improve distance and accuracy without breaking the bank. With a total head length of 40’ and a working head length of between 33’ to 42’, it is a very versatile performer that will work for all levels of casting ability. A relatively long front taper of 8’ (incl. tip) allows for smooth turnover and precise deliveries, superb for nymphs, dries and any top of the water presentation. The warm olive head colour will help reduce any line flash in the air, and a sunrise yellow running line allows you to easily see the transition at the rear taper and help you gauge the optimal amount of line to aerialise when going for distance. The surface is ultra-smooth to the touch and holds a dry lubrication system that not only improves casting performance, but also helps significantly with water repulsion. The core is a braided multifilament, similar to those found in top end PVC fly lines. www.manictackleproject.com

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Some lines cast far with ease, but leave you flailing when fish show up at your feet. Others do just the opposite, like the new DC (DirectCore) Flats Pro line from Rio. It was no surprise when it won the Best Fly Line category at the 2017 AFTA Best of Show Awards. DC Flats Pro has easy annealing, a lowmemory core that lays perfectly straight on the water. It also has a low stretch Direct Core for hard solid strip sets, and a midlength head and long rear taper for complete line control. It has a high floating running line that will not sink and impede the cast. After refining the weight distribution grain by grain, Rio created a line to make delicate presentations to twitchy bones yet drive bulky crab patterns into serious wind with equal efficiency. Available in floating options in two colors in WF6F through WF12F and StealthTip with a full floating head with six feet of clear intermediate at the tip. The StealthTip is available in WF8F/I through WF12F/I and is ideal for permit or wary tarpon. www.rioproducts.com

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BEST OUTDOOR/ CAMPING PRODUCT

The Elite series Anywhere Cordless light switch received a lot of attention from visitors to the 2017 AFTA Tackle Trade Show, so it was no surprise when it achieved Runner Up position in the Best Outdoor/Camping Product category at the Best of Show awards. The Elite Anywhere Cordless light offers a huge range of applications, from general household use to remote outdoor locations. You’ll never have to deal with messy cords and power outages again. Its new 200 lumen LED technology delivers outstanding brightness for minimal battery power required. This portable light will never catch you fumbling in the dark again, as its low cost will ensure you have one in the car, boat, camper trailer, cupboards, emergency kit, and so on. Like the name says, it can be installed virtually ‘anywhere’ using its screw hole hooks or the included hook and loop. The switch's flat, space saving design acts just like a fix-mounted light switch with the added convenience of relocating where you need it most. Price: SRP $19.99 afn.com.au

The award-winning Smokin’ Hot Rocket Stove has three times more thermal efficiency than a camp fire, with almost no smoke. It’s compact, light and easy to use, keeps you warm, and provides a raised cooking platform, so no more sore back leaning over the camp fire, or singed arms picking up your pot. The Rocket Stove runs most efficiently on timber less than 25mm in diameter, which is easy to find. The stove can take larger pieces, however it does not burn as efficiently so there’s no need to carry around massive, expensive bags of timber as you would with a conventional fire. The Rocket Stove provides instant cooking heat once alight. With the advantage of low to high cooking temperatures, you can cook everything from stews to stir fries or steaks to bacon while camping or just in your backyard. Because it’s an enclosed fire it’s a good choice when you’re in a forested area (check local regulations). So while you won’t be missing out on the great feeling of sitting around a warm camp fire, your eyes won’t burn, you won’t wake up smelling like a bushfire! www.rpminnovations.com.au

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Smokin’ Hot Rocket Stove

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Spotters Grayson

Mako Apex

The newest offering from the Australianmade Spotters’ stable is the fashionable Grayson. Designed as a perfect all-rounder, the Grayson is suited for protection in low light and full sun situations. Sporting the classic matt black frames, the Grayson design is everything you would expect and more. Light weight and durable, the Grayson comes in a wide choice of lens material and colour tints to suit your fishing style. The copper-based lenses give incredible colour definition and depth perception delivering 100% UV protection and perfect visual clarity. Using only the best quality materials, Spotters specialise in the industry’s thinnest distortion-free polarised crown glass and CR-39 lenses. Price: SRP $290 (available October 2017) www.spotters.com.au

Mako Sunglasses have once again produced a sleek new fashion eyewear ideal for outdoor enthusiasts. Their new Apex sunglasses are the perfect example of Mako’s top notch technology at its finest. What separates these sunnies from the pack is their innovative new gradient colour lenses. Providing darker shading on top where you need it most, the lighter shades gives clarity for close up work. Available in a grey light polycarbonate or tough crown glass distortion-free lenses in brown or rose tint with their classic green or blue mirroring. Made from tough warp-resistant nylon composite, these sleek matte black frames look fashionable and are designed for all outdoor situations. Price: SRP $299 glass www.makoeyewear.com.au

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BEST TERMINAL TACKLE CATEGORY

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The River2Sea Shogun Swordfish Rig took out top spot in the hotly-contested Terminal Tackle category in the AFTA Best of Show Awards. Its design was based around the most popular swordfish rigs that anglers use, and it has been thoroughly tested in waters off Victoria and Tasmania with great success. Unlike some of its competitors, the Shogun Swordfish Rig has been built with reliability and strength in mind, so the angler can have confidence that their rig won’t let them down. The Shogun Swordfish Rig comes with two multi-coloured LED lights, 16/0 Shogun tuna circle hooks, 400lb mono, lumo tubing and a high-glow squid. Specifically built for catching swordfish, these rigs have caught numerous specimens of 150kg and up. Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store, or for more information visit the River2Sea website. Price: from approx. $35 www.river2sea.com.au

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Mustad Fastach Rig Link System The Mustad Fastach Rig Link system is unlike anything else on the market. Designed to give the options back to the angler, the system brings together the most popular flasher hooks with a variety of mainlines that can be interchanged to suit your conditions. Mustad has deliberately moved away from dictating to the angler just what they will be using and given the power back to those in the field. With multiple mainline options and dozens of flasher hook options, this rigging system has been developed around the exceptional Mustad Fastach, a clip that, with the flick of

your wrist, allows ultra-quick changes of the flasher hook. All the popular flasher hooks have been included in the range, with all knots hand tied on quality Mustad monofilament. Don’t miss the revolution and never miss out on any opportunity whether that’s collecting bait or chasing snapper, whiting, reefies and more - the Mustad Rig Link system has arrived. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

RUNNER UP TTs RevlockZ TT Lures new RevlockZ jighead takes the popular ‘head lock’ grub keeper and brutally strong Mustad black nickel, chemically sharpened hook that have made their HeadlockZ HD jigheads so popular, and adds the flash and vibration of an underspin blade. Available in sizes from 1/8oz #2 for creek bass and trout, right through to a 1oz 7/0 for barra, mulloway, reef and pelagic species, the RevlockZ have proven a game changer on tough bites, and when a presentation change is required to switch on the bite. The ‘head lock’ grub keeper secures your soft plastic in place and the new head design concentrates the weight toward the lower section of the head to handle the torque of the blade and ensure the presentation tracks true. It’s available in both willow and Colorado blades, in both nickel and gold (brass) finishes to suit different water types, species and techniques. Available sizes are 1/8oz (2, 1, 1/0); 1/4oz (1/0, 2/0, 3/0); 3/8oz (2/0, 3/0, 5/0); 1/2oz (3/0, 5/0, 7/0); 3/4oz (7/0) and 1oz (7/0). The 1/8oz and 1/4oz weights come in packs of three, and the 3/8oz, 1/2oz, 3/4oz and 1oz weights come in packs of two. Price: SRP: $9.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

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The all-new Evolution 360, rotating rod holder is more of a revolution than an evolution. It completely revolutionises the conventional flush mount rod holder that bind you to a fixed rod position with no ability to adapt to environmental factors that can affect your rod and reel at any time while fishing. Factors like wind, tide, current and wave action can all now be accounted for with these new rod holders, which allow you to rotate the rod up to 360° with the push of a button. As an added benefit, there are also three sleeve angles (0°, 15° and 30°) for even more flexibility. The upshot of all this is that you can adjust your spread and angles at will when you are trolling, drifting, at anchor or bottom fishing, and bring your rod tip inboard to adjust your rig. You can now even turn your rods in to protect them while you are underway or docking. This brand new invention will be available in stores later this year, so watch this space! www.explodingfish.com

The SwellPro Splash drone 3 auto has been designed to fly and land on or off the water, and has a payload release mechanism that lets you carry a line far out to sea and drop the bait at the desired location. The brand new propulsion system with new custom motors gives the perfect balance between power and efficiency. You can operate it in all weather conditions, whether over land or sea. With its advanced modular design, Splash drone 3 can quickly adapt to all types of missions, from aerial filming to fishing. The new waterproof 4k camera with integrated 2-axis gimbal lets you take smooth and stable videos and stills while flying, or under the water’s surface. The drone’s waterproof fuselage can be submerged for sustained periods, and its components are designed to withstand saltwater corrosion. The new S3 flight controller has been optimized to provide safe and reliable flight. Even if you are beginner, flying the Splash drone auto will be stress-free. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

RUNNER UP Evolution 360 Rotating Rod Holder

Swell Pro Drone 3.0

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BEST TACKLE MANAGEMENT RUNNER UP

ZMan Bait BinderZ are the ultimate storage solution for your ZMan soft plastics, allowing you to find the model and colour you’re after in seconds. Bait BinderZ feature nickel-plated, corrosion-resistant rings that have been spaced to fit the reinforced, pre-punched holes in the bottom of standard size ZMan packets. This means you can store your ZMan plastics in their original packs, away from other plastics. In addition, there’s no space taken up by plastic sleeves and no double handling opening sleeves to get packets out, or leaving loose packets where they can blow out of the boat. Quick, simple and more time for fishing. Constructed from 500-denier nylon for durability, embroidered with the ZMan logo and featuring a carry handle for easy transport and securing to your vessel, the Bait BinderZ will hold 10-15 packets of ZMan plastics, depending on the model. Bait BinderZ are available now, so keep an eye out for them at your local tackle store. Price: SRP $16.95 www.z-man.com.au

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It’s no coincidence the world’s most successful competitive angler, Kevin Van Dam, trusts Plano to protect and transport his gear. The durable new KVD Series of tackle bags and Speedbags from Plano provides avid anglers with customizable storage and unmatched access to all of their lures and other gear. There are four bags in the range. Three of them are Wormfile Speedbags, which come in small, medium and large, and are all designed to carry soft plastics. The fourth bag in the range is the Signature Tackle Bag (3700). The Signature Tackle Bag has a moulded top with elastic tie-down strap, holds two StowAway utility boxes for quick access to your favorite baits, large mesh pocket on back, compartmentalized front pocket for multiple uses, and a padded removable shoulder strap. It also boasts plier and tool holder slots on the front and side pockets, and a clear, zippered pocket under the top cover. Power on and fish fast, just like Kevin Van Dam, and catch more fish! www.jmgillies.com.au

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GoPro Hero5 Black

Bladerunner Torch

The GoPro Hero5 Black is the most powerful and easy-to-use GoPro ever, thanks to its 4K video, voice control, one-button simplicity, touch display and waterproof design. Ultra-smooth, super slow-mo opportunities are now possible with a 1080p resolution at 120fps. Stills can be taken in single, burst and timelapse modes, and saved as raw files. In addition, a new WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) mode, which is GoPro’s version of High Dynamic Range (HDR), makes shooting perfectly exposed still images much easier. The 2” touch display lets you preview and play back your shots, change settings and trim your footage, all on your GoPro. With the Quik Stories feature, you can capture and then kick back as your footage moves to the GoPro app and transforms into a finished video – automatically. Durable by design, the Hero5 Black is waterproof to 10m without a housing. With advanced video stabilisation, it can capture smooth video either handheld or mounted to your favourite gear. A single press of the shutter button turns the camera on and starts recording, or you can use simple voice commands. Price: SRP $569.95 www.gopro.com

The new Blade-Runner TDBR013 Dive Torch, created by outdoor equipment specialist Tacspo, was a hit with visitors to the 2017AFTA Tackle Trade Show. This 700-lumen LED torch is made from a durable aluminium alloy, and has a magnetic switch with four light modes: 100%, 50%, 10% and strobe. You can safely take this torch down to depths up to 100m, which makes it IPX8 waterproof – the highest waterproof rating there is. It’s rechargeable with a single 18650 battery plus a charger. Sandy Corrie said he created the Blade-Runner light range in response to customer requests. “We had so many customers wanting us to do a range, but it took us a long time to find factories that could meet our high standards, and which would provide a 2-year warranty,” Sandy explained. “We are very happy with the final product, which delivers high quality without a premium price tag.” The new Blade-Runner Dive Torch measures 42 x 29 x 166mm and weighs 254g, and comes with an adjustable lanyard. Price: SRP $129.95 www.tacspo.com.au

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Coming in at equal first place in the Best Marine Electronics category is the Power Pump aerator series from Japanese company Fuji-Toki. On display at the AFTA Show were the 1000 and 2000 models. The basic 1000 model is powered by two D-type alkaline batteries, providing approximately 70 hours of continuous operation, with a piston valve pump that delivers 0.6L of air per minute. The Power Pump 1000 comes with a hanging bracket and is IPX5 water resistant. The larger 2000 model provides a powerful oxygen supply of 2.0L of air per minute. It’s fully waterproof (IPX6) and noiseless, thanks to its 3-valve rolling pump. It’s powered by two D-type alkaline batteries, providing roughly 65 hours of continuous operation, and comes with a hanging bracket. Price: SRP $55 (1000 model), $100 (2000 model) www.vivafishing.com.au

WINNER TIED Lowrance HDS Carbon 16

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The Lowrance HDS Carbon 16 has a clear SolarMAX HD 16" display with a new dual core high-performance processer, leading-edge fishfinder technology like Live Network Sonar and the latest advances in integrated wireless service tools. There’s more agility, speed and brute power all in one easy-to-use multi-touch display. The enormous, 16" ultra-clear SolarMAX HD display is the equivalent of four 7” screens. It delivers wider viewing angles in any light, and also through polarized sunglasses.

Users will also benefit from superior colour accuracy and boosted high-resolution viewing panels, which maximize today’s leading sonar. With a dual core high performance processor, HDS Carbon delivers faster redraw speeds and quicker response times for CHIRP sonar, Live Network Sonar, StructureScan 3D and StructureMap plus split-screen views showing all this and mapping at the same time. Price: SRP $6999 www.lowrance.com/en-au/

RUNNER UP Casio Quad Sensor The new Casio G-Shock Gulfmaster Quad Sensor analog model is equipped with all the top level sensor equipment essential to coordinating time on the water. A dualcoil motor drives a retrograde dial hand to provide the wearer with instant feedback on the constantly changing natural environment. Standard features include depth sensor, a barometric pressure sensor that can be used to predict upcoming weather changes, an air and water temperature sensor, and a digital compass that can be used to determine wind and tide directions. For boat lovers, there is a clever auto level correction function that detects the angle of the watch during digital compass readings and compensates accordingly, which helps to ensure correct readings while on a rocking boat. A dial at 5 o’clock is used to alert the wearer to sudden changes in barometric pressure, and acts as a tide graph to indicate high and low tide information. Price: SRP $999 www.afn.com.au

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BEST FISHING AND BOATING ACCESSORY

BEST FISHING AND BOATING ACCESSORY RUNNER UP

If you're looking for some great tools on the boat or in the backpack, look no further than the Rapala Custom Design Series, specifically, the Mag Spring Pliers and the Precision Line Scissors. Rapala's patent pending Mag Spring mechanism on the the pliers has two opposing magnets that push away from each other and hold the pliers open for an easy one-handed operation. Unlike springs, the magnets won’t break or lose their power in use. The durable stainless steel jaws with their gun metal finish have serrated tips for a secure grip, and ergonomic, co-moulded Soft Grip handles for a comfortable grip. For line cutting, the spring-loaded singlehand operation tool for intricate work and precise cuts make the Precision line Scissors a winner. Thanks to offset shears, these scissors excel in cutting micro super lines and all other non-wire fishing lines. www.rapala.com.au

Simms’ superior Guide Pliers put rusty, decrepit needle-nosers on notice. These high quality pliers have corrosion-resistant, replaceable 17-4 stainless-steel jaws and powerful 6061-T6, type II anodized aluminium arms. Other features include: tungsten carbide cutting blade; ergonomic and textured grip; Kydex holster and utility leash; and bottle opener with bevelled notch for tightening knots. Measuring 7” x 2 1/4” x 3/8”, these brandnew pliers are now available in Australia. Keep an eye out for them at your favourite tackle store. Simms is distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Manic Tackle, who stock a huge range of Simms waders, footwear, shirts, pants, jackets, headwear, backpacks, bags, accessories and more. Log onto the Manic Tackle website for more information, photos and videos. www.manictackleproject.com

Rapala Mag Spring Pliers Rapala Precision Line Scissors

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Wilson Fishing has designed a range of fishing apparel just for the kids, which took out runner up position in the Best Clothing Accessory category at AFTA. Now your little tackers can enjoy wearing the same style of fishing shirts that you do. The Wilson Kids Fishing Shirts are all UV rated to 25+, and provide a comfortable and cool looking option for the kids when they are out on the water with you. These comfortable, quick drying little shirts are all long-sleeved for maximum sun protection, and the size range is designated by age, so that a size 6 will fit your average 6 year old child. There are four colours to choose from – pink, pink/purple, Classic Wilson colours, and light/dark blue. Available sizes are 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12. The Wilson Fishing apparel range also includes men’s and ladies’ fishing shirts in a wide range of sizes and colours, along with soft shell jackets, caps and headscarfs. Check out the Wilson Fishing website to find out more. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

The fishing and outdoor market is full of headscarves of all descriptions, but the new Wilson Hooded Headscarf is unlike any you've seen before. It was this uniqueness contributed to its win in the Best Clothing Accessory category at AFTA 2017. So what is this difference? Well, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf combines the comfort and protection of a UPF15+ headscarf with the warmth of a fleece hood, making it a great choice in cold conditions. The materials used to construct the Hooded Headscarf wick moisture away from the skin, allowing the angler to be comfortable while fishing in any conditions. Ideally suited for use in cooler environments, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf is also sure to find favour with many anglers travelling long distances in low light periods anywhere across Australia. Machine washable and with a one-size fits all build, the Wilson Hooded Headscarf will help make your day on the water far more comfortable. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

Wilson Kids Fishing Shirt

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Wilson Fishing Hooded Headscarf

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THUMBS UP AWARD THUMBS UP

Daiwa TD Sol III

Techniice Can Dispensing Ice Box

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Daiwa TD Sol III

ZMan Finesse FrogZ

Daiwa’s TD Sol III is the first reel to feature the all-new future design concept LT or ‘Light Tough’. The new concept LT Zaion body is the lightest, most compact and strongest body frame Daiwa has ever produced. Zaion is composed of carbon resin and long carbon fibres, and it far exceeds the strength of magnesium in strength per unit weight comparison. Zaion transmits vibration through the reel more efficiently than ever before, and it is lighter and stronger than a conventional reel made with similar resins or graphites. Other features include Air Rotor, ATD (Automatic Tournament Drag), Magseal, Tough Digigear, aluminium Airspool ABS, Perfect Line Stopper and aluminium Air Handle. The combination on all of these advanced innovations makes the TD Sol III one of Daiwa’s most technically advanced reels. You will feel more connected to lures, detect more bites and fight fish with ease. www.daiwafishing.com.au

The team at TTs have been pressuring the designers at ZMan to release a bite-size version of the successful 4” Hard Leg FrogZ, and now it’s here: the 2.75” Finesse FrogZ. The Finesse FrogZ has the same design and buoyant ElaZtech construction as its popular bigger brother, letting it float at rest and withstand multiple vicious strikes. Its twin paddle feet create a bubbling surface action that draws in pretty much any fish that loves taking prey off the surface. With its scaled-down profile, it’s the perfect choice for chasing the likes of bass, jacks and saratoga in dams and creeks. The Finesse FrogZ has a belly slot underneath and a large slot on the top, to effectively hide the hook to make it snagless. Being soft and flexible, when the fish strikes the hook comes free for a solid hook set. Available in six colours, the Finesse FrogZ comes in packs of four. TTs recommends rigging it on a 2/0 ChinlockZ weedless hook. www.tackletactics.com.au

THUMBS UP AWARD Shadow Rap 3X

THUMBS UP AWARD Techniice Can Dispensing Ice Box

Samaki ZING Gen ii Rods

Techniice Classic Series ice boxes have become a firm favourite with Australians looking for a tough, high-performance ice box. Now Techniice has built on this proven design and created something entirely new – an ice box that dispenses drinks without you having to lift the lid. The top of the box is where the most heat enters, so not needing to lift the lid means you’ll keep the contents colder for longer – up to three times as long. Another benefit is that the cans are dispensed from the bottom, which is the coldest area, so you can enjoy perfectly chilled drinks without digging around in ice. The 100L model has a 2-door dispensing system, can fit around 72 cans, and you only need to open the lid when you’re loading the cans in the dispenser. There’s also a 200L model in the works, and another that has a wine (or water bottle) cooler recess at the back. These innovative new ice boxes will be rolled out in the coming months, and custom branding is available (minimum order quantities apply). Price: from approx. $700 www.techniice.com

Shadow Rap 3X THUMBS UP

THUMBS UP AWARD Yeti Hopper Two 30

ZMan Finesse FrogZ

Yeti Hopper Two 30

The Yeti Hopper Two is the evolution of Yeti’s first soft cooler, the original Hopper. The original version provided anglers with a portable, leakproof, and tough-as-nails cooler that delivered superior ice retention. However, Yeti believed there was room for improvement. Now, with some design changes, the designers have increased its cold-holding power, thanks to Yeti’s ColdCell Insulation – fulfilling Yeti’s promise of ice for days. There’s also a wider opening to make packing (and unpacking) much easier, and a tapered body to make it more comfortable to carry. And with its impenetrable DryHide Shell, this clever cooler is fully waterproof and won’t leak in the field. The Yeti Hopper Two comes in 20, 30 and 40L options, and the 30 model won a Tackle Junkie ‘Thumbs Up’ trophy at the 2017 AFTA Show. This model measures 18” x 25” externally and 14” x 17” internally, and weighs 2.5kg. It can hold 24 drink cans, using a 2:1 ice to can ratio, or 30lb of just ice. www.au.yeti.com

The Rapala Shadow Rap is getting an Australian upgrade. No other fishery demands more of its equipment, and anglers fishing for iconic species like barra demand a lure that can be fished straight out of the packet with no upgrades needed. The new Rapala Shadow Rap 3X and Shadow Rap Shad 3X feature upgraded VMC Coastal Black 3X strong 7556 Spark Point trebles and upgraded split rings. Comprising the 110mm Shadow Rap 3X in both deep and shallow bibs, and the smaller 90mm Shadow Rap Shad 3X in both depth varieties, the new range reinforces Rapala’s reputation of building some of the best barra lures available. Available in eight colours, these new lures feature the same unmistakeable Shadow Rap finish and action. Tuned to suspend in freshwater, the Shadow Rap 3X will turn back on itself with each twitch of the rod tip, bringing the biggest fish out of the shadows for a look. www.rapala.com.au

THUMBS UP AWARD Samaki Zing Gen II Swimbait Rod With modern trends turning towards using larger plastics and jointed baits for catching big fish, and after the success of the Samaki Zing Xtreme Swimbait series, Samaki have released a high quality swimbait rod for a fraction of the price you’d expect. These rods are built on premium Toray carbon fibre blanks that have RAW technology, making them ultra strong with an unsanded finish. Other features include Samaki’s XO 316 marine grade stainless steel guides with ZR Zirconia inserts, super hard EVA camo grips, high gloss reel seats and rubber end caps. The new Zing Gen II really does have it all. The Zing Gen II Swimbait rod is 7’9” long with a split butt enhancing the action of the blank, and making it feel like an extension of your arm. It has a line rating of 15-30lb and a cast weight of 1-5oz, and will be available from October 2017. Price: SRP $199.95 www.samaki.com.au

Product Profile

Wild River Bass 3 The Journey BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

Just in case you needed more encouragement and inspiration to hit the water in search of wild river bass this season, Wild River Bass 3 The Journey, filmed and produced by NSWFM writer Dave Seaman, has just become available! With the success of Wild River Bass and Wild

River Bass 2, comes the third instalment of this series, this time, focussing on the journey. On this disc, you’ll find 72 minutes of some of the best footage of wild river bass fishing anywhere. After a while, you’ll soon feel as though you’re on a babbling bass stream, dodging spikey over hangs and looking for a place to cast, while behind you a chorus of whistling and cracking from birds

and insects picks up as the activity under the surface reaches a crescendo. With smell of flowing freshwater and wet earth in your nostrils, the rod is nearly ripped out of your hands as a bass makes a spirited attempt to take your small plastic offering home. After a short battle, a beautiful slab of bronze Aussie native lays spent beside the canoe. This is what the DVD is all about. This is not a how-to

production, as there is plenty of that out there already, although it did teach me a thing or two about night fishing… What this DVD is to me, and will be for many others, is the affirmation that us bass tragics aren’t alone, but it also offers a window to those who don’t understand the addiction into the mind of a bass angler. This is a celebration and appreciation for

the nature we immerse ourselves in when taking on this caper, the people we share these experiences with, and most of all, the little bronze animals that keep us coming back for more. Many non-addicts ask why, and Wild River Bass 3 attempts to answer that question with some amazing footage, photographs and spoken word, with Dave offering a very personal account of

to the physical journey of every trip down to these beautiful waters. It may even be Dave’s journey of filming and producing this DVD all by himself, with this production dedicated to the late David Scarlett, who co-filmed and co-produced the first two DVDs with Dave. I believe it’s all three of these things, and more. As Steve Starling’s review on the back of the case says, ‘It’s so real and raw I had to check my hands for scratches and bass spike cuts after watching this one!’ and he’s certainly not wrong with this one… It captures every aspect of river bass fishing, from the heart-stopping topwater strikes and stunning displays of nature, to the clumsy mishaps and inevitable calamities that we can only laugh at – it’s all part of the package. This DVD offers a perspective of river bass fishing that is only exceeded by being on the water itself. There really is

no better way to get keen for the river bass season coming! Make sure you give this a watch before

you load up the gear for the first bass adventure of the 2017/18 bass season! – Bob Thornton

what bass fishing is to him. A non-fisher who sat next to me during the screening at my place asked me about half way through ‘Is this what you do when you disappear for days and come back with scratches all over you?’ Obviously, I replied in the affirmative. ‘Looks kinda fun,’ he remarked. The Journey may refer to the journey that is bass fishing that starts from the first fish, it could also refer

FISHING NEWS

Science helps tackle global illegal fishing

A new web-based reporting tool will be able to identify and rank vessels across the globe based on a list of behaviours associated with illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. CSIRO senior scientist and co-designer of the platform, Dr Chris Wilcox, said the tool used data collected by satellites to monitor and report suspiciously behaving vessels. Science is joining the fight against illegal fishing. CSIRO has developed a worldfirst notification system that alerts authorities when offending vessels arrive in port. “Almost all vessels are equipped with anticollision devices that can 76

SEPTEMBER 2017

be detected by satellites,” Dr Wilcox said. “Using data from these systems, we can shine a spotlight on vessels acting suspiciously based on factors including the vessel’s history, movement and whether its transmitter has been intentionally disabled. “Countries will be able to sign-up to receive notifications, or directly access the portal to search for vessels and then be provided with a report which highlights the suspicious behaviours involved.” The announcement follows the execution of the first international treaty aimed at eradicating IUU fishing, coordinated by the United National Food and Agriculture Organisation

and agreed on by 29 countries. “As well as costing tens of billions of dollars each year, IUU fishing leads to overfishing and depletion of stocks, which has the greatest impact on developing countries whose people rely on fish as their primary source of protein and income,” Dr Wilcox said. “As global population numbers continue to grow, combatting IUU fishing is becoming even more important to ensure future food security for the world.” The CSIRO team led by Dr Wilcox has also been working closely with the Indonesian government to address the problem. The project is part of a collaboration with Microsoft co-founder Paul

G Allen and his US-based company, Vulcan Inc. “This valuable tool will enable enforcement agencies to identify and locate suspicious vessels all over the world,” said Dr Mark Powell, illegal fishing program officer for Vulcan. “Countries that use this new tool will now be able to reverse the tide of illegal fishing and help rebuild depleted fish stocks.” The platform will be officially launched in October and is already anticipated by a number of national and international surveillance agencies, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation funded Global

Fishing Watch. HOW BIG IS THE PROBLEM? Illegal fishing is the third most lucrative crime in the world, after weapons trafficking and drug smuggling. It’s estimated there are 26M tons of illegal fish caught each year, worth approximately US $23 billion. It happens in all

parts of the world, but is particularly problematic in the developing world where low capacity and funding make it difficult to fight. A third of fish in US and Australian markets appears to be illegal, and 120 million people globally depend on fishing for their income. – CSIRO

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Last bit of cold weather as spring begins CANBERRA

Bryan Pratt

I chuckle when I see or hear weather reports for different parts of Australia – in particular the references to ‘cold’ weather. These reports mean when the temperature drops to the low teens. That’s cold? In Canberra we regard that as a pleasant day or night. Cold means perhaps -4°C or -5°C and this year we have had -7°C and -9°C at times. If you want to put that into perspective, just consider that your freezer at home runs at about -2°C. With -9°C weather we could make ice cubes outside our front door faster than we can in the freezer.

As testing as it might sound, it’s something that you get used to. Recently an angler sent in an early morning photograph of his gear while he was fishing for a Murray cod on the Murrumbidgee River. His baitcaster reel had completely frozen up as water carried up by the line accumulated and froze. He was using braid, which carries much more water than monofilament. This is a significant problem. He carried on fishing after dipping the reel in the water and removing most of the ice. An hour later he was rewarded with a 108cm Murray cod – proof that perseverance pays off and also that Murray cod will bite even in the coldest conditions.

Flyfishers at Eucumbene, Jindabyne or other high country waters are used to ice building up on runners and in the reel. Fly line picks up and carries a lot of water and you realise it has frozen in the runners when your cast keeps falling short. The problem is easily solved by dipping the rod in the water every ten

before you go home. Look after your vehicle, too. Be aware that normal diesel freezes in cold weather and prevents your motor from starting. We all use special alpine diesel to avoid that problem and it’s readily available from high country service stations. Antifreeze, to stop your

Griffin caught about 15 good-sized fish on yabbies in the past couple of weeks. Murray cod chasers striving for that magic metre-long fish have nailed a few prime specimens on a variety of lures, including surface lures, deep divers, swimbaits and wakebaits. The old adage that large lures mean large fish has certainly been true in our region recently. Googong has continued to fish well. Anglers have found plenty of redfin ranging from tiddlers around the shoreline to robust 45-50cm specimens caught from a boat in deep water. They also have learned to be

ready when a golden perch or Murray cod attracted to a struggling redfin still on the hook grabs the fish and tries to make off with it. It happens surprisingly often and provides quite a challenge to make something out of the unexpected hook-up. Burrinjuck is also worth a look. Surface lures, deep divers, wakebaits and swimbaits have all accounted for Murray cod, again with the largest sizes catching the biggest fish. It varies from week to week, but recently four fish over 1m in length were caught in one weekend. That’s pretty good fishing for so-called cold weather.

Murray cod have a big mouth and have no trouble engulfing even the largest of lures on the market today.

Snapper-sized redfin are common in the deeper water at Googong Reservoir and can be taken readily on soft plastics as well as hardbodied lures.

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minutes or so and certainly not by sucking on the frozen runners as one poor soul did some time ago with nasty consequences, starting with chapped lips. When you are fly or lure fishing in the cold, you retrieve a little slower than normal, aware that fish are a little more sluggish. You also need to dress properly. If you are going to be out in this sort of weather, you might as well be safe and comfortable. Wear thermal underwear and good quality neoprene waders with appropriate jumpers, jackets, gloves and headgear. It always helps if you have a nice campfire you can retreat to from time to time to warm up the cold bones. Also look after other items. Put food and drinks in the esky to stop them from freezing. Trout or other fish you wish to keep should be cleaned straight away then allowed to freeze on the bank

motor from freezing, is also an essential item. Put it in the vehicle at the start of each winter as a matter of course; that avoids what could otherwise be a serious problem if a motor freezes. ‘Cold’ is a relative term, but not a reason to stop fishing in winter. Native fish become sluggish in the cold weather but can be caught with perseverance and the right tackle. Trout love the cold weather and are in their element in winter. LOCAL LAKES Fishing is mostly quiet in Canberra’s urban lakes, but some nice fish can be taken with persistence. Redfin are reasonably active and anglers who did a quick survey of new ponds in developing suburbs such as Gungahlin found reasonable numbers of fish up to 40cm. Golden perch have been quiet. One angler who has a secret spot in Lake Burley

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This is the size of lure local anglers are now testing on Murray cod with some good fish caught already.

Hoping for rain to boost the trout spawning JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson steve@swtroutfishing.com.au

Welcome to spring! We had a strange winter in the snowy mountains. It was colder than normal and nowhere near as wet as last year. There wasn’t as much snow either. What this means is that the lake water levels won’t be as high as 2016, unless we get some serious rain over the next month or so. Not a lot of water will come from the snowmelt this year. The brown trout spawning run was very good this year, but we are still waiting for reports about the rainbow trout spawning run. With only a month until the start to the river fishing season for another year, we’ll just have to wait and see if we have any rain this month to finish off the rainbow trout spawning run. If it’s late, there may be a few trout left

Noah Biddy caught a couple of great trout during his recent trip to the Snowys.

BEST METHODS FOR SEPTEMBER Trolling: Roll surface lures close to the shoreline early in the morning. Bait fishing: Try scrub worms and artificial baits floating about 2ft off the bottom. FlyFishing: Polaroid fish working out the direction they are cruising and drop a small nymph well in front of them, so you don’t spook the fish. Spinning: Work the shallows with small spinners and floating minnows that dive to 1m. Don’t forget the soft plastics, just in case. in the Thredbo River for the October opening weekend. Either way, I’m sure we’re going to have a great season on Lake Jindabyne with the excellent fishing last winter. Let’s have a look at what to expect when fishing this month. There’s no doubt that the shore-based bait fishing over recent months has been the best it has ever been. I found plenty of cruising fish when walking the shoreline of the lake. While they may have been spooky on the bright days, it has been great fun stalking them anyway. An interesting method of

fishing on the days when the fish are spooky is to watch the cruising trout and then cast an unweighted worm well in front of the fish and wait for it to approach. If the trout doesn’t see the worm, just give it a twitch. If you’re lucky, it will turn and come back. While not everyone’s cup of tea, this method is just as exciting as any other method. In fact, the bait fishing has been possibly the best method over the last few weeks, as the lake is slowly rising again. Bottom and float fishing is working okay and a worm off the bottom, as a bunch of meal

worms under a float is always going to attract a hungry trout. Areas for float fishing have been Woolondibby Inlet, Hatchery Bay, Taylors Bay and the Haven. The lake flyfishing has been great with trout seen fossicking along the edges. These fish can be polaroided in the shallows and are now more responsive to flies cast delicately in front of the fish. It’s best to stay high on the bank and try and spot the trout first. After watching its movement for a while, you’ll get an idea of what ‘beat’ the fish is doing and the best

position to cast the fly. A lot of anglers prefer to use larger flies like Woolley Buggers or my Williamson’s Gold Fish fly, but some days you may find that smaller nymph patterns are be best. You just have to keep changing flies until you get it right. Choose bays like Creel Bay, Hayshed Bay and Wollondibby Inlet to fly fish during the next couple of months. Lure spinning is also working really well at the moment and the methods are the same as flyfishing. Look for a trout if you can and cast well in front of them, bringing the lure back a metre or so in front of the fish. If the day is windy then forget working the shallows. Switch to Tasmanian Devils or wobbler lures and cast them well out, let them sink a bit and then retrieve slowly. Soft plastic fishing for trout has really taken off over the last couple of seasons and a lot of that is to do with the success of the fantastic range of Strike Tiger plastics

that have been developed in Australia for Australian trout and Australian conditions. Working soft plastics around snags and over weed beds has been deadly over winter and well worth looking at when those hardbodied lures just aren’t working on the day. Boat trollers will find the trout will be close into the banks while the water is still rising. Keep in close to the edges. Anglers that have an electric motor to troll with may have a little advantage, as sometimes stealth is a major key to success. Use minnow lures with a good action and troll at low speeds below 3km/h. Soft plastics trolled behind attractors like Ford Fenders or Cowbells are also well worth a try. I prefer to fish the township end of the lake in September as the water coming out of the rivers is very cold and the fish can be a little less active. Other areas that have been fishing very well are Sids Bay and the Rainbow Beach area. The sheltered bays are holding good brown trout amongst

the weed. Hatchery Bay and Hayshed bay have a lot of rainbows in the shallows, early and late in the day especially. Use darker coloured lures early in the day and as the sun rises yellow lures have been better. The best areas for bait fishing at the moment have been, the boat ramp, Wollondibby Inlet (deeper water), Curiosity Rocks Bay, the Haven and Rushes Bay over at East Jindabyne. • If you’re coming down to Jindabyne over the next few months, why not call in and get the latest fishing information at Steve Williamson’s Trout Fishing, shop 1 at the Snowline Centre, 6532 Kosciuszko Road (next to the Shell Servo), or call 6456 1551. For visitors to the Snowys we have a full range of fishing tackle for hire at my shop and fishing tours are now available. Check out www.swtroutfishing.com.au for more information and if you’d like to receive a copy of my Trout Tales Newsletters, you can contact me on sales@ swtroutfishing.com.au.

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Get ready for golden days this September WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

It’s hard to put Murray cod behind us for a quarter of the year while they breed and repopulate, but this is the time of year when the gold nuggets step into gear. BLOWERING DAM Over the last three months you may have followed all the talk of monster Murray cod coming from the lake in the freezing cold conditions. The fishing during winter is

brave the cold, this is your time of year. The golden perch are the new target species, especially as the water temperatures begin to rise. In Blowering Dam there is a short window during spring where the golden perch can be caught in large numbers. They switch right on and will take an array of lures as they bulk up before breeding. The first two weeks of spring will most likely be slow until the water starts to climb above 14°C. Early on,

extremely quiet and use lightly-weighted soft plastics (1/16oz) and shallow diving hardbodies. If we are lucky enough to have some warm spring days, then the last two weeks of September could really fire. The golden perch will be in the shallows and the best spots to target will be the twiggy trees and the rocky banks. Casting small paddle and curl-tail soft plastics in 1/6 and 1/4oz is perfect along with lipless crankbaits,

Dylan Creed with a Murrumbidgee golden perch that loved the look of his 5/8oz Mud Guts Spinnerbait.

Chris releasing a bank caught golden that was sight-casted only moments earlier. always tough and can knock a few anglers back with the negative temperature mornings, crystallised swags and frozen hands. For those who weren’t keen to

try to target fish right up in the shallows, as some of the larger fish will move up into less than a metre of water to warm up in the sun. Make sure you stay

blades and vibes. The best technique for the twiggy trees is to cast past them, allow the lure to sink down deep and slowly roll it back. With the rocky banks, a slow roll or

Jack Zyhalak found this hungry little fella sitting tight in against a willow tree.

a hop and drop technique is your best option. The best tip I can give you for finding golden perch during September is to drive around the dam and locate the warmer water. MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER The Murrumbidgee River will fish really well as the weather begins to warm up, even though the river will start to rise with the irrigation demand kicking off. The smaller fish will become active and start to move around in search of a feed.

If you’re fishing the Murrumbidgee in the Wagga region during spring, you are more than likely to land a Murray cod. If you do, remember the closed season – it needs to be released back to the water immediately. If you are lure casting, use smaller lures like spinnerbaits with small plastic tails and hardbodies less than 70mm in length. The 50mm and 70mm AC Invaders are perfect for targeting golden perch. If you’re bait fishing, worms and shrimp work

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really well on golden perch and, as always, you’ll catch both cod and carp using most baits. Target the small twiggy trees and underneath willows, as these areas hold strong populations of perch. OLD MAN CREEK Old Man Creek is stronghold for golden perch and definitely a place that is worth a walk. There are plenty of public reserves located along the creek between Collingullie and Narrandera. You can pull up and walk along the bank

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Keep adjusting to the new season change LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

Calenders can be a little misleading at this time of year around these parts. It’s so easy to get lost in all the gloss and warmth of what it should be like. The reality is quite a bit

even the odd swooping magpie – it’s just the expectation of a warmer air temperature that has you shaking your head. When it comes to temperature change water is even slower to adjust, especially at depth. Having said that, increased daylight hours and warmer nights compared to what we’ve had

BREEDING CYCLES The breeding cycles of native fish at this time of year have a big impact on their behaviour. They can become quiet aggressive, hence the closed season on fishing for Murray cod in most waterways from 1 September. Golden perch can still be targeted and it’s in

Don’t let the calendar fool you, it may say it’s spring, but clothing layers will still be required this month while chasing golden perch at Windermere Dam.

Post-spawn trout in spring can be targeted in and around shallow impoundment edges on small diving minnows and cranks. Cast parallel with the bank during low light levels. As the sun gets up cast out into deeper water. different. Later in the month you may see the odd day where you think maybe – just maybe – the winter cycle is broken. The frustrating thing is the sights or visual stimuli of spring are all around. Green grass, early buds and blossoms, bees and maybe From page 80

casting lures or pick a spot and soak a bait. My favourite lure to use in this creek during spring is the 3/8oz Mud Guts bass-sized spinnerbait. It’s nice and small with a

will slowly start to turn the tables. The food chain under water has already kicked up a few revs. Weed will start to grow and the small shrimp and yabbies that have been relatively dormant will start to become active, and with that hungry fish will start to move a little more.

waterways like Windermere and Burrendong that anglers really make the most of the breeding cycle aggression exhibited by these fish. Large roed up female golden perch can have a flotilla of smaller eager males pushing them around the dam, especially later in the month. Targeting

tiny tail and a small single Colorado blade. It gives off the perfect vibration that golden perch can’t resist! September can be both a brilliant and tough time of the year to fish. We can’t target Murray cod, so our

attention switches to the goldens and sometimes if the water temperature hasn’t climbed high enough, they can be very slow. If we’re lucky, they’ll switch on for the last two weeks of September!

You can’t go past the Mud Guts spinnerbaits when casting for golden perch in the Murrumbidgee River.

these fish has been a bit hit and miss in the past, but recent developments are changing the game. Big improvements in depth sounder technology, namely side scan capabilities, have really changed the way anglers are fishing for golden perch. Rarely now do switched-on anglers even make a cast before seeing fish on the sounder display first. This whole deal allows anglers to be fishing where the fish are and not where they might be. Getting them to bite is still a challenge though, and sometimes this just adds to the frustration. You know full well what they are, how deep they are, how far away they are and how many there are and they still won’t bite. When they do it’s game on and it can be absolute gold, literally. TROUT ON THE CHEW Post-spawn time can be a bonus for anglers chasing

trout in Thompsons Creek Dam and Lake Lyell; the trout have spent most of the winter in a breeding cycle of their own and have eaten very little. With spring on its way the brown trout in particular will be feeding up big time. These fish are normally reserved and fickle, especially in shallow water. The bounty of a spring feast is sometimes just too hard to resist. Targeting these fish will still need to be done during low light periods for the most part. Casting small soft plastics and diving minnow style lures as you walk the shores is hard to beat. Look to cast parallel with the bank wherever possible. As light levels increase, look to cast out a little deeper. Rainbow trout can be targeted off points surrounded by deeper water. Rainbows love cruising

wind lanes and shallow thermoclines as they form. Covering water is the key and nothing does it better than a metal spoon or blade, especially if it’s windy. Vary your retrieves and depths until you find a pattern of repeated success. There is nothing quite like the strike or hit from a large rainbow trout and the screaming reel that follows. COD SEASON CLOSED With the exception of a couple impoundments, Murray cod will be off limits for anglers from 1 September to 1 December. It has been an interesting season to say the least. It’s scary what opportunities lay ahead for coming seasons; I’ve been left with way more unanswered questions than questions I’ve answered and I guess that’s why I love fishing so much. I hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines.

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

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

Dam June July August Blowering 71 80 77 Brogo 100 100 100 Burrendong 87 87 87 Burrinjuck 62 63 54 Carcoar 90 90 91 Chaffey 99 94 94 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a n/a Copeton 47 52 53 Dartmouth 78 78 78 Eucumbene 36 30 27 Glenbawn 88 88 88 Glenlyon 75 75 75

Dam June July August Glennies Creek 87 83 83 Hume 65 71 77 Jindabyne 55 50 48 Keepit 64 66 68 Lostock 100 100 101 Oberon 89 88 87 Pindari 100 100 100 Split Rock 30 30 30 Tantangara 19 20 25 Toonumbar 101 102 101 Windamere 49 49 49 Wyangala 88 88 88

(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.) SEPTEMBER 2017

From cold to gold, spring will soon heat up BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

There is no official golden perch season as such, but switched-on anglers know that this month is when the golden perch really start to fire up in the lakes. This should suit all the cod anglers, as they will have most of the heavy gear packed away for the rest of

spring now that the Murray cod season has closed. Targeting the golden perch through the spring months gives the dedicated cod anglers and the rest of us our fishing fix while we wait for the Murray cod season to open back up. GOLDEN PERCH Golden perch make a great alternative while the cod season is closed; they fight as good as any Murray cod for their size and can

be caught in reasonable numbers, which helps to make the days busy and eventful. As the water temperature starts to rise this month the golden perch will push up into the shallows to bask in the sun. After pretty slim pickings over the winter months, they’ll be keen for a good feed as well. More often than not during early spring these golden perch will sit in thick pockets of weed or in the treetops sunning themselves. Some days they just sun themselves and don’t eat, which can be very frustrating, but the days that they are sunning themselves and eating are just awesome. Seeing a fish before you cast to it and then watching it chase down your offering and eat it all in crystal clear water sure is great fun. After a couple of decades of doing this, I still never tire of it and I really look forward to the polaroiding opportunities that early spring offers at Blowering Dam. When the goldens are in the trees, it’s hard to beat plastics slow rolled vertically up the trees or with a slow, constant retrieve through the gaps of

Jounama Dam in all its glory. This lake has fished quite well all winter and will be worth a visit this spring. pays to use something totally different just to get their attention. Super compact spinnerbaits this early in the season will get the attention of golden perch, but they tend to follow them without striking a lot

Rubber vibes like the Insanity Tackle Mini Vibe pictured have been the standout lures for the redfin at both Blowering and Jounama dams.

amount of anglers using them, the wiser fish are starting to get a bit wary of anything that is too noisy and will spook quite easy. Lipless cranks will still land you a few of the smaller, less spooky fish in the lake and are a good lure to use when you just want to get a fish aboard. These noisy lures can work to your advantage, if you use them in the right locations. The best example of the right place to use a rattling lipless crankbait at Blowering Dam would be around mudlines. On most days there will be some mudlines around the lake

generated from waves of some form or another. These windswept areas have food being blown to them and are stirring up the bottom and dislodging other prey items for hungry natives. The rattling lipless crankbaits give these fish something to home in on as these areas have low visibility and are often very noisy, due to the wave activity. Casting shallow running hardbodies, particularly suspending or neutrally buoyant hardbodies, is another good way of enticing a few golden perch early in the season. To page 83

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SEPTEMBER 2017

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Working the trees both vertically and horizontally is a great way of catching the sunbaking golden perch at Blowering Dam in early spring. the plentiful spindly trees. The main food items for golden perch at Blowering Dam during the spring months are the plentiful frogs and tadpoles. Obviously any lure or fly resembling a frog will put you in with a good chance of hooking into a few. Twin-tailed soft plastics or soft plastics in general are always worth a cast in spring. Sometimes, as there are so many frogs around, it

of the time. Occasionally they still work this early, but from next month onwards spinnerbaits will scare far more fish than they catch due to the amount of people that use them. With catch and release being so popular, most of the larger fish have been caught on these crazy contraptions before. Lipless crankbaits are always worth a cast. Again, with the ever-increasing

Riley Perrott with his new PB Murray cod caught on an Angel Bait from the Murrumbidgee River just before the close of the cod season. This month it pays to downsize your lures and baits to help limit the amount of cod that we hook while targeting the natives. Keep presentations below 70mm in length and you’ll be doing your utmost to give the cod a rest.

Start of bass season looking good HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

Last issue I thought we were in for a mild, wet winter, but the skies have cleared and the frosts were plenty. This really dropped the water temperatures back down to where they usually are over winter. Both the local lakes have seen significant changes

These big girls have been down spawning and are ready to start their migration back upriver. This part of the river is influenced by tidal flow. The current can really get moving along some of the banks, so it pays to fish areas where the current is broken. There are also several floodgates scattered all along this part of the river that are always worth a fish.

snags. These hard structures break the current flow and create ambush points for the fish to sit in. When fishing these tidal waters, I keep things simple when selecting a lure to fish. A spinnerbait is a great all-rounder for all cover scenarios, they are semi snagless and it comes through weed well. A crankbait is good for more hard structure like rock

The author with a St Clair Bass taken on a paddletail plastic fished shallow over the weed. over the last couple of months. This month also marks the start of spring with warmer weather and the opening of bass season in the rivers and creeks. Most of the wild bass population will still be further downstream towards the brackish water. In the Hunter, Williams and Paterson rivers, anywhere from Raymond Terrace back upstream will be the area to fish to find the big bass.

These hold numbers of bass, especially at high tide on the run-out. The bass can sit right up the back waiting for food to be washed down in the current out of the drain. Cast any small crankbait, spinnerbait or paddle-tail plastic into these and it will get eaten. The bass are not generally fussy and will take anything resembling food being washed out of these floodgates. Other areas to try are rock walls or timber and

and timber to bounce off. A 1/8 or 1/4oz blade and jighead rigged paddle-tail or grub will help when fishing slightly deeper sections. Lake Glenbawn’s level has been up and down this winter, which has caused havoc for developing weed beds. The main basin will still be the most likely place to find good weed as the back of the lake is stained from water flow coming in. Generally September fishes

well at Glenbawn. The water will be warming and the bass and golden perch will be in a transition this month. Water temperatures of 17-18°C are when the bite starts to change. In anything below 17°C, a plastic, jerkbait or ice jig will work well. When the water gets above 18°C, reaction or vibration lures will start to come into play. Depending on the rain and water level, the back of the lake can sometimes warm quicker than the front in September. Generally the whole lake will fish well and they should be evenly spread out along most banks. Keep an eye on that water temperature and lake level. These two things should give you an idea of what the fish will be doing. The fish will generally be a little deeper on a dropping level, as it draws them out off the bank in around 20ft of water. On a rising water level it will push them up shallower into 5-10ft. Lake St Clair’s weed has really bounced back and should be really thick, near touching the water’s surface again. These weed beds will be holding most of the fish this month. Again, same as Glenbawn, 17-18°C is the magic mark for the bite this month. Use a jerkbait or plastic over the weed beds in low light, overcast or windy conditions, if the water is below 17°C. For 18°C and above vibration and reaction lures will start to work. With the massive weed beds I like a lure that can come over and through the weed well. Spinnerbaits and vibrating jigs are great for this with their single upward

Ethan Martin with a decent Glenbawn bass on a jerkbait. facing hooks. Ripping and hopping a lipless crankbait out of the weed will work too. Surface activity comes into play at St Clair this month as the insect life increases. Low light and overcast are always the best conditions for a topwater bite.

Lastly, Aberdeen Fishing and Outdoors has really stepped up to fill the void for the Upper Hunter tackle shops. Drop in and check out the range Nick and Jen now stock. They have all the latest gear the fish are biting on.

The author with a bass caught out of a drain in the Hunter River on a spinnerbait.

Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors

From page 82

Bait anglers tend to do well during the spring months, too. While most bait anglers like to use small to medium sized yabbies when targeting the resident golden perch, a big juicy worm, bardi or wood grub will also put you in with as good a chance of hooking a few, particularly if the water is rising. JOUNAMA DAM The trout and redfin fishing has been insane during winter with cricket scores of redfin and plenty of good to very good-sized trout being landed. The standout technique has been hopping rubber vibes for the redfin. With a slow, constant retrieve these have been accounting for the trout as well. Plastics have also been working a treat and should work well this month. The odd golden perch will start eating the same lures this month.

LOOK FOR THE BOAT ABOVE THE VET CENTRE

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

LAKE GLENBAWN

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ABERDEEN Anything that resembles a frog will work great when targeting golden perch this month. Twin curl-tail plastics like this are very hard to beat.

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www.aberdeenfishingandoutdoors.com.au SEPTEMBER 2017

Search for perch, the springtime golden treat TAMWORTH

Adam Mears adam.mears@hotmail.com

Yippee ki-yay, ladies and gentlemen – the winter frosts are at an end. Soon the birds will be chirping, the bees will be buzzing and the humble golden perch will be waking

up from their winter downtime. I love spring and the new opportunities that come with it. For us Tamworthians it starts the local gold rush as keen anglers hit up their local waters in the search for perch. September is the prime time to hit the weed edges and shallow rocky bays

with lipless crankbaits and vibes mimicking the shrimp and yabbies that will have come out of hibernation. You should be looking to match the hatch and take advantage of this while you can. CHAFFEY DAM Spring might be a little early for prime time at Chaffey, but I have a sneaky

Reece Bailey with a great golden perch caught at Split Rock Dam.

Cod like this little specimen love a spinnerbait and 3/8oz Pirate spinnerbaits work wonders in our local waters.

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suspicion that with the mild winter we have had the bite might be earlier this year than last. Hitting up the points is always the go at Chaffey and the variety of lures that work is endless. My preferred technique in early spring is a suspending hardbody. Unlike the traditional hardbody lures, suspending models are weighted and don’t float up fast when paused, so you can keep the lures in their faces. This pause is often what causes the goldens to pounce. Another go-to lure type for me would have to be

the lipless vibes. Jackall, Megabass, Viva and Atomic all do their own variations and all have caught me plenty of fish over the years. Depending on the day, different colours can make a difference. I like the ‘KISS’ system – Keep It Simple, Silly. For me this means on a dark day I choose a dark coloured lure like black, purple or blue. On a bright sunny day I go for brighter colours or natural semitransparent colours, greens, yellows and reds. I’m very quickly becoming a fan of shrimp patterns – the see-through yellow with brown and black highlights really screams ‘eat me.’ I wouldn’t leave home without one.

LAKE KEEPIT When they’re on, they’re on and when they’re not, they’re not. Lake Keepit should really start warming up now as far as the fishing goes. Targeting golden perch is similar to Chaffey Dam. One that I have talked about is slow rolling soft plastics up the trees; a good number of competitions have been won here on that technique and I think that will continue for some time. The average joe angler has still yet to embrace this technique. Do yourselves a favour go to your favourite tackle store and get some curltail soft plastics in the 3” size and jigheads from 1/6-1/4oz and try it. It’s as simple as

dropping your offering to the bottom and commencing a slow, steady retrieve to the surface. If you don’t get a bite in 15 minutes, move onto the next tree and repeat. Another species that will be warming up is the noxious European carp. These pests are great fun on light tackle and will happily grab a fly or lightlyweighted soft plastic cast past them and wriggled in the muddy bottom. They are great for those beginning in our sport and great for honing your light line skills. Baits of bread, corn, worms or shrimp will also catch plenty of these fish, so get out there and enjoy the sun, the warmth and the good times.

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Local gun Harry Wachtel sporting a quality bass from a trip out to Glenbawn Dam. Check out that tail! 84

SEPTEMBER 2017

Anglers getting ready for all things yellow COPETON DAM

David Allen manager@copeton.com.au

Winter is behind us and summer isn’t far away. That means we can start to think about something other than cod, cod and more cod. September will usually see a slowing in cod activity and an increase in yellowbelly catch rates as the water temperatures start to rise. This combined with the slowly rising water levels over the winter months is all pointing towards a great spring on the water. If the gods are kind and we can continue to get regular rainfall, and the cotton farmers don’t require huge water releases, then we could be in for some champion yellowbelly fishing this year. Early season yellowbelly fishing mainly involves fishing structure and finding small groups of fish; they generally don’t school until later in the year. This structure may be standing old timber, recently covered lighter timber or rocky shoreline and points.

These areas can be fished in a number of ways with many techniques. Standing timber can be fished using many different lures, but the most common method is to hop and slow roll soft plastics, blades and vibe-style lures up through the timber. These lures can also be used to fish the structure on the edges. Look for timber, rock and rubble points. Small spinnerbaits and diving hardbodies also work well for this style of fishing. Trolling is also a method used to very good effect at Copeton; this usually involves a deep diving hardbody. Winter this year saw a huge number of fish and fishers at Copeton Waters. There have probably been thousands of fish caught and released with hundreds over the magic metre. Some fishers have tallied up to 30 or more 1m+ fish for the year. There have been many over 120cm and a handful over 130cm – only at Copeton the Cod Capital. From 15-17 September

the top Murray cod fishers from around the country will converge on Copeton for the Copeton Cod Classic. This event is in its third year and this year has nearly 200 registered anglers fishing in teams of two or three. The event will start with a briefing and dinner at the Northcott Conference Centre at the park entrance. Once dinner is finished then competitors can start fishing and can fish straight through until 8.00am Sunday. Breakfast and presentations will again be at the centre at the park entrance. This event always sees some new lures or techniques being used to try to get an edge over the other competitors. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top this year. • Copeton Dam is one of the best lakes in NSW to catch a trophy Murray cod. Dave runs the Copeton Waters Holiday Park and is a great source of up to date, local information on what’s biting. Contact the park on (02) 6723 6269 for information and accommodation bookings.

The author with a great yella.

Golden perch warming up as cod season ends NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

As another epic Murray cod season comes to a close for the 2016/17 breeding cycle, now is a good time to gain more fishing knowledge and home in on some

edge of the Qld border. Most other impoundments and river systems will be closed for a three-month period so check fishing guides or local tackle shops if you’re unsure and do the right thing on the water. The Beardy River remains closed for trout

lure and if you’re caught targeting cod in closed waters, big penalties can apply. If the bite continues to be the same as last year for spring perch, blades and vibes will be the lures of choice. Copeton Dam has continued to show it is one of the best big cod fisheries in Australia with XOS cod being caught all throughout the month. The surface bite seemed to slow down a little, but the cod being caught in the low light periods were a really good size. Swimbaits have been producing more consistent bites and were by far the more effective lure while

A double hook-up out of the kayak.

A Westin Percy the Perch engulfed by 120cm of monster cod. other species that make themselves more available during the spring months. Copeton Dam is still fishable all year round for Murray cod, along with others like Eildon Dam, located further south, and Glenlyon Dam on the

breeding season, but will open next month. Pindari Dam and the Severn River will close for the three months as well. Both are still fishable for golden perch and lures up to around 70mm are fine. Anything bigger will be classed as a Murray cod

A Copeton cod caught on a Westin Percy the Perch.

the dam levels were settling. Spring should fish just as well as previous weeks with the quality of fish being caught, although I would expect it to be a bit tougher and slower. The quantity of fish being caught should improve as water temperatures start to increase and bait life starts to become more abundant. Golden perch are an awesome fish to target during the warmer months on the light gear as they start to school up again and can be caught in a big numbers on the right lures and techniques. Good-sized yellowbelly are already making an appearance around the dam, often being caught on lures half their size, showing

it’s going to be a cracker season for chasing goldens. A recent JML Anglers Alliance trip saw a handful of very healthy cod taken on Westin Swimbaits and three made it over the magic metre mark. Michael Geary experienced a fishing trip of a lifetime landing a metre fish each morning he ventured onto the water and beating his PB fish twice; his three best were 115cm 105cm and 120cm. The warmer temperatures also make it more comfortable to fish in and make it easy to get out of bed on early mornings, so get out on the water and get into some awesome spring impoundment fishing. SEPTEMBER 2017

Zero big cod at season’s end ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

With the cod season all but done and dusted for another year, it’s depressing to look back on the season’s catches in our local waters.

the reputation this section of river has as being big cod water, you might wonder on where all the fish have gone. Some reputable anglers along this section of river continue to tout that all is good yet failed to raise a single sizable cod for the camera. How can this be good when you

then naturally flooded not twelve months gone? Did the trees not get a drink or do they require artificial floods every year until the natural ones come along? I fully support environmental flows so long as they are beneficial and done properly. Those in charge have already

The only big cod seen in our local waters this season were the ones upside down in the black water. I recall the glory days where giant cod would belt a well-placed lure with common regularity and most would count their score at seasons end on more than a single hand. This season, almost nine months have passed and I have not seen a single photo of a large cod caught in the Murray River from Robinvale to Renmark in South Australia. I did hear of one at 99cm, but when you consider past seasons and

consider Milduras number one tackle store Got One was forced to close its doors in a city of 60,000 souls based on the mighty Murray River. The river is cooked and nine months on this section of the mighty Murray River is as dead as the giant cod that floated away in the black water. As I write this, the bush is once again being pumped full of water at numerous locations. Why are they creating an artificial flood when it was pumped and

stated these catastrophic black water events, while not natural on the scale seen in the last two floods, will now become the new normal. As obstinate as that we are required to move on and forget our once great fishery and the giant fish that made our local waters so special. ‘Sit down, shut up, and take your medicine’ seems to be the attitude without real explanation on what can and has been done to change it. I struggle with the term

artificial flood in that true floodwaters are continually on the move rolling in and out of the bush over a few week period. The term stationary flood might be more suited to the forest pumping that sees water sit stationary and stagnant for months at a time. Is this the true sleeping giant behind these two massive black water events? I have spent the better part of my life exploring the bush and fishing the Murray and its adjoining rivers and have enjoyed every minute of it. It troubles me now to wonder on recent events and the future of our fishes when it is in the hands of the environmental scientists and water managers. What could possibly go wrong with such learned people at the helm? One thing does puzzle me and that is if Murray cod breed during times of flood – and the last two floods have killed the large breeding fish – where are the future small fish going to come from? We know only the smaller cod survive the black water and given time these will grow into larger breeding fish. But if the next flood too is hypoxic, and to quote the experts, “this will be the new norm”, then surely these fish too will die and fail to breed. So where are the smaller cod going to come from that survive that event? And how many floods will it take to wipe them out all together?

Carp are the new king of the river with their numbers exploding and few predators to speak of. Sure we still have some fish up this way. We still have good numbers of golden perch that will continue to bite well, especially as we head into spring and the water temperature starts to climb. We have billions of carp and they will do very well growing quickly with little fear from natural predators like cod. And yes, we have spatterings of small Murray cod, with possibly the odd big one that has managed to allude the hooks so far. It still remains to be seen, but given time I

expect some sizable cod will make the journey upstream from the lower lochs to repopulate our local waters. Until then, as locals we need suck it up and forget the worst cod season ever seen in these waters. The real positive in our local waters for next season begins with the simple fact that it can’t get any worse than the last. Besides, if you go for a drive and get above where the forests are artificially flooded there are still heaps of giant cod to be caught. I wonder why that is…

Spring frenzy fires MILDURA

Darcy Sherger

Mildura’s fishing has recently been like the weather over the winter months – cold and miserable. Leading into September this should change with the days slowly stretching out and the temperatures slowly on the rise. Rising temperatures have the potential to trigger some serious activity for local anglers within the region. Spring is generally the time of the yellowbelly frenzy around Mildura where the banks are lined with lure fishers casting crankbaits around snags, rock reefs and weirs determined to encounter a golden perch. This is generally a time where many anglers can get their arms stretched by several golden perch within a session, which will make 86

SEPTEMBER 2017

up for the quiet winter that many anglers experienced. The weather will need to warm up to create this frenzy and the water temperature will also have to increase for them to really fire up and feed. Generally when the water temperature hits around 20°C in spring, the golden perch will spawn and create this feeding frenzy that will keep anglers on their toes. For anglers targeting golden perch this spring, small lures such as Jackall TN60s and 70s on the cast will be very deadly and hard to not tie on for a cast. TT Switch Blades, Daiwa 65mm Woofers, Sebile Flat Shads and other sinking crankbait lures with a loud rattle around structure will also produce the goods. If you prefer to use spinnerbaits, Bassman Carl’s Compacts, Shortys, small Mudguts Spinnerbaits and Micro Mumblers will also be worth a crack. Small Oar-Gee Plows and JJ

StumpJumpers will be very productive on the troll over rocky ledges and snags. With the reasonably quiet fishing, several local anglers have been trying a different style of fishing than in the river, resorting to areas such as billabongs, dams and impoundments to chase redfin on soft plastics. Redfin are a beautiful table fish and great fun to catch while casting small soft plastics on light spin rods. Soft plastics such as 80mm Squidgy Wrigglers, Strike Tiger 3” Curl Tail Grubs and or even Squidgy Worms or Critters will do the job in clear water. Soft plastics will work the best in clear water, but if it’s stirred up a little bit, small TN50 Jackalls, small blades and or even Small Celta spinners will turn some redfin heads and entice a hit. I know myself and many other anglers are eager to get back out amongst the golden perch action. The wait will soon be over.

A decent-sized redfin taken on a Jackall TN60.

A look back at the Murray cod season end YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

With the clock ticking towards the end of another season, fishos had the chance to battle with a legendary Mulwala Murray cod. Traditionally, first frost saw anglers pack away the fishing gear and grab the cray pots, but how times have changed! This season, like no other, switched on cod fishos flocked to Mulwala on mass through the winter months with outstanding results. With only a handful days to go before the threemonth closed season (1 Sep to 30 Nov), anglers didn’t waste what was left of it. A well-placed cast (or even a lucky one!) had anglers leaving Mulwala with a massive smile on their dial. Undoubtedly, the new craze of surface lures, wakebaits and swimbaits gave the cod something new to look at. This style of fishing produced results far

Brody Kenningale with his 122cm cod. exceeding the traditional methods of casting and trolling both hardbody lures and spinnerbaits. If you haven’t given the

topwater style of fishing a go, grab yourself a new lure or two as I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised. The best locations to

fish for cod were around the 2m mark and had weed close by. Popular areas for targeting the surface bite included Kyffins,

the Northern Bight, from Woodlands through the Skilands area up to Majors Creek and the top northeast corner commonly known as the ‘Everglades.’ To give everybody a mention who has caught a good cod over the past month would see me running out of ink! There are two who deserve special mention for July. First up is Warren from Shepparton. Waz has spent many hours here with outstanding success, the like no other angler has seen here this year. To top off the season, he boated three whoppers of 117cm, 118cm and 120cm. They came off the top on Koolabung Cod Crackers. The feel-good catch of the year came from a young fella, 12 year old Brody Kenningale from Griffith. Brody came in store and we had a bit of banter about his fishing. I promised to make a hero out of him if he caught a good cod. Low and behold, we received a photo from him with a massive 122cm cod he caught while casting a hardbody lure – a

wonderful catch for a great young kid. I’m sure he learnt a fair bit out on the lake with his dad while wagging school! Well done, Brody. For those that are keen on their tournament fishing, pencil in 21 October for the Golden Dollar$ tournament. Based at Bundalong targeting yellas (golden perch), this event gives you the chance to share in over $3000 cash. Organisation is well under way for the 2017 Yamaha Cod Classic. The Cod Classic promises to be huge with something for everybody. Prizes include seven boating packages and plenty more. • 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.

INDUSTRY NEWS

Quintrex recognises top dealers for 2016-17 Streaker Marine took out the top honours of National Dealer of the Year for 2016-17; however, many other

dealership contributes to the brands success. The Dealer of the Year award recognizes dealers excelling in multiple areas.

them on their hard work,” Nathan said. NEW SOUTH WALES – CANOBOLAS MARINE Canobolas Marine, located in Orange in NSW, is a family-owned business that has been operating for over 60 years. Dealer Principal Lee MacKenzie said their customer service and wide range of stock contributed to winning the Dealer of the Year award.

(Trevor and Donna Yates) behind Bendigo Marine & Outdoors has a passion for the marine industry that takes their business to the next level. “Trevor is a very keen fisho who can relate to his customers and provide them with the right boat to suit their exact needs,” Drew said. Trevor and Donna said it was an honour to receive the coveted award and attribute

Nathan Shaw and Drew Jackson presenting Dealer Principal Lee MacKenzie with the award for Canobolas Marine. dealerships were also recognised for their hard work and dedication to the Quintrex brand. Quintrex Account Managers Nathan Shaw and Drew Jackson said each and every Quintrex

“This has been a big year for Quintrex with the release of the Apex Hull. Quintrex would not be the brand it is today without the support we receive from our dedicated dealer network, so we are pleased to congratulate

Owners Trevor and Donna Yates from Bendigo Marine & Outdoors are building a reputation to be proud of.

Managing Director Nick Di Toro from Aquasports Marine receiving the award. ‘We will always do our best to give our customers 100%; even through the colder months we carry a good range of boats and always try to have the latest stock on hand when new models come out,’ Lee said. VICTORIA/ TASMANIA – BENDIGO MARINE & OUTDOORS Quintrex Account Manager Drew Jackson said the husband and wife team

their success to customer service and quality products. “To stand with others that have been in successful businesses for many years, it was a thrill to win this respected award. “Small business is tough at times and it is nice to be acknowledged for striving to ‘do the right thing’ by our suppliers and customers while building a reputation to be proud of,” Trevor said.

Dealer Principal Dave Ferris receiving the award for Yamaha Pitmas Marine. QUEENSLAND – SURF COAST MARINE “Surf Coast Marine specialise in giving their customers exactly what they need; their product knowledge and passion for the boating industry is like no other,” said Nathan Shaw, Quintrex Account Manager. “Surf Coast Marine has a very polished sales process which is heavily focused on providing premium service, value and after-sales care; they have an employee

specifically dedicated to after-sales care,” Nathan said. Dealer Principal Paul Banning said Quintrex’s innovation and technology means they can sell to customers with confidence. “The past twelve months for the dealership has been all about the customer and helping them purchase the right boat for their needs,” Paul said. – Quintrex

Sales Manager Eric Steele and Dealer Principal Paul Banning from Surf Coast Marine are dedicated and have a polished sales process. SEPTEMBER 2017

Cooking

Frying up a flatfish meuniere BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Sole meuniere is a well known French flatfish classic; a la meuniere refers to a style in which delicate fish fillets are

dusted in flour, cooked in a frypan and finished in a sauce of lightly browned butter with lemon juice and parsley. The meuniere works equally well with winter whiting and other small whiting.

Ingredients • 4 flatfish fillets • 1 cup plain flour • 2 tbsp butter

• 1 tbsp finely chopped flat leaf parsley • Juice of 1 lemon

5 88

3 Gently shake the coated fillets to remove any excess flour.

Turn the heat to low then add the finely chopped parsley. Stir gently.

SEPTEMBER 2017

In a heavy based frypan (cast iron is excellent) melt the two tablespoons of butter over a medium heat. When the butter is foaming, add the flour-coated fillets to the pan. Cook the fillets on one side for a couple of minutes.

Now add the lemon juice to the pan and stir. To finish, return the fish to the pan for a moment to warm through, spooning the sauce over the fish.

Place the flour in a shallow dish and coat the fish fillets with the flour.

Carefully turn the fillets over to cook on the other side. The amount of time needed to cook the fillets will depend on the thickness of the fish. When cooked, remove the fillets from the pan and place to one side on a plate.

Your flatfish meuniere is now ready to serve.

2017 2017

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY(FORT (FORTDENISON) DENISON)– – –NEW NEWSOUTH SOUTHWALES WALES SYDNEY JANUARY JANUARY SEPTEMBER

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

Time m m m Time m Time Time m m Time Time 0540 0.47 0432 0.50 05401.29 0.47 04321.15 0.50 0458 0434 1159 1.76 1101 1.78 11590.50 1.76 11010.64 1.78 1040 1013 1831 0.33 1738 0.34 MO SU 18311.70 0.33 17381.48 0.34 SAMO 1709 1652 FRSU 2339 1.37 23390.53 1.37 2351 0.31 2338 0041 1.42 0516 0.52 00411.37 1.42 05161.20 0.52 0555 0531 0628 0.55 1142 1.74 06280.43 0.55 11420.60 1.74 1108 1141 1241 1.63 1819 0.35 TU MO 12411.75 1.63 18191.55 0.35 SUTU 1742 1805 SAMO 1912 1912 0.42 0.42 0127 1.39 0025 1.37 01270.24 1.39 00250.46 1.37 0041 0022 0717 0.62 0603 0.55 07171.45 0.62 06031.27 0.55 0645 0616 1323 1.49 1225 1.69 WE TU 13230.36 1.49 12250.54 1.69MOWE 1235 1156 SUTU 1952 0.50 1902 0.37 19521.78 0.50 19021.62 0.37 1855 1824 0215 1.37 0114 1.38 02150.21 1.37 01140.38 1.38 0125 0100 0811 0.69 0656 0.58 08111.52 0.69 06561.34 0.58 0730 0657 1409 1.37 1312 1.62 TH WE 14090.31 1.37 13120.47 1.62 TUTH 1324 1238 MOWE 2035 0.56 1950 0.39 20351.78 0.56 19501.68 0.39 1941 1903 0207 1.41 0307 1.37 02070.32 1.41 03070.21 1.37 0135 0205 0755 0.61 0913 0.73 07551.40 0.61 09131.57 0.73 0733 0813 1406 1.53 1503 1.27 TH FR 14060.41 1.53WEFR 15030.30 1.27 1319 1411 TUTH 2123 0.60 2042 0.42 21231.73 0.60 20421.73 0.42 1942 2025 0306 1.45 0402 1.39 03060.27 1.45 04020.24 1.39 0210 0243 0902 0.62 1022 0.73 09021.47 0.62 10221.59 0.73 0810 0853 1509 1.46 1608 1.21 FR SA 15090.36 1.46 THSA 16080.31 1.21 1400 1455 WEFR 2138 0.43 2217 0.62 21381.75 0.43 22171.66 0.62 2020 2106 0407 1.52 0500 1.43 04070.24 1.52 05000.29 1.43 0245 0318 1017 0.59 1133 0.70 10171.53 0.59 11331.60 0.70 0848 0931 1620 1.40 1716 1.19 SA SU 16200.33 1.40 FRSU 17160.35 1.19 1442 1538 THSA 2237 0.43 2313 0.62 22371.75 0.43 23131.56 0.62 2100 2145 0509 1.62 0555 1.49 05090.23 1.62 05550.36 1.49 0320 0352 1134 0.52 1235 0.63 11341.57 0.52 12351.58 0.63 0929 1009 1732 1.39 1820 1.21 SU MO 17320.32 1.39 SAMO 18200.40 1.21 1526 1620 FRSU 2336 0.41 23361.70 0.41 2142 2224 1.46 0609 1.73 0005 0.60 06090.25 1.73 00050.43 0.60 0359 0425 1244 0.41 0644 1.56 12441.61 0.41 06441.55 1.56 1011 1046 1841 1.40 1326 0.55 MO TU 18410.33 1.40 SUTU 13260.46 0.55 1614 1703 SAMO 1913 1.25 19131.36 1.25 2226 1.63 2303 0033 0.39 0052 0.57 00330.29 0.39 00520.50 0.57 0439 0458 0705 1.84 0728 1.63 07051.62 1.84 07281.52 1.63 1057 1124 1345 0.30 1409 0.47 13450.37 0.30MOWE 14090.53 0.47 1705 1749 TU WE SUTU 1942 1.43 1958 1.29 19421.52 1.43 19581.27 1.29 2315 2345 0129 0.36 0135 0.53 01290.36 0.36 01350.58 0.53 0523 0535 0800 1.93 0808 1.69 08001.61 1.93 08081.47 1.69 1145 1206 1441 0.22 1446 0.40 14410.42 0.22 TUTH 14460.58 0.40 1803 1841 WE TH MOWE 2038 2038 2038 1.46 1.46 2038 1.34 1.34 0215 0.49 0221 0.35 02151.19 0.49 02211.41 0.35 0008 0034 0846 1.75 0852 1.98 08460.64 1.75 08520.43 1.98 0613 0619 1523 0.35 1531 0.16 15231.43 0.35 15311.60 0.16WEFR 1240 1255 FR TH TUTH 2116 1.38 2130 1.47 21160.62 1.38 21300.46 1.47 1909 1942 0313 0.34 0255 0.45 03131.30 0.34 02551.13 0.45 0112 0134 0942 1.99 0925 1.80 09420.51 1.99 09250.69 1.80 0710 0715 1620 0.16 1559 0.30 16201.58 0.16 THSA 15591.39 0.30 1343 1354 FR SA WEFR 2220 1.48 2155 1.42 22200.48 1.48 21550.62 1.42 2025 2051 0402 0.36 0335 0.43 04021.23 0.36 03351.12 0.43 0226 0247 1030 1.96 1003 1.82 10300.55 1.96 10030.71 1.82 0817 0825 1706 0.19 1635 0.28 17061.59 0.19 FRSU 16351.39 0.28 1453 1501 SA SU THSA 2309 1.47 2234 1.45 23090.45 1.47 22340.59 1.45 2144 2158 0452 0.41 0417 0.42 04521.23 0.41 04171.15 0.42 0346 0400 1115 1.87 1043 1.82 11150.55 1.87 10430.69 1.82 0930 0936 1749 0.25 1714 0.27 17491.63 0.25 SAMO 17141.43 0.27 1604 1608 SU MO FRSU 2355 1.44 2316 1.48 23550.38 1.44 23160.52 1.48 2253 2255 0502 0.42 0502 0.42 1125 1125 1.78 1.78 1753 0.28 TU TU 1753 0.28

Time Time m Time m m m Time m m Time Time 0042 1.47 0000 1.50 00420.34 1.47 00001.22 1.50 0029 0559 0644 0.57 0551 0.45 06441.43 0.57 05510.64 0.45 0640 1138 1246 1.45 1208 1.71 TH WE 12460.47 1.45 12081.49 1.71MOTH 1233 1803 SUWE 1859 0.52 1834 18591.64 0.52 1834 0.32 0.32 1848 0123 1.44 0047 1.51 01230.31 1.44 00470.45 1.51 0115 0041 0731 0.64 0643 0.49 07311.51 0.64 06431.30 0.49 0645 0726 1328 1.34 1256 1.61 FR TH 13280.41 1.34 12560.56 1.61 TUFR 1230 1327 MOTH 1937 0.58 1919 0.37 19371.64 0.58 19191.56 0.37 1849 1936 0209 1.42 0140 1.52 02090.30 1.42 01400.37 1.52 0156 0120 0828 0.69 0741 0.53 08281.58 0.69 07411.40 0.53 0808 0725 1417 1.25 1349 1.50 SA FR 14170.36 1.25 13490.47 1.50WESA 1415 1315 TUFR 2023 0.64 2009 0.43 20231.62 0.64 20091.63 0.43 1931 2020 0237 1.53 0303 1.40 02370.31 1.53 03030.31 1.40 0232 0157 0848 0.56 0933 0.71 08481.49 0.56 09331.63 0.71 0847 0802 1451 1.39 1520 1.18 SA SU 14510.38 1.39 THSU 15200.34 1.18 1458 1358 WESA 2107 0.48 2120 0.68 21071.68 0.48 21201.57 0.68 2101 2012 0340 1.56 0405 1.41 03400.25 1.56 04050.33 1.41 0232 0307 1006 0.56 1048 0.70 10061.59 0.56 10481.66 0.70 0841 0924 1606 1.32 1636 1.16 SU MO 16060.31 1.32 FRMO 16360.34 1.16 1442 1539 THSU 2212 0.51 2227 0.70 22121.70 0.51 22271.51 0.70 2054 2141 0447 1.62 0509 1.44 04470.22 1.62 05090.38 1.44 0309 0339 1126 0.51 1157 0.65 11261.67 0.51 11571.67 0.65 0920 1000 1725 1.30 1749 1.18 MO TU 17250.25 1.30 SATU 17490.35 1.18 1526 1618 FRMO 2318 0.50 2330 0.67 23181.69 0.50 23301.45 0.67 2137 2219 0553 1.70 0607 1.51 05530.22 1.70 06070.43 1.51 0347 0411 1237 0.42 1252 0.57 12371.74 0.42 12521.66 0.57 1002 1033 1836 1.33 1846 1.24 TU WE 18360.23 1.33 SUWE 18460.38 1.24 1614 1658 SATU 2223 1.65 2258 1.38 0021 0.47 0025 0.62 00210.25 0.47 00250.49 0.62 0429 0443 0654 1.78 0656 1.58 06541.77 1.78 06561.64 1.58 1046 1108 1338 0.33 1337 0.49 WE TH 13380.23 0.33MOTH 13370.42 0.49 1704 1738 SUWE 1936 1.38 1932 1.31 19361.57 1.38 19321.32 1.31 2313 2337 0119 0.42 0112 0.56 01190.31 0.42 01120.55 0.56 0512 0516 0748 1.86 0740 1.66 07481.78 1.86 07401.60 1.66 1134 1145 1430 0.26 1416 0.41 TH FR 14300.27 0.26 TUFR 14160.47 0.41 1759 1820 MOTH 2029 2013 2029 1.44 1.44 2013 1.38 1.38 0212 0.38 0155 0.49 02121.46 0.38 01551.25 0.49 0005 0019 0839 1.90 0820 1.74 08390.39 1.90 08200.61 1.74 0600 0554 1516 0.22 1453 0.33 15161.74 0.22WESA 14531.55 0.33 1225 1224 FR SA TUFR 2115 1.49 2051 1.46 21150.32 1.49 20510.52 1.46 1858 1907 0236 0.42 0301 0.36 02361.20 0.42 03011.36 0.36 0104 0106 0900 1.80 0926 1.90 09000.67 1.80 09260.48 1.90 0653 0639 1530 0.28 1559 0.22 15301.49 0.28 15591.69 0.22 THSU 1321 1309 SU SA WESA 2130 1.53 2200 1.51 21300.56 1.53 22000.38 1.51 2005 2001 0348 0.36 0319 0.37 03481.28 0.36 03191.17 0.37 0202 0211 1010 1.86 0941 1.83 10100.56 1.86 09410.72 1.83 0733 0755 1639 0.25 1606 0.24 16391.63 0.25 FRMO 16061.44 0.24 1402 1425 SU MO THSU 2243 1.52 2210 1.59 22430.41 1.52 22100.58 1.59 2102 2119 0432 0.39 0403 0.34 04321.24 0.39 04031.16 0.34 0327 0308 1052 1.78 1024 1.82 10520.61 1.78 10240.75 1.82 0907 0839 1715 0.30 1645 0.24 17151.60 0.30 SATU 16451.41 0.24 1536 1506 MO TU FRMO 2323 1.51 2252 1.64 23230.40 1.51 22520.57 1.64 2231 2206 0516 0.44 05161.27 0.44 0443 0416 1.19 1131 1.68 11310.60 1.68 1023 0951 0.74 1751 0.37 17511.60 0.37 SU 1615 1.41 1649 TU SATU 2334 0.37 2303 0.52 0002 1.49 00021.34 1.49 0547 0516 1.27 0600 0.51 06000.54 0.51 1132 1059 0.69 1209 1.57 12091.62 1.57MO 1715 1.45 1753 WE SUWE 1825 1825 0.45 0.45 2351 0.46

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Time m m m Time m Time Time m m Time Time 0533 0.49 0451 0.33 05330.40 0.49 04510.39 0.33 0121 0033 1139 1.50 1108 1.77 11391.63 1.50 11081.48 1.77 0744 0648 1739 0.50 1725 0.26 WE TH 17390.44 0.50 17250.50 0.26 THTH 1402 1247 WEWE 2359 1.57 2337 1.66 23591.46 1.57 23371.57 1.66 1958 1856 0615 0.54 0541 0.35 06150.41 0.54 05410.32 0.35 0157 0114 1216 1.41 1154 1.68 12161.68 1.41 11541.60 1.68 0729 0821 1812 0.56 1807 0.32 FR TH 18120.40 0.56 18070.39 0.32 FRFR 1336 1445 THTH 2039 1.43 1942 1.61 0036 1.54 0024 1.67 00360.43 1.54 00240.27 1.67 0153 0230 0700 0.59 0635 0.40 07001.71 0.59 06351.72 0.40 0810 0857 1257 1.33 1245 1.57 SA FR 12570.38 1.33 12450.29 1.57 SASA 1424 1523 FRFR 1847 0.63 1853 0.40 18471.40 0.63 18531.63 0.40 2029 2117 0118 1.50 0115 1.65 01180.46 1.50 01150.25 1.65 0234 0302 0751 0.64 0735 0.46 07511.72 0.64 07351.82 0.46 0853 0930 1345 1.25 1340 1.44 SU SA 13450.37 1.25 13400.21 1.44 SUSU 1513 1600 SASA 1931 0.69 1944 0.49 19311.37 0.69 19441.62 0.49 2117 2156 0208 1.46 0213 1.62 02080.49 1.46 02130.25 1.62 0335 0316 0845 0.51 0852 0.68 08451.89 0.51 08521.73 0.68 1004 0938 1445 1.33 1445 1.19 MO SU 14450.17 1.33MOMO 14450.38 1.19 1638 1603 SUSU 2044 0.56 2029 0.75 20441.58 0.56 20291.34 0.75 2234 2208 0319 1.61 0309 1.43 03190.29 1.61 03090.53 1.43 0401 0409 1002 0.52 1001 0.68 10021.93 0.52 10011.71 0.68 1026 1039 1604 1.27 1558 1.17 MO TU 16040.16 1.27 TUTU 15580.40 1.17 1656 1715 MOMO 2155 0.60 2139 0.77 21551.52 0.60 21391.31 0.77 2314 2301 0430 1.62 0417 1.44 04300.35 1.62 04170.57 1.44 0445 0450 1119 0.50 1111 0.65 11191.92 0.50 11111.68 0.65 1115 1115 1725 1.28 1713 1.20 TU WE 17250.19 1.28WEWE 17130.43 1.20 1756 1752 TUTU 2309 0.60 2251 0.75 23091.44 0.60 22511.27 0.75 2355 2359 0541 1.66 0522 1.49 05410.43 1.66 05220.62 1.49 0524 0542 1227 0.44 1208 0.58 12271.87 0.44 12081.63 0.58 1208 1153 1832 1.34 1813 1.27 WE TH 18320.25 1.34 THTH 18130.47 1.27 1851 1838 WEWE 2353 2353 0.69 0.69 0015 0.55 0617 1.56 00151.36 0.55 06171.24 1.56 0040 0059 0642 1.72 1256 0.50 06420.52 1.72 12560.67 0.50 0639 0608 1324 0.37 1900 1.36 TH FR 13241.78 0.37 FRFR 19001.57 1.36 1305 1235 THTH 1928 1.41 19280.31 1.41 1956 1926 0.51 0113 0.48 0045 0.60 01131.31 0.48 00451.22 0.60 0205 0130 0735 1.77 0704 1.65 07350.59 1.77 07040.71 1.65 0743 0658 1411 0.32 1337 0.41 14111.69 0.32 SASA 13371.51 0.41 1407 1322 FR SA FRFR 2015 1.49 1942 1.47 20150.36 1.49 19420.53 1.47 2103 2017 0203 0.43 0131 0.50 02031.30 0.43 01311.22 0.50 0227 0316 0823 1.79 0748 1.72 08230.63 1.79 07480.74 1.72 0757 0854 1453 0.30 1415 0.34 14531.60 0.30 SUSU 14151.46 0.34 1417 1515 SA SU SASA 2057 1.54 2021 1.57 20570.39 1.54 20210.53 1.57 2113 2207 0250 0.40 0216 0.41 02501.34 0.40 02161.25 0.41 0425 0329 0907 1.78 0832 1.78 09070.63 1.78 08320.75 1.78 0903 1008 1530 0.31 1454 0.28 15301.55 0.31MOMO 14541.43 0.28 1518 1626 SU MO SUSU 2136 1.58 2102 1.67 21360.40 1.58 21020.51 1.67 2208 2306 0333 0.39 0302 0.33 03331.40 0.39 03021.32 0.33 0525 0428 0947 1.73 0916 1.80 09470.60 1.73 09160.71 1.80 1118 1013 1605 0.33 1533 0.25 16051.52 0.33 TUTU 15331.43 0.25 1730 1623 MO TU MOMO 2214 1.60 2144 1.76 22140.40 1.60 21440.46 1.76 2357 2300 0414 0.41 0350 0.28 04141.48 0.41 03501.42 0.28 0616 0521 1026 1.67 1003 1.78 10260.54 1.67 10030.64 1.78 1221 1119 1638 0.38 1615 0.26 16381.50 0.38WEWE 16151.46 0.26 1825 1725 TU WE TUTU 2249 2228 1.82 2249 1.60 1.60 22280.41 1.82 2346 0454 0.44 0440 0.27 04540.40 0.44 04401.55 0.27 0042 0609 1102 1.59 1052 1.73 11021.56 1.59 10520.53 1.73 0702 1219 1709 0.44 1657 0.30 17090.48 0.44 THTH 16571.49 0.30 1315 1821 WE TH WEWE 2324 1.59 2315 23241.48 1.59 2315 1.84 1.84 1914 0533 0533 0.29 0.29 1143 1143 1.63 1.63 1742 0.37 FR FR 1742 0.37

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Local Time Local Time Local Time APRIL APRIL DECEMBER

Time m m m Time m Time Time m m Time Time 0533 0.57 0003 1.83 05330.50 0.57 00030.35 1.83 0122 0032 1132 1.33 0630 0.34 11321.67 1.33 06301.68 0.34 0756 0656 1709 0.68 1237 1.52 SU SA 17090.46 0.68 12370.41 1.52 SASU 1430 1315 FRSA 2338 1.60 1830 0.47 23381.33 1.60 18301.53 0.47 2017 1915 0622 0.61 0056 1.79 06220.50 0.61 00560.31 1.79 0159 0117 1219 1.27 0632 0.40 12191.71 1.27 06321.81 0.40 0832 0743 1752 0.74 1237 1.41 MO SU 17520.42 0.74 12370.29 1.41 SUMO 1507 1408 SASU 1825 0.57 18251.55 0.57 2057 1.33 2008 0025 1.55 0055 1.72 00250.51 1.55 00550.29 1.72 0203 0233 0717 0.65 0742 0.46 07171.74 0.65 07421.92 0.46 0830 0907 1315 1.23 1345 1.32 TU MO 13150.39 1.23 13450.19 1.32MOTU 1500 1544 SUMO 1846 0.79 1930 0.65 18461.33 0.79 19301.54 0.65 2135 2101 0201 1.66 0120 1.50 02010.29 1.66 01200.52 1.50 0251 0309 0855 0.49 0819 0.66 08552.00 0.49 08191.75 0.66 0919 0942 1503 1.29 1421 1.22 TU WE 15030.13 1.29 TUWE 14210.38 1.22 1554 1619 MOTU 2045 0.69 1953 0.82 20451.52 0.69 19531.33 0.82 2156 2213 0315 1.63 0225 1.49 03150.32 1.63 02250.53 1.49 0345 0341 1005 0.49 0922 0.63 10052.03 0.49 09221.75 0.63 1017 1010 1618 1.33 1531 1.26 WE TH 16180.12 1.33WETH 15310.38 1.26 1655 1647 TUWE 2200 0.67 2107 0.80 22001.49 0.67 21071.32 0.80 2251 2251 0424 1.64 0332 1.51 04240.37 1.64 03320.55 1.51 0433 0422 1107 0.46 1018 0.58 11072.01 0.46 10181.73 0.58 1101 1053 1719 1.40 1631 1.34 TH FR 17190.14 1.40 THFR 16310.40 1.34 1743 1732 WETH 2306 0.62 2215 0.74 23061.44 0.62 22151.30 0.74 2330 2348 0524 1.66 0432 1.56 05240.43 1.66 04320.58 1.56 0501 0528 1159 0.43 1107 0.50 11591.95 0.43 11071.69 0.50 1130 1154 1810 1.48 1722 1.45 FR SA 18100.20 1.48 FRSA 17220.42 1.45 1811 1839 THFR 2313 2313 0.64 0.64 0003 0.55 0526 1.63 00031.40 0.55 05261.29 1.63 0013 0046 1152 0.42 0615 1.67 11520.62 0.42 06150.50 1.67 0544 0625 1806 1.57 1242 0.41 SA SU 18061.64 1.57 12421.84 0.41 SASU 1209 1249 FRSA 1853 1.56 18530.28 1.56 1852 0.45 1937 0052 0.50 0005 0.53 00521.37 0.50 00051.28 0.53 0058 0147 0700 1.67 0615 1.70 07000.57 1.67 06150.65 1.70 0727 0630 1321 0.40 1234 0.36 SU MO 13211.71 0.40 SUMO 12341.58 0.36 1346 1251 SASU 1932 1.62 1850 1.70 19320.35 1.62 18500.47 1.70 2036 1936 0136 0.46 0055 0.42 01361.37 0.46 00551.29 0.42 0147 0251 0742 1.65 0703 1.74 07420.63 1.65 07030.69 1.74 0722 0833 1355 0.41 1316 0.31 13551.58 0.41MOTU 13161.52 0.31 1338 1447 MO TU SUMO 2009 1.66 1933 1.82 20090.41 1.66 19330.48 1.82 2023 2133 0216 0.45 0145 0.32 02161.39 0.45 01451.32 0.32 0354 0242 0821 1.61 0753 1.75 08210.66 1.61 07530.70 1.75 0944 0822 1427 0.44 1400 0.29 14271.48 0.44 TUWE 14001.45 0.29 1552 1432 TU WE MOTU 2043 1.68 2018 1.92 20430.46 1.68 20180.48 1.92 2227 2115 0255 0.45 0237 0.26 02551.44 0.45 02371.38 0.26 0453 0339 0858 1.56 0844 1.72 08580.65 1.56 08440.69 1.72 1055 0930 1458 0.47 1445 0.31 14581.40 0.47WETH 14451.41 0.31 1656 1536 WE TH TUWE 2116 1.70 2105 1.98 21160.48 1.70 21050.47 1.98 2317 2208 0332 0.46 0330 0.24 03321.50 0.46 03301.47 0.24 0546 0437 0934 1.51 0937 1.66 09340.62 1.51 09370.64 1.66 1201 1043 1528 0.51 1531 0.36 15281.36 0.51 THFR 15311.39 0.36 1755 1644 TH FR WETH 2148 2154 2.00 2148 1.69 1.69 21540.44 2.00 2302 0411 0.49 0426 0.25 04110.49 0.49 04261.58 0.25 0002 0532 1012 1.45 1032 1.58 10121.56 1.45 10320.54 1.58 0634 1153 1559 0.56 1621 0.44 15590.56 0.56 FRSA 16211.40 0.44 1300 1751 FR SA THFR 2222 1.68 2245 1.96 22221.34 1.68 22450.40 1.96 1847 2356 0451 0.52 0524 0.30 04510.49 0.52 05241.71 0.30 0045 0627 1050 1.39 1130 1.49 10501.62 1.39 11300.42 1.49 0716 1257 1631 0.62 1714 0.53 16310.51 0.62 SASU 17141.43 0.53 1347 1853 SA SU FRSA 2259 1.64 2340 22591.33 1.64 2340 1.89 1.89 1934

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1.36 0.60 TU 1809 1.51

31 0048 0719

0.37 1.84 SU 1356 0.29 1952 1.46

Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2015, Bureau Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2015, Bureau of Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of of Australia 2015, Bureau of of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum Predictions Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of of Predictions is is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are local standard time (UTC +10:00) daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in in effect New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon 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. 89

SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER 2017 2017

South Coast Mighty Bonanza is on this month The South Coast Mighty Bonanza Fishing Competition is a celebration of all forms of recreational fishing. The three-day event encourages families and friends to go wet a line or jump in with a spear. This year the event organisers have contacted 19 schools and 74 fishing clubs to reach a goal of 300 children in the competition. Each junior (infant to 16 years) will receive a competition

bag valued $150 each. To top it off for attending juniors, fishing celebrity and TV show host Alistair McGlashan from Fishing with Mates will be there to spend time with the kids, give out autographs, encourage them to continue fishing recreationally and to have a great time. The angling and spearfishing event held from 29 September to 1 October has over 270 giveaways with fishing and cash prizes

totalling just over $80,000. The vast majority of prizes are for the public entrants. The top male and female anglers receive a Garmin sounder for their efforts and the top juniors receive an autographed copy of Alistair McGlashan’s new book, which he will be presenting! The Bonanza is now a sanctioned ANSA NSW tournament, so we encourage many ANSA members to come along and enjoy the fun.

Alistair McGlashan from ‘Fishin’ With Mates’ will be in attendance. We are delighted to announce for the very first time in Australia the Bonanza will be hosting the very first USFA pairs state title spearfishing event. It’s a true pair’s event of one up/one down, with rockhopping locations given the evening before. To be part of the spearfishing event you must be a USFA member. The event is held at the seaside village of Tomakin, 10 minutes south of Batemans Bay in the Eurobodalla. Family and friends can

Some of the junior fishers from last year with their goodies and hats on (mostly). Stay sun-safe!

experience some great fishing in the competition fishing grounds between Bendalong to Bermagui. The Bonanza sees visitors from all over NSW, Victoria and as far as Western Australia. We encourage all members of the public to come and join in the fun during the October long weekend. It’s a great time of year during the school holidays to enjoy such a great event, and it’s just in time for and the family brush-up

on your fishing skills for Gone Fishing Day only two weeks later. Find more information on Facebook by searching for South Coast Mighty Bonanza Fishing Competition. For more details on accommodation, prizes, rules and conditions, and online entry (closes 17 September) visit www. scmb.com.au or contact competition director Adam Martin on 0418 570 131. – South Coast Mighty Bonanza

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017 SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

2-3 Sep

Clarence River BASS Pro Qualifier #6 Clarence River

www.abt.org.au

16-17 Sep

BASS Electric Convention TBA

www.abt.org.au

16-17 Sep

Round 12 Hobie Kayak Bream Series 9 Forster

hobiefishing.com.au

29 Sep-1 Oct

South Coast Mighty Bonanza Fishing competition Tomakin Fishing Club, Tomakin

Adam Martin 0418 570 131 www.scmb.com.au

30 Sep-1 Oct

St Georges Basin BREAM Qualifier #8 St Georges Basin

www.abt.org.au

14-15 Oct

BASS Pro Grand Final Richmond River

www.abt.org.au

14-15 Oct

Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic Lake Hume

www.lakehumeclassic.com.au

30 Oct

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event) Teemburra

www.abt.org.au

31 Oct

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event) Kinchant Dam

www.abt.org.au

3-4 Nov

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Evening Event) Peter Faust

www.abt.org.au

6-7 Nov

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Night Championship) Peter Faust

www.abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. 90

SEPTEMBER 2017

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West and Wilson win

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

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Brisbane Basser Charles West has continued his dominant 2017 ePropulsion Season taking victory at the Lake St Clair round with 2/2 fish for 2.02kg. In the process he took his fourth win of the season and third in as many starts. Hot on his heels was longtime fishing partner Adrian Wilson, with 2/2 for 1.97kg adding another podium to his achievements. With momentum on his side West again came into the event in hot form, keen to get himself closer to winning the 2017 Angler of the Year Title. West and Wilson started their sessions fishing the main points in the 8 knot zone of the Carrowbrook Arm. “During the pre-fish we noticed the weed had started to die off, but where we did find concentrations of weed we found good numbers of quality fish. We knew we were in for an awesome day when we landed a fish first cast and bagged out on the first point we fished,” explained West. With West finding the better fish on points with

weed, he and Wilson began to work their way up the Carrowbrook Arm of the lake in search of more productive weed beds. Once in location, West’s lure of choice was a cut-down smoke yellow core Slider matched to a 1/8oz jighead. Early in the session West would cast his lure onto the weed and begin retrieving the lure as soon as it hit the water. To keep the lure out of the weed West would point his rod up in the air at a 45° angle and give his lure a subtle twitch as he would feel it burrow into the weed. “I was having lots of fish take the lure as I ripped it out of the weed. On a few occasions I would rip it out of the weed and keep ripping it as if there was still weed on it and it was already in the fish’s mouth,” said West. As the wind began to pick up West and Wilson had to move closer into the weed to ensure their lures stayed in the strike zone. Once tighter to the weed West would cast his lure into the pocket of water between the weed bed and shoreline before rolling and twitching his lure back

BASS EL ECTR SERIES IC

Charles West made it four wins for the year with his victory at Lake St Clair. out over the weed. “I got an inside word from Peter Phelps that the big bass tend to come from the inside line of the weed. With that in mind I knew it was a high risk trying to get the fish out, but it was worth it,” said West. West’s tackle of choice for the event was a 13 Fishing Envy Black 7’1 Light spin rod matched with a Daiwa

Certate spooled with 10lb Sunline Castaway PE and 6lb Gamma FC. “I have to dedicate this win to my wife. We have had a great week on the road fishing and it has been a very special week to share with her. I also have to thank 13 Fishing, Valleyhill, Dogtooth Distribution, Costa and, of course, my fishing partner Adrian Wilson,” said West.

Wilson works his way to Second R

Adrian Wilson has shown he is coming into form at the pointy end of the season with another podium finish secured with his 2/2 fish limit for 1.97kg. “It’s the first time I have come down to St Clair. While I am sure it’s not this hot every weekend, I had a ball fishing this lake and to walk away with second place is just icing on the cake,” said Wilson. With long time fishing partner Charles West targeting fish at the rear of the weed bed, Wilson decided to target fish holding deeper on the front edge of the weed. Wilson focused his attention on the channels and cutbacks in the thick weed beds. Wilson would then cast

his lure onto the weed and twitch and shake his lure into the channel before starting a slow roll back to the boat, allowing the lure to slowly track down the front edge of the weed. “If I didn’t get a bite as I ripped the lure out of the weed, I would wind the plastic as slowly as possible to allow it to work down the face of the weed,” explained Wilson. For this work Wilson used two key plastics, a cut-down Slider in watermelon and cut-down Keitech Swing Impact rigged on a 1/6oz jighead. He presented his plastics on a Barrabass Revs 7’2 Spin rod matched to a Daiwa Certate spooled with 6lb Super 8PE and 6lb FC Rock leader.

“I would switch between each plastic as I felt the bite begin to slow,” said Wilson. This rotation of baits allowed Wilson to progressively upgrade throughout the session. “We both had one of those special days on the water, lots of fish hitting the deck and lots of laughs,” said Wilson. “I have to thank my fishing partner Charles

West for a great weekend on the water, Brad from Barrabass Rods, and Tackle Warehouse.” With one round of the 2017 ePropulsion Bass Electric season still to go, can Charles ‘Westy’ continue his hot run at Moogerah Dam or will someone else rise to the top? For all the details on this event, head to abt.org.au.

King, Wilson, and West filled the top three places.

RESULTS

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

Adrian Wilson claimed second at Lake St Clair.

Place Angler

Bag

Total Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2

2.02 1.97 1.91 1.80 1.76 1.70 1.64 1.59 1.02

Charles West Adrian Wilson Mark King Brett Dinham John Picton Leesa King David Lane Joe O’Sullivan Andrew Jeavons

SEPTEMBER 2017

Tristan Taylor trumps Taigan Tristan Taylor is no stranger to the ABT BREAM competition, but it’s been a while since he’s tasted success at the top level. It only took a northern New South Wales deep winter bite for him to break the shackles and stand atop the podium once again. His two-day combined limit of 10/10 for a 6.24kg bag was good enough to edge out a fast finishing Taigan Heath by 110g and seal Tristan’s entry into the Costa BREAM Grand Final in December. Taylor has proven himself as a contender any time the winter bite is running in northern NSW. During the cooler months,

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

only 20m from Taylor further out on the tip of the north wall. “Going into day two I just wanted to repeat what I had done on Saturday. I was the first out to the wall and I had made an agreement with both Nabeel and Mark Crompton that we would all resume our positions from the day prior, so Nabeel was right on the tip, then Mark and then myself all within 50m of the end of the north wall.” The plan was solid, but the fish didn’t play the game. Sunday’s session proved much tougher for the anglers concentrating on the north wall. “It was brutally slow for most of the day,” explained Taylor. I only managed

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Samurai Infinite 4-8lb Reel: Megabass Idaten 256 Line: 8lb Unitika Aorika PE Leader: Unitika fluorocarbon Lure: Heavy Cranka Crab in a mix of colours

STORM

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 92

SEPTEMBER 2017

yellowfin bream congregate in the deeper sections towards the mouth of rivers and estuaries and this is what Taylor concentrated on to claim victory. Fishing the tip of the northern seaway wall both days, Taylor was able to catch the bigger than average winter bream down deep on the seaway wall and ride them to victory. Saturday’s first day of competition saw Taylor fish the same location all day. It wasn’t just Taylor around this area. With a line of boats fishing the north wall, Taylor was patient and knew the tip of the wall was going to be the key area. “The tip of any seaway wall is often the best section. There were so many boats fishing the wall both days and on the first day I didn’t get there quick enough to get a spot on the tip. I stuck it out and played the waiting game until I slowly worked my way to the tip as other boats came and left. That’s when I began catching fish,” explained Taylor. Fishing a technique that has dominated most fisheries in Australia, Taylor chose to throw a heavy Cranka Crab in a mix of colours, which he tried to ‘walk’ down the rocks plummeting into the 25ft depths of the Richmond River seaway. “You had to cast up really tight to the wall. The current runs so fast out in that area that if you don’t, your crab gets washed away and it’s hard to keep in contact with it as it works down the wall.” Taylor’s day one bag of 5/5 3.67kg was the second biggest of the tournament, bettered only by day one leader Nabeel Issa, who unsurprisingly, was fishing

Tristan Taylor was all smiles with his champion boater title at the Costa Richmond River BREAM Qualifier.

my fifth keeper with seven minutes to go in the session. Without that fish I would have finished third or fourth; I was cheering when the fifth bream came on board!” Again Taylor relied on the ever-faithful Cranka Crab

and used one trick to keep in contact with the lure in the heavy current. “I actually slide on one small ball sinker onto my leader before I tie on the heavy crab; it sinks it down faster and helps you keep in contact, which is important for

Darren Borg value added his winnings with his $500 Big Bream Prize.

preventing snags and getting the bites. You’d think a heavier lure would snag more, but it’s actually the opposite. The better you can feel the bottom, the quicker you can control your lure to slide it over the rocks, thanks to the floating hooks on the crab.” Taylor used a Samurai Infinite 4-8lb rod and a matching Megabass Idaten 256 spinning reel to deliver his winning baits. He says the rod has just the right amount of bottom end power to pull the fish away from the wall and the sensitivity in the tip to feel the lure when it’s down 30ft deep. He spooled his reel with 8lb Unitika Aorika PE and fished a mix of Unitika fluorocarbon leaders throughout the weekend. Taylor pocketed $3200 for his victory and qualified himself for the Costa BREAM Grand Final in Lake Macquarie in early December where both the champion boater and champion non-boater will walk away with brand new Bluefin boat/ motor/trailer packages worth over $20,000 each!

RESULTS – BOATERS Place

Angler

TW (kg)

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tristan Taylor Taigan Heath Heath Blaikie Mark Crompton Kristoffer Hickson Nabeel Issa Tom Slater Chris Gates Matthew Finney Darren Borg

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10

6.24 6.13 5.73 5.67 5.66 5.32 5.27 5.10 4.83 4.72

$3200 + 1st Mercury Bonus ($250) $1400 + 2nd Mercury Bonus ($150) $1100 + 3rd Mercury Bonus ($100) $950 $800 $550 + Duffrods Big Bag $500 + Yamaha Bonus ($300) $500 $500 Big Bream (1.04kg)

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

Taigan tips South Wall NSW BREAMer Taigan Heath narrowly missed claiming his maiden ABT BREAM victory after a Sunday’s best 5/5 3.16kg bag dropped the scales at the staged weigh-in in front of the crowd at the Ballina Trawler Harbour. Heath’s 10/10 6.13kg limit was one of only two limits over 6kg, which so often earns victory on the ABT BREAM tour. Heath’s roadmap to runner-up followed an almost identical pattern to that of the victor Tristan Taylor, although Heath fished by himself for almost the entire tournament. “I really wanted to fish the north wall on the first tournament day; I even went to slot into the line, but it was just too busy.

The southern wall is not normally as popular, because it lacks the depth. I saw that no one was fishing it so I made the choice to spot-lock right on the tip of the southern wall and slug it out by myself,” said Heath. It proved to be the right decision, with Heath and his non-boater enjoying an afternoon of almost constant hook-ups on the way to his day one 5/5 2.97kg bag. “For day two I thought the north wall was going to receive a lot of pressure again, so I went straight back to the southern tip and hit spot-lock on my MotorGuide again and went to work.” Although Sunday’s fishing wasn’t as frantic as the day before, Heath found a better size than the

previous day and managed to weigh Sunday’s biggest bag to almost run down Tristan Taylor for his first ABT BREAM victory. Heath’s go-to lure was again the heavy Cranka Crab. Although every colour he used caught fish, he preferred the spotted crab colour over all others. He fished the Cranka Crabs on a mix of Palms Pinwheel and Gemtek Custom fishing rods both outfitted with Daiwa 2000 size spinning reels which he spooled with Sunline Super PE in 6lb and matched to a Sunline FC Rock Bream Special 6lb fluorocarbon leader. Heath is one of the best fishers on the NSW north coast, so it was no surprise to again see him towards

Taigan Heath cashed in with his runner-up result at Richmond River. the top of the leader board come Sunday afternoon. Heath’s runner-up placing assures him of a Costa

BREAM Grand Final berth in December where he’ll battle Australia’s best BREAM fishers for

the chance at the ultimate prize in tournament fishing, a brand new boat/motor/ trailer package!

BIG BREAM

Cranka Crab

Past AFC and ABT champion Darren ‘Dizzy’ Borg won the tournament’s $500 Big Bream prize. His day one 1.04kg kicker was enough to last the distance despite many other quality fish coming to the scales from the mouth of the river. Borg caught the kicker within the first 500m of river down deep on the base of a rock wall. For more information on the next ABT BREAM event, head to www.abt.org.au.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Nabeel Issa sacked up the tournament’s Duffrods Big Bag during the first day of competition. The Brisbane BREAMer parked himself on the tip of the north seaway wall and fished heavy Cranka Crabs down the rock wall to weigh a 5/5 3.71kg limit. Nabeel won himself a custom-made Duffrod valued at over $500 for his day one heroics.

Reeves wrestles winter winners

Justin Reeves found himself an ABT BREAM champion after compiling the only 10/10 full limit of bream over the course of the Costa Sunglasses presented Richmond River BREAM Qualifier. Fishing with Warren Carter on day one and Chris Findlay on day two,

Reeves was always going to be around the fish. Day one found Reeves aboard Warren Carter’s Mercury powered Legend fishing the popular Porpoise Wall just inside the river mouth. Reeves began targeting the base of the rock wall with a mixture of lures including Cranka Crabs and soft plastics. Half way

through the session, Reeves was struggling with only one fish. “That’s when I remembered that during my pre-fish with Mark Crompton we sounded fish sitting halfway up the walls,” said Reeves. “I tied on a 40mm Ecogearaqua Bream Prawn

RESULTS – NON-BOATERS Place

Angler

TW (kg)

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Justin Reeves 10/10 4.88 Costa Sunglasses & Prize Pack Jarryd Aleckson 8/10 4.07 Costa Sunglasses & Prize Pack + 1st Hobie Bonus ($100) Wally Fahey 6/10 3.86 JML Alliance Rod & Prize Pack + 2nd Hobie Bonus ($50) Russell Winters 8/10 3.80 Prize Pack James Morgan 7/10 3.55 Prize Pack Michael Maas 7/10 3.22 Prize Pack Glen Sturrock 7/10 3.17 Prize Pack, $300 1st Pro + 3rd Hobie Bonus ($35) Rodney O’Sullivan 7/10 3.15 Prize Pack Jeffrey Espiritu 5/10 3.03 Prize Pack Paul Langley 7/10 3.02 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

and rigged it on either a 1/60 or 1/40oz jighead and cast it tight to the wall.” Reeves would let the lure drift down the wall very naturally, and was able to pick up fish others were missing holding tight to the wall in the crevices of the rocks. Using this technique, Reeves was able to fill his bag and actually out-fish one of ABT’s finest from the back of the boat. “Warren was so good out on the water, he had us on the fish and, unfortunately for him, just didn’t have things go to plan. Luckily my fish stuck and I could put five in the boat and bring them back to the scales,” said Reeves. Sitting in third place overnight, Reeves was keen to put another five fish in the boat come Sunday’s final session. Jumping on board with Chris Findlay, Reeves was given all the opportunity he needed to fill his limit. Fishing again down the front of the system, Reeves employed the same strategy as day one. Targeting the fish holding up high on the wall, Reeves fished his

Justin Reeves secured the non-boater title with the only 10/10 non-boater limit for the tournament. lightly weighted Ecogear Bream Prawn slowly, letting it waft in the current and watching his line for any signs of movement. With a full limit in the boat by 9am, you would have thought the pressure would have been off, but that wasn’t the case. “He was stressing pretty hard, not thinking

he had enough weight to seal a good finish,” said Reeves’ day two boater Chris Findlay. In the end he had no reason to be worried; with overnight leaders Walley Fahey and Jarryd Aleckson failing to catch a full limit, Reeves was easily the best of the weekend winning by over 800g. SEPTEMBER 2017

THE F Self-co U ntaineTURE IS H d Elec tric OuERE tboard s

West proves best

THE FUTURE IS HERE Self-contained Electric Outboards

STORM

Charles West has continued his dominant season taking his third win of the season at the Toonumbar round of the 2017 ePropulsion Bass Electric series with 4/4 for 2.504kg, relegating local favourite Joseph Urquhart into second place with 4/4 fish for 2.498kg. Charles West headed into the Toonumbar event full of confidence, with a last start win at Borumba Dam and previous podium placings at Toonumbar. “I knew the dam had been fishing tough and I felt if I could find some clear water holding resident fish, I would be in the hunt for the win,” explained West. West headed up the lake and began fishing in the area known as the ‘Narrows.’ Early in session one West focused his attention on areas without broken weed and with shady pockets. Once he found his key locations, West would slowly move down the bank casting a 3” Gulp Minnow in pumpkinseed rigged on a 1/6oz jighead tight to the edge, allowing it to sink to the bottom and then starting

a slow roll back to the boat. Once West got a bite he would then move the boat wide of the spot and pepper the spot with another 5-10 casts to entice the fish to return. “The bites were so soft and the fish were coming with the lure, so at times I wouldn’t know I had hooked the fish until I lifted up my rod and felt the weight,” explained West. Once West and fishing partner Adrian Wilson had found the formula, the pair expanded the pattern to find a key run that they could focus on for the remainder of the tournament. “Adrian and I had a good rotation of spots with similar characteristics; we looked for shaded banks with unbroken weed in 4-5ft of water. We knew it would just be a process of rotating of spots and converting every bite,” said West. West’s tackle of choice for the weekend was a 13 Fishing 7ft medium light Omen Black rod matched with a Daiwa Certate spooled with Sunline Castaway PE

BASS EL ECTR SERIES IC

Charles West claimed his third win for the year with victory at Toonumbar. and 6lb Gamma fluorocarbon leader. After taking the win West went on to say, “It is always super exciting to take the win, but it wouldn’t

be possible without the support of my wife Kelly, Adrian Wilson, 13 Fishing, Dogtooth, Haswing, Costa and Pro’s Factory.”

Urquhart agonisingly Close Previous Toonumbar event winner and local favourite Joseph Urquhart came close to another win on the bass Electric tour falling a mere 6g behind Charles West with 4/4 fish for 2.498kg. “At Toonumbar I tend to find the better quality fish holding in cleaner water. With the water temperature so low I knew I needed to find banks with clean and warmer water,” explained Urquhart. With this in mind Urquhart headed up the lake focusing his attention around the area where the dirty and clean water met, spending most of his fishing time on banks holding thick weed in 5ft of water. To target these weeddwelling bass Urquhart would cast his Keitech Easy Shiner rigged on a 1/6oz Dam Deep jighead

into the weed bed and rip the lure out from the weed before allowing it to sink to the bottom. If Urquhart didn’t get a bite once the lure hit the bottom, he would then start a slow roll back to the boat and repeat the process. For this technique his tackle of choice was a Edge Black Widow 701S rod matched with a 2500 Daiwa Generation Black reel spooled with 12lb Toray Seabass PE and 6lb Toray Upgrade Leader. Securing Urquharts tournament limit was the event big bass of 906g, which he caught during session one. “I found a small creek coming off the main arm of the river at 2:30pm on day one, I could see a little clearing of weed with a good amount of shade covering it” said Urquhart. Once he cast into the pocket he saw a large swirl and then loaded up on

the fish. “It was a super exciting way to get my first big bass in any tournament and combined with second place it was a great weekend” said Urquhart “I have to thank my sponsors Dogtooth Distribution and

my family who always make me feel supported.” The tour heads south from here to the famed shores of Lake St Clair, for information on this event or any other ABT event head to abt.org.au.

Joey Urqhart continued his run of form at Toonumbar to finish second.

RESULTS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 94

SEPTEMBER 2017

West, Urqhart and Bostock claimed the top three places.

Place Angler

Bag

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3

Charles West Joe Urquhart Peter Bostock Craig Aha-Sigh Adrian Wilson Sean Conneelly Tom Reynolds Matthew Flynn Darren Painter Scott Bryant

Total Weight (kg)

2.50 2.49 2.39 2.37 2.31 1.98 1.69 1.69 1.69 1.62

Pryke pulls ‘em up to take out Round 9 Strike Pro Round 9 of Hobie® Kayak Bream Series 9 was contested at the Gold Coast, in sunny Queensland on the weekend of 22-23 July. A Queensland record-breaking field of 51 anglers from Queensland, the ACT, Victoria and New South Wales headed to the same stunning location where the 2016 Australian Championship was contested at the mouth of the busy Nerang River. On both days anglers headed off from the Power Pole starting line off Mitchell Park in Broadwater Parklands, located in Southport at 7am. The weather was perfect throughout the tournament with warm, sunny winter weather, clear skies and temperatures in the mid 20°C. The tide was just on high, as they blasted off on day one, and about an hour short of full tide on day two. The water temperature hovered around 20°C across the fishing arena. On day one most anglers headed north towards Runnaway Bay and other northern canal systems, Wave

TOURNAMENT STATS Day One Fish Caught...................................... 160 Day One Anglers with Fish........................... 50/51 Day Two Fish Caught....................................... 151 Total Fish Caught............................................. 311 Total Weight............................................. 144.91kg Average Weight.............................................. 466g Total Cash Payout....................................... $3,720 spawn. They appeared to be gathering in heavy pre-spawn and lighter weight post-spawn schools, but either way they were hungry and eager to take to the lure temptations that were presented to them. The top 10 anglers shared total cash prize payout of $3720 and over $2500 in sponsor prizes were shared by Open and other divisional winners. THE MIGHTY PRYKIE Steven Pryke from Lakes Entrance made his massive trip up from Victoria totally worthwhile by moving up from his day one second place to squeeze out day one leader Brendan Pieschel and take out Round 9 of Series 9. Pryke, the youngest competitor of the tournament at nineteen years

A Queensland record-breaking 51 anglers from all over Australia headed to the Gold Coast to fish the tournament. Break Island, Crab Island and further up to Paradise Point and Sovereign Island. A smaller group of around a third of the field pedalled towards the city skyscrapers to fish navigation markers at the edge of the main channel, the trawlers around the fish co-op, the Gold Coast Highway Bridge pylons and the pontoons and wharves along the Nerang and its southern canals. Each day the bite was on right from the start. While those who headed north were still travelling, with kilometre after kilometre already under their belt, many anglers with plans of attack that had them fishing closer to home already had full bags of four bream. The pre-fish reports had been excellent with anglers bringing back news that there were plenty of good-sized fish across the system. Predictions proved to be correct when the tournament got under way, with a lot of fish moving to the front of the river system and schooling in large numbers. Winter on the Gold Coast is spawning time when yellowfin bream head out offshore to

old, earned himself the young gun title, catching himself four fish on day one weighing in at 2.34kg and backing it up on day two with four for 2.34kg. The catch gave him a two-day accumulative winning score of eight bream for 4.93kg. Pryke won $1430 and an excellent sponsor prize pack for his competitive edge. In only his third season of Hobie tournament fishing, and with his first major win, he has also guaranteed himself a place in the Australian Championship

to be contested in Western Australia later this year. He has also accumulated 100 Angler of the Year (AOY) points which has placed him in a strong position to pick up a spot on the team to represent Australia – with three qualifying rounds yet to be completed – at the upcoming world championship in May next year in Amal, Sweden. Pryke outlined his weekend on the Gold Coast. “Each day I started out on the channel markers, straight out in front of the take-off area. There were a lot of school fish there, so I got a bag on both days within the first 15-20 minutes, which gave me a long time to upgrade. I was able to get my bag throwing Berkley Shrimps and Hitec Minnows at them. “I would then head up towards the bridge [Gold Coast Highway Bridge]. I’d work the bridge pylons and pick up a few upgrades from there. The most consistent place for upgrades, for me, was the area out in front to the pool [Gold Coast Aquatic Centre]. I managed to pick up a lot of my bigger fish from that area, especially the 880g fish I caught yesterday [Saturday day one].” Pryke’s rods were a Millerods Control Freak CF XF 6’10 1-3kg and a Daiwa Harrier 6-10lb. His reel of choice was a Daiwa Luvias 1000 and the line was Berkley Fireline 3lb or Daiwa J-Braid. He used Sunline FC Rock 3lb leader and his go-to lures were the Berkley Gulp 2” Shrimp in banana prawn on a 1/8oz jighead and a EcogearAqua Bream Prawn on 1/0 Owner worm hook PIESCHEL SECOND TO THE POLE Brendan Pieschel, from the Manning River district in New South Wales, led the field of

The weather was perfect throughout the tournament with warm, sunny winter weather.

anglers after day one with the second largest single bag over the two days of fishing, with four fish for 2.84kg. Pieschel followed it up with a four bream bag of 2.01kg on day two to finish with eight fish for 4.85kg just 80g behind the leader. Pieschel won a hefty $750 cash prize and an excellent sponsor prize pack valued at over $250. Brendan offered these comments. “Pre-fish was good for me, I did well in that, going into day one. On day one the marinas I wanted to work

Atomic Big Bream $100 cash prize, for the biggest fish of the round. She pulled her 930g yellowfin bream near the Gold Coast Highway Bridge on a Berkley Gulp Crabby 2.5” in camo on a TT Hidden Weight 1/16 jighead. DIVISIONS Steven Pryke from Victoria took out the Youth Division with eight fish for 4.93kg. Michelle Carmody from New South Wales won the Womens Division with her three fish for 1.92kg The Masters Division was taken out by Queenslander

The fish were gathering in pre-spawn and postspawn schools, all eager to crunch on lures. [Versace and Mirage Marinas] were taken out of play. I wanted to go in there, so that threw me out a bit. Instead, I slugged it out on both days on the flats to get the good fish. I hit the flats with a lot of grubbing, blades, ZMans and Gulps; that was pretty much it. I dropped a few good ones today [day two] unfortunately, but that’s fishing. I chased Steven out from the start today, out to the channel markers. He beat me to the mark and got his fish pretty quick. I wasn’t in a rush because I knew the school was there, I just wanted to get four in the well. After Steve did his thing and then got his, I got my four. Then I went and chased some others on boat hulls, but couldn’t get any upgrades, so I came back onto the flats and they started hitting again. It worked for me the rest of the afternoon except when the wind came up later in the afternoon and when jet boats were around.” Third place went to Mark Young from the New South Wales Central Coast who had a fantastic tournament finishing. It was great to see his young family there with him and sharing his moment on stage receiving his accolades and prizes. Young followed up his solid day one bag of four for 2.27kg, with the second heaviest bag of day two with four for 2.57kg. He took home a handy $480 and a sponsor prize pack for his weekend in Queensland. ATOMIC BIG BREAM Michelle Carmody from New South Wales won the

Lex Irwin with eight fish for 2.99kg Callum Sprott and Koji Maki from Queensland had three fish for 1.38kg to take the PA 17T Tandem Division. Paul Delos Santos from New South Wales was the winner of the First Timers Division with eight fish for 3.16kg. MORTGAGE CORP MONSTER MOVER Billy Howard from Queensland won the Mortgage Corp Power Pack, jumping from 44th position with 0.47kg on day one to finish in 35th position with a day two bag of four fish for 1.72kg. SPECIAL THANKS Well done to the team from Sunstate Hobie in Queensland for their dealer support and for the delicious pizzas and drinks on both days. Thanks also to our fantastic sponsors Daiwa, Berkley, Atomic, Lowrance, Rhino-Rack, Strike Pro, TT Lures, Pro Lure, JML Anglers Alliance, Mortgage Corp, Power-Pole, and Hobie Polarized for their much appreciated support. – Hobie Cat

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A day in the life of Steve Morgan (with data) SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Last month I took a bigger picture look at the ABT experience for fishers. This month I thought I’d zoom in on an ABT fisher and look at the fishing experience in more detail. During two of the latest events for ABT, Steve Morgan livestreamed his fishing day and recording catches via the Track My Fish app. We have combined the two sets of data, performing

becoming a better fisher series; I want to take advantage of Steve’s data to highlight a part of fishing that is talked about, but not very often with data – casting. THE IMPORTANCE OF CASTING Allow me to tell you a story; it’s a cold morning as you hit the ramp. That nip in the air is a good sign. Clear skies and just enough breeze add to mounting anticipation for the day ahead. There are three minutes and 42 seconds until the first structure – each a valuable marker on the journey that lies ahead. How do you use three

Steve’s effectiveness in finding fish over the four days. a review of the livestream – every cast, every rod change, every bathroom break for at least six hours a day. That’s 24 hours of video we have looked at, or rather, the reviewer Phoenix has looked at. It’s fair to say she knows every inch of his backside. I have to say it has been entertaining sitting at the desk across from her getting a running commentary. Doing this work is not a chore, it’s a privilege. The best part of the review day is when Phoenix comes over with the next hour’s data. I’ve had no idea what was coming. I lost count of the number of times I got the data and found out I had more questions than answers. Steve has been fantastic and always willing to provide insights on things we don’t understand. With that in mind, I’m respectful of what we discuss. It’s not often you get to look in detail at a fisher and I’m grateful that Steve is always happy to share. I intend to cover quite a bit of his day including: • Steve’s method • How he uses time • A deeper look at things like his casting data and success rates • What his data tells us about the habits of bream. For those that are exercise-inclined, I even did a calculation of how many calories he has burned (with all that movement of the buttocks.) First back to my 96

SEPTEMBER 2017

minutes and 42 seconds to the full? Pulling up, you realise the good fortune you detected at the ramp – a lack of cars on an early midweek run that confirms everyone else is stuck in traffic right now. You own the river today. It sucks to be them. On this day, there is time for a deep breath, to draw the sea salt into the bloodstream and dismiss any temptation to descend into electronic distraction. Today, it’s just you and the fish, renewing the ancient battle of wits. Drawing your favourite weapon from the rack, and gripping it under an arm, you take a moment to rub hands, the friction loosening up tendons and awakening the nerves at the very tips of the fingers. The rod is perfectly balanced, its weight naturally guides the compression of muscle as the tension in your shoulders builds up for that first sighter. You lick your lips, take one more breath then release the stored energy, watching the lure make a perfect arc tracing a path from the last of deep blue night into the warm orange of the morning then finally landing exactly where you imagined only moments before. You will never understand how your body knows how to metre out just the right dose of energy in the cast. There is a click as the bail tips over and engages for the slow wind back. An instant later, the line tightens and in the thrill you find yourself looking down at the

scene of a man leaning into the strike and whooping as he lets the world know that the battle is on. In that next instant you are back focused on one thing and one thing alone. Hell itself could open up underneath the boat, but that fish is not getting away. The reel starts to scream. This is a solid fish and it too has a plan – instinctively it knows that rocks are safety and in this battle it has the jump on you. There is a bump on the line as the leader shears against stone. Somehow it holds. Then that vital moment comes, that moment when one of the combatants makes a mistake and this time it’s the fish. Sensing that the pressure hasn’t relented, the fish makes a break for open water and it’s in this space that the odds turn your way. With each second you know that fatigue is turning the tide and while it’s a battle of inches, you will take each and every one of them. A flash of silver confirms that this is a seriously solid fish. The sight of the boat gives it a last burst of energy and the lump in your throat grows as you feel the thump, thump, thump of its tail on the leader. You loosen off a little on the drag and decide that it’s never wise to underestimate the adversary, especially when cornered. Time crawls as the fish decides to use the weight of the water to hold its ground and there is no way to push the line without risk. Slowly, ever so slowly, you draw it to the boat. You know it’s cooked, but that doesn’t mean you’re the boss. One mistake is all it’s going to take. At last the leader breaks the surface looking more like a piece of postmodern art than a secure tether on the kraken beneath you. It’s time for a short prayer and you’re not sure if it’s for landing the fish or the fact you made it this far. It doesn’t matter. Your wingman has the net and, while you don’t dare say a word, your eyes let him know this isn’t the day for messing around. Water sprays as the fish gives an almighty kick and you hear the line ping as the leader

gives way, sending you hurtling onto the gunnel. You can’t see what’s happening, but you know it can’t be good. Then your wingman turns to you, grinning ear to ear. Question: how much do you want that kind of day? Hello? Are you still there? Put down that rod and get back here now! I grew up on fishing stories. I have a few of my own; weirdly, many involve the one that got away. Anyway, I love helping people to create their own story. That’s why I want to double back to my article a few months ago where I talked about Bayesian maths and probability, because it really helps to understand why good casting skills are so vital. Figure 2 shows the level of success in each of the hours we assessed for Steve. As you can see, hour one was the best in terms of fish (though not legal fish). For the sake of this exercise, we will look at hour one and hour three. For the first hour, Steve cast 381 times in the four sessions for 19 fish in total. In this case the maths is pretty simple; Steve is catching a fish every 20 casts. In other words, if you bet a dollar a cast for 20 casts at odds of 19:1 you would get your money back. On top of that, three of the 19 fish (15.8%) were keepers. All up you end with 126 casts per keeper. Here is where Baysian maths kicks in. The probability of Steve catching a fish on a given cast in hour one is 5%. The chance of that fish being legal is 15.8%. To get the probability of a keeper you multiply the two probabilities so you end up with the probability of catching a keeper on any given cast at 0.8%. That translates to odds of 124:1. How often do you place a bet like that? I want to rest on that figure for a second. Even Steve, a serious fisher, is looking at a less than 1% chance of a keeper on a cast in good conditions. Steve casts at around 95 casts per hour when targeting

Catch matched up to tide levels in the day.

Steve’s success by hour. structure. That sort of casting requires a high degree of accuracy. I say this because Steve knows his stuff. Most people will hit the mark far less often. If you’re, say, half as good accuracy-wise then you can expect to pick up a keeper once every 252 casts. Given that the ‘magic’ hour is fixed and assuming you can cast at 95 casts an hour, you are looking at three days in the magic hour to land a keeper in similar conditions. Let’s look at hour three. In this case, Steve cast 431 times for 11 fish (1 in 39 casts). This is where success is relative because in this case he landed a keeper six times in 11 (55% of the time). That conversion ratio reduces the 126 casts back to 72 to get a keeper. Nonetheless at half Steve’s efficiency you are still at around 144 casts for that keeper, which is well outside what is realistic in the hour. In the third hour, Steve manages to make it above 1% for a keeper – a massive upgrade to 1.4% and odds of 70:1. These are still long odds, but it shows how good technique benefits you in the magic hour. Have a think about what sort of odds you would give yourself. Steve’s style of fishing is a game of hours and every day is different. If you are feeling tempted to raise your hand and say, ‘but I have all day,’ put your hand down. Based on Steve’s ability to find fish (not just legal fish), there are some patterns, but overall the lesson is that every day is different, which means you can’t just rely on turning up at the right time to catch fish. In a competition that goes double, if you’re hoping for the fish to do the work for you, then there is nothing but bad news ahead. Like any decent game of football, there’s only so much of the game where you get the run of the play. You want to make sure you can put the score on the board when it’s running your way. On the first day assessed, Steve put no fish on the board at all and over the next three he managed six fish per

day in the well with at least one possible upgrade. ACCURACY VS WHERE TO CAST The first part of improving casting is simple, spend time in the backyard with a bucket and you can tighten up technique. That of course doesn’t account for things like wind, but then practice on the water makes perfect. On this point, I want to be very specific – ‘muscle memory’ develops based on deliberate awareness of the motion. There is a point you reach where if you do a motion enough times and focus on the elements of that motion, your subconscious takes on that information and turns it into a routine that can be replayed again and again without thinking about it. This is called ‘unconscious competence.’ On the other hand if what you do is practice poor technique (or fail to pay attention to your technique) then that is what the unconscious mind takes on. Once the unconscious mind takes on a routine – good or bad, it’s a huge battle to change it. Try this, if you brush your front teeth first, swap to the back teeth first. Set yourself an alarm for a week later and see if you make it to the end of the week before reverting. If you maintain the new routine, reflect on how much effort it took to stay in that new habit. It’s much easier to build good habits from the start. In the case of Steve in the period we assessed, he averaged around 90 casts an hour. Across his bream tournaments he has fished 209 days, which means he has cast somewhere in the vicinity of 132,000 times. Given he has an average of 4.1 legal fish per day from those 132,000 casts, it follows that his ‘muscle memory’ is high in quality, which brings me to the second part of casting. It’s said that Warney could land a ball on a 20c piece. If that 20c piece is 1ft outside off stump though, chances are he wouldn’t

have been successful as often. Warney had a knack of knowing where to bowl to the batter. His ability to know when to adjust his line of attack, combined with the control to execute, is what made him a super cricketer. Top fishers are no different. Warney, to be as good as he was, needed to be able to get inside the head of the batter. Great fishers are able to get inside the head of the fish. This comes back to the function mapping I discussed last week; fish use structure and the water column in a certain way. Every cast teaches you something. As I walk through how Steve’s day is structured, it will pay to reflect on this point – his day is based on 130,000 casts’ worth of experience. That his routine is so consistent is a reflection of the fact he has used those 130,000 casts to refine his knowledge of how to fish, and to perfect his ability to land the lure in the right place. Here’s one last note; a good figure casting-wise to think about is 10,000 casts. By that time your technique is embedded in your ‘muscle memory.’ If you cast around 75 casts an hour for four hours, that’s 30 days of fishing. Ask yourself – can you find 30 fishing days to get your casting technique right? That magic day is waiting for you if the answer is yes. STEVE’S METHOD Before I start on the main topic, I have a recommendation. Don’t watch the highlights reel from the ABT days if you want to learn something about fishing. I recommend watching hours 1-3 of each day of Steve, Kris and the other fishers who livestream. There is gold in there for anyone interested in improving their fishing skills overall. I really enjoy watching Steve fish because he blends the traditional fishing methods with some modern lure magic rather than technology. He has a very simple plan and technique – fish the structure where fish are likely to hang around based on the time of the tide. Steve’s range of lures includes Cranka Crabs, soft plastics and hardbodies. His

Cast rates across the four days. cast rate varies by tactic. When the fish are on, he lifts his cast rate by minimising the time between casts, rather than speeding up his retrieve. This is one of the reasons he is so successful, he gives himself a serious shot at catching a fish every cast. Like most competitors, Steve has a set of rods rigged up with different lures that he can swap between as needed. This saves time re-rigging during the day. Steve’s rod changes are higher in the first couple of hours where he is working out the conditions and what is going to work, then it settles down to a much narrower set of tactics. HOW STEVE USES TIME If you watch his livestreams, you are going to feel like Steve’s reality TV version of the ABT events has a single script. Pay attention though, because there is method in that script. In the first hour he travels the least – rarely more than a few minutes, which is just the distance from the start to a bridge. Steve spends his first hour around a bridge (or large structure), working through a range of rods and tactics. In the second hour his fishing time drops – that’s where his travel time is highest and his fishing results are weakest. I don’t know if that’s a deliberate sacrifice of fishing time, or if there is just a historical context that says that once that first

light is done the fish go a bit quieter making it a good time to travel. Hours three to five tend to be the money hours where the bigger fish start to appear and Steve puts the runs on the board. During this time he is fishing rock structure, moorings or mangrove areas where the fish have cover

like a bit more data and a few other fishers to compare to (our next mission), but I have run his results by experts and there is something kind of spooky (good spooky) going on. He makes the most of the times when the fish are on, so his effort peaks when he is most likely to gain success. On most days Steve

WHAT STEVE’S DATA TELLS US ABOUT THE HABITS OF BREAM Now that you know some of Steve’s tactics and how he uses his time and lures, you probably have one last piece of information you need before you go out there and practice beating him at his own game. Tide is important. The ABT events reviewed (NSW) followed the pattern of early morning low time (6-9am) with an early-mid afternoon high. The time Steve spends first thing in the morning is either on the last of the run-out or at the change. I did a breakdown of the tide across the day and mapped the fish caught and you get the graph in figure 10. Note that this is specific to Steve’s method of fishing structure. There may well be a different pattern based on fishing deeper water – that’s something we are looking at right now. HOW MANY CALORIES HAS STEVE BURNED You already know I am a nerd who can’t help but ask

STEVE’S PERFORMANCE OVER TWO EVENTS Day/event D1/MR D2/MR Steve’s bag weight (kg) 0 3.63 Avg. fish weight (kg) 0 0.73 Avg. fish weight all competitors (kg) 0.54 0.56 Steve’s long-term avg. per fish (kg) 0.61 0.61 Diff vs. group average -100% +29.8% Diff vs. Steve’s long term average -100% +5% for ambush feeding. This is why accuracy is important in casting; if you’re targeting a fish that’s looking to ambush, you need to get the lure in the zone that it wants to hunt in. After that, the day gets a little more random. I think if Steve has his bag then he’s open to alternative options such as giving his partner the call on where to fish. One thing that is really spooky is how consistent his downtime is. There are a range of reasons for downtime – bathroom breaks, snags, helping land fish and so on. Steve is a pro when it comes to keeping his daily downtime to a minimum. A DEEPER LOOK AT STEVE’S CASTING Steve’s casting rhythm and process is remarkably in tune with the tides and the rhythm of bream. I would

Cranka Crabs and crankbaits are popular go-tos for Steve.

manages at least 500 casts. His ability to make 150 casts in the first two hours with lots of rod swaps gives him the best possible chance to suss out what the fish are interested in. I think this is an important key to why Steve is successful; he has a discovery process every day that allows him to adjust his technique early on. If there is one thing I can pin Steve’s success down to, it’s his casting. His high quality, highly consistent casting has allowed him to work out the fishery to the point where he can be very efficient with his time on the water. I can’t say enough how important it is to get this basic skill right. As a footnote, Steve once shared that he put his fishing observational skills down to orienteering when he was younger. That makes sense to me, as that is that natural world functional map building learned at an early age. The stupid thing is that we know a lot about the science of good development practices for kids and despite that we apply almost none of them in schools. There is a very direct link between what happens early on in life and what happens later. Bottom line, if you want your kids to grow up like Steve, get them off the computer and send them outdoors, preferably with some serious challenges to overcome.

D1/RR 2.69 0.54 0.51 0.61 +5.5% -7%

D2/RR 2.03 0.41 0.49 0.61 -16.3% -20%

questions. I was just a little curious to see if I could work out the energy side of casting (how many joules per cast) and ‘yes’ is the answer, but it involves rigging up cameras and doing a bunch of maths that I didn’t have time for. I have done the maths for throwing a ball; casting is a bit trickier, because the rod

MACCAS ANYONE? Without being able to break it down to that level there has been quite a bit of work done in the US on the energy usage in a range of activities. On the fishing scene it’s unsurprising to find that commercial fishing is the highest energy user (around 300 calories per half hour). Recreational fishing is a bit more sedate and I used a couple of different calculators that estimated between 200 and 250 calories per hour. Given this is competition, I will go on the high side with 250 calories. So all up, that comes to around 1750 calories per day for Steve. That is the equivalent of around a 20km walk at a reasonable pace. The bad news is if you are fishing sitting down, the energy drops to half that or less. I wouldn’t be turning to fishing as your weight loss activity unless you want to fish competition style for at least six hours a day. HEALTH BENEFITS OF FISHING On that front, testing the health benefits of fishing is quite a difficult exercise. It involves being hooked up to machines, half hourly blood tests and so on to look at the physical changes that occur. On the exercise side alone, I think fishing struggles to make the case. I’ve sat with neuroscientists and watched their eyes light up when breaking down what goes on mentally while fishing and I’m a lot more convinced that there is a much bigger benefit mentally. Once again, there are a bunch of tests they do that are hard to do on the water, but there is no doubt in my mind that fishing is

How Steve uses his time across the day. is a mechanical enhancement that essentially reduces the energy required. Think about how much energy is released in pitching a baseball, then think most casting situations. Not even close to the same. A reasonable baseball pitch for the record uses about 547 joules (around 130 calories), which is around one and a half hardboiled eggs per pitch. A typical pitcher will pitch around 100 balls a game, so they use about 13,000 calories worth of energy per game.

one of the best things you can do to keep your upstairs in good shape, especially in the era of digital devices. One thing that I have found with all top fishers is they are high performing individuals in their real work. I don’t think there is any coincidence in that. Fishing is unique in its ability to tap into sections of our brain that are otherwise underused in the modern world. I have no doubt that becoming a better fisher gives you an edge in real life. SEPTEMBER 2017

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SEPTEMBER 2017

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 103 Molonglo yakking Inside story...

The inventor was a kayak and boat-based angler who knew there was an easier way. The goal was to take the experience and fishability you get when on the deck of a larger boat and combining that with elements that attract small boat owners. This is what created the Ultraskiff.

Made for...

Anglers who want the experience of fishing on the deck of a boat without having any boat ownership responsibilities. The round shape makes it stable enough to stand up and fish like you would in a bass boat.

This month...

Gary Brown took a drive out to Penrith Marine to pick up an Ultraskiff 360. See what he thinks of this curious design on page 112.

Toby Grundy launches his kayak in some of the most accessible water for a native fix in Canberra.

104 Offshore kayaking tips from an expert

Justin Willmer chats to ‘Paddle Guy’ Jason Milne about offshore kayaking, and how to get started.

106 Aquayak Scout

We’ve tested the tricked up version, and now Peter Jung is testing the basic version of this great kayak.

108 Bearing caring

Wayne Kampe takes a more indepth look at trailer maintenance, specifically checking your bearings.

110 Haines Hunter 565R Editor Steve Morgan has a run of this classy rig on Port Phillip Bay.

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FISHY SONGS PART II

BLUE SKY LINE BONEY AND IVORY BREAM LOVER BUOYS LIGHT UP CHAINED TO THE REEL COLD AS ICE JIG EAGILL ROCK FISH ON EELEEN FLY ME A RIVER HEY JEWDE

HOO ARE YOU JAIL BRAID KELP ME RHONDA LADY IN REDFIN RIG OF FIRE RUN TO BARRADISE SPACE CODITY TRUE BLUEFIN WALK THIS RAY

Loaded For Bass Sudden In-Pact Baits are jig/ spinnerbait trailers that soak up a huge amount of catch scent and continually release it. These supple trailers are very durable, won’t tear off, dry out or become distorted, and their absorbency prevents your catch scent from washing away after a few casts. There are nine models, ranging in size from 2.25” to 5.25”, and colours include red, green, yellow, blue and white. To place an order visit www.loadedforbass.com.

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 SEPT 2017

Phone (day):

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to M Ryall from Singleton, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is S Ruis of Cammeray, who won a Mako sunglass prize. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

of Bathurst, S Cook of Seven Hills, W Cumming of Bass Hill, Hayley of Warragamba, P Stever of Austinmer, T Polley of Wingham, M Callaghan of Teralba, D Appleby of Macquarie Hills, G Tasker of Belfield, I Salmon of Basin View, J Wilson of Boronia, N Bennett of Orange, D Thompson of Hillvue, S Ayre of Denman, R Bland of Forster, J Smith of Kelso, C DeBoer of Valentine,

N Parsons of Forresters Beach, F Bubas of Albion Park, P Evans of Unanderra, N Webster of Bilpin, J Stranner of Rose Bay, C Roberts of North Ryde, R Gill of Lake Munmorah, M Baker of Gorokan, D Nisbet of Tuncurry, D Culshaw of Banyo, K Chubb of Caringbah, B Gardner of Hughes, C Colley of Bathurst. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE COASTAL BLACK LOGO

The answers to Find the Black Coastal Logo for July were: 16, 18, 23, 26, 33, 37, 38, 42, 49, 57, 61, 65, 69, 92, 119. – NSWFM

102

SEPTEMBER 2017

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Golden Perch

The Find the Coastal Black prize winners for July were: B Laurenson of Oakville, B Mannering of Leumeah, P Doherty of Mudgee, K Beckhouse of Wyee Point, B Becroft of Marrickville, S Ramage of Davistown, T Hainsworth of Warwick, R Morrison of Forbes, D Gerstner of Liverpool, G Jones of West Pennant Hills, D Jones

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer:

KAYAK HOT SPOT

Golden times on Canberra’s Molonglo River CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

For Canberra locals, early September is all about picking up the lighter sticks to target golden perch and large redfin. In Canberra, the Molonglo River, which feeds into Lake Burley Griffin represents one of the

plenty of parking nearby and it’s a short paddle/pedal to the river entrance. Also, if the ramp is crowded, you can always launch along the sandy bank right next to the ramp. There are also public toilets and BBQ facilities at Molonglo Reach, which is located near the ramp. Pack plenty of food and a life jacket if you’re planning

the majority of the banks running from the boat ramp to Fyshwick, I recommeding using divers. Cast the diver into the snag and then give the handle a few quick cranks to get the lure diving at its correct depth then twitch your wrist down from time to time to add an erratic wriggle into the action of the lure. This drives the yellas crazy.

Matt Henderson with a smaller specimen. stable yak makes it easier to cope with strong winds, which whip up quick and are common. However, if fishing the tighter areas, past Fyshwick, I recommend a smaller, more manoeuvrable yak.

it also makes it easier to understand what the school are doing and if there are any predators sitting underneath looking for an easy meal. TIMING Early spring is the best time for goldens, because

are willing to smash lures with abandon very early in the season. TACKLE For yellas and reddies, I use a Daiwa Gen Black V2 1-3kg spin rod matched to a Daiwa Gen Black 2000 reel spooled with 8lb braid and 8lb leader. Usually I fish lighter when targeting golden perch; the snags are dense here, so heavier is best. CONCLUSION The Molonglo River flows right through Canberra and offers some great fishing from a kayak. It’s a remarkably clean waterway filled with wildlife and lots of fish. In fact, during my last visit, a platypus popped up right beside my yak 50m from one of the main highways in the ACT. Local anglers go to great lengths to keep the river clean, so if visiting, be

Standing and casting from a quality yak is a great way of connecting with a fish. better places to catch a few native fish using a variety of techniques, all within close proximity to the city centre. FACILITIES The Molonglo River feeds into Lake Burley Griffin near Duntroon, which is about five minutes from the CBD. This means that there are excellent

a big day on the river. You won’t need a beacon, as there is phone reception. SPECIES There are large numbers of carp and redfin along with golden perch and Murray cod. The river was once known as a cod hotspot, but captures are few and far between these days. The

Bill Dunn was all smiles while releasing this golden. facilities available close by from tackle shops and cafes to restaurants. I recommend launching at the boat ramp on Menindee Drive, as there is always

Aquayak for recommendosnglo the Mol River

golden perch population has flourished and there are some massive redfin in the system. TECHNIQUES Vibes, divers and plastics are the best lures to use when fishing the river. If you’re fishing the overhanging trees that line

When using a plastic like the 80mm Squidgie Wriggler, cast parallel to the trees or sunken logs and let the lure sink to the bottom. Resist the temptation to twitch your lure or begin a retrieve until the lure has finished sinking. I have found that a lot of goldens sit just off the snag looking for schools of redfin, which regularly move up and down the river. These fish respond well to a subtle presentation like a sinking plastic and will hit it on the drop. Vibes are good when fishing around the bridge pylons at Morshead Drive and the Monaro Highway. Loud rattles help get the reddies stirred up and once they are hitting the lures, natives will come for a look. A simple slow roll after the lure has sunk for a few seconds near any of the pylons should ensure a bite. THE KAYAK As with any river, parts of the Molonglo are wide and deep while other sections are tight and shallow. If fishing the area around Menindee Drive, I would recommend a paddle or pedal kayak that has some size, so that it’s easier to stand and cast at the snags. A larger, more

Another fish in the net. THE SOUNDER Finding a redfin school is half the battle on the river, so having a good sounder is important. In late winter, cod chase the redfin around near the river mouth and once the goldens start to move in early spring, they target the schools of redfin, too. Trying to find reddies can be tricky without a sounder. Given how large the river is, it will often seem like looking for a needle in a haystack. I use a Lowrance Series 7 Ti and can’t fault it. Having down and side scan means I have a thorough understanding of the structure below me. Once I find a school of fish,

there hasn’t been much kayak or rowing traffic through winter and the water warms up quickly, meaning the fish

sure to leave the place as you found it and enjoy some heart-stopping freshwater fishing action!

Cod can be an accidental by-catch in spring. It’s best not to remove them from the water.

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Ph: (03) 9357 9992 – www.aquayak.com SEPTEMBER 2017

103

Fishing offshore with Jason Milne the Paddle Guy BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I have spent many moons on the water kayak fishing, however recently I’ve only had a handful of offshore adventures. The bulk of my time has been spent in the rivers, creeks, estuaries and impoundments around Australia. With the cooler weather firing up many offshore species, I thought this would be an ideal opportunity to gather some insights into the world of offshore kayak fishing from good friend, experienced paddler and accomplished offshore angler, Jason Milne. Jason lives, breathes and works in kayaking, helping out loads of new and experienced kayak anglers at www.kayakandsup.com.au on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast and you can follow

Jason Milne the Paddle Guy with a great bass. by one of the leaders in this game, Stephen Tapp… and it just made sense. My addiction to this awesome sport began, leading me to the fortunate position of working within the industry and having access to great products and

each this year. The thrill of hooking up after so many casts is addictive and the new waterways I get to explore in search of these species in the freshwater are pretty spectacular. The options are almost endless, with the only limitation being not enough

A big snapper caught from NZ waters in the kayak. Jason’s adventures and even fire him through any questions via his Paddle Guy Facebook page. Let’s hear from Paddle Guy. JW: You are recognised as one of Australia’s more proactive and social media active kayak anglers. Give us a bit of a run down on your paddling and kayak fishing background. JM: I started my kayaking adventures as a sea kayak guide in the Abel Tasman National Park, on New Zealand’s South Island. At that time I hadn’t thought of fishing in the kayak, nor had many others. Back then the term ‘kayak fishing’ hadn’t been born. Instead, a kayak was used to access premium rock fishing spots that were inaccessible by land or to drag a long line/set line out off the beach. Some years later I stopped into a local North Island kayak shop, where I was introduced to a sit on top kayak rigged 104

SEPTEMBER 2017

an endless knowledge base. I have now been involved in kayak fishing, both in Australian and NZ waters, for around 11 years. Through video and blogging I share useful knowledge and experiences from the water and it’s very rewarding when I hear from people that have been inspired to get into the sport through something I have shared. It’s equally rewarding meeting new likeminded people along the way. Seeing my kids’ faces when they hook up to a fish from the kayak is the best, too! With my background out on the ocean, I have always preferred to head offshore and explore the ocean for pelagic and reef dwellers, with my home waters here on the Sunshine Coast certainly offering a variety of string-pulling options all year round. That said, I have been bitten by the barra and bass bug after landing my first of

time to fish them all! JW: You have spent a lot of years kayak fishing in both Australia and New Zealand. In what ways do you think the two countries differ in terms of paddling and kayak fishing, and what are a couple of highlights of each? JM: They are both very different fisheries and yet many parts are similar from a kayak angler’s perspective. Starting with NZ, it has such changeable weather that you literally need to be prepared for four seasons in one day; 90% of the kayak fishing in NZ is done offshore, on relatively unprotected waters, requiring a higher level of preparation in terms of what the colder elements may throw at you. This can be much the same for the southern state anglers in Australia fishing in the winter. This makes it a little less appealing for the everyday angler to want to take up the sport seriously, but many give it a go in

fine weather conditions, so most coastal homes have at least one fishing kayak in the garage. A highlight would be that there are some very fertile waters in close on most of the NZ coastline, as is highlighted on the show Big Angry Fish. They really do get big and they don’t need a lot of water to hide. This lends itself perfectly to kayak anglers who use the stealth to their advantage, sneaking up on 20lb+ snapper and monster kingfish. Kayak fishing in Australia, however, offers endless opportunities and variety country-wide (I prefer to avoid croc territory in my yak, so my comfort boundary would be Bundaberg in Central Qld, unless it’s in the dams) with Northern NSW and Qld being fishable all year round in relative comfort. I imagine the same can be said for WA, but I have little experience there to comment. A highlight for me here in Australia is the endless waterways and species on offer both offshore and inshore. There are so many more than in New Zealand waters and I have only scratched the surface with the few I have landed. It’s

very exciting to know how many new species are out there to target and right now my freshwater bucket list fish would be a 1m+ Murray cod. For the salt water I am going all out this season to land my first coral trout of any size, with table-sized being preferred, as that’s high on the mouth-watering scale for me. With so many protected water options available more people have access to this great sport, which can only be a good thing both for the industry and for encouraging more people to get outdoors and explore what’s on their doorsteps. JW: What are a couple of your favourite species to target from the kayak and why? JM: That’s a hard one with so many new species still to be caught, but I will go with these two. On the sea, hearing

boy do they taste good! On the fresh, though I’ve only landed a couple so far and am yet to join to metre plus club, barramundi would be my favourite to target, as much as for that feeling when you hook one as for the adventure shared with mates on the hunt for the elusive metre plus barra. The bond created from hours of planning and exploring amazing country in search of the ultimate barra boof also rates pretty high. JW: You have an extensive offshore paddling and fishing history. What are a few tips and pieces of advice you would give kayak anglers around the following topics: kitting out your kayak for offshore fishing? JM: Seek the advice of experienced offshore fishers and ask to join them for a few safe trips to learn the ropes. Sometimes these people can be found in specialised kayak

A highlight for Milne while fishing in Australia is the endless waterways and species on offer both offshore and inshore. 200m of braid screaming off your reel before you even get your hands on the rod and then getting towed around until the fish is tired would certainly have Spanish mackerel up there as my favourite right now. They can be a frustrating fish to search for in a kayak, out in the big blue, but when you get one they really are special and

stores and these are the ideal people to find. There is no video or magazine article that can replace the knowledge passed on from one to another in a real-time environment. This is not a place to be trying to reinvent the wheel. Visit a few of the spots you’re thinking of launching at and talk to other kayak anglers

When looking for a paddle, ensure you ask for something that’s good for the surf. There are loads of good options, but remember you get what you pay for. This can be an unforgiving environment for paddles, especially when trying to propel and control a heavy fishing kayak in surf.

you meet. You will grow a network from this and the offshore fishing community is full of anglers only too happy to help newcomers. JW: Required skills and preparation? JM: This will depend on many variables, but specifically talking offshore

will already come standard with key features that will benefit you on the water as these have been designed by offshore kayak anglers or at least designers that have been influenced by these market leaders. But don’t take that for granted, as anyone who

useful when searching such a vast waterway with Navionics or a marine maps app on your phone, giving you GPS marks and reefs. JW: Beach/surf launching? JM: There is a lot to this and I regularly run free surf sessions with kayak

In the fresh, barra are an awesome species to target, as much as for that feeling when you hook one as for the adventure shared with mates on the hunt for the elusive metre plus barra.

Milne’s goal as the Paddle Guy is to pass on what others have shared with him through content that either helps or inspires others to get out and have adventures on the water. again, seek the advice of experience. There is a lot that can go wrong that can be avoided with some simple tips and advice, ideally from a specialised kayak fishing

believes in what they are selling will let you try it before you buy, so make sure you do that if in doubt. Non-negotiable in design would be a kayak with longer

Being able to fish offshore in a yak opens up a lot of different species for kayak anglers to catch, like this beaut spangled emperor. store – obviously it starts with the right kayak for the job and a Gumtree or eBay special might read like it’s suitable to take offshore, but do you really want to be 4km offshore being towed around by a tuna, only to find that it’s not quite right? JW: Kayak fit-out? JM: Starting out keeping it simple, you can add later. A true offshore fishing kayak

hull, low set seat position, facility for a rudder and watertight compartments. Essentially these are usually better sea-going craft; they’re stable and easier for you to paddle offshore. Leash anything on the cockpit. A PFD (personal floatation device) is non-negotiable and a VHF radio is highly recommended. A fish finder is extremely

anglers, helping them to gain confidence. I will just touch on a few key pointers, but highly recommend practice in the surf with no gear before attempting to take a fully loaded fishing yak out. Again, the kayak you choose needs to be fit for purpose. A longer, faster hull with good cockpit drainage and low seat position for greater stability is ideal, along with plenty of below-deck storage and watertight space to stow as much as possible away. Less is best to avoid gear damage or loss and to reduce weight. If you don’t really need to take it, leave it behind. The lighter and less cluttered the kayak, the better off you will be in the surf. A strong paddle, preferably glass or carbon, is important – this is not the place you need a paddle breaking. When looking for a paddle, ensure you ask for something that’s good for the surf as there are loads of good options, but remember you get what you pay for. This can be an unforgiving environment for paddles, especially when trying to propel and control a heavy fishing kayak in surf. It’s also

It’s always important to wear your PFD. These kids have got it right.

very important to go with a mate, watch out for each other and stay together. JW: Landing and handling fish? JM: When pelagic fishing I use either a gaff or have a glove on the hand used to tail grab a fish (making sure the fish is not green when you try this though, as gear gets lost and hooks can get stuck where they are not intended). Rubber nets are ideal for other fish, which I keep secured in a rod holder behind me until needed. JW: Describe your kayak selection and basic fit-out for us briefly. JM: My go-to offshore

kayaking, so they are in the business of making PFDs that are not only safe, but designed to remain comfortable over extended periods on the water. A VHF is non-negotiable for me, with a waterproof, floating model attached to the PFD, not stashed in a hatch where it’s no good to you if you’ve been separated from the kayak. This is not only for emergencies, but also to stay in touch with your mates on the water. It’s very easy to lose sight of one another and mobile phones in dry cases are not reliable. A spare paddle is a good idea

Paddle Guy on social media? JM: My goal with Paddle Guy has always been to pass on what others have shared with me, through content that either helps or inspires others to get out and have adventures on the water. Along with sharing useful tips and great products, I will continue to share my adventures on the water and am always happy for anyone to tag along for a trip… maybe you can help me get that metre plus barra or the tasty coral trout I am after this season. Experienced kayak anglers, like Jason, are a great resource for those

It’s always fun to get out on the water with some like-minded fishos. fishing kayak is the Viking Kayaks Profish Reload. At 4.5m, with a hull and cockpit designed for offshore fishing, this kayak is yet to disappoint. It has all the key features I have previously suggested you look for in a capable offshore kayak. Tackle storage and fish storage options are plenty and it can be a lot of fun on a wave. The large cockpit scupper drains water quickly after a wave dumps in. JW: What safety gear do you carry offshore? JM: A PFD absolutely and my go-to is the Yak Adventure equipment. This company has strong roots with white water and sea

on big trips, just in case, more so if someone else breaks a paddle. The first time I had to tow someone back for 5km was the last! I take a good set of pliers and they need to be able to cut hooks that might get stuck – that’s what I mean by good. A spare sharp knife, secured to your leg for cutting lines. Sunblock and spare water in summer months for me are safety essentials. That’s just a few, and an EPIRB is recommended if going out wide. As with any trip, make sure you tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to be back. JW: What can people expect to see if they follow

new to the sport and also a source of new information and ideas for those more experienced. The kayak community is growing steadily and we can all help by sharing information and ideas with other paddlers. As the pool of reliable and accurate information grows we can rapidly increase our knowledge and skill set, making our adventures safer, more comfortable, more productive and more enjoyable. Thanks to Jason for taking the time to answer these questions and if you would like to follow his adventures or ask a question of your own, give Paddle Guy a like and follow on Facebook. SEPTEMBER 2017

105

Aquayak Scout is a great mix of fishing and pleasure FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Victorian-based Aquayak Kayaks are continually striving to offer a quality range of kayaks that are manufactured in Australia and offer a good mix of leisure and fishing-based activities. SPECIFICATIONS Length..................... 3m Width.................. 0.79m Weight...................19kg Capacity.............150kg Price: (standard)....... $699 RRP (with fish kit).... $799 RRP I’ve had a fair bit of contact with co-owner Paul Varasdi since the Melbourne Boat Show in 2016, including going through the factory and seeing the manufacturing process at their Campbellfield head office.

All ready for a day on the water, Chris Jordan took the Aquayak Scout out at Lake Kurwongbah. established range of kayaks. Paul is super keen to get feedback from his kayak users. We’ve spoken at length about the kayaks we

The third installment of testing for the magazines is on the Aquayak Scout with a fishing kit. This is not our first look at the Scout, as

Heavy-duty carry handles assist in making the Scout easy to move around.

The spacious cockpit of the Scout has plenty of room for you and any gear you may need. Paul and his business partner purchased Aquayak as an existing business and from day one have strived to further improve on an

have tested previously for the magazines. He wants the people that purchase them to be as proud of them as he is.

we have featured it before with a Torqeedo Ultralight electric motor fitted to it (see December 2016). I was impressed with how it

The centre hatch and bucket is handy to store a bit of gear or to keep baits out of the sun. 106

SEPTEMBER 2017

performed with the motor fitted, but not everybody has the need for this, so I was excited when the Scout arrived at our offices in its standard form and we organised to get it out on the water. LAYOUT AND FISHING KIT At 3m long the Scout falls into the small/medium size category for kayaks. What Aquayak has done with the space that the 3m

affords is quite cleaver. Their main focus is on the cockpit size and the storage behind the seat. My testing assistant Chris Jordan’s first thought on the seating area was that they had gone a long way to achieve it, “It’s nice to have so much space for you and all your things.” I feel the same way; you don’t necessarily want the entire tackle shop with you on the water, but it is nice

to have what you do want within arms reach. If your intention is to spend many hours on the water at a time then the seat will need to be as comfortable as possible. I’ve used a number of kayaks that claim to have a comfort seat and my numb backside after a short time on the water would beg to disagree. The comfort seat provided with the Aquayak Scout is a fully adjustable,

The Railblaza rail and port system is second to none.

clips in place easily and provides quite a bit of support for the user. So far so good – my backside isn’t complaining yet.

and port system. If there is a better system out there to provide this much flexibility in setup, then please let me know. The rail systems

The rear well area has plenty of room for an esky and some gear. There is also a large rear well with a bungee for securing your gear. This easily fitted a small esky and had room for more if needed. On the test day we had an esky, tackle tray and net in the well and it was no problem at all. There is also an additional storage hatch at the front of the kayak. It gives you access to the hull for any fit-out requirements and is also large enough to store the dry bag with any items you don’t need access to while you are on the water. A huge feature of the layout is the Railblaza rail

FEATURES (including fish kit) • Comfort seat, double paddle (split two-piece) • Two storage hatches • Four heavy-duty handles • Railblaza rod holder R • Railblaza mini port • Two accessory rails • Drift chute • Paddle leash • 12L dry bag • Self draining cockpit and a large self-draining aft well. system is you can adjust where you position the many types accessories we all have these days, whether it’s the rod holder provided, a sounder or a camera setup. The ports are also easy to use and give you the piece of mind that whatever you have mounted to it, it’s securely attached to the kayak. Other items in the fish kit are a drift chute, a 12L dry bag and a paddle leash. All assist in making the kayak even more fishing friendly. ON THE WATER Half the battle with any kayak is getting it to the water before you even contemplate taking it out. At only 19kg (kayak only) the battle is made that much easier with the Scout. It can easily be loaded or unloaded from a car or trailer by one person, with four heavy-duty carry handles systematically placed to assist with this. The true test as always is on the water. The tri-keel hull design of the Scout is excellent. It has impressive buoyancy and excellent

Charlotte Jung was all smiles at Cudgen Lake. She is now keen to get out kayaking more often. are standard and if you opt for the fishing kit set, you also get a rod holder and mini port. The beauty of the rail

speed and tracking. You get plenty of reward for each stroke of the paddle. The significance of the 150kg capacity is also not lost on

A forward hatch provides extra storage for items you don’t need while on the water and access to inside the hull for fit-outs.

me. The Scout coped with my 100kg+ and the rest of the bits and pieces with no dramas at all. The Railblaza accessories and two flush mounted rod holders ensure

The Railblaza ports are easy to use and will hold anything from your sounder through to a camera or rod holder.

The Scout is beautifully balanced on the water and very stable, making it a great fishing platform. fishing rods can be kept out of the way and the centre hatch with bucket is large enough to store a few extra lures, bait or items you want to keep out of the sun. The one thing I haven’t mentioned is stability. At this point I would normally be mentioning a close call or mishap while on the water, however, thankfully for me I have no stories to tell. I have felt very confident using the Scout and Chris said the same thing after our testing day. RECREATIONAL USE Although my focus would always be to head out in a kayak for a fish, I also have a youngish family and their thoughts on kayaks are more recreationally focused. At 16 and 13, like most kids these days, a fair bit of their time is spent with their eyes glued to a tablet or smartphone. When the Scout came home to be tested they were keen to get out and give it a try, so a long weekend away saw the Scout come along as well. It was great to see the girls out using it. A true testament to the stability of the Scout was three girls all on the kayak (two seated in the main cockpit and one in the rear well). They spent hours mucking around on Cudgen Lake, which meant no fishing for dad. They loved using it and continue to ask me when we can go out again.

GIVE ONE A TRY The Aquayak Scout in many ways ticks all of the boxes. It’s light enough for one person to load it, unload it and get it to the water. The layout is spacious and well thought-out and this includes the storage and rail systems. Once on the water it tracks well, manoeuvres easily and is one of the most stable

3m kayaks I have tested. Couple this with the fact it is manufactured and made in Australia and that gives you plenty of reasons to check out the Aquayak Scout and the rest of the range of kayaks they produce. To find out more about Aquayak Kayaks and where your nearest dealer is, go to www.aquayak.com.

Chris was impressed by the space in the Scout and enjoyed catching a few bass during the test day on the water. SEPTEMBER 2017

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Part II: Ongoing trailer bearing maintenance BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

In last month’s issue I mentioned the importance of keeping boat and trailer bearings in tiptop shape to avoid failure, which can easily involve the loss of

that common bearing components are usually of Ford or Holden origin on smaller trailers. A check up at home isn’t very difficult. The main tools required are a car jack, a large shifting spanner, a blade screwdriver for prying things and a pair of multigrips for extracting

a split pin along with nitrile gloves, a tub of grease and plenty of rags. With two sets of bearings to consider it’s the outer (nearest the Bearing Buddy), which is easiest to clean, check for damage and repack with grease, as this bearing will generally fall out by itself once the split

Starting to put the bearing back into place on the spindle.

A look at the rear of a trailer hub: a metal retainer rim is holding the seal in place so the only way of checking the bearing behind that seal is to prise the seal out from the back, or push the bearing and seal out from the inside.

A gentle side-to-side pull and push helps checks for any slack in the bearing.

The fun part: repacking the cleaned bearing with grease. a wheel and subsequently a major inconvenience. Plainly, it’s wise to keep a check on bearings for wear and tear and it’s a pretty simple procedure. The first step is to jack a wheel up and give it a spin with the hand; this can easily reveal possible trouble as bearings with corrosion or pitting will usually emit some noise when spun free from ground contact. With the wheel spinning there should be no grumbles, growls or other noise other than a slight whir. TWO BEARINGS PER TRAILER Boat trailers have two sets of bearings – an inner set near the rear seal on the axle and another (smaller) set up front, located just behind the Bearing Buddy or dust cap. Also, be aware 108

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pin, castellated nut and big washer are first removed and the hub and wheel are slid off the axle spindle. The inner bearing at the back of the hub –in the hub when the wheel is slid off the axle spindle – can be a little harder to work on, but is by no means too difficult.

TACKLING THE REAR SEAL Holden and Ford bearing sets use two types of rear seals. Ford use a metal

This latter operation can cause damage to the bearing cage (where the rollers are situated), so it’s a better option to simply pry

Reseating the Bearing Buddy is best done with the flat of the hammer as the wheel is slowly turned to ensure it seats evenly.

Repacking grease around the spindle is easy when using an old toothbrush handle or plastic knife.

retainer rim over a rubber seal to make things stay put. As the metal rim is a very snug fit, the only easy way of getting at the bearing under the seal is to first pry the seal off (which will often damage it so ensure a standby seal’s on hand) or knock the whole set out with a brass drift from the inside of the hub.

the metal retainer out of the way to remove the rubber seal. Then the bearing can be extracted for inspection. Seals are available as separate items to bearings, so it makes sense to always replace them on reassembly, simply because they need to be in tiptop condition to keep water out as best they can. With the rear seal out

of the way, it won’t take much effort to extract the rear bearings so they can be examined. Sometimes a push with a bit of dowel will be required. Like the front set they can be cleaned up

sits. If it’s also pitted or damaged, there is no option but to knock it out with a brass drift and carefully tap another one in – tapping all around the perimeter to ensure it goes in evenly – to

trailer bearings, have the work done by a professional. REGREASING A BEARING: GET THE GLOVES! Back to the job at hand, once a bearing is cleaned up

Having lost a Bearing Buddy, the author always put a bit of tape on them these days. with a dip into some petrol or other solvent for close examination. Any pitting or corrosion, or even distortion of the roller cage, means replacement is necessary. CHECK FOR DAMAGE If there’s a pitting on either front or rear bearing sets, take a close look at the cup within the hub in which that bearing race

replace it. The cup fits into a groove, so have a feel of it to understand where the new one needs to finish up. A tiny smear of grease will help the process. What I’ve outlined here is not rocket science and it’s a fairly easy DIY process, but if you’re not entirely confident with the process of removing and replacing your

and assessed as still being fine, and the cup it sits in is nice and shiny as well, more grease can be applied to the bearing. This involves physically forcing it into the cage by pressing it in with fingers while the bearing is held in the palm of the hand. Nitrile gloves are good here! You will know when the grease application is just

right when the stuff can be seen seeping from around the rollers as the bearing is gently turned. REASSEMBLY TIPS To reassemble things, firstly remove old grease from around the axle spindle with a rag before putting some fresh stuff on it. The wheel can now be pushed back on so the rear bearing seal makes perfect contact with the step in the axle it sits against. Then with the rear seal sitting in place against the step, some more grease can be pushed in and around the spindle section from the outside of the hub. Gently moving the wheel up or down, or from side to side, allows ample space for the grease to be packed gently in place. A small plastic knife is ideal for this purpose. Plenty of grease is good: it all helps to reduce friction and keep water out. Next, slide the newly greased front bearing onto the axle spindle and back into its cup. Then follow up with the big washer and the castellated nut. Tighten the nut to the point where the wheel will not turn. This seats both sets of bearings correctly, but we can’t leave things under this sort of tension, so slowly undo the big nut a quarter turn at a time until the wheel

is starting to revolve freely with a gentle spin. After testing side-to-side movement to ensure there’s no excessive play and the wheel is spinning freely, push the split pin back through the hole in the axle to ensure the castellated nut remains in the predetermined position. After a repack or replacement it’s wise to test the bearing’s temperature next time the trailer is used. Should the hub just behind the Bearing Buddy be warm, that’s okay. If it’s hot, the bearings are too tight and the castellated nut needs to be slackened just a little when

you are able to do so. The procedure I have outlined is easiest (by a long way) with unbraked trailers. Once override brakes or electric brakes are installed, the braking system must be removed in order to assess the bearing’s freedom of movement. This is more involved, but still a DIY project if you’re keen enough. Lastly, a very important tip is if you intend to service bearings, always do it at a time when replacements are available. Take a cleaned up unit with you, with the important numbers visible.

Rear bearing seals can be very different as seen with these two (Ford on the left and Holden on the right).

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www.fishingandleisureboats.com.au SEPTEMBER 2017

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Haines Hunter 565R with Yamaha 150hp 4-stroke - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

SPECIFICATIONS Length overall... 5.65m Beam.................... 2.4m Height.................. 2.3m Weight (hull only).720kg Fuel...................... 200L Max hp................... 150 110

SEPTEMBER 2017

DE FOR EX

Port Phillip Boating Centre’s Phil Pieridas has been a Haines Hunter and Yamaha dealer for nearly 15 years. With that much experience putting together Yamaha/ Haines Hunter packages, you’d be hard-pressed to find another person – nationwide – who can match Phil’s expertise in that arena. It was hardly surprising when he arrived at the ramp on the test day with a pair of impressive Haines Hunters. One was the superlative 675 Enclosed, which we have published in a previous FM edition. The other was the 575R, the ‘R’ signifying the ‘Runabout’ iteration of the hull, spawned from a need to have a smaller brother in the Haines Runabout family, as all of its bigger siblings are 6m+. “It’s good to have the 565 in the range, which is cheaper to buy, easier to tow and usually doesn’t require a tow vehicle

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

flush mounted. There’s no better way to protect your investments, which can be quite significant if you’re a serious snapper angler. As tested, the supplied 565R came in at around $80,000, although base

FMG

packages start from around $65,000. Check out Marina Bayside at Taren Point, Sydney (02) 9524 0044 or email sales@marinabayside. com.au or visit www. marinabayside.com.au.

PERFORMANCE RPM......... Speed (km/h).......Economy (km/L) Idle.............................. 5................................3 1000............................. 6.............................2.5 2000............................12.............................1.7 3000............................16.............................1.1 4000............................42.............................1.7 5000............................56.............................1.6 6000............................71.............................1.1

Main: With three larger siblings, the 565R is a classic Haines Hunter runabout in a size that is more family-friendly. Think tow vehicles and garages. It matches perfectly with Yamaha’s F150 workhorse. Above: With a dry hull weight of 720kg and an on-water weight of over a tonne, the 565R rides as comfortably as a 5.5m boat gets to ride. upgrade to get you to the ramp,” Phil said, before we launched the test craft. “And packaged with the Yamaha F150, you end up with platform that’s as reliable as anything in the country at the moment.” Cradled on a twinaxled Mackay trailer with a Launch and Retrieve system, the boat is a size that’s not intimidating to get out and go fishing in one. On closer inspection, the trailer is made of galvanised steel C-section, eliminating the cost of aluminium while retaining

the easy-maintenance of a non-enclosed material. “I probably cost myself some replacement trailer sales down the track, but the C-section trailers are definitely the best for longevity,” Phil continued. After slipping the rig into the water at Williamstown, an overcast, inky calm bay proved perfect for flying drones and taking photos, but less perfect for testing out the rough water handling abilities of the craft. With a hull-only weight of nearly three-quarters of a

tonne, there was no surprise that the ride did feel soft. The cockpit of this rig is eminently fishable, with a flow-coated back deck above to be washed down on-water with the saltwater wash. PPBC had also fitted the test boat with both vertical storage and horizontal fishing rod holders to make both travelling and fishing as efficient as possible. Such are the joys of boat packages designed by anglers for anglers. We harp on about this a lot at FM, but I did love the fact that all electronics are

The 565R’s maximum horsepower is 150hp, although you can order a Limited model, which can handle 200hp.

Clever, underfloor storage keeps the decks clean and manageable.

We say it all the time, but we love flush mounted electronics at Fishing Monthly and the 565R has the room to flush mount all you’ll need.

Haines Hunter plays down the size of the cabin on this boat, but it’s suitable for keeping people or gear out of the elements.

Top: Extra, vertical rod storage is added along the side pockets, which also hold the deck wash. You can never have too much rod storage – it’s the first rule of fishing boats. Left: The plumbed live bait tank on the starboard side is close to the array of rod holders that have been added to the test boat. Right: The beauty of the rod holder system is it lifts straight out of the boat’s standard rod holders when it’s not needed.

Yamaha’s F150 powers thousands of boats across Australia. Economy approaching 2km/L was achieved at revs in the high 3000s.

The test boat was fitted with rocket launchers and wrap around clears to keep you warm and dry when conditions get nasty. There are also plenty of places to hang on.

Top Left: Everything about the 565R is practical – a deck you can hose down, stainless steel fittings and spacious side pockets tick a lot of boxes. Top Right: We all know that the stainless steel cup holder will double as a convenient place to hold the keys, wallet and mobile phone! Left: The Launch and Retrieve system means that you can het the Haines Hunter off the twin axles Mackay trailer all by yourself. Right: Sometimes, it’s the little added extras that make your time on the water easy. The LED deck lights illuminate the cockpit and make night time fishing easy. SEPTEMBER 2017

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Ultraskiff 360 Hull and Pedestal Mount

SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

To say that I was a little bit surprised when I first laid eyes on the Ultraskiff 360 Hull and Pedestal Mount is an understatement. It was not the normal type of watercraft that I have tested before. Sure, it floats, it has a moulded front, there is a propulsion method and you can steer it. You can sit or stand on it. There are some storage areas, it’s lightweight and you can fish from it. So, what’s different about the Ultraskiff 360 Hull and Pedestal Mount? It’s round! The Ultraskiff 360 is the original, first and only patented user-friendly, portable design of a round boat. It’s a small lightweight, durable round watercraft that can be used for fishing, hunting and diving in both fresh and saltwater. Its lightweight construction of a rotomoulded polyethylene – giving it a hull weight of 56kg – makes it an easy option for a solo user. It can be easily transported on the back of a ute or in a trailer and once you arrive at your destination you can either slide it off and roll it on its side to the water. It also comes with flared handles to help with lifting. On the test day it was very calm and as much as I wanted to see how it performed when conditions 112

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were rough it was hard. I did find that when I drove it over the wake of some passing boats, the stability of the craft was very good. There was little movement from side to side and there was water splashing out to the front of the craft. This would be happening due to the moulded lowered flare shape of the hull. As I was going over the wake I found that there was also a small amount of water splashing up in the air and on a windy day I would say that it would splash over the deck and your feet. Any water that does splash over the side of the Ultraskiff 360 will find its

way towards the centre of the craft and go down the drainage canal system and centre scupper. The centre of gravity of the Ultraskiff 360 when either sitting down on the pedestal seat or when standing up amazed me to a point where I felt very comfortable standing up and having a cast. There are three storage compartments with hinged doors. These would be good for storing your tackle as they have a lid for protection from the sun and there is a recessed edge around the edge of the lid. Even though the storage compartments are not sealed, any water that comes over the side or heavy

rain will find its way down through the draining canal system to the centre scupper. As an added precaution, I would make sure that your tackle boxes are watertight. Each of the access hatches has slots that are used for feeding cables, anchor ropes and hoses into the compartments while the doors are closed. Every door has a bungee latch that you can tighten and adjust anytime. The storage compartment where the battery fits is exposed to the elements and it’s not self-draining. I would suggest that you put your battery into a battery box with a lid to keep the water and spray away from

FEATURES AND ACCESSORIES • Three covered storage compartments. • One battery compartment large enough to hold up to Class 31 deep cycle batteries. • Four large cup holder/utility pockets. • 4-5” cleats with threaded inserts underneath, allowing you to take them out and replace them with external rod holders or fish finders. • Four bottom utility inserts hidden in recessed disks at all four corners of the hull bottom, allowing you to mount magnets, brackets and plates for transducers and pumps. • A moulded tow ring that can be also used as an anchor pushpin holder. • Two deep mould-in handles underneath the flare for lifting, carrying and dollying the boat by hand. • Eight strap guides, strategically positioned around the perimeter of the craft to enable different methods of securing the boat to roof racks and trailers. • Six rod holders, all equally spaced and perfect for creating custom duck blinds, tents, sun shades and anything else out of 1 1/4” PVC. • Six skegs for tracking and hull protection. • One bumper/roll bar. It protects the side when rolling, sliding or impact with a dock or piling. • One drainage canal that lets water drain around the ring of the pedestal mount and through the main tunnel access in the rear. You can feed hoses and wires through the main tunnel and into the pedestal mount or underneath the pedestal mount through the shock absorber hose. • Two transom plates that are stainless steel and removable. • Two circle magnets – one for deck installation and the other for hull installation.

SPECIFICATIONS Diameter...................................................1.83m Height.....................................................508mm Hull Weight................................................. 56kg Detachable Pedestal Mount Weight........ 2.3kg the battery and its terminals. The Ultraskiff 360 comes with a 55lb R3 Tiller Steer MotorGuide that is positioned at what I would class as the rear of the boat on a reinforced stainless steel plate. Driving the Ultraskiff, I used it while going slow and flat out. I was quite surprised that I was travelling at approximately four knots. You wouldn’t be able to do this all the time, as it would quickly flatten the battery. It has eight strap guides, strategically positioned around the perimeter of the craft to enable different methods of securing the craft in the back of a ute or on a trailer. The swivel adjustable and detachable pedestal mounted seat was very comfortable to sit on and has plenty of back support. There are a number of moulded threaded inserts that can hold rod holders, a variety of PVC attachments and a transducer. After carrying out some extensive research as to what type of craft Service NSW classes Ultraskiff as, the person I spoke to and showed some photos of the Ultraskiff to classed it as a sort of a row boat. His determination is that you need or don’t need the following for enclosed waters:

• You don’t need a boating licence, because it doesn’t go 10 knots or over. • It doesn’t have to be registered. • A safety label must be displayed. • You do need to wear a life jacket at all times. • You need to have a waterproof floating torch at all times. • It’s exempt from having other safety equipment (if not used as a tender). For further information, contact them to clarify. As you will also see from the accompanying photos, there is an AM/FM Fusion radio. This isn’t included in the overall price of $3999. The radio has an RRP of $399. For further information, you can contact Stuart or Gaye at Penrith Marine on (02) 4731 6250 or call in to see them at 4/133 Coreen Avenue Penrith or email then at sales@ penrithmarine.com.au or visit their website at www. penrithmarine.com.au. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

The Ultraskiff 360 hull by itself weighs in at 56kg, has a diameter of 1.83m and a depth of 508mm, making it easy to transport on the back of a ute with drop down sides or a small trailer. You could use two tie-down straps to secure it in the back of the ute.

Unloading the Ultraskiff 360 is quite easy. This can be done by either one or two anglers. It’s just a matter of lifting it out and placing it on the water. If you’re by yourself, you could roll the craft off the back.

Quickly unload the rest of the gear and then move the car out of the way.

Make sure that you secure the Ultraskiff 360 while loading in your electric motor, battery and any other gear you may have.

The author couldn’t resist having a go of the Ultraskiff 360. The Pedestal Mount swivel seat will give you plenty of comfort and back support while fishing. Whether you are right or left handed you will be able to steer the Ultraskiff with ease.

The author was doing about four knots at top speed with the electric. Using a Ultraskiff 360 isn’t a race. You would need to conserve the deep cycled battery for maximum use.

When coming into dock, it would be a good idea to have to the tie up rope already clipped to the craft. Remember to not come in too fast when docking.

The MotorGuide R3 Tiller Steer 55lb Salt Water series electric motor is just clipped in the recess about the battery compartment. As a precaution, you could padlock the two toggles together so they can’t come loose and make sure the cable is tucked in so that there is no trip hazard.

The volume of the AM/FM radio nearly blew the author out of the craft. It’s not bad for listening to the footy or catching up with the latest fishing news.

The Ultraskiff 360 comes complete with covered storage compartments, four drink holders, six different positions for putting a rod or two, four bollards and a pedestal swivel seat.

There are three great storage compartments for your life jacket, safety gear, anchor and rope, fishing tackle and more. You can’t have enough storage room on a boat.

Remember when lifting the Ultraskiff 360 to keep your back straight and lift with your knees. If you are by yourself, you could roll the Ultraskiff to your transport and then lift into onto the back.

Having two anglers carry the Ultraskiff is the better option. This makes it much easier to place the Ultraskiff on the back of your transport. SEPTEMBER 2017

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Product Profile

Versatility with the Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

In the fishing game there aren’t too many products you could truly call ‘versatile.’ Let’s face it, we need a different rod, lure, reel, line and most times a different vessel for the various fishing methods

we involve ourselves in. Recently I got my hands on the Deeper Wifi Sonar Pro+ and it is possibly the most versatile sounding unit ever made. The deeper unit can be attached to a fishing rod and cast over areas you would like to fish and the info comes straight back to your smartphone or tablet. This takes literally half a minute

The Deeper Pro+ unit and accessories had the author excited to get out on the yak and chase some silver critters.

It wasn’t long before the Deeper unit combined with a smart phone put the author in prime position to get his rod bent. 114

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to set up and you can create your own bathymetric maps by putting your sonar in boat mode. This is then archived and stored on the smartphone or tablet and you can check it out later for further study. The unit is to be used mainly on our kayaks and believe me, after countless times changing transducers and redoing goop jobs, the Deeper is a godsend. Firstly the sonar unit is a small tennis ball size and has a few points for securing for whatever method you fish, be it casting or from the kayak. To secure there is a flexible arm mount; you attach your unit to this and bend it so that the bottom of the ball is in the water. The flexible arm clamps onto the kayak with ease and is out of the way. A safety lanyard is incorporated so you won’t have a lost arm mount. This takes less than a minute to set up. A fair few things impressed me with the smartphone app once I logged in. It’s so easy and has so much info. You can change the settings to suit the day. Who doesn’t like easy to read manuals? This one is great. Also on your sounder page you have weather, maps and a history that records your soundings of each trip. Now there is another app from Deeper called Lakebook which you can download at maps. deepersonar.com. This is also simple to use and you can go on your computer and analyse your maps. You’ll be able to click on any point for depth and GPS coordinates, and you have measuring tools for distances and area size. This will really help when you plan your next fishing trip. Here are some tips: obviously you want to secure your phone or tablet. A waterproof case is necessary, especially in the yak. I made up a holder and put my phone on this with no dramas. Make sure both your unit and phone are fully charged, as this unit runs off wifi, not internet. Recently I was on the water for approximately five hours and had 20% battery life in the phone when back at ramp. Perhaps a solar charger on the phone would be the go for longer trips. Overall this unit impresses me greatly. I managed some bream and mulloway and got a great reading in the deeper 10-12m depths that I fished at times. Did I also mention the convenience of no cables, the Deeper is removable in less than a minute and realistically if you do a mixture of shore-

The phone screen displays the bottom, bait, structure, water temperature and depth.

The Deeper Pro+ performed well in both shallow and deep water and didn’t drain phone battery anywhere near as much as anticipated. based, kayak and even small boat fishing, this can be used for all of these? Maybe the staff at Deeper can come up with

a mounting system for the bow mount electric and that’ll be the foredeck sounder sorted. If you haven’t checked these out

yet, think about it and check out what a lot of deeper users have to say about them. I think you’ll get a pleasant surprise.

It’s great to be able to combine your smart phone with the portable Deeper sonar to find and catch fish.

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