New South Wales Fishing Monthly September 2019 by Fishing Monthly

YOUR GUIDE TO CATCHING MORE FISH IN SPRING!

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Daiwa TD Zero rod range New releases from Rapala A quamaster 490 CC with Suzuki 70hp

Get cracking on calamari • New ways to catch bass

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September 2019, Vol. 25 No. 2

Contents 8

BYRON COAST The Tweed 30 Ballina 32 Yamba 34 COFFS COAST Coffs Harbour South West Rocks MACQUARIE COAST

36 38

The Hastings 39 Forster 40 Harrington-Taree 41 HUNTER COAST Port Stephens 43 Swansea 44 Erina 45 Hunter Coast 42 SYDNEY Sydney 12 The Hawkesbury 14 Sydney North 16 Sydney South 18 Botany Bay 20 Sydney Rock and Beach 22 Pittwater 23 ILLAWARRA COAST Illawarra 55 Nowra 57 BATEMANS COAST

From the Editor’s Desk... AUSTRALIA HAS A NEW WORLD CHAMPION A shout out to Aussie angler, Andrew Death from NSW (pronounced DEETH, even though his nickname is ‘The Reaper’). He won the 8th iteration of the Hobie (kayak) Fishing Worlds on the Gold Coast. Being the best in the world is no mean feat, even if it’s held in your own country on a species you have plenty of experience with. So congratulations Andrew, you were a great and humble winner and did your country proud. After helping Hobie to cover this event, I can confidently say that this was the best organised fishing tournament I’ve ever been to – period. And remember, we’ve been running events through

FM’s sister company, ABT, for 20 years. From qualifying events all around the world through to a superb five days of glorious winter weather on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the event was full of fish, fun, friendship, and maybe just a little bit of partying at either end of the stay. Full marks to Team Europe for winning the partying section of the event in quantity, quality and duration. Those guys have a stamina that’s hard to match! Even though the starts were increasingly like a dodgem-car race as the days went on, there was a great feel on the water, both between competing anglers and between anglers and residents. More than a few times the homeowners were happy to point the visitors in the direction of the fish. If you’ve never

witnessed a Hobie Australian Championship or Worlds event before, picture this: 45 identical top-of-the-line kayaks. All fitted with Power Poles, sounders, livewells and every accessory you’d need. Anglers just turn up with their gear and fish. It levels the playing field for everything except local knowledge. In that respect, the Aussies dominated, although several internationals gave them a great run for their money, especially Austria’s Edi Brader and the USA’s Nate Gloria. You just have to watch the final day’s weigh-in to see the passion that these guys have. If you want to see the extensive coverage, Like the ‘International Hobie Fishing Worlds Association’ on Facebook or visit www. hobiefishingworlds.com. Well done to Steve Fields and his hard working team.

GOODIES FROM THE AFTA SHOW Next issue will include our comprehensive coverage from the AFTA Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast. I’m sure that plenty of you would have seen the daily coverage on our Fishing Monthly and Tackle Junkie channels. That will be archived on the YouTube channel by the time you read this. We’re looking forward to hearing the feedback from the Public Day on the final day of the show. Fishing Monthly has been pushing for this for years now, and we hope everyone enjoyed it!

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ING TRADE

10 years in - Samaki has a very bright future The fishing tackle industry has changed significantly in the last 10 years, but one brand that has adapted and thrived in that time is Samaki, they are responsible for a fantastic range of high-quality gear covering everything from rods to clothing and an ever growing stable of reliable, affordable lures! This year, Samaki celebrates 10 years in this very competitive industry, and Josh Lowry, the company owner, couldn’t be prouder. In 10 years Josh has started the company from ground zero, built a team, produced some fantastic Australian designed fishing gear, and rivalled some of the best-selling gear in the country and the world. Josh used his experience in tackle retail to pick a good time to enter the fishing tackle market. “I was working in retail at the time, and when I left there was a massive gap in the market for rods, with only a few rod brands dominating,” he said. “I’d always been into my rod building and lure making, and had a crazy habit for lure collecting, so that’s basically how it begun.”

“

Our motto is Quality first

Australia has produced fishing gear locally for a long time, but when Samaki was starting out as a brand, much of the available Australian gear was low quality or for entrylevel users. “We were trying to create a high quality brand made by an Aussie, and at the start it was also super affordable,” Lowry said. “Our motto is ‘Quality first’, we don’t build it for the price, we build it for performance.” Of course, growing the business hasn’t all been smooth sailing, and there have been a few hurdles and mistakes that the team have had to learn from. “We brought out micro jigs in 2010, and we pushed them because it was a craze overseas, but we had to get rid of them because there was no call for it here yet,” Lowry said. “We ended up bringing them back a few years later when the craze finally

reached Australia.” But outweighing these setbacks by a country mile are the achievements, and Josh is particularly proud of some of the products he and the team have managed to create. The design, finish and fish-catching ability of many products under the Samaki banner is testament to the tireless hard work and determination that went into them. “The most painful ones are probably the ones I’m most proud of,” Lowry said. “Making a product that works from scratch is definitely the winner for me.” “A lot of people probably don’t realise how much effort goes into making a lure from start to finish. We have an extremely successful vibe range, and it took nearly three years to develop!” Josh is always looking to the future, and has big plans for the business in the next few years. He sees Australia’s fishing tackle market as having huge potential still, and wants to be there to give the anglers what they want. “We’re about to release a lot of fresh new products over the next 18 months, expanding into new territories with some exciting gear to come.” Josh’s determination to deliver a quality product that is created by Australians for Australians is the reason they have become such a loved brand in Australia. The future clearly holds a lot for the dedicated team at Samaki, and we’re all very keen to see what’s next for this innovative Aussie favourite. Some of their iconic high end graphite rods Zing, Zing Xtreme, Vamp, C-12, Vanquish and Jig Pro series sit at the forefront of the Samaki name. The world renowned Vibelicious and Pacemaker lures have already been impacting in Australian fishing history as well as on the global market. Samaki are proud to be a part of the Australian fishing tackle industry, passionate about our products and their customers. Bring on the next 10 years!!

Calamari

Spring brings southern calamari to Sydney SYDNEY

Ben O’Brien

My favourite season of the year is here. Finally the weather is looking better and it’s far more tempting to get out of bed before sunrise and tackle our waterways. The warmer mornings and longer days

day out on the water, with some of the country’s most sought-after species, the mighty kingfish and mulloway. Both are equally keen on calamari and simply cannot resist when one is dangled in reach, much like myself when a little salt and pepper is added! With the warmer currents finally starting to

protruding reefs that stick out along the headlands is approach. Always be thinking of cover, as squid are soft fleshy creatures and easy targets for most marine predators, including the fur seal, and they rely on cover to survive. Kelp beds or weedy sandy floor coverings are where they’ll usually be found, and it’s

swim across these open passages of water and find themselves on the menu. A hi-tech sounder makes this hunt a lot easier. I use a Lowrance sounder with Side Scan and High Chirp. I like this technology because it allows me to stalk a reef and know exactly what lies to the port or starboard, what substrate the bottom is, and even if there is a fine

Pink is always a good colour for calamari of any size. West Head, targeting the deep waters up to depths of around 20m, sometimes in 30m of water if I found a good reef system. The

was ranging in temperature from 14-16.5°C. However, with the warmer push of currents happening around now and continuing right

Spring usually sees good numbers of squid coming aboard. Southern calamari are a much sought-after species, both as a bait and as a tasty entreé! mean only one thing: southern calamari will be out and a plethora of predators will be about too, looking for a feed! The warmer mornings with the hungry predators are a recipe for a spectacular

push into the shores, this is a great time to chase some squid in the shallow and deeper waters off the coast of Sydney. Throughout winter I have been fishing the 12m+ zone throughout Sydney Harbour and across

A sounder is very handy for finding patches of weed, rock and bait. prominent headlands off the coast such as North and South Head along with Long Reef are great winter spots for these creatures. During winter, the water in around 10-15m depth

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through to the beginning of next year, they will start to move to the shallows, and the usual bait grounds can really start to fire up. I love winter for producing the larger specimens, however when I’m after quantity not quality, this time of year is when I can quickly get a full livewell of baits, with any extras being taken home as a beautiful entree. When spring arrives, we can expect waters to start to exceed 20°C, and soon if we’re lucky, like this year, the waters should get up to the mid 20s around April and May, and we’ll get to experience great pelagic action throughout the Sydney Harbour region. FINDING SPRINGTIME SQUID I often go looking for new grounds on the water when I have the time and have spent countless days searching the headlands for little bommies and reefs that hold a good amount of kelp growth. Without the kelp and reefs, they won’t be about, so watching the sounder and looking for any

very rare for them to be away from cover. I usually look for deeper holes with sandy bottoms bordered by kelp reefs either side. This provides

layer of sea grass. Quite often when I’m prospecting new grounds in the deep water I come across the cuttlefish, a great bait for the kingfish and a great

The end result of a good day squidding. They are absolutely delicious with a bit of salt and pepper. the perfect ambush spot for these aggressive cephalopods, which lay stealthily, camouflaged in a protected environment before jetting out to attack. Small fish and invertebrates often take a risk and

fighter in their own right! They can really have the drag singing when they take off. The shallows and the deeper areas are quite productive in September, with deeper areas holding

Calamari the bigger southern calamari and cuttlefish and the shallows holding the

majority of the perfect live bait size. Having said that, I have encountered some

absolute monsters in the shallows, so it shows how unpredictable they can be as they will venture to the shallows to catch a feed. Approximately eight weeks after the females lay their eggs on the kelp during the winter breeding period, they will start to hatch and rapidly start

family and I will be able to enjoy them. GEARING UP Due to their rapid growth, they have a voracious appetite and will hit most styles of squid jigs. I prefer the more expensive ones, as I feel they have a more realistic fall and twitch action. My preferred

Double ups are common once a school is located.

Having a good selection of jigs will ensure you can find out exactly what they want on the day.

growing and feeding. This is why I’m quite selective about the ones I take in winter. I want to preserve these beautiful creatures for generations ahead and the more they can breed and lay their eggs, the more my

squid jigs and colours are pink, red and natural in 2.0, 2.5 and 3.0 sizes from Yamashitas. I find the pilchard and whiting imitations to be deadly on calamari as well at times. For the rod, I have a few

Fishing around jetties and rock groynes from the shore is an effective and hassle free way to get into the squid during spring. sizes ranging from a length of 6’6” with a line weight of 3-5kg, to a 7’6” model rated to 3-5kg and I find these can handle any size squid. Just allow the drag to be set appropriately if a kraken hits and decides your jig will be its last meal!

The line is usually 10lb braid with a leader of around 10-20lb, depending on the terrain I’m fishing. I am conscious that these creatures have exceptional vision (just have a look at the size of their eyes!) and To page 10

SEPTEMBER 2019

Calamari From page 9

with this comes a degree of suspicion when the line in clear water is too thick.

a full livewell is better than ending the day with only one squid from fishing heavier line. I also find the

These five tasty squid on the deck will make a great meal once cleaned and cooked. They can be quite wary, so I’ll always rather go lighter than heavier and sometimes losing a jig with

lighter the leader and line, the better the jig action, which makes it appear far more natural and doesn’t

add to pulling the jig deeper in an unnatural motion. TECHNIQUES Deep water For the deeper water I use a few methods when on a steady drift across water depths from 10-20m. Often I will position the stern of the boat correctly to allow two rods out the back to freely drift while I work a third. The rods out the back are usually two different sizes. One is armed with a 3.0 pink Yamashita and I fish that on the deeper stretch out the back, and the other rod has a 2.5 size jig fished over the shallower side of the boat. With the usual ups and downs of the swell this adds action to the jig and creates the lifts and pauses that a normal retrieve would provide. With the third rod, this normally has a 2.5 size squid jig, and I like to cast ahead of the drift and allow it to sink to an appropriate depth. Once I’ve counted out the depth I wish to fish, I will start to work it back. I tend to not work it too aggressively. I prefer to use a moderate ‘whip-whip’ action then let it sink, but sometimes a simple lift and drop is all that is needed to tempt a squid. Quite often I find it’s actually the rods set out the back that start to load up before the worked jig gets

hit. The natural fall of the jigs really does resemble a prawn, and the more expensive jigs are miles ahead, however, the cheaper jigs will still catch you squid. Shallows For the shallower water, I’ll anchor up or freely drift and be far more

active. Due to the dangers of getting snagged in the shallows, I rarely leave a rod unattended, as without the proper currents and drift they sink quickly and foul themselves quite a bit. I will do a long cast over some ground I feel should hold calamari and count the

sink rate before starting to work it. A similar retrieve to the one mentioned above will suffice, however a slow and straight retrieve can also work, and you can never wind too slowly. Land-based One of my other favourite methods to target

Both calamari and cuttlefish can be found around some of the deeper reefs, and make great tucker and bait!

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Calamari these critters is by trekking our beautiful coastline by foot. Not only is this great exercise, it’s also a great experience. Watching the

on ‘satellite’ so you can see the structure below. Aim for rocky points and kelp beds – you’ll be able to see these on the maps.

well. Clifton Gardens and many harbour jetties when the lights are on at night are also great attractions for these predators, as they

Fishing the deep headlands from a boat is very productive during the winter, or when the shallows are stirred up by rain in spring. sunrise while perched on a headland with nothing but a rod and a backpack is fantastic. With this approach, I will use Google maps to plan an attack. Turn

This method is all about preparation. As most people know, southern calamari and arrow squid like structure, whether it’s a jetty or a rock reef, so target these areas as

Finding rocky and weedy points on a map like these ones is a great way to start your search for southern calamari.

hide on the edges of the light beam waiting for bait to venture within reach. When walking the rocky shore during the day, a good pair of polarised sunglasses are a must, along with a life jacket and good rock fishing shoes. I find the polarised sunglasses are like a sounder for your eyes, giving you great visibility across the water so you can see kelp and sand beds. Try to find an elevated position and use this to plan an attack. In these conditions I like to use a slightly heavier rod with 10-15lb braid, and a slightly heavier leader just in case you do foul on a bit of weed, as this will make it easier to retrieve, not to mention land these critters. SPRING HAS SPRUNG Overall, I’m excited for this spring and if it’s anything like last year then we are all in for a treat! Focus on the kelp beds, shallow rocky reefs and anywhere that has good current flow and constant clean water. If it rains then head out a bit deeper, as they don’t like dirty water and they can go off the bite very quickly after some rain. If it rains, I always go back to winter fishing techniques and fish the deep headlands. Bring on the warmer conditions and good luck out there! SEPTEMBER 2019

Enough PB kings to go around SYDNEY

Paul O’Hagan

Over the last month Sydney Harbour has again proved to be one of the best fishing spots if you are looking to get a feed of fresh fish.

sheer numbers that we have had for a prolonged period of time that has made this the best year we have had for a long time. As well as kingfish, there have been good numbers of salmon and tailor, and with bonito getting in on the mix

some of these areas in the dark, and that’s not a job for the amateur anglers. On some of the other rock fishing spots, drummer and luderick are in good numbers and there are a dedicated group of anglers that have been targeting

Kingfish are really on the bite in the Sydney Harbour area, as Callum Smedley found out recently. Kingfish have been dominant through summer and winter in every area of the harbour. So far there are no signs that it will slow down any time soon, as the fish just keep turning up. There have been a lot of anglers that have broken

it is a great time to get into the action. Some medium spinning gear and a handful of metals or stickbaits is all you need to target these fish. The fishing from our rock ledges and headlands has been very good, with a range of anglers targeting

these fish with cabbage and weed off the rocks, while others are using crabs and prawns. All of these baits are fished under a float in a good berley trail. Fishing North Curl Curl has been good for a lot of anglers, with some

wearing life jackets while fishing on the rocks. The officers are handing out warnings for first-time offences, but they are prepared to deliver fines out to anyone who has already been caught before doing the wrong thing. Fishing Manly Beach has been very good for some anglers, who have been getting a nice feed of whiting on the run-in tide while fishing the northern side of the beach on live and frozen worms. In the evening there has been a mix of tailor and salmon taking strip baits on gang hooks, and there are times to put a wire trace on as it is a very good spot to pick up a dusky or bronze whaler shark. Narrabeen and Dee Why beaches are the spots to try for a mulloway in the evening, as they are some of the deeper beaches that are available. They also hold some very good gutters for the fish to hunt in, with the more popular areas to fish being near the entrances to the lagoons. Long Reef Headland has been producing a range of species, from snapper to kingfish, while using fresh or frozen squid. Spinning metals can also be very

Kevin Astrike took this quality kingfish, and this species should be hanging around for a while. before heading off into the distance. Further out around the Twelve-Mile Reef there are some good kings being taken on live baits as well as heavy metal jigs, and with that comes the dreaded leatherjackets

Bluefin tuna arrived around the Sydney area last year in the middle of July and stayed for a couple of weeks, but this year things seem to have changed, with currents looking good for the fish to travel up from the south before a

Those willing to do the searching have managed to find some chunky yellowfin, like this specimen from Max Domanski.

Lexi Astrike also got in on the local kingfish action. their own records on large fish in recent months, with some anglers catching a fish up to and above a metre for the first time. It’s true that fish of this quality have always been around. However, it is the 12

SEPTEMBER 2019

kingfish, bonito and salmon using live baits under a float around North Head and Bluefish Point. Fishing early in the morning is the key to success, but a lot of effort is needed to get live bait and climb into

very large schools of trevally taking pilchards and squid strips under a float when the conditions have been suitable. Fisheries officers in the area have been watching out for anglers that are not

productive for picking up some tailor or bonito during the run-in tide. The fishing on our reefs has been very consistent, with a large variety of species being taken while using live baits on the troll or fish strips floated down in the berley trail. As well as the good table fish, there have been reports of mako sharks showing up and aggressively taking some anglers’ baits

in big numbers biting anything they can. From the Bait Station and out as far as the Southern Canyons there have been yellowfin taken on trolled skirts, but as many anglers have found, there is an awful lot of water to be covered. Some boats have been lucky enough to find the fish, but for a lot of others there has been a lot of fuel put through their tanks without getting any results.

hot current started pushing down from the north and keeping the fish away from the Sydney area. Hopefully this will not be the same as the marlin season, where the fish headed our way and then worked out wide and left Sydney for the South Coast, making this a very poor season for our game boats. As always, stay safe and enjoy the fishing.

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Action-packed crossover period THE HAWKESBURY

Dan Selby dan@sydneysportfishing.com.au

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

water and anglers are encouraged to be responsible now that the closed season has ended on 31 August. The bag limit is two fish, with four in possession and only one over 35cm. These two species have been showing up in catches all throughout winter in the lower reaches from

of the tide. Berley isn’t all that necessary when you find a good fish holding structure, just get your float cocked right, set at an appropriate depth and use fresh local weed where possible. The other winter species that will still be loitering around will be the Aussie salmon and tailor

down below the salmon and tailor to pick up larger fish feeding on the natural berley trail they create. With all this activity going on the mulloway have been busy feeding in the fruitful conditions too. We have been catching them on most charters, but the size can vary dramatically from one day to the next. In the cooler months live bait is hard to secure, and I find it a lot simpler if we start out by fishing soft plastics, as it basically puts a live bait of any type in your hand from the word go. It also allows you to change to a different bait if you see something that is more prevalent in the area you are fishing. This month however, poddy mullet, herring, squid and yakkas will be easier to secure, so they will be a good option for live

Estuary perch will still be low in the system completing their annual migration. peeled prawns being the most productive. Soft plastics that match the size of the prawns will also account for some good fish.

Mulloway are great fun on light tackle and lures. Fabrice was over the moon with his first ever mulloway on a recent charter with the author. of life back to the estuary, signalling the start of another great fishing season to come. Don’t expect big temperature rises though, as this month is still quite cool, but the water temperatures will build as we near October. You can experience some sensational fishing this month in the lower estuary, as there will be a crossover of winter and summer fish. The bass and EPs will still be in the lower tidal

Wisemans Ferry to Broken Bay and are quite vulnerable to over exploitation from unscrupulous persons who stumble onto a patch. Blackfish (luderick) were in good numbers around Broken Bay through August and this should continue this month before they start to distribute into the river proper. I’ve found most likely looking places that create back eddies behind a big rock or major point will hold blackfish at some stage

as they herd up all the small baitfish referred to as ‘eyes’ and smash them on the surface around Broken Bay and Pittwater. This is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon session casting small metal slugs, poppers and small soft plastic minnows at the leading edge of a footballsized school of ravenous fish. Don’t forget to let a bigger offering like a 6-9” stickbait or one of the bigger Waxwing lures sink

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Bait schools will be getting harassed by tailor as they start to filter back into Broken Bay and further upstream. baiting throughout the lower reaches. Employ a two-hook rig on your live baits for those tentative fish and try to always have a strip bait of some description wafting out the back. It’s quite surprising how often the strip bait gets nailed when you have gone to all the trouble catching and keeping live baits. This may be what brings the mulloway into your spread before they take the easiest option… who knows? The school prawns will start to filter back into the river and this can be marked by the trawler activity from Wisemans Ferry to Spencer as the month wears on. You can expect all manner of fish in the general area gorging themselves on these high protein snacks. Bream, flathead and soapy mulloway will feature in most bags fishing in these areas with live, whole fresh frozen and

Bream are already being caught around Wisemans Ferry and up to Dads Corner. Fishing the rock walls with 2-3” soft plastic grubs and minnows and allowing your lure to follow the contours down to the depths with the odd hop and flick is best. Pumpkin seed is a great colour to start with in these areas due to the turbid stirred up water you often encounter here. The flathead will really come on strong as the month progresses and will push up as far as lower Portland chasing the Nepean herring and school prawns. Places like the windsock, Dads Corner and Upper Half Moon will have a few boats scoring their bag limits around the tide changes on lures and baits. It’s still a little early for mud crabs, but the blue swimmers should still be hanging around the Brooklyn and Berowra areas for those who like a fresh feed of crustaceans. Give it another month or two when the water temperatures reach 20°C or so before setting for the muddies.

Prawns are back on the menu and bream sure do love a feed of them. Lures and fresh baits will see you land a few stud fish this month.

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Snapper season looks to be in red-hot form SYDNEY NORTH

Alex Qasabian

With one of the best snapper season starts in memory, it’s no wonder we have been seeing some beautiful specimens coming over the sides.

When reef sessions slow, many anglers have been darting out to the 50-60m mark with blue spot flathead grounds on fire for a couple of months now. A paternoster rig with some fresh flesh baits and squid with anything around a 6oz sinker is a relaxing way to end a day

patch around here. Looking for temperature breaks and their favoured bait, the saury, is the best chance of nailing a big beautiful tuna. Again, a mixture of small thin skirted lures in the 6-7” range and the Halco Max and Laser Pros have been productive. Try to mimic the sauries’

thin profile with your lures, whatever you use. Pig and blackfish anglers have had a ripper of a season so far, and many anglers off the stones have told some great stories of getting done by some big drummer and even encountering the odd groper as a welcome by-catch. Prawns

Hayden managed this quality red on a 6.5” Berkley Gulp Nemesis. While there are the odd quiet times, even those sessions have offered shots at a big fish. Soft plastics in the 5-7” range have been the go-to soft bait, and big snapper love hitting on the drop, so don’t go too heavy on the jighead.

and fill the esky with some gorgeous white fillets. We have experienced one of the craziest tuna runs we can remember, with most the fish down south now, but with this slack current there is absolutely every chance of running into a

Jaime Hutton with an awesome yellowfin that he caught throwing a stickbait.

If you don’t like using bait, weed pattern flies have been taking good luderick. Hayden Webber had a good session on the rocks recently.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

and bread are all you need to get into the action, but berley smart, as you don’t want to feed the fish, just attract them in. We have had some great success catching luderick with our weed flies, which is always fun as you don’t have to bait up!

Salmon have well and truly arrived, and big schools of them have been encountered inside Pittwater, the Harbour and off the stones. Look for the seagulls, and although they aren’t always the best fish indicators, they certainly love being on top of boiling salmon. They can be quite tricky to get a bite out of, but fly fishers will know and use this to their advantage. We have found small stickbaits and poppers are actually quite good at getting a bite.

• For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop in and chat to the expert staff at Fishing Station, located on 50 Darley St, Mona Vale. They stock an excellent range of tackle and bait, and are open every day except for Christmas Day and New Years Day. You can contact the team on (02) 8094 9197, or see regular news and product updates at www.facebook.com/ fishingstationaustralia.

FISHING NEWS

Savage appoints dealer in South West Sydney Australia’s fastest growing region, South West Sydney, will now have its own Savage Boats dealer, Go Boating. In total, the team at Go Boating has a combined 125-year history of servicing marine products. The leader of the organization, Gary Mackay, has over 30 years of experience in the marine industry. Formerly tw o organizations, Go Boating is the combination of Bob Halliday and Gary Mackay’s marine businesses. The merge of both companies’ best practices is the reason behind their successful high-quality repairs, sales and service. “The business was built off a success of high-quality repairs and servicing,” Mr Mackay said. “When it started it was primarily a workshop. Now we have an accessories store and full

line-up of Savage Boats.” “Gary’s motivation is infectious!” said Ben Penfold, Savage Boat’s National Account Manager. “It’s exciting to have a customer-focused team like Go Boating added to the trusted Savage Boats Dealer Network. “Savage boats are ideal for families on a weekend cruise and perfect for NSW

fishos chasing marlin to flathead, tuna to kingfish, cod to bass or even yellowbelly. “Whether it be a 395 Raptor going up the George River, the popular 455 Scorpion setting out from Port Kembla or a 485 Bay Cruiser on Sydney Harbour, Savage Boats are built tough for all Australian conditions.” – Savage Boats

Praying for rain SYDNEY SOUTH

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

If we haven’t had a fair amount of rain by the time this magazine hits the stands, the fishing will still be tough in the Port

Hacking River. This is mainly due to the extreme clarity of the water and how spooky it makes the fish. To increase your chances of getting a feed of fish you will need to get a small and steady stream of berley going out the back of your boat while at anchor. What you

use in your berley will be entirely up to you. As for me, I try to keep it simple by just using chicken pellets. Most of the time I will just throw out a small handful every five minutes or so. Alternatively, I will add a bit of water to the bucket of pellets and when they have soaked up the

Drummer and trevally will make up most of your catch while fishing off the rocks in the Royal National Park. Use plenty of bread for berley and fish as light as the conditions will allow.

Even though the author made Scotty Lyons use 3kg leader he managed to hook and land this 68cm dusky flathead on a 1/12oz, no. 1 jighead and a Squidgy Wriggler.

water, I will form a 5cm ball and throw it just out the back of the boat. This will slowly break up as it sinks down through the water. A similar thing can be done if you are fishing from the shore, but if you need to get a bit of distance with the berley. You can achieve this by using one of those ball throwing things for dogs. Luderick will still be in the Port Hacking River in numbers this month. Places

to look for them would be Southwest Arm, Lilly Pilly and Gymea Bay Baths, the old Fisheries Point, adjacent to the weed beds at the entrance to Southwest Arm, Little Turriell Bay and the eastern side of Burraneer Bay. Trevally and bream could be berleyed up at the entrance to Gymea Bay on the southeastern corner on the run-out tide, Deer Park on the run-in tide, the bay

where Gymea Bay Baths are, and just off the Dee Ban Spit on a run-out tide. If you are after a feed of flathead you could try fishing the deep water bays, just where it drops off from the sand flats. A good landbased spot to try would be the sand flats on the eastern side of Gunnamatta Bay. I have found that 5 and 6” soft plastics on 3/8oz jigheads will get out far enough to be worked back to the shore.

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If you can get hold of some tube or beachworms you could try for the odd whiting or two from the same area, Lilly Pilly Baths, Swallow Rock Drive or off the shore at the back of North West Arm. One thing that’s plentiful in the Port is leatherjackets. They are everywhere, and you don’t even have to berley for them. All you need is a number 10 long shanked hook on a paternoster rig, small pieces of squid, prawn or pilchard, a soft-tipped rod and you are away. On the beaches in Bate Bay you could try day and

slimy mackerel at the John Dunphy reef. At the rocks south of Jibbon Point you can try your luck on drummer, luderick, sweep, trevally, bream and groper. Places that would be worth a shot are Marley Point, Wattamolla, north Garie Point and the southern end of Stanwell Park Beach. Further south, you could try Coalcliff Point, Coaldale and Wombarra Points for trevally, drummer, bream and luderick. If you are looking for a land-based rock spot you could always try Jibbon Point as it is an easy walk

you fish with either a small bobby cork or a stem float, as this will keep your bait off the bottom. You could also try using a small ball sinker (000 or 00) directly down onto the bait. Making sure that you stay in contact with the bait at all times. When the seas are up and the swell comes into this small bay you will find that the tailor and salmon sometimes move in. You can use a larger bobby cork and suspend a whole pilchard or garfish underneath, or you could try using a lightly-weighted pilchard or garfish on a

Even though it may be cold in the morning, you could try fishing off the beach from Wanda and around to Boat Harbour for bream, whiting and dart. night for tailor and salmon on small 20-40g metal slices or whole pilchards on a set of ganged hooks. The odd whiting, bream and dart are around from Wanda to Boat Harbour. The rocks from Kurnell and around to Boat Harbour are producing drummer, trevally, bream, sweep, groper, tailor and salmon on a rising tide. Just make sure that you keep an eye on the swell. You will also need to berley with bread and smashed-up pilchards. Bate Bay is also worth a shot for sand flathead, and the odd snapper or two has been caught at Osbourne Shoals. There are plenty of live yellowtail and

to the northern end of Jibbon Beach where a track leads through the bush to an Aboriginal engraving site, then to the point of Jibbon Head. You will enjoy many grand water vistas across Port Hacking along this stretch. From the point, the walk heads along the eastern coastline to Shelley Beach before leading you back through the bush to Jibbon Beach, and then retracing your steps back to Bundeena. Bream, drummer, groper, kingfish, leatherjackets, luderick, pan-sized snapper, salmon, silver trevally, squid, tailor, tarwhine and yellowtail can be caught here. Due to the snaggy bottom, it would be best if

set of ganged hooks. Drummer, bream, trevally and tarwhine respond well to bread for berley and bait. You could also try cunje. Pink nippers, peeled prawns, pudding baits, pilly tails or strips of mullet and tuna will work, as will whole pilchards and garfish for the tailor and salmon. In addition to this, 40-80g metal slices are always handy to have on hand, as you can get more distance when the fish are out wide. 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 you can email it to me at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au.

Daniel Hutchinson with a cracking longtail caught earlier this year. Image courtesy of Shannon Malone.

SEPTEMBER 2019

September fishing will be a shore bet for anglers BOTANY BAY

Gary Brown gbrown1@iprimus.com.au

I thought it was about time I gave you some land-based fishing spots where you can catch a variety of fish, and that aren’t hard to get to.

allows you to get out of the northerly conditions and fish into deep water for bream, dusky flathead, flounder, leatherjackets, mullet, mulloway, sand whiting, silver trevally and luderick. Most of the southern and western side of this point has deep water and is best

The Old Ferry Road at Illawong is a great place to target a number of fish species. You can park just metres away from where you are fishing. It’s a great spot when the wind is coming from the south. Let’s start with Bald Face Point on the northern side of the Georges River. It doesn’t have a lot of space to park, but it can be a very productive area to fish during both the run-in and run-out tides. It

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fished on a rising tide. The northern side is best fished on an outgoing tide, and a decent cast will get you out onto a sandy bottom. The tide can race around here at times.

Longer rods between 3-3.6m (10-12ft) would be the preferred length. You can use either a paternoster rig or a running ball sinker down onto a swivel with a longer leader. When the tide slackens, you could try changing to the small running ball sinker down onto the bait. Remember to take a few 30-60g metal slices for the tailor that frequent the area. Not far from here is Macs Bait Bar at Blakehurst where you can get your squid, pilchards, garfish, strips of tuna and mullet, pink nippers, blood worms and strips of chicken breast. Over the years I have found the best time to fish here is when the tide is coming in, and it’s better to fish on the upstream side of the point as your baits will go out away from the snaggy bottom that is in close. You could try suspending a whole squid, pilchard or garfish underneath a bobby cork. Don’t forget to take a few soft plastics with you, and hop them off the bottom for dusky flathead and mulloway. Further upstream on the southern side of the river you will find the Old Ferry Road at Illawong, which is where the old Lugarno ferry used to cross. Once here you will

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in Sydney’s south, Lakewood City Reserve is the perfect family park. This small reserve has a number of small sandy/muddy beaches from which you can cast out into deeper water and target bream, dusky flathead, garfish, mullet, mulloway and sand whiting. This is one of those places where at high tide the water level will be in amongst the mangroves, while during the lower tide you will find that you have a small sandy

shallow areas out in the river and then slow hop them back to the shore. This can be done in an umbrella fashion so that you can cover a greater area. Now that I have given you a few spots to try land-based fishing, I will give you a bit of a run-down on what else you can expect during September as the weather and the water starts to warm up. FISHING IN SEPTEMBER Trevally, bream, whiting and flathead should be on the chew off the end of the third

The odd kingfish will start to show up in the bay, so don’t forget to have a live bait set at the ready for when one comes past.

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find a number of spots where you can set yourself up for a fish, and a short distance downstream you will find a small park that also has a number of deepwater spots that you can fish from. The target fish species are bream, dusky flathead, sand whiting and the odd mulloway. You don’t need an extra long rod to fish here; a couple of 1.8-2.1m rods (6-7ft) would do the job. There are a number of places where you can position

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your rod to wait for that bite. You can set up one with a bait on it, and while you are waiting for something to take it you can use either soft plastics or blades on the other rod for bream, whiting and flathead. Try using either a running ball sinker down onto the bait or a running ball sinker down onto the swivel with a long leader. The best baits by far for the bream, flathead, flounder and whiting are blood worms and pink nippers. You could also use pilly tails or mullet and tuna strips. Chicken breast also goes well here. Every suburb needs a great family park, a place where you can take the kids for a day of fun in the sun. For residents of Bonnet Bay

beach to fish from. There are a number of spots dotted along this shoreline that you can fish from. Again, a rod length of between 1.8-2.1m is the go here. You can catch the same species mentioned above, with the same rigs and baits. This is a great place to work the shoreline with soft plastics and blades, as there are very few snags. Cast out as far as possible and slowly work the lure back to the shoreline. At low tide, you will see a sand bank that is about 30m from the shore. Remember where this is at high tide, and direct your casts towards this as the water is fairly deep between you and the bank. Cast blades or plastics to the

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The author’s mate made him a set of floating upgrading G tags to use when practicing for bream tournaments. This bag of five bream pulled the scales down to 3.38kg.

runway, Trevally Alley, the oil wharf, the Cooks River break wall, Brighton Beach and wide off Towra. The best baits will be tube worms, nippers and peeled prawns. You could also try drifting with strips of mullet, squid or tuna for flathead at The Sticks. The odd kingfish will be about, so make sure you have a livebait out. You can either drop one down to the bottom on a paternoster rig or suspend one under a float out the back of the boat. Both ends of the Captain Cook and the northern end of the Tom Uglys bridge will be worth a shot for luderick on the run-out tide this month. Salmon, tailor and bream will be feeding on whole and half pilchards off Maroubra, Bondi and Coogee beaches. Little Bay rocks would be worth a shot for bream, trevally, drummer and the odd groper. Bread and large prawns are the best baits. Try offshore in 25-30m for sand flathead. Half pilchards, squid and tuna would be my top choices. 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 you can email it to me at gbrown1@iprimus.com.au.

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Winter water, spring warmth SYD ROCK & BEACH

Alex Bellissimo alex@bellissimocharters.com.au

It may be spring for us, but it’s still winter for the fish in Sydney, as the water temperature is at its coolest. There will be periods of warmer water when there is a southerly change and a swell increase, but when the northerly, northwest and especially the westerly winds prevail, the water will turn cold again.

snapper. Grab a 1kg bag of pilchards from your local tackle store, and berley up with cheap white bread from your local supermarket. A light outfit with 4-5kg mono or fluoro/braid and 00-1 size ball sinkers will suffice, depending on the drift and wash energy. A 12ft (3.6m) rod with a whippy tip is best. Find some deep water off your local headland with some sudsy white water in front of the ledge, and berley up in small amounts with a mixture of mushy bread

shops that have stock in the freezer you’ll have to wait until November/December to purchase them. Live baiting with yellowtail caught from the same deep water platform or from your local wharf is a good option at this time of year. Have a float stopper and use a torpedo or turnipshaped float, fishing from 2-8m depth. Locations to try include Bluefish below the climb, (there’s a 6m vertical rope climb), South and North Curl Curl, and North Whale. At these locations

A big king that the author recently caught and released. It smashed a ganged sea gar and was tough to land, reefing up the author several times. The outfit was a Daiwa Saltist Hyper PE-6 2-piece rod, Daiwa 6500BG reel spooled with 80lb J Braid with Wilson 80lb leader, a Wilson occy skirt and Mustad 6/0 Tarpon 7766D hook. Regardless, there is some great fishing in between for the warmer water species that show up periodically. The cooler water species like the rock blackfish, groper, trevally and salmon will hang around too. Add the silver drummer and of course luderick, and you have a lot of interesting species to test your skills. Now let’s check out what’s biting. ROCK FISHING There are stacks of trevally off most headlands, and mixed in amongst them are some sizeable bream, luderick, and plate-size

and chopped pilchards. Half pilchards presented on 1/0 or 2/0 hooks work well (I use Mustad 92554-92247). At many locations, time is often more important than tide, so the lower light periods are best. Avoid fishing most lower ledge locations in a swell above 1m. Know your limits, and stay safe. When the water temperature is slightly up thanks to the southerly swell, you can still have some days with sizeable kings. The sea garfish make great bait but they’re out of season, so unless there are tackle

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you can pick up trevally and bream as well. It’s a great month for the rock blackfish (pigs). This jet black powerhouse resides in amongst the ledges and boulders of most headlands. If there is a white water wash and a water depth from 1.5m at high tide up to 4m deep, you will have a good chance at nailing a rock blackfish. Good spots to try are where waves break onto a ledge that has a lot of weed growth on it. The run-off washes food into the water for the waiting fish. Because the rock blackfish’s diet is mostly vegetarian, they love green weed, brown weed and even the red weed, the same red weed where the red crabs live. They also eat limpets, small crabs, and of course prawns. A well-presented peeled endeavour, king or banana prawn is generally the go-to bait for this species. White bread works well too. For a pig fishing session, try Long Reef amongst the southsouthwest boulders, and the island front as well. South Avalon and Barrenjoey head are also good locations. It’s a long walk into Barrenjoey though, so be prepared. A variety of species can be encountered on the

outing. Groper, bream, leatherjackets, luderick and silver drummer are generally the species caught. The silver drummer go hard, especially when they are above 50cm. They are generally found in the winter months and are caught while pig fishing. A short length of plastic-coated 30lb wire, approximately 5-7cm, will withstand their sharp, abrasive teeth. Silver drummer aren’t much chop in the tucker category, but if you’re keen to eat one anyway, you should preferably keep the ones 2kg or under. Finally, remember that safety gear is an absolute must! You should wear a rock fishing lifejacket of the correct size, steel spike boots and light clothing. BEACH FISHING Generally the beaches have fewer species to choose from. The main one to target is the Aussie salmon, and fishing with whole pilchards presented on a set of gang hooks is the conventional method. If you want an alternative approach, try catching your own bait like yellowtail, or cut some slivers from a salmon or trevally fillet. You should scale salmon before you fillet them. With the fillet cut the rib cage out. Using a sharp

A 55cm silver drummer caught and released by a client. It was caught amongst a bag of five rock blackfish and a leatherjacket. The bait was prawns and bread, with mushy bread berley. The resident small whiting, tarwhine, mullet and other small fish species are in the shallows. Like the salmon, a seaward gutter at 90° with a decent drop-off into deeper water is a great place for these predators to ambush small fish. Often you will also have sizeable frogmouth pilchards and whitebait there, which attract the predatory species. Trevally are still available on the beaches. The bream have completed their northerly migration but,

early morning, then be greeted by the dawn and keep fishing after sunrise. You can catch fish in really close at dawn and dusk. It’s a different story during the daylight hours, when the fish are reluctant to venture into the shallows. When it comes to mobility, you’ll make your life easier if you fish with a minimal amount of gear, especially when you’re fishing for smaller species. I use an Alvey carry bag that has large front pockets

Keiran McGovern with his first salmon. When prepared correctly they aren’t too bad on the plate. knife or scissors, cut slivers 12cm long by 3-4cm wide. This will look similar to a baitfish profile and work quite well for the Aussie salmon. Salmon, trevally and yellowtail fillet also work well for bream, trevally and sand flathead. There are a few sand flathead to near 50cm being caught at the moment. The better places for this ambush predator are usually a few metres out to 20m out.

like whiting, there are some resident ones available. Of course, beachworms are a great bait for these species. Peeled river prawns and pilchard fillets work well too. Fishing from late afternoon to well into the evenings is quite rewarding; it’s chilly but it’s worth it. It does help to have some footwear like a pair of surf bootees, as the sand above the wave line can get pretty cold. You can also try the reverse – start in the dark

for rigs, spare hooks, sinkers and terminal gear, and rigs on a spool. The main compartment is for the fish I want to keep, until I can transfer them to a bucket. You should also bring a head torch, bait container, belt and rod bucket, and a bucket with a clip-seal lid with your bait. Good locations for the above species are south to mid Palm Beach, Avalon, Warriewood, Dee Why and Freshwater. Good luck!

Sensational September sessions in Sydney PITTWATER

Peter Le Blang plfishfingers@bigpond.com

Thank goodness September has finally arrived! Hopefully the mornings will start to get a bit warmer.

towards the edge of the working schools, and the better sizes have been from 10-20g. A stealth approach is still required, as these fish seem to be wary of most boat activity that approaches them. The better way to attack the species has been to turn

No trick photography – this flatty was almost as big as the young fella! Lately we have been seeing a lot more activity in the water along Broken Bay, Pittwater and towards the mouth of the Hawkesbury River. Our early starts have seen some good catches of pelagic species, as they have

off motors upwind and drift back toward schools of fish. Don’t forget that there is a chance of other species lurking underneath this working school and it’s definitely worth trying with other lures, or better still, dragging bait that is locked

The better colours seem to change from day to day, but you can’t go too far wrong by starting off with some fluoro colours like pink or orange. Work these lures aggressively to excite the small squid and make sure that you keep your eyes on the water to watch for followers. The better areas at the moment seem to be along the vast weed beds of Palm Beach, Mackerel Beach and The Basin area. If you are lucky enough to have a few mates with you, make sure you cast different coloured jigs until the right colour has been found for the morning. Once the correct area has been found you will tend to find a good number of squid. Remember to only take a few squid, as gone are the days when we used to go catch 20 squid and then wonder why there are none left for the following trip. Kingfish are being caught along the usual haunts for this time of the year around Scotland Island, Taylors Point area and along the eastern side of Pittwater amongst the moorings. If you want to catch good numbers of kingfish, I suggest that you downrig these areas and keep an eye on your sounder for balled up baitfish, as the kingies won’t be far away. Another area to keep an eye on over the next month is the Careel Bay area. This area during September and October can see quite a few kingfish and tailor being caught. These fish don’t seem to stay in the area for

to anchor and berley when fishing Broken Bay, make sure that your berley trail is leading to structure to bring the fish out. If you are like me and use a weighted berley bucket, be sure to have live bait within close proximity of it so a larger predator will have no problems finding a meal. Flint and Steel, Walkers Point and Juno Point are all great areas to anchor and berley while waiting for the change of tide. Finding flathead and flounder along Broken Bay is as easy as drifting the channels while dragging some baits along the bottom. The two rigs to choose from are your simple running rig with a heavier sinker to puff up the mud, or a paternoster rig, which will also see many fish being caught. The better baits have been the humble prawns and pilchards, both of which can be bought from your local tackle shop. For those who want to go offshore and try their luck with some reef fishing, if you can avoid the leatherjackets there is decent feeds to be caught. Water depths of around 50m are seeing blue spot

off in a rod holder. Once the surface activity has subsided we have been heading towards the weed beds along Pittwater to try and gather some squid. There is still the odd larger squid about, but most of the squid nowadays are of the smaller size and require jigs around 1.5-2.0 size.

too long, but the surface activity will give their presence away. When fishing the bottom along Broken Bay there are flathead to be caught as well as flounder, bream and a few mulloway. Most areas of Broken Bay are suited to anchoring and berleying. If you are going

to have your mate feeding out his line first to see if they get snipped by these Aussie piranhas. I hope this article sees you excited to visit our wonderful part of the coast to enjoy a great day on the water.

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been popping up first thing in the morning and feeding on the surface. Most of the catches have consisted of salmon and tailor, but there’s also been the odd small kingfish mixed in with the schools. The easiest way to get a hook-up from these species has been casting metal lures

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Get a start on squid this season Squid are an extremely popular target all around the coast of Australia, and it’s easy to see why as they are great fun to catch, fantastic on the plate and a top bait. Often referred to as ‘egiing’ by enthusiasts, fishing for squid has really boomed in Australia over the past decade. These days, entire walls of some tackle stores are filled to the brim with squid jigs of every size, shape and colour combination imaginable, as well as scents and special tools for killing and cleaning. There are also ranges of squid fishing rods and reels designed solely for targeting squid, and even braided lines just for squid. Expanding even further, much of what we see on the walls here is still only a small portion of what’s actually out there and what’s coming, especially from the squid fanatical Japanese market, which is constantly coming up with new and exciting technology for the world of squidding. With all this going on, it’s easy to get lost and confused in the squidding world and forgot the basics fundamentals that make up the bulk of squid fishing success.

Any squid around 30cm in the hood is a beauty. Perhaps the most important choice to make is what size jig you be should using. The depth you’re

The author took these two monstrous squid fishing out of the boat. 24

SEPTEMBER 2019

fishing should determine this, and to a lesser extent, the size of the squid you’re targeting. The larger the jig will usually mean it’s heavier and sinks quicker. Squid jigs come in a variety of sizes starting from around 1.5 up to a 6.0. Smaller jigs from 1.5-2.0 will sink pretty slow and work well in shallow water less then 1m in depth. I use this size jigs when fishing the shallows at nighttime under around areas that are illuminated by a nearby light. Baitfish are attracted to these sorts of places and squid will move right against the shoreline to feed on them. You can also use these smaller jigs on a paternoster rig when fishing deeper water to get them down. This is sometimes a good idea when there are smaller squid around that are reluctant to hit the bigger jigs, or when you’re in areas where arrow squid are the main target. Size 2.5 jigs are my favourite size to use when casting in waters less than 5m over seagrass beds, which will typically be the best areas to find squid inside estuary. For deeper environments you could again drift with a paternoster rig or up your jig size to a 3.0 The 3.0-4.0 jigs are best suited for those fishing ocean

rocks or boat fishing offshore around the protected bays and coves with kelpy bottoms where big squid like to hang. The 4.5 and larger size jigs are good for getting down to deeper offshore reefs in less then 30m of water, where extra large calamari can sometimes congregate, and there is always the chance of picking up a monster cuttlefish when fishing theses parts too. GEAR While you could go all out and use a dedicated squid outfit, you probably won’t see the benefits unless you are very serious about your squidding. A 2-5kg 7ft graphite rod and 2500 size reel spooled with 6lb braid will certainly still do the job and cover you for just about any form of squid fishing you do, with the exception of the big jigs over 4.0. Also, if you’re land-based fishing the ocean rocks, you should up your rod length to a stick around 8-9ft. I like to use about 1m of 12lb Black Magic Pink Leader on my squid jigs. While some might call this overkill, it will save your jig if you get a tip wrap mid-cast, as it won’t bust off and fly into the drink. BEST JIGS There are so many jigs on the market these days, and they range from dirt cheap to $40 a pop, but the best value for money quality jigs around that I’ve come

The author with a cracker squid that took a fancy to the Black Magic Squid Snatcher in ghost glow colour. natural baitfish patterns when the sun’s out and the waters clear. Pinks, oranges, greens, and whites that have a bit of lumo are better for late afternoon or early morning. The new colour ‘fire glow’ in the Black Magic Squid Snatchers has been my go-to of late and

you make sure you’re letting the lure sink and stay in this zone as long as possible. Once it’s in the zone, a double flick of the rod tip to give it some action on the retrieve will help attract squid to your jig. Try not to allow too much slack line in your

A good selection of jigs to cover all situations will pay off. across are the Black Magic Squid Snatcher range. They represent excellent value for money, with a great colour range for sizes 2.0-4.0, which virtually covers everything you’re ever going to need. When it comes to colour choice, everyone has their favourites, but I like to use

out-fishing everything else. Black also has its place and is an excellent choice when fishing on a moon lit night or around areas of water that are lit up in the evening. TECHNIQUE Most of the time squid will be located in the bottom two thirds of the water column, so it’s important

retrieve, as squid jigs have no barbs, meaning unless there is resistance pulling the other way a squid can easily push forward and disconnect itself from the jig. Another tip is to have your drag set quite loose, as the heaver drag can often rip the tentacles of a squid clean off.

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Recreational Fishing Update ‘Wrapped’ Bins Promote Responsible Fishing

As part of DPI’s ongoing work to ensure Sydney anglers maintain access to key land-based locations such as the highly popular Walsh Bay piers, we’ve teamed up with the local precinct managers to provide rubbish bins “wrapped” with responsible fishing signage. These colourful and innovative signs provide an additional reminder to anglers fishing the piers to do the right thing and keep the area clean and tidy. Additional advisory messaging includes keeping the noise down and respecting other users. The bins also provide a map to nearby public toilets. As well as providing important info for anglers fishing these productive piers, the “wrapped” bins are also a great way to show the general public that the vast majority of recreational fishers are responsible and respectful members of the community. DPI is working on expanding this sort of proactive messaging to other locations across NSW as well as including responsible fishing info in a range of different languages.

Juvenile Dusky Flathead Bred In DPI Hatchery

A recent trial of production techniques for breeding dusky flathead has achieved positive results. Staff at DPI’s Port Stephens Marine Fish Hatchery successfully reared a batch of flathead fingerlings to optimise breeding and rearing techniques for the species. The juvenile duskies originated from wild broodstock caught in Port Stephens. Dusky flathead are one of the most popular and accessible sportfish in NSW. The trial of production techniques at Port Stephens is part of plans to stock dusky flathead in the near future. This follows on from kingfish stockings undertaken late last year. Stay tuned for more info ...

seven years old. And a 116cm fish caught in Newcastle by Matthew Birt was just five years of age. Interesting stuff, isn’t it? You’d think bigger fish would be older but that’s obviously not always the case ... The RAP is a great example of anglers and DPI working together for the benefit of our fish and the fisheries they support. This is your fishing licence at work! Find out more at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Tagged Kingfish Head North

Mulloway Age Surprises! DPI’s popular Research Angler Program (RAP) has revealed some interesting age differences between various big mulloway. A number of keen fishos recently donated mulloway frames ranging in size from 105cm to a massive 142cm. DPI analysed the otoliths (ear bones) from these fish and ascertained their age.

Murray River Crays Clawing Back!

A further 200 Murray crayfish have been successfully relocated in the Murray River, as part of a joint conservation stocking program. Murray crayfish were once widespread throughout

Not surprisingly, the 142cm fish - caught by Chris Graham at South West Rocks - was the oldest at 18 years of age. Things got more interesting when other fish were analysed. For example, a 105cm jewie caught by David Birt in Newcastle was aged at eight years old. However, a couple of much larger fish proved to be younger in age. A 125cm mulloway caught by John St Vincent Welch (pictured) in the Clarence River was only

the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments, however in recent decades they’ve declined in range and distribution due to a variety of environmental factors. The conservation program began in 2017 as a means to safeguard the long-term future of this iconic native crustacean. And the good news is that it seems to be working! DPI teams captured crays across a range of sizes and ages as part of this year’s surveys, including recaptures of translocated crayfish plus a large female (over 1.5kg), providing assurance there are still some very old (25+ years) crays surviving in some parts of the Murray River. The Murray crayfish conservation stocking program is a collaborative effort between DPI and AquasaveNature Glenelg Trust and is supported by funds from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust.

Two kingfish tagged by super-keen Sydney fisho Gianni Lo Guidice (pictured) under the DPI Game Fish Tagging Program have made epic northwards journeys before being recaptured. One 70.5cm king caught by Gianni in the Parramatta River on 17 December 2018 was recaptured by angler Dylan Carruthers fishing land-based in the Manning River on 12 July 2019. Dylan measured it at 87cm, revealing a solid growth of 16.5cm during its almost seven months at liberty, This demonstrates nicely the growth rate kingfish can achieve whilst they are still relatively young and growing fast. Another of Gianni’s fish – a 77cm king caught in Sydney Harbour on 30 November 2018 – was recaptured even further north. This fish travelled more than 670kms to Tweed Heads, where it was recaptured on 8 July 2019 by 14-year-old Tom Foley. The fish had grown to 85cm. DPI’s Game Fish Tagging Program is a great example of the NSW fishing licence at work. If you’d like to get involved in the program, phone (02) 6691 9602 or email gamefish.tagging@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

www.dpi.nsw.gov.au

Breeding time begins THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

With winter’s influence slowly moving away as the days get warmer, everything from birds to fish begins spawning. Animals work as hard as they can to give their offspring the best start in life, and savvy anglers capitalise on it in September.

have spawned and the sun is up, they tend to drop off to deeper reefs to repeat the process later when the sun drops. The full moon normally sees them moving around a lot to find the best spawning packs, but good pan-sized snapper and mixed reefies have been on most reefs out to 50-fathoms. Drift baits, plastics, micro and octo jigs have all working well on mixed reefies, and most

a small, unweighted hook with a piece of strip bait, as it usually works better than a bait jig. Try Kirra Point, Yellow Marker, the sand pumping jetty, 10-Minute Reef and the bait grounds off Kirra and Tweed. ESTUARY With all the fry spilling into the river and creeks, coupled up with mullet and tailor still running, the predators are on the move and are feeding The Hyde family scored a decent feed of snapper.

This great mixed bag of reefies was landed off Tweed. Once the spawn turns into fry they will travel along with the currents, wind and tides, moving into bays, shallow reefs, mangroves, rivers, creeks and along the beaches. A lot of different species of fish and birds will feed up and gain body weight for the coming summer season. OFFSHORE Around this time of year our close reefs turn into a colourful soup of fry, fish and coral spawn. Some fish use this to their advantage.

large snaps out wider have been caught on jigs. Mulloway and cobia have been haunting most close reefs out to 36 fathoms at dusk and dawn, taking live baits rigged on a snelled double hook rig to a light pea sinker. The pea sinker will keep the head of your live bait down and give it a more natural looking fall rate and drift. A downrigged live bait will keep the bait off the bottom and cover ground more easily while you troll.

up. Mulloway and bigger predators like trevally have been feeding up on mullet and tailor, whereas bream, tailor, smaller trevally, tarpon, giant herring and flathead have been taking advantage of the abundance of fry, whitebait and bait in the systems. Matching the hatch with artificial lures is a must. Vertically working 10-40g micro jigs, 5–9” plastics, surface lures, 20-30g vibes and shrimp blades has been working very well on

for the drift is crucial – too heavy and you’re in the rocks, too light and you’re not getting to the fish. Bream are in good numbers in most systems. Fishing structure like oyster racks, rock walls, pylons, pillars, boat hauls, filleting stations and mangrove lines with finesse gear has done the job. The best lure options have been 2” plastics rigged on 1/16oz jigheads, 35mm hardbodies, poppers, surface lures and blades, but sometimes bream still won’t eat your lure. Having a variety of bait to offer will see the fussiest of fish onto your line. Mullet

trevally and bream as well. Working blades in the deeper holes and shaly channels has produced a great mixed bag of flathead, tailor, trevally, bream, whiting, tarpon, giant herring and the odd mulloway. Short sharp hops along the bottom will always result in a hook-up and a reaction bite. They have been fishing as good as yabbies on estuary species this month. BEACHES The last lot of swell that hit the coast has opened up some great gutters right down the coast. Finding a good deep gutter and soaking a ganged pillie

when they come on the bite. Most beaches have beachworms and pipis on them if you need bait. To find the pipis, look on the water’s edge and in the receding waves for bubbles. Then, work your feet in a circular motion, digging down till you feel them under your feet, and grab them. It’s a similar method for worms. Working a bag of berley back and forward in the receding wave will bring the worms up and then you need to work them out with a pipi or bit of bait and use hands or pliers to pull them out of the sand. This can be tricky, so a

Tweed always produces good snaps on jigs.

Little Marley caught this solid 60cm flathead all by herself! With snapper spawning season in full swing, they have pushed right in close and even around the headlands. Some schools have been so thick but still won’t touch anything you throw at them, as they are mainly focused on spawning. Once the snaps 30

SEPTEMBER 2019

There have been a few packs of tuna around. Metals, stickbaits, poppers and trolled skirts are the best ways to get onto a barrel of fun. Look for the birds and you will find the tuna, with bait at all the usual haunts. If you’re struggling to get bait, try

mulloway, flathead, trevally and bigger tailor around the walls near the mouth. Tailor have also been taken on metals in this area, with 15-30g metals being productive. Drift baits have been catching a few tailor, big bream and trevally. Finding the right weight

gut has to be one of the best for bream, but you can use strip baits, prawns (live, dead or cooked), beach and bloodworms, yabbies, crabs, bread, dough, steak, chicken, hot chips and even lollies! Red snakes and aniseed cats are good. Basically, they eat just about anything. Skinny water has been fishing well and big flatties have been running anglers all over the shallows. Blades, 2.5” plastics, and vibes trolled hard in 1-3m of water have been effective, producing some good

at the start of the run-out has been producing some nice tailor, dart and the odd soapy during the day. At night, soaking large dead baits, live baits, whole beachworms and ganged pilchards have been producing some good mulloway. Finding those deeper gutters is the key to finding quality fish. The headlands and rock walls are fishing well with metals at dusk and dawn, but as it’s only a small window, being set up and cast ready will ensure you hook up

slow and steady hand is crucial to getting them out without breaking them. SWEETWATER The bass season is open. It’s still a bit cold, which is making for a slow start to the season, but a few bass have been caught in the dam. Beetle spins, micro jigs, ice jigs, hardbodies, vibes, plastics and baits, such as worms, grubs, maggots and bugs, have all been effective. NEXT MONTH Snapper, mixed reefies, mulloway and cobia should

still be the top catches next month, as they will feed up on all the fry and bait before they move off to their

the jacks up and flathead will continue their dominance of the skinny water. Tailor will be the target for most beach

Glen Miles found flatties using yabbies. summer homes. Soapies will continue to be on most anglersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; hit list while the mullet are still running. All the fry should start to wake

fishos and working deeper gutters should see you with a feed. Like the jacks, bass appetite will increase with the temperature.

Brad King with a solid flathead taken on an artificial in skinny water.

Owen Buckingham snagged this early morning bass off the surface while fishing in freshwater.

ACTIVE TRANSOM

TRUE SELFDRAINING DECKS

SEPTEMBER 2019

Bream, bass and snapper abound BALLINA

Joe Allan

AS SEEN ON

WINNING GARAGE

Park your boat on the floor it deserves!

September marks the opening of the Australian Bass season in NSW. This time of year can bring with it some of the most aggressive strikes as well as good numbers of fish. Generally, fish are on the move in most tidal systems and looking to head back upriver after spawning earlier in winter.

many problems. There have been some nice catches of mulloway offshore and in the river in recent weeks, with the best seeming to come from night expeditions. Live bait like mullet or slimies have been the standout by far. Snapper have been in good numbers and sizes around the close reefs off South Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range, with the odd bigger fish of around 70-80cm thrown in there. If you’re

Michael Starkey landed this Reardons Reef snapper on an Atomic Semi Hardz vibe. reels are essential. On the 32s there are good numbers of pearl perch and trag jew, and if you’re after having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some amberjack around the 48s. Bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around Broadwater and Wardell. Fresh prawns and yabbies are always the best baits this time of year – the fresher the better. If you’re into lures, start by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work

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blackfish skeletons. Off the beaches and headlands, quality tailor have been showing up. Get out your spinning gear and throw metal slugs for these fish. It can be a great way to spend a morning and catch some fresh fish for brekky. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on ganged hooks. There are some good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters of South Ballina, and you should come across some nice snowy bream too. Towards

Tom Monti caught a thumper GT near Pimlico Island on light gear.

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Searching and fastmoving baits like spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits can be some of the most productive choices for this time of year. If you’re worried about the treble hooks of a lipless crankbait snagging up, try swapping out the trebles for either a size 1 Gamakatsu Single Lure hook on the belly or size 4s on the belly and rear hook points. I like to go for the two size 4s. This way you can slowly retrieve your lures over timber without as

after a feed, there is plenty around. The best baits for snapper would be cut bonito or squid, however the bigger models will be coming on to soft plastics. Don’t get caught up in chasing snapper in close on good days. If the weather allows, get out to the 100 fathoms and try for some blue-eye trevalla and bar cod. Good baits for these are fresh squid and cuttlefish. Fishing this deep on traditional tackle can be hard work so electric

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The author with a 40cm bass from a secondary drop-off around Lismore.

SEPTEMBER 2019

Anthony Melchior caught this 65cm flathead on a Bassman spinnerbait while chasing bass.

your way shallow up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop your line size to 6lb with 4lb leader. This should bring on a few more bites. Keep your crankbaits handy as well, as fish should start to hold on the rock walls rather than the deeper holes. Towards the end of September we should see some mud crabs show up. The most effective baits this time of year are your leftover

the end of September when the westerlies start to blow the swell flat, it’s worth throwing soft plastics into these gutters. You’ll get everything from flathead to whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids. Blackfish numbers start to dwindle around the end of August and start of September, although there should still be a few good fish around. Until next month!

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It’s time to snap up a pinkie YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Spring is here and so are snapper. I love fishing offshore this time of year, chasing the big pink

I keep records of every trip to sea and every fish kept on those trips, and September always shines as the snapper month. You won’t have to travel far either, as they will be in good numbers right at the

will be a lot of nice fish right on the bottom. Pillies, squid and mullet fillet will

by-catch. Tuskfish have been good all winter and will remain red-hot this

To kick off this month of snapper, John caught this solid model. cod and Moses perch – hard to take I know, but take them we will! Moses

Darren Ford caught this big pearl perch. fish. If you can’t catch a snapper this month, then maybe you should consider taking up a new hobby, like knitting or something.

start of the reef at One Man to the south and in close off of Woody Head to the north. Have a float line or two out anywhere from 15-30m of water, but there

perch will actually shoal up this time of year more so than any other, and we

Ben with a massive 68cm pearlie. all bring them unstuck, ready to share a plate with hot chips and lemon. This month brings the biggest variety of quality

month. The best grounds are from Plumbago to Sandon in the south in 30-42m of water. Mixed with the tuskies are Maori

Ray was overjoyed to land his first mulloway.

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have had days of catching double figures in a spot when most would be happy to see just one. The prized pearl perch is always a welcome addition to the icebox and they will be around in good numbers and better sizes now. I like the ground right out the front of Red Cliff

where you line the cliff up under Clarence Peak, in around 40m of water. Drifting this ground with paternoster rigs and big flesh baits always produces the best fish. You don’t need to chase them early either; they bite well late morning and the middle of the day. This gives you

plenty of time for that month in the estuary. easier. The entrance to the Blue swimmers had a first light to 9am drift, Dusky flathead will bunch lake, around Joss Island, really good run early last chasing the snapper in the up in the lower reaches Turkey Island west of year and I’m hoping that shallows before heading a of the river and be a bit Browns Rocks, and the back will happen again. I like little wider. easier to find. As with channel behind Goodwood a feed of muddy as much This month, mulloway everywhere else, we have Island will be the preferred as anyone but I love the are worth chasing up north. had no substantial rainfall. hunting grounds. sweet meat of the Black Rock and South When this happens, the As my dad always said, swimmer more. Evans Reef are the preferred river is salty all the way ‘you catch crabs in months If you are heading ground to fish them. You upstream past Grafton and with R in them’, and that to this part of the world will still catch the odd good fish spread throughout the means now. Dust off the and need to know what’s fish on the reef to the south system, giving you the hard traps and get them out there happening on the water or but getting one on the north task of finding them. As as soon as possible, because would like to join me on ground is four times easier. they run downstream this the first crabs of the season charter, call into Yamba As I’ve said in the past, I month, the task should get always seem to taste better. Marina and say hi. like to anchor on the edge of the bait shoals where Our skipper has fished the beautiful the reef has a 2-3m drop, Clarence Coast for over 15 years and will go as there is a real chance the extra mile to cater for all your fishing of that structure having adventure and sightseeing needs! a cave or big rock ledge • All quality fishing gear, equipment, that mulloway like to hide licences provided in or under. • We clean your catch for free There are always nice • Take a ride in the Noosacat 3100 trag in these areas and you powered by twin 250hp Yamaha motors don’t have to spend the first hour or so of your trip chasing livies, as they are on the spot. Jigging the livies can sometimes actually turn the table fish on, and you just have to Prices Start at take them off one line, put them on the heavier one and feed them back down. yambafishingandcharters It will shock you how big a mba Prawn Blades live bait a trag can swallow,“Ya ” and how big of a trag a Contact Glynn & Julie Bitton 0407540038 or 0401564052 mulloway will take! E: info@yambafishingandcharters.com.au – www.yambafishingandcharters.com.au I know mackerel have long gone but you should still put some live bait out under a float this month and don’t take the wire off. There is a good chance of “Yamba’s Leading Tackle Shop” a big cobia around but a “IN THE MAIN STREET” 8 Yamba St, Yamba better chance of a bright blue mako. The wire won’t • worry the cobia too much if there is a big slimy on the end, but a nylon leader won’t boat many mako. While on the subject of shark, numbers of gummy shark are at their peak this month. Quite often you will think you have a snapper of • Stocking all major brands a lifetime on, only to find • Experienced local knowledge it’s a big gummy that fights • Tournament bream gear in stock exactly the same. It’s just • Snorkelling gear in stock as well they are good to eat! ESTUARY September is flathead

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Spring starts before winter takes a hold COFFS HARBOUR

Stephen Worley info@tdsimages.com.au

Winter barely got into second gear this year and we’re already heading into spring. At least the fishing has played the part and we can expect it to continue this month!

Winter fishing offshore has been quite consistent, with all the major characters playing their part. Kingfish, amberjacks, snapper and pearl perch have been featuring this past month. The ‘bite’ has moved around a little though. Snapper have been very active around the shallows as well as the deeper reefs. The latter has

provided a greater chance of pearl perch, one of the tastiest by-catch species there is. The kingfish and AJs have been concentrated around the island washes and the deeper pinnacles. There have been kingfish closer inshore, and most are smaller specimens, but the odd bigger fish (as well as some large cobia and very

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big mulloway) have appeared in bags for near shore anglers. Live baits are most consistent when tempting the larger models, especially during the day. Large stickbaits are

baits that are the most reliable, but the stickbaits offer more for the early risers. If you can’t find a kingfish, it’s highly likely you will run into a few tailor. As long as

as the growing sunshine heats up the shallow creeks and rivers. This time of year is often when bream anglers can come across some hefty by-catch. The trevally and

September offers great family fishing days on the beach, and James had a great day on this occasion. a viable option around the island washes too, but are most effective during low light periods at dawn and dusk. Even though the air temperatures might be on the rise, we can expect the water temperatures to remain on the lower end for the next couple of months. Spring usually brings the coldest of our offshore water temperatures, so we can expect all the winter species to be readily available throughout September. Around the headlands, kingfish have been on the minds of land-based anglers, with some good size fish being caught on the deeper headlands. Again, it’s live

there’s some wash for them to hide in, there will be tailor on most headlands as well as the rock walls. The beaches have been a bit quiet at times, with a distinct lack of swell through parts of the winter. The lack of swell has led to underdeveloped gutters, meaning that the fish can be hard to find on some stretches. The beach gutters have sometimes been absent, but if you can find a decent one, you know the fish will be loving any structure they can find. On the high tide, you should find bream and potentially mulloway too. In the estuaries we can expect the action to increase,

jacks have made the odd appearance throughout winter, but should become more active as we move into spring and towards warmer weather. In the upper reaches of the estuaries you can expect that there will be bass and bream mingling together, along with trevally, jacks and mulloway, so anything could be on the cards on the upstream snags. Finally, of course, the one thing many of us look forward to in September is the opening of the bass season. Bass haven’t been prolific down in the brackish sections, so I expect, as has appeared the case in previous dry winters, many of the bass

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Annabelle wasn’t so keen to hold her bream after it flipped and created a perfect row of spine wounds on her dad’s hands. Other than that, she was excited to be on the beach catching bream on a fine day. have stayed in their upstream homes and not as many have ventured downstream for spawning. Due to the very dry conditions, we can conclude a few things on the bass front. One is that those bass that are still down in the estuaries will now struggle to head back up the river systems until we get some decent rain. Second is that the rest of the bass that either stayed upstream, or took advantage of the few small rain events during winter to head upstream, will

now be forced into the deeper pools until we see decent rainfall. The biggest and best holes are likely to be holding the biggest and best fish. It’s never too early to be using surface lures, and they’re always my first choice for bass at any time of year, but during the early season bass will have their attention aimed more below the surface. Small crankbaits, soft plastics and even spinnerbaits in the deeper holes will likely prove

the better options. Overall for anglers this month, the offshore and estuary fishing should continue in a similar vein to the last couple of months, and of course, the freshwater anglers will once again head into the hinterland to chase the bass after a long winter of patience. No matter what you choose this month, I hope you find some good spring fishing along with the good spring weather!

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SEPTEMBER 2019

The best time of the year SOUTH WEST ROCKS

Paul Martin

With the winter chills almost a memory, we are moving into my favourite time of year. In spring you can pack your thermals away, get on the water and not get fried by the mid-summer sun. Strong westerlies though August slowed our bluewater fishos down a little, but by picking their days they still managed a fish or two in the box. Our fantastic run of kingfish has continued, with quality fish on the bite

around Fish Rock and Green Island. There are a few rats amongst them but there have been stacks of 1m+ fish in the box. They are reacting to hardbodied lures in close, but sending a ganged garfish just outside the 200m mark has been getting their attention in a big way. There are a few snapper about down at the Rock, but your best bet for these would be Black Rock in close floating a well-presented bait down late in the afternoon. Heading north, the Jail Grounds are producing some fair snapper, morwong and teraglin, with a mulloway or

two coming out at the Dot. Spanner crabs are in good numbers from the Lighthouse to the Jail, and you should take advantage before seasonal bans begin on these tasty critters. Snapper hotspots have been further north to Grassy and Scotts Head. These stocks can move from in close to out to about 90m at this time of year, and it’s just a matter of finding them. Pearl perch have been in good numbers out of the same location with the odd samsonfish, tuskfish

walls, oyster racks, jetties, boat ramps and high tide mangrove grounds all are producing good bream, with 40cm fish not uncommon. Even if you are not a fish eater they are a terrific sportfish on light gear. Luderick have been a hit-and-miss situation, with most anglers getting a feed but finding it tough to get a bag-out. There were some nice mulloway pulled out of the Macleay through August. Fishing the later night hours is a must, and using live bait like mullet or pike will increase Ian Black with a Macleay mulloway around 14kg.

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Debbie Hargrave caught this 8kg snapper off the Gaol Grounds. and mulloway in the mix. Leatherjackets are still out there, but not in the plague proportions we have seen over recent years. There have been early signs of things to come with a few marlin hook-ups around Scotts Head amongst a heap of bait, and a couple of big bull mahimahi (dolphinfish) caught out wide in recent weeks. THE RIVER If you love to chase bream, this is the place to be. The run we have had over the last couple of months has been exceptional. River break

your chance of hooking one these trophy fish. We are still getting the odd kingfish coming into the river with the tide chasing the live bait. They are hard to catch and will take a lure but probably your best bet is with a live bait. Even though the water is cool, flathead numbers are improving throughout the river system. Fish the shallows with a well-presented plastic or a live fish bait and you will get their attention. Jerseyville has a few GTs past the bridge, normally

lurking in the shallows. These fish go hard and are a lot of fun on light tackle. The pylons around the bridge are usually home to school mulloway and some cracker bream at night. September marks the season opening for Australian bass, so head upriver to chase these majestic fish and join me in the hunt for that elusive 50cm+ beast. OFF THE ROCKS Rock hoppers have had to contend with some bigger seas lately so safety is paramount. There are good numbers of tailor here at the moment, taking garfish and pilchards under a bobby float. Bream and tarwhine have been caught in the wash, with some quality drummer off the Jail. Down towards the Light House the odd mulloway has been lifted out, along with some fair kingfish. The rock gurus will be champing at the bit with the prospects of tuna and cobia starting to appear over the next few weeks. We have had reports of kings, mulloway and big tailor down at Hat Head and the ledges around Hungry Head. BEACHES Early morning has been

the go on the beach, with Smoky Beach producing some nice tailor and the odd salmon. Throwing metal slugs works a treat – just cast and retrieve your lure at speed. There’s a heap of different brands and profiles available, and the lure weight of 65g seems to be the most popular. Garfish and pilchards are like lollipops to these fish as well. Worms will get you bream, dart and whiting in the gutters once the tailor have moved on. Gap Beach is fishing well for bream. Closer to town, Main Beach has a few quality bream around the boulders with a whiting or two in the wash. If the action slows down on the beach, you can target flathead with plastics on a slow retrieve. This can work really well to get you a lizard or two. • For the very latest information on what’s biting and where, drop into Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle at 25 Memorial Ave, South West Rocks. You can also find more info at rocksmarinebaitandtackle. com.au, or look them up on Facebook. The owners are retiring, so if you’ve always dreamed of owning a tackle store, now is your chance!

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Estuaries coming back to life THE HASTINGS

Mark Saxon castawayestuarycharters@bigpond.com

Most bass fishers will have been waiting for September for some time. There are definitely no excuses to not have all the gear in tip top shape, ready to hit the rivers for what looks to be a very

not one of the bigger bream seasons, but it still provided a fair bit of action for those who put in the effort. The deeper bite was definitely not as good as previous seasons, but after dark bait fishing produced some good bags, with some decent size fish being caught around our rock walls. This month bream usually spread back through the river system.

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Andrew got this mulloway casting hardbodies after dark. interesting season ahead, as very little rain has fallen. Local waters such as the Maria, Wilson, Macleay and upper Hastings rivers will all hold fish. Like most anglers I will have surface lures on but will also carry spinnerbaits, soft plastics, divers and some vibes for if they are holding in deeper water. The last month has seen some very good offshore fishing with mulloway, pearl perch and snapper being caught by our local charter operators. This fishing should continue through September, and hopefully the wind assists us and you get a good crack at them. Baits such as squid, pilchards and cut bait like mullet and bonito will get you onto a few, and if you’re drifting, why not try plastics or some of the great jigs on the market? With slow jigging metals, you just don’t know what you might get next, so give it a try. In the Hastings it was

Prawn activity will start soon and with bream getting active, surface fishing will once again become a favourite way to target them. Flathead numbers in the Hastings have been excellent all winter, with some great

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is really a great month for the flathead and you should find them on most banks in the Hastings. If you can locate some weed beds, all the better, as the flatties will wait in ambush around these. Mulloway have been reasonable in the river mouth and the dedicated anglers who have been throwing big plastics and hardbodies off the rock walls have caught some very nice fish recently. Further up into the system has been quite good as well, with plenty of school size fish around 75cm-1m being landed. Hardbodied divers and soft vibes have been exceptional

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Even the author got a chance to get a few mulloway on hardbodied lures recently. edge bites for those flicking soft plastics and even while chasing mulloway. September

Flathead have been good around the weed beds and most techniques work, including fly fishing.

and should continue to be viable throughout September. Spending daylight hours casting soft plastics in the 100-150mm in the deeper holes is worthwhile, as both mulloway and flatties like to attack them. Going through the deep water with soft vibes can be a great way to switch the fish on as well. Luderick anglers have been getting some good results along the walls and jetty in town, and you can get a few along the coal wall as well, drifting your weed along the edges. These areas should continue to produce in September. Differing surf conditions have caused a bit of havoc with beaches in recent times, but when conditions are good the beaches have been producing mulloway, bream and tailor. Evening sessions have been the most successful, and if you find a gutter on Lighthouse or North beaches it will be worth a try.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

The big kingfish are moving in this month! FORSTER

Luke Austin

September can be a challenging but very exciting month to fish here on the Mid-North Coast.

Not only does it signify a change in the seasons, it’s also the beginning of a transition towards the summer fishery. Bass season opens on 1 September and there is always loads of excitement

about hitting the big river fish first. With very little rain this year it will be interesting to see where the fish are, and what spots can actually be fished. The estuaries have been very productive all winter

There are some chunky mulloway mixed in with the kingfish in September!

September is big kingfish time!

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and should only begin to hit another gear this month. With temperatures slowly warming up, flathead have been more and more active throughout the main part of the lake as some of them have begun to make their way back down out of the tributaries. September is often a very frustrating month to chase flatties as you will find yourself catching 40 fish in a session

with none over 40cm (and most well under). Bream can be caught absolutely anywhere in September. There are still some big fish hanging about the rock walls, bridge and oyster leases down low, and now the weed beds and coffee rock up past Wallis Island are really starting to fire as well. If we score any really warm days it’s well worth having a throw with small surface lures up on the flats/weed beds, some of my best surface sessions on whiting and bream have been in late September! Trumpeter whiting catches are slowly

whiting species so that you avoid getting a nasty fine for keeping undersized fish. Please also remember only keep what you need! Luderick can begin to get a little tricky to find in September. For a couple of months now the fish have been firmly planted on the rock walls and bridge pylons, but this month a lot of them will head back up the estuary. Breckenridge Channel is often the only reliable land-based spot to fish for them this month. From a boat you will find them schooled up throughout the oyster leases and up around Wallis Island.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

increasing, and by the end of the month there will be huge schools of these tasty little fish sitting in the deeper water of the estuary. If you do decide to chase these fish please abide by the Fisheries rules and regulations and make sure you learn how to tell the difference between our

Possibly the most exciting thing about our estuary fishing this month is the arrival of big numbers of large kingfish. For the last month or so our resident kingfish population has been slowly growing as more and more travelling fish have been arriving in preparation to spawn. When

they are in this ‘staging’ mode the big fish can be very hard to tempt. Even though you can see them, it’s almost impossible to get any 110cm+ kingy to eat your bait or lure. Once they have spawned, however, it’s like a switch gets flicked and these big fish (120-150cm+) go bananas as they try to put back on all the weight they lost through spawning. It’s an amazing thing to experience, and I cannot wait to see what gets landed this year, there are a lot of well-equipped and very skilled fishers that pretty much specialise in chasing these brutes! Thankfully the local kingfish fishery is very sustainable and local anglers are, for the most part, very keen to look after this special resource. For those of you who are thinking of giving it a go, please limit yourself to one or two fish if you need a feed, and look after the fish you intend to release. This winter has been very productive on the sand, and this month typically only gets better. This month is when we see the really big tailor turn up with fish up over 80cm becoming fairly common. The key to getting among a few of these bigger fish is to think about going bigger in your offerings. Instead of throwing a 60g metal, try throwing a 110mm or bigger stickbait or something like a 2oz GT Icecream. You will be amazed at how many big fish are out there! If you prefer soaking baits, try throwing out a big slab bait or live bait as if you were chasing a mulloway. Traditionally good big fish beaches are 7 Mile Beach, Cellito Beach (the southern end in particular), Manning To page 41

Bring on the spring schools HARRINGTON-TAREE

Ian Pereira ianpereira@aapt.net.au

At this time of the year, many anglers are wondering when the spring schools of fish will appear. Will they appear on time? Will they be a little late? Or will they be late by more than a month?

and summer fishing. Now it is September when the fishing goes off, and there is time for cleaning and repairing rods and reels. Back in the 1970s, drummer would spawn in the second week of July at Seal Rocks, and at the end of July they would spawn at Crowdy Head. As I write this, the drummer at Crowdy have still not roed up properly. Last year we

of July and the choppers would arrive at Christmas time. Now, some years we get a period from July to Christmas where there are no tailor, and other years when the choppers turn up at the end of July. It seems that the seasons for the fish have moved on at least a month later then in past years. WHAT’S BITING The Manning has continued to produce

Chris Skellern with a nice mulloway caught at the NSWFCA Beach and Rock event. Over the last few years it’s been happening later and later. In the old days August used to be the time when you fixed up rods and reels for the spring

were still catching drummer in December that had not shed their roe. The same has happened with the tailor. Fifty years ago the tailor would leave at the end

excellent catches of fish during the past month. Kingfish to 20kg have been landed from the river wall at Harrington as well as mulloway to 10kg. Live

bait, soft plastics and hardbodied lures have all been catching fish. Bream and luderick are schooling on the wall, and all fish are in excellent condition. Upriver there are still flathead being caught on soft plastic lures as well as some school size mulloway to 5kg. Tailor have turned up in big numbers now that the sea has calmed. They are taking spun lures and pilchard baits. Quite a few bream have been taken from Crowdy Beach on worms and pipi baits. From the rocks, tailor and drummer have been caught in recent weeks. The drummer are taking cunje, prawns and bread while the tailor are taking gar or pilchards on a bobby cork rig as well as metal lures spun from the rocks. Outside, anglers have been enjoying the calm conditions caused by the southwest to westerly winds that blow every day. Snapper, pearl perch and flathead have been boated from the close-in waters while leatherjackets and bar cod have been landed from the wider marks. Now that the tailor have turned up and are feeding on schools of baitfish, I expect plenty of surface predators to turn up as well. September can be a disappointing month sometimes, but this year we will have tailor to chase on the beaches and from the headlands, as well as a few bream and salmon. The river will have luderick and bream to chase, as well as kings and the occasional mulloway that comes in for a feed of mullet or luderick.

From page 40

Point and Crowdy Beach. This month can be a little tricky/frustrating offshore. With cool currents now lashing the coastline, most of our reefs sitting in anything over about 35m are now littered with leatherjackets and barracouta. Both fish are notorious for biting through the thickest of leaders, and can make for an expensive day out

The tailor are chunky at this time of year.

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Matt Rumble with a bream and drummer caught at the NSW Fishing Clubs Association’s (NSWFCA) Beach and Rock event at their State Convention.

Aaron Billingsley with a Manning River bream. Photo courtesy of Harrington Bait & Tackle.

hunting a few reef fish. If you do manage to find a reef that is free of the pests, you can expect to see some really nice teraglin (trag) as well as plenty of snapper and the odd pearl perch. The inshore, shallow reefs are always a good option this month as they often hold good numbers of snapper and are free of the gear-stealing critters. • Luke Austin is the owner of Great Lakes Tackle –

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More consistent catches HUNTER COAST

Shannon Malone

With winter in the rearview mirror and the weather improving, the fishing is only going to get better from here on in, so

throw salmon into the mix for those fishing off the sand. Small shallow-diving hardbodies have been extremely productive on bream, with most of the fish landed in less than 2m of water. Look for areas around the shallow sand or

Trent Picton-Carnley with a stonking drummer caught recently off the stones. it’s time to get amongst the action. Most of the action lately has been bream, flatties, tailor and mulloway around the harbour, and you can

mud flats, and if you’re fishing from a boat you can look for drop-offs and fish them on a rising tide. Methods such as metal blades or 2-3” soft plastics

are also working well, with soft vibes and 3-5” soft plastics working more effectively in the deeper parts. The best baits are mullet fillets cut into 1cm wide strips or bonito on a 1/0-2/0 suicide type hook or longshank baitholders. Mullet gut and fresh prawns are among the other favourites. There have been some solid catches of luderick off the breakwaters at both Stockton and Newcastle, as well as the Esplanade and Merewether when conditions have been favourable. The lack of green weed has been a problem again this year. However, the weed flies continue to do the damage, and they save the hassle of locating weed and keeping it fresh. Drummer have also been entertaining enthusiasts, with some cracking fish caught using fresh green prawns or cunje. Some of the larger fish have been making short work of anglers’ gear. There are plenty of salmon still about on the beaches as well as tailor. A ganged pilchard lightly weighted and slowly rolled back is irresistible to both species. I prefer a two hook gang over a three, as it’s much easier to remove the hooks and you don’t massacre those fish that you want to release. If you’re chasing salmon or tailor it’s always good to carry a few metal slices in your tackle bag, as they cast a lot further than bait and you can cover more water with

each retrieve. Soft plastics will also land you a few, but it gets a little expensive when the fish chew them to pieces. It’s basically a one cast affair when the bigger tailor turn up. There have been a few decent mulloway caught off the beaches, and I was lucky enough to witness some drone footage a mate took a couple of weeks ago over Stockton showing a school of about 40-50 mulloway hunting beyond the breakers. It was hard to tell from the footage, but we agreed they were all fish around the 10kg mark. It was certainly a sight to be seen and a great way to watch them prowling around, stalking their prey. It’s amazing all the technology we anglers have these days to finetune our approach and put together any missing pieces from the puzzle. Everything from castable fishfinders like the Deeper Pro or Fish Hunter, whose floating transducer connects to your phone via Wi-Fi, to drones which carry a payload of up to 3kg so you can drop your bait or berley out of casting range and view your target in real time. As far as price goes for a drone, the sky is the limit (pun intended)! It will cost you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for some of the better models.

Deano with his PB yellowfin tuna. Yellowfin are one of the best eating fish in the ocean. Most fish have been have been out wide but there have been reports of them being seen busting up and some landed in 40 fathoms or less. It’s been a long time since they’ve made regular appearances in close; word is the late 80s was the last time anyone caught sizeable YFT in numbers off Newcastle in close. Some say it’s due to commercial fishing wiping

inshore reefs, with plenty of fish around the 1-2kg mark. There are also some kings showing up in catches, but often you need to persevere with the truckloads of rats to get to the bigger fish. It’s all worth it when you land a few quality kings. BASS Up the rivers there are some thumping bass, and Lake St Clair and Lostock Dam have been delivering

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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OFFSHORE Offshore it’s been a great season for yellowfin tuna, with fish caught up around the 90kg mark along the coast between Port Stephens and Jarvis Bay, and some excellent specimens landed off Newcastle and Swansea.

out the schools, and those fishos would remember the days when anglers used to spin for them off the rocks at Redhead. A few large tiger sharks have been landed off Newcastle recently, and there are still some decent snapper about on the

consistent numbers of fish lately. Soft plastics, football jigs, suspending minnows and surface lures all been nailing fish. You will find the river bass fight harder than their landlocked cousins, and those river fish in the mid to high 50s hit like freight trains!

The weather and the action are heating up PORT STEPHENS

Paul Lennon

Winter is gone and things will now start to heat up, not only weather wise but also on the fishing side of things. Inside the estuary, water temperature is going to jump up a couple of degrees this month, which will get the flathead going.

Soldiers Point as well as the bridges at Karuah. Rat kings have been consistent around the breakwall at Nelson Bay on early morning tide changes. Use stickbaits and plastics, or live squid if they are being fussy. Luderick season has showed no signs of slowing down, as anglers continue to land their bag limit on a regular basis. The usual

beaches over the last few weeks. The best way to get connected to one is to spend a few hours after dark throwing out big baits. For your best chance use fresh squid, mullet fillets, whole large beachworms or even better, a live whiting or tailor. There have been some nice bream and the odd whiting on the beaches with Kingsley, Box and Fingal all fishing well, and live worms

OFFSHORE Snapper are still in good numbers, with charter boats reporting good catches on

are best fished with lightlyweighted plastics casted and retrieved while drifting or anchoring up throwing

before the current starts running too hard. Be sure to stock up on live baits before heading out the Mountain.

Snapper fishing will be productive out on some of the deeper reefs. the deeper reefs such as 21 and Vee. Paternoster rigs will work best at these depths, and pilchards or squid are the best bait to use. The shallows are also holding good reds, particularly around Broughton through to Seal Rocks. These areas As the temperature slowly rises, so will activity on the flathead front. This time of year the flatties will be further up upstream, with the Karuah River through to Allworth and Tilligery Creek the best places to be. Medium-sized soft plastics and shallow diving

haunts are all firing, like the breakwalls, Little Beach Wharf and Tommaree Torpedo Tubes. The cuttlefish invasion continues in Shoal Bay. Anglers having the most success have dropped their

have been the best bait to use. Box Beach and Fingal Spit are also holding good numbers of tailor, with late afternoon and early morning sessions producing. Casting and retrieving pilchards or garfish rigged on gang hooks

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unweighted baits down a berley trail. If you’re chasing a feed the ever-reliable sand flathead have been thick, and drifting in 40-50m of water wide of Little Island has been working. It’s a good time of year to get out to Almark Mountain

While you will catch plenty of kings on 300-400g jigs, sometimes when they’re tough a live slimy can make the difference. On top of that, you can always fish the bottom for tasty critters like longfin perch, snapper and the odd gemfish and bar cod too.

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Throwing out big baits at night will be a good bet if chasing mulloway during September. hardbodies around 90mm flicked around the mouths of feeder creeks and flats should get results. Bream will also become a bit more active this month, with the rock walls, islands and oyster racks from Tea Gardens through to Soldiers Point all worth a fish. Mulloway have been getting caught from the deeper waters around

jig sizes down to 2.0, as the cuttlefish seem to fancy the smaller jigs. Squid are also pretty good through the seagrass beds at Shoal Bay, as well as over the other side along Jimmies Beach, with 2.5 size jigs working best. BEACHES Mulloway to 15kg have been reported from both Stockton and Hawks Nest

or 20-40g metals are by far the most effective methods to catch them. ROCKS There’s still plenty of drummer around. Try peeled prawns and fresh cunjevoi fished in the whitewater from Tommaree through to Rocky. Solid tailor to 1kg on the stones are also a possibility, particularly around the headlands and points.

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Chasing September speedsters in spring SWANSEA

Jason Scerri coloratolures@hotmail.com

We’ve had a relatively mild winter, and the weather should only improve from here on. This is often a great time of year to fish the lake. There are generally plenty of good flathead still about, and the bream are also usually on the chew. For those light line sportfishing fanatics out there, the good news is that the number of pelagics on offer seems to grow year on year. One minute it can be schools of solid tailor, then bonito, salmon, mac tuna, and the list goes on. The tide will dictate where you are likely to find them. On some days they will be out over the bar around Moon Island and often to the south a little. However, on occasion you will find them right into Salts Bay, making them very accessible. The great thing about them is that you don’t need a big flash boat or heavy tackle to get into this action. A light spin outfit is perfect, and a handful of lures (including

a mix of soft plastics and a few small metals) is all you need to get into the action. For those anglers more interested in scoring a nice feed of fish for the table,

let’s be honest, a good feed of 50-60cm flathead fillets is hard to beat. I’ve been doing a lot better on the flathead with smaller 3-4” soft plastics

These speedsters from out the front off Moon Island provide plenty of line-burning action. I recommend working for a few flathead over the next month or two. There should be a few big girls around too. I’m not one to tell people what to do, but it’s suggested that the bigger girls be released to breed if they are in good shape. And

lately, regardless of the colour, and I always use scent. I’m not brand specific and I have found that most do a good job. You don’t have to go over the top with applying scent; a slight smearing every dozen or so casts should be fine.

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If you love chasing bream with hardbody lures over the shallows, now is the time to get cracking. My biggest bream from Lake Mac have come at

this time of year. It may not be the time of year that has the greatest numbers of bream or flathead, but the sizes are usually good. A good breeze over the flats is also ideal. I like a shallow diving lure for this, and I generally

find colours are critical in this style of fishing. More often than not I go for the more natural colours, such as browns and light greens. Nothing too flashy. But if it’s one of those days where nothing seems to be getting a touch, you should really ramp up your offerings and throw the brightest little lure you can find in the tacklebox. This can often turn the day around on an otherwise quite bite. Squid catches are still relatively consistent, and we aren’t having much trouble securing a good feed each trip. I have found that using scent on my squid jigs seems to make a difference. You should stick with small squid jigs, and use a paternoster rig. When it comes to colours, we’ve been doing well on both pink and orange. Offshore fishing has been a little hit and miss. The tuna season wasn’t a complete fizzer but crews certainly had to put in the kilometres to score the results as there were no fish close to home. The better bite was to the south of us, with Batemans Bay, Jervis Bay, and up to Sydney all producing on

their days. There has been a good mix of yellowfin tuna and southern bluefin tuna, but certainly more yellowfin from Sydney and northwards. Most crews found trolling a spread of skirts lures the key to initially locating the fish schools, and then if the fish were concentrated enough they would switch to cubing or even throwing stickbaits. All the fish have been out very wide though, so you have to pick your days and ensure your boat is up to the task. That doesn’t just mean plenty of fuel, but plenty of food and drink for those on board, as a late bite could mean a long day on the water, and you need to keep your fluids up out there. The reefs are firing quite well with some really good bags on snapper and kings about. Large soft plastics are scoring plenty of fish, which is great to see. Unfortunately, on some days it’s been hard to get the fish to the boat as there have been a few sharks lurking about. Speaking of sharks, the local GFC shark boats have been seeing their fair To page 45

Warmer conditions trigger more bite activity ERINA

Aaron Donaldson

Brisbane Waters has been reasonably quiet this last month. Cold water temperatures and very little in the way of baitfish schools hasn’t helped the fishing, but the good thing is the water is starting to warm again, so this will mean the fishing should rapidly improve this month.

with lure size, as they seem to love bigger soft plastics at this time of year. The bream fishing has been good recently, with the usual run of winter school fish about. The best fishing has been deep with vibes and plastics, although the fish will be starting to move towards the edges as the water warms, so shallower divers and surface lures can be productive. The kingfish have continued to show in Brisbane

kingfish stacking up on the 100m reefs like they usually do, but most boats have been doing OK, with a

few snapper and some great catches of pearl perch on micro jigs and pilchard baits have been reported.

Out wide we have seen a few good yellowfin tuna to 65kg caught out the front trolling out over the shelf, and these fish have been surface

feeding on sauries and a few were caught to the north of us on stickbaits, so it pays to always have a casting rod on board!

James Moller took this nice Hawkesbury River mulloway recently. It is definitely a great time to target the flathead, as they are looking to put on some condition after only feeding sporadically over winter. Try for them from Woy Woy to Box Head and don’t be shy From page 44

share of the action. Some cracking sharks have been weighed in over the past month or so, and that will certainly continue through the summer months.

Waters, and there are packs of smaller fish in there at the moment, although you still hear of a few monsters about too. Offshore has been quiet lately, with not many I will finish this month’s article on a personal note. I was involved in an incident on Lake Macquarie recently. It was not until after the fact that I had time to look over the day’s

A mulloway like this is always a welcome catch. Image courtesy of Kane Fairchild @motackle.com.au.

Mitchell Sheppard with a big flathead from Lake Macquarie caught on a Samaki Vibelicious. move. Stuck on the front cast deck, I couldn’t do much all. My daughter is only young, and was very emotional seeing her dad not being able to move. It was tough but I was able

I have my EPIRB in a much more accessible location, I keep my phone in my pocket and I’m looking to get one of those small personal EPIRBs that you can carry on your person. It’s also important that those on board know their way around a vessel and its controls. This experience really was an eye-opener for me, and I’ve certainly learned from it.

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For others the coming warmer months mean one thing: marlin! It shouldn’t be too long before we start to see some more life out wide with bait balls and pelagic action. A few early season marlin and big mahimahi will get hopes high for a cracking season ahead, so here’s hoping.

events and see that I didn’t have as many things in place as I should have. It was a regular day’s fishing with my daughter until I suffered a debilitating back injury. Nothing major caused it, but I hit the deck with a ruptured disc and was stuck where I fell, as the pain was so intense I couldn’t

to settle her down and she did a great job getting us to safety and to a waiting ambulance and family. My point is that it made me start to think about my safety a lot more when I’m on the water, as I am solo often and I know many of us are. I have now upgraded my first-aid kit to include some top-notch pain killers,

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BASS

Boost your catch rates by jostling with bass CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

In March 2019, I wrote an article for this magazine centred on targeting flathead with spin gear using a retrieve called ‘staccato’ which commonly used by fly anglers. I caught

my catch rate and I’ve also landed some huge bass. Outlined below are the two retrieves along with a refresher on the staccato, which I have also started using when fishing freshwater. UP-ANDACROSS RETRIEVE ‘Up-and-across’ is a retrieve style familiar to

across retrieve, simply cast a surface lure up into a fast moving section of water then wait for the line to go tight and the surface lure to start swimming. Do not wind. Instead, move the lure from side in the fast water by working the rod tip back and forth in an arc. This technique is dynamite on bass because the lure

The author with a 48cm bass which was fooled by an up-and-across retrieve. it originally landed. I’ve heard this retrieve called a few different names over the last few months, so you may have heard it called

lure looks like an insect or fish jostling with other aquatic creatures. To initiate the jostle, land the lure in a likely

winding; you basically just want the lure to twitch on the spot. After the line has slackened, wind the slack onto the spool and repeat

Hooked up to a solid bass. a lot of great fish and I often use this retrieve now when targeting saltwater species. However, after trying the staccato retrieve using my spin gear, I became even more interested in

a lot of fly anglers. This retrieve is often used by anglers casting upstream in a river scenario, and is based around using the current to move the fly. Essentially, the angler casts upstream and moves the fly

imitates a bug stuck in the rapids (and swimming from side to side rather than up and down the flow), and the fish strike with abandon. I stress here that this retrieve works best with winged surface lures. If you

The staccato retrieve works well when casting at shade lines. something else. I stick with term ‘jostling’ because, when using spin gear and surface lures or plastics and employing this retrieve, the

spot, wait a few seconds and then wind up the slack line. Once the line is taught, start twitching the rod tip up and down but avoid

the process. This retrieve is about keeping the lure in one spot for as long as possible so as to imitate a wounded cicada spinning

Michael Wilson caught this solid fish using a jostle retrieve and a plastic over a deep snag. fly retrieves and started to do some research. I found two other fly retrieves which I thought I could apply to freshwater fishing, particularly Aussie bass. Since employing these retrieves using a standard egg beater, I have doubled 46

SEPTEMBER 2019

along the length of the river by moving the rod tip from left to right or ‘across’ the river. This retrieve style transfers well to spin gear, especially when you’re using surface lures in fast flowing water. To perform an up-and-

don’t get a hit within a few minutes, move to the next fast section or try ‘jostling’. JOSTLING RETRIEVE Jostling involves keeping the fly in one spot by using the rod tip to get the lure swimming up and then back to where

Use your sounder to find shut-down fish.

BASS around or a baitfish twitching on the bottom. Some of the better surface strikes I’ve experienced have been when using this method, but if it doesn’t

pause’ technique which I was already familiar with. However, the staccato requires the angler to think far more about the presentation of the lure

pronounced movement in the method. Once the pause is complete, twitch the lure once or twice before pausing again. The size of twitch is important.

This solid bass was tricked into taking a paddler in fast water.

These techniques work especially well when you’re fishing from a kayak or boat. work, I usually switch to a staccato retrieve. STACCATO RETRIEVE The staccato retrieve was the first fly method that I tried with spin gear because it is based around a ‘twitch and

and place a lot of focus on the pronounced movement of the bait during the retrieve. The idea is to cast the lure and then allow a long pause before beginning the retrieve. This is the first

It should be as distinct as possible but without the lure losing its core action. The objective is to create a lot of disturbance on the twitch followed by a lengthy pause. It is almost like separating the twitch

and pause into two separate retrieves. The bass usually pick the lure up on the pause but I’ve also had fish hit during the twitch. CASTING A good fly angler is a master caster as this is perhaps the most important part of fly angling, and it’s honed from the beginning of a fly fisher’s journey. My experience as a spin fisho is the opposite. I learnt to work a lure long before I worked out

how to cast properly. So, learning these techniques and putting them into practice has meant focusing on my casting and trying to best mimic the types of casts that I have seen fly fishos make. With that in mind, it is important to make sure the lure lands as subtly as possible, because the idea is to get the fish interested before any retrieve begins. I like to employ an ‘arc’ style cast when chasing Aussie

bass because the lure lands naturally. An arc cast involves pitching the lure up and out rather than flat and out. The idea is to create an arc in the line so that the lure comes straight down on a spot almost vertically, rather than coming from the side. This type of cast ensures skittish bass are not put off, and often ensures a hit during the first pause of a staccato retrieve. To page 48

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BASS From page 47

LOCATIONS I find the up-and-across works particularly well in fast water and is also well suited to skinny water. It is an excellent way of working a rapid thoroughly before moving to slower pools.

Box 1 and 2) and I have already mentioned plastics and surface lures which do catch me a lot of fish. However, small diving lures warrant a special mention. They work well when using an up-and-across retrieve because they can be run

TOP 5 SURFACE LURES • DStyle Reserve • Megabass Siglett • Tiemco Cicada • Jackall Micro Pompadour • Bassday Sugapen The jostle is effective in both slow and fast water and works well in both rivers and dams. I tend to target shade lines and rocky points using this retrieve but have also found that it works well if fishing on top of sunken timber. The staccato works anywhere but I do use it a

back and forth in a rapid, but they are also a good choice when you’re using a staccato retrieve. That said, there is no hard and fast rule. I recommend trying lots of different lures. TACKLE Rod and reel choice is particularly important. I

TOP 5 PLASTICS AND DIVERS • Dragon Belly Fish 2” • Ecogear Grass Minnow • Squidgy Wriggler 80mm • Ecogear SX-40 • Ecogear CX-35 lot around reed-lined banks and weed beds. LURES I use a lot of different lure types when employing these strategies (see Fact

started out using rods with extra fast actions, but found this was a mistake as the rod did not closely imitate the action of a fly rod. Now, I use rods with a medium

action because, for me, a medium action, light spin rod is as close as I can get to a fly rod. There needs to be a bit of play in the tip of the rod because there is very little winding going on when using these retrieves but there should be a whole lot of lure movement, which can only occur with a tippy rod. For working surface lures, I use a Rovex Revenge 2-4kg rod matched to a Rovex 2000 reel spooled with 6lb braid and 8lb leader. When fishing plastics and divers, I use a Quantum Energy 6’0” 2-4kg rod matched to a Quantum Smoke S15 spin reel spooled with 4lb line and 6lb leader. I use the heavier outfit for surface simply because I fish a lot of heavy cover with cicada imitations and need the extra power. SOUND AROUND If you’re fishing from a kayak or boat, keep an eye on the sounder. Often I’ll sound shut down bass hanging on the bottom, especially in impoundments during early spring. Where once I was pretty disappointed to see these arches sulking down deep I now get excited, because these more subtle retrieves work really well on schooled up, shut

down fish. I run a Lowrance Elite Series 7ti and it’s a great unit, but any sounder which gives you an accurate read of the bottom will suffice. BANK VS BOAT These tactics work well

effective when fishing plastics vertically over a snag which is hard to do from the bank. I’ve noticed that bass do wise up after a while even if I’m using the most subtle retrieve so if I do hook and land a couple

of fly techniques out there which would be applicable in a spin or bait cast context and vice versa. In fact, I believe I’ve only just touched the surface here. That said, these three retrieves have changed the

Try the jostle retrieve down deep. from the bank but also when fishing from a boat or kayak. I will say though that it is far easier to out manoeuvre a big bass from a boat/yak and the ‘jostle’ retrieve is particularly

of fish from the bank or from the kayak, I tend to move to the next likely spot before returning later in the session. CONCLUSION I think there are a lot

way I approach bass fishing for the better and have got me looking for more links between fly and spin so I can catch more and more of my favourite freshwater sports fish.

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Springtime prospects NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Right across the country, but especially down south, anglers keenly await the better weather and improved fishing prospects that typically accompany springtime. “Spring has sprung, the grass has ris’… I wonder

spring often took a little longer to really take hold than we might have hoped. The lawn had indeed begun to grow once again, after lying dormant for several months, but very often those promising flower buds remained stubbornly closed for at least another week or two. These days, most people in the southern hemisphere regard 1 September as

hours apiece). The precise timing of the vernal equinox can vary by a day or two from year to year, typically falling somewhere between 19 and 23 September. In 2019, that all-important equinox doesn’t occur until 23 September. But personally, I’m more than happy to count 1 September as spring’s official kick-off… After all, it already seems

Spring is a great time to get back to basics, chasing a few rock wall bream on bait. far more active and many rainbows are actively seeking gravel beds in an effort to spawn. The trout season in streams and rivers is already open in Tasmania and is about to reopen in Victoria, although those of us in NSW have to wait another month, which hardly seems fair! Meanwhile, over

to the Gippsland Lakes, dusky flathead are shaking off their winter lethargy and beginning to bite much more freely, as are yellowfin or sand whiting, while offshore it can be a great time for snapper and even an early run of kingfish in some areas. Surveys and anecdotal

you have reels that need topping up or re-spooling with line? And what’s going on inside closed tackle boxes that might not have seen daylight since May? Are your hooks a corroded mess? Are you running short of sinkers in the sizes you most commonly use? Do your lures need a sort

You’ve got to love a springtime mulloway, even the small ones! You might still need to slip on the hoodie for an early or late session, but the fishing is definitely warming up. where the flowers is?” I can clearly remember my father reciting that quaint little ditty at this time of year. As a kid, I was never quite sure what it meant, but over the years I came to understand that it was a humorous acknowledgement that the lengthening days and gradually warming weather we typically associate with

signalling the official end of winter and the welcome beginning of spring. However, some would argue that spring doesn’t actually start until what’s known as the ‘vernal equinox’: that moment when the sun crosses the earth’s celestial equator and our days and nights become roughly equal in length (at around 12

as if winter has hung around for far too long, and I’m just about ready to see the back end of it! Overall, spring is a wonderful time for all sorts of fishing. In NSW and Victoria, the bass and estuary perch season reopens on 1 September, while in the cooler and higher country, trout are now becoming

Spring is a wonderful time of year to be on the water, regardless of where you choose to fish and what you chase.

The next few weeks can be a great time to begin seriously targeting snapper of all sizes in our offshore waters. Make sure your reels are well topped up with fresh line first!

in WA, the South Western trout season is year ’round these days. Of course, it’s not all about seasons opening. This is also the time of year when the Murray cod season closes in all but a handful of impoundments, in order to help protect these highly-prized native fish during their spawning period. Anglers should leave river cod well alone to get on with that important job for the next three months. Luckily, there are plenty of other options: in both the fresh and salt. Right along the eastern seaboard, from Hervey Bay

observations consistently indicate that the number of anglers hitting our waterways ramps up dramatically from about early September onwards. In particular, the two big footy grand finals (AFL and NRL) staged later in the month tend to mark a sort of unofficial kick-off for what many southerners regard as the serious fishing season. Time to dust off dormant gear and get out there! But before you hit the water, it can really pay to pause for a moment and give your gear the once over. In particular, how are those line loads? Do

out, a clean-up and quick re-sharpening of their treble hook points? If so, now is definitely the time to do it! I actually find it quite therapeutic to pull all my gear out at the beginning of spring and check it over. Go through it and see what needs servicing, upgrading or replacing. Jot down a list of the top-ups you might need and then hit the local tackle shop for a bit of retail therapy. Apart from anything else, it’ll really put you in the right frame of mind for some new season fishing action! Anyway, happy spring and tight lines! SEPTEMBER 2019

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EQUALIZER TWIN PIN PRO

The Black Magic Equalizer has grown a reputation around the world for being the ultimate fish fighting gimbal and harness, and now it’s even better. With the advent of different fishing styles and the growing popularity in bent butt rods, Black Magic has introduced a new Equalizer, called the Twin Pin Pro (patent pending). The change is simple yet significant, offering a great advantage to anglers who use both bent and straight butt rod types. As the name suggests, the Twin Pin Pro has two pins, one in the traditional recessed position, and a new pin in the front of the rod bucket. Now, anglers have maximum leverage whether using a straight butt or a bent butt rod, without the need for an adaptor. Simply choose the best pin for your style of rod and you are fishing without restrictions. Head to the Black Magic website to see more information, photos and a video of the Twin Pin Pro. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA HELIOS SX SPIN RODS

Taking on all comers and reigning supreme in the Best New Rod category at the prestigious 2018 EFFTEX tackle trade show, the eye-catching Okuma Helios SX spinning rod is now available in Australia. There are three models in the range, covering many of our most popular light spin applications. Helios SX rods offer anglers high end components, ultra-light feel, crisp actions and incredible value for money. Features include 30T Toray carbon construction, creating slim blanks and fast actions, Japanese EVA split grip design, comfort grip ergonomic reel seat and Seaguide Gun Smoke SS guide frames with zirconia guide inserts. All up, it delivers classy looks, quality components and proven performance at an affordable price. The range consists of the following models: HSX-S-702L (light action, 7’0”, 2-piece, 1-3kg, 1-8g casting weight), HSX-S-702ML (med light, 7’0”, 2-piece, 2-4kg, 3-15g) and the HSX-S-702M (medium, 7’0”, 2-piece, 3-6kg, 5-20g). Price: SRP $109.95 www.okuma.com.au

STRIKE PRO X-BUSTER

The Strike Pro X-Buster is a deadly swimbait with a superior quality and finish. This jointed swimbait replicates a bony bream to perfection and is deadly on barramundi and Murray cod. It has an outstanding side to side action, and you can crank, rip, twitch, pull, jerk or troll it. Just remember to give it a good pause; it glides deadly to the left or right and it stays in the strike zone. This lure is extremely strong, with a tensile strength of 35-40kg, and it comes fitted with extra strong split rings and trebles so it’s perfect to use straight out of the packet for large species. The X-Buster is 17cm long, weighs 80g and suspends at approximately 4ft. It also features extra loud in-built rattles for added attraction, allowing the fish to home in on the lure in murky waters. The X-Buster is available in four natural baitfish colours and is a must for the serious swimbait angler. www.jurofishing.com 50

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BASSDAY BACKFIRE 4 Bassday’s expertise in the surface lure market is second to none, with the SugaPen one of the deadliest surface lures available. Their newest creation, the Backfire, was originally designed for catching black porgy on Lake Hamana in Shizuoka, but it has proven itself in our local conditions already. And like the SugaPen, it’s sure to be a favourite for keen anglers. The Backfire is 65mm long and through wired, making it strong and dependable. It weighs 7.5g and casts exceptionally well for a small lure. The large cupped face is capable of both dramatic pops, and small subtle, ripple inducing pops, when using a slow and light touch. The slim profile produces little wind resistance. The action is that of a classic popper and will be excellent for bass, bream and other surface feeders. It works best with a ‘pop, pop, pause’ technique. The new model comes in eight colours, and all but one have been designed exclusively for Australia. To find out more visit the Bassday Australia website, or Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

DAIWA KIX LT

Combining many of Daiwa’s latest technologies with stylish looks and contemporary design, the Kix LT delivers on both performance and price. The Kix’s impressive design and strength begins with its ultra strong, ultra corrosionresistant alloy body providing a rock solid foundation for the reel’s long list of features. Daiwa’s LT Concept delivers lightness and toughness while Tough Digigear provides flawless internal gearing, with its high-precision cutting technique achieving perfect gear meshing and ultra-smooth performance. MagSeal protects from the elements, while Air Rotor, ATD, LT’s Longcast ABS spool, Perfect Line Stopper, Air Bail and EVA knob combine for superior performance, power and precision. The new Kix LT is available now in six different sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

UPGRADED FG WIZZ

The FG knot is the best braid-to-leader knot because it has the slimmest profile of any other knot, allowing you to reel it through your guides and use longer leaders. It’s also stronger than any other braid-to-leader knot. This tool leaves your hands free to tie a slim, uniform and reliable FG knot every time, quickly and easily. There is no need to use your teeth or your rod. The FG Wizz is compact so you can take it anywhere. This Aussie invention is hand-made by angler Ray Fewell. “The original FG Wizz has been selling well, and everyone who has one loves it,” Ray said. “If there has been any criticism at all, it’s the fact that it doesn’t handle heavy braids and leaders as well as the lighter sizes. That’s because the stems get drawn together at a faster rate. “The new version is more versatile, holding heavy leader better in the back bobbin when finishing the knot.” To see how easy it is to use, look up ‘FG Wizz’ on YouTube. Price: SRP $44 www.fgwizz.com.au

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MAJOR CRAFT N-ONE 7 EGI RODS The Major Craft N-One Egi Series are all 8’6” lengths that cater for small 0.4 jigs all the way up to larger 3.0 and 4.0 jigs. The rods are all spin, using a nano-alloy and carbon blank construction to reduce weight. They also incorporate the CrossForce technology used elsewhere in the Major Craft range. These rods are a delight to use, with a super sensitive tip and an incredibly light weight, which allows anglers to impart jig movement with minimal effort and less fatigue. The guide train is all Fuji SiC, arranged in the KR Concept pattern, and ergonomics are at the centre of the build with carefully constructed composite EVA grips. The rod uses gold winding checks and black, gold and red bindings for a bold look. There are three models, the NSE-862EH (8’6”, PE 0.6-1.5, 3.0-4.0 jig size), NSE-862E (8’6”, 0.4-1.2, 2.5-3.5), and NSE-862EL (8’6”, 0.4-1.0, 2.0-3.5). For more information visit the Major Craft Australia website or Like them on Facebook. www.majorcraft.com.au

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RAPALA TOURNAMENT 8 SHIRTS

You can fish all day in comfort with the new Rapala Tournament Fishing Jerseys. These quick drying, 100% polyester shirts make a day on the water comfortable, and have a UPF 30+ sun protection rating to protect you and your kids from the sun’s harmful rays. These jerseys are available in adults’ sizes small to XXXL and kids’ sizes 2 to 14. For more information visit the Rapala Australia website, or check them out at your local tackle store today. To find out more about these and other products in the Rapala apparel range, check out the Rapala Australia website or like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapala. australia), or Instagram (@rapalaaustralia). www.rapala.com.au

SHIMANO SLX DC

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The Shimano SLX DC offers smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of conditions. Shimano’s Digital Control braking system automatically activates and controls brake force at every moment of the cast. A microcomputer controls the spool rotation by measuring and adjusting its speed, at 1000rpm/second, during a cast and little to no thumbing of the spool is required. It doesn’t require a battery, as the system re-charges itself as the spool rotates. Four adjustable settings enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings. The DC system can also accommodate various casting styles and even different line types, with setting 1 providing the least amount of brake control and 4 providing the most. The Hagane Body helps to ensure that the reel is extremely rigid and durable, so all movement results in smooth, yet strong cranking power. There’s an enlarged 48mm Throw Handle across three right-handed models, with gear ratios of 6.3:1, 7.2:1 (HG) and 8.2:1 (XG), and one left-hand (7.2:1 HG). With a maximum drag output of 5kg, the SLX

DC can provide great stopping power. Price: from SRP $339.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

SALTIGA 12 BEX UVF 10 PE+SI Made with UVF (Ultra Volume Fibre) and Evo Silicone, Saltiga 12 BEX UVF PE+Si Line is the ultimate high-density braid, exhibiting supreme abrasion resistance and ultimate strength. With 72% improved abrasion resistance, 20% more strength, an 18% more slippery surface and 30% less line stretch compared to 8 braid premium PE lines, Saltiga 12 Braid UVF is the ultimate in line technology. A reduced diameter provides an ultrasmooth surface for less friction/resistance on the guides and spool rim allowing for longer smoother casting, less noise, minimal water penetration and incredible sensitivity. Saltiga 12 is the ultimate heavy duty jigging and casting line for big gamefish, and is colorcoded in 10m, 5m and 1m increments to allow full line control. It’s available in a range of sizes from PE0.6 (200m spool) up to PE8 (400m spool), and you can see all the specs at Daiwa Australia website. Price: from SRP $99 www.daiwafishing.com.au

OKUMA EPIXOR SQUID RODS

A dream rod for egi anglers, Okuma Epixor squid rods feature stunning aesthetics, top quality components and slim blanks with crisp actions. Balanced for long casts and imparting action into jigs, with plenty of power down low for casting and control, combined with tips that can bring jigs to life in the water and control the surges of hooked squid, while reducing the chances of tearing jigs free. High end components are used in the manufacture of these rods, including 40T Toray carbon blanks for a light and responsive rod, finished with Fuji K guides and Fuji reel seat. Okuma Epixor Squid rods are available in 7’6” and 8’3” two-piece models, rated PE 0.61.2, with a casting weight of Egi 2.5-4.0. For more information head to the Okuma website, or look them up on Facebook (www.facebook. com/okuma.australia). Price: SRP $179.90 www.okuma.com.au

NEW FISH TRAP COLOURS

Anglers who love the Zerek Fish Trap will be excited to hear that seven new colours have arrived. The new colours have been developed with the assistance of gun anglers across Australia and with the help of tackle stores. Needless to say, Zerek has delivered an exceptional new range. Within the range are the following colours: BF – blended fog, GC – ghost carp, GH – gold herring, GS1 – green sunset, PS1 – pink sunset, SH – silver herring, and SS – sunset. Initially available in the 95mm size, these colours will be rolled out into the 65mm and 110mm sizes in the coming months. The Zerek Fish Trap features virtually indestructible TPE construction matched to forged split rings that hold the Mustad 4x strong Saltism treble. www.wilsonfishing.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

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Perfect timing for flathead season

The flathead season on Australia’s east coast hits its peak in Southeast Queensland in late September, and the action filters its way south as water temperatures increase in December and January. Anglers all the way to bottom of East Gippsland in Victoria, and the southern coast of Western Australia, head out looking to tussle with a flat fish. Those of you who follow the Tackle Testing Booths in the magazines and the www.tacklejunkie.fish website know I love targeting flathead. When the team at Rapala Australia wanted to do something flatheadrelated, I was on board straight away. Much of what they sent me was newly released in 2019, and I could see that the lures were likely to catch their fair share of flathead. For now though, let’s start with the rod, reel, line and leader.

Rapala Australia’s portfolio of brands cover all the bases for you to catch flathead. The author’s chief product testing assistant, Nicholas Willett, has had a lot of success using paddle tail plastics this season. This flathead took a liking to a 4” 360GT Coastal Mangrove Minnow. The Rapala Maxwell rod that they matched with a Rapala R-Type reel immediately intrigued me. The Maxwell rods are available in nine different spin configurations, two of which are new for 2019. The rod to be tested was the 7’ 2-piece, 2-4kg model (MXS702L). Maxwell rods fit into the finesse spectrum of rods – super lightweight, quality Fuji KR Concept

guides, skeleton reel seat with an EVA foregrip and composite cork rear grip. They are a fast taper configuration. The Rapala R-Type 25 reel they matched it with is a new size within the R-Type Spin range, added in 2019. It and the R-Type 35 have been added to the three other sizes available this year. These reels have 6+1 ball bearings and the new models have a 5.2:1 gear ratio with a 6kg drag rating. A big part of the Rapala Australia portfolio is the Sufix range of lines. I was provided with a 10lb 150yd spool of Sufix 832 Advanced Superline in coastal camo colour to put on the reel, and some Sufix Super 21 fluorocarbon leader to go with it.

Both lines are recognised for their abrasion resistance and sensitivity. The Sufix 832 is an interesting concept. It is an 8-strand line with 32 weaves per inch of line. The line itself is a blend of 7 HMPE fibres and a GORE performance fibre. The GORE fibre assists with abrasion resistance while the HMPE fibres provide the strength and sensitivity. The Sufix Super 21 complements the main line, providing a strong, supple and invisible leader to fish with. VMC COASTAL X JIG HEADS AND STORM 360GT COASTAL SOFT PLASTICS The Coastal X jigheads and 360GT Coastal soft plastics were a new release for 2019, following on from the highly successful Storm 360GT Searchbait range. The VMC Coastal X jigheads range from 7-14g and come in 2/0-4/0 hook sizes. I would call the hook medium heavy, certainly fine enough to get through the top lip of a flathead. Storm 360 Coastal plastics come in a number of profiles and sizes, and you can find more information in the fact box hereabouts. Each style has eight colours. FIRST IMPRESSIONS The combination of the Rapala R-Type

reel and the Maxwell rod is a good one. It is well balanced, and although the reel feels a little heavy compared to some out there, it is spot on for the rod. Initial impressions of the rod where that it is quite soft or very tippy, whichever way you want to say it. I did have concerns that casting a 3/8oz or 1/2oz jighead and plastic may be a challenge, and that the initial power required to set the hook on a larger flathead may not be there. Loading the rod correctly (not the wiggle test) alleviated this concern. As tippy as the rod may be, there is plenty of power from two thirds of the way down the blank to deal with the above lures and to drive that hook home. The VMC Coastal X jigheads are also a little different. Their medium heavy wire covers the best of both worlds – fine enough for quick hook penetration with the strength to give you peace of mind if you need to dictate terms while fighting a fish. I would have loved for the 3/8oz to come in a 4/0 hook (like the 1/2oz) not just 2/0 and 3/0. It just has that hook point a little further back when you are fishing 4” and 5” plastics. I did love the concept of a second eyelet under the head. You can run a blade or add a treble or stinger hook, something that shifts the odds just a little

STORM 360GT COASTAL PLASTICS Type

VMC Coastal X jigheads have a second eyelet so you can add a blade, treble or stinger hook. The author has chosen to add a stinger to the tail of this 4” Storm Coastal Shrimp.

SEPTEMBER 2019

Coastal Shrimp Coastal Mangrove Minnow Coastal Manta Tail Coastal Largo Shad Coastal Trick Tail Minnow

Size

Colours

Plastics per packet

3” and 4” 3” and 4” 4” and 5” 3” and 4” 5”

8 8 8 8 8

7 7 7 7 7

PRODUCT GUIDE more in your favour. The 360GT Coastal plastics range has five styles, of which I selected four, and they are a good variation on traditional proven profiles. The Coastal Shrimp and the Manta Tail were my initial favourites. I also like the colour range, as I have always been a fan of contrast colouring, whether it’s layers or tail contrast. Each model has enough natural and ‘out there’ colours to meet most anglers’ needs. IN THE FIELD It has been an interesting three months testing the gear and plastics on my local flathead. Lower rainfall and longer than expected warm weather has my local haunts fishing a little differently from previous years. Smallish (3-3.5”) baitfish profiles have been the go. I expected the 3” Coastal Shrimp and Mangrove Minnow to be the standouts,

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too many fish that don’t like a feed of prawns. Also coming in 3” and 4” sizes, the larger size seems bigger than it is. I did use a stinger hook set-up with it on those occasions when the fish weren’t in full smash ’em mode. It has proven to be the downfall of plenty of flathead, and has its fair share of bycatch as well.

Flathead haven’t been the only fish to take a liking to the 3” Storm Coastal Shrimp. This nice little snapper smashed one in the new penny colour.

The Rapala Maxwell rod fully loaded during a cast. and I was half right. The Mangrove Minnow paddle tail comes in two sizes (3” and 4”) and is quite a slender profile. What was unexpected was how hard the tail thumps. The feedback through the rod in amazing considering the profile of the plastic. This has translated into some good fish being caught, but not as many as I expected it to. The season has been about finesse, and maybe the Mangrove Minnow was a bit full-on for some of the fish. The Coastal Shrimp, however, has exceeded my expectations. The profile suits any style of retrieve, and I don’t know

The Coastal Manta Tail and Trick Tail Minnow are a jerkshad configuration with different tail set-ups. Flathead love this style of plastic, and this proved to be the case with both lures. The Trick Tail Minnow is a 5” plastic where the Manta Tail is available in either 4” or 5” sizing. Flathead are not afraid of a large plastic, and the Trick Tail Minnow has caught its fair share of fish, but the Manta Tail has been winner between these two plastics. Like the Coastal Shrimp, the Manta Tail has accounted for some fun bycatch as well. The Rapala combo has been ideal for targeting flathead. The reel has a smooth drag and the rod is easily powerful enough. The combination of the Sufix 832 braid and Super 21 leader with the outfit is next level. The feedback through the rod from the line is second to nothing I have tested. You feel everything that is happening at the end of line, which is exactly what you want when you’re fishing plastics. The

No wonder the author is a fan of the New Penny 3” Coastal Shrimp!

Although all the Storm plastics tested caught fish, the author’s favourites were the 3” Coastal Shrimp and this plastic, the 4” Coastal Manta Tail.

This mulloway was a welcome by-catch. It was caught on a 4” Storm 360GT Coastal Manta Tail in the kickin chicken colour.

marketing for the Superline in particular is all about abrasion resistance, and I can’t fault it. More importantly for me, they are great to tie knots with. You can deal with your line being rubbed through, but not your knots giving way. FINAL THOUGHTS As an overall package, Rapala Australia has done a great job, and anybody who likes chasing a flathead or two should check out these products. The standouts for me were the Storm 360GT Coastal Shrimp and the Coastal Manta Tail. The Sufix 832 Superline is amazing too. Although I did like the coastal camo colour that I tested, I would probably steer towards the neon lime colour, as my aging eyes need all the help they can get. You can check out these products in your local tackle store, on their website at www.rapala.com.au or like Rapala on Facebook to get all the updates on their new products. – Peter Jung

The author didn’t expect to catch this on a 360GT Coastal Shrimp.

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A perfect combination of touch, power and looks It would be the understatement of the millennium to say that product developer/fishing nerd Tommy Slater and the team at Daiwa Australia have been busy in 2019.

some time working out exactly which rods I’d get the most use out of. I initially asked for one of each model (16 total rods), and once the laughter on the other end of the phone stopped we settled on one

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setting means little to nothing once you’ve actually strapped a reel to it, chosen a lure and set off to put a REAL bend in it. As crazy as my old mate Jimmy Reid from ABT can be, he’s got nothing on a wild bass who’s decided your Mazzy Pop looked good for afternoon tea and is heading back to the gnarly snag he calls home. In the three months or so I’ve been fishing the TD Zeros I’ve been most impressed by how well they’ve thrown lures of all different shapes and sizes. Using everything from Bent Minnows and iWavers through to

Throwing jigs into tight cover was easy with the TD Zero baitcaster.

NTENT CO A

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CA N T H E Q R

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A wild fish that was extracted from a nasty snag thanks to the abundant low end power.

various bass jigs, crankbaits and vibes, they’ve handled everything asked of them with ease. And when I put those lures in the right spots and actually hooked a fish or tiger squid, the fun really began. Ask any angler or experienced tackle store employee, and they’ll say that previous Daiwa rod ranges had too many versions of the same rods. The livery, cosmetics and price points would all change, but most of the lengths, weights and actions were very similar. This has really started to change in the last 12 to 18 months, and the TD Zeros are a perfect example of that change. The two models I’ve fished with so far (I’m still holding out hope the other 14 models will show up any day now) both have actions that are different from older Daiwa models I’ve got in the rack. If you were to just read the numbers though, you’d assume they’d be very similar to fish with. The spin rod has a light action and a fast taper, making it perfect for light lure work, so I’ve primarily used it for casting surface lures across flats for bream and whiting. The extra rod length means I can cast a long way without a lot of effort and once connected, the fast taper surrenders the tip of the rod without giving away power. This means you are less

FOR EXTR

spin, and one BC option. You can’t knock a bloke for trying right? In the end I settled on the 6102MLB for the baitcaster and the 732LS in the spin, with the bulk of my fishing being done in skinny freshwater and my local estuaries targeting bass, bream, squid, jacks and so on. FIRST IMPRESSIONS Unboxing is always fun, and holding both of these rods in the hand was no exception. Yes, they’re very pretty and everything is styled perfectly from the hook keeper to the ergonomic Daiwa reel seat and EVA grips, but the first thing you notice is just how light they are in the hand. As you all know, the natural thing to do with a new rod is to put a bend in it, and so every person who walked through our office did exactly that and everyone remarked how nice the new tapers were and how much power you could get out of a light set-up. ON-WATER PERFORMANCE Of course, how a rod performs in an office

Constant releases of new ranges of line, accessories, reels and rods has created plenty of work for them, and have given us mere anglers plenty to drool about as new press releases were rolled out and videos of them in action dropped on YouTube. One launch that really took my fancy was the re-vamped TD Zero range. The Zero name has been stickered on Daiwa rods for a long time now, but the 2019 version is the boldest and most ambitious version ever, with a range of spin and baitcast options to suit just about any light tackle angler in the country. Striking colours, unique handle designs, a balanced combination of Fuji stainless steel, titanium and SiC anti-tangle guides and the inclusion of a rod sock make the 2019 model an instant and impressive upgrade from previous offerings. When I was asked if I’d be keen to put them to the test for Fishing Monthly readers I said YES! very quickly. Then I had to spend

Close quarters bassin’ means you better have quality gear on your side.

likely to pull small hooks out of lips, but you can maintain control during the fight. It was matched with an older model 2506 Luvias and felt very well balanced in the hand. The baitcaster has now accompanied me on many boat and kayak trips on dams and skinny bass water, and has been tasked with fishing everything from Soft Shells and Shinmushis in the timber at dawn to spoons, jigs and vibes on schooled fish while the sun blazed above. I paired it with one of the new Tatula 150H reels and it’s been a dream to fish with. BANG FOR YOUR BUCK The RRP on the TD Zero range is $299, which is about the middle of the road in today’s fishing retail market. There are plenty of rods that sit either side of this price point, but there aren’t too many that offer as many options in the range and come packed from tip to butt with so many premium features. The 16 models cover everything from ultra light finesse fishing through to heavy work you’d expect to encounter in far north QLD or the Territory, and if all the models are as well built and thought out as the two I’ve been playing with, they’ll handle it easily. PICK ONE UP As I’ve mentioned, the rods do have particular actions that may be a little different from Daiwa rods you’ve used in the past, so I’d highly recommend getting into your local tackle store and putting a bend in one. A red hot looking rod with a free Daiwa rod sock for under 300 bucks is well worth it. – Rupe Gaden

Be prepared for anything ILLAWARRA

Greg Clarke clarkey1@westnet.com.au

September can be a tough and unpredictable month. At this time of the year, warm sunny days can give way to strong westerly winds, and the next thing you know the temperature has plummeted 10°C and you’re freezing. For this reason you should make sure you’re prepared for everything mother nature can throw at you, because she probably will. The ocean has the same sort of feel to it, with warm top layers of water merging with cooler currents deeper down. The fishing is much the same – hot and cold depending on what species you prefer to chase. Most fish rely on certain water temperatures, and if it’s not right they’ll disappear. You can spend a lot of time searching for a feed at this transition period of the year. Towards the middle of this month we should see the lake and Minnamurra start to pick up after the lean, cold winter period. Although not regarded as a good month for prawning, if conditions are right and we get a good run of sunny days to warm the shallows, enough prawns can move on the dark to kick-start the fish out of their winter hibernation. A few flathead should start to show this month, along with the bream that re-emerge from the creeks and backwaters of the lake. In past years the early fish have tended to be larger than

odd early flathead and some stud bream. Pilchards on ganged hooks have been getting the best results, but fillets of yellowtail and slimy mackerel are taking their share of the fish. Although most beaches have been producing, the better beaches have been Windang, Warilla and Coniston. Late winter and early spring is usually the domain of the larger mulloway but you have

Barracouta will be around to snip off hooks and lures. to work for them, with plenty of cold evenings on the top of the tide. You should score a few smaller fish up to about 8kg as by-catch, particularly on the northern beaches. Off the rocks the fishing is improving every day as the weather warms and the afternoons start to drag out a little longer. Salmon are again predominant off most of the spots that have a bit of deeper water close by, with lures and pilchards both scoring fish. Try the Port Kembla break walls, Honeycomb, all the deeper southern ledges around Kiama and up at Coalcliff and in the Nation Park at Wattamolla. In the washes there are plenty of big drummer to over 3kg being caught, and

Striped tuna make great cubes for bigger tuna, and sensational snapper bait. average, and hopefully this will be the case this year. The main channel and around the bridges of both the lake and Minnamurra are the best places to start looking. While the fishing probably won’t be red hot, there should be enough around to keep ardent anglers amused. The best baits would be live prawns if you can get hold of some, or squirt and blood worms for an early whiting. Blackfish like them too. Small plastics in prawn styles should start to work on the flathead now. ROCK AND BEACH Things are starting to happen along the beaches too, with salmon feeding on most beaches along the coast. Mixed in with them are a few quality tailor and even the

Bombo often produce solid mac tuna, and (if everything aligns) the odd yellowfin tuna at this time of year on live baits. It used to be the place to start, and YFTs were caught 20 years ago so the odd stray may still pass by even today if the water is right. Then there are the bigger yellowtail kings that start to show along the stones from early spring. Whole live squid are top bait at this time of the

given the right conditions they should remain around for a few more weeks. Crabs, cunje and royal red prawns have been taking the majority of fish, with the really big ones being caught during the hours of darkness. A few bream have been hanging around in the washes too, picking up the drummer baits. Their size is up on average, with some fish regularly going over the 1kg mark. Bass Point and the rocks to the south have seen a few nice catches taken in recent weeks. Speaking of the southern rock platforms, it’s time to start breaking out the land-based gear for an early start to the season. Spots like Marsdens, Kiama Blowhole Point and

year if you can get them. A few just legal rats are always in the mix too, and they are much easier to get out of the water than the big fish. Groper are another fish that can be found around these deeper ledges. They take exception to someone trying to out-muscle them, and they usually win the tug of war on the stones. Fishing the rocks is hard enough without the fish fighting dirty, adding to the level of difficulty. A few red crabs and a calm sea will usually produce a couple of runs from the big blues in the southern locations. OFFSHORE Offshore things are improving as well, with a few schools of striped tuna keeping sportfishers on their toes as they slice up the surface in pursuit of tiny baitfish. The action seems to be spread all along the coast, so keep an eye out for birds working the surface to find a patch of fish to play with. Small chrome lures cast into the feeding schools should get the action started, while small flies or Christmas trees trolled around the edges of the schools will get results as well. As always, when the stripeys show up it isn’t long before the small makos arrive to aggravate and annoy the snapper fishers. These fearless little sharks will tackle just about anything, including 6m boats. They are great fun on light tackle and really put on a show with their spectacular cartwheeling leaps and sizzling runs, and to top it off they aren’t bad tucker. Other close inshore pelagic action at the moment includes bonito and salmon, and spring just wouldn’t be spring if there weren’t a few barracouta around to bite off everything they come in contact with. The bonito seem to be concentrated over the close-in shallow reefs, often mixing with the schools of stripeys,

while the salmon are popping up along the back of beaches and as usual around the islands and Bass Point. They are forming large schools and really making life hard for the seemingly endless amounts of tiny baitfish that are around at the moment. Further offshore, now is the time that the gamefish snap out of their winter hibernation, as the yellowfin tuna and albacore start to make their presence felt around the continental shelf. Kiama canyons and the Stanwell Park canyons are both worth a try, but it’s a bit hit-and-miss these days, with fish there one day and gone the next. Both trolling and berleying with pilchards will get results, and usually the fish will be schoolies, up to 35kg, although there have been some larger fish spotted smashing sauries on the surface. There were some nice fish to 70kg taken during July and August but they were not overly abundant, and you virtually had to get your passport stamped they were so far out, with some boats racking up to 200km+ in a day. There are also a few striped tuna out wide and, just as the makos show up in close following the tuna, the sharks also show up out wide, only they are a whole lot bigger. Makos to 200kg+ and blues to 150kg are not out of the question at this time of the year, and both command the utmost respect and are not to be treated lightly. Only experienced crews should take on these larger fish, as they are unpredictable and very powerful. Makos have long been tagged with the label ‘blue dynamite’, and deservedly so, but the more sedate blue shark is often treated with less respect. Blues may not be as dynamic as makos in the power stakes, nor do they leap into the air, but they are extremely elastic and can twist around far enough to bite their own tail. You have to be very careful when working in close quarters with these creatures. If you treat a shark without respect, you do so at your peril. A few striped marlin have been seen in close proximity to the schools of striped tuna in the deeper water. Although it’s often a long time between strikes from marlin at this time of year, it’s always worthwhile putting out a larger lure when trolling for albacore or ‘fin. Sometimes a billy pops up following one of these smaller lures, and while they are often landed on small skirts you stand a better chance on bigger fish when you’re using larger hooks and traces. Bigger tuna will often nail the largest lure in the pattern, so that is another reason to run an extra lure slightly larger than the others at this

Salmon will be about this month, with light line and small lures working best. time of year. Back in closer there are still plenty of trevally over most of the shallow reef systems. The larger fish that are about seem to be travelling under the schools of salmon and tuna working the surface, and they can be taken by jigging small lures and plastics under and around these schools. A little berley can attract the hordes of smaller fish that gather around the islands and Bass Point at this time of year. Pig and Gap islands are good spots to start looking. A bit of berley is the way to go if you want to attract a few reds too, as the cuttlefish season has now finished and the fish have spread themselves a bit further afield. A few nice snapper are still coming in, along with enough pan-sized reds to keep most anglers happy. Cuttlefish is still a top bait as the snapper still have a taste for it and it’s harder to come by, so an easy feed of free floating cuttlefish pieces is quickly devoured. Plastics drifted over the deeper reefs in 40-60m of water are picking up the better fish. For the bottom bouncers things are starting to liven

up, but the fish seem to be in patches. Even the sweep are a bit hit-and-miss at the moment. To make up for this the mowies are on the bite just about everywhere along the edges of the reefs and over the gravel patches. Even the snapper fishers have been picking them up in the berley trails. Flathead have been unpredictable, with catches of mostly smallish fish. The next month or so should see them back on the bite over most of the sand, and gaining a bit of size. If all else fails there are still a few big leatherjackets over the reefs along with some quality pigfish, so it shouldn’t be a lost cause. Pike will be a bit of a problem this month as they always are during early spring; they gather together and it’s impossible to catch anything else if you find yourself among a patch of smelly pike. The best thing to do is find another spot to fish. September is a top month for calamari so make sure you have that jig in the tackle box. It would be a strange day indeed if a squid or two didn’t find your bait.

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Yellowfin tuna fever takes over bluefin run BATEMANS BAY

Anthony Stokman

Winter has blown past us like a strong southerly. We are now in September and what do fishos do in September? Pretty much

September can be a good month for tuna and it would be nice to still have some good days on yellowfin and bluefin. Albacore have been a good consolation prize and there have been plenty of them around. These smaller tuna can run solid

deep dropping and sword fishing. Plus it’s all ring guides and zero rollers or roller tips, as we have seen a lot of roller guides breaking up and causing issues. Go plain ring guides and less goes wrong and there’s less maintenance.

Jonathan Poyner found some nice kings using light to medium gear at the end of winter. the same as in August! Many will still chase tuna, deep drop, target kings, fish for inshore snapper, spin for salmon, bait fish for drummer and work the estuary. TUNA Chasing tuna is probably my favourite thing to do in winter, and what a surprise we had late July and into August when big schools of yellowfin tuna pushed down off JB, Ulladulla and Batemans Bay! Our attention quickly went from the bluefin run to yellowfin fever! These exciting fish were found darting and jumping around chasing sauries. Running deep diving lures and casting stickbaits had a lot of success on these finicky, shy fish. The Rapala 40 and the Nomad DTX Minnows can be trolled fast and deep and were proven fish killers during the run. There are a lot of stickbaits and poppers on the market you can cast, with two of the best being Yakamito stickbaits and Saku Stick Dogs.

through September and well into spring, as can school yellowfin. Purple and black 6-7” inch jethead skirts are most peoples’ favourites when trolling for albacore and school yellowfin. The Star Lure range is a very good cheap option and we sell loads of Black Magic Jetsetters. It’s been a relatively consistent year on tuna, so let’s hope it continues. DEEP DROPPING Deep dropping at this time of the year is also a great option. I have been selling loads of the Shogun deep drop rigs, which are a long line style of system where you can take off the hook with a shark clip and take the fish off and then bait the hook and attach it again. They come with a hook suitable for smaller perch and larger trevalla that also comes with a glow squid. It is sensibly put together. What has also been popular is the well-priced Shimano Tag-Em Sword rod, which covers both

Then you have the more classy and expensive options, such as the Millerods SwordFight, for those anglers looking for a top-of-the line rod.

KINGFISH Montague Island has been the place for winter kings, and they are great fun when you can pull up and cast smallish stickbaits and poppers at them on light to medium gear, as 5-10kg freight trains take your lure and run for it. Fishing doesn’t get much more fun than that! SNAPPER Snapper inshore and out in the depths are always good fun to chase at this time of the year. From plastics in 5-10m of water to micro jigs in 60-100m of water, there ares plenty of options for snapper. SALMON Spinning for salmon while walking along our beautiful South Coast beaches with not a soul in sight at this time of the year is as close to meditation as a fisho can get, until you hook up and you have a hard pulling, leaping missile going off behind the breakers. This is still one of the most fun things to do, and metals don’t cost much, but you should spend a little sometimes and invest into something that casts a mile and swims like a fish to make your spinning sessions

Damo and ‘Kritdawg’ with their first yellowfin tuna. that bit more productive and enjoyable. DRUMMER If you’re chasing fish for the table over winter, go for drummer! They have been

Jake Cooper christened his new Samaki rod with this nice red.

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consistent lately, and we have many spots to fish for them. Get out the stale bread for berley and grab some cooked prawns, or cut out some cunjevoi and your ready to go. A snazzy hook for drummer would be the Owner Flyliner Live Bait in the size 1 and 1/0. ESTUARY The estuary is another place that is full of peace and quiet throughout winter, but the fishing can also be quiet too. If you try hard enough there are still some estuary perch and flatties looking for an easy feed. You can find bream out the front and there has been some good numbers of flounder and trevally getting around as well. Enjoy your September, and stay safe. • For more up-to-theminute information on what’s biting where, drop into Compleat Angler Batemans Bay and have a chat to Anthony or one of the other friendly staff. They’re located at 65A Orient St, Batemans Bay (02 4472 2559).

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Squid your way in September – no boat needed NOWRA

Johnny Nolan straydog1974@gmail.com

There’s good news this month for those who love a good feed of those

much as good as it gets, and with good numbers around there are also some really good size specimens amongst them. Some of you may think you need a boat to squid in Jervis Bay, but that’s not

there are still a few good safe locations where you can catch a feed from the shore if you don’t own a boat. Basically, any of your rocky points with a bit of weed with broken reef and sand mixed in is worth a go. Even squidding off some of the beaches can produce results. Some of the more popular and easily accessible spots are places like Murrays Breakwall and adjoining rocky shores, Hole in the Wall, Green Patch, Hyams Beach Rocks, Plantation Point, Vinny Rock boat ramp, Moona Creek Rocks, and Callahla Wharf at night on the high

squid recipe. I use a mix of plain gluten free flour, cayenne pepper, chilli salt and regular salt and pepper, all put into a freezer bag. I then put the squid pieces in and shake, giving them a light dusting before shallow frying them in vegetable oil for no longer than about 90 seconds. When it’s cooked, I then tell everyone it will be ready in about 5 minutes giving me a chance to eat a few sneaky ones first! So let’s have a quick look at what else is bitting around our area before I sign off for another month, although I know I’m happy with a feed of squid!

The author with a decent size squid caught landbased from an easily accessible rock ledge in JB. alien like freaky looking cephalopods! Yes, the squidding in Jervis Bay at the moment is pretty

the case. Although a lot of the more productive squid grounds are better accessed by the boat or kayak fisho,

You can have some fun on the light jigging gear with some Kiama kingfish while it’s still cool.

Mark Corbin with a nice winter flatty from his local haunt taken on a hardbody lure.

This is why anglers go squidding: fresh salt ’n’ pepper squid cooked to perfection. tide. These are just a few spots if you wanted to catch yourself a feed with not too much effort. As far as gear and jigs go, a rod of about 8-9ft long for most locations is ample, as sometimes that little extra reach is handy for navigating the squid and your jig around the rocks and weed. As far as jigs go, I tend to use 3.0-3.5 size jigs, mainly for casting distance, and my colour choice at the moment is either pink or a variation of pink. I have a handful of cheapies for nasty locations, and then some better quality ones that do seem to catch more on a hard day used in spots where I’m less likely to loose my $20 jig. Tide wise I prefer a high tide falling to low, which gives better access to a few of the close to water level locations. Remember, rocks around the sea are slippery, so appropriate footwear is a must! After you clean your catch, my favourite way of cooking them is still a traditional salt ’n’ pepper

WHAT’S BITING In the smaller creeks and river systems there have been some big winter bream, some nice size fat winter flatties and of course those estuary perch haven’t

gone anywhere, with some plus 40cm specimens being caught on both blades and softies. The water is cold, so remember if you’re having no success with the lures, just slow things down a little, as the fish aren’t quite as active as they would be in summer. Around the rocks those rotten westerlies

that came that we didn’t want have cleared and the sea has flattened, making access good, but fish a little spooky, although I have heard of a couple of reasonable kingfish to the north and some good drummer and groper to the south of Jervis Bay. Catch you all again next month!

NSWFM reader Chris DiMarchi enjoyed a great day on the water aboard Sea Fever on a holiday to the Whitsundays. SEPTEMBER 2019

Strike lucky in spring NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson

Spring is finally here but in saying that, have we had a winter at all along the Far South Coast? The weather over the last month has been awesome with cold nights, clear days and calm seas most days. It’s a great recipe to go fishing and a lot of people have been doing just that and reaping the rewards. The water is still cold, especially in estuaries, with closed off systems like

by any standard but there’s plenty there to be caught. The fish seem to be holding in the deeper pockets, which aren’t that deep (around 4-5m). Concentrate your efforts here, straight off the rocky points that litter the system. A mixture of small black blades and darker grub style soft plastics fished very slow and hard on the bottom will get you the desired results. You can expect the odd bream and blackfish too if you’re using blades, which is a foolproof method in cold, still water. The same can be said

coming from the same areas. I know that sounds weird with the cold water, but the whiting that are there are big. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean they won’t feed, and you will be surprised what you can achieve. Using the same method of fishing slow with blades is the go, but small prawn imitations will also work and only get more effective as we head further into September. Wagonga Inlet has been slow by its standards, but if you persist in the main basin around the whitebait schools you will score a

Even though the Tuross River is a chilly 12°C, there’s still some nice bream and estuary perch being caught around structure, like timber and rock walls.

There have been a few SBT about, like this 40kg fish. However, travelling long distances has been the only way to get results, and even then there’s no guarantees. Corunna Lake, Mummaga Lake and the upper reaches of the Tuross River all around 10-12°C, but there’s still some quality fish being caught. Corunna Lake has been good for mid-sized flathead, with the majority of fish around that 36-44cm mark. They’re not big fish

for the upper reaches of Tuross. It’s been a while since we have had any rain and the deeper depressions, a kilometre or so each side of the highway bridge, have seen a lot of the action. You can expect bream and flathead with some thumping big whiting

few trevally, tailor and the odd flathead and snapper. There have been a few salmon about also but they have been hard to entice at times, which is surprising. Anglers landing them have fished the smallest of metal shiners, 10g and under. Off the rocks, the usual

Benjamin Austin caught this solid 54cm bass on a soft shell cicada from the mid north coast, pulling it out from the timber in his kayak.

SEPTEMBER 2019

culprits like salmon and tailor have been okay but you do have to work for them. Some days it’s on and others it’s not, and it’s very dependent on swell conditions and how much whitewater there is. If there’s some swell it’s good, but if not the fishing’s not worth it. Effective methods include casting chromes in the 25-40g range and pilchards on ganged hooks fished deeper. If the bread and butter species are for you, you will be happy. Good quality blackfish and a few black drummer have come from Dalmeny Headland, and the northern ledge at the golf course rocks in town has been okay too. Fresh cabbage and bread has worked well, although berley will help your chances. Offshore has been a lottery, especially with the game crews. It certainly isn’t like it was a few weeks back when big fish were being caught. There have been a few reports of sporadic captures but nothing with any guts to it. If you have travelled wide enough, you might be in luck. The usual trip has consisted of trolling for endless hours, having a 3-4 way hook up on school fish up to 40kg, landing a couple and then that’s it. You just have to be lucky enough to troll over a patch and the patches are hard to find at the moment. You never know though, we might get a late run of them. Anglers are still getting fish down past the Victorian border and that’s not that far away, so one can only hope. Closer to shore, the kings at Montague Island are there at times and have been pretty good some days. If there is some current running you have a great chance, with a few local crews getting amongst them

when the conditions suit. Fish have been responding well to jigs and fresh squid fished on flasher rigs. If you can get live bait then bigger fish are a possibility, but getting bait has been a little tough of late. The majority of action has happened on the western side of the island, but they can turn up anywhere so be prepared to move around. Off the beaches, the bream action has started to heat up, with the rockier corners around the south end of Narooma Main Beach being quite good. A few anglers have caught decent bags, with beachworms and pipi the preferred baits to use. Surprisingly,

the dropping tide has been better, which isn’t usually the case. The fish are solid, with 700-800g the norm, and at that size and being very clean they are great table fish for those that like them. You can expect a few whiting over the coming weeks as they start to head back into the estuaries. If you’re after salmon, you should be smiling – these speedsters should be found on most beaches with a gutter. The better ones to try include Narooma Main, Tilba to the south of Dalmeny and Brou to the north. The latter has been a standout, with a bait/popper combination working a treat.

Releasing a 15kg mulloway to fight another day is a pretty cool feeling.

Slow start to September MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson

Over the past few weeks the weather has been awesome, with windless days and calm seas making the trip offshore more comfortable, especially if travelling wide in search of tuna. There have been a few SBT about, but an 80km trek each way is needed to get to where the fish are

plenty of them holding tight on the bottom, with most reefs holding fish. South Lennards Island and Haycock Point have been the top areas, with the shallows around Hunter also producing. Most methods are working but anglers casting an array of softies and micro jigs are doing well. You can cover the ground and shallower sections doing this and the reds can’t resist a wellpresented artificial.

have been good but tailor have been slow. I’m not sure why, but the sambos are quite thick on the northern beaches past Tura. North Tura has been great, with shiners and bait working. There are plenty of gutters along the beach, so just pick one and you should be in business. We should start to see a few more bream and whiting make their presence felt over coming weeks. I’d be looking at the Bar entrance

Tom Williams caught this solid black bream from an estuary just south of Merimbula. and even then they’re not guaranteed. Some boats have made the journey east and been rewarded, while others only a few miles away have gotten zip. This is usually the case late in the season. The fish are extremely patchy and you’ve just got to be lucky enough to drive over them. The last few caught were in the 60-70kg bracket, not huge but still decent, and all were caught on the troll. Interestingly, I’ve heard of a few mahimahi being caught around that 10kg bracket, proving quite common these days in the colder 16°C water. If you look back 20+ years even catching a mahimahi off Merimbula was a feat in itself, but now it happens regularly and in cold water, so go figure! If the gamefish are slow, deep dropping for blue-eye trevalla, ling, ocean perch and gemfish is certainly worth a look. With the current not strong, you will get to the bottom no problems but having an electric reel is certainly the go. Try doing it without one and you will be wounded after a few drops. Closer to shore, snapper have been going gangbusters. They haven’t been big fish but there are

There are reports of big kings on the surface at times but getting one to bite is another story. I’d have a casting rod with a big popper or plastic at the ready, just in case they come into casting range when chasing snapper. You never know when one might make a mistake. The water is cold in the estuaries, around 10°C. The top lake in Merimbula has fished okay despite this, with the colder water species like tailor and trevally in good numbers. The place is loaded with whitebait, so fish around these bait schools and you will soon be in business. Flathead are dopey at the minute so your best chance at a few is to fish blades slow on the bottom. You may also catch a bream or two with this method. Further downstream on the eastern side of the bridge, trevally are about in good numbers around the boat moorings in the channel. Casting slimmer style softies across the current will see hours of fun on this underrated battler. They can get big down here, with 47-48cm fish on the cards, and at that size with current they certainly know how to pull. Off the beaches, salmon

to Merimbula Lake after dark, on the last hour or so of the flooding tide. These two species plus blackfish should be entering the estuary systems now, so try using beach worms or pipis as bait and don’t be surprised if the odd mulloway turns up. They will travel with blackfish schools and every September this lower section is loaded with blackfish. Off the rocks, it’s been slower with the calmer seas, but when there has been swell salmon have been about. The rocks down at Haycock and Tura Head have been good, with metal shiners the go-to method. I haven’t heard any reports of kingfish but there’s been schools seen off Long Point on the surface. Hopefully they come close enough to shore for anglers to get a few casts into them. In the last four years, there have been some big kings caught off the wharf in September, so let’s hope for the same this year. Over at Short Point, some decent blackfish and drummer have been available. This area can be hard to fish but if you persist, you can score some nice fillets for the pan. Fish lightly-weighted cunjevoi pieces or cabbage for the best results. SEPTEMBER 2019

Dust off the gear, it’s now time to go fishing! BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

It’s always the way, you go through the winter blues having a fish when you can and wait for the weather

This is the time things start to move in the estuaries, with fresh stocks of fish moving in from the ocean, regenerating life back into our coastal lakes and rivers, which are now open to the ocean after being landlocked for so long. Some of the more common species

out the warmer water being heated by sun and the land. Lure fishing can be good, and so can bait fishing with live nippers over the flats. It’s also a good time to start looking for prawns, as it is shaping up to be one of the best prawn seasons in many years, and

anglers are having no trouble finding schools of salmon to keep themselves entertained. It doesn’t matter what you

Cunjevoi or cabbage weed will produce, with the later also accounting for its share of luderick.

the reefs you have sand or mud, and this means flathead, and plenty of them! Spring sees the return of the

The rocks adjacent to the boat ramp at the bridge at Bermagui is a popular luderick spot.

The colours of spring flathead are often spectacular. to improve. That feeling of warmth in the air as the seasons change is now the indication to dust off the gear and just go fishing, so what is on offer?

to return are flathead, bream, whiting and blackfish, where you will find that they will make their way up into the shallower margins further up the systems where they seek

you will have a multitude of lakes and estuaries to choose from when targeting them. There is also some movement about the beaches, and although not in full swing,

use, lure or bait, just find a decent gutter on any beach and it is likely to hold fish. Mixed in are some lovely bream, tailor a few mullet and for those wanting to brave the elements of a night, they may be rewarded with the odd mulloway or gummy shark. Still, there is some action from the stones, as those salmon schools are not only patrolling the beaches, and lures are best where you may also encounter a bonito or a stray king that has been feasting on the many pilchard schools along the coast. Drummer are the number one focus on the rocks, with plenty to be found.

Out on the briny, reef and bottom fishing is excellent, with plenty to be found. In our area snapper and morwong are the mainstay around the reefs and there is plenty to be had. South of Bermagui is best, with a multitude of reef complexes to choose from, while up north you have Montague Island, which not only hosts reef fish but also has its share of pelagics! Kingfish, bonito and small tuna will keep anglers entertained. The kings are responding well to jigs, while the bonnies are taking a liking to trolled lures. Everywhere in between

tiger flathead, where there is plenty to be found, and the deeper you go the bigger they get. Keeping that deep water in mind, try the Twelve Mile Reef, not only for the big flatties – there is a strong likelihood of some nice Tassie trumpeter. If gamefishing is your thing, it is arguably not the best time of year, but if you’re willing to put in the effort it is possible you might come up trumps on a few good fish, most of which are likely to be albacore, the odd blue, yellowfin, stripies or if you can find some decent weather and set a good berley trail, makos.

Winter’s touch lingers Slippery slope for eel pro FISHING NEWS

MALLACOOTA/EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The past month has seen typical winter temperatures for the area with cold, clear days the norm and very little rain. July and August are the coldest months of the year, so things should start to warm up this month. The water temperature at Mallacoota is a chilly 14.5°C, with the temperature off the coast at Eden a couple of degrees warmer at around 16°C. We really need rain, as the siltation in the front of the Mallacoota Inlet is unprecedented. The distance from the beach to the first deep water inside the lake is growing each year and unless this system opens without human interference, the first deep water will be out near the John Bull marker. This time of year sees very few visitors in the area as people head further north for the warm weather. Fishing wise, there is enough action to keep locals 60

SEPTEMBER 2019

and keener travelling fishos happy. There is very little fishing available offshore in Mallacoota this month, with cold water temperatures virtually shutting down the scene. Further to the north at Eden the offshore fishing has slowed down, but with the warmer temperatures there fish have still been caught. Pinkie snapper, morwong and leatherjackets have been around the inshore reefs, with some tiger and sand flathead still being caught from the flathead grounds. The priority for offshore anglers this month is boat, trailer and fishing gear maintenance in preparation for the upcoming season. Winter saw salmon turn up on all the local beaches in numbers, with fish up to 2kg not uncommon, as they love the colder water. Once the water starts warming, a variety of species will again be caught from the local beaches. The best option for fishing has been the lakes and estuaries. Dusky flathead can still be caught despite the colder water, with fish been caught in the Top and Bottom lakes. The key to finding fish when

lure angling is to work the lure slowly and be patient, as if you are in the right area the fish will come on the bite and reward your persistence. Silver trevally are in all estuaries yearround but there tends to be bigger sizes and numbers of fish this month. You can also expect to encounter bigger tailor. Luderick (blackfish) have been caught from the front section of the lake with the traditional method: weed fished under a float. This time of year is all about bream fishing. Black bream will be feeding up prior to spawning and the action will be in the top section of the local rivers and creeks, as the fish are heading upstream. Even though the fish are about in numbers, catching them can be tricky. Finding the right lure, light leader etc. is all part of working out how to catch a few fish. Yellowfin bream are at the opposite end of the system, out near the entrance area or in the Bottom Lake. With the warming water bringing more fish from the ocean into the estuaries, there is plenty to look forward to as spring progresses.

A commercial fisher on the mid north coast has had almost 200kg of eels seized by Fisheries Officers, after failing to report his catch immediately. “NSW DPI Fisheries Officers apprehended the commercial fisher near the Macleay River, Kempsey,” said NSWDPI Acting Director, Fisheries Compliance, Brett Andrew. “He failed to report his catch of 170kg of saltwater eels that he had caught in

commercial eel traps that morning. Commercial fishers who take eels are required to weigh their catch and submit a post land quota deductions report within 50m of the boat ramp. “The 170kg of eels were seized by Fisheries officers and released back into the water alive.” The seized eels had an estimated value of $2500 on the wholesale market. The fisher also received a $200 penalty notice for failing to

submit a real time report as required. The maximum penalty for a commercial fisher that does not real time report is $22,000 and/or three months imprisonment. A subsequent offence carries a maximum penalty of $44,000 and/or six months imprisonment. Suspected illegal fishing can be reported on 1800 043 536 or at www. dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/ compliance. – NSWDPI

NSWDPI homes in on the alleged illegal eel fishers. Image courtesy of NSWDPI.

A beautiful time of year TATHRA

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Spring is always a beautiful time of the year, especially when you venture up an estuary system into the brackish and freshwater. The Bega River and Brogo Dam are well worth looking at, as many fish species are seeking warm

regular basis, however some of the locals have cottoned onto a method that is having some success, and that is ripping a small wriggler tail plastic across their nose. Don’t expect that every fish you cast to will have a go, but if you are willing to persist with many casts, one will eventually eat, and then you just have to hang on – you are in for a bumpy ride. Dusky flathead are also

Late September is school holidays, and it’s also a great time for kids to enjoy fishing. water not only for comfort but also for the many food sources available. Here you are likely to encounter Australian bass, estuary perch, black bream and some huge bully mullet. These mullet are not noted for taking a lure or bait on a

available, although they’re not as plentiful as other estuary predators. These flat fish are usually of a large size and well worth targeting. As with the bream, you will find the flatties all the way through the system and right down to the

entrance where there is plenty of other species like whiting, luderick, tailor and the odd mulloway starting to show. A lot of these species mentioned love to feed on prawns, with this season looking like one of the best in many years. They, like us humans, are anticipating good times ahead and are only just starting to warm to the occasion. There are also reasonable fish to be found along the coast, with the beaches and rocks producing their share of the action. Salmon are the most prolific species that you will encounter at present, both from the stones or the sand. Bait fishing with pilchards or fish strips will account for a lot of fish, while lures will produce for the more energetic anglers and are great fun. You may encounter some nice tailor, the odd bonito or kingfish from the rocks with bream, whiting and mullet to add to the bag from the beach. Those braving the conditions to fish of a night have been rewarded with tailor, the odd mulloway and some nice gummy or whaler sharks. Tathra Wharf is always a hive of activity, with a lot of those fish already mentioned being regular visitors. There

Bream will move between fresh and saltwater and often take on a darker appearance in the fresh. is also plenty of those small fish we all like to catch, with mackerel, yellowtail and trevally being top of the list. One of my favourites to catch from the wharf is garfish, and they are a lot of fun and also taste great. You will also find them in Kianinny Bay, where they launch the boats to access the ocean fishing. For those going out to sea, there is plenty to be found as far as table fare goes with some excellent reef and bottom fish around. Travelling north

to Arragunnui, the many reef systems are rich with fish, mostly snapper and morwong, but you will also find perch, nannygai and one of the best eating fish to come off the reef, pigfish. These beautifully marked pigfish with colours of red, pink, orange and yellow have a taste similar to lobster, and it’s a similar story with red rock cod, which are often overlooked for the table because of their appearance both fish will feature regularly in your captures. These reef

fish are south of Tathra too, with White Rocks being the best area down this way. For those who are a little more adventurous, out wide near the continental shelf in about 80m of water, the reefs will hold some solid Tassie trumpeter, plenty of those other already mentioned plus some very large tiger flathead. If you’re after tigers though, there’s also plenty of tigers closer to shore, while out from most beaches up and down the coast sand flathead are available too.

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www.wp.fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

2019 2019 Local Time

SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY (FORT DENISON) – LONG NEW SOUTH WALES LAT 33° 51’ S 151° 14’ E

LAT 33° 51’ S LONG 151° 14’ E Times and Heights of High and Low Waters Times and Heights of High and Low Waters MARCH FEBRUARY JANUARY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER Time m Time m Time Time m Time m Time m

Time

1 1 0329 0936 TU

SU 1531 2150

2 2

0414 1025 WE MO 1627 2241

3 3 0500 1115 TH

TU 1725 2333

4 4

0545 1207 FR WE 1827

m 0541 0.08 1208 1.64 1759 0.22 2358 1.91 0633 0.14 1310 1.66 1857 0.26 1.77 0044 0.23 0720 1.65 1400 0.34 1947 1.59 0127 0.34 0803 1.63 1445 0.42 2032

Time m 0441 1.47 1.57 0.35 0.67 0.58 0318 1100 1.49 1.28 1.33 0926 WE 1652 0.42 0.53 MO 1523 2300 TU 0.50 2135 1.57 0536 1.57 1.63 0.38 0.58 0.52 0348 1208 1.51 1.30 1.30 1000 TH 1800 0.45 0.50 TU 1601 2355 WE 2210 1.50 0630 1.69 0.51 0.42 0.45 1.69 0419 1309 1.52 1.34 0.47 1036 FR 1902 WE 1644 0.48 TH 1.30 2248 1.41 0048 0.46 0.52 0.47 1.82 1.73 0452 0722 1.52 0.33 0.42 1115 SA 1403 0.52 1.39 TH 1730 1959 FR 1.31 2330 1.32 0141 0.40 0.52 0.53 1.93 1.76 0530 0814 1.50 0.22 0.39 1159 SU 1455 0.56 1.45 FR 1823 2052 SA 1.32

1 1 0341 0959 FR

16 16 17 17

6 6

0130 0725 SU FR 1403 2051

7 7 0243 0826 MO

SA 1509 2206

8 8

0400 0932 TU SU 1615 2311

9 9

0506 1036 WE MO 1714

1.58 2114 0.50 0245 1.26 0920 0.56 1600 1.54 2152 0.55 0323 1.16 0957 0.63 1635 1.52 2230 0.55 0400 1.13 1031 0.66 1710 1.52 2306 0.52 0437 1.17 1107 0.64 1745 1.55 2344

1615 2222

2 2

18 18

0424 1045 SA 1711 2315

3 3 0508 1134 SU

19 19

0207 1.41 20 5 5 0844 0.46 20 1523

0029 0632 SA TH 1302 1935

Time

1324 2025

1529 2233

1638 2333

0541 1111 FR 1739

10 10

11 11 0042 0639 FR

11 11 0139 0745 MO

WE 1217 1844

12 12 0117 0715 SA TH 1258 1920

13 13 0149 0749 SU FR 1335 1955

14 14 0219 0821 MO SA 1410 2028

15 15 0249 0853 TU SU 1446 2100

0.60 1.59 0024 0.43 0559 1.29 1220 0.55 1900 1.62 0107 0.39 0645 1.34 1300 0.50 1940 1.65 0156 0.36 0736 1.39 1345 0.46 2024 1.66 0247 0.34 0836 1.43 1439 0.43 2113 1.65 0344 0.34 0945 1.47 1542 0.42 2205 1.62

26 26 1.31

0210 1.51

0103 0710 SU 1258 1913

1339 1950

0.17 0.54 0211 27 0812 12 0.66 0045 12 0818 27 1.52 1.51 1.53 0650 SU 1416 TU FR 1241 0.50 1901 1.32 0.70 0130 1.44 0738 MO SA 1334 0.53 1952 1.34 0.73 0215 1.37 0824 TU SU 1427 0.54 2042 1.39 0.72 0258 1.31 0911 WE MO 1520 0.55 2131

0.30 2041 1.90 0308 0.11 0921 1.63 1518 0.21 2134 1.91 0410 0.09 1037 1.71 1628 0.17 2230 1.86 0511 0.13 1152 1.77 1740 0.17 2327 1.76 0608 1256 TH 1843

28 28 29 29

30 30 31

1.62 2131 0.47 0306 1.19 0936 0.65 1610 1.54 2205 0.53 0343 1.13 1010 0.72 1642 1.48 2239 0.55 0419 1.13 1044 0.73 1713 1.45 2314 0.53 0457 1.18 1118 0.70 1745 1.47 2349

18 18 SA 1230 1.35 1909 0.51 1.74 0111 0.37 0647 WE SU 1321 1.38 2012 0.50 1.74 0215 0.37 0749 TH MO 1424 1.39 2124 0.50 1.71 0330 0.38 0903 FR TU 1535 1.40 2233 0.51 1.67 0445 0.41 1022 SA WE 1648 1.41 2334 0.54 1.60 0547 0.44 1131 SU TH 1752

20 20 21 21 22 22

23 23

SA 1416 0.45 2026 1.50 0.61 0241 1.36 0850 WE SU 1453 0.53 2100 1.51 0.63 0310 1.25 0922 TH MO 1530 0.59 2135 1.54 0.61 0339 1.21 0954 FR TU 1607 0.61 2211 1.58 0.57 1.21

13 13

14 14 15 15

0.65 1.50 0029 0.45 0619 1.33 1230 0.58 1854 1.53 0111 0.41 0707 1.41 1313 0.51 1932 1.56 0159 0.38 0802 1.47 1402 0.46 2018 1.57 0253 0.36 0909 1.53 1505 0.42 2115 1.56 0355 0.36 1028 1.58 1621 0.39 2220 1.53 0500 0.38 1144 1.62 1741 0.38 2328 1.49

1.41 0.58 0027 1.52 0640 MO FR 1233 0.48 1848 1.42 0.63 0115 1.43 0728 TU SA 1330 0.53 1942 1.43 0.66 0200 1.34 0815 WE SU 1425 0.57 2032 1.45 0.67 0243 1.27 0900 TH MO 1517 0.60 2123 1.49 0.64 0326 1.23 0946 TU 1610 0.60 2214 1.57 0.56 0408 1.25 1032 WE 1702 0.57 2304

25 25 26 26 27 27 28 28 29

31 0450 1117

m 0537 0.52 1230 1.76 1827 0.37 2358

m Time m 0432 1.60 1.51 0.53 0.52 0.60 0454 1124 1.77 1.27 1.19 1125 SA 1730 0.37 0.63 SA 1805 2310 SU 0.69

0049 0618 SA 1251 1946

3 3 0146 0709 SU 1342 2046

0.33 2.01 0249 0.13 0809 MO 1.61 1.57 MO 1440 2128 0.48 2145 0315 0.28 1.22 2.04 0356 0941 0.63 0.10 0919 1614 TU 1.58 1.62 TU 1545 2216 0.51 2242 0408 0.26 1.18 2.01 0457 1030 0.67 0.13 1030 1659 WE 1.55 1.65 WE 1649 2305 0.49 2331 0501 0.28 1.19 1.91 0547 1120 0.68 0.20 1134 1744 TH 1.56 1.65 TH 1745 2354 0.44 0556 0.33 1.26 1.76 0015 1210 0.63 0.31 0630 1828 FR 1.61 FR 1228 1832 0.36 0043 1.63 1.37 0.42 0052 0652 0.54 1.58 0709 1300 SA 1.69 0.43 SA 1314 1912 1915 0134 1.59 0.27 0.51 0126 0753 1.50 1.41 0744 1353 SU 0.42 0.54 SU 1355 1958 1954 1.75 0229 1.55 0.21 0.59 0158 0900 1.63 1.27 0817 1452 MO 0.31 0.64 MO 1434 2048 1.77 2031 0329 1.51 0.18 0.64 0230 1013 1.74 1.18 0851 1603 TU 0.23 0.70 TU 1513 2149 1.75 2110 0434 1.50 0.19 0.64 0301 1127 1.83 1.16 0926 1720 WE 0.18 0.72 WE 1552 2256 1.68 2149

6 6 7 7

1.66 0.46 0051 1.19 0720 0.71 1400 1.56 1958 0.52 0135 1.16 0800 0.76 1435 1.47 2033 0.56 0215 1.17 0837 0.78 1507 1.42 2106 0.56 0250 1.22 0912 0.76 1538 1.41 2138 0.53 0326 1.30 0945 0.71 1608 1.42 2210

SU 1212 1859 0.65 1.60 0103 0.49 0634 MO MO 1304 1.32 1959 0.59 1.64 0207 0.44 0737 TU TU 1405 1.38 2103 0.54 1.68 0316 0.41 0849 WE WE 1513 1.43 2206 0.50 1.70 0424 0.39 1005 TH TH 1623 1.47 2303 0.47 1.70 0523 0.38 1116 FR FR 1729 1.50 2355 0.46 1.67 0616 0.39 1222 SA SA 1828 1.53

18 18 19 19

20 20 21 21

22 22

0401 0.49 23 8 8 1019 1.38 23 1638

9 9

10 10

11 11

12 12 13 13

0.24 1.87 0.18 1.58 0.32 1.87 0.22 1.47

0.42 1.83 TH 1755 0.29 2356 1.36

14 14 0336 1002 TH TH 1633 2232

15 15 0413 1042 FR FR 1717 2317

0.64 2243 1.45 0439 0.46 1054 1.47 1708 0.56 2317 1.46 0518 0.43 1130 1.55 1740 0.49 2354 1.47 0601 0.41 1208 1.62 1814 0.43 1.47 0034 0.41 0648 1.69 1251 0.39 1852 1.45 0120 0.42 0744 1.74 1343 0.35 1939 1.42 0215 0.45 0850 1.78 1447 0.34 2038 1.38 0319 0.48 1008 1.79 1609 0.35 2154 1.34

0.47 1.63 0044 0.41 0705 SU SU 1322 1.55 1923 0.49 1.57 0129 0.45 0753 MO MO 1417 1.56 2016 0.52 1.49 0213 0.50 0839 TU TU 1510 2108 1.56 0.56 0255 1.40 0925 WE WE 1600 0.56 2158 1.55 0.60 0338 1.31 1009 TH TH 1648 0.62 2247 1.54 0.62 0420 1.24 1053 FR FR 1736 0.67 2335 1.55 0.60 0503 1.22 1136 SA SA 1824 0.68

24 24 25 25

26 26

27 27 28 28

29 29 30 30

31 SU

Time

1 1 0024 0547 MO

16 16

0542 0633 1.55 1.29 1.26 0.54 0008 17 2 1230 1320 2 1916 0.58 0.62 17 1.26 0541 SU 1836

17 17

0536 0.50 9 24 9 1153 1.26 24 1818 0023 0630 SA 1209 1830

0516 0.48 10 25 10 1143 1.22 25 1821 0001 0558 TH TU 1131 1802

1849

5 5

8 8

24 24

1 1 0533 1203 FR

16 16

5 5 0111 0646 TU

7 7 0437 1001 TH

23 23

Time

4 4

0010 0554 MO 1227 1915

6 6 0322 0849 WE

22 22

Time m 0603 1.69 0.61 0.41 0.43 1.62 0410 1250 1.65 1.32 0.51 1029 SA 1848 WE 1646 0.39 FR 1.24 2249 1.43 0030 0.50 0.59 0.45 1.81 1.66 0442 0702 1.66 0.31 0.46 1105 SU 1346 0.41 1.41 TH 1729 1945 SA 1.28 2330 1.36 0128 0.41 0.56 0.50 1.93 1.70 0518 0757 1.64 0.20 0.41 1145 MO 1438 0.44 1.50 FR 1815 2038 SU 1.32

0222 0230 0.53 1.29 1.30 1.73 0016 19 4 0901 0849 4 1537 0.55 19 0.57 0.39 0559 TU 1527

0.52 0233 0.36 1.24 2.02 1.77 0021 0905 0.59 0.14 0.37 0615 MO 1545 1.49 1.49 SA 1249 2145 SU 1.32 1927 0.59 0.53 0326 0.32 1.17 2.07 1.77 0124 0956 0.64 0.10 0.37 0711 TU 1635 1.49 1.52 MO SU 1351 2236 1.32 2043 0.57 0.54 0419 0.32 1.15 2.05 1.75 0241 1047 0.65 0.12 0.38 0822 WE 1724 1.53 1.53 TU MO 1501 2328 1.32 2159 0.50 0.56 0514 0.34 1.19 1.98 1.72 0400 1138 0.61 0.17 0.41 0938 TH 1813 WE TU 1612 1.61 1.31 2302 0.39 0.59 0020 1.53 1.28 0.39 1.67 0506 0610 0.52 1.85 0.44 1046 FR 1229 1.72 0.26 WE 1715 1901 TH 2356 0.27 1.31 0114 1.52 1.40 0.47 0.62 0600 0708 0.41 1.68 1.60 1145 SA 1321 1.83 0.36 FR TH 1810 1950 0.47

21 21

1810

m 0020 0.20 0700 1.78 1346 0.21 1935 1.61 0108 0.31 0745 1.76 1428 0.29 2018 1.45 0151 0.43 0824 1.70 1503 0.38 2056

Local Time APRIL DECEMBER Time Time m

1218 1911

1.70 0.41 0114 1.37 0634 TU 1.74 MO 1302 0.40 2000 0017 0.54 1.26 1.81 0206 0644 0.63 0.30 0727 1325 WE 1.69 1.48 TU 1350 1930 0.42 2050 0116 0.43 1.24 1.90 0302 0739 0.67 0.22 0828 1415 TH 1.64 1.59 WE 1445 2020 0.42 2142 0212 0.34 1.27 1.95 0400 0831 0.67 0.17 0936 1501 FR 1.61 1.68 TH 1547 2108 0.40 2231 0304 0.27 1.35 1.95 0456 0922 0.63 0.17 1045 1545 SA 1.60 1.75 FR 1649 2154 0.36 2318 0357 0.25 1.46 1.88 0544 1012 0.56 0.22 1149 1629 SU 1.61 1.78 SA 1745 2240 0.32 0448 0.27 1.58 1.77 0000 1100 0.46 0.30 0628 1710 MO 1.61 1.78 SU 1244 2326 1836 0542 0.33 0.29 1.63 0039 1149 1.71 0.41 0706 1751 TU 0.36 MO 1331 1.60 1921 0011 1.74 0.29 0.42 0115 0635 1.81 1.47 0745 1239 WE 0.29 0.53 TU 1415 1831 2005 1.56 0058 1.68 0.32 0.51 0152 0732 1.88 1.33 0821 1330 TH 0.24 0.64 WE 1456 1914 1.50 2047 0147 1.60 0.36 0.59 0230 0834 1.91 1.23 0900 1428 FR 0.23 0.74 TH 1537 2003 1.44 2131 0244 1.53 0.43 0.64 0310 0941 1.91 1.17 0942 1536 SA 0.25 0.80 FR 1620 2105 1.37 2217 0348 1.49 0.50 0.65 0353 1048 1.86 1.18 1025 1652 SU 0.31 0.81 SA 1706 2219 1.31 2306 0456 1.48 0.57 0.63 0440 1149 1.79 1.23 1111 1758 MO 0.38 0.78 SU 1755 2329 2358 0556 1.51 1240 0.58 1847 1.30

2 2 3 3

4 4 5 5

6 6

7 7

m 0026 1.26 0645 0.64 1321 1.69 1928 0.45 0113 1.22 0728 0.70 1357 1.59 2003 0.51 0153 1.20 0806 0.75 1430 1.50 2036 0.55 0230 1.21 0842 0.78 1500 1.43 2107 0.56 0307 1.25 0916 0.79 1530 1.38 2140 0.55 0344 1.32 0952 0.76 1600 1.35 2213 0.53 0323 1.40 0930 0.70 1531 1.35 2148

m Time m 0524 1.78 0.72 0.53 0.33 1.55 0530 1159 1.85 1.58 0.53 1200 TU 1812 MO 1846 0.31 1.38

16 16

0.65 0005 0.47 1.33 1.83 1.59 0052 0619 0.57 0.28 0.48 0626 WE 1246 1.78 1.70 TU 1252 1900 1.45 1941 0.34 0.58 0100 0.38 1.34 1.84 1.63 0151 0712 0.60 0.27 0.45 0727 TH 1331 1.70 1.79 WE 1348 1945 1.52 2038 0.36 0.53 0154 0.32 1.37 1.80 1.64 0254 0802 0.62 0.29 0.43 0834 FR 1414 1.61 1.86 TH 1450 2030 1.58 2134 0.38 0245 0.30 0.48 1.43 1.72 1.64 0357 0851 0.62 0.35 0.42 0948 SA 1455 1.53 1.88 FR 1558 2114 1.64 2230 0.39 0.46 0335 0.32 1.52 1.62 1.62 0457 0940 0.58 0.44 0.43 1102 SU 1534 1.48 1.87 SA 1705 2157 1.68 2323 0.40 0426 0.37 0.45 1.62 1.50 1.58 0552 1029 0.51 0.53 0.46 1214 MO 1614 1.44 1.82 SU 1810 2240 1.71

17 17 18 18 19 19

20 20

21 21 22 22

0404 0.45 0516 0.51 1.52 0014 0.41 23 8 1009 1116 8 1605 1.49 23 1.72 0.50 0645 TU 1653

9 9

10 10 11 11

12 12 13 13

14 14 15 15

0.62 2226 1.36 0448 0.49 1052 1.58 1642 0.54 2307 1.37 0538 0.47 1141 1.67 1724 0.46 2355 1.37 0635 0.46 1237 1.75 1815 0.39 1.38 0050 0.46 0742 1.82 1345 0.33 1920 1.38 0158 0.46 0856 1.87 1503 0.29 2039 1.37 0312 0.48 1005 1.89 1618 0.28 2158 1.36 0422 0.50 1105 1.89 1719 0.28 2305 1.34

MO 1317 1.72 1910 0.48 1.45 0101 0.56 0735 WE TU 1414 1.71 2005 0.51 1.37 0148 0.62 0822 TH WE 1503 1.68 2056 0.54 1.30 0232 0.69 0907 FR TH 1550 2144 1.65 0.56 0315 1.26 0950 SA FR 1633 0.73 2229 1.63 0.54 0358 1.27 1031 SU SA 1714 0.73 2311 1.66 0.48 0439 1.35 1111 MO SU 1754 0.68 2353 1.72 0.41 0520 1.46 1149 TU MO 1833 0.58

24 24

25 25

26 26 27 27 28 28

29 29

30 30

0.44 1.39 0.63 0.42 1.75 2323 1.41 0609 0.52 0.42 1.30 1206 1.80 0.72 1734 0.35 1.39 0008 1.66 0.43 0.59 0704 1.86 1.24 1300 0.30 0.80 1822 1.37 0058 1.58 0.46 0.64 0802 1.89 1.21 1401 0.28 0.85 1921 1.36 0157 1.51 0.48 0.66 0901 1.88 1.23 1510 0.29 0.87 2033 1.34 0303 1.48 0.52 0.64 0958 1.84 1.28 1613 0.33 0.84 2146 1.31 0406 1.49 0.56 0.61 1048 1.78 1.35 1705 0.38 0.78 2249 1.29 0500 1.51 0.60 0.57 1131 1.71 1.44 1747 0.43 0.71 2342

31 0035 0602

1.27 0.65 TU 1227 1.62 1913 0.48

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Bureau of Meteorology  Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2018, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astronomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon New Moon First Quarter Last Quarter Moon Phase Symbols Full Moon Tide predictions for Sydney (Fort Denison) have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. 62

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Golden moments LITHGOW/OBERON

Glen Stewart stewie72@bigpond.com

There’s just something so good about the freshness of a cool spring morning, feeling the warm sun on your back as you push the

warming trend in September, you’re in with a good chance of success. START OUT SLOW All three locations fish slightly differently at this time of year for golden perch, with the exception of grubbing trees. This technique suits all three

Skirted jigs are the author’s go-to lure early in the season when bottom contact is very important. boat off the trailer to chase the first of what may be many golden perch caught in the months ahead. Maybe the long, cold winter nights and mornings chasing impoundment Murray cod has made you appreciate it just that little bit more? Maybe that icy wind at Thompsons Creek Dam while chasing trout is still fresh in your memory? Whatever the reason, the sunny change is certainly appreciated. Timing is everything on early season trips. If you fish during bad weather, it can shatter your confidence for life on locations such as Windamere, Burrendong and Wyangala at this time of year. The calendar may say its spring, but on the worst days it’s anything but warm. However, if you time a run to suit the first or second

dams at almost any time of the year, and it’s as about as bombproof as it gets. Basically, you find a good standing tree that has most of its branches under the water, tie up and drop jighead-rigged soft plastic grubs and worms down through the limbs to the bottom, then slowly wind them back up. Picking the tree with the most fish on it can be a little tricky, and a quality side scan sounder is useful here as it can cut your looking time considerably. The next problem is getting them to bite, as the golden perch can be fussy on some days. It pays to experiment with line and leader size, jighead weight, retrieve speed, size, colour, and choice of soft plastic, but that’s half the fun. If it’s really tough, a small bite-sized

yabby fished in the same manner is rarely refused. If an edge bite while casting lures is your thing, it can be a little hit and miss early on in September. Retrieve speeds need to be slow, especially on the quiet days. You literally cannot wind slow enough. Lures well suited to bottom contact will give you your best chance at catching golden perch. A skirted jig is one of my favourite lures early in the season, and small jigs designed for smallmouth bass in America are the go. Sometimes they are called finesse jigs, and that’s quite apt because it’s as finesse as it gets. Small hops and drags on the bottom with the jig are the go. Remember, you are trying to imitate a yabby just coming out of its hole after a winter of hibernation. The golden perch really home in on the yabbies. I’ve watched them cruise clay banks and rock shelves, and I’m sure they can hear the movements of yabbies in their holes. Other options include lipless cranks (preferably

Craig Colley from Oberon is a gun when it comes to early season golden perch on blades. Craig will often leave the blade on the bottom for 5-10 seconds, and as soon as it moves he’s on. ones that stand on their nose while sitting on the bottom) and small metal blades. You do tend to work blades a little quicker, but I’ve seen them eaten so many times after a 5-10 second wait on the bottom its not funny. My mate Craig Colley from Oberon is a gun with this technique at Windamere. I can only imagine that the moving blade grabs the goldens’ attention as

The winter impoundment cod fishing really took off this year. It’s been great to see anglers succeed after working their backsides off.

they swim over, watch it fall, and then as soon as it moves – bam! Light line is the key when using these small blades; your leader should be around 6-8lb max. The difference in vibration is amazing, especially at depth. When it comes to diving lures, small 50-60mm suspending cranks are the best. Twitch and pause the lure, sometimes up to 10-15 seconds on the pause. Keep a semi-taught line on the pause and watch it intently. The goldens will suck the lure in, so be ready. TROUT AND BASS Trout, bass and of course redfin all enjoy the explosion of life that comes with a warming sun. Shallow margins that only weeks ago were almost lifeless in Lake Lyell start to shift into gear. Underwater weed beds (depending on stability) start to prosper and grow in the extended daylight hours. Small shrimp begin to flutter and flick amongst the greenery. Yabbies too become more active.

The front of the car begins to collect a smattering of insects, and this always makes me smile. Just knowing that somewhere on the Fish or Duckmalio rivers a trout could be sipping away on the very same critters would make any flyfisher very happy. Still off limits of course, but its nice to ponder just the same. SIGNING OFF ON WINTER COD It would be remiss of me not to sign off on a winter season of swimbait fishing for Murray cod in the impoundments (the season ended for most waterways on 1 September). It’s been interesting watching the uptake of this style of fishing locally over the last 12 months. I’ve been invested for quite a few years, and it’s a great space to be a part of. Watching some anglers grow and learn, striving and becoming successful has been rewarding. The longer a technique takes to master, the more satisfying it is when you succeed.

Big flows provide extra fun for freshwater ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

As spring rolls across the land, farmers rejoice in the heavensent bounty of good rains that will ensure thirsty crops continue to grow. Our rivers and lakes are affected by these rains, with water clarity and flow quickly changing. Heavy rains usually provide dirty water conditions where a turn from lure to bait is the best option. Many natural food items like worms and other bugs and crawlies are flushed free from their underground 64

SEPTEMBER 2019

sanctuaries after a good rain. Regardless of where you fish, a good flush brings angling opportunities. When the water rises, the native fish will look to the slack water for an easy meal. We have landed numerous golden perch many times from a single snag in the shallows where the calm meets the flow. It’s a drop-off point for anything that gets washed in, where a hungry fish can wait for the meal to arrive. So, don’t forget to fish the shallows next time you head to the river. While it has been wet and cold this past month, the fishing has continued to be quite good in local waters. Environmental flows have

seen the Murray rise quite substantially, and while the rest of the country is in

drought, the river runs full. Swan Hill tackle proprietor Jim Credlin

reports some good-sized Murray cod have been landed locally in the

A few nice cod are still taking lures in the less than perfect conditions. This one scoffed a StumpJumper lure.

Murray, with one lucky angler landing a trio of Murray cod measuring in at 90, 81 and 70cm. That’s not a bad session at all, and they were landed on fillets of fresh chicken. Several more reports boasting good catches have ensured numerous anglers are wetting a line in the Swan Hill area. In the Wakool River, reports of Murray cod on lures and bait is good news for anglers. The biggest cod recently was a 75cm fish taken on scrubworms. It’s a similar story as you travel down the Murray, with most anglers having found a cod or two on bait. Boundary Bend has seen cod to 70cm biting, To page 65

Some truly golden times ahead BATLOW

Wayne Dubois waynedubois@westnet.com.au

Spring has sprung and it’s time to dust off the fishing gear and take advantage of

gorging themselves on the now plentiful food supply. As the margins of the dams slowly start to rise in temperature, the resident golden perch become very active and spend a large amount of their day up in this

perch, as they will often sit right in amongst the thickest of weed waiting in ambush mode for something to swim past or land on the water. Without the aid of a pair of polaroids, they’d be almost impossible to spot. If you

This is what spring is all about, big bags of big golden perch! the warmer weather, longer days and most importantly, some of the best fishing to be had for the entire year. Golden perch will be the target of most anglers as they come out of their winter lull and start

warm shallow water sunning themselves and feeding heavily on everything from frogs and yabbies through to worms and nymphs. Polarised sunglasses are a good idea while trying to spot these sunbaking golden

don’t own a pair of polaroids or conditions don’t suit the use of them, then blind casting with lures towards the bank is your best bet. It is important to cast as close to the bank as possible, as the golden perch will often sit in

It’s easy to see why big impoundment golden perch are often referred to as footballs. They gorge themselves through spring and put on stacks of weight and can sometimes be as deep as they are long. From page 64

with cheese working well. Kym Sykes from Mildura Outdoors says anglers fishing bait in the Murray River at Apex Park are

catching a few good-sized golden perch. While the bite is not full on, persistence and time will usually put a bend in the rod. The best reports of larger cod have

The odd Murray cod will smash a surface lure, and this one ate the new Bassman Aussie Crawler.

come in from around lock 8, with several Murray cod up to a metre landed on bait and lures. Once again, the bait caught cod are feeding in the calm pockets out of the flow. The Frenchman Creek regulator also has good numbers of perch on bait and a few smaller cod up to 65cm. As we roll into the close of the cod season, a few pre-spring days have upped the tempo of the bite. Golden perch should begin to feed more freely. Overall, the fishing has been quite good in most local waters considering the time of year. Please remember that Murray cod season in NSW and Victoria closes on 1 September, and it is illegal to target them until 1 December. In the meantime, perch should be coming on the bite for those wanting to scratch the itch.

water as shallow as 30cm. Casting from the bank works really well at this time of the year, but you must walk very slowly and cast well ahead of where you’re walking, as like I said, these fish are right on the bank and are easily spooked. The best lures for this type of fishing are single hook rigged 2-4” soft plastics rigged on around 1/8toz jigheads and lures rigged weedless, or lures rigged with assist hooks that won’t foul up in the weed as much. Small blades rigged with assist hooks will be the pick of the lot for this type of fishing, but your favourite lipless crankbaits or hardbodies will also work well, especially if you rig them with assist hooks to decrease fouled or weeded up lures. Bait fishing around the edges with small to mediumsized yabbies or a big juicy earth worm is another effective way of targeting the golden perch this month. Both of these baits are best used on a paternoster rig to keep the bait up out of the weed and in the fished face. Trolling is still a super popular technique in our impoundments and with good reason – it works! The above mentioned lures work great on the troll, but small to medium-sized floating hardbodies are most peoples’ go-to lures during early spring. Just match the running depth of your lure to the depth you’re fishing so that it doesn’t get fouled up to often and you should cross paths with a few spring goldens this month. LAKE TROUT The creeks and rivers are still closed to trout fishing,

A big Tantangara brown trout caught casting an Sso Mino from the bank. The creeks and rivers might be still closed, but the lakes remain open year round and they have been fishing well. but this shouldn’t stop anglers getting out and getting a trout fix in one of the many lakes

winter and will definitely be worth a look this month. The fish are all stacked around the

Trout are stacked around the edges of our trout lakes at the moment, making them targetable for all anglers. that remain open to fishing year round. Lakes like Eucumbene, Tantangara, Talbingo and even Jounama have fished well all

edges and close to the surface of the lakes, making them quite easy to target especially for land-based anglers.

While most perch are taking bait, Jenny Clark caught this nice one on a Tubby Native Minnow lure. SEPTEMBER 2019

Fish behavioural patterns are changing HUNTER VALLEY

Peter Phelps

The start of spring typically sees the biggest change in fishing over a month period for the year. The surface water temperatures in the lakes should vary between 15-20°C, depending on how warm the weather is. As the water warms up the fish will start to transition into their spring patterns.

September also means the bag limits are lifted in the rivers and creeks this month for bass. This makes it a perfect time to head out and try your luck on some big wild bass as they make their way upstream. On the whole I’m excited for spring fishing, but every hopeful those rains aren’t fair away. The fishing in all three local lakes will be fairly similar this month. Water temperature is what you’re

in temperature occur for multiple reasons. For example, recent rain or run-off running into a back of a lake can drop or increase temperature. Water clarity can affect how quickly the water warms up, as it affects how far the light penetrates. Wind can push warm surface water into bays and along banks. All of these scenarios will change the temperature and in turn change the fishing this month.

Topwater should start to pick up this month as the water warms. The drought continues throughout most of inland Australia, and the Hunter Valley’s lake fish are feeling the pinch. Dropping levels, a lack of weed and less bait are causing the impoundment fish to be down in weight.

looking for, and I’ve always found the 17-18°C surface temperature to be the transition point. As each lake can vary in water temperature in so many ways, it’s best to pay attention to what is happening in each area you fish. Differences

I have observed that below the 17°C mark the fish seem to target small baitfish. When fishing this pattern I like to run small finesse lures. The lure choice will depend on the type of structure I’m fishing and the depth. If it’s below

water cover I still run a paddle tail or grub plastic, but on a jighead suited for the cover I’m fishing. For example, a 1/8-1/6oz weight will let me comfortably slow roll the plastic just above the bottom or structure. A jerkbait is another great shallow water lure that you can erratically work around cover looking for the reaction bite. A blade works well in the shallow water too. Sometimes 1/4oz can be just that little bit too heavy, and you’re better off using a 1/8oz or 1/6oz. A standard double hop off the bottom is all that’s needed for a blade bite. Over that 17°C mark the fish should become a little more aggressive. Their willingness to hit a larger lure increases as the water temperature rises. Small bait-style lures still get eaten in these temperature ranges, but a vibrating lure starts to out-fish the finesse patterns. The crawfish or yabbies become active as the water warms, and this probably changes the fish’s diet. It seems to be the turning point for the fish. A crawfish escaping across the bottom makes a racket, as its tail pulses and its claws hit and click together. This is why a vibrating lure becomes so effective in the warming water. Whether it’s a lipless crankbait, chatterbait, spinnerbait or blade, they all work at certain times. These moving-style baits will work best in low light

Some fish still holding their winter weight and condition will be taken on finesse techniques. will need to be bumping cover or dropping back to the bottom. This should have your lure in front of the fish’s face for as long as possible. A skirted jig will start to really fire this month also, as they greatly represent a crawfish. Skirted jigs are not as aggressive as a vibration bait, but they still

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17°C and I’m fishing deep banks (20ft or deeper), I like running a paddle tail or grub plastic on a 1/4oz jighead, an 1/4oz blade or an ice jig for fishing vertically amongst schooled fish. In the same water temperatures in shallow

situations. Those overcast and windy days will extend the moving bait bite. I feel the key this year will be bottom contact and fishing close to cover. This drought and dropping levels will pull the fish really tight to cover, and your lure

offer a larger meal of craw when the moving bait bite dies off. Work these along the bottom, slowly dragging or with small hops. A 3/8-5/8oz jig is ideal for 10-30ft of water. A plastic craw trailer in dark natural colours works best.

With the drought and lack of bait, the fish will become opportunistic and feed on top. Low light will always be the best for numbers, although sometimes outside of normal surface times you’ll see fish swirl, sometimes right in the middle of the day. Because you never know when random fish might come up to feed on the surface, it’s always a good idea to have a surface lure readily available. Simular to the impoundments, the wild river bass will start to fire up this month. At the time of writing there was talk of a massive release of water from Glenbawn to assist the bass with spawning. This should allow the fish to migrate up and down the river and correct water temperatures for the spawn. Unfortunately it’s not great news for the lake, but it’s excellent for the river fish. Ideally rain would naturally do this, but this is what the lakes are designed to do – sustain the environment and people in times of drought. The bass will be moving upstream by September, and the lower Hunter in the tidal areas will still hold a lot of fish. Soft plastics and blades in the deeper sections will catch any schooling fish. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and beetlespin plastics work well for covering shallow water cover. It may be still a little cool in the river for topwater this month but it’s still worth a try during low light.

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Scratching the itch during the cod closure NEW ENGLAND RIVERS

Adam Townsend

September for me is usually a month of mixed emotions. The perch season is officially well underway but the Murray cod closed season has begun, which means the 0 bag limit rule is now in place for cod to allow them to spawn.

as by-catch, as they become quite aggressive while guarding their nests full of eggs. If you do manage to hook a Murray cod at this time of year, make sure you keep it in the water while removing the hook, and try to let it go as quickly as possible. The longer it is off its nest, the more likely it is that the eggs won’t survive, as this is when other predators are likely

all year round for targeting Murray cod. Just remember that the slot limit of 55cm to 75cm still applies. COPETON DAM  Copeton Dam as well as the likes of Blowering Dam and Eildon Dam further south remain open all year round for targeting Murray cod. The best part about fishing the impoundments at this time of year is that if the cod aren’t biting, the perch

This healthy Murray cod fell victim to a big 22cm Gotcha Shad before the season closure.

A Megabass Vatalion swimbait was the downfall of this chunky golden perch. Being in possession of a Murray cod during the closed season could see you receive a pretty hefty fine from DPI Fisheries. However, with the golden perch season in full swing it can often be hard not to come across a Murray cod

to come in and eat them while the cod are not there to guard the nest. In saying that, if you are very keen and can’t wait three months to catch a cod, there are a few impoundments around the country that are still open

BOATING FISHING CAMPING HUNTING

species are usually fired up. With the days getting longer and warmer, it can make for some really exciting fishing. Unfortunately, this area hasn’t received much rainfall at all over the past few months, and this could possibly slow the fishing down a bit, especially compared to the last couple of seasons. In saying that though, Copeton has still been producing some very nice fish for the guys that are putting in the time on the water. Surface fishing has seemed to slow down a lot, but swimbaits and

vibes slow trolled have been very effective of late on both the cod and the golden perch. Copeton Dam is currently around the 9% mark and was recently releasing around 20ML per day. PINDARI DAM Pindari Dam is now closed for targeting Murray cod. Lures over 70mm can be classed as a cod lure, so make sure you are doing the right thing out there this month as DPI Fisheries are known to frequent this area around this time of year. With the weather now warming back up around the New England area, smaller lures seem to come into play anyway. The small bait life like shrimp and yabbies start coming back out of the mud, and become the predatory natives’ main food source again in these warmer

waters. It is uncanny how many big fish are caught around this time of year on small imitation yabby

A Blowering Dam metre-plus Murray cod that took a Cod King 250mm Chatterbait. Blowering, Eildon and Copeton can be fished all year round. vibes and/or soft plastics, including big by-catch Murray cod.

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MAIL ORDER

Pindari Dam is at around 5% capacity at time of writing, and releasing around 10ML per day.

SEVERN RIVER The Severn River is still currently open for fishing. Although it is known to hold the odd golden perch it can be hard finding them in between the spawning cod, let alone trying to get them to eat first. Fishing this waterway during the closed season is not really recommended, as the cod catch rates will usually outnumber the golden perch most times. In addition to this, the drought we are in at the moment could have a significant effect on spawning success rates. However, if you have your heart set on fishing here and you do manage to catch a cod off its nest, make sure you get it back as quickly as possible. BEARDY RIVER The Beardy River is currently closed for trout spawning season and will open back up on the long weekend of October. Good luck to all getting out on the water this month, and tight lines.

Still chasing cod and goldens at Blowering WAGGA WAGGA

Rhys Creed

September used to be one of the in between months where we transitioned from chasing giant winter cod to the smaller golden perch. As goldens would just start warming up in September, it used to mean slow fishing until the end of the month, but as of last year this all changed. With Blowering now open year-round to chase Murray cod, we have some super exciting opportunities in the dam! BLOWERING DAM The weather is starting to warm up now. September brings some beautiful weather with cool mornings and warm days, and we usually get a few weeks before the winds begin to pick up again. On a nice clear day you can expect

Mud Guts Mumbler Pro 1oz at this time of year. The fish will be holding anywhere from 2-9m, so mix it up when you’re up there. If you do troll, pick lures in the 100-150mm range, such as AC Invaders in 90mm and 120mm. If you’re going to be chasing cod, you still want to be fishing in the dark and low light periods because during the day can be very tough going. If you’re keen on chasing golden perch, then leave it until the end of September and use a range of small subtle lures. I like to fish the standing twiggy trees and the shallow flats in the back of the bays, as this is where will be warming up. MURRUMBIDGEE RIVER Water will be running out of the dam now, which means higher flows through the river. This will switch

Adam Smith with a solid river golden perch taken in the afternoon.

of active golden perch getting about. In the bottom reaches of the creek, the water will be warmer and that’s where you want to fish early on in spring. Small lures cast across the creek and into timber will be effective and if you’re a bait angler, shrimp and worms should work well. The best thing about Old Man Creek is that you can walk the bank to easily catch plenty of fish, or you can float around in a kayak or small tinny. If I were to pick one spot to fish this month, it would be hard to go past Blowering. It will become the go-to place for cod now

the yellas on and they will be worth fishing with lures and bait. Goldens can be found fishing the spindly timber and willows. Small hardbodied lures between 50-80mm, small

Tallis Cotterill caught this metre Murray cod working a mumbler on a rocky point at night.

Spinnerbaits are a great lure choice for rivers with rising water, as they can be cast tight in against the bank. glassy conditions on Blowering, which makes for an enjoyable day out. If you’re chasing cod, it’s a great time to do it because water temperatures are beginning to climb and cod are becoming more active, including the smaller models that have been hiding for the past few months. Casting medium to large size lures and trolling along the rocky banks should be productive. The dam wall end of the lake would be my pick of the spots. If you’re chasing trophy fish, stick to large lures over the 200mm mark, but if you’re keen on anything I’d use something between 150-180mm. Chatterbaits are the go during spring because the fish are looking for something giving off a lot of vibration. They are easy to fish, sink quickly and work really well. I love to use the

3/8oz spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits are the best options. Colour wise, I love using hot orange or yellow, as golden perch can’t resist a bright tip on the end of your lure.

This small Blowering cod was taken on an Ignite Cod Fury rigged with a chatterbait blade.

Golden perch in the Murrumbidgee River are a fun catch this time of year.

OLD MAN CREEK Over the next three months, this will be the place to visit with plenty

that they can be year-round. Since weather is gone, there and give it a

targeted the cold get out shot!

SEPTEMBER 2019

Time to strike for goldens ALBURY/WODONGA

Connor Heir

Cod season is done and dusted, so it’s time to pull the spin gear out for a few months! September marks the end of the Murray cod season, but this doesn’t mean us keen fishos have to stop fishing. We can target cod in year-round fisheries, or we can get the light gear out, back the drag off and have some fun chasing a few different species! I love to target golden perch in the cod off-season but I’m not going to sugar coat it. The start of September can be incredibly difficult to catch numbers of golden perch, as they are very shut down in most fisheries. Of course, the possibility of catching them is always there, as they don’t just disappear when it’s cooler, and fish must eat to survive. However, finding this bite can be hard so time and effort is required. This is a good perspective to have on catching any fish species. After all, you won’t catch fish at home on the couch! I find that golden perch tend to start firing again more so in mid-October, but that is based on my personal

experience and the particular waterways I fish. It certainly varies depending on the location, so doing some homework before going out can be the difference between doughnuts and success. On the other hand, trout are usually a fairly popular species to target in the region. Lake Hume, Khancoban and Dartmouth Dam are popular destinations at this time

of year. Keep in mind that trout season is closed for the rivers and streams for another month still. With cod and trout seasons closed at the moment, it can make it hard and confusing to understand where you can and can’t go. If you are unsure, always do your research or ask your local tackle store. During September, tips for catching trout and golden

There’s some excellent trout fishing to be had in the lakes and dams.

perch vary between anglers. I recommend fishing lightly, using between 4-10lb line for trout and yellowbelly. Many people often ask why I suggest going so light for targeting these fish, and my biggest reason is because it ensures maximum action and performance from smaller lures. This leads me into my second tip – you shouldn’t be using overly big lures during this time of year as cod season is over (unless you are cod fishing in a year-round fishery). Lure size, colour, brand and presentation are personal to all anglers, but a little rule of thumb I’ve always followed is not using lures bigger than 75mm for the cod off-season. Each to their own, but I’ve stuck to this rule and seen good results using smaller lures. Small vibes on golden perch are deadly, and soft plastics are always popular for chasing golden perch and trout. I also believe that the right knot to your lure’s tow point ensures the best action. For example, a loop knot and a blood knot are two common knots for tying on lures. For smaller lures, particularly minnow style ones, a loop knot is the way to go to ensure a nice swinging action. Always

Golden perch are a little harder to catch this month, but they’re worth the effort. research whatever lures you choose to use. YouTube and lure brand websites usually have good tips on how to use/rig their lures. In the end, you should use what you’re confident with; after all, we all have a favourite lure and colour for a reason. I won’t lie and say it’s

easy going on golden perch for the next few weeks, but if you really want to snag one you’ll just have to work at it. Trout fishing is more popular this time of year, it just comes down to what you want to chase. No matter what you choose, have fun and enjoy it. Tight lines and good luck!

A sunny September ahead SNOWY MOUNTAINS

Anthony Bentley

The coldest part of winter has finally subsided and we have been seeing a few brighter days. There has been some fantastic polaroiding the past couple of weeks and it looks like it’s just going to get better as the weather warms. Things are really starting to pick up! The edges of Lake Jindabyne have been very productive, with everyone from bait fishers to fly

fishers getting in on the action. The sunnier warmer days are definitely the best time to get out and look for fish. The lake levels on both Eucumbene and Jindabyne are still very low, but don’t let that dissuade you – it just means less water between you and the fish! As I have said previously around this time of year, a slow and careful approach when walking the edges will ensure that you are less likely to spook the fish. A small unweighted black or brown nymph around the #12-16 sizes carefully placed into

a feeding trout’s path will convert to a capture just about every time. When casting lures (small Celtas and hardbodies) make sure that you cast into an ambush style situation so as to not scare the oncoming trout with a splash. It pays to watch the feeding activity of the fish and cast to where the trout will be next, and then start a slow constant retrieve once the fish comes within sight of the lure. Bait fishing is far more productive during the evening, however if you’re restricted to daytime hours it will pay

n Trout Hatchery e d a G

Gaden Trout Hatchery

Gaden Trout Hatchery See how premier sport fish are bred and raised! Closed Anzac, Christmas, Boxing day.

Guided tours 10 am and 2 pm.

Self-guided tours on selected days. Small admission fee. Gaden Rd (off Kosciuszko Rd) Jindabyne. 02 6451 3400 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au 70

SEPTEMBER 2019

A stealthier approach will net you a quality catch. budget. Brands include Sage, Rio, Redington, Scott, Simms, Patagonia, Loop, TFO, Vision, Hardy, Riverworks, Scientific Anglers, Airflo and McLean nets. There’s also a big range of flies from Manic, Stu Tripney, Mick Hall and Pisces, as well as waders, boots, vests and

outdoor apparel. For all the latest information on what’s biting and where, drop into the store at Nuggets Crossing Shopping Centre, Jindabyne. You can also call them on (02) 6456 2989, like them on Facebook or check out their website at highfly.com.au.

leaping fish * 4 species * aquaria, ponds, AV show * beautifulbreeding picnic–BBQ area * smoked trout sale * find out about for kids fishing workshops. *

12934

Open 10 am–4 pm daily.

off if you fish deeper water around structure. For the dry fly fisher, there have been some sporadic midge hatches with some smaller fish feeding off the surface, but I think in a few more weeks as the temperature rises we’ll start to see some bigger fish eating off the surface. We are definitely seeing some warmer weather and the fishing should start to fire up! September is traditionally a great month for fishing Jindabyne and Eucumbene and it looks like that trend should continue for the upcoming months! • High Country Outfitters has the largest range of fly fishing gear in the Snowy Mountains, with something for every skill level and

Trout fishing will fire up this month!

Canberra rises from the wintery depths CANBERRA

Toby Grundy

Towards the end of cod season 2018-19, Michael Shanahan (@mickey.finn on Instagram) landed a 127cm Murray cod from Googong

This capture ranks as one of the most important captures in Canberra fishing history, not only because of the quality of fish, but also because it represents a shift in thinking by some of Canberra’s best fishos. Let me explain. Mickey landed

as the eyes underneath the water limiting the ‘spotter’s’ own casting time. With the advent of improved sounder technology, spotting will become more and more prevalent. With Lowrance and Garmin leading the way with new ‘live’ tech, we will

Googong set for a bumper spring, expect some massive golden footballs to grace Mickey’s Insta! LOCAL LAKES Lake Burley Griffin is fishing well for small to medium golden perch. These fish are sitting a few metres out from points and drop offs and are easily targeted using deep jigging tactics, but are also moving up the water column to investigate small plastics twitched a few metres from the surface. Wriggler style plastics have been getting the better results

Lake Ginninderra is a superb golden perch fishery but is becoming increasingly difficult to fish from the bank due to weed. Kayakers and boat anglers have had no such difficulty, and are racking up good numbers of yellas that are sitting just off the rock walls leading towards the old police jetty. These fish are responding to a variety of techniques, but there have been a few stand out specimens caught using jigspins. The golden perch are also holding around sunken structure near

proved a deadly technique to connect with a big red. However, the golden perch are yet to fire and are still shut down. This should start to change though as the water continues to warm or if we get a solid hit of rain. SURROUNDS Googong Dam is starting to really kick into gear, with a couple of large golden perch landed by anglers targeting sunken structure around the middle of the dam. Lipless cranks and vibes have always been my choice when fishing the dam in early spring, but a

Brogo is worth a look in spring. Dam on fly. Not only is this probably the largest cod ever taken on fly, but it was caught from one of, if not the toughest fishery in the area using Mickey’s

the fish with the aid of Will Curtin who acted as ‘spotter’. While Mickey cast, Will read the sounder carefully and was able to give Mickey directions as to where to cast

soon see more and more captures of similar quality to Mickey’s incredible catch, because more anglers will see the benefit of this approach. Mickey has

Stuart Cattanach with a typical schooling LBG golden perch.

Michael releasing what is most likely the largest Murray cod ever caught on fly. homemade ‘Canberra Raider’ fly. What is even more astounding is that Mickey landed a 105cm fish the week before.

and how the fish behaved. This is an incredibly selfless form of fishing as it is almost ‘electronic sight casting’, with the ‘spotter’ acting

in these circumstances but lipless cranks in dark colours slow rolled up the column have accounted for some solid fish. The redfin are hitting lures and there have been a few larger specimens caught, but the reddies haven’t properly fired up just yet. That said, a number of anglers have hit the ponds

the boat ramp at Diddams Close and can be caught using small divers in natural colours. Giving the lure a few quick cranks right next to the structure followed by a long pause is the best approach. Lake Tuggeranong is hit and miss, but there have also been some really good catches. Bait anglers have

number of other anglers have caught good numbers of yellas by casting deep divers around the steeper points in the lead up to Bradley’s Inlet. If after a feed of reds, head up to the back of the dam and use paddle-tail plastics along the flats. Brogo Dam is worth a look despite the fact that

also landed a number of golden perch on fly using similar tactics as part of his guiding commitments for Aussie Flyfisher, and with

Tom Gaukroger with a nice red that he caught from a Canberra pond.

Michael Shanahan and Will Curtin have changed the way local and interstate anglers fish Googong.

surrounding LBG and have had some luck, with Tom Gaukroger’s 43cm specimen the stand out. Carp are firing across the lake and are best targeted with black plastics slow rolled around the edges of the willows, which line the edges of Weston Park.

caught massive amounts of carp under the bridge and around the spillway. There have also been some good-sized redfin caught by anglers using pink plastics partnered with jigspins. Slow rolling these lures around the reeds has

bass season has only just started. Blades jigged deep a few metres out from the points near the dam wall can produce some solid fish, and there are always a few big fish feeding around the rock ledges in the middle of the dam. SEPTEMBER 2019

Make ‘em, chuck ‘em CANBERRA

Richard Barnsley

One of the most attractive aspects of the fly fishing sport is the creation and construction of unique fly patterns. Although lure anglers do and indeed can make their own lures, it is seldom a dominant aspect of their recreation. However, for the fly fisher the ease and ready construction of fly patterns is a major contributor to their enjoyment.

ready to go. I’ll let you explore those areas in your own time. If you are going to spend a bit of money, put it into your vice. I prefer a vice that has a stand rather than one that clamps to a table. The jaw mechanisms in cheaper vice just won’t cut the mustard when trying to handle fine trout dry fly hooks or lock up tight on a 4/0 cod steel. Tools can also be inexpensive and kept to a minimum. A couple of bobbins for threads, sharp

tying a fly you should be asking yourself why a fish wants to eat it. If mayflies are big on your local trout stream and regularly hatch then you’ll be wanting to closely copy them. Dirty water cod on the other hand have a wide diet and are often drawn to anything that creates surface or subsurface disturbance. Patterns generally fall into two categories – imitation or attractants. Imitative patterns as the name suggests are an attempt to closely copy

This nice backcountry cod fell to a simple foam head popper. Traditional patterns around the world are readily available and mostly successful. However to imagine, construct and then outwit a fish with something created on your kitchen table is a novel achievement. The how, when and why of fly tying can be kept relatively simple. The internet is full of ‘how-to’ videos, but once you have learnt how to start a thread, wrap hackle and stack deer hair, you’re pretty much

scissors and a pair of hackle pliers is sufficient. Fingernail varnish makes reliable head cement, or you can purchase a commercial alternative. For this exercise I’ll focus on the simple way to design and consistently tie effective flies. The same rules apply to a wide variety of target species from finicky, hatch driven trout to explosive barra and cod. Saltwater patterns are even simpler in their range. Before designing and

the natural. Attractants use colour, size, mobility and silhouette to draw a fish, despite having no close likeness to the natural. Once you’ve decided the type of imitation then the next consideration is size. Many saltwater species, tuna in particular, regularly lock onto baitfish of a particular size. Likewise trout, especially where hatches are consistent will likewise hit patterns similar in size and silhouette to the natural.

FISHING & BOATING LIFESTYLE PROGRAM KIERAN REEKIE & ALAN BLAKE + many others talk fishing and boating

SAT / SUN 4am - 7am

RADIO 2SM

The Super Radio Network

hitide@2sm.com.au 72

SEPTEMBER 2019

13 12 69

Trout can be notoriously fickle, but simple patterns still work. Alternatively the cod fly is generally designed to move water and often bigger is better. However, there are limitations on how large a fly can be regularly cast. Once you’ve decided upon size and type of pattern, then the method of construction becomes paramount. Here the tyro should keep it simple. Initially, I’d suggest you focus on imitative designs. These allow a little more latitude in construction style. Good examples of such flies are something like the Gurgler series for warm water and saltwater fish. A rough body and simple foam sheet overlay produces one of the world’s best surface patterns for big fish. The traditional Red Tag will catch trout all day on most smooth water trout streams and a very simple to tie. Subsurface patterns such as the deer hair Clousers are wonderful in the salt and the larger synthetic streamers will bust cod all day long. For trout and bass a standard Woolly Bugger takes only moderate skill. Once you’ve assembled your materials get in the

habit of working on a clear bench top. Lay out the items in a logical sequence from starting the fly to finishing it. Packaging in ziplock bags is a terrific way to keep things sorted. Find a large piece of white backing around 30cm square; old corflute signs can be cut up. Screwed to a piece of 4x2 pine block they will stand upright behind your vice. This gives a clear, uncluttered background against which to observe and neatly construct your pattern. I previously mentioned that size is an important consideration. Equally so is the concept of proportions. Size refers to the overall dimensions, proportion defines the relationship of the individual components. For instance a streamer may be 10cm in length. But the underwing may only be 5cm, the main wing full length at 8cm and the head 2cm. An 8cm head and 2cm wing would produce a ridiculous looking baitfish pattern. An easy way to maintain consistent proportion is to measure material length against your hook.

For example, the overwing may be two lengths of the hook shank or the hackle the width of the hook gape. The concept of proportion should always be considered especially when tying any patterns. Once you are ready to start tying pick a single pattern and tie a dozen. Measure your materials and maintain the concept of proportions. Try to tie consistently, with an emphasis on plenty of thread, cement and pressure to ensure they remain durable. Don’t try to tie a variety of imitations until you’ve competently mastered one. Opening a fly box of patterns you’ve tied yourself and then hooking a fish on one is surely the pinnacle of your fly fishing evolution. While beauty isn’t always necessary for success, the ability to tie attractive, measured patterns will put a smile on your dial whenever you hit the water. Starting next month we will gradually begin to explore the world of fish catching fly patterns. I hope you’re prepared to come along on the adventure!

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

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

Dam Jun Jul Aug Blowering 39 44 49 Brogo 99 97 91 Burrendong 5 5 5 Burrinjuck 30 31 32 Carcoar 22 21 20 Chaffey 24 23 22 Clarrie Hall 97 100 100 Copeton 9 9 9 Dartmouth 64 62 60 Eucumbene 24 24 25 Glenbawn 52 51 50 Glenlyon 9 9 9

Dam Jun Jul Aug Glennies Creek 53 52 51 Hume 20 25 37 Jindabyne 71 69 67 Keepit 1 1 1 Lostock 84 84 80 Oberon 39 38 36 Pindari 6 5 5 Split Rock 2 2 2 Tantangara 20 20 22 Toonumbar 67 67 63 Windamere 33 32 32 Wyangala 27 26 25

(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.)

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS AUSTRALIA’S TOP FISHING LOCATIONS

CAIRNS CAPE YORK HERVEY BAY PORT STEPHENS PORT LINCOLN GIPPSLAND LAKE JINDABYNE GREAT BARRIER REEF WHITSUNDAYS MURRAY RIVER SYDNEY HARBOUR

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

HINCHINBROOK MACKAY GOLD COAST COPETON DAM YAMBA PORT PHILLIP BAY SNOWY RIVER BROOME SHARK BAY AUGUSTA

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 2019

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution. The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market. FEATURES - Double weight system with inner weight designed to produce sound while squid jig is in action. COLOURS - 7 different designs representing popular fish species. ADDITIONAL - Luminous body, fish parasite, great balance, sound effect, quality stainless steel hooks SIZES - 5 Sizes available www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Casey Cooper, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – NSWFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is S Stephenson of Bruce, who won a pair of Tonic Tango Sunglasses. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

Bubar of Albion Park, D Burgess of Elermore Vale, M Muldoon of Caves Beach, J Nicolson of Burraga, P Bak of Monash, B Gardner of Hughes, A Bird of Singleton, D Appleby of Macquarie Hills, I Donaldson of Cessnock, C Sheedy of Sanctuary Point, K Beckhouse of Wyee Point, K Knox-Sheen of Thrumster, M Ryall of Singleton, G Waters of Helensburgh, M Blake of Walcha, S Roweth of

Millthorpe, B Wright of Lake Cathie, A Todoroski of Epping, B Anschau of Skennars Head, S Farrugig of Glen Innes, W Forbes of Nambucca Heads, R Jones of Narellan, S Wykamp of Eugowra, B Corse of Glanmire, D Turner of Kincumber, J Hamilton of Grafton, J Smith of Kelso, R Morrison of Forbes, F Seal of Junee. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – NSWFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Chinaman Fish

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 8, 12, 14, 17, 22, 29, 35, 44, 51, 55, 62, 81, 82, 85, 88. – NSWFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: I Salmon of Basin View, J Cupitt of Sanctuary Point, R Weaver of Adelong, C Riesinger of Pheasants Nest, M Baker of Gorokan, N Evenden of Cundletown, R Bland of Forster, L Duggan of Copeton, C Glenn of Gwynneville, A Sinclair of Lalor Park, S Banner of Buff Point, F

Answer: SEPTEMBER 2019

Noteworthy captures at 2019 Evans Head Classic The Evans Head Fishing Classic was a brilliant event, with beautifully clear skies during the day. In fact the most troubling issue for all were the frosty early morning starts. There were over 700 entrants, contesting everything from bream and whiting to mulloway and snapper. Even on day one, there were some noteworthy captures including a near 1.24m mulloway and a jobfish, which are unusual for this area. Snapper, kingfish and even a blue groper hit the brag mats for photos. Inshore, a flathead of 92.5cm won for the day, and the bream and whiting were all large for this time of year. Sunday was all about the kids, with the 11am Kids Clinic going gangbusters. There were competitions for winding timber fish in the quickest, and knot tying and rigging. The day ended

with over 20 enthusiastic youngsters trying their luck on the sandbank using lures and bait. A strong wind warning was issued for Day 2, which forced many competitors to stay inshore. Some were lucky enough to catch some quality fish before the strong wind warning at midnight. Restrictions stayed in place until 4pm. As the week progressed, the fishing and conditions improved, and a multitude of boats headed wide chasing offshore species. Unfortunately, the strong westerly winds and full moon kept the numbers of fish down. Despite the tough conditions, some great fish came in including a solid winter whiting of 440mm for Malcolm Boddy and in the offshore species, a snapper of 897mm for Wayne Hutchins. A solid king, no doubt caught as the winds dropped off

and the seas calmed, by Aiden Donnely came in at a healthy 979mm. Things really started to fire on days 4, 5 and 6. Brad Mayes landed a solid AJ at 834mm on Day 4. The largest mulloway also got knocked off with a 1290mm fish to Darren Constable. A long pearl perch of 605mm went to Ethan Donnelly.

A snapper of 973mm was caught, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know where, by Chad Banks, while a croc-sized flathead went to Bruce Jobson. The final day of the competition saw the competitors start amassing in the show area after a enthusiastic final day of fishing. A few fish were upgraded and daily winners announced, but

what everyone wanted to know was who sat atop the leader board. The AJ/Sambo category was won by Ben Campbell with a 940mm fish. Blackfish was hotly contested with only a few centimetres between winner Alexander Klassen and runner-up Brendon Palmer. The Bream category was similar with 1mm between

first, second and third. Offshore, the Pearl Perch division was won with a 600mm fish. The winning trag was also large, with Troy Robson landing a 785mm model. With the overall prizes awarded, attention turned to the random prizes and boat winner. In the end, local Denise Innes stood tall with the Quintrex/ Evinrude Renegade 420 SC soon to find a place in her garage. Kayaks from Hobie, another Quintrex/ Evinrude boat and Engel fridge freezers filled out the remaining random draws. In all, over $150,000 worth of product was given out during the competition. The event raised over $3,000 for charities including Surf Life Saving and Marine Rescue. The organisers would like to thank all the sponsors and the competitors for the great spirit shown throughout the event. - EHC

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

7-8 Sep

ABT BREAM Round 7 Gladstone

abt.org.au

8 Sep

ABT BASS Electric Round 5 Wivenhoe Dam

abt.org.au

14-15 Sep

ABT BASS Round 6 Richmond River

abt.org.au

14-15 Sep

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 8 Port Macquarie

hobiefishing.com.au

21-22 Sep

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 9 Albany

hobiefishing.com.au

20-22 Sep

ABT BREAM Queensland Open Moreton Bay

abt.org.au

21-22 Sep

Family Bassin Round 6 Glenbawn Dam

Wayne Tiggermann 0412 634 288 or sanja@hwy.com.au

22 Sep

East Coast Bream Series Round 5 Sydney Harbour

www.wsbb.com.au or 0403 085 696

28-29 Sep

ABT BASS Electric Round 6 Borumba Dam

abt.org.au

5-6 Oct

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 10 St Georges Basin

hobiefishing.com.au

12-13 Oct

ABT BASS Electric Australian Open Wyaralong Dam

abt.org.au QLD

19-20 Oct

ABT BREAM Round 8 Port Stephens

abt.org.au

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

SEPTEMBER 2019

East Coast Bream Series R4: Hawkesbury There was glorious weather for Round 4 of the East Coast Bream Series, held on 21 July on the Hawksbury River and sponsored by Shimano. The day dawned with a field of 43 teams ready to hit

upriver from Spencer all day,” Codie said. “One of the baits we found to be the most productive was the Vex Performance blade in shrimp colour, and we used them for the first hour and half of the morning.

one more in the well that was around 34cm to the tip, which gave us a solid 3.95kg bag. “We then went onto racks, more rock walls and some flats, eventually working our way to Doughboy Beach. We nailed a few more on Vex vibes but couldn’t get the upgrades we were looking for. “It was a great day with my son as my fill-in

partner, and this result now puts us in 3rd place overall for the series. I’m looking forward to Sydney Harbour.” Round 5 at Sydney Harbour will be held on 22 September, followed by the Grand Final on 3 November at Sussex Inlet. For more information and a full list of results visit the Western Sydney Bream and Bass website at wsbb.com. au. - ECBS

Codie Stewart and Ross Cannizzaro with two of their winning fish.

Winners are grinners – Codie Stewart and Ross Cannizzaro with their 1st place cheque. the water. The competitors set off in all directions, as most teams had different ideas on where the fish would be at this time of year. It proved to be a tough day for most anglers, with only 11 teams registering a full bag. There were some very nice fished weighed, but overall the catches were down compared to this event last year. Once again it was Codie Stuart and Ross Cannizzaro who took out the day with a bag of over 5kg. It was no surprise that they also took the largest bream at 1.47kg, but there were quite a few fish weighed in over the 1kg mark. 1ST PLACE: TEAM ABU GARCIA / EVINRUDE Codie Stewart and Ross Cannizzaro from Team Abu Garcia/Evinrude had success doing what they know best. “Ross and I did our usual thing we do when fishing the Hawkesbury – we fished

“As the tide changed and pushed in a bit harder, we changed our bait to the Berkley 1/6oz Big Eye Blade in nugget. We also opted for a 3” Berkley Minnow Grub in camo on a 1/6oz Nitro Dam Deep jighead, and just

were the runners-up for the event. “We pre-fished from the mouth of the river up to Gunderman and found bigger fish at the mouth, so that was where we started on comp day,” Jason said. “We started out casting grubs and Jackall Chubbys at the edges, but both ended up throwing only Chubbys. We managed to fill the bag by 9:30am, with five goodsize bream including the third and fifth fish being 40cm to the fork. We continued to catch bream all morning, and managed to upgrade our catch four times.” Jason used a Daiwa

3RD PLACE: FLICKIN 4FIVE Mark Thompson and Dane Thompson from team Flickin 4Five had a plan to head down the front into Pittwater as long as the swell wasn’t too big to get there from Parsley Bay. “At this time of year the bigger bream generally hold upriver however we thought we had some resident fish down river,” Mark said. “We figured if we could bag early, we would make a long run up and try to upgrade. “As soon as we saw swell, we pulled up and hit some rock walls with Gulps, crabs and soft vibes.

Mark Crompton and Shaun Egan from Team Hobie Polarized / Powerpole / Lowrance finished 4th and took home $500.

WINNERS PLACE TEAM ANGLERS FISH WEIGHT (KG) PRIZE 1 Team Abu Garcia / Evinrude Codie Stewart, Ross Cannizzaro 5 5.46 $1900 2 Grabar Jason Graham, Greg Barrett 5 4.57 $1200 3 Flickin 4Five Mark Thompson, Dane Thompson 5 3.95 $800 4 Hobie Polarized / Powerpole / Lowrance Mark Crompton, Shaun Egan 5 3.63 $500 5 Brimin Compleat Angler Nowra / Costa Grant Kime, Stuart Walker 5 3.51 Prize Pack 6 Sniper Matt Gauci, Johnathon Henderson 5 3.47 Prize Pack 7 Out Castin Gary Nano, Adam Viksne 4 3.11 Prize Pack 8 Abu Garcia / Tempt Industries Daniel Scott, Tim Staunton 5 3.08 Prize Pack 9 Couple of Old Guys John Picton, Greg Silva 3 3.00 Prize Pack 10 Compleat Angler Batemans Bay/Shimano Jason Mayberry, Terry Parmenter 5 2.96 Prize packs consist of $250 worth of Shimano gear – For the full results and team standings after Round 4 visit www.wsbb.com.au cast in close to the shore, hopping our bait down the walls, keeping in contact with the bottom.” 2ND PLACE: TEAM GRABAR Jason Graham and Greg Barrett from Team Grabar

reel and Abu Salty Stage KR-X rod, Greg used an Abu Roxani reel and an Abu Salty Stage KR-X rod, and they both used 4lb braid and leader. The bag weighted 4.57kg and was anchored by a 1.2kg and 1.4kg bream.

We had our first bream in the boat on the second cast, and for the next hour or two it was patchy with flathead, tailor and small bream. “We had two scorers in the well when Dane got a 1.2kg, then a 1.4kg. I put

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Mark Thompson and Dane Thompson from Team Flickin 4Five took out 3rd place.

Runners-up Jason Graham and Greg Barrett from Team Grabar finished with a 4.57kg 5-fish bag.

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Schwerin pulls Somerset sneaky Jake Schwerin is from the Toowoomba area, which pretty much makes him a local to Lake Somerset. Being able to fish this impoundment regularly definitely gave him an edge over the rest of the 52-boat field. Coming into the Friday pre-fish, Jake had one key area in mind, but he didn’t throw one cast at it on practice. He did a few sneaky passes checking with his Hummingbird Solix Side Scan, making sure they were still there from a few weeks beforehand, and he was happy to find out they had not moved. Jake said he didn’t fish this spot because he didn’t want to arouse any suspicion, or give anyone reason to think the area was worth looking at. On day one Jake made the quick run to his spot, which was within eyeshot of the start, just inside the timber at Kirkleigh. The area he was fishing ran into an old creek bed. Jake said this spot was the key to his win, as the fish had a nice flat to feed and deeper water to retreat to if need be. On arrival, the ledge of the flat was stacked with

BOATER WINNER’S GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Edge Rods Black Widow 703 Daiwa Steez 2004 Toray F4 0.8 braid and Toray Power Game 10lb leader O.S.P. HD Shad Tail 3.1” (dipped tail) with 5/8oz Smak jighead

BOATER 2ND PLACE GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Boater and non-boater winners Jake Schwerin and Bronson Tilley display the sort of bass that helped them to take out their respective divisions. fish, so he dropped his trolling motor, hit SpotLock, turned his sounder off, and proceeded to knock their lights out! Between him and his non-boater Bronson Tilley, they caught 20-30 legal fish and upgraded half a dozen times. If the bites stopped, he would turn the sounder back on to see if the fish had moved, and if they had he would sound along the drop-off to find them, before repeating the process. Jake was fishing a 5/8 Smak jighead rigged with a 3.1”

O.S.P HP Shad Tail with a chartreuse dipped tail, making long wind-assisted casts and letting it hit the bottom. He would then give the plastic ten or so winds before opening the bail and letting the lure hit the bottom again. Schwerin repeated this process all day. His tricks definitely worked well for him, reaching his limit of four fish very quickly, and he finished the day with an impressive bag weight of 8.79kg, putting him in first

place with a lead of 2.74kg. Day two had Jake heading out with non-boater Tom Deer. The pair went straight back to the area that was so productive the day before. The weather conditions were very different, with the wind already blowing quite hard due to a cold snap from the south, and this had changed the way the fish were biting. Schwerin noticed the fish were sulking on the bottom. The only way he could get a bite was to dredge his plastic along the bottom, and

Daiwa TD Black Wicked Weasel Daiwa 2500 LT Caldia Sufix Nano Aqua Camo 8lb braid and 8lb FC Rock leader Nories Wasaby Metal Spoon 18g in colour vr313

even then they were taking biting very timidly. The pair didn’t let that worry them, and by putting their heads down and grinding it out they managed to catch a fish every hour or so. Jake knew he was in with a good chance of taking out the 2019 Somerset Sufix BASS Pro with the lead he had from day one. He was the last to weigh on Sunday, only needing 1.87kg to take the win, and Jake made his way up to the stage with his limit of four fish with a weight of 5.95kg and a total of 14.74kg, smashing the

rest of the field to take the win of the 2019 Ecogear sponsored Somerset round.

Scan the QR code to see Jake Schwerin Interview.

BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Jake Schwerin 2 Anthony Thorpe 3 Nick Price 4 John Ciancio 5 Mark Parriott 6 Charles West 7 Keeghan Painter 8 Lloyd Brown 9 Steve Chang 10 Jordan Stoddart

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize Money 8/8 14.74 $3000 7/8 10.56 $1750 + $250 Evinrude Bonus 8/8 9.47 $1500 6/8 8.82 $1250 + $500 Garmin Big Bass 8/8 8.73 $1000 6/8 7.83 $900 6/8 7.55 $800 6/8 7.43 $700 6/8 6.92 $600 5/8 6.39 $500

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

SEPTEMBER 2019

It’s clear that Somerset is still the premier big bass lake in the country.

Thorpey says the fishing was ‘fully sick’ Anthony Thorpe is from the Newcastle area, which is a long way from Somerset Dam. He had only fished this dam once in a competition, and one other time socially. Before the tournament, he’d caught one fish in two trips, so coming into Friday’s pre-fish he was not overly confident. He got a few bites but struggled to hook anything in the pre-fish. He did land a fish at Red Rock of around 32cm, but he was a little worried. He had a quick sound over the Kirkleigh flats and saw what looked like better fish. This area became his game plan for the fifth round of the 2019 Sufix BASS Pro Series. On the first day, he had a loose game plan, but wasn’t confident and knowing there was a cold front coming dampened his spirits further. Despite this, Thorpey started off strong, filling

his four-fish limit within an hour and a half, and this had him feeling a little more confident. He caught his fish on a 18g Nories Metal Wasaby spoon in colour VR 313 by just dredging it along the bottom. His non-boater Luke Sticklen caught their kicker for the day, which saw their bag of four bass weigh 5.23kg. The second day had Thorpey choosing to stick to his day one plan, and he headed straight back to the Kirkleigh flats. On arrival he noticed the fish seemed more active and were sitting higher in the water column, even though the weather was a lot worse than the first day. To get them to bite he noticed he had to speed his retrieve up a bit. Anthony caught three nice fish straight up, but the rest of the day was a grind, with he and his boater catching no more fish. Despite this, his

Anthony Thorpe travelled a long way to fish the Somerset leg of the Sufix BASS Pro Series, but went away $2,000 richer! day two bag of three fish was heavier than his day one bag of four by 100g! Day

two’s bag weighed 5.33kg, and a total of 10.56kg, securing him second place!

All action for Bronson Bronson Tilley was pleased when he got paired with local Jake Schwerin, as Jake had an awesome plan to head up in the sticks and fish a nice flat that he sounded up the day before, and no one else had fished there in the pre-fish. On day one they pulled up and sounded around for 5 minutes until the sounder lit up with around 25-35 fish on the Side Scan, and they decided to switch the sounders off, so as not to spook the fish, and hit Spot-Lock on the electric. Bronson fished with a 5/8oz Smak Jighead with a baby bass coloured Charlie Brewer Slider that Jake supplied him with. After five or so casts, Jake was hooked up and as Bronson was netting his first legal fish for the morning, he too hooked up. All the boys were doing was slow rolling the plastics along the bottom. By doing this, they were getting double hook-ups and caught around 15-20 fish within 30 minutes, and upgrading

Bronson Tilley fished hard through a tough weekend to come out on top, and took home some great prizes for his efforts. their bag twice. It then went quiet, so they stuck around for a bit and as the day went by, they upgraded a few more fish. Bronson landed the biggest of the day, going 51cm to the fork and weighing 2.53kg, which was a new Somerset PB for its captor. The team then headed in to weigh their bag of

four fish, and they noticed that not many people had a bag over 5kg. With their bag weighing a whopping 8.79kg, it put Bronson and Jake in first place. Day two on Sunday came around, when Bronson was paired with Greg Burke. Greg and Bronson took off in 23rd place and headed up towards Pelican Point,

where Greg got his bag on Saturday. The boys pulled up and found no fish what so ever, so they thought they would give it 20 minutes in case a school swam through. The guys struggled ‘hard core’, as Bronson put it, with the wind in this spot blowing over 35 knots, and they couldn’t manage in the wind without a Spot-Lock. The boys then decided to go up to Kirkleigh flats and try to hide from the wind for a bit. By the time they got up there it was around 10am, and Bronson stuck with what caught all his fish on day one, which was the 5/8oz Smak jighead with a baby bass coloured Slider. Again, he was fishing this presentation with a slow roll and letting it sink back down every so often. Bronson hooked up and landed a 2.02kg bass, and that was it! Greg had run out of battery for the electric motor, so they decided to call it and head in. As it turns out, Bronson’s 2.02kg fish was enough to secure him first place, with a total weight of 10.81kg!

Bass Pro Series presented by

Scan the QR code to see Bronson Tilley interview.

NON-BOATER WINNER’S GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Samurai 201 Daiwa Certate Finesse Custom 2506 Sufix Nano Camo 10lb braid Charlie Brewer Slider in baby bass (dipped tail) with 5/8oz Smak jighead

GARMIN BIG BASS John Ciancio managed to land the biggest bass for the tournament, weighing in a 2.66kg beast! The fish was caught around Kirkleigh working an 18g Nories Wasaby Metal Spoon up a creek bank ledge.

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Bronson Tilley 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tom Deer Allan Price Leaon Walker Darren Greenstreet James Browning Jason Sheehan Steve Muldoon Matthew Martin Nathan Huggett

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 5/8 10.81 Bassman Spinnerbaits Prize Pack + $300 Sufix Bonus 8/8 10.24 Fishtec Prize Pack 8/8 9.19 Tackle Tactics Prize Pack 7/8 9.14 Sufix Prize Pack 6/8 8.30 Daiwa Prize Pack 5/8 8.22 Sunline Prize Pack 6/8 7.83 Keitech Prize Pack 6/8 7.15 Lucky Craft Prize Pack 5/8 6.81 Ecogear Prize Pack 6/8 6.60 Shimano Prize Pack

This short-wheeled model got some chuckles back at the ramp. SEPTEMBER 2019

The state of fishing tournaments At Track My Fish, we have been busy with tournaments pretty much every weekend since January 16, with more than a few weekends requiring a presence in more than one event. While we run some from home base, we get around to a good many of them providing on the ground support to the tournament organisers. Every now and again, someone has the thought that fishing should be an

recognition be it from family, mates or on social media. In other words – now there is a base to work with if you were going to build the sport. I thought this might be a good time to take a step back and have a look at the tournaments we are involved in and where fishing is up to from a sports perspective and where it might go. STANDARDS ARE STILL FEW AND FAR BETWEEN One of the things that defines most sports is the standardisation of the rules and

without one of the variants of bass boats from the US, which is a pretty sizable investment given the dollars on offer. Similarly in the barra circuit, electronics plays a pretty big role in success. At the community event level that is less of an issue, but only because they typically tend towards simpler rules like biggest fish wins. In places like the UK and Europe, peg fishing has provided something of a standard by physically constraining the fishing area of fishers, but that works in the

closest to fishing is martial arts like karate and taekwondo. Both of these martial arts provide a myriad of stylistic and philosophical differences and are every bit as fragmented as fishing. In order to resolve the need for standards and to bring kids through their system, they broke into two systems, traditional and sports. The traditional maintains all the values and variation you would expect, the sports path offers a consistent set of rules. This allows the sport to bring kids into competitions with a clear path of the skills they need to develop in order to compete. Let me say – they didn’t get there on any easy path. It took a lot of compromise. COACHES SHOULD BE A THING Back a couple of years ago, one of the locals that wanted to win the Rocky Barra Bounty turned to Johnny Mitchell, a renowned fishing guide who provides training in fishing skills. The investment paid off with victory. I have often wondered

the next generation. All coaches perform that role slightly differently based on interest but there is one thing that is consistent among all of them – all coaches are focused on progression of their charges. Fishing has kids clinics in varying forms, some commercial, some volunteer but they are simply focused on introducing kids to fishing. Only a small segment of them are focused on taking kids through the gears in terms of skills, and all too often that is left to the invested parent or for the kids to work it out themselves in their teens. Note – that is easier in the rural areas than in the cities but it happens in both. By the way, I see this independent development of skill as being one of the key strengths and appeals of fishing – there is no way to progress other than under your own steam. All the same, this is a limitation in developing fishing as a sport. Is it impossible to set up a coaching clinic system? Not in my view, although it’s

base the equivalent of two states of fishers. The difference is the peak body is able to offer a public face at the highest levels, a spectacle that shows off the best athletes and the public good of co-ordinating the grassroots. Fishing offers none of that. I have great sympathy for the challenges the sponsors have. Increasingly we are being asked to help out with promotion and I can see why. HOBIE WORLDS AND BERKLEY SUPERSERIES Speaking of spectacle, the Hobie Worlds and Berkley Superseries gave us the chance to work closely with Nicholle Smith and Steve Morgan on livestreaming. We developed the plugin content that shows scores and stats during the live feed, which makes it easier to contextualise what is going on. Steve and Nicholle did a brilliant job on the Hobie Worlds, putting on a show that was compelling and enjoyable. I think they not only did themselves proud, but put a professional face to a sport that

Fig.1. Participation in fishing based on Fisheries Queensland surveys. official sport, often as a means of funding something. Personally I think that’s an idea long overdue pursuing, as I have seen first-hand some terrifically skilled fishers that qualify to me under the term athlete. The challenge though is to work through the currently fragmented nature of fishing competitions and consider how you could build a network. Another interesting stat out recently in Queensland was an uptick in the number of fishers. After a decade of serious decline, fishing didn’t just rebound, it’s back to levels not seen since the mid 1990s. I think there is a couple of reasons for that. Firstly, there is a generational change: Gen X was a much smaller group overall so was never going to replenish the stocks of new fishers, while the millennial generation numbers as a group are much closer in numbers to the baby boomers. Second, we have seen the rise of larger retail chains that more visibly promote fishing. Lastly, it is one of the few ‘sports’ left that recognises an angler’s achievements. Even for relatively unskilled fishers, catching a good fish will get

the process by which people come into the sport. Sports like the football codes, athletics, cricket have consistent rules, limitations on equipment and everyone plays on the same pitch. I can speak with expertise on the lack of standards for fishing, as I am the guy who gets to put together the scoring system. Our scoring engine has taken nearly two years to develop and every time I think I have all the bases covered, someone comes up with something new. Overall we have a crazy number of scoring arrangements, including 43 separate scoring algorithms, which breaks out into thousands of combinations once you consider species, fisher class, fishing categories (eg. kayak vs beach) and a range of bonus systems and even ways to resolve ties. THE DUCKWORTHLEWIS SYSTEM HAS NOTHING ON FISHING! Scoring is just the beginning. As we get around to a lot of events we get to see first-hand the variance in vessel capability, electronics and gear. Nobody is going to win bream series like the ABT or Berkley Super Series

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS Total Average no. Class of Event Total of Participants Club 1075 56.6 Community 5355 281.8 High End C&R 4611 164.7 Length Weigh in 222 37 Live Weigh in 1098 91.4 Photo Only 541 60.1 Traditional Weigh in 3684 736.8 78

SEPTEMBER 2019

smaller geography on offer. At this point, I don’t think that fishing could really get much further away from standards. Fishing competitions regularly seek to provide a point of differentiation in attracting competitors, often through their scoring systems – i.e. the chance to win. Rather than providing a progression path to skill, competitions all too often work against each other. One area where standards are both possible and not too far away is the kayak segment. The equipment is relatively standardised, athleticism is rewarded and there is no easy way to gain an advantage other than skill. Having been involved with local kayak events and recently the Hobie Worlds, the level of difference is far less than most sports. IGFA also have a pretty consistent set of rules, though gamefishing is a far less accessible sport. Most sports have addressed this problem by providing a peak body that drives the standards, provides recognition and progression paths. I have been involved with many, and probably the

Fig.2. Comparison of categories by event type. why more don’t turn to coaches. In my experience competing in fishing isn’t just a skill thing, there are tactical elements and psychological elements as well. Fishers play mind games all the time. All high-powered athletes forge their own identity on the field but they don’t do it alone. Nobody is an expert in all areas of preparation and even if they are, nobody has a perfect view of the action. As an athlete, feedback, statistical assessment and a different point of view are important parts of problem solving. That is where coaches come in. At a lower level, coaches form the base for developing

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS Avg. Number of Class of Event Prize Categories Club 4.57894737 Community 7.95 High End C&R 3.67857143 Length Weigh in 2 Live Weigh in 2 Photo Only 2 Traditional Weigh in 25

challenging in some areas in terms of accessing a ‘playing field’. In the long run we have enough people who have the ability, and it’s probably funding that is the issue, which comes back to standards. The only way to get funding through the sports commission is to have a national body and standards. EVENTS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEIR SPONSORS Another area where fishing probably falls short of other sports is in how they deal with sponsors. The lack of a formal structure and the plethora of fishing event styles means events are not just competing for participants they are competing for sponsorship dollars, often from smaller outlets and local businesses. More organised sports negotiate sponsorships at a peak body level and bring to bear the size of their base. Recent controversies in cricket over the number of participants should be noted by fishers – Cricket Australia has a playing

has been largely amateur in all respects. Steve and Nicholle took the presentation of fishing up a few notches and helped to provide useful insights into the skill and dedication of its participants. Not to mention – they made fishing fun, which is critical to growing an audience. You should check out the Hobie Worlds video on the Hobie Worlds Facebook page. There is still quite a lot of work to do on the waterside of the sport. Events like the Tour de France follow the action throughout the day, which can be done because the leaders all group together, but it’s much harder with fishing because everyone scatters. Then there is the limitations of mobile signals. Nonetheless, these are challenges that have to be overcome to deliver a product that will gain a wider audience. In the long run, audience is what delivers value to sponsors and funding for the sport. I think livestreaming has to be where the content/

presentation of events is developed because it’s the cheapest medium that you can still create a professional product in. Unlike television, the potential livestreaming audience is not limited in format. WHAT’S THE SCALE OF THE FRAGMENTATION CHALLENGE? I wanted to put some actual data around the variance in fishing competitions. All up we have seven classifications for events we use at present: • High End C&R – competitions like the Barra Nationals that attract top fishers specifically for the prizes/recognition of skill for Catch and Release. • Community – open to general community, can have both high and lower skill fishers but the format is some form of catch and release. • Club – run specifically for members of a fishing club. Tends to have highly skilled fishers but focused on recognition within the club. • Live Weigh In – events like the ABT with fish stored in live wells, weighed at a central point then released. • Length Weigh In – Variant on the live weigh in where fish are measured. • Photo Only – Artistic or Glory photo competition. • Traditional Weigh in. I extracted a sample of the past twelve months of events

from our network that fitted that list. Note in the near future we will be doing offshore and gamefishing events which will add to the list above of variants. BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION As TMF started out in high end events, that has been our staple but over the past six months community and club events have more and more been a part of the mix. We added Traditional Weigh Ins in March, so we have only run a small number of events there, so it has to be noted that the results for that class are likely skewed. It should also be noted that the Traditional Weigh Ins we

have participated in would be considered community events in terms of attendance. Nonetheless as you would expect typically community events are the most well attended, followed by High End. Of the Traditional Weigh Ins we have worked at though, there have been big numbers. This may be due to the fact that this format is dying off and so people rally around the fewer events that are out there. The more important takeaway from my point of view is just how fragmented the tournament scene is and in the long run I don’t think that’s sustainable. EVENT CATEGORIES Another measure we have of these groups is

event categories, i.e. how many prize categories are on offer. This analysis excludes one common category – random draw/ random length as these are essentially raffles by another name. Having said that, I would say on experience that almost all community events, and even many high end events have some form of random prize. As a rule, the more serious the competitions the less categories are on offer, with a greater emphasis on placings and prizes for placings. In my mind that’s a good thing from a sports perspective, though in most sports placings rarely are considered past third from an official perspective.

Fig.3. Comparison of participation in event categories.

The more interesting breakdown comes in how those categories are assessed. While there are an endless variety of systems, the number of fish is the dominant feature of all systems with three common formats: Best Fish (single), Best Bag (fixed number of fish), Open (number of fish). Overwhelmingly single fish categories dominate when considering the number of categories on offer. The one surprising value for me though was that the bag format was more common in high-end events that are unlimited. That is a great example of the mind playing tricks on me, because my perception from on the ground was the complete opposite. The first measure was looking at how many categories are on offer – but how about participation in those categories? As there is more single fish categories on offer, you would expect those to dominate. Against expectation, while they do at the community/traditional weigh in level, they don’t in almost all other event types. That suggests to me that in the more sports events fishers prefer to focus on categories with numbers. The unexpected takeaway is bags dominate in terms of participation at the sports level in events we work with.

MOVING FORWARD If fishing is to move forward we have to pick a set of rules, have a better system for bringing in people, provide a centrepiece for the best fishers and a peak body capable of negotiating not just with government but sponsors as well. The real question though – is it time? My personal answer, almost certainly! The era of the sole amateur is going away in most sports, and having seen the skills of fishers across the country, the time has come for proper official government accredited recognition of that skill. I would be first in line to do the scoring and be part of a national tournament series that takes juniors through the ranks to compete with the best the country has to offer. I have already done that for more than one sport and I would consider it the achievement of a lifetime to do it for fishing. Does that mean the traditional tournaments need to go away? I don’t think they ever will. There will always be a traditional fishery but there should be a choice for competitors on their progression path. What would that national sport look like? That is a question I have been thinking on for some time, but you will have to wait a month for the answer.

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• 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

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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 Yamba Fishing & Charters 0401 564 052

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 Thwaites Marine (02) 6651 7810

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Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962

Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

SYDNEY

Fish Port Stephens Estuary Charters 0434 370 687

MACQUARIE COAST

• All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer

Salt Away 1800 091 172 www.salt-away.com.au

PORT STEPHENS

Castaway Estuary Charters 0427 239 650

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING

The Boat Pimpers (Sydney) (02) 9792 7799

BAIT & TACKLE

CLARENCE

YAMBA BAIT & TACKLE “Yamba’s Leading Tackle Shop” “IN THE MAIN STREET” Shop 3, 8 Yamba St, Yamba

02 6646 1514

•

OPEN 7 DAYS

“The Home of Leavey Lures” • Stocking all Major Brands • Experienced Local Knowledge • Tournament Bream Gear in Stock • Snorkelling gear in stock

Drop in to see Mick & Kelly

Marina Boat and Tackle (02) 6646 1994 Yamba Bait & Tackle (02) 6646 1514

COFFS COAST Compleat Angler Kempsey (02) 6562 5307 MOTackle & Outdoors (02) 6652 4611 or www.motackle.com.au Rocks Marine Bait & Tackle South West Rocks (02) 6566 6726

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. 80

SEPTEMBER 2019

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory 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

A U S T R A L I A

Port Stephens Tackle World (02) 4984 2144

SYDNEY

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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

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boats & kayaks

In the skipperâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seat

Inside story...

Made in Brisbane, Aquamaster boats have been enjoyed by fishers and their families for almost 30 years. Known for their quality, design and safety features, Aquamaster boats are built to suit Australian conditions.

Made for...

Aquamaster is well-known for building affordable, premium aluminium cuddy cabins, bow riders, centre consoles, runabouts, open boats, punts and car toppers. All models are renowned for their strength and build quality, soft ride, great performance and stability at rest.

This month...

Editor Steve Morgan checks out the 490 Centre Console with 70hp Suzuki 4-stroke! Check it out on page 90.

85 Kayaking forays at Forster Dayne Taylor visits this beautiful part of the coast in search of its wonderful estuary bounty!

86 Used boats: what to look out for Wayne Kampe looks at some things to consider when buying a used boat.

88 To SUP or kayak?

Justin Willmer discusses when to kayak, and when to SUP, and some pros and cons of both.

SEPTEMBER 2019

WHAT’S NEW BOATING OVERBOARD ALERT 1 SYSTEM

TITAN OUTBOARD LOCK

The new ACR OLAS (Overboard Location Alert System) product range includes the ACR OLAS Tag for attachment on your wrist or lifejacket. The technology works by detecting a break in the ‘virtual tether’ from the mobile device to the OLAS MOB system within eight seconds of someone falling overboard. The phone stores the GPS location, sounds a loud alarm, alerting the crew to the man overboard incident before the OLAS app then aids the recovery with directions to the stored GPS location. The Tag’s universal silicone strap can be used by crew, children and animals, and is ideal for daytime cruising. An alternative option is the OLAS Float-On, a water-activated USB rechargeable torch, which is easy to attach to a lifejacket and is ideal for boating at night. Introducing the latest 5.0 Bluetooth technology, the ACR platform also features the OLAS Core Base Station and OLAS Guardian, a wireless engine kill switch, for boaters who require extended functionality. Keep an eye out for ACR OLAS in selected chandlery outlets later this year. www.acrartex.com

The Titan Outboard Motor Lock has been cast for strength and durability. This lock comes in two sizes, and features an easy-to-use locking system that comes with two keys. It has a brass locking mechanism for long-lasting performance, and easily mounts over the mounting clamp handles for cut-resistant protection. It has been cast from aluminium alloy, and its Marine Grade black paint provides superior rust resistance, withstanding over the 500 hours of salt spray testing. Standard stainless steel cap locks are installed. The smaller model has a 12mm bold, a 14mm slot size and measures (L)280mm x (W)50mm. The larger version has a 16mm bold, a 17.5mm slot size, and measures (L)280mm x (W)50mm. Price: SRP $90-$100 www.titanmarineproducts.com

REPOWER PROMOTION

Mercury is offering a free rigging kit worth up to $1,575 with the purchase of a new 4.5L, 6.2L or 8.2L MerCruiser package. The kit consists of Mechanical SC1000 SmartCraft rigging kit, a single panel control, two control cables and one trim harness. Those wanting the premium experience can use the bonus value and upgrade to Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) and simply pay the remaining difference. These MerCrusier engines have been designed and built for true customer value, with a proven durable marine design, smooth and quiet boating experience, greater performance with increased power and torque, exceptional fuel economy at cruising speeds, and improved access to maintenance touchpoints. Mercury MerCruiser engines and drive systems are designed, tested, and built exclusively for the marine environment. They have ultra-responsive acceleration, impressive manoeuvrability and superior durability. The large displacement of a Mercury MerCruiser means it will barely break a sweat while it delivers all the well-mannered power you want. The offer runs until 27 September 2019. www.mercurymarine.com

MAGMA KAYAK HOLDER

No more cluttered decks or damage to expensive kayaks and paddleboards from inadequate transport. Magma’s new adjustable, all-angle, rod holder-mounted kayak/SUP rack fits into any standard paired set of rod holders to safety transport your water toys. This convenient storage rack easily attaches to any paired set of standard straight or angled rod holders to crate a strong and reliable rack system. Made of 100% 304 marine stainless steel and 365 hand-anodized aircraft quality aluminium, each arm has two strong welded tie-down loops and is covered with a durable UV-protected polyethylene foam pad to protect your water toys from damage. These racks are designed to hold almost any kayak or one or more SUPs, wakeboards or surfboards. Magma’s LeveLock all-angle adjustable mounting system, along with the Pow’rGrip adjustable quick release rod holder system, allows the racks to be quickly installed and adjusted without tools. Price: SRP $430 www.magmaproducts.com 84

SEPTEMBER 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

MOTORGUIDE CABLE5 STEER TOUR PRO The MotorGuide Tour Pro is the industry’s first true cable-steer motor with GPS anchor. Tour Pro models combine Pinpoint GPS, the most accurate GPS anchor available, with traditional pull-pull stainless steel cables for smooth, responsive steering. The Tour and Tour Pro motors are both built for tough conditions with a full 360° breakaway mount with integrated bounce buster and a rugged 2-piece shaft with metal outer column and composite inner shaft. Both models include a no-flex metal foot pedal that provides the most solid steering in the market. The new motors will include MotorGuide’s Zero-G lift assist system, which requires half of the effort compared to the competition, as well as the new Katana propeller – a Mercury designed two-blade weedless prop that delivers more power and up to 30% better battery efficiency than previous props. Both models also offer options for MotorGuide’s new HD+ universal sonar with both traditional 2D views and high-definition down-looking views compatible with most major fishfinder brands. The Tour and Tour Pro will be available in the first quarter of 2020. www.mercurymarine.com

NAVIONICS SONARCHART SHADING

Navionics has released SonarChart Shading for its Platinum+ cartography products for Australian waters. Embedded within the satellite overlay content layer, SonarChart Shading provides a detailed rendering of the seafloor. Varying shades of blue reveal changes in depth, highlighting channels, drop-offs, and other structures that give users better situational awareness and clear, visual cues to identify fish-holding structure. SonarChart Shading can be viewed on the same GPS chartplotters that are compatible with Platinum+ satellite overlay and with the same options, including selectable overlay on land, land and shallows or full overlay. Adjustable transparency allows customers to view the new imagery blended with either the SonarChart bathymetry map or the Nautical Chart. At closer zoom levels, SonarChart Shading is replaced by the actual satellite imagery over water, allowing boaters to see a bird’s eye perspective of sandbars, marshes and backwater channels. In addition to SonarChart Shading, Platinum+ will offer updated and optimized high-resolution satellite imagery. www.navionics.com

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

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Going on Forster fishing forays in the kayak URUNGA

Dayne Taylor

Forster is adjacent to its smaller sister town Tuncurry, and they are split by the Coolongolook River which stretches west around 50km and opens into the Pacific Ocean right near the mouth of the Wallis Lake estuary system. Wallis Lakes is around 25km long and covering over 98 square

and security, and offer both powered and unpowered sites, and a nice variety of self-contained cabins. This is located close to the water’s edge, the centre of town and is walking distance to cafés, restaurants, pubs and clubs. A short 5-minute drive south along the lake’s way, and you will find a massive shopping complex, including a Woolworths and Coles, and right opposite are BCF and the local Hobie Kayak dealer and

A whiting that took a liking to a Bassday Sugapen. kilometres. From Newcastle you would be looking at a four-hour drive north along the Pacific Highway, and about 2.5 hours drive south from my hometown of Coffs Harbour.

shop, Graham Barclay Marine. The crew at Graham Barclay Marine are a great insight into where the fish are biting and always good for some helpful pointers. They stock a great range of quality fishing tackle

of Wallis Lake for bream is to find the wind. Whenever it is calm and glassed out, it can be tough going, but if you can find a spot with enough wind, it seems to create some type of cover for the fish to congregate under. It also stirs up the bottom and the bait hiding in the weed beds, making the bream more likely to feed. Shallow hardbodied crankbaits are all proven producers for me out on the flats and come spring through to autumn, surface offerings small stickbaits and bent minnow styles drive the fish crazy. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of a soft plastic out in the lake, as some days a plastic cast to shy fish will turn a bad day into a cracker! Not to mention the flathead population will also go crazy for a plastic. Around the edges of the lake you will also be treated to a mix of sand banks, rocky reef, grassy banks and artificial structures such as boat hulls, pontoons and jetties. Back up towards the entrance to the Coolongolook River and the Forster/Tuncurry area, you will be treated to arguably some of the best rack fishing in the country. There isn’t a hard-core bream angler who hasn’t had either dreams or nightmares about the oyster leases at Forster! It can be both heartbreaking yet rewarding trying to extract XL yellowfin bream from deep inside the sharp oyster encrusted trays and poles. If

The author navigates the floating oyster leases at Forster. ACCOMMODATION, TACKLE AND FOOD/SUPPLIES Both Forster and Tuncurry boast a whole range of accommodation options to suit every budget and style, from motels, caravan parks and out of the road campsites. You can even venture south to Pacific Palms to find something more out of the way if you like. The Reflections Holiday Park at Forster ticked all the boxes for amenities, safety

brands and are sure to have anything you might require or may have left at home. FISHING AND KAYAKING As I mentioned above, there is over 98 square kilometres of tidal estuary in Wallis Lake, with flats with sands, weed beds, gravel and broken reef for miles. These areas are loaded with flathead, whiting, luderick and bream. A little tip I learned a while ago about fishing out in the open waters

you are not a fan of losing lures, then these areas probably aren’t for you. The fish play nasty, and often play hard to get, meaning you’ll need to downsize your leader and offering sizes, making it hard to get them out once hooked. High speed reels are handy in this situation, because you can sometimes get their head up and aquaplane them across the tops of the trays. There is a multitude of videos of local guns such as Russell

A couple of bream from a Hobie Kayak competition at Forster. Babekuhl and Kris Hickson demonstrating exactly how it’s done online. As for lure selection, I like to use a heap of different soft plastics rigged on jigheads from 1/20-1/40oz,

and even unweighted at times. Crab imitations are a must when fishing for bream, but a larger range of line and leader is recommended to assure your return ratio is higher.

I hope this gives you some inspiration to head on over to Forster for your next kayak adventure. The area is beautiful and it offers so much for kayak enthusiast.

FISHING NEWS

Murray crayfish clawing back A further 200 Murray crayfish have been successfully relocated in the Murray River, as part of the NSW DPI’s Murray Crayfish conservation stocking program. NSW DPI Senior Fisheries Manager, Threatened Species, Dr

our teams captured a range of sizes and ages as part of this year’s surveys, including some recaptures of translocated crayfish from previous years at the release site. “The team was very excited to capture a very large female (over 1.5 kg) at

which means they struggle to recolonise areas where their population has declined,” Dr Daly said. Murray crayfish can be identified by their large white claws and spiny green and brown abdomens. Murray crayfish may only be

Murray crayfish struggle to recolonise areas where their population has declined. Image courtesy of NSWDPI Trevor Daly, said the success of the stocking program is providing a great benefit for securing the future of the vulnerable species. “Murray crayfish were once widespread throughout the Murray and Murrumbidgee catchments, however in recent decades they have declined in range and distribution due to a variety of environmental factors,” Dr Daly said. “Fortunately

the collection site, providing assurance there are still some very old (25+ years) crays surviving in some parts of the Murray River.” Dr Daly said the declining populations were further exacerbated by widespread hypoxic blackwater events in 2010 and 2011. “We’re running this conservation translocation program because Murray crayfish have very low dispersal abilities and occupy small home-ranges,

taken by the use of up to five hoop nets per person from specified waters between June and August (inclusive). The daily bag limit is two per person within a 10-12cm size bracket (measured from the rear of the eye socket to the rear of the carapace). Any Murray crayfish carrying eggs externally or accidentally taken in the closed season must be immediately returned to the water. - NSWDPI SEPTEMBER 2019

A used boat can make sense BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

A boat provides immense possibilities when it comes to accessing fishable water, so it’s not surprising that so many anglers are keen to either upgrade an existing rig or to bite the bullet and bring home their first boat. This is particularly true

a very hostile environment, an environment that demands a lot of care and continual appraisal of quite a few different systems to maintain top performance, along with a trouble-free existence. A used boat, of course, might be young enough to attract a maker’s warranty, but the boating industry seems to have different standards regarding warranty provisions when compared to

indication of engine hours, unlike cars, which have odometers. And sometimes a boat that has already changed hands once might have been fitted with a new hour metre to record the new owner’s use. With all that in mind, how can you ensure that your dollars are wisely spent? Let’s look at a few things to safeguard your investment. CONSIDER WITH CARE The most important task is to narrow the field down to exactly what size and style of boat will best suit your needs. I have written articles on this in the past, and you can find them at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au. When it comes to used boats, you have the option of buying one with a 2-stroke outboard. Existing 2-stroke outboards aren’t illegal, and

looked after, and would be a worthwhile buy. After that first impression, it’s time to look for all the clues as to how the owner has treated their rig. From the ground up It’s good to start from the trailer and work up. If the trailer looks good it’s a fair indication that the owner has taken steps to maintain it, and will probably have treated the engine and hull in a same manner. There are plenty of telltale signs as to how well the trailer has been looked after. The rollers or skids should be in good order, and the winch greased and free with a clean strap. If there’s a wire rope on the spindle, there shouldn’t be any rusted sections. In addition to this, the galvanised sections of a trailer are a good indication as to Low emission two-stroke outboards, like this 15hp Mercury are great engine options for modern boats.

Once the engine cover is off it’s easy to check for water leaks (the white powder is salt) plus any residue in the bottom of the pan around the block. at this time of year, with summer on the horizon! Big boat shows have a huge number of excellent craft on display, which is great, but this can provide a financial reality check if you’re on a strict budget. A decent boat involves a decent amount of money! These days, even so-called ‘cheap and cheerful’ tinnies are no longer exactly cheap thanks to the ban on fitting new carby-based 2-stroke engines. Your choice is restricted to either a 4-stroke engine or one of the direct injection 2-strokes, and both have more impact on the hip pocket than the old 2-strokes. So the question begs asking: does a used boat make sense? USED CAR VS USED BOAT To start off with, you should know that there’s a world of difference between buying a used boat and a used car. Used cars don’t carry a legacy of a working life in

car manufacturers. Cars come with a whole-of-unit warranty, whereas boat warranties are often broken into trailer, engine and hull, with seemingly different factory backing for each component. And when it comes to the used product, log book service records are virtually a prerequisite to selling a car, but don’t seem to be necessary for boats. That said, a seller providing a service manager’s appraisal of an engine’s hours, compression rating of cylinders and (this is the gold standard) a record of service through the engine’s life is going to do very well when it comes to a sale. If you came across such a craft, it would be well worth considering. Dealers have these sorts of rigs at times, as will the very occasional private seller. Of course, most boats are offered for sale without service records or expert appraisal, and boats with smaller engines usually come without any

This prop has only faint shiny sections on the tips of the blades and the skeg is unmarked. Some very slight wear and tear is evident, but the rig has not been subjected to too much hard work. 86

SEPTEMBER 2019

These springs tell the story of failure to wash down carefully after use. There are fair lashings of grease on the hub, so perhaps the bearings were greased now and then. they’re lighter than equivalent 4-strokes and are very easy on the transom. Moreover, they require fewer trips to the service department and have that characteristic ‘get up and go’ 2-stroke response right through their power band, making them an excellent power source. True, 4-strokes are certainly quieter at idle. Fuel injected E-Tecs also have great 2-stroke power, the lowest emissions of all, plus a reputation for frugal running. Still, a 2-stroke engine purchased in the last few years which is properly maintained will still represent good value for money, so it’s worth considering. FIND THAT BOAT You can find lots of used boats from private sellers on sites like gumtree.com. au, boatsales.com.au and tournamentboats.com.au. Then you have the boat yards with their rows of rigs ready to roll. There’s certainly no shortage of options for the potential used boat buyer. As with buying a used car, a visual inspection is a must, and first impressions are very important. If the boat looks highly presentable there’s a good chance it has been well

how much TLC a boat has been subjected to. The more exposure to saltwater a trailer gets, the greater the likelihood of discolouration and maybe even corrosion if steps are not taken to wash it off. A trailer that has been washed

will be worth a look. Next, it might be an idea to check the manufacture dates of the engine and trailer to see if they roughly correspond, which can give you an idea of the over all authenticity of the rig, as presented. All hulls, engine, and trailers carry identification plates which are displayed prominently, but don’t be too alarmed at seeing a few months difference in manufacture as all engines are imported, which involves transportation times. Give the engine a onceover Whether the craft is privately sold or in a dealer’s yard, it’s essential to look at the engine. Service history is the gold standard, and some sellers do have them. Dealers will usually have a check sheet to cover a used craft, along with an engine assessment

I.D. and compliance plates on the trailer, boat and engine should give an accurate assessment of a rig’s age. down soon after use will resist deterioration far better than one which has been shoved into the shed with saltwater still dripping off it. And if the owner has been religiously washing their trailer, it follows that they’d be religiously washing their boat at the same time. Leaf springs on a trailer will show signs of corrosion pretty readily, as will the nearby brake components (if it’s a braked trailer), so either

sheet. That mans that a boat in a dealer’s yard, especially if warranty still covers the engine or hull, is a good bet. A reputable dealer will certainly provide after-sales service for a rig purchased from them, and won’t simply fob off a service issue that might arise. Whether it’s a private sale or at a boat yard, ask to have the engine cover (cowling) removed. With it off it’s easy to look for water leaks, which show up as fine white powder

from dried salt, or oil leaks. There’s a tray around the base of every engine block which, hopefully, will be clean and free of residue. A bit of clean grease around mobile components and linkages are signs of regular maintenance and will be encouraging. Before start-up, have a feel of the block to see if it’s warm. If so, you know it has been given a bit of a prior rev to ensure that it starts readily. While this is not necessarily bad, it must be remembered that the engine won’t be warm at daylight on the ramp. For this reason, a cold start-up would be far preferable. A look at the engine’s skeg (the lowest part of the engine) is important. Ploughing through sand removes paint, and while the skeg can be repainted, wear and tear will still tell the story. You can also tell a lot from an alloy prop with some paint off, or shiny bits or small nicks showing through. All of these signs paint a picture of what sort of life the boat has likely had, and this may or may not be consistent with the owner’s story. A bit of colour off a prop is no big deal, but dings or nicks in it are sure signs the engine might have been force fed some sand in its life, thus promoting possible overheating. With the engine running and cooled by a water source, it’s possible to give it a quick flick in or out of gear to see if the gears mesh correctly. You can expect a small noise at engagement, but be wary of loud jarring sounds or crunches. There you have it – some starting points for assessing a used boat. In my next article I’ll tell you want to look for in the interior of a used boat, both glass and alloy.

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3/48 Anderson Rd, Smeaton Grange Phone: (02) 9601 3022 Email: info@goboating.net.au Website: www.goboating.net.au

3/41 Leighton Place HORNSBY Phone: (02) 9482 2638 Email: sales@shannonoutboards.com.au Website: www.shannonoutboards.com.au

44 Curtis Road McGRATHS HILL Phone: (02) 4577 3522 Email: sales@trmarine.com.au Website: www.trmarine.com.au

CENTRAL COAST INSINC MARINE

MID NORTH COAST DISCO MARINE

SYDNEY WEST PENRITH MARINE

160 North Street GRAFTON Phone: (02) 6643 1199 Email: sales@discomarine.com.au Website: www.discomarine.com.au

4/133 Coreen Avenue PENRITH Phone: (02) 4731 6250 Email: sales@penrithmarine.com.au Website: www.penrithmarine.com.au

20 Dell Road WEST GOSFORD Phone: (02) 4324 4300 Email: troy@insincmarine.com.au Website: www.insincmarine.com.au

DUBBO DUBBO MARINE & WATERSPORTS 36 Bourke Street DUBBO Phone: (02) 6882 2853 Email: bbeandel@bigpond.net.au Website: www.dubbomarine.com.au

NEWCASTLE ENDEAVOUR MARINE 1 Nanda Street MARMONG POINT Phone: (02) 4958 4588 Email: sales@endeavourmarine.com.au Website: www.endeavourmarine.com.au

To SUP or kayak? BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Winter has turned on some fantastic weather for fishing and hopefully you have had an opportunity to get

thoughts and sometimes the solution just pops into your head… once you make some space for it. With this in mind, I keep an eye on the weather and tides and grab any opportunity that I can get my hands on… often despite both the weather

and tides that I’m paying attention to! If it’s glassy I’ll slide the SUP in, and if it’s blowing then I’ll drop the kayak or boat in and if the weather is horrible, I’ll often still have a crack land-based, just to throw a few casts. It’s the SUP that I really

A magic morning for SUP fishing. Calm conditions are perfect for this style of fishing.

The green lantern coloured ZMan 3” MinnowZ getting the bite. out and chase a few. It’s a busy time of year for those of us in the fishing tackle industry, with the ICAST Fishing Tackle Trade Show in the USA and AFTA in Australia, along with new product development and releases, new catalogues and everything else that goes with it. Fishing Monthly is a great place to keep up to date with the latest releases, both in the magazine and via their Facebook page, so stay tuned for more exciting new releases. When we’re busy, many of us will often shelve the fishing for a while, however I find that this is when we most need to get out, relax, defrag and chase a few fish. Even a couple of hours casting can help you get a better perspective on what you’re working on, clear the

SEPTEMBER 2019

easily retrieved and leashed to the deck or additional floatation attached. It’s in weather and tide where I did learn my lessons hence the title of this article. If you want to give SUP fishing a go, you can hire them or borrow one from someone. To get the most out of the experience, add an icebox with rubber feet to the deck in case you wish to sit down, but more importantly, check the weather! My decision on whether to SUP is almost entirely based on weather. I check on Seabreeze and other such weather programs and I am looking for winds under 5 knots for a sustained period, preferably blowing in a direction that will be at my back on the way home. I also make note of the tides and try to use them, rather than battle them for the entire session. Mornings are often the prime time for SUP fishing, before the afternoon sea breezes that commonly blow in many regions. With a glassy morning on the forecast, I readied my gear the night before and launched at sunrise

of drains, I had landed two small flathead, a small bream and an aggressive but small whiting. The session was panning out as I had expected, with little bait and fish action, however the weather was amazing, and so I decided to make the most of it by spending more time stand up paddling than I normally do. I explored a large shallow weed flat, spotting schools of big mullet, paddling and cruising with stingrays, as well as spending time with a couple of small turtles. Talk about unwinding… I was getting a good dose of vitamin sea! My time on the water was limited and I was keen to take home a feed of fresh fish for my wife and I, so I thought of the times previously when I had written ‘eat the bait’, in relation to species such as gar, mullet, squid and in my local waters, yellowtail pike. Yellowtail pike hold over the weed beds where I live, hunting prawns and baitfish through the cooler months. I knew where they would be holding and that I was guaranteed of catching

Just undersize but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The kayak is a better option than the SUP in windy conditions. 88

love to get out on though, when the weather is good. There’s a sense of freedom on the SUP, with minimal gear, that sense of floating and gliding, and just standing on the water. You almost just blend into the environment and become a part of it, with fish cruising beneath you, with virtually no noise, no fuel smells, an elevated view to observe wildlife and the environment and when you do hook a fish it’s a unique experience fighting, landing and handling them from a stand up paddleboard. I guess

it’s the sense of freedom that surfers, hikers and other lightweight adventurers seek. There is adrenaline filled moments and then there are those moments where you just feel at peace with the world. I know, it all sounds a bit romantic and I haven’t mentioned falling in, dropping things overboard and battling the wind and tide. Touch wood though, I haven’t fallen in or dropped anything in the water and I always ensure important tools and accessories are either leashed or have an accessory float attached to ensure they will not sink if they find themselves in the water. I always test newly attached accessory floats in the shallows prior to launching so that items can be

Boat hulls are a good producer of bream, trevally, tailor and other species. to beat the boat traffic and make the most of the weather. I was expecting a slow bite, as I was just after the full moon, the tides weren’t great and there hadn’t been a lot of bait around, however it was more about getting out there and making the most of a spectacular morning. After an hour of drifting and casting plastics along the weed edges and into a couple

a dozen for a feed, so a short paddle had me on the spot and casting. These slimy, smelly and toothy critters can’t resist a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ, slow rolled on a 1/8-1/4oz 1/0 jighead. The head weight ensures the paddle-tail swims on the drop and a simple slow roll (slow wind), or slow roll with the occasional pause or a few twitches, will get their

attention. It is often a fish a cast, with half landed and half managing to free themselves or occasionally bite you off. Most of my yellowtail pike fishing is done in a metre or two of water and when landing them I just swing them in, grab them firmly and then store them on ice. I quickly had a dozen in the icebox and decided to head for home, making a few casts at boat hulls on the way back. I have pulled plenty of bream from boat hulls on the Gold Coast, however I had only recently started paying attention to the boat hulls in my local waters. I usually make a cast along the mooring rope and try and trace the rope down to the bottom so that my lure is working the mooring and lower section of rope. The next cast is to the front corner of the boat and swum back along the hull. I’ll then make another cast to the middle of the boat hull, bringing the lure past the back corner of the boat and finally a couple of casts around the outboard and eddies at the

flathead. In the cooler months the flathead fight especially hard, although and I was surprised when a flathead that measured a couple of centimetres under legal was in the net and released. This was quickly followed by another small flathead. Instead of being frustrated, I remembered that the smaller fish often school with bigger fish. Sure enough, a cast right to the weed edge, a couple of hops and I was battling what felt like a better quality

The C-Tug Trolley from Railblaza makes launching and retrieving simple. and lost a powerful fish that may have been a trevally, before moving onto the second hull and pinning a bream, right on the back corner where I tend to hook most fish. It was time to call it and it had been a fantastic day on the water, despite the lack of

fish, however my previous experiences told me to make a call based on the weather and kayak fish instead. It turned out to be a good call, as the wind would have been blowing me away from the bank that I wanted to fish… a much more difficult

Chasing yellowtail pike means scales, slime and smell everywhere, but a feed for dinner. stern of the boat, or around the propeller on inboard motors. It pas to work both sides of the boat, even though the shady side often produces the most fish, and it’s also worth letting the lure hit the bottom in the shadow of the boat, as this has produced plenty of flathead that lay in the shadow and ambush prey. At the first hull I hooked

It took about 20% of the time to drift back as it had to drift down and I managed another legal flathead on the way back, which I kept for my folks, as I wasn’t sure when I would be back on the water again… although I knew I would make a couple of hours somewhere. These two short sessions had been enough to keep me sane and improve my state of mind, focus and productivity. Remember to look after yourself and if your love is

big fish. That night we turned a less popular table fish into some delicious fish cakes and salad, with sweet chilli sauce, before it was back to work, recharged and with a fresh set of eyes. The next window of opportunity that arose saw a less than favourable forecast, with winds to blow up quite early. I had planned to SUP

A solid flatty comes up yakside, ready for the net.

assignment on the SUP. In the kayak I could position my drift angle for casting and so that a few pedals would quickly and easily return me to a cast distance from the edge. With a few hours available this session was to be my classic edge bite session, with a 2.5” paddle-tail on a 1/4oz jighead and a 3” paddletail on a 3/8oz jighead. The lighter jighead was for the slower tapering edges and the heavier jighead was for steeper channel edges and working the lure effectively when the wind picked up. At the end of the day you need to stay in contact with the soft plastic and hop it effectively, so the added weight makes this much easier, especially when targeting flathead, and you want that soft plastic hitting the bottom regularly. The water was clear in the shallows and a green colour deeper, so I opted for a natural, more translucent

green colour, as opposed to a dark silhouette colour or fluoro. Again, the moon and tides weren’t in my favour, but I had the time and was happy to drift and flick, enjoying the serenity and confident that I would bump into at least one legal fish for dinner if I covered enough water and made enough casts. It’s often the same anglers catching the fish or posting a quality capture on social media… remember it’s also often these anglers that are the ones spending time on the water, going the extra mile and making plenty of casts. Regardless of the sport that you take up, be it golf, tennis or football, it’s time on the course, court or field where you learn the most and for us as anglers our arena and training ground is on the water. After a hundred metres of bank I had no fish and not even a bite. Not to worry. The bank structure and depth changes as you move along it and I wasn’t trying to catch cricket scores, rather just trying to enjoy the time on the water and land one for dinner. It wasn’t long before the lure was nailed as it sunk down after a couple of hops, the rod buckled over and I was into what felt like a reasonable

A second quality flathead for the short kayak edge bite session. flathead. It was soon in the net and then onto the lip grips to make handling safer and easier for a photo and dispatched into the icebox. I had my fish for dinner and the tide had begun to turn to carry me back home! The return drift was wind and tide together, creating a fast drift that required the heavier 3/8oz jighead to cast ahead of the drift and effectively control and stay in contact with the soft plastic.

fishing, a few casts off the bank somewhere is better than nothing. The busier that you find yourself, the more important it is to make time, step back and clear your mind, making you happier, more productive and maybe even a better person to be around! I’m no doctor, however I can definitely recommend a solid dose of vitamin sea… or lake… or river. See you on the water.

They’re slimy and smelly but they’re also pretty good smoked or turned into fish cakes. SEPTEMBER 2019

Aquamaster 490 Centre Console with Suzuki 70hp - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

DE FOR EX

Main: Aquamaster’s 490 Centre Console is a great all rounder and a blank canvas for those wanting to step up from a simple tinny to a boat capable of broadening your fishing horizons. With packages starting from the high $20,000s, you can fit it up to suit your style of fishing. Above: Powered by Suzuki’s 70hp 4-stroke outboard, it’s a frugal rig. At maximum economy of 3.4km/L it gives a theoretical range of well over 200km with a 70L underfloor fuel tank. There’s also a bug anchor well to turn this into a rig that you can fish into the night and bag a PB snapper on a livey on a shallow reef. Aquamaster is a well established (if not heavily advertised) aluminium boat brand that have been punching out fully welded hulls for the last 30 years. They were an

RPM......Speed.(km/h)........... Economy.(km/L) 700 ...........................4 .................................7.1 1000 .........................6 ................................ 4.7 2000....................... 10 ................................ 3.8 3000....................... 17 ................................ 2.8 3500 ....................... 27 ................................ 3.3 4000....................... 34 ................................ 3.4 4500 ....................... 40 ................................ 3.3 5000....................... 47 ................................ 2.6 5700 ....................... 52 ................................ 2.1 SEPTEMBER 2019

the 20th time. Additionally, there’s a stack of room for all the camping gear you’d want for a weekend away with the lads. For more information on Aquamaster boats, visit Northern Beaches Marine, 33

SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Most people I know go through boating phases. We graduate from being a bank angler to a tinny and then to bigger and bigger boats. We then tend to downsize when we get older. Aquamaster’s 490 Centre Console is an ideal rig for those who feel limited by a tinny. When there are too many days that are just a little too rough to go and run the crab pots, or when you’re tired of running for cover then the afternoon sea breeze kicks in… Sometimes an extra metre of boat and 50hp of outboard will let you stay out and fulfil your fishing desires. Priced from less than $30,000, the basic Aquamaster Centre Console is a fantastic blank canvas for those wishing to fit out a 5m centre console to be their next fishing boat. With a narrow console for true 360º access and a flat floor that runs from the bow to the transom, there’s capability for this boat to be a great crabbing platform, a super tuna chasing craft or an electric motor fitted rig for casting at snapper in season.

Steve Morgan

CON

AN THE

On the water, these Aquamasters feel solid. There’s no noise where it shouldn’t be and this hull rode and trimmed nicely at all parts of the rev range. It’s no rocketship with the 70 fitted, maxing out

FMG

original adopter of the upswept bow – a feature that many other manufacturers have thought was a great idea since. They have a couple of dealers, including Australian Marine Centre in Slacks Creek on Brisbane’s southside. AMC’s Rod Elliott took us for a drive in the first Aquamaster I’d tested for Fishing Monthly. “These are a fully welded boat that we have absolutely no problems with,” Rod said at a calm morning’s meeting at the Raby Bay boat ramp. “There are eight centre consoles in the range and they vary from 4.2m to 6m.” We think that he won’t be the sole Queensland dealer for long. Arriving on a single axle Redco trailer, the test rig weighed in at around 1000kg,

meaning that there’s not many vehicles around that won’t tow it. And that single axle coupled with a folding windscreen means that you’ll shoehorn it into plenty of suburban garages.

Length......................................................4.90m Beam........................................................2.20m Hull.weight ..............................................400kg Depth .......................................................1.05m Fuel ..............................................................75L Max.HP ..........................................................90 Bottom.sheet ............................................3mm Side.sheet..................................................3mm Capacity ............................................ 5 persons at 52km/h, however if speed is your thing, you’re allowed to drop a 90 on it. Economical cruising speed was at 4,000rpm and 34km/h where the 75L tank gives over 200km of theoretical range. Fishability is great in this hull configuration. The narrow console gives full 360º access – ideal for when a longtail tuna is circling the boat for

Mitchell Road, Brookvale, 02 9905 2117 or go to nbmarine. com.au or aquamaster.com. au. The test rig was priced in the low $30,000 range. Also, check out the video boat test by scanning the QR code on your smartphone, or by visiting the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel. You can see this rig in action there.

Moreton Bay’s near-shore islands like Peel are easily within the reach of this boat, even on days much rougher than the test day.

There’s no denying that there’s mountains of room in this boat and the narrow console gives great 360º access.

Aquamaster maximise their internal space by having no false transom. The result is the widowed battery box – no biggies.

Looking back from the bow you can see that it’s easy to walk around the console. It’s always a balance between protection and access.

The transom is high enough to make this boat well capable of handling rough water.

Aquamaster have opted for a narrow console to maximise accessibility. There’s dry storage underneath and room to mount a big sounder on a bracket up top.

With a reasonable shallow transom deadrise, this centre console is definitely not built as a true nasty-water boat. You’d need some more vee and another tonne of hull to claim that. It does, however, offer decent stability and some limited nasty-water performance.

Suzuki’s 70hp 4-stroke is one of the most frugal outboards in its class. It’s an ideal match for this hull, even though it’s rated to take 20hp more.

There’s some wet, underfloor storage under the front deck. Don’t leave your keys and mobile phone in here.

The console windscreen folds over for boat storage, which will let you get this boat into a smaller garage.

There’s a big, inbuilt anchor well up front with a bollard and roller.

There’s a few built in rod holders scattered around the gunwales.

This is definitely a ‘console for’ard’ rather than a ‘console back’ rig. It gives you a bigger cockpit space.

Simple side pockets keep your accessible gear off the floor. SEPTEMBER 2019

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

4.55

3.87 3.7

Yamaha 51

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

3.5

4.5

5.5

MERCURY’S ADVANCED ENGINEERING MEANS THE 50HP DELIVERS PLENTY OF PUNCH, BUT USES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.