NSW Fishing Monthly September 2018

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Bass in the wilderness • Estuary tactics Part II • Mulloway masterclass • Essential barra lures • Best tackle for 2018

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September 2018, Vol. 24 No. 2

Contents BYRON COAST The Tweed 24 Ballina 26 Yamba 28 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour 30 Nambucca 32 South West Rocks 33 MACQUARIE COAST The Hastings 34 Harrington-Taree 37 Forster 38 HUNTER COAST Erina 39 Port Stephens 40 Swansea 41 Hunter Coast 42 SYDNEY The Hawkesbury 12 Sydney Rock and Beach 14 Sydney North 16 Pittwater 18 Sydney Harbour 19 Botany Bay 20 Sydney South 21 Western Sydney 22 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 44 Nowra 45 BATEMANS COAST Merimbula 46 Narooma 46 Batemans Bay 47

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From the Editor’s Desk...

ALL THE AFTA TRADE SHOW NEWS Each year the fishing tackle trade conducts a businessto-business show on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter, and it’s always an event to remember.

Distributors and fishing tackle stores from all over Australia gather to show off new products and do deals.

This show is not open to the public, so we at Fishing Monthly and www. tacklejunkie.fish are bringing you the latest and greatest tackle via social media, YouTube and print. To those of you who missed our videos broadcast straight from the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where we interviewed wholesalers showing off their latest gear, you can check them out on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

One of the most exciting things about the AFTA Show is the Best In Show awards.

It starts with retailers voting on what they judge to be the best new gear, the votes are tallied, and the awards are presented at the formal Gala Dinner. We have compiled the winners and runners-up for you in this issue, and some of them are particularly innovative and exciting.

And just quietly, we hear that there’s a good chance there will be a public (non-buying, look and see only) day next year. It’s not confirmed yet but we’ll bring you news of this as it comes to hand!

BASS SEASON OPENS Of course, river bass anglers from the Tweed to the Genoa will welcome the opening of

the river bass season. With the dry conditions this year, we’re unsure how good the spawning recruitment will be, but well done to all for letting the fish go about their business.

There’s bass on the cover and plenty of bass inside.

BARRA TOUR INFO INSIDE You’ll also notice a 16-page guide inside inviting you to the Zerek BARRA Tour. The BARRA Tour is in its teenage years now, after starting in 2005. It boasts a friendly group of competitive barra anglers that have a brilliant week fishing and touring together through the hottest Queensland barra lakes at the time.

Be aware that we screwed up a little (there are a couple of incorrect dates in the Guide, which was printed earlier than this magazine) and that the correct BARRA Tour Dates are in the Tournament Calendar, on the entry forms and on the website (www. abt.org.au) – just not in the introduction.

The Zerek BARRA Tour runs from the 19th to the 25th November, 2018. Just to be clear.

There are articles about getting started, getting better and getting involved. Find a mate, find a boat and we will see you there.

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

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Mark Saxon got in on the bass action with this 53cm stonker.

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BASS

Choose your own bassventure!

COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

Many of us have come to realise that most of these sayings like “it’s not

all about the journey, not about the destination.”

But for most anglers, these sayings are… absolute rubbish! For most of us, what we really want is to catch fish. Good fish.

The adventure isn’t what

A simple camp set-up saves you weight and time, leaving more room and time for fishing. about the fishing, it’s the experience that matters,” “the adventure is what it’s all about, any fish are just a bonus,” and even “it’s

it’s all about, although the adventure can be the bonus to a great fishing trip… as long as we still catch fish. Fortunately for

the bass angler, a quest for adventure can make it possible to find what we are really after.

As the bass season kicks off for another year, anglers all over the state will set plans for fishing trips to the classic bass waters of NSW. Many of these bass waters are considered ‘wilderness’ fishing locations, but is it really ‘wilderness’ bass fishing when you can park your Toyota Camry next to the river? Don’t get me wrong, there are some great waterways in NSW that fish really well, even under relatively high pressure, but they’ll often be hit and miss and can shut down due to heavy traffic. What many bass anglers are hoping for is to have the river to themselves and maybe find that hole full of Jurassic bass that haven’t had a lure thrown at them in a long time, or maybe ever. Fortunately, if you’re willing to put in just a little more effort than the average angler, there is

no shortage of opportunity when it comes to finding more secluded bass water, even for residents of our largest cities.

NEW GROUND Almost every eastern flowing river in NSW and Victoria holds a decent bass population, although virtually every bass river has been fished in some way.

Many of these river systems have sections that aren’t crossed by roads, aren’t accessible from downstream by boat, and are surrounded by either private land or forest that restricts access to the river. Consider how many kilometres of bass river are out there that have rarely, if ever, seen a lure run through their waters. An adventure into those new river sections may be a journey in its own right, but coupled with a lack of fishing pressure you have a recipe for not only a

One of the exciting things about fishing new water: What’s the next hole going to be like? be the ones that ‘bother’. If you’re willing to walk, hike, paddle or climb into sections that no one else will, then

These maps are amazingly powerful and allow you to look at the landscape in real images. You can use these

Bass are nearly always keen on a surface lure, even if it’s not cicada season.

PBs are always a possibility when chasing wilderness bass.

great adventure, but also the great fishing that we’re all really chasing.

THE SEARCH What you are looking for are sections of river that are not easy to get into, or are difficult to fish well. You’re working off the principle that, the harder it is to access, the fewer the anglers that will bother. You’re going to

your reward will be seldomtouched waters and, possibly, willing and plentiful bass.

How do we find the sections that are worth the journey? There are some tools you can use to help you narrow the selection down to the most likely prospects. Google Earth and similar satellite mapping programs have changed the search forever.

images to locate river sections that have limited access.

Particularly long sections that have no road crossings and are surrounded by native bushland.

Start off by looking at the river systems that you know hold good bass – those popular, classic bass fishing locations. Now search through those systems

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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Big bass and little creeks are a good recipe for aggressive fish.

They are compelled to eat whatever swims past.

BASS looking for viable water that may not see an angler often, due to lack of access. You can then use topographic maps to get a better idea of the ‘lay of the land’. You can find ‘relief’ maps online that will show the topography, but you will feel much more like a real explorer when using real life, hard copy topographic maps. Satellite images don’t provide a good representation of the gradient of a river and the surrounding topography,

and using topographic maps will help you understand the location more clearly and will sometimes show tracks that aren’t on the digital versions.

Google Earth and Google Maps are the obvious resources people will head to, but there are some other online resources that can be more useful in some locations.

THE PLAN Are you walking, riding, paddling or parachuting into

After dinner at camp, Pete got this bass while literally casting from the tent.

the area? Will you be fishing from the bank or from the river? Are you walking in and out the same way, or will you have ‘put in’ and ‘take out’ in different locations?

Firstly, work out how you can get to the water. Find out the nearest access points via car. Are there tracks into the river, or will you be bush bashing it? It’s best to use topographic maps for this part of the planning as they show tracks of varying types and the terrain of the area.

On satellite imagery you might find a track that gets you close to the river but you may not be able to tell that there is a 100m near vertical drop into the river from there. A topographical map will enable you to visualise the steepness of the terrain and choose an easier route.

You will also need to consider how the river can be fished. Planning is not just a matter of getting to the river, but about what you need once you get there. If you arrive at your carefully selected waterbody and the bank is overgrown with vegetation, or there are large sections with high canyon walls, you may not be able to fish the section effectively on foot. Alternatively, the river section might be so skinny and shallow that paddling down the river will spook everything along the way.

There’s no greater anticipation than heading into the unknown. This track descended from 1400m, finally hitting the river at 200m above sea level.

This part is easiest to judge on the satellite imagery maps where you may be able to get a sense of the water itself and the surrounding vegetation.

Next you will want to work out when is the best time to go. The months surrounding the off season (May to September) will be better suited to fishing the lower portions of a catchment, particularly if the river is low and there hasn’t been much flow, as it’s looking for this spring. Most of the ‘wilderness’ sections of our rivers though, are high up in the system so will provide better fishing during

the height of the bass season, so late spring until early autumn. You will also need to think about if it will fish better when it’s really dry, or when there’s more flow.

THE INVENTORY You don’t need to run out and grab a heap of new gear to start doing some more adventurous bass fishing.

A decent backpack that’s comfortable for longer hikes would be all that’s required for some ‘bassventures’.

As difficulty of access and isolation increases though, some more specialist hiking gear could be called for.

I’ve never been that

interested in the ultralight hiking world before, but through these types of trips I have certainly discovered why people in that world are so obsessed with shedding grams from their inventory.

The more unneeded gear you can banish from your pack and the lighter you can make your essentials, the further and longer you can go. On a bass trip you will also need to carry fishing gear and maybe a watercraft with you as well. One thing you need to remember is that once you start fishing you’re still going to have whatever gear you brought with you resting firmly on your shoulders.

Walking is hard enough with a 25kg backpack, but trying to get around on a river bank and fishing while wearing one is likely to result in wet gear, a wet angler, an injury, or all of the above.

If you’re doing any overnight trips then a quality lightweight sleeping bag, bed mat and shelter will make your pack much more manageable and enable you to fit more fishing gear in. There’s two ways to go ultralight: go without comfort, or go without cash.

You might pay two or three times more for ultralight gear that will still be warm and comfortable, but you will use them ten times more. You To page 10

SEPTEMBER 2018

9

BASS From page 9

don’t want to be cursing your $100 sleeping bag for it’s excessive kilograms while climbing some unpopulated volcanic ridge halfway to Jurassic land.

THE GEAR THAT MATTERS The hiking and camping gear is all just to get you and your fishing gear to your chosen location. So your fishing gear is what the whole trip is about. Even so, you will want to stick to the same ultralight hiking principle: only bring what you absolutely need. I’m one of those fishers that always throws those extra lure boxes and bits and pieces into my fishing bag ‘just in case’, then I tie on the same lure I use every time and never change once.

When hiking into your fishing spot, the ‘just in case’ philosophy just doesn’t cut it. You want to cover all your bases, with topwater baits, diving baits and sinking baits. You know yourself which are the lures you will want to use. Take your top two in each of those categories and maybe a spare of your number one. They will be your confidence lures – there’s no use taking any others.

Don’t take a whole spool of leader. Cut a few leader lengths off and take them

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Sometimes all the effort is only to find out that the thin blue line on the map is actually just a rusty, stagnant swampland. in a zip lock bag. Take only one rod and reel. A light multi-piece travel rod makes it easier, but you can carry your rod in your hand if it doesn’t fit in your pack.

Minimise accessories.

There’s no need for nets, lip grips or brag mats. If you really have to get that 50cm+ bass onto Instagram with proof, maybe you could think about one of those fish ruler tattoos on your forearm?

INTO THE REAL STUFF Although most of the words in this article are dedicated to the ‘getting there’, as we agreed earlier, the fishing is what it’s all about. So you’ve finally arrived at your chosen piece

of water. You get your first glimpse of the water and one of two things will happen.

The first scenario is that a section of river has just moved from the ‘maybe’ list and firmly onto the ‘nup’ list, and sometimes it just happens. That adventure into the unknown is just to discover that making the effort just isn’t worth it in this case. In that way you can tell yourself that the trip was actually really a successful one, as it crossed that section off the ‘maybe’ list.

The second scenario, is that it’s still in the ‘maybe’ pile, so you see how it fishes. It’s time to get set up and get some lures in

the water. For most, fishing on foot from the bank is going to be the only option.

If you’re completing a full section, getting in and out in different locations, then plan to fish while you work your way upstream. If using the same access point, you’ll need to choose a direction or do both. Fish the water you can access from the right direction. There’s no use fishing a quality bank that’s right at your feet when you can fish it from the other side and have a better angle of attack.

In the skinny and clear running creeks that you’ll often encounter, you may need to utilise a bit more finesse than you would normally for bass. Light leader and lower profile lures with slow and subtle retrieves can avoid spooking cautious bass that aren’t used to anglers traipsing around their crystal pools.

In deeper water, especially in heavilyforested areas, I often find that I can go for a more rowdy technique and fish for the ‘keen’ fish that maybe haven’t seen that many lures, and don’t want to let that possible tasty morsel go past their lair without seizing the opportunity. Wherever I can in these types of rivers I fish with a surface crawler and fish reasonably fast,

just looking for bigger, keener fish.

For some rivers, the only way to fish them effectively is from on the water. This is where packrafts can open up a whole lot of water that is effectively unfishable in any other craft. A packraft is a light and compact, inflatable, personal raft.

Usually weighing only a few kilograms and easily fitting on top of a hiking pack, a packraft enables someone to carry a watercraft into unchartered waters with minimal effort and providing a great platform for landing those mega bass.

INTO THE WILD Just going to your local ‘hot spot’ for a fishing trip

is boring. On average you will catch, but everyone’s been there and done that.

It’s not likely to be epic, but it probably won’t be rubbish either. Getting out on a ‘bassventure’ turns the whole trip into a discovery mission. There’s more risk of turning a ‘donut’, or even a ‘didn’t even fish’, but there’s also the opportunity for an epic story of pool after pool of willing fish and no other anglers for days.

Besides, if you do strike out on a big fat zero, you can always tell yourself “it’s the experience that really matters”, or “It’s all about the journey, not the destination.” After all, “the fishing is just a bonus!”

There’s a lot of hate around for these gates in national parks, but they do deter many anglers from accessing these places, leaving more fish for those that can be bothered to walk.

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Lure anglers have been having a ball lately dry winter into spring the river conditions have been fantastic. We have been blessed with super good visibility, especially in the brackish reaches around Wisemans Ferry through

THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

With the dry conditions continuing from a warm,

to lower Portland. Surely the lack of trawl and wake boarding activities over winter has got something to do with minimising the turbidity as well as the lack of rainfall and subsequent runoff.

Lure anglers will revel in these conditions as fish like estuary perch, bream, flathead and mulloway are more than likely going to see your offering as it sweeps past in the tidal waters.

action for the popper to represent a fleeing prawn and a slower twitchy retrieve for the cicada to keep it in the strike zone longer.

EPs are best targeted with soft plastics and small vibes up to 1/4oz. Locating significant back eddies along rock walls or weed beds will put you in the right areas, then it’s just a matter of getting your small grub-tail soft plastic or vibe into the strike zone near the bottom.

Big estuary perch like this one Josh caught on a recent charter are quite common in the upper tidal and brackish reaches from Windsor to Wisemans Ferry.

Some big flathead hung around until August and this 90cm dusky taken by the author on a 3” soft plastic was the standout fish amongst several in the 70cm size.

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Bream should feature in bait and lure anglers’ catches this month. Most fish will still be sitting deep on the rockwalls.

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Small 2-4” soft plastics, crankbaits and vibes that represent baitfish and prawns are the standout lures in the brackish reaches. Fished on light 6lb tackle, it’s a very rewarding way to pass the time on this awesome part of the Hawkesbury.

Bass and estuary perch will be pushing back upstream this month to the top of the tidal water, awaiting much needed rain before they are able to push further upstream. Failing the arrival of rain they generally disperse back down into the prawn-rich tidal waters from Windsor to lower Portland.

As we near the end of the month the water temperatures should increase slightly and this can see the first bit of surface action happen in the upper tidal reaches. Small poppers and cicada imitations are my favourite, with a fast popping

The bites can be quite timid at times but once you find one fish it can turn on some great catches as they get excited by their mates displaying feeding behaviours. Catch and release is highly

recommended on these interesting estuary dwellers.

Mulloway have been quite consistent over winter and this looks to continue into this month. They are still quite spread out due the aforementioned dry conditions, but still very catchable for those putting the time and effort in around the ever-crucial tide changes.

Lures are still my go-to this month, but live baiting will become more viable as the month wears on and the bait becomes more prevalent.

Double and at times triple hook-ups on mulloway using soft plastics and light spin tackle was common this winter. Here the author and Bat Brown show off an 85cm and 101cm double hook-up.

Flathead should fire up with the lengthening of the days and associated warming waters. Try drifting with lures or anchoring up for bait fishing with fresh local school prawns at areas like Dads Corner and the Windsock plus the mouth of Webbs Creek and the mouth of the McDonald River.

Use light line of 8-12lb and minimal amounts of lead for the given conditions to get the best bites. It’s good practice to cut and retie any abrasion caused by a previous fish’s mouth to ensure you stay connected to the next good fish and avoid the ‘one that got away’ tale.

Salmon and tailor schools busting up on the surface can be quite common this month as they feed on the abundant micro bait that starts to flood into the bays and rivers along the east coast. Broken Bay, Cowan and Pittwater are the most common areas where you’re likely to encounter this action, with wheeling and diving terns and gulls a dead giveaway. Small metal slices and soft plastic minnows smaller than 2” are the lures that tend to get the most bites when cast into the leading edge of the melee.

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The wintertime species are still on the bite SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

Every year we welcome September with open arms, loving that awesome word: spring! However, with the cool mornings and more consistent warm days, we often get fooled into believing that the cold

species are yet to migrate down the coast or venture from the very deep water east to west. Some estuary species aren’t speeding up their metabolism yet either.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying they’re unavailable, just in lesser numbers. There can be a big difference from the beginning of September to the last week of this month.

Jane Waddy with her first salmon. Fishing off the walkway at Dee Why beach in a moderate to rough sea can produce great results – just remember to give way to passers-by, and don’t forget to pick up your rubbish. conditions will soon be over. On land that may be the case, but for the ocean life in our region it is still a frigid 17°C or less and it’s even colder in the estuaries.

I’m not trying to put you off fishing this month, I just want you to take into account that the kings, mulloway, snapper and the warmer water

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So until that water temp rises at least 3°C, it’s still time to fish for the winter time species like trevally, rock blackfish, luderick, groper, leatherjackets, salmon and those type of cooler water fish that thrive quite well at this time of the year.

Here is what’s been biting on the rocks and

beaches of late.

The ocean rocks have been travelling quite well for rock blackfish, also known as black drummer or pigs.

They’re a great species!

They can be caught on almost every rock headland in Sydney, although some spots are obviously better than others.

Because this species is so popular with rock fishers, the fishing pressure can make the blackfish harder to find at easily-accessed locations.

Also the headlands, rock areas that have a lot of sand and less submerged rock/ reef can sometimes produce fewer numbers of this tenacious species.

One of the spots that has been producing of late is the ever green Little Bluey at the end of Bower St at the suburb of Manly. Good pig fishing spots often have several areas where you can fish, and these rocks offer just that. Pigs to 50cm, the odd silver drummer, and bream feature amongst the bags. I recommend using white bread, large peeled prawns like the endeavour or banana prawn with a fairly consistent mushy bread berley in the washes, and try to concentrate on the half run-in to the high to one hour or so of the run-out. This location is best fished in a swell of less than 1.2m.

Luderick are available at the square ledge, too. There is hair and cabbage weed available at or near this location. There are trevally and leatherjackets as well in the deeper area.

Other locations with similar features are South

Billy Zhang’s quality snapper! They can be difficult to find, with better results tending to happen at night. Don’t attempt this unless you are experienced at fishing off the rocks.

Curl Curl, at least 150m west of the concrete ramp which is at Freshwater carpark off Lumsdaine Dr, and the S-SW facing boulders at Long Reef, Collaroy. Walk up to the lookout and go and down the stairs; the boulders are 200m from the bottom of the stairs at a 45° angle.

This spot is best fished in a swell below 1.5m, and up to half tide in, as it gets quite flooded after that.

On the south side I fished Little Bay for the first time recently, and caught a 50cm+ red morwong and a couple of nice rock blackfish. That was out on the front ledge facing the ocean, which is best fished in a swell less than 1m on the run-in tide.

It’s reportedly great for luderick, too.

The rock ledges south of Little Bay produce quality pigs as well. Another nice bag recently was from south Bondi rocks, fishing about 150-200m from the Ice Bergs. You can get luderick to 1.2kg and rock blackfish to 1.5kg. It fishes quite well in a southerly swell, and the best time is from half run-in to one hour out.

Nowadays the majority of people have tried sashimi from Japanese restaurants and takeaways, and many anglers eat some of their own catch this way. Farm and Atlantic salmon, bluefin, yellowfin, bonito and more tuna species are all good.

Kingfish is also a favourite, and even yellowtail and trevally have been tried.

What about Australian salmon though? It’s unlikely you’ll have the opportunity to try out Australian salmon from Sushi Train, but you can give it a go yourself.

You’ll be surprised at how good it is! Just fillet the fish, debone it, carve out the red meat and then cut it into

thin slices with a very sharp knife. Dip it in wasabi/ soy sauce for a couple of seconds, and you’re done.

You can also opt to add a slice of marinated ginger – a culinary delight!

Australian salmon are readily available on our ocean beaches throughout Sydney in September.

Maroubra and Tamarama beaches are good places to start, and you can pick up the odd bream as well. You should preferably fish these beaches in less than a 1m swell, although the south section of Maroubra can be fished in approximately 2m southerly swell as it is fairly protected.

run-out tide in the evening.

You can also try Freshwater Beach if there are gutters, Curl Curl preferably in a swell up to 1.2m, the southern section of Dee Why in a sizeable south swell up to 2m, and at the northerly section of beach in a slight swell.

Newport and Bilgola beaches are also producing.

Fish to 3kg are falling for ganged pillies, and small 25-40g metals like the Snipers or Knights with the green metallic strip or blue strip.

Some chopper tailer to 750g are also being caught, and they’re a great size for tucker. You can pan fry them whole, just chop the head and tail off and add cornflour or plain flour on both sides.

When cooked in butter with some salt and pepper, fresh chopper tailor are very nice.

For the diehard whiting angler there are a few resident fish that did not travel. Try the Dee Why southern section of beach, focussing on the gutters from about 100m north of the surf club to the southern Australian rock corner. Note that there are some exposed rocks there, so keep a sharp lookout for the darker patches when you drift your baits past this area.

I’ll finish off this month’s report with a tip for rock blackfish anglers: if you’re hooking up to powerful fish and losing your hook, there is a good chance they are silver drummer. They have sharp teeth and are notorious for biting through mono line. A long shank hook and/or short

John Halford with a fat rock blackfish caught on a carefully presented cabbage weed bait. The cabbage weed will start to flourish as spring progresses.

Moving north, Manly Beach from just north of the Corso area to the Queenscliff section is producing salmon.

The south section of the beach is quite good in a moderate or slightly above south swell, with the Queenscliff section better with a swell size up to 1m from the south. The best time is the half run-in to half

length of 20-30lb plasticcoated wire trace crimped on will vastly reduce bite-offs.

• 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.

$500,000 Your eyes do not deceive you. The rumours you’ve heard are true. The largest freshwater fishing competition and exhibition Australia has ever created, is coming to Victoria in April 2019.

GoFish Nagambie is giving away a guaranteed $500,000 in cash and prizes and you could win a share of it. Come the 25th to 28th April 2019, the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes will host the biggest weekend on the Australian fishing calendar…all within a 90-minute drive from Melbourne.

GoFish Nagambie 2019 will give away the biggest and best prizes and cheques unrivalled by any other fishing tournament. With the $80,000 price tag for the biggest Murray Cod already announced, you can be assured that there are plenty of prizes remaining that will be awarded to anglers of all abilities. Tournament entry is capped and will sell out, so you’ll need to get in quickly - you don’t want to miss this one!

If you fancy yourself as a gun fisho who’ll be going after the metre cod, you’re in with a shot. If you’re an occasional angler who goes out every so often with mates, you’re in with a shot. And if you’re a teenager or a child who is learning the ropes, then of course, you will also be in with a shot.

And for those saltwater fisho’s out there, this is the perfect opportunity to come in land and test your skills.

If you’ve never been freshwater fishing before, then it’s about time you experienced that special deep thud of the lure as it stops abruptly in the middle of a retrieve, shakes violently, before racing back to the nearest log.

Cod put up a short but gutsy fight that is unlike any other. You saltwater fishos will certainly get a kick out of GoFish Nagambie too, and it’s a great excuse to get some new gear - not that you need one!

Is there really any fish at Nagambie?

GoFish Nagambie ambassador Rhys Creed and some of his mates from out of town were absolutely

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astonished at the sheer amount of structure, snags and habitat that the Goulburn River, Nagambie Lakes and the backwaters had. On his latest fishing trip to the area Rhys witnessed firsthand how close Nagambie is to a fishing boom. Its amongst the best fishing that Rhys and his crew had seen for some time. It really is a hidden gem and we can’t wait for it to be discovered.

So, how do you win?

Entries are available for boat, kayak and land-based fishing. The GoFish Nagambie 2019 tournament entry is capped, so it will sell out quickly! The total number of anglers is restricted, and the number of boats allowed on the water will also be limited.

The tournament zone spans across the Goulburn River and Nagambie Lake system providing anglers with plenty of space to reel in that winning catch. The zone provides compelling arguments to fish from your boat, kayak and the bank with sections favouring each discipline. Both the lake and the river are littered with

timber and full of heavy structure that, is no doubt, home to some monster cod.

GoFish Nagambie is a catch, measure, release tournament. Entries by anglers will be made via the tournament app which will easily photograph and measure the catch, and automatically enter eligible fish into the running to win. Importantly this will ensure a fast release back into the water.

Target species will include Australia’s apex predator of the rivers and lakes, the Murray Cod. Prizes will also be given away for anglers chasing the always fun, golden perch, redfin and carp (not to be released back into the water).

There’s plenty happening off the water too.

Nagambie Lakes Regatta Centre will play host to the GoFish Nagambie Festival Hub. Located on the picturesque banks of Victoria’s iconic Goulburn River and Nagambie Lakes, surrounded by Red Gums and indigenous flora and fauna, you’ll want to come down and soak up the electric atmosphere and immerse yourself in all that it has to offer. It will be a universal gathering place for fishos and non-fishos alike to congregate, relax and chill-out. A place to unwind with good food and drinks, great entertainment going into the night and a place full of great stories and workshops by personalities and experts in their field.

Good luck and see you next April!

Entries will be available online in October and will be available at www.gofishnagambie. com.au. Don’t forget to ‘like’ our Facebook page and stay up to date with all the latest news and get access to early bird entries by signing up to our e-news.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

15

Good results for several styles of fishing chasing baitfish up through the system towards the bridge.

They can easily be spotted with the amount of sea birds trying to get themselves an easy meal.

On most occasions when fish are feeding in this way it is also very attractive to the kingfish, and they can be found among and below the schools.

Trolling a live yellowtail or squid could see a king or two coming to the boat.

SYDNEY NORTH

Paul O’Hagan

While we worked our way through the winter months there were some great reports and some not so good as the wind and the swell determined the days you could get out for a fish.

Fishing the inshore reefs around Sydney has been fairly good with a lot of good quality snapper being taken. For anglers using plastics and unweighted baits in a good berley trail the results were the same.

For others trolling small bibbed lures or live baits there have been some nice kingfish, and while a lot of them are on the small size there are still some goodsized keepers among them.

Drifting between the reefs has been a very successful

Calvin Jones with a great bluefin off Sydney. way for some anglers to get themselves a good feed of flathead.

Further out around the Twelve-Mile Reef there has been an armada of boats working the area and taking advantage of the large amount of kingfish that seem to be

you the best chance of picking up a feed of kingfish before setting out on your journey.

Further out around the Browns Mountain area anglers using the deep drop method

Ollie Farcich with a monster whiting.

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Vic Levett caught this drummer while wash fishing. holding up there. These fish are taking live squid and yellowtail fished from a downrigger, while other anglers are having just as much luck if not more using a range of large and small metal jigs. It’s a good idea to get some fresh bait and a range of jigs in different weights to give

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SEPTEMBER 2018

the early hours before the sun comes up and in the evening.

There have been small kingfish eager to take metals and stickbaits before the sun goes down.

Beach fishing has been very good for some anglers while fishing for whiting at Manly Beach down around the Corso area. For other anglers, Freshwater has been the second option to pick up a feed, although there are a lot

with electric reels have found a good supply of blue-eye and gemfish willing to take a few well-presented baits. Between Browns and the southern canyons the bluefin tuna have arrived and every angler that could take a day off work recently headed out to try and score one of these elusive fish.

For some anglers there was the reward of fish up around the 70kg mark and some a lot bigger taken while trolling a range of skirts and diving lures. For some other anglers there were a few fish around the 30-40kg mark but any catch of a bluefin is a good one, as there were many boats that never saw any.

As well as bluefin there were reports of yellowfin and albacore being taken, and some of the yellowfin were exceptional.

The cold current is still holding around Sydney, but there are no reports lately and it may be the case that the fish have moved on. With a bit of luck we might get another shot over the coming weeks. If we’re not lucky, those seeking to catch a bluefin will have to wait until next year.

Fishing inside Sydney Harbour there is still a good feed to be had with schools of salmon and some tailor

With some good-sized squid on offer there are lots of anglers going around their favourite spots and casting small jigs, either picking up one of the top baits or just getting a good feed.

There has been a lot of activity in and around the north harbour reserve with baitfish being chased in close to the boat moorings.

Wash fishing off our rock ledges and platforms has been very good lately with drummer being one of the main targets. Fishing into a good berley trail should see a fish or two landed.

For others fishing from the rocks there have been some good-sized snapper taken in

of small fish. A bit of time and patience should result in a bit of a feed.

Salmon and tailor have been taken on Dee Why and Curl Curl using pilchards and gang hooks. Other anglers have been casting small metals near the swimming pools, and this has been very effective for them in picking up a feed.

There have been very few reports from our beaches of mulloway (‘ghosts’ as some anglers are naming them).

Anglers that have been lucky enough to catch one of these sought-after fish aren’t telling anyone.

As always, stay safe and enjoy the fishing.

Chloe and Cass Mason with a harbour squid.

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More of these guys should start showing up soon. certainly slowed down, but species such as tailor and the odd salmon showed up.

Both of these species are a lot of fun, especially when surface feeding and using light fishing tackle. The usual small metal jigs are working a treat when casting towards the edge of the feeding masses.

The easiest way to find surface activity is to watch for working seagulls and other seabirds. Most of the activity lately has been around Broken Bay as well as the entrance to Pittwater and the Hawkesbury River.

Quite often most of us fishers will gravitate towards the surface activity and actively cast lures until our arms are ready to drop off. We all get that fixated with what is before us and within easy casting range that we sometimes forget about the melee that is happening underneath the surface as well.

In areas like Broken Bay when fish are feeding on the surface it will quite often attract a lot of other species as well.

These bottom dwellers clean up injured fish that float down through the water column and also sometimes rise from the bottom to get in on the action, depending on water depths.

Lately I have found that dragging a micro-jig just above the bottom while drifting and casting to the surface activity is an effective way to catch some of these other species as well. Micro-jigs are successful with a variety of species, and recently they have seen bream

enough weight to see it slowly sink to the bottom.

There are still kingfish lurking along Pittwater, but unfortunately these large fish are playing hardball. During the colder months they aren’t

at the moment are the Supermarket through to Stokes Point and around Scotland Island. Remember that they are not that active, so presenting the bait at the depths where they are found

There are some decent flathead still biting offshore. that active and become fussy eaters.

The gun bait to use when downrigging is small live cuttlefish. These little ink machines seem to be the undoing of most Pittwater kingfish at this time of year.

has been very important. They don’t seem to want to rise to the surface to feed.

There are some large squid still around Pittwater. Some of the areas to try are Careel Bay, the Basin, the Palm To page 19

Get into the winter fish still hanging around SYDNEY HARBOUR

Craig McGill craig@fishabouttours.com.au

Winter is finally over on the calendar and although the air temperatures will start to rise the water temperatures will remain cold for quite some time. This means the winter fishing strategies will apply for the next few months. The lower harbour is still the pick of the spots.

For sportsfishers September usually marks the start of the salmon run, which have already started to mass around the beaches and headlands. When they finally move into the harbours and

bays it will just be a matter of luck as to what they are feeding on. If the prey are tiny then they will be a difficult proposition on casting gear and conventional lures; flyfishing with tiny flies that match the hatch may be the only option. Hopefully we will see a repeat of last year where they were feeding on anything and lures of any size were readily accepted.

John dory catches should peak in spring just before they make their move back offshore to the reefs and wrecks. Fishing the reef/ sand patches during the early morning and late afternoon and then the deeper holes later in the day is the way

Have a squid jig ready nearby on a handline. The squid will usually release your live bait near the surface in full view.

When he does this pull your live bait out of the water as quickly as possible and drop the squid jig in. Most times the squid will come straight back up and grab the jig thinking it is the bait that it has just dropped.

The hardest decision to make now is whether the squid is going back out live on an 8/0 or home into the frypan, as they are sensational for both.

There are still a few kings around and, if last year is any gauge, late September and October should see some very good fishing upstream on both the harbour and

in their juvenile sizes – up to 2kg, but more commonly 0.5-1kg. They are a schooling fish, so where you catch one there are usually more. Trevs prefer deep clear water, so generally the lower reaches are the spot to find them, but after periods of dry weather they can be located further upstream.

Trevally are really just like big yellowtail, and that means they will respond very well to a berley trail. In fact, it’s not unusual to hook trevs while you are catching yakkas for bait. Small soft baits like pilchard fillets or peeled prawns on small hooks (size 4-1) are the go as trevs have small soft mouths. The trick is to feed very lightly or even unweighted baits down

Massive squid show up in September and make great baits or entrées.

Kings are still around for those prepared to put in the hard yards on cuttlefish bait.

From page 18

Beach weed beds and around Barrenjoey head. The size of the jigs to use has been 2.5g, with natural colours working best. There has been the odd day that they have preferred fluoro orange, so mix it up if you are finding it difficult to catch one.

Along the coast the

water is a fair bit warmer and, providing you dodge the schools of Chinaman leatherjackets, there are some nice fish to be caught on the reefs. On most occasions we are starting our fishing at depths of 40m and have been finding most fish in the 40-70m water depths.

On the reefs we are finding

Flathead like this one can be caught under the surface activity.

to go for these superb table fish. Live bait is the key, and you’ll find that clipping the tailfins off gives the slowmoving dory a better chance of catching your bait.

You’ll also find your live baits will increasingly come under attack from squid as some nice-sized morwong, plate-size snapper, flathead and every now and then a kingfish as well.

Once again this year there is a seal that is making its presence known on the closer reefs and following anglers from one reef to another if it thinks it’s onto a good thing.

For occasions like this there is only one thing to do and that is to move quickly to another reef and hope he doesn’t follow. As a backup plan make sure that you know where your mates are on the water and say hello with the seal in close proximity. This way hopefully your mate has to deal with the seal and not you. If nothing else, it’s always good for a laugh over a beer at the end of the day.

As usual when fishing the reefs, find balled up baitfish towards the bottom before proceeding to drop over the lines. It’s also a good idea to make sure your plotter is on to mark where your first decent bite happens. The baits to use at the moment are fresh squid strips, pilchards or fish fillets.

I hope this report sees you dusting off the cobwebs to get out on our wonderful part of the coastline. There are some fish to be caught and some fun to be had on the water, so what are you waiting for?

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

things warm up over the next few months. It’s very difficult to land squid on live baits as they generally let go just before reaching the surface, however there are a couple of tricks to landing these succulent morsels. If you are very slow and steady, you might just get a landing net under one, especially the arrow squid, which are much greedier and dumber than calamari squid.

Otherwise you will have to jag them and there are two ways to do this. Firstly, there is the baited squid jag – a prong onto which a dead pilchard or yellowtail is placed. At the bottom of that is the standard multipronged barbless jag. That is lowered into the water and left hanging on a tight line until the squid grabs it and becomes hooked.

The other method involves your standard YoZuri type squid jig. Once the squid has taken your live bait, slowly pull it to the surface.

Trevally respond well to light line and unweighted baits. middle harbour. Those who go to the effort to get some live morning cuttlefish will be rewarded. Cuttlies can be caught by bouncing small squid jigs on the bottom.

Trevally are another winter fish that will peak over the next few months. Trevs are a very underrated species, being excellent fighters and, if they are prepared properly, excellent eating fish. They are only found in the harbour

Tailor are less common at this time of year but generally tend to be bigger.

the berley trail. Bream and even the occasional pan-sized reddy are also taken this way. Trevs should be bled immediately and iced down straight away. Fillet and skin them, then pan fry them in egg and flour and they make an exceptional feed.

We get a good run of big tailor in the harbour at this time of year with fish up to 3kg.

They are found in the deep water in places like Clarke Island and the Centurion wreck off Quarantine. They take a variety of baits, but you can’t go past a live yakka or slimy mackerel. I use 40lb mono trace and while I do get bitten off occasionally, ultimately I land more fish than I would using wire trace, which attracts fewer bites.

Winter tailor tend to be better eating than summer fish, being generally larger and having a higher fat content. They need to be bled and iced and eaten within a few days to get the best out of them.

If you are interested in doing a guided fishing trip on Sydney Harbour with Craig Mcgill please call 0412918127, visit www.fishaboutsydney.com.au or go to ‘Fishabout Sydney Harbour’ on Facebook.

SEPTEMBER 2018

19

Fishing and angler activity picking up now BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Over the past few months those of you that have been out on the water will have noticed an increase in the number of anglers out wetting a line. Those of you who have been out braving the cooler weather will notice that the fish activity has started to increase as well.

Luderick will still be about in good numbers, both in the estuaries and off the rocks. As usual it will just be a matter of finding good quality weed and cabbage.

Places that are worth a look are the northeastern side of Bare Island, the Cooks River breakwalls and some of the groynes along Brighton and Silver Beach.

Off the rocks you could look at the north end of Bondi Beach and the south end of Maroubra. Inside Cape Banks, Little and Long bays are also worth a shot, especially if the breeze is coming from the west. When fishing some of these areas you will need to check to see if that they are Intertidal Protected Areas, as you’re

BREAM

Bob Wilson joined the author for a fish at the Moons just upstream of Lugarno and managed to get a nice trevally while at anchor. not allowed to harvest the cabbage, weed and anything else from IPAs. If chasing luderick is not your scene, you could try using whole pilchards or garfish to target salmon and tailor off Bondi, Bronte, Coogee and Maroubra

beaches during the early morning or late afternoons.

At night you could try for a mulloway or two on the rising tide.

Bream and trevally will also be on the chew at the above spots so try using half pilchards, mullet, beach or

You can put a couple of witch’s hats out for a feed of blue swimmers; make sure that you have labelled them correctly and keep an eye on them, as there are a few people out there who will take your crabs if given half a chance.

Need somewhere to take the kids for a fish from the shore? Try Price Edward Park in the Woronora River.

It’s about 1km upstream of the old Woronora Bridge.

Bream will be about in numbers in Botany Bay, as well as the Georges and Woronora rivers.

Try using skinned pieces of trevally for bait.

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with bait, you could try slow hopping either blades or soft plastics along the same stretch of water. Make sure you work the outside edges of the weed beds and rocky shorelines.

park. Bream, flathead and mullet are the go here.

If you live on the northern side of the Georges River and you are looking for somewhere to take the kids, you could try the Georges River State Park. There are plenty of shore-based spots

Scotty Lyons cooked up a storm after catching a few luderick off the rocks at Kurnell.

ST A O C T S EA 8 1 0 2 S SERIE

sisting n o c s rie am se nd Final e r B m Tea lus Gra p s d n 4 rou

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tube worms, tuna or bonito on a small running ball sinker down onto the bait.

You could always try using 3” soft plastics and cast them into the washes at the edge of the gutters while using a spin outfit. I have had success chucking out 1-2oz Switchblades and slow rolling them for mulloway either at first or last light.

You will be surprised at how far you can cast them while using a 12ft rod.

Further upstream in the Georges River you will find mullet and garfish starting to school up over the weed beds, and luderick will still be around in numbers.

Flathead, bream, trevally and whiting can be caught while drifting from Kangaroo Point to the Como Bridge and it doesn’t seem to matter what tide it is. Strips of mullet, chicken breast and tuna are a few baits that you could try.

You could also try pumping a few pink nippers or buying yourself some tubeworms from your local tackle shop.

If you don’t like fishing

This is a great place to fish on a rising tide and for a couple of hours of the falling tide. If the kids have had enough of fishing, they could always play in the nearby

along here. Bream, whiting, mullet, flathead and the odd tailor or mulloway can be hooked. For those of you with a boat, you could try drifting along the southern side of the river, just upstream from the Alfords Point Bridge. This rock wall at times will hold luderick on a run-out tide.

At East Hills you will come across a small sandy beach called Lambeth Reserve. Try here for whiting, bream, flathead and mullet with both bait and lures. There is a small rocky outcrop just downstream that is also worth a look. The pondage at Kelso Park is worth a shot for mullet. There may be a few landlocked bream here as well.

Further upstream you could try fishing on the upstream side of the Milperra Bridge, and if you are after any bait or tackle, there is a great tackle shop nearby.

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

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Bic Fox has been at it again, luring up some quality bream in the river. Try working the rocky shorelines with hardbodied lures and lightly weighted soft plastics.

Be stealthy in the clear water conditions SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

Over the past few months the Port Hacking River has been so clear that you could see the bottom in 6m of water, making it a tough waterway to fish. This is nothing unusual for the Port Hacking.

combination. If I’m using half or fillets of pilchards I will add small pieces every five minutes. If you have made up berley, shape it into golf ball-sized balls and toss them out about every five minutes from your favourite land-based fishing spot.

Another thing that’s important when fishing in the Port Hacking is that you need some current. This will

Check the NSW Fisheries website for the regulations.

Luderick and leatherjackets will be schooling over the cockle beds and along the deep rocky edges and weed beds. If you aren’t quite sure where to go for the luderick and you’re in a boat, slowly drive along the weed beds and rocky shoreline and look into the

10-year-old Jack Cattley from the Sutherland Shire caught this monster tailor while at Lake Conjola in his grandad’s boat using saltwater poppers.

Care needs to be taken when fishing off the rocks at Coalcliff. Tailor, salmon and kingfish will be on the chew, especially in the early morning and late afternoons.

If this is still the situation this month and it’s very clear, stealth will be the way to go. By stealth, I mean if you are anchoring up, lower the anchor over quietly and slowly, and don’t bash about in your boat. Use very long leaders or fish as light as the

allow the berley trail to move away from your boat and you need to be using no. 1-1/0 circle hooks for the bream, trevally and snapper. A longshanked no. 1-4 hook will do for the whiting and flathead.

When the water is very clear in the Hacking

Pan-sized snapper are still about in the deeper sections of the Port Hacking. conditions will allow, and make sure that the bait is either live or fresh.

When at anchor make sure that you have a small and steady berley trail going out the back of your boat. This could be just chicken pellets or your own

the other great option you should try is small poddy mullet. They are very easy to catch. Use either a clear Alvey trap or a no. 10-12 long-shanked hook, a small piece of spit-shot sinker and a small piece of bread, prawn or pilchard for bait.

water. You will soon see if they are about.

There are a number of shallow sand flats in the Port Hacking. Some are upstream of the North West Arm, near Lilli Pilli baths, South West Arm, Maianbar, Bonnie Vale and up in the backs of Yowie, Burraneer and Gunnamatta bays. Fish a couple of hours either side of the top of the tide.

These areas are also a great place to start working those topwater lures, diving hardbodied lures and soft plastics on hidden weight jigheads. Early morning, late afternoons and overcast days are a great time to try this out, especially if the water is very clear.

Mullet will start to school up in the backs of bays and will always put on a great fight on light gear.

Garfish can also be caught over the weed beds. Squid can be caught while using no. 1.5-2.5 squid jigs.

Larger ones can be caught in Bate Bay. Salmon, tailor and bonito will be schooling up in Bate Bay and on the beaches.

Make sure that you have a few metal lures in your boat or tackle bag.

Bream, whiting, dart and the odd flathead or two will start to show up on the beaches. Beach worms are the best bait followed by tubeworms and live pink nippers. Mulloway can be caught at night. Try using whole yellowtail, small mullet or squid.

Offshore, the close reefs are worth a shot for morwong, leatherjackets,

trevally, pigfish and snapper.

You could also try casting whole pilchards into the washes for snapper, tailor, bream and tarwhine. Take care when doing this.

The rocks in the Royal National Park are worth a shot for bream, trevally, drummer, luderick, sweep and the odd snapper or two.

North and south Marley,

Wattamolla, north and south Garie and Stanwell Park beaches are worth a shot for bream, dart, whiting and tailor. Whole or half pilchards are the go.

Troy and his daughter Lauren Ruediger report that whiting have taken a liking to tube worms in the Port Hacking River. Nice and light is the way to go. If you

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21

Bass season opens again!

WESTERN SYDNEY

Cameron McDonald

All through the depths of winter we patiently waited, and now the time has come.

Change your trebles, head to your local tackle store to pick up the latest and greatest, and get out there!

Although it’s still pretty early, the bass are either on their way back or are already here. The bigger specimens appear to move first, so some good fish can be caught in the early parts of the season.

The mid-upper Hawkesbury and lower Nepean will be the local places to try. This early in the season, sub-surface presentations will increase your chances of a hit.

Jighead-rigged soft plastics in either paddle-tails, grubstyle or creature baits will all work on a slow retrieve or hopped. Creature baits such as the ZMan TRD CrawZ and the Flash Union Abacus Shad aren’t used by many people, and thus the bass haven’t had a chance to remember them. Creature baits work well on ‘Ned head’ type jigheads, making them stand up off the bottom with their little appendages

waving enticingly in the current.

For the bait fishos, worms, bread and corn under a bubble float or even a split shot above a hook on 4-12lb line will get the job done. Generally, hook sizes between size 12 – 1 will be more than adequate for these baits.

Most keen bass anglers practice catch and release, as these fish are too good to catch only once. Don’t be surprised if you get carp, mullet, herring and quite possibly trout as a by-catch.

It’s too early to say, but I don’t think the bass will have moved too far up yet. Try areas such as Windsor Bridge

Young gun Nick Spiteri with a Lake Lyell redfin.

through to Richmond. While there will be the odd fish in the upper reaches, there won’t be enough of them to make it worthwhile targeting these areas.

Spinnerbaits into the weed gaps, plastics as per above, and mid-diving crankbaits should be the go in September. The water and weather is still a little cold, so don’t expect too much off the surface just yet. When specifically chasing bass in the rivers, one thing is key: structure. Bass make their home under logs, gaps in the rocks, weed beds, rock walls and the like, and rarely stay long in open exposed areas, as there is little bait there.

To maximise your catch rates, present your lure right where the bass are; don’t expect them to come to you.

Accurate casting will see you catch a lot more fish than the guy whose lure lands 6ft from the snag.

Yet again, Lake Lyell has been coughing up more redfin than anything else. It was only a few years ago where catching a redfin in Lyell was a bit of a novelty, but now it is the bass and trout that are outnumbered.

How long until we stop thinking of Lyell as a trout

Nick with a healthy Nepean River bass. lake? Cricket score catches are a common occurrence nowadays. Amazingly, 1/59 was a customer’s score last week, with the 1 being a 60cm brown trout, and the 59 being evil redfin of various sizes.

Trout season is still closed (until the October long weekend), but you should start to get ready.

The first weekend always sees a lot of people on the water and wading tiny streams. As with any fishing, preparation is key.

That’s it for this month.

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This keeps the Jig in the strike zone for longer so it allows for more strikes.

It also features a holographic foil on the body under the wings to emit light and attract the fish to the bait. Another key feature is the ‘TFLF’ Line System that allows you to drop your jig to a desired depth without fluttering to save time and get your lure to the strike zone quicker.

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Late season change keeps the winter species close THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

A late season change and frosty nights have seen the water temperature stay low. Winter species are hanging around longer and anglers are loving

some great catches over the last month. Some isolated wrecks and bommies are holding great schools of kings, cobia and mulloway.

The cold, clear water has seen the flathead really fire up over the last month. It’s so good to see the amount caught in the Tweed region over the

Lots of bream and luderick are still schooling up around the rock walls and bridges. The odd mulloway is still haunting the various holes in the rivers. Bass are just starting to come back on the bite again now, and some anglers would say they never went off. They are biting hard

Troy Pinkstone caught this snapper in perfect conditions on the 36-fathom reef. the conditions, taking advantage of the fish that are hanging around longer on close reefs. Fishing light gear on close reef has seen

last month, as this means we have really healthy systems.

It’s good to see almost all anglers releasing the big girls too.

down in the brackish water this month.

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the bigger snaps are still hanging on close reefs.

Plenty of smaller pan-sized mixed reefies are on close reefs and have kept anglers entertained, but the bigger ones have really started to come on the bite over the past month. Plastics and drift baits are working best out to 36 fathoms. Look for heavy concentrations off the bottom on your sounder. This indicates they are up feeding.

Bright coloured plastics such as nuclear chicken and pearl are working well around dusk and dawn, and natural colour plastics such as pumkinseed, pilchard and bloodworm are working well once the sun is penetrating the water column.

Some 4-9” plastics on a 1/4-2oz should see you get down on most reefs off of Tweed and out to 36 fathoms. Work out what size jigs to use depending on the plastic size, shape, line class, wind, current and depth you are fishing in.

Some real monster kings and amberjacks are out wide at the moment. Live baits and jigs are working best in 200-400m of water.

Good cobia, metre kings and mulloway are on the close reefs, bommies and around isolated wrecks at the moment. Live baits, jigs and large plastics work best.

Finding bait with arches sitting around or a large school of pike will definitely see your arm get stretched.

Running a stinger hook on

Mathew Kelly with a rare Tweed bonefish. side of rocks and ledges. Go to neutral, let the baits sink and slowly idle away from them. The kings normally can’t resist this.

The packs of tuna shouldn’t be too far away now with the odd pack here and there. Looks for the birds working and position your boat on the windward side of them then let them come to you. Pegging 20-60g metals, poppers and stickbaits is working best for a little light gear line burn.

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your live baits will double your hook-up rate. Live pike work for mulloway, yakkas for kings and both for cobia. It pays to have a few different species of live baits in your tanks.

Different close reefs are holding different live baits at the moment. You just have to sound around and drop a bait jig down. Smaller sized bait jigs are working better at the moment. Try size 6-10 for the best results with bait.

Trolling live baits around and downrigging baits on the back of Nine-Mile, FiveMile and South Reef has been catching quite a few at sunrise. Look for arches around bait or on the back

ESTUARY The flatties are hungry at the moment and have been fishing really well over the last month. You could pretty much drag a piece of alfoil past them and they would eat it at the moment. The 2.5-5” plastics in natural colours are fishing really well in the skinny water.

Trolling hardbodies in channels and working vibes and blades off the bottom in the deeper holes are catching some great fish. Yabbies and worms are also working well up in the skinny water. For the best results, target a drain or draining creek around the mouth where it drops off with plastics on the last two

hours of the run-out. Look for the big female and you will pull a feed of smaller males off her.

Mulloway are still on the chew. Live baits work at night and artificials work better during the day. Live baits such as pike, mullet, yakkas and tailor around the deep holes and around the bridges at night have been catching some good fish around 1m. Working lures such as blades, vibes, plastics and hardbodies in these same spots during the day is catching a few soapies.

Bream are still very thick in most Tweed river systems.

Look for submerged structure. Targeting them on artificials on 6lb can be real fun, and drifting baits around the rock walls is a another great way to target these silver dinner plates.

Also, you never know what you might catch as by-catch.

Getting weight size to bait size is critical. I like to start with a size 1 or 2 and a 4x2cm stripbait and go up from there, depending on the current. There are lots of trevally around the rock wall of the river mouth on the run-in tide and around the bridges that hold herring at night, such as Boyds, Barneys, Highway and Cobaki.

These bridges always hold good numbers of herring under the lights, which in turn keeps the trevally and mulloway there. Metals, micro-jigs, poppers, stickbaits and plastics worked around the rock walls on the run-in tides have been working well on some quality trevally over the last month.

If you score the start of a run-in tide at sunrise, even better! A few luderick

are starting to school up around the bridges and rock walls right throughout the Tweed region. Stringy weed and cabbage weed fishing around Boyds Rock Wall, Barneys Point rocks, Dry Dock, Balaclava Park, South Wall Kingy, Kingy Bridge, Hastings Bridge, Hastings Rocks, Brunswick rock walls and bridge. Fresh cabbage weed can be found on the rocks on most beaches at low tide, you just have to look around.

BEACHES We’ve had really great conditions on the beaches over the last month.

Perfection can make for hard times for anglers. It’s a catch 22, because too much swell is dangerous and hard to fish while no swell is easy to fish, but the fish don’t have cover and can have a smaller bite period.

In saying that there have still been tailor taken on most of the beaches and headlands from Tweed

to Byron. Metals, poppers, shallow divers, stickbaits and ganged-up pilchards are all catching great numbers of tailor. The odd mulloway and flathead are also being caught as by-catch while fishing with ganged pilchards.

A few juvenile snapper, bream, trevally and rat kings are hanging around Tweed’s back beach headlands. Strip baits are good around dusk and dawn and live baits work at night, especially for the juvenile snapper or rat

Joe Milicich with a nice flatty.

Adam Clarke with a couple of winter red dogs.

kings. A float can help for this style of fishing. The best time to fish is at high tide with no swell.

FRESH It’s open season again.

Yay! The bass are still down in the salt at the moment.

Get down into the brackish water and target submerged structure with artificials and you could score your PB, but you’d better be quick before they push back upstream.

Fishing lock walls, weirs

and dam walls with small hardbodies and jig spins should see you getting boofed.

NEXT MONTH We should start to see blending of the seasons with mixed reefies on close reefs. Mulloway, cobia and kings should hang around on those bommies over the next month. Mulloway, bream, flathead, the odd tailor, trevally and luderick will still dominate the estuaries.

Some summer species will

also start to wake up.

The odd jack can be found around the bridges, and a few whiting will push up into the skinny water during the day on the high tides to be caught on worms and yabbies. Bass should really start to come on the bite next month. Fishing around weirs, dam walls, locks and drains with hardbodies, jig spins and plastics should see you getting some good bass. Look for submerged structure.

SEPTEMBER 2018

25

Mulloway abundant on reefs off South Ballina BALLINA

Joe Allan

There have been some nice catches of mulloway, both offshore and in the river, in recent weeks with the best coming from the night time expeditions. Live bait has been by far the stand out.

baits for snapper would have to be cut bonito and squid, however the bigger ones will come for the soft plastics like the Atomic Jerk Minnow 6” in ghost pearl, white or radioactive rooster.

Don’t get caught up chasing the snapper in close on good days; if the weather allows, get out to the 100

numbers of pearl perch and trag, and if you don’t mind having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some amberjack around the 48s.

Off the beaches and headlands some quality tailor are showing up. Get out your spinning gear and throw metal slugs for these fish. It can be a great way to spend a morning

Christian Booker with this quality snapper caught close in to Evans Head on an Atomic 6” jerk minnow.

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 the gutters. You’ll get everything:

The bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around Broadwater and Wardel. Fresh prawns and yabbies are always the best baits at this time of year, a nd the fresher the better.

size to a 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.

Grant Clements with a big night time mulloway from the Richmond.

There have also been snapper in good numbers and quality size around the reefs off South Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range, with the odd bigger fish around the 70-80cm mark. If you’re after a feed, then there are plenty around. The best

fathoms and try for some blue-eye trevalla and bar cod.

Good baits for these guys are fresh squid and cuttlefish. It can be hard work using traditional tackle fishing this deep, so electric reels are essential for this style of fishing.

On the 32s there are good

and catch some fresh fish for breaky. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on gang hooks.

There are some good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters of South Ballina, and this bait and hook combo works well for them.

James Ansell with this cracker of a snapper caught off Ballina on a Lucanus jig.

Al ‘Jewinator’ Barret used live bait to catch this beautiful specimen in one of the deep holes in the Richmond River.

flathead, whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids, too.

The blackfish numbers started to dwindle around the end of August, but there will still be a few good fish around to be caught.

If you’re into throwing lures, I recommend starting by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work your way up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop your line

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Towards the end of September we should see some mud crabs show up. The best baits for muddies at this time of year are your left over blackfish skeletons.

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Using Black Magic hooks for mulloway Hook choice for mulloway can be a very contentious issue amongst anglers. While some swear by circles others strongly argue over a single or double snelled J hook and that’s before we even get into hook sizes.

A good reason for the number of mulloway hook opinions is that these fish are caught in a range of habitats and vastly different conditions. The

for another.

Things like swell, current, water depth, the size and type of bait as well as the target size of the fish all play a part in determining which hook you should be using.

CIRCLES When circle hooks are used incorrectly they provide a woeful hook-up rate, however when used in the right situation by someone who understands how they work they become lethal.

The first thing to get right

mouth. Instead of striking, slowly lift up your rod tip until you have weight.

This allows the circle hook the time it needs to set into the corner of jaw and then once the fish starts pulling a bit of string you can begin a normal a fight sequence. A softer tip rod that locks up with plenty of grunt in the middle section is also beneficial for circle hooks as it aids the gradual increase in pressure, helping the hook to roll into place. With the

C Points work best from the beaches.

Hook placement and choice for mulloway are the keys to high hook-up rates. truth is there are a range of different factors that influence what hook will work best on mulloway and one that works great for one situation will often perform poorly

currents around bridges and rockwalls.

Hook placement is also very important when using circles. When fishing under the boat it’s best to lightly pin the live bait just behind the shoulder and when using them in strong current situations place the hook through the cartilage in front of the eyes.

By far the best circle hook I’ve used for mulloway is the Black Magic KL pattern in an 8/0.

J HOOKS J hooks work best on mulloway in situations where there is often slack in the line like surf fishing and casting out weighted baits

with large beach worms I prefer a 5/0 Black Magic DX hook. When rigging these, thread the worm over your hook and continue to push the

with circle hooks regardless of what you fish for is to resist the natural reaction to strike when your bait is taken. Striking a fish with circle hooks will usually pull the bait straight out of their

A single J hook for smaller live baits works best.

The size of the fish you’re targeting can be factored in when choosing the right hook.

Top: This is always a dissappointing sight – the tell tail signs of a mulloway bite.

Above: Just how sharp BM C Points are – These C Points missed the mouth on strike but still penetrated through the scales resulting in one very unlucky 22kg beach mulloway.

right rod many anglers also swear by letting the fish hook themselves when using circles and simply leave it in the holder and wait for the rod to buckle over.

Circles work best when using live baits in scenarios where the line is always taut.

Fishing straight under the boat in areas like deep water estuary drop-offs and holes or on the offshore reefs are good examples of this as is fishing in strong

The best thing about these is it doesn’t matter if it’s a soapy or a 50lb fish; they always seem to find that corner of the jaw regardless of bait size too.

Black Magic are also releasing a new circle to the market modelled off the KL design, but with a Teflon coating. I managed to get my hands on a few to test and these are going to be deadly. I haven’t dropped a fish on one yet!

where there isn’t too much current flow.

Fish in these parts will often fumble around with the bait or take the bait and move towards you, creating slack line. In these situations you may need to wind up slack line before striking or time your strike for when a fish is playing with the bait. For this reason circles can often result in missed bites and J hooks are far more effective. One major difference between circles and Js on mulloway is with circles a single Black Magic KL hook in size 8/0 will cover all sizes of live baits big or small as well as all sizes of mulloway. With Js the hook selection needs to match the type and size of bait you’re using and to a lesser extent the size of the mulloway you target.

For smaller baits starting

worm over the eye of the hook and up your leader about 6”.

For small yellowtail mullet, herring and arrow squid I still prefer a single hook around a 7/0 in the Black Magic DX pattern.

For anything larger than this I go to snelling two hooks together using the Black Magic C Point hook suicide pattern. The 7/0 size will cover your medium-sized live baits like whiting, mullet and yellowtail and the 8/0 size will do tailor, pike, big mullet, large squid and slabs of tailor or mullet.

Mulloway have a mighty big mouth, so don’t be afraid to put out jumbo-sized baits for them; a 1kg tailor or mullet isn’t too big. For these bigger baits step up to the 10/0 C Points.

SEPTEMBER 2018

27

The offshore season takes a bit longer to change YAMBA

Dave Gaden

It’s spring, so let the warmer weather start. September in this part of the world should mean good flathead.

The Clarence River is one of the largest and healthiest estuaries in the country; with a hundred islands on the river, and tributaries running in every direction, it can be a bit daunting for newcomers. However this month the flathead always seem to make themselves readily available. I like to drift on the incoming tide on the Iluka side of our

Middle Wall in the river with a couple of lines a fair way out the back, one baited with a prawn and one with a white pilly.

Just keep the boat as close as you can to the rocks (without ending up on them) and let the tide do the rest.

Make a note of the position on the wall where you catch your fish and you will generally find as you revisit that spot you hook up again. My theory is that when you take one flatty, two come to its funeral, so don’t be in a hurry to leave a spot that produced a couple of drifts before.

The Beetson family from Dalby Qld with a bag limit of nice mulloway.

After 1 September the bag limit for mulloway will be one per person.

Dave from Yamba with a lovely pearly.

The back channel running behind Goodwood Island on the Iluka side around the entrance to the Esk is another great spot worth your time to explore.

Whiting will be around this month as the season changes quickly with warmer and longer days. For those who have never tried to catch these tasty little fish on poppers just head down to Whiting Beach on the river side of the southern breakwall late in the afternoon and have a go. I use a fairly heavy 15lb fluorocarbon leader of about 75cm long to try and keep the popper straight and imitate a prawn showering across the surface. Your first fish will blow you away with their speed and ferocity when they hit the lure; they are great fun.

You should dust off the crab pots and dillies as well this month. My old

Dad used to tell me that you catch crabs in months with ‘R’ in them, and he seemed to have that pretty right. This year we have had blue swimmer crabs caught up around Browns Rocks right into July, and I’m still catching muddies at the back of the house now, so it might be the summer we’ve been waiting for with good catches of crabs.

Offshore the season changes a bit slower; the snapper have finished their spawn and should hang around and feed aggressively this month.

September in past years was the month I would take people out to teach them about snapper on plastics.

The bommie (Freeburn Rock) south of Angourie near Shelly Headland is one of the hotspots this month.

Try and get there an hour

Happy charter customers with snapper, cobia and mulloway.

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before sunup and you will catch fish as soon as there’s enough light to see where your cast ends. Now the bommie can break with a big swell or super low tide, so be very careful. I like the inside (western side) and south over the top of the kelp beds. Just cast the direction you are drifting

and work the lure back to the boat with an erratic action. Some of the best fish are less than 3m from the surface with an almost instant hook-up.

Pearl perch and Venus tuskfish will be all over the reef between Red Cliff and Brooms Head in the south. Stick around the 40m

unstuck and pick up the odd of a fully loaded bait jig will sometimes stir up a cobia as well.

Mulloway (jewfish) hot bite. Catch the yakkas and big trag will be on and slimies and send them the northern grounds from straight back to the bottom.

Black Rock to South Evans Trag will shock you with Reef. Unlike the southern how big a live bait they grounds I don’t catch as can get inside themselves, many of these fish on the and the by-catches of big drift as I do by anchoring snapper and mulloway on them. They are a lot are okay too. wide grounds easier to find which helps The as they hang with the large around the 50-fathom mark bait shoals. You can go and should be good to fish this fill the live bait tank up as month. Two things to keep many do before you head in mind are: September can to the grounds, I always be a bit windy some years wbut nbait a Praof B bplenty laright m des”and having to travel 40km find a Y “ where the fish are. Also I back into a southwesterly believe that the commotion is pretty ordinary, and my

deep mark and drift if the weather lets you. A standard paternoster rig with just as much weight as you need to feel the bottom will bring them unstuck. Have a floater or slow sinking line out with the reel just free spooling while you are chasing the bottom fish; this will bring a big snapper

yellow mates the Chinaman leatherjackets might still be around (most years they have gone by this time). All that considered, with good weather and no jackets the reef should have pearl perch, snapper, blue morwong and pigfish all over it. That makes the effort well worth it.

If you are heading this way for the school holidays and need any advice or would like to join me on either a fishing charter or whale watch, call into Marina Bait & Tackle at Yamba Marina and we will do all we can to make your stay memorable.

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29

Inshore snapper kick things off for spring The winter fishing has been very consistent throughout most areas and it looks like we will get more of the

COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

A live herring won this mulloway for Anton Lupinski.

same for September.

The inshore snapper have been thick in numbers and sizes. With water temperatures continuing to hold above 20°C we may see the snapper holding inshore for a little while longer yet, as they wait for colder water.

As we see northeasterlies develop during spring we will get some upwelling and colder water along the coast, triggering the snapper to spawn. Until then we should see plenty of big reds hanging out on the inshore reefs, gravel beds and headlands.

At times the water has been clear and the ocean very flat, making it hard to fish shallow grounds without spooking fish, particularly for larger boats.

If these conditions continue, there are two ways you can still get your bait lined up with a decent snapper: the first is to anchor up on a steep edge, upcurrent of the reef peak and pump a berley trail, giving the fish time to get over the fact there’s a big tub on the reef and get them thinking about food rather than foe. Floatlining baits down a berley trail will

Nicola Dawson nailed this great snapper in the shallows with a big curl-tail grub.

The mid-deep reefs are producing pearl perch consistently.

A slow jig won this one for Brent Stuart.

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get you in the right space for a good red, with minimal disturbance.

The second method is to kill the motor well away from the reef and use the drift or an electric motor to fish the area with minimal noise. Soft plastics have been most successful in this type of mobile fishing. Casting well ahead of the boat increases your chances for a bigger fish before they’re spooked by the presence of the boat. Obviously smaller boats and kayaks have some advantages here in the shallower water and anglers have been using their stealth to great success.

The snapper haven’t been restricted to the shallow reefs, schools have been gathering around reefs out to 60m. These are a little easier to fish for the larger boats and slow jigs and soft plastics have been the bait of choice for many.

The mid-deep reefs have also produced more pearl perch to vary it up for the snapper angler.

The beaches and headlands have offered great tailor fishing, although periods of very little swell limit the places for tailor to stalk their prey. It can be harder to find them in those conditions and they will often go on the chew for only a short time around

Tomi Lupinski used the tide change to find this midday mulloway on a Strike Pro 40mm vibe. sunrise, sunset and the tide changes. Fish up to 2-3kg have been common and are

being caught on metals and larger lures that have been targeted at mulloway.

The mulloway fishing has been as consistent as it gets for us. There aren’t a lot of reports of very big fish, although a few have been caught by offshore anglers on jigs, plastics and live baits. The larger schoolies have been the staple of mulloway anglers on the Coffs Coast. These fish have been ever present on the headlands, beach gutters, river mouths and estuaries over the last few months. The 1-4kg models can be found in schools throughout most estuaries and in the beach gutters and headland washes.

Larger fish in the 5-10kg bracket have still been common but have required a little more work.

That hasn’t stopped them being a common capture even in the middle of the day in jet-clear lower estuaries like the Bellinger, Kalang and Nambucca rivers. The mulloway will be pushing right up into the brackish reaches of the rivers, with plentiful bait and the continued presence of the bass schools waiting on some rain to make their way back to the upper catchment streams.

This month signifies the beginning of the bass season once again, and although every bass angler in the area will be hanging to jump into the fresh, the reality is

that without a good amount of rain the majority of the bass will remain down in the tidal waters until there are better river flows – at least while there’s plentiful bait around.

Unfortunately in these areas it can be difficult to get away from it and find a place to yourself. For a bit of inspiration to get out and find your own secret honey hole, flick over to the bass

feature in this issue. It’s all about getting away from the car, and off the well-beaten path. It’s not hard at all in our area, which is blessed with many great bass fisheries and kilometres of wilderness water, laden with bass.

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31

Back in bass – the season starts again sees the majority of river species fire up. One of the favourites is the local flathead, but let’s start with that itchy trigger finger on your bass rod!

Chasing bass in the Nambucca has traditionally consisted of casting surface plugs on or after dark in the upstream reaches, but this early in the season it’s best to cater to what they’re

NAMBUCCA

Riley Wilson

Spring is on and the fish are starting to change their habits. September sees freshwater anglers cheer as they can once again target their beloved Australian bass in their upstream haunts. The warmer weather also

come fishing at

eating in the areas they’re in right now. Early on we can still expect the bass to be eating subsurface offerings.

One of my favourites is a simple jighead-rigged soft plastic like a Squidgy Fish or Wriggler.

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ahead. These sinking lures made of similar material to soft plastics and have a strong vibrating action on the retrieve. They are often armed with wickedly sharp treble hooks. The vibration manages to pull the attention of fish from quite a distance, and those hooks grab fish at the slightest touch. The other bonus to consider, especially in deeper water or windy conditions, is the extra weight that vibes use in their design, which helps to not only cast but keep the lure in the zone for longer.

All of the freshwater reaches in the Nambucca River system hold good bass, and while some can be fished from a boat or kayak, many are really skinny water lined with scrub that makes casting nearly impossible.

Thankfully you can walk in the river casting to small, isolated pools, with big bass hiding in the shallows. As the water warms more we will look at surface lures and reaction bites. I’m looking forward to that!

The Nambucca holds flathead of the same class as its bass, which are some of Australia’s best. During the warmer months, flathead will inhabit most of the

All the freshwater reaches in the Nambucca River system hold good bass. river system, depending on baitfish locations, but at the moment they are gathering to breed down in the clean, sandy reaches of the lower system. This gives you the opportunity to catch the lizard of a lifetime now more than any other time.

If you have targeted big flathead successfully anywhere else on the NSW North Coast, you will be at home on the Nambucca.

It has all the features that flathead anglers like to look for, such as shallow, sandy flats dropping into deep current-swept holes, miles

of deep rock walls with fast current, and plenty of holding stations for both bait and predators.

If the rains come this month then the flathead will run downstream and will stay; the water temperature will be down, so their metabolism will be slow.

Continuous casting will be the key, and live bait could also turn lookers into takers.

This month will see me running with some small plastics for both bass and flatties, and maybe throwing some soft vibes for school mulloway as well.

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Longer, warmer days and Aussie bass on the bite difficult task with the numbers of bream, however big soft plastics and hardbodies will help reduce the by-catch when specifically targeting mulloway.

Out to sea, snapper are being found from out wide right through into the close shallow reefs with Grassy Head and Point Plommer proving equally good.

It has been a pretty decent winter for kingfish this year with good numbers of fish around Fish Rock most of the time. This fishery will improve as we head towards October and November, when the surface fishing for these fish heats

SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Brent Kirk kempsey@compleatangler.com.au

With 1 September comes the opening of the NSW bass fishing season and longer, warmer days.

The majority of the bass spawning took place in the stretch of river between Kinchela Creek and the Belmore River, situated above and below the riverside townships of Smithtown and Gladstone.

The normal upriver migration after spawning has begun and there are plenty of fish showing up around Kempsey, however most of the structure from Smithtown Bridge up to Belgrave falls is starting to hold fish.

Soft vibe lures have been the most productive and versatile with the Yakamito Vipers in the 55mm size being one of the standouts, along with the ever-reliable Samaki Vibelicious in either Thumper or Fork Tail. Expect hard hits from these fish as they are generally very competitive after breeding and can be quite aggressive

The only thing better than a pearl perch is two pearl perch.

up. For now, deep water and micro-jigs are doing the trick nicely on the deeper holding fish. As always, find the bait schools and these fish are not going to be far away.

Pearl perch, trag, mulloway and tuskies have all been on the deeper reefs and there have been a few decent sambos up on the northern reefs.

Winter beach fishing along the Macleay Coast can be a bit hit and miss, but for those who get up there and give it a crack you can expect to find the first runs of whiting as well as flathead, the odd bream and a few school mulloway.

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It’s bass time again. at times, especially if baitfish are present. Bream, flathead and whiting are also on the cards when fishing the upper tidal reaches of the river using these lures.

The Lower Macleay has been loaded with bream and heaps of small school mulloway from the entrance of the river up to Smithtown.

Flathead are becoming less lethargic and can be found up on the shallows around the schools of small whiting and baitfish that are congregating on the flats. Chasing big flathead has been all about hardbodies again this winter, with the Daiwa Double

Clutch in 75-95mm being the standout in just about any colour, although the more natural ones seem to give you a slight edge.

Tailor are around the headlands and along most of the beaches during the afternoon and into the dark.

Their numbers aren’t huge, but the quality of the ones caught has been very good.

Bream are schooling up around the headlands at night in big numbers and these areas have also been supporting a decent population of good-sized school mulloway. Fishing bait for mulloway has been a

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Weather takes a turn for the better in spring THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

September marks the start of the bass season and I know many anglers who

wait for the bass to do their spawning run will be champing at the bit to get on the water and chase our bronze friends.

Early season bass will be heading back up river, however there still will be

Mandy Saxon with a cracking tailor taken way upriver on a Samaki Vibe.

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stragglers so the brackish regions can and should still hold quality fish. At this time of the season many techniques work, but if you can find them in deeper water then vibes, jigs and weighted plastics will get you onto some good fish.

Over the last two months the region has produced some excellent fishing. The rivers have been good, as have the offshore snapper. Local rocks and beaches have been producing. If you’re not a winter fisho then now will be the time to get back into it as the weather usually takes a turn for the better this month. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

OFFSHORE Snapper are still a main target this month, and Shelley Beach south to Lake Cathie will no doubt give up a few nice reds. Using plastics and jigs should work for the lure fisho, and for the bait fishos some fresh squid, fish bait or pilchards will produce.

I prefer drifting over the close-in patches of rubble with either of the above

Ryan Ford with a nice dusky taken on a paddle-tail plastic. different line. This is where your sounder’s plotter comes in handy! Another tip – if you’re heading back to the start of your drift, don’t drive back over your run, but go around it, especially in the shallower areas.

release them; these pics will be memories to keep forever, and there are plenty of the 40-50cm flatties to enjoy if you like a feed.

Recently I have been playing with micro-jigs in the rivers and the results

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Micro-jigs are working well in the river on numerous species including this whopper tailor. methods. This can see a few reds and the odd pearly and flatties when you drift off the harder stuff. I won’t mention the red rock cod. If you get a few fish, go back to the start and come through again on a

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SEPTEMBER 2018

RIVER As already mentioned bass will be on the target list in the Hastings, Maria and Macleay but there will be so many other options as well, especially with the bait moving back through the river to the upper sections.

This month we can expect mulloway to be up in their holes. Also bream will be more consistent in the upper reaches as they come back, which really does become fun for throwing hardbodies and soft plastics around the structure. Flathead have been consistent right through winter and this should continue.

September produces some great flatty fishing and some real big girls can be caught, so if you’re lucky enough to tangle with one of these crocs, take care of her.

Take a few nice photos and

have been quite interesting with some great flatties, big tailor and a Hastings mangrove jack all falling to this method. It’s worth giving it a go if you haven’t already.

ROCK AND BEACH The land-based boys have been having a ball with tailor lately with most headlands producing, and the same goes for beaches after dark. The drummer and luderick have been impressive in some of our rock fishos’ bags.

Bream have also been consistent on the local beaches with most beaches in our local area having a few good fish on them. Find the holes and gutters and you will be in with a chance.

Once again fresh or live bait works best with beach worms, nippers and fresh cut bait being the standouts.

Whatever your fishing fancy, Port Mac should keep you entertained in September.

Enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Brendan and Brodie with a nice upriver mulloway and bag of flatties.

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Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

Years ago September was the time fishing started to improve after a very poor August. August was when you cleaned reels and checked rods and line and got ready for September fishing. Alas, it’s not like that now. September is the poor month of the year and October is the month when fishing starts to improve.

We still have a low run of water in the freshwater part of the Manning and it doesn’t seem as if it will get any better for quite a while.

However, the Manning below Abbotts Falls has increased in saltwater intensity, and fish are making their way upriver to Wingham.

ESTUARY There has been a lot of whitebait coming into the river and moving upstream.

The mulloway have moved upriver and have been netted at the bottom of Dumaresq Island. Most fish have been in the 6-8kg range. Down at the mouth of the river bream are biting on mullet strips and yabbies at night while luderick are taking cabbage weed during the day. The bream are up to 800g cleaned

while the best luderick go 750 cleaned. Some flathead have been landed on bait and soft plastics at Chinamans Point.

BEACH AND ROCK Salmon and tailor have been caught on Harrington and Crowdy beaches. The best tailor are 750g cleaned while the salmon are up to

Brendan Pieschel with a couple of Manning River bream. Photo courtesy of Harrington Bait & Tackle.

2.5kg. The tailor are scattered and may not be at the same spot the next day when you go fishing. It’s a matter of shifting until you find the fish. The rocks are the best spot to try for tailor with a metal lure or a pilchard or garfish on a four hook rig.

Crowdy Beach up from the surf club has produced some bream on pipi baits.

OFFSHORE Snapper have been the most prolific catch with

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While September is a relatively hard month for anglers, those who persevere are rewarded. On the wall luderick are still worth chasing and a big mulloway is a possibility on slabs or live bait. Around the rocks drummer are available on cunjevoi, and groper on red crabs. It’s quite possible that there will be some tailor still left in the system and they will be best sought from the rocks.

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fish coming from both the north and south grounds.

Most fish are in the small to medium size range with occasional fish to 5kg. Trag and pearl perch have been picked up with the snapper.

Leatherjackets have been boated out wide and flathead caught on the drift.

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The seasonal transition is slow to tick over FORSTER

David Seaman dseamo@bigpond.com

September heralds the start of spring, but I suspect there are more cold starts to the days than some would like.

Luderick in the lake and along the breakwalls have been firing, by all accounts.

Even while bream fishing the luderick have been so aggressive they have been getting in on the act.

If you are more of a traditional luderick angler I believe there is some good

around this time of year and there are still fish along the ocean rocks. Pot holing for them at night is an option, but you do need to take care to fish safely. The new moon period, when you have little ambient light, is the best time and significantly reduces your

Even with clear water, big pigs are about. Catching them just takes persistence.

Luderick at night from the rocks aren’t everyone’s idea of fun but they can fill the need to fish.

This month is the start of the seasonal transition to reinvigorating the lake and its tributaries.

While winter leaves the estuary a little barren compared to summer it’s still worthwhile fishing, provided your expectations aren’t set too high.

weed in the pond in front of the Marine Rescue facility, or you can try harvesting sea lettuce from the ocean rocks – they love that too.

Spots to fish include around the oyster racks that have washboards in place and the eastern side of Wallis Island, just past the jetty.

The blackfish spawn

or so. Just like the fish that have trickled back over the last month, the bulk of the fish will be hungry and the added numbers will increase the competition for food and your chances of a few great sessions.

action, both in the rivers and throughout the estuary.

Leatherjackets are still prolific in the lake, but their attention to soft plastics will decrease with the added number of bream that will take up

night vision. Yabbies are the best bait for night fishing from the rocks and they can be either live or preserved in metho.

September sees the return of bream and luderick to the system after a winter run along the coast, and this will continue over the next two months

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SEPTEMBER 2018

This year’s mullet spawn will see them start their movement up the rivers until summer sees them shadowed by the hungry bream that follow them to the warming waters. An explosion of butter prawns and shrimp should increase the activity until summer delivers opportunities for some outstanding surface

residence around structure.

The jackets are still there and have had free run of the place, but the volume of fish set to make a comeback will reduce their mortality of lures.

The lake entrance and channels also offer tailor if you care to chase them. Most are legal size or better and they seem to be everywhere.

The channel that borders Godwin Island, near the Paddock, is a particularly productive spot, especially when throwing slim profiled hardbody lures.

The offshore scene has been mixed, with plenty of pan-sized snapper hitting the cleaning tables.

Mixed bags of trag, pearl perch and, of course, leatherjackets have kept most anglers happy with their efforts. The cycle is set to start again with the bonito set to turn up soon and with them the larger predators.

Rock fishing has been hampered with the expected clear water and a month of small seas, but persistence is the key to decent catches. Tailor and salmon are still haunting the coastal washes and beaches, so early mornings or late afternoon sessions will be the best.

As mentioned, the luderick have been grazing at night and with a bit more swell to stir the water colour up the pigs will be back on the job. If the clear water persists, it would be wise to fish deeper ledges or crevices like Blueys or as far south as Seal Rocks.

With the official bass season set to start, the early season will be the best of it, if we get regular rain to generate flow and stem the excessive weed growth that hampered fishing and raised water temperatures last season. In any case, I for one am looking forward to getting back on the freshwater again.

Action-packed month ahead for local anglers ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

Fishing in the Brisbane Waters has still been worth a go in recent weeks, and there are definitely a lot of monster whiting about lately. Areas like Paddys Channel and the adjacent sand flats have been good places to start. Live bloodworms are the best bait; few whiting would swim past them. Personally I find small blade lures with a constant slow retrieve over the bottom to be a great way to hook a few of these fun little fish.

Flathead have gone really quiet lately, but as soon as the water temperature rises they will really start to bite and provide some good fun on live baits and lures. The 4” soft plastics work, and a 1/4oz jighead is the way to go for most situations in the area. Most of our waterways have plenty of sandy drop-offs, so if you bounce your lure over the edges, the flathead will ambush it.

Beach fishing has been extremely quiet in recent weeks and it can be tough going, that’s for sure. The

Two healthy fish which were both released.

Mitchell Sheppard and Stephen Sharp with their 115kg southern bluefin tuna. huge Australian salmon schools should return about now, so things should

improve. Both Terrigal and North Avoca Beach would be the top two best places

Glenn Allen with a big winter bream.

for targeting these fish. I prefer to cast slugs around 40g and just retrieve at a medium pace, although sometimes smaller poppers can work great.

Rock fishing has been the saving grace through winter on the coast. Bream have been about in big numbers schooling up on the top of the tide. It’s amazing just how shallow the fish will get when they are searching for food. We have mainly been using deep diving hardbodies and just bumping them over the bottom. Also the bait fishers have been hooking them on unweighted prawns.

The luderick should really start to fire this month. Now’s my favourite time to catch them, as the weed grows thick along the rocks, so the luderick will move in for an easy feed.

If you use a bit of berley on a rising tide you should get into some action. All the rock ledges along this section of our coast hold some great fish.

Speaking of great fish, two local fishos named Mitchell Sheppard and Stephen Sharp were trolling out of Broken Bay recently when their lure took off. The fish surfaced 45 minutes later and the boys couldn’t believe the size; back at the boat ramp the monster tuna pulled the needle down to 115kg, which for our area is a great fish in anyone’s books. Congratulations, boys – that’s a top effort two up in a trailer boat.

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The weather, water and fishing heating up PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

The end of winter is a time everyone looks forward to as the weather, water and the fishing all heat up.

In the estuary flathead should become far more active as the water warms.

The best areas to catch them early in the season are further up the rivers in areas such as the Karuah and Tilligery systems. Use small

Benjamin Lennon showing there are still plenty of luderick around this month.

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to medium-sized plastics; behind the racks and around the mouths of feeder creeks and drains will be the best places to focus on.

Bream still remain in good numbers with any rocky shoreline, Oyster rack or rock bar between Soldiers Point and Karuah holding quality fish to 1kg.

Squid have been around the Shoal Bay moorings as well as across the bay along Jimmys Beach.

Small jigs around the 2.5 size in natural colours are working best in the clear water. Cuttlefish have also been in the best numbers I have ever seen inhabiting the same areas, but they’re more inclined to take smaller jigs around the 1.8 and 2.0 size worked closer to the bottom. Both are great on the plate and make fantastic snapper, kingfish and mulloway baits.

Speaking of kingfish, the odd one should start to show up along the Nelson Bay and Anchorage rock walls this month. Poppers and stickbaits cast on first light a good way to get connected to one. The best chance however is to get

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Some awesome bream have been around inside the estuary. yourself a live squid or cuttlefish and cast it out under a float with around 2m of 50lb leader attached to a heavy outfit of 30-50lb.

Luderick have slowed down a touch but will still be a viable target over the next month from the breakwalls and Torpedo Tubes. Just be sure to fish those prime time tide changes.

The rocks always fish good come spring, as the winter species are still prevalent with good drummer and luderick on the chew from Rocky Point through to Tomaree.

Quality greenback tailor provide some fun on the spin gear, especially around Sunny Corner, Fingal Head, and Box Beach. Big squid have been lurking in the protected bays and coves between Boulder Bay and Fingal with size 3.0 working the best in pinks oranges and greens.

Off the beaches there have been a few mulloway reported from the southern end of Stockton with fish up to 15kg.

First and last light will produce tailor around the Fingal Spit area as well as Samurai. Spinning metals or whole pilchards rigged on gangs are the best methods to catch them.

OFFSHORE Almark Mountain has been firing with plenty of kingfish to 10kg with both jigs and live baits doing the damage. When you’re out at Almark chasing kings it always pays to fish the bottom; you’ll usually be rewarded with a bag of

some of the best eating fish around. Longfin sea perch, juvenile snapper, bar cod are

reds around the place.

Using plastics around Edith Breakers and Broughton

The author with a cracking squid from a quiet sheltered bay. all a chance at The Mountain as well as the odd gemfish too. Kings should also fire up in close around the inshore reefs and headlands as the water gradually gets warmer.

There are still good

Island on first light usually results in a good bag.

Bait fishing will also do the trick, especially in the late afternoon. Try casting lightly-weighted baits of half pilchards down a berley trail.

Action offshore and mulloway are the hit in close SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

Winter is gone for another year and I know many anglers are thinking, ‘thank goodness.’ September is a magic time of year to be fishing in our part of the world. There are a lot of good fishing options available and the weather is generally on the improve.

We certainly are very fortunate to be able to fish these waters, as regardless of if you’re looking to chase a few in and around the lake or you’re heading for some big fish action way offshore, we’ve got it all on offer. With both ambient and water temperatures on the rise, hopes are high for a bumper spring season leading into summer and with a little luck, another hot bite.

The lake is fishing well, with some quality fish on offer. Salmon are still hanging around in their schools and keeping the sport fishing anglers entertained. I know most of us are quick to disregard the Aussie salmon as a table fish but if they’re prepared well and cooked right, they can actually provide a reasonable meal. Bleed them straight away when caught and place them into an ice slurry; this is the best method to start off with. When prepping the fish, ensure you remove all the blood, as it destroys the flavour. They can then be smoked and come up quite a treat when done this way, so give it a go next time.

The lake is also producing good numbers of bream. A variety of lures

are working. Small 2” soft plastics and small hardbody lures are both accounting for their fair share of fish. I’ve been finding good numbers across the flats throughout the lake, however not all fish are in the shallows and I’m still pulling a few nice fish by working blades slow rolled in the deeper sections.

No one particular colour

good numbers available.

Most fish are 70-90cm, but for those wanting one for the table I suggest 80-90cm fish.

Soft plastics around 5-7” are very productive in natural colours. As a rule I prefer the paddle-tail profile plastics, but lately the flickbait profiles have been doing the trick and are certainly doing a number on the local

Local mulloway angler Brett with another of his recent captures. Brett has worked hard to crack a pattern and it’s doing well by the looks of it. is working and I’ve been finding what works one day is not working the next, so be sure to take a good mix and throw them all.

The lake continues to fire for those anglers chasing mulloway. They have been on offer constantly for some time now and we all hope this continues, as there is really no better fish on offer to us from the lake in my opinion. They have it all, they’re great fun to catch, taste a treat and there are

mulloway population.

Offshore fishing is also going along nicely and it’s great to see new and exciting grounds being discovered by clever crews.

The crew aboard LMGFC boat Redemption have been gathering interesting marks on their sounder during their past shark fishing missions.

They recently had a crack at deep dropping some of these spots and came up trumps with some fantastic big blue-eye cod.

It just shows that so many things are possible when you’re paying attention and making the most of your time on the water. These guys have made the most of their many hours drifting the deep in pursuit of the huge sharks they target successfully and as a result have discovered some great new options for these blue-eye, which are certainly one of the tastiest fish in the ocean.

Speaking of quality eating fish, this season has seen another great run of snapper. Anglers working the offshore rubble and reef locations have been scoring great numbers and fish to 70cm+. The 5-7” flickbait style soft plastics are producing and nuclear chicken and similar colour combos are doing particularly well.

September has much to offer anglers and for game fishing crews it’s the start of another gamefishing season.

With it comes the hope of a bumper marlin season with a great supply of quality mahimahi as by-catch (there’s no harm is hoping). From September onwards the local game boats will start their hunt for the marlin that this region has to offer each year.

We are fortunate in that we have all three species of marlin on offer in our waters.

The inshore grounds should produce good numbers of small to medium black marlin again and mixed in with these blacks will be good numbers of striped marlin with the almighty blue marlin on offer for those that hit the wider grounds around the Continental Shelf and Norah Head Canyon areas.

For anglers and crews wanting to get into the crazy

offshore marlin action this year, here are a few tips to get you started. There are basically two main options available for the majority of local boats. You will either opt to jig up live slimy macks from the bait balls found on the marlin grounds or you will pull skirted lures.

For the live bait anglers the idea is to jig up your live baits and then slow troll say two of them around the bait balls.

The key is to fish them very slowly and work one bait on the surface and a second bait deeper in the water column. These days most anglers are using circle hooks, so the trick here is to allow the marlin to take the bait before striking and setting the hook. These circle

hooks give the fish a much greater chance of survival after release, which is the number one priority for most crews these days.

Option two is trolling skirted marlin lures. For this option most crews will opt for four or five outfits and a variety of trolling lures.

My preference would be for two larger lures around 10” off the two corner positions and then a pair of 8” lures off the outriggers. If you’re running a fifth lure try a smaller 6” option in a bright pink colour out the longest in the shotgun position.

There is a bit of trial and error in getting the game plan to come together, but once you do you are in for a wild ride so enjoy the upcoming season ahead.

Brett with another of his recent rewards for his efforts.

Another nice Lake Mac soft plastic-caught mulloway.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

41

Quality fish being landed on both baits and lures HUNTER COAST

Shannon Malone

With spring in the air, fishos will be happy that the temperature can only get warmer, as the fishing will continue to improve over the coming months.

Reports have been coming in from the harbour and rivers with some quality

bream landed on both baits and lures. Mullet gut, pilchards and striped tuna have been the most effective.

For those who take the artificial approach, 2” motor oil grubs and 2-3” minnows or prawns in natural colours on unweighted or lightlyweighted weedless hooks are proving the best. Deep diving cranks will also get the results.

An Australian salmon caught using a half pilchard on a two-hook gang rig.

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Trolling larger deep diver hardbodies like Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows, Rapala Tail Dancers and X-Raps will nail some horse tailor and flathead in the 5-10m depth range. Work them along drop-offs and edges; these are being the best areas to run these lures.

Mulloway and flathead are also keeping anglers entertained, with plenty of school-size mulloway around and a few larger ones in the mix. Areas like Hexham and Fullerton Cove are holding some great specimens as well as off the old Stockton Marina. Also try around the bridge pylons at the Stockton and Hexham bridges.

Luderick (blackfish) have been on fire inside the harbour and Lake Macquarie, with reports coming in off the coastal rocks and platforms.

Weed flies are again doing a lot of the damage. All you need to fish for luderick is a 9-12’ 2-5kg rod or a 3-6kg rod of similar length with an eggbeater type reel and, most importantly, the weed. Rigs don’t need to be too difficult – to make it work use a luderick float. Use #00 split shot sinkers, float stoppers, a swivel and #540 size 8 or 10 hooks. Rigs should be weighted to allow only the brightly coloured tip of the float to be exposed.

Reports have come in of some solid drummer still along the coast. Just remember not to give these guys an inch or they will dust you up every time. A good trail of bread berley is important with baits like peeled prawns, cunjevoi or black and red crabs – these are all favourites for pigs on a 1/0 542 hook.

Tailor are still in decent numbers with the schools of Australian salmon off the beaches and breakwaters. A few nice tailor are coming out of the harbour early in the morning and late afternoon.

Pilchards on ganged hooks or spinning with metal slices the best options.

Some quality winter whiting are coming out of the surf using beach worms and

tube worms. Other baits like pipis and the humble prawn are rarely overlooked by most species. Sand flathead and bream are both welcome by-catches when chasing whiting off most beaches.

Pumping nippers is another great bait option for all of the bread and butter species.

catch with the odd 4kg+ fish about mostly taking pilchards, strips of squid and green prawns. Using 7” soft plastics is another popular way to target reds. If you’re bait fishing, it often pays to make up a few rigs the night before to help combat the barracuda that destroy rigs

whales about as they make their way along our coastline.

Be sure to keep your distance from these gentle giants and keep a close eye on the water when travelling, as they tend to just appear from nowhere at times.

This month is a good time to start getting gear ready

RJ Cameron with a solid snapper from a recent inshore session with his father Joel and brother Blaze.

Outside plenty of bluespot flatties are coming off the many inshore hotspots along with snapper, trag, bonito, trevally, morwong, bream and kings. The humble two-hook paternoster rig is the best, but for those wanting to try something different try putting a 3/8oz jighead with a 4-5” jerk shad in place of the first hook and a bait on the second hook.

Snapper around 1-3kg have been the bulk of the

with ease. These critters can be a pain at times.

Deep water species such as gemfish, blue-eye cod and bar cod are coming from the depths mostly for the fishos using electric reels. If you’re fit and don’t mind winding a couple of hundred metres of line, the larger overheads are more than capable of bringing up those ooglies from the abyss.

While you’re offshore, be mindful that there are still

for the upcoming gamefish season. Check line and drag to make sure they are up for another year, along with checking skirts and leaders to be sure that there is no bill rub or blunt hooks that can result in losing a skirt or even a fish. Also inspect the reel seat and any roller guides your rods may have to ensure everything is in perfect working order. Let’s hope we see the marlin turn it on again this season.

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NSWFM reader John Fleet and friends enjoyed a great day’s fishing on Sea Fever on their holiday to the Whitsundays.

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By-catch fun as the air starts to warm up ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

Over the past few months of winter the main target for anglers has been the snapper that take advantage of the cuttlefish spawning run. That has come to an end now that it’s spring, so new tactics

or fish fillets will score any strays.

Most anglers will be concentrating their efforts on the slightly deeper reefs in 30m+ of water with big plastics. For the most part it is casting your plastic out there and drifting over your desired patch, giving the lure a bit of action from time to time. Other anglers pick their spots, watch the sounder for

looking for reds it always pays to keep a live bait down deep as well. Picking up a few live baits before heading out doesn’t take long and often pays dividends, even on big reds.

You could hedge your bets and work micro-jigs, as both kings and snapper are quite fond of these, as are the dreaded barracouta, which seem to be everywhere at the

There will be a few makos around this month. They can be fun or a nuisance, depending on how you are fishing. are needed to glean a few of these enigmatic fish with the blue spots from the local reefs.

Most fish have now moved out into deeper water, but there will still be a few stragglers hanging about in close cleaning up any late cuttlies or just grabbing a feed where they can, so a well-worked berley trail over one of the closer reefs fished with unweighted cuttlefish

even a single fish or try to work around any bottom to mid water bait schools they might find, keeping the lures in that general area.

Snapper are a top predator and a school of bigger fish will actively work a patch of baitfish, much like kings.

Speaking of which, the deeper reefs should see a few kingfish hanging around, so while the plastics are down

moment and will make short work of your jigs.

The bottom bouncers are doing alright at the moment with plenty of mowies and pigfish over the reefs.

They are picking up a few nice reds as well and the ‘couta are giving them a hard time too, even over the sand where the flathead are starting to get going again after being a quiet over the past few months.

Some decent numbers of good-sized fish are coming from the northern and southern sand patches and it should just get better over the coming weeks. These fish will start to feed on those little baitfish that begin making an appearance at this time of the year. The pelagics also love these baitfish.

Schools of salmon and trevally will be working the surface slurping down the little clear eel-like creatures that at times form tight balls.

The fish go mad for them, turning the ocean into a washing machine.

Small kings, tailor, the odd bonito, barracouta, large mackerel, yellowtail and even bream get in on the action, but super small lures are required to even get a look from any fish feeding, as they are so focused on this one type of food. They won’t touch anything else when they’re in this feeding mode.

Larger kings will often shadow these schools, so when you are chasing the fish on the surface with lures any smaller species you catch like yellowtail or mackerel should go straight back out as live bait on heavier tackle.

This is just what the kings are looking for, particularly if you are fishing around the islands or Bass Point.

The best way to find these schools is to look for the swarms of seagulls fluttering over the fish.

Schools of striped tuna will be about as well. These guys are more often given away by the terns that will be following them and grabbing any baitfish pushed to the surface that the tuna miss.

You can cast small lures at these, but they can be frustrating, as they move so fast that you often can’t keep up. Trolling small Christmas tree type lures in the general area will often score. These fish are the best snapper bait you can get at this time of the year.

Further offshore there is always a chance of the odd yellowfin tuna. They have been about for the past few months with random big fish to 80kg being taken around the shelf and beyond. There seems to be no limit to how far small trailer boats will go to sea these days, but it’s fraught with danger when a blow comes up.

A few albacore are around as well, but most boats who put out a few cubes and berley will raise makos from little tackers to 250kg thumpers. These fish are good fun and great on the

BBQ, but unpredictable and powerful, so take care.

The current was often backed right off at this time of year, so deep dropping the canyons for blue eye and gemfish can be worth the effort and even easier if you have an electric reel.

These fish are also on their spawning run at the moment.

Closer in the rocks are picking up with plenty of good drummer in the washes all along the coast. Throw in some very solid bream and a few trevally and it is worth a look.

Just remember not to use prawns purchased for human consumption as bait. This creates a chance

Kings will often grab a plastic meant for snapper. of spreading white spot disease, which could wipe out our prawn, crayfish and crab populations all around the country. Don’t even use heads or shells from prawns – even cooked ones for berley – as this can spread the disease as well.

Prawns bought as bait from bait and tackle shops are so far okay, but all

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SEPTEMBER 2018

others should be considered unusable for bait. It’s best not to use prawns at all. Take a bit of time and gather some cunje, crabs or use bread, as it often works just as well.

Pilchards are a good option and they will take the bream and trevally along with the salmon and tailor that aren’t chasing the small baitfish. The deeper ledges down south around Kiama have good numbers of salmon and again grab a few livies and put one out for the bigger kings and even the odd bonito and big mackerel tuna that patrol the deeper ledges this month.

On the beaches the fishing is starting to get

Salmon, like this solid fish that went just under 70cm, are moving on the beaches.

going as well, but only just.

The colder water slowed things down a bit over the past few weeks, but the salmon and bream seem to have picked up in numbers along with some very solid tailor during the evenings.

Even the odd stray flathead has popped up over the past couple of weeks. It doesn’t seem to matter which beach you fish either, as long as there is a nice deep gutter, you are in with a chance.

A few school mulloway have been poking about, but they are very hit and miss.

More are being picked up when chasing other species than being caught regularly by those targeting them.

The estuaries are still a bit slow but towards the end of the month there will be a few flathead poking their heads out of the sand.

For the moment the bream are in the deeper rocky parts of the lake, its feeder streams and around the bridges in both the lake and Minnamurra during the evenings, which are still very cold some days.

Weed out the luderick NOWRA

485

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

Rather than the old cliché ‘spring has sprung,’ let’s say winter has wandered.

September and spring bring new hope to those fishos who hibernated through those cold blustery winter months, and just when it looked like all was lost and it was time to change sports, the sign of some nice weather and fishing conditions starts to show.

Although we are still in desperate need of some rain to give our estuaries a good flush out, slowly increasing water temperatures will bring winter dormant species such as flathead and whiting onto the chew. In the Shoalhaven River the signs of no rain are very prevalent with the amount of jellyfish throughout the system over

A very healthy Shoalhaven River luderick caught on a weed fly – squirt worms fished during the night will bag you plenty of fish this size and bigger. time around structure will take just about any lure put in the right spot while the mulloway are a little more fussy, even though a lot are caught during the day.

Time on the water and good electronics are what the majority of the Shoalhaven’s successful mulloway fishos put their results down to.

It’s been a typical bluefin season up and down the coast for offshore anglers

Keen stickbait fisher Dang with a nice 11kg specimen from the stones around Jervis Bay. the past 12 months. Luderick have really been a saviour these past couple of months in the river with many fishos saying they have never seen so many, and so many big fish.

Fishing for luderick with squirt worms can be action packed when they are really on the chew and a relaxing fishing trip can quickly turn into a chaotic linetangling situation filled with mayhem, laughter and some unintentional swearing.

Nonetheless it’s all good fun and treated right they are an exceptional table fish. As I previously mentioned these are a winter saviour for many estuary anglers. Through spring they will continue to bite on the worms and start taking the weed and artificial weed a little more convincingly.

Mulloway and estuary perch are still prevalent in the Shoalhaven/Crookhaven system and the dedicated fishos are having some real success. Perch at night

with fish popping up here there and everywhere before doing the Harry Houdini for a couple of days and surfacing somewhere else.

There have also been some nice yellowfin caught as well as a few albacore. The three species have mainly been caught on trolled lures with the fish being hard to keep on the cube at times.

Stickbaiters are having some fun when a school does pop up in casting range, but it’s

a matter of having the rod rigged and ready to go.

There have been some nice kings in around the rock ledges from Kiama down to Jervis Bay. Once upon a time in past years these fish were mainly targeted with live baits, but in recent times committed fishos spending hours throwing stickbaits and poppers are getting rewarded with some cracking fish.

Appropriate tackle and lures also help. Imagine having this tackle 30-40 years ago when massive kings, big yellowfin and marlin frequented our rock ledges more often – it’s mindblowing!

Squiding in Jervis Bay has been a bit hit and miss. The northern side of the bay has actually been producing better results than the southern side with some real big squid being caught, especially at night around Callala. Lumo and green jigs are working well at night and black or dark red on early mornings are getting good results.

St Georges Basin has been a bit hard over the last month with water temperatures down as low as 9°C. A bit of spring rain and sunshine will hopefully get the flathead season on the go in here with more trophy-sized fish starting to move about and feed. The resident XO-sized tailor are still roaming the waters and are keen for a feed, so these will give us a bit of fun while we await the more sought-after species.

Good luck to everyone fishing the start of spring; be good, stay safe and catch plenty. I will catch you all again next month!

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Still a cool time on the South Coast MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

It’s been the coldest winter I can recall around the Merimbula region, with minimal rain, clear nights and a lot of frosts making those early morning starts just that bit more difficult, but with spring now upon us the days will become

Pambula and Merimbula lakes is ticking along nicely and it should only get better as the water slowly warms. It’s still a cool 15°C, so lighter leaders and slower presentations are still the go for all types of fishing. Anglers using an assortment of soft plastics and blades are faring best in the basins of both systems, with flatty numbers on the rise.

The best fish I’ve heard of

White or pearl soft plastics catch a lot of mulloway, with this 6kg fish falling victim. longer and hopefully the temperature a little bit warmer. The bonus is it hasn’t hurt the fishing at all, especially in the estuaries, with the local systems in full swing, although different techniques need to be used to get consistent results.

The fishing in both the

recently went 84cm and was taken on a 65mm wriggler aimed at bream. This big girl was in shallow water on the edge of the ribbon weed and was quite a surprise for the lucky angler. Thankfully, it was released in great condition, but the lads also got eight others from 40-58cm,

which provided a good feed.

The key to their success was the smaller softies, as when they cast bigger more conventional flathead lures they didn’t get zip. That just shows that the fish are there, but sometimes you need to think outside the square.

It wasn’t just flatties for this session either, with trevally, tailor and a few blackfish filling the bag. The run-out tide was the peak time to fish, and I can’t see any reason why this will change in the short term.

Closer to town in around the main channel below Merimbula bridge, the trevally population continue to give anglers a stack of fun, with some days better than others.

Casting an array of softies will work, with bait fishers using fresh Hawkesbury prawns on the change of tide also catching their fare share. You can also expect a few bream, with blackfish numbers around the boats near Mitchies jetty in huge numbers. This happens every year as they move back into the estuaries after winter.

On the beaches, it’s slowed up somewhat with the flat seas of late, but there’s still a few salmon poking around.

The mouth of Pambula Lake has fared best, with quite a few schools heading up the river as they do every year. They’re not thick, but if you’re there at

the right time on the flooding tide you should get amongst a few. Casting metal shiners or mid range soft plastics will work with tailor and salmon, with trevally also possible.

Other beaches that have fished reasonably well when conditions suit, including North Tura and Tura Main, mainly for salmon, although some nice bream have been caught on the northern end of North Tura near Bournda Island. Using a mixture of pipi and beachworm for bait should do the trick. This part of the beach has a deep gutter at the moment, so hopefully the fishing here continues to produce.

Offshore the game fishing is at a stand still, with little to report as the SBT run is all but over. I’d be waiting another month or so to see what the temperature does and take it from there. We might see a late flurry, but only time will tell.

Closer to shore though, the bottom crews are doing well, with flathead numbers excellent. It’s been like that all winter, although it does seem the size of the fish has dropped off with a lot of fish around that 33-38cm mark.

The fish seem to be deeper, with the 45m line being popular straight out the front of Bournda Island. This area has been the pick of places to fish, and hasn’t seen too

There are some horse bream getting caught in our local estuaries, as Matt Collins found out recently. many dreaded leatherjackets that other areas have seen.

Those after a feed of snapper and morwong are happy too, with the reefs down south of Pambula being the pick. Lennards Island is the go and has been for weeks now, with a few fish coming from Long Point too. The morwong have been solid, with fish to 4kg, although the reds are school fish averaging a 1kg or so. Both micro-jigging and bait has worked, with drifting a better option than anchoring up and using berley.

Off the stones, it’s been pretty slow, which is a little surprising considering the conditions have been pretty good. It should be red-hot for drummer, but it’s not!

Granted, there’s a few fish

being caught, but there’s not much size to them and no numbers either. I hope this will pass and they pick up, as they’re great on the plate and fight like nothing else.

What has been good is the pelagic action, with salmon numbers on the increase. The main wharf in Merimbula Bay and the rocks off Long Point has seen a lot of the action, with whole pilchards and deeper running hardbodies catching the fish.

There’s been a few smaller rat kings, but I have heard of some absolute shreddings from bigger kingfish around that 10kg mark, so let’s cross the fingers these greenbacks come back in numbers, as they did at this time a couple of years ago!

Hoping for a good flush in our estuaries NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

Narooma and its surrounds have experienced the driest run of weather I can recall, with hardly any rain over the last three months. We are in desperate need of it, and it’s the same story all over the state. The outlook looks bleak at present, but hopefully that will change over the coming weeks.

Estuaries need a good flush from time to time, and when we do get rain it will really benefit these systems and provide better fishing than what’s on offer at present.

The waters of Wagonga Inlet are currently crystal clear, with the bottom visible in 6-7m of water in some locations. This clarity, combined with blue skies, has made fishing tough on most days, so those anglers that have still caught a few are fishing very early in the morning before the sun gets too high. You can also try fishing dusk and 46

SEPTEMBER 2018

into the evening, but it gets pretty cold very quickly at this time.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s still fish to be caught but you certainly have to work a lot harder at the minute. I’d be focusing on the main basin of the inlet in the deeper sections, with 8-14m the depth to concentrate on. Try to fish around the whitebait schools here, and fish slow, methodical presentations close to the bottom. You will still get flatties, bream and the odd legal snapper.

Additionally, you’re always in with a chance at a mulloway, especially in September. These gold bars enter this system this month, mainly following the blackfish or luderick schools back into the system after their spawning. The mulloway tend to be decent fish too; there might not be huge numbers, but the average size definitely gets the blood pumping. Don’t be surprised to see 15kg fish this month! Live baits, fresh squid and bigger soft plastics fished deep and slow are the go-to methods. Casting a range of larger soft vibes may also entice a strike, so have all the weapons at the ready.

If the larger prey isn’t for you, the channels on the eastern side of the bridge are worth a look on the draining or run-out tide when the water is a little more disturbed. You can expect bream, trevally,

a patch you’ll be in for some action.

Salmon are reasonably easy to catch with the right tackle and preparation. They fight hard, and best of all they are great for kids that are starting out either using

Bruiser with a cracking 88cm flatty. These big girls will start to get active this month, and the river section at Tuross is a good place to try your luck. blackfish and the odd flatty on fresh bait or smaller 3” softies.

On the beaches the salmon run continues; all beaches with a half decent gutter have been producing.

It’s been a good season thus far, and once you locate

bait or lures to capture them.

All you need to do is get a light bream spin stick, cast 20g lures into the suds and you’ll have some fun.

If you’re after more bread and butter species, we will see some solid bream and whiting this month.

The rockier corners of beaches will produce, with Tilba, Narooma main, and Handkerchief the better ones to try. A lightly weighted bait like live beach worms or pipi will suffice. Using a little berley won’t hurt, but don’t overdo it or the stingrays and banjo sharks will become a nuisance.

Outside, the fishing for popular species like snapper, morwong and flathead has been okay when the weather has allowed. Those cold westerlies should soon back off and make the early morning sessions a little more comfortable.

Anglers are getting good snapper to 4kg with most coming from the 60m grounds straight off Potato Point. This area is a hot spot for the reds, with the gravel patches on the edges of the harder rocky reef the place to fish. Either anchoring or drifting will work, depending on the current etc.

Montague has produced some nice reds too, with the southwest corner being the place to fish. This section has plenty of gravel mixed in with the reef, and fishes well in early autumn. There’s also the chance of catching a king here early in the season.

Those of us who like fishing wider for the pelagics like yellowfin tuna and albacore might just have some luck if the charts are anything to go by. Bluewater anglers are getting some cracking tuna north of us, so let’s just hope that good water gets here soon and the weather gods do their thing so the game crews get a crack at them.

Those anglers fishing the stones have done it tough lately with the flat seas. This will change once we get some decent white water around the ledges.

When this happens the usual bread-and-butter species will be available from the regular haunts. The golf course rocks in town usually fires for blackfish this month, as does the southern break wall of the bar as the blackfish head back up the estuaries. We can expect a few yellowfin bream too, with mullet schools on the increase as well.

If you’re after the pelagics, then salmon, tailor and the odd smaller king are the target species, with 30-40g chromies the go. You have to put the time and effort in to catch these fish, so expect long sessions to get consistent results.

Jigging the depths inshore and offshore BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

After an awesome tuna run and winter coming to an end we start thinking about sunny days. With the way the currents looked last month, the signs were for an early spring, which kind of makes sense as the bluefin were early

September though, as this is usually the last month for the larger fish to show up. September can be a quiet and very hit and miss month offshore.

What makes things more interesting offshore is bottom fishing between 60m depths to the Continental Shelf. The 120m depths have a lot of water to comb, but if you

Jem Abbott caught a number of species on the jig including this sea perch. too. Even though we just experienced 14°C water temperatures recently – a peak low normal for winter – there are signs of water warming in other areas and currents starting to run downhill.

Wattles are starting to bloom and there isn’t much water pushing towards the shelf, but what is coming down can bring the school yellowfin that we get throughout spring. I’ve had some great sessions on these guys on the snapper gear, but this has been more throughout October and November. Don’t rule out big yellowfin throughout

do and come across some structure, great. It can be just one rock and that’s all it takes to have life around it. These depths have been more commercially fished over the years and are now becoming more interesting to rec fishos with electric reels, jig and bait outfits.

At 5km from our coastline you are in 60-70m depths and this is usually where most boats draw a line for their inshore fishing.

Beyond here the fishing can be very quiet; usually in that depth onwards you’ll find mostly quality table fish, but they are very spread out and hard to find.

SEASON

5

Closer in you have a lot of undesirable fish mixed with a lot of good table fish and all kinds of species sticking closer to the weed and structure. Fishing inshore means a lot more activity and more bites.

Fishing beyond 60m depth means less activity and less bites and less structure. It’s more barren out there, which means a lot more moving and watching the depth sounder to find the fish. From 60-150m is a lot of water and many kilometres to travel, which then means weather and boat size play a part. It has to be safe and this is why most anglers fish that 60-70m depth so that when the wind does come up in a smaller boat, it’s not that far to start heading in.

Now a new trend is starting to emerge, with the increased sales of electric reels and the fading of micro-jigging and jigging in general. With improved technology in our sounders these barren grounds are becoming more interesting.

Just ask Brent Smith and Jem Abbott who have been watching the weather and currents and picking their days to venture out between inshore grounds and the shelf.

These guys have been using the electric reel and jigging at the same time catching bar cod, snapper, flatties, sea perch, nannygai, John Dory and you just never know what else is going to jump on out there. You could be as fortunate as Chris Cleaver and find a honey hole of solid samsonfish.

Chris and his mates have been dropping jigs into the depths and have been getting absolutely buckled by these freight trains.

If September gets boring, then try looking for new grounds in new depths, weather permitting.

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Jem jigged up this decent bar cod. up the beaches and spin metals and stickbaits, as the salmon and tailor haven’t slowed down since winter and they are still in good numbers and monster sizes.

If you are on the stones, then drummer have consistent as usual and soft plastic flicking for snapper is on the cards as well. I’ve also noticed good groper getting caught lately.

The estuaries are naturally quiet at this time of the year. If you persist you will find results. One of our customers found a nice metre mulloway caught on raw chicken the other day. It’s not long until the estuaries will be heating up.

Squid have still been relativity consistent and octopus has been on some fishos’ menus through winter into spring as there has been a good amount of them getting around.

With the warmth just around the corner it can be a bit slow at times, but there are options out there.

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47

What are the options when the rain won’t fall? from 40-60m water deep. If you find the drift from north to south you will be able to slide along the fringes of the reef picking up these fish on a regular basis. Amongst them you’ll likely find some reasonable snapper, plenty of morwong, and both jackass and rubber lips. You’ll also get some of the usual by catches like ocean perch, the odd pigfish and more commonly, and quite annoyingly, a tasty leatherjacket. If you are looking for some large tiger flathead, concentrate your

BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Following an incredibly dry autumn and winter the estuary systems are doing poorly, so what are the options?

Firstly, I would be concentrating on those that are open to the ocean. The Bermagui River is one such place. Fish like bream, whiting, flathead and luderick will seek out the warmer water where they know their food sources become more active. Prawns, worms, nippers and small fish are a lot more energetic, giving the predators a chance at ambush. Your best option is to start over the flats as the tide starts to fall, then make your way into the channel to fish around weed beds and rocky outcrops. Fish will respond well to lures, although I prefer to actively work nippers in this area.

Anglers visiting the beaches are encountering plenty of salmon all along the coast. Any decent gutter at the top of the tide will see these fish moving into them. There is not a lot accompanying them at present, only the odd tailor and occasional gummy

efforts out around the TwelveMile reef – even though the water is deeper you will find the fish are of an extremely large size and there is always the possibility of other good species like the Tassie trumpeter.

This is also a good time of year for those who have got the gear to go deepwater fishing beyond the Continental Shelf. Here you can find hapuka, blue eye trevalla, gemfish and some of the ugliest cod you could ever imagine! Unfortunately,

this time of year the weather is unpredictable and you will have to judge your window carefully to be able to make the most of this style of fishing.

While you are out in the deeper water keep an eye out for any early season tuna that may be working their way back down the coast, although I predict it may be too early to see any of these fish in numbers. The best chance for those wanting game fish would be to lay a berley trail and see if you can entice a mako shark to the boat.

Whiting are just one of many fish you would expect to encounter over the flats. shark of an evening. These salmon are also an option from the rocks, where those wanting to cast a lure can be entertained from some of the more reasonable outcrops surrounding Bermagui. On the stones anglers can chase one of the many black drummer that are available. Throw in the odd luderick, blue groper and trevally and angling can

be interesting there.

Offshore anglers can turn their attention to the annual run of tiger flathead. They are just starting at the moment, although as the water warms more and more of these tasty bottom dwellers start to appear off the coast from Bermagui.

To find these you have to look on the edges of the Four and Six-Mile reefs, anywhere

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Salmon are on offer again for September TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Australian salmon are on offer around Tathra at this time of year, as schools of these fish are patrolling the coast line and even moving into the estuary systems.

Whether you target this species from beach, rock, boat or even the wharf there are plenty of them lately to satisfy any angler.

Speaking of the wharf, this is a great area for both visitors or locals.

To keep people entertained there are schools of silver trevally, which are only too willing to take a bait. The resident yellowtail will keep the kids amused for hours as well as some more quality fish like luderick near the rocks or some lovely sand flathead, which will require a long cast with a heavy sinker.

From the rocks, black drummer are still present

Expect a lot of salmon this spring.

where a well-presented piece of cunjevoi or a snippet of cabbage weed is all that is required to obtain a strike.

Red crabs are always a favourite with the groper, which are another fish that seem to be increasing in numbers. By using a bit of berley anglers can be assured of finding some quality garfish, the odd bream and a few silver trevally within the suds.

Out at sea anglers can turn their attention to the ever-increasing numbers of flathead – both sand and tiger. Most of the proven areas south of Tathra out from Bournda are producing, as are the areas offshore north from Bithry Inlet.

There are also some good reef fish around and if you put in the effort, you should find some very nice snapper still willing to take a bait along with the usual other species like morwong, nannygai, ocean perch and the other odd surprise in the form of a nice gummy shark.

The lower sections of the Bega River system have suffered immensely this autumn and winter, with poor rain falls along with the effects of the fires. It’s also closed to the ocean, thus

There are still some solid bream to be found in the Bega River. not allowing tidal influence to bring in regular changes of salt water. There are still good fish to be found in the likes of bream, flathead, tailor or estuary perch, however a lot of effort may be needed to hook them.

The upper freshwater sections should now start to fire with some of those big bass that lurk there. With water levels down they should be easier to find.

Areas surrounding Tathra

like Wapengo or Nelsons Lagoon are well and truly open to the ocean, allowing stocks of fish to move in or out freely with all of the regular species on offer.

Brogo Dam should also be starting to warm and the bass may start to become active, although don’t expect great fishing until the weather warms. Just remember if you have fished Brogo Dam or wish to fish it in the future, the annual

bass fishing competition will be coming up on the first weekend in December. The funds raised will go into the ongoing stocking program for 2019. Anyone wishing to find out more can contact me on 0427 934 688 or email djsxstreamfishing@ bigpond.com.

Oh by the way this is our 20th year of competitions and it’s going to be one hell of a bash. Hope to see you there.

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49

Essential estuary tactics and top hot spots BRISBANE PART II

Sean Thompson

Last issue I outlined the natural influences that affect estuary fishing, and how to identify productive times. I also covered key locations such as break walls, rocky points and oyster leases.

This month I’ll be focussing on other productive locations, some of which many anglers overlook.

and deep, wide sections of rivers, lakes and creeks yet ignore the small arms that branch off these waterways.

The same can be said of those mini creeks and lakes that are considered too small to hold decent fish, or which are only accessible at the top half of the tide.

Surprisingly though, if you adapt your techniques and apply a stealthy approach you will be surprised with the quantity and quality of fish on offer. Often these systems

A nice flathead caught trolling up a small tributary.

SMALL ESTUARIES & TRIBUTARIES Anglers can often get caught in the trap of thinking that the more water a waterway has, the more (and bigger) fish there are.

This often means anglers concentrate their efforts in the easily accessible

are characterised by lots of structure, from drowned timber and snags to deep water bends and shallows.

They are hunted by monster whiting and flathead that are rarely interrupted by noisy anglers or boats.

These sneaky little spots can be a lure fisher’s

paradise, and bait anglers enjoy great success here too.

However, anglers cannot expect to turn up with the usual tackle and tactics and expect success. These quiet, clear and sheltered waterways mean that the fish can see and hear you more easily, so you need to use finesse tackle and terminal gear. This means you have to downsize everything – from your jighead to your sinkers to the diameter of your fluorocarbon traces.

Baits also need to be presented as naturally as possible; you’ll want to use either live or very fresh bait with very little weight.

Overcast conditions and a slight ripple on the water’s surface can also work in your favour.

Narrow creeks and tributaries While each creek and tributary will be different, many of the smaller systems will be heavily tidal influenced, and this means you want to be fishing closer to the top of the tide.

Depending on the system though, that can still give you about four hours, with two hours either side of the top of the tide to either be able to access the water in a boat, or for sufficient water to be covering some of the hotspots/snags if you’re fishing shore based.

A good way to explore such systems is to walk the banks casting baits or lures, or if in a boat pulling up on sandbanks or quietly manoeuvring the boat with an electric motor to get you into good casting positions for casting at snags with lures or unweighted baits.

Another way to explore such systems and cover much more water is trolling, which I will cover in a future article.

Shallow bays Often anglers will

Deep holes on bends in small tributaries can hold a surprising number of fish.

While trolling back and forth, this hole produced four flathead in under an hour.

50

SEPTEMBER 2018

Bridges are a worthwhile estuary fishing location, especially around and under the pylons. dismiss small, shallow bays, either because the draft of their boat is too deep to fish them, or they think the bays are too shallow for decent fish.

However, these locations are brilliant for flathead, including in winter time where these fish can be otherwise shut down due to the warmer shallow water – even more so if it is dark mud, which absorbs the heat. I like to throw soft plastics on light jigheads of about 1/8oz, and also troll these same plastics slowly about 10-20m behind the boat. This style of fishing can be deadly when the flatties are on.

Shallow tree-lined bays, particularly those with submerged trees and rocks, are also great spots to target bream on small hardbody lures and lightly weighted soft plastics.

BRIDGES Fishing from or under bridges can be another productive location, given the fish-attracting structure supporting them. Some of the best locations to fish near bridges (from a boat or from the bridge) are the eddies formed around the front and the rear of the bridge pylons as water channels past. In bigger rivers, large fish will sit and rest in these locations during the mid tide (or fast run) phases to save energy battling against the current.

Fishing large soft plastics or live baits are great options here.

During the slower stage of the tide (one to two hours either side of the change in tide), throwing lures or lightly weighted baits under the shadows of the bridge can be productive. Trolling lures between the posts can also produce the goods.

At night, try fishing the boundary between lights reflected from the bridge

and dark shadows further out. A range of predators, from large flathead to tailor and mulloway, will sit at the edge of these shadows ready to pounce on unsuspecting baitfish attracted to the lights.

JETTIES, PIERS & WHARVES Jetties, piers and wharves are good training

these structures can make is casting as far as they can away from the structure. The concrete or wooden poles that support such structures are normally teeming with weed and oyster growth that attracts baitfish (such as yellowtail and mullet, which are great for live bait) and species such as bream and luderick, which in turn

Pumping yabbies into a sieve can be a great way to berley up whiting on the flats. grounds for new anglers and kids. Gone are the days when experienced anglers paddled live or dead baits for great white sharks and tiger sharks off the likes of Tathra jetty in NSW, but these spots still produce some good fishing at times for switched-on anglers using live baits or big lures for a range of pelagic fish.

One of the biggest mistakes that anglers fishing

attract bigger predators like tailor, kingfish, mulloway and sharks.

Fish will also seek shelter and cover under the shade of such structures, so anglers should fish with baits of lightly-weighted fish flesh or oysters that float down naturally, or with live bait under a float fished close to the pylons. Drags need to be tightened and heavier line used than elsewhere

in the estuary, due to the risk of fish breaking you off on the oyster-encrusted pylons. Berley is also a great option here.

Smaller jetties and pontoons are also popular locations for avid lure anglers chasing bream. The trick is to position your boat with an electric motor to get your small hardbodied lure or lightly weighted soft

plastic right up under the shadows of the structure where the bream will be lurking.

Some piers, such as the Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay in Queensland, are so long that you can fish for whiting or bream in the inner gutters closer to shore, while at the same time, anglers can be fishing for pelagics on lures and live bait from the end

of the pier.

Like bridges, piers are also great spots to fish at night, particularly at the boundary of the where the permanent lights on the water meet the dark shadows beyond it.

In deep water rivers, the edge of bridges and piers can hold fish such as snapper, mulloway and huge threadfin salmon in

Kayaks can be a great way to get around shallow flats and bays.

This nice whiting was caught while anchored near the edge of a channel well upstream.

places such as the Brisbane River. Beware though that it is only ‘permanent’ or constant light sources that attract fish. Short flashes of lights from anglers with headlamps on the water can have the opposite effect and spook the fish.

ESTUARY FLATS Estuary flats are probably my favourite fishing location of the estuary, as you can hop out of the boat and just challenge yourself against the fish. No technology, just your senses and techniques against the fish!

Bait fishing the flats If you wade out in the water throwing baits, Alvey reels are hard to beat, as you

can drop your rod and reel under your arm in the water while you bait up or de-hook fish. Wading the flats with bait can be extremely productive if you use live baits such as beach, squirt or blood worms or yabbies.

In fact, the natural berley that comes from pumping yabbies or squirt worms into a floating sieve in the water is a great way to attract fish such as whiting. You can then set some rods with bells on to alert you of any bites while you continue to pump more bait.

Once I have sufficient bait, I like to cast and retrieve lightly weighted (size 0 to 2 ball sinker) baits

on long fluorocarbon traces of about 1m or so of 6lb line. If possible, I also like to leave a set rod or two while I cast and retrieve.

The areas you want to be targeting whiting and bream with bait on the flats include melon holes and drains, either as the water rises or falls. As the water peaks towards the top of the tide, you should target yabby banks around the mangroves or anywhere there is a bit of run. Creek deltas where multiple drains or small channels intersect is another top location. Another good spot is fishing into slightly deeper water from the edge To page 52

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From page 51

of high sandbanks as the tide nears low.

Lure fishing the flats Lure fishing the flats has grown in great popularity in recent years, and for good reason. With a bit of practice and the right tackle, even inexperienced anglers can catch fish like flathead, bream and whiting.

Target areas for the flats will depend on the stage of tide. During a rising tide, lure casters chasing flathead should look for areas where water is running in over shallow water and dropping into slightly deeper gutters.

Likewise, ‘deltas’ or areas where three or four drains meet are a great spot for flathead on the rising tide as well. The fish will sit here waiting for baitfish to come to them.

If you’re chasing bream and whiting, topwater lures are a great option on the flats. Shallow flats covered in yabby banks, or melon hole-covered soft sand flats are excellent target areas.

Avoid hard sand areas, which are often devoid of bait and therefore bigger fish. Fish the softer sand locations from about half tide up in water less than about 80cm deep. A gentle breeze can really work in your favour here if you can cast with it. The ripples it

Drains, a deep hole, discoloured water and fallen timber – perfect flathead and bream territory. puts on the water also make the fish less cautious.

Other top target areas for luring the flats during the top half of the tide are the edges of ribbon weed and sand pockets amongst the weed.

During the falling tide, top locations to target fish like bream and flathead on lures are the entrance to drains and creeks, the

drop-off from the flats into a channel and once again the edge of weed beds, provided they are covered with sufficient water. Flathead and bream will wait in ambush at such spots, ready to pounce on fleeing baitfish.

Techniques for working the flats include throwing topwater lures (as above), lure casting soft plastics or

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vibes from a boat or wading, drifting with soft plastic tails (for plenty of action) or trolling. Anglers will achieve better results with light 1-4kg graphite rods with cork butts for a better feel of hits on the rod. So too, braid with fluorocarbon leaders of at least a rod length are also recommended. I recommend 2-3lb braid for whiting and bream, and 5-6lb for flathead.

CHANNEL EDGES A little-used tactic taught to me by a professional fishing guide is fishing around channel edges lined with ribbon weed using a whole striped tuna. It is an awesome technique to use on bream and flathead. This technique can also be used around rock walls, rocky points and bridges.

Firstly, anchor just off the edge of the channel and cast towards the edge of the weed on the flats. Fillet the bonito into very small cubes smaller than a 5c piece, as well as larger 20cm ones which are your bait. Begin to berley with the very small cubes, and then cast out larger baits well away from the boat (you’ll need a size 2 to 3 sinker) and set the rod in the holder. Also throw an unweighted bait directly out from the stern of the boat.

Keep a steady stream of berley going and leave your rod in the holder, as smaller fish will peck at larger bait until a big fish comes along and swallows the bait.

Dawn, dusk and night will yield the best results.

Channel edges are also a top spot for deep water whiting. For more detail on this technique, check out my whiting article at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au.

RIVER BANKS River banks are popular spots for casual anglers, and can vary from sandy banks towards the river mouth, to

grassy banks well upstream.

Both types are great for the ‘set and forget’ technique, with long whippy rods at least 8ft long, set low and horizontal to the water to ensure minimum resistance when the fish picks up the bait and runs. Just sit back on a chair with some bells on your rod and watch the tips. Baits of yabbies and blood worms are perfect for whiting and bream.

You can also throw soft plastic lures for flatties around the sandbanks towards the entrance, or use hardbodies or lightlyweighted plastics for bream around fallen timber further upstream.

DEEP HOLES Deep holes in estuaries are worth seeking out and fishing. You can either find out about them by asking local tackle shops or motoring around with your sounder in locations with steep banks, sharp bends in creeks, or areas where you note a change in the current or surface of the water as the channel drops into deep water. With a good sidescan or structure scan sounder you can search for baitfish and larger fish like mulloway, big tailor or even snapper in such locations.

can be encountered upstream in estuaries, from sandy shallow islands, narrow creeks full of drowned timber, or mangrove-lined creek tributaries in more northern locations.

Generally, such areas are lightly fished, and what’s more, where the salt meets fresh water in such locations, anglers can be offered the bonus of both fresh and saltwater fish. It’s great to be able to pick up bass and estuary perch at the same time as the usual saltwater species.

Big tides around the full and new moon are good times to explore such places, as more water pushes well upstream. A good option is to fish the last two hours of the run-in tide and the first two of the run-out.

Both lure and bait fishing tactics can be successfully employed upstream. If you’re bait fishing, try the shallow sandy flats around the sandy islands, and unweighted baits like live prawns, yabbies or squirt worms around fallen timber. Target the shallows for whiting and bream on topwater lures, and throw plastics and hardbodies at and around fallen timber for a mixed bag of species. If

Lure colour selection isn’t always as important as we might think. Just ask this pigeonpair of estuary-dwelling dusky flathead.

Techniques to employ in deep holes include either anchoring or drifting with live baits, trolling with hardbodies (mid-tide), or throwing large soft plastics or vibes around the two hours either side of the change of tide (due to slower run and having a more natural lift and drop with your lure.

UPSTREAM Finally, heading well upstream in an estuary can have a couple of benefits.

Firstly, such locations can be quite secluded and with it comes nothing but the sounds and beauty of the natural bush. Another benefit is of course the fishing.

A variety of structure

you’re fishing such spots during the middle of the day, fish the shady side of the creeks/estuary.

WRAP-UP So, there you have it! Estuaries offer anglers many and varied locations to fish with a variety of techniques, no matter the time of year, the direction of the wind or the colour of the water. I hope you can put some of these tips and techniques to good use in your local estuary or at a holiday destination in the not too distant future. In the meantime, feel tree to visit my Facebook page, Ontour Fishing Australia, for more tips, tricks and reports.

Still worth heading out EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The far south coast is feeling the chill, and there has been very little rain.

The fishing out wide is quiet, as the water is still too cold. This, combined with windy days that have made things uncomfortable out wide, has meant that very few boats have headed out.

Closer to shore there has been good fishing for sand flathead, with anglers catching their bag limits on most occasions. The fish haven’t been big, with most just over the legal size. Most fish have been caught out around North Head and

down towards Mowarry Point, and it’s important to stay on the move until fish can be found.

A variety of baits have worked for me, but it’s hard to beat squid. If you are lucky you will catch plenty of fish on just the one bait, as it is likely to cope with multiple bites and stay on the hook for quite a while.

The inshore reefs have been fishing well for snapper and morwong. Good numbers of fish have been caught out around Lennards Island and down around Green Cape.

There haven’t been any big fish reported, but what they lack in size they make up for in numbers, and everyone is coming home with a feed.

If you’re chasing the salmon on the local beaches

there are plenty of good gutters. Fishing around the top of the tide with metal lures is the way to go, with fish up to 2kg not uncommon.

Those fishing with pilchards for salmon have also been catching the odd yellowfin bream. There will be more variety in the catch when the water warms.

Fish are still being caught in the local estuaries, with the exception of flathead as the cold has caused them to shut down. Silver trevally and tailor are being caught around the entrance area along with some good size blackfish.

The winter months saw the blackfish caught on a number of baits, not just the traditional weed under a float technique.

Fish can be caught on baits of nippers and worms, with a

Silver trevally have been biting well over the colder months. number of fish also caught on small blade lures.

Black bream fishing picked up over the winter months, with numbers of fish caught upstream towards the fresh. They really fire up on

those cold frosty mornings.

Without the rain they can be tricky to catch in the clear water though; a bit of colour in the water after rain always fires them up.

Estuary perch are also

being caught, but anglers chasing these fish are pretty tight lipped about where they’re catching them. That’s understandable though, as you really need to put in the time to catch these fish.

Locals are still waiting for some good rainfall MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

Very little rain has fallen over the past month but the temperature keeps reminding us that it’s winter; it’s been freezing and with the cold has come a lot of windy days.

The whole area is in drought and without rain the lake level has seen little change.

All the lakes in this area have always been in a boom then bust situation; they fill up with the rain, break open to the ocean, become tidal and without the rain they eventually close up again.

It has been a cycle that has gone on forever. Even the biggest lake system in Victoria used to operate that way and it is important to remember that because the permanent opening it has to the ocean is not natural, it has changed the ecology of the lake weed beds,

which also impacts the fishing.

We are patiently waiting for a good rainfall – the more we get the better the entrance when it flushes open and the longer it will remain open.

Unfortunately, no one knows how long this drought is going to last.

The offshore fishing has seen some catches of sand flathead and tiger flathead from around the Gabo Island area.

When the wind has backed off and allowed

FISHING NEWS

New mulloway bag limit The NSW Government is working with fishers to ensure the future of mulloway stocks.

“In 2013, the NSW Government introduced a recovery plan with new rules to halt the decline of mulloway stock and help the recovery of the species,” Minister for Primary Industries, Niall Blair.

“Despite efforts by fishers, a recent scientific review showed mulloway are still overfished.

“Given the seriousness of the issue, I asked both the commercial and recreational

advisory councils to come up with actions for their sectors, with each council establishing expert working groups to investigate the best options.”

These advisory councils provided advice, which included: • Removing the possession limit of 10 mulloway between 45-70cm that currently applies to Estuary General meshing net fishers. A 70cm mulloway minimum size limit will apply to all fishers.

• A reduction in the recreational bag limit from two to one.

The changes come into effect from 1 September 2018

anglers to head out fishing, gummy sharks have also been caught towards the front of Gabo Island.

This time of year the fish can school up in small areas so it pays to keep moving until fish are found.

Once found try and keep drifting over the area and you should end up with a good feed.

Trolling lures around the rocky headlands is the best way to encounter a few salmon. The fish are not fussy and will strike at a variety of lures.

Very little action has come from out wider and things

and will be monitored by DPI. An advisory campaign will ensure all fishers are aware of the new rules.

“This has been a tough call but it’s needed to ensure mulloway stocks grow,” Mr Blair said.

Both councils will continue to look at other measures, including reducing black market opportunities, further monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of these actions, as well as more research on fishing gear technologies to reduce bycatch of mulloway. - NSWDPI

won’t really liven up until the water temperature starts to warm up and that won’t be for another few months.

This time of year the fishing along the local beaches is all about salmon and there is no shortage of them. Fishing the lake at this time of year is all about bream.

Flathead can still be caught but catching them in numbers is not easy.

The odd mulloway has been caught up around Cape Horn. It’s too cold to spend the night out there but if you are keen to catch a fish, put in a few hours just after dark and you could be lucky.

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Some decent tailor are being caught. These fish can turn up anywhere at any time and you need a bit of luck to land the bigger models as they usually end up biting you off.

The black bream have been on the bite with the usual winter tactics working a treat.

Find the fish with the sounder, then fish with soft plastic lures or blades and you should end up with a few fish.

They are being caught in both the Top and Bottom lakes and up towards Gypsy Point.

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

PRODUCT GUIDE

New Siglon PE braid from Sunline great for no-fuss luring

The purchase of braided line should be seen as an investment. It might not be quite as long-term as a rod and reel setup, but usually longer than a many lures, and certainly any terminal tackle.

It’s for this reason that, despite my not being particularly moneyed at this stage in my life, I always look for the best quality braid I can get my hands on. Lesser braids, while cheap and affordable after a standard tertiary studyladen week, won’t give the same mileage, often rubbing through and breaking only weeks after installation. As a result, an angler will often end up spending more in the longterm if they want to keep fishing, but there are steps available to minimise unnecessary spending and maximise catching!

EJ Todd Fishing Solutions have a history of

From experimentation in the past, I’ve learned that braids with less strands tend to operate better on a baitcasting set up, because they flatten much easier and often end up slightly stiffer. This stiffness helps line to run off the spool during a cast, where softer braids often can’t keep up with the rotation and end up overrunning.

Braids with more strands on the other hand, usually end up being rounder in profile but softer and more flexible, and definitely better suited to a spinning set-up.

With no risk of overrunning, spinning setups can get away with using comparatively soft braids.

With this in mind, I decided that the PEx8 would go onto my Daiwa BG 2500 spin reel, and the PEx4 onto my 13 Fishing Concept A baitcaster.

Techniques like jerkbaiting can be a nightmare when using substandard braids, with the potential for looping and uneven wrapping on the spool between jerks. There’s none of that with Siglon PE!

bringing in high-quality fishing products from all over the world. Basically, if you take fishing more seriously than just about anything else in life, you’ll have brought EJ Todd products.

Everything under the Todd’s banner comes with unmistakable quality identified by Australian anglers for Australian anglers, and the new Siglon PE from Sunline is no exception!

SPOOLING UP Having been sent two spools for testing, the PEx4 and PEx8 (both in 16lb), I decided I would do a comparison of the two. The two 150m (165yds) spools were in the ‘light green’ colour, perfect for my planned testing site that features a lot of aquatic weed. The PEx8 is available in light green, orange and multi colour, and the PEx4 just in light green.

As the name suggests, the PEx8 is an 8-carrier braid, and the PEx4 a 4-carrier.

SEPTEMBER 2018

As for the comparison of the two models, I found that my decision to put the braids on their respective reels was a good choice, and feel that anyone interested in using this line should follow the same principal – PEx4 for baitcasters and PEx8 for spin reels.

QUALITY THE BEST SOLUTION Some of us might not think too hard about what braid we use, but we should – it’s what keeps us connected to the fish!

potential for uneven wrapping on the spool, I thought this was a perfect test for the braid.

For a bit of fun, I decided to fish jerkbaits on both the spinning and baitcasting setups loaded up with the Siglon PE. Like with all braids, it took a few casts for it to warm up and cast properly, but within 2 minutes I was belting out long casts with a 4.5g jerkbait, and within 5 minutes, I was hooked up on the spin gear!

This fish started a fantastic few months of top-class jerkbaiting in South East Queensland for me, and I got plenty of use out of the PEx4 and the PEx8. On the 8 I was able to deliver good casts comfortably with jerkbaits as light at 3.5g, while with the 4 on the baitcast set-up, I used baits as light at 4.9g without any trouble at all.

I also got some use out of the braids fishing for flathead, bream and squid without any loops, wind knots or troubles associated with lesser braids. They’ve even retained their original colour better than other braids I’ve used! As a bonus, I found it to be extremely thin for its poundage, which aided in casting distance and overall stealth.

If you want a braid that will last more than a few months, retaining its strength and abrasion-resistance, Siglon PE is a great choice. Being as trouble-free as it is, you’ll be able to spend more time fishing and less time stressing about retying, untangling wind knots and re-packing the spool.

Siglon PEx8 comes in poundages from 5-130, while the PEx4 in 3-50, so there’s a PE for literally every fishing scenario.

Coming in at a pretty incredible price for a high-quality braid, this is the perfect option for anyone looking for peace of mind with braids, where you can spool it up and not worry about it for over a year. At around $24.95 for 150m spools of PEx4 and around $40 for 150m spools of PEx8 (more for 300m spools), it’s a product that marries up supreme quality and affordability.

Choosing a braid when spooling up new reels and re-spooling old ones can require a bit of thought. EJ Todd have made that decision much easier for me! For more information, and to find an outlet near you that stocks Sunline Siglon PE Braided Fishing Line, visit www.ejtodd.com.au. - Bob Thorton

The author was just happy to be out bass fishing after a period of little to no linewetting. A trouble-free braid made those first few trips out to the dam pure joy.

Even the baitcaster got a run with the jerkbaits! The 16lb PEx4 had no trouble delivering a 4.9g bait into the nooks and crannies where the bass were.

54

As with all re-spooling of braid on my reels, I made sure to pack it down as tightly as I could onto about 20-30m of squishy monofilament, which I use as backing.

ON THE WATER Soon enough I was on the water, and the end of autumn saw me getting stuck into one of my favourite forms of fishing – jerkbaiting for impoundment bass!

With the constant jerking of the rod and

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BARRA TOURTournament

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Guide

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Australian Bass Tournaments A Peter Jung cover image

ABT.ORG.AU

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Tournament Angler Guide

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2018 zerek barra tour calendar Welcome to the 2018 version of the BARRA Tournament Angler Guide or TAG as we like to call it in the office.

For the third straight year Zerek is the naming sponsor and for the third straight year it looks like they’ll have a range of baits that both the barra and the barra anglers will love.

Whether you’re throwing their Flat Shads, Fish Traps (in the small or new larger sizes) or the new Zerek large hard swimbaits, you will be covered in each of the lakes the BARRA Tour visits.

One of the highlights of last year’s BARRA Tour was watching tour newbie Dean Jackson tie on the Zerek Fish Trap he received

in his tour sample bag and land the biggest barra recorded at the Kinchant event. It was a great reward for a team who decided to give the BARRA Tour a go and tasted success in their very first event.

Each year the Zerek BARRA Tour is a mix

of seasoned veterans and aspiring newcomers. It doesn’t take the newbies long to get into the swing of things, the routine of fishing, driving, having a few refreshing ales and doing it all again not only accelerates your barra learning curve but also

forges great friendships.

The fact that Camp Kanga at Peter Faust Dam will be open again for this year’s tour only adds to the excitement and the social atmosphere.

We definitely missed this social gathering point in the 2017 tour.

Once again, we will be using the TrackMyFish powered ABT Tournament Series App to record catches. On lakes likes Kinchant, it allows ABT to deliver live scoreboards to those keen on following the results.

Inside this guide you will find calendars, how-to articles and stories from teams who have given it a go for the first time.

You’re all welcome! Just

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

SPONSOR

SESSION TIMES

19 November

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event)

Hobie Polarized

4pm - 12am

20 November

Teemburra Dam

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

Wilson Fishing

4pm - 12am

21 November

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Night Championship)

Westin

4pm - 8am

23/24 November

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Evening Event)

Lucky Craft

4pm - 12am

fill out the entries, make your travel plans and we will see you on the 2018 Zerek BARRA Tour.

You can download the entry forms, rules and event information at www. abt.org.au

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Finding the ‘perfect funnel’ TNQ

Karim DeRidder

For the average angler, stepping into the tournament scene for the first time is a massive leap out of the comfort zone. For most, there is a high level of anticipation for that first dabble into competition, and every

current tournament angler has felt this at some stage. Tackle preparation, boat organisation and research into their likely destinations builds a solid level of excitement.

Anglers traveling to the Mackay area and sampling the delights of fishing talk around the Camp Kanga Dongas near Lake Proserpine will most likely hear plenty

of chatter about certain productive spots, key areas of the lake, and when the conditions are perfect, hordes of barramundi on their side imaging units each session.

While some anglers may pass on valuable information to help find those sweet spots, these areas are generally fairly close kept secrets for each angler, especially for the tournament angler

who will generally work extremely hard to find the ultimate spots, which may lead to tournament success.

The questions will develop in new anglers trying to take in all that key information that may lead to success on their part; a 1m+ barra hitting the deck. What do these areas generally look like? What characteristics do they share? What separates poor locations from good locations, and what makes great ones? The following explanation will hopefully enlighten the average barra angler and turn them on the right path towards finding their own ‘perfect funnel.’

The perfect barra funnel is a concept discussed to some extent in most victory speeches after an ABT BARRA round every year. The talk will cover techniques and tackle used and briefly describe a location on the lake where its physical characteristics and environmental conditions have ensured a consistent confluence of barramundi directed past the victorious angler’s boat. This is essential to any success during the barra tour and

Craig Griffiths with a solid deepwater daytime capture.

Large schools of barra can be targeted successfully in lakes when knowing where to look and what to throw. generally requires a level of understanding of what to look for, ensuring that you are maximising your time spent on the lake.

During pre-fish prior to the start of a tournament, it’s important to spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of the sounder to identify areas that are most likely to see movements of fish during critical times in a tournament session. A good starting point is to identify river beds and creek channels – areas of deep water that are the arteries of the lakes.

Their role in directing fish movements around the lakes is essential to

understand. The perfect funnels will generally be fed from these deep water areas, transferring fish to ideal feeding zones via these pathways and hopefully right to your interception point – an area where each cast has the highest probability of interacting with moving, feeding fish.

Structure such as tree lines and weed beds will determine these fish movements and act as physical steering mechanisms to direct them to feeding zones. Both Faust and Teemburra have vast amounts of standing timber including vivid

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The ABT Faust round in 2015 required very specific boat positioning and identifying fish movements through vast, open water weed beds. When the perfect funnel was identified, this was the result: a 110cm class fish.

lines along creek channels and sparse flooded forests; both influence the barra movements in their own way.

It can be quite interesting to compare fish movement and behaviour in these structure-rich locations to the more open water areas; this movement and behaviour changes by the hour and it’s important to keep in touch to ensure you are casting to the most viable locations.

As Kinchant is mostly void of timber, the weed edges influence their movements in similar ways. Being a smaller lake, Kinchant is easier to work out than Faust and Teemburra. Both weed and timber are key structures in their own right, and both work together as perfect ingredients in

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au the development of the ultimate funnel.

As most ABT rounds are afternoon/evening sessions, it’s important to understand the movement of the barra as they relate to these particular times of the day, and generally their movement to feeding zones.

Gradual sloping ridges that enter the lake (commonly referred to as ‘points’) and wide extended flats are well known as reliable feeding zones, by identifying a close relationship to the deep waters as discussed previously, more knowledge is built towards identifying funnels to these areas. The perfect shallow areas will have significant ambush zones and, as discussed earlier, structure such as a

LURES TO USE Deep water creek channel to flat Transam 95, Madness Vibe Tree line of creek and at end of point Lucky Craft 100XD Pointer, Madness Vibe, Transam 95 Weed edge to boat position Lucky Craft 100 pointer (shallow), Rapala X-Rap XR14 or 12, any 130-250mm paddletail plastic such as Slick Rigs, Castaic Jerky J 5/7”, Berkley Hollow Belly Weed-edge and lantana towards water edge Same plastics as above, suspending hardbodies such as Lucky Craft 100 Pointer, X-Rap, glide baits.

weed bed, weed channels, significant snags or tree lines.

On most occasions the barra will feed close to these structures. The cover presents as the perfect ambush spot for an unsuspecting bony bream.

Faust has been well known to produce insane sessions when the lake was at capacity; places where masses of old lantana had long died off were ideal areas for barra to hunt and the no-holds-barred, hand-to-hand combat is still discussed by many barra anglers who experienced this type of fishing.

For relating those areas to specific bite times, the old saying, ‘make hay while the sun shines’ relates well to barra fishing. Interchange the sun with moon and you have a winner. The standard bite time that all lakes exhibit right on dark generally starts and fades quite quickly, however a gradual build of action usually progresses with the moonrise towards its upward extremity during most ABT events.

The last important aspect discussed here is the geographical location of the area and environmental factors, as these directly influence the amount of fish that will travel through these areas. As most successful tournament anglers are well aware, the weather patterns

The author with a dark coloured weed-dweller. A perfect funnel was identified on the point of a vast weedbed with high activity of moving barra observed. This fish bit as the lure broke free of the weed into clear water right on the point. and prevailing wind that drives the current in the lakes must be studied and adapted in the plan of attack.

Bulk barra movements will locate themselves in areas of the dam in significant numbers; a steady single or minimal variant direction of wind can develop these quickly. At the same time, the presence of a drastic change of stability influenced by wind direction

change and velocity can disperse them as quickly as they arrived. During your pre-fish, keep track of areas where a majority of barra are identified on your SI, where the winds have been pushing current and nutrients to certain areas of the lake.

Keep narrowing your focus until you are seeing mass movements of the fish into small specific areas.

These areas will be like a

convergence of footpaths to a multidirectional crossing, waiting for the green ‘walk’ light to illuminate. Identify your deep water/shallow relationships, locate your structure, pre-empt your bite time and stay flexible to your environmental factors; the lights will turn green and the restaurant doors will open.

Now you may read this and wonder what my To page 6

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Tournament Angler Guide

From page 5

ultimate funnel looks like – close your eyes and visualize the following: a gentle slopping ridge of land enters the lake, escaping from the hills behind. Sparse natural grasses meets a bare red soil shoreline influenced by the eroding rippling waves. A cluster of stumpy lantana bushes protrude from the lake not 6ft from the shoreline with approximately 2ft of water covering their roots. A narrow creek’s lily-

ridge. From underneath the cluster of lantana is a thin weed line, which builds as it approaches deeper water, presenting as a thick lush texture, dark blotches on the surface the only giveaway.

From the sheer wall of weed at approximately 5ft deep, a large clear gap is present in front of the lantana, allowing a clear movement of bait and fish into just 2ft of water.

To the right of the point, a large fallen snag

A metre class fish landed after targeting the perfect funnel. lined channel turns its way into the lake, nearly touching the lantana bushes.

A clearing of approximately 40m meets sparse standing timber, illuminating the edge of the

lies perpendicular to the shoreline. From the 5ft front of the weed edge, a steady decline towards the end of the point makes way to approximately 15ft and thick trees dead ahead; these

are located a cast length off the edge of the weed.

Remnant waves continue from the consistent easterly winds that once hit square on, but has sheared slightly as an afternoon northeasterly builds its pressure and moves an earthy colour change past the lantana trunks.

The light changes from yellow to orange as the sun wanes. Minimal barra are seen on the SI where the boat is positioned at the treeline in front of the point.

A boat movement towards the creek channel verifies a solid stream of barra straight onto the weed edge. A steady flow of bites progress the afternoon to night and as the moon rises a steadily increasing number of barra are seen moving past the boat’s position inside the tree line.

A change of boat position out into the open water towards the point sees the Humminbird’s screen fill with barra shadows moving onto the point. My casts are pinpointed towards the little V in the weed between the lantana bushes. As the lure drops, I lift the rod and hop through the thick stuff, allowing it to contact clean bottom. A slow roll then bang! Another fish on.

The perfect barra funnel has been found!

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A large amount of fish moving past the right side of the stationary boat. This is positioned inside the treeline facing the point, just like the ‘Perfect Funnel’ illustration hereabouts.

A perfect point illustrated with help of AutoChart, showing deep water access on all sides, weed on top with scattered brush, and five fish positioned amongst the structure.

M A P I T. O W N I T. S H A R E I T. I can’t believe how good this map is I just downloaded free off the Quickdraw™ Community. Look at this structure, those drop offs. Never would have known about this lake without the community. It’s fun fishing new water. I’ve already caught two nice keepers. Of course, I’ve uploaded some pretty nice maps, too. Glad someone decided to share this one.

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The keys to Kinchant Dam TNQ

Peter Price

Kinchant Dam is so different to all the other barra impoundments on the ABT Tour, because it’s a small, shallow dam at approximately 920ha with an average depth of only 6.8m when full. Kinchant Dam requires filling by an inlet water channel from the nearby Pioneer River, due to the dam’s limited

like a salad bowl – the only fishable structures in the dam are weed beds and the lily-lined banks. There is a lack of standing timber and submerged structure.

The most daunting thing about Kinchant Dam is getting your head around fishing weed. Weed is no different to fishing any other structure. This structure provides the barra with protection, comfort, security, and a place to hunt and ambush food. It’s a home

This is how I go about finding fish-catching spots in all that weed. The most important fishing tool in your boat is your sounder. I will,

always about energy used for energy gained.

I prefer to use different icons on my sounder to mark different parts of the weed

The point near the ramp is worth a look.

The dam doesn’t have many points, but the ones it does have usually hold fish.

Wind blown points are excellent places to start looking. water catchment.

It has a ‘No-Fishing Exclusion Zone’ area of 100m all along the dam wall, spillway and pump station.

Kinchant Dam is more

to most of the bait in the dam. At first the weed all looks the same, but like any structure some parts will hold fish and be better than other sections.

for example, sound for five hours and only fish when I can see barra on my sounder.

You are only wasting your time if you stay fishing these no-fish areas.

I start by sounding the lilies, weed edges, and points that have wind blowing over them. This wind makes current and the current concentrates the bait in certain parts of the weed, making it easier for the barra to feed. Just remember with barra, it’s

CHASING BIG BARRA?

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structure. I use one to mark along the weed edge every 10-15m. Then I will use the fish icon to mark a position where I want to cast to, and place a boat icon to mark where to anchor my boat.

I will place a GPS icon in other locations such as single clumps of weed, out from a point, holes or divots in the weed edges, and any gully in the weed that may allow the barra to move in and out freely.

Once I have identified and marked all these possible fish-holding locations, I will start my fishing session.

These are locations that I will investigate throughout the fishing session. I will give each spot a period of time to settle down and if no fish are present on the sounder after 20 minutes, I will move on to the next spot. I will frequent these locations at different times to check if and when fish are staging and feeding there.

When having to relocate at night, it’s a bonus having these areas marked on your sounder. It makes navigation so much quicker and easier and reduces wasted time by knowing where you are and where the structure is at all times. Kinchant Dam

barra are already pressured enough without you driving your boat over a location you may wish to fish. Possible bite windows are moonrise and moonset times, an hour either side of high tide and two hours either side of low tide times.

I look for areas in the bays that have water covering the weed beds. I will place my boat up on top of this weed and go prospecting using surface stickbaits, weedless soft plastics or even crankbaits, so long as I’m not getting weed-fouled trebles.

You have to be able

to fish the weed with different lures and different techniques, however it’s no good getting weed fouling on your line every cast – it’s just a waste of your cast and your fishing time.

I have three different lures set up on my rods ready to go. If the weed is patchy, I will cast a crankbait, or weedless soft plastic or a Reidy’s Weedies. If the weed has 10cm or more of water over it I will change to surface stickbaits or frogs.

All these types of lures are great search lures and the old saying is true, ‘you don’t leave fish to catch fish,’ so

Above: A good selection of vibes for Kinchant.

Below: Surface lures will work, particularly around the weed.

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au once I find fish I sit on them.

In saying that, one tip I will share with you is this; I have found if a barra you catch is really dark in colour, it’s a loner fish and not a

One tip with surface lure fishing is not to strike until you feel the weight of the barra on your line. I know it’s not easy to tell yourself not to react with your rod when

Quarry Bay can hold barra at times. schooling fish, so move on.

If that barra is a real silvercoloured fish, more like a saltwater coloured fish, stay.

That fish is a schooling fish

that barra has just missed the lure and left a great hole in the water where your lure was. However, by keeping

your lure stationary, it will remain in the strike zone and after the ripple settles, start your retrieve again and sometimes that fish will return and engulf your lure on its second attempt.

While there is still some daylight left before evening falls, I will position my boat in the deeper water on the edge of the weed or weed point, ready for the night fishing session.

I always keep an eye on my sounder screen, set on side and down scan. What I am looking for is to see if the barra are just passing through on the outside of my boat, or up against the weed edge – basically where the barra are positioned in relationship to my boat.

If you are going to have a cast, it’s better to cast to

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COMPASS

KINCHANT DAM Locations to try • Ramp Bay • Camp Bay • Feeder Gully • Quarry Bay • South African Point (‘Safa Point’) • Rocks • Drain • Weed Bed • One Post Bay • Inlet

Above: South African Point is the most prominent point.

Below: Isolated weed islands litter the dam.

and there will be more fish there to catch.

When on top of the weed, these fish will spook easily. Keep any unnatural noise to a minimum. I like to use the wind to move my boat where possible and keep my Minn Kota electric motor usage to a minimum. Be sure to cast with the wind to maximise cast distance.

Above: Crankbaits are worth having onboard.

Below: Weedless paddle-tail soft plastics are a must.

fish, not just cast for casting sake. The barra will push the bait up against the face of the weed and feed on it.

Therefore, this is where you will need to cast towards the weed edge.

At this location I will cast soft plastic paddle-tail lures like Squidgy Slick Rigs, Reidy’s Rubbers, Castaic Jerky J Swims, ZMan SwimmerZ and Zerek Flat Shads in the 5-7” size range.

Cast right up on the weed then start your retrieve by rolling the lure back over the weed edge. Dead stick the lure at the weed edge and let it fall down that front weed face to the bottom. Most of the bites will happen as it is falling, so be ready to strike.

If there’s no strike, hop the plastic all the way back to the boat. Always pause at the boat before lifting the lure out of the water, because sometimes the barra will follow the lure all the way to the boat. I believe they think their food is getting away, so they will engulf To page 10

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your lure right at the boat.

Basically, it’s a good habit to pause before lifting your lure out of the water every time and after a while it becomes second nature.

Tournament Angler Guide multiple sharp lifts and then hopping the vibe all the way back to the boat.

With vibes you also need a fast retrieve reel, due to the fact that most of the barra bites will occur on the drop

and strength to allow you to cast further and have the ability to control and steer a large fish. I believe the longer you can have your lure in the water, the better, and the greater the chance of catching your barra.

If I hook a fish in the weed and feel that it is going to snag me up, I will drive the boat straight towards the fish and try to pull the barra straight up. If the barra get too much line out, there is

them, so it pays to have a swimbait rod rigged and ready to cast. I use a Venom 7.6ft swimbait 30-50lb bait caster rod.

Like I said at the start of this article, use your sounder.

I have that much confidence in my new Lowrance HDS Carbon 16” sounder that if I don’t see any fish on the sounder, I move on.

Barramundi are one of Australia’s most fickle native fish species and I think we

Camp Bay should never be overlooked, particularly if there’s wind blowing into it.

Also at this location, if I notice that the barra are feeding on the bottom, I will change to a vibe. With vibes you may need to change retrieve techniques to encourage the barra. The hard part is working out what that retrieve is. I always start by casting long to the weed, allowing the vibe to sink to the bottom before starting my retrieve.

I always mix my retrieves up, with slow single short lifts, right through to

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as the vibe is falling back to the bottom. Once the barra inhales the vibe it will swim towards the surface to remove the lure from its mouth. A reel that can pick up slack line quickly is essential.

I like to use a 7ft 6kg Venom baitcaster rod and 7ft Venom 40-50lb spin rod. Both spooled with 30-50lb Sunline Braid and I use a 55lb Schneider leader and 60lb FC Rock Sunline fluorocarbon leader.

These rods have the length

abt.org.au

Top: Paddle-tail soft plastics are another must have.

Above: Deep diving hardbodies can have their day.

Below: Swimbaits are a growing craze in Kinchant.

Lily and weed point are dynamite places for barra. a greater chance of getting your line tangled in the weed structure. Drive up on them and hold their head up.

If I view free-swimming barra on my sounder, I will throw a swimbait lure at

will never completely work them out. That’s why the reward of landing a barra after all the effort is special and keeps us coming back.

Enjoy our dam; it’s one of Australia’s best.

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Zerek Fish Trap scores TNQ

Nick Wells

When the Fish Trap touched down a few years back, it hit the ground running. Anglers were wanting something different, something innovative and cost effective – not just another generic vibe. The Fish Trap ticked all the boxes.

In an era where soft vibes have evolved as the go-to lure for targeting impoundment barra, the Zerek Fish Trap has cemented itself as a household name amongst impoundment barra anglers, racking up plenty of good bags across the field in recent ABT BARRA tours.

The Fish Trap boasts many key characteristics that all come together to make this one of the most successful vibes on the market. From its notorious patented curl tail right through to its attractive vibe factor, the Fish Trap is constructed from extra tough TPE and has through-wire connections between all tow points, which makes this lure virtually bulletproof.

SIZE AND WEIGHTS The Fish Trap is available

in 65mm/10g, 95mm/23g, 110mm/34g sizes in 15 colours, and Wilsons will soon be releasing a 160mm/58g and 78g size, with 10 colours in the range.

The all-new 160mm vibe

is the big brother of this great range and was recently released at the AFTA Tackle Trade Show. It’s going to be a massive hit.

For now, however, we prefer to use the

The ‘rip ‘n’ roll’ technique that we use has seen plenty of fish hit the deck on the Fish Traps. Night jigging the main basin is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.

When the Faust barra are on the chew you can expect to see plenty of lures getting completely inhaled.

Another victim of the notorious FAB 110mm Fish Trap.

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110mm/34g size for chasing impoundment barra.

COLOUR SELECTION Every angler has that favourite colour that they can always throw with confidence, but to maximise your catch rates there are several factors to consider when deciding which colour to tie on. Water clarity, moon phases and the time of day or night are just a few of the things to take into account.

For example, on the build-up to the full moon we like to throw the white coloured Fish Traps. If the water is dirty we prefer to throw a brighter colour, such as FAB. At different times we’ve caught barra on pretty much every colour in the range, which can certainly make it hard to decide which one to tie on. Statistically speaking, when it comes to the numbers of barra caught the frontrunner is the FB (flying bear) colour in the 110mm model. It’s closely followed by FAB (fat Betty), BB (baby barra) and BG (barred grunter).

The fact that the flying bear colour catches plenty of fish isn’t the only reason it’s our favourite colour. FB has also been the saving grace when the fish just didn’t want to play the game.

RIGGING There are a few mods that we do to the Fish Traps just for that extra peace of mind. Impoundment barra can be brutally unforgiving and they do a pretty good job at finding any weak points in your gear. If you give them an inch they will take a mile.

For our beloved 110mm Fish Traps, we retrofit them with either size 2 Mustad Saltisms or Decoy YW-77s.

We’ve also been trialling the new Mustad TG-77 Jaw Lock Triple Grip trebles with great results.

People often ask us the reason for running the different treble arrangements. Our answer is that barra don’t always strike in the same way. They either hit hard, engulfing the

whole lure, or they swipe the lure fast during the retrieve.

When they engulf it you know they’re hungry, and feeding hard and fast.

When the barra are hungry like this, the strong Mustad Saltisms come into their own. During a hard strike, quite often the lure

don’t let go. This can be the difference between success and failure when the fish aren’t fully playing the game.

We generally run two of the same Fish Traps in our box, each rigged with the different trebles for the differing situations. It’s all these one percenters that add

Those frustrating taps and strikes can soon be turned into a fish in the net with the assistance of Decoy YW-77s. The Mustad TG-77s are also proving to be a big hit in tough situations. will get caught in both the bottom and top lips. The amount of pressure applied when a barra opens its mouth while hooked is massive.

Unlike a crocodile, which has the power advantage in closing its jaw, barra have the advantage when they’re opening their mouth. We’ve seen some brands of trebles completely straightened when fish became hooked like this.

On the other end of the scale, when barra head slap the lure you can barely feel the strike. This is where the YW-77 Decoys are great.

The short, curled, ultrasharp tips stick well and they

up in end.

When tying the lures to our leader we always use a loop knot. This allows the lure to perform to its maximum potential. We also remove the split ring on top and tie the loop knot straight to the tow point. By removing the split ring on top of the lure, you are eliminating another weak point.

TECHNIQUES With a lure as versatile as the Fish Trap, it can be as easy as tying one on and going your hardest. Still, there are a few techniques that we’ve had most of our success on. They’re location specific, and they aren’t

rocket science.

The first technique is one that we call ‘burn and pause’. Although the 110mm Fish Traps weigh 33g, you shouldn’t be afraid to throw them in the shallows. We love fishing them around shallow or weeded points in 3-4ft of water. As soon as the lure hits the water we crank them fast for a few metres, pause for a few seconds, then repeat. When a strike occurs it’s usually just after the pause.

Another technique of ours is the ‘rip and roll’. This can be used as a deep jigging technique or on a straight retrieve. It involves a sharp rip of the rod tip followed by a steady retrieve, either hopping off the bottom or

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Matt with a Faust midnight metery taken on the BB 110mm Fish Trap. The white colours are great for fishing on the build-up to the full moon.

The authors’ favourite colours: BB (baby barra), BG (barred grunter), FAB (fat Betty) and FB (flying bear).

working down the face of a point or weed edge.

Having your drag set right for these techniques is paramount. Your lure being retrieved at a rate of knots and a barra swimming a hundred miles an hour can only end one way – pulled hooks. A heavy drag is not needed. You can always increase drag pressure after the hooks are set.

A popular technique in Peter Faust (Lake Proserpine) is deep jigging the main basin.

Fish Traps have proven to be deadly using this technique.

The most productive areas are

from the boat ramp along to the toilet block, and across the rope near the wall. A quality sounder is vital with this technique as you want to make sure every drop counts.

We like use our ‘rip and roll’ technique when deep jigging the Fish Traps.

Heavily timbered impoundments like Peter Faust are super productive.

The majority of the best timber-laden points in Faust are on the western side. We like to sit 20-30m out off a point in around 10-12ft of water in areas that look like

“

the timber has been cleared.

We refer to these as ‘arenas’.

We position the boat in the middle of the arena, turn on the side scan and wait for the fish to swim through. These arenas give us a 360° angle to rotate our casts around the boat. It doesn’t take long to figure out which side they’re feeding on. Sometimes we hop our Fish Traps back along the bottom, and at other times (depending on where they’re sitting in the water column) a straight retrieve is all that’s needed to get the bite.

The barra generally chill out in the deeper water through the day, and roll in with the help of the current in the afternoons, bashing up baitfish which they herd onto the points and into the bays. Generally you will intercept them on their way in, but sometimes

you will have to move in or out to catch their bite period.

That’s pretty straightforward with the assistance of a good quality sounder.

Kinchant is another highly productive dam with the Fish Traps, but it’s very different from Peter Faust. It’s like one big weed bowl. We like to find the edge of the weed (curtain), sit out a good casting distance in the clear open water, set the finder to 80-100ft and wait for the barra to swim through.

Sometimes they will come out of the weed and go back in, while at other times they follow the weed edge back and forth, herding the bait. Spin gear is good in Kinchant as you can achieve those longer casts, and hop them back all the way to the boat. The longer the lure is in the water, the better.

Top: 100mm Fish Trap rigged with Mustad TG-77s.

Middle: Rigged with Mustad Saltism size 2s.

Bottom: Rigged with Decoy YW-77s.

I demand the best quality leader on the market in driving my confidence for success during the multiple tournaments I fish every year. Sunline FC100 gives me this and more, the best balance of abrasion resistance and knotability on the market. A rampaging meter plus barramundi in heavy cover is the true test and it never lets me down.

”

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SUNLINE FC100 100% Fluorocarbon designed with an emphasis on suppleness to impart more action into your lure and abrasion resistance.

The Triple Resin Processing improves its smoothness, knot strength and abrasion resistance. The lighter line classes have boosted knot strength while the heavy line classes have a harder outer shell to protect against PE cutting the line.

Length: 30m or 100m Line classes: 16lb to 100lb Made in Japan

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The North Queensland dam barra experience TNQ

Jacko Davis

Queensland is littered with many freshwater impoundments that are regularly stocked with the iconic barramundi. For many years I had read, watched and dreamt of these North Queensland barra.

On one wet winter day last year, yet another article published about the consistent 1m+ barra in these impoundments had me on the phone to my fishing partner and cousin, Mark Donnelly.

We agreed that we’d both procrastinated too long about making the trip, and proceeded to pencil in some dates in November that we believed we could sneak past our bosses. Two weeks in early November was the goal, and after some last-minute hurdles, we set sail from Bathurst in Central West NSW on route to Mackay in Central QLD. The 22-hour haul in our LandCruiser with Skeeter in tow went smoothly as we

that Peter Faust would provide the best opportunity to connect with quality fish. Bullish about our chances, we jetted off into the unknown of the lake as an afternoon storm approached.

Scoping the layout of the dam and the structure options, we were soon concerned about the darkness of the clouds getting near. Without a cast thrown we were meet with a violent electrical storm with heavy rain. Bobbing around in the middle of the dam with waves coming over the front of the boat, it would have been evident to the local bystander that we were a couple of firsttime southerners that were still pondering the main use of sugar cane.

With most smart fishos retreating home, we endured mother nature’s first crack at us and pushed through into the night. As base camp was 20km away, we decided it would be a better option to have a little nap on the boat and wake up for another attempt early the following morning. With a saturated deck from the night before and only one towel

over the top of us and hit ‘spot lock’ on the electric motor.

Again, we rose early in the dark and began firing casts out into the unknown for nothing. Then, at around 7am in some dense timber, still half asleep, I received our first hit which resulted in a solid hook-up. I was still in shock as the fish came straight at the boat, almost jumping in.

I had a clear view – this fish was big! It took off again and snapped the petty 50lb leader I was running, and it was like a dagger in the heart. After many long hours of casting we finally got an opportunity, and blew it.

I may have let a little rod rage out on my way to the back of the boat where I sat down and questioned if that was going to be the only chance we would have. We headed back to camp deflated.

That midday was spent preparing lures again, and doing some solid Google Earthing. Peter Faust offers a range of structure. The western bank is littered with trees, thousands of them,

This was the best fish of the trip. Although not a monster for Peter Faust standards, it was a very respectable 105cm. travelled through the centre of NSW and QLD, popping out in Rockhampton. The last few hours of the drive were hampered however, as Mark insisted on buying shares in every tackle shop between Rockhampton and Airlie Beach. He seemed to think that if we filled the craft with enough tackle the fish would magically jump in the boat, but we were soon short of space, having soft plastics stuffed in every nook and cranny.

Still, all this new tackle provided us with plenty of entertainment as we sat around the boat and ‘pimped’ our lures in an array of configurations. A caravan park in Prosperpine was our base camp, and with rods rigged and the boat packed we were ready for our first afternoon on Peter Faust Dam (Lake Proserpine).

PETER FAUST DAM Our prior research into the area gave us the impression 14

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on board, Mark slept across the bench seat of the Skeeter whilst I was relegated into the rod locker.

The next morning, we rose at 4am wet, cold and I was stiff from a night in the rod locker. Fishing to no avail until mid-morning, the harsh North QLD sun had us packing back to base camp. Without a touch from the previous night session or the morning, we were a little baffled but still confident we could succeed the following session. After spending the middle of the day resting and tweaking more lures, we were eager for the afternoon and night ahead. However, with a similar storm front smashing us again right on dark, the wind was taken out of our sails. We fished through until 11:30pm without even a sniff, and it was becoming clear this impoundment barra fishing isn’t a walk in the park.

Being a little more prepared we rolled out a fresh tarp over the wet carpet, threw a blanket

which can make navigating tough at night. Faust Point is a well-known shallow point that spans out to the middle of the main basin. We’d fished both these areas relentlessly and it was time for a new plan. With a few extra pointers from a couple of fellow fishos at the caravan park, we had a plot to target two prominent points on the north side of the dam.

As sun set that afternoon we had a distinctive hit, followed by a fish. A lovely mid 70cm barra was netted, and what a relief that was.

After a few celebratory cold ones, we headed back to base camp as a proper night’s sleep was well overdue.

With renewed confidence due to cracking a small pattern, we took the morning off and focused on the afternoon/night session. The two points we fished were shallow and thick with weed, however there were channels throughout that were clear. Using structure scan on our sounder, we were

A lovely high 90s chrome barra caught just as the last light was disappearing. able to see the barra travelling through these channels, which really boosted our confidence.

That afternoon we went out early and spent some time sounding and scoping the points. We found a prominent channel on one point, which ran parallel to the bank only a few metres off it. This channel was about 10m wide and around 2m deep. With sunset approaching, we positioned the boat at one end of the channel, securing the vessel by using both spot-lock on the electric and deploying dual power poles at the rear.

As it was quite windy, this technique allowed us to maintain a side-on position with the parallel channel. It didn’t take long to witness the barra start rolling through the channel on the sounder.

In groups of around 3-6 fish, it was like witnessing a car load roll through a McDonalds drive-thru as they picked off bait on the way through. The sounder would light up every 10-15 minutes, and each time we would squeal like kids with excitement as a hit was almost always expected.

Over that night and the following night, we managed to land 17 barra to 105cm, all from that one channel.

We couldn’t believe it – after such a brutal first few days we managed to find the fish and put them in the boat.

With success ticked off at Peter Faust, the monkey was off our back and the swagger back in our step. We were no longer the lads at the boat ramp each morning looking like we’d been at the pub all night without sleep and no fish to boot. With limited time left, we made the call to pack up base camp and head south to check out another dam on our radar: Kinchant.

KINCHANT DAM After another re-stocking of lures at the tackle shops around Mackay, we made the 50km drive inland to Kinchant Dam or, as the locals may know it, ‘the bath tub’. Unlike Faust, we were able to set up camp right on the banks of the dam, which made things a lot easier. The Kinchant caravan park was clean, had good

amenities, green grass and most importantly, a pub. We had only two days left before we had to begin the voyage home, so we eased into a few schooners and rigged some tackle ready for the afternoon.

Starting at a prominent point with a solid weed edge, it didn’t take long for the sounder to begin lighting up.

After the learning curve at Faust, we were able to pick up where we left off, and fishing a very similar style we began catching fish.

For the two nights we fished Kinchant, it went off.

With barra consistently rolling through the one point, we managed to land 15 fish and lose countless others due to jump-offs. This didn’t really matter however, as it was an amazing couple of sessions on the water, with constant strikes on a range of lures including big swimbaits and surface lures.

The Kinchant barra we caught were all between 80-99cm and would have pulled Floyd Mayweather backwards. Kinchant, being a much smaller dam than Faust, seemed less daunting and a lot easier to navigate.

Our prior research as well as talking with local tackle staff made Kinchant stand out as the easiest location to catch an impoundment barra. However, we made an effort to learn our craft on Peter Faust and I believe if we didn’t have the lows and highs there, then we never would have achieved the instant success at Kinchant.

WHAT WE LEARNT The whole trip was a learning curve for both of us. Coming from a southern freshwater background, we really didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard many rumours amongst the fishing community that these impoundment barra don’t fight as hard as their saltwater counterparts. I can safely dismiss this from our experience, as well from talking to fellow fishos at the boat ramp. There was plenty of ‘geez they go hard’ chat getting thrown around. So, in saying this you’ll need the right gear.

We threw almost exclusively baitcast tackle and would definitely recommend using these. They allow you to fight the fish more aggressively, which is paramount in tight country.

You can be far more accurate with a baitcaster and they are more comfortable for casting over long hours.

The baitcast outfits we opted for were Daiwa Tatula HD reels and Tatula heavy rods, which performed faultlessly. Line selection is a page we completely missed in our preparation, and in turn cost us dearly as our first fish (which probably would have been the biggest of the trip) snapped my 50lb leader like a toothpick.

After some sharp re-adjustments, we fished 50lb Daiwa J-Braid mainline and 80lb extra abrasion resistant fluorocarbon leaders of around

Mark made a serious investment at the local tackle shops. It paid dividends in the end.

a rod length. Although you can land barra on much lighter lines, I recommend a leader of at least 60lb for these impoundment beasts.

Barra have crazy sharp gill rakers, and when a fish inhales your lure (which happens most of the time) they will shear through light leaders with ease. Therefore, having a heavy leader with added abrasion resistance is key to consistently landing these fish.

When it comes to lure selection, like any species there’s a million and one different ‘lollies’ to choose from. Mark dropped a small fortune in the local tackle shops and although you don’t need to spend an excessive amount, I’d definitely recommend purchasing your tackle from the locals. Barra Jacks in Rockhampton and Tackle World in Mackay were both stores that had all the gear we needed and helped steer us in the right direction with some generous local knowledge.

Keeping it simple was what payed dividends for us in the end. We fished an array of baits but the Squidgy Slick Rigs were the stand out lure. We added an upgraded main hook and treble underneath to increase hook-ups. These barra are pros at throwing a hook,

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abt.org.au so having a treble for extra insurance was definitely necessary. There are plenty of videos on YouTube on how to rig these, and it’s quite enjoyable sitting down ‘tricking’ your lures ready for the next session.

Although the Slick Rigs were our confidence bait and caught the majority of fish at Faust, we played around with others at Kinchant. Swimbaits like the Westin Barry the Bass and the Jackall Gantia worked well and were a lot of fun.

We also caught fish on surface fizzers, DUO Realis hardbodies and a range of other soft plastic shads.

Choosing your time on the water wisely was also important.

North Queensland’s temperatures were a definite shock to the system, and fishing through the middle of the day was out of the question. Guys trolling the deeper banks will have success as the barra school at suitable depths, but for us, taking refugee during the heat of day and then hitting the water late in the afternoon was the key. As the last of the sun went out of view each day was when the fish started rolling into the shallower margins to feed.

We found a consistent bite window between 7-11pm each day, and when there

was a tide change in this period it was chaotic. The first time I heard of these freshwater barramundi feeding on a tide change I honestly thought the bloke was taking me for a fool, but he was far from lying.

Although these fish may be landlocked from the sea, they are still programmed to feed on these changes, therefore fishing hard around a tide change is vital.

PLANNING Giving yourself time would be the most important tip I could give. Heading north we were well aware of the challenges that lay ahead: a species we had little experience with, in an

environment we had never been before. If we had have planned a rushed trip and fished Peter Faust for just three days and then moved on, we would have caught nothing. So, when planning a trip, give yourself as much time as possible. With travel included you realistically need the best part of two weeks to give yourself the full experience these impoundment barra have to offer.

In terms of picking the right time of year, the warmer months are considered the best. From talking with a few notable fishos, November would have to be the pick of the months. However,

All systems go as the sun sets in the background! This proved to be the most productive period of the day.

October right through to April is considered prime fishing. Barra can still be caught throughout winter, but you’ll need to change your tactics, as they can be extra temperamental when the water is cooler.

If you can factor in the moon phase when planning a trip, definitely do. The week leading up to the full moon in considered the prime time.

We fished the week leading up and found the closer it got to the full moon, the better the fishing. It also makes it a little easier to navigate in the dark when a full moon is glowing down on the water.

Choosing your location is another obstacle. North Queensland has plenty of notable impoundment barramundi fisheries. Peter Faust, Kinchant, Teemburra, Monduran, Tinaroo and Awoonga are some of the more well known locations.

As we speak, Peter Faust appears to be the premier impoundment for catching metre barra. Kinchant is very consistent, with an abundance of quality fish, Tinaroo is further north but holds some crackers, while Monduran and Awoonga are both on the recovery after losing many big fish to floods in the past decade.

We only had the time to fish Faust and Kinchant, and

I recommend both highly.

We called to Teemburra to have a look on the trip home, but unfortunately had no time for a few casts. It looked unreal nonetheless.

GET IT DONE A trip like this takes a lot of planning and preparation, so there’s no better time to start than now. In this day and age most people are more concerned about making money than making life experiences, and that’s not sustainable. I can honestly say that spending that quality time on the water, catching the iconic barramundi and exploring new places, made this my most memorable fishing trip to date.

It was far from smooth sailing, and sleeping in a wet rod locker and going fishless for the best part of three days will test any keen fisher, but it’s these moments that make a trip. If we had gone and smacked a bucket load of barra from the start, the whole thing wouldn’t have been as rewarding. The fact we went through the failures, put the work in and finished with jubilant success was priceless.

For those readers who follow suit and make the trip north, I wish you the best of luck. I can guarantee you’ll learn a lot and bring home some great stories.

www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Barra

Mundi Magnets – essential lures for barramundi

BRISBANE

Rupe @rupeisfishing

Rupe Is Fishing

Statistics from the new Fishing Monthly website (wp.fishingmonthly.com.au) have told us that you guys are lapping up every feature we’ve run over the past year about must-have lures for certain species like bass, cod or trout. Steve Morgan’s piece about crab lures was also a huge hit.

Now, with so many people hitting the QLD impoundments and rivers since barra open season kicked off in February, I decided the time was right to start on a new article: ‘mundi magnets.

In this feature I’ll go through most of the bigger categories, and why and when you should use them. I’ll also cover the techniques for each, and offer up a 6-pack of my personal favourites. Just beware though, if you go and catch a mega mundi on something from my one of my 6-packs, you in turn owe me a 6-pack of Great Northern Original – it’s the lure law, and it must be respected.

THE HARD STUFF I reckon hardbodied lures for barra is one of the only lure categories in Australia that would actually be dominated by homegrown designs. Perhaps that’s because we’re an innovative lot, and our relaxed Aussie lifestyle has given us plenty of time to tinker with things and make the lures that our fishing forefathers needed. Or maybe these lures were born out of necessity, with early international offerings being too flimsy for the rigours of the mighty ‘mundi.

Either way, Australians have made some really great lures for one of our most iconic sportfish and we should celebrate those guys who inhaled all those paint fumes in the quest for better lures.

Trolling lures Lots of people like to beat down trolling, but the numbers speak for themselves. So many fish have been accounted using this method, and it’s not as easy as you may have been lead to believe, particularly in flowing water. Many of the rivers that hold 72

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barra have raging flows and ever-changing underwater landscapes. It’s no mean feat for the captain to steer not only his boat but also any number of rods with lures in the water that might be 40ft behind the boat in and out of snags, rock bars or man-made structures.

The ideal barra trolling lure is anywhere from 100-180mm long with a bib to suit the depth of water you’re likely to be fishing.

If you were to gauge popularity by just the numbers that appear on tackle shop walls, you’d find that 120mm long and diving to 10ft deep is what they sell the most of, which of course translates to that combo also catching the most fish. Narrow, pointed bibbed options will give you a very high cycle rate while shorter, rounded front bibs give the lure a slower cycle rate, with more of a roll at the top of its action.

Because of the typical length of the lure, you’ll usually find they have three sets of trebles. However many trebles they have though, always either choose a lure with the appropriate level of strength in its hooks and rings, or retro-fit your own before you hit the water. Don’t allow yourself to be let down by cheap terminal tackle.

While you’ll find them in thousands of weird and wonderful colour combinations, if I had to survive using only three I’d pick Guns N Roses, chrome gold and bleeding mullet to put food on the table.

Technique When trolling, set your lures anywhere from 15-40ft behind your boat and slow your motor down as much as you can. Plot your course along the outside of weed beds or standing groves of timber, or weave your way in and out of other structure as best you can. Don’t be afraid to hit the bottom every now and then, but adjust your course and depth by feel and using your sounder.

It’s not a bad idea to ask the kids for a lure retriever for Fathers Day either. You’re going to need it if you want to keep your lures where the big bruisers live!

Casting Lures While all lures can be either cast or trolled, there are certainly preferred applications for individual types or styles.

This means that while you don’t need to buy both casting and trolling hardbodies, it’s a good excuse to do so.

The casting lures aimed at the barra market have so much variation to them.

There’s quite a bit of crossover from both international markets and also from designs aimed at other Aussie natives, such as bass, cod or mangrove jacks.

Generally these lures will be shorter than their trolled counterparts, and manufacturers can get creative by making floating, sinking, suspending, rattling and silent versions of

the same lure. More lures for the tackle box – yay!

Start with lures from around 70-110mm long and, if you can afford to by a few, mix it up with colours, float types and sounds. You just don’t know what will turn the fish on.

Typically the bibs on these lures are a bit longer, to provide instant resistance in the water so they can dive to the desired depth quickly. You want them to get down low and go-go-go, twitching their way through the branches of submerged timber or bouncing between rocks and logs.

There have been quality Aussie-made lures for throwing at creek mouths and the like since the Godfather of lure making down under, Eric Moller, carved and modelled his own take on the famous Heddon Tiger.

This kind of Aussie innovation won’t be slowing down any time soon, but there’s also a range of quality imported jobs that have been beefed up to include ‘Heavy Duty’

RUPE’S BARRA TROLLING 6-PACK • Classic Barra 120 10+ • Bomber Long 15A HD • Rapala X-Rap SXR10 • RMG Scorpion 150 • Storm Thunder Barra • Zerek Tango Shad 120

Main Photo: The early autumn rains meant Sam Gilchrist from bythegills.com had to push up into swollen feeder creeks to find this healthy specimen.

Above: Michael Fox caught this escapee impoundment barra on a Reidy’s B-52.

The key was working it tight to weed and structure around the edges of the river.

Barra options. Lucky Craft and Jackall have done it better than most, with their Pointer AU and Squirrel Hank Tune series respectively. The level of engineering from these Japanese manufacturers is breathtaking if you’re a lure tragic like me.

Technique Techniques for this style of lure vary quite a bit, and can be unique to different locations. For suspending lures in particular I’d suggest a jerk-jerk-pause action, and the longer you can pause, the better. I’m an impatient angler so it’s always a struggle for me to let the lure sit there but trust me, the longer it sits the closer you are to hook-up.

Too often we can get caught up travelling a bank, casting directly into snags that look ‘fishy’. However, I can offer one piece of advice that I’ve ignored far too often while watching my deckies slay fish after fish: don’t get caught up in what’s next to the boat. Instead, cast forward of the bow as much as you can. The element of surprise is your friend, and even if your boat is a stealthy one it can still count against you.

RUPE’S BARRA CASTING 6-PACK • Lucky Craft Pointer AU Series 78XD • Jackall Squirell 79 Hank Tune • Barra Trooper 90 • Atomic Hardz Shiner 85 • Rapala Shadow Rap • DUO Realis Jerkbait 100SP • Zerek Tango Shad 120

THE SOFT STUFF I can remember walking into the tiny old version of Fishing & Outdoor World in Darwin one otherwise ordinary day when I lived in the NT, and seeing owners George and Ronald clearing space for tubs upon tubs of soft plastic lures that had just arrived. There were some cool lures from US makers like Renosky and Manns, as well as an Australian model called a ‘Squidgy’.

“What the *bleep* is a Squidgy?” I asked.

It was explained to me that these were the next best thing in barra fishing. Stupidly I dismissed it as being a flash in the pan, and something that would come and go quicker than the bottle of 15-year-old scotch I’d bought the old man for his birthday. Looking back on that day 16 years ago, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Nowadays there are just as many quality soft plastics available as there are hardbodies, possibly even more. The amount of places you can throw them and the ability to customise colours, weights and impart

happily donate any lure I own to hold a metre of ‘mundi.

Technique When using vibes for any species I like to vary my method. You shouldn’t change it up too often, but rather employ a ‘search and destroy’ tactic, particularly when you can see fish schooled up or huddled around structure on a sounder. At times like this, vibes really come into their own. Most vibes are aerodynamically built so you can cast them a mile, and then just present the lure to the fish in different ways until you work out what they’re craving that day. Sometimes low and slow will do the trick, while at other times you’ll need to almost violently hop them through the water column to trigger the strike.

Soft plastics like this Samaki Boom Bait 5” Bomb Shad with Owner Flashy Swimmer jighead can be fished in heavy cover without fear of losing your lure, and still achieve great hook-up rates. actions means if you haven’t got soft plastics in the boat you’re really limiting your ability to land a barra.

Because plastics are relatively cheap you might be able to afford more variety in your soft plastic box than you can with hardbodies, vibes or topwaters. Depending on the waterway you’re fishing, the typical food source size and also the size of barra you think you’re likely to encounter, I recommend starting with 4” models and work up from there. In saying that though, a 50cm barra will try to eat a 9” plastic, and a 120cm fish will happily eat a 4” bait if you put it in the right spot.

Technique Paddle-tail models dominate the barra offerings, and with good reason. They provide constant flash and movement during the retrieve, and the resistance from the tail slows the plastic down too. Just like a scene out of a crappy teenage movie where the insanely hot chick slowly walks away from the loser kid pining, that’s how it works for barra chasing soft plastics.

Keep it nice and slow and let the fish enjoy that shake until they can’t bear it anymore and steal a kiss.

VIBES This is a style of barra fishing that I personally haven’t had a lot of success with, but I have seen it bring so many big chromies over the rails I’ve lost count.

Vibes are very effective in deep, saltwater situations, and the approach is simple: long casts, slow retrieve, hang on and try not to get dusted.

Through a combination of weight and clever design, vibes offer the angler at the other end of the line the opportunity to keep their lure in the strike zone for a long period

RUPE’S BARRA VIBES 6-PACK • Samaki Vibelicious 100 Fork Tail • Madness Shiriten • Samaki Vibelicious 125 Thumper Tail • Jackall Transam 95 • Zerek Fish Trap 110 • Mazzy Vib Forte

TOPWATER Catching barra of any size in any way is a joy. They’re fast, explosive and often acrobatic during the fight, but if you can get them to eat a lure off the roof then the excitement increases dramatically.

Just looking at the basic anatomy of a barra you can see they’re almost built for stalking from below, and exploding on prey that sits just below or even above the waterline. Can you imagine just how nervous a frog must get in the time it takes to kick its legs three times getting from one lily pad to the next? It must be

RUPE’S BARRA SOFT PLASTIC 6-PACK • Castaic Jerky J Swims 7” • Samaki Boom Baits Bomb Shad 5” • ZMan SwimmerZ 7” • Holt Productions Swim Prawn 4” • Keitech Swing Impact Fat 6.8” • Squidgies Slick Rig 130mm

Normally saving his angling talents for giant Murray cod, Adam Townsend ventured north and landed this hulking barra on a paddle-tailed soft plastic.

A barra virgin before this trip, Tweed young gun James Thurley has found himself a new addiction after dragging several wild ‘mundis from tight cover on a combo he has ‘permanently borrowed’ from his boss.

of time, and also maintain consistent action with very little input from the rod. Don’t get me wrong, you can work the lure by hopping, jigging or burning and killing as much as you want, but it’s not necessary for them to be effective.

You can get vibes in either soft or hard forms, and they come in every colour of the rainbow with different sound types and sink rates. Some of the translucent fish patterns available now look as close to a real baitfish as you’re going to get.

Whichever model you chose, try to get one with a through wire from tow-point to hook hangers. That way, even if everything goes wrong and a lure hits the self-destruct button, you’ll still get the fish. I would

exhausting, but that’s precisely where the fun starts for the angler!

We’ve now had enough mad scientist lure makers around the globe to make a huge assortment of topwater lures, many of them closely mimicking actual food sources, that we can pick and choose from. Looking at that long list of lures is like selecting from the menu at KFC – you know EVERYTHING is delicious but what do you feel like today?

Do you want something that crawls like a wounded bird or rodent, spits and splutters like a busted baitfish, or hops through the lilies like a frog?

More to the point, what does Mr Barry Mundi want to eat today?

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Barra From page 73

Technique Fizzers and frogs are my favourite when it comes to surface fishing, and I make my choice between those dependent on where I’m casting. If it’s a creek mouth or standing timber with little chance for obstruction I’ll throw a fizzer and go for a burn-and-kill style retrieve. Fizzers throw plenty of water and usually have at least a couple of trebles depending on body length, which helps with hook-up rates.

If I get the opportunity to throw directly over a weed bed or grove of lilies I’ll opt for the frog every time. Most are built on upward facing double hooks, and are

a few pauses thrown in for good measure.

When throwing glidebaits I’ll use them in the same areas but with a much longer pause and a big sweeping rod action to let them dart and dive as they sink. Give the lure some slack line when you can, it will give it more freedom and it will dive through the water with an even more lifelike action. If you’ve ever seen a video of a school of sardines being swiped at by angry billfish, you’ll know that there are always a few that get stunned in the rush, and they sort of float and tumble away from the school. That’s the action I’m looking for in my glidebait, hopefully offering a nice easy meal for big bad Barry and his mates.

Even hulking barra like this one taken by Greg Livingstone will eat small, well-presented soft plastics.

Brisbane angler Gavin Springate spends just about every waking moment of every day thinking about fish, and when the air heats up in early spring he heads north in search of brackish water bullies. weighted to skip and skim over the surface of the lilies and drop into the space between, giving fish the opportunity to eat them.

This design means they are very much a weedless lure most of the time, but you can suffer from poor hook-up rates, especially with the smaller class fish you find in some of the freshwater below the Queensland impoundments.

RUPE’S BARRA SWIMBAIT/GLIDEBAIT 6-PACK • Zerek Live Mullet 5.5” • Evergreen ES Flats • Chilton Tackle Co RAY 145 • Swimbaits Australia 150mm Glidebait • Lucky Craft Real BG 150SS • Castaic BD Shad

ON THE FLUFF Having never actually attempted to catch a barra on fly, I had to do a bit of ringing around in order to make sure I didn’t miss out on the vital info for this article. Speaking to a few good mates, they all had many hints, tips and tricks to share, but one thing rang true across all conversations: don’t arrive undergunned. As the saying goes, you should never take a knife to a gun fight, and your gear had better be up to task or you may as well leave it at home.

Flyfishing itself is one of the purest ways someone can enjoy this great sport, but there is so much to do before you find, hook or even think about landing a fish.

Start with a fly rod in the 9wt, 10wt or 12wt bracket and an intermediate line. A shorter rod can help when trying to cast in tight situations, and will also help you steer a fish once connected.

You’ll need a mix of flies, from poppers and gurglers through to sinking flies like Clousers and legendary flyfisherman Lefty Kreh’s all time favourite – the Deceiver.

Like any lure presentation you’ll need practice, patience and a variety of

RUPE’S BARRA TOPWATER 6-PACK • Bill’s Bugs Fuzz Bugs 100mm • OSP Bent Minnow 106 • Teckel Sprinker Frog • Rapala Skitter Pop • Lunkerhunt Popping Frog • Owner Tango Dancer 95

SWIMBAITS AND GLIDEBAITS No tackle box is complete these days without the addition of swimbaits and/or glidebaits. These versatile offerings can present lures in such a realistic fashion that you could be forgiven for mistaking your own lure for a baitfish. Just like vibes, there are hard and soft options on the market, and both will do the job for you if used in the right spot in the right way.

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Tempting a barra on fly is one of the most rewarding captures an angler can enjoy. Roderick Walmsley did exactly that on his trusty EDGE wand.

This is a priority on my 2018 fishing bucket list and will be attended too once the water heats up!

presentations to crack the pattern on that particular trip, and it all may change before you go again.

Whether you’re fishing for barra or any other species, don’t be afraid to pick a fly rod up and have a go. It’s frustrating at first but it really is rewarding when you get it right.

RUPE’S PHONE-A-FRIEND BARRA FLY 6-PACK • Lefty’s Deceiver • Gold Bomber Fly • Pink Thing • Dahlberg Diver • Clouser Minnow • Ammo Flies Game Changer

Jerkbaiting is a must-know technique when fishing weed edges, heavy timber and the edges of lily banks.

The lure should be able to get to the desired depth quickly, then suspend until the barra just can’t stand it anymore and has to inhale!

NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT DO IT If you haven’t caught a barramundi before, I hope this has given you a helping hand when considering what to throw, and encouraged you to venture out in search of them. And if you’ve already popped that cherry, hopefully this feature has given you a couple of options you haven’t considered before.

There’s a reason people travel from all over Australia and from all corners of the globe in search of barramundi. They’re an impressive fish and can create memories to hold on to forever.

Just do me one favour – the next time you’re out on the water, remember that nobody wins a prize for owning the most lures, so take a risk and make that cast into the impossibly thick snag. The fish of a lifetime could be eagerly awaiting the arrival of your sacrifice to the fish gods.

If the worst thing that happens is that you lose a lure and have to go into the tackle store to buy more, you’re still winning at life!

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Developing your own friendly fishing network NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

We all need a ‘network,’ right? But in this modern age of social media and increasingly impersonal online interactions, how do you build a reliable

Traditionally, at least in my day, a lot of us learnt how to fish from our parents, grandparents or other family members.

However, as life became busier and fishing less ingrained in the matrix of our culture, that knowledge and know-how skipped entire generations. Today

melded families. Budding anglers in this brave new world often don’t have an obvious Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda to turn to for wisdom and instruction.

For a big chunk of my own development as an angler, books, magazines, videos and television shows filled this mentoring void.

Fishotopia.com produces a free monthly newsletter, with lots of great info and links. brains trust that can help you grow your fishing and enhance your on-water experiences?

No matter what hobby, sport, craft or passion you’re into – from football to gardening to motor racing – you really need a strong support group or network to nurture your development and offer a helping hand when the learning curve gets steep and slippery.

Typically, this network is a loose collection of friends, family, fellow fans, mentors and even total strangers who share your love for that particular pursuit, and who are willing to offer advice, or act as sounding boards for your ideas. Without such a network of supportive peers, it’s very easy to lose your way, and with it your love of the hobby in question. Fishing is certainly no exception.

we live in a time-poor, information-overloaded world of single parents and

I owe those instruments of ‘old media’ an immense debt of gratitude, as I do

Fishing is a wonderful pursuit for the whole family, and you’ll be hardpressed to find a better support group than your nearest and dearest.

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the various fishing clubs and associations I’ve been a part of over the years.

None can replace a sage old grandpa or a sharp-tongued relative standing by your shoulder and pointing out – gently or otherwise – the errors of your way, but they do guide you in the right direction.

For better or worse, the hard copy pages of old media are gradually vanishing (with rare and welcome exceptions like the wonderful publication you’re holding in your hands), and less than %5 of fishers choose to join clubs these days, while most TV shows and DVDs have been forced to become blatant marketing vehicles in order to survive. It’s increasingly hard to get the good oil from a trustworthy source.

Many of us have turned to social media to replace traditional support networks, and that’s understandable. But Facebook and Snapchat and Instagram and YouTube are indiscriminate platforms, with little in the way of inherent quality control, which is my polite way of saying that there’s an awful lot of rubbish out there! You need to have your BS filter cranked to max and your scepticism drive firmly engaged when

We all need to start somewhere, and then learn more.

But who should we rely on for getting good advice? diving into the crowded pool of social media.

It also seems that much of what goes on in the realm of social media involves the dynamics of envy. The underlying message is: ‘I have a better life than you, with a betterlooking partner, brighter kids and a much funnier cat than yours… and I catch huge fish that look like this… and this… and this.’

The way things have been heading over recent years was making me sad.

Fortunately, I’m married to a marketing guru 10 years my junior who has a wealth of ideas about ways to improve things.

It was Jo who cooked up the concept of Fishotopia. com, which is our latest attempt to provide a safe, reliable platform for fellow fishers seeking to grow their support networks. I’m not going to do a hard sell on Fishotopia here, and I know it’s not going to appeal to everyone. But if

it tickles your interest, scan the QR code here or go to www.fishotopia.com and have a look.

Meanwhile, if you already have a reliable fishing network, I suggest that you value it, nurture it and never, ever take it for granted. In closing I’ll give you the most important tip I’ve learnt about networks in my six decades on this planet: you will get out of them exactly as much as you’re willing to put in.

Tight lines!

VIDEO

Scan this QR code to go directly to Fishotopia.com and sign up for the free newsletter.

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday

Cooking

Succulent seafood risotto always a winner SYDNEY

Andrew Humphries

METHOD Cut the fresh squid into strips about 1cm wide by 3cm long and place in a bowl with prawns, mussels and

salmon. Marinate with 5g finely chopped parsley, 1/4 tsp garlic and 1 tsp oil and set aside for 20 minutes.

Next, prepare the onion and the herbs and measure the rest of your ingredients.

Heat the frying pan until hot, add seafood and sautĂŠ

for 1 minute to seal and lightly brown the seafood.

Take out of the pan and set aside for later.

Next, add 1 tbsp oil, onion and garlic to the pan and sweat until the onion is translucent. Add Arborio rice to the pan and increase

heat to pan. Cook the rice for 2 minutes, then add white wine and 1/2 cup fish stock and stir.

Allow the rice to absorb the liquid while stirring occasionally. When the rice has almost absorbed all the liquid, add another 1/2 cup

stock and repeat the process 2 or 3 times until the rice is half cooked. You can tell this by biting into a grain and looking at the white spot in the centre.

Next, add seafood and cook for 5 minutes. Add lemon zest, dill, chives,

parsley and lemon juice.

Add the diced butter and parmesan and stir through the risotto. Taste the risotto and if needed, season with salt and cracked pepper.

Serve in a bowl with some shaved parmesan over the top.

INGREDIENTS 1 brown onion finely diced 15g chopped dill 15g chopped chives 15g chopped parsley 1/2 tsp minced garlic 1/4 cup shaved parmesan 2 tbsp olive oil 1.5L fish stock 1/2 lemon zested and juiced 100ml white wine 100g butter diced 1cup Arborio rice 100g fresh green prawns 100g fresh squid 100g mussels out of shell and de-bearded 200g salmon skin off diced into 1.5cm pieces

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SautĂŠing the salmon, prawns, squid and mussels in a hot pan.

The risotto coming together now with the seafood and herbs added to the rice.

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From the top, left to right: prawns, salmon, squid and mussels, finely diced brown onion. Bottom, right to left: chopped parsley, chives and dill, crushed garlic and shaved parmesan and diced butter.

After sweating of the onion and garlic, add the rice and cook for 2 minutes.

Finishing off the risotto by adding the butter and parmesan, and seasoning with salt and pepper.

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Fresh salmon, prawns, mussels and squid marinating in garlic, parsley and olive oil.

Letting the rice absorb the white wine and fish stock while stirring occasionally. In this photo it is almost ready for another cup of stock.

The delicious finished risotto ready to eat with a little extra parmesan over the top.

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AFTA FISHING TACKLE, MARINE AND OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW

BEST OF SHOW AWARDS

2018 AFTA Tackle Trade Show Each year the fishing tackle trade conducts a business-to-business show on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter, and it’s always an event to remember. Distributors and fishing tackle stores from all over Australia gather to show off new products and do deals.

This show is not open to the public, so we at Fishing Monthly and www.tacklejunkie.fish are bringing you the latest and greatest tackle via social media, YouTube and print. To those of you who missed our videos broadcast straight from the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where we interviewed wholesalers showing off their latest gear, you can check

them out on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

One of the most exciting things about the AFTA Show is the Best In Show awards. It starts with retailers voting on what they judge to be the best new gear, the votes are tallied, and the awards are presented at the formal Gala Dinner. We have compiled the winners and runners-up for you in this issue, and some of them are particularly innovative and exciting.

And just quietly, we hear that there’s a good chance there will be a public (non-buying, look and see only) day next year. It’s not confirmed yet but we’ll bring you news of this as it comes to hand!

JOHN DUNPHY MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT Every second year the John Dunphy Memorial Fishing Tournament is run in conjunction with the AFTA Trade Show.

John Dunphy was one of Australia’s greatest tackle innovators, and Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) uses the event to help debut new technology and improvements to fishing tournament data capture.

This year was no exception.

Seven tournament pros took out 14 industry identities with the aim of catching their biggest bag of five bream. However, they didn’t bring and fish back to the weigh-in. Instead, all of the captures were recorded on the ABT Tournament Series App (powered by TrackMyFish). At the same time, the majority of the field were live streaming their fishing day via a collection of Garmin action cameras. This live stream was curated and presented on at the Trade Show on two massive screens.

“ABT’s aim is to make fishing a real spectator sport,” said ABT founder

Steve Morgan, “and with live streaming technology getting smaller, cheaper and easier to manipulate we are enjoying taking the lead in this area.”

The live stream is managed by InfoFish, and it’s a great partnership. Not only does the company (which administers Queensland’s tagging program) run the back end of this system, but the data gets used meaningfully after the tournament.

With over a million fish recorded in the InfoFish database, the company believes that monitoring the top 20% of anglers gives a great snapshot into the structure of a waterway’s fish stocks. This means that catch and release fishing can become an important part of community monitoring of the resource. That’s a great position for catch and release fishing.

For the record, team Costa won the day with a cracking Gold Coast bag with over 4kg for five bream. Well done to Jamie Mckeown (ABT); Jenny Gordillo (Costa) and Tanya Konsul (Costa).

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AWARD In an age when everything has a use-by date and companies and brands come and go, longevity is rare. J.M. Gillies has written its story into history and has significantly helped shape the fishing industry in Australia. For J.M. Gillies this story now spans 90 years.

Over the years J.M. Gillies has been responsible for the distribution of brands such as Plano, Rapala, Maxima, Berkley, Redington, Sage, Arbogast, Classic, Bomber, Killalure, Warlock, Tassie Devil and SeaDog. J.M. Gillies was established in 1928 by John Malcolm Gillies in West Melbourne, and his vision was to service the fly industry.

Fly tying was the core business, and this built a foundation and a name for the brand in Australia.

The start of 1987 saw Pat Levy, who at the time was a young storeman and packer, risk everything to buy the business.

Gillies had a number of warehouse moves in a short period of time due to the expansion of the business, before

finding a base in Port Melbourne in 2000.

The business continued to expand, and a number of neighbouring warehouses were taken over before finally running out of space, and the company moved to a purpose-built warehouse in 2009 that is still home today.

During the company’s 90 years, J.M. Gillies has distributed and manufactured more than 70 brands of fishing products and other sporting goods. For Pat, it’s always been about providing the best service and brands. The service side has been a foundation for the business, with a core sales team and internal staff that’s being largely unchanged for the past three decades. Although brands and products come and go, the team at J.M. Gillies have become a family with a common goal, and have established great relationships with tackle stores all around the country and also other countries around the world.

Pat Levy was inducted to the AFTA Hall of Fame at the 2018 AFTA Gala Dinner and Awards Night, in recognition of his services to the fishing tackle industry.

WOMEN IN RECREATIONAL FISHING Also represented at the show were members of the WIRF leadership program (Women in Recreational Fishing). Focused on unearthing tomorrow’s female fishing leaders, this scholarship program gave 10 women the chance to attend the AFTA Gala Awards and contribute their voices to the future of the industry.

The network has been created by the VFA (Victorian Fisheries Authority) as part of the Target One Million program to encourage females to participate in the fishing activity with the family, rather than just watch. It is linked to the Target One Million drive to increase participation to get one million Victorians fishing by 2020. Some of the goals of the program

include how to better share knowledge about the skills and equipment need to fish, to empower women with the right info; how to get more women on boards and in leadership roles within the fishing industry; and how to advertise women in fishing in a more positive way.

An interactive Facebook group has been created for women to enable them to talk, gain and share knowledge to engage in recreational fishing activities in a comfortable manner.

Female anglers of all levels are encouraged to join, post and learn from one another. Interested parties can check it out at www.facebook.com/ groups/womeninrecfishing.

And that’s all the news from the AFTA Show.

Read on to check out all the product winners!

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BEST ROD CATEGORY WINNER Abu Garcia Real Finesse Abu Garcia Real Finesse

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BEST REEL

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Abu Garcia is ushering in the next generation of sleek design and high performance rods with the Real Finesse range.

Featuring 100% carbon blanks with Abu’s Triarchy Force production methods, finesse rods deliver sensitive, ultra-light blanks with higher break strengths and improved impact and fracture resistance.

Features include: nano carbon (super high modulus Nano Carbon 55t material); 4 Axis Cross (carbon tapes are wrapped around the blanks in an X shape, both from 45° and

135°, enhancing torque and preventing twist); equipped with Advanced Fuju Torzite Micro Guide System; Triarchy Force (100% carbon material arranged in both length and width directions with unique multilayer construction and finishing techniques, increasing hoop and overall rod strength).

There are five models in the range, all 2-piece: 51OULS (EXF action, 5’10”, 0.14g rig weight, 0.1-0.3 PE line), 67SULT (F action, 6’7”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 610LS (EXF action, 6’10”, 0.1-5.5g, 0.1-0.3 PE), 76LT (F action, 7’6”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 79ULS (EXF action, 7’9”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.3 PE). www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

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BEST REEL CATEGORY WINNER Shimano Curado DC

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For smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of circumstances, the new Curado DC changes the game and represents the latest in Shimano Technology development.

Shimano’s Digital Control (DC) braking system is the star element of this reel and gives you the ability to make every cast count.

The Curado DC offers four adjustable settings that enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures of different shapes and sizes, in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings.

It can also accommodate different casting techniques and even line type.

Housed within the aluminium Hagane Body, Micromodule gearing provides seamless gear

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Shimano Curado DC

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Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC

meshing for smoother winding performance, whether on the retrieve or when hooked up.

There are four reels in the Curado 150 DC stable, including a choice of a medium (6.2:1) to an extra fast (8.5:1) gearing ratio, and a lefthand wind option is also available. www.shimanofish.com.au

RUNNER UP Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 DC that was recognised in particular at the AFTA show.

Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate.

Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity.

You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels.

The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Abu Garcia MGXtreme Finesse

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Daiwa TD Black Combo

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The clear winner in the Best Combo category was the Abu Garcia MGXtreme spin reel matched with a Real Finesse rod.

The Abu Real Finesse also won the Best Rod category.

MGXtreme spin reels are Abu Garcia’s lightest and most compact spinning reels.

These brand new reels feature the CMg carbon rotor and one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box to reduce weight to 5.6oz (159g). The high performance, durable AMGearing system is combined with HPCR and Salt Shield bearings for both freshwater and saltwater use. This extremely lightweight, versatile reel is also equipped with an innovative removable sinker keeper that eliminates tangling when using a drop shot.

Features include: 11 stainless steel HPCR bearings (Salt Shield ball bearings for pinion gear and line roller) + 1 roller bearing; CMg rotor; AAMGearing system; Carbon Matrix drag system; one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box; C6 carbon body; Rocket line management system; compact bent carbon handle arm with cork knob; always on, instant anti reverse; and attached sinker keeper. abugarcia-fishing.com.au

An evolution of the popular Generation Black rod series (HVF blanks), the new TD Black series of rods has taken a leap forward in blank design and now features HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus blanks.

With higher graphite density able to be achieved through Nanoplus technology, the result is a lighter, crisper, more powerful rod, while the addition of Braiding X technology further enhances rod performance by increasing wall strength and reducing blank twist. This allows a lighter, more dynamic rod to be created.

For the perfect reel to match the new TD Black Rod, you can’t go past the new TD Black LT reel. Bearing the famous Black name that has been featuring so strongly in the Daiwa line-up over the last few years, the TD Black LT features the LT’s Light Tough Concept to deliver anglers a reel that impresses in looks and wows in performance.

Both these great innovations from Daiwa combine to create one deadly combo. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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The Zerek Live Swimbait takes the famous Live Mullet body profile to the next level. It uses the same concept as the widely acclaimed Live Shrimp – to emulate natural prey movements to trigger strikes.

The segmented TPE (thermoplastic) body is held together with a Kevlar webbing, providing superior strength and freedom of movement.

The main body section hides an ingeniously designed one-piece wire frame that connects the tow point to the hook hanger, giving even more strength. The wire frame also has additional hangers – two on top for attaching a spinnerbait arm or extra hooks, and a hanger underneath for chin weights such as the Mustad Fastach Football Weights and the traditional hook hanger.

Easily workable with a straight retrieve, the lifelike 3D eyes and detailed finishes (natural and attractor patterns) make the 8” Zerek Live Swimbait very effective on barra, Murray cod, mulloway and more apex predators.

Available in 12 proven colours, the new Zerek Live Swimbait is designed to sink in freshwater at the rate of 1ft per second, allowing anglers to effectively target suspending fish, thermoclines or bait schools easily. www.wilsonfishing.com

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The original Chasebaits Ultimate Squid has taken Australia by storm, catching a huge range of species in both fresh and salt since its 2017 release.

Now, in response to angler demand, the Chasebaits team has released a 200mm version for anglers targeting larger offshore species.

The larger model has all the same features that made the original such a smash hit – those trademark rippling wings, extended candles that flutter with any movement, contracting tentacles, custom 3D squid eyes, and custom scent.

Designer Grainger Mayfield said the new model has been performing very well in field testing.

“Naturally it has been catching a variety of pelagics and reef fish,” he said, “but anglers may be surprised to know that it’s also effective on cod and barramundi in the fresh. The Squid may not represent a specific freshwater prey item, but neither do spinnerbaits and it doesn’t deter the fish. As more anglers start changing their mindset, we’ll see a lot more freshwater catches on the Ultimate Squid.”

Another new release is a custom jighead called the Ultimate Squid rig, made from ultra high tensile steel. It comes in 21g and 42g versions, has twin 4/0 assist hooks, and makes the Squid falls at a natural 45° angle for the most natural presentation possible. Keep an eye out for both the Ultimate Squid and Ultimate Rig from October.

Price: approx. SRP $13 www.chasebaits.com.au

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Chasebaits Frill Seeker

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The Sayori-S mimics one of the world’s most common baitfish – the garfish.

Not only is the Sayori-S the perfect shape, but it also swims with the perfect, natural ‘S-type’ motion, just like the gar that it’s imitating so well.

This sinking lure can be used for shore casting or for casting and trolling from a boat. At low speed, it swims under the surface with a tight, snaking action, while at higher speeds it will skip and splash across the surface like fleeing prey.

You can also add a trolling weight or use a downrigger without affecting the lure’s action. If you remove the hooks, Sayori-S also makes a great teaser.

The Sayori-S HD-Saltwater edition is fitted with premium quality 6X strong saltwater-grade ODZ Trinity SX hooks by Maruto Japan. Matched with HD stainless steel split rings, this lure is ready to tackle the biggest and strongest fighters in the sea. No aftermarket terminal upgrades are required.

The Sayori-S 235 measures 235mm and weighs 58g, and will be available from October.

Price: SRP $34.95 www.unitedtackle.com.au

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Building on the success of the original Pompadour, Jackall has released the much-anticipated 120mm Mega Pompadour.

The Mega Pompadour is aimed squarely XOS freshwater fish such as Murray cod and big impoundment barramundi, and in a short time it has already gotten a number of 1m+ cod captures under its belt.

This top-of-the-line crawler bait has been built to demanding specifications for Australian conditions, so there’s no need

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The new Frill Seeker is one of the latest lifelike creations from Chasebaits, and when you watch a video of it swimming you’ll know why it caused such a stir at the AFTA Trade Show.

The Frill Seeker can be used as a surface wakebait or subsurface, diving to 1ft. Its fluid, lifelike movement comes from its segmented body, soft segmented tail and supple frill that shakes when the lure swims. When paused, the frill flares out, adding an extra dimension to the lure’s realistic appeal. As well as imitating a lizard, its profile also mimics a swimming mouse or rat.

This durable lure features an ultra strong 10X soft tail attached securely with a corkscrew wire, and is fitted with ultra sharp and sticky BKK trebles. It measures 175mm (95mm body and 80mm tail), which is an ideal size for bass, small cod, small barra, jacks and any other fish that feeds on terrestrial animals like lizards or mice.

Frill Seeker comes with a spare tail, and will be available from December. A larger model is in the pipeline, so watch this space!

Price: SRP $24.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

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to upgrade hooks or rings – it's ready to go straight out of the pack.

The Mega Pompadour’s wings close on the cast, and its magnetic weight movement allows the lure to be cast long distances while keeping its flight attitude.

It also has a unique noisy rattle system, comprised of a glass rattle and brass ball.

The Mega Pompadour has a strong crawling action made by metal wings, two types of loud rattles, and additional water disturbance made by the rear prop. It creates a massive noise and commotion on the surface, which large predators can’t resist.

Price: SRP $59.95 www.jackall.com.au

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Bluewater HC Stickbait

Rapala Xtreme 160 HDFFU

The new HC Stickbait from the JM Gillies Bluewater stable is built tough to take on the most ferocious predators in the sea.

The HC Stickbait is handcrafted, and both the insert and body are made with polyurethane material. The lure also features a heavy-duty wire through construction.

This new lure measures 175mm long, weighs 120g and is initially available in five reactive UV colours with internal shell. It is set to be a smash hit with anglers targeting the likes of tuna, mackerel, wahoo and giant trevally. It won’t be available in stores until October, but in the meantime you can find more news and photos at the JM Gillies website, on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jm.gillies) or Instagram (@jm.gillies). www.jmgillies.com.au

When fishing offshore, anglers often like to troll between spots to maximise their chances of catching a feed, and now Rapala has come up with the perfect bait for this application.

As we know, Rapala makes lures that perform well, and look absolutely fantastic, and the Xtreme 160 is no exception to that, and with the new High Definition colours, they’re sure to see hungry fish launching themselves at it coming over the side.

With the ability to handle trolling speeds of 15-20 knots, you can rest assured that this bait will stay in the water, and won’t come to the surface.

This bait is perfect for tuna, mackerel wahoo, mahimahi and many, many more.

Fitted with quality VMC trebles and built tough to handle the riggers of pelagic teeth, this is an absolute winner for anyone wanting to troll at high speeds offshore. www.rapala.com.au

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Viva Entice Bench Crimper

Complete Book of Knots

The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper from Viva won the AFTA Best Game Fishing Accessory Award by a large margin.

This reliable bench crimper can be used with nylon, wire, brass, copper, aluminium – any kind of crimp and any leader material.

Owning a bench crimper is ideal if you want the power to do the biggest crimps, and the Entice does crimps up to 400lb. And if you’re making a lot of crimps, it makes the job much easier.

Viva director Ran Feng said the Entice had gotten a great response in the short time it’s been available.

“We gave it to a number of gamefishermen to try out, and they loved it,” he said. “It’s just so easy to crimp, thanks to the leverage from that long handle. Everyone wants to be sure that their crimps are 100%, and with the Entice you can achieve this with very little energy.”

The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper has interchangeable dies, and is excellent value for money.

Price: SRP $249 www.vivafishing.com.au

Learning how to tie the correct knot is one of the fundamental necessities of this great sport, because the knot is a critical connecting point between you and the fish. If your badly-tied knot fails, your fish is gone!

This latest book from AFN will set you on the right path. The Complete Book of Knots has been put together by Bill Classon and Nigel Webster, hosts of the popular TV show The Fishing Show. . In this fully illustrated publication the pair outline all the knots anglers will ever need.

This book caters for everyone, from the beginner to an expert, and has everything in it – from the basic knots through to some of the more advanced. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned angler, there is something in it for you.

Superbly illustrated by Trevor Hawkins, the steps are easy to follow, making it easy to master the process, and to tie dependable knots.

Price: SRP $16.99 www.afn.com.au

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series, which feature Fuji Guides on the runner models, Pacific Bay rollers, Pacific Bay bent butt, and a carbon butt on nonbent butt models.

All Ocean Assassins are built using SLS3 construction, which 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 of the rod by utilizing the strength of glass combined with the light weight of the carbon fibre to deliver a strong, balanced and thin rod blank. www.pennfishing.com.au

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Daiwa’s J-Braid goes to another level with the release of the premium braid in the line-up, the new J-Braid Grand.

A premium 8-strand PE, J-Braid Grand is made from an advanced new raw material (IZANAS) and is J-Braid’s strongest, most abrasion-resistant line ever.

Four times more abrasion resistant than other lines, J-Braid Grand has a short pitch fibre construction that significantly reduces line damage and failure to dramatically increase line abrasion resistance and line strength consistency.

Like all true premium Japanese 8-strand PE lines, the new J-Braid Grand maintains a true round profile for optimum line performance through the guides and on and off the reel.

Made in Japan and available in sizes ranging from 6lb (0.6PE) to 150lb (PE16) and in multi and island blue colours, J-Braid Grand is the smoothest and best performing J-Braid they have ever made. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Utilizing the latest 9-carrier technology, the award-winning Berkley X9 Braided Line Crystal is an extremely smooth and strong line that has been designed for optimal strength and casting distance.

Featuring a 9-carrier construction with a PE core, Berkley X9 braided line is extremely round and smoothly flows through guides for increased casting distance. Its high strand construction also enhances wear resistance for fishing over rugged structure, and provides higher knot strength. It is finished in Berkley’s highly visible crystal and flame green colours for easy strike detection.

Berkley XP Braided Line Crystal is currently available in 150m, 300m, 2000m spools in crystal and flame green, and Berkley has also released a 5-carrier version (X5). For more information on these and more new releases from Berkley, visit their website or check them out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BerkleyFishingANZ) or Instagram (@berkleyfishing).

Price: SRP from $34.99 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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When it comes to quality and value for money, Penn’s Ocean Assassin range of offshore rods are a definite winner. Since their launch, they have accounted for a wide range of bluewater species.

For 2018, Penn has added a series of Game models to the Ocean Assassin range.

There are eight models in the new Game

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Wilson Fishing Live Fibre RLF46FRD

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The Live Fibre RLF46FRD from Wilson Fishing brings together years of development in a package that has been designed to be more affordable yet retain all the qualities Live Fibre rods are known for.

Rated at 37kg, this fully rollered bent butt game rod features premium quality, big foot roller guides, a deluxe leather foregrip and a detachable butt.

The blank features a composite build with world leading Toray carbon cloth that places the pressure on the fish, not the angler leading to shorter fight times and less angler fatigue.

Built to Australia’s exacting demands, loaded with features to put the fight in your favour and now awarded the AFTA Best Game Fishing Rod for 2018, the Live Fibre RLF46FRD will be available in December. www.wilsonfishing.com

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Much of the best fly fishing in our amazing country exists in the tropical regions of the north, and now Rio have provided the perfect fly line for tropical climates.

Rio’s Jungle Series of fly lines are designed to withstand the heat of tropical jungle destinations. Each line is built on Rio’s low-memory DirectCore that is extremely easy to anneal (stretch) and lies perfectly straight on the water, yet retains the stiffness

needed to cast on hot conditions.

Each line has a short, quick-loading head that will easily cast and turnover typical large flies used in the tropics, and a range of density options ensures anglers are covered for all species, conditions and waters.

So next time you’re headed north in search of a tropical fly fishing fix, or even overseas to a typically humid fly fishing Mecca, be sure to load up your reels with something that’s up for the job – Rio’s got your back! www.jmgillies.com.au

RUNNER UP Primal fly rod series Primal Fly Rods are the newest brand from Manic Tackle. They deliver a high premium performance and finish quality at an affordable price. They’re ideal for anglers looking to upgrade from an entry level package.

At the heart of all Primal rods is a helical core of Nano matrix prepreg. As well as making the rods strong, it means they cast a very smooth, tight loop with very little tip bounce and exceptional tracking. Casting is smoother and more accurate.

The award-winning RAW freshwater series of rods are lightweight and fitted with customised machine cut skeletal reel seats with double locking rings and stabilised timber inserts. The stripping guide is a titaniumframed SIC and the guides are custom light wire single foot guides. The rod actions are fast while still maintaining enough feel to drop a tiny dry at close range off the rod tip.

The RAW freshwater rod range includes an 8’6” 4wt, with 9’ 5wt, 6wt, 7wt and 8wt, all 4-piece.

Price: SRP $499 www.manictackleproject.com

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The most demanding conditions require a different kind of tool, whether it’s a strong head wind, a fish at a distance, bulky rigs, or a heavy sink tip.

The new Igniter from Sage is tuned to handle the most technical of conditions.

This is not a rod for the everyday angler, the Igniter is equipped with a high line speed taper to carry large amounts of line at distance with wind cutting performance.

This rod is absolutely perfect for streamer fishing with heavy sink tips or covering big water when conditions turn south.

Made form quality materials, like Fuji ceramic stripper guides, hard chromed snake guides, KonneticHD technology, laser etched line weight on slide band, Sage retains its reputation for being some of the best fly gear available anywhere.

The rod also comes with a black powder coated aluminium rod tube with a Sage medallion.

If you bring the will, the Igniter will supply the way. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Berkley Snap Jigs

TT Lures SwimlockZ jigheads have been designed for fishing large soft plastic paddle tail swimbaits, with a tapered head design that shifts the bulk of the head weight below the hook to control the torque of the tail, and reduce the tendency of big plastics to roll onto their side.

Built on heavy-duty, black nickel Mustad chemically-sharpened hooks to handle big fish, SwimlockZ also feature TT Lures’ ‘head lock’ grub keeper to secure your soft plastic in place, and a stainless steel connection point moulded into the underside of the head to secure stingers or a blade for added flash and vibration. Lock it on!

SwimlockZ are initially available in three hook sizes (8/0, 9/0 and 10/0), and four weights: 1/2oz (14g), 3/4oz (21g), 1oz (28g) and 1.5oz (42g). Keep an eye out for them in tackle stores from September.

Price: SRP $15.95 www.ttlures.com.au

An innovative take on a time-tested technique, the Berkley Snap Jigs deliver all of the fish-catching performance of an ice-jig, but with the ability to attach your favourite soft plastic.

The Snap Jig can be fished both vertically over structure and for suspended fish in open water, or cast and retrieve for side-toside and backward-and-forward dynamic darting action. This versatile jighead naturally glides on the fall, and can be worked over points, open water, and on a straight retrieve for an enticing side-to-side action.

Along the underside, the Berkley Snap Jigs feature a hook hanger that allows anglers to increase attraction with the addition of a blade, and improve hookup rates with a stinger hook. Offered in a number of lifelike colours, the Berkley Snap Jigs provide a unique take on a lure that has been putting fish in the boat for years. www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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When relentless heat threatens to cut short a pleasant afternoon tossing carefree casts, arm yourself with cool comfort and keep chasing those elusive fish. Simms’ SolarFlex Armor Shirt features hard-working COR3 technology, with all-day oudor-fighting and moisturewicking protection.

The shirt shields against the sun’s harmful rays with a UPF 50 rating. The Coolcore fabric chills down as it gets wet, giving you natural relief from the heat. Mesh panels on the sides and arms add breezy ventilation that will keep you feeling fresh on the water from dawn until dusk. It is finished with a full-coverage built-in gaiter for all over protection.

Features include: COR3 technologoy (quick‐drying, wicking and UPF 50), Coolcore fabric technology (up to 30% lower surface temperature when wet), Polygiene fabric treatment (natural and permanent odour‐ control), patent‐pending full coverage gaiter design, and mesh inner side and arm panels for ventilation.

Price: SRP $199 www.manictackleproject.com

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Wilson Fishing has just released the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf, which takes a well-accepted product and improves it to make the headscarf much more user friendly.

For starters, the material is much softer, being constructed from 95% polyester and 5% spandex. This makes the user far more comfortable during the day’s fishing.

The design is also tapered to provide vital protection in two areas. Firstly there is a hump designed into the top of the front that more effectively covers the nose of the wearer. A similar, but slightly larger hump is also designed into the bottom to cover up that annoying spot

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Getting plenty of looks, feels and votes at the AFTA show this year was the Black Marlin Sublimation shirt from Samaki.

Samaki have a history of providing anglers with good quality, reasonably priced and sun protective fishing apparel, and this fantastic design will fit in nicely with the rest of the range.

Just like the rest of the range, the eyepopping images on the material will let other anglers know you mean business.

As usual, Samaki have used their UPF 50+ Fish Dry fabric, which is a lightweight 100% polyester material, and will keep you incredibly cool, will dry quickly, yet still breathes.

All of Samaki’s fishing shirts are available in adult, youth and kid sizes, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out on the water, and still say sun safe. www.samaki.com.au

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at the base of the neck that is left exposed by zippered or buttoned fishing shirts.

Rated by ARPANSA at 15+, the material is also moisture wicking, making it perfect for anglers fishing in hot weather.

Comfortable and cool to wear, ideal for all outdoor activities and machine washable, the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf is a brilliant clothing accessory to keep you on the water longer. www.wilsonfishing.com

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Venom Deluxe Neckscarf

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BEST SUNGLASSES CATEGORY WINNER TIED Mako Edge All anglers are looking for that extra edge when out on the water, and Mako Eyewear have delivered with their aptly named, Edge frames.

Designed for style, flexibility and comfort, these lightweight warp resistant nylon frames have an 8-base wrap to reduce side light entry. The TR90 frame material has rubber grommets in all the essential places, the tapered arms and bridge, to make sure they stay put all day.

The polarised lenses are available in polycarbonate and glass and in all Mako’s popular colours. makoeyewear.com.au

WINNER TIED Spotters Fusion Spotters have done it again with their new Fusion frames. It combines style and functionality with a matt black frame contrasting with an ice mirror lens.

The modern wrap frames are comfortable and light enough to wear all day. Cleverly designed with ergonomic

non-slip grips on the arms, they’ll securely stay in place when you need it most.

The Fusion comes in a wide choice of lens material and colour tints to suit your fishing style. The grey-based lens give incredible colour definition, glare reduction and superior depth perception delivering 100% UV protection and perfect visual clarity. spotters.com.au

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RUNNER UP Tonic Tango Tonic Eyewear know good design, so it is no surprise that this year’s newest offering, Tango, has balanced sleek style with supreme comfort.

The Tonic Tango is incredibly lightweight with a mere 1.7mm lens, and a streamlined arm that doesn’t rely on rubber grips to stay on your head. The cleverly designed fit holds smoothly and securely to ensure you won’t be constantly pushing them up the bridge of your nose.

An update to the lenses haven’t been forgotten. Keeping anglers in mind, extra yellow has been added to perfect fishing tactics for flats fishers. www.toniceyewear.com.au

Tonic Tango

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The YETI LoadOut Bucket is no ordinary bucket. It’s well-nigh indestructible, and is built to last a lifetime. Essentially, it’s the last bucket you’ll ever buy.

This 5 gallon (19L), super-tough bucket can handle any tough job on the boat or out camping. It features a HeftyHauler Handle for a comfortable, secure grip, as well as a LipGrip Handle, making it easy to carry when full. It’s food safe and has a BearFoot Non-Slip Ring, so the bucket will stay where you put it, and not leave scuff marks on the deck.

The LoadOut Bucket is made from high-impact-resistant, high density polyethylene construction, and has AnchorPoint Tie-Down Slots for securing to your boat or vehicle. It measures 10.25” x 12.875” x 15.875” ( Weight: 5.8 lbs.

If you want to cover the contents of the Bucket, you can purchase a Loadout Lid separately. The Loadout Lid keeps contents safe from salt spray and contained when conditions get rough.

It’s transparent, easy to remove and water-tight. It’s also super strong; the HeftHex Construction makes for a durable framework that resists cracking, even in extreme temperatures, with over 130kg of pressure. If you didn’t think lid technology

was a thing before, this might get your attention. And thanks to the Four-Finger Release Tab, it takes just four fingers to get the lid off.

Price: SRP $69.95 (lid not included) au.yeti.com

RUNNER UP Hook’em Teaser Bar The new Teaser Bar is another quality Australian-made product from Melbourne-based company Hook’em.

This new dredge boom allows anglers to run dredge teasers further behind the boat, eliminating the problem of dredges going into the prop wash on turns. It’s an effective and affordable option for smaller boats which don’t have outriggers.

The Teaser Bar goes in both straight and 30° rod holders. The drag of the dredge puts a lot of pressure on rod holders, so Hook-em have added an extra support hole at the top of the Bar. This hole, which sits above the dredge connection, has been added to take a retainer, to greatly reduce the weight and pressure imparted to the rod holder.

As you’d expect from a Hook’em Product, the Teaser Bar is made from all stainless steel and is over-engineered for superior strength. It’s also great value for money.

Price: approx. SRP $275 www.hookem.com.au

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Wilson Platinum Tournament Bag Daiwa Tactical Tackle Box

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The Wilson Fishing Platinum Tournament Bag is a large hold-all tackle bag supplied with eight waterproof tackle trays, to fit enough tackle for any trip.

There are three outer pockets, two of which are constructed with open mesh to allow the stored product to breathe and dry out, making them perfect for things such as fishing gloves, packets of plastics and more. The front pocket is fully enclosed and will suit lure sleeves and the like, and on the front of this pocket is a tool holder that can accommodate any tool you’re likely to need, and may even be used to dry lures on!

Up top there is clip-attached cover that houses a carry handle and a mobile phone and wallet compartment. Underneath this cover is the zippered top that gives access to the eight waterproof trays.

On the sides are two sturdy, plastic sleeve covered carry handles and a padded shoulder strap. The bottom of the bag is constructed from waterproof, formed and condensed plastic foam, giving your tackle protection from water ingress from below and creating a solid base that will never collapse. www.wilsonfishing.com

Daiwa have come up with a tackle storage solution to allow you to keep all of your different accessories in one place.

Daiwa’s series of Tactical Tackle Boxes have tons of storage, and the large top pocket will hold five 3600-sized trays (medium) or five 3700 sized trays (large).

Tactical Tackle Boxes also feature a moulded sunglasses holder, two zippered side pockets on the back, a mobile phone/ GPS holder on the front, and a pliers holder on both of the side pockets. All of this clever, space-optimising placement means you don’t have to leave anything behind to save on space.

Large carry handles, padded shoulder strap and great tackle organization will allow the angler to take the Tactical Tackle Boxes everywhere.

Each box comes with five Modular Storage Trays, which are perfect for lures, jigs, terminal tackle, sunblock and tools.

The DTTB-60 model (medium) is 9” x 13” x 14”, while the DTTB-70 (large) is 12” x 14” x 12”. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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The Zexus ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp can be used in traditional on/off mode, or you can put it in motion sensor mode, and trip the sensor by waving your hand in front of it. This feature is very useful when you have wet or dirty hands, and is designed to not get tripped accidentally by other moving objects.

This bright LED light (550 lumens) runs on 3 x AAA batteries, and when left on it will shine for around nine hours. During normal use, however, when it is being switched on and off, it lasts for weeks.

The ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp features a very wide band to provide the most comfortable fit possible, and it’s fully adjustable to fit a wide range of head sizes.

It’s also splashproof, rainproof and corrosion resistant, which makes it the perfect choice for fishing, hunting and camping.

Price: SRP $199 www.vivafishing.com.au

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The Hopper BackFlip 24 fuses the durability of the Hopper Flip with a new, convenient-to-carry design. It is Yeti’s first cooler engineered to double as a backpack, using the best tech of both worlds.

Built taller and wider than its Hopper Flip counterparts, the Hopper BackFlip is designed to efficiently distribute the weight of your goods. Yeti designers have added supportive, ergonomic shoulder straps to help lighten the load, and a removable chest strap and waist belt are included for added stability and security. And like the rest of the Hopper family, it promises superior cold-holding, a 100% leakproof zipper, and a tough DryHide Shell.

The Hopper’s high-density fabric is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays. The liner is made from an FDA-approved food-grade material. Closed-cell rubber foam offers far superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers.

With a DoubleBarrel frame and Diehard joint construction, the Hopper BackFlip 24 is strong enough to support up to 227kg

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Price: SRP $449.96 au.yeti.com

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The new Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest combines the storage capacity of a traditional fishing vest with the essential safety requirements of a PFD. The clever design is ideal for kayak fishing, canoeing, or any lightwatercraft activities.

The Watersnake Prowler includes multiple zip pockets on the front and back for storing fishing tackle, tools, and personal items. It also features easy-to-adjust straps, durable buckles, tough zippers, and a camo print design that enhances the stealth factor by blending into the surroundings.

The Prowler’s PFD 50S rating provides adequate buoyancy for swimmers in sheltered waters, while the streamlined construction also allows plenty of freedom for paddling and casting. In fact, it’s so comfortable you’ll forget it’s even on!

The Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest is available in four sizes (small, medium, large and extra-large) to suit a range of body weights, from 40kg to in excess of 70kg. www.watersnake.com.au

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The AFN Fish Kool Bag is a new fish chiller bag that has been designed to store your catch in a hygienic environment, ensuring fresher, longer lasting fish.

This durable insulated bag holds ice for days. It’s portable, ideal for boats, and has a flared bottom to ensure it doesn’t tip over.

The Kool Bag is insulated with 1/2” dense foam, and is UV and mildew resistant.

Other features include comfortable and strong carry handles, a waterproof zip and fish ruler.

The bag includes wheels for easy transport of heavy loads, and has a drain plug so it’s easy to empty out at the end of a trip.

This fully sealed bag comes in four sizes: Small (750mm x 400mm x 200mm), Medium (1000mm x 400mm x 200m), Large (1400mm x 400mm x 300mm) and X-Large (2000mm x 600mm x 400mm).

Price: SRP $99-$300 www.afn.com.au

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Penn Spinfisher VI Liveliner

Chasebaits Rip Snorter Vibe

Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH

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Costa Untangled Pescador

Chasebaits Rip Snorter

Costa have absolutely pushed the envelope this year at the AFTA show, with a completely new concept to the world of fishing accessories.

Introducing the Untangled range, which has taken a positive step towards cleaning up our environment.

What makes the Untangled series so unique, is that the frames are actually made from discarded fishing nets! Every year, thousands of tonnes of fishing nets are left in the ocean to rot and be hazardous to marine life.

Taking out the prestigious John Dunphy Award for Innovation this year is a member of the Untangled family, the Pescador, which is available in for lens colours.

On top of all this, the cases are made from recycled material as well, and in this case, they are made from old Patagonia clothing.

They look as good as the other frames in the Costa range, and by wearing them you’ll be saving the environment as the same time! www.costadelmar.com.au

With so many vibes on the market, the creative team at Chasebaits set out to provide something truly different. After many months in R&D, they have achieved their goal with the world’s first truly weedless vibe. It’s great news for anyone who’s lost a lot of expensive vibes, or who is too afraid to fish them in snaggy country.

Designer Grainger Mayfield said it took a long time to get the design exactly right.

“The hook design in particular was very complicated,” he explained. “Even when we had finished the design, it took another eight months to find the right factory to combine the quality, strength and shape that we wanted. It was a great feeling when we finally achieved our goal of creating a fantastic hook that works seamlessly in the lure to make it a true weedless vibe.”

An obvious concern with any weedless lure is the hook-up rate, but that’s not an issue with the Rip Snorter. Field testers have been using it deep into snags and rock beds to great effect, catching bass, cod, mangrove jack and more. Its ease of use means that even novice anglers can catch fish.

The Rip Snorter is 90mm long, weighs 16g and will be available from October. Keep an eye out for a 12mm version in the coming months.

Price: SRP $17.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

The new Penn Spinfisher VI features IPX5 sealing so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system.

The HT-100 drag washers are housed in a fully-sealed spool to give the stopping power needed for big saltwater fish.

A Full Metal Body and sideplate keep the CNC Gear System in precise alignment under heavy loads. Durability, Smoothness, and Precision is what CNCGear Technology delivers. By using state of the art software and CNC machinery brass drive, pinion and oscillation gears are cut to exact tolerances.

The new Spinfisher VI live liner system has four ‘on’ positions which progressively increase the rear drag when needed.

Factory matched settings have been applied for each size reel, and can be user adjusted to the angler’s preference with the included tool. With the turn of the handle, the live liner is automatically disengaged and back in fighting mode.

The Spinfisher VI is available in standard, Live Liner and Long Cast models.

Price: from SRP $199.99 pennfishing.com.au

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RUNNER UP TIED Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 CXH that was recognised for innovation at the AFTA show.

Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range.

Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity.

You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels.

The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS SEA CREATURES THAT USE CAMOUFLAGE

STONEFISH PYGMY SEAHORSE RIBBON EEL LIONFISH FLATFISH MIMIC OCTOPUS COLEMAN SHRIMP TAPE TAIL REEF SQUID MAHI MAHI

ANGLERFISH TRUMPETFISH LEAFY SEADRAGON REDDEVIL TOADFISH ROCK POOL GOBY DOTTY BACKFISH PYGMY LEATHER JACKETS CUTTLEFISH SCORPION FISH

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: NSW Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

NSW SEPTEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering.

The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind.

The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to James Nicolson from Burraga, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for July are: T Collier of Harrington, B Poppett of Barden Ridge, G Stephenson, M Priem of Tura Beach, who each won a OtterBox Defender Series phone cases valued at $74.95.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

Tuncurry, K Baker of Gloucester, S Roweth of Millthorpe, J Natt of Sussex Inlet, G Newman of Menai, R Todd of Wahroonga, M MacMurray of Eglington, J Wilson of Boronia, A Hepper of Iluka, J Lang of Wee Waa, D Sullivan of Aberdeen, M Dunford of Young, B Caunt of Baulkham Hills, B Bailey of Ullaldulla, T Griffin of Bathurst, F Seal of Junee, B Schnitzer of Cooma, R Moore of Wingham, P Lyneham of Fern Bay, L Bennett

of Marrangaroo, B Hall of Balgownie, R Jones of Toronto, D Burgess of Elenmore Vale, R Waters of Temora, M Blake of Walcha, M Hughes of Uralla, R Coombes of Vermont, J Gowan of Werombi, A Helderman of Mount Pritchard, M Ryell of Singleton, W Farlow of Angourie, A Whiting of Berowra Heights.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

© A Cordelia Adams original artwork.

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 12, 16, 25, 31, 36, 39, 42, 49, 55, 61, 64, 68, 82, 88, 95. – NSWFM

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SEPTEMBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Flathead

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: I Necic of Glenfield, K Chubb of Caringbah, B Ross of Maitland, A Zoneff of Aberdare, E Murta of Gungahlin, J Gill of Laurieton, D Turner of Kincumber, D Petterson of Goulburn, D Nisbet of

Answer:

The perfect time to be chasing the perch NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

As we venture into the warmer months and the Murray cod season comes to a close for three months.

Starting September 1, it’s the perfect time to be chasing all the perch species throughout the local impoundments.

For the keen Murray cod fishers, this doesn’t mean it’s time to put the bigger gear away as Copeton Dam and a few other dams located further down south remain open for the three months

while the surrounding rivers close for the spawning period.

Pindari Dam also has a closure on it for targeting Murray cod, but yellowbelly and silver perch can be targeted during these months. Lures up to 70mm in length can be used, but anything bigger is considered a Murray cod lure. Small blades and vibes always work well on these fish, as well as worms or yabbies if you’re not keen on the lure fishing.

With recent fish kills in this waterway to a dam roll-over, it’s recommended you don’t eat or even target these fish at all until water samples

are returned from the DPI laboratory. Check the DPI website for more info.

The Beardy River is currently still closed for the trout spawning period but will re-open next month on the October long weekend.

The Severn River also has a closure on it for Murray cod fishing, and although there are yellowbelly inhabiting this waterway, it is recommended to leave them be as there is still a high chance of catching a Murray cod and disturbing them.

Copeton Dam is an awesome place to be at this time of year as the golden

Good yellowbelly are around to be caught at this time of year.

A healthy impoundment native caught on a Megabass Vatalion swimbait.

perch start schooling up and heading out onto the grassy flats in the warmer months.

They can be caught in huge numbers and sizes. Whether you’re slow trolling vibes or hopping blades across the bottom, there is a lot of fun to be had. At this time of year big Murray cod are well known for eating smaller lures or even eating the yellowbelly off some unlucky fisher’s lines once hooked as well. Surface lures, swimbaits and chatterbaits are all still

Fish light to get the bite ORANGE

Michael Collison thegurusgear@gmail.com

The season is over for another year, and it’s been a memorable one.

All the time on the water has produced some great metre-plus fish.

We are so lucky to have two great cod and yellowbelly fisheries on our doorstep: Lake Burrendong and Wyangala Dam. They’re not too far to travel to, as they are about a hour from home Orange.

Now that cod season has closed, everyone is

focusing on yellowbelly. The water starts to warm up at this time of year, and the goldens begin to fire up on the edges of the dams. This edge bite should continue through until November.

The goldens won’t be fully switched on this month, but they will be easier to catch than they were in winter. The best way to target them at the moment is with vibes or blades slowly worked on the bottom. I’ve had good results on ZX blades, Transams and Mask Vibes.

Scent goes a long way in helping to get the bite, and you’ll also do better if you

This yellowbelly fell victim to a wellpresented Mazzy Vib.

very effective lures to use at this time of year on the XL Copeton cod.

Just a reminder for the river running into Copeton Dam during closed season – the rule is; ‘if your boat

can’t make it up there, then you should not be fishing there.’ I hope everyone has a good time getting outdoors this month and hooking into some fun Aussie native fish.

Guyra TroutFest

29 September to 1 October Fishing competitions – great prizes & giveaways l Fishing simulator all weekend l Market day – stalls, music, train rides, displays, trout tasting l

Art Show & competition

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Collector’s displays

guyratroutfest@gmail.com Yella schools consist of similar size fish, so if you catch one good specimen you’ll quite often get more. fish lighter. I recommend 6-8lb leader and 10lb braid.

The best times are in the morning from sun-up until around 10 o’clock, and just on dark. The yellas don’t bite as well in the middle of the day but you can still catch them. When you’re fishing the points, just go deeper as the sun gets higher; say, from around 10ft of water in the early morning to around 25ft towards the middle of the day. On overcast days you’ll get a longer bite period.

Yellas like to school up at this time of year, so if you catch one in an area you should catch a few.

Windamere always has a good spring bite, and we can expect this year to be no different. Burrendong should fish well too on the rocky points.

02 6775 5735

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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Cod season fizzles out and yellas take over CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Cod season wrapped up at the end of August with more of a fizz than a bang. A few large fish were caught, but on the whole, the cod were pretty quiet, leaving most anglers pining for some spring yellowbelly action. The 2017-18 cod

season will be remembered as one that started slowly then eventually delivered big numbers of muzzas through January followed by slim pickings from February onwards (due to a lack of rain). Hopefully, over closed season, the river will get several good flushes and the cod will once again be primed and ready to eat come 1 December.

I always like September in Canberra, mostly because of the exceptional angling opportunities that are on offer as the water warms and the days lengthen. It’s a time when locals dust off the light spin, head to the urban lakes and cast plastics, vibes and blades for big golden perch.

Early spring in particular is a great time to get amongst

A lot of schooling fish are still hanging in deep water.

Anglers fishing light are catching plenty at Burley Griffin.

the action because the bigger fish seem to push up into the shallows (in search of bait) a little earlier than the schooling yellas, which gives fishos a chance at hooking a 50cm or even 60cm specimen during a session.

Spring also means bass and I know of about a dozen very keen anglers who will

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SEPTEMBER 2018

head from Canberra to the South Coast as soon as the clock strikes midnight on 1 September to target some bronze missiles.

I mentioned the growing number of ACT fishos who travel to the coast most weekends during bass season in a previous column and I expect even

more to start targeting these amazing sportfish over the coming months.

LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin continues to produce excellent fishing for anglers targeting golden perch from boats and kayaks. There are a number of large schools of small to medium-sized

yellas holding off the points around Springbank Island and these fish are easily coaxed into taking a small vibe or blade simply by jigging the lure either side of the school. There are also good numbers of redfin to be found under Kings Avenue Bridge and some bigger specimens have also been landed along edges behind the High Court. This time of year is all about matching the lure to the bait, so make sure your lure mimics a fleeing mosquito fish (green and

silver coloured plastics) and you will catch plenty of fish.

Lake Tuggeranong is producing good fishing with medium to large redfin and small to medium golden perch feeding up in the shallows. I fished the flats around Mortimer Lewis Island recently and caught plenty of reddies using Strike Pro Enticer grubs in motor oil matched to a 1/8oz jighead. These plastics are very effective and often yield when other lures aren’t working. If you’re targeting

goldens, fish low light periods and try the section of the dam towards the spillway after the bridge.

Lake Ginninderra has finally started to fish well again. Though there is still a weed issue in the lake, the goldens have started to move from deep and are more predictable hitting both blades and vibes in the shallower bays towards the college. There are also plenty of redfin available once again with some large schools cruising a few metres out

Large reddies are taking plastics at Tuggeranong. followed by a pause. Usually the strike comes on the pause. If you’re fishing from the bank, go for a walk to Shannons Inlet at dusk and cast a plastic (65mm-80mm) at some of the isolated, half submerged trees. There are some solid fish to be found at the inlet, but be prepared to lose a few lures as the fish usually hold tight to the timber.

There is also a great yellowbelly and redfin competition that runs through spring called the Big Burley Bash. This competition is held at Lake Burley Griffin every Thursday afternoon and the prizes are exceptional.

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goldens will quickly move into the shallows and feed up on worms before moving deep again.

SURROUNDS Last year Googong Dam produced some excellent golden perch and redfin fishing during cod close and although the dam is still warming up, some anglers have caught a few good-sized fish using small deep divers like the Jackall Chubble.

This lure is very effective at Googong, especially in the darker colours and appeals to both large redfin and yellas.

The trick is to cast the lure parallel to the sunken trees and crash dive the lure with a few quick cranks

E

N

Ryan Osman caught some nice fish at the end of August.

from the old police wharf.

Ginninderra has always been one of my favourite fisheries and it’s great to see it returning to its best.

Yerrabi Pond hasn’t fished well for some time.

The pond is quite shallow and this coupled with the weed problem and lack of rain has meant that the fish have moved deep and are out of casting range for shore-based anglers. That said, some fish have been caught by anglers fishing from kayaks in the middle of the pond using blades like the Ecogear ZX35 in dark knight. If we do get some rain before the hot weather hits, Yerrabi is always worth a shot, as the

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91

Fewer fish are being caught as we head into spring MILDURA

Rob Oswin

The last month has been considerably slow for fishing, with few reports of anglers catching anything.

The reports that were coming in have been of few cod and even fewer perch. This is most likely due to the difficult weather stopping many anglers from getting out onto the river.

The majority of anglers have been avoiding the river due to the colder temperatures, the wind and rain being a huge hindrance.

The Mildura area has had a good season on cod, although the numbers being caught had steadily declined as we headed into the closed season.

Many have chosen to stay indoors and wait for the spring weather to finally start. There is also the upcoming end of the cod season now effective, so those anglers who have already caught their fix of cod for the season have stopped targeting cod or just simply quit while they’re ahead. After all, it has been a very good season for cod.

For those who have braved the weather there have been some very good outcomes with very nicesized cod being caught and a few reports of perch being caught on vibes and smaller spinnerbaits. For

the cod being caught being on hardbodies, Ballistas and StumpJumpers have been successful. With the majority of cod being roughly 60-90cm, the river was still producing some good fish last month, but the number being caught is on the decline. From the reports of perch being caught, most are 30-40cm and being caught on small lures.

Medium-sized yabbies are also a good way to go.

The end of the cod season has started. With declining rates of cod being caught, it can be safer to say that many anglers are going

to be primarily targeting perch in the upcoming month; it’s also safe to say that with the spring weather bringing warmer weather there are going to be many more people on the river.

It can be expected that bait fishing is going to become a lot more successful and with more and more people taking to soft plastics it’s going to be a successful month for those targeting perch.

Don’t disregard the continued effectiveness of lures on perch. Vibes and spinnerbaits are still extremely successful as always.

The cold weather bite continues in September ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As we roll through the chill of winter it’s refreshing to see the fish are still on the chew at many locations.

With a good rise coming through the Murray River; both Murray cod and golden perch have been caught on bait and lures. Swan Hill tackle proprietor Jim Credlin says several large Murray cod to 90cm have been landed on lures upstream of the road bridge.

A few cod have also been landed on bait as has the odd golden perch. Worms have been the best bait and black,

red and green are the best lure colours. Most of the lurecaught cod have been taken on the troll, but the 90cm fish was landed on the cast.

The Wakool River at Genoe is still producing good-sized golden perch on bait. Worms fished close to the snags or backwater eddies have been most productive.

Boundary Bend on the Murray River was producing a few small Murray cod on lures and golden perch on bait. The Murray River between Wemen and Mildura was producing Murray cod to 65cm on lures and golden perch on both lures and bait.

Downstream Lock Nine had some larger Murray cod to 90cm being caught mostly on trolled lures. Some good-

BOATING FISHING CAMPING HUNTING

sized golden perch to 55cm are also biting on lures at this location.

While the chill of winter has culled all but the keenest of anglers, those still wetting a line have enjoyed some good fishing in some of our local waters over the past month. Now that the season is closed, Murray cod anglers will retire the heavy gear for a few months. These past few months have been very rewarding for gaining new angling knowledge. Being of the old school, modern day technology generally takes a backseat to gut instinct in our boat, but I find myself far more attuned these days as the big picture becomes clearer.

SOUNDING OUT THE DEPTHS In angling-related matters the parting of the Red Sea by Moses was a conjuring trick that most who wet a line might only dream of. Imagine if you will the ability to simply wave your hands and the river or lake would instantly reveal the hiding places of its many fish. As we are not blessed with such gifts, we rely on

of portable fish finders available to anglers these days is nothing short of amazing. Not only will a good sounder provide on-water information, it will help improve your angling no end. With a simple click of a button your underwater view rolls across the screen revealing a wealth of realtime data and what lays hidden below the surface.

On a recent trip to the Murray River I was to put one of the new Helix side imaging models to the test and was blown away by what it revealed. In split screen mode I was able to see the structure and depth directly below the boat at the same time picking up large snags and rock bars on the side imaging. It was like sweeping the riverbed and the information was relayed in an instant. The graphics were crisp and clean where balloon shaped bait balls hovered mid water and rock bars and snag piles were easy to pick as the fish were holding just above them.

Several times over the course of the day the distinct image of a giant

A large ball of bait hanging midwater above a riverbed snag.

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A large golden perch taken from the Murray River on the cast.

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guesswork for where and when we might expect to find fish at certain locations.

While it’s not exactly parting the water, sounder technology has come a long way over the past few seasons and the range

Murray cod would appear on the screen holding just above the bottom. I almost felt sorry for the fish as they were clearly revealed in all their splendour safe in the depths, but not hidden from eyesight. Now

here’s the one thing true of fishing, no matter how much information you have whether self-taught or made possible through modern technology; if a fish doesn’t want to bite, it won’t.

And so it was with the giant cod that could clearly be seen on the sounder.

While they were easy enough to spy they would not be tempted to bite.

While this was the first run

of my new sounder I was very impressed with the information it provided and can’t wait to get out on the water and see what other underwater secrets it might offer up. While I don’t profess to be at a level befitting Moses’ prowess, it’s comforting to know a full-blown view to the underwater world is just a simple button click away.

Murray cod season all over ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

This past month has seen frozen fingers and tired legs. The water has been quite low in the rivers, although it has started to rise again as the month comes to an end. My focus over the past month has been primarily on Murray cod, and I have seen myself with some more success,

but that has taken time and persistence and been well worth it.

Numbers of Murray cod have been down, there have been many sessions where I have had big donuts, that’s cod fishing. But in between these sessions I have also seen some really exciting ones. This month I haven’t caught any cod of a monster size but I have caught some decent fish!

The 60-70cm size range has

been my most common catch size, with these fish taking an interest to hardbodied lures, particularity lures of a bigger profile. I have snagged myself a few golden perch while in search of cod, but I have only managed to keep a couple on long enough to scoop them up in the landing net. The golden perch have taken a liking to the Jackall Chibitarel in the white copeton magic colour, I have seen more goldens

Lake Hume is a good place to catch golden perch.

attack this lure than cod.

It’s not the biggest swimbait model on the market, but it’s an awesome size for targeting all fish sizes. Most of my cod of late have been taken on the size 1 stumpjumper, but they have also shown interest in my most faithful colour: kuttafurra mudhoneys. I have been resorting to lures I have confidence in to keep my spirits alive, but this being said, throwing around swimbaits is a new thing for me. Sometimes throwing something different around can be a game changer. I have had some missed opportunities on them, but it’s all things that I can improve on when I next use that particular styled lure.

With the local river on the rise, Mulwala has started to rise again, too. Boat access is accessible again. I recently gave Lake Mulwala a crack along with my friends, Kyle and Cameron. It was an awesome day to say the least.

Cameron caught a 105cm cod on fly, this is the biggest Murray cod I’ve seen. It was an awesome to see a fish over the metre mark. A huge congratulations to Cameron on that fish!

I haven’t had the chance

The author with a Murray cod. to target any trout as of yet, but I have heard that Lake Hume has produced some nice sized trout. These fish have certainly been worked for, and many anglers have said that Lake Hume still hasn’t kicked into gear yet.

My plan of attack is to hit here in the cod closed season in search of golden perch.

Hopefully, I can hook into some pig sized!

Similar to last month, fishing hasn’t been on fire but there has been a few pop up.

With persistence and patience

I have been eventually rewarded. To me any fish is a good fish, whether it is big or small. I just love having the opportunity to get out and do what I love doing, even though it’s been bitterly cold! I can’t wait for summer to come back around again.

My passion and persistence is still pumping as usual, and I’m keen to keep trying to crack that PB this season.

My fingers are crossed and I’m very excited to continue fishing until the close of the Murray cod season!

Mulwala now returning to more normal levels YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Now that the Murry cod season is in place, we can reflect on a few great captures from around the region. Lake Mulwala is finally looking full again and it will be interesting to see how the cod settle back into their home snags. Traditionally, after a drawdown then refill action is a bit slow until the water settles. Given a three-month dry spell, no one knows how things

will be come December.

Lake Mulwala can be very rewarding one minute and ‘the lake of 1000 casts’ the next. One thing that never changes, Lake Mulwala will always be home for the Murray cod.

Looking back, July and August were interesting months. Those who made an effort to go out in kayaks or smaller boats were rewarded with some great cod. Having mastered the drawdown technique, Brad Murray and friends boasted a staggering 33 cod, with nine of them measuring above the magical metre mark, the best coming

in at 124cm. They had another 13 that surpassed the 80cm mark, showing they had the low water levels figured out.

Others to excel were the Rogers brothers, Ian and Matt, with plenty of cod measuring up to 126cm and the Wright brothers, Justin and Dan, who landed a couple of true monsters.

Harry Crawford and company from Corowa also cracked the drawdown code and encountered numerous beasts, including a 125cm behemoth that was caught on one of Harry’s homemade creations.

Regarding drawdown, credit must go to all parties involved in the new upgrade work done on local boat ramps, especially those at Owen Bridges Reserve, Majors Creek and Bundalong.

Cray season was steady and didn’t jump about much. The majority returned with their bag limits, but the reward does not match the effort. The laws have changed, increasing the minimum size, and reducing bag limits, and for some the novelty has now worn off. Credit goes to fisheries for allowing the targeting of these tasty critters to

remain when it would have been easy to ban craying altogether. Please be be aware that along with Murray cod, Murray crays are also off limits for a few months – so don’t be caught targeting these special little critters!

As the fishing slows down, organisation for the 2018-19 fishing competition season ramps up. If you are keen to get your name added to the Golden Dollars, Cod Classic, Dash 4 Cash, His and Hers Partners Classic or Cod Nationals mailing lists shoot me an e-mail at codclassic@bigpond.

com. Big news on the Cod Classic front, a tagged cod with the potential reward of a new Toyota Hilux Ute on offer thanks to Yarrawonga Toyota.

• 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 Ya r r a w o n g a / M u l w a l a and specialise in all things ‘green’!

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93

The Snowies are looking good this month SNOWNY LAKES

Rod Allen

The Snowies are looking fantastic with great snow coverage over the peaks, making a spectacular visual backdrop to our lakes. Very low rainfall and the need to generate power has forced Eucumbene and Jindabyne

it’s quite the opposite at this venue. As Eucumbene drops its abundant yabby beds are revealed, and this is the ticket to success.

The yabbies have retreated to their homes to hibernate through winter, which would normally ensure their safety and well and truly off the trout radar, but as the lake drops and these yabby beds end up on

These homeless, dormant crustaceans don’t have the energy to right themselves and crawl to safety, so they either get mopped up by the browns that have full confidence to patrol these shallows under the cover of murky water and a wavy broken surface, or they get pushed up onto the shore where the birds pick them off.

Tell tale clues of blue claws

Searching Jindabyne for the fish.

Jack Allen with a thumper from Eucumbene. to drop in levels, which has created some excellent angling opportunities around the exposed structure.

Eucumbene was at 20% recently and likely to drop further. Many lakes suffer with a receding shoreline but

the edge of the lake, trouble looms! Strong winds drive large waves that pound into the soft clay, totally destroying the yabbies’ homes and leaving a discoloured margin where the helpless, sleepy yabbies are at the mercy of the elements.

Sam Watts with a yabby feeder.

2-3m from the water’s edge are a sure sign of what’s just happened.

The best time to take advantage of this is during or directly after consecutive strong wind days. Try big wet flies such as Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Tiahape Ticklers, Woolly Worms, or casting Bullets, vibes and plastics over the dirty water into the clean. Slowly working along the bottom back into the turbulent edge for a great way to prospect each likely spot.

Scrubworms fished under a float, unweighted or with the bare minimum of lead in the same areas have been just as productive with many anglers bagging out in a few hours.

It’s really encouraging to see the condition Euc’s fish

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

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

Dam June July August Blowering 52 68 73 Brogo 86 87 82 Burrendong 36 36 34 Burrinjuck 40 40 41 Carcoar 55 55 55 Chaffey 62 56 54 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a 99 Copeton 27 27 25 Dartmouth 88 89 90 Eucumbene 24 24 20 Glenbawn 69 67 65 Glenlyon 50 49 48

Dam June July August Glennies Creek 69 69 67 Hume 37 44 47 Jindabyne 37 63 63 Keepit 13 11 11 Lostock 100 100 98 Oberon 60 58 55 Pindari 59 59 58 Split Rock 15 14 14 Tantangara 22 30 41 Toonumbar 100 100 96 Windamere 41 41 40 Wyangala 63 61 60

(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.)

94

SEPTEMBER 2018

are in, as they were looking a bit lean a few months ago, and when you hold a brown in your hands you can feel the yabbies in their gut. The best areas to fish straight after these winds are Braemar, Buckenderra, Rushies and Seven Gates.

Trolling Eucumbene has been very good since Easter as that trend continues.

Anglers have had excellent results flatlining Tassie Devils in a variety of colours. Depending on the weather, the hot colours are FLC, 81 and 39 and the darker patterns work on dull days.

Frequent reports of over 30 fish for a weekend have been quite common and it’s terrific to see people practising catch and release once they have filled their quota. Boat access has been limited to launching at old Adaminiby on the old road or at the dam wall.

Buckenderra Holiday Park has put in a new concrete boat ramp 130m in length and 4.5m wide that will cater for boats down to 30%. RMS will be officially opening it in the near future, so watch this space for more info.

Jindabyne is currently sitting at around 62% and has also been very rewarding to visiting anglers with huge Atlantic salmon pushing scales

down past 7kg as well as brooks to 4kg. Trolling big lures like the Zerek Tango Shad Atomic Shiner 60 or spinning from the bank is the best way to intercept these cruising salmon from the Haven to Curiosity Rocks. Other favourite lures have been the Bullet in trout patterns, Tassie Devils and Tillins Cobras.

Similar to Euc, windy days

work it back dead slow. An intermediate or sink tip line will aid the fly enthusiast with Jindy Buggers, Bushy’s Horror, Woolly Buggers or Jindy Goldfish. Polaroiding is another great tactic on these still days and is probably the most exciting.

Once a fish has been detected, watch its movements and place your fly, lure or

This yabby was washed up by windy water. are providing excellent sport.

Simply search the chopped-up edge with lures or large profiled wet flies. On the calm, blue-skied days, however, a slightly more subtle approach is warranted. Allow your offer to get down deep amongst the structure of the bottom and

A Jindy brown that couldn’t say no to the author’s Woolly Bugger.

unweighted bait around 3m ahead of its path. If the fish doesn’t notice your offering or your cast is a little inaccurate, don’t pull it out and risk spooking by replacing it; simply add a bit of life by twitching delicately – just enough to gain the attention of your quarry. The best polaroiding for me has been at East Jindy around Mill Creek and the Snowy River Arm beyond Waste Point.

Bait fishos have been enjoying some great captures lately on the humble scrubby and PowerBaits as the fish return from the spawning migration and look to regain condition. Chunky cheese and fluoro orange are the most popular, but it pays to have a selection of colours as the fish can change what colour they like from day to day. Prime bait areas are Wollondibby Inlet, the Clay Pits and Waste Point.

• For more info, find us on Facebook on the Alpine Angler page, call (02) 6452 5538 or drop into Alpine Angler at 647 Snowy Mountains Highway, Cooma, NSW.

Trade in the cod craze for some gold mining 3/8oz spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits are the best options. Colour wise, we love using a hot orange or yellow tips on the tail – golden perch can’t resist the bright tip, which always seems to work. Even a hot tip on your spinnerbait works just the same.

OLD MAN CREEK Another little gem for this spring is Old Man Creek.

This place fished so well for

WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

Somehow we are going to have to forget our big green friends for the next three months… but it’s okay because this gives us time to focus on the sometimes forgotten golden cousins.

BLOWERING DAM Over the past three months we have been working the dam with oversized lures, massive rods and big casts searching for giant fish. Now it’s time to downsize to tiny 60mm lures, light spin outfits and cast the edge of the dam searching for the breeding footballs.

Golden perch are a great freshwater species to target and the best time to do it is during the spring. The water

The start of September is one of the slowest times of the year in the region but it only lasts for a few weeks before everything warms right up and kicks into action! If you’re not keen on the fishing, it’s a good time to sort out all your gear and have your motor serviced. I recently put new decking on my boat and did all the trailer maintenance.

Kayaks are a great way to fish Old Man Creek and unlucky for Adam he found a stinky carp on his plastic. put up incredible fights on light spin tackle – an element that we don’t often get in the freshwater.

September is very early on in the season and the fishing will be tough. How warm the early spring weather is

Dylan with a pig of a Blowering golden perch caught on an overcast morning. warms up and the fish feed right up before breeding, making them perfect targets.

Some of these fish can get well above 60cm and can

big cod throughout winter and will fish just as well for golden perch over the next three months.

Small lure cast across the creek and into timber is best and if you’re a bait angler shrimp and worms is your best option. The best thing about Old Man Creek is that you can walk the bank and easily catch plenty of fish, or you can float around in a kayak or small tinny.

will determine when the fish will start to feed. Usually the first 2-3 weeks of September will be slow before the fish start to feed.

Even though the fishing can be slow I recommend heading up to the dam, having a cast and doing some research. Have a look around the lake and look for areas with warmer water, structure and likely areas to fish. Even if you have fished the lake previously, the good areas will change depending on the current water level. So what fished well last year might not fish well this year.

Early on it’s best to find shallow warm bays, as some fish will move in and warm themselves as the temperature warms up.

Casting lightly-weighted soft plastics is the best option while the fish are slow.

Subtle lures are the best.

MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER Irrigation season is in full swing now and water is now flowing down the river after a low running river throughout winter.

With the higher flows comes warmer water temperatures and active golden perch.

The Murrumbidgee River will fish slightly better than Blowering early on in September.

It is well and truly worth fishing with both lures and bait. The spindly timber and willows is the best place to find golden perch.

Small hardbody lures between 50-80mm, small

Tallis watched this golden come out from the snag and smack his spinnerbait with his Penetrator Spotters.

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Stu loves this time of year for casting spinnerbaits tight in against the willows.

SEPTEMBER 2018

95

Red and gold make the spring comeback BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

There has been talk that Blowering Dam is next on the list of lakes to remain open year round to Murray cod fishing but that wasn’t confirmed in August, so it would pay to check the Fisheries website before planning a trip to Blowering this spring, as

you may be able to pack the cod gear.

I won’t talk about tactics for Murray cod this month, as the lake may not remain open this year. If Fisheries does decide to keep the lake open year round, I will report on some tactics that will help catch these magnificent fish during what used to be the closed season. It is an interesting subject that is receiving a lot of attention – both good and bad – and

we are all keen to see what comes of it. Watch this space.

GOLDEN PERCH I personally think that golden perch make a great alternative while the cod season is closed anyway; they fight as good as any Murray cod for their size and can be caught in reasonable numbers, which helps to make the day a busy and eventful one.

As the water temperature starts to rise this month the golden perch will push up

Golden perch at Blowering Dam are even targetable from the bank on fly this month. Your usual 5-6wt trout fly rod is perfectly suited for the job and if you have never tried it before, give it a go. It’s easy, super fun, super effective and can often out-fish other techniques.

LEAVEY LURES BIG COD CAN’T RESIST THEM!

into the shallows to bask in the sun and after pretty slim pickings over the winter months they will be keen for a good feed.

wiser fish are starting to get a bit wary of anything that is too noisy and will spook quite easy when a noisy lipless crankbait is in the vicinity. They will still land you a few of the smaller less spooky fish in the lake and are a good lure to use when just wanting to get a fish aboard.

Casting shallow-running hardbodies, particularly suspending or neutrally buoyant hardbodies, is another good way of enticing a few golden perch.

Bait anglers tend to do well during the spring months. 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.

REDFIN September is a great month for those of you that like trolling for redfin. The redfin aren’t game enough to get right up into the shallows just yet, but they have moved up from their deep winter haunts into water that is now easily trolled. All fish species in the lake are super active this month, so you just never know what is going to smack your lure next while trolling for redfin. It’s not uncommon

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To increase your chances of double hookups while trolling for redfin it pays to add a small soft plastic or flashy fly around a metre or so above your chosen trolling lure.

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 are always worth a cast in spring and sometimes it pays to use something totally different to get their attention.

Spinnerbaits will always get the attention of golden perch; they just love them, but they tend to follow them without striking a lot of the time, so if you’re going to use them then use the smaller more compact versions to increase your chances.

Lipless crankbaits are always worth a cast, but with the ever-increasing amount of anglers using them the

to hook three or more species of fish on the same lure on the same day in about the same depth of water.

As for the best depth of water to target, it obviously varies slightly from day to

Redfin will be back in trolling range this month and fish of this quality are a real proposition. day. At this time of the year 15-20ft is around about the norm at Blowering Dam. Fishing on the shallower side of that will increase your chances of a trout or golden perch by-catch.

Some of the best lures to troll in these depths are the AC Slim Invaders, lipless crankbaits, no. 3 StumpJumpers, Viking Talismans, Balista Dyno 60s and small 1-4” soft plastics rigged on 1/4-1/2oz jigheads.

I’ve said it before and will say again. When you’re specifically targeting redfin on the troll you will definitely get better results if you add a small unweighted soft plastic or flashy saltwater fly to your line about a metre or so above your chosen lure, even when using a bigger plastic as your main lure. The reason this works so well is that it looks like the larger lure is chasing the small plastic or fly which triggers the redfin’s competitive nature and entices them to either hit the small offering before the large offering eats it or –

Golden perch will be up in the freshly-flooded grassy banks gorging and sunning themselves this month.

The fishing is as visual as it gets for golden perch and catching a fish that you spot first before casting to it and catching it sure gets the adrenaline going.

more often than not – they’ll just hit the large offering no questions asked.

The added bonus of having the extra hook point is that once one redfin is hooked the rest of the school will often get excited and even go into frenzies at times. It doesn’t normally take too long after one is hooked for the rest of the redfin in the school to notice the other lure, fly or plastic.

These double hook-ups are very common when using this technique and when redfin are in frenzy mode it’s even possible to land three redfin. Sometimes they try to take the lure out of the hooked fish’s mouth and then get themselves hooked on the second set of trebles.

When the fish are this frenzied it pays to have another rod rigged with a lipless crankbait, soft plastic, blade, rubber vibe or spinner, so that you can pull up and repeat cast into that area.

It is generally a fish a cast when they are like this and so long as you don’t lose any after hooking them you should continue to catch fish one after the other. However, I have found that just like Australian bass, redfin schools will shut down as soon as you lose a fish that you have been fighting for a while. This doesn’t always happen but it happens enough for me to make sure I do my absolute best to get each fish to the boat.

With at least three fish species (possibly four) on offer in easily fishable water, you would be silly not to get out for a fish some time this month.

A bird in the tree signals the coming season LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

I found a wood duck (maned goose) so far from water that one would be excused for thinking she was lost, but lost she was not. In fact, she may have prepared or looked for a nest in the very vicinity in previous years.

I was out fox whistling at the time. It was so dam cold and the months of spring were so far off the radar it wasn’t funny – then I saw this. It was a tiny hint, a nudge to prepare for the season change ahead. It may be ahead but it sure won’t feel like it temperature-wise around these parts, even as September gets into gear.

From September the cod will be off the agenda until December the first in most waterways. What a cod season it has been – the fish just keep getting bigger and it’s so heartening to see the development, ingenuity and good will being shared by so many. The success of others should be celebrated and rejoiced; it’s a very hard game. You do appreciate everyone’s efforts when you have invested your fair share of skin in the game, that’s for sure.

GOLDEN PERCH Spring migration patterns with golden perch in Windamere, Burrendong,

It’s been heartening to see all the positivity that surrounds and envelops those with so much skin in the game – inspiring to say the very least. The fish just keep getting bigger and bigger it’s totally scary what just might be out there. and Wyangala will vary from impoundment to impoundment with factors including water temperatures, water quality, weed growth, baitfish numbers and fishing pressure.

The biggest factor by far will be the timing of the breeding cycle of big roed-up females and where they position themselves, or – more to the point – where the aggressive males push them around. When things are really red hot they can turn up in some pretty weird places (keep a close eye on your sounder even when in

open water) but generally speaking, they push to the bank and moving water if it rains.

Lures that are designed to be fished close to the bottom or can be adapted to do so will out-fish most early on, especially when water temperatures have bottomed out and are starting to climb back through 12-14°C. Fishing skirted jigs at this time of year is a favourite technique of mine, but lipless cranks, blades and soft plastics fished in a similar manner can be just as deadly. The most

important thing with all of these techniques at this time of year is bottom contact,

most part slow is the go.

A few other factors can help like finesse fishing when conditions dictate (using light line down to 4lb test leader and very thin braided main line with the rod to match the line class, in clear water, bright sunshine and no wind). Slower geared reels can also help. Keep direct contact with the blank with a finger or two.

Mentally, you need to be in the game as well; being totally in the zone is rare even amongst the most dedicated of us, we may get it for parts of the day then lose it for a bit but the more you have this approach in your head the better you get at it.

DONT DISS THE TREES The standing tree bite with golden perch is a 12 months of the year deal, it’s by far the most consistent bite going, it’s been proven time and time again with tournament wins

column to suit light levels, temperature, fishing pressure and baitfish concentrations is just not available with any other form of structure, it’s a given and it’s why they’re such good places to fish.

Not just any old tree will do – a good quality depth sounder with side and down scan is invaluable and it has quiet literally changed the game. There’s no more guess work. Spend the time scanning and mark the trees that you are seeing more fish on then return later, quietly tie up or hold over it. Don’t be too concerned if things are a little quite early on; sometimes the goldens will push out but return later in dribs and drabs. Catching a fish can actually stir them up, especially in spring.

Rolling soft plastics up and down through the limbs is the key. Vary the depths you drop to and wind slowly. Don’t strike

The cod definitely learn their craft early in life; bigger is better.

That’s an 8” Castaic BD Shad. The cod is a minnow in relative terms to what was swimming around this particular night.

Skirted jigs have played a big part in the author’s early spring season efforts on golden perch for many years. Bottom contact with the lure is important and the success of such offerings is tied to the emergence of yabbies from their holes as the water temperatures slowly start to lift.

it becomes less so as water temperatures rise, but early on it’s a big deal.

To do this you need to slow down and I mean really slow. Sure, throw in a sharp lift or a burn every now and then, but for the

right up and down western waterways. In fact, in some waterways and some groups of trees I’ll nearly bet they never leave. They just have it that good.

The ability to drop up and down in the water

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on a bite, just keep winding slowly until the rod loads up before lifting slowly into the fish. It’s great fun when they are in the mood.

Hope to see you on the water soon. Until then, tight lines.

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97

Dry conditions have anglers worried for spring HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

Winter has been brutal this year for inland New South Wales. The slow, warm start to winter was quickly turned around by consistent high-pressure systems, frosts with blue birds skies and little to no wind. While the freezing mornings usually result

in pleasantly warm afternoons to be out on the water, these weather systems have produced no substantial rain at all. The drought just keeps getting worse each month we go on.

This is certainly starting to show effects in the local impoundment fish.

Naturally the water levels have been dropping for some time, but now we are starting to see firsthand the way the

Kahlee Noble releasing a small bass to hopefully catch again once it has grown up a little.

fish are affected. The fish naturally roe up over winter and pack the weight on. This year I’ve only seen about half the fish do this with a lot of skinny fish. The lack of bait would be the main reason for this as those levels keep dropping. Numbers haven’t really changed yet, just the condition of them. The last time I saw this happen was back in 2007 drought.

The bigger fish lost all condition then eventually disappeared while the smaller fish were the only ones to survive. Years of stocking on these slow growing fish could be at risk if we don’t have some decent rain soon. Not only to save the impoundment fish population, but to help out the farmers and families struggling in these dry times.

It’s not all doom and gloom yet for the fishing, there are still plenty of fish to be caught and they should follow fairly typical September patterns. This month marks the lifting of the wild bass bag limit restrictions. Most of the bass population will still be further downstream towards the brackish water. The lack of rain and freshwater flow may have assisted the saltwater to push further upstream than normal.

In the Hunter, Williams and Paterson rivers, usually anywhere from Raymond Terrace back upstream should be the areas to look for some big bass. These

James Kilpatrick and son James Jnr with a brace of plastic-caught fish. This will still be a dominant technique this month. 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 aren’t generally fussy and will take anything representing food being washed out these floodgates. Other areas to try are rock walls or timber and snags.

These hard structures break the current flow and create ambush points for the fish to sit in. While fishing these tidal waters, I keep things simple when selecting a lure to fish. A spinnerbait

up with the water dropping so fast. The edge fishing will be very short on those clear glassed-out days, as the fish will only eat shallow while the sun is low in the sky. If you are lucky enough to get an overcast or windy day, the edge bite should last a lot longer, as the fish are less spooky in stirred-up water.

September usually marks the month of transition in Hunter. 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

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Lake Glenbawn’s weed is all but gone. Target hard cover like timber and rock in low light and deeper drop-offs as the sun gets high in the sky. 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.

These hold numbers of bass, especially at high tide on the run-out. The bass can sit right up the back waiting for

is a great all-rounder for all cover scenarios, they are semi snagless and come through weed well. A crankbait will work hard structure like rock and timber to bounce off. A 1/8 – 1/4oz blade and jighead rigged paddle-tail or grub is nice for fishing slightly deeper sections.

Lake Glenbawn’s level has been on the constant decline. The lack of rain has the surrounding hills very dry and almost back to dust. This drought has the weed beds all gone, as they can’t keep

bite starts to change. With anything below 17°C a plastic, jerkbait and ice jig will work well. When the water gets above 18°C, reaction or vibration lures will start to come into play.

Depending on rain and the water level, the back of the lake can sometimes warm quicker than the front this month. Generally the whole lake will fish well and they should be evenly spread out along most banks. Keep an eye on the water temperature and lake level.

If these two things change, this should give you an idea of what the fish will be doing. The lack of bait around may force the bass to start looking around elsewhere for food and topwater may come into play earlier this season than normal. I like to rotate three topwater lures to see what’s working. I use a quick walking stickbait or prop bait to get a reaction bite and cover water. Try a popper or cicada style for fishing hard edges and tree tops where you want your lure to stay close to cover.

Lake St Clair certainly looks a lot better than Glenbawn this year. While the water levels are dropping they are moving at a lot steadier pace and the weed is still fairly thick there. The surrounding hills seem to hold more rain and the grass is still growing down the water’s edge. These weed beds that have held up will be holding the majority of the fish this month. Like Glenbawn, 17-18°C is the magic mark of transition this month.

Use a jerkbait and plastic over the weed beds in low light, overcast or windy conditions if the water is below 17°C. At 18°C and above vibration and reaction lures will start to work. With the towering weed beds I like a lure that can come over and through the weed well. Spinnerbaits or vibrating jigs are great for this with their single upward facing hooks. Ripping and hopping a lipless crankbait out of the weed will work too. Surface will also starts to come into play at St Clair this month with the dry weather and as the insect life increases. Low light and overcast are always the best conditions for a topwater bite.

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Learn more about a fishery with mapping Mapping via echosounder has become hugely popular with fishers as a tool for deriving insights for future fishing plans. Mapping has become critical to us in working out habitat, fish stocks and habits and one particular technology has become both essential – sidescan.

As we learned, getting the sidescan images is simple enough – managing them is another matter.

Here are a bunch of learnings that I can share on the software, hardware, and methodology you need to get as much out of your data off the water as you can from your unit. In this first part I aim to explore the mapping process, then in the second I will dive into how fishers can get more insights from analysis.

AN IMPROMPTU PRODUCT REVIEW Over the years I have reviewed numerous products in different forums in the IT Industry. As an observation most trade magazines

of our learnings might help others that want to go deeper into mapping.

WHY HUMMINBIRD SOLIX? Starting at the beginning, we had a specific problem that we needed to solve in our choice of units. The Biosonics echosounder does an amazing job at finding and tagging fish.

We are at the point where we can GPS mark every fish we detect using the Biosonics software, then pump that out as raw data for analysis. Better still, we can do that process in around an hour regardless of

Figure 1 – High-resolution scan fish hotels.

It’s worth noting that for us, a small survey is a 1km stretch of water 100% coverage. We are aiming for minimum 5km per day in the next couple of months and 10km by the end of the year.

That’s a massive amount of data in a single run, and there is no way we can manage that amount of data on the unit alone.

So, how hard could it be to get data from the sounder to the PC? The answer, it turns out, is a lot harder than you might imagine.

provide favourable coverage, which means you need to go to another source such as Youtube if you want to know the downsides of a product.

Unless a reviewer is genuinely independent, social media reviews can have the same problems as industry reviews.

It’s little wonder then that referrals from Facebook friends have become the most trusted source of product data for most people.

I hadn’t planned on a review, but after our experiences, I thought some

how many fish we detect, so in terms of working out how many fish there and where they are at it’s perfect. The one challenge with the Biosonics comes in identifying what we are looking at. There are a number of traditional ground truthing techniques we can use – cast nets being one of the best, but when you are doing intensive mapping over km of water in a day, you can’t be stopping to throw the cast net too often.

There are some useful machine learning techniques

and mathematical models we can use to ID fish, but that requires a training dataset of known positive identifications.

The better approach the problem is to have a second system that gives us a running picture of what the Biosonics is looking at as a second observer – which of course makes sidescan the perfect tool for the job.

With this in mind, we evaluated a number of options before settling on the Humminbird Solix unit because price/performance wise – the Solix 1.2MHz imaging is near photo quality in shallow waters with a 20m range. Given many of our fish surveys happen in shallow water, it’s the right tool for the job.

Right off the bat, I want to be clear that the choice was based on conditions and need, not out of some tribal loyalty to one technology or another. I am sure there will be Lowrance users that will disagree with our choice. I am not aiming to enter that debate, but instead will focus on the practical elements of mapping and data management.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY First up, one of our team members Aaron Dunlop took on the job of installing the unit and transducer. This part was

Figure 3 – The team tried a worm pattern and found out the editing time to get clean data wasn’t worth it. the data off. Something we weren’t told up front was Humminbird allows you to map, but if you want to get the data stored a zero line card is required. A zero line card so far as I can make out is a set of maps that outline the boundaries of most of our water bodies.

Treat that as code for “we found a way to lock down our system”. A z-line card will set you back a couple of hundred dollars, which after stumping up for a 12” Solix

laptop space. Let’s say there should be a lesson in that for Humminbird.

The ugly came when we tried to get the data off the device. Our survey team had stored two heavy days of mapping on the unit as we didn’t have a z-line card.

This proved to be the first of our challenges as once we obtained a card (a $200 extra) and inserted the card the unit began downloading the data. Around five hours later, the unit was reporting that

Figure 4 – A bathymetry map based on cross transects.

Figure 2 – A feature blur caused by the turning vessel.

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pretty smooth running, and we had the unit installed in under four hours. As soon as the unit was fired upon the water, we were receiving sound signal, and our initial testing demonstrated the unit could deliver 100% on our needs.

SO FAR SO GOOD The bad started around the time we needed to get

unit was a real slap in the face. I would observe that Apple has been criticized heavily for reducing the ports on their laptops and tablets and forcing people to stump up for a device that allowed them to do what used to come standard. As a result, Microsoft is making a comeback in the tablet and

it had another nine hours to download the data. My father, unsure of if the thing was working stopped the process and provided the data for review. Here we discovered we needed to purchase more software to be able to access the data.

At this point, I cancelled the survey work and ordered

the software, another $500.

When the software arrived, we couldn’t read the data. Later, we would discover that the data was corrupted and we had lost the data and we later discovered the card well – a $200 lesson. Unfazed, we cleaned off the unit and took the new card that comes with the software and went out again. This time the unit was recording to the card and all seemed to be going to plan.

Enter the next challenge.

We had to turn off the 200KHz beam as the Biosonics uses that part of the spectrum. The 83KHz beam does an excellent job of bathymetry, and that’s all we needed. However, the switching off of the 200KHz beam rendered the Autochart Pro software inert, as it needed that beam to be able to operate.

We had some back and forth with BLA support who were good about helping out and ended up getting the latest version of Autochart from the US. Here we faced the last disappointment. We

a tool for use in real-world mapping and learning a lot more about the habits of fish, it’s the real deal.

The Humminbird ecosystem is another matter.

Humminbird is the Apple of the sounder market, and I don’t mean that kindly.

Mapping is one of the most fundamental components of using an echosounder – dating back to the days of paper sounders. To not only charge clients extra to access the data they collect, but worse, charge for software to read that data that is so limited is the sort of practice that attracts heavy criticism in the tech industry.

That sort of practice was the reason the Open Source Software movement started in the first place; it was a rebellion against proprietary systems that treated the people that supported them by shelling out money badly.

Honestly, when it comes to mapping, the unit does not meet its hype unless you use the unit standalone, and I think that is what Humminbird bank

Sonar Wiz offer a professional level of data management, mapping, and analysis but at a hefty price. Right now, we are somewhere in between, most of our requirement is to review scanning sessions especially cross-matching between the two systems. I can see a time ahead where we will need to go next level with our use of the sidescan, but right now we are dealing with the same sort of problems fishers deal with.

Around two years ago I bought a system called Reefmaster to solve a very different sort of problem. I was working with scan data from both Humminbird and Lowrance systems and needed to generate a map from both datasets. Reefmaster handled this task well, even though it was buggy and crashed often. I tried to load the data in Reefmaster, but my software was not recent enough, but a $50 upgrade and I was able to load the data and finally get going reviewing the data.

I was surprised by how much better the software is.

Figure 6 – Bathymetry map based on combined transects.

Figure 5 – A Bathymetry map based on full length. expected something like the functionality you get on the sounder; this was far from the case. Autochart Pro has no useful data management; you end up with a scan on a white background that you can manipulate. The mosaic capability is nothing like the sounders, and the only useful feature was its ability to render a pretty good 3D vision of the scan.

By this stage, we were weeks into the project and in desperate need of being able to make use of the data we were gathering. The solution came in another piece of software that I had tried a couple of years earlier.

THE FINAL VERDICT Let me be clear – the Humminbird unit has exceeded our expectations. As

on. That’s fine, but promoting yourself as a mapping system when you make it hard for people to use your data for mapping is at best disingenuous. I have seen many software companies rightly crucified for less.

There are some open source mapping tools for Oceanography that I am looking at. However, unless you are skilled in Linux, I would avoid them. Fortunately, there is an affordable alternative that does make the Humminbird a world-class mapping system.

THE REEFMASTER SAVED US There are many options for mapping ranging from off the shelf to professional.

Systems like ArcGIS and Chesapeake Technologies

Less one feature it’s a handy professional level tool that has most tasks automated to a level where a novice user can quickly become a mapping pro.

LESSONS LEARNED ON MAPPING Before I jump into Reefmaster, I want to share some lessons. There is a big difference between using the data on your PC and on the unit, because the unit comes with a bunch of smart tech that is designed to make life easier and in my view, keep you addicted to the unit. However, unless you enjoy spending hours in your boat while it’s in the shed, there is a lot fishers can learn from scans in postsession research, so there are some things that will make your life easier.

Here are some things that will make post mapping survey review a simple process.

Speed matters We all want to get back more time in our life right?

Well, sometimes you need to slow down to make time.

The speed of the vessel during surveys directly affects the ability for the sounder to get return data, so the faster the vessel, the more data is lost.

During surveys using the 1.2MHz mega scan, we found a big difference in even small speed changes, and I think that is entirely down to data loss. We found speeds around 2km/h give excellent results, but image quality degrades as you go past 4km/h.

In general, we survey at 4km/h for the Biosonics unit, so we don’t have optimal quality, none the less the quality is more than good enough to determine what we are looking at. As a rule, our survey teams go back and scan essential objects at 2km/h so we can review at a higher resolution.

One observation on data we have reviewed, the first thing to disappear from the sidescan based on speed is smaller fish. That can be a good thing. In some of our images, there are large schools of bony bream that disappear from the scan as the boat speeds up. As we were looking at the bottom features, that is what we wanted. Fishers might want to know where the bait is sitting as well as larger fish.

My recommendation?

Detail matters. Partition off time to focus on mapping and go slow, as this will give the best possible picture of what

is happening down below.

Figure 1 is a 2km/h scan of fish hotels.

Stick to the straight One way to save time in mapping is to switch on the unit and drive around.

We learned early on using the Biosonics that this is a terrible idea. While it makes data collection more straightforward, it makes data management much harder.

When retrieving sidescan data off the unit, it won’t come out in the mosaic form available on the unit; each scan will come out separately and combining them will be a task for the software.

Turns are another problem, because even slow turns cause image distortion. Unless editing sidescan images is your jam, I recommend an alternative approach.

If parallel transects are required, start and stop the recording at the beginning and end of each run even if it’s a shorter run, don’t keep the sounder running. Knowing the range of the scan also matters.

We have found that the 1.2MHz scan starts to cap out at 20m, but the 800kHz scan has a much bigger range. That range will change depending on water temperature, the hardness of the water and salinity and so on.

I would recommend always doing a short and straight run before mapping to work out the best configuration and range in the on-the-water conditions. That will provide an on optimal separation for transects, and one thing the Humminbird excels at is the live mapping that makes it easy to work out the best transect patterns.

Decide in advance what quality bathymetry you need This is a lesson we came across when trying to solve an analysis problem. We had an early set of transects about 5m apart and needed to analyse them using statistical tools.

Freeform data points are fine in pure mapping terms, but if you are trying to do analysis, a more standardised sample is essential. We solved this problem by creating a virtual mesh, essentially an evenly spaced grid of GPS points, which we then sampled the live data from and plotted onto the mesh based on nearest proximity.

This highlighted that when you take data in a line and extrapolate onto an area, you get errors. Most of the time that isn’t much of a problem if you are mapping areas where the change is limited. In areas where there is a lot of change a crosshatched pattern delivers better results as there is more data available on the changes between transects.

Even on relatively flat terrain, there is a difference between using parallel scans and a crossmatching pattern. Figure 4-6 shows a comparison of the three maps.

GOING NEXT LEVEL Now that you have some high quality data – the next step is to do something with it.

In part two of this article I am going examine mapping data in detail. In order to make that exercise relevant, I will use some real life questions and work through the process of answering them using Reefmaster.

SEPTEMBER 2018

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Tim the Bream shows bass class

STORM

After a 5-year absence from ABT Qualifier fishing, former #1 ranked ABT BASS angler, Tim Morgan, returned to the bass tournament scene with a bang, winning the second event of the Rapala BASS Pro Series Queensland road trip at Cania Dam, presented by Lew’s.

He’d dusted the cobwebs off the previous year at the Storm Australian Open on the same lake, and the knowledge gained at that event provided the foundations for the win this year.

“I don’t know what it is about everyone chucking tailor lures out in the middle, but I fished lower lake points that I’d identified in the Australian Open last year with a technique that (my brother) Steve and I used here 20 years ago - twitching Rapala jerkbaits,” Tim said.

Back then it was Rapala Husky Jerks in bright colours, but this time it was

A five-year absence from ABT BASS Qualifiers did nothing to stop Tim Morgan charging to the win at the Cania event of the Rapala BASS Pro Series, presented by Lew’s. John Francis won the non-boater division. a pair of baits that landed the fish needed to win.

“Early on I’d throw a 9cm Rapala Shadow Rap Shad (clown colour) right up amongst the structure and

work it down into the strike zone, pausing for 3-5 seconds between rips. Later on I’d switch to a pre-production Rapala Jack Deep (5cm) that I’d wind down to 10ft and

Tim’s a great believer in the naming sponsor products. The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep 9cm in clown colour did the damage for him early each day.

twitch at that depth,” Tim continued.

Tim fished the jerkbaits on a Rapala Koivu 652 rod (6-12lb) with an Okuma 3000 Ceymar reel loaded with 8lb Sufix Nano braid and 8lb Sufix Invisi-line leader.

In the afternoon session he committed to schooled fish and landed two on a pearl Slider Grub fished on a 1/2oz Impact Tackle jighead.

“There were plenty of schooled fish, so we just sat on them until they bit. Luckily we got three decent ones in the afternoon,” he concluded.

A popular winner, who knows how many other retired bassers saw the win and are thinking of dusting off the rods? Scott Towner also made a successful re-appearance at a BREAM event last month.

Now, the upcoming Storm Australian Open is well within his sights on Glenbawn Dam in mid-October.

Tim’s Cania Jerkbait Pattern

Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep

Rapala Jack Deep

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

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Allwood rues slow second session Allwood has all but locked up the 2018 BASS Pro Angler of the Year title, but he was unable to run down a slow finishing Morgan on one of his favourite lakes.

Finding a motherlode of bass in the lead up to the pre-fish ban, Terry was surprised that the fish had all but disappeared come tournament time.

Allwood said, “Often the bass head to the edges after a strong southwesterly, like we had in the days leading up to the tournament, but I was too slow in working that out to win the event.”

Allwood’s first session

fish came from the deeper waters. Fishing a Majorcraft 20g Jig Parra spoon (slow version), he’d sink the lure to the bottom and retrieve with a six-turnand-drop retrieve.

That yielded Allwood four bites and four fish in the first stanza, which gave him the confidence to continue with the technique.

“I went shallow for a little in the second session and lost three fish, but for some reason I went back deep and suffered the consequences,” Terry continued.

When he did commit to the edges in session three,

not only did he box a limit in the first 90 minutes, he had the luxury of upgrading for the rest of the session, ultimately dropping 4.31kg on the scales – the 4th heaviest bag of the event.

His baits for the edges included a Jackall Squirrel 79 and a Bassday 90B jerkbait – both in bright colours. The key was to get the baits down to the 8-10ft range and twitch them there.

All of Allwood’s presentations were on a Samurai Reaction 302 rod with a Daiwa Luvias reel loaded with 10lb Unitika Light Jigging Deluxe line and 10lb FC Rock leader.

BASS PR O

Terry Allwood rode a jerkbait bite to a solid last session and a nearunbeatable position in the BASS Angler of the Year race.

Francis bags out to bring non-boater win home Reflecting John Francis full bag was a variety of techniques that he used

to help catch it. His 12/12, 10.23kg total was a kilo and a half bigger than

Tim Morgan’s.

Kingaroy’s Francis fished with Casino’s Joey

John Francis was the only competitor at the event to weigh-in a full bag of 12/12 bass and thoroughly earned the trophy.

Urquhart on day one, jerkbaiting the edges early and then dropping back to deeper water with ice jigs and spoons later in the day.

On Sunday, he snapped Dave Young out of his rut and proceeded to rack up the event’s biggest bag off the edges on jerkbaits at first, and then with spoons out deeper.

A Jackall 67 Squirrel and Halco Twisty 20g both got a bit of a workout.

Francis fished these baits on a Westin Twitching Jerkbait rod, Daiwa Freams Z reel spooled with Sunline Siglon 8-strand, 10lb braid and a 10lb Sunline Shooter leader.

Tim Steenhuis took the Garmin $500 for Big Bass.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Rapala Koivu 652 (6-12lb) Reel: Okuma 3000 Ceymar Line: 8lb Sufix Nano braid Leader: 8lb Sufix Invisi-line Lure 1: 9cm Rapala Shadow Rap Shad (clown colour) Lure 2: Rapala Jack Deep (5cm) Lure 3: pearl Slider grub fished on a 1/2oz Impact Tackle jighead

Tim also won the $250 Evinrude Bonus for running a 200hp H.O. E-Tec on his boat.

Watch the day two Highlights by scanning this QR Code or visiting the ABT Tournaments YouTube Channel.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

After a very slow day-one donut, Dave Young came back strongly on Sunday to weigh the Duffrods Big Bag of 4.53kg. He caught the limit on jerkbaits fished around the edges.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

DUFFRODS BIG BAG

Payout

Tim Morgan 9/12 8.75kg $2,000 + $250 Evinrude Bonus Terry Allwood 9/12 8.38kg $1,100 Keeghan Painter 9/12 7.56kg $800 Mick Thompson 10/12 7.53kg $600 Jono Bale 7/12 7.06kg Lew’s reel Craig Simmons 7/10 6.67kg Braden Schuch 7/12 6.45kg Bill Schloss 8/10 6.32kg Matt Johnson 7/12 6.22kg Shaun Falkenhagen 6/12 6.18kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

John Francis 12/12 10.23kg Prize Pack Mark Parriott 9/12 9.40kg Liam Dutton 10/12 8.76kg Brett Hyde 9/12 8.18kg Mitchell Rose 8/12 7.15kg Tim Steenhuis 7/12 7.12kg $500 Big Bass + Pack Dylan Byron 7/12 6.87kg Warren Howe 7/12 6.23kg Mark Lawson 6/12 6.17kg Angus Meyndershagen 6/12 6.14kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au SEPTEMBER 2018

103

Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic, Lake Hume The Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic, Lake Hume is on again on 13-14 October. This year’s major prize is again a Quintrex boat with Mercury outboard package on a trailer, along with over $50,000 in prizes for the various categories.

All competitors who enter the Classic will go into the draw for the boat.

Last year’s event marked our first foray into the ‘catch, photo and release’ approach to running the competition. It was well received by the competitors and will continue for the 2018 event and into the future, in line with current best practices.

Rules for the catch, photo, and release are available on the event website.

Held on the picturesque Lake Hume, the event is open to all ages. Both lure and bait are allowed. The centre for all non-fishing activities is the Lake Hume Tourist Park. The boundaries for the event are the confines of Lake Hume from the Wymah ferry on the Murray arm and Tallangatta

on the Mitta arm. At the time of writing the lake is at 46.1% and rising.

There are four categories for fish: golden perch (strictly catch and release only), trout, redfin and carp. Angler categories are for both male and female as well as adults and juniors. The Wilson Fishing Champion Team title will go to the team with the greatest combined length of golden perch only, caught by up to four members of a team over the two days. The Champion Angler category is open to all anglers and is based on the combined length of golden perch caught over the two days by an individual angler.

Champion Angler is for all angler categories. Anglers may present no more than five golden perch per day for the event.

Pre-entry for the 2018 Classic is still only $65 for adults and $25 for juniors.

Entry on the day is $70 for seniors and $30 for juniors.

To be a junior you must be under 15 on 13 October, 2018. Entry includes a meal

on Saturday night and a sausage sizzle on Sunday at the presentation.

All junior and female entrants will receive a lure as part of their entry. All competitors also receive a Leigh Martin Marine

Mercury Classic stubby holder and an information pack. Early bird entries close last mail on 5 October, 2018. The prize for this year’s early bird entry is $500 worth of fishing and camping goods.

Registration at the event is from 4pm until 8.30pm on Friday 12 October and from 5am until 10am on Saturday 13 October sharp, at the Lake Hume Tourist Park. A lure wall will be running as usual, simply place a lure

on the wall for a chance to win the entire wall. Lures can be new or used, but only entire packs of soft plastics please. Various raffles will be available over the weekend.

Competitors are reminded that golden perch must be 30cm or over (the minimum legal length in Victoria). Redfin and trout must be 30cm or over to be eligible for measuring. There is no size limit on carp.

Sponsors’ draws will be held on Saturday evening commencing at approximately 8pm, and there are plenty of great prizes to be won.

Competitors simply need to present their registration card in order to collect their prize. The main presentation will be held on the Sunday after all results are compiled, usually around 1pm.

For more information visit the website at www. lakehumeclassic.com.au or find us on Facebook at Leigh Martin Marine Mercury Classic Lake Hume. – Adrian Kent

All roads lead to Guyra for TroutFest 2018 Anglers will be lining up at this year’s TroutFest because the exciting Fishing Simulator is

in town. Courtesy of the Guyra Hotel Anglers Club, young and old can try their skills on the realistic

Children practising their new skills during TroutFest.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

Simulator, where you battle a virtual fish while watching your fight play out on the screen. Just choose your level of difficulty and your favourite fish species, and be prepared to be challenged. Any age or level of expertise is catered for. All reports say you are guaranteed to get a workout as you try to beat the machine!

Troutfest starts on 29 September (the opening of the NSW trout season) with a Children’s Fishing Clinic at the Mother of Ducks Lagoon in the heart of Guyra (ages 8-14). Ebor’s Dutton Trout Hatchery supplies huge brood trout to give the children a chance to catch a good fish, and they can take a mighty fish home from the dam at the Guyra Golf Course. The excitement and fun generated for the kids has to be seen to be believed. The kids get their own tackle and other goodies as part of the lessons.

A fishing competition runs over Saturday and Sunday for trout and native fish from local streams and dams, with over $1000 of prizes and giveaways for juniors and seniors. As well as trout there are categories for redfin, catfish and yellowbelly. A map of all the local public venues will be provided. Photo proof entries close at 5:30pm Sunday in time for presentations before the footy grand final.

Guyra caters well for dedicated trout fishers,

with several local fishing establishments providing accommodation right next to the well-stocked trout streams or private fishing dams.

Opportunities for fishing should be exciting with

For non-fishers Saturday is Market Day (29 September) with the Main Street closed between 9am-3.00pm for Guyra producers to highlight their products with tastings

Troutfest provides plenty of other activities including art and photography shows (find the tagged fish), antique machinery, museums, open gardens, golf and bowls.

Archie’s trout caught at last year’s Guyra TroutFest. streams and lakes returning to normal levels after recent rainfall. Malpas Dam and the mighty Copeton Dam are both in easy driving distance of Guyra. There is also the obligatory fishing raffle.

including smoked trout, trout pâté, egg products, international food, stalls of every kind and a musical program to suit all tastes.

Guyra’s retailers, cafes and pubs will be open too.

Join in Guyra’s TroutFest on the September/October long weekend. For more information or registration forms email guyratroutfest@ gmail.com or phone 0488 755 736. - GTF

East Coast Bream Series Round Three of the East Coast bream series (sponsored by The Lure Men) was held on the NSW Central Coast and run out of the Parsley Bay boat ramp at Brooklyn, the arena for the tournament being the Hawkesbury River. The Hawkesbury is renowned for holding some big bream, and with a good variety of options for fishing, this system really does give teams a wide range of opportunities.

This round saw 55 teams take part, all setting off seeking out a big bag of five bream. The conditions on the day were a mix of overcast clouds early with the sun breaking through occasionally to start the day.

The water temperature on the day was in the low double

digits (12°C) which meant teams would be using their fish finders to locate the schools of fish.

The reports filtering back during the competition were that the fish were around but not as abundant as competitors had first hoped, with only seven teams bringing a full bag of five fish to the scales.

The scales reflected how tough the day really was, with over 20 teams failing to weigh in any fish. However, some of those teams who did manage to dial in on the what the fish wanted on the day did really well, producing some great bags.

In 1st place, and walking away with a cheque for $2400, was team Cranka/ Compleat Angler Nowra (Liam Carruthers and Arthur

First place was taken out by Liam Carruthers and Arthur Amie from Team Cranka/Compleat Angler.

Amies).This team came 8th in round two in St Georges Basin, and were stoked to add a 1st place finish to their collection.

We asked the guys about their day to see what it was that helped them secure their winning bag of 4.94kg. Liam and Arthur said they’d had a tough pre-fish, searching upriver with no luck, so they decided to fish the main channel between the bridges on the day of the comp. The boys said that fishing the rock walls on either side of the channel with Cranka Crabs (in brackish fiddler colour) helped them to secure the win.

In 2nd place was team Akubra, consisting of Adam Kennedy and Tom Boxton.

This team also fished the same stretch of water but on the eastern side of the river, and came in only 1g behind with their five fish weighing 4.93kg. This neckand-neck finish made for an exciting weigh-in.

Tom mentioned that most of their fish came on ZMan GrubZ in motor oil colour, and were found sitting in the weed edges, demonstrating that the main channel was producing good bags of fish.

The guys walked away with $1500 for their efforts.

In 3rd place was team Abu Garcia/Tempt Industries, consisting of Daniel Scott and Codie Stewart, who proved that the main channel rock walls were the place to fish. Daniel

Over 20 teams failed to weigh in fish, but others ended up bringing some good fish to the scales. and Codie secured their bag by drifting with the outgoing tide, throwing a combination of the new Berkley Shimma Shad and Gulp Minnow Grubs in camo. The boys hopped their plastics down the rock walls with great results, ending up with five fish for 4.61kg and taking home $1000.

The Big Bream prize on the day was taken out by our 1st place team Cranka/ Compleat Angler Nowra.

They weighed in a 1.6kg bream, winning them a six-month subscription to Fishing Monthly.

By the time this issue hits the shelves, Round 4 will have just taken place on the Georges River on 26 August, and you can read all about it in the upcoming magazine. - WSBB

The fish were around but definitely not as plentiful as competitors had first hoped.

www.fishin.com.au TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

ZX BLADES

Runners-up Adam Kennedy and Tom Boxton weighed five fish totalling 4.93kg, just 1g less than the winning team.

ZMAN GRUBZ CRANKA CRABS

Team Abu Garcia/Tempt Industries proved that the main channel rock walls were the place to fish.

RESULTS Place Team 1 Cranka/Compleat

Angler Nowra 2 Akubra 3 Abu Garcia/Tempt

Industries 4 TBC 5 Lure Men 6 Brimin/Compleat

Angler Nowra 7 Abu Garcia/ Just 4 sho 8 Team Bing Lee 9 2 FARR 10 Out Casting

Anglers

Weight

Prize

Liam Carruthers and Arthur Amie Adam Kennedy and Tom Boxton

4.94kg 4.93kg

$2400 $1500

Daniel Scott and Codie Stewart Shaun Stewart and Tom Martin Mick Roberts and Phil Nix

4.61kg 3.99kg 3.66kg

$1000 $500 Sponsors pack

Grant Kime and Stuart Walker Christian Wardini and Frank Raneri Jorg Van Husen and Jay Barty James Farr and Brad Farr Gary Nano and Adam Viksne

3.30kg 3.07kg 2.93kg 2.07kg 2.01kg

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105

Lennox blades Boondooma BASS

STORM

Armidale builder Mark Lennox added to his list of Rapala BASS Pro wins in a tough bite at Lake Boondooma. He won the JML sponsored qualifier with a 10/12, 11.33kg bag that was nearly 2kg clear of the rest of his competition.

A seasoned blade fisherman, Lennox has won both bream and bass events on blades and used his skills amassed over the years to perfection on the winter bass bite at the South Burnett lake.

Each session, Lennox started at the dam wall to box a small limit of fish before heading up the Boyne arm to upgrade these to much bigger specimens.

His choice bait for the bottom end of the lake was a cream coloured Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4oz N itro jighead with a #1 hook.

Fishing it in 20ft of water, it was a natural choice for the schooled fish.

“I’d sound the creek bed

Mark Lennox reinforced that he is a competitor to be feared when there’s a blade bite going on in fresh- or saltwater. and look for rock between 12-22ft down. That’s where the bass were sitting,” he said.

After pulling up on his sounded bass, Lennox used a Duffrods 3-5kg rod with a

Daiwa Battler 2500 reel, 8lb Unitika line and 8lb FC Rock leader to deliver a Yamba Pro blade to the depths, where he would fish it vertically.

After that, it was just

Lennox targeted the better class of bass with blades around boulders and rock in the Boyne arm on Yamba Pro Prawn blades.

Lennox’s Boondooma Boulder Technique

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

106

SEPTEMBER 2018

a matter of enticing them to bite. Lennox used small hops, leaving the lure close to the bottom until the bass ate it.

Mark said, “Sometimes the bass would come up and eat it off the top of the boulders, and other times you’d need to drop it down beside the rocks to get a bite.”

Adding to complexity of the presentation was that strong winds would blow Mark around and he was using a standard, cable steer electric motor with no spot lock function. You really have to know how to position a boat to get results on days like those.

“Lots of fish were sitting in the little secondary channels beside the main river bed over gravel, but those fish were the hardest to catch - you needed to find the isolated fish relating to rock to get the bites,” Mark concluded.

Ben Biggs best in back of the boat The Gold Coast’s Ben Biggs proved that versatility in the back of the boat is the key to increasing bags and ascending the scoreboard. He used a variety of techniques to contribute to limits and take home the ultimate non-boater prize.

Paired with Paul Aldous on day one and Bass Cat’s Craig Simmons on day 2, Ben’s successful bait collection included Evergreen Little Max blades, Imakatsu IK 800 crankbaits and OSP Blitz extra deep running crankbait.

On day one, Biggs

hopped the blades early to put together a limit and then used the crankbaits to upgrade later in the sessions.

Ben fished the blades on an Edge Black Widow 6101 dropshot rod with a Daiwa Certate 2004 spooled with 10lb Toray Jigging PE braid, while

the crankbaits were cast on a 704 Black Widow with Daiwa Steez 100H spooled with the same line.

Day two with Simmons was spent fishing blades and spoons down deeper.

Interestingly, Ben fished the big Imakatsu at Pelican Point in 20-30ft of water, throwing long casts and banging the lure into the bottom. He also caught a couple on a weighted Blitz (with a bullet weight straight in front of the lure on the line).

“It pays to fish differently from the boater and to really listen to

BASS PR O

Ben’s big tip for non-boaters?

Fish differently from your boater. what they are saying,” Ben advised aspiring non-boaters. Sometimes the techniques you bring along

Matt Johnson presented the Duffrods Big Bag to the weighmaster in session two – a cracking 6.23kg limit.

will make the difference in this shared-weight format.

It’s sage advice for no-boaters in any event.

Scan this QR Code to watch the highlights from the final day of fishing in Mark and Paul’s boats.

Paul Aldous two short of a limit

Kilcoy’s Paul Aldous admitted to being quite surprised that his 2-fish bag in the last session actually elevated him into second place. He committed to Pelican Point for the entire event and based his fishing on a two-lure approach – a 20g Halco Twisty and 1/4ox Little Max blade in brown/red.

Paul would make long casts with the Halco and let it sink to the bottom. After it touched down, it was a six-winds and let it sink back to the bottom retrieve.

The bass would usually bite the lure as it fluttered back to the bottom.

Paul modified the lure by replacing the treble with a pair of assist hooks, fished off the rear split ring. His tackle included a

Duffrods 7’6” 4-7kg rod with a Shimano Stella 3000 reel spooled with 10lb Sunline PE and an 8lb Sunline FC Rock leader.

His Little Max rig was lighter, consisting of a 7’, 2-5kg rod and Daiwa Certate reel spooled with 6lb Sunline Braid and 6lb leader.

“I’d cast the blade as far as I could and hop it back to the boat – it’s a pretty standard retrieve for blades,” Paul reported.

Craig Simmons took home the $250 Evinrude Bonus for running his Bass Cat/G2 rig and finishing 6th.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Duffrods 3-5kg rod Reel: Daiwa Battler 2500 reel Line: Unitika 8lb braid Leader: FC Rock 8lb leader Lure: Yamba Pro Prawn blade

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Matt Johnson boxed a spectacular 4-fish, 6.23kg limit in the second session to take the Duffrods Big Bag. Struggling in the Kilcoy’s Paul Aldous teamed up with non-boater champion Ben Biggs to bag bass that won them both plenty.

Weight (kg)

bite to a 5th place finish for the event.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS Fish

morning sessions, Matt rode the afternoon

Place

Angler

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mark Lennox 10/12 11.33kg $2,250 Paul Aldous 10/12 9.59kg $1,150 Graham Ford 11/12 8.74kg $800 Shaun Falkenhagen 7/12 8.73kg $700 Matt Johnson 8/12 8.67kg $600 Craig Simmons 11/12 8.40kg $250 Evinrude Bonus Terry Allwood 10/12 7.95kg Simon Marchant 11/12 7.94kg Steve Kanowski 8/12 7.86kg Keeghan Painter 12/12 7.50kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ben Biggs 11/12 10.18kg Bill Rose 10/12 9.96kg Nick Price 8/12 9.16kg Trent Blake 9/12 9.16kg John Francis 9/12 8.90kg Adrian Wilson 9/12 8.88kg Mathew Flynn 10/12 7.81kg Shaun Beckman 12/12 7.65kg Jim Hickson 10/12 7.07kg Mitchell Petty 8/10 6.8kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Payout Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

SEPTEMBER 2018

107

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TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Brought to you by

2018

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

8-9 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Round 6

Clarence River

15-16 Sep

Round 6 Hobie Kayak Bream Series

Central Coast

22-23 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Grand Final

Lake Somerset

23 Sep

Round 4 WSBB East Coast Bream Series

Lake Macquarie

30 Sep-2 Oct

Guyra TroutFest

Guyra

13-14 Oct

ABT BREAM Series Round 9

South West Rocks

20-21 Oct

ABT BASS Australian Open

Lake Glenbawn

28 Oct

GF WSBB East Coast Bream Series

Parramatta River

3-4 Nov

Round 8 Hobie Kayak Bream Series

Lake Macquarie

9-11 Nov

Berkley Urunga Flathead Tournament

Urunga (Coffs Harbour)

19 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 1

Kinchant Dam (evening event)

20 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 2

Teemburra Dam (evening event)

21 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 3

Peter Faust (Night Championship)

23-24 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 4

Peter Faust (evening event)

30 Nov-2 Dec

ABT BREAM Series Grand Final

Marlo

abt.org.au

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guyratroutfest@gmail.com

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SEPTEMBER 2018

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Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962

$59,990

18’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

MANNING RIVER MARINE 13 Victoria Street, TAREE (02) 6552 2333 jim@manningrivermarine.com.au www.mercurydealertaree.com ABERDEEN FISHING & OUTDOORS 69 New England Hwy, ABERDEEN (02) 6543 7111 aberdeentackle@gmail.com www.aberdeenfishingandoutdoors.com.au

We Build Dreams...

It’s a Family Tradition A U S T R A L I A

PORT STEPHENS

• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req.

• Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

EASY PARKING

• • • •

Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com

Phone: 0427 125 727 I Fax: (07) 4972 1759 michael@mikat.com.au

www.mikat.com.au

$59,990

17’5” • Single axle Basscat trailer 75 hp Mercury 4 stroke 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME!

OPEN 7 DAYS

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au Now Agents For

CLARENCE COAST Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

Captain Kev’s Wilderness Fishing Tours (02) 4474 3345 or 0424 625 160

KAYAK DEALERS The Life Aquatic - Mona Vale – (02) 9979 1590 Australian Bass Angler - Penrith – (02) 4721 0455 Hunts Marine - Yallah – (02) 4284 0444 Bunyips Great Outdoors - Lismore – (02) 6622 1137 Maclean Outdoors - MacLean – (02) 6645 1120 Wetspot Watersports -Fyshwick – (02) 6239 1323 Graham Barclay Marine – Forster – (02) 6554 5866 Hunter Water Sports - Belmont – (02) 4947 7899 Totally Immersed Watersports - Nowra (02) 4421 5936 Hunts Marine - Batemans Bay – (02) 4472 2612 Compleat Angler – Merimbula – (02) 6495 3985

MARINE MECHANICS COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour Marine (02) 6652 4722 North Coast Boating Centre (02) 6655 7700 Jetty Boating (02) 6651 4002

This section in NSW Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

110

SEPTEMBER 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory SYDNEY Penrith Marine (02) 4731 6250 Cohoe Marine Products (Sydney) (02) 9519 3575 Blakes Marine (02) 4577 6699 Watersports Marine (02) 9676 1400 Marina Bayside (02) 9524 0044 Shannons Outboards (02) 9482 2638 Hi Tech Marine (02) 4256 6135 TR Marine World (02) 4577 3522

BAIT & TACKLE

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

Lazer Lures

www.fishin.com.au

Catch Fish

CANBERRA/ACT

TOURNAMENT TACKLE STORE

ZX BLADES

New Lazer 60g with premium VMC hooks, a must-have lure in every serious tailor fisherman’s tackle box.

H2O Marine (02) 6280 0555 Aussie Boat Sales ACT & NSW 0433 531 226

TWEED/BYRON COAST Tweed Coast Marine (07) 5524 8877 Ballina Marineland (02) 6686 2669

ZMAN GRUBZ CRANKA CRABS

MACQUARIE COAST Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

BENT MINNOWS

JACKALL CHUBBY

FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING Prawn Blad bawww.lazerlures.com es” “Yam CLARENCE

YAMBA BAIT & TACKLE “Yamba’s Leading Tackle Shop” MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING • All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer

“IN THE MAIN STREET” Shop 3, 8 Yamba St, Yamba

02 6646 1514 • OPEN 7 DAYS “The Home of Leavey Lures”

Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS // BOAT & TRAILER Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

SYDNEY The Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

• Stocking all Major Brands • Experienced Local Knowledge • Tournament Bream Gear in Stock • Snorkelling gear in stock

Drop in to see Mick & Kelly

0425 230 964 – info@fishin.com.au SHOP 18, 29 KIORA RD MIRANDA NSW 2228

www.fishin.com.au 0425 230 964 Blue Bottle Fishing 0409 333 380 or www.bluebottlefishing.com MOTackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au Adrenalin Flies www.adrenalinflies.com.au Anglers Warehouse www.anglerswarehouse.com.au

N O W AVA IL A B L E ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR

Wooli Bait & Tackle (02) 6649 7100

COFFS COAST

Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

www.hydrowaveaustralia.com

22 85

Yamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

MOTackle (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au

(includes shipping)

$

Marina Boat and Tackle (02) 6646 1994

Compleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307

$449 USD

From

T-Shirts

MACQUARIE COAST Ned Kelly Bait n Tackle Port Macquarie (02) 6583 8318 Graham Barclay Marine (02) 6554 5866 Manning River Marine Taree (02) 6552 2333

HUNTER COAST

Phone Cases From

$

29 45

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$

1 7 27

and lots more...

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS

ALL MADE TO ORDER

Port Stephens Tackle World (02) 4984 2144

SYDNEY Australian Bass Angler www.abafishing.com.au

Boat Wrap Specialist www.xfactorsigns.com

FRESHWATER Aberdeen Fishing & Outdoors (02) 6543 7111 Dubbo Marine and Watersports (02) 6882 2853 Loomzys Fish and Fix (Forbes) (02) 6851 1425

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0800 or email ads@fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2018

111

2018 2018 2018 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY(FORT (FORT DENISON) NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY DENISON) – –NEW WALES LAT 33° 52’ LONG 151°SOUTH 13’ JANUARY SEPTEMBER JANUARY Time Time m

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

Time m m Time m m Time Time 0213 0.53 0141 0.34 0812 1.96 0846 1.72 0045 1.23 0540 0.43 0213 0.53 0141 0.34 1451 0.19 1525 0.39 0636 0.59 1203 1.49 0812 1.96 0846 1.72 TU MO 2116 1.33 2049 1.48 TUSU 1312 1.47 1813 0.54 1451 0.19 1525 0.39 MOSA 19551.33 0.59 2116 2049 1.48 0233 0.32 0250 0.51 0904 2.04 0922 1.75 0145 1.14 0015 1.36 0233 0.32 0250 0.51 1544 0.12 WE 1559 0.37 0729 0.66 0625 0.49 0904 2.04 0922 1.75 TU 2144 1.50WE 2152 1.35 1410 1.43 1255 1.50 1544 0.12 1559 0.37 MO TUSU 21041.35 0.61 19151.50 0.56 2144 2152 0326 0.32 0327 0.50 0956 2.07 0958 1.76 0256 1.10 0115 1.27 0326 0.32 0327 0.50 1636 0.09 1633 0.35 0718 0.54 0831 0.70 0956 2.07 0958 1.76 WE TH 2238 1.50 THTU 2229 1.36 1355 1.51 1515 1.41 1636 0.09 1633 0.35 MO WE 22111.36 0.59 20301.50 0.56 2238 2229 0419 0.34 0404 0.50 1047 2.05 1033 1.75 0408 1.12 0228 1.21 0419 0.34 0404 0.50 1728 0.12 1708 0.36 0940 0.69 0823 0.56 1047 2.05 1033 1.75 TH FR 2331 1.48 FR 2305 1.36 1618 1.44 1502 1.56 1728 0.12 1708 0.36 WE THTU 23081.36 0.54 21501.48 0.50 2331 2305 0514 0.38 0444 0.51 1139 1.97 1109 1.72 0508 1.18 0348 1.22 0514 0.38 0444 0.51 1818 0.18 1743 0.37 1043 0.65 0935 0.54 1139 1.97 1109 1.72 FR SA 2345 1.37 1713 1.48 16120.18 1.64 SATH 1818 1743 0.37 WE FR 23541.37 0.48 2300 0.39 2345 0025 1.46 0524 0.53 0609 0.45 1146 1.68 0555 1.25 0501 1.28 0025 1.46 0524 0.53 1230 1.84 SU 1819 0.39 1134 0.59 1044 0.48 0609 0.45 1146 1.68 SA 1909 0.27SUFR 17590.39 1.54 1715 1.75 1230 1.84 1819 SATH 1909 0.27 0120 1.44 0026 1.38 0706 0.52 0608 0.56 0000 0.28 0034 0.42 0120 1.44 0026 1.38 1321 1.69 MO 1226 1.61 0634 1.32 0601 1.37 0706 0.52 0608 0.56 SU 1858 0.42 2000 0.36MOSA 1219 0.52 1145 0.39 1321 1.69 1226 1.61 SUFR 18390.42 1.59 18140.36 1.85 1858 2000 0215 1.42 0111 1.39 0806 0.60 0658 0.60 0052 0.18 0108 0.37 0215 1.42 0111 1.39 1415 1.53 1310 1.53 0655 1.46 0710 1.39 0806 0.60 0658 0.60 MO TU 2049 0.45 TUSU 1941 0.45 1241 0.31 1259 0.46 1415 1.53 1310 1.53 MOSA 19060.45 1.92 19150.45 1.63 2049 1941 0201 1.41 0313 1.42 0141 0.11 0141 0.33 0754 0.63 0913 0.66 0201 1.41 0313 1.42 1400 1.45 1513 1.39 WE 0744 1.55 0744 1.45 0754 0.63 0913 0.66 TU 1334 0.25 1336 0.41 2029 0.48 2140 0.52WE 1400 1.45 1513 1.39 MO TUSU 19570.52 1.94 19510.48 1.65 2029 2140 0411 1.43 0257 1.44 0226 0.10 0212 0.30 1023 0.68 0900 0.64 0411 1.43 0257 1.44 1615 1.29 1501 1.37 0831 1.61 0817 1.51 1023 0.68 0900 0.64 WE TH 1427 0.22 1414 0.37 2124 0.50 2230 0.56 THTU 1615 1.29 1501 1.37 MO WE 20450.56 1.90 20270.50 1.64 2124 2230 0508 1.47 0358 1.51 0309 0.12 0243 0.30 1133 0.67 1016 0.61 0508 1.47 0358 1.51 0918 1.64 0851 1.56 1720 1.23 1615 1.32 1133 0.67 1016 0.61 TH FR 1517 0.23 1452 0.35 2320 0.58 FR 2225 0.50 1720 1.23 1615 1.32 WE THTU 21330.58 1.80 21040.50 1.61 2320 2225 0600 1.52 0501 1.60 0351 0.19 0315 0.31 1237 0.62 1133 0.53 0600 1.52 0501 1.60 1003 1.65 0928 1.60 1820 1.22 1731 1.32 1237 0.62 1133 0.53 FR SA 16081.22 0.28 SATH 1534 0.35 2329 0.47 1820 1731 1.32 WE FR 2220 1.67 21430.47 1.56 2329 0009 0.58 0603 1.71 0432 0.28 0350 0.34 0647 1.57 1244 0.42 0009 0.58 0603 1.71 1049 1.62 1007 1.62 1329 0.56 SU 1841 1.35 0647 1.57 1244 0.42 SA 1700 0.36 16181.35 0.36 1913 1.24SUFR 1329 0.56 1841 SATH 23061.24 1.51 2225 1.49 1913 0053 0.56 0029 0.43 0512 0.39 0427 0.39 0730 1.63 0702 1.83 0053 0.56 0029 0.43 1134 1.58 1048 1.63 1411 0.49 MO 1345 0.29 0730 1.63 0702 1.83 SU 1754 0.45 1707 0.40 1958 1.27MOSA 1943 1.41 1411 0.49 1345 0.29 SUFR 23541.27 1.36 23121.41 1.40 1958 1943 0134 0.55 0127 0.38 0552 0.50 0509 0.45 0810 1.68 0758 1.94 0134 0.55 0127 0.38 1221 1.53 1135 1.61 1449 0.44 1440 0.19 0810 1.68 0758 1.94 MO TU 1851 0.53 1802 0.44 2038 1.30 TUSU 2038 1.47 1449 0.44 1440 0.19 MOSA 2038 1.30 2038 1.47 0221 0.33 0851 2.01 0221 0.33 1530 0.12 0851 2.01 WE 2130 1.52 0.12 WE 1530 2130 1.52

Time m m Time m m Time Time 0311 0.46 0315 0.30 0943 2.04 0936 1.75 0211 1.14 0005 1.30 0311 0.46 0315 0.30 1618 0.11 FR 1605 0.34 0740 0.71 0558 0.52 0943 2.04 0936 1.75 TH 2203 1.44 2220 1.54FRTU 1415 1.44 1229 1.59 1618 0.11 1605 0.34 MO TH 21171.44 0.59 19071.54 0.47 2203 2220 0348 0.44 0407 0.30 1032 2.00 1012 1.75 0110 1.23 0318 1.12 0348 0.44 0407 0.30 1705 0.14 SA 1638 0.33 0656 0.58 0845 0.75 1032 2.00 1012 1.75 FR 2310 1.55SAWE 2239 1.47 1330 1.57 1518 1.40 1705 0.14 1638 0.33 FRTU 20221.55 0.47 22211.47 0.58 2310 2239 0427 0.44 0459 0.33 1047 1.72 1120 1.91 0226 1.20 0429 1.15 0427 0.44 0459 0.33 1712 0.34 1750 0.21 SU 0808 0.61 0959 0.75 1047 1.72 1120 1.91 SA 2316 1.50 2358 1.54SUTH 1443 1.57 1628 1.40 1712 0.34 1750 0.21 WE SA 21381.54 0.43 23191.50 0.55 2316 2358 0508 0.45 0550 0.39 1126 1.67 1207 1.77 0346 1.23 0530 1.21 0508 0.45 0550 0.39 1746 0.36 1833 0.30 MO 0925 0.58 1107 0.71 1126 1.67 1207 1.77 SU 2357 1.51 15560.30 1.62MOFR 1730 1.43 1746 0.36 1833 SUTH 2244 0.35 2357 1.51 0553 0.48 0045 1.51 1206 1.60 0643 0.48 0453 1.32 0008 0.49 0553 0.48 0045 1.51 1824 0.40 1254 1.61 TU 1036 0.51 0618 1.29 1206 1.60 0643 0.48 MO 1916 0.41TUSA 1700 1.70 12040.40 0.64 1824 1254 1.61 MOFR 23400.41 0.27 1820 1.47 1916 0040 1.52 0134 1.48 0642 0.51 0738 0.57 0548 1.43 0049 0.44 0040 1.52 0134 1.48 1250 1.51 1341 1.45 WE 1138 0.41 0700 1.38 0642 0.51 0738 0.57 TU 1905 0.45 1959 0.50WESU 1758 1.76 1253 0.56 1250 1.51 1341 1.45 TUSA 19030.45 1.52 1905 1959 0.50 0128 1.53 0226 1.45 0838 0.64 0738 0.55 0126 0.39 0030 0.20 0128 1.53 0226 1.45 1431 1.31 TH 1342 1.41 0738 1.54 0736 1.47 0838 0.64 0738 0.55 WE 2045 0.58THMO 1952 0.51 1333 0.32 1335 0.48 1431 1.31 1342 1.41 WESU 19490.58 1.80 19430.51 1.55 2045 1952 0320 1.43 0223 1.53 0945 0.69 0845 0.58 0159 0.35 0215 0.17 0320 1.43 0223 1.53 1531 1.21 FR 1445 1.32 0811 1.55 0824 1.63 0945 0.69 0845 0.58 TH 2136 0.64FRTU 2050 0.56 1415 0.41 1426 0.25 1531 1.21 1445 1.32 MO TH 20210.56 1.57 20380.64 1.78 2136 2050 0419 1.44 0327 1.55 0231 0.32 0257 0.18 1057 0.69 1002 0.57 0419 1.44 0327 1.55 1643 1.16 SA 1602 1.26 0845 1.63 0908 1.69 1057 0.69 1002 0.57 FR 1455 0.35 1515 0.23 2235 0.67SAWE 2200 0.58 1643 1.16 1602 1.26 FRTU 21000.58 1.57 21260.67 1.72 2235 2200 0519 1.46 0437 1.61 0336 0.22 0305 0.32 1205 0.65 1122 0.51 0519 1.46 0437 1.61 1752 1.17 SU 1724 1.28 0951 1.73 0922 1.70 1205 0.65 1122 0.51 SA 1603 0.24 1537 0.30 2334 0.66SUTH 2312 0.56 1752 1.17 1724 1.28 WE SA 22110.66 1.63 21410.56 1.55 2334 2312 0615 1.51 0546 1.70 0415 0.29 0341 0.33 1300 0.59 1232 0.41 0615 1.51 0546 1.70 1033 1.73 1000 1.76 1851 1.21 MO 1835 1.34 1300 0.59 1232 0.41 SU 16521.21 0.28MOFR 16211.34 0.28 1851 1835 SUTH 2256 1.51 2225 1.50 0028 0.63 0018 0.49 0452 0.38 0418 0.36 0702 1.57 0648 1.80 0028 0.63 0018 0.49 1115 1.70 1042 1.78 1346 0.52 TU 1331 0.30 0702 1.57 0648 1.80 MO 1739 0.34 1708 0.28 1938 1.26TUSA 1933 1.43 1346 0.52 1331 0.30 MOFR 23411.26 1.40 23131.43 1.44 1938 1933 0114 0.59 0118 0.42 0530 0.47 0500 0.42 0745 1.63 0745 1.89 0114 0.59 0118 0.42 1156 1.65 1127 1.78 1425 0.45 WE 1424 0.22 0745 1.63 0745 1.89 TU 1828 0.42 1800 0.31 2018 1.32WESU 2026 1.51 1425 0.45 1424 0.22 TUSA 2018 1.32 2026 1.51 0155 0.54 0027 1.29 0004 1.37 0824 1.68 0155 0.54 0607 0.56 0547 0.49 1500 0.40 0824 1.68 WE 1237 1.58 2054 1.36 MO 1216 1.74 1500 0.40 WESU 19181.36 0.50 1857 0.35 2054 0233 0.50 0115 1.20 0102 1.30 0900 1.72 0233 0.50 0649 0.65 0642 0.56 1533 0.36 0900 1.72 TH 1322 1.50 2129 1.40 TU 1311 1.69 1533 0.36 MO TH 20151.40 0.56 2001 0.39 2129

m Time m m Time m m Time Time 0214 0.51 0213 0.34 0837 1.94 0832 1.69 0340 1.19 0323 1.25 0214 0.51 0213 0.34 1511 0.17 FR 1459 0.37 0908 0.78 0859 0.64 0837 1.94 0832 1.69 TH 2100 1.50 2114 1.58FRFR 1528 1.40 1525 1.61 1511 0.17 1459 0.37 THTH 2223 0.55 22201.58 0.39 2100 1.50 2114 0304 0.30 0251 0.45 0926 1.94 0909 1.72 0441 1.25 0435 1.31 0304 0.30 0251 0.45 1555 0.17 SA 1531 0.34 1019 0.75 1015 0.61 0926 1.94 0909 1.72 FR 2200 1.62SASA 2135 1.57 1633 1.39 1637 1.61 1555 0.17 1531 0.34 FRFR 2314 0.52 23211.62 0.35 2200 2135 1.57 0354 0.29 0330 0.41 1014 1.89 0946 1.72 0533 1.33 0537 1.40 0354 0.29 0330 0.41 1636 0.21 SU 1604 0.33 1126 0.54 1124 0.70 1014 1.89 0946 1.72 SA 2244 1.64SUSU 2211 1.62 1743 1.63 1731 1.41 1636 0.21 1604 0.33 SASA 2358 0.47 2244 1.64 2211 1.62 0443 0.32 0411 0.39 1059 1.79 1026 1.70 0617 1.42 0014 0.31 0443 0.32 0411 0.39 1716 0.29 MO 1638 0.34 1219 0.62 0630 1.51 1059 1.79 1026 1.70 SU 2327 1.63MOMO 2249 1.66 1821 1.44 1230 0.45 1716 0.29 1638 0.34 SUSU 18391.63 1.64 2327 2249 1.66 0531 0.38 0455 0.39 1143 1.66 1107 1.64 0037 0.43 0101 0.28 0531 0.38 0455 0.39 1754 0.38 TU 1715 0.37 0658 1.53 0717 1.61 1143 1.66 1107 1.64 MO 2330 1.69 1308 0.52 13260.38 0.37 TUTU 1754 1715 0.37 MOMO 1907 1.47 1931 1.63 2330 1.69 0009 1.60 0542 0.41 0619 0.46 1151 1.57 0115 0.39 0145 0.28 0009 1.60 0542 0.41 1225 1.52 WE 1754 0.43 0735 1.63 0802 1.70 0619 0.46 1151 1.57 TU 1830 0.48WEWE 1353 0.43 1417 0.31 1225 1.52 1754 0.43 TUTU 1950 1.49 20190.48 1.60 1830 0052 1.56 0015 1.69 0709 0.55 0634 0.44 0151 0.36 0224 0.30 0052 1.56 0015 1.69 1308 1.38 TH 1240 1.47 0814 1.74 0845 1.76 0709 0.55 0634 0.44 WE 1837 0.50 1907 0.57THTH 1437 0.34 1505 0.28 1308 1.38 1240 1.47 WEWE 2035 1.50 21050.57 1.54 1837 0.50 1907 0136 1.51 0103 1.67 0803 0.62 0732 0.49 0302 0.34 0230 0.35 0136 1.51 0103 1.67 1356 1.27 FR 1335 1.37 0926 1.79 0855 1.83 0803 0.62 0732 0.49 TH 1948 0.66FRFR 1928 0.58 1551 0.28 1522 0.27 1356 1.27 1335 1.37 THTH 21500.66 1.47 2121 1.49 1948 1928 0.58 0200 1.64 0226 1.46 0339 0.40 0310 0.36 0841 0.52 0904 0.67 0200 1.64 0226 1.46 1443 1.29 1453 1.18 SA 1005 1.79 0938 1.89 0841 0.52 0904 0.67 FR 1635 0.31 1610 0.23 2030 0.64 2040 0.72SASA 1443 1.29 1453 1.18 FRFR 22340.72 1.40 2211 1.46 2030 0.64 2040 0324 1.43 0306 1.62 0415 0.47 0355 0.38 1014 0.69 0958 0.52 0324 1.43 0306 1.62 1604 1.15 SU 1602 1.27 1044 1.76 1023 1.92 1014 0.69 0958 0.52 SA 1718 0.35 1700 0.21 2146 0.67 2146 0.75SUSU 1604 1.15 1602 1.27 SASA 23160.75 1.33 2302 1.43 2146 0.67 2146 0430 1.43 0420 1.64 0451 0.54 0443 0.43 1123 0.66 1112 0.48 0430 1.43 0420 1.64 1121 1.71 1112 1.91 1721 1.17 MO 1722 1.31 1123 0.66 1112 0.48 SU 1801 0.41 1753 0.23 2257 0.75MOMO 2303 0.63 1721 1.17 1722 1.31 SUSU 2358 1.38 2257 0.75 2303 0.63 0533 1.47 0531 1.69 0000 1.26 0534 0.49 1222 0.61 1217 0.41 0533 1.47 0531 1.69 0529 0.61 1203 1.87 1824 1.22 TU 1827 1.40 1222 0.61 1217 0.41 MO 12001.22 1.64 TUTU 1850 0.27 1824 1827 1.40 MOMO 1846 0.47 0000 0.70 0011 0.55 0057 1.34 0045 1.21 0628 1.52 0634 1.76 0000 0.70 0011 0.55 0632 0.55 0610 0.67 1311 0.54 WE 1313 0.34 0628 1.52 0634 1.76 TU 1259 1.79 1241 1.57 1912 1.29WEWE 1921 1.50 1311 0.54 1313 0.34 TUTU 1950 0.31 19341.29 0.52 1912 1921 1.50 0051 0.64 0111 0.47 0200 1.32 0136 1.18 0715 1.59 0729 1.81 0051 0.64 0111 0.47 0736 0.60 0659 0.73 1351 0.48 TH 1400 0.29 0715 1.59 0729 1.81 WE 1400 1.71 1328 1.50 1951 1.37THTH 2009 1.59 1351 0.48 1400 0.29 WEWE 2053 0.35 20281.37 0.55 1951 2009 1.59 0134 0.57 0204 0.39 0235 1.17 0308 1.34 0755 1.65 0819 1.83 0134 0.57 0204 0.39 0759 0.77 0846 0.63 1426 0.42 FR 1445 0.27 0755 1.65 0819 1.83 TH 1423 1.44 FRFR 1505 1.62 2027 2053 1.66 1426 0.42 1445 0.27 THTH 21261.44 0.57 2155 0.37 2027 2053 1.66 0254 0.35 0906 1.80 0254 0.35 1525 0.28 0906 1.80 SA 2135 1.71 0.28 SA 1525 2135 1.71

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

25 2525

10 1010

11 1111

26 2626

27 2727

12 1212

13 13 13

28 2828

14 14 14 15 15 15

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

10 10 10

1 11

16 1616

2 22

17 1717

3 33

18 1818

4 44

19 1919

5 55

20 2020

6 66

21 2121

7 77

22 2222

8 88

23 2323

9 99

24 2424

25 2525

10 1010

11 11 11

26 2626

12 12 12

Local Time Local Time APRIL DECEMBER Time TimeAPRIL m

m Timem m Timem m Time Time 0212 0.40 0241 0.34 0819 1.68 0851 1.74 0345 1.28 0414 1.39 0212 0.40 0241 0.34 1428 0.36 1502 0.33 0925 0.76 1000 0.62 MO 0819 1.68 0851 1.74 SU 2043 1.79 2115 1.73 1531 1.38 1615 1.56MO SU 1428 0.36 1502 0.33 SU SA 2214 2251 0.38 2043 1.790.53 2115 1.73 0327 0.36 0256 0.36 0934 1.65 0903 1.65 0514 1.47 0440 1.35 0327 0.36 0256 0.36 1538 0.40 1505 0.38 1113 0.58 TU 1034 0.73 0934 1.65 0903 1.65 MO 2155 1.73 2124 1.84 1720 1.52TUMO 1635 1.35 1538 0.40 1505 0.38 MOSU 2343 0.38 2302 2155 1.73 2124 1.840.51 0412 0.41 0344 0.34 1016 1.54 0950 1.60 0607 1.56 0530 1.45 0412 0.41 0344 0.34 1613 0.48 1545 0.42 1219 0.52 WE 1140 0.66 1016 1.54 0950 1.60 TU 2233 1.70 2208 1.86 1819 1.48WE TU 1735 1.35 1613 0.48 1545 0.42 TUMO 2347 2233 1.70 2208 1.860.47 0456 0.47 0434 0.35 1058 1.44 1041 1.53 0030 0.39 0616 1.56 0456 0.47 0434 0.35 1645 0.56 1630 0.48 0656 1.65 TH 1237 0.56 1058 1.44 1041 1.53 WE 2311 1.65 2255 1.85 1318 0.45THWE 1830 1.37 1645 0.56 1630 0.48 WE TU 1913 1.45 2311 1.65 2255 1.85 0542 0.54 0530 0.39 1135 1.44 1140 1.34 0113 0.40 0031 0.44 0542 0.54 0530 0.39 1718 0.56 1720 0.65 0741 1.72 FR 0700 1.68 1135 1.44 1140 1.34 TH 2346 1.80 2350 1.59 1410 0.39FR TH 1330 0.45 1718 0.56 1720 0.65 THWE 2002 1.42 1923 2346 1.801.40 2350 1.59 0631 0.60 0630 0.43 1226 1.26 1235 1.37 0153 0.42 0115 0.41 0631 0.60 0630 0.43 1800 0.72 1815 0.64 0823 1.77 SA 0745 1.80 1226 1.26 1235 1.37 FR 1456 0.36SA FR 1420 1800 0.72 1815 0.640.34 FR TH 2048 1.39 2015 1.43 0035 1.53 0045 1.75 0726 0.65 0739 0.47 0200 0.38 0231 0.45 0035 1.53 0045 1.75 1320 1.21 1345 1.32 0902 1.79 SU 0832 1.90 0726 0.65 0739 0.47 SA 1851 0.78 1921 0.70 1538 0.34SU SA 1509 0.24 1320 1.21 1345 1.32 SA FR 2131 1.36 2106 1851 0.78 1921 0.701.44 0130 1.48 0152 1.70 0829 0.67 0850 0.48 0308 0.48 0248 0.37 0130 1.48 0152 1.70 1428 1.18 1501 1.33 0941 1.80 MO 0920 1.98 0829 0.67 0850 0.48 SU 1958 0.82 2038 0.71 1618 0.34MO SU 1559 0.17 1428 1.18 1501 1.33 SU SA 2213 1.33 2158 1958 0.82 2038 0.711.45 0235 1.45 0305 1.67 0345 0.52 0338 0.37 0934 0.66 0956 0.46 0235 1.45 0305 1.67 1542 1.21 1612 1.39 1017 1.78 TU 1009 2.02 0934 0.66 0956 0.46 MO 1657 0.36TUMO 1649 0.15 2114 0.82 2154 0.68 1542 1.21 1612 1.39 MOSU 2253 1.30 2251 2114 0.82 2154 0.681.45 0345 1.46 0415 1.68 0421 0.56 0430 0.39 1034 0.62 1055 0.43 0345 1.46 0415 1.68 1645 1.27 1711 1.48 1054 1.74 WE 1100 2.01 1034 0.62 1055 0.43 TU 1735 0.39WE TU 1742 0.15 2222 0.78 2301 0.61 1645 1.27 1711 1.48 TUMO 2333 1.28 2345 2222 0.78 2301 0.611.43 0445 1.50 0515 1.70 0500 0.60 0525 0.42 1124 0.57 1145 0.40 0445 1.50 0515 1.70 1130 1.69 TH 1152 1.95 1735 1.35 1801 1.58 1124 0.57 1145 0.40 WE 1815 0.43THWE 1835 2319 0.70 1735 1.35 1801 1.580.20 WE TU 2319 0.70 0534 1.56 0001 0.53 0015 1.25 0043 1.42 1205 0.51 0609 1.70 0534 1.56 0001 0.53 0540 0.65 FR 0622 0.47 1815 1.44 1230 0.38 1205 0.51 0609 1.70 TH 1209 1.63FR TH 1245 1.85 1847 1.67 1815 1.44 1230 0.38 THWE 1857 0.47 1930 1847 1.670.26 0006 0.62 0054 0.47 0100 1.23 0141 1.41 0617 1.61 0658 1.68 0006 0.62 0054 0.47 0626 0.69 SA 0723 0.53 1243 0.45 1312 0.39 0617 1.61 0658 1.68 FR 1250 1.56SA FR 1342 1.73 1852 1.53 1930 1.74 1243 0.45 1312 0.39 FR TH 1942 0.51 2026 1852 1.53 1930 1.740.33 0048 0.54 0142 0.43 0150 1.23 0242 1.42 0658 1.65 0744 1.64 0048 0.54 0142 0.43 0717 0.73 SU 0830 0.58 1317 0.40 1349 0.41 0658 1.65 0744 1.64 SA 1337 1.49SU SA 1442 1.59 1928 1.62 2009 1.78 1317 0.40 1349 0.41 SA FR 2031 0.53 2121 1928 1.62 2009 1.780.39 0130 0.46 0227 0.41 0245 1.24 0344 1.45 0738 1.68 0827 1.58 0130 0.46 0227 0.41 0817 0.76 MO 0942 0.61 1351 0.37 1425 0.46 0738 1.68 0827 1.58 SU 1430 1.42MO SU 1547 1.47 2004 1.71 2047 1.80 1351 0.37 1425 0.46 SU SA 2123 0.54 2215 2004 1.71 2047 1.800.44

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1.25 0.62 WE 1414 1.64 2112 0.40

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1.50 0.61 MO 1654 1.38 2308 0.47

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2016, Bureau of Meteorology Copyright Commonwealth Australia 2016, Bureau Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of of Australia 2016, Bureau of of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of are Predictions is Lowesttime Astronomical Tideor daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times in local standard (UTC +10:00) Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 115 Paddlin’ Pejar Inside story...

Horizon Aluminium Boats is an Australian family-owned and operated boat-building empire. It was founded in 1992 by Bob and Christine James, who have built their business from a small shed in Burleigh making two models, to a factory on the Gold Coast producing 84 models. Horizon Boats continues to charge at the forefront of boat design in Australia.

Made for...

Horizon have endeavoured to design and manufacture boats that not only fulfill fishing fantasies, but cater to a family-oriented boating experience. Their motto is ‘Building family dreams today,’ and they have consistently fulfilled this promise.

This month...

We’re checking out the Horizon Scorpion 485, a great entry-level rig. Check it out on page 122!

Toby Grundy explores a waterway low on most anglers’ lists that should be bumped up much higher!

116 Take a seat!

Seating options in boats can get confusing, so sit down and let Wayne Kampe break it down for you!

118 Family kayak fun

Time with the family is important, and kayaking is a great way to do it, as Justin Willmer explains.

120 Stessl Bluewater 520 with Yamaha F115hp Editor Steve Morgan climbs into this offshore-ready rig to put it through its paces.

SEPTEMBER 2018

113

WHAT’S NEW BOATING M.A.P PRO REMOTE 1 STEERING

MERCURY 3.0L 1504 270HP DIESELS

M.A.P Technology’s state-of-the-art autonomous boat control device, M.A.P Pro, allows you to remotely steer your vessel on a pre-routed course, via an app on your handheld device.

The mobile app interfaces with a compact, marine-proofed unit, housing a GPS, Wi-Fi, INS and solid state compass. This unit connects via Wi-Fi to a handheld android or iOS app device that facilitates rudder control, battery monitor and other steering commands, allowing the vessel to travel along a pre-selected route to its destination, and at any time the skipper can take control with optional remote steering.

M.A.P Pro is suitable for any boat, and can be used with outboard, inboard, sterndrive and electric motors. It comes pre-loaded with navigational charts, and allows the user to manage unlimited waypoints and routes. Highly precise, the GPS horizontal accuracy of the system is within 2.5m. www.amisales.com.au

Mercury has released a new line of 3.0L diesel engines for sterndrive, inboard and water-jet applications.

Available in 150hp, 230hp and 270hp, these engines have been engineered to lead their class in several key attributes: acceleration; reliability; ease of installation and maintenance; and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).

“Mercury already has a class-leading diesel portfolio, and these engines add to that with their impressive low-end torque and exceptional durability,” said Reinhard Burk, Mercury’s Senior Director, Global Inboard and Sterndrive Categories.

Features include: a new water-cooled, variable-geometry turbocharger and commonrail fuel delivery to provide exceptional performance and substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds; compliance with tougher diesel emission standards; compatibility with Mercury SmartCraft technologies, and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Inboards (JPI) and Sterndrives (JPS); and a new factory-backed limited 3-year Recreational Warranty with an additional 2 years on selected major components. A Light Duty Commercial Warranty provides protection for 1 Year or 1500 hours. www.mercurymarine.com.au

PRICE DROP ON LOWRANCE ELITE-TI 2 Lowrance has dropped prices by 20% across its EliteTi range of MFDs, delivering savings of up to AUD$700.

This all-in-one fishfinder/chartplotter series offers great value at an affordable price, with displays available in 5”, 7”, 9”, and 12” sizes.

Features include an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology, and highperformance sonar. Paired with a compatible transducer, Elite Ti can deliver CHIRP, Broadband Sounder and StructureScan HD imaging sonar with SideScan, DownScan Imaging and new FishReveal views. FishReveal allows anglers to quickly and easily discover how fish orient themselves in and around cover and structure, with clearly defined fish arches.

The highly accurate built-in GPS antenna displays position on a detailed C-MAP or Navionics+ chart. Bluetooth and wireless connectivity also provide control of single or dual Power-Pole shallow water anchors, and enable remote access to the display via phones or tablets. www.lowrance.com

WATER-ACTIVATED GME EPIRBS

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GME’s MT603 Series of water-activated, GPS-equipped EPIRBs are the most advanced MEOSAR-ready 406 MHz digital EPIRBs on the market.

Designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia, the MT603 series has obtained international Cospas-Sarsat approval.

These EPIRBs have an integrated 66 channel GPS receiver, delivering greater position accuracy and faster location fix than previous models. Boasting zero warmup digital technology, MT603s acquire and transmit accurate latitude/longitude and personal ID info to rescue authorities as soon as possible. It also has a high-intensity, solid state strobe light and auxiliary 121.5 MHz VHF homing transmitter.

These EPIRBs can be activated both manually and automatically upon contact with water. The Category 2 model (MT603G) will automatically activate when the unit is removed from the mounting bracket and is deployed in water. The Category 1 model (MT603FG) will automatically deploy from the ‘Float-Free’ housing via a hydrostatic release unit at a depth of 1.5-4m, with the beacon activating upon contact with water. www.gme.net.au www.lorem.com.au 114

SEPTEMBER 2018

RAYMARINE OS UPGRADE

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Raymarine’s Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs feature the fast and fluid LightHouse 3 operating system, along with powerful CHIRP DownVision, CHIRP SideVision, High CHIRP, RealVision 3D and 1kW CHIRP sonar capabilities. Now, owners of Raymarine’s popular eS and gS Series multifunction displays can unlock these high-performance tools.

Owners of Raymarine’s eS and gS Series MFDs running LightHouse 2 can upgrade to LightHouse 3 for free. Simply download the update from Raymarine.com.au to any microSD memory card and insert it into your display.

LightHouse 3 is easy to learn. It brings your most commonly used features forward with an intuitive menu system, and its simple home screen icons are easily customised.

Anglers who upgrade to LightHouse 3 can also unlock the power of Raymarine’s latest sonar technology using the new RVX1000 3D CHIRP Sonar Module. www.raymarine.com.au

CHARGE MATE PRO 90

PRODUCT GUIDE

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The Charge Mate Pro 90 is an electronic relay that allows a second battery to receive up to 90A of charge current from a single alternator. Suitable for all battery types, it is ideal for recharging lithium ion cells and has built-in safety features.

When a boat has two batteries on board, typically an engine start battery and a service battery, the second battery usually requires its own charging solution. A mechanical relay will charge the flattest battery first, and then switch to the other, but this isn’t always ideal, as it could leave the engine starter battery discharged.

The Charge Mate Pro 90 works differently, by always prioritising the primary battery while still charging the secondary.

The relay is housed in a corrosion-resistant housing flanked by two heat sinks, and its operation can be monitored via built-in LED indicators. The unit includes automatic battery detection, so it can work seamlessly with either 12V or 24V systems.

Price: SRP $578 www.bla.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

A serious look at Pejar Dam CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Until recently I had never really taken Pejar Dam seriously, because I had heard such negative reviews of the dam from a number of anglers. Even though it’s

plans to fish another dam fell through. Pejar was the only option nearby, and contained the species I wanted to target – rainbow trout.

We arrived at the dam at 9am, and half an hour later I had dropped two large rainbow trout and caught my new PB. I realised very

Goulburn has all the usual amenities that you typically find in a larger rural town, such as petrol stations, cafes, restaurants and supermarkets. There’s also a great tackle shop, Tackle World Goulburn, where you can stock up on lures and get some really helpful advice

The fish hold in weed beds scattered throughout the dam. only about an hour’s drive from Canberra (my home town), I ignored the dam and focused my attention on any other fishery I could

quickly that sometimes reputation means absolutely nothing, and that even dams with the worst statuses are worth a crack.

You’ll need to spend a bit of time on the water so pack for a big session. find – all because of those stories of fishless days and hours spent on the water without even a touch.

However, this all changed recently when my

FACILITIES Pejar Dam is located just outside the city of Goulburn, which is about an hour from Canberra and two hours from Sydney.

about fisheries in the area and how best to connect with big fish at Pejar.

At the dam itself, there are toilets, plenty of parking and it’s very easy to launch as the dirt road winds its way close to the bank. You do need a fishing license as the dam is in NSW, and Pejar is an alpine waterway so a lifejacket must be worn at all times. There is mobile phone reception all the way around the dam.

SPECIES Pejar Dam has been stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout and Australian bass. The rainbows and browns are seriously big and the bass are catching up fast. I sounded a number of trout that would have been over 70cm, and a few even larger fish.

TECHNIQUES I first started using plastics for trout in the Eucumbene River and have usually done well on them, so I started with the same

The author with his new PB bow of 67cm. The trout here are big and fight well.

techniques that I apply at the Snowies. I got action straight away.

There is a lot of bait at Pejar and it was very easy to spot this bait in the first few minutes and match the hatch.

I used a 65mm Squidgy Wriggler (a similar size to the bait) in red rum rigged on a 1/8oz jighead. I then cast the lure out towards the edge of the weed beds near the dam wall and slow lifted the plastic towards the surface after I felt it hit the weed. I then let the lure drop again once it neared the surface.

All three hook-ups came right at the top of the water column, with the largest trout of the day eating the lure at the kayak.

For bass, I found large schools of 30-35cm fish in the deeper sections of the dam, and vertically jigged Ecogear ZX35s right in front of their nose. I couldn’t convince any to bite but I am sure that in the warmer months, these fish would respond well to this technique.

THE KAYAK Pejar is a wide dam and there isn’t a lot of tight water,

Warren Adkins with a nice fish taken on the troll. necessity. There are scattered weed beds throughout the dam, and some are out in the middle of nowhere and deep with no other visible structure in sight. Without a sounder, finding these fertile holding grounds would be the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack. I used the Lowrance Elite-7 Ti and marked a number of weed

The dam wall provides good fishing. so it is suited to larger, stable kayaks. I used my Native Slayer 13 (pedal) and it was perfect because it handled the chop with ease and has the added benefit of reverse, which meant that when I did hook a big trout I was able to keep the fish out in front of me at all times. I did witness a young bloke launch a small paddle kayak at the dam wall and he did struggle in the wind, eventually giving up after about 30 minutes. It is an unforgiving dam and doesn’t suit cheap craft.

The other reason for bringing a larger yak is for the storage. The fish move around a lot, and finding them could mean several sweeps of the dam up and back, meaning you’ll need plenty of food and water and a place to keep it.

THE SOUNDER This is the first dam I have visited during the two years of writing this column where I would say a good sounder is a

beds which I fished at various times during the day, which always had fish on them.

LOCATIONS I recommend starting at the dam wall as it is close to the launch area. There were fish sitting along the rocks when we went through this spot in the morning and again in the afternoon. It is a bit more sheltered and there is plenty of bait in this area.

There is also a good patch of half-sunken shrubs

just past the middle of the dam, and close by are several excellent weed beds which are worth a crack and where we hooked several good fish.

TACKLE I took two outfits to Pejar but ended up only fishing one for the majority of the day. For plastics and blades, I used my Daiwa Harrier ultralight 1-3kg rod matched to a Daiwa Cerate 1000 spooled with 4lb fluorocarbon straight through. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting big trout and the first trout (67cm) pushed this outfit to its limits, but I had more hits on the light gear so I stuck with it.

TIMING I fished Pejar in late July and had a great time. I sounded plenty of fish, fought and lost a few beasts and we landed some nice trout. So as a winter or early spring fishery, I can’t recommend it highly enough. That said, I intend to go there again in summer to try for some bass.

CONCLUSION Pejar Dam is up there for me as one the most exciting kayak fisheries that I have come across. There are plenty of fish and it has something for everyone, with both native and introduced species on offer. This dam taught me to ignore the general consensus, and to never judge on reputation alone.

If you’re thinking of making the trip, now is a great time to visit the dam and target some mammoth trout.

The best fishing came from areas like this, with two or three trout nearer the top hanging over a weed bed.

SEPTEMBER 2018

115

Sort out that boat seating and reap the rewards BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Seating in fishingorientated trailer boats is a complex business.

You might think that

that’s intended for long hauls and the rods being removed from the racks virtually demands installation of the best quality supportive seating for all occupants while travelling. This can take the form of a wellpadded bucket or dedicated

access to any shelves in the console.

On the other end of the scale is the small tinny, car topper or other lightweight rig where cross seating is integral to the structural strength of the craft. These cross-seats are often no more

Sea Jay have set up a smart ice box seating arrangement here, ideal for two folk to sit at the helm area. Check out the bracing afforded by the framework for the T top.

A pair of high-backed bucket seats on short pedestals will provide plenty of support when the 150 on the transom’s opened up. seating in any boat has been arranged carefully for optimum comfort and easy use by the driver and other occupants. While this is certainly the hoped for outcome, it’s not a hard and fast rule.

Generally, manufacturers try to get things right but seating options are so diverse these days that there can be a lot of daylight between really useful seating and what’s been provided.

Just for the record, I’ve been in centre console craft with no seating but without exception, always wished there was some before long! Standing for extended times takes a big toll on the vertebrae when on the water.

SEATING WILL ALWAYS VARY Boat seating varies greatly in accordance with the varied uses we anticipate for our boats. A larger craft

pre-formed seat on rigid framework or perhaps the latter items being set up on a storage box, with a hand rail or other item close by as a brace point when travelling in the rough stuff.

Centre console craft on the other hand might have pedestal seats for the skipper and mate, perhaps a seat up front of the console as well. It’s common to see a padded ice box or other storage arrangement aft of the console for skipper and mate. As a handy back rest you’ll often see a flexible fore/aft sliding bolster rail for the one or two people seated there, but without an additional handhold or grab rail close by things can by tricky when the boat starts to bounce. For mine, the only downside of an ice box or storage box aft of the console is the room taken up by the unit, plus the restricted

than a bench for the backside with cushions and other items to provide comfort underway. Sitting on a hard thwart is fair enough but there must be some depth for

will work for you. The floor depth is handy in a small boat and this factor should be a serious consideration for an owner.

Midway between these extreme seating examples are the one-size-fits-all seat set up where a supportive seat of some form or other is placed at a strategic distance from the tiller handle or steering wheel, or perhaps near a small console where A padded storage box or ice box makes a reasonable seat but it needs a handhold of some description if you’re heading for rough water.

Flexible seating takes on a new meaning here – the lounge seat in this boat can be left out altogether. the legs or you’ll likely feel some discomfort. If you’re intending to buy a light little car topper or similar, take a look at the depth between floor and seat and assess how some time spent there

and reflects, perhaps, on how good it might be to actually plan and organize seating for another boat in the future.

Purchasing a turnkey package can see you in the situation I’ve just mentioned.

If there’s an opportunity to arrange seating prior to taking the craft, put some

demand the best seating – end of story. Seating needs to cater for all intended crew and should be strong for the entire life of boat while providing optimum support at all times. Smaller craft to be used in bay/estuary or other similar localities also require robust seating,

instruments might be set up.

Bucket seats – with varying degrees of padding – are usually installed for this purpose and if things aren’t quite perfect, the buyer makes the best of it anyway

This well-padded pedestal seat is handy to the helm area and it’s a strong-looking one at that.

Variations on a theme – high backed bucket seats on a storage box for the skipper with a padded ice box for the mate.

116

SEPTEMBER 2018

A pedestal seat of this kind offers good support, but if you intend to move it, sometimes that floor spigot will need lubrication to keep it freed up.

serious thought into the best seating arrangement; putting as much thought into this strategy as selecting the right outboard engine will pay off many times when the craft’s in the water.

BEST TO MATCH SEATING WITH BOAT USE In short, seating should compliment the proposed use of the boat. As mentioned, long hauls on the water

as these craft won’t always be used in quiet water. In selecting the correct seat the idea is to work out what will have the longest life, be value for money and remain trouble-free.

Pedestal seating is useful in smaller craft; pedestals offer the ability to be customized to fit a particular craft. The actual seating section can be padded to a greater or lesser degree and

be mounted on a suitable stem of just the right length to provide plenty of comfort and floor depth within reach of a tiller handle or wheel.

we’d need seating at that point, but selection of just the right seats took some thought. The storage/ice box bench was tempting,

There’s a perfect mix of seating here with a strong bucket seat on a pedestal (with plenty of back support) to set up the skipper with a pair of back-to-back seats on a storage box to port. Note the depth of the padding.

With today’s trend towards flexible seating arrangements where a pedestal seat can move from one floor spigot to another, it’s essential to keep things in perspective and not overdo the size of the seats. If the seats are too bulky, moving them about might be awkward. It’s also wise to keep stems and bases well lubricated to prevent binding from salt corrosion.

A CASE STUDY For the construction of our Galeforce 4.5 centre console, we considered the seating at length. First, it was a given that it would be a two-person fishing team, so we only required seating for two. As the Galey was to be helmed from the console it was obvious

but ruled out; there’d be far too much restriction of available work area aft and access to the storage shelf, so pedestals topped the short list.

Moreover we’d opted for a big centre console – this we’ve never regretted, as we love the handy storage capacity, which meant that two pedestals aft of the console could take up a fair amount of room. This would be no issue when travelling, but when fishing things could be a bit tight, especially if flyfishing – careful storage of the fly line between casts is essential. The solution was easy. We selected light but strong pedestal seats that sit on spigots at just the right distance from the console for comfort and when fishing requirements dictate terms we simply remove one seat – stem and all – and sit it down beside the console to port.

In practice we have one fishing up front where a lean post provides excellent support while the other person fishes from aft of the console and I must say, this system has been near perfect. A look at the seats we selected reveals they are

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

515 Northerner Scan the QR Code to view the complete boat test

For more information visit

www.horizonboats.com.au or call your nearest dealer

Whittley don’t ever do things by halves. Massive seats with lots of support and inherent strength are custom made for serious sea travel. There’s storage and other useful features under those seats as well.

High backed seats on rigid frames are mounted on storage boxes in this craft and it’s a winwin all round. Note the room between the seats to allow easy access to the cabin.

not the most thickly padded around the boat yards, but for us they are part of a system that works well.

IN A NUTSHELL Seating is just one of the many issues that can involve compromises in the world of boating.

Sometimes seating’s perfect. Other times it’s not so good. If you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to arrange your own seating, go for it! When buying a turnkey package just give some extra thought as to how the seating in that particular boat is going to affect your personal requirements for on-water travel as well as fishing. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes when necessary either. Boat layouts are pretty flexible in my experience.

Independent Outboards 59 Holbeche Road Arndell Park NSW 2148 Phone 02 9672 1922

Aussie Boat Sales ACT Unit 9 Vicars Court Mitchell 2911 ACT Phone 0433 531 226

Michael Parker Marine 4 Erica Court Albury NSW 2640 Phone 0418 578 805

North Coast Boating Centre 2 Marina Crescent Urunga NSW 2544 Phone 02 66557700 sam@northcoastboatingcentre.com

Waves Overseas 128-134 Parramatta Road Croydon NSW 2132 Phone 02 9745 5555

Deniliquin Yamaha 167-169 Napier Street Deniliquin NSW 2710 Phone 03 5881 1461 paul@riverinamotorcyclesandmarine.com.au

indout@bigpond.com

mick.parker.marine@bigpond.com

theteam@waves.com.au

aussieboatsales@gmail.com

Aussie Boat Sales NSW 27 Beach Road Batemans Bay NSW 2536 Phone 0433 531 226 aussieboatsales@gmail.com

SEPTEMBER 2018

117

All the family fishing fun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Recently my wife’s sister and her young family picked up some secondhand kayaks, keen to spend some family time paddling, adventuring and as the kids get older, fishing.

Their first adventure was planned, paddling a local freshwater lake, where

freaking out a little and yelling, before his parents told him to relax and float in his PFD. The PFD was well fitted and floated him perfectly. Once Will realised he was safely floating he relaxed and they assisted him back on board.

Kait’s recap of their adventure reinforced to me the importance of visiting a reputable dealer and having your children fitted with quality PFDs. It’s pretty

newbies to kayak fishing, or kayak fish yourself, make sure your PFD is suited to your location, application, build and of course meets any legal requirements.

During the chat about their adventure we discovered that Kait had never caught a fish… never… ever… in her entire life! Being an angler my whole life I decided that this horrific situation needed to be rectified. When an opportunity became available

Smiles all around.

A handful of flathead from a fun family session. tide and current wouldn’t impact their experience.

Safety first, and it was off to get everyone fitted with PFDs for their first session on the water.

Kait, Wade and the three kids had a great day on the lake! They became familiar with their watercraft and how to effectively propel and manoeuvre them, enjoyed the outdoors, explored the lake and shared a few laughs.

At one point five year old Will fell from his kayak and ended up in the water,

cheap insurance and peace of mind. I know that back in the day I would have been guilty of grabbing any available PFD to fit on people when we were boating, paddling, tobogganing and undertaking other aquatic activities. Decent quality, modern PFDs are much more comfortable than the old ‘brick’ style PFDs. They allow for more freedom of movement, airflow and also support the wearer much more effectively when in the water. If you are introducing

we would take her out for a paddle and get her onto her first fish. When introducing newbies to kayak fishing, there are a few things that I normally do to maximise both their enjoyment and also their chances of successfully catching a fish. You can’t make the fish bite, but you can ensure other variables are in your favour.

WEATHER Poor weather can make fishing trickier for even the most experienced kayak angler, so keeping an eye on

sites such as Seabreeze and BOM can assist in choosing a weather window that is more conducive to kayaking and fishing. We had our window, a perfect Sunday morning that would make for a beautiful day on the water… even if the fish didn’t bite.

TIDES When starting out in kayak fishing, or getting others into kayak fishing, it’s a good idea to take the tidal flow out of the equation or utilise it to your advantage.

Spend more time fishing and less time paddling, especially when it comes to working hard against the current to hold position or fish effectively. We selected a couple of hours of run-out and an hour of run-in to bring us back home. The old saying is no run, no fun and some of the best fishing I have experienced has been when there is plenty of flow from big high-tides and lower low-tides. On this occasion a low high-tide and high

Kait makes a cast toward the weed edge. to kayak fishing I also like the term short and sweet. I would rather they finish the session wanting more than finish with fatigue, a sore butt or worse, never wanting to fish from a kayak again. I find

or exotic adventure. Keep it local, keep it easily accessible and keep it simple.

We selected an easy access point for launching, a simple edge bite for flathead and the tested and proven soft plastic

It didn’t take long to get the first flathead on board and fire everyone up.

Fish on! The author did a better job with the net this time around.

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low-tide would allow us to slowly meander along with the current. This helped us stay together as a group and assist Kait with where to cast and retrieve techniques, and be close enough to hopefully net her first fish.

DURATION When introducing people

2-4 hours is a good starting point, and it’s important to look for signs that they have had enough. Better yet, add a swim, morning tea or lunch to the adventure to break up the session.

KISS Keep it super simple. It doesn’t need to be a crazy

and jighead combination.

Kait used one of our kayaks and we made sure there was minimal clutter. I carried the tackle, lip grips, landing net, fish measure and so forth in my kayak.

There was no need for her to be distracted or hindered by additional items and I

would be close by to land the fish, should she manage to convince one to bite. A single rigged rod, scent, water bottle and snacks were all she required, keeping the cockpit uncluttered and tangle free.

MAKE IT ABOUT THEM I will generally stay close to assist with kayak positioning, casting, retrieves, fighting fish and

day we want to see them hooked up to a fish.

ON THE WATER Kait, my wife Sheri (Kait’s sister) and I sat down to a cooked breakfast, chatted about the day ahead and then it was time to launch. A few tips on boarding the kayak and launching is always a good idea, as entering one side of the kayak and exiting the other into the water will

catch a flathead. Mixing up the retrieve between a couple of hops and a pause, or a wind, wind, wind and pause to allow the plastic to sink back to the bottom, I was confident that Kait was in with a good shot. It was time to catch a couple.

A few minutes later I was sliding the net under a nice flathead and this lifted everyone’s level of enthusiasm, also taking the heat off a bit as we had one in the icebox for Kait’s family for dinner. It wasn’t long before I found myself hooked up again, landing another legal flathead. I then took the time to ensure Kait was on track, before threatening to tie my lure onto her rod if I landed

Success! Kait was pretty stoked with her first ever fish, a legal flathead.

It doesn’t take kids long to get their balance and confidence. Remember PFD and safety first. so forth, demonstrating, observing and offering advice. Once they have the basics down, I will then fish hard in the hope of landing a fish or two. A couple of reasons why it’s important for me to catch a couple is firstly, to give them confidence that there are fish in the area and secondly, to crack a pattern in terms of what’s working on the day, such as a particular colour, retrieve, water depth or structure type. From here I

put a dampener on the day from the outset. We launched without issue and began our drift.

It didn’t take long for Kait to get the positioning side of things under control, positioning the kayak a cast distance from the weed edge. A nice slow drift along the edge, with no wind to contend with and the casts were landing in the general area of where they needed to be. A 3/8oz jighead ensured the plastic was finding

When it’s your second fish ever it doesn’t matter whether it’s a yellowtail pike or a marlin, it’s still awesome! another one. It was a magic day on the water and we all enjoyed the serenity, chatted, laughed and cast lures.

After landing my third flathead I paddled over and tied the lucky lure onto Kait’s rod, before Sheri was yelling

back and forward beside her kayak. Instead of taking my time to position the kayak alongside her and allow her to steer the flathead into the net, I rushed a little, grabbed the leader, the flathead shook its head aggressively and threw the lure. I apologised, tucked my tail between my legs and paddled back over to where Kait was positioned in the mouth of a drain.

Then it happened and Kait was yelling and woohooing, while Sheri shouted advice and I dug the paddle in to get over to her quickly. The smile on her face is what it’s all about. I love seeing people catch their first fish, first of a species, a new PB… hey, I just love seeing people

catch fish! I was relieved when it was in the net, on the lip grips and I had the first photo taken. We snapped a few photos, even a selfie or two, and with the fish a couple of centimetres over legal Kait opted to take her first fish home to feed the family. Mission successful!

It was then Sheri’s turn and I made no mistake this time, allowing her to steer the flathead into the waiting net and we had all successfully landed a fish for the day, making it even better. The tide turned and we began our drift back to the launch site. It definitely wasn’t a hot bite but I added another to Sheri’s icebox. While stowing the flathead the

lure, which had been dropped back in the water, was nailed by a yellowtail pike, giving us all some entertainment and a few laughs.

As we approached the launch point Kait wanted one more cast and was on again, and pretty happy with her yellowtail pike, as was the little kid standing on the beach celebrating the catch with her. A quick photo again, then a group selfie to record our adventure and the day of Kait’s first fish. I can still hear her correcting me, “hey, my first two fish!” I often fish with some pretty hard core fishos and it was refreshing to get back to basics and see someone that was just as pumped with a yellowtail pike as a flathead.

I don’t think it will take Kait as many years to catch her third fish as it did to catch her first or second, in fact she has already thrown her name in the hat for the next session.

I often reflect on my childhood fishing with my grandad, uncle, dad and other family members. Plus, learning to catch different species or use different techniques, taught to me by fishing buddies and more experienced anglers. I think we all have a responsibility to give back to the fishing community, to help educate and inspire others, and assist a newcomer to the sport to catch a fish or two. That smile, fist-pump, celebration and future fishing yarn that you’ve helped create is also pretty rewarding. It’s time to take someone fishing.

See you on the water.

This yellowtail pike nailed a lure left hanging in the water while stowing a flathead in the icebox. can offer assistance in terms of refining their technique, explaining the nuts and bolts as we fish. At the end of the

the bottom regularly and combined with a 3” paddle tail soft plastic we had a dynamite presentation to

that she was hooked up. The fish was taking solid runs and as I reached her I saw a quality flathead running

Sheri and Kait in action hopping and rolling Z-Man 3” MinnowZ. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Stessl Bluewater 520 with Yamaha F115hp

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Glenn Gibson from Yamaha tagged along on the test to see how the rig performed.

Glenn gave the modern technology some historical perspective.

SPECIFICATIONS Length.Overall............................. 5.5m Length.bow.to.transom.............. 5.3m Length.on.trailer ......................... 6.7m Height.on.trailer .......................... 2.4m Beam............................................ 2.4m Depth ........................................... 1.35m Bottom.sheet .............................. 4mm Side.Sheet ................................... 4mm Hull.weight .................................. 550kg Rec.HP ......................................... 90 Max.HP ........................................ 115 Capacity ...................................... 6 persons

Main: The Stessl 520 Bluewater was plenty of fun to fang around out of the Tweed River. The Stessl factory is a short trip from the Tweed and the Bluewater was designed for exactly these waters.

Above: There’s no shortage of places to hold a fishing rod – either when in use or being stored.

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We’ve tested a couple of Stessl Platetrix boats since new owner of Stessl, Scotty James (who also makes Horizon Boats), has taken the helm. And the first thing I asked Scott when we did the first of these tests is “What’s Platetrix”?

The answer was pretty simple. Platetrix is a design philosophy that’s based around over-engineering the heck out of the hull so that it’ll outlast any owner.

They do this with extra

pedestal seats and some bars to help gear from sliding back from the front of the runabout.

Powered by Yamaha’s second generation F115,

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longitudinal and latitudinal stringers welded below the deck, and the backbone of the hull is a keel extrusion that’s a backbone to the whole construction process.

“You’ll break yourself before you break the boat,” Scott confidently answered when asked if it was breakable.

With an overall length of 5.5m, the 520 Bluewater is a boat designed to be a versatile inshore and offshore rig in SE Queensland and beyond.

It has a unique design internally, which sees a full floor run from transom to bow, punctuated only by the

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“We all came from a background as kids when we all went boating with the old 2-stroke V4s – oil in one container and fuel in the other. Look at it today – we have a 4-stroke motor where you turn the key and it runs quietly and smoke free.

Doesn’t matter if it’s cold, hot, rainy or sunny – they just work and it makes for a great boating experience,” Glenn said.

With the 115 at the top end of the allowable power on this hull, the rig made for a great day on the water for the test crew. At dawn, we ventured offshore from the Tweed and later on we retreated to the river for some estuary work.

The economy was great – delivering around 2.4km/L at 3,500rpm. Drop the throttle and you can reach 65km/h,

Back in the river, the Bluewater was equally capable. but each litre gets you 800m less. With a 150L fuel tank underfloor, the practical range is well over 300km on a tank.

Other features that will interest the angler are the bait station on the transom, which holds all you need to get rigged while on the water, and the huge underfloor kill tank that will store a bag limit of mackerel with ease.

Add a targa top rocket launcher and your storage problems are solved.

At the helm, the seats are well positioned and there’s a small ledge to cradle your

forearm as you’re making throttle adjustments. There’s room for bracket mounted electronics and the LCD Yamaha gauge was flushmounted into the aluminium.

Supplied on a singleaxle trailer and weighing in at around 1.5t, this rig is towable by most family cars and would make an excellent transition into a ‘real’ fishing boat from your smaller tinnie.

For more information, see your local Stessl dealer, visit www.stessl.com. au or like Stessl Boats on Facebook.

PERFORMANCE RPM......Speed.(km/h). Economy.(km/L) 1000 .........................7 ....................... 3.7 2000....................... 11 ....................... 5.3 3000....................... 20 ....................... 2.0 4000....................... 39 ....................... 2.2 5000....................... 50 ....................... 1.9 5900 ....................... 65 ....................... 1.6 • Tested with 16” SST SDS propeller

A steep entry tapers back to a moderate lee at the transom to offer a comfortable ride in choppy conditions.

The fold-up ladder and walk-through transom door facilitate easy boarding.

The unique floor design of the Bluewater sees the flat internal floor running from bow to transom at the same level.

The bait station at the transom holds rods, drinks, bait and knives.

The fold-away rear lounge gives your passengers somewhere to sit and tucks out of the way when the fishing begins.

Some simple bars for’ard keep your important gear dry and up the front.

This Bluewater sported a good-looking vinyl wrap that will turn heads at the ramp.

I don’t mind a bit of a sill to rest the arm on while driving. The test boat was fitted with a sounder combo and Yamaha’s LCD screen digital gauges.

Overhead fishing rod storage is virtually mandatory in this kind of boat. It keeps your tackle out of the way and out of danger. Unless you forget about that low hanging branch at the ramp….

The Yamaha F115 delivered great economy – getting you 2.4km/L at 3,500rpm.

Standard side pockets hold your gear that needs to be readily accessible.

Now THAT’s an underfloor kill tank.

Made for and in a part of the world where you can fill it with mackerel.

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Horizon Scorpion 485 a great entry-level rig - SC

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Firstly, the rig is well priced. Scott James and his team at Horizon boats specialise in getting affordable packages on the

SPECIFICATIONS Length.........................................................4.9m Length on trailer........................................6.0m Height on trailer.........................................2.4m Beam...........................................................2.2m Depth........................................................ 1.16m Bottom........................................................3mm Sides...........................................................3mm Hull weight............................................... 510kg Max hp............................................................75 Capacity............................................. 5 persons a little boat testing, fishing and tubing on the Tweed River. And the question we set out to answer was this: does the Scorpion offer a good compromise between fishing, fun and family?

The answer was a definite ‘yes,’ and let us tell you why.

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water. As tested, the Scorpion came in at under $33,000, which is at the affordable end of family boating.

Secondly, you don’t need to trade in the family car for a 4WD to tow it. With a dry hull weight of just over 500kg and an on-trailer weight of less than 1000kg,

you’ll move it around nicely with most family sedans.

The added bonus of a light rig is that you can use a single axle trailer to tote it. Single axle trailers have inherent manoeuvrability advantages in small spaces and garages and an overall length of 6m means that it’s not impossible to fit in most spaces designed for cars.

Thirdly, there’s abundant shade and areas out of the weather in the Scorpion.

The cuddy cabin design’s open cabin pairs nicely with the added soft top to create a space out of the sun for anyone to chill out who has gone a bit hard early on. While travelling, the rear bench seat offers a smoother ride and folds away neatly for when the serious action takes place.

There’s been a lot of thought put into getting the crew on and off the boat – a shallow draft means that

you can pull the boat to the beach transom-first and load through the duckboard and transom door. Not all boats are that easy to load.

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Main: The Horizon Scorpion 485 can get a lot done with not that much boat. It has a big cabin, shade and enough grunt to easily tow a tuber, as well as comfortably fish in a hull length of less than 5m.

Above: Yamaha’s Will Lee eagerly volunteered to do a few laps of the lower Tweed on the biscuit. The Scorpion ticks a lot of the boxes for fun family boating in a package that won’t break the bank, or your tow vehicle.

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If you have a family and like fishing, you always seem to be confronted with a series of compromises. What may be the ideal fishing boat for dad may be totally unsuitable for mum, or vice versa. Add in a couple of kids with the attention spans of a small insect and compromise will be right up there on your radar.

Horizon Boats’ Scott James is right up to speed on this situation. They manufacture and sell a range of boats that are both affordable and tackle some of these issues head-on.

We recently got out on the water with the Horizon 485 Scorpion Cuddy Cabin – powered by a Yamaha F60 4-stroke outboard – to do

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4-stroke F60 offers great fuel economy. Delivering 38km/h at 4500 rpm and 3.4km/L of fuel, the combination is definitely easy on the pocket when it comes to running costs.

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test – just scan the QR code on this page or visit the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel.

Fishing-wise, we eased the rig out through the Tweed Bar and found the

PERFORMANCE RPM Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 1000.......................... 5.3.......................... 4.0 2000.......................... 9.3.......................... 2.5 3000........................... 14.......................... 2.3 4000........................... 31.......................... 3.3 5000........................... 43.......................... 3.1 6000........................... 52.......................... 2.4 *Tested with a 12” pitch alloy Yamaha propeller.

Of course, we had to answer the question of whether it was ‘tubeworthy.’ Yamaha’s Will Lee readily stripped down to the boardies and contemplated how fun his job was while sliding around the Tweed.

You can see the vision of Big Willie in action in the video version of this boat

Scorpion seaworthy enough to easily take offshore on the good days.

For more information, you can visit Horizon’s website at www.horizonboats. com.au, like their Facebook page (Horizon Boats) or look up your local Horizon dealer and have a chat. Packages start from $31,690.

Fancy a quiet fish? The Scorpion draws little water and the transom set up with door and ladder allows you to get in and out easily when you’re in or out of the water.

Powered by Yamaha’s F60 60hp four-story outboard the fuel economy was always going to be good. How good? At 4500rpm cruising at 38km/h, you get 3.4km/L of fuel – very frugal.

The transom door is a simple design, but it makes the boating experience for the family so much better. No more busting your nuts clambering over the bow rail!

You can access the anchor well through this for’ard hatch. The crew can, at least. It’s the unwritten rule that the Captain doesn’t have to pull up the anchor.

The fold-away rear lounge seats are a comfortable place to travel and stow away when the fishing rods come out.

You can feel the weight of the cabin on the hull – the centre of gravity is higher than similar hulls with different layouts.

It looks like a lot of boat, but the family car will have no worries towing the Scorpion/Yamaha package and with a single axle trailer, you’ll be able to manoeuvre it into tight garage parking situations.

The helm will fit all of the gadgets you’ll need to spend a day on the water. Larger units will need to be bracket mounted.

There’s a pretty big cabin in there for a 4.85m boat and the fact that it’s open means that it seems even bigger.

Whether you use the cabin for storage, relaxing or both, the design is simple and easy to maintain.

Ready to roll for under $33,000, the Scorpion is a logical step to a family boat from an open tinnie.

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UNBEATABLE 40–60hp FourStroke

Mercury’s unbeatable 40–60hp FourStroke range. With class leading speed and fuel economy you won’t find a better all round performer.

50HP FOURSTROKE SPEED

50HP FOURSTROKE ECONOMY

HIGHEST

Mercury Honda

Mercury

56.33

Honda

53.27

Suzuki

49

50

4.55

3.87 3.7

Yamaha 51

52

53

54

55

56

57

THE MERCURY 50HP WILL GET YOU THERE SOONER, ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST TOP SPEED IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

*Based on Mercury’s 50hp model. Information based on manufacturers’ claimed horsepower.

mercurymarine.com.au

KM/L

BEST

4.51

Suzuki

50.21

Yamaha KM/H

56.33

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

5.5

MERCURY’S ADVANCED ENGINEERING MEANS THE 50HP DELIVERS PLENTY OF PUNCH, BUT USES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.