Queensland Fishing Monthly August 2018 by Fishing Monthly

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Features Estuary tactics and hotspots • More 4WDing options for Fraser • Macintyre mayhem • Catching bigger snapper • Fathers’ Day gift ideas •

Boating & Kayaking Brisbane River kayaking • Trailer boat care • Battery black magic • Stessl 485 Apache Pro • Sea Jay 610 Preda-King • Whittley CR2800 • Quintrex 530 Frontier •

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August 2018, Vol. 30 No. 10

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 25 Jumpinpin 26 Gold Coast Canals 27 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane 34 Brisbane Offshore 36 Northern Bay 37 Noosa 38 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 42 Rainbow Beach 43 Bundaberg 44 Lake Monduran 44 Rockhampton 45 Yeppoon 46 Mackay 47 Gladstone 49 TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 50 Ayr 51 Hinchinbrook 51 Townsville 52 Cairns 53 Cairns NFZ 53 Port Douglas 54 Lucinda 54 Cape York 55 Cooktown 55

From the Editor’s Desk... BRISBANE BOAT SHOW FEATURE Each year, we enjoy catching up with so many of our readers at the Brisbane Boat Show. The show itself has had its ups and downs over the years and has moved between the RNA Showgrounds and the Brisbane Convention Centre several times. A couple of years ago, Marine Queensland (the show organisers) was merged into the NSW BIA, and the professional team got to work getting the show back to where it should be. Last year saw an upswing in numbers for the first time in years. So we are enjoying a renewed focus for the show, and our expanded Brisbane Boat Show feature in this issue reflects that. Of course, the first thing you need to do when you come through the doors is

to track down the Fishing Monthly stand and come and get your free gift for subscribing or renewing at the show. We love hearing your feedback about the magazine, and lots of your ideas over the years have made it into the pages. Except the guy that wanted a free boat with each subscription. Sorry buddy – no can do! In a world where we’re spending way too much time staring at screens, we

know you’ll love our curated content on a printed page. Delivered straight to you, every month. FATHER’S DAY Of course, if you can’t make it to the show, a Queensland Fishing Monthly subscription is the Fathers’ Day gift that keeps on giving. Just think about how awesome Dad will think you are when his FM magazine arrives in the post every month. You can call the office on 1800 228 244 to get it done or

just follow the links on www. fishingmonthly.com.au. VON IRELAND Staff at the office were sad to hear of the passing of our Stanage Bay correspondent, Von Ireland after a battle with cancer. Famous for her updates from the popular fishing location, she was well known here for always emailing her reports to our editor, Bob. She’d send them to ‘editorbob@ fishingmonthly.com.au’ and we’d always have to track them down because that email address didn’t exist. After a while, we decided it would be much easier if we just made an ‘editorbob’ email address. It is now his official email address, and his nickname is now Editor Bob. So Von, rest in peace and know that you have a legacy at Fishing Monthly. And Editor Bob is proud of it.

Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 16 Black Magic Master Class 39 Camping and 4WD 64 Cooking 74 Dam Levels 58 Freshwater 58 Fun Page 82 Junior Southern 29 Politics and fishing 56 Sheik of the Creek 65 Suntag 72 Tech Tricks 18 Tournament News 75 Track my fish 80 Trades and Services 90 What’s New Fishing 68 What’s New Boating 86 SPECIAL FEATURES Estuary tactics and hotpots Catching bigger snapper More 4WDing option on Fraser Lure expo awards Mayhem on the Macintyre Father’s Day gift ideas Brisbane Boat Show guide

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Estuary tactics and hot spots BRISBANE

Sean Thompson

The term ‘estuary’ basically covers the transition zone between the mouth of a river (where it enters the open sea) and the upper limits its brackish reach. Estuaries include rivers, bays, harbours, creeks and lakes connected to the sea. The variety of fish

according to the time of year, the water temperature, water colour and more. This article outlines a number of estuary hot spots and provides a range of tips and tactics on how to fish them. KEY INFLUENCES Before we detail how best to target specific areas of the estuary, it is worth outlining a few key natural influences on how and where the fish might reside and feed in an estuary.

Rock walls are popular locations but if you don’t know how to fish them you can lose a lot of tackle. species available in Australian estuaries is nearly as diverse as the types of structure in which to fish. From whiting and bream to barramundi and mulloway, estuaries are a great location to fish, whether you want to soak a bait while relaxing on a chair by the river’s edge, or patrol up and down throwing lures from a boat. To successfully fish estuaries, anglers need to understand the types of habitat that will hold fish as well as how to fish them. Entrances, jetties, oyster racks, deep holes, rock walls, tributaries and bridges – the list of estuary habitats goes on and on. Anglers also need to know what species to target at these locations and be prepared to vary their location and strategy

Natural influences Some of the biggest natural influences on estuaries include: • Moons and tides; • The effect of the wind; • Rain and water colour; • Water temperature; • Whether the estuary is currently open to the sea; and • Current and tidal influences. This article will not go into the detail of the influence of the moons and tides as it was covered in the July 2016 edition of Queensland Fishing Monthly, and it’s also available on the new FM website at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au. The main consideration worth noting here is simply that the tidal movement in the estuary around the new and full moon will be greater, i.e. higher highs and lower lows. Otherwise, some of the key

natural influences on estuary fishing, and their impacts on the fishing, are outlined below. MAKING THE MOST OF NATURAL INFLUENCES Wind Wind lanes on the water attract insects and fish. You should use the wind to make longer casts and use an electric motor to position your boat when drifting against the wind. Fish the leeward (downwind) side of an estuary in strong winds. Be aware of the effect of winds from different directions, and remember that wind can affect water temperature as it can push currents along. Rain/water colour After heavy rain you should fish cleaner water near entrances. Saltwater is heavier than fresh, so deep holes will hold fish after heavy rain. Match your lure to the water colour, e.g. use black/dark lures (for a silhouette effect) or bright lures in dirty water. Fish the rising tide in dirty water as cleaner water pushes into the system. Water temperature In winter, the best fishing can be around midday as the estuary waters warm. Shallow bays, water near rocks and muddy bottoms all tend to have warmer water. Look for variations in temperature on your sounder to see if the water is too hot or cold. Fishing cooler water at night or early in the morning can be better for some species in summer. Open or closed Estuaries that have been open in the warmer months but closed during winter can have great prawning in spring. Estuaries which were closed but open up to the ocean will have fantastic fishing at the entrance as bait tries to escape to the open sea. Closed estuaries will have more even water temperatures, and on average warmer water.

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Closed estuaries that aren’t commercially fished can have some big fish in deep holes. Current/tide Estuary entrances are best fished around the change of tide due to strong current flow. Some fish, such as whiting, will follow the tide up and down an estuary, so you should follow the tides as well. Learn the ‘rule of 1/12s’ in terms of tidal movement, e.g. 6/12ths (or half) of the tidal movement occurs in the middle two hours of the tide. Aim your lures to ensure they move with the direction of the tide, not against it, for the best presentation. Other influences Man-made influences on an estuary include environmental spills, commercial fishing pressure and boat traffic. However, the timing and influence of these tends to be harder to predict. Anglers should just be aware of them and adapt as required. This means following Fisheries advice in the case of spills, fishing snaggy or shallow

A hook-up on a big Australian salmon behind an estuary entrance in big seas. Northern NSW, are surrounded by rock walls that host big fish such as mulloway, tuna and kingfish at times. Others, such as Noosa in South East QLD have mid-depth entrances and are popular locations in winter for tailor on pilchards and lures, and luderick on weed. Some estuary entrances, such as Jumpinpin on the Gold Coast, have deep water inside their entrance, which also attracts schools of tailor and

A small but feisty golden trevally caught in the busy Noosa River, in a bay away from the crowds. areas where commercial nets can’t get into, or moving away from areas that have heavy boat traffic. Finally, it is important that anglers have a bit of knowledge about their main target species and the best time of year to fish for them. It is no use fishing for them if they aren’t there! Now we have these key influences covered, let’s take a look at some estuary hot spots and how to fish them. ENTRANCES Entrances are top fishing locations, whether you’re fishing from a boat or from the shore. The fishing technique you should employ will depend on the structure, i.e. whether the entrance is rocky, sandy, shallow or deep. Be aware that entrances can also be subject to strong tidal flows, so they are best fished within 1-2 hours either side of a tide change. Eddies or channels behind the entrance are also good spots, and can be fished mid-tide due to their location out of the main tidal flow. Some deep estuary entrances, such as Yamba in

huge flathead. Others entrances can be quite shallow and are perfect to fish for species such as whiting, bream and flathead. These fish will sit in the surf just outside the entrance under the foam in melon holes and little gutters, or as the tide comes in, they will feed inside the entrance on the flats or in the shallow channels behind the beach. Entrances can also fire

after heavy rain has flushed fish from further upstream. The first few hours of the rising tide are best as new, clean water is pushed into the estuary, bringing with it predators chasing the bait that has been flushed out. Likewise, the protected water just inside the entrance can also fire for species such as tailor and salmon in heavy seas. Rough conditions force the baitfish inside to seek protection, and the predators soon follow. Closed lakes that only open to the ocean after heavy rain events, or by man-made intervention, are also brilliant spots to fish. All the prawns, baitfish and other bait that flees to the open ocean will attract bigger predators – everything from tailor and salmon to the mighty mulloway. BOAT RAMPS Some of the most underrated and under-utilised fishing locations are boat ramps. This is particularly true if the ramp has fish cleaning facilities, as all the discarded bait and fish offal from filleting brings fish into the area. These spots are best fished late in the day or at night when most of the boats have gone home. If the ramp has a permanent light source that’s even better, as it not only helps you see at night but it attracts baitfish as well, bringing even more predators into the area. Boat ramps are best fished using very lightly-weighted or unweighted fish flesh such as mullet, striped tuna or pilchard

Permanent light sources at night will attract baitfish and thus predators.

pieces, as these will be a common food source for the area. A good choice of hooks is 1/0 suicide or 1/0 circle hooks. BREAK WALLS Break walls are man-made structures at the entrance to estuaries that jut out into the surf zone, in an effort to create safe passage to open water for boaties. They are also excellent fishing platforms for anglers, and provide structure for boat anglers to fish as well. However, due to their rocky terrain, heavy loss of sinkers and rigs can result around break walls if they’re not fished properly. Many of the break walls at the entrance to rivers have a strong tidal flow that pushes rigs around easily, and they soon become snagged. So how should you fish them? Techniques From a boat, you should vary your technique according to the tide when targeting the break wall. Due to the strong water flow, plastics and vibes are best cast and retrieved during the hour and a half or so either side of the change of tide. Outside this period, ‘tea bagging’ (lifting your lure up and down) is possible while drifting with heavier jigheads, although trolling is another great technique with deeper diving lures. Land-based fishing from a break wall offers a lot of opportunities and is one of

Kayaks can be a great way to get around shallow flats and bays. the most popular locations for anglers to fish at night, given the access to deeper water and good fishing. Tailor and salmon are popular target species off rock walls in QLD and NSW, and for good reason. The best way to target these fish is to fish the white water right out the end of the wall, or cast and retrieve into the river or ocean towards the end of the wall around the change of tide. Run your light sinker (1-2 ball or bean) right down to your ganged hooks to help avoid tackle loss if you’re casting and retrieving. You can also throw heavier sinkers out and let the bait sit when there is less run around the change of the tide. Another technique to

target these fish is to use a ganged pilchard under a float to keep the bait off the bottom, reducing the chance of snagging up. You can also add a glow stick to the float at night to keep a watchful eye on it. Throwing metals (like Halco Twisties and Spanyid Raiders), bibless lures (like Duel Adagios) or big minnow lures off break walls is also a great option for tailor, salmon and mulloway. Mulloway like to the hunt at the river entrances after a flush. Bream and flathead are other popular targets off the wall. A good approach is to fish close to the wall, walking your baits. Alternatively you can cast against the tide and let your bait drift naturally with it,

then retrieve it as it gets close to the rocks. ‘Walking the wall’ involves casting the bait out and then walking parallel with the bait along the wall as far as possible with the tide, then retrieving and heading back upcurrent to start again. Luderick are another popular species off break walls, although they require a much more specialised technique. This involves walking the wall with small stick floats with cabbage or green weed baits. You can get green weed from the backwaters of nearby creeks, or cabbage weed from the rocks. ROCKY POINTS AND WALLS There are of course other rocks, both naturally occurring and man-made in and along estuaries that are also good spots to target fish. Man-made rock walls often drop into deep water and are best fished using similar techniques to break walls according to the tide. Once again, they are great places to ‘walk the wall’ from the shore, or drift parallel to them in a boat with lures, or even bait or trolling beside them during the middle stages of the tide. Isolated rock patches in an estuary can also hold bream, and are top places to use topwater stickbaits and poppers for bream and trevally, particularly if the rocks are

only just covered by water on high tide. Rocky points are also good spots to target as they break the current flow, and the backwaters created near them will often hold baitfish and therefore predatory species. These are top spots to anchor near with flesh baits. OYSTER LEASES Oyster leases are a wellknown hot spot for bream. However, several other species are caught around their perimeter including flathead, trevally and whiting. They are attracted not only by the molluscs growing on the racks (and those that fall off as they

are farmed) but also due to the amount of baitfish attracted to the structure of assorted posts and racks. There are a few ways in which you can fish oyster leases and their surrounds. Whichever way you choose, always be polite to oyster farmers and remember it is their private property and livelihood, so avoid damaging their racks and oysters. One less common but very productive method of fishing oyster leases is to troll shallow diving lures (such as Lively Lures Micro Mullets, Tilsan Minnows and Zerek Tango To page 12

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Shads) in the area between oyster lease boundaries (marked by posts). You can also troll along the outside boundary of a lease. Friends and I have caught some big flathead with this method, as well as the odd bream and big whiting. However, oyster leases are best known for anglers targeting bream by throwing hardbody lures. This technique has been around for a couple of decades, and was made popular by TV personalities like Kaj Busch and Steve Starling in the 1990s. Their captures and coverage had big numbers of light tackle lure anglers (including myself) rushing out to buy some McGrath Attack Minnows. Since that time, tournament anglers, such as several-times ABT champion and Fishing Monthly Managing Editor Steve Morgan, have continued to popularise throwing small hardbodies, but also soft plastics, vibes and metal blades around the leases. This method is best done with an electric motor going up and down the leases, and requires accurate casting and a tight drag, but it is a whole lot of fun. High tide around the leases is the best time to target bream, with casts right alongside the racks required. If you are game you can also throw surface

Marinas can produce good fishing off the jetties and pontoons. or a mix of unprocessed bran/ tuna oil and sand – a couple of handfuls at first, then one handful every five minutes; 4. Cast your baits (such as whitebait or a striped tuna or pilchard piece) to within a metre of the edge of the racks/ oyster posts. Set your rod low and parallel to the water but with a firm drag. I recommend using a trace of quality 10lb fluorocarbon (like FC Rock) and 8lb monofilament mainline. Once again, I like suicide or circle hooks in size 1/0.

are characterised by lots of structure, from drowned timber and snags to deep water bends and shallows that are hunted by monster whiting and flathead. These fish are rarely disturbed by noisy anglers or boats. These sneaky little spots can be a lure fisher’s paradise, and bait anglers can enjoy great success as well. Regardless of whether you’re using lures or bait, you can’t expect to turn up with the usual tackle and tactics and expect success. In these quiet, clear and sheltered

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Drains, a deep hole, discoloured water and fallen timber – perfect flathead and bream territory. lures on top of the racks near feeding fish. Bait fishing around the leases is also an excellent option for anglers chasing bream and flathead. The leases are best fished with bait as the tide just starts to cover them and continues to rise. If you want to target fish with bait around the oyster leases, try the following technique: 1. Anchor your boat upcurrent (i.e. the water is flowing past your boat towards the oyster leases). This will allow your berley to draw the fish out of the leases towards you; 2. Position your boat either parallel to the racks or along the end of a number of racks; 3. Berley with pea-sized cubes of striped tuna or pilchards,

SMALL ESTUARIES AND TRIBUTARIES Anglers often mistakenly assume that more water equals more fish (and bigger sizes). This belief often means anglers concentrate their efforts in the easily accessible and deep, wide sections of rivers, lakes and creeks, while ignoring the small arms that branch off these waterways. The same can be said of those mini creeks and lakes that are considered too small to hold decent fish, or which are only accessible at the top half of the tide. Surprisingly though, if you adapt your techniques and apply a stealthy approach you will be surprised at the quantity and quality of fish on offer. Often these systems

waterways the fish can see and hear you much more easily, so you need to use finesse tackle and terminal gear. It is necessary to downsize everything, from your jighead to your sinkers to the diameter of your fluorocarbon traces. Baits also need to be presented as naturally as possible, with live or very fresh bait with very little weight. Overcast conditions and a slight ripple on the water’s surface can also work in your favour. Narrow creeks and tributaries While each creek and tributary will be different, many of the smaller systems will have a heavy tidal influence, which means you’ll want to fish closer to the top of the tide. Depending on the

system though, that can still give you about four hours, with two hours either side of the top of the tide to either be able to access the water in a boat, or for sufficient water to be covering some of the hotspots/ snags if you’re fishing from the shore. A good way to explore such systems is to walk the banks casting baits or lures. If you’re in a boat, try pulling up on sandbanks or quietly manoeuvring the boat with an electric motor to get you into good positions for casting at snags with lures or unweighted baits. Another way to explore such systems and cover much more water is trolling, and I will be discussing this in a future article. Shallow bays Often anglers will dismiss small, shallow bays, either because the draft of their boat is too deep to fish them or they think the bays are too shallow to hold decent fish. However, these locations can be brilliant for flathead in the cooler months, when these fish seek out that warmer shallow water – even more so if it is dark mud, which absorbs the heat better. I like to throw soft plastics in such locations on light jigheads of about 1/8oz, and also troll these same plastics slowly about 10-20m behind the boat. This style of fishing can be deadly when the flatties are on. Shallow tree-lined bays, particularly those with submerged trees and rocks, are also great spots to target bream on small hardbody lures and lightly weighted soft plastics. BRIDGES Fishing from or under bridges can be another productive option, given the fish-attracting structure that supports them. Whether you’re fishing from a boat or from the bridge, some of the best spots to target are the eddies formed around the front and the rear of the bridge pylons. In bigger rivers, large fish will set and rest in these locations during the mid tide (or fast run) phases to To page 14

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conserve their energy, which they would otherwise burn through if they were battling the current. Fishing large soft plastics and live baits are great options here. During the slower stage of the tide (one or two hours either side of the change in tide), throwing lures or lightly weighted baits under the shadows of the bridge can be productive. Trolling lures between the posts can also be effective. At night, try fishing the boundary between the lights reflected from the bridge and dark shadows further out. A range of predators from large flathead to tailor and mulloway will sit at the edge of these shadows, ready to pounce on unsuspecting baitfish attracted to the lights. JETTIES, PIERS AND WHARVES Jetties, piers and wharves are good training grounds for novice anglers and kids. Gone are the days when experienced anglers paddled live or dead baits for great white sharks and tiger sharks off the likes of Tathra jetty in NSW, but jetties can still produce some good fishing at times for switched-on anglers using live baits or big lures for a range of pelagic fish. One of the most common mistakes made by anglers fishing these structures is casting as far as they can away from the structure. The concrete or wooden supports under jetties and wharves are normally teeming with weed and oyster growth that attract baitfish (such as yellowtail and mullet, which are great for live bait) and species such as bream and luderick. These in turn attract bigger predators such as tailor, kingfish, mulloway and sharks. Fish will also seek shelter and cover under the shade of such structures, so you should fish with baits of lightlyweighted fish flesh or oysters that waft naturally, or with a live bait under a float fished close to the pylons. You need to tighten your drag and use heavier line than you would in other parts of the estuary, due to the risk of fish breaking you off on the oyster-encrusted pylons. Berley is also a great option here. Smaller jetties and pontoons are also popular locations for avid lure anglers chasing bream. The trick is to position your boat with an electric motor to get your small hardbodied lure or lightly-weighted soft plastic right up under the shadows of the structure where the bream will be lurking. Some piers, such as the Urangan Pier at Hervey Bay in Central QLD, are so long that you can fish for whiting or bream in the inner gutters closer to shore, while other anglers can be fishing for pelagics on lures and live bait from the end of the pier. Like bridges, piers are 14

AUGUST 2018

Trolling small lures in estuaries can result in captures of angry bream as well as flathead. also great spots to fish at night, particularly at the boundary of the where the permanent lights on the water meet the dark shadows beyond it. In deep water rivers, such as the Brisbane River, the edge of bridges and piers can hold fish such as snapper, mulloway and huge threadfin salmon. Beware though that it is only ‘permanent’ or constant light sources that attract fish. Short flashes of light from anglers with headlamps on the water can have the opposite effect and spook the fish. ESTUARY FLATS Estuary flats are probably my favourite estuary locations as you can hop out of the boat and just challenge yourself against the fish. No technology, just your senses and techniques against the fish! Bait fishing the flats If you wade out in the water throwing baits, Alvey reels are hard to beat, as you can drop your rod and reel under your arm in the water while you bait up or de-hook fish. Wading the flats with bait can be extremely productive if you use live baits such as beach, squirt or blood worms or yabbies. In fact, pumping yabbies or squirt worms into a floating sieve in the water is a great way to berley up fish such as whiting. You can set some rods with bells on to alert you of any bites while you continue to pump more bait. Once I have enough bait, I like to cast and retrieve lightly weighted baits (size 0 to 2 ball sinker) on long fluorocarbon traces of about 1m or so of 6lb line. If possible, I also like to leave a set rod or two while I cast and retrieve. The areas you want to be targeting whiting and bream with bait on the flats are melon holes and drains, either as the water rises or falls, and as the water peaks towards the top of the tide, target yabby banks around the mangroves or anywhere there is a bit of run. Creek deltas, where multiple drains or small channels intersect, are also productive. Another good approach is to fish into slightly deeper water from the edge of high sandbanks as the tide nears low.

Lure fishing the flats Lure fishing the flats has become very popular in recent years, and for good reason. With a bit of practice and the right tackle, even inexperienced anglers can catch species like flathead, with bream and whiting also possible with more refined tackle and techniques. Target areas for the flats will depend on the stage of tide. During a rising tide, lure casters chasing flathead should look for areas where water is running in over shallow water and dropping into slightly deeper gutters.

lures are the entrance to drains and creeks, the drop-off from the flats into a channel and once again the edge of weed beds, provided they are covered with sufficient water. Flathead and bream will wait in ambush at such spots, ready to pounce on fleeing baitfish. Techniques for working the flats include throwing topwater lures (as above), lure casting soft plastics or vibes from a boat or wading, drifting with soft plastic tails (for plenty of action) or trolling. Anglers will achieve better results with light 1-4kg graphite rods with cork butts for a better feel of hits on the rod. Braid (2-3lb for whiting and bream or 5-6lb for flathead) with fluorocarbon leaders of at least a rod length are also recommended. CHANNEL EDGES A little-used tactic taught to me by a professional fishing guide is fishing around channel edges lined with ribbon weed using a whole striped tuna. It is an awesome technique to use on bream and flathead. This technique can also be used around rock walls, rocky points and bridges. Firstly, anchor just off the edge of the channel and cast

A nice whiting caught anchored near the edge of a channel well upstream. Likewise, deltas or areas where three or four drains meet are great spots for flathead on the rising tide as well. The fish will sit here waiting for baitfish to come to them. If you’re chasing bream and whiting, topwater lures are a great option on the flats. Shallow flats covered in yabby banks, or melon holecovered soft sand flats are excellent target areas. Avoid hard sand areas as they are often devoid of bait, and therefore bigger fish. Fish the softer sand locations from about half tide up in water less than about 80cm deep. A gentle breeze can really work in your favour if you can cast with it, because the ripple it puts on the water makes the fish less cautious. Other top target areas for luring the flats during the top half of the tide are the edges of ribbon weed and sand pockets amongst the weed. During the falling tide, top locations to target fish like bream and flathead on

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

holder. You should also throw an unweighted bait directly out from the stern of the boat. Keep a steady stream of berley going and leave your rod in the holder, as smaller fish will peck at the larger bait until a big fish comes along and swallows the bait. Dawn, dusk and night time yield the best results. Channel edges are also a top spot for deep water whiting. For more detail on this technique, check out my whiting article at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au. RIVER BANKS River banks are popular spots for the casual angler, and can vary from sandy banks towards the river mouth, to grassy banks well upstream. Both types are great for the ‘set and forget’ technique with long, whippy rods of 8ft+ set low and horizontal to the water to ensure minimum resistance when the fish picks up the bait and runs. Just sit back on a chair with some bells on your rod and watch the tips. Baits of yabbies and blood worms are perfect for whiting and bream. You can also throw soft plastics for flatties around the sandbanks towards the entrance, or use hardbodies or lightly weighted plastics for bream around fallen timber further upstream. DEEP HOLES Deep holes in estuaries are worth seeking out. You can either find out about them by asking local tackle shops or motoring around with your sounder in locations with steep banks, sharp bends in creeks or areas where you note a change in the current or surface of the water as the channel drops into deep water. With a good sidescan or structure scan sounder you can search for baitfish and predators like mulloway, big tailor or even snapper in such locations. Techniques to employ in deep holes include either anchoring or drifting with live baits, trolling with hardbodies (mid-tide), or throwing large soft plastics or vibes around the two hours either side of the change of tide (due to slower run and having a more natural lift and drop with your lure).

UPSTREAM Finally, heading well upstream in an estuary can have a couple of benefits. Firstly, such locations can be quite secluded and with it comes nothing but the sounds and beauty of the natural bush. Another benefit is of course the fishing. A variety of structure can be encountered upstream in estuaries, from sandy shallow islands, narrow creeks full of drowned timber, or mangrovelined creek tributaries in more northern locations. Generally, such areas are lightly fished, and what’s more, where the salt meets fresh water in such locations, anglers can be offered the bonus of both fresh and saltwater fish, from bass and estuary perch to the usual saltwater species plus mangrove jack and barramundi in a number of Queensland estuaries. Big tides around the full and new moon are good times to explore such places as more water pushes well upstream. A good option is to fish the last two hours of the run-in tide and the first two of the run-out. Both lure and bait fishing tactics can be successfully employed upstream. If you’re bait fishing, try the shallow sandy flats around the sandy islands, and use unweighted baits like live prawns, yabbies or squirt worms around fallen timber. Target the shallows for whiting and bream on topwater lures and throw plastics and hardbodies at and around fallen timber for a mixed bag of species. If you are fishing such spots during the middle of the day, fish the shady side of the creeks/estuary. WRAP UP So there you have it – estuaries offer anglers many and varied locations to fish with a variety of techniques, no matter the time of year, direction of the wind or colour of the water. I hope you can put some of these tips and techniques to good use in your local estuary or at a future holiday destination in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime you can jump onto my Facebook page, Ontour Fishing Australia, for more tips, tricks and reports.

Bridges are a worthwhile estuary fishing location, especially around and under the pylons.

AUGUST 2018

Choosing soft plastics styles for beginners NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

With so many different shapes and styles of soft plastics on the market these days, picking the best option for a particular fishing scenario can be confusing, especially for less experienced anglers. Here are some valuable clues on getting it right.

While there are actually multiple answers to this question and, in most cases, no absolutely ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ selection, there are certainly better and worse choices. With that in mind, here a few guidelines I use every day that I go fishing with plastics. Hopefully, they might also help in your on-water decision-making process. Most soft lures — including the older-style, more traditional PVC-based

incredibly broad range of situations. However, certain shapes, designs and patterns do produce better results than others in specific applications, at least in my opinion. The best way to look at this question is to broadly grade or sort your soft plastics, starting with those models that have the least amount of built-in action (and which therefore tend to track straighter through the water when simply retrieved in a direct line) and work your way up the action scale to the tails that have the most in-built action. Roughly speaking, that means starting with the likes of flukes, stickbaits, flick baits, jerk shads, senkos, straight worms and so on. These lure shapes tend to have very little inherent action or movement and rely instead on the action being ‘dialled in’ by the angler through rod and reel manipulation. The next rung up the action ladder belongs to the so-called critter or creature baits that have various ‘dangly bits’ hanging off them that do move or pulse a little when pulled through the water. Soft plastics with curly tails have still more action again, as these tails wriggle or

Adding ‘dangly bits’ like legs and feelers to soft plastics can enhance their movement and action, even at very slow presentation speeds, when dead-sticked, or while on the drop. flutter when the lure moves. The thinner the tail, the faster but more subtle that action usually is. The wider the tail, the stronger and slower the fluttering action will be. At the top of the action

My answer would be: In at least these four scenarios! Firstly, in ultra-clear water, secondly, in supershallow water, thirdly, on extremely finicky, wary or shy fish, and lastly whenever attempting to imitate a food source with a subtle swimming action Conversely, when is a strongly-actioned lure from

Firstly, in dirty, discoloured or muddy water, secondly, in low light or at night, thirdly, at greater depth, and lastly, on aggressive, highly predatory fish. Hopefully, these tips have given you some basic clues on where to at least start when it comes to choosing a particular soft plastic style or shape for a given fishing

Bream often tend to respond well to plastics with more subtle or discrete actions. Curly tails are a firm favourite with many bream specialists, and with good reason. One of the most common questions I get asked is about choosing the best soft plastic action (as dictated by the tail design of each model) for a particular fishing situation.

plastisol models, the newer, tougher, stretchier ones and those made from supposedly biodegradable substances — are highly effective fish catchers that work in an

Hungry bream will never say no to a curly tail soft plastic.

Subtle-actioned soft plastics can be fantastic when trying to imitate a particular food source with a particular swimming action, like a yabby! 16

AUGUST 2018

tree are all those plastics with T-tails or fish-shaped tails complete with lobes that cause them to flap or wag from side to side when pulled through the water. This includes shads, swimbaits, fish profiles and the like. Some of these also feature body roll as well as a flapping tail. A newcomer to the game might figure that they are almost always best off choosing the lure with the strongest, most pronounced swimming action… But they’d actually be wrong! Sometimes a more subtle, discrete and downright sneaky swimming action is much more effective than a strong, obvious action, and far more likely to fool a wary fish into striking. So, when is a more subtle action from the bottom half of that action ladder or tree likely to be more effective?

Strongly-actioned shad-style tails tend to appeal to more aggressive predators… regardless of the size of those predators! the upper end of that action scale likely to be more productive? Well, there’s another four situations you can use as guidelines.

scenario. It really pays to think about these things every single time you hit the water. You’ll catch more fish as a result!

AFTA 2018 - New Product Releases The 2018 Australian Fishing Trade Association show saw industry leaders make the annual pilgrimage to the sunny Gold Coast on July 24-26 to exhibit. Daiwa was at the forefront with their new tackle releases consisting of a huge range of rods, reels, lures, line and accessories that received outstanding reviews. Check out some of the exciting new products for 2018 that you will see in your local retailer soon.

BEEFSTICK RODS Tradition meets contemporary looks and styling with the release of the new Daiwa Beefstick. With homage to the traditional solid tip fiberglass rods of the past, Daiwa gives the much loved workhorse a makeover to deliver anglers a rod series that doesn’t disappoint in performance, design, or value. The Beefstick has a graphite/glass butt for unmatched strength and durability, with the lower section featuring a carbon wrap for added strength and weight reduction. A solid integrated tip provides ultimate sensitivity, yet delivers unmatched durability. Solid, yet sensitive guides provide ultimate connectivity between angler and fish, with their ultra tough construction handling the rigors of angling and delivering anglers unmatched feel for a rod of its price. Shaped custom EVA grips blend perfectly with the Beefstick’s reel seats, providing anglers with the comfort and control to take full advantage of the rod’s power. The durable composite cork butt cap design makes it perfect for the rough and tumble of rod holders and rough ground. With 26 models available, there is a model available for nearly every conceivable scenario. If you’re looking for a modern twist on the rod that your grandfather had when you were a child, the new Daiwa Beefstick is the range for you.

TD BLACK

ELIMINATOR

Emerging from the darkness is Daiwa’s newest member to the black family, the new TD Black rod series. An evolution of the popular Generation Black series (HVF blanks) the new TD Black series has taken a leap forward in blank design and now features HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus blanks.

Designed to excel and built to perform, the Eliminator integrates many of Daiwa’s most innovative designs and technologies including Digigear and Air Rotor, and blends them with proven designs and features to create a reel that has few peers when it comes to spin reel excellence.

With higher graphite density able to be achieved through Nanoplus technology, the result is a lighter, crisper, more powerful rod. The addition of Braiding X technology further enhances rod performance by increasing wall strength and reducing blank twist.

Inner strength abounds courtesy of Digigear, with the performance inspired gearing system featuring a highprecision cutting technique that achieves perfect gear meshing and ultra smooth performance.

Optimum casting and fighting performance is elevated by TD Black’s Fuji Alconite K guides, with their lightweight construction and tangle free design tailor made for braided line, while the TD Black’s neoprene grips and ergonomically designed reel seats ensure ultimate angler comfort and in hand balance and control. The TD Black series is available in single and multi-piece offerings, with a multitude of lengths, weights, and powers. Whether it’s finesse FIFO fishing for trout in Tassie, or muscling XOS thugs from the reefs and mangroves in the tropics, the new TD Black series has you covered.

J-THREAD FLUORO LEADER First you became a fighter, now you must become a leader. Backing up from the success of J-Braid. J-Thread FC is a brand-new 100% fluorocarbon leader material that boasts increased abrasion resistance and super-low memory. Made in Japan from the finest raw materials, J-Thread FC features a low-memory core, improving handling characteristics and improving knot performance. The outer layer is treated to increase hardness and resilience to abrasion. Available in 4-80lb breaking strains in 100 or 50m spools, J-Thread FC is ready for battle. (Available August/September)

Delivering ultimate control is a collection of Daiwa’s finest and most innovative line control technologies. Daiwa’s famous ABS spool design leads the charge with the reverse taper spool enabling greater line control and increased casting distance. Daiwa’s ATD delivers fingertip drag control and unrelenting stopping power. With silky smooth start up and a tonne of stopping power to rein in the hardest pulling fish, the Eliminator will never see you under gunned in the heat of battle. The new Eliminator spin reel opens the door to a new age in light and offshore tackle durability and reliability.

SALTIST X Loaded with the pedigree and features that have made the Saltist name famous, this new series has it all. Featuring a blank with HVF graphite and Braiding X technology, the result is increased rod strength, sensitivity and lifting power. Trouble and tangle free time on the water is ensured with Fuji’s new Fazlite Anti-Tangle K-Series guides, while EVA grips, Fuji reel seats and butt caps make sure comfort and control boxes are ticked. With 12 models in the range, the Saltist X range has all your offshore angling needs covered.

For more information visit www.daiwafishing.com.au and keep up to date with all Daiwa news on the Daiwa Australia Facebook page.

Tech Tricks

Exploring fly tying equipment PART TWO BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

In last month’s article we looked at the three most important tools required to get you into the fly tying arena. While a fly vice, scissors and bobbin are the only necessities for the fly tyer, there are a lot of other tools that can make certain tasks a lot easier, allowing you to tie flies faster and more accurately to generally produce a better end result. Let’s look at a few of the more commonly used fly tying tools and some of their more common uses.

BODKIN Basically a metal pick, a bodkin has a lot of uses for the fly tyer. It can be used to accurately apply head cement, epoxy and soft dip to your flies. Additionally a bodkin is great for teasing out individual fibres (such as dubbings), helping with thread positioning while whip finishing by hand, punching holes through foams and skins, cleaning out clogged hook eyes and many other tasks. Sometimes a bodkin will have a hollow ended handle designed to be used as a half hitch tool.

HACKLE PLIERS There are many different styles, sizes and shapes of these tools yet all have the same basic use. Hackle pliers are used to grip the tip of a hackle as you palmer (wind) it onto a hook. Trying to do this task by hand can be quite difficult as the hackle tips are quite slick and easily slip from grasp. Additionally as you get close to the hook it is difficult to grip the hackle between thumb and forefinger while tying off. The hackle plier grips the hackle tip and hangs beneath the vice while you complete this task. The conventional teardrop style of hackle plier is still used, however rotating hackle pliers (which have a rotating handle) have become very popular due to ease of use.

WHIP FINISHER The knot to secure fly tying thread once your pattern is completed is called a whip finish. While this is possible to do by hand, a whip finishing tool can make the task a lot easier, especially when tying small flies, such as those used for trout fishing. There are four main designs of whip finishing tools, the standard, improved, Dan and Matarelli. They all come in an array of sizes, some possessing a rotary style handle. The basic function and use of all whip finishers is the same – they make numerous wraps of thread over the main tag end to provide a secure knot that will not come undone. This is toughened and secured further by adding a drop of head cement, flex-cement or vinyl cement.

HAIR PACKER When tying hair patterns, especially floating flies such as Dahlbergs, bass bugs etc. it is important that the hair fibres are packed tightly onto the hook shank to increase and ensure floatation. Once the hair is tied securely onto the hook shank a hair packer is used to push it along the shank against the previous hair stack to compact it. Rolling the hair packer in your fingers as you do this can help to distribute the hair more evenly around the shank. While this is a task that can be done by hand, a hair packer makes the task a lot easier. Hair packers come in a few styles and sizes however most are a simple solid tube with a hole in the end that is large enough for the hook eye to enter.

HAIR STACKER For anglers tying Dahlbergs, Bass Bugs, Muddlers, elk hair caddis and other patterns using deer, bear, elk, antelope and other stiff hairs, a hair packer will be your best friend. This tubular device has an internal tubular insert and allows you to even up the tip or butt ends of hair fibres. The hair fibres are put into the stacker and then it is tapped on a hard surface so that all the hair ends stack evenly against the bottom. The insert is then slid out, the hair stack removed and the fibres tied into the fly. Hair stackers generally come in two different sizes.

BOBBIN THREADER The thin tube of bobbins is often hard to get thread through while setting up your bobbin. Over time wax from waxed threads can partially clog the bobbin tube. This can be removed periodically by boiling your bobbins for a minute or two in water, but a bobbin threader will assist in getting the thread sorted in the meantime. Additionally those with failing eyesight will find it much easier to thread their bobbin. A bobbin threader is an elongated version of a needle threader. The thin wire loop of the threader is inserted down through the bobbin tube then the thread is poked through this wire loop. The threader is pulled back out and the thread is dragged through with it. The older I get, the more I rely on my bobbin threader.

AUGUST 2018

Tech Tricks

MIDGE HEAD For tying extremely small flies, a midge head can make the task a lot easier. For those with conventional vices, holding a very small hook (size #12 to #24) is relatively difficult as the jaw is too wide. Also, cheaper vices may not close sufficiently to hold such thin hooks. A midge head is a small vice jaw that can be affixed into the jaws of a conventional vice. The hook is then held securely with these smaller jaws (the midge head) while you are tying. Instead of having to buy an entirely new vice to tie smaller patterns you only need a midge head. These come in two sizes and are less than $20.

TUBE FLY TOOL Not all flies are tied directly onto the hook. Some larger flies are tied onto a thin tube to create a tube fly. A leader is then threaded through the tube and the hooks tied onto it. Tube flies are commonly used for larger pelagic specimens where two hooks are snelled to the leader to promote maximum hook-up potential. Tube flies also allow the leader and hooks to be changed easily if they get damaged. To tie a tube fly you will need a tube fly tool. Without this tool it’s extremely hard (almost impossible) to hold the tube while you tie. Tube fly tools can start at less than $30 but can cost more than four times this for some of the high quality ones. The tube fly tool is firstly secured into the jaws of your vice. The tube is threaded onto the metal spike (generally with a bead at each end to stop it spinning) and this is tightened into the body of the tube fly tool. Without this tool you will find it almost impossible to tie any style of tube fly.

BONE COMB Although this handy item is commonly called a bone comb it is more commonly made from horn or antler. This is used to preen longer fibres and help combine and even them once they are tied into the fly. It will also preen out and remove any unsecured fibres. Many synthetic materials (especially Polar Fibre) will become frizzy if combed with a plastic comb however the horn/antler comb doesn’t affect it. The bone comb is especially handy for those tying larger streamer patterns with fine synthetic materials.

GARBAG While it’s not strictly a tool required to tie a fly, the garbag is an extremely useful item for the fly tyer. Basically this is a small canvas bag that is positioned under the jaws of your vice (both pedestal and clamp models) to catch all the trimmings of materials. The garbag attaches to the stem of the vice and is clamped into the desired position directly under the fly or just forward of the vice. For those tying indoors it will save you a lot of cleaning up afterwards.

TEASE TOOL This simple little tool is basically a metal handle with the hook side of some Velcro on one end. This is used to tease out the fibres of materials such as dubbings, leech yarn and wools. The tiny hooks of the Velcro pad will grab the individual fibres and pull them as you stroke it across the material. Errant fibres will be removed from the fly. The tease tool is especially useful for halo patterns such as Muz Wilson’s Fuzzle B ugger.

MATERIAL SPRING Many better quality vices come with this handy gadget however it can be purchased as an aftermarket attachment. A material spring or material clip is designed to hold long fibres when tying larger streamer patterns. It is attached to the neck of the vice and the tail fibres of the fly that is being tied are inserted into it to keep them horizontal and out of the way. AUGUST 2018

The best time of year in Yamba YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Well here it is, August – my favourite month has arrived. Mid-winter is

fish it. Even last month we were catching quality fish in 10m of water or less. As I’ve said before, if you have ever wanted to try and catch a big snapper on a plastic or vibe or even a

micro-jig, then get out there this month. I’m not saying you won’t catch them at other time of the year, but with the abundance of fish in close your chances are greatly improved.

Brian and Steve were stoked with their snapper. cold, but exciting times for those who like to fish offshore in this part of the planet. Finally we’ll see calmer seas, and I must say after the year we have had with bad weather that in itself will be worth having. Quality fish will shoal up in good numbers on the close in reefs and with offshore breezes early most mornings they will be well and truly accessible to those with even the smallest of seagoing vessels. Snapper amongst others spawn at this time of the year, waiting for the water temperature to drop to 16-18°C. These bigger fish come in from the wider grounds and can be targeted in water so shallow that you wouldn’t normally

Snapper aren’t the only quality fish around in these waters this month. We catch good numbers of the Venus tuskfish, pearl perch, Maori cod and Moses perch on a daily basis. While float baiting the snapper is the most productive, a simple paternoster rig fished in conjunction with your floater will pick up the other species. South of Yamba try in close between Freeburn Rock, known as ‘the Bommie,’ and Shelly headland, further south between Plumbago and Red Cliff. Get in close and drift using the offshore breeze to push you from the edge of the kelp out over the reef. It’s a bit snaggy but very productive. To the north there aren’t many spots better than the front of Woody Head, which is a great bit of shallow reef that always holds nice fish. Shallow water fishing rarely lasts all day, so I

Ash from Inverell took this lovely snapper.

Father and son Jaques and Alex with a pearly and a snapper respectively. usually move out after around 9am to slightly deeper water, around 30-40m. With the fish shoaled up they are easy to find on your sounder and as long as you have a bit of current you can anchor up and fill the creel. Normally you would just fish with your standard paternoster bottom rig while at anchor, but don’t put your float line away, you will still take some amazing fish by flicking the lightest weighted pilly or mullet strip up current and just letting it free spool down through your berley trail. I have taken fish this way even in 80m of water. For those who want to venture way offshore, the calmer seas and lighter current on the 50-fathom line will make fishing conditions easier. The

deep water fish like pearl perch, blue morwong and pigfish will be there in good numbers, but, and this is a biggy, there is every chance the reef could be covered in those jolly yellow giants – the Chinaman leatherjackets. Although they are a great eating fish they will destroy anything not made of steel. I make a simple bottom rig from 90lb wire to fish when they are around. I know some of you will say they just eat the braid or line above the rig anyway, but the secret is to take their attention away from anything but the hook. I do this by using hard glow in the dark beads right down on the hooks, the bigger and brighter the better, and I lose very few rigs. Using wire, you may think that the jackets are all you will

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catch, but on the contrary, when the jackets invade a reef the competition for food is great and you will have no trouble catching all the quality species on the same rig. In the estuary we are having a fantastic start to the luderick (blackfish) season, and this should continue through August. With fish running in from

the Broadwater just up from Maclean. The Broadwater itself is producing good fish, but the deep water at the entrance seems better. There is a basic boat ramp opposite the entrance near the trawlers and a bit of

the ocean to spawn, and after needing to feed up, they are a lot easier to target. The rocks in front of the peninsula units are always a popular spot, as is the tug boat near Calypso Caravan Park for those land-based. The tide gauge on the Iluka side of Middle Wall and Turkeys Nest on Iluka side are great spots for those with boats. Most

the white pilly, and drifting past the entrance seems to be a very productive way to catch a feed. If you’re planning a trip this way at this special time of the year for a fish, or would like to jump aboard

A double-up of tasty pearlies for Andrew.

Don James was very proud of this snapper.

good fish have been taken on the black weed early in the season, but have a bit of green and even some cabbage on hand, as they are very fickle. Bream have been in large numbers this year, and the size is amazing. Lots of fish are topping the 1kg

mark and are fat as well. We still bag and sell mullet gut at the shop, and even though it’s old fashioned and not to everyone’s liking, it really does bring the old bream unstuck. Further upstream there have been some nice flathead taken around the entrance to

Maori cod are a fantastic catch offshore. parking area on the other side of the road. If you have a small tinny, you are set to go. My favourite bait is

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Region’s fishing good as ever BALLINA

Joe Allan

The Richmond River and surrounds have been fishing pretty well lately. The water clarity in the river has been beautiful, but could use a little flush of a little dirty water to stir things up. Offshore fishing around Ballina has been consistent over the last month. This should continue with all signs pointing towards a bumper snapper season. Areas around Riordans Reef, Black Head, Lennox Point and the close reefs around the Ballina beaches are all holding quality numbers and sizes of snapper up to 90cm. There are some big girls out there at the moment around the Evans Head region too. The best baits to throw are horse mackerel, fresh

Anthony Melchior with a nice tailor caught on dusk using pilchards and Gamakatsu Gangster hooks. squid and bonito, either floating or very lightly weighted, depending on the current. Soft plastics are accounting for the bigger fish, and for best results try big plastics around 6” long. Use as light a jighead as you possibly can, as this will defiantly help your catch rate. This time of year, the big girls are here to breed, that’s why there are so many in such good numbers. Only keep what you are going to eat immediately and let those trophy ones go.

A chunky flathead from North Creek caught on a suspending Bassday Mogul Minnow 66.

Further offshore on the wider reefs along the 42 fathom line, there are pearl perch, amberjack and kingfish. There have been a lot of great fish caught on Lucanus and knife jigs. Using the big knife jigs is a really physical way to fish, so don’t worry about going to the gym that day. Try to get in early before the wind gets up and it becomes too hard to hold on the fish. The beaches of South Ballina and Seven-Mile at Lennox Head have seen plenty of tailor being taken on blue pilchards and metal slugs. When the westerly winds flatten the winter swell, it’s also worth walking the gutters with 1/4-1/2oz blades targeting flathead. You’ll get the odd bit of by-catch of big snowy bream, and these things pull hard on light spin tackle. There’s plenty of bait if you’re out for some fun with the kids, and catching pipis is a great activity. These then turn into some great fun bait fishing as the winter bream and whiting will take a liking to them. Surface fishing for bream in Emigrant and North creeks will be worth a shot. It may not produce huge numbers, but you’ll most likely come across some thumper winter whiting.

Aaron Swanson with a 99.5cm mulloway caught on 6lb braided line. The river mouth has been producing some great sizes and numbers of bream and blackfish. Try getting there on the top of the tide as it starts to run out for best numbers of blackfish. As always, green weed or weed flies are always best.

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AUGUST 2018

Long nights worth braving for big results THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

With the temperature drop, anglers have shivered through the long nights in the rivers and have had very cold starts to the mornings offshore. The water is very clear at the moment with 20m of visibility on most reefs. Coupled up with no run on most of the shallow reefs, this is making it tough for most offshore anglers. Early mornings are still fishing the best for most mixed reefies.

so clear, it’s been hard going for most offshore anglers. Finding some run or current is the key to better fishing offshore this month. There are still plenty of mixed reefies on close reefs, but finesse is the key. Using lightly-weighted plastics and drift baits is a good ploy. The more natural the bait presentation is, the more fish anglers are catching. Venturing wider is normally the better option this month. Finding deeper reefs and fishing different styles such as micro-jigs, plastics, drift baits octa

pike and bonnies. The Ten Minute Reef has just yakkas. Bait jigs, small plastics and metals working best for the bait collecting. ESTUARY They’re going to be very cold conditions in the rivers this month, which is making it very hard for most anglers. However, those who brave it will reap the rewards. Mulloway are starting to school up in good numbers in the Tweed. The larger holes around the river mouth are holding better fish and large live baits of a night are catching these

Jamie French landed this impressive mulloway in the Tweed. Plastics and drift baits are still catching a good feed on close reefs for most anglers, where live baits and jigs are catching the cobia and kingies. Mulloway have really started to come on the bite in the rivers, and bream are thick at the moment. Anglers are finding it hard to get through the bream to get to the more soughtafter species. Trevally are in good numbers in the river mouth this month, with micro-jigs and metals working well. There are still some quality flathead up in the skinny water. Tailor are around most of the bridges, rock walls and current lines in the river on the run-in tide. Beaches are fishing really well this month, and the schools of tailor and mulloway are sitting in most deeper gutters, along the rock walls and around the headlands. Metals and ganged up pilchards are working best this month. Let’s take a look at the month’s fishing in more detail. OFFSHORE With the slowing of the currents and with the water 24

AUGUST 2018

jigs and paternoster rigs is catching good numbers of tuskies, pearlies, snapper, gold-spots, spangled emperor and Moses perch. The cobia and kings have moved in to the closer reefs. Fishing with live baits, jigs and plastics is working well on these brutes. Finding bait with arches sitting around them on your sounder is the key to finding big kings and cobia. Lots of pike have moved onto the close reefs at the moment and the mulloway are feeding up. Finding these schools and catching a few for live baits before dropping them back down on heavy gear should see you onto a nice mulloway. Isolated wrecks and bommies are holding these grey ghosts. A few packs of tuna are starting to show themselves. Look for feeding birds or bait schools on your sounder, then crank a high speed metal through them and you should be onto one of these speedsters. There’s lots of bait around this month, and if you want to collect your own, try Kirra Reef, Point Reef and Desal for pike, yakkas, tailor and bonito. Fidos, Kingy and Cook Island Marker have yakkas,

bigger models. A nighttime run-out seems to be working better for the mulloway. Vibes, blades, plastics and hardbodies are catching the schoolies during the day, just look for bait moving through these holes to find them. Good boat placement

is vital to having your baits or lures in the right spot for the bite period. Bream are really thick at the moment. Most sections of the system have good schools sitting on them. Bait is still fishing better than artificials at the moment, so finding a nice school then drifting a bait down to them seems to be the favoured method. Having mixed baits on hand helps a lot and running a fine soupy berley will get them up feeding. Run-in tides are best for the bream this month. Despite bait catching more bream, lures are still working. Using a light leader around 6lb, small plastics and small lures will get them biting and can be really fun. Try the hospital rock wall, Blue Hole, Boyds Bay, Barneys Point, Balaclava Park and around the trawlers for a bit of dinner plate fun. Lots of trevally have been caught in the river mouth. Metals, jigs and plastics are all fishing really well, but only on the run-in tide. Jack Evans rock wall is fishing the best this month. A few bigger GTs are sitting with the small mulloway around the bridges of a night, and live herring baits are catching the better fish. There are still some good flathead sunning themselves up in the skinny water. Fishing plastics and hardbodies over the skinny water will see you with a great feed and quite often a big female will be sitting with them. Remember, if you get a few smaller ones in one area, keep casting because you will often get a larger female sitting around these smaller males. Plastics in the 2.5-3” range are working best in this shallow water.

A solid mulloway from the rocks for Len McClymont.

Justin ‘Staytie’ Stayt with a nice cobia caught off Brunswick Heads. Vibes and blades will also work well in the deeper holes at low tide. A few packs of tailor are starting to feed up in the river. Try small metals, plastics and small poppers worked fast across the top for a bit of chopper action. Using a short heavy shock leader helps land some of the larger tailor. BEACHES The beaches are fishing really well this month. Small swell and westerlies make near perfect conditions on beaches. Good schools of tailor are hanging in most gutters, rock walls and around most headlands. Dusk and dawn are still the best times, with metals, hardbodies and plastics catching the most tailor. Soaking a ganged up pilchard rig is better during the night in these draining gutters. A few larger mulloway are being caught around the headlands and rock walls. Ganged pilchards, whole worms, hardbodies and plastics are all catching fish this month. Look for washing waves rolling into the gutters around the headlands and rock walls. A well-placed bait or lure won’t last long in these areas. Trying to get them up the rocks is another story. Catching large sea bream that are moving around and sitting in the gutters on the beaches, rock walls and around the headlands has been good fun. Baits such as strip baits, white bait, worms, pipis, pilchards, cunjevoi and crabs are all catching fish this month. Crushing up pilchards will get them up feeding close to you and keep them in front of you. Dart, whiting and flathead are still in most gutters this month. Try the

skinny gutters on the last of the run-out with small plastics and baits for a good feed. You only need to use small light setups in these small shallow gutters, which makes it lots of fun. Due to the lack of waves, a 6-10lb set up will be more than enough for these gutters. NEXT MONTH Next month will see more big reefies move onto close reefs to spawn. Targeting these species after the full moon should see you get more and larger fish next month. The mulloway, cobia and kings will sit around the bait schools on these same close reefs. Isolated reefs and wrecks will fish the best with live baits. Tailor will keep rolling through on their annual migration on their way to their spawning grounds off Fraser Island. Anglers will be getting their fill as they move through. The mullet will continue to run up the coast and the mulloway will follow these schools. Find the schools and find the mulloway. Bream will keep thickening up as they come to their spawning season. Fishing baits after the full moon will fish better for these silver dinner plates. Trevally will keep patrolling the rock walls over the mouth and the flathead will keep sunning themselves in the skinny water as well. Beaches will fish well right throughout the next month. Dusk and dawn will be the best time to fish the beaches. If you need any further advice on any fish or of fishing the Tweed, send a message to me on my Facebook page ‘Fishing Fun Gold Coast’ and I will help you out and steer you in the right direction.

Plenty of options and good weather to get out SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

With a great run of weather in the lead up to this month’s report, plenty of time on the water has resulted in some great trips. The beaches are fishing amazingly well and there is plenty of action to be had by both the estuary and offshore anglers.

the big ones being a little harder to catch, being persistent can make all the difference. Once you have a drift marked on the GPS, turn the sounder off if you can and just use the GPS track. It can make a huge difference some days. If there is good structure and bait in the area, the snapper will be close by. The wider grounds will also produce some delicious pearl peach this month. Experienced anglers

Often mistaken for spotted mackerel, school mackerel like this one can be found during winter and spring harassing the bait schools on reefs and rock close to shore. OFFSHORE While snapper have been a little patchy some big fish have been caught off the Tweed and Gold Coast. August is often the best month for snapper off the Gold Coast, so fishing should improve. Most reefs between 18 and 36 fathoms have been producing fish but get out wide to the 36s for the bigger fish. With

will recognise the schools of pearlies due to the diamond shape the schools make when viewing them on the sounder. These are a slow growing fish, which is why the bag limit is just five. Paternoster rigs can bring up two at a time some days, so protect the stocks and stick to bag limits. Research has shown that when handled carefully,

pearl perch have around a 90% survival rate when caught from deep water and released. What we have done in the past is catch our five pearlies before setting up a float line for big snapper. If you have never used a float line before, do a little research on the Fishing Monthly website. You don’t catch the numbers, but all my big snapper have been caught float lining. Kingfish and amberjack will also be an option on the wider grounds this month. This time last year a few mates from the Tweed were doing very well on yellowtail tuna too. Smaller boats or those preferring to stay in close will see a lot of action in the shallow reefs. Schools of good-sized tailor have been chasing bait around the reefs as well as plenty of mac tuna and even a few school mackerel were caught. I had a session with another mate on the mackerel and small tuna in close using little more than bream fishing gear. We also managed a heap of good-sized tailor all on spin gear and small metal lures. The close reefs have also been producing a few big mulloway after dark, so there are plenty of options this month. ESTUARY It’s flathead season and the fishing has been excellent throughout the Tweed River, Currumbin Creek and the central Gold Coasts canals. Bait fishers can often do quite well. However, because these fish lay in waiting to ambush prey, lure fishing for flathead is the most productive. Soft plastics are ideal for casting and retrieving or troll small hardbodies like the Zerek Tango Shad, Tilsan Bass or Lively Lures Micro Mullet. Best colours are pinks, bright green and white but surprisingly, I have a mate that does very well on black

The flathead are getting bigger as spring draws closer. Cody Ward landed this one on a Berkely Gulp 5” grub fished on a 1/4oz jighead. lures. Fish the cool, clean incoming tide and look for weed edges, shallow yabby banks and anywhere small baitfish, whiting or mullet can be found. Bream are spawning now and some good numbers of fish can be found around the mouth of the Tweed River all the way down to Jack Evans and along the gravel patch at Kennedy Drive. Light line or leader during the day are good, as the clear water at this time of year makes them shy away from the heavier line. The big bream

are great sport and will fall for a well-presented soft plastics fished with a little finesse. Anglers fishing the upper reaches of the Tweed using soft plastics for bream might be lucky enough to find a few bass on the edges as well. They move into this brackish water during their spawning run and can be caught on lures meant for bream. Most of the bream up there are small or just legal size but some goodsized bass can be found amongst them at times. I drop in at Tumbulgum and

work upstream towards the Murwillumbah Bridge. Tailor are also making their way into the estuaries and the mulloway won’t be too far behind. Trevally slow up a lot in the cold water but the odd one has been showing up in the lakes in the middle of the Gold Coast. The lakes and canals have been producing some good catches including reports of tarpon and giant herring. This always improves as spring draws closer and is even a good option for the fly fisher. BEACHES Tailor are the main catch on the beach and last month saw the size increase significantly. All along the coast and headlands anglers are managing a few goodsized tailor and this is the best month for them on the Gold Coast. The traditional pilchard on ganged hooks work as well as throwing metal lures at sunrise and sunset. Bream and flathead are also on the beaches along with dart in the shallow gutters. Pipi or beach worm baits work well. Even the big flathead love to pounce on a pipi. I used to work as a guide on the surf beaches and the number of big flathead I saw caught on pipis makes me think that they are like cupcakes to big lizards. They just can’t resist them. There are so many options this month, so hopefully the weather will continue. It might still be a little chilly early, but it’s well worth the effort.

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Let the flathead fun begin JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

It’s the flathead time of year and there should be some big flathead this month as they feed up for their breeding season. The water clarity has

been spot on for flathead fishing, so now is the time to get out there and use plastics, vibes or hardbodied lures. The visibility is so good that you can find weed patches, snags and structures that should hold a few flatties. If you do get a flatty, keep persisting in the same

area as there are always more nearby. There will be heaps of larger 75cm+ females about, which must be put back. Be sure that you handle them with care and release them to breed and pump up the flatty stocks of the ‘Pin. The peak time to target flathead is on the last

Matt showing his boys how it’s done on soft plastics near Cabbage Tree Point.

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few hours of the run-out tide focusing on banks that are becoming exposed and looking for drains and back eddies as the water drops away. Try along Diner Island, Tipplers Channel, near Slipping Sands, the deep drop-off near Kalinga Bank, Cabbage Tree Point and near Jacobs Well. Look forward to a cracking tailor season as they make their way up the coast chasing the bait schools and getting ready for their breeding season. Tailor can be caught all year round at the ‘Pin and are particularly prevalent at this time of year. You’ll start to notice the size and the quality of the fish increase. Most of the time they travel in small schools, so where you find one there should be more about. Floating pillies, white bait or herring around the bar to Kalinga Bank should get you a few tailor. Try using small metal lures if you see birds working or fish chopping up. The whiting have been picking up in size and in numbers from the Broadwater, Wave Break Island, Couran Cove, the Green Bank, Slipping Sands and the western side of the Never Fail Islands. A few good fish have come from the Pimpama and Logan Rivers in the deeper holes and also from the sand flats between Kalinga Bank to the Pig Styes and the top of Crusoe Island. Sticking with either sand or bloodworms and using red tube and beads

After catching his first legal flathead, Baylee’s hooked. will increase your chances of a feed. Bream once again will be the most popular species being targeted and you can expect them to be around in great numbers right throughout this month. All the usual spots will be firing like Kalinga Bank, Short Island, Flat Rock, the Power Lines and up towards Karragarra Island

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A thumping Jumpinpin flathead caught by Rhiley Griffiths on plastics.

in the deeper water. Or you can try to avoid the crowds and try the Stockyards, Five Ways, Tabby Tabby, the mouth of the Pimpama and Tipplers Island. For the land-based Fishos the Jetty at Jacobs Well has been producing good bream late at night or you could try the rock wall, or under the bridges of the M1 in the Logan and Coomera Rivers. Mulloway are still around in good numbers, with most fish taking small to medium live mullet. They will also take herring, prawns, yabbies, flesh baits and larger 5-7” soft plastics. The deep water off Swan Bay, Giants Grave, Marks Rocks, the Power Lines, Little Rocky Point and Tabby Tabby have all been producing good size mulloway. Luderick are biting in Tiger Mullet channel and Short Island on small yabbies and weed if you can get some. Jacks are normally a summer fish, feeding more actively in the warmer months but a few have been caught even though the water is quite cool for this time of year, so if you have a few live baits, give the jack fishing a go around Rocky Point, Tabby Tabby and Cobby Rocks. • Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

Mix it up to get the results on the canals GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn Instagram: @josh__dunn__

The winter species should be staying around for a couple more months. Tailor, mulloway and bream are only a few species that have been getting around in good numbers in the Broadwater and local estuaries of the Gold Coast. Lately at work a decent amount of customers have been asking a lot about

mulloway – the best bait, lures, tides, time of the day and the list goes on. As much help as I can be, the best thing is to keep it simple and persist. Early mornings and late afternoons have been the best times in my opinion, especially a run-out tide in the late afternoon. Places with a lot of flow can produce solid mulloway. Night is another great option and I would highly recommend you get your tides perfect. This only comes by doing the hard yards and working it out.

Half an hour before and half an hour after the low seems to work best for me. I usually throw plastics around 4-5”, both fork-tail and paddle-tail with a 1/4oz-3/8oz jighead to keep it in the strike zone! Tailor have started to show up after a late start to the season. The broadwater has produced the most fish, although estuary mouths are a close second. All techniques have been working; trolling, throwing plastics and blades, bait and surface lures. Always keep a close eye on the horizon Jackson Taber with a quality GT taken from a recent session in a local estuary.

A few mulloway have been getting around lately at night.

of the water for diving birds after baitfish, as tailor sit under these baitfish schools for an easy feed! Either you can troll the edges or cast soft plastics or surface lures right into the action! Jumpinpin is known for thick schools of tailor, both inside the ‘Pin just before the sand flats and also right in the middle. If you’re struggling to find fish, try sounding up schools and working the bottom; surprisingly I’ve caught plenty of big tailor as a by-catch when fishing

for flathead! With the Flathead Classic slowly approaching, flathead have also started to show up in numbers. Some anglers have been very successful on the water. Again, keep it simple when fishing for flathead and remember the basics. I find casting around sand flats an hour before and after low tide works best. With an overcast day, I will throw a dark green or white. On a day with 100% sun, try a baitfish-like representation or something bright in a colour like pink

or nuclear chicken. Within the next month or two, we should see temperatures slowly start to rise, as well as the water temperature. In saying that, we should see a lot of rain. In conclusion, August is a great month when you want to mix it up. There are big tailor biting in the Broadwater and big bream in the canals when the wind picks up out there. Whatever you’re into, there will be a mixed lot of species on the bite this month! See you out there.

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Southern Junior

Shallow water snapper MORETON BAY

Ryan Smith

Chasing snapper over the last few months in the shallows of southern Moreton Bay is something that I have really enjoyed and have had great success. Finding these actively cruising fish in water only a few feet deep excites me. Catching quality fish on lures doesn’t mean you have to have an expensive boat and all the best gear; anyone can catch a good fish consistently if a few basic things are done right and you always think about how to better your catches. When chasing these fish in the shallows I find that structure and bait are the key factors in whether it’ll be a good session or not. If there is no bait in the area and the structure isn’t drawing fish then the fishing won’t be as good as when you find schools of hardiheads showering on the surface and a rocky, weedy bottom. You have always got to be thinking, ‘why would fish be feeding in this area?’ Keep multiple areas with some form of structure in the memory bank and find which area is holding the bait on any given day. Matching the lure with the bait is also necessary – there’s no point throwing a 10” curly-tail soft plastic when the baitfish are only 2” long. Matching the hatch is the best way to produce a bite on any given day. If that doesn’t work, try some other things. Having a collection of soft plastics between the 2.5-4” range in a few profiles should have you covered for most bait types in the southern bay. ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ, 3” MinnowZ, 3.5” GrubZ are just a few favourites so far this year. Colour-wise, I like to have a clear natural colour such as opening night,

Getting out on the water early can produce some amazing sessions in the shallows. then a darker colour then an out-there colour like pink or yellow. I also find the Jerk Shads from Gobblers Lures have been working wonders in the 3.75” size. To match a jighead up to these lures I prefer something around the 1/8oz size and a hook to suit the plastic that I am throwing. A 1/8oz jighead allows me to cast a fair distance without it plummeting to the ground losing time in front of the fish’s face. The winter mornings might still make it hard to get out of bed before the suns up, but I truly believe it’s worth it. Fishing, especially in the shallows, is something else around the first light periods. The fish just feed aggressively and there are generally more

fish of better quality compared to the day. With this in mind, at bite times like these it’s essential to not spook the fish. Turning off the main motor before your mark and slowly drifting your way into the area or using an electric motor is key. Any radios or music playing can also spook fish also the same as any other loud noise. The most beneficial part of this fishing is that anyone can do it. These fish only need half a metre of water to be feeding, so even the land-based angler can chase a few of these hardfighting fish. I hope all of you have a chance to get out on the water this month and remember to bring a jumper. Until next month, tight lines and screaming drags.

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Even if you don’t find a few fish, beautiful sunrises across the water are amazing to see. AUGUST 2018

Warmer water brings offshore species closer GOLD COAST

David Green

August is a time of northwesterly winds and cool days. The water temperature drops to around 20Â°C on the

is a great time to chase snapper and mulloway on the inshore reefs and a lot of offshore snapper move closer to the coast to spawn. There have been good catches of snapper early in the season; soft plastics, micro-jigs and bait have been

witha downrigger. This method can be very effective on the 18, 20 and 24-fathom reefs. The traditional method of berley and bait is hard to beat however. The 36-fathom line reef is probably the most reliable area to target snapper this

A mulloway caught on a Zerek Fish Trap. inshore grounds, but out on the continental shelf itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s generally a couple of degrees warmer. This

effective. Quite a few anglers are trolling for snapper using 10-15cm minnows fished about 5m off the bottom

month. Low tide changes around dawn and dusk generally provide the best fishing, and in August quite a

few big snapper over 6kg are usually caught. These fish are starting to have a bit of a resurgence over the past few seasons since the bag and size limits changed around ten years ago. Fish as light as you can, with only as much lead as you need to get down to the lower part of the water column. As well as snapper, expect a few tuskfish, teraglin and tailor. For big snapper try more picker-resistant baits like mullet heads or tailor frames. These often account for the biggest fish. My favourite soft plastic for snapper is a large Gulp Nemesis in white or grey. There should be plenty of mulloway around on the inshore reefs and also on the artificial reefs in 23m located north east of the Seaway. These fish are at their best just on dark, and live tailor, slimy mackerel and yellowtail are all effective. If you catch any pike they are deadly. Fish your live baits close to the bottom and leave the reel in gear. In general the fish will hook themselves. Out on the 50-fathom line there should be plenty of snapper, pearl perch, amberjack and kingfish this

Ben Job with a striped marlin. month. Jigging and deep live baits are quite effective and the addition of a small piece

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24-26 AUGUST

careful if the wind blows up from the northwest. It can be a long, slow, wet ride home if you get caught in a big westerly. For the game fishers August can produce yellowfin tuna out wide on the thousand fathom line as well as striped marlin from the 50-fathom reef out to around 300m. The winter marlin fishing off the Gold Coast can be very good at times and there is always the chance of a blue marlin as well. Trolling slightly smaller lures is a good

tactic in August as both tuna and striped marlin prefer something slightly smaller than is usually used for bigger blue marlin. RIVERS AND ESTUARIES As the water cools a lot of estuary fish become very active and it’s a great month to target bream, flathead, mulloway, luderick and squid. A lot of anglers are already out there targeting flathead in preparation for the upcoming Flathead Classic. It’s all about trying new spots, new lures and

refining your techniques in preparation for the big event. So far this season the flathead fishing has been excellent; on our last three trips we caught over 40 fish each time. Both trolling and casting have been equally effective. Black lures have been a surprising standout. In August big flathead start to move into the deeper estuary entrances in preparation for spawning. Deep jigging using soft vibes and big soft plastics is worth trying this month and the numbers of fish in the

deep increases throughout late August into September. A lot of these fish are over the maximum legal length of 75cm and should be handled very carefully prior to release. If fish carrying roe are stressed they can resorb their eggs, so take good care of them. Squid are another good option this month. Fish areas over the top of weed beds on the top of the tide. Calm, still days tend to fish the best. Drifting over weed patches working a good quality squid jig is generally quite productive and a feed of squid is always welcome. In general more natural coloured squid jigs in browns and green with a hint

of orange are very effective. A lot of the cheaper jigs tend to delaminate and lose their attractiveness after a few squid bite them. Most of the squid caught over the tops of weed beds are northern calamari, while the smaller arrow squid tend to be in the deeper sections of the estuary. Mulloway are quite active in August and fishing live mullet on the tide changes can produce big fish over 120cm throughout this month. These fish actively feed on the masses of tiger mullet that school up along the Seaway walls and the mouth of Swan Bay at Jumpinpin. Live pike are another deadly bait. We have recently had good

success jigging with soft vibes in the deeper holes of the estuaries in daylight hours. If you are fishing the Seaway area just float out your mullet without weight on the change of a high tide and be patient. It may take a while to get a run but the size of the fish makes it very worthwhile. Overall, August is a very productive month on both the offshore grounds and estuaries and most of the fish caught are excellent eating. Just be careful of westerly winds if you venture far offshore, and make sure you have logged on with VMR before heading out. It’s a flathead, mulloway and snapper month and a great time to catch a good feed.

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AUGUST 2018

Logan River and ‘Pin bar turning up trophies SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

The southern bay is really producing the goods at the moment. There’s plenty on offer with great catches of flathead, bream, mulloway, tailor, juvenile snapper, trevally, mackerel, king threadfin salmon and winter whiting. The flathead have been going off this last month. It doesn’t matter where you go; they have been everywhere and there are some are good quality fish too. Fish to 75cm have been very common with lots of 60cm fish amongst the numbers. Trolling hardbody lures has produced plenty of fish and is a good way to cover a lot of ground and find the congregations of fish. Lures like the Zerek Tango Shad in 50 and 69mm size have been accounting for their fair share. Once located the schools it pays to cast the area using

Glen Kampe with a cracking thready from the Jumpinpin. vibes or soft plastics. I prefer to use the ZMan 5” paddlers, as they are a very versatile bait with a slimline profile and great paddle-tail action. When it comes to vibes I like to use the TT Switchblade or the Zerek Fish Trap. Try to work the low tides as the fish are more congregated along the drop-offs. Snake drains are the perfect

flathead Ambush Point, so concentrate on these. The southern bay is alive with some cracking

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Luke Cameron with a solid snapper. snapper. There have been lots of fish caught in the 80cm size bracket. There have even been quality snapper in caught in the Logan River. Bait is the key to good quality snapper, so make sure you use your sounder to locate it and work the areas over. All the reef edges are producing fish, so look for the main reef points as you’re starting areas. Lightly-weighted plastics or well-presented bait will see you with the best results. There have been some nice tailor getting around the bay with some quality catches up to 3kg being reported. There are plenty of chopper tailor around the Pin

bar so make sure you keep a small slug rigged and keep an eye out for any school that may pop up. Weighted and unweighted pillies, fast retrieved slugs or plastics and even poppers will entice a bite from some of these manic feeders. There have been great reports of mulloway from the Pin bar. Plenty of fish have been taken on live baits and lures. Try to work each side of the tides to get out of the main hard running water. There are also reports of some nice-size giant trevally getting around in the ‘Pin bar. Bream are schooled up in big numbers throughout

the Jumpinpin area. The bar, east Curuso and around Short Island are the places to look. You can find them stacked up around sunken timber or even out in the open in the

sand undulations. Once you find a congregation of fish cricket score catches have been reported. Small soft plastics or small metal vibes are the best way to target these fish in spawning mode. Just remember to only take enough for a feed and not take your bag limit just for the sake of it. The Logan River has been performing well, with plenty of small mulloway, bream, flathead and whiting. Marks Rocks and the Deep Elbow are the best places to have a look. Find the bait balls back eddies and colour lines as these areas will hold the most fish. If you have a great capture from the southern bay you would like to share, email them through to nick@ techfishing.com.au. Until next month tech-it-easy.

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AUGUST 2018

Richie Lucker with a decent flatty caught on a TTs Switchblade.

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Squid and a variety of quality species available BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the last few months anglers have been treated to some quality fishing throughout South East Queensland waters. There has been a broad spectrum of species on offer with definite quality amongst them. Squid have been prevalent within Moreton Bay and some have still managed quality crabs, despite them generally being considered a warm weather target. Another surprise was the numbers of school mackerel; anglers were regularly scoring a full bag well into July from

numerous areas within the southern and eastern bays. August anglers will also be treated to some quality angling with the usual cold weather suspects as well a few new species coming to the fore. Get amongst a few of these beauties. WHITING Most of the banks areas (not in Green Zones) and the channels dividing them have been producing numbers of quality whiting for anglers right throughout the colder months. Obviously it has predominately been the winter whiting (divers) that have been most prevalent however, many have also reported thumping big summer whiting to over 35cm from the bay and

estuaries. Fresh marine worms have been the best bait, although preserved and frozen offerings are definitely worth using. Thin strips of squid can be tenderised by banging them between the side of your knife blade and a cutting board before threading them on a long shank hook. Drifting is usually the preferred method and allows you to cover a good portion of water. However, many anglers anchor in likely areas and manage to score some good numbers. Size #4-6 long shank hooks, fluorocarbon leaders and a minimal sinker weight will increase results. Most will fish a light paternoster style rig and

Justin with another slab of Brisbane River mulloway.

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AUGUST 2018

double headers of whiting are common as they commonly roam the flats and channels in schools. The Rous Channel and Small Ships Channel are heavily fished areas, but seem to constantly produce the goods for most anglers. Whiting fishing is quite simple and they are a good target species for the junior anglers and newbies to fishing. If you like chasing snapper in the bay then keep your heads and frames, as these make prime baits. SNAPPER I must admit that I haven’t targeted snapper much this winter, however many have scored great results throughout Moreton Bay. The artificial reefs and the bay island margins have been the most heavily fished areas, yet they continue to produce enough fish to keep anglers going back. Those who are a little more adventurous will target other areas such as wrecks and the occasional structured areas

in the Pearl, Rainbow and Rous channels. The Cowan Ledge and Cleveland Ledge can also produce some quality specimens at times. Live offerings including squid, yakkas, slimy mackerel, gar and pike are likely to produce better quality specimens. Quality fresh baits including fillets from bonito, mullet, pike, gar and slimy mackerel could score you a knobby or two. Large fresh banana prawns are a prime offering and are often fished on a jighead then drifted close to the bottom. Big snapper find this irresistible and the strikes are very aggressive. Plastics are another great way to tempt quality snapper. Jerk shads, curltail, paddle-tail and many other types can produce. Use the lightest jighead that will still allow you to get the plastic into the strike zone. Keep retrieves fairly slow, while retrieving with the current or slightly across it. Even a plastic cast behind a drifting boat and allowed to waft along in the current will score some aggressive strikes. Drifting is desirable while casting plastics as you cover a lot more ground. Electric motors are great to control your drift line without having to start your motor. Travelling in a wide berth away from your fishing ground is a wise choice to avoid spooking the fish in residence while you are repositioning. LUDERICK It has been a decent luderick season this year with some quality fish caught. Weed was hard to find until July due to warmer than average water temperatures and therefore many didn’t begin to get into any fish until then. The Brisbane River is one of the more consistent spots locally, however further afield the Gold Coast Seaway, Tweed River (especially around Boyds Bay Bridge), the Caloundra Boardwalk, Tiger Mullet Channel and many other areas throughout the Jumpinpin and Pumicestone Passage are all worth fishing. While specific rigging and specialised techniques are required for good results, the effort is worthwhile with numerous quality fish being caught (often land-based) within a few hours. Additionally luderick are exceptionally tasty if they’re kept alive until just before filleting. Remove the skin and black gut lining and you have soft, very tasty white fillets to consume.

Stephanie Cofone with a thumping Moreton Bay cephalopod. SQUID It has been a decent season for squidding for both land-based and boating anglers. The shallows of all the bay islands (Mud, Peel, Green, Bird, Goat, Coochiemudlo etc.) have all been worth a try. The major channels and gutters filtering between the sand bank systems have also been worth targeting for both arrow and tiger squid. The bay foreshores at Manly, Wynnum, Scarborough, Wellington Point, Amity Point and Victoria Point have been producing consistently for the land-based egi aficionado. Night time sessions at many of these locations can be especially rewarding with squid often sighted using a high-powered head torch before an egi is even cast to them. This can be highly productive at times, however the squid can become rather wary due to the fishing pressure these areas receive. Several jig changes are often required to entice them to strike. Out in the bay, acquiring squid is often a lot easier. Casting egi over shallow waters that flow over reef, rock, rubble or weed beds will generally reward. Squid hunt and reside around such areas that attract smaller baitfish and crustaceans and provide them with cover. Tigers are the most common in these zones, however a few arrows will also be taken. The channels are a better option for arrow squid with

the Rainbow and Rous, and the smaller channels and gutters that run off them are a good choice too. During August good numbers of arrows are often found in the channels. Discoloured patches along the edges of these channels are worth targeting with egi or baited skewers. FLATHEAD Usually August is one of the best months for large flathead in the estuaries and along the beaches. They started quite early this year with good catches reported last month too. Large female flathead head inshore towards the end of winter, followed by hordes of males all keen to breed. This inshore exodus can last a few months although reasonable numbers of flathead can be taken year round by those who know where to look for them. Flathead move around the estuary during the tidal phase. Towards the higher stages they are most likely to be found up on the flats. As the tide turns and begins to fall they will take up ambush spots, the larger models will generally be found where the most water and the last of the water drains from the flats. This area is commonly where the most aquatic morsels will pass. Baitfish, shrimps, prawns and other delicacies are all fair game to a flathead laying half submerged into the sand or muddy bottom. Their lateral line acts like an ear and they will

detect anything within range that is scuttling or crawling across the bottom. As it gets close they will erupt from the bottom to engulf it. For the angler, this knowledge will aid in targeting these quality sport and table fish. Lures that bump or travel across the bottom are more likely to get noticed and eaten. Hopping plastics and vibes across the banks and down the declines into the main channel is a good way to get connected. Trolling diving minnow lures along the edges of the banks on the falling tide allows you to cover a good area of ground, which is great if you are unfamiliar with the water you are fishing. Usually once a flathead is caught you will often score several from the same location as every large female will be accompanied by several smaller males. The next few months will be prime for those targeting flathead. As flatties are commonly in shallow water they are a great target for the small boat owners, kayakers and shore-based anglers. MULLOWAY The aim of most serious estuarine anglers is to catch a big mulloway. Until the floods of 2011, mulloway captures were

rare, however large schools are often now located and several quality fish can be caught in a single session. In the bay, mulloway can be found in many of the same areas as snapper. These include artificial reefs, wrecks and deeper gutters. The southern bay

with all manner of lures and live baits. Soft plastics, micro-jigs, minnow lures, blades, vibration baits and many other offerings can all work. Put it in front of them and work it well and you will generally be holding a loaded rod. Quality sounders and a good

The Brisbane River is a prime spot for anglers to target mulloway and it’s astounding the number of quality fish that are caught in a river that flows through a major city. The lower reaches produce the larger numbers of quality mulloway however

While the majority of whiting caught recently have been the divers, a few quality summer whiting have been taken as well. has many good areas and numerous holes and the major channels around the bay islands can all hold good numbers of quality fish. From here mulloway can be located well up the Logan River and down towards the Gold Coast including all the creeks and rivers that flow into the Jumpinpin area. They can be tempted

knowledge of their workings will go a long way towards success because finding them is usually the hardest part of the equation. Quality live baits such as herring, mullet, pike and large banana prawns are prime offerings in these waters. Larger baits should be fished on a snelled hook rig to provide maximum chance of hook-up.

specimens can be caught well up past the city reaches. Live baits fished in the deeper channels and along the ledges are a relaxed way to produce a few, especially during the darkened hours. Often the dredge holes out from the retaining wall at the mouth will hold decent amounts of bait which in turn attract mulloway, snapper and threadfin.

The Claras Rocks area and the deeper holes under the Gateway Bridge are other spots worth targeting. Casting lures, especially vibration baits and jighead rigged plastics, along the fronts of the major jetties is a successful way to score mulloway, snapper, threadfin, cod and flathead. Be aware of the restriction zones that exist around these jetties as going too close may score you a fine. TAILOR Decent catches of tailor have been taken from the eastern facing beaches of Stradbroke, Bribie and Moreton Islands in recent months. Additionally they have been caught in the bay and estuaries at times. The Scarborough Jetty, Manly Rock Wall, Amity Rock Wall and Woody Point Jetty are a few of the better locations to chase tailor for the landbased anglers. In the lower reaches of the Brisbane River, tailor can be caught around lighted areas at night on cast and retrieved lures such as paddle-tail plastics, minnow lures and blades. Schools of tailor will often bust up on the edges of the flats in the estuaries and in the main channels. In this situation, they are a lot of fun to catch on light tackle and surface lures such as poppers and walk-the-dog

style topwater offerings. These same offerings work well when cast around the shallows fringing the bay islands. Tailor are voracious predators and will attack a broad array of lures and baits. In the bay they are commonly caught around the artificial reefs and bay islands and also in the major channels. They will often show well upriver if the water quality is decent and can often be a surprise for anglers targeting other species. CONCLUSION As the temperatures begin to rise, we will see a gradual change in species. August is one of those great months when we can be presented with a wide array of piscatorial options. In addition to the aforementioned species, others such as cobia, mangrove jack, hairtail, mackerel, tuna, bonito, estuary cod, threadfin and more can be encountered. Having a target species and a game plan can definitely maximise results at the end of the day. August weather can be variable at times with either strong westerly winds or windless warm days, you never know until it happens. With so much on offer, it shouldn’t be too hard to find something to target, regardless of weather.

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Snapper and amberjack are going strong BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

The cooler weather during June along with the water temperature getting down around 21°C saw the snapper fire up at most of their regular haunts and we picked up some solid catches on charter. Most lines of reef held fish and we had some good session on the 29s, 33s

The only downside was whenever we found some bigger specimens, the sharks seemed to find us. The taxman gets you on the land and he gets you at sea! Snapper numbers should continue to increase in the coming months and August/ September are normally two of their most productive months, until late in the year. Although snapper are our main target this time of year,

A catch of quality amberjack that saved these anglers going to the gym. and out wide on the 90m line. Floatlined pillies and fresh strip baits accounted for most fish and the quality was pleasing with plenty in the 2-3kg size range.

we’ve still been doing some live baiting and we’ve had some good catches of quality amberjack to around 15kg, but again, sharks have been a problem. On one particular

charter we went to a spot I hadn’t fished for a fair while and the ambos were on the chew straight up. We managed to land nine for over 100kg, and still got bullied by a few bigger ones. A couple of days later I went back to the same bit of ground and the wind was coming from a different direction, plus the current had dropped out and we couldn’t lose a bait. What a difference a day or two makes! That’s when you need a plan B, C and D to put a fish in the boat, so we went to another bit of ground where I knew the prevailing wind and current would give us a good drift over. We battled away and caught our limit of ambos in the 4-6kg range – not as big as a couple of days previous, but still solid fish. It’s the same when you’re snapper fishing off the South Passage Bar; there is so much ground in close proximity and different lines of reef seem to fish better on certain moon phases, so be prepared to move around to find the feeding fish and keep it in the memory bank for next time. There have also been some good pearl perch around of late and although we haven’t been outright targeting them, we’ve picked up some both

A good bag-out of snapper with a couple of pearlies thrown in. floatlining for snapper and live baiting for ambos. Our best went 3.7kg, so if you’re keen to target a few pearlies, try the Wire Patch east of Flat Rock, the 100m line east of Point Lookout and the bottom end of wide Caloundra (for those up near the Cape) should all be worth effort. • Until next month, enjoy your fishing, take care on the coastal bars and if you’d like to join me on charter (max. 8 persons) give me a call on 07 3822 9527 or 0418 738 750 or visit my new website www. outlawcharters.com.au.

This solid 3.7kg pearl perch fell to a free spooled pilly.

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Fish still biting as the days get more comfortable NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

This month brings a seasonal change that we all love to see as we start to exit our cooler months to welcome the pleasant spring conditions, which we have grown to love as anglers in the South East. Yes we would expect to get our customary ‘Ekka’ westerlies in the middle of the month, which often spells the end of winter and welcomes the start of longer days again. Does this month spell as significant a change in the fishing quality as it does in the weather? The answer is no, as the end of the cooler months often brings some exciting fishing prospects to us in the northern bay.

humble flathead. Standout areas for flatties over the past few weeks have been the mouth of the Brisbane River, the lower reaches of Cabbage Tree Creek, the mouth of the Pine River, especially between Dohles Rocks and the Ted Smout Bridge and the mouth of the Caboolture River, especially on the Burpengary side during the ebbing tide. Medium-sized minnowstyle and grub-style soft plastics have been the recipe rigged on medium to heavy jigheads to ensure your plastic digs into the sand like a feeding baitfish. Favourites include Zerek Live Flash Minnows, Gulp Nemesis and ZMan SwimmerZ. Bream numbers have also been on the rise since their annual spawning period came to a close. Incoming tides have been the pick of the

Bribie around the 112, Mission Point and Cooks Rocks, Redcliffe Peninsula at North Reef and Shields Street, and the western side of Mud Island. Mulloway and threadfin have been the flavour of the month in the Brisbane River. Diehard anglers have been getting them in the cover of darkness throughout the system from UQ to Hamilton. Small sinking stickbaits, vibration baits and even shallow running jerkbaits have been the ticket with many anglers running through a gaggle

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BREAD AND BUTTER No, we are not talking about desserts, but angler favourites of bream, flathead and whiting. These three species have always been fishable in the Northern Bay all year round, however one is always a standout in the cooler months and that’s the

bream chasing times of late with hardbody lures coming into their element at this time of year. A slow increase in water temperatures and rising barometric pressures have also added to the flourishing bream numbers along with the drop in weed growth all through the northern bay.

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of spots for that elusive bite. During the daylight hours the patient anglers have been rewarded with a deep bite down around the container docks with a sounder being imperative to find the schooling bait. TIP OF THE MONTH Be sure to change your line, whether braid or monofilament, on a regular basis as line can perish when it’s not used regularly. After each use be sure to cut off around 10-15m of line to ensure your next trip isn’t just using the same line over and over again.

Pumicestone Passage suffers a lot in the cooler months with annoying stringy weed that frustrates even the most patient anglers, so to see a decline in this has been a welcome change. The hot bream lures for this month are Imakatsu Wasp 50, Jackall Chubby Shallow, light Cranka Crabs, Ecogear SX43 and Savage cranks. Winter or diver whiting have appeared in good numbers over the last few weeks with the hotspot being the Cockle Banks. This has been good for the area as whiting numbers in the past have been incredibly consistent in this area and locals are dialling into the pattern with ease. Squid strips and bloodworms have been the pick of the baits and twin paternoster rigs are a good method of attack when numbers are thicker. Other areas in the bay producing good whiting include Bramble Bay closer to the Compass Adjustment Buoy and areas outside of Nudgee Beach.

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It has been a great season for snapper! NOOSA

Peter Wells

On the offshore scene the snapper season is well underway with quite a few good knobbies taken over the last month. With the waters cooling plenty of quality of fish have come from both the shallower and deeper reefs. Sunshine Reef has been outstanding with plenty of good-size snapper taken. These fish range from pan-size up to the 70cm mark. The key to getting on the fish is to get that berley trail happening. Cubes of pilchards slowly released into the water at regular intervals should see the fish move up the trail.

Try fishing a pilchard floater – a lightly-weighted pilchard that will make its way down through that berley trail. Fishing an 8-15kg rod with 20-40lb braided line along with a quality shock leader between 40-60lb will cope with most snapper you come across. Soft plastics are another option that has seen plenty of snapper landed. The Ultimate Squid from River2sea is great for the snapper anglers and comes in a great range of colours. Fished on a 4/0-5/0 jighead with the appropriate weight to get your lure to the bottom and slow jigging has been the way to go. Make sure you scent lures with a squid flavoured scent to get the best results.

Craig Mullet (left) was fishing the beach and managed this 25kg+ Spanish mackerel slide baiting.

Dan Lever got a couple of ripper snapper fishing Sunshine Reef. Both fish were caught on pilchard floaters through a well-laid berley trail.

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On the outer reefs plenty of larger fish have been taken, but you must remember that you can only keep one fish over 70cm per angler with a total bag limit of four and nothing under 35cm. One other important piece of information is that snapper will shrink a little once they are put on ice, so be sure to only keep fish that are well and truly legal. There have been plenty of anglers from Fisheries Patrol have confronted back at the boat ramp with fish that are just undersize. In the rivers trevally, tailor and bream numbers have been outstanding. Starting with bream, there have been plenty of quality fish taken right throughout the system, but if you really want to get onto those 35-45cm fish, you have to think a bit about what you are doing. These bigger fish love to live around cover and fishing around pontoons and jetties is where you will find them. Lighter lines are the key with most of the successful angers opting for 1-4lb braid and 4lb leader. Anglers fishing baits are using mullet strips, mullet gut, fowl gut, and good old-fashioned prawns. These baits are very lightly-weighted or not at all, depending on the tidal run. Another great option is soft plastics! Unweighted soft plastics that are cast to the edge of the shadow line of pontoons and jetties and left to fall naturally through the water column seem to be very effective. The fish dart out and take these more natural looking

falling baits. The most successful have been the prawn profiles like ZMan ShrimpZ and Squidgy Pro prawns in the wriggler tail. The sought-after golden trevally have been in great numbers in the Noosa River. Local anglers have seen plenty of goldens on both bait and soft plastics. Bigeye and giant trevally

larger fish taken over the past month. Anglers have been trolling the river with slugs, soft plastics and diving hardbodies. Remember to upsize your leader as these tailor have a habit of snipping you off. It’s coming up to that great time of year when the flathead mind turns to love and these great fish

see you pull plenty of fish from the same bank as there are plenty of suitors vying for the attention of that bigger female. On the beaches it’s all about the tailor! The tailor run this year has seen a marked improvement from previous years with plenty of schools making their way up the coast. Anglers have been busy with many using the traditional pilchard method or casting slugs. Remember when tailor fishing that more anglers are better, as this keeps baits in the water and the schools will hang around. Slide baiting has also become very popular with plenty of anglers giving it a go. The most productive times have been at night on the high tide. Slide baiting is when you cast a large sinker to the back of breakers then run a weighted bait clip from Max Tackle down the line with a live bait to a stopper on the line. Smaller mullet, chopper tailor, and even trevally have all been used as baits. This method has been very successful on larger tailor, mulloway, tuna and large Spanish mackerel that are known for cruising around the back of the breakers at this time of the year. The perfect places to give slide baiting a go would be Yaroomba, Noosa North

Young Blake Paulger was doing Marine Studies in the Noosa River while on school camp and hooked this 67cm golden trevally on 4lb braid, got spooled down to the backing twice, but still managed to come up with the goods. After a quick pic the fish was returned. have been in the Woods Bays and pushing bait schools to the surface to feed, so make sure you keep an eye out for the surface action and have a rod rigged with a popper ready to cast. Prime times have been the low light periods coupled with an incoming tide. Tailor have also been plentiful with a lot of

start to congregate in our rivers. Flathead will start to nest up in the coming months with plenty of younger males attracted to the larger females in the river. Soft plastics are perfect for these fish and fishing on a run-out tide near drop-offs and banks should see you get a feed. This is one time where fishing that same area will

Shore, the top of Rainbow Beach and Fraser Island. • For all the latest information log onto www. fishingnoosa.com.au for up to date bar and fishing reports. Drop into Davo’s Tackle world Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting, and remember tight lines and bent spines!

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Using the right tackle to catch bigger snapper One of the best things about winter along the Mid North Coast of NSW is the snapper fishing. While quality reds can be caught all year round, it’s the winter months that are the most productive. This is especially the

If you’re serious, get there well before the prime time, so you’ll be anchored up and in position. This will give any reds spooked by your presence time to readjust and you can get a good berley trail going; this is something snapper respond very well to.

a ledge or bommie if the current is going to wash your berley away from where you’re casting. With the berley going the right way snapper can often be whipped into a frenzy with baits often getting smashed immediately after hitting

The author with a 14.6kg NSW record red caught in less than 10m of water. they fish sinkers way too heavy for snapper in this depth of water. If you can get away with it, a totally unweighted bait is all you

need, however depending on current you may have to go up to a pea-size sinker. This allows the bait to slowly work its way down

something you’ve just got to deal with. If you go too heavy, you won’t get the bite and if you go too light, you’re going

As the sun sets or rises big reds come out to play. case over shallow reefs in less than 30m of water, with quality reds up to the magical 20lb mark on offer. While bait fishing for reds is nothing new, it has taken a bit of a backseat over the past decade to soft plasticslures, so much so that many anglers have never tried or forgotten how to use bait for reds. It’s something I do a lot of and while it’s a simple form of fishing there are a lot of mistakes and things you can do wrong that pretty much instantly write off your chances of having success. The number one hard rule is that snapper are not a gentleman’s hours fish; if you’re not prepared to be out there before the sun comes up or to be coming home in the dark then you will miss the prime time. When it comes to fishing the shallow reefs in 10-30m of water dawn and dusk periods are critical and when 80% of snapper are caught.

A few blocks of pilchards cubed up and a handful thrown over every few minutes is all it takes. This will in turn attract plenty of baitfish around the boat, which will further amplify the berley’s effectiveness. Position yourself up current of the area you want to fish; it’s no good anchoring on one side of

the water. I find the best baits to use are fresh squid, cuttlefish, pilchards and slimy mackerel fillets. It’s important to make this bait look as natural as possible and also to have it wafting down through the water column around the same speed as the berley. This is another common mistake anglers make as

Gathering some quality bait will greatly increase your chances.

Working the berley pot as the sun sets – dusk periods are critical for snapper fishing. the water column and if there’s no action within five minutes of casting, wind up and throw out again. The perfect hook for this is the Black Magic C points in a 5/0-6/0 depending on bait size. These hooks aren’t too big to catch pan-sized snapper, but strong enough to hang onto that 20-pounder too. They are also the only hook I’ve used on snapper that consistently penetrate through the super-hard top jaw molars – an area that for most hooks usually results in a bent tip and no fish. The best areas to target big reds in the shallows are usually super nasty terrain and getting steamrolled by the odd big fish is

to get blown away just about every time. I find a good compromise for bait fishing is 30lb braid with 30lb leader. This will give you a good cast and keep you in the game when that trophy fish comes along. I use Black Magic 30lb FC leader as its abrasive resistance is as good as it gets and it’s able to deal with being scuffed through the reef far more than other softer leader lines. The ideal outfit is a 5000-6000 size reel paired with a 7ft rod rated 20-30lb with plenty of grunt to try and put the brakes on these things before they find the reef. AUGUST 2018

More great 4WD options for Fraser Island PART 2 FRASER ISLAND

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

Last month we checked out the options for taking a 4WD vehicle to Fraser Island. We also took the drive along the eastern beach as far north as Eurong. BACK TO THE BEACH – NORTH FROM EURONG Having reached the ocean beach at Eurong or Cornwell’s Break, we can look north along the

pressure systems it has been necessary to take the bypass at all stages of the tide. Of course there are always a few clowns that attempt to drive around the front of the rocks accompanied by great sprays of saltwater over their vehicles. Recently there was at least one vehicle drowned by a driver who needed to prove something. YIDNEY AND HAPPY VALLEY Beyond Poyungan, the drive is straightforward as far as Yidney Rocks. From here to Happy Valley, there are more coffee rocks exposed to

The next major feature is Fraser’s most popular tourist destination, Eli Creek. It is best crossed when the tide is well down, but at any stage, it demands a close look. Take note of the way other vehicles are dealing with it. Eroded banks can be steep, and base sand can be soft. As with creeks further south, it’s usually best to cross close to the sea, angling the vehicle slightly downstream to reduce the impact of fast flowing water. Once through, keep driving until well clear of the wet sand. Just a short drive from

Just a short drive from Eli Creek takes you to the Maheno wreck – another top tourist destination. attraction, the track to the top is now from the southern side of the headland. MIDDLE ROCKS, WADDY POINT AND ORCHID BEACH. Driving further north first requires negotiating the Indian Head bypass track. It’s notorious for the number of vehicles that are bogged at its southern approach on a daily basis. Then follows a short

leaves the Orchid Beach road around 4km from Middle Rocks. Access from the campgrounds to Waddy Point headland is across the sand flats and beach and it’s best to follow established tracks. A short distance past the Waddy Point turnoff there is a T-junction. The track to the right leads to the beach that extends north to Ngkala Rocks. This also allows for

Point to Orchid Beach route used when Moon Point barge was operating. Now the track terminates at the camping ground, on the eastern shore of the Wathumba Creek estuary. Another track from Orchid Beach leads to the western beach north of the mouth of Wathumba Creek. This is now closed to public use, but is available in special circumstances.

The Poyungan Rocks bypass – at low tide it might be possible to follow the beach around the front of the rocks, otherwise it’s a matter of taking the clearly marked bypass behind the rocks. ocean beach. The first major obstacle is Poyungan Rocks, 11km north of Eurong. At low tide it might be possible to follow the beach around the front of

varying degrees. Again, beach conditions may allow travelling around these rocks at low tide. Otherwise a short bypass around Yidney to a boarded

Eli Creek takes you to the Maheno wreck – another top tourist destination. Remember that a strict 40km/h limit applies here. The same limit also applies Middle Rocks to Indian Head. beach drive to Middle Rocks. Although the steep track to the car park is boarded, the beach approach also attracts its share of bogged vehicles. Dual one-way tracks form the road to Orchid Beach, effectively bypassing Middle Rocks and Waddy Point headlands. The track to Waddy Point campgrounds

an alternative beach access to Waddy Point, but again, it’s best to stick to established tracks. Back to the T-junction, the track to the left leads to the Orchid Beach township, the store and the track to Wathumba Creek on the island’s west coast. This track saw plenty of use when it was part of a Moon

OCEAN LAKE AND NGKALA ROCKS The very popular Ocean Lake camping ground is 5km along the beach north of Orchid Beach. It’s a short walk to the lake from the beach. South Ngkala Rocks is a further 4km north. These coffee rock outcrops often present the greatest

Fraser’s most popular tourist destination, Eli Creek. the rocks. Otherwise it is a matter of taking the clearly marked bypass behind the rocks. This is a single lane track and usually not in great shape. Movements of sand along Fraser’s east coast, however, may be enough to expose coffee rocks right down to, and even beyond low water. Following the effects of coastal cyclones and low 40

AUGUST 2018

ramp onto the beach – or a longer bypass as far as Happy Valley – might be required. TO ELI CREEK AND THE MAHENO There are more coffee rocks on the beach north of Happy Valley. The most significant are McLaughlans Rocks and a little further north, Chard Rocks. Both currently have bypass tracks that might need to be used.

at Eurong, Poyungan Rocks, Yidney, Happy Valley and Eli Creek. NORTH TO INDIAN HEAD Apart from a few creek crossings, the beach is fairly typical of one that is at the mercy of prevailing weather, ocean and sand conditions. There are no rocks to contend with until you reach Indian Head. Another popular tourist

From Waddy Point the beach leads to Ngkala Rocks and Sandy Cape.

challenge to further progress up the ocean beach. Although generous build-up of sand may occasionally allow beach travel around the rocks, at most times the bypass tracks need to be used.

low as 12psi. It is certainly sound thinking to travel with at least one other vehicle. Caution – this is a remote area. There has been an information sign at the cutting reminding drivers

You may need to detour around Ngkala Rocks. After passing through a short cutting, this track traverses undulating sand before emerging onto the beach. There have been times when Ngkala Rocks has been regarded as impassable. With conditions subject to change, it’s wise to walk through the track to

that they are entering a remote area. I assume that is still there. NOW FOR SANDY CAPE Once through the track and in the remote area heading north, there are other sets of coffee rocks (North Ngkala and Browns) that may require short detours,

coast, the beach is closed to vehicles. TO THE WESTERN BEACH As just mentioned, the western beach from Rooney Point to Wathumba Creek is closed to vehicles but it is open from Towoi Creek to Moon Point. Some years ago this beach was open for the complete west coast from Wathumba Creek to Moon Point but the 3km north of Towoi Creek is now closed. The only access to the western beach is through the Woralie Track. This leaves the ocean beach 3km north of the Maheno wreck. This track is usually in reasonable condition but like all others suffers following dry periods. It takes a little over an hour to reach Woralie Creek. Visitors to Lake Allom use this track as far as the lake turn-off. Another branching track leads to Awinya Creek, but this long alternative is only feasible when tides

from ocean swells. Of course choppy seas during strong winds out of the west and north don’t make these beaches very attractive. Tidal variation is greater here than on the ocean beach, particularly on new and full moon tides. An easily traversed beach or creek crossing

a number of Fraser Island creeks, the position of its mouth is changeable. The mouths of western beach creeks tend to migrate in a southerly direction. Crossing Woralie is seldom a problem. COONGUL CREEK AND MOON POINT This small estuary, 11km south of Woralie, forms

cliffs. Here we often see fresh water springs, or ‘bubblies.’ Water running through the sand of the hills finds its way under the beach to emerge as springs near the bottom of the beach slope. These apparently bottomless springs are best avoided by not travelling too close to the bottom of the beach. A little

One of many creek mouths along the western beach. could become a problem in a short time. High on the beach the fine sand can become very hard work for a vehicle forced to use it on an incoming tide. Generally the best section of the beach to drive on is the lower part of the beach slope. On the lower tides a wide sand flat might be exposed seaward of the best driving path. Often these incorporate spits and gutters, and very often, soft sand. It is best to resist the temptation to drive on these flats. WEED During the later months of the year, the marine grasses and algae might be washed ashore during strong winds. I should point out that this is not related to infestation

the mouth of a creek that demands extreme care if it is to be crossed. As well as carrying a lot of water, it can be soft and uneven. The approaches on both sides can also be steep and uneven. After crossing Coongul Creek, and 5km of beach driving, you’ll reach Moon Point and the Moon Creek estuary. Now that the Moon Point road is closed, reaching this part of the western beach is only possible by crossing Coongul Creek. BOWARADY AND AWINYA Returning to Woralie track entrance and heading north just 3km takes you to the mouth of Bowarady Creek, the site of another

further along the beach there are more low coffee rocks, but they aren’t too much of a problem. Towoi Creek, the northern limit of travel on the western beach, is 9km north of Awinya Creek. RULES AND COURTESIES The speed limit on the ocean beach is 80km/h and 30km/h on tracks. Some sections have reduced limits and these are well signed. Vehicles are expected to keep left when in beach traffic. With no centre lines and no definite track in use, it’s hard to tell where vehicles are headed. For many years, it was a practice to indicate left when facing oncoming traffic.

The first sight of the western beach after following the Woralie Track. determine whether it might be possible to tackle. One of the biggest problems is meeting an oncoming vehicle when in soft sand partway through the track, so it’s best to be sure that you have a clear run. In some of the least favourable conditions I have needed to drop tyre pressures down as

but otherwise it’s a clear 20km beach drive to Sandy Cape. Once around the corner and heading southwest in the direction of Rooney Point, the beach is open as far as the entrance to the Sandy Cape Lighthouse track. Beyond here and extending from Rooney Point to Wathumba Creek on Fraser’s west

are high enough to prevent crossing Bowarady and Awinya creeks. WESTERN BEACH CHARACTER The character of the western beach is quite different to that of eastern coast. Usually there are smaller waves that lap its sand, being mostly protected

A short distance past the Waddy Point turnoff there is a T-junction and the track to the left leads to the Orchid Beach township, the store and the track to Wathumba Creek on the island’s west coast. This is Wathumba Creek.

The western beach Arch Cliff. of floating algae (Hinksia) experienced in some years on the ocean beach. Some of this western beach weed finds its way into deposits up to a metre thick near the top of the tide. Here it slowly breaks down, releasing nutrients into both marine and terrestrial systems. Some is deposited in shallow gutters of the flats. Following sand-laden winds often cover the rotting weed, resulting in what might appear to be an innocent part of the flat. A vehicle later travelling over this hidden slush could easily find trouble. WORALIE CREEK Heading south from the track entrance this is the first creek to encounter. Like

popular camping spot. The creek crossing is seldom a problem over low water. The western beach also has coffee rocks, but few hinder progress along the beach on the low tide. The most significant is between Bowarady and Awinya creeks, but there is an easy diversion behind the rocks. The camping area at Awinya Creek is the most popular on the western beach. From here a track crosses Awinya Creek upstream from the mouth and, as I mentioned earlier, takes a circuitous route to link up with the Woralie track. TOWARDS TOWOI Heading north from Awinya Creek, the beach is shadowed by steep sand

Although this practice was in decline for some time, it’s good to see that many more drivers are applying this courtesy. It’s also important to indicate when leaving the stream of traffic to access a track or camp, or simply to stop on the beach. In this case the vehicle should park well off the traffic path and at right angles to it. NPWS suggest that the use of the right indicator should be used when overtaking. I have a problem with this as it could give an oncoming vehicle very misleading information. I think that overtaking should only take place when there is no oncoming traffic within a safe distance. That’s about it from me. Happy Fraser Island driving. AUGUST 2018

Offshore fishing great when fishers can get out HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

This winter has thrown a bit of a curveball, bringing unseasonal rains, wind and fluctuating unstable temperatures – fishers haven’t been able to catch a break. Some would suggest that the seasons that once were are slowly changing and in turn having an impact on our fisheries. Time will tell I guess.

and kingies can become a nuisance at this time of year and provide great sport for those dropping a jig to the bottom and ripping it back up. The heavy tackle fishery continues to fish quite well with Mistress, which has been operating off Fraser, scoring some great results and quality fish over the past month and without another boat in sight. If the weather eases up and you’re into your game fishing, get out there The author with a solid AJ that couldn’t resist a metal jig ripped up through the water column.

Andrew ‘Chozza’ Chorley getting in on the hot snapper bite. The weather has been less then pleasurable for anglers venturing further afield, however for those who have the chance, their efforts have been rewarded. The shallower grounds over the Breaksea Spit and to the north have been producing good mixed bags of Moses perch, lippers, tuskfish, cod, coronation trout, gold-spot wrasse, red emperor, snapper, cobia, green jobfish and Spanish mackerel throughout the daylight period, with some of the better quality snapper and reef jacks coming from those putting in the effort during the night. The wider grounds and the shelf have been producing some exceptional numbers of pearl perch and snapper especially deep dropping with electrics in 140-200m of water. The AJs

and enjoy it. July through August is usually when we get a run of sailfish off the 13 Mile crossing, so it will be well worth towing around a few lures if you’re heading in that direction. Throughout the central bay and gutter systems there have been some excellent results with crews bringing in coral trout, tuskfish, lippers, snapper and cod. Fresh slab baits and live pike have proven deadly in the arsenal however anglers tea bagging soft plastics are still producing great results. Cobia and mixed mackerel species have been roaming the ledges and can be located in plague proportions particularly around the larger aggregations of bait. Generally these species aren’t too fussy and will smash a variety of lures and baits presented to them.

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AUGUST 2018

Snapper have started to fire up again and in good numbers; after an early season run their numbers dwindled off, however from most reports over the last few weeks those who have targeted them have been rewarded for their efforts. Areas such as the Burrum 8 Mile, 25 Fathom Hole and throughout Platypus Bay and wide of Roonies are all areas with a proven history of producing quality snapper and are worth checking out. Locating the yakka schools is very beneficial as snapper are a mobile fish that will roam around hunting them, so sounding around and paying close attention to your electronics is very important. This snapper bite should only continue to improve through August. Float lining live yakka, fresh pencil squid or pilchards down into a berley trail has proven effective for many anglers however the majority of the better quality fish we have seen landed have come from those fishing soft plastics and micro-jigs. For all the adrenalin addicts the pelagic scene is still firing within the inshore waters and throughout Platypus Bay. Small schools of mac tuna are still being sighted wide off Wathumba and quality longtail tuna have been a regular by-catch at this time of year while working soft plastics down deep around the bait balls, along with some massive cobia and solid snapper. Queenfish and trevally have been viable targets over the reefs and rubble patches with soft plastics and metal jigs proving irresistible to diamonds, pennants, tealeaf, goldspot, goldens and GTs. The array of different species has been unreal. School mackerel have been hovering around many of the artificial wrecks and rubble patches

up the island, especially those areas holding good schools of herring. Metal spoons, soft plastics, live and dead baits have all proven tempting. Broadbarred mackerel are in

great fish. The Burrum has been producing bream, flathead, mulloway and grunter throughout the lower reaches with schools of queenfish, tarpon and river GTs terrorising the bait further upstream on many of the deeper bends. A variety of fresh baits such as yabbies and pike have been producing the best results along with smaller 2.5-3” curly or paddle-tail soft plastics. The straits are a magical place to explore this time of year with the gin-clear waters, vast sand flats and abundance of creek systems to explore. The fishing can be incredibly good for a broad spectrum of species with bream, grunter and flathead amongst the top few being regularly caught across the flats and around the creek mouths. For those targeting king threadfin the

This happy angler scored his cracker pennant trevally working a soft plastic around a bait ball. good numbers throughout the main shipping channel and down throughout the inshore Islands with the majority of fish being spun up on metal spoons or taking live baits. They provide great sport, especially on light gear, and aren’t too bad on the tooth either. Reef fishos have still managed to gather a feed from the inshore reefs and wrecks around Big and Little Woody Island and the ledges running from Moon Point down to Ungowa. Some nice sweetlip, cod, blackall, coral trout, snapper and mulloway have been taken on a variety of fresh and live baits, soft plastics and trolled hardbodies. The majority of the better quality fish have come from those targeting the change of tide and fishing the night period. The majority of reports from our main river systems have been slow across the board, however some of the more switched-on anglers have been locating and successfully catching some

flats and drains have been producing some quality specimens with many being sight fished, which adds to the experience. It’s not uncommon to cross paths with barra at this time of year as they can be located schooling in quite large numbers and will respond to twitched and stalled hardbodies and/or hopped soft vibes. Creek mouths and rock bars throughout the straits are producing smaller

model queenfish, GTs and tailor, which are providing great sport on light gear, smashing small topwater lures worked erratically across the top. There have been very few reports from the bay’s beaches aside from a few flathead and summer whiting caught on the build-up to the larger moons on fresh yabbies, worms and small topwater lures. The Urangan Pier has been fishing slightly better with some quality bream being caught on fresh herring cubes, Cranka Crabs and smaller curly-tail soft plastics worked around the pylons and under the jetty. Flathead and queenfish have also been worthwhile targets drifting live herring and pike (if you can get them) along the edge of the channels and across the sand bar. The annual run of bluefin tuna and mac tuna through the second channel of the pier has been very slow with only a few fish caught on live herring floated out under balloons being reported. A few days of southeasterly winds and cold temperatures could be what is needed to bring them in. School mackerel have been caught on bottom baits and a few broadbarred mackerel taken on flickbaits. I am sure many beach fishos have started to dust off their Alveys and surf fishing gear for another season on the eastern side of Fraser Island. Fingers crossed we get some favourable weather and the weed doesn’t clog up the beaches. Reports so far have been few and far between, however chopper tailor have started to appear around Dundaburra and dart have been just about everywhere along the entire 75-Mile Beach with a scattering of whiting coming from the gutters. It’s still early days, but let’s hope we have a fantastic tailor season.

Large numbers of XOS cobia have turned up over the inshore and offshore reefs. These fish are suckers for a well-presented soft plastic or live bait.

Hoping for consistent conditions GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

We were lucky enough to score some cracker winter days throughout July, with perfect inshore conditions and a few calm offshore days thrown in the mix. It seemed like most of Gladstone managed to get out wide on those glassed-out weekends.

To my surprise the average size of red-throat has been bigger then usual for this time of year. Slow pitch jigs and 7” jerk shads have been accounting for the bigger fish, and can elicit a bite when things slow down. The standouts this month have been the trusty 7” Gulp Jerkshad in pink and the Yakamito Rager jigs in a zebra glow colour. Spanish mackerel are

Lind Banks, Sable Chief Rocks and Gatcombe Heads would all be worth a look. Salmon schools have well and truly moved into the harbour, with some reports of bumper sessions of over 50 fish! Quoin Island, Tide Island, Fisherman Landing and the mouth of the Calliope are all currently holding schools of salmon. Arriving at the right spot at the right time will be the difference

Sean Ibbs caught this cracker topwater queenfish on a Yakamito Big Gee stickbait. There have been reports of big snapper coming from the fern country to the north and south of Rock Cod Shoals. With the water temperature sitting a couple of degrees cooler then the same time last year, these fish have moved on to the inshore reefs in good numbers. Mixed in amongst the snapper are some cracker nannygai and the odd red. The fact that these grounds are so close to home can allow some of the smaller boats to get stuck into some quality reef fish. The guys that have headed further offshore have been scoring some big red-throat, trout and reds!

turning up in all the usual haunts. Once again, all the quality fish are falling to trolled gar, wolf herring and doggie mackerel. There can be an art to rigging these baits correctly. I have done up a small video on the quickest and easiest way to rig wolf herring on the LJ’s Compleat Angler Facebook page to make life easy for those anglers who haven’t trolled big baits before. With the amount of gar and wolf herring around the coast we can expect those big mackerel to move even closer inshore over August. You shouldn’t have to travel too far to score yourself a trophy fish. Places like Jenny

between a few fish and a session to remember. Live poddy mullet and herring are the go-to for bait, and small suspending hardbodies around 70-90mm and soft vibes are my pick for lures. I tend to use cheaper vibes rather then my favoured Transams when it comes to salmon. That’s because fishing with lighter leaders will lead to a lot more fish but also a lot more lures donated! Flathead have shown up to spawn in all the sandy bays, 7-Mile, Turkey Beach, Quoin Island, Farmers Point and everywhere in between. Zerek Tango Shads are the stand-out hardbodies, and

Keitech Crazy Flappers and Easy Shiners are the top performing plastics. Surprisingly there are still plenty of mangrove jack being caught. The water temp is sitting quite low in comparison to last winter, and I thought it would really shut them down. Most fish have been absolute crackers, to make things even better. Slow rolled plastics over rock bars seems to be accounting for the most fish. Natural and white colours are doing the damage in 4” and 5” plastics like Lunker Citys, Castaics and the locally-made Happy Rock Softies. The barra, just like the jacks, have continued to bite throughout the cold snaps. The harbour is holding good fish along with both the Calliope and Boyne rivers. Smaller profile lures are working the best, as the fish’s metabolism drops with the water temps. Lucky Craft Pointers in the 78mm size, Jackall Squirrels and Yakamito Hyper Jerks are doing the damage in hard lures, and anglers fishing plastics are getting good results on the smaller 4” Lunker Citys. The dam is sitting a little cool for my liking but there are still reports of fish being landed. It’s the same situation as the salt: smaller profile lures in the cooler water. Happy Rock Grubs rigged on Owner Flasher Rigs are doing the damage on the dam. I recommend focusing your efforts late in the afternoon in the shallower weed-lined bays. The weed and shallower water allow the temp to rise a little more then other areas, triggering the fish to feed a little harder. From all reports the crabs have well and truly slowed, but there are still enough around to get a feed for those anglers who work hard enough.

Les Jones and Brandon Gillett with a pair of tomato cod jigged up from 50m of water. As we move into August we can expect the big winter spawning bream to really turn up. These guys are an absolute ball on light gear and will hit a well-presented lure as hard as any other estuary species. We have a great bream fishery here in Central Queensland and most of us don’t take full advantage of it. A nice, light 1-3kg spin stick, along with some light line and surface lures and plastics can account for a very exciting day on the water! Touch wood August will give us some consistent

winter weather, and everyone can get offshore and get into some quality red fish. August has always been one of my favourite months of the year for fishing our local waterways, so let’s hope it doesn’t let us down this year! • For more information on what’s biting, or to stock up with all the tackle and bait you need, drop into LJ’s Compleat Angler Gladstone at the Gladstone Marina on Bryan Jordan Drive. You can also check out the latest news, photos and specials at Facebook Compleat Angler Gladstone.

Ethan Munster with a cracker winter jack.

Fond farewell to Von Ireland After over a decade of writing for Queensland Fishing Monthly, we regret to inform our readers that Von Ireland of Stanage Bay passed away peacefully on 19 June this year, at the age of 57, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Born on 24 March, 1961, Von was an enthusiastic angler, known for making strong connections with the visiting anglers that came and went from Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation. Whenever anybody needed help or guidance, Von was always happy to step in and lend a hand.

In her time at Fishing Monthly, she always made every effort to put her readers onto the best fishing spots, give them the best advice about safety and tips for handling the Stanage Bay Road, and get them onto the monster muddies that Stanage is known for. She was an integral part of the local community, and regular visitors always enjoyed catching up with her year after year on their visits to Stanage. We wish all the best for Von’s family and friends in this tough time. She will be greatly missed by all of us. – Fishing Monthly

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Monster bass being caught at the end of winter LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

Winter at Monduran is a great time to target bass and barra at the same time. Over the years we have learnt that both these species will school and interact in the shallows through the cooler months. Through the warmer months you won’t see these

two species doing this, as the bass head to the deeper water. When targeting bass and barra through winter it may seem like a good idea to downsize your main line and leader to get more bites. Personally I don’t think this is a good option, as you’re leaving yourself open to a bust-up from a big barra. In this situation, 30lb braid and 50-60lb leader should be used as a bare minimum.

These line combinations won’t stop the big bass biting and will give you a better chance of landing a bigger fish. Anglers may also be downsizing to bass lures to get a bass to bite; there is nothing wrong with using smaller lures as long as they are rigged with strong hooks and split rings, and the upgrade doesn’t interfere with the lure action. Keep in mind most of these little

lures are like jellybeans for barra. This season we have seen bass up to 60cm and many more around 45-58cm being caught on shallow points and in the back of shallow bays where the barra feed most of the year round. While these fish are commonly referred to as a by-catch at Monduran, these bass are of trophy-size proportions and are an impressive catch by any angler’s standards.

Barra season is nearly upon us; this means if you are planning a trip to Monduran in the coming months, you will need to make sure your gear is up to scratch. It’s always a good idea to check your equipment is in good working order – everything from wheel bearings on your trailer through to rods and reels, line and lures. We look forward to seeing you for the start of barra season.

• Our team here at Lake Monduran look forward to seeing you in the near future for some barra action. For Charter, houseboat and accommodation bookings please contact us email info@lakem. com.au or call us on (07) 4157 3881 or my mobile 0410 599 147. Check out my facebook page for up to date barra info, Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters.

Great fishing conditions with glassy, calm seas RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

Conditions have greatly improved and we finally got to enjoy some of the beautiful Queensland winter weather that we all longed for. We’ve had glassy calm days, clear skies and still nights where even from a distance you can hear the waves lapping at the shore.

Offshore is really turning it on with a myriad of species on offer including pearl perch, nannygai, coral trout, sweetlip, red emperor, snapper, cobia, mulloway and hussar. We really are spoilt for choice and it’s awesome to keep exploring and finding new ground with more opportunities. Pearl perch and snapper are fishing particularly well with really good sizes

mud crabs, which are oddly enough present and active this winter. August is another fantastic fishing month and should continue to once again spoil us with quality and always-tasty pearl perch and nannygai

amongst most other great eating reef species. • To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www. keelyrosefishingcharters .com.au.

Jimmy and Ian with a great catch of snapper and nannygai. Call Jamie today to book your next trip Ph: 0407 434 446

around the 5-6kg range. Soft plastics are again reaping the most rewards with a little bit of cut bait berley to pique their interest. On the beach quality flathead are on offer in the gutters, particularly from Middle Rock and down toward Double Island Point. It’s a beautiful scenic drive cruising along here, chasing out the best looking gutters and

throwing a few leisurely casts into the shallows. The turn of the incoming tide and either fresh bait or soft plastics is a winning combination. Tailor are also on the chew along the beaches and the water is clear and weed-free. The Great Sandy Straits are a perfect spot at the moment for jigging up squid and even setting your crab pots to catch some

Some big pearl perch are on offer throughout August.

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Cold westerlies, mackerel and winter whiting are usually on the menu at this time of the year. We have had quite a winter this year with cold snaps then beautiful sunny calm days, making getting outdoors at gentlemen’s hours very easy. INSHORE We have seen some great weather for smaller boats in recent weeks and they have certainly been taking full advantage of it. The inshore reef, rubble and wrecks have all produced good feeds of demersal (bottom fish) species with hussar, tuskfish, and small snapper all gracing the iceboxes of most anglers. Fresh bait has been very successful but there have been some nice fish taken

on soft plastics and big blade style lures. The mackerel have been just about everywhere, as have the many species of tuna that travel through our region at

this time of the year. Trolling big baits down deep has seen some big Spanish encountered over the many wrecks and bommies. For those soaking a bait

The inshore reefs have been producing some great fun on soft plastics.

in close around Ryans, the big grunter have made the effort well worthwhile. The incoming tide has been the best and if you manage to throw the cast net over some live sprat at the harbour mouth, you will get the really big ones. OFFSHORE How good has the fishing been offshore? It’s been going off like a frog in a sock. When you can drop a bait down and pull up a 65cm coral trout, then on the next drop get a 70cm snapper, you know you have it good. The trout have been very good over the past few months and moving around your area is the key to picking them up regularly. Again, I do repeat myself sometimes but I can’t say this enough: big baits get big fish. You also must make sure you’re fishing with good enough gear as To page 45

Make the most of winter’s end ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

Over the past month the weather has been pretty drizzly, but still calm enough on the odd day to get out.

on them. Finding the salmon is fairly easy with the aid of good electronics, sitting on the school working Gulp soft plastics and 120mm 30g soft vibes like the Berkley Shimma. A good selection of jigheads is required when fishing the plastics, 3/8oz through to 3/4oz

them out with a light weight will do you well. INSHORE REGIONS Keppel Bay has had some great fishing opportunities lately, from mackerel and GTs to squid and coral trout. A few local anglers have been pulling snapper from

some rubble patches. There has been a showing of black jewfish around at the moment. Whether you head up to the typical marks like Finlays or just fish lures around Double Heads, they seem to be in good sizes and numbers everywhere. There have been good-

The author with a snapper pulled on a Lucanus jig from Scabbas Reef.

‘Big Dog’ with a great salmon from the Fitzroy River net free zone.

The author and Robin with a pigeon pair of snapper. The fishing certainly hasn’t slowed down though. The king threadfin fishing in the Fitzroy keeps getting better and better with a lot of 1m+ schools moving up to the town reaches. The abundance of bait certainly helps this. The river is also producing a good amount of other species like barra and grunter. Out along the Cap Coast you can expect a good variety of species from queenies to black jewfish. THE FITZROY The threadfin seem to be everyone’s key targets. The neaps are definitely the tides to base your trips around, as they seem to push up better From page 44

finally nailing that big trout then having it towel you up in the bottom does get a bit frustrating. There have been some nice red emperor showing up in relatively shallow water as well lately. Again, a nice fresh big bait is usually their undoing. As far as where to fish, most areas have been getting pressure with this good weather, so now is a good time to try the smaller spots in your GPS that you rarely rate. These areas will usually be getting less pressure and should produce the goods. THE BURNETT RIVER What can we say about

and a few sizes in between; this will allow you to fish the plastics at any stage of the tide. As always, the lighter you can go, the better. The barra have been holding tight to the rocky rubble structure, but can be targeted with much the same lures. The blue salmon have been a little harder to find in town but there have been plenty of grunter and flathead caught to make up the difference. If live baiting is your preferred method, there is a good amount of prawns in the river that are a great bait size; rigging these just through the tail and sending the Burnett? It just keeps producing the goods. With our beautiful warm days and cool nights, the river has produced some really nice mangrove jack and a few barramundi. The bream have moved in and are all through the river and the whiting are up on the flats hunting on the incoming tide. The blue salmon are still in the river and once found they can really turn on a great session. You can target these blue salmon with baits but they really love a quick-moving small lure. Blades, vibes and even my old favourite the Halco Twisty metal slice will get them chasing and biting. These fish are good eating, especially if you look after

sized trout caught at the Keppel group on the shallow reef areas. Some 5” soft plastics have been doing the trick along with smaller jigs like the Shimano Lucanus. The squid have been holding around the Keppels and will pick up with the next full moon. Some killer jigs lately have been the Yamashita Warm Jacket and the Savage 3D jig. The islands have had some great bait fishing activity with many large schools holding over rises and little structure points. ESTUARIES The flathead have certainly been on the move with some large models being caught. A great place to fish for these is any drop-off in creeks and any of the channels out

in the mouths of the estuary. Another key fish in the creeks at the moment are the bream holding on the flats; these are a very easy target for both lures and bait. My preferred method is a size 1 long shank and freshly-pumped yabbies. The two lures with good success on the flathead lately are the ZMan 4” StreakZ curl-tail and the Savage Gear 20g soft vibe in purple haze. CRABBING Crabs have slowed down a bit at the moment, some groups of anglers are still getting a couple, but from what they have mentioned they are definitely putting in the hard yards. Very oily and smelly baits like tuna and mullet are a must at the moment.

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Find the right place for macks and black jewfish YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

August usually has fairly decent fishing weather. We seem to have runs of calm between those horrible westerlies. Westerlies tend to slow the bite considerably on the shallow reefs and the estuaries. Bottom dwellers are affected the most due to the pressure change. The majority of other fish can move up and down the water column to get the preferred pressure. Because of the hills coming close to the water in Keppel Bay, the wind hits the ocean about halfway to the islands. This area and behind the islands creates what I call the ‘wind curtain.’ The area under the wind curtain is dead flat and will usually produce catches

when the open areas of the bay shut down. This is the time of year that the coastal mackerel spots can really fire with doggies, spotties, greys and even the odd Spaniard. The clean, cool and glassy mornings bring the schools right into shallow water along our coastline. We have a number of spots such as Farnborough, Bangalee, Ritamada, Double Heads, Ironpot and Corio Heads. The schools of smaller baitfish like herring and northern pillies move through the bay and these in turn dictate the best lure size for the mackerels. Smaller Flashas and chromies are the go for the lesser mackerel while Taipans are still my favourite for Spanish mackerel. We have been trying a few of the old-style tactics this year to compare with the modern lures and methods. I am finding that

Rowena Thorburn caught this fine black jewfish.

trolling the old barra spoons can be extremely effective once you get your speed and depth right. However, I still prefer to cast chromies while hanging a floating pilly out the back. Along with the schools of smaller baits comes the big numbers of ribbonfish. You will notice them when you are chasing mackerel and they can be very annoying sometimes by grabbing the lures before the doggies can. We normally chase them for Spanish mackerel baits for later in the year. These guys are one of the most acrobatic fish around jumping and throwing the lure often several times or more before a solid hook-up. Lately when we take any of the little kids fishing, we have started targeting ribbons as a sport fish on ultralight gear. The kids have a ball gathering bait and also learning about releasing fish at the same time. You can catch them trolling small bright lures or floating out small livies, although it isn’t anywhere near the fun you can have casting. One tip I keep forgetting to mention is the old newspaper trick. I find with any baitfish like bonito, ribbonfish and gar that they last longer when you wrap them in newspaper prior to putting them in a zip lock of freezer bag. Besides, when they are individually wrapped you can select the number you might require on a given day. Ironpot, Quartz, Ritamada and Corio are some of the better ribbonfish spots. They are often called snotties or slipperies, so gloves or a rag will make them much easier to handle when you need to. Black jewfish are still in good form at most the local jewfish holes in Keppel Bay. The period before and after the full and new moons is without doubt the prime time.

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Cody Tamati with his first barramundi, which he landed with his grandmother Bel. You can catch them during the day, but night time is by far the best. Big fresh baits usually do the damage much of the time. Lures like vibes and big plastics work well if you persist. I also find that a smear of Squidgy S-Factor scent can make the difference between a hit and a miss. I like to get to the spot early so that everything is ready when they decide to turn up. I often get complaints from guys saying that the jewfish weren’t there so they left. It’s mainly because they arrive in the dark, stuff around dropping a noisy anchor and miss the bite period altogether. In shallow water like we have in Keppel Bay, you have to be very quiet. Rattling chains and running around the spot with a noisy old two banger doesn’t help your chances. The offshore reef fishing is pretty good around this time of year providing the weather remains on cue. Big red emperor seem to be everyone’s favourite and lately there have been plenty of trophy fish reported from the wide grounds. Over winter they usually like the deeper areas of the red fern country. Try to find spots you haven’t fished or that aren’t on any of the generic thousand-spot lists. Watching your sounder while traveling is the key to successful red hunting. Reds don’t hang over the top of big structures, but prefer the areas around the main reef and through the ferny patches. I keep saying it and it’s a constant – use big baits for big reds. The Fitzroy River has continued in great form by producing barramundi and king threadfin in good quantities so far all year. The only thing that has changed for barra is the bite duration. They are a little more selective of what they will bite and when they will bite. I prefer to chase them once the run

either slows towards top or bottom and once the tide starts to move again. Low tide in the upper reaches will concentrate the fish to the deeper holes and channels and a little movement in the water makes them grab with more intent. They can switch off a lure style quickly when a few boats are around so it pays to have a range to choose from. I have mainly been using 95mm and 115mm Jem Vibes to start with and changing to Happy Rock paddle-tails if the results don’t come. Hardbodies can draw a fish when everything else has shut down. I always have a selection of colours and prefer to use natural colours when the water is clear and either dark or fluoro colours when the water is dirty. Coorooman Creek and Corio have a few barra and salmon at present. They have moved down into the bays and creek mouths. We have found quality fish at any of the deeper headlands. Fishing for threadies with vibes is a lot the same as with barra. We have been using the same plastics for both but changing locations and varying retrieves. Both

threadies and barra will take live baits most times. For us it takes too much time to gather bait when you could be out on the water casting with purpose. The town reaches of the river are the pick location, although there are schools right downstream to the delta. Flathead are in good supply right around the bays and estuary mouths feeding Keppel Bay. The number of big fish has risen in recent years and I think it has a lot to do with better fishing practices these days. The majority of anglers tend to keep a feed and put the rest back as opposed to the ‘take as many as you can’ policy of the past. Bream and whiting are also featuring in many reports of late. The whiting can be found on a large number of local beaches, but the bigger fish tend to be up the creeks a little at the moment. Yabby banks and sand flats are always worth a crack. Bream have spread out a bit and have also moved back into the creeks from the bays. In saying that, I saw a couple of young blokes land a 430mm bream at Stevensons Rocks from the beach recently.

Deakin Smithwick landed this trophysized red out from Yeppoon.

Mackay anglers spoilt for choice MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

The weather might have cooled off a bit but the fishing has still been red hot, with reef fish, pelagics, creek species and mud crabs all on the chew for us lucky anglers here in paradise. Not only is the saltwater firing, but the sooty grunter up in the fresh have been well and truly on the bite, so as usual the problem here is not whether to go fishing, but where and what species to chase. It’s a tough problem to have! On the good days, those anglers with bigger boats have been making the most of the weather windows and have been heading wide where there has been a heap of big red fish hammering baits and stretching arms. Large and small mouth nannygai, red emperor, red-throat, spanglies and trout have all featured in the catches, with nearly all of them coming from deep water. Trout are the exception; they are being found right up in the shallow water as well as down deep. Stevens Reef is the nearest actual reef proper, and all reports indicate it is fishing well, but there are plenty of sharks knocking off fish too. Winter time is Spanish mackerel weather here, with some absolute monsters being caught, and they also knock

Dropping a big jig like a Nomad over the side in Mackay waters can turn up all sorts of surprises like this yellowlip emperor. Troy Taylor caught it on shoal grounds out from the harbour. good oil on the snapper, which usually hang around here until September/October. Small boat anglers can also find Spanish macks in close, and while bottom fishing you should always float out a lightly-weighted pilly or small live bait. Make sure your rig has a stinger hook, as big macks are experts at chopping a bait in half and managing to miss ganged hooks. Mitch Turton was out with local guide Jason Kidd of Inshore Fishing Mackay, and had set a live bait out but with nothing happening he decided to reel in. When the bait was about a metre from the surface and in full view, a large Spaniard appeared from nowhere and slammed the livie. After a typical Spaniard

Big snapper are a welcome visitor to Mackay waters, and Tyrell Ahwang scored this beauty working a Gulp plastic over a rubble patch near Hay Point. off a fair share of hooked reef fish that are on the way up. The islands out from here are fishing pretty well but are weather dependant, and while smaller boats can access them on good days, the really light winds and continuous calm days are a month or two away yet. In the meantime, small boat anglers can enjoy tangling with the good numbers of big snapper around Hay Point and the islands out from Sarina Inlet. Closer to Mackay plenty of snapper are scored around Flat and Round Top islands, and a 4m tinny is all that is needed. The old wrecks off Grasstree Beach have also been throwing up quite a few snapper on baits and big plastics. Check with the local tackle shops for the

fight it was finally landed, and provided heaps of fresh fish. Good numbers of trevally are smacking big metal jigs and paddle-tails out around the islands, and as the weather settles they will move closer inshore. Tuna species are a bit hit-and-miss at the moment, but on the calm days there is plenty of bait harassing going on, with both longtails and mac tuna in our waters. Unfortunately for the shore-based anglers, the south break wall of the harbour has been closed to vehicle traffic to allow for cyclone repairs to be completed. Some intrepid anglers are cycling out to the end of the wall with their rods and other gear, but the sooner the wall is repaired the better, as it is one top spot for pelagics when the weather

is right and the bait schools hug the wall. RIVER AND ESTUARY The big surprise this winter in the creeks has been the abundance of mud crabs, and the size of some specimens. All our local creeks have been yielding muddies, although there have been a lot of jennies mixed in with the bucks. The best baits have been fresh fish or fresh frames but unfortunately the ‘share farmers’ are still active, despite the best efforts of the patrol boats. Many commercial crabbers and plenty of rec anglers are setting up movement-activated cameras in the mangroves around their pots to catch thieves. Hidden cameras led to a recent prosecution of a commercial crabber in Mackay, and he was given a substantial fine. Good numbers of flathead are in all our creeks and estuaries, and they will respond to baits, lures and flies. The trick with flatties is to get your offering close enough to get noticed, but as they are often in very shallow water the quiet approach is the way to go. Long casts and fluorocarbon leaders work well over sand banks at the top of the tide and as the tide drops off the banks. Don’t neglect yabby beds that are covered at high tide either. The bream should be spawning by the time this issue is out, and there will be plenty of them around snags in the mangrove creeks. Pikey bream are nuggetty little fighters and put up a good show on light gear. Please watch the legal lengths and don’t keep big numbers, as these spawners are doing their bit for future stocks. Some big whiting are being caught in the Pioneer River, and many anglers are walking the flats between the bridges to score a nice feed or two of these delicious little fighters. Around Cullen Island is a favourite spot for boat anglers, who drift up to this area on the run-in tide, usually catching a few fish at a time as they move up with the tide. The bigger fish are generally

caught on the night tides on either yabbies or worms, but very small red plastics will also entice them. All of these species will continue to feature in anglers’ bags during August, and we should see the start of the grunter season towards the end of the month. While grunter are year-round possibilities, the end of winter and into spring usually sees them about in good numbers. The NFZ will likely get plenty of attention once the grunter come on in earnest, and there should be plenty of fish around without having to dodge the nets. Blue salmon and steelbacks will continue to be about in numbers during August, and fresh yabbies are probably the prime bait for both species, although they will take a variety of lures and are keen on vibes. Small metal vibes jigged close to the bottom will account for plenty, and many other species will smack them too. Make sure the hooks are up to scratch as many of the small vibes have absolute rubbish hooks on them and need to be replaced. Just be careful not to kill the action by using really heavy hooks. Get good advice from the local tackle shop staff and you won’t go far wrong.

Damien Noon’s introduction to Teemburra with Warren Low resulted in this 1m barra among the lily pads. FRESHWATER Sooties are prevalent in all our dams thanks to MAFSA’s hatchery and stocking program, and they are also in the river in good numbers. They are a wonderful sportfish and one of my favourite de-stressing fishing outings involves skinny water, light rods (either fly or spin), small offerings and hard fighting and aggressive sooties. Throw in very clear clean water, no crowds, platypus, plenty of bird life and your troubles vanish—just magic! Recent trips have not been disappointing, with sooties up to 40cm on fly and they are good river fish. The best flies have been small poppers dead drifted in the current, and black Woolly Buggers with a dash of red, which is

not surprising as my favoured spinnerbaits feature black and red skirts. There are plenty of spots along the river and Cattle Creek to get out and go do some wading and fishing for the old sooty. Quietly is the go, as they are pretty spooky in the clear shallow water, but the stalking of sighted fish just adds to the fun. Give it a go – it’s very addictive. So that’s a bit of a round-up of what to expect during August, and the best part is that we are moving towards springtime and warmer water and weather, which means even more fishing. As always, there are opportunities galore throughout the Mackay area so why not take a trip here and join us. See you at the ramp.

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Deeper reefies have made up for lack of pelagics islands right the way across the shipping channel and all the way out to the inside edge of the Great Barrier Reef. That’s a lot of prime fishing turf that even someone such as myself won’t be able to explore completely in a single lifetime. Now is the time to get out on these grounds and chase

WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

Recently as I peered out the window, the sky was grey and bleak, the air was cool and damp, the islands were shrouded by constant rain squalls and leaves were continually being blown from the gum trees. Please, weather gods, shine upon us. Another month has passed and my dreams of boating some good numbers of big Spanish mackerel are yet to come to fruition and still remain as just dreams that repeat themselves in my slumber every evening. Words can’t describe how badly I want get some hooks into these elusive toothy speedsters. The big fish are still hanging out wide in open water and the recent run of stiff southeasterly trade breezes hasn’t allowed us anywhere near them. On the few days recently

recently, the mighty golden trevally has reigned supreme. We are very fortunate here at Hydeaway Bay to have such a vibrant inshore pelagic fishery, which helps to hold things up even in the worst of weather conditions. The inshore reef fishing has been hard lately, but that is to be expected with

the water temperatures being at their annual lowest. Until the water temperatures start to rise again I expect mostly only the smaller fish to have a chew. Up in the estuaries the prawns have all but disappeared but astute crabbers are still getting a good feed. The numbers are down a little but the quality of the crabs being caught at the moment is right up there. On a very disappointing note, I haven’t heard of a single barramundi being caught by

recreational means in our local creeks this year. That’s right – not one single fish all year. I suspect that this is due mainly to the pros netting the hell out of our local systems earlier in the season. I know that I am raising a contentious issue here, but I am in the personal belief that our few local estuaries are way too small and sensitive to handle this kind of pressure and it is something that needs to be addressed before it’s too late. August is upon us and I don’t mean to keep dwelling on the weather, but as always it will dictate to us where we can fish and what we can target. In a perfect world we would all be out wide targeting big pelagics and/or drifting over the deeper rubble patches and fern beds in search some quality table fare. To target the bigger pelagics, particularly the Spanish mackerel, concentrate your efforts around the points of the outer islands. Areas where there is good water movement and distinct current lines visible on the surface are great places to start your hunt. As always, the presence of bait is a must and the cleaner the water is, the better. Out around these areas during August the first runs of billfish will quite often come through as well. We are quite lucky here at the top of the Whitsundays to have an almost limitless amount of deep shoals to fish on extending from the outer

Another regular client on Reel Addiction, John Martinali caught this awesome golden snapper on one of the few calm days that we’ve experienced recently. 50

AUGUST 2018

the better it will be. Big golden trevally and school mackerel will be present around any isolated patches of rock and reef and although the queenfish and tuna have been scarce recently they should start to show up as well. I love it when we get a good queenfish bite here at Hydeaway Bay,

Michael Aitkens, a regular client on Reel Addiction with a nice jewfish. These fish will feature regularly over the next couple of months.

Bucket list ticked, all Michael wanted was a big trout and he caught this nice one out of 35m of water. where we have been able to get out wide the pelagics have been thin on the ground, but the deeper reefies have definitely made up for it. Amongst the fish caught there have been some nice golden snapper, mulloway, trout and cod coming aboard. There have been good numbers of largemouth nannygai getting caught as well, but the average size is down at the moment. Back in closer on the inshore grounds where I have spent most of my time

The fish don’t necessarily have to be in feed mode to hit your lure. When a bright coloured flashy lure gets dragged along down deep at pace right past a coral trout’s nose they’ll come out and hit it purely out of instinct. Another good trick at this time of the year is simply to go light and

There have been a few dark and gloomy days recently, but that hasn’t worried the cod too much. This beauty was caught by Philip Wells.

Another local angler, Andy Bernhard with one of many big golden trevally that anglers have been getting on hardbodies recently. a few good feeds. Amongst the species on offer there will be mulloway, grunter, nannygai and golden snapper to name just a few. I find that when the tide is in full flow the bite for most species is the best. At times around slack water the bite tends to taper off with the exception of coral trout. Quite often on slack water we’ll get a couple of beauties. Let’s skip back inshore now, back onto the closeto-home patches and have a chat about what’s going to be available there. As I said, the inshore reef fishing will be a little quiet until the water temperatures begin to rise, but there are a couple of tricks that we all can use to get a bite out of some of the bigger fish. Trolling small hardbodies is one of my favourite ploys when the bigger reef fish are clammed up. Recently I had one lucky lady on board catch a beauty by using this technique and out of the lucky dip we caught a few nice school mackerel as well.

I mean really light. It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of soft plastics and at the moment to target reef fish I am only using 10lb line, 15lb leader and 6-8cm plastics. Once hooked up impeccable rod technique is vital to ensuring regular success. You won’t win every battle, but hell it sure is fun. The inshore pelagic scene should plod along quite nicely over the coming weeks and the more herring that push inshore,

because for some reason they are all huge with fish under a metre in length being rare. The boat record on Reel Addiction currently stands at 1.24m; if we break that in the coming weeks, you’ll be able to hear me hollering and shouting in joy from as far away as the Fishing Monthly office in Brisbane. • Reel Addiction Sport Fishing Charters specialises in light tackle fishing for all tropical sportfishing species on fly, lures and bait. Reel Addiction operates from the beautiful Cape Gloucester Beach Resort, 40 minutes’ drive north of Airlie Beach. Combined fishing charter and accommodation packages are available. For more information, contact Mick Underwood on 0413 882 153 or email mick@reeladdiction. com.au. Resort enquiries can be directed to Julie Houston on (07) 4945 7242 or at info@ capeg.com.au. To stay in touch with what’s biting, check out the Reel Addiction Sport Fishing Whitsundays page on Facebook.

Phil with a cracker of a goldy.

Offshore anglers look forward to August action AYR

Steve Farmer

By the end of summer’s scorching months most North Queensland anglers are looking forward to the near-perfect weather of the approaching NQ winter. The thought of clear blue skies, light winds and glassy seas fires up our piscatorial imagination. This is the time of the year when the bluewater fishing is exciting and it’s great just being out on the water. Right? Well yes, but it isn’t necessarily always so. This year has been a real bummer so far. Recently the skies were grey, the weather drizzly and there was a good 20-25 knots of southeasterly wind howling. There have been some half-decent weather windows, but they have been few and short. This uncomfortable weather has kept most bluewater anglers at home – a frustrating situation when they know the shoals are probably alive with Spanish mackerel on their annual run north. However, fishers are an optimistic mob and many are

This is the sort of winter’s day that NQ boaties long for but aren’t seeing much of this year. looking forward to August, which often produces bouts of calm weather and slightly warmer temperatures, which are ideal for a day on the high seas. In the meantime it’s worth going over your boat and tackle to ensure everything is in top condition and ready to hit the Spaniards at the first opportunity. As well as the shoals, waters around Cape Upstart, Camp Island and Abbot Point should be prime mackerel spots over the next month or so. If you manage to find a hot mackerel bite, it isn’t hard to quickly reach your bag limit of three Spanish per angler. Considering the amount of

fillet on a 10kg Spanish, that’s a bag limit most anglers are happy with. What do you do for the rest of the day? Mackerel aren’t really a catch and release option, so you may have to be prepared to switch to a little bottom bouncing. Soaking a bait on the bottom could lead to a few quality species such as largemouth nannygai or coral trout. That’s not a bad way to pass the time until you have enough tide to get back to the ramp. Cape Upstart anglers have been indulging in a relaxing pastime during the cooler months that produces tasty nibbles for both fish and fishers. Walking the bays and

beaches flicking a prawn-style lure for squid is a pleasant way to spend a few hours, especially first thing in the morning. The rewards can be fresh baits or tasty treats for you and your crew straight off the barbie that night. Clued-in fishers target weedy patches bordered by clean sand, but it is often worthwhile working your lure across all areas. Keep the lure moving slowly in small jerks. A spinning outfit around 2m long loaded with 6-8kg line is all you’ll need to cast a lure and catch a tasty feed. Accomplished barbecue chefs reckon squid rings need to be cooked quickly to avoid turning into rubber bands. Done properly they’re tasty and tender. While conditions haven’t been perfect even in the creeks, estuarine fishers have been pretty happy over the past few weeks. The faithful old bread and butter species of whiting, flathead and bream are still definitely on the estuarine menu with some good catches of quality fish being made. Bream usually arrive in our creeks and along our beaches a little later than the

other two species, but both black and sea bream are here in good numbers and have been since early in June. Popular estuaries worth targeting for these species include Groper, Hell Hole, Phillips Camp, Plantation and Ocean creeks as well as the Burdekin River. Alva and Beachmount beaches are handy spots for landbased fishers. Whiting seem to be fishing a little better this year than they have over previous years, with a range of fish being taken. As usual freshly-pumped yabbies are the ideal bait when targeting whiting, but they are a feisty little fish and even small specimens are often by-catch for anglers chasing

flathead with small lures. Remember that whiting have a minimum legal size of 23cm and a bag limit of 30 per angler, and bream must be at least 25cm and anglers can have no more than 30 of this species in their possession. Dusky flathead have a minimum size of 40cm and a maximum size of 75cm, while the minimum size for all other flathead species is 30cm. The bag limit for all species of flathead is a combined total of five fish per person. It is important to understand that bag limits are ‘in possession’ limits, which includes any fish you may already have at home or in another ice box or fridge in camp, either filleted or whole.

Luring up a feed of squid is a pleasant way to spend a few hours at Cape Upstart.

Limited reports, but still great fish about HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

I guess that one week out of four is better than none. That pretty much sums up the weather pattern this year with a noticeable difference on previous years – periods of constant windy cold drizzle and patches of reasonable winter rain mostly on the coastal fringes. These kinds of conditions have pretty much held out for what seems like forever. It was definitely an early, colder winter this season. While reports have been fairly limited, Spaniards are definitely around the inner islands and right on queue with the first real cold snap. Trolled gar was one of the methods

used by one group of anglers. They should hang around for another month or two yet before they go offshore to spawn in October. Just remember they now have a strict bag limit of three per angler and a 75cm minimum size limit.

On the topic of pelagics one of my favourite headlands near Gould Island has its usual winter aggregation of golden trevally and big queenfish. We also catch the diamond trevally there too and this is a very productive spot for sportfishing in general. If you

Strick and Az from Back 2 Basics with a couple of nice nannies caught while fishing one of the author’s wonky holes.

put your mind to it, you can find these locations easily. Big goldens have long been prized as a fighting fish and using 8kg braid on a jigstick it’s always a long but memorable fight. They are also avid takers of plastics and will take many varieties. Spotted mackerel have also been spotted among small northern bluefin tuna schools that cruise the paddocks between the islands. With some mid-sized metal slices you can keep the kids busy and worn out at the end of day as they are an easy target and easy to catch. The Japanese spotted mackerel is a good eating variety, unlike the smaller cousin – the Queensland school mackerel. They are commonly called doggies locally and have a lot drier flesh. They are easily told apart once you see the two together; the spotty has darker spots and more of them

with a longer body than the school mackerel. We managed to get out for that whole week of good weather and had some great days offshore filming for our reef course. We caught some great largemouth nannies around 9kg. Some friends nearby fished shallow reef patches and said the trout were also fishing well. Coral trout become easier to catch over the next few months and once you work out the patterns you will be amazed how predictable they are. During August I would hope to see the small marlin and sailfish fire up, especially the little blacks on their journey south. As soon as you hear they are catching in Cairns it’s usually about a week before we start to see some numbers in our waters. They provide spectacular sport on lighter tackle sizes and become an addictive quarry

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for many fishers. Getting into gamefishing is pretty easy and there are many good clubs along the coast plus you don’t need a game boat as many clubs mostly cater for the small boat anglers. Towards the end of winter we experience better barra fishing than in early winter, so we’ll be looking forward to that. August was a great time for us last year with some memorable lure casting sessions on big barra. If the weather backs off, we may see somegolden snapper (fingermark) catches in the channel too. You can’t normally fish their locations when it’s too rough, because a lot of it is in open water. • If you want to find out all about catching golden snapper then you can check out our fingermark course via our website at www. ryanmoodyfishing.com.

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AUGUST 2018

Pelagics and barramundi are the cooler targets TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Kicking the Honda into gear we idled down the small drain to access the main river. Not a breath of wind rippled the surface and we decided to start fishing from exactly where we launched. The two nights before had reached a ‘balmy’ 6°C, less than half the average for this time of year, and the water temperature had plummeted overnight. The sounder showed 20.5°C and the first fish that hit the deck felt cold to the touch.

watching the fish draw up and out of the snags to grab it. Stopping them was the next issue and several of the bigger fish made it home with the lures we were casting. My son Tannhym got absolutely smoked on a Tilsan Bass that he was hovering over a gap in the snag when a bucket sucked his lure in and headed scrub. The silence was broken many times by ‘ooh, look at this one’ as the sounds of excitement filled the air. It was only a shorter day for us as my mate Ryan had to start work, so being able to get to the ramp on the right tides was important. The secret to

Casting snags is still great fun and it’s all about using the right lure at the right time. With this in mind we weren’t really expecting to catch too much to be honest, but the option of not going fishing didn’t even enter our plans. The water was typically winter clear, as we worked our way down the river it was apparent that the fish didn’t really care what the temperature was. Jacks cracked bait in the snags and Barra boofed prawns on the shallow flats. As it turned out, it was one of the better days you could ask for as far as fishing action went, for this area anyway. Normally at this time of year, I’m going on about small lures in winter and how downsizing will give you the best results, but on a day that you would think was the perfect example of dropped temperatures and small lures, the fish once again changed the rules and did what they wanted. Having versatile options on board is extremely important, and the barra in particular took pretty standard lures that would normally catch fish in the warmer months. Several snags held schools of fish and once the bite was kicked into gear on an individual snag which often took quite a few casts, it was pretty hectic action for a half hour or so. Tweaking 120 shallow Laser Pros across the deeper snags was what was called for in the deeper locations. Once the lure came within around 20cm or so of the snag, it was as simple matter of twitching as it floated and 52

AUGUST 2018

our fun-packed morning was being able to find fish, and then get a bite started, which sometimes isn’t as easy as it sounds. On several snags, the fish were deep and tight in structure and needed to be stirred with a lure that would snag. Enter Ryan with his frog! I’ve talked about frogs in the past and their ‘snaglessness.’ Skipping and bouncing them off structure and weed, but Ryan decided that he was going to persist with it in the salt to see what happened. In one snag in particular it had about six barra on its tail on the way out – one barra boofed it but missed the hooks. The sound of that boof triggered the bite though, and turned out to be a very memorable session, and I have no doubt that if we had skipped a weedless plastic in there, that it would have stirred something also, but it was Ryan’s frog that did the trick and started the bite. Tarpon, barra, jacks and even queenies hit that thing. Although the hook-ups didn’t connect too well, it still got action. Thinking like a true fisher, the young fella tied on a 65mm Halco Rooster Popper, which had the hooks upgraded to jack strength, and it wasn’t long before he was getting clobbered on that little gem. The funny thing is that we have fished this creek many times, and the fish just weren’t where we normally find them. It took us getting out of our comfort zone to

Being able to perfectly pinpoint a target is often the key to getting results. This barra, along with ten of his mates was spotted on the sidescan and then a small 4” Pink Paddle Prawn was delivered in the dirty water. Several were landed on the light 6lb gear in that session. track them down and then get the bite happening. It was another lesson in being versatile and being able to break out of routine to get the action, sort of like a bit of a refresher course in thinking diversely. OFFSHORE Offshore fishing has been quite exceptional and some massive trout have been making drags scream in the local area with plenty of unstoppables getting involved. The shift towards soft plastics and jigs is becoming more and more popular now and the days of expensive jigs being the only choice are way gone. The average cost of a jig these days is around the $15-20 mark and these will often catch anything from the top to the bottom, but the mackerel have a tendency to make quick work of the Kevlar loops that swing from most jigs. Rigging an assist hook on a short length of single or multi-strand wire either haywire twisted on, or crimped is a way to beat the fang brigade; with the addition of a small squid skirt on the wire, this helps add life and conceal the wire that little bit better. You want the hook around halfway down the body when being jigged, and hook-ups are generally pretty good, but you just don’t have the bite-off dramas unless the whole jig is taken inside the mouth. When the mackerel are thick and you’re after other bottom dwelling species they can be downright annoying. Many soft plastics can be lost when the macks are in full swing. Just trying to reach the bottom can be futile and the addition of wire seriously reduces bites from things like golden snapper and nannies in my opinion, so we usually end up looking elsewhere for bottom fish if the macks are thick. Land-based fishers are having a ball at present and there have been quite a few Spanish taken casting slugs

and slices from the shoreline, not to mention the doggies and spotties getting involved as well. Rods more familiar to southern beach anglers are best used for the land-based lure casting and long casts are often necessary to reach the fish busting up out from the shore. Around 2.4m is on average a great length for the long distance casting of slugs, and a breaking strain of between 12-25lb is about right to put enough hurt on the bigger specimens to stop them. If you’re not familiar with a casting technique called the pendulum cast, look it up on YouTube, because it’s the ultimate in long distance casting techniques and very necessary to learn to be able to reach maximum distances. You have to be ready for anything though and there

If you plan on keeping a fish for a feed, at least some ice should be on hand to drop the fish’s temperature once it’s been bled. As far as line class on the reel, well 20-30lb braid with around 2-3m of leader is about right, and a 5000-6000 sized reel will have enough line to handle ‘most’ of what you’ll hook. The larger arbor spool also helps with the distance stuff as the line can peel off in larger loops. You may need to add in some wire if you keep getting nipped off, and it’ll be necessary to add in 15cm or so to the rig if this happens. Persistence is the key to success with the land-based challenge, and instead of chasing them around in a boat, your waiting for the fish to come to you and being ready when this happens. Sometimes you’ll see fish heading your way and you can intercept them, but most times it’s the unseen fish that get you by surprise, so be ready at all times to set that hook and hang on. Berley is an option of course, but if you have a decent walk in front of you to reach the spot, you’ll be limited with what you can take. Lure wise, the Halco Twisties in the 60-80g size cast like a bullet, as do the Outcasts. Hardbodied stickbaits are also worth having on hand, as are poppers. Some divers also work well for the shore-based approach, but some blow out at high speed. A couple of each style will cover just

This monster 92cm chopper was taken by ‘Big Dazza.’ A well thought-out game plan makes all the difference and Daz’s consistent results prove this theory to be true time after time. have been quite a few cobia getting in on the action as well, so who knows what’s going to crunch your retrieve to a halt. Preparing to be successful before hitting the water is also important, and a gaff is an essential part of landbased spinning safety equipment if bigger fish are to be kept and handled safely.

about every scenario, but just have your Weet-Bix before taking on the landbased challenge, because the long hours of casting can be very energy sapping. It’s been a while since I’ve been into it, but I have some fond memories of plenty of big fish from the stones. A downsized land-based option is the whiting on

lures in the estuaries, and taking on this challenge takes as much of a calculated approach as with the bigger fish mentioned earlier. An effective lure one day can be totally ignored the next, so take a few with you and try a dozen to 20 casts or so before thinking about another option. OLD POTS It’s probably about time that we have a clean up Australia Day in the rivers, and the amount of old crab pots that are laying about, is getting quite high. The problem with old pots is that they just keep on catching. On the bigger tides, pots and floats end up going missing, dragged to god knows where by the tidal flow, thatmeans that they end up lost, and keep on catching. Crabs go in, and cod and jacks push their way in as well to eat the undersized ones. Crocs are a bit partial to a nice crab also, and they will bulldoze their way in to have a go at their captive prey, and the smaller ones end up stuck and drowned as they can’t get a breath. Yep, I know. There will be plenty of people saying, ‘Cool, less crocs’, but my opinion is that it’s part of the problem. If there was a properly organised day at a low tide time when people could donate their time and effort to remove old pots and pick up rubbish in general, I’d definitely be part of that, just to clear rubbish from the rivers. I know it’s obvious which ones are old and abandoned, but don’t touch any pots unless a day is organised to remove them, as you could just leave yourself open for liability complications. Now is a great time to do some croc spotting if that’s what your into and some spectacular animals are showing up on a regular basis. The reason I don’t put in where we spot these animals is because they’re pretty unpredictable and there’s no one location that you can say they’re going to be, apart from that they could be anywhere and all water needs to be approached with caution. No matter where you go, keep your eyes open and wits about you, that’s all I can say. If one shows interest or aggression towards you, then you’re obliged to report that animal, however I don’t believe there is a need to report every sighting as the EHP phone wouldn’t stop ringing, and a proper aggression call would lose its urgency amongst a barrage of normal everyday sightings.

The reef fishing should really heat up soon CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

August is one of the top months of the year for fishing the reef, but if this month is like the previous few, it could be a real challenge to find a flat period, especially one that coincides with a weekend. When recreational boats have managed to get out wide, the fishing has been red-hot. Unfortunately those days have been nearly as scarce as the hairs on Gordon Tallis’ head. Mackerel have been around in good numbers and when the winds have dropped below 20 knots, boaties have been out there and getting amongst them. Late August usually marks the start of the lighter winds and postcardperfect conditions. Surely we have paid a big enough price this winter to be graced with an extended period of calm, warm weather. Reef fishos can expect to find coral trout going off up shallow as they feed up in preparation for spawning, while out deeper, largemouth nannygai and red emperor should be equally cooperative. While these three species will be the target of choice for reef fishos, there will be a sprinkling of the less common reefies like Moses perch, long-nosed emperor, red mangrove jack, Robertson sea perch and dark-tailed sweetlip, to

name a few. August is definitely one month when every reef fisho should try and get out wide. Last year many boats bagged out and charter operators were driving away from red-hot bites, so here’s hoping this year will be a mirror image. Overnighting is a popular option this month, as it gives anglers three strings to their bow: they can chase trout and Spanish mackerel up shallow, on dusk, move out wide to chase reds throughout the night, then have another crack at trout and Spaniards before heading home in the morning. The chance of having storms popping up in the middle of the night is pretty low at this time of year, so it makes for a more relaxing night. Mackerel of all species will be on the bite, from close inshore to the outer reef, and it’s just a matter of deciding where and when to chase them. A few tips will increase your odds of tangling with these silver bullets. Morning is generally best, more because of lighter winds than anything. Be on location, ready to fish at the first sign of daylight. I have caught mackerel when there is barely the first glow in the eastern sky. Use live baits whenever possible and if you’re using dead baits, use a mono trace rather than wire. Berley constantly with small chunks of fish – preferably the same as those on the end of your line. Work the

Spanish mackerel will be a prime target from close inshore to the outer reef this month. tides with the biggest run, especially around the new moon. Mackerel love current. Cobia should be around again this year to give anglers a real work out when chasing mackerel. Their numbers have been up in recent years and they certainly add another level to the mayhem, especially if you’re chasing doggies on light gear. The constant wind in recent months has encouraged many anglers to look inland for some relief. The big plus with the constant strong southeasterlies is that it helped dry out the wetlands faster, making for reasonably good access after the big wet season. Lakefield National Park is a very popular destination for anglers in the area and many were anxiously awaiting the opening of the park after the wet. The first vehicles

in after the wet usually have a bumper time, before the barra become a bit gun shy. The longer the dry season goes, the more effort is required to find areas that haven’t been heavily fished. Closer to home, the local streams should be starting to run crisp and clear after the rain in early July. Chasing sooty grunter, jungle perch and the odd mangrove jack and barra in the rainforest streams is a great way to scratch the itch, when the winds are keeping you off the water. As the streams change from milky to clear, it’s a great time to work the sweetwater. Flicking small lures in the 5-8cm size range is the most productive approach, with soft plastics, prawn and shrimp imitations, hardbodies, poppers and spinners all working at various times. Make sure

you are croc-wise when wandering the freshwater streams, as crocs are pushing further and further upstream in recent years. Estuary fishing should start to hot up, with the first period of light winds and clear skies. A rise in water temperature of a degree or two can have astounding effects on the likes of barra, mangrove jack and golden snapper. If the water temperature stays in the low 20s then chasing bream, whiting and flathead is likely to be more productive. Salmon, trevally and grunter should also be around, especially on the bigger tides around the new and full moons. The odd large golden or giant trevally can really

stir up the action this month, so make sure you are using quality gear, even when chasing bread and butter species. If you’re hooked out in the open on the sandbanks, quality light tackle can still handle some serious-sized golden and giant trevally. Large queenfish will be poking around the estuary entrances if the water is clear. Drifting live sardines over the sandbar drop-offs or skipping poppers in the same area will get you into the action with these great sportfish. August offers a huge range of angling options and anything short of really foul weather can be fished with success, if you choose wisely from the wide range of angling options available.

Terry McClelland and John Van Ryt from Mareeba with a brace of typical Lakefield barra.

Persistent anglers are finding awesome fish CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

August would have to be one of the tougher months to fish the Cairns Net Free Zone. With water temperatures bottoming out it’s hard to get many of the more desirable fish to bite. The good news is that fish still have to feed, so it’s all about being on the water at the right times and using the right techniques to get that bite. The one thing that August has going for it is consistency. The weather is very predictable and, even though it may be cool, if you can put a stretch of days together with the same weather pattern, the fish will be easier to find and target. The other positive factor to keep the confidence high is the water clarity. With little rain around at this time of year the water can become super clear, which is always useful, especially when throwing lures.

While barra appetites are slowing down, throwing smaller lures is more likely to entice a bite. The trick during this time of year is to go with the jellybean theory – using smaller lures and putting in multiple casts with 2-3” lures. You may think throwing a 2” lure for barra or jacks seems a little silly, but with their appetites down they will be more likely to chase a snack than the whole main course. I prefer to use paddle-tail or prawn imitations this time of year

and slow, non-aggressive actions are definitely the way to go. With the water clarity being so good, it’s vital that you drop your line size and fish light to get the bite. When you are fishing that low poundage for large fish, use a quality braid like Sunline Siglon, which has very small diameters; this allows you to fish that extra little bit of heavier line. This is

essential, especially if you pin a large hard-running jack or barramundi. The inlet is still the pick of the spots in the NFZ for barramundi and anglers are reporting large congregations on the deep bends. Live bait has been the main technique to get these fish to bite and fishing a couple of flicking live prawns on a suspended hook has been the best bet. Jacks have also been about up the smaller feeder creeks in this area and have been readily taking smaller 3” paddle-tail weedless rigged plastics; casting these deep into snags has been doing the damage. Out the front on the hospital flats the grunter are proving to be a more cooperative option. Getting up on the flats and fishing the run-in and then run-out with fresh strip and squid baits has been the best technique. Some of these fish have been up over the 60cm mark – great fighting and eating size. Golden snapper are also on the chew, especially in the channel out from the Navy Jetty. Barron River and

Thomatis has seen a good run of the sand species, with plenty of flathead, whiting and trevally biting around the mouth. There have been some stonking barra snared around the bridges and these will be prime spots when the water heats up.

A special thanks must go to John and Jennifer Mondora who, with the help of the Cairns Fishing Stocking Group, have piled some big numbers of barra into the inlet and barra to help boost the NFZ numbers.

Mangrove jack have been about in the smaller feeder creeks. AUGUST 2018

Wind and cold weather makes fishing difficult PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

It has been a few years, but 2018 to date will go down as the windiest it has been in recent history. Back to back high pressure systems rolling across the Australia, delivering constant prevailing winds for several months on end. Flicking back through the memory bank in a two-month period we’ve only had a few days in a row when the winds have remained under 10 knots. The offshore fishing has been predominantly left alone to the brave with bigger boats while the small boat brigade has had to settle for slim pickings in the calmer waters of our local rivers and estuaries. With continuous cooler weather the water temperature in our river and creeks has plummeted and has also been exacerbated by a steady flow of dirty water from the sea entering the systems with the incoming tide. The fishing

has been challenging to say the least with modest catches being recorded across the board. The better catches have been some good-sized grunter getting right up into the creeks and the bream have been big and fat in most areas. There have been smatterings of estuary cod, barracuda, mangrove jack and golden snapper in the bigger systems. With any hint of clearer water smallsized GTs and queenfish have popped up from time to time. The Daintree River north of us has probably fished the best overall and more so on the neap tides. If day temperatures can go up a notch we’ll start to see some movement on the barra, which have been reluctant in the cold weather. On the reef, inshore patches are holding great numbers of nannygai breeding schools and the school and Spanish mackerel are around on the calm days, which have been rare. Once again they have

Coral trout have been the constant hand during the colder months. had plenty of rest from the fishers due to weather constraints. Offshore the outer reef is still producing nicely, although it has come with its difficulties. It’s been up to the larger

vessels to provide the reports in recent times. Coral trout, Moses perch, trevally and stripies have been quite common up in the shallows, which have been getting

a thorough workout as it provides more protection from the wind. The low tide has offered the least wind resistance and getting out to deeper hangs has been the plan.

These limited opportunities have provided largemouth nannygai, spangled emperor and Spanish mackerel. For some reason we’ve seen a big improvement on cobia. Their numbers have been really good over the last few months and they’re definitely a worthy adversary on the end of the line. They have coincided with the presence of sharks, which have frequented the nannygai marks at various times. August sees a real shift of focus to the small black marlin, as a couple of major tournaments are run out of Cairns this month. Their numbers are good but they haven’t been fully explored due to the run of bad weather. This month traditionally sees the weather patterns settle, which would be welcomed. I sense we’ve been through the roughest period and it’s onwards and upwards from this point on. Good weather will see the fishing go through the roof on all fronts.

Waiting for the chances to get offshore LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

The year is flying by and we are all hoping that the weather gods will give us a much-needed break. We’ve had fresh to frightening winds with periods of sleety rain and cold, crisp mornings for much of the last few months. This is the norm for winter in NQ, but it would be so nice to get a few weather windows and some sunshine, so we could get out and into some potentially awesome fishing. It’s crazy that I haven’t caught a mackerel recently. In past years I’d be sick of them by now. August will be similar to the last few months with cold, clear water making fishing more challenging in the creeks and estuaries. However, the blue water fishing should be going off, if we can get out there. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL We’ve had tough days up the channel over the last few months. Picking your days according to tides and weather patterns will push results in your favour. Sunny days with higher morning temperatures and lighter winds matched with larger tides will help those wanting to try for barra and jacks. If you like using lures and 54

AUGUST 2018

plastics, I would suggest giving smaller prawn profiles a go. Prawns are always on the menu for any fish that swims here and both jacks and barra will be chasing them in the shallows. I find my lighter spin outfits gets more use over winter, lighter braid allows longer casts of smaller lures and plastics, which helps in getting bites. Spooking fish in the clear shallow water is also very frustrating, and dropping leader size down to 20-30lb fluorocarbon can help in this situation. I also tend to fish more natural colours instead

which means an easy meal is something they won’t pass up. One of the great things about Hinchinbrook is the fact that the mighty mangrove jack will still be about and they normally have a swing at something if it passes close enough to their chosen ambush zone. Over the last few months I have had some great sessions on jacks, but have noticed that their normally ferocious strike has become less savage. This is causing plenty of missed opportunities, as they don’t find the hook as often. Scents like mullet-flavoured Pro Cure will get them much more

Toni with one of many from a great winter session. of brighter colours that stand out. Another tip is to slow everything down to a deadslow retrieve that keeps the action of the lure working and allows the fish more time to react. Barra become more lethargic in the cold,

committed. Lots of grunter are about, as they love feeding in the clear water. They can be found anywhere from far up creeks to out in the channel itself in deeper water. Fishing sunsets or sunrise around tide changes

with fresh bait such as peeled prawns or squid should see you getting some fish in the boat and in the esky. Grunter are delicious eating fish and they fight well for ther size as well. They also respond well to small plastics and the Ezy-shrimp from ZMan smothered in Procure is my go-to plastic. Long casts along the flats and a slow hopping retrieve will provoke them into eating. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF It seems every month when I sit down and type this report I will be saying the same thing. The weather has been bad, which is typical. Windows to get out have been very few and far between. The great news is the fish have been biting well when you can get at them. There have been great captures of coral trout up on the reef edges and these fish will move into the shallows while the water is cooler to feed. My favourite way to target trout in winter is to fish for them with plastics and topwater lures over shallow bommies. Fights are full on and it’s make or break fishing; if they are allowed any line, they will smoke you back into the reef in a heartbeat. Using strong gear and locked-up drags is the only way to put fish in the boat and won’t hurt you as much in lure losses. Nannygai and emperor should also be biting well in the deep, but the major

While jacks prefer the heat, they still have to eat. problem is the sharks ruining the fun. I’m not sure what it is, but I swear the shark problem has gotten way worse in the last few years. This may be due to more people fishing and attracting them, or their numbers have increased dramatically. No matter the reason, it really gets frustrating when you spend time and money getting to spots and your fish get eaten and wasted. Juvenile black marlin will be about in much better numbers now, so spend a few hours with a teaser and some skirts out the back. Marlin trolling can be very boring until something happens, then it’s mayhem. Having a good plan and a couple of spare hands helps a lot. By the time this article goes to print I hope to have my first few marlin boat side. Bring on some better weather! The jetty, as always, will be plenty of fun and very

popular with the seasonal run of winter queenfish. The end of the sugar loader is a renowned hotspot for big queenies and sometimes it’s ‘boat city’ when they’re on the bite. Queenies respond to many techniques and they will school together to feed. Some good run in the tide will get them active if they are shut down, they also like a little light to feed. Afternoon sessions have been the best by far for me and a good tide change around 3pm should mean loads of fun until just before dark. Please be mindful that queenies can die quickly, so unhooking and getting them back in the water as fast as possible is important. If you want to get a picture, make sure everything is set up before the fish is brought in the boat. That means it can be photographed and thrown back in ASAP.

Make the most of the short weather windows COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

During this month the climate begins to gradually change in the Cooktown region. The temperature begins its slow climb towards the spring heat and the ever-consistent trade winds occasionally ease up to provide a limited time of 10knot winds to head offshore. Over the past month the weather hasn’t been favourable for our local anglers, with consistent winds and up to 30knots gusts and the constant winds aggravating a cold snap for the region, not to mention the periodic downpours. Keeping the weather in mind, your offshore options are very limited. This is why most locals head bush or upriver at this time of year. However, watch the weather reports closely, because on occasions the winds drop out below 10knots. If you’re in the area, make the most of it, because it may be a while before it happens again. Keep in mind that your boating and fishing gear is sitting around unused a little longer at this time of year. Make the most of the windy weather and service your gear. Do the lot – fishing gear, trailers, boats and motors –

One of many rat barra caught in LNP during the cooler months. because it will pay off now rather than having problems later when the winds have dropped and you want to go out fishing. On the reef fishing front, unless you have a boat that can handle the constant 20knot wind, the opportunities have been scarce. On the bright side the weather conditions have allowed the fish a rest from anglers and given them an opportunity to bolster their numbers and size. Those who capitalized on the small windows of good weather have been rewarded with some hungry and aggressive fish. As a result, eskies have been filled and freezers have been restocked. The usual culprits showing up on the end of lines, such as coral trout, large and smallmouth nannies, reef jacks and red emperor.

Fishing deeper has been showing some more success. Mackerel have been around in good numbers trolling reef edges and isolated pinnacles have resulted in some good hook-ups. A well-presented popper should get smashed

by these toothy critters with a high chance of hooking some sporting by-catch such as a big GT. Just look for and bait movement or current lines and get casting. The saltwater estuaries are relatively clear now. The unseasonal rain hasn’t had too much of an impact and the water will be cool. This means plenty of croc sightings, as they try to warm themselves in the midday sun. Also, clear water usually has the big trevally and queenfish chasing the bait right up into the brackish waters. Grunter are another common species to try for at this time of year. For grunter, try the deeper holes on the clear days and up on the sand flats during a making tide on either overcast days or at night. The grunter

Lachlan Brewer with a jobfish, which fell victim to a Halco Laserpro.

Annan River mud crabs are on the menu with chilled cracked crab. can spook easily, so stealth fishing is the key. Upriver is best for barra at this time; go deep where they may be lazily hiding around snags or if they’re feeding, get up on the flats where it’s warmer. Mangrove jacks are still the mainstay of catches and have been all year. With some late downpours mud crabs are definitely on the menu with some amazing hauls coming in for those willing to put the pots out.

Lakefield National Park (LNP) is now open and has already had a flood of tourists and locals through there. Already there have been reports of plenty of rat barra caught in the park. Fish of decent sizes have succumb to live bait over flicking lures. As the weather got colder it has been harder work tempting a bite. If lures aren’t producing, try floating a live cherabin into some snags and fish the warmer parts of the day.

Coercing the barra to bite in cooler water CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly

weighted plastics. A great tactic is to cast poppers and floating lures

across shallow mangrove margins and aerial roots lining the shallow outskirts of

wildrivercompany@gmail.com

With Cape York reaching its chilliest point in the calendar year, let’s look at what options will abound with water temperatures a little lower than usual. One of the greatest assets of the Cape is the productivity of the fishing right throughout the year with temperatures averaging a little higher even in the grips of winter. Barramundi fishing will be tough but there are a few tricks, which may help steer you away from flogging snags and deeper water where they might be holed up and refusing to nibble. Shallow creeks, bays and drains, which collect water as the tide drops will hold slightly warmer water. Baitfish and crustaceans will patrol the shallow margins and concentrate predators as the tide recedes. Chasing threadfin salmon and barra in only a few feet of water can be productive in August and sight casting to swirls, shadows and scattering baitfish in murky conditions is enjoyable with shallow divers and lightly

This is the smile of a lad who’s caught his first barra

many Cape York bays. These places hold hordes of bait waiting for the last possible moment to escape with the tide. Especially in low light conditions, small to mediumsized barra will push right up into these spots and readily charge a lure twitched above their eyes. Moving away from the bays and estuaries, the bluewater scene will be dominated by the ridges of high pressure further south. Consistent trade winds can put a dampener on offshore forays during August, and pockets of calm will be the exception rather than the norm. However early morning jaunts out to the reef usually coincide with decent weather, and direction of travel can make the return trip bearable when the wind picks up. Deep reef dwellers such as nannygai, red emperor, gold-spot cod and a range of sweetlip, emperor and trevally species should all be up in shallow water at this time of year. Over much of the east coast, this means up in the 15-35m range, whereas in shallow country like Princess Charlotte Bay, the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria it usually means 10-20m. Most reef species will bite

Barra still need to eat in winter and will come after your presentations. readily on the tide changes and will be the easiest to target on either side of the neap/spring tides. The reason for this is that you want enough run in the tide to keep fish active, but not so much that you can’t get a sinker, jig or plastic to the bottom. Most fishers will opt for the neap tides, as water clarity is always better during this 4-5 day period. The commercial fleet targeting Spanish mackerel will be getting busy at this time of year and praying for another great run up the east and down the west coast of the Cape. A spread of diving lures, wog heads, spoons or rigged baits with one or two short and two

long is the most common. Generally west coast fishers fish up short whereas east coast fishers fish their spread a little further back. Look for pockets of good weather and for highpressure systems slowly fading from the map for your best chance at great conditions in August. It’s a pleasurable time to fish with generally cool, clear conditions and not too many bugs and bities to annoy. • For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com AUGUST 2018

Politics and fishing

Has Queensland’s reform process lost the plot? WEIPA

Dave Donald

I’ve been around the political side of fisheries management for a long time – too long some might say – but have always focussed on trying to improve the lot of recreational fishers in Queensland (the entire state – not just its heavily populated southeast). A decision to suspend my ‘retirement’ from political activism some five years ago was prompted by what I saw as the best opportunity our state had ever had to finally bring our fishery into the modern era via the governmentsanctioned MRAG Asia Pacific independent review. To refresh your memory, MRAG Asia Pacific is an independent fisheries and aquatic consulting company ‘dedicated to the sustainable use of natural resources through sound, integrated management practices and policies’ and since 1984 has successfully completed over 400 projects worldwide in 60 countries. Led by Professor Glenn Hurry, their final report entitled ‘Taking Stock’ was far from complimentary of our fisheries management practices. “The systems that have evolved over time to manage and share access to Queensland’s fish stocks are complex and don’t support the best use and stewardship of our fisheries. The incentives are for shortterm gain and not long-term investment.” The latter is just a nice way of reiterating ‘rip it out before it’s gone,’ the attitude still so prevalent in political circles right to the present day! Now, on the positive side, let’s look at what the report has to say about the focus of the changes needed. MRAG believe the proposed reforms will deliver: • For commercial fishers, a more stable, transparent and strategic operating environment, based on more secure harvesting rights and greater individual

flexibility around how those rights are used; • For recreational fishers, greater recognition for anglers in the fisheries management process including setting aside for the first time an explicit share of the key target species for the exclusive enjoyment of recreational anglers, as well as setting up a ‘common currency’ framework which allows for ongoing, marketbased adjustment of sectoral shares over time; • For custodial fishers, greater recognition of traditional use rights and the establishment of a framework that can accommodate determinations outside of the Fisheries Act (e.g. Native Title) where they arise; • For future generations and the environment, the maintenance of stock sizes of key species at levels thicker than that capable of producing maximum sustainable yield (MSY) in order to reduce levels of risk and maintain the resilience of Queensland’s aquatic environment. The MRAG report also stated that the reform process was urgent and suggested a time-frame to ‘bed down the process’ to a maximum term of three. Like myself, they are sick and tired of raising the same issues time and time again. We’re ‘consulted’ out and now see the process as a delaying tactic rather than a refinement of views. There’s widespread concern that the consultation process is being used to lead us towards pre-conceived Fisheries agendas rather than discussing the grass roots reforms that are required industry-wide. For those of us who gave thousands of voluntary hours over a decade ago to MAC duty after the Burns Review, it’s definitely déjà vu! There seems to be no forum to nail down hard and fast basics such as numbers of regions, commercial fisher numbers in each and finite catch quotas. On numerous occasions I’ve argued that until the review establishes hard and fast bottom-line

rules for commercial fishers that actively support the goal of a return to 60% original stocks, all further discussion is a waste of time! There are still commercial fishers whinging that they haven’t been consulted. Seriously, what mangrove creek have they been hiding in for all these years? Why haven’t they been given an ultimatum on the wholesale changes needed and told to get themselves sorted? Pussy footing around is definitely not an option, but the powers that be seem to think otherwise. A research paper published in December 2017 by independent scientists Graham Edgar, Trevor Ward and Rick Stuart-Smith is just another harbinger of not-sogood news. Their extensive work led to the conclusion that, “Regardless of a high global ranking for fisheries sustainability, catches from Australian wild fisheries decreased by 31% over the past decade!” After copping flack from government-run fisheries agencies that these assertions were poorly developed, these experts were forced to defend their data and the rigorous ‘on-water’ collection methods used in its collection. In essence, we have government departments dependant on desktop studies of questionable fishergenerated figures criticizing professionals who took the time to actually swim around in the water with live animals to obtain first-hand information. Who do you think has the best assessment? More to the point, who has the least conflict of interest in wanting to get the truth out there? Maybe that example justifies the comment that ‘politics and truth rarely appear in the same sentence!’ Let’s consider the ramifications of this 31% decrease in just over a decade. Although the increased harvesting of fish with lesser market appeal may have made up much of the shortfall, this 31% figure could almost certainly

be applied to the status of our state’s traditional harvest species. If that’s the case, then the task of returning stocks to the 60% original level would appear to be even more difficult than initially imagined. In real terms, the magnitude of the task facing Fisheries just gets worse and worse while the energy to fix the problem, rather than being encouraged by these latest damning figures, seems to dissipate in disputing their authenticity. Taking another tangent, my efforts to identify an accurate method of quantifying fish stock levels hasn’t been very fruitful. How do we estimate original numbers and get real time data on existing populations? From the technical advice I’ve received, a reasonably accurate calculation of

that data would entail considerable manpower and is therefore exceedingly costly. Modern computers are still limited by the figures and methodology inputted. Erring on the positive side of 60% looks like being the best option under current programs. Hundreds of emails and telephone conversations with fellow members of the recreational fishing think tank (known as the Queensland Recreational Fishing Network since the MRAG report and Fisheries Review became public) have analysed most aspects of the reforms needed in intricate detail. During that protracted banter, just to further complicate the convoluted ‘mess’ that characterizes our management process, we’ve uncovered a number of major discrepancies in

WISH LIST • Regional Zones – 5-7 on east coast, two in the Gulf of Carpentaria run by zonal committees of stakeholders and local councils with high degree of autonomy • Commercial license reductions – 30-40 netters on east coast (5-7 per zone), 20 in the Gulf, only two bait nets per zone, licensed fishers only able to move between two nominated zones, beach netting to be reduced to two licenses • Monofilament net removal – all nets removed from offshore waters (more than 1nm offshore, net sizes for barramundi increased in size to target larger fish and allow smaller fish to escape and breed • Spawning fish – all netting of spawning fish to be severely restricted, harvesting for roe only banned • Commercial license fees – increased proportionate to numbers operating, consideration of a levy on product produced • Individual Catch Quotas (ITQs) – reduced to a maximum of 50% of current catches, subject to regional weather conditions/seasons reviewed annually • Pelagic species – all mackerel species to be designated ‘line caught’ only, numbers of line fishers significantly reduced • Reef species – line fishing only, ITQs significantly reduced pending a review of Great Barrier Reef health • Commercial fisher responsibility – greatly increased penalties for offences, names of offenders published, three strikes and license is permanently forfeited • Voluntary Marine Systems/Electronic Log Books – all commercial vessels to be fitted with VMS/ELBs (VMS to be rolled out 1 January 2019) • Recreational Fishing Bag Limits – to remain unchanged until commercial fishery is rationalized/reduced • Recreational Fishing Permit/License – to be introduced in conjunction with reduced commercial license numbers • Recreational Only Species – whiting, dart, tailor, longtail tuna, snub nosed dart, queenfish, all billfish to be made recreational only • Net Free Zones – Moreton Bay/Broadwater, Harvey Bay, Cape York Peninsula (from Cooktown to Cape York to Cape Keer Weer) to be designated ‘net free’

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AUGUST 2018

current Fisheries regulations and commercial fisheries data. These ‘holes’ need bullets rather than band-aids but opening the medicine chest is infinitely easier, so it seems. Once again, I find myself pondering whether my efforts would be better spent with a rod in hand rather than seeking to turn the tide of questionable fisheries management. In the end, the decision was very easy and consequently this will be my final contribution to QFM’s fishing and politics discussion. I’ve decided to leave you with a Fisheries Reform ‘Wish List’ as a parting gesture. Where the list goes from here is entirely up to all of you. My hope is that most of the issues will be ticked off before I get too old to cast a lure.

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Freshwater winter wonderland picks up TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

Strange things have been happening this year. The southeast corner has been fishing surprisingly well for this time of year. With fewer freezing mornings than normal over the past month, the fish have been more willing to keep chewing right through the middle of winter. Now, don’t get me wrong, they aren’t eating ravenously the whole time, but there are plenty of days where they wake up and feed just like during the spring months. These feeding periods have been shorter and less frequent, but to see them with

such regularity over winter has been enough to keep freshwater anglers happy over the cold months. Bass have been one of the most responsive fish. It seems as though they get more active after a spate of warmer days, but to be honest I can’t really work it out. Barra are no different further north. If the weather is kind with lighter winds and warmer days, they will chew over the winter months. The levels of activity and movements are a little more predictable based on the winds and weather compared to other species. Golden perch are still pretty slow and less willing to chase lures around in the western dams. These

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Last month the dam reopened to water-based activities. It was closed due

to high levels of blue-green algae for several months. The bass didn’t seem to mind the break from fishing pressure and are keeping plenty of anglers happy. Quality bass

lakes are suited more to bait fishing or chasing the Murray cod on lures. If you read back through last month’s QFM you’ll see that my predictions were a bit out. Don’t for one second believe what my wife says – that I never admit that I’m wrong. The truth is I don’t mind being out on the forecast if the action is way better than expected. It has been a great winter so far but only time will tell if the fish can keep it up and continue chewing the way they have so far. The days are getting longer, however we aren’t out of the cold stuff yet, so fingers crossed we’ll see a lot more bent rods through August as well. Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel!

14 31

Weipa

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

A lot of the action last month was taking place up Cressbrook Creek just past the steep rock wall. Schooling fish could be found in 7-10m of water. I am guessing these fish would be keen to take all manner of lures like tail spinners, soft vibes, blades and soft plastics. Anglers have had success on spoons and tail spinners when casting and trolling. It’s also good to see fish being caught from other

Gold Coast

24 1 Tinaroo Falls Dam 2 Peter Faust Dam 3 Burdekin Falls Dam 4 Eungella Dam 5 Teemburra Dam 6 Kinchant Dam 7 Cania Dam 8 Lake Monduran 9 Isis Balancing Storage 10 Wuruma Dam 11 Lenthalls Dam 12 Boondooma Dam 13 Bjelke-Petersen Dam 14 Lake MacDonald 15 Gordonbrook Dam 16 Borumba Dam 17 Somerset Dam 18 Wivenhoe Dam 19 Pindari Dam 20 Copeton Dam 21 Moogerah Dam 22 Maroon Dam 23 Leslie Dam 24 Connolly Dam 25 Coolmunda Dam 26 Clarrie Hall Dam (NSW) 27 Hinze Dam 28 Lake Cressbrook 29 Callide Dam 30 Lake Awoonga 31 Lake Samsonvale 32 Fairbairn Dam 33 Koombooloomba Dam 34 Cooby Dam

have been coming from all over the lake and quite a few chunky golden perch have been mixed in with them. This is great to see as the goldens have been very hard to find over the last few years.

The Gang Banger G2 spoon has been slaying the bass all over the place. Here’s a chunky Somerset Dam model.

Gympie

Cairns 1

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

Maryborough

Roma

areas. It can be hard to find different areas to fish at Cressbrook at times but the schools are very widespread. Look across all the major points at either end of the dam and bass schools are likely to be present. These fish can be hard to tempt at times so look for shows of fish that are higher off the bottom and more active. When they are holding tight to the bottom, they can be tough to tempt and one of the best ways to get a reaction

BRISBANE

from them is to hop an ice jig in front of them. The dam level is now low enough to expose the end of the shallower ramp. I checked it out recently and backed my big boat way out on it to launch. Provided you stay straight with the angle that the gravel runs out, you’ll be okay. From memory the shoulder of the gravel drops away, so you’ll soon know if you are out of alignment. As the dam

WATER STORAGE LEVELS Dam............................ % Full

        

DAMS Atkinson Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen Boondooma Borumba Burdekin Falls Callide Cania Clarendon Cooby Coolmunda

MAY JUNE JULY 11 8 5 95 93 92 21 20 19 38 36 34 100 100 100 100 97 92 75 70 71 97 95 94 2 2 1 45 44 0 43 41 40

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

Copeton Cressbrook Dyer/Bill Gunn Eungella Fairbairn Glenlyon Hinze Julius Kinchant Koombooloomba Leslie Macdonald

27 27 26 55 53 53 5 5 4 100 99 98 25 24 23 50 49 49 99 98 96 95 93 90 99 100 98 87 71 61 9 9 8 102 103 102

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

Maroon 99 97 96 Monduran/Fred Haigh 99 98 98 Moogerah 87 84 82 North Pine/Samsonvale 89 87 85 Peter Faust/Proserpine 72 70 69 Pindari 59 59 59 Somerset 77 77 78 Teemburra 98 99 97 Tinaroo 97 96 91 Toonumbar 100 101 100 Wivenhoe 77 75 74 Wuruma 98 97 96

For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams. All figures are % readings Current as of 18/07/18

(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.) 58

AUGUST 2018

gets lower you can actually swing the trailer to one side and drop the wheels off this edge to gain some extra depth and angle. Just be sure to keep your car on the flat solid ground. The steeper ramp is still in play but if it’s a busy weekend, you might be looking for another option. Stay away from the edges with cars and trailers as they are soft due to the dropping water level. Just remember there is a speed limit of 8 knots and a restricted area around the pump tower. Check out the signage to ensure you stay out of trouble, and abide by the rules. The gate hours for the boat ramps and day use area are 7am-6pm over the winter months. You can find all the right gear and best advice at Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street, Toowoomba. The boys regularly fish the lake and share a lot of information with fellow bass anglers who are also wetting a line. SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY This is the dam that has surprised me most. Winter bass fishing at Somerset can be very hard at times. Catching fish from the edges is often the only way to find some action during winter as the deeper schools get lockjaw and refuse to bite. Not this time! The schooling fish aren’t always chewing and that’s to be expected for this time of year. If I had to guess, you stand about a 40% chance of striking a good day at the moment when the schools will chew like crazy. These bites don’t last all day but occur in windows. The fish will often be found higher off the bottom and moving around when the fun is about to begin. Pelican Point has been one of the most productive areas, but not all the fish are Somerset monsters. There have been heaps caught from undersized right up to 40cm. The bigger models are mixed in but you need to sort through the rats to find the horses. The fish are likely to take a variety of offerings when they are fired up, but most fishers haven’t needed to experiment much because 20g spoons are so effective. The new Gang Banger G2 spoon has been working extremely well. The smaller profile seems to be exactly what the fish ordered, as they are dominating catches. I had a few sessions on the bass last month. One day they were almost impossible to tempt, while the other two days the fishing was out of control. In one solo session, I landed five fish in five

casts only to move to the next school and catch six in six casts. Sessions like this make it all worthwhile, but remember there will be plenty of tough times between such good fishing. Scattered and schooling bass can also be found between Kirkleigh and Queen Street across the flats. At times these fish will be a little shallower, so explore 7-10m of water. Often they will be tighter to the bottom and less likely to take spoons. If this is the case, pull out your ice jig collection and start working different shows of fish. Small blades can also be effective in this situation, but be sure to fish them close to the bottom using short sharp hops rather than big, high ones. If the fish stack up below the boat, you can work the lure a little higher when it comes through that area. While they’re harder to find and not always willing to play, there seem to be some better quality bass in this area. Some absolute corkers over 50cm and weighing more than 3kg have been caught. If this is happening now, we can only imagine how many big fish will be around in another month or two. Somerset is the true land of the giants. Somerset Tackle has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Friday to Sunday. Orders can also be made over the phone or online. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch. WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK The last two months have been great at Wivenhoe. Around the edges between Billies Bay and Logans Inlet has been the place to be. The steep rock banks and shallower weed beds have both held schools of bass with some fat golden perch mixed in. The fishing has been so good it has even brought old guns out like Harry Watson. Harry is the man behind the Jackall brand in Australia and has been putting the Jackall range to good use to extract some excellent winter fish. Plenty of others are also getting into the action. The TN range of lipless crankbaits is an excellent way to locate the concentrations of bass around the edges. Just keep working along and casting paying extra attention to points jutting out into the main dam. Once located, the bites can sometimes be even better when using suspending deep diving jerkbaits. Rather than just cranking these back in like the Jackall TNs, fish them with a twitch, twitch pause once they reach their full diving depth. Jerkbaits and cool, clear winter water

go hand in hand. They allow the fish plenty of time to move in, inspect and then annihilate the offering. We may move into another transition stage over the coming month. Already an increase of fish schooling on the flats was detected last month. As we move closer to the time of year where bass get sexually active in

the lake are Billies Bay and Logans Inlet. MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, BEAUDESERT As we get closer to the end of the month, the fish should start to take deeper offerings. The smaller fish, which are often forming the schools, will be joined by bigger models. There

day. Earlier in the morning, suspending jerkbaits will also fool a few. You can find all the gear you’ll need at Charlton’s Bait and Tackle just off the highway at Redbank. The team will be able to offer some tips on fishing Maroon and guide you in the right direction to enjoy some of the other great fishing

Cressbrook Dam has been turning on the action some days with exceptional quality fish. Look on the major points for active schools. their wild rivers, they exhibit some similar habits in the dams. The spring months are when you are most likely to find the biggest schools. Checking the flats between Logans Inlet and the roped off section past Billies Bay may be rewarding. Wivenhoe fish will often move around on the bigger flats, so as soon as you find fish get back into them quickly. Spoons will be one of the best options when casting. Trolling hardbodies that dive to 10m is a good way to locate fish. Bass, golden perch and fork-tailed catfish will all fall for the trolled lures. A quick switch to a cast offering will often do the trick when fish are located like this. Always keep a 20g spoon ready to go. Wivenhoe is a massive lake and you can use outboards such as 4-strokes or low-emission (direct injection) 2-strokes. Despite the huge amount of water, the speed limit is 6 knots. Stick to the rules and keep everybody happy and fishing. It has taken a long time to be allowed to even use an outboard on the lake. The two spots for boat launching in the lower end of

will still be fish holding up closer to the weed and in the shallows but for big numbers and fast-paced action go a little deeper. Schooling bass will be found somewhere in the main basin. Pay particular attention to any of the humps, ridges and major points. Hopping blades is a great way to convert bites into hook-ups. Other lures worth trying will be spoons and tail spinners. If the fish are hard to tempt, try jigging an ice jig. Closer to the weed beds, soft plastics will be the go throughout the

options in the area. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: RATHDOWNEY, BOONAH The bass are already schooling but like some of the other lakes, they only bite when they feel like it. Deeper schooling fish have been moving around The Spit area out from the northern boat ramp. The action should get better as we move closer to spring. Vertically winding Gang Banger G2 spoons worked well through the

big schools in this area last month. Most of the fish were smaller but the better ones were over 40cm in length. When they choose to bite well, the action will be hectic with fish after fish. We are just waiting now for the switch to flick, which I’m sure it will late this month or early in September. Soft plastics rolled through the schooling fish are also a good way to get the bites when the action is slow. If all else fails, try vertically jigging an ice jig or smaller-sized blade bait. It’s not always the best way to produce big numbers and bettersized fish, but it can be the difference between catching something or nothing. DYER CLOSEST TOWNS: GATTON, LAIDLEY Lake Dyer’s small area of water still continues to produce bass and golden perch. Due to having a low level for such a long time, the fish are in poorer condition than some of the other lakes. The deepest water is still around 5m deep and this stretch has most of the fish concentrated in it. If you look to the bay left of the boat ramp, you will see the well-worn walking track to the best fishing areas. While kayaks can also be used to reach the deeper water, it is a fair walk down from the car park to launch. Trolling and casting TN60 Jackalls is one of the best ways to score a mixed bag of bass and golden perch. Due to their small confines, the fish have seen a million lures and don’t always bite well as a result. The G2 Gang Banger managed to pull a few fish last month. The lure is on the heavier side for the shallow water, but the different action seemed to do the trick. You can get all your fishing supplies and more information from Gatton Home Brew, Camping and Fishing Supplies. The store stocks a great range of lures suited to the local area.

Gary’s Marine Centre

3201 6232

217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL AUGUST 2018

SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA It seems like the fish have pushed down towards the deeper water in the main basin of the lake. Good numbers of bass were being caught on spoons in this area. It’s

the time of year to search a lot and spend more time on the sounder than fishing. Once you find the fish, the action should be great. Things should only improve towards the end of the month and leading into September. Other lures that will produce well on the schooling fish are

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Even during the cold, a few golden perch have been taken on lures. Hopping ZX blades on the edges of the deeper weed beds has produced a few fish. Smaller Murray cod have

You can pick up all your bait fishing supplies and some quality locally made and designed lures at Craig’s Home Hardware in Highfields. Cooby is an electric motor dam only and ideal for kayaks. Take extra care in the winter months and wear a lifejacket. In the freezing water is the last place you would want to be

hopped blades and soft vibes. Davos in Noosaville is just a short drive away and they carry all the right lures to use on the toga and bass. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Bass schools can be found out in the main basin. Try searching the points and flats paying particular attention to Borumba Flat,

which is right up the end of the basin just before The Junction of the Yabba and Kingham arms. Search around 10m of water and study the sounder for signs of schooling fish. Ice jigs, 1/4oz blades, spoons and tail spinners will all produce fish, but play around with different offerings and retrieves to see what they want most. Some very good quality bass to

over 50cm have been caught and there are plenty of fish over 40cm as well. Further up the lake, the timber has been quiet. The bass moving out to the deeper water of the main basin has really set the stage for the spring bite. The fish will only school more and bite their heads off some time at the start of spring or even late August. It’s going

to be an awesome year on Borumba by the looks of things. Davos at Noosaville has all the gear you’ll need to tackle the fish at Borumba and Lake Macdonald. The store caters well for fresh and saltwater anglers. They can be found in the Homemaker Centre on the corner of Mary and Thomas streets.

to pull some winter golden perch from the lake if you fish it the right way. Small blades like the ZX40 are perfect for jigging in the old creek bed. Try working these close to vertical and around structure for best results. Live shrimp are also producing quite a few fish. Most of the golden perch have been small with around half over the legal size limit of 30cm.

shoreline up towards the dam wall area. The dam is now very low, so stick to the regularly used areas for launching. The sandy spit below the high and dry boat ramp near the wall is suitable. The other option a lot of anglers use is to travel around to the Washpool and launch on the steeper drop-off near the windmill stand. Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear while at Warwick Outdoor and Sports at 115 Palmerin Street Warwick. For a small store, it carries a great range at a very competitive price. Warwick is only a ten-minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need. COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD There haven’t been many good reports from

Coolmunda Dam. I think this is partly due to the lack of fishers visiting. Targeting the Murray cod at this time of year is the best option. There was an 82cm model caught by one of the park guests last month, but that’s about all I have heard of. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It seems when the cod have a rest from fishing pressure, they can actually bite quite well. The standing timber areas will now be almost too shallow to fish. The Bracker and Sandy Creek areas may still have some suitable spots but the Macintyre Brook is actually hard to reach due to the narrow channel and shallow flats. In the main basin, the stump-lined edges of the creek beds are certainly worth a go. Being out in the open, they will be tougher to fish on windy days. A good sounder and GPS is a must to locate and successfully

fish these more open areas. Trolling hardbodies and casting spinnerbaits should lure out a few of the dam’s speckled green fish. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around 1km away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has an extra two new wheelchair-friendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION

Slow down presentations this month to fool barra. A suspending hardbody like this Jackall Squirrel Hank Tune can be twitched and paused to draw interest from the lethargic fish. still been taking trolled lures on the odd occasion and casting for these fish is also an option. Don’t expect results every time you try, but you always stand a reasonable chance of scoring a cod. Mixed in with the smaller ones are some giants, with fish over 120cm being landed in the past.

if you happen to fall out. The gate hours are 7am to 6pm so if you were to stay until the last minute, you would have a chance to work some shallow water swimbaits or even topwater lures in the twilight hours. LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK You can still manage

Mixed in has been the occasional Murray cod. To specifically target these fish you could try working a bigger vibe like the Jackall Mask or Transam. Golden perch will still take these bigger lures when they are in the mood too. A young fellow was reported to have caught a nice cod tossing a spinnerbait from the

BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY Boondooma has been fishing well for excellent quality bass. It’s important however to go about fishing the dam in the right way. Schooling fish can be found close to the bottom in several areas of the basin, but you need to put in the time on the sounder to find them. Fishing across most of the bass lakes can be like this at this time of year. Tighter schools of fish mean they are less spread out. Once you find them, the concentration of such numbers of fish can produce some excellent fishing. The bass schools will be keen to eat a lot of different offerings. You should always experiment

to see what they want most on the day. Ice jigs, blade baits, 5/8oz jighead rigged soft plastics and spoons will all catch at different times. The key is to keep the lures in the fish. When they are close to the bottom, there is no point winding the lure well above them. Keep it in the zone by hopping across the bottom or reducing the number of winds you give it. Bait fishers, trollers and anglers casting to the edges of the lake will find it pretty tough over the next month. As it warms up in spring, these methods will come back into play. Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into one of

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the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items including an excellent range of proven fishing tackle. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call (07) 4168 9694. For the latest information jump onto Facebook and check out Matthew Mott Sport Fishing for Motty’s latest fishing reports. BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI The action at Bjelke has picked up again, and this should only improve as we move into spring. The fish are pretty easy to find at the moment. The majority have dropped back into the deep water of the channel between the boat ramps. It still pays to sound around in about 10m of water to To page 61

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From page 60

see if you can pinpoint the major concentrations. Both bass and golden perch can be caught in this area. Ice jigs and 1/4oz blades are perfect for hopping across these deeper fish, which are likely to be hugging the bottom until spring. The new Smak Fireblade will be worth looking out for. They should start to appear in stores and will be available in 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2oz sizes. It’s the perfect time of year to be using this style of lure. If bass are willing to tap at a blade, you’ll have a much better conversion rate than when using soft plastics. For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into Bass 2 Barra. The store stocks an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish and the boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it. You’ll find the store at 119 Youngman Street Kingaroy. Matthew Mott also runs fishing charters on the dams and you can reach him through the store for bookings and enquiries on (07) 4162 7555.

Murray cod are a good option this month. Pindari has been producing plenty of smaller models like this and the occasional beast over 1m long. The Yallakool kiosk is all set up with a great range of tackle if you don’t happen to have the right lure or lose one. Be sure to call in and check it out. Give them a call for accommodation and camping bookings on (07) 4168 4746.

CANIA CLOSEST TOWNS: MONTO, BILOELA Bass schools can be found through the main basin of the lake. Like a lot of other lakes this year, Cania fish have continued to play the game better than through some winters. The schools have

been a bit mobile but are still being found in the usual spots. Ice jigs, blades and 1/2 and 5/8oz jighead rigged soft plastics are ideal when the fish are holding tighter to the bottom. As they lift off the bottom (often later in the day), spoons come into their own and are hard to beat.

Matt Fowler with a cracking wahoo caught off Point Lookout.

Team Wilson

(Ian Rogers & Matt Rogers)

Team Venom

Crankbait

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(Shane Banks & Stephen Booth)

Champion Team Champion Angler Big Bass Glenbawn

Champion Team Champion Angler

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WWW.WILSONFISHING.COM AUGUST 2018

Awesome bass fishing on again in August SOMERSET DAM

Matthew Taylor

For most of this year, the fishing at Lake Somerset has been very hot and cold. Traditionally, the end of July and beginning of August marks the beginning of consistently productive fishing. It’s time to dust off your fishing gear and plan a trip to Somerset. The beginning of winter saw anglers catch cricket-score

is windy and rainy. On days of inconsistent weather, the schools will generally either scatter or will sit hard on the bottom, making them hard to target and catch. Generally, the only way to tempt these fish is to get them firing on ice-jigs. The 12g Smak Glider is the most proven and commonly used ice-jig, accounting for many large bass in such circumstances. Alternatively, fishing edges with lipless crankbaits is a method that catches a lot of fish on a tough

The gremlin coloured Hot Bite Gangbanger G2 did the trick on this nice bass at the bottom of Queen Street. This is a spoon that is quickly becoming a go-to lure for anglers. numbers of bass on some days, yet struggle to even get a bite on other days. Tough fishing generally coincides with inconsistent weather. By this I mean that one day may be sunny and calm and the next

bite. This has been working very well of late. When doing this, the ghost ayu and brown dog coloured silent Jackall TN60s are my go-to lures. If the weather is consistent for a few days in a row, the

fishing often becomes red-hot and bass over 50cm are nothing out of the norm for anglers. While the ice-jig is a sure way to catch some big fish, you have many more options when it comes to lure selection. Spoons, soft plastics and tailspinners are generally the most successful lures at this time of year, along with Jackall Mask Vibes. This is because it’s not a reaction bite like summer; they are after more subtle and realistic lure presentations. There is a plethora of different types of spoons that all work successfully on bass at different times. However, often it is a case of showing them something new that they haven’t seen before. With the long-awaited return of the brand Pimp My Lure, it would be crazy not to give their new Diamond Back spoon a go. Hot Bite spoons, both the Gangbanger G1 and G2, are also some of my favourites and have been catching a lot of big bass lately. The 3” Charlie Brewer Sliders have long been one of the most successful soft plastics both at Lake Somerset and on bass in general. With these you will need a 1/2 or 5/8oz jighead, as the fish sit deeper in winter and spring than in summer, generally around 30-45ft. There are many types of jigheads on the market; the Smak and Pimp My Lure versions are the two I use most. Of the tailspinners that anglers use, there’s no doubt

that the Hot Bite Jets are the most successful. The new Pimp My Lure S-Bait tailspinner is most definitely also worth a go, as it is a lure that the fish aren’t accustomed to. Tail spinners are a versatile lure that you can use year round, not just in winter and spring. With all these lures, there have been a few main retrieves that anglers have been successfully using. When the fish are suspended, wind your lure for about 8-15 winds and then drop back to the bottom. Minimise slack in your line when doing so, as the fish will often take your lure as it sinks back. When the fish are located on the bottom, slow hopping and super slow rolling will be your best options. However, the retrieve that the fish want can change daily, so mix it up until you find what they want. Schools of bass are still scattered from Pelican Point to Kirkleigh. With the thermocline now relatively deep, there are far more possible areas for bass to school in. Make sure to look at Red Rock, the Happy Clappers, Pelican Point, Bay 13, and the bottom end of Queen Street. The whole far side of the riverbed across from the Lake Somerset Holiday Park often holds numerous schools at this time of year. With the recent cold weather, the water has fully settled and cleared up. Due to this, whites, light blues, silvers, ayus and other light colours have been the most successful, along with

The author with two Smak ice-jig caught bass – it’s a lure you need in your arsenal for big bass from now until the end of spring. combinations of these colours. • When heading to the lake, make sure to set aside some time to drop in and have a look at Somerset Fishing Tackle’s wide range of gear. They are located next to the amenities block in the day use area, so you can’t miss it. For those of you have been waiting for the return of Pimp My Lure, Somerset Fishing Tackle stocks all their new products,

along with many other new innovations. Also offering boat hire, it’s a shop you can’t go past. Alternatively, if you can’t make it to the lake, check them out on Facebook and Instagram, along with their website at www.somersetfishing.com.au. To see more from Matt, you can find him on Instagram (@matthew____ taylor) and Facebook (@ matthewtaylorfishing).

Get set for the 2018 Barra Bash! LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

The water temperatures are quite cool and the barra have been a bit harder to tempt recently, although the sooties have been biting reasonably well in the southern half of the lake for those persisting around likely structures. Towards the end of this month, water temperatures should start to increase and the barra usually start to make their presence known a bit more often. This will be when it pays to fish the wind-

blown bays and points where bait is present in order to lure a chrome beast. With the barra fishing having been a little slow, I’d like to take this opportunity to outline the most exciting event to happen all year at Tinaroo – the Tablelands Hardware Tinaroo Barra Bash. This amazing event is run by the Tablelands Fish Stocking Society, and is a key way for volunteers to raise extra funds for stocking the lake. With this in mind, if you ever fish Tinaroo, or have been intending to, you really need to support this event. Not only will you be contributing to the

The Barra Bash is a catch and release competition and fish must be photographed on a designated measuring device with a mystery item clearly displayed. 62

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welfare of this world-class fishery, but you will also be giving yourself a chance to win some amazing prizes. Add to this the chance of winning the major prize of $10,000 cash, which is randomly drawn from all adult entrants, and this event becomes an absolute must-do for anyone remotely interested in fishing. This year’s Tinaroo Barra Bash is happening on the first weekend of the school holidays over 21-23 September. The Barra Bash is a family-oriented event and entry is only $40 for adults, $10 for children (15 years and under), and $5 for a small fry (0-6 years old). You can enter by nominating at a range of local businesses or online. The Barra Bash is a catch and release competition and anglers enter their catch by submitting photographs of fish caught within competition hours. There are multiple prize categories that anglers can compete for. A full list of these can be found on the Tinaroo Barra Bash website. The event is based at Tinaroo Foreshore Park (at the northern end of the

lake opposite the Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park). Here you can sign on from 3pm on Friday 21 September, where you will receive your mystery item, which must be included in all photo submissions. Competitors will also have an opportunity to buy event merchandise and attend the briefing before the competition starts. The major presentation will also occur here, with several local vendors and many activities on offer. There’s something for everyone. If you’re lucky enough, you might even be able to grab a copy of this

John Wilkinson with the 2017 Barra Bash’s biggest barra – a 127cm beast! amazing publication while you’re there. Presentations will occur on Sunday 23 September with festivities starting from 8am. There will also be a release of around 200 juvenile barramundi occurring

Tablelands Fish Stocking Society volunteers Laurie Wright and Coral Abdy with juvenile barra ready for release at September’s Barra Bash.

at 10:30am, with kids encouraged to help stock the lake with the monsters of the future. The main presentations will occur once the fish have been released. For more info on this fantastic event, go to tinaroobarrabash.com.au or search ‘Tinaroo Barra Bash’ on Facebook. Stay tuned as next month we’ll tell you all you need to know about where the fish are biting in the lead up to the competition, and how best to target them. If you want to keep up with more of my FNQ adventures, you can like Wazza’s Fishing Page on Facebook or Wazza’s Fishing on YouTube.

Thug Lures Thug Cray BEST ORNAMENTAL PIECE Chris Anderson and Kim Baldwin had a pretty good 2018 Lure Expo, taking out three categories at the awards night. The standout was the Best Ornamental Lure, the Thug Cray. This one would look fantastic in the pool room, which is exactly what it’s for! This creation looked so real at the show, you almost expected it to crawl out of the cabinet and start terrorising children and small dogs! The boys also took out the Best Stand award, with

their small but jam-packed stand with dozens of amazing designs on display. If you’d like to learn more about Thugs Lures, see some of the crazy designs, or maybe even buy one or two, be sure to visit the ‘Thug Lures’ Facebook page.

BEST BIBBED DIVING LURE

to resemble claws, this can either be fished as a trolling or casting lure. If you’d like to find out more about these incredible

Matt Fraser from Barambah Lures is well-known for making amazingly life-like creations for big fish, and the Manic Budgie is no exception. Matt got the idea while fishing for Murray cod in some of the western rivers when he noticed

lures, visit the ‘Kuttafurra Lures’ Facebook page.

BEST BLUE WATER LURE

MB Custom Lures are put together by Le Ve Hua, who makes the blanks, and Darcy Paton, who does the amazing art work. Darcy hand-paints each of these fantastic lures, which are designed to be used on bluewater pelagics, but with such a beautiful finish on

TENT CON RA

HALL OF FAME AWARD This year, the Lure Expo inducted two very important people from the lure industry into their Hall of Fame. Peter Pakula has been making bluewater lures for years, and is a recognised name in the industry. No doubt thousands of marlin have been landed on his lures. Anthony Curtis has been making the very widely-used and respected AC Lures, or Australian Crafted for around 25 years. Any seasoned cod fisher will have used or at least know about these great Aussie classics. Marcus Walker Blowfly

BEST PRESENTED STAND

Kuttafurra Lures Yabby

Aaron from Kuttafurra Lures is wellknown for making some of the most imaginative lures available anywhere in Australia, and this year’s winner seems to have raised the bar even further! Rigged with assist hooks on the rear

Thug Lures decided that the smaller Swagga from last year needed to be pumped

up to cod size! Now this intriguing design can be used for all manner of freshwater species.

Thug Lures Cod Swagga

BEST BLADED METAL LURE

AN THE

Lure Expo Award winners impress in 2018

DE FOR EX

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

- SC

Lure Fly & Outdoors

RE ONLINE MO

The Australian

Peter Pakula

Anthony Curtis FLY TYING CHAMPION Marcus Walker from the Brisbane Fly Fishing Club may have entered the smallest fly, but it was good enough to take out the Best Fly Award! Marcus has already caught trout on this very tiny fly. If you’d like to join the Brisbane Fly Fishing Club, you can do so by visiting www.bffc.org.au. You can participate in events, including fishing days, and learn more to improve your own fly fishing.

BEST TOP WATER / SURFACE / WAKE BAIT the amount of birds that were flying around the river. With no other lure makers producing anything like it, it seemed like the perfect chance to introduce this wonderful creation to the fishing world. The lure is a wakebait, meaning

it wobbles like a normal bibbed lure, but it doesn’t dive. If you’d like to see more of Matt’s lures, or even buy a few yourself, you can do so by visiting the ‘Barambah Lures’ Facebook page.

Barambah Lures Manic Budgie This is the second year in a row Chilton Tackle Co. has won the Best Swimbait category. Blair Chilton from Chilton Tackle Co. designed this lure from a photograph

of a baby barra, hence the ultra-realistic appearance! And given that barra are known for being canabilistic, there’s no doubt these swimbaits will catch their fair

BEST SWIM BAIT share of barra! f you want to buy any of these amazing lures from Chilton, visit www.chiltontackleco.com.au.

MB Custom Lures 222 Twitch them, it would almost be a sin to throw them into such risky territory! This is backed up by the fact that these lures average around $400 each when auctioned off, however some have sold for as much as $855! Given that the boys can only put

out around two per week, it makes sense that the finished product is just that much more special, and worthy of these quite high prices. If you want to get a hold of any of Le and Darcy’s lures, visit www. mbcustomlures.com.au.

Chilton Tackle Co. Chilton Barra AUGUST 2018

Nissan Navara now improved and upgraded BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Nissan have put a lot of research and development into their latest Navara series of utes, and this is particularly evident with the latest model (the D23, Mk 3), which is a ride

have graced our roads for many, many, years, Nissan really stepped up to the plate when it launched the D23 series in 2015. These brand new models featured fresh styling, new engine choices and an innovative rear suspension on the upmarket models, offering coil springs in place of the more traditional leaf springs

loaded. This was not very obvious when towing a boat or camper trailer, but when the tub was loaded to full capacity there was a tendency for the rear coil suspension fitted to the more upmarket versions to bottom out into bump stops on uneven surfaces. Nissan took this into account and revised the

The off-road section of the trip was ably handled by the Navara’s 4x4 capability.

The Navara made easy work of towing the author’s Trek trailer, plus a fair load of other equipment. compliant, peppy vehicle with a lot going for it. The Navara is available in more than two dozen variants, with prices

found in the Navara’s market segment. Although the Navara is a work ute first and foremost, it’s a fact of life that many

suspension in the MkII D23 last year but, still not being entirely satisfied with the result, the latest 2018 (MkIII) Nissan D23 features

Easily identified features within the wide dash make it a pleasure to drive. I drove seemed to tick all the boxes on a test run out to cod water west of Goondiwindi. Thanks to a double wishbone set-up in the front, plus the coil

sprung rear end, I found the ride to be very good with two aboard. We had a fair load in the tray, including a gas fridge/freezer and other equipment, and were

towing our trusty Trek camper trailer. On that trip to the Macintyre River via the Gore Highway, there were a lot of undulations

The seating in the Navara is very comfortable. ranging from around the $26K mark (2WD) through to almost $55K in 4x4 top shelf fit-out. Most Navaras sold these days are not solely job site orientated; most people buy them with alternative uses in mind. This probably accounts for the fact that Navara dual cab models occupied 90% of sales in 2017. ORIGINAL D23 Although Navaras in one iteration or other 64

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owners use their Navaras as their primary towing/ recreational unit for holidays and weekend trips as well. Reviewing the original D23 a few years ago, I found that these utes, with their choice of single turbo or twin turbo diesel engines, drove quite well and offered some of the most comfortable seats in the market segment. However, there were shortcomings in the rear coil suspension when the rear tub was fully

a five link rear end with variable rate coil springs. These coil springs have varied compression ratings designed to give passengers a comfortable ride, yet are designed to compress into a second stage when there’s a decent load in the rear tub. And most importantly, they are designed not to compound onto bump stops in the rough stuff! COUNTRY RUN The suspension set-up of the ST dual cab Navara

The rear power sliding window is useful when you have longer rods.

between Millmerran and Goondiwindi. The ST Navara took everything very gently in its stride, and even when traversing

just loafed along easily. The Navara also has comfortable seating, a very good driving position and its responsive engine

except that it’s 25mm higher at the rear. Externally there are side steps, 16” alloys, LED daylight running lights, and a tough looking

There’s a vast amount of information set into the tacho and speedometer’s dials. paddocks in an entirely off-road mode to get to the water, the Navara was very easy going. Its steering, which was also revised this year, was sharp, yet light enough to add to the enjoyable driving experience. On the highway, the Renault-sourced twin turbo 2.3L diesel with its 140kW, 450Nm output was ample for all towing, cruising and overtaking. Even on the 110km/h sections of the Gore Highway, the engine

linked to a 7-speed auto unit sneaked in totally seamless changes. Overall, the ST Navara driving experience was right up with some of the better ones I have enjoyed this year. Activating 4x4 high or low range was as simple as a dash switch, and the activation was instantly taken up, with no delay at all. THE LOW DOWN ST Navara buyers will notice that this year’s model is identical to last year’s,

go-anywhere stance. This ute looks the part! Internal goodies include a leather-wrapped wheel and handbrake, plus an upgraded multimedia 7” touch screen, dual zone climate control, plus rear parking sensors. There’s electric operation of windows and the like; phone, radio and other most used functions are naturally wheel mounted; sat nav; a decent reversing camera; Isofix child restraints; three 12V outlets in the cabin and a power sliding window on the cabin’s rear glass, which is handy for longer fishing rods. Safety is assured as the Navara has a 5-star ANCAP rating, and safety features include seven air bags plus the usual suite of traction and braking aids such as ESP, ABS, and EBD. Hill descent and traction control are also part of the package. The warranty is 3-year/100,000 km.

A rear coil spring suspension set up is a unique feature of the ST Navara, and a considerable departure from the norm in its market segment.

The latest Navara is a great looking, go-anywhere ute.

The fuel tank capacity is 80L, and the fuel consumption I recorded while towing came in at 8.8L per 100km. Overall, Nissan have taken heed of shortcomings in the

previous model Navara, and have now hit some home runs with this year’s model. It looks good, drives well and is a genuine contender for top dog in its market niche.

THE SHEIK OF THE CREEK

The quest to find the true balance in life BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

There are some of us who are stricken by the fishing mania, and who are able to live where they fish. Sadly for most of us, it’s a question of fishing where we live. The difference is, of course, that those who fish where they live are constantly wishing they could live where they fish. Those who live where they fish are selfsatisfied, smug hooers, and I don’t like them very much. It’s difficult to judge who has the best lifestyle though, when you get down to it. The ones who live where they fish are in a very narrow band of existence. Everything revolves around barometer, water temperatures, water clarity, season, air temperature, and on the coast, tide times. Those who fish where they live will find their lives

spinning around barometer, water temperatures, water clarity, season, air temperature, and in the South East, traffic, as well as the tide. And I don’t mean just road traffic. One of the things I haven’t been able to get used to in the South East is the number of watercraft that you have to share the water with. It’s unbelievable for those that haven’t experienced it, and increasing the number of boats and jet skis hanging around your fishing spot increases your chances of running into a waterknob. There is a very high proportion of water-knobs riding jet skis for some reason. Sorry, but there you have it. The water-knob factor makes living where you fish a very attractive proposition for those of us who are inflicted with the fishing bug. There is a sort of chook and egg thing happening with fishing and living, and living and fishing. At this stage of my life, I’m in the fish where you live scenario. What this can

sometimes mean is that you have enough coin to afford the sort of gear you feel is completely necessary to feed your addiction. I mean hobby. Having been in the live where you fish scenario though in a previous life, I discovered that in order to live where you fish you generally have to make sacrifices in terms of wage and living conditions. There just aren’t a huge number of good paying jobs available in those good fishing locations. What this means is that you can sometimes find yourself either using pre Harold Holt gear set up with string you flogged from an Ebay parcel or sitting down to meals of mi go reng or even stir fried pillies and a Californian squid buffet. There are those though, curse them, who manage to do both. They live in those lovely, non-fished areas and they have a high paying job that gives the required finance to pig out in the boat and tackle shop, and yet gives them enough time to get out on the water when the time is right. But even for these winners in

the lottery of life, there are drawbacks. For example, most of these alphas find themselves devoid of any love interest, I think because in general they are seldom home, they have a wild, slightly nervous look in their eyes, they are usually badly groomed,

with beards like Mad Dog Morgan and nostril hair like Chewbacca’s uncle, and they carry around the aroma of unsalted herring. This just goes to show that you can’t have everything in life. Which sucks. But I’m working on it. I’m looking to have an

interview for the CEO of an energy corporation based in Normanton with unlimited flexitime, and which comes with a three boat deal as a job sweetener. All I need to do is convince her onshore that the shopping in the gulf is world class. Easy. AUGUST 2018

Cod Feature

Making mayhem on the Macintyre River The rig was easy to set up. I tied a swivel on the main line around a metre and a half above the 40cm long two gang hook trace which had a pea-sized sinker above it to keep the pilly down where a cod could find it. With the float free

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

You might have noticed my Nissan Navara review in this issue of the magazine. It was on the trip that I left some vital fishing equippment at home. This was a rather unique misadventure on my part as Denise and I had travelled to the Macintyre River west of Goondiwindi for a much-anticipated short break, during which I also intended to introduce some of the wild pig population to some fast moving arrows as well as fish for the resident cod. The upshot is that after setting up a very comfortable camp on the Mac and surveying the fabulous-looking snags on a deep hole right under the campsite, I removed

A look at the snags directly below the author’s camp on the Macintyre. Cod live there, that’s for sure.

An inspiring sight – the Macintyre River west of Goondiwindi.

all rods and a small tackle box with hooks and sinkers in it from the Navara and on looking further for the two fly reels, two spin reels plus flies and lures I was relying on for some fishing fun, discovered they had been left back home. Good one, Wayne! I’d previously, over the years, left behind a box of food, our sleeping bags for a New England trip (disastrous) plus cutlery, but never fishing tackle. I blame it on a senior’s moment! A trip to Goondiwindi next day saw the credit card produce a reel plus line in the car. With a lot of lures on hand back home I decided on a different tack for the cod on this excursion. Try bait! Others use bait, so why not give it a go? I had no shrimp traps with me or any

It’s recognized that cod love to live around snags, so there would be some very happy fish in this section of the Macintyre River. 66

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and get him following, so he would either attack the bait as it moved or do so when I paused between strips. Patience pays in this caper because cod in our inland rivers can be mighty moody, especially in winter and for a two-hour afternoon session the best I achieved was a

The author’s work station was a little different from the back of a boat, to say the least.

The bait setup – pillies and salt with lots of the latter to strengthen the pillies up. other means of gathering naturally-occurring bait, so I purchased a packet of small white pilchards and decided I’d salt them to improve their toughness for the fishing style I had in mind. COD ON THE POPPING RIG Past experience with these feisty fellows told me that cod were always curious about anything making a bit of unusual noise in their habitat. I’ve taken many cod on flies, particularly big fat dry flies tied on 6/0 Gamakatsu SL12S hooks worked back on the surface as poppers, so I understood the sort of ruckus that they would investigate. I had a slim float in the tackle box from a recent trip to Iluka so I decided to use it as a popper rather than a bobber with a baited hook aft of the improvised popper for a curious cod to play with.

running between the hook trace and the split shot the improvised ‘popper’ worked a treat, making some very good chugs and bloops, as I used the longest rod I had to keep it moving across the surface in short rips and stops. The tactic was designed to interest a cod

hard wrench, accompanied by a dinner table-sized swirl that told me a cod had just hit and ripped the pilchard clean off the two-hook rig. Missed that one! That aside it was pleasant standing on a log, casting and working the tackle and listening to

The improvised popping rig ready for action. Don’t laugh, it worked!

Cod Feature the birds in the immediate vicinity. As I see it, fishing our inland rivers in pleasant conditions is certainly one of the greatest pleasures in my life. With the shadows lengthening and the cod not

playing further it was time to look for some pigs, so Denise and I donned our camo clothing and headed off to a dried-up swamp with our bows to leave the cod alone until the next morning. As this is a fishing

A fish in the net, success at last.

mag and not a hunting one, I shall not elaborate further, other than to say that we were successful. ROUND 2 During the night the cod were active. Teasing me I reckon! On several occasions I heard what sounded like bricks being thrown into the water but as there was nobody else there and no bricks to throw it was pretty obvious that our finny friends were having a party down there. Naturally, come daylight and a fresh 2°C on the Navara’s thermometer, all action had died. The water was still as a forgotten footpath with very little to indicate that cod were in

Persistence pays because cod in our inland rivers can be moody, particularly in winter.

fact in the river. Back to the main game I commenced popping with some purpose. I had another wrench, a biggy, this one ripping off the two ganged hooks and almost upsetting my balance on my log. That was a better fish! A half hour and about 50 casts later success came my way and a Macintyre cod was in the net. At around the 80cm mark he or she wasn’t a very big cod for that water, nor was the one I took later that day – maybe it was just a little larger. I was pretty chuffed that the system worked efficiently for me. Denise also scored a nice fish but over the next couple of days they were shut down big time, as cod are prone to doing. The question arises, would lures have been better? Maybe, but if you look at some of the images of the water I was fishing, there may well have been a high attrition rate to contend with. What I did learn was to move along to another area after scoring a fish. Cod are very territorial creatures and once a fish is hooked and released in one area it’s not going to play again for some time. Another thing I learned was to make sure I always put the tackle in the car!

This one’s just a little larger than the first one taken on the popper rig, but it reinforced that fact that the system would work.

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! BUNDABERG

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TWEED COAST

We’ve alsofor added and higher topsides and raised the deck, more thicker freeboard. Our revolutionary Apex gives youThe more of everything for a great dayHull on the water. radical, variable flared the deck, Youfor getmore morefreeboard. room to cast and for a greatbottom day onsheet the water. The radical, variable flared extends to the bow gunnel as does the You get more room to cast and a better chance to catch a bagful. bottom sheet the bow gunnel as does wide extends chine - it’sto a clever design that means morethe internal And that’s gotta a good thing! a better chance to be catch a bagful. wide chine - it’s a clever design that means more And that’s a good thing! *Size and internal features comparison made with 2016gotta Quintrexbe models.

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for storage, new consoles, casting platforms, bunks, Let’s face it, if you’ve got more room to cast, space upholstery and transoms (depending on the model). you’ve got a better chance to catch fish. upholstery and (depending ontopsides the model). you’ve got a better chance to catch fish. We’ve alsotransoms added thicker and higher and raised Our revolutionary Apex Hull gives you more of everything

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CALOUNDRA MARINE

11/07/2017 9:54 AM

AUGUST 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA FREAMS LT

One of the more popular reels in the Daiwa spin reel range receives an overhaul in 2018 with Freams experiencing the LT makeover to elevate it to a new level of strength and performance. With the LT principles of Light and Tough the foundation of the new Freams LT this is a reel that is loaded with Daiwa’s finest spin reel technologies to deliver anglers a reel that is classic in looks yet light years ahead in design and performance. Air Bail, Twistbuster II, MagSeal, Air Rotor, an ultra light aluminium spool featuring Long Cast ABS, a redesigned line keeper, High Grip I-Shape knobs, and a super sized ATD drag provide unmatched design and performance enhancements, while the heart of the reel, LT’s new Tough Digigear delivers unmatched refinement, strength, and power. Revamped, restyled and reborn, the new Freams LT has set a new standard in value, performance and design possibilities, and will be available in six different sizes, ranging from the finesse, shallow spooled, 2000S, through to the big daddy in the range the 6000D-H. www.daiwafishing.com.au

REPAIRS ON THE GO

Two of the latest outdoor accessories released by EJTodd are Gear AidTenacious Tape and RevivX Water Repellent Spray. Tenacious Tape by Gear Aid is an allpurpose, weatherproof repair tape that fixes rips, holes and gashes in almost all outdoor gear. It stays put no matter how bad the conditions are, and leaves no sticky mess. Tenacious Tape repairs camping gear, sleeping bags and mats, tents, clothing, vinyl rafts, down jackets—whatever needs a quick patch. You can make your raingear shed water like new again with ReviveX Durable Water Repellent Spray. This breathable DWR repels water, oil, and stains, and is ideal for use on raingear, tents, nylon jackets, pants, waders, and gloves. You can either restore the DWR treatment on waterproof breathable garments, like eVent, NeoShell, and Gore-Tex jackets, or add DWR to gear that isn’t pre-treated, like down jackets. The continuous, air-powered sprayer dispenses every drop in a wide, even application, and can even be sprayed upside down. www.ejtodd.com.au

X-RAP MAGNUM XTREME

The new shallow running X-Rap Magnum Xtreme trolls true at over 15 knots, allowing you to cover more water and trigger the speedsters of the deep. Sleek flat sides create a tight rolling action while its tail keel adds stability at all speeds. You can troll the X-Rap Magnum Xtreme fast or slow through reef terrain or around rocky outcrops, amongst skirted lures or other Rapala lures in your spread. Designed with Rapala’s Magnum level of strength, each X-Rap Magnum Xtreme comes complete with through-wire construction, heavy-duty split rings and VMC 9626 3x strong treble hooks. For more information on this and other new gear from Rapala, along with catch photos and videos, check out their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rapala.australia. You can also find them on Instagram (@ rapalaaustralia), YouTube (www.youtube.com/ user/RapalaVMC) or visit their website. www.rapala.com.au 68

AUGUST 2018

NOCQUA PRO POWER KIT

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Nocqua Pro Power Kit, brought to you by Hobie, is the first truly portable fishfinder battery for powering your sounder, GPS, and other outdoor electronics. Lightweight, durable, and water resistant, the Nocqua Pro Power Kit utilizes the same battery technology developed for light systems, with openended connections to easily power your electronic devices. The Pro Power Kit (#72025010) comes in two capacity sizes, 4.4Ah and 10Ah, to power every adventure. While not a perfect fit, they can be stored in Hobie mountable Fish Finder Battery Holders. For more information on these and other Hobie accessories for sounders/GPS, visit Hobie.com.au. For all the latest news on upcoming events and new releases, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook. com/HobieCatAsiaPacific. Price: SRP $224.95 www.hobie.com.au

SHADOW RAP JACK 5 DEEP 5 Rapala VMC Australia has added the new Shadow Rap Jack Deep 5 to the ever-popular Shadow Rap family. This 5cm lure certainly packs some punch. It consists of full through wire construction, and VMC hooks strong enough for predators far bigger than the bait would lead you to believe. It will also stay in the zone for longer thanks to its slow rising, deep diving action. With a weight of 6g it can cast a mile, making this bite-size lure such a versatile option for a variety of different species from bream and trout through to flathead, sooty grunter and mangrove jack. Available in 15 of the coolest fish catching colours, the Rapala Shadow Rap Jack Deep 5 is due to hit tackle store shelves in August 2018. www.rapala.com.au

NEW MUSTAD GLOVES

Mustad has released three new gloves: Landing Gloves, Casting Gloves and Sun Gloves. The Landing Gloves are designed to help you land fish without damaging your hands. These are heavy-duty, reinforced gloves designed for offshore fishing, however, in Australia anglers chasing raspy-toothed fish like flathead and Murray cod will appreciate the build of these gloves. Specifically designed for handling fish, the gloves feature a flip top on the index finger, Velcro wrist strap and heavy duty padding in all the right places. The Casting Glove is designed to be used while casting big lures on big tackle offshore. A mesh matrix top fits like a second skin and allows sweat to evaporate. There is extra padding in high stress areas. The Sun Gloves are UPF 50+ rated and lightweight. They feature reinforced grip pads so that rods and reel handles are held securely while the thumb, index and middle fingers are cut off to allow for a better feel. A strong Velcro wrist strap ensures a perfect fit. These gloves are available now in sizes M, L and XL. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA RYOGA 1520

An ultra strong, alloy frame and side plates is the foundation of the Daiwa Ryoga 1520 baitcaster, providing an immoveable foundation for this stunning reel, regardless of what’s thrown at it. Integrating many of Daiwa’s most famous technologies, the Ryoga once again takes baitcaster design to the next level with Magseal, ATD, Hyper Mesh Gear System, Speed Shaft, Magforce Z and Zero Adjuster combining to deliver a level of refinement and power rarely seen in heavy duty baitcasters. A G1 Duraluminium spool, swept handle, and clicking star drag further enhance performance and features, and combine with the new High Grip I Shape knobs to provide unmatched cranking power, balance and control. Flawless in design, stunning in looks and style, and unparalleled in performance and power, the new Ryoga 1520 is the pinnacle of heavy-duty baitcaster design and the ultimate big bait reel. www.daiwafishing.com.au

MUSTAD WORM BINDER

Mustad has just released two Worm Binders, a single and double. Constructed from tough, waterproof 500D tarpaulin, these Worm Binders are sealed with a waterproof zipper for the ultimate in safety for your gear. Zip locked inner plastic pockets for lure storage (10 in the single version and 20 in the double) allow anglers to carry more than enough rigs, hooks, plastics, spinnerbaits or chatterbaits for any fishing session. The bags also contain plastic accessory pockets for things like jigheads, snips and small leader spools, while a larger mesh pocket can also store gloves, larger line spools and other accessories. The plastic pockets are held in place with a rust-proof nylon split ring, ensuring longevity in this traditional weak area, and there is also an elastic small tool storage area inside the binder. Outside there are two Velcro straps for attaching the binders to backpacks, tackle bags or boats, and the handles are finished off with soft neoprene for the ultimate in angler comfort. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

NEW LURES FROM JOLLIP

Australian lure company Jollip Lures has refined its Jaboa 55 diving crankbait, which is designed primarily for bass and yellowbelly. “This lure has evolved significantly since its initial design, and we have added saltwater colours to the range with a narrower bib and beefed up trebles,” said designer Joey Urquhart. “The deeper bib dives to 8ft and the narrower bib dives to 6ft.” The Jaboa 55 will catch a range of species, from jacks and barra to bass, yellowbelly and cod. Another new model is the River Rodent Fizzer, which is 100mm long and features twin blades that work at a slow and fast retrieve. This lure works at its best with a short, sharp retrieve, creating lots of noise and bubbles. “It’s hand crafted from timber and assembled using only the best components,” Joey said. “You can instantly feel the quality of the build and know it’s going to be up to the task of taming those river monsters.” Price: $20 (Jaboa 55), $35 (River Rodent Fizzer) www.jolliplures.com

REDINGTON BEHEMOTH

The Behemoth reel combines the most powerful drag in its class with stunning aesthetics that push the limits of fly reel design. The Behemoth’s unique, un-machinable, die-cast construction is coupled with a durable, interlocking, large-arbor spool design that both looks and functions like a premium reel. A super heavy-duty carbon fibre drag package brings the utmost in drag strength, reliability and performance to the family. Sized for your favourite 5wt trout rod and all the way up to the saltwater ready, big-game sizes. Features include: large arbor design that speeds retrieve and reduces line memory; oversized drag knob for easy adjustment; easily converts to left or right hand retrieve; deep V-spool for increased backing capacity; twin moulded, softtouch ergonomic handles; included nylon reel case; and a lifetime warranty. The Behemoth is available now in black or gunmetal. www.jmgillies.com.au

GAMAKATSU LONG SHANK BLACK

Gamakatsu are the benchmark in high quality, chemically sharpened Japanese steel hooks, and they have now added a black colour to the existing long shank red. Long shank hooks are versatile and perfect for worms, pipis, prawns and cut flesh baits either fished from a boat or land as well as mud eye in the fresh. They are perfect for kids starting out as they are available in a wide variety of sizes, and they are also easy for anyone to get fish off quickly, often without touching the fish at all. In addition the long shank offers protection from toothy species such as leatherjackets, a wharf staple for many young anglers. Beach anglers are also extensive users of this hook style for whiting and bream, while boat anglers will find them effective at catching yellowtail and slimy mackerel allowing a quick turnover from de-hooking a fish to getting another bait in the water. This new colour is available in sizes 12 up to 2, and in pre-packs and 25 packs. www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

OKUMA LRF RODS

LRF rods feature Okuma’s patented UFR technology (Unidirectional Fibre Reinforcement), which uses an outer layer of longitudinal fibres around the blank. This increases the lifting power and also the maximum strength of the rod by up to three times that of a standard blank. Other features include quality Seaguide XO guides, with SS316 frame and SIC inserts for long, smooth casts, full grip design for comfort and use in rod holders, comfortable reel seat design, hi-vis yellow tip section and slick looking black and gold highlights. The result is a series of strong and durable rods that cast lures well and offer excellent feel, while also having the sensitivity to transfer well to bait fishing applications. There are seven models, covering everything from skinny water bass and trout missions with the 5’ 1-3kg, through a selection of line ratings in 6’ to 7’ rods and a 7’4” 2-5kg model that’s perfect for long casts on the flats. Price: SRP $89.90-99.90 www.okuma.com.au

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

Gift

FATHERS DAY GUIDE GARMIN ECHOMAP SAMAKI RED 1 PLUS SNAPPER SHIRT

The new Garmin ECHOMAP Plus features powerful sonar capabilities, preloaded charts and mapping, and built-in WiFi. The Plus series features a bright, sunlightreadable 4”, 6”, 7” or 9” display. The 7” and 9” units have a new keyed-assist touchscreen, providing quick access to the features you use most. Thanks to built-in Wi-Fi, anglers can take advantage of the free ActiveCaptain mobile app. You can use the app to access, update and purchase maps and charts on a mobile device anytime, reference the ActiveCaptain community for marina and other points of interest details, and more. The app provides notifications directly to the plotter/combo, software updates, off-vessel planning capabilities and more. Once the unit is turned on, the maps and charts will be instantly available. All units have built-in CHIRP traditional sonar and CHIRP ClearVü and SideVü scanning sonar. The 7” and 9” Plus models also provide support for all Garmin Panoptix allseeing sonar transducers. The entire range is preloaded with BlueChart g2 HD cartography. Price: $499-$1599 www.garmin.com/newmarine

COSTA REEFTON

Black Magic has added the exciting slow pitch Flipper jig to their range. Their original design stands out with a dramatic spoon-like scoop on one side of the jig. They fall with a wide and sweeping side-to-side flutter and retrieve with a large darting action, giving them a strong visual presence which will be attractive to a wide range of species. Flipper Jigs come in four striking colour options with lumo spots or stripes. There are two strong hooks attached with Kevlar thread, and the available weights are 60g, 80g, 100g, 150g and 200g. Flipper Jigs are available now from Black Magic dealers nationwide. For more information, photos and videos, visit the Black Magic website or check them out on Facebook (www.facebook. com/blackmagictackle), or Instagram (@ blackmagictackle). www.blackmagictackle.com 70

AUGUST 2018

ZMAN BEANIEZ

With the weather cooling it’s perfect timing for the arrival of ZMan’s BeanieZ. Constructed from quick-drying 100% acrylic, these comfortable beanies feature four topseam knit construction and embroided ZMan ‘Z’, in a one size fits most cool weather headwear option. These beanies are a quality Richardson Sports product. Richardson Sports is a company who has served the team sports market both in the US and internationally since 1970, and its products are known for their quality and reliability. Today Richardson is recognised as a leader in the sports product industry, delivering performance-inspired headwear to millions of athletes around the world. It makes sense then that they should make headwear for the largest recreational sport in the world: fishing. The new ZMan beanies come in two shades, charcoal and grey, and are available now. Price: SRP $19.95 www.z-man.com.au

SUGAR DEEP 90 BARRA TUNE

BLACK MAGIC FLIPPER JIGS

Samaki’s new Red Snapper shirt is striking and full of colour. It features hungry snapper in a baitfish-filled rockery, chasing down a Samaki Boombait. This shirt is made from lightweight fabric that features UPF50+ technology, providing the highest level of protection against the harsh sun. The soft touch, 100% polyester material is comfortable on the body and has the added feature of being breathable, keeping you cool and dry. Samaki designs are brought to you by Australian anglers who love to design Australian species. Red Snapper shirts are available in adult, youth and kids sizes, ranging from a size 2 through to a 3XL, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out onto the water. For more information, including the location of your nearest stockist, visit the Samaki website or like them on Facebook and Instagram. Price: SRP$59.95 (adults), $49.95 (kids) www.samaki.com.au

One of Costa’s latest models is named after a popular fishing destination: Reefton. With 12 different river systems less than an hour’s drive from town, it’s no wonder New Zealand’s Reefton is world-renowned for its freshwater fishing. These size large frames are the perfect companion to explore any body of water. They will stay put on larger heads under any condition, thanks to their co-moulded temples, Hydrolite nose and temple pads, and cam action spring hinges. All Costa lenses have 100% UV blockage for maximum protection and 100% polarization to kill reflected glare. Their 580 lens technology effectively blocks the harshest light waves in the visible spectrum, and enhances the portions that help you see more clearly into the water. Costa’s Bio Resin frames now come available in four new colours, including two new brilliant matte teak finishes. To check out the full range of Costa sunglasses, plus their range of apparel and accessories, visit the Costa Australia website or look them up on Facebook. www.costadelmar.com.au

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

Guide

FATHERS DAY GUIDE LOWRANCE FISHHUNTER

BIG WILLY BAIT PUMP

The Lowrance FishHunter castable fishfinder is designed for anglers fishing from the shore or a kayak. It sends realtime sonar data via WiFi to view on your smartphone or tablet, and doesn’t require a cellular or internet connection. FishHunter Pro features a tri-frequency transducer, offering four ways to view sonar data including Fish (fish symbols), Raw (arches), Bathymetric and Ice Fishing Flasher views. You can troll it behind a boat to create bathymetric maps. Incorporating five tri-frequency transducers, FishHunter 3D offers five functional views including 3D Fishing and Ice Fishing Flasher, as well as a Directional Casting View that pinpoints fish depth and location relative to the transducer. FishHunter 3D can be trolled to create bathymetric or structure maps. FishHunter’s antenna ensures constant WiFi connectivity for the highest signal range. FishHunter Pro provides a 150ft depth and 160ft WiFi range, and FishHunter 3D offers a 160ft depth and a 200ft WiFi range. The rechargeable battery lasts for 10 hours of active use. Price: SRP $173.90-$218.90 www.lowrance.com

Pumping worms and yabbies is a great way to get the freshest of fresh bait for your day’s fishing. Having the right tool to get the job done is an important step to success and one that needs careful consideration. The Wilson Big Willy Bait Pump gives users an extra long 39” shaft meaning you do not have to bend so far down when pumping. This is a great asset for those who want to collect bait comfortably and easily. Stainless steel and brass construction mean that this pump will go the distance, giving you years of faithful service and opening up your fishing options. Available at all leading tackle stores, the Big Willy will become a vital part of any bait collection trip. For more information on this and other bait collecting products from Wilson’s, visit the Wilson Fishing website. You can also catch up with the latest news, catch photos and videos at www.facebook.com/LWilsonAndCo. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

10.

11.

DAIWA DUCKFIN LIVESHAD

12.

The Duckfin Liveshad has a very effective design, which delivers outstanding action that resembles the swimming movements of a real fish. By applying 3D design and modeling around the realistic natural baitfish shape, this premium grade soft bait is one of the most accurate lifelike shads available on the market today. Suited to fast and slow retrieves, the Duck Fin tail creates a strong rolling and swinging action. Combined with its enticing swimming action, the lure’s streamlined shape, fins and large tail make it a very lethal lure. Features include: realistic patterns; 3D eyes; UV active prevents fading; fins for stabilization; and large Duckfin tail. The special soft material is also tough, and can endure multiple takes from predators. There are two models, a smaller size that measures 150mm long and weighs 28g, and a larger model that measures 200mm long and weighs 64g. They are available now in tackle stores around Australia. Price: from SRP $19.99 www.daiwafishing.com.au

HOBIE BARNACLE +

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

LIVETARGET BAITBALL 11 SPINNER RIG

The LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is one of the latest LiveTarget lures to be released by Australian distributor EJ Todd. With three different wire-frame sizes, the LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is a versatile lure which can be fished at any depth. The three teaser bodies and willow blade create a vibration and flash which call in nearby predatory fish. When bass or cod see the BaitBall, they will strike the primary target body, which is strategically placed away from the teaser fish in the BaitBall. The LiveTarget BaitBall Spinner Rig is available now in six colours to match various water conditions. There are three sizes – small (11g), medium (14g) and large (21g). For more information head to the EJ Todd website, or for news, photos and videos check them out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ EJ.Todd.Australia) or Instagram (@ej_todd). www.ejtodd.com.au

PLANO WEEKEND SERIES

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

News

End of Financial year wrap up at Suntag HQ SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Suntag has the largest number of participants for fish tagging in any single program globally and is the longest running program, which is a testimony to the fishers of Queensland. This year for the first time Suntag are providing a summary of activities and how well targets were met. 2017/18 was another busy year in Suntag with 17,859 fish tagged by 954 fishers. In the same period there were 1,809 recaptures by 916 fishers, so a total of 1,598 fishers participated in some way in the Suntag program. ANSA fishers also tagged 1,120 fish with their pink tags, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say that recreational fishers have made a significant contribution to monitoring fish. COMPARISON AGAINST TARGETS This year for the first time, targets were set within 18 species. Targets were set on an arbitrary basis. Of the 18 species six were 90% or

better based on targets, six were 60% or better and six were below 60%. Of the total target of 18,850 for these species, 15,765 were tagged (84%). This indicates that the target species mix is probably about right, but individual targets will be refined for the next year based on fisher focus. LOCATIONS FISHED Suntag fishers fished in 124 locations across the state, which just goes to show that the love is shared around. In terms of hotspots at each end of the State, Moreton Bay, Fitzroy River and Halifax Bay are all prominent locations for taggers, but there are also a lot of remote locations that have been visited even if large numbers are not reported. ANOTHER ENTRY INTO THE 1,000 FISH TAGGED CLUB Lochie Reed is the latest addition to the 1,000 fish club, jumping into the top 10 fastest to the mark at 827 days. The long-term average for completing the mark is 3,198 days (8.8 years) so in taking 2.2 years to complete

Fishing time being eaten into every 5 years. the milestone Lochie is well below par. Here is an interesting statistic for thought. There have been lots of conversations over the

years on fishing power and how much of a difference technology is making. Lochie is a high-tec fisher, which may have contributed to his success, but is that

what is happening overall? The current average to complete the milestone (based on 2015 onwards) is now double what it was in 1990s. In 1990-1994 the

average was 2,375 days, from 1995-1999 it was 2,540. The current period average is double the 1990994 rate at 4,770. This is part of a trend that has been

LOCATIONS WHERE FISH WERE TAGGED Location Number of Fish Tagged Archer River.............................................................2 Baffle Creek...........................................................96 Barron River........................................................... 11 Bingegang...............................................................5 Blackwater.............................................................61 Bowen................................................................... 10 Bowling Green Bay................................................98 Boyne River.........................................................989 Brandon...................................................................6 Brisbane River.....................................................261 Broadsound...........................................................63 Bucca......................................................................7 Bundaberg...........................................................270 Burdekin River.......................................................56 Burrum Heads..................................................... 122 Bustard Bay......................................................... 106 Byfield......................................................................2 Caboolture...............................................................1 Calliope River...................................................... 171 Caloundra Wide.......................................................5 Cape Bowling Green...............................................1 Cape Cleveland.......................................................5 Cape Hillsborough.................................................88 Cattle Creek.............................................................1 Chinchilla.................................................................2 Cleveland Bay........................................................34 Connors River..........................................................2 Coomera River.......................................................35 Corio Bay.............................................................331 Curtis Island........................................................602 Daintree River........................................................78 Dawson River Baralaba...........................................1 Deepwater Creek.....................................................2 Duke Islands.......................................................... 16 Emerald...................................................................3 Emu Park...............................................................89 Finniss Fresh...........................................................3 Fitzroy River....................................................... 1131 Fitzroy River Fresh...................................................5 Fraser Island..........................................................20 Gladstone Curtis Island.........................................22 Gladstone Harbour.............................................. 511 72

AUGUST 2018

Location Number of Fish Tagged Gold Coast Offshore...............................................1 Gympie....................................................................2 Halifax Bay........................................................ 1170 Hay Point.............................................................272 Heron Wisari Reefs.............................................. 114 Hervey Bay............................................................ 19 Hinchinbrook Channel......................................... 163 Hinchinbrook Island............................................... 18 Imbil.....................................................................206 Ingham................................................................. 120 Ipswich....................................................................5 Isaac River...............................................................5 Jackey Jackey Creek.............................................22 Kalpower................................................................ 13 Kelso........................................................................1 Kennedy................................................................43 Keppel Bay.......................................................... 125 Kolan River............................................................98 Lake Awoonga..................................................... 155 Lake Barambah................................................... 124 Lake Baroon........................................................ 168 Lake Boondooma................................................ 101 Lake Callide........................................................... 17 Lake Cania........................................................... 315 Lake Cressbrook...................................................30 Lake Glenlyon...................................................... 177 Lake Gregory.........................................................28 Lake Kurwongbah............................................... 416 lake Lenthall.......................................................... 19 Lake Maroon....................................................... 160 Lake Monduran.....................................................43 Lake Moogerah...................................................258 Lake Moondarra.................................................... 15 Lake Morris...........................................................24 Lake Proserpine.......................................................2 Lake Samsonvale...............................................1101 Lake Somerset.................................................... 212 Lake Tinaroo............................................................2 Lake Wivenhoe....................................................283 Lakefield................................................................22 Leichhardt River.................................................... 10 Lethe Brook.............................................................2

Location Number of Fish Tagged Maaroom.................................................................1 Mackay................................................................ 120 Maroochy River................................................... 163 Mary River.............................................................56 Mission Beach....................................................... 10 Mooloolah River..................................................229 Moreton Bay...................................................... 1353 Moreton Offshore..................................................21 Mossman.................................................................7 Mourilyan.................................................................5 Murray River............................................................6 Myrtle Creek............................................................6 Nerang River........................................................202 Noosa River......................................................... 137 Palm Island............................................................34 Pioneer River.........................................................77 Port Alma.............................................................240 Proserpine River......................................................3 Pumicestone Passage......................................... 108 Raglan Creek.......................................................670 Rathodwney..........................................................20 Rodds Bay...........................................................555 Russell River Mulgrave River...................................3 Sarina....................................................................94 Shoalwater.............................................................33 Skardon River........................................................21 St Helens Bay...................................................... 170 Tiaro.........................................................................5 Tin Can Bay...........................................................56 Topsy Creek.............................................................6 Trinity Inlet.............................................................25 Tully..........................................................................1 Tweed River...........................................................68 Upper Haughton......................................................5 Upper Noosa...........................................................5 Weipa................................................................... 717 Wenlock River........................................................22 West Hill Creek........................................................7 Whitsunday............................................................ 14 Yaamba....................................................................3

News happening since the 2004. That is a similar number of fishers (64 between 19902004 and 56 from 2005-

2018). What is going on? Is the technology not helping? Are modern fishers not motivated? Are they just bad

SOUTHERN ESTUARY CHALLENGE

(5 SPECIES IN 12 MONTHS) Dusky Flathead, Yellowfin Bream, Mulloway, Barred Javelin and Mangrove Jack HOLESZKO CH PAYNE N BAKER L BAKER G HOLESZKO CA

NORTHERN ESTUARY CHALLENGE

(5 SPECIES IN 12 MONTHS) Barramundi, Dusky Flathead, Golden Snapper, Mangrove Jack and Pikey Bream POWELL D POWELL M CHURCHWARD G SCHULTZ B BAKER G PIRIE R VESEL M GILLETT B PITCHER G SALMOND S BAKER L

fishers? Or are they locked up every weekend? Look to the latter as the most important factor. Back between 1990-2004 the average number of days between fishing trips was steady at between 11-13. Then in the 2005-2009 period that jumped to 30 days on average between trips. In the current period, 2015 onwards, that average is up to 45 days. During that period the average catch rates per trip have gone up slightly from five fish per trip back in 1990-94 to 7.9 in 2015 onwards. In other words, our best fishers are catching more fish when they fish but fishing less. Modern life eating into fishing time is not news, but

it’s not great to hear either. What is there in life that is more important than fishing? For the record, Lochie gets out fishing every 2.5 days. ACHIEVEMENTS This year Suntag set a number of additional challenges for fishers. Some challenges proved more popular than others, with the two most popular being the frequent fishing program with status based on number of fish tagged and our species challenges, which prompted fishers to target a range of species. Below is a list of the fishers that managed to complete the challenges – we hope to see many more in the coming year.

PREDATOR CHALLENGE 1 (5 SPECIES IN 12 MONTHS)

Barramundi, Barred Javelin, Golden Snapper, King Threadfin and Mangrove Jack PIRIE R PITCHER G BAKER L MATHESON K POWELL M CHURCHWARD G PRICE N SCHULTZ B BAKER G

PREDATOR CHALLENGE 2 (5 SPECIES IN 12 MONTHS)

Cobia, Giant Trevally, Golden Trevally, Queenfish and Yellowtail King BAKER L

FISH TAGGED IN 2017/18 Angler Fish Tagged SILVER............................................................... 100 TERRY D............................................................ 187 KENNEDY R...................................................... 169 FAICHNEY D...................................................... 162 GILLETT B......................................................... 159 WATSON AL...................................................... 158 PLATTEN J........................................................ 137 VESEL M........................................................... 134 SCHMIDT G....................................................... 129 HARRIS KJ........................................................ 122 STRINGER B..................................................... 119 HAZELL D.......................................................... 118 KIDD W.............................................................. 112 HALL PH . ......................................................... 105 BOSS M............................................................. 101 CHURCHWARD G............................................. 100 GOLD.................................................................250 THOMAS R........................................................488 POWELL M........................................................485 VESEL T............................................................. 476 PEARCE D.........................................................464 REED L..............................................................393 NASH S.............................................................363 HUTH B.............................................................350 JUNG P.............................................................331 HUGHES R........................................................ 310 BAKER G...........................................................292 POWELL D.........................................................291 SCHULTZ B.......................................................257 THOMPSON E...................................................242 FOX J.................................................................230 OLIVE C.............................................................221 BAKER L............................................................ 211 STRATFORD N..................................................209 PLATINUM.........................................................500 SALMOND S.....................................................1116 OXFORD B........................................................909 MURPHY PT...................................................... 511 HAYNE I.............................................................202 NUTTALL S . .....................................................200 PITCHER G........................................................200

Lochie with some golden goodness – a Fitzroy River king threadfin.

Going beast mode! This GT lived to fight another day. AUGUST 2018

Cooking

Moulding your own delicious nigiri sushi Nigiri sushi is made by placing a piece of seafood on top of a hand-formed ‘cylinder’ of rice. Some

BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Ingredients

• Prepared sushi rice • Wasabi paste • Red-fleshed fish • White fleshed fish • A bowl of water with a dash of rice wine vinegar

6 74

Cut one piece of fish for each rice ball.

Place your rice ball on top of the fish and press down on the centre of the ball. Roll the fish and rice ball in the palm of your hand then turn the piece upside down (fish strip to the top) and repeat. Shape the fish and rice together. With two fingers press the fish edges downwards and shape it into a rounded rectangle.

AUGUST 2018

of the most common fish seen in Australian versions of nigiri are red-fleshed fish such as

tuna and salmon, and white-fleshed reef fish such as snapper. The fish is typically raw and nigiri

Wet your fingers in the water and rice wine vinegar mix to stop rice sticking to your fingers. Scoop out a small portion of the sushi rice then roll the rice in the palm of your hand, applying a very light pressure. Form a rounded rectangle and then set this to one side. Repeat with the remaining rice until you have eight rice balls.

Apply a small amount of wasabi to the fish (nb: you can omit this step).

Curl your fingers around the rice ball. You can use your thumb to apply pressure at the top. Roll it again, applying the same pressure until you are satisfied with the shape.

sushi pieces are usually served in pairs, because this denotes peace and harmony.

Next month we will be butterflying cooked prawns as an extension of this recipe/ technique.

To slice the fish for the nigiri sushi make your first cut on a slight angle. Place your knife blade 6mm from the edge and cut using the whole blade of the knife. Once you are about 6mm from the bottom, fold the partially sliced fish away from the rest of the piece and then cut straight down.

Take your fish in one hand and rice ball in the other.

Present the nigiri on a serving plate in pairs. Serve with a small bowl of soy sauce, a dab of wasabi and a few small shavings of pickled ginger. Here the fish strips are four pieces of tuna and four pieces of salmon.

Kayak fishers take to the water for mental health Yak Hunters Australia has come a long way in just over two years. From humble beginnings in Lake Macquarie, the group was started by a few blokes sharing a passion for fishing, outdoors and just having a good time. Now with membership groups across the country and total members now

exceeding 10,000, the Yak Hunters team felt it was time to use their collective strength to give back to the community and team up with a charity to run their first Charity Classic. On 30 June 84 kayaks in 25 teams hit the water for the Black Dog Institute Charity Classic with all proceeds being donated to the Black

Dean Saville and David Hopper from Qld were the winners of the Yak Hunters Australia National Black Dog Institute Charity Classic.

Dog Institute who are dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. The charity classic was a 24-hour online event where each team was to target bream and then submit their photos with a unique code clearly visible on their brag mats to qualify. The total length of each team’s largest four fish took out the competition and prize pool. The Queenslanders were hard up against it targeting the somewhat smaller yellowfin bream vs their southerly cousins the black bream, but despite their perceived disadvantage the Queensland team of David Hopper and Dean Saville came out on top with a combined total length of 153.5cm for their four healthy yellowfin specimens! The winning team spent 16 hours on the water in a herculean performance of endurance and supreme angling mastery to take out the competition. Yak Hunters would like to thank all 84 competitors

Yak Hunter Dominic Black on a Raby Bay sunset. for their participation and donations to the Black Dog Institute along with the sponsors for the event, Doug Burt Tackle World, BCF, Estuary Clothing Co, BerleyPro, My Lure Box and Rod Armour for supplying a fantastic prize for the winners. A total of 2272cm of bream was caught across the day with plenty of great pictures and stories shared across an action-

packed 24 hours. On the back of this event Yak Hunters has already put the wheels in motion for their next charity event, teaming up with the Movember Foundation. More information will be unveiled on their Facebook page, Yak Hunters Australia, and on their state-based pages in the coming months. The goal of Yak Hunters

is to promote the growth of kayak fishing around Australia and to construct a community approach to kayak fishing. Yak hunters also aims to increase angler awareness of the practice of sustainable fishing. Each state group holds local events, competitions and community projects to connect yak fishos and give them a safe environment to do what they love to do. No matter what state you are in, if you are a kayak fisho or looking to get into the sport, you will find like-minded anglers, great advice, handy product awareness, tips, tricks and a few new friendships waiting for you throughout the national Yak Hunters Australia community. Yak Hunters Australia is a group run by the community for the community and is winning people over with their fresh and friendly approach in the ever-growing fishing community. – Yak Hunters Australia

Tim the Bream is tagged and on the loose again!

Yamba’s famous annual Tim the Bream national fishing titles, which previously attracted crowds of up to 17,000 entrants in its heyday, will return once again to the abundant waters of the Clarence River. After a successful return to the Clarence in 2016, the Rotary Club of Yamba decided to pick up the fishing tackle left behind in 1985 and host the popular event again with this year’s event mirroring the original 1958 prizes for catching tagged fish.

The featured prized catch for Tim the Bream is again worth $20,000 while another 10 tagged fish will have a value of $1000 each. There are also prizes for the biggest (based on brag mat measurement) yellowfin bream, flathead, luderick, mangrove jack, mulloway, trevally and whiting. The main weekend event will be held at Ford Park, Yamba. This is where the weigh station will be as well as the live holding tank. There will also be markets, food stalls and live music. The area of operations

for the event will run from the Harwood Bridge, which crosses the Clarence River at Harwood Island and continues eastward to the mouth of the Clarence River between Yamba and Iluka. This also includes all estuaries east of the bridge. Fishing will take place from the southern and northern banks of the Clarence River as well as by boat. This is a catch and release competition only and all fish must be alive and in a healthy condition when presented to be eligible for entry into any category of this competition. No dead

fish will be accepted for entry into this competition and a committee marshal will be available to measure the length of fish caught over 90cm (mulloway or flathead) to allow expedient release and confirmation of your catch. Registration and full list of rules are online at www.stickytickets.com. au/63725 and on-the-day registration is available at Ford Park on Saturday and Sunday from 6am. For more information contact Gayle Doe on 0417 002 682 or gayledoe@ gmail.com.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

The featured prized catch for Tim the Bream is again worth $20,000 while another 10 tagged fish will have a value of $1000 each.

Brought to you by

2018

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

11-12 Aug

ABT BREAM Series Round 8 Lake Macquarie

abt.org.au

17-19 Aug

Greg Whitehead Memorial Challenge Burrinjuck Waters

Facebook Greg Whitehead Memorial Challenge

25-26 Aug

ABT BASS Electric Series Grand Final Wivenhoe Dam

abt.org.au

1-2 Sep

Tim the Bream Competition Yamba

Gayle Doe 0417 002 682

8-9 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Round 6 Clarence River

abt.org.au

22-23 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Grand Final Lake Somerset

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. AUGUST 2018

Wyaralong Dam shows promise The third stop of the Casino Outdoor and Disposal BASS Electric Series was held at Wyaralong Dam. This location had never been visited by the electric series before and 47 anglers held high hopes as it has been producing some massive bass over the last few months. Recent drops in water temperatures had shut things down with only 21 anglers weighing fish and only 9 full bags of bass. Taking out 1st place and the only person to weigh in over 3kg was BASS Electric organiser Joey Urquhart, weighing 2/2 for 3.120 kg and taking out the round’s Big Bass of 1.715 kg.

Taking out 2nd place was Chris Osley, getting his 2/2 for 2.65kg. Chris fished in a similar area to Urquhart, midway up the lake. Osley fished a timbered point throwing Jackall TN60s in a gill pattern and worked his way through the carp to fill his limit and upgrade once. He would slow roll his lure, then pause, letting it return to the bottom, before starting the retrieve again. Osley fished in around 9ft of water targeting those feeding fish. His rod of choice was a Megabass spin rod matched up with a Stradic 2500 Ci4 spooled with 8lb braid and 14lb leader. Osley took

STORM

The biggest fish for the session was this 1.715kg beast caught by event organiser Joey Urquhart. Look at how chunky that bass is! home $300 for his efforts. In 3rd place was Les Smith with his 2/2 for 2.285kg. He fished the same location as Osley and used the same lure and technique. There were 30 fish weighed in with an average

With fish as deep-bodied as this, the lake’s future looks promising.

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

AUGUST 2018

Urquhart had never fished the lake before prefish on Saturday, so he covered lots of ground trying to find areas he liked. He came across two key areas, which had good showings of fish. With the start of the tournament underway Urquhart returned to the first key area midway up the lake and filled out his limit in 30 minutes. His approach was to sit wide of the bank casting to the edge slow rolling silent lipless crankbaits and crankbaits in natural colours. Urquhart fished only 50m of bank for the session. “The area is what I call a transition bank. That’s where the fish are holding wide of the bank, but moving up to feed, and it’s those active feeding fish that I targeted. The magic depth was the 20ft mark,” he explained. His choice of tackle was a Daiwa Pixy matched up with a Valley Hill Raison Odessa 6-16lbs rod, which was perfect for this application. His reel was spooled with Sufix 832 15lb braid and Sufix Super 21 leader in 10lb. Urquhart explained that this lake played right into his favour, as this is his favourite technique. He took home $420 and $150 for Big Bass.

of 1.01kg per fish, which is fantastic given this is a relatively new dam. Joey would like to thank everyone who attended and those who helped out. The last and final round is at Lake MacDonald on the Sunshine Coast.

The event had a great turnout, and it was great to see such a new fishery attracting so much attention.

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

Angler Joey Urquhart Chris Osley Les Smith Brandon Goulding Liam Fitzpatrick Robert Butler Brett Kleinsmitt Nigel Skyring Michael Rowswell

Fish 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2

Weight 3.12kg 2.65kg 2.285kg 2.28kg 2.135kg 2.065kg 1.525kg 1.485kg 1.465kg

Prize $420 + $150 (Big Bass) $300 $220 $180 $140 $120 $120 $80 $80

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

TT Lures Round 6 Hobie Kayak Bream Series The Hobie Road Show headed north for the TT Lures Round 6 of Hobie Kayak Bream Series

10, returning to the site of the 2016 Australian Championship on the spectacular Gold Coast.

Congratulations must go to Jamie McKeown from Pimpama in Queensland for his win in Round 6 at the

The top three placed anglers were Jamie McKeown, Steve Crawley and Andrew Hancox.

Gold Coast in Queensland. McKeown moved from a very close 2nd place on day one to take the win in the second and final session, with a two day combined 6/6 bag of bream weighing in at 4.09kg. The runner up was Steve Crawley from Queensland with his 3.85kg 6/6 bag of bream, and 3rd place was taken out by Andrew Hancox from New South Wales with a 6/6 3.82kg bag over the two sessions. The Atomic Big Bream winner was Steve Crawley with a solid 1.15kg. Jamie said it was painted Cranka Crabs that scored him the win. “These were definitely the winning lures for me RESULTS Place Angler 1 Jamie McKeown 2 Steve Crawley 3 Andrew Hancox 4 Simon Morley 5 Warren Cossell 6 Scott Sandilands 7 Jack Gammie 8 Michael Maas 9 Scott Marcinkowski 10 Guy Struthers

Steve Crawley won the Atomic Big Bream cheque with his 1.15kg kicker fish.

over the weekend,” he said. “I usually use olive or brown but I noticed a few weeks back what colour the crabs were on the bridges around the Gold Coast, so I had a go at replicating them. I would start each morning with olive and when the bite slowed I

Massive bag wins QTS event Round 2 of the Queensland Teams Series has been run and won. Calm, icy cold conditions greeted the eager teams as they launched their boats from the Jacobs Well boat ramp. With the forecast, tides and moon phase it was expected that the bream fishing would be red-hot and the anglers weren’t disappointed. Coming in 3rd with a cracking 3.21kg was ‘Mr Consistent’ Gary Middleton and his wife Ros from team Bonzo. Gary and Ros made the cold run south to the Gold Coast and fished lightly weighted Gulp Crabbies in camo around pontoons and boat hulls at Sovereign Island. The pair consistently upgraded all day. Finishing 2nd was Steve ‘the wizard’ Wilson fishing as team Berkeley/ Simrad. Steve fished solo around the deep edges down towards the Jumpinpin bar. The go-to lure was the evertrusty 2” Gulp Shrimp in swamp gas. Steve made special mention about being able to see bream stacked

up on his Simrad sounder, but was unable to get them to bite. Steve, being the wizard, sat tight and waited for them to switch on. He managed a cracking Pin bag of 3.24kg. Finishing in 1st place was Team NuLook Floors.

any Frogley’s Offshore Product and he would automatically go into the draw. The competition was hotly contested but rumour has it Andrew entered up to five times to increase his chances.

The winning team – Team NuLook Floors’ Jamie and Andrew. Jamie had a special partner with him this week: Andrew Buhagiar won a competition to be the lucky angler that would get to fish with Jamie in the tournament. All Andrew had to do was go into Sporty’s Fishing and spend $50 or more on

The boys took the long run option up to Sundale Bridge on the Gold Coast where Jamie has had a lot of success in the last few months. The plan was to sink Cranka Crabs down and sift through the smaller fish until a big one grabbed it. The

plan worked a treat and they managed to return a huge Gold Coast bag of 4.24kg. Andrew was beside himself with the result. Not only was it the first time he had caught a bream on a Cranka Crab, it was his first tournament win and he also managed his PB bream. Jamie also managed to take away the rod donated by Frogley’s Offshore for the biggest bream of the round with almost 900g. Jamie made special thanks to Cranka, Frogley’s Offshore, Sporty’s Fishing, ABT and the VMR Jacobs Well. Queensland Teams Series managed to raise over $150 for the VMR at Jacobs Well, who were kind enough to allow QTS use their facilities and BBQ for the weigh-in. The VMR play an important role in keeping boaties safe, so get behind them. Round 3 will be run from the Gold Coast in late August, so look for Queensland Team Series on Facebook and come along to this great 100% payback tournament series. – Stuart Robinson

Jamie McKeown’s winning Cranka Crabs. The top crab is olive, and the others are custom painted. State QLD QLD NSW NSW QLD QLD NSW QLD NSW QLD

Division Total(kg) Open 4.09 Open 3.85 Open 3.82 Open 3.76 Open 3.54 Open 3.50 Youth 3.43 Open 3.35 Open 3.34 Open 3.28

changed to the painted crabs. It kept the bite constant throughout the two days when it seemed to almost shut down for the other competitors fishing close by. “I’m not certain whether it was the fact that the colour was very similar to what the bream eat there or the fact that it was different from what the fish had seen all weekend, but it worked. The other add on that kept me in

Prize $1,500 $890 $540 $360 $270

the strike zone longer was a 10g weight glued to the bottom of the 65mm crabs.” The next event is the Cranka Lures Round 7, to be held on the Central Coast of NSW from 15-16 September. The location is the beautiful Brisbane Waters near Gosford, which is possibly a new favourite bream fishery on the Hobie tour. For more information visit www. hobiefishing.com.au. - HKBS

AUGUST 2018

Hickson’s Hawkesbury win After several years and plenty of top-10 finishes, Taree’s Kris Hickson bounced back to the top of the podium with style, taking out the Atomic sponsored round of the Costa BREAM Series on the Hawkesbury River. “I spent the whole weekend just fishing places I have caught big fish before and places I thought big bream live, and it worked out this time,” Hickson explained. Anchored by a bream in the 1.4kg class each day, Hickson did what he usually does and rotated through a selection of proven baits fished in nasty country to get the bites he needed to contend for the win. The

A cool trophy, $3,400, and novelty cheque for the pool room that Happy Gilmore would be excited about was the reward for Hickson’s Hawkesbury heroics.

STORM

Bream like this really launch you up the leader board. Hickson presented a 1.4kg-class fish to the weighmaster on both days. fact that he landed his big kicker fish was the edge he needed to get the job done. “I fished three key baits and mainly in oyster rack country. They were a ZMan 2.5” bloodworm grub on a

thousands of dollars in events all round the country, but it was the subtle differences in presentation that got Kris the bites he needed. “The bream were only nipping at the tail, so I’d use a slower, dragging retrieve more than the standard hop-and-drop and sometimes I’d change to the Cranka Crab to convert some of those bites,” he said. Also helping the fish eat the lure was a liberal application of Pro Cure scent in blue crab flavour. Although fishing with an assortment of Daiwa tackle, Hickson singled out a favourite rig that was virtually impossible to pull drag from. Spooled with 10lb fluorocarbon leader and 10lb Daiwa J-Braid, it consisted

of a Silver Wolf rod and 2500 sized Daiwa reel. Best of all, both of Hickson’s kicker fish were captured on his on-board Garmin camera and you can watch him catch them on the highlights reel on the ABT YouTube channel (ABT Tournaments). Although suffering a setback (in the form of forgetting to screw in the bung) on the Sunday, Kris managed enough bites to box a 4.02kg bag and steal the win from Matt Hall by 170g. The win propelled the Manning Valley breamer back to no. 1 in the national rankings with two Qualifiers and a Grand Final remaining on the 2018 Costa BREAM Tour.

1/16oz, #1 HeadLockz head, a heavy, olive Cranka Crab and a deep diving Jackall Chubby in brown suji,” Hickson said. Between them, these baits have won hundreds of

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Reel: Line: Leader: Lure 1:

Daiwa Battler Water Zombie Daiwa Exist 2015, size 2003 Daiwa Evo-braid 14lb Yamatoyo Chinu Harris Gulp! Shrimp 2.5” camo and banana prawn Lure 2: Cranka Crab 5.9g olive Lure 3: ZMan 2.5” Grubz Lure 4: Jackall Deep Chubby brown suji

Canberra non-boater Tani Konsul landed the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream with this awesome crab eater on a rocky river bank.

TOP 10 BOATERS

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 78

AUGUST 2018

Scan this QR Code for the complete Hawkesbury River YouTube highlights Playlist.

Place Angler

Fish (kg)

Weight

1 2 3 4 5 6

Kris Hickson Matt Hall Liam Carruthers Jason Mayberry Ross Cannizzaro Steve Morgan

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10

7 8 9 10

$3,150 + $250 Merc Bonus $1,500 $1,250 + $150 Merc Bonus $1,000 $900 $800 + $150 Merc Bonus + $200 Pro $700 $600 $500

Russell Babekuhl 8/10 5.66 Cam Whittam 10/10 5.61 Phil Nix 9/10 5.58 Todd Riches 9/10 5.34 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

7.15 6.98 6.96 6.32 6.18 5.97

Payout

Matt Hall Junk Fishes Way to Second

Making his ABT debut at the Franklins Australian Open earlier in the year, Matt Hall consolidated his position as ‘a-boater-to-watch’ by logging a solid second place amongst a big field of quality anglers at the event. Falling 170g short of Hickson, Matt Hall, a 25-year-old fire protection technician from St Clair in Western Sydney, started each day on the Barrenjoey flats, throwing 2 1/2” Gulp! Shrimps in camo and banana prawn colours on 1/24oz HWS jigheads. “I picked up a quality fish each morning there before the pressure got too heavy,” said Hall. “I’d throw a long cast and sink the bait into the weed, then I’d pop it out again. The bream Matt Hall and his blue Bass Cat have been making a splash in the ABT events in usually hit it on the drop.” 2018. He narrowly missed his first win at the Hawkesbury event with bream like this.

Cranka Crab

He then left the flat and fished windblown points with washes near Juno Point in the main river using the ubiquitous Cranka heavy, olive crabs. As the tide dropped, he’d switch to ZMan Grubs fished on the secondary drop-offs. Adding a vital final day fish on a Jackall brown suji Deep Chubby, Hall, like Hickson, displayed the versatility needed

BREAM SERIES to catch the fish to contend. Hall’s gear consisted of Daiwa Battler Water Zombie rods, high end Daiwa reels (his favourite a 2003 Exist 2015), 14lb Daiwa Evo-braid and 4lb Yamatoyo Chinu Harris leader. “For me, it’s all about the wind. If it’s calm I struggle, so the windy conditions really played to my strengths,” Hall concluded.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG NSW breamer, Liam Carruthers presented the Duffrods Big Bag to the scales (4.32kg) on the second day. Fishing 65mm Cranka Crabs in Cowan Creek, Liam lamented that he hooked the fish to win the event on Day 1, but too many made it back home into the sandstone rocks.

HICKSON’S WINNING PATTERN

Liam Carruthers won the Duffrods Big Bag with a 4.32kg limit on Sunday.

Shuey Finally First after 4 Years Victorian Ben Shuey has been non-boating the ABT circuit for around four years and snatched his first title from the back of the boat at the Hawkesbury. Fishing exclusively the heavy, olive Cranka Crab, Ben assembled his limits in Cowan Creek (Day 1) and Berowra Creek (Day 2).

“There was a bit of a knack to getting the bream hooked up. We were getting lots of bites and had to keep the crab moving until the rod loaded up. Then we just wound them on,” Ben said. Ben used his favourite 13 Fishing Envy Black 7’1” light spinning rod paired with a Shimano Ci4 reel spooled with Sunline Castaway 10lb braid and 4lb Sunline Bream FC leader.

Ben’s winning margin was significant (1.47kg) but would have been much more so if he’d added another couple of legal fish to his Sunday 3-fish for 2.61kg bag. He was definitely catching quality fish. Qualifying for the 2018 Costa BREAM Series Grand Final in 2018 in his home waters in Victoria, Ben will be a great draw

in the season ending event where the winning boater will take home a Bass Cat Margay and Mercury motor package.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM The event’s Big Bream was a 1.44kg giant yellowfin landed by non-boater Tani Konsul from Canberra. It ate a 5.9g olive Cranka Crab fished along a rocky wall up the river with braided line and a 4lb fluorocarbon leader. Running back into the rocks several times, boater Bradley Young described her as excited as any non-boater he’d ever seen.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place

Angler

Fish(kg)

Weight

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ben Shuey 8/10 5.79 Michael Thompson 9/10 4.32 Chris Micallef 6/10 3.51 Craig Johnson 6/10 3.38 Jim Hickson 4/10 2.61 Wayne Siow 3/10 2.45 Grant Oliver 5/10 2.45 Tani Konsul 3/10 2.28 Nathan Gregory 4/10 2.21 James Morgan 4/10 2.10 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Payout Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

Victorian Ben Shuey weighed only three fish on the Sunday, but they were all donkeys. AUGUST 2018

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE

Lazer Lures Catch Fish

New Lazer 60g with premium VMC hooks, a must-have lure in every serious tailor fisherman’s tackle box.

CUSTOM ALLOY FABRICATION OVER 20 YEARS FABRICATING AND WELDING ALUMINIUM

PROFISH BOATS – Phone Peter 0417 782 114 Email: peter@profishboats.com www.profishboats.com

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FIBREGLASS Repairs

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

BCF www.bcf.com.au

ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636 CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

Davo’s Tackleworld Noosaville (07) 5449 8099 Davo’s Tackleworld Marcoola (07) 5448 8244 Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500

BOAT HIRE // HOUSE GOLD COAST

Great family and fishing boats!

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BOAT HIRE // TRAILER GOLD COAST Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

BOAT PAINTING BRISBANE Brisbane Boat Painting 0433 356 620

Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

• Boat repairs & fitouts • Bait tanks • Transom rebuilds • Fuel tanks • Consoles

CUSTOM TRANSOMS 20-75hp $750 75-150hp $890 150-225hp $980 Freight can be arranged Australia wide www.lazerlures.com

NORTH QUEENSLAND

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING • All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

MARINE TRAILERS Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568 Spitfire Trailers (07) 0400 866 323 Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339

MARINE ELECTRONICS

SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS MARINE MECHANICS GOLD COAST T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379 Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141 Cunningham Marine Centre (07) 3284 8805 Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Stones Corner Marine (07) 3397 9766

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

FISH TAXIDERMY Fish Taxidermist www.fishtaxidermy.net.au or 0428 544 841

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

This section in QLD 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

AUGUST 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

NORTHERN NSW

N O W AVA IL A B L E

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962 Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR From

T-Shirts

FISHING CHARTERS

22 85

The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177 Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

• 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

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

Phone Cases From

29 45

Mugs

Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

From

COOKTOWN

River of Gold Motel 4069 5222

MACKAY BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658 FRESHWATER Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

CHARTER BOATS GOLD COAST BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

BRISBANE Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818 Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151 Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402 Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070 Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

1 7 27

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au Now Agents For

Clocks $

HERVEY BAY

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Carry Bags

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

• 5.5m Custom sportsfishing Vessel • 4.4m Estuary Sportsfishing Vessel • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

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From

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Andrew Chorley

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER

Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727 Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217 Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957 Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au AUGUST 2018

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS PISCIVORES

HUMAN AQUATIC GENET BULLDOG BAT SEALION WOLVES TURTLES OTTER SHREW AMERICAN MINK CAT OTTER

DOLPHIN SEAL PENGUIN EAGLE SNAKE SHARK SPIDER TIGER BEARS JAGUARS

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

QLD AUGUST 2018

Phone (day):

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering. The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind. The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Chub Chalmers from Kingaroy, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition! Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for June is B Hull of Bundaburg North, who won a Hard Korr 8m Blue and White Boat Light Kit and T600 Headlamp valued at $328. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

Cauchi of Kepnock, B Botting of Wattle Camp, R Forse of Prosperpine, P Fels of Cushnie, J Paul of Inverell, R Thompson of Taigum, A Thompson of Mango Hill, K Edwards of East Innisfail, G Walker of Warner, C Saler of Coomera, B Stephan of Donnybrook, T Ryan of Wagga Wagga, T Gallagher of Heathwood, R Quill of Tin Can Bay, J Boneham of Eight Mile Plains, P Carrington of Deception Bay, G Herring of

Gympie, R Stevenson of Redbank Plains, K Willmann of Windaroo, L Randles of Capella , B Hale of Maroochydore, P Fielder of Everton Hills, D Skewes of Bli Bli, A Hewlett of Mothar Mountain, E Booghen of Regency Downs, N Humble of Rockhampton, S Davies of Emerald, G McGrath of Avoca. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for June were: 16, 20, 21, 28, 32, 38, 42, 48, 50, 62, 69, 88, 91, 102, 106. – QFM

AUGUST 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Cobia

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for June were: M Gillett of Boonah, C Thorne of Roma, W Gore of New Beith, R Kroll of Minnie Water, R Brown of Edmonton, B Tieman of Buxton, C Layt of New Auckland, O Noffke of Kulangoor, G Priestly of Silkwood, J Higgins of Caboolture, K O’Brien of Burrum Heads, G Oliver of Seventeen Mile Rocks, P

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer:

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 84 Capital city yakking Inside story...

Sea Jay Aluminium Boats has been family owned and operated for over 25 years, and the name has become renowned for strength, quality workmanship and customization with the angler in mind. Whether you’re fishing in fresh or salt, inshore or offshore, Sea Jay will provide you with a model to suit your boating and fishing needs.

Made for...

Sea Jay specialises in boats for sports anglers, offering a stable fishing platform and plenty of storage.

This month...

Steve Morgan has a run in the Elliot River aboard the Sea Jay Predaking 6.1. This giant plate boat is a beast! Check it out on page 98!

Troy Brown explores the lower Brisbane River’s kayak fishing opportunities, and uncovers a few of Brisbane’s secrets.

89 The hour of power Justin Willmer shares a few tips for prepping your kayak for prime bite windows.

94 Stessl 485 Apache Wayne Kampe takes this rig through its paces on the Gold Coast on a warm sunny day.

102 Whittley CR2800

Peter Jung has a ride in the largest towable Australian-made boat in its class on Lake Eildon.

106 Quintrex 530 Frontier Steve Morgan tests out this beauty, repping the now famous Apex hull, and powered by a Yamaha F90.

AUGUST 2018

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

A kayaker’s guide to the Brisbane River BRISBANE

Troy Brown

The much-maligned Brisbane River isn’t a place many would instantly identify as a prime kayak fishing destination. The river certainly has an image issue – its muddy brown waters and recent contamination scares do little to dispel the myth of a river in crisis. The truth seems somewhat distant from the perception, as in many respects the Brisbane River is a system that is in a state of repair. Although understanding the history of the river isn’t necessary to enjoying a day of kayak fishing, it does give some perspective on the waterway and its marine inhabitants. Fishing in the Brisbane River isn’t on the decline. In fact, the river is possibly far healthier now than it was 100 years ago. Most people don’t perceive brown as a good colour for a healthy waterway. While it would certainly be nice to see a clear, blue river, this is unlikely to ever be reality. While water quality has certainly improved since dredging ceased in 1997, there are many issues that will reduce the chances of Brisbane residents ever seeing a crystal blue watercourse. Despite the sandy base throughout a large section of the river centre, the runoff sediment deposited into the area is constantly disrupted by tidal flow. This issue is exacerbated by the deposit of contaminants into the river during periods of rain, making the possibility

The Colmslie Recreation reserve is one of many excellent launch sites. of a clean river extremely remote. Environmental scientists are attempting methods of restoring water clarity, including planting the native Bacopa plants along the river edge to help contain the muddy banks. However, there is great debate as to whether any of these efforts will prove successful, as the impact of urbanisation along the river is the greatest threat to any improvement in water clarity. What does this mean for the health of the river? Surprisingly, despite the issues caused by people on the system, the cessation of dredging has seen many fish species re-entering the river. The river is actually fishing better than it has in many years. There is an abundance of fish and a kayak is the perfect vehicle in which to capture them.

Prior to any fishing trip in a kayak, you need to ensure you can do so safely. The river can be a dangerous place, with highspeed CityCats, cruise ships, shipping vessels and recreational boaters all sharing the same space. The simplest solution is to be aware of your surroundings, find safe areas to fish and of course be well equipped with the correct safety gear. Be respectful of regulations in the port and ensure you maintain the requisite clearance from any regulated areas. While fishing around these areas may be enticing, being hauled away by maritime police will ruin your day. Also, take care when large vessels pass, as bow waves can compress against adjacent structure and make the waves stand up to heights that may flip your kayak.

Travelling the river in a boat is certainly convenient, but exploring in a kayak will provide opportunities that can’t be experienced in a larger vessel. Kayaks have some significant advantages over their motorised alternatives. Stealth is a key

dedicated boat ramps that dot the city, as there is typically a wealth of parking available and simple waterside access. While carrying a kayak and launching from a beach is an undemanding task for smaller hulls, larger models with wheeled dollies will appreciate the access afforded by a wellmaintained ramp. Brisbane City Council has a dedicated section on their website for boat ramps, which also mentions the exceptional canoe ramp and pontoon facilities along the river. Popular launch sites include the exceptional facilities at Colmslie Recreation Reserve, the Port Drive boat ramp, as well as the ramp that directly services Boggy Creek. Although there are significant opportunities for fishing the inland reaches of the Brisbane River, most people agree the best prospects exist in the area from the Gateway Bridge to the mouth of the river. This stretch has an abundance of species, with many trophy fish being landed by anglers

large jetties and boat hulls provide cover for fish along the entire length of the river. If there is structure, there are bound to be fish under and around it. For those seeking sport fishing on light line, the humble bream provides plenty of entertainment. Bream are found everywhere there is structure. Rocks wall, rubble-strewn bottoms, jetties – any cover, artificial or natural, will hold bream. Tyson Rowan fishes the Brisbane River for bream regularly and is happy to share his experience. “I fish for bream by ensuring I cast as tight to structure as possible,” said Rowan. “I use the tide or skip casts to get my lure or soft plastics under hulls and pontoons, even to the point of getting my lure to bounce off a pylon on the retrieve. Like clockwork, the impact will cause bream to hit the lure immediately after, as it seems to fire them up. Lastly, don’t be afraid to do nothing, as a bream will hit a suspended lure that you’re not working at all.”

There is plenty of structure to fish along the river’s edge.

Quality mulloway are a tough task for anglers. Tim Donselaar proved he was up to the challenge. 84

AUGUST 2018

feature of kayak fishing, as well as the ability to drift over shallow areas that would otherwise ground even a small tinny. Although getting to your destination in a kayak is certainly more of an effort than using a boat, clever paddlers will use that travel time to target structure on the way to the final location. In the Brisbane River, these opportunities are immense. Finding a launch spot is your first task. Luckily, there are numerous sites suitable for kayaks to launch along the river. The simplest sites would certainly be the

who have the knowledge and patience to target them. Common species such as bream, flathead and tailor are in residence, along with large jewfish, snapper, threadfin salmon and even a rare barramundi. While fish can be found along the length of the river, certain areas have a reputation for providing superior catch rates. Aquarium Passage is known for the occasional oversize bream. Boggy Creek, the nearby Pinkenba rock wall and Claras Rocks are known to anglers as exceptional fishing zones. Pontoons,

Boggy Creek is an excellent spot for kayak fishing, as its mostly-shallow waters are ideally suited to the stealth of a small hull. Even though boats can access the area, the best fishing in this area is in the fringes, where deeper vee-shaped hulls will struggle to maintain a prolonged drift. Tim Donselaar shared his knowledge of the area, “I like to slip the kayak in quietly at first light at the small gravel ramp on the end of Priors Road at Pinkenba. There is a small footbridge that crosses over the water beside the ramp, which has

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 a deep hole below housing flathead, bream and the occasional larger predator. “Further downstream, there are areas where I like to troll lures along the edge of the drop-offs, maintaining a depth of around 1.5m, so the hardbodies are running close to the bottom. This method yields plenty of flathead, as

certainly out-fish a lure; personally, since foregoing boating for kayak fishing, I no longer use bait and fish mostly with soft plastic lures. While catching live bait will be very productive on large fish, soft plastic fishing is an inexpensive and productive means of chasing most species.

and far more immersive. While you can use a very passive approach and catch fish, some minor interaction with your lure will produce results. The easiest fish to catch for those learning how to use a lure is the flathead. Flathead are a bottomdwelling predator, which lie in wait for a baitfish

Luke Lispet landed this solid threadfin while slow-hopping a Samaki Vibelicious 70mm Thumper Tail. well as occasional bream and cod. At the mouth of the creek, I like to work around the oil pipelines with small soft plastics and baitfish imitations. This area produces flathead, bream, flounder and tailor, but also the occasional drag-peeling monster that is likely a threadfin or mulloway.” The choice of bait, hardbody lures or soft plastics comes down to preference. All will catch fish. There are times when bait will

Hardbodies are more costly and frustrating when you lose your favourite on a submerged snag, but they are also highly effective for some fish. Whichever method you choose, commit to it and learn how to use it most effectively. Fishing with bait, hardbodies or soft plastics will be very frustrating if you are using the wrong technique, but will be deadly once mastered. I find lure fishing in the Brisbane River is rewarding

lifts are undesirable. Aim to get a natural motion on your lure – nothing appears natural about a lure that nearly gets pulled out of the water by an over-zealous angler. This tea-bagging motion will account for flathead and will also attract many other species. If you wish to take a less interactive approach, simple trolling a lure behind the kayak at walking pace will nearly always provide you with a fish. While a simple approach works for flathead, more finesse can be required to capture other fish. Accurate casting around snags or pylons will yield hits from more aggressive predators, but just because they are aggressive doesn’t mean they’re not wary. Take care to make your lure look alive, or it will be rejected by a fish with highly developed instincts. Mimic the actions of a wounded baitfish with lifts and drop, short period of frenetic winding, pauses and twitches to entice the fish to strike. The mulloway, possibly Brisbane Rivers most prized catch, is also one of the most difficult to hook. These wily combatants will often mouth the lure, not fully committing to eating it, before taking a small run

Tim Donselaar with a Boggy Creek crocodile. at night is far more likely to reward the conscientious angler. Boat traffic and other disturbances will be less likely, encouraging these cautious fish to leave their cover. Deep water isn’t necessary and many excellent catches will occur in depths of only 1-2m. This seems to work best around

it’s an attractant, or simply masks your own scent is debatable. While some doubt the safety of eating seafood from the Brisbane River, most experts agree that risks are low, provided you minimize your frequency of consuming fish from previously contaminated

roaming into its territory. For these crocodilian monsters, the technique is simple. Get the lure to the bottom then simply make the lure hop along the river base by making a serious of small lifts and drops of the rod tip. The need for subtlety during this process can’t be overstated. Lifting the rod tip only slightly can make a lightly weighted soft plastic lure dart a foot up into the water column, so large aggressive

Craig Lloyd with the spoils of a hard battle on light gear. This specimen was caught using a Shads 30g vibe.

Mark Dugmore with a small cod caught on a Micro Mullet lure.

and then dropping it again. If you strike too soon, the mulloway will ignore the lure and not give you a second opportunity. Feeling the difference between a mulloway and another species is difficult, so knowing when to strike and when to wait is agonising. Only experience and some luck will help you bag the mighty mulloway. If you’re targeting these behemoths, chasing them

the turn of the tide, as the mulloway leave their deep holes to chase bait moving out from shallow cover. Search for deep holes with shallow margins and you are likely to find mulloway. Scents like S Factor or Pro Cure will increase your hook-up rate. They don’t necessarily result in more hits, but seem to be the difference between a tentative bite and your lure being engulfed. Whether

areas. Regardless of whether you eat or catch and release, this is a waterway that under-promises and over-delivers. For more information on how to fish from your kayak, join one of the many Facebook groups dedicated to the sport. Local groups such as the Qld Hobie Crew, Yak Hunters Qld and various smaller groups are eager to help a fellow kayak angler. AUGUST 2018

WHAT’S NEW BOATING AQUAYAK BANJO

Lightweight, extremely stable, easy to paddle and available in a wide range of colours, the Australian-made Banjo is the perfect gift for kids. Like all Aquayaks, the Banjo’s rugged, one-piece construction guarantees a lifetime of enjoyment. Designed to accommodate paddlers up to 65kg, the Banjo’s cockpit is deep moulded, lowering the centre of gravity, making it extremely stable. The Banjo measures 1.8m x 0.6m and weighs 11kg, and features include 10-year warranty on construction and UV certification; 1 x two-piece paddle; central storage soft hatch; 2x heavy-duty handles (sides); 2x toggle handles (front and rear), 1 x paddle leash saddle; 2 x flush rod holders; cup holder; drain bung; utility pocket; self-draining cockpit; thruster (3 fins) keep for wave surfing; stackable for storage and transport. Price: SRP $249 www.aquayak.com

EVINRUDE 10 YEAR 2 WARRANTY For the first time in Australia, Evinrude is offering a 10Year Factory Backed Warranty on all engines from 25hp-300hp inclusive, available to Australian customers purchasing at participating boat shows in 2018. Evinrude engines already offer best-inclass fuel efficiency and torque, no break-in period and no oil changes ever. These engines also comply with and exceed new Australian emissions standards. Telwater (manufacturer of Quintrex, Stacer and Savage boats and Evinrude AU distributor) Director of Sales and Marketing Damien Duncan said the offer added extreme value and showed high confidence in the quality of the products offered to the market. “Telwater chose to work with Evinrude as we believe it is the best outboard on the market and offers customers leading innovation in the marine industry,” Damien said, “and now we can offer industry-leading warranty coverage.” This offer is available at all eligible boat shows by participating dealers and on factory-fitted BMT packages. For full terms and conditions head to the Evinrude website. www.evinrude.com.au

MOTORGUIDE XI3 AND 72” XI5

The new MotorGuide Xi3 is up to 40% quieter than its nearest competitor, and a hand-held remote is included as standard. Its SecureStep system lets users release the motor from its locked position without having to reach over it, while providing a clear visual and audible signal to confirm that it’s stowed and locked correctly. The Xi3 also boasts the Pinpoint GPS module, which lets you focus on fishing while taking advantage of GPS functions like Anchor, Jog, Heading Lock, Route Record and more. Available in 12V and 24V options, with thrust ranging from 55-70lb, all Xi3 models are Lowrance, Simrad and Mercury VesselView connectivity compatible. Anglers also have the option of freshwater or saltwater variants, along with the choice of 48-60” (122-152cm) shafts. A three-blade Machete propeller is included as standard with all Xi3 models, and built-in sonar is optional for selected motors. In addition to this, the MotorGuide Xi5 just got even better with the release of a 72” (183cm) shaft version. www.mercurymarine.com.au 86

AUGUST 2018

NEW MERCURY PRO XS MODELS

PRODUCT GUIDE

Mercury has announced multiple new Pro XS outboards – V-8 4.6L engines in 200, 225, 250 and 300hp, along with an all-new V-6 3.4L 175hp model. The new 200-300hp Pro XS models are built on Mercury’s new V-8 engine platform and boast a 4.6L powerhead that delivers phenomenal torque while weighing just 229kg. During testing, the 250hp Pro XS outpaced the leading competitor by 20% for 0-32km/h acceleration under heavy load while also delivering up to 16% better fuel economy at cruise. The 200-300hp Pro XS models also feature a robust 3.2cm diameter prop shaft and are available with a next-gen Torque Master gearcase that offers a 1.75:1 gear ratio and low-water pickups on the nose-cone for added mounting and trimming flexibility. These engines are smooth and quiet at cruise. The new 175hp Pro XS is built on Mercury’s new 3.4L V-6 platform. This large displacement engine delivers higher maximum RPM at full throttle, while providing superior fuel economy and weighing just 213kg for the 175hp. www.mercurymarine.com.au

3 4

JL AUDIO LAUNCHES 5 MM50 JL Audio has released a new 2.8” weatherproof, powered marine source unit. The MM50 is a high-performance, single-chassis, powered source unit with outstanding audio performance and advanced features, specifically designed for marine applications. The easy-to read, 2.8” full colour LCD display has adjustable brightness and an intuitive interface with large, easy to use backlit controls. There are flexible zone controls, including tone controls for bass, mid-range, treble and balance, independent or linked with zone 1. The built-in amplifier generates 100W of high-fidelity output. The MM50 has a digital AM/FM tuner with Radio Data System display info (where available), and can store up to 18 AM/FM stations. It also has Bluetooth compatibility, a USB 2.0 direct-digital connection, and NMEA2000 certified compatibility. The MM50 is has three remote controller options (each sold separately) to help you create a versatile audio command centre. Price: SRP $449.99 www.jlaudio.com

RAYMARINE AXIOM XL

The new Raymarine Axiom XL family is fully waterproof, and each model delivers wider viewing angles, sharp contrast, and unmatched readability in bright sun. Axiom XL has three Ethernet ports for connecting with network sensors or with additional Axiom, Axiom Pro, and Axiom XL family displays. Axiom XL’s FLIR thermal imaging camera support enhances navigation awareness and safety, while HDMI input enables Axiom XL to serve as a remote touchscreen PC or entertainment display. A quad-core processor supports Raymarine navigation, radar, sonar, and FLIR thermal technology for an all-in-one HD display. Powered by Raymarine’s LightHouse 3 OS, the displays offer an uncluttered interface that is easily personalised. There’s the choice of multitouch screen control or the Raymarine RMK-10 keypad for complete remote system control of multiple Axiom XL displays. Axiom XLs are available in 16”, 19”, 22” and 24” display sizes. The XL24 is available now, and the XL22 will be available in September. Price: SRP $9995 www.raymarine.com.au

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

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IT’S JUST FLAWLESS Dan Gatkowski – fisherman

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

The hour of power BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

For years my mates and I have spoken about the hour of power when fishing, referring to the first hour of morning light and the last hour of daylight. Although this is two hours in each day, with work, families and other

or other paddle craft, it’s a great opportunity to be on the water before the waterway gets busy, which can often spook the fish and make the bite tougher. Alternatively, you can hang around for the last hour of light, when many boaties have already packed up for the day to get home and get their boat and gear cleaned up and put away. The other thing to consider is your launch point, as you

You don’t want to take your expensive gear out on the SUP. A couple of $80 combos do the job just fine. commitments, we often only get the opportunity to fish one of these hours… the hour of power. In these low light conditions, you will often find the water comes alive with bait and the fish feed more actively, there are less shadows being cast, less visibility for the fish to spot you as easily and less boat traffic on the water. These variables and more often contribute to making this hour a hot bite opportunity. For those of us fishing from an SUP, kayak, canoe

often don’t need to rely on a boat ramp to launch, so try and launch close to where you intend to fish to make the most of the morning or afternoon hour of power. Here are a handful of tips to make the most of this peak bite period and a quick wrap up of a recent SUP session where I made the most of the late afternoon bite. THE 5 PS Prior planning prevents poor performance… well you won’t catch them every time, that’s fishing, but if you only have a short period on the

water, try and line up a tide you like to fish or a species you like to target with one of the magic hours of the day and be organised. Have your vessel and kit ready to roll so you can make the most of the time available. RIGGED AND READY Make sure you aren’t wasting the peak bite period by digging through your tackle and rigging your rods out on the water. I generally carry two rigged rods on the deck of the SUP, or up to four rigged rods in my rear rod holder setup on the kayak. I will either have both rods rigged with the same lure if I have been catching on it and am confident of repeating this success, or I will be rigged with a couple of different lures. Flathead are my favourite target species in the estuaries,

AUGUST 2018

to the water in a paddle craft. A headlamp is a great idea for your own visibility and for signalling to other watercraft if necessary. I

simple clothing choices. Headwear, gloves, sunnies, buffs, layered tops, long sun pants, wading shoes and rain gear are just some of the

Back at the launch point - note the clear deck, with everything stowed and secured for the paddle home. however I will also target bream, trevally, mulloway and other species. A popular go-to for these species in my local waters is one rod rigged with a 2.5” paddle-tail on a 1/4oz 1/0 light wire jighead and a second rod rigged with a bulkier 3” paddle-tail on a 3/8oz 3/0 heavy wire jighead. These two plastics have me covered from rolling the flats for bream, trevally and flathead, to fishing drop-offs for flathead and mulloway. VISIBILITY It’s important to ensure that you are highly visible when fishing low light, especially when you’re low

The shallow water presentation also produced plenty of bites. The ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ on a 1/4oz jighead was working great. 88

A fresh feed of fish for the table. An icebox is ideal for keeping your catch in optimum condition.

prefer a waterproof LED battery-powered headlamp and I always switch it on to check the power level before heading out and carry a spare set of batteries with me. Other ways to make yourself more visible on the water include the range of lighting options from Railblaza, which are quick and easy to attach, along with high-vis and reflective clothing, a PFD with reflective tape or reflective tape or stickers attached to your vessel. DECK ORGANISATION When fishing low light conditions, it is even more important to keep the cockpit of your vessel organised, with items leashed, secured or stowed. When fishing I have scent, a ruler, Boomerang Tool line snip, water bottle, camera and other random items on my deck, however when paddling to my spot or back to shore, especially in darkness, the camera is secured in my pocket, water bottle in my icebox and the scent, line snip, ruler and other accessories are stowed in a dry bag that is rolled up with enough air left inside to make it float. CLOTHING Hot, cold, sunburn, insect bites and wind can all be part of it… before I scare you off the water, I just want to say that most of this can be overcome with

clothing options available to paddlers, with a lot of technical clothing available with features that include

COMMUNICATION Finally, let someone know where you are going and what time you expect to be home. I always carry my phone, fully charged in a waterproof case… except for that one time when I went on my first quick SUP mission and my wife and my father were looking for me with binoculars and telescopic camera lenses… time gets away when you’re fishing and especially when you’re catching. For more extreme adventures a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) is not a silly idea. SUP TECH TIP Before we head out onto

Being able to stow loose items is a big plus on a paddle back to the launch point. quick dry, wind-proof, lightweight, UPF ratings and more. Plan your clothing to suit your adventure and you can always carry a couple of additional items in a dry bag, just in case.

the water, I just wanted to cover a small technical tip with regard to the stand up paddle board, for those who are wanting to get into the sport or have recently purchased a board. The

board that I purchased has a removable fin and on one of my adventures, where I found myself landlocked and removed the thumbscrew and fin to slide the board across the weed beds, I learned a valuable lesson… When I next went to use the board and screw the fin in, I discovered that the thumbscrew doesn’t actually

fishing time. Positioning the SUP about a cast distance from the bank, I drifted the channel edge, casting to the edge of the weed and hopping the plastic down the drop-off. The first 50m of bank dropped steeply into about 3m of water, so I opted for my 3” paddle-tail and 3/8oz jighead, allowing

One for the table! Note the author’s headlamp around the neck and PFD with reflective strip ready for sunset. screw into a fixed point, it in fact screws into a little plate/ nut, which was somewhere out in the ocean, as it had slid out of the fin slot. I had a quick look online and discovered that these are readily available to purchase, so I’m guessing I’m not the first and won’t be the last to make this mistake. Here’s hoping I can save a couple of others from making the same mistake! In future, if I remove the fin for transportation or other reasons, I will ensure that I screw the nut and screw together into the fin for safe storage. Anyway, in true Aussie ‘tie it up with wire’ style I simply pushed the fin into the slot, placed a little silicone scraper from my painting kit over the slot and taped the fin in with silver tape. It was a success, and I am out of trouble until a new plate/nut arrives, along with a few spares… just in case. LET’S HIT THE WATER! After being busy all weekend recently I made a last-minute decision to grab what was left of Sunday afternoon and launch the SUP to drift for flathead. It was the last of the run-out tide, bottoming out around dark and as I slid the SUP in at 4:30pm I figured I had about an hour and a half of

plenty of time between hops to ensure the plastic was on the bottom. With a tap, followed by a solid hookset I was connected to my first flathead, which was on the deck and then off again in the blink of an eye as it shook its head, threw the lure and launched back into the water. There are a couple of reasons why I should have netted the fish. Firstly, I would have had dinner in the icebox and secondly a fish that is going crazy on your deck has the potential to

launch unsecured items into the water. It wasn’t too many casts before I had a fish on again! This time, I netted a flathead that measured mid 50s, and I carefully slid it into my icebox that doubles as my seat. Although it’s called an SUP, my icebox makes a pretty good seat, it’s at the perfect height and securely strapped to the deck attachment points, and I must admit I spend most of my time sitting, relaxing and taking it all in. As the bank began to taper more slowly into the depths, I picked up the other rod and started fishing the 1/4oz jighead and 2.5” paddle-tail, casting right up into the shallows where the bait was flicking. Fish on! A small but cranky flathead was landed, followed by another next cast and then a yellowtail pike that was also released. Flathead often school, so I paddled back to work this section again, landing two more small fish in two casts and then another for the icebox a couple of casts later. With the sun disappearing and the tide almost still, I paddled a little further to a patch of sand at the mouth of a drain and landed a few more flathead and yellowtail pike, all of which were released, as I had one fish for dinner, along with one for our neighbour. What had been a busy and stressful weekend had ended on a high, thanks to an hour and a half on the water that included the afternoon hour of power. A dozen flathead and a few yellowtail pike, including a feed of fresh fish – a wind down before heading back to work and a fun session on the water. I hope you all get an opportunity to get out on the water soon and remember to make the most of your hour of power. See you on the water.

580 WITH

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Holt Marine

35 Bowen Road, Rosslea, Queensland, 4812 Phone: (07) 4779 0211 marine@risingsuntownsville.com.au

25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills Brisbane, Queensland, 4053 Phone: (07) 3353 1928 info@holtmarine.com.au

Whitsunday Outboard Centre

Gold Coast Boating Centre

1 William Murray Drive Cannovale, Queensland, 4802 Phone: (07) 4946 7286 Fax: (07) 4946 7848 woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

BlueFin Sports

57-59 Musgrave Street Rockhampton Nth, QLD, 4701 Phone: (07) 4922 2211 Fax: 07 4922 4624 sales@bluefinsports.com.au

A typical weedy channel edge and drain that will produce flathead on the run-out tide.

SEAHAWK

64 Kortum Drive Burleigh Heads Gold Coast, Queensland, 4220 Phone: (07) 5576 7388 Fax: (07) 5576 2278 sales@goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

Precision Marine NT

30 Deviney Road, Pinelands Darwin, Northern Territory, 0829 Phone: (08) 8931 1140 precisionmarine@outlook.com.au

For more information visit www.stessl.com.au AUGUST 2018

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Tidy up that trailer boat BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Boat ownership is a big part of my life, and I’m guessing that it’s also a big part of yours as well – or at least that you’re seriously considering it. My advice to you is this: go for it! Boating is a multifaceted escape from the more mundane things in life. Whether you’ve launched the boat merely for a fun run or for some serious strategies on the fish, your the time on the water is always changing. I’ve rarely had two boating excursions that are the same, given the variation in weather and sea conditions we boaties

important items (at the end of a day on the water, they’ll probably be somewhere inconvenient) it’s a good idea to clean things up good and proper so that your pride and joy can look its best and perform just as well. After all, the quality of a trip can depend on how well you tidied up the last time you went out. But before we start cleaning up let’s work out some strategies for orderly management of important items. WASH OUT THE WELL Starting at the bow, we have the anchor well. Some wells can take in a little water via the outflow at times, so you might want to check the amount of salt and other

you want to quickly drop the ground tackle. A bit of bump and thump during a late run to the ramp can also further tangle the anchor rope after it was hastily retrieved in between sets of swells or chop. At the end of the day you should completely remove all anchor warp and clean up the well before you neatly store the anchor rope for the next trip. You’ll appreciate this the next time you’re on the water. ANOINT THE ELECTRIC When it comes to electric motors, even a saltwater model needs some special care. I’ve seen even the best brands fail from sheer neglect. During the boat wash down, you should put the electric motor in its

These roller marks will require some effort to clean off the fibreglass. Metho might work but acetone will be more effective. constantly encounter. Once the craft is home again, you need to ensure things are ‘ship shape’ for the next expedition. Along with some careful thought as to where you should put

unwanted material that’s in there with the anchor rope. Open wells can gather all kinds of random items like tangled tackle, leaves or discarded bait or lure packets, which are annoying when

Multi-roller trailers are great, but there are times when the rollers are affected by exhaust from a diesel engine, and cause unsightly black marks on the hull. booklet that came with it. Some spray with a lubricant is good practice as well. As a side note, many boaters have both a hand and foot control for their electrics as a failsafe. Most people favour the hand control due to its convenience, but it’s a good idea to also understand exactly how the foot control is set up for use – either with or without a wireless link to the motor – so you should consult the handbook. It may also have some tips on foot control use stored strategically in the boat, and it could save the day if you’ve never used the unit before. Remember, too, that some foot controls also rely on a small battery to power

wash-out can ensure these areas are odour free. Remember that if you use detergent of any kind you’ll need to rinse the live well, as any detergent residue will kill the next lot of livies very quickly. A thorough wash-out is necessary after detergent use. CLEANING THE ALLOY HULL Alloy hulls are great. They’re so easy to maintain, especially if they’re unpainted, and lend themselves to all kinds of fishing. Most owners give their craft a hose-down after use, but there are other things you can do to really make things fresh and clean again. One of the kindest

ramp to help keep the boat clean. So long as other ramp users aren’t inconvenienced (and trust me, they will let you know if they are), you should clean all water marks or scum lines off the rig at the ramp while they are still damp. If that scum and other residue is allowed to dry out it becomes very hard to remove, and may even require some hand polishing to completely obliterate. When I owned my TABS punt I found that a super quick rubdown with a soft, wet broom at a freshwater ramp removed scum and other residue about 20 times more rapidly than when I tried to clean it up at home. This tactic applies to

down-for-use position so that all salt residue is entirely removed from vital abovewater componentry. For some models it’s recommended that you remove the side plates, so you should read the small

Isolator switches are designed to cut off power, but extra insurance against power leakage is as easy as removing a battery terminal after use.

An hour in the Brisbane River caused these marks to form on a new alloy hull. 90

AUGUST 2018

them, so it’s smart to replace that battery regularly. The last thing to remember about your electric is to un-plug the main power lead as a safeguard against any leakage. FISH BOXES AND BAIT WELLS A wash-out and rub down with diluted vinegar followed by another

things an owner can do to an alloy hull, especially if it’s painted, is to get all the scum, water marks and scuff marks off that hull ASAP. If your boat has been used in the salt, a thorough hose down is a good way to get the ball rolling. If your boat has been used in the freshwater, there’s a lot you can do at the

both painted and unpainted alloy hulls. Painted alloy hulls can be revamped at home with a wash down with a highly diluted mix of No More Tears baby shampoo and tap water. The baby shampoo cleans very well, leaves no water marks or residue and is a remarkably effective method of restoring painted

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 surfaces to their best condition. It is also very gentle on paintwork. Lastly, when the alloy craft is declared clean enough to be put to bed before the next use, don’t simply rely upon the ubiquitous isolator switch to prevent any sneaky current leaks (which will in time cause paint bubbling and other corrosion thanks to electrolysis). It’s far better to completely remove a battery terminal if you know the boat won’t be used for a while.

CLEANING THE GLASS HULL While fibreglass hulls look super shiny, they will soil just the same as alloy. As with an alloy hull, all electrical components should be isolated (consider removing a terminal) at the end of each use, especially if the boat is going to sit for a spell. Cleaning a glass hull can be a bit tedious, especially when those pesky black scuff marks are showing up on the one side of the hull courtesy of rubber rollers

from the trailer. Every wondered why this happens? Allow me to provide the answer: it’s because of a reaction between the exhaust of a diesel car and the rubber roller. If your tow vehicle is petrol powered you probably won’t be seeing it all, but if your car is an oil burner you will know what I’m on about if your trailer is equipped with rollers. Cleaning fibreglass can be as easy as a wash down with a sugar soap or specialized detergent

Whether your boat is fibreglass or alloy, it will always benefit from a clean-up after use.

If you use detergent to clean out the bait well, ensure it’s flushed very well or the next lot of livies won’t last long.

solution, but for really tough marks – such as those diesel/rubber demons – metho might work, but acetone definitely will. This stuff is flammable and somewhat corrosive. I recommend gloves for handling it. Acetone is a last resort, but it’s worth the extra care for those marks on the fibreglass that are very hard to remove. THE TRAILER? Saltwater is hard on

trailers. Every part of the trailer that has been in saltwater needs a good hosedown, and special attention should be paid to any brake assemblies. Extra hosing on all brake components is smart, and the springs should get some extra washing as well. A strategic spray of lubricant on the brake assembly’s main activation mechanism will extend its life considerably as well. Testing the park brake

of the trailer is as easy as giving the unit a little push and applying the lever. If the trailer doesn’t stop instantly you’ll need to tighten up the cable to a small degree. Don’t overdo this or there will be excessively hot brake discs and callipers when towing the boat. So that’s the plan. A good clean up, everything in its proper place and your boat will be clean, tidy and ready for its next trip! Enjoy.

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goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

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64 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads, QLD 4220

Telephone: (07) 5576 7388 AUGUST 2018

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Battery black magic GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

Batteries are a force of nature to be reckoned with. Anyone out there who has done year nine chemistry or worked in the industry will get most of it, but for a lot of us, it isn’t straightforward. They can look fine, test fine and then really let you down. Remember that it’s not like a car where you can just get out and walk home. For that reason alone, batteries are a vital bit of kit if your outboard relies on it to start.

to lead sulphate and water. Supply an electrical current, that is, recharge the battery, and it reverses this chemical reaction. Neato! BUYING THE RIGHT BATTERY FOR THE JOB There are so many types out there with varying price points, and it can get very confusing. Buying the right battery for the task at hand will ensure it provides maximum performance, life and recovery after discharge as possible. Lead-acid battery A high quality lead acid battery will be very heavy, as it has thicker lead plates in it. Thicker plates make it more

Regularly check your terminals to ensure that they’re tight and free of corrosion. There are a few checks we can all do to help prolong their life, diagnose minor issues before they become major ones plus a bit of maintenance here and there never goes astray. Get comfortable – here comes the waffle. WHAT IS A BATTERY? Basically, a battery is something that can store electrical energy in a sack of chemicals. Clearly this is sorcery and should not be trusted! Understanding a bit about them can help you look after them better and remove that evil halo that surrounds them. CHEMISTRY When two dissimilar metals are linked together with an electrolyte, they can form a chemical reaction where electricity is produced. You can stab a zinc nail and a copper coin in a lemon and generate about 0.9 volts – not enough to start a boat. So, for batteries with enough power to start engines, the smart people chose lead alloy (a mix of lead and other metals to give the lead plate strength) as the anode or negative pole, lead dioxide as the cathode or positive pole and sulphuric acid as the electrolyte. This produces about 2.1V. Hang on, you need 12V…. Yes, not enough; so, they joined six of them together! This gives us approximately 12.6Vat full charge. As batteries discharge, a chemical reaction changes the sulphuric acid 92

AUGUST 2018

durable and longer lasting. Cheaper batteries that quote high cranking amps (CCA or MCA) may not last as long as the more expensive ones. ‘Maintenance’ or ‘Serviceable’ Battery These batteries often require the owner to check the electrolyte level and specific gravity (SG) of each cell via the fill caps on top and must always remain upright as their electrolyte is running liquid. They are used for most cars and some marine ‘cranking’ batteries. The electrolyte can be topped up with distilled water or sulphuric acid. Plain tap water should not be used but could be in an emergency. Maintenance Free Battery Maintenance free batteries are sealed and the electrolyte level does not need to be maintained. Some also have

a built-in hydrometer often called a charge level window, giving some indication of the charge in one cell (only). Most calcium batteries are maintenance free. Marine Battery Most marine batteries have extra reinforcing between thicker lead plates to cope with the rough ride at sea and on a trailer. They also sometimes have extra terminals so you can add accessories. Some of them are also labelled ‘dual purpose’ (see ‘hybrid’ below) so can cope with deep discharge to run accessories and high current output as required for cranking an outboard. They will also have an MCA (marine cranking amps) figure quoted – the higher the figure, the more cranking power. VRLA Battery VRLA stands for ‘Valve Regulated Lead Acid’. These batteries do not like to get too hot when charging. Warm is normal, but not hot. See AGM and GEL batteries below. GEL Cell battery This is a type of VRLA battery where the sulphuric acid is in gel form rather than fully flooded plates. They are often found as deep cycle, or deep discharge batteries and have an amp hour (Ah) rating such as 100Ah rather than a cold cranking amp (CCA) or marine cranking amp (MCA) rating. Basically, they are used to slowly discharge and often used for portable 12V fridges, solar panel electricity storage, caravans, electric bow mount/trolling motors and as a ‘house’ or ‘accessories’ battery on a dual battery system. AGM battery AGM stands for ‘Absorbed Glass Matt’, and they are also known as ‘dry cell’, ‘sealed lead acid’, or ‘non-spillable’ batteries. The sulphuric acid electrolyte in these is absorbed into a glass matt and has similar deep discharge capabilities as GEL batteries. The glass matt adds to their durability.

A battery box will keep the battery secure and out of the elements. Calcium battery A calcium battery’s plates are still predominantly lead and the electrolyte is sulphuric acid, but calcium replaces antimony in the lead plates of the battery. Advantages include better resistance to terminal corrosion, less off gassing of hydrogen when charged and lower selfdischarge. The one major disadvantage is that they do not like to be deep discharged (allowed to run dead flat to 10 or so volts too often). Since there is less off gassing during charging, the battery can ‘stratify’, meaning the acid is not mixed by the gas bubbles and some parts of the lead plate can deteriorate

before the others. Calcium batteries require a slightly higher charge voltage of around 14.8V and can hit 16V rather than 14.4-14.6V for conventional batteries for maximum life. This higher voltage is delivered by battery chargers that have a ‘calcium’ setting or mode and helps mix the electrolyte to avoid stratification without smashing it with amps. Most calcium batteries are ‘maintenance free’. Lithium Battery These are new-tech, so expect to see a few more of these in boats as they become more affordable. Walks like a normally battery, quacks like

to provide more current. A good starter battery to suit a 70hp outboard could have 750MCA and 60Ah Deep cycle or Deep discharge battery Deep cycle batteries have less plates, but they are thicker. This provides less short-term power, but greater long-term energy delivery and can survive multiple charge/discharge cycles. A good deep cycle could have 100Ah capacity or more. The more capacity, the heavier and more expensive the battery. Hybrid or DualPurpose batteries These batteries do their best to achieve both results, but are never the best at either

A multimeter is a quick way to check the battery. Note that some batteries read high immediately after charging. Give them an hour and recheck. If it falls below 12.6V, the battery could be on its way out.

BATTERY TERMINOLOGY Cold cranking amps (CCA) Most commonly found on car batteries, this is the amount of power (amps) that the battery can produce for 30 seconds at -18°C (0°F) before it falls below 7.2V. Marine Cranking Amps (MCA ) Mostly found on marine batteries, this measures the amount of power (amps) that the battery can produce for 30 seconds at 0°C (32°F) before it falls below 7.2. Hot Cranking Amps (HCA ) This is the amount of power (amps) that the battery can produce for 30 seconds at 26.7°C (80°F) before it falls below 7.2V. Amp Hours (Ah) Most often quoted on deep cycle batteries, this is the number of hours the battery can supply 1 amp of current before dropping below 10.5V. E.g. a 100Ah battery can run for 100 hours if the device it is powering is only drawing one amp – In theory. However, due to discharge of the battery, while this is happening, the real-world result is often much less. The bottom line here is that an 80Ah battery has less capacity than a 100Ah battery. Reserve Capacity (RC) This is the time (in minutes) the battery can deliver 25 Amps at 26.7°C (80°F) before it is reduced to 10.5V. Specific Gravity (SG) This measures the thickness of fluids. Battery electrolyte (sulphuric acid) is thicker than water and measures in at values above 1 while pure water has an SG of 1.000.

a normal battery, but weighed in at half the weight at around 13-14kg for a 100Ah battery. They also come with staggering warranties of six years or more, with some offering limited lifetime warranties. However, they cost in the order of $1300 to $1800 for an 100Ah unit. Cranking or starter Battery The starter or crank battery is designed to give short bursts of high amps that are required to turn over an outboard. To achieve this, they often have a more plates than a deep cycle, but they are thinner, which offers a higher surface area

of them. For example, a decent hybrid may only have 75Ah and 650MCA. BUYING THE RIGHT CHARGER FOR THE JOB A decent battery charger is worth almost as much as the battery – sometimes more! To achieve the best life of your battery, you need a good battery charger. Battery chargers state their charge rate in amps. A rough guide is that the charger should be able to deliver about 10% of the Ah rating of your battery in amps. For example, a 100Ah battery should be charged with a 10Amp battery charger.

A decent battery charger will be ‘multi stage’, where it gives the battery a cuddle and puts on some Barry White before it makes its move and ‘bulk charges’. Almost. Bulk charging hits the battery with the maximum current to get the charge back to where it should be. Absorption charging gives the battery a top up charge to approach 100% gently, so as not to over charge and a reduced current is supplied. Once fully charged, the multi stage charger then enters ‘float charge’ where it monitors the voltage and keeps the battery in a fully charged state. OUTBOARD ALTERNATORS Never rely on your outboard’s alternator to

to be pull started. Take the cowl off and you may have to remove a plastic flywheel cover to expose the flywheel. You may notice a notch in the top of the flywheel on a groove. This is for you to wedge the end of a knotted rope, wrap around the flywheel a few times and pull start the outboard. Remember that you’ll need the ignition in the ‘start’ position, and watch out for the first mate behind you as that knot can put someone’s eye out. WHAT IS A FULLY CHARGED OR DEAD FLAT BATTERY? More chemistry. You can check the charge of your battery in two ways; either with a multimeter or a hydrometer. For voltage,

can also vary a bit between manufacturers! Another method if you have a serviceable battery (one with caps you can take off for each cell) is to measure the specific gravity or ‘SG’ using a hydrometer. The SG is the density of your electrolyte. Fully charged batteries’ electrolyte is all thick (heavy) sulphuric acid and fully discharged battery’s electrolyte is all full of (light) runny water. It’s a reasonably messy but accurate procedure where you draw the electrolyte up into the hydrometer and read the SG off the side scale. So, the SG for a fully charged battery should be around 1.265-1.275, at 50% charged it should be about 1.175 to

Check your outboard’s flywheel. It may have an option to pull start if your battery fails. charge your battery to 100%. Larger motors do have better alternators, but this is not consistent. You may have done your alternator homework before buying an outboard, but this figure of alternator output amps is measured at high or maximum revs. For example, my old 70hp 2-stroke Yamaha only had a stator, not an alternator, that only delivered 10A at 5500rpm, so a weekend of stop/start lure trolling can see a battery at 70% or less! So always pop the battery on the charger after a fishing trip and it will last longer. Smaller motors may require a regulator/rectifier installed to keep the voltage supplied to your batteries and accessories below 14V. Check with your local service centre if unsure. WHAT IF MY BATTERY FAILS AT SEA? There are a few things you can check before firing off the flares if it is safe to do so. The number one cause of that dreaded ‘click-click’ sound of a battery not able to turn a motor over is a dirty terminal. Turn the ignition to the off position and check that both battery terminals are tight and clean. If in doubt, remove them and scratch both to reveal shiny lead and reattach them tightly. A lot of outboards also have the ability

set your multimeter to ‘DC’ voltage and place the red lead onto the positive (red) terminal and the black onto the negative (black) terminal. The voltage of a fully charged battery varies on its chemistry. A standard lead acid battery should be 12.6-12.7V while an AGM or GEL will be about 12.8V. A reading of 12.0V is about 20% charged and 11.8V is dead flat, so you can see there isn’t a great deal of voltage headroom there. This

1.195 and dead flat will be close to the SG of water 1.095-1.115. Thankfully, all this is written on a battery hygrometer. As you can see, these are of no use if you have maintenance free or sealed batteries and it is much easier to carry around a multimeter! It is best to avoid fully discharging your battery and try to keep it above 12.4V or completely full at all times where possible to achieve the best life out of it.

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

485 SCORPION For more information visit

www.horizonboats.com.au or call your nearest dealer

Barney’s Marine Shed 3A Nissan Street Pialba QLD 4655 Phone 07 4124 3170

Neptune Marine Unit 1, 3361 Pacific Hwy Slacks Creek QLD 4127 Phone 07 3290 6370

Bluefin Sports 57-59 Musgrave Street North Rockhampton QLD 4701 Phone 07 4922 2211

Townsville Marine 943 Ingham Road Bohle QLD 4818 Phone 07 4774 3777

Gold Coast Boating Centre 64 Kortum Drive Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 Phone 07 5576 7388

Whitsunday Outboard Centre 1 William Murray Drive Cannonvale QLD 4802 Phone 07 4946 7286

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Don’t expect a day’s trolling to charge up your battery. AUGUST 2018

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Stessl 485 Apache Pro with Yamaha F75hp

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Apache handled fast turns and powered over the Seaway chop with only the slightest of bumps. At rest it was also very stable, which is a factor for family boaters to consider as well. The power from the 1.8L F75 Yamaha was

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It was another hard day at the office, with the sun shining gently in the early morning light, a subdued hissing of waves from the Southport Broadwater, and our morning’s work: a shiny white Stessl 485 Apache easing off its Dunbier trailer into some of the cleanest water on the east coast. The Stessl Apache Pro is a good looking rig with a small amount of vee aft and prominent reversed chines, straight sides with around 600mm of freeboard, extruded, fully-welded decks and a full-height transom. At 4.85m in length, it is the largest in the Apache Pro

PERFORMANCE

Main: A great looking boat on a great day! Here you can see the ample freeboard, reversed outer chines on the straight sided hull and the very clean wash. Above: This shot gives an idea of the floor depth of the Stessl plus the full height transom tucked ahead of the 75hp Yamaha. SMART LAYOUT Surveying the 485 Apache at length, I decided that I agreed with Scott. As an uncluttered side console

SPECIFICATIONS Hull length.................................................... 4.85m Hull beam..................................................... 2.20m Depth.............................................................1.20m Bottom and Sides.......................................... 3mm Weight boat only.......................................... 370kg Min H.P........................................................... 70hp Max H.P......................................................... 90hp Number of people.................................................5 range, with 460, 450 and 440 models also available. Scott James of Stessl Boats welcomed me aboard the all new Apache, and took pride in showing me just what the 485 offers. He explained that the largest Apache is primarily a very serious fishing rig, but added that a family looking for boating fun would enjoy it just as much. 94

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a near silent 3500rpm at 37.25km/h (3.71km/L) with just Scott James and I aboard. SUMMING UP The Stessl 485 Apache is pretty much an all rounder in my view. It’s well finished, roomy, stable,

craft there was fishing room to spare, yet the addition of four seating positions also allowed flexibility in seating arrangements. Well-padded, high backed pedestal seats for skipper and mate were installed, with the skipper’s perfectly placed aft of the console with its recessed storage box up top, grab rail

and instruments linked to the Yamaha F75. A Raymarine sounder was mounted atop the console, although there was room to recess a 12” sounder within the console’s face depending on the owner’s preference. There is an elevated casting deck up front, with storage underneath. This deck offers room for an angler to either sit (a seat spigot was installed), or to stand to cast. The craft is carpeted, as you’d expect, and within the main work area there are useful features for anglers including side pockets, a 30L plumbed live well in the transom, a large underfloor storage area able to be used as a kill tank, and enough space for at least two anglers to work in comfort. The 610mm freeboard linked to the full-height transom astern also means that on the right day you could go for a run offshore.

This boat’s versatility is one of the best things about it. Whether it’s impoundments, estuary, the bay or bluewater work, the 485 Stessl Apache would be ideal for the job. RIDE AND PERFORMANCE With the Apache having a 2.2m beam and the hull featuring reversed chines outside the vee, it was no surprise to find how easily and precisely the Stessl

RPM................. Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 1000................................ 6.60 3.38 2000.............................. 10.75 2.83 3000.............................. 29.90 3.57 4000.............................. 43.90 3.39 5000.............................. 56.20 2.57 5700 (WOT)................... 65.10 2.16 nothing short of impressive. Although the 485 Apache is rated for up to 90hp, the F75 certainly was no slouch off the mark or lacking grunt. It provided smooth, seamless power at virtually any revs. Silent at idle and quietly efficient at speed, the Yammy impressed me when we managed – with three aboard – just over 60km/h! The sweetest cruising was

soft riding and inspires confidence. In combination with that smooth F75 Yamaha, it would be an ideal rig for both experts and beginners to enjoy. At around the $39,990 mark as reviewed, it’s also great value for money. Visit www.stessl.com.au for more information or like Stessl Boats on Facebook for updates on the entire Stessl range.

With just two anglers at work it’s not hard to see additional room for a couple more to enjoy some action as well.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

A carpeted floor throughout is a nice touch, as is the seat spigot up front. Note the high backed seats as well.

Careful placements of floor spigots allow a lot of latitude in passenger placement.

Although not full power, the 75 Yamaha did a praiseworthy job on the Stessl’s transom.

A side console makes a lot of sense on a dedicated fishing boat, and the Stessl’s was large enough to be useful without being intrusive.

A bird’s eye look at the interior reveals plenty of uncluttered work room for anglers to use to their advantage. High backed seats for skipper and mate are a big plus for the Apache owner. The practical console is set up with a storage compartment, sounder and instruments.

The Apache’s livewell is strategically placed at the transom so anglers can easily grab a livie when it’s needed.

A plumbed live well is an asset for anglers intent on keeping live bait in top condition, and this one is a decent size.

The well formed and strong side ribs are carried under the floor of the Apache to maximize strength and rigidity.

An underfloor compartment is very useful for storage, and the Apache is set up with both fore and aft compartments. AUGUST 2018

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Sea Jay 610 Preda-King with Yamaha F150hp - SC

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Main: Sea Jay’s 610 Preda-King is a great looking, classically designed plate boat. All of Sea Jay’s Plate Xtreme rigs are factory built and factory sold from their Bundaberg, Queensland headquarters. Above: A steep entry flattens to 16° at the transom and provides a good balance between ride and stability. this line of boats from Sea Jay is appealing to hardcore anglers, with wait times for a build at around a year. And you can’t buy them from your Sea Jay dealer – you need to buy them straight from the factory. That’s a good thing. Sea Jay boats is a family business and the Glass family are happy to discuss customisation when it comes

Length overall.......................................... 6.34m Beam........................................................ 2.45m Bottom sheet............................................. 5mm Side sheets................................................ 4mm Transom deadrise......................................... 18° Capacity..........................................Six persons BMT Weight............................... approx. 1.35km Rec hp...........................................................115 Max hp......................................................... 150 Fuel............................................................. 220L AUGUST 2018

casting at a tuna or pulling in crab pots. And with a boat that looks as sharp as this Sea Jay, we’re sure that you’ll have plenty of mates lining up for the experience.

PERFORMANCE

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I love boat tests when the weather gets nasty. I especially love it when the weather gets nasty but there’s still somewhere to get some nice photos and a video to get the job done. That was our test day on the Elliott River in Bundaberg. With a newly launched Sea Jay plate boat in tow – a PredaKing 6.1m from their Plate Xtreme range – we headed down to the ramp eager to get the new hull wet. Sea Jay Sales Manager Garry Fitzgerald said that this model, which was launched at the 2017 Brisbane Boat Show, lasted only a day on the floor before being snapped up by an eager customer. “There’s been a few changes to this model, including an upgrade of the hull plate size to 5mm, more deadrise and a massive 220L fuel tank, so it ticks a lot of boxes for anglers wanting an entirely seaworthy rig that you can travel a long way in to catch fish,” he said. There’s no doubt that the design and build quality of

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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what rig you’re in. I liked that when the boat landed, nothing really rattled and the hull felt rock solid. What I also liked was that you can flush mount a couple of 12” sounders side

FMG

to putting together your dream plate aluminium boat. The test boat was fitted with the maximum allowable horsepower in the form of Yamaha’s F150 4-stroke, the 2.7L workhorse that’s done millions of hours on boats worldwide. Quick out of the hole, the engine delivered 2.0km/L at the most economical cruising speed of 45km/h and 3800rpm. Drop the hammers to wide-open throttle and you’ll get 75km/h at 5900rpm but you’ll only get 1.1km/L. But the best bit of the test was heading out the mouth of the river and punching into a solid 20knot northerly that represented about the nastiest conditions that I’d be headed out fishing in. At a speed of around 25km/h, the upswept bow stayed high and dry –

even when we tried to bury it – and the ride was dry both punching into and riding with the slop. Quartering, of course, will get you wet, no matter

RPM............................................. Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) Idle.................................................... 4......... 4.3 1000................................................... 8......... 3.5 2000................................................. 12......... 1.9 3000................................................. 24......... 1.4 3800................................................. 45......... 2.0 4000................................................. 46......... 1.8 5000................................................. 60......... 1.5 5900................................................. 75......... 1.2 to side in the console. I’m a great believer that keeping the connections out of the weather makes your gear last a little longer. As for fishability, there’s plenty of room for you and your mates to fish all around this rig, no matter whether you’re dropping for reefies,

As tested, this customer’s rig priced out at $79,590, with the electronics, eskies and aluminium trailer, however packages start at $60,195. Visit www.seajayboats.com. au for more information or like Sea Jay Boats on Facebook for updates on the entire Sea Jay range.

Sea Jay is proud of their complementary trailers. The aluminium, fully welded I-beam trailer under this rig looks great and gave the hull maximum protection while trailering.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Left:Yamaha’s F150 is the maximum horsepower for this rig and delivered economy of up to 2km/L at 3800rpm. Combine that with a 220L underfloor fuel tank and there’s over 400km of range to get you to where the fish are. Right: The hull’s 2.45m beam allows Sea Jay to place this broad console and still have plenty of space for anglers to walk around.

The big T-Top folds away for storage in some garages.

Top Left: The transom bait and rigging station combines extra rod holders with a cutting board and drink holders. Left and Right: The starboard transom door and ladder allow for easy boarding from the water or the bank.

There are welded-in battery trays at the bow to power the electric motor up front. The test rig didn’t have one fitted.

With a few anglers on board, access is important and the Preda-King offers 360° fishability.

The new model of the Preda-King was released at the Brisbane Boat Show in 2017 with a 5mm hull sheet.

In Queensland, men are still men and pull up their anchors by hand.

The transom is as neat as it gets in an Australian-built plate boat.

Optional electric motor mounting plates are a near necessity on a modern boat and it’s a popular factory option.

You could mount a pair of 12” screens in this console. That’s some solid space available for keen anglers. AUGUST 2018

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Whittley CR2800 – the adventure begins - SC

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Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

The Whittley CR2800 is the largest Australian-made towable boat in its class. At Fishing Monthly we usually take no longer than a day to test a boat, but with the CR2800 we decided to go about it in a slightly different way. Beautiful Lake Eildon in central Victoria was the venue for the test, and the idea was to spend a couple of days using the boat, as we would expect a consumer to do. SPECIFICATIONS

these boats for many years, and here is his advice. Vehicle The car you tow with can make all the difference. Alan uses a 200 series LandCruiser for all his larger boat towing, and says it has been the best option for the business over the years. However, these days there’s a number of other cars that are suitable. Trailer set-up All Whittley Cruiser models come on a custom Mackay trailer, and in the case of the 2800 it’s a dualaxle trailer with electric brakes. Electric brakes are an essential component of safe

Overall length ��9.0m Length on trailer �� 10.10m Height on trailer ��3.30m Width on trailer ��2.49m Fuel capacity ��200L Water capacity ��100L Dry towing weight �� approx. 3.35 ton Standard engine �� Volvo Penta V6-280hp DPS Max hp ��380hp Max people ��9 Stay on board as we explore everything that Eildon and the CR2800 has to offer. TOWING I can imagine that people would have concerns about towing a boat this big, and fair enough too. The size of the boat is daunting, however being under 3.5 ton and having a 2.5m beam means all you have to worry about is having the correct set-up and vehicle, not whether you need lights, signage and permits any time you want to go somewhere. Alan Whittley and his family have been towing 102

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towing with a boat this size. The Mackay is also a drive on, drive off trailer; winching this boat by hand would not be ideal. We had no difficulty driving it on and off, it’s just a matter of taking your time. The supplied trailer made that easier. Think long Alan’s biggest tip for towing the 2800 was to ‘think long’. It is a big boat and you need to give yourself room to turn or turn around. You should also give yourself a little extra space from vehicles in front.

Main: The CR2800 is a compact luxury cruiser with a sleek modern design and look. Above: Alan Whittley can be very proud of their flagship boat the CR2800. Although the trailer has assisted breaking, you still have over three ton behind you, so stopping on a dime is not going to happen. LAUNCH AND RETRIEVE As with the towing, some care and a little practice is required when getting the 2800 on and off the water. It is by no means difficult, however. We launched at the Jerusalem Creek ramp at Lake Eildon, and at around 64% capacity this ramp is safe but not very steep. Other than needing to have the vehicle in the water (there were plenty of smaller craft needing to do the same), getting the boat on and off the trailer was a simple two-person job. Once off the trailer, front bow thrusters assist with maneuverability. Who would have thought it could be so hassle-free? A CRUISER WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS Whittley Marine has been at the forefront of building

cruisers since their inception, and the CR2800 is the culmination of many years of boat-building experience. This boat combines a sleek, modern look with a clever use of space, and because the designers understand what boaters want, they provide features and options to fulfil those needs. And feature packed it is. Above the deck Ladders are situated

at the front and rear of the craft. The forward ladder is optional to provide assistance getting to and from the shore if you are parked on the bank, and the rear ladder gives easy access into and out of the water. Complementing this is full walk-around side decks with rails at the bow of the boat, and a large marlin board with rails at the rear.

The rails provide some peace of mind for anyone who’s not accustomed to scampering around a vessel. Above the cabin there is a pack rack for additional storage of larger items, and it’s a great place for any towable products or inflatables to keep them out of the way. Marlin board The marlin board was most probably the most used area of the boat over the couple of days we were at Eildon. We cooked meals on the BBQ, we cast lures and soaked baits from it, and with the weather as good as it was on the first day, we spent plenty of time swimming from the back of it. The addition of the bait station adds to the fishing component. It has some rod storage and keeps the bait preparation out of the main cabin and away from your food and living area. Rear cabin The rear cabin is a wonderful space to sit, relax and enjoy your surroundings.

First light at Jerusalem Creek, Lake Eildon. Time to go and explore.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 The seating is comfortable and has a couple of table options. The main dining table is stored in the roof of the cabin, which is a fantastic solution for an item that would be very difficult to store otherwise. There is plenty of storage under all the seating and throughout the cabin area, keeping it clear to be the social space it is meant to be. The lounge and table come together to create a double bed. Full clears can be put in place to keep insects at bay or to keep the weather out. Galley and amenities If the rear cabin and marlin board are the social areas of the boat, then the galley provides the practical component of spending time on the boat. There is a food preparation area with a sink, a two burner mentholated spirits stove and a fridge. There is an esky under the skipper’s seat for drinks, so the fridge can be used for food items. Cooking

the weekend. Unfortunately it went untouched. Opposite the galley is a stand up shower and toilet with a privacy door. From a family perspective this offers privacy and the ability to clean up after a days activities. As far as our weekend was concerned, it kept five blokes looking and smelling sharp? Forward cabin The haven that is the forward cabin has a true sense of luxury. The area has multiple configurations from a seated area with a table to a large bed. There is a lockable door for privacy for people to get changed or simply for someone to chill out and have some quiet time. Practical things like storage under the seating and a hanging closet for your clothing ensure that the space is kept clear and tidy. There are plenty of windows for natural light during the day and a hatch that can open to allow airflow.

is at your fingertips. The throttle is comfortably positioned and the skipper has great visibility through the cabin windows. Both side windows open to assist with airflow. You can also pop your head through the electric sunroof if you need to see more while launching or manoeuvring in tight spaces. The truly impressive feature is the new dash configuration. Housing a 16” Garmin screen, part of the Whittley Pulse system. The Pulse system is a fully integrated digital switching system that at the touch of your finger, controls everything electronic in the boat from the lights and wipers to letting you know you are low on fuel. It has a number of modes that allow the user to set their craft up for what they want to use it for (cruise, tow, entertainment etc.). The menu includes the fuel management system,

management system and just to the side of it the toggle for the bow thrusters. All in all a well thought out helm, that any skipper would be happy to in whether it is a short or long trip. VOLVO PENTA V6 280HP WITH DUO PROP SYSTEM Not surprisingly the Volvo Penta V6 motor in the CR2800 came up in conversation a number of times during our time at Eildon. From a useable space perspective there are a number of advantages of an inboard motor. First and foremost is that your cabin and deck spaces are above the motor and with the design of the CR2800 (all of the Whittley Cruisers for that matter) they have used

economy that is comparable with any outboard motor. What we found over the couple of days was that for what is a very powerful motor it also had a great deal of finesse about it. And no I haven’t gone crazy. The Duo Prop system provides an immense amount of grip to the water resulting in excellent trust, acceleration and top end speeds. However it also allows for lower planing speeds, which means you can cruise around all day with great fuel economy. Definitely something that you would want if you plan to be on the water for an extended period of time. The motor is also beautifully quiet. One final observation about the inboard motor set up is that lowers the centre

experience with the CR2800, my extended family in South Australia own one and I have spent a little bit of time with them over the years. They have travelled much of the East coast of Australia with the Whittley in tow. It has offered many years of memorable experiences and many more to come. Ultimately that is what this boat is all about. It can be towed from A to B with no hassles, launching and retrieving is hassle free with a bit of practice and the fit out offers plenty of comfort and sophistication. Spending time on this boat for whatever reason is something you are bound to enjoy and something you will want to invite your friends to come along for the ride.

Sneaking around casting lures for natives is not the primary function of the 2800. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it.

Lake Eildon is the home of many houseboats. We brought our own for the weekend. utensils also have a place to be stored as well as cutlery etc. The remaining space at the back of the skipper’s seat has a bar in it storing glasses and on this trip a nice bottle of single malt whiskey. This was to be the reward if you caught a Murray cod over

Overall it is a well-planned space that like the rest of the boat begs to be used. Helm/Skippers seat The hub of the CR2800 is the driver seating area. There is an oversized seat for the driver, which is positioned so everything

links to the Fusion sound system and the main screen can be customised to the users needs. Other things housed on the dash are the Garmin VHF radio, the Zipwake automatic trim system (no more manual trimming), the battery

this space to the max. The comfort and functionality of the rear lounge area is a clear testament of this. Secondly only having the leg of the motor at the rear (not a big outboard) means the transom area is free of obstruction, so it can be used to cook on the BBQ, ski or swim from the back and it also provides an obstacle free fishing platform. From a performance perspective, you get a lot of motor for your money and fuel

of gravity of the boat. This improves the stability at rest and the performance of the hull underway. LASTING IMPRESSION The CR2800 is the flagship vessel of the Whittley fleet of boats. It is also a significant investment. This investment translates into a boat that offers a vehicle to explore this great country of ours both on land and from the water. The weekend at Eildon was not my first

Available from just under $206,000, the CR2800 comes with many standard inclusions. Go to www. whitleymarinegroup.com. au and click on the Cruiser 2800 link. There is a build a boat option that has all the information, inclusions and optional extras that are available. This boat is well worth experiencing for yourself and has left a lasting impression on me.

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Top: The electric sunroof was great for airflow or if you needed a clearer field of vision when maneuvering around tight places. Below: Every space was cleverly used for storage like the bar at the rear of the skippers seat. Top: The BBQ on the rear platform was where we did most of our cooking. Below: The back deck was fitted with a fishing station. Perfect to fish from and to keep bait and tackle out of the main cabin.

Top: The visibility from the skippers seat was fantastic. You had a clear view around the entire boat. Below: The main dash is impressive in the CR2800. A Garmin 16 inch screen incorporating the Whittley pulse system is the centerpiece for a one touch approach for the helm layout and controls.

The rear cabin has many configurations including a bed, a dining area with a larger table or a comfortable place to relax as pictured.

The forward cabin is the haven of the boat. It can be closed off for privacy and offers a quiet space from everything else happening on the boat. It also transforms into a comfortable bed to sleep on.

Top: The galley has a duel methylated spirits cooktop and a sink. Left: The stand up shower with toilet has a privacy door and provides you with the ability to clean up after a days activities. Right: If the weather doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow you to use the BBQ the food preparation area in the galley has a cooking station, fridge and plenty of storage for utensils.

Top: Clever storage is a feature of the CR2800. Here the dining table is stored in the roof of the rear cabin. Left: Navigating your way around the Whittley is made easy with cleverly designed gates incorporated in the design. No need to step over anything. Right: There is significant storage throughout the CR2800. This ranges from side pockets to storage under the seats, under the skippers seat and under the floor. Everything has a place so that the working spaces can be kept clear.

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SAVBBBBEAST1001

Since 1898 Savage has been helping Aussies escape the 9 to 5 grind and get into the action on rivers, lakes and bays across the country. There’s not a lot we don’t know about catching fish and having fun on the water! With an Ultra Lift Hull designed to get you there fast and dry, as well as tough plate sides on the 385 and up, Savage boats can handle just about anything. At a price that makes our competitors wonder how we do it! The weekend’s coming - Be prepared - Get Savage.

Find your nearest dealer at savageboats.com.au

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Quintrex 530 Frontier with Yamaha F90hp 4-stroke

- SC

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Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

It’s no secret that when I first tested one of the new Quintrex Apex hulls last year (we went for a run in the 590 Frontier on the Gold Coast), I said that it was the greatest improvement in hull design by the company since they first stretchformed a flared bow all those years ago. I still stand by those comments and it seems as though the major shift in design and looks of these boats have had nearly universal acceptance by dealers and customers alike. They’re soft riding,

Main: Admittedly the test day was glamorous, but the hole shot, stability and ease of use of this Quintrex/Yamaha package were impressive. Above: The Apex hull doesn’t bank into turns like other aluminium hulls, retaining a flat attitude throughout the manoeuvre.

SPECIFICATIONS Hull Length...............................................5.26m Beam.........................................................2.07m Depth........................................................ 1.10m Bottom and sides......................................3mm Weight (boat only).................................... 506kg Min hp.........................................................75hp Max hp...................................................... 115hp Hole Shot...................................... 4.27 seconds Number of people............................................6 beamy, deep and perform well, even with outboards well under the maximum allowable. Recently, we got to test a Frontier 530 powered by the new Yamaha F90 – a 90hp 4-stroke 1.8L outboard released a little over a year ago. Importantly, the 106

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outboard was 45 horses less than the maximum allowable on this hull. Replacing the older Top Enders, the Frontiers have several advantages over their predecessors. They’re beamier (and carry their beam more forward than the older rigs), have more

freeboard, are softer riding and are more stable than the older designs. The ‘pickle fork’ bow shape is a few years old now, but is a distinguishing feature of the new generation Quintrex rigs. I really liked the ease of access to this boat when it’s on the trailer, with a fold down ladder and an inviting transom door. Supplied on a Quintrex aluminium I-beam trailer with their Catch-n-Release launch system, the package is both easy to manoeuvre and will tow behind virtually any vehicle, weighing in at just over 1000kg. Being a single axle, it’ll make it easier to fit into smaller,

modern garages. The Catch-n-Release system allows you to launch and retrieve this boat very easily by yourself, making solo trips not just possible, but easy. Although fuel metering wasn’t available on the test boat, the same motor on a smaller Frontier hull delivered 3.28km/L, meaning that this rig would easily get you over 3km/L at the most economical cruising speed. Flat out, the test boat travelled 57km/h at 5600rpm and jumped onto the plane easily with two on board and no gear apart from safety kits. Filling the livewells, there was

no noticeable decrease in performance. The test boat was also fitted with an enclosed rod locker in the port gunwale. I’m not a fan of using these for anything but locking rods away at the end of the session. Anything designed where gravity can help the lid fall on your tackle will eventually do so. I’m also a long-time critic of the underfloor storage being not more resistant to inundation. If it rains, your tackle will get wet. For anglers with a pile of expensive tackle, this is sometimes an expensive problem.

These minor points aside, I’m in love with the package as a whole. It’s easy to launch and retrieve, ridiculously economical and easy to drive. Its high gunwales make it safer for kids and it’s customisable to a level where a serious fisher can add the electronics necessary to maximise their time on the water. As tested, this package priced up at $55,390 and packages start at less than $50,000. Contact Brisbane Yamaha for more information. Full hull specifications can be found on www.quintrex.com.au.

Although 45hp under maximum, the 530 jumped onto the plane with ease, two-up.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

Single-handed launch and retrieval is easy with the Quintrex Catch-n-Release system.

Access to this high-sided boat is through the folding ladder and transom door at the stern.

Synthetic decking material on the bow sheets make it a practical place to fish from (and to store anchors underneath).

Left and right: The new Frontier design boasts acres of room inside and the ability to add features like the enclosed rod locker.

Quintrex rotomolds all of their console shrouds in house. Yay for the ability to flush mount large electronics choices into the helm.

With the seats in this position, three anglers can make long runs in comfort.

Above top: The front livewell has clever baffles that help to stop slop. Above lower: While not 100% dry storage, there’s still lots of room under the high casting decks to store your gear.

Clear fronted bait tanks are very much in fashion at the moment and with good reason – it takes just a glance to know your livies are in A1 condition.

Now that’s a casting deck. We challenge you to find a beamier casting area in any rig on the water of this length.

The high sides make the Frontier a rig that’s nearly as comfortable in the open water as it is in rivers and estuaries.

There’s not much to say about Yamaha’s 1.8L 90hp. It’s very unlikely to let you down and has been a hit with customers since it was released last year. AUGUST 2018

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91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba 0400 379 514 www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au • rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au

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8 Baldwin St, Caloundra 07 5491 1944 www.caloundramarine.com.au • sales@caloundramarine.com.au

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW The Brisbane Boat Show returns to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) from 24-26 August 2018. The show, being one of the largest recreational boat shows in Queensland, fills more than 20,000 square metres of floor space across four halls at the South Bank venue. With a history spanning over 50 years, this three-day celebration of recreational boating is sure to please both committed boaties as well as those new to the lifestyle.

Popular with locals and those from the city’s surrounds, the Brisbane Boat Show is where industry comes together to display and offer the best in recreational boating. The boats are the show’s heroes, but all the boating gear you might need or just want plays a big part too. Andrew Fielding, Chairman with the Queensland Council of the Boating Industry Association Ltd who organise the 110

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event, said given Australia’s recreational boating manufacturing powerhouse lies at Brisbane’s doorstep, visitors can be assured of seeing the best and latest designs at this show. “Boat manufacturing plays a big part of the Queensland economy and this event showcases the quality and innovation that Australia has to offer,” he said. Over 60 organisations have booked exhibition space, and they will bring with them more than 500 vessels, which will present an excellent array of boats catering to various interests. They include fishing, waterskiing, wake boarding, personal watercraft, canoeing, kayaking, stand-up paddle boards as well as others. Once again, family cruisers are proving as popular as ever at the show. While the show is the best place to see boats and the best place to buy boats, the BIA also aims to entertain and educate at the show. With a commitment to safe boating, show organisers have pulled together an excellent line up of government agencies to ensure visitors have the opportunity to better understand how to stay safe and maximise their time on the water. On stage will be a mix of educators and entertainers, and the fishing masterclasses make a welcome return. All the details about the show, ticket prices, where to park and show hours can be found on the website at brisbaneboatshow.com.au.

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BOATING IN A SEA JAY Full Range on Offer

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The new RS Series from Sea Jay Boats offers a stylish new look on the proven design of the Adrenalin Hull. Featuring a Raised Sheerline, the RS Series offers all of the great features of the Avenger (tiller) and Avenger Sports (side console) models and incorporates the re-designed rear deck for better functionality. Available in sizes 448 and 468.

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 YAMAHA Yamaha is excited to be exhibiting the latest in outboard and WaveRunner technology, and exclusive offers at the 2018 Brisbane Boat Show. With the largest display of outboards and personal watercraft, there will be something for everybody at this year’s show. From the popular F25 and F90 to the powerful F350 outboards, Yamaha aims to inspire visitors this year by dedicating their display to the various marine lifestyles that can be enjoyed on the water. Complementing Yamaha’s outboards is Yamaha’s leading range of rigging

accessories, including Helm Master, Yamaha’s fully integrated joystick controlled docking and positioning system that makes manoeuvring large-offshore boats effortless. Other technologies include the recently updated CL-7 large display screen as well as Yamaha’s complete range of controls, gauges and high quality props. On the WaveRunner front, 2018 sees the final production year for the Legendary SuperJet, with stand-up ski enthusiasts encouraged to get in quick before the final models are sold. Yamaha’s Rec Lite range of EX WaveRunners sees a $1500 price drop, making these fun and nimble skis even more affordable for first-time owners and experienced riders. Yamaha is offering a number of show specials, including free rigging worth up to

The Axiom MFD from Raymarine is reinventing navigation. With faster performance, intuitive operation, and leading-edge technology, Axiom delivers unmatched awareness, above and below the water line. • Powered by the all new, fast and fluid LightHouse™ 3 OS • Available with built-in RealVision™ 3D Sonar • Blazing-fast quad core performance • 4-in-1 wide spectrum CHIRP sonar transducers • Rugged and sleek, all-glass construction for any helm For more information, go to raymarine.com 112

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$3200 on eligible F115 to F350 outboard models, low finance rates on boat, motor and trailer packages, plus other fantastic deals across the entire outboard range. In relation to WaveRunners, Yamaha is offering free covers valued up to $500 on all skis sold, $1000 off all VX model skis and highly competitive finance rates for

eligible buyers. Completing the suite of offers Yamaha Marine Insurance is offering a 30% discount on all policies for all Yamaha powered vessels at the show. For more information, visit www. yamaha-motor.com.au, and go see the Yamaha stand at the show!

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BRISBANE KAREE MARINE 1776 Ipswich Road, Rocklea 07 3875 1600 kareemarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH SOUTHERN FISH MARINE 9/11 Spinnaker Dr, Sandstone Point 07 5497 6733 southernfishmarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST SUNSHINE COAST YAMAHA 14 Machinery Avenue, Warana (07) 5346 9981 www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au

WHITSUNDAYS WHITSUNDAY MARINE 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale 07 4948 3298 whitsundaymarine.com.au

HOME HILL PETO MARINE 15 7th Avenue, Home Hill 07 4782 1182

CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE 5 Hannam St, Bungalow 07 4033 8800 aussiemarine.com.au

For more information or to find your nearest Stessco dealer visit www.stessco.com.au

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 BAR CRUSHER BOATS

EVINRUDE

Fishing Weapons will dominate the 2018 Brisbane Boat Show, with Bar Crusher’s two South East Queensland dealers displaying a large number of boats. From the nimble 535C right up to the flagship 780HT, Queenslanders looking for a serious fishing boat will be able to view a range of Bar Crusher models suitable for all fishing styles – from casting lures in freshwater impoundments to trolling livebaits offshore.

Designed and built for Australian conditions, all Bar Crusher boats feature exclusive innovations such as the Waveslicer deep-V, non-pounding hull for an ultrasmooth ride, Rigideck engineered sub-floor system for maximum hull strength, and Quickflow water ballast technology for excellent stability at rest. All models up to the 615 hull series are also built on Bar Crusher’s industry-leading Gen2 hull. Renowned for quality construction,

superior performance and maximum fishability (with a range of standard features other manufacturers charge as extras), every Bar Crusher boat is factory-packaged on a custom-designed trailer, which ensures towing, launching and retrieving is a breeze. Self-centering and aligning perfectly every time, Bar Crusher’s innovative Bar Catch system also allows for single-handed launch and retrieve. As always, there will be the opportunity to secure some great boat show deals on new Bar Crusher boats. So, whether you’re a firsttime boat buyer or have owned 10 boats and you’re looking for your next one, drop by and say g’day to the team from Stones Corner Marine and Australian Marine Centre and pick-up a copy of Bar Crusher’s boat buyer’s guide to assist with your research. For more information, visit www.barcrusher.com.au.

POLYCRAFT BOATS Polycraft Boats will be on the Brisbane Yamaha Stand at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show. Company representatives from Polycraft will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about Polycraft’s virtually indestructible, low maintenance and affordable range of boats. Polycraft models displayed at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show will include the 300 Tuff Tender with its legendary stability, the 410 Challenger, 450 Drifter, 480 Brumby and the 599 Frontier Cuddy Cabin. So there is sure to be a Polycraft model represented that will suit all your fishing and boating needs. Brisbane Yamaha are Australia’s biggest Yamaha outboard engine dealership and Polycrafts sole Brisbane-based dealership. This is mainly due to their

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competitive pricing, extensive experience and excellent after sales customer service that they provide. Brisbane Yamaha is located at Burpengary on the north side of Brisbane and can be contacted on 3888 1727, or alternatively you can contact Polycraft on 1800 336 603 or www.polycraft.com.au.

For the first time ever in Australia, Evinrude is offering ultimate coverage with a 10-Year Factory Backed Warranty on all engines from 25-300hp inclusive. This raises the bar far beyond what the current market presents, putting Evinrude well ahead of its competitors. Customers who purchase a new Evinrude outboard at the show will receive an exclusive 10-Year Factory Backed Warranty free of charge. In response to customer demand for proven reliability, Evinrude has taken the previously offered a 10-Year Warranty event in the USA and aligned it to the adventures of boaties. With best-in-class fuel efficiency, bestin-class torque, no break-in period and no oil changes ever Evinrude has set out to rewrite the record book for outboard engine performance standards. Evinrude’s direct injection engines exceed Australian emission standards and stand on

the top step of the podium in multiple industry tests. This instils confidence to venture further while saving money on fuel and reducing environmental impact. Quintrex and Stacer, leaders in aluminium boat building and Evinrude’s Australian boat partners, have taken initiative and matched the 10-Year Warranty. Now the Brisbane Boat Show will have the best turn-key boat, motor, trailer package for customers to walk away from the show ready to make memories on the water. Damien Duncan, Director of Sales and Marketing for Evinrude, said, “Customers are able to take advantage of an industry leading 10-Year Warranty that combines the most innovative outboard engine with Australia’s most esteemed and valuable boat brands.” Invest in reliability and experience the outboard of the future. Offer available at all eligible boat shows by participating dealers and on Factory Fitted BMT packages. For full terms and conditions visit www.evinrude.com.au.

NORTHSIDE MARINE In 2018, the Brisbane Boat Show is going to bigger and better than ever for Northside Marine. There’ll be bringing along their best boat brands and accessories to showcase to the public – it’ll be a great day out for experienced fishers, waterski enthusiasts, and families that just like to get out on the water on weekends. There’ll be showcasing Sportsman, Stabicraft, Surtees, Whittley, Jeanneau and Malibu; there will be something for everyone to enjoy! Sportsman Boats are a relatively new brand from the US, only about seven years old. But since its creation, Sportsman Boats have created a big name for themselves in fiberglass fishing boats. They’re some of the best family-friendly centre consoles on the market, and come well equipped for a day out on the water. The more classic fishing boats, Stabicraft and Surtees, will also be making an appearance. Surtees is a popular choice among all fishers, thanks to its unique innovations. Anti-Roll Stability Balance makes for a stable boat, even when at rest on the water. The Quik-Hitch allows the boat to get off and on a trailer single-handed. A great little feature if you’re looking for some solo fishing out on the water. Stabicraft boats are renowned for their superior rough water handling and durability. Their hulls create a cushion of water when moving at high speeds, making the ride much softer, safer and drier. With a large cockpit space and a chambered design, people are free to move about and not be confined to one spot – an excellent and hardy brand of boat.

It’s not all about fishing here at Northside Marine, they’ll be taking along the more luxurious Jeanneau and Whittley boats to the Brisbane Boat Show. The Jeanneaus are inboard boats. These boats have hulls perfectly designed for joystick control systems. Jeanneau boats easily stand out from the crowd thanks to their elegant, minimal design. No bright colours needed here – the perfect kind of boat for refined taste. Whittley Marine Group has been around since the early ‘50s – experience is their game. There’s a perfect balance between lifestyle, fishing and play. A Whittley can do it all really; these boats can come as outboards or stern drive. Malibu Boats are a fiberglass brand – but on a whole different level. These boats are designed to max up the power and enjoyment. They’re for getting out and waterskiing. They’re the best in Surf and Wake technology, with the start of their Surf Gate design in 2012. It’s been refined over the years to create a surf experience like no other. When you think waterskiing, you’ll think of Malibu Boats. Northside Marine Boating Parts and Accessories will be showcasing a range of bits and technology, priced to go. Popular brands such as Garmin, Lowrance and Simrad, to name a few, will all be available. They’ve got an extremely experienced and friendly team that’ll be more than happy to help with any queries you may have. Thier main focus will be on our sounders and fishers, so you can either upgrade or get something entirely new for your boat. For more information, visit www.northside marine.com.au.

QXOUTBACKFMM001

The new Quintrex Outback Explorer is our best tinnie yet. And that’s really saying something! The deeper sides, more room, and storage space make the Outback Explorer hard to beat. You’ll find yours waiting at a Quintrex dealer right now – at a great price! Visit quintrex.com.au for more information.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 THE HAINES GROUP An exciting array of new release outboards and show-stopping boats from the Haines Group brands will be on display at the Convention and Exhibition Centre this year.

The legendary boats from the Seafarer Boats stable will also be on display at the Laguna Boating Centre stand. An icon of Australian boating, the Seafarer brand has filled Australian waterways for over 60 years and will no doubt be popular amongst die-hard fishos at the show. Suzuki Marine will also be there with an array of new products and plenty of Suzuki on Sale deals including the DF325A, DF350A and DF100B – Suzuki’s newest and most technologically-advanced outboards to date. With exclusive boat show deals across the entire range, visit one of the many Suzuki dealer stands, including Australian Marine Centre, Bayside Suzuki Marine, Laguna Boating Centre, Motorsport Marine and Surf Coast Marine. Whether you want Suzuki power for your boat, a complete boat package to get your family on the water, or you’re a serious angler set to brave all conditions, the Haines Group has a product for you at the show. For more information, visit www.thehainesgroup.com.

Haines Signature Boats will be debuting a brand new model that will surely turn heads at the show. While they’re keeping the details under wraps, you won’t want to miss seeing this awesome new model up close. they’ll also have a great cross section of boats across our fishing, boating and cruising ranges. Their boats are perfectly suited for the waters of Queensland – a tried and tested hull that performs every time whether inshore or offshore and provides a soft and stable ride. See why these are considered some of Australia’s best built boats at the Australian Marine Centre stand. At Karee Marine, they’ll be showcasing the latest from Tournament Pleasure Boats. These boats are renowned for their exceptional build quality and are designed to withstand the harshest of Australian conditions.

WYNNUM MARINE Wynnum Marine will be showcasing the entire range of Cruise Craft Boats including the official QLD release of the all new F360M – a 6.35m centre console. Wynnum Marine will once again be displaying the entire range of Cruise Craft Boats at this years Brisbane Boat Show. They will have on display everything from the Explorer 530 through to the flagship Explorer 685 Hardtop. It will also be the official release of the first-ever (in 72 years) production centre console from Cruise

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Craft, the Fish 360 M – a 6.35m centre console featuring the all new ‘ICE’ blue gelcoat colour. “We have watched the popularity of bowriders decrease and the need for fishing, yet family-friendly centre consoles increase. There has been an influx of American imports many of which are over width (with towing implications) and more suitable for bays and lakes, rather than serious offshore work. An Aussie-built console, with a large flared bow with no towing restriction designed specifically for bluewater fishing is a hole in the market we feel we have filled perfectly with the F360M. The positive response from press and the public already has blown us away and exceeded our expectations,” Danny Jordin from Cruise Craft said. Wynnum Marine will also have a selection of Stacer Boats on display, all of which feature the all new Revolution Hull that’s softer riding and more stable than its predecessors. The new hull is used across most of Stacer’s pressed-alloy models

measuring between 4.29m and 6.2m in length – including the Sea Master runabouts, Crossfire console boats, the Assault Pro bass boats, and the all new Wildrider bowriders. All of Wynnum Marine’s Cruise Craft and Stacer boats will be packaged with Yamaha class leading outboards. The Yamaha range of four-stroke outboard engines are the number one choice for serious boaties everywhere. Yamaha offers an unmatched reputation for reliability, design and innovation which delivers superior performance and fuel efficiency under all conditions, whether that’s heading

offshore to chase some serious fishing action or just a relaxed weekend on smooth water with the family. This year there will some serious boat show incentives; it’s a great time to turn your dreams into a reality. For more info contact the team at Wynnum Marine on (07) 3396 9777 or head to their website www. wynnummarine.com.au. Alternatively, call in and see why Wynnum Marine is so unique. They are ideally located beside the beautiful Moreton Bay at Fox Street, Wynnum, only about 15 minutes from Brisbane City.

BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 BRISBANE MARINE This year has been massive for Brisbane Marine after receiving the 2017-18 Mercury Queensland/Northern Territory Dealer of the Year and achieving amazing sales success with their premium brands. They are showcasing all your favourite aluminium brands including Anglapro Boats, Extreme Boats, Harris Pontoon Boats, Profile Boats and Savage Boats. They have models to suit the family wanting a small tinny for fishing the creeks and estuaries, to those wanting a cruising boat to cruise the Broadwater or over to Moreton Island, to the serious offshore bluewater fisho wanting to chase that fish of a lifetime. For the first time in Queensland you will be able to see the all-new Profile 585 Centre Console and the all-new Extreme 795 Walkaround, which will be definite crowd stoppers! Brisbane Marine will also have a dedicated Mercury Repower Section for all your repower needs from 2.5-300hp, and with qualified mechanics on site to answer all your engine questions and assist with repowering your boat – Brisbane Marine is your go-to boating store.

This year they are expanding their range and will have on offer the latest marine electronics from Lowrance, Simrad, Humminbird, Minn Kota, Motorguide, and JL Audio. So if you are after a deal on a new boat, motor or some marine electronics, be sure to see the team at Brisbane Marine for great prices and the best advice. The Brisbane Marine stand is located at Stand 415 and 423 at the northeastern end of the Convention Centre. For further information, visit www. brismarine.com.au.

BRISBANE YAMAHA Brisbane Yamaha has a huge range of fishing boats on display at the 2018 Brisbane boat show, in Exhibition Hall 2 on stand 210. On display will be the latest range and the leading brands Brisbane Yamaha is known for. The best-selling Baysports range of fibreglass boats and the Australianmade Quintrex range of aluminium boats, in addition to Yellowfin plate boats and Yamaha outboards. “Brisbane Yamaha is famous for its genuine show deals and we will have massive savings across the entire range, available only at the show,” owner Aaron Goodchild said. “Yamaha is the world’s leading outboard for a reason. It offers reliability, performance and Brisbane Yamaha backs this with a 6-year warranty on four strokes when purchased and serviced at Brisbane Yamaha. This is to give buyers peace of mind.” “We have come up with some unbeatable value on drive away packages with the 2018 range of Baysport boats.” Every Baysport has a purpose-built

GOLD COAST BOATING CENTRE Gold Coast Boating Centre (formerly Marine Tune) has been servicing and supplying economical boat/motor/trailer packages, large and small, to parts of Australia for over 20 years. In that time, the business has established itself as one of the top Yamaha outboard marine dealers in Australia. The commitment to the remarkable Yamaha range of engines bolsters Gold Coast Boating Centre line-up of class leading mid-range outboards and boats. The Gold Coast Boating Centre was recently awarded the Formosa Aluminium Boats Dealer of the Year with outstanding sales of the popular Sea-Rod range of aluminium plated boats.

Dunbier Trailers also awarded the company Queensland’s only Elite Dealer in appreciation of excellent sales and customer service. The recognition also provides Gold Coast Boating Centre with trading privileges, such as highest priority production and best possible discount structure on trailers and parts and ongoing support. If you want to get into boating or to upgrade an existing boat, Gold Coast Boating Centre stocks all sizes, ranging from 3m cartopper tinnes to the larger aluminium plate-built boats longer than 7m. Dedicated staff will advise and explain all types of configurations available for viewing.

Once you have purchased a boat from Gold Coast Boating Centre, you can rest assured that our professionally trained technicians will be servicing your boat in one of the most expertly equipped workshops in Queensland. Your boat will provide best performance in any conditions at sea. So be sure to go and and see the team at the Brisbane Boat Show! For more information, visit www.goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au.

fishing or weekender model available and all Baysport models feature a full composite transom. “Combined with the proven foamfilled fibreglass stringer system, this ensures piece of mind for the life of your boat against any chance of structural failure that you would find in other brands with wooden transoms,” Aaron said. “This attention to detail is why Baysport is the largest selling fibreglass boat range in Queensland for the past five years! I say ask the question when you are buying a boat.” “Before you buy any other brand of boat, do yourself a favour and water test a Baysport with the Brisbane Yamaha team, you will be impressed, I guarantee it.” Brisbane Yamaha is Australia’s biggest selling dealer of the award winning Quintrex range of aluminium boats. “And there’s a reason for this. We offer unbeatable prices and once again we will have the biggest display of any brand of boat at the show,” Aaron said. Brisbane Yamaha also offers in-house Yamaha Motor Finance (YMF) and Yamaha Marine Insurance (YMI) making Brisbane Yamaha a one-stop shop for expert advice and servicing on boats. Come and see the huge display at the show, call 3888 1727 or visit www.brisbaneyamaha.com.au

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 HOBIE

STONES CORNER MARINE

Hobie will have its latest and greatest models on display at this year’s show. The newest addition to the fleet is the Compass – a quality, minimalistic fishing kayak that boasts an impressive blend of stability, efficiency, manoeuvrability and reliability at an affordable price. The Compass is supplied with the MirageDrive pedal system, and has a breathable mesh seat. Borrowing design elements from the Pro Angler series the Compass offers maximum stability and an oversized cockpit and flat deck for standing. This kayak is highly manoeuvrable, and can reach speeds not normally achieved in a kayak of its dimensions. Angling-ready features include moulded-in rod holders, H-Track accessory mounts and a Lowranceready transducer cavity. The Compass is 3.66m long, 0.86m wide, has a capacity of 181kg, weighs 39kg fully rigged and is priced at MRRP $2790.

Another new model is the 3.4m i11 Inflatable Kayak, which weighs just 29.3kg fully rigged. Over the years inflatables have had a bad rap, often regarded as poor quality, unstable and low performance. The Hobie Mirage Inflatable i11, however, offers on water performance that rivals traditional rigid kayaks. The i11 features three chambers. The two side chambers provide rigidity, while the centre chamber provides the stability needed for fishing, stand-up and recreational use. The heavy-duty 1000 denier PVC hull features a stand-up skid pad, bungee tie-downs for accessory attachment, and convenient carrying handles making carrying and launching much easier. Propulsion is supplied by the hands-free MirageDrive 180, which produces full power in both directions, excellent manoeuvrability, shallow water access and easy shore landings. You can also opt to replace the MirageDrive with the included plug if you want a paddle board. The comfortable and dry Vantage CTi high-back padded seat can be easily removed to double as a beach chair. The i11 folds down into a travel bag that also includes a pump, repair kit, cup holder and paddle. All this fits into the boot of even a small hatchback! Optional Hobie accessories allow you to pimp your kayak. The price is MRRP $3190, and you can find out more at www.hobie.com/au/en.

The team at Stones Corner Marine are excited about this year’s Brisbane Boat Show. They have some great new model releases from Sea Jay and the ever-popular range of Bar Crusher boats, all matched with Yamaha outboards. If hardtops are what you are interested in, be sure to have a look at the eye-catching Bar Crusher 670HT and the jewel in the crown, the 780HT. Stones Corner Marine will also have the Sea Jay 630HT to add to their hardtop range of boats.

packages SCM are going to have a little surprise which will appeal to the anglers heading up north, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled for that. Once again there will be a huge range of Bar Crusher models for you to check out, with the 575C, 615C, 670C as well as the hardtops mentioned above. These boats will blow your mind with the attention to detail that both of these brands carry. SCM will also be showcasing a range of Humminbird and Garmin electronics as well as Fusion Sound Systems in their packages as well. If you are in the market for a new boat or just want more information on any of these boats, be sure to stop in at the Stones Corner Marine stand at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show and talk to one of their experienced sales team. In the meantime, you can find out more at www.stonescornermarine.com.au.

Also on the stand this year will be some new Sea Jay models, including the 630 Vision. The Vision is built on Sea Jay’s popular Samurai Hull, and the centre console will appeal to the serious offshore fisho with its massive cockpit space. Other new models on display from Sea Jay will be the 460 Ranger, 490 Ranger Sport, 550 Velocity Sport TD and the 448 Avenger Sport RS. Underneath one of the

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 MERCURY MARINE For people interested in superior performance and first-class reliability, the Mercury Marine stand is a must-see at this year’s Brisbane Boat Show. Mercury’s industry-leading line-up of motors has been substantially increased in recent months, and the latest outboard models will be on hand for visitors to inspect. These new V-6 and V-8 Verado, 4-stroke and Pro XS engines are the next generation of outboards for boaters looking for the best in power, reliability and efficiency. Of course, smaller boats haven’t been forgotten with Mercury’s ultralightweight reliable 15hp and 20hp EFI 4-stroke outboards on hand. Designed for anglers, family boaters and commercial operators, they feature battery-free EFI for fast, dependable starting, instant throttle response and better overall performance. Also on display will be the latest MotorGuide trolling motor: the Xi3. With wireless control straight out of the box – and a whole lot more – the Xi3 is the easiest to use motor in its class, and is up to 40% quieter than its nearest competitor. Another major attraction at the Mercury stand will be the interactive Joystick Piloting simulator. Visitors will be able to experience how Mercury joystick technology lets you easily move your boat sideways, diagonally or spin it on its axis, all the while watching your progress on a giant computer screen. In the meantime you can find out more about the latest products at www.mercurymarine.com.

AUSSIE BOAT SALES ACT/NSW The team from Aussie Boat Sales pride themselves on providing a customised service for boaters, and service customers Australia-wide as one of Redco Trailers’ biggest suppliers, delivering trailers and new boat packages. In the alloy plate range, Aussie Boats has partnered with Formosa and are Australia’s largest dealer of both the Tomahawk and Sea Rod ranges. Together with Ross and Duncan of Formosa Marine, Jason and Johanna from Aussie Boat Sales are stretching the boundaries of the Formosa range with the latest models on display at the show. The growing range in the Formosa line-up means they have a quality plate aluminium boat to suit every customer’s needs and budget. Jason says they have a lot of repeat customers buying their second or third Formosa, going bigger each time, which speaks volumes about the quality of these boats. Aussie Boat Sales was just awarded

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2017 Formosa Tomahawk Dealer of the Year. This is a great credit to the business and testament to their ability to cater for customers, with the massive Honda family offering all the after-sales servicing along with a 7-year warranty. As well as with Formosa, Aussie Boat Sales is a dealer for Caribbean Boats. Since 1958 Caribbean Boats have had a formidable reputation in the fishing and fibreglass boat market in Australia. Jason specialises in the Trailerboat range of Caribbean boats, and those anglers who know the Reefrunner and the 2300 models know just how awesome these boats are. Jason is also the sole distributor for the Sidewinder made by Micro Cat Boats here in Australia, and will have the all-new 4m twin cat on display at the show. “It’s a great fishing platform and we know that people are going to love the layout of this ingeniously designed boat,” he said. “You must see it to believe it, and

BRISBANE QUINTREX Attention all Southside Quintrex fans: Brisbane Quintrex is opening soon at Loganholme on Brisbane’s Southside. They will be offering a sneak-peak at the show of the massive display on the highway in Loganholme. Brisbane’s newest Quintrex dealer will offer the newest range of Quintrex models and Evinrude outboards. “On display will be the latest range of Australian-made Quintrex range of aluminium boats, in addition to Evinrude ETEC outboards,” owner Aaron Goodchild said. “We will be offering some genuine show deals with BMT packages on display.” This business is owned by Aaron Goodchild of Brisbane Yamaha fame, and will service the huge demand of boat buyers on the south of Brisbane. According to Mr Goodchild, the

Loganholme area has traditionally been a large Quintrex-buying area. “I am excited to be offering the bestselling range of Quintrex boats to this growing audience,” he said. “With the exit of carburetted two-stroke outboards, we see an opportunity for the powerful and clean E-Tec outboards in the market.” The Quintrex range features the new APEX hull from Australia’s largest boat builder. “This new hull is ground-breaking,” Mr Goodchild said. “It is designed to offer a soft, safe and dry ride, and sets a new standard in aluminium hull design.” Brisbane Quintrex is located at 3775 Pacific Hwy, Loganholme. For more information visit them at the show on stand 205 in Exhibition Hall 2 or online at www.brisbanequintrex.com.au.

like all our brands it is great quality and at the right price. This boat is definitely a boat that combines brand new ideas with a no-nonsense well-designed boat which caters for just about any type of usage, including in the commercial market and marina-style operations as a hire or work boat.” Aussie Boat Sales has also just become the main distributor for Black Dog Cat plate alloy twin hull boats coming out of New Zealand in the North Island. The Black Dog Cat range is well known for their build quality, performance and stability in the rough seas of New Zealand. “We know the Aussie market will love these boats, and after testing them ourselves in New Zealand the performance is unbelievable,” Jason said. Show visitors can check out the ground-breaking 630 Enclosed Cab with walkthrough, a 510 Cuddy with folding rocket launchers and the 410 Side Console with enough room to swing a cat. These boats are ready for demonstration and water tests, and if you want more information you can contact the team and they can forward video footage and brochures. All of Aussie Boat Sales’ business partners have jumped on board the aussieboatsales360.com.au website, which

is completely new experience in buying a new boat. The fully interactive online showroom will take you on boat tours and help you decide on the style and options of the perfect boat for you. “We at ABS thank all of our business partners for supporting this,” Jason said, “and we are looking forward to showing and entertaining our customers with a whole new buying experience.” Aussie Boat Sales are also one of Australia’s largest Honda Marine dealers, and are major business partners with Garmin, Redco-Tinka galvanised and aluminium boat trailers, Fusion Electronics, Sam Allen Wholesale Marine Products, Minn Kota, Savwinch, Horizon Aluminium Boats, Spotters Sunglasses, Railblaza Deck Hardware, Solas Propellers by AMS, Aussie Boat Transport and Freight, Ozzy Tyres ACT, Dometic Group (Waeco fridges and cookers), Mobile Boat Covers and Marine, X-Factor Wraps and Signage in Sydney, Marine Graphics Ink Victoria, Mid North Coast Trucks - Isuzu - Macksville, Boat Names Australia, and the BIA throughout Australia. ABS are also partners with Club Marine insurance, and you can find out more about the entire range at www.aussieboatsales360.com.au.

COME SEE US AT

STAND 211 AT BRISBANE BOAT SHOW

448

575C

AVENGER SPORT • Yamaha F60 4 Stroke • Sea Jay Sports C-section Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F115XB • Easy Tow Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

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490

670HT

RANGER SPORT • Yamaha F90 4 Stroke • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F200XCA • Easy Tow Tandem Trailer • Trim Tabs • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

IN STOCK NOW!!

630

780HT

TROJAN HT • Yamaha F200XCA • Sea Jay Glider Alloy Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F300XCA • Easy Tow 15” Tandem Trailer • Trim Tabs • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

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615 C 615 WR 670 C

ALSO ON DISPLAY AT THE SHOW!

428 Magnum 2 • 460 Ranger 520 Vision 550 Velocity Sport TD 630 Vision

* Boat images for illustrative purpose - models may vary slightly

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BRISBANE BOAT SHOW 2018 FORMOSA Formosa Marine, based in Brisbane, is a leader in Australian plate boat design and manufacturing. The release of the X Bowrider has proven to be very popular, and it’s available in Formosa’s iconic Tomahawk brand and their Sea-Rod brand, with innovative counterbalance water ballast and transom features. Formosa Marine are known for quality, safety and performance, and the new X Bowrider is no exception. Features on the X uniquely allow for the perfect crossover boat. You can enjoy family skiing one day, and transform the X for offshore fishing the next. The X Bowrider has a raised dash and bollard seating position for offshore adventures. Formosa’s V2 Hull provides superior performance, safety and strength, with a softer ride, extra floor structure, solid under-footing, high sides, wide deck space and large forward seating area. The cushioned bow seating encompasses a large

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accessible storage area underneath, and removable cushions and centre board in which to create the perfect fishing platform. Designed by Formosa Marine, the X Bowrider Rocket Launcher is unique on an aluminium plate boat. It’s welded for strength and stability, with a fold-down design for storing the boat undercover. Fully welded onto the launcher are three grab rails, four rod holders and a ski/wake pole. The unique ‘knuckle’ design features exposed perforated ali plate on the outside, and inside it has the perfect housing for speakers. Other design features include the new folding side seats which Formosa added to their long list of optional extras for custom designing your boat. The X Bowrider has two side seats as standard and an optional third folding back seat. It’s a very practical feature, sitting low for safety, and allows seating for up to six people. When it’s not needed it all folds away to enhance the generous freeboard Formosa Marine is known for. The versatile Formosa X Bowrider is available in a Classic range in sizes 520, 550 and 580, and in an Offshore range with self-draining decks from sizes 520 to the new 740. This model will be on display at the boat show for 2018. For Formosa Tomahawk pricing and sales contact your local dealer. You can find a list of Tomahawk and Sea-Rod dealers at www.formosamarineboats.com.au.

RAYMARINE What turns a chartplotter into a multifunction display? Performance, technology and connectivity. In this spirit, Raymarine is pleased to announce LightHouse version 3.4, the latest free update to Raymarine’s LightHouse 3 OS software system, which will be on display at the Brisbane Boat Show. Laden with upgrades and enhancements, LightHouse version 3.4 brings to your helm functions and digital services previously reserved for mobile phones and your living room.

and app developers to integrate with Axiom and LightHouse 3 OS. And Raymarine will continue to expand LightHouse Apps with future support for Seakeeper gyro stabilizer control, Mazu satellite communications and more (LightHouse Apps are only available on Axiom and Axiom Pro Bluetooth Audio Output). LightHouse 3.4 also adds Bluetooth audio output from Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs. Connect Axiom’s Bluetooth to your marine

LightHouse Apps are an exciting new way to expand the power and capabilities of LightHouse OS. Axiom users can now stream entertainment from Netflix and Spotify, as well as access Theyr’s GRIBview precision global weather service app. With LightHouse Apps, Raymarine is making it easy for marine technology partners

stereo system or Bluetooth enabled speakers and enjoy digital audio from your streamed movies and music (Bluetooth audio is only available on Axiom and Axiom Pro). There are plenty of other new features of LightHouse 3.4 as well, and you can check it all out at the show. For more info visit www.raymarine.com.au.

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