Queensland Fishing Monthly December 2018 by Fishing Monthly

DECEMBER DELIGHTS • CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS

Features

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Barra closed season alternatives • Fishing Teemburra ‘barradise’ • Success in the surf

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Boating & Kayaking

Tried & Tested

Paddling around Gladstone • One of those days in the yak • Be weather-wise this summer •

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December 2018, Vol. 31 No. 2

Contents 14

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 25 Southern Gold Coast 26 Gold Coast Canals 28 Jumpinpin 30 Gold Coast 32 Southern Bay 34 Brisbane 36 Brisbane Offshore 38 Northern Bay 40 Noosa 42

From the Editor’s Desk...

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 50 Rainbow Beach 51 Lake Monduran 52 Gladstone 52 Rockhampton 54 Stanage Bay 56 Yeppoon 57 Mackay 58

that we are doing the right thing. That mix of up-todate local area reports, quality boating tests, topical features and the latest tackle seems to hit the spot for plenty of our readers. So the answer to the question is ‘yes’. We’re still printing and we’ll be doing it until y’all stop buying it. Thank you for your business. CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE It’s the perennial question - what do you buy an angler who has everything? The answer, of course, is ‘more fishing gear’. We’re here to help. Fishing Monthly staff have put together a comprehensive guide of what’s hot under the Christmas tree for anglers in the fresh and salt. How do you use the guide? You get a Sharpie,

circle the bits you need, and leave it in a prominent place. Please stick to these instructions, otherwise you’ll be burdened with the $29.95 Aldi Fishing Set and you’ll need to have more kids to get someone to use it. CHRISTMAS SUBSCRIPTIONS Finally, we love that December is by far the biggest month of the year for people buying gift subscriptions. We do offer a service where we can send you a Subscription Gift Card

Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Annie March Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Production: Karen Millward Keith Hawley Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham Office Manager: Marie Dykstra

Queensland Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the first week of each month (latest sale date 7th of the month).

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Tom Dagan subdued this quality GT with a live bait aboard Reel Addiction in just 3.5m of water. A Mick Underwood image.

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DECEMBER 2018

Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 16 Camping and 4WD 74 Cooking 78 Dam Levels 68 Freshwater 68 Fun Page 98 Junior 45 Sheik of the Creek 77 Suntag 92 Tech Tricks 18 Tournament News 80 Track my fish 94 Trades and Services 96 What’s New Boating 102 What’s New Fishing 86 SPECIAL FEATURES Barra closed season alternatives Fishing in ‘barradise’ Christmas gift ideas Success in the surf

BOATING AND KAYAK

with all gift subscriptions, but we do need these by the 10 December to guarantee that we can get the cards printed and to you (or the gift recipient) on time. Missed that deadline? You can get a digital gift card and Fishing Monthly subscription by visiting our page on www.isubscribe. com.au right up until Christmas Day. From the FM staff, we wish you a great month and a well-earned break at the end of it.

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 60 Ayr 62 Hinchinbrook 62 Townsville 63 Cairns 64 Cairns NFZ 64 Port Douglas 65 Lucinda 65 Cape York 67 Cooktown 66

WE ARE STILL PRINTING It was around 2000 when the first person asked me whether we’d be printing in the near future, because of the impending take over of the Internet. Eighteen years later and we’re not only printing, but we print more state titles than we did back in 2000. Western Australia Fishing Monthly kicked off in September this year and is going from strength to strength. Still more people ask me the question today. With several titles closing their doors in recent months and years – Fish Life and Modern Fishing come to mind – there’s the assumption that it’d make us weaker. I think the opposite. Each magazine that comes and goes reinforces

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Scratch the itch during barra closed season CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

With 1 November truly behind us we farewell another barramundi open season. I’ll be the first to admit that not having the option of targeting old bucket mouth is a bit of a downer, but it doesn’t mean you have to put the rod in the rack as there are plenty of other options available that can help you scratch that itch until 1 February. The best part about the barramundi closed season is the time of year it takes place. The

months of summer across Queensland are some of the best for estuarine, river and coastal fishers, as a combination of warm water and air temperatures and climatic events like storms and monsoonal rain can really fire up a number of target species. One species that responds to these events with unmatched vigor is the mangrove jack. Whether you live on the Gold Coast or in Weipa, summer is prime time for chasing jacks. A combination of warm water and hot sticky days triggers these fish to feed ferociously, making them easy to catch. It’s no secret that this time of

year elusive trophy-sized mangrove jack becomes just that much easier to catch and for that reason they should be the number one target on your list. While targeting jacks is a sensible option in summer, it’s important to think about how you will go about catching them. Sure, you can target them on hardbodies and soft plastics, but if you really want to capitalise on the strong jack bite then targeting them on surface is a must. There is no better time of year to target jacks on surface than over the barra closed season and watching a big red devil cream a surface

Grunter of this size will pull plenty of string over the flats.

offering will get your blood pumping. Traditional poppers and stickbaits are always fun, especially around open exposed areas early in the morning or late afternoon. A better option is getting your hands on some soft plastic frogs or weedless plastic stickbaits and skip casting right into the back of snags and structure. Summer brings big tides and being able to get your surface frogs right up the back behind mangroves and snags to where the fish are is really heart-in-yourmouth fishing. Skip casting is not that difficult, just aim to flick your lure sideways on a 30° angle. Your frog or stickbait should skim like

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Ken Elliot with a cracking Teemburra barra.

a stone, putting you deep under the mangroves. The next step is to hold the rod tip up as high as you can without taking the lure out of the water and begin a slow steady wind until your frog’s feet begin bubbling away or your plastic stickbait begins to swim.

I prefer to use spin gear for frogging and plastic stickbaiting, as overheads can easily bird nest up if you get the cast wrong or hit a branch. Just be ready for that strike, as being so close to structure means you will need to persuade them to the boat. For this

Summer means frogging for jacks.

reason, I prefer to opt for a bit stronger braid and leader. Leader in particular is vital and you will need to use something that can take a beating. I prefer to use either Sunline FC100 or FC Rock when playing in this country as it is abrasion resistant and has saved me plenty of times when trying to extract a big surfacesnared jack. While targeting jacks on surface is a top priority this time of year, there are still some other worthwhile options if you want something a little less aggressive. Summer can bring some big tides that make for some awesome flats fishing. Flats are a top place to visit over the closed season as the hold plenty of desirable species that are hard on the chew this time of year, particularly if the water is dirty thanks to monsoonal rain. Flats are pretty basic to fish and are best fished as the tide begins to drain off them. The bigger the tide means more water on the flat, which equals more fish. More tide means a bigger run-off and that makes for some short, sharp, actionpacked sessions. Fishing the flats allows you to scale down your line class and have a bit of fun due to the lack of structure.

Threadfin salmon are another top flats summer species to target. When fishing the flats, the two other desirable species you will encounter are grunter and threadfin. Grunter are a top table fish and are certainly worth targeting during the barra off season. The schools can be targeted on side imaging sounders and, contrary to

opinion, they are suckers for a well-fished prawn plastic or vibe. Threadfin and blue salmon are also flats dwellers, especially after heavy rain and the jelly prawn populations are pushed out into these areas. While threadies are probably better eating, blue

salmon would have to be one of the most underrated sportfish going around as they battle hard at the boat, love a lure and jump just as good as barramundi. Another species worth targeting during the barramundi closed season To page 12

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From page 11

is the golden snapper. Summer is the time to target these fish as like jacks they become pretty hungry and become far less difficult to catch. In the creeks you

will find them in a smaller size range and calibre, but they will hit surface and subsurface lures with vigour. For those that have access to coastal headlands or rock bars in deep water

it is not uncommon to find big schools of 50-60cm sized fish this time of year, congregating to spawn. Finally, there is one more option we have here in Queensland that

Al McGlashan releasing the $5000 tagged Copperlode Dam barra.

can help you scratch that barra itch during the closed season, and that is our numerous barra impoundments right up and down the coast. From all reports the southern dams like Awoonga are firing up big time with some good classes of fish being caught. The same can be said for Mackay’s Teemburra Dam, which seems to have matured into a big fish fishery this year. Typically not known for its metre class fish, this year Teemburra has been punching well above its weight producing some giants. Aw o o n g a and Teemburra are not alone and from all reports the impoundment barra fishing in our state continues to be world class and should not be overlooked as a closed season option. If you are after something truly unique than have a look at Queensland’s latest barramundi impoundment in the heart of Cairns, Copperlode Dam. The Dam has been stocked now with over 33,000 barra and is fished by barra guide Kym Anderson. Copperlode is set in the middle of a tropical rainforest paradise and has gin clear waters, making it one of the most visually spectacular places

Headlands and rock bars will hold some big golden snapper over the closed barra season. to target barramundi on fly or lure. To top it off Kym has also released one specially tagged barra, that if recaptured will net the lucky angler $5000 in cold hard cash. There are plenty of other tagged barra in the dam and if you catch one there are thousands of dollars of prizes up for

grabs as well. Just because the barra season is over doesn’t mean the fishing fun has to end. See it as an opportunity to explore new techniques, try new lures and most importantly target new species. You just might be amazed at how much fun it can be.

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Fishing in ‘barradise’ BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Barra came into my life late, far too late, especially when I think of what I’ve been missing out on. Like a lot of anglers based in South East Queensland, I figured barra were out of reach

in the far north. However, stocked impoundments can have big fat metre-plus barra, which are reputed to be as strong as their saltwater counterparts. When I became interested in catching barra, I spoke with Editor of Fishing Monthly Steve Morgan. He recommended one place above all others to start my

This was the first Teemburra barra the author boated.

Scotty with a Teemburra sooty. Sooties were commonly caught on all sorts of tackle back in 2003.

adventure, Teemburra Dam. BACK IN THE DAY Cast your mind back, all the way to 2003. Can you believe that was 15 years ago? Teemburra was down to 30% of its present level, which exposed more timber. We had a 3.65m tinny with a Mercury 15hp on it that we used to suss out this barra business. I had heard all about razor edged barramundi gill covers, their big spikey fins and other hazards, so I brought chain mesh gloves to handle these big dangerous fish. Always best to be prepared. As flyfishing has always been my thing, I figured my 8wt fly rod would do the trick as presumed that barra would be like a big saratoga. I’d recently nailed an 88cm toga on an 8wt, and guessed barra would be just as much fun.

After a 14 hour drive, my son Scott and I backed the Quintrex down the bare Teemburra Dam bank on a late Tuesday afternoon to check out Steve’s suggested lily bank and give these fabled barra a burn. Steve’s advice was spot on and I hooked up first session with a big Deceiver style fly on the 10kg tippet. Unfortunately, I was seated at the time and it was instant mayhem with Scott struggling to push me upright while I was frantically trying to maintain control. That

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first barra went within 3cm of breaking the 8wt rod. The fish broke off and I sat there somewhat shaken. If toga were torpedoes, then barra were submarines!

Check out the amount of dry land between the water and the top of the ramp. This image was captured back in 2003.

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Denise at work with the fly rod. Note the small gap in the timber where she’s scored a hook up plus the boat being tied up to avoid drag outs.

FIRST LESSON My first lesson learnt was barra are not toga! You shouldn’t ever fish for them

bay in which we could fly cast. Before I’d made a dozen casts another fish was on, this one to be brought to heel on the 10wt. Lesson number two came when the barra pulled the boat away from the bank and then weaved among the timber with the fly line and leader. Two fish hooked, two fish lost. We’d need more open area – very hard to find with the dam so low that it was virtually a small main basin with adjoining channels among the timber. With the boat tied up I scored an 82cm barra as my first fish in the net and Scott scored his first as well. That was, for me, the start of a serious obsession with barra, whether in freshwater, saltwater or brackish water. They can grow big, are always strong, pull like tractors and best of all, they take flies. The dam was fishing red hot in those days. My wife, Denise, joined us on that

If you fancy your skill with the baitcaster Teemburra’s timber will test you out when you hook one of those silver sided subs. from a seated position with a fly rod, nor use 8wt tackle around timber. Fortunately, I had my 10wt outfit with me and I upgraded all tackle that night, with a 20kg leader on the tip. Barra are hard hitters, and strong fighters. SECOND LESSON The second lesson learnt was to tie the boat up. Just after daylight the next morning we lucked on a cleared area in a timbered

fishing trip and hooked up on her first barra on fly around ten minutes after she started casting. We had neglected to tie the boat up and as the fish scorched off first one little tree started moving, then another one nearby, then all went slack; fish and fly gone. With the boat properly secured and the right spot selected we continued to score barra big time. Denise landed her first early the next morning and lots after that as well. CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE The lake was low, the fish were feisty and we were full on with the fly gear. The three of us scored quite a lot of barra on fly that trip in 2003, but it is important to give credit where credit is due. Fellow QFM writer Keith Day of Mackay also played a big part in our success, not the least being the fact that he, as a member of MAFSA, took part in stocking Teemburra Dam with barra initially. He also provided a lot of advice on best places to fish, tactics and fish habits. Keith also fished with us when opportunities arose. Four or five fish a session were par for the course, that’s landed fish, not including those that got the better of us. Among the barra was a fair sprinkling of big fat sooty grunter as well, with 48-50cm sooties being the norm. That trip was the first, the best, and the most memorable. From time to time a barra dam will fire up big time and as I recall Awoonga was firing up around the same

Teemburra Dam as it is today. The only break in the lilies is at the boat ramp.

time, in much the same way that it is doing right now. TEEMBURRA GOING FORWARD We have fished Teemburra quite a bit between 2003 and now, and success was always pretty easy when the dam was at a lower level. It has been much harder after the floods caused it to top the wall and a lot of barra went over with the water. Restocking in the intervening years has paid dividends

Clean water is everywhere and I found plenty of places to flyfish without having to tie the boat up, thanks to the dam’s greatly increased size. Teemburra is deservedly popular and the car park might have as many as 20 cars with trailers on a Saturday afternoon. And the fishing? Overall, it’s great, but it can be as patchy as barra fishing everywhere else. THE FISHING I upgraded the ledger The author upgraded his PB at Teemburra in October with this 116cm fish on the 10wt.

Lily-covered points are great features in this barra fishery. and with water levels pretty steady, the Teemburra Dam of today is a barradise. With a water level at around 90% capacity, this great dam is still a fine fishery. There is still tonnes of standing timber, and lots of lilies grace the entire perimeter of the surface area.

when fishing Teemburra recently, despite the oftenheard topic of how barra can be hard to catch at times. In mid October, Denise and I put in eight solid sessions with the fly rods for minimal results. One fish was boated, several hooked but not held, plus a decent number of

follows, swirls and bumps kept us on the ball. Clearly, our flies were not interesting them much, although the fish I scored was a personal best. It’s a given that we could never experience the sort of fishing we had ‘back in the day’, but a couple of sessions two years ago had been fruitful, so we did everything right and gave it our best shot. Admittedly we kept away from the standing timber where the young guns were doing well with their lures, because fly rods and fly lines are way too hard to come by for us to be tempted to risk them. Back in 2003 a big Teemburra barra was a metre long, pretty skinny, and quite uncommon. Most better fish

were in the 80-90cm class and we’d wrestle them to a standstill on the 10WT, even when very close to timber. Today a metre fish is not special at all. In a nutshell, the easy marks are gone and it’s full on with the condition factor of Teemburra’s gleaming, silver-hued fish being simply astonishing. I also spoke to quite a few lure casting anglers on the job and it was not surprising to hear that with the weather changes we were experiencing – storms some nights, light rain at times plus wind varying in strength and direction – they too were experiencing difficulty in hooking up the Teemburra terrors. Bumps and swirls

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were certain, whereas definite hook ups were not so frequent. But as weather conditions settled, with calm mornings giving way to northerly afternoons, and a bit of ripple on the water, results slowly improved to the point where everyone seemed happy. Some great hook ups were being experienced but many fish were getting off in the snags, which is nothing out of the ordinary with barra, especially big barra. WHERE TO STAY Teemburra Dam is indeed barradise. It’s not a huge dam in the style of Proserpine’s Peter Faust or Lake Awoonga and with a plethora of sheltered arms and bays it’s ideal for smaller craft. Let’s face it, when you’ve been fishing half, or all

through, the night it’s great to have a decent bed and some air-conditioning during the day to help catch up on sleep. Fortunately, a very comfortable roof over the head is available nearby at Gargett (around 10 minutes drive away) where there are motel units and a bunkhouse with ample beds at the Pioneer Valley Hotel Motel. This is an ideal base from which to fish Teemburra and after turning left off the main Eungella Road into the town of Gargett it’s easy to see the hotel motel just across the rail line. Teemburra Dam is where our barra on fly adventures started and I cannot wait to get back with some new flies and a big bag full of enthusiasm. Who knows, ’03 might be repeated!

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www.jurofishing.com DECEMBER 2018

6/8/2017 3:01:49 PM

Sight-fishing thrills NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

In the opinion of many anglers (your columnist included), ‘sight-fishing’ is the most exciting form

delicious anticipation as that target fish closes in on the trap you’ve just set. It matters little whether it’s a golden trevally tailing on a tropical flat, a fat whiting cruising over a sandbar, a mahimahi circling a bluewater FAD, or even a stinky old carp snuffling

for successful sight-fishing are a keen set of eyes, the ability to use them, and (in most scenarios) a pair of quality sunglasses with lightpolarising lenses. These so-called ‘polaroids’ greatly enhance your ability to spot fish by dramatically reducing reflected glare bouncing back from the surface of the water, allowing you to see what lies beneath much more easily. Trust me, it’s worth spending as much on your sunnies as you would on a new rod or reel, as they’re at least as important to the sight-fishing process as that shiny piece

The author with a gorgeous brown trout he sight-cast a fly to under cloudy skies.

Keep the sun at your back for optimum sight-fishing results. of angling ever devised. Seeing your prey before you even make a cast and then watching its reactions to your bait, lure or fly lifts fishing to another level altogether, and really ratchets up the ‘hunting’

along the muddy margins of an outback dam. Time seems to slow and stretch as the seconds tick agonisingly by. Will the fish eat, or will it spook away in alarm at the last moment? The three key ingredients

Don’t expect fish to always stand out clearly. Can you see the large trout in this image?

A big trout cruises in clear water. What will be the best way to catch it? aspects of our wonderful pastime. It’s highly addictive! Whether you prefer to use natural baits, lures or artificial flies there’s simply no bigger thrill in the whole wide world of fishing than sneakily stalking your visible prey, carefully placing your offering in front of it and watching what happens next. I defy anyone not to hold their breath and tense every muscle in their body with

of tackle. They’ll also protect your eyes from damaging UV rays, not to mention twigs, rod tips and fast moving lures. I’ve worn Mako Eyewear glasses for many years now and I absolutely swear by them, but there are plenty of other good brands on the market, too. Pick a highprofile maker and steer clear of service station cheapies and the chemist shop bargain bins. Expect to fork out at least a couple of hundred bucks for a decent set of fishing eyewear and then look after your glasses. (With Christmas fast approaching, quality sunnies also make the perfect gift for keen fishers, so why not start

dropping a few hints?) Many anglers believe that bright sunlight and clear, blue skies are essential for effective sight-fishing. However, while these conditions are ideal, they don’t occur consistently. It’s still possible to sight-fish under heavy cloud cover and in low light, you just need to work a little harder at it, move more slowly and look intently for hints like movement and subtle flashes of colour from cruising fish. It can also help to vary your lens selection on duller days by choosing tints from the yellow, rose and brown ends of the spectrum, as well as opting for lenses that allow a higher level of

Don’t be afraid to get into the really skinny stuff when sight-fishing. Your prey will sometimes swim in water barely deep enough to cover their backs.

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light transmission. Don’t expect to always clearly see your target fish swimming about, either. Wild fish living in natural environments can be extremely hard to spot at first. Experienced sight fishers become adept at identifying the tiniest clues that often signpost the presence of fish. Subtle movements, suspicious shapes or patterns, dull flashes, ripples and fin tips momentarily breaking the surface are all key indicators of the presence of fish. Often you’ll home in on just a part of the fish rather than the entire animal. This might be the light-coloured mouth of a trout, or a dark V-shape on the trailing edge of a bream’s tail. Finally, remember that some of the finest sight-fishing opportunities encountered in both fresh and saltwater environments occur at extremely shallow depths, often hard up against the shoreline. Many anglers are surprised to learn that even large fish will swim in water barely deep enough to cover their backs, especially early and late in the day. Don’t be too quick to wade in! Always start by visually scanning the very shallowest margins before gradually turning your attentions to deeper water. Get out there this summer and give sight-fishing a crack. I guarantee you’ll be hooked! Starlo’s website portal www.fishotopia.com offers access to lots of nitty-gritty, how-to information like this, including detailed features on sight-fishing. Jump on, have a look around and consider signing up for the free monthly newsletter.

Tech Tricks

How to make your own crab bait envelope BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

The warmer months can produce some exceptional crabbing along the east coast of Australia. Depending on where you set your pots, mud and

sand crabs are a serious possibility. Whether you are a diehard crabber or just like to throw out a few pots to hedge your bets while fishing, crabbing can be a very rewarding pursuit, especially when you are tucking into a tasty feed of soft, white succulent crab meat at the end of the day.

Pots can be baited with a broad array of baits. Many simply tie the bait into the bottom of the pot with a bait clip, wire or twine. While this will work for the larger, more solid baits, allowing the crabs to easily rip apart and devour the bait can often mean that they will get their fill quickly and then work on getting out

of the pot. Secondly, the pieces they rip off will often drift out of the pot and other crabs will feed on these outside the pot inside of trying to get into the pot to eat the main bait. Additionally, there are a lot of smaller baits that are hard to secure into the pot such as pilchards, chicken

necks, fish offcuts, whiting frames and other assorted scraps. Bait envelopes are a mesh bag into which baits can be inserted to limit the crab’s access to them. This makes the crabs need to work longer to secure their feed and also prevents the crabs ripping off large pieces that can drift away with

the current. There are a few different types of bait bags available from stores, however, you can make your own easily and cheaply. There are a lot of different ways to assemble these – the way you use will probably depend on what you have around the house or shed to make them from.

Materials Wire mesh, gutter guard and trellis mesh can all be used to make bait envelopes. I don’t use wire mesh as this will rust over time, however, if you have it handy then you can use it and just discard it when it deteriorates. For larger baits, especially

We will start by making an envelope using our trellis mesh, this suits large baits and is very strong. My roll is 60cm wide and I usually cut a strip right across it, which is about 12 meshes wide. This size will suit whole mullet, chicken carcasses, fish heads and frames. However, you can make your envelope any size you wish.

Continue along the side to secure the edges of the mesh together at around 5-6 positions. Repeat this along the other side to create your envelope. 18

DECEMBER 2018

when chasing mud crabs who have powerful claws, the larger trellis mesh with 25mm x 25mm holes is ideal. For smaller baits the gutter guard will work well, not allowing soft offerings to be ripped apart and dispersed too easily.

Fold the bottom of the mesh over so one side is within 4-5 meshes of the other side to begin creating the envelope shape. The top flap will be folded over once the bait is inside to secure it. Use a netting clip (or whatever you have) to secure it at the side.

4 On the top edge (the flap of the envelope) attach a couple of short pieces of wire. I use a plastic-coated soft wire (used for horticulture purpose) however, any galvanised or stainless wire will suffice.

Tech Tricks

Place your bait (fish frames, chicken carcasses, whole mullet etc.) inside and then fold down the top flap. Pass the wire through the mesh and then twist around itself to secure the top flap closed. I often put fish frames in these envelopes as I am filleting the catch and then put the whole lot in the freezer. When it is time to go crabbing you can just grab out the correct number of baited envelopes that you require.

Making our smaller envelope is similar to the larger one. For this one I am using some leftover gutter guard. This is 18cm wide and I will cut a piece about 60cm long. Fold over into the envelope shape, leaving a flap about 12cm or so at the top.

Secure each side with around 4-5 zippy ties, wire, netting clips or even by threading some sturdy twine up along the edges to stitch them closed.

10 8 Cut away the tag ends of the zippy ties and then cut two 12-15cm pieces of wire and attach to the top edge of the flap of the envelope. This is now finished and ready for use.

Insert baits such as fish offcuts, whiting frames, pilchards, old bait or chicken necks inside your envelope (you can add several different baits in the one envelope to offer a crab smorgasboard) and then fold down the top flap and secure closed with the wire. Again, these envelopes can be pre-loaded and frozen until needed.

Put the envelope inside the crab pot, roughly in the centre of the floor of the pot. Secure it here with some twine, zippy ties, wire or a crab clip. You do not want the envelope to be anywhere near the side of the pot, otherwise the crabs will reach in from the outside to feed instead of needing to get into the pot to feed. It only takes a few minutes to make up a handful of bait envelopes and they are a very inexpensive yet useful piece of apparatus for the crabber.

DECEMBER 2018

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Rudolph the red-eyed reefie YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Summer has arrived and with it comes some of the best fishing days of the year. Not only are a lot of you about to head off on the annual Christmas holidays, but with the long days most of us can get a couple of hours of good fishing in after work. As most would know I spend the best part of my time out at sea running deep-sea charters, but in my spare time I try and fish as much as I can. This time of year I love chasing sand whiting. From the end of October to the end of January these tasty little fish fill in a fair bit of my spare time. Although I like the challenge of chasing them on small stickbaits and poppers, you just can’t go past live yabbies. My rig for these is very simple, 10lb fluorocarbon leader, size 0 ball sinker running down to a number four long shank bait holder hook. Your best bet is fishing

A good morning session on the whiting. on the channel edge on the last three hours of a flood tide, just casting downstream and letting it run past the boat. Watch the line for any sign of a bite and then just gently lift the rod and feel the great head shakes of the fish as they try to dive into the depths. It becomes a pretty full day if you can get a low tide early, drop the crab dillies out, pump yabbies, catch whiting, pull dillies, clean fish and crabs.

What more could you want? Flathead will be around in really good numbers this December, as the rain earlier had pushed them back around the lower reaches of the river. Some better spots to try will be around the old cane barges at the entrance to Serpentine Channel, just upstream from Brown Rocks, also the back channel behind Goodwood Island around the entrance to the Esk and Nihill islands. If the

plastics are not producing set out a couple of lures and have a troll on the edge of the drop-off. My favourite is still the Zerek Tango shad in either pink or white. As I mentioned earlier, this is crab time! So, make sure you get the pots or dillies out early and collect the catch on the way home. I’ve been getting quality blue swimmers since early October and they just get bigger as the water warms. Good muddies are around as well and an overnight soak in a deep hole near the mangroves will have you cracking shells for lunch the next day. Offshore this is the month to chase the mahimahi you’ve always wanted to catch. The FAD is about 12NM SSE of the bar and will be covered with these guys. Last season we caught fish to 1.2m long in December, mind you some days they were all just 1cm

The author’s sister Helen with a colourful tuskfish.

Jack, 8 years old, with a sweetlip and pearly. undersized, but most days they were good fish. If you find the surface is covered with small fish drop a bait jig over near the FAD and catch some of the millions of livies

there and swim a big one under the small mahimahi. There is almost always a bigger fish sitting way down and sometimes around 100m from the FAD.

Pete Jaimeson with a decent pearly.

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Mackerel will show up this month as well, first should be spotties in and around Woody Head and Shark Bay. They are a day to day thing at the start of the season, with the bay full one day and barren the next. Spanish will be on the scene as well, and my best tip is to troll a good live bait at dead idle around the bommies. Freeburn Rock just south of Angourie can be a very

productive hunting ground for Spaniards. For those who like to head out wide this month can be a real lottery, it’s impossible to know what the current is doing accurately until you get there and it can change dramatically while you are there. I’ve been out in the 50 fathom line drifting at less than 1 knot and had a current hit the boat so hard it swung it around, taking us

Lloyd with a beautiful snapper. south at over 3 knots. If it is fishable the chance of a bag limit of good snapper and pearl perch is almost guaranteed. Paternoster rigs with a 16oz minimum sinker and good circle hooks are a must, and for the smart ones an electric reel won’t ruin your day. Southern grounds from one-man to Brooms Head will be a good fish, and drifting through this ground in around 40m of water is very productive. We get some great Venus tuskfish, pearlies and snapper all through this reef in December. Keep an eye on the wind forecast as Jack with double-header of tuskfish December predominately STA 16123 Revo 519half FM_Layout 1 floater. 1/10/2018 4:13 PM Page and snapper on the one has1 a strong northeast wind

come in around lunchtime. For this reason, I spend a lot of time fishing up around South Evans Reef, using the afternoon breeze to blow me home rather than punching into it. Fortunately, this area is full of lovely trag and jewfish as well as other reef fish. It’s a bit of a hike up there, 12NM north of the bar, but it is a beautiful big reef to fish. Christmas time in Yamba can be very busy, boat ramps can be choked with people coming and going. It’s i mportant to show a little bit of patience and at times lend a hand to make it a pleasant day for everyone. Drive safe and Merry Christmas.

Stephen Simmonson caught this 10kg golden trevally on the main beach at Keppel Island. He was using a 2-4kg flick stick with a 5kg braid. After half a hour of reel screaming runs and plenty of excitement he finally won the epic battle and got the goldie to the beach.

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DECEMBER 2018

Hark the herald anglers fish BALLINA

Joe Allan

The whiting have shown interest in surface lures in recent weeks and that’s not surprising as the water temperatures are up and perfect for these guys to get active, especially in some of the shallow areas such as North Creek and Mobbs Bay. Each day has been different, with the level of aggression towards the lures

changing constantly. There could be a few reasons for this, such as the aforementioned water temp, sunlight, water clarity and probably the biggest one would be the wind strength and direction. Offshore fishing has been in that transition from winter to summer and only recently have we seen the latter really come through. A few snapper, big jew and trag have been haunting the close ground such as Lennox and Riordans reefs, and they have happily taken soft plastics, micro-jigs and

live baits. As the warm current starts rolling down the hill we will see some mahimahi hanging around the FAD and may even get a few early season mackerel showing up around Christmas. From all reports, fishos are having a cracking mackerel run to the north, so it should be another good mackerel season here. And with reports of mahimahi from Tweed Heads to Byron Bay, they can’t be too far away from hitting our reefs around Ballina and

Evans Head. The odd pearl perch is still hanging around the 42 and 48-fathom lines. Live baits have accounted for several of the larger models but some of the heavier micro-jigs and bright-coloured plastics have also tempted plenty of the smaller fish. Good numbers of small kingfish have been hammering live baits and knife jigs on the wider grounds. Most of the fish are between 60-90cm, but the odd larger fish has also shown up. A few snapper and small amberjack have also been mixed in among the kingfish, so it has been a bit of a lottery at times to see what you are going to pull up next. While the odd gutter is visible on South Ballina and Angels beaches, the numbers of fish they are producing has been fairly low. Some of the better action has come from Boulders and Seven Mile beaches, with quality dart and bream taking pipis and beachworms during the run-up tide. At this time of year

An Aussie bass caught on a black and blue Bassman jig with an Atomic Prong trailer. of squid or peeled prawns. Just remember that when fishing the beach for whiting they do not need a lot of water, so don’t be obsessed with finding the deepest gutter you can because quite often they are right at your feet in some of the skinniest water imaginable,

I’m not sure if more of these awesome fighting fish are around this year or more people are targeting them, but either way it’s great to see them in our river system. The best part about most of the mangrove jack reports I am getting is that the majority of

Ken Fitzgibbon with a beautiful snapper caught on a 4” soft plastic.

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we usually see a few of the straggling tailor make their way up the coast. Late in the afternoon it will be worth throwing a pilchard, mullet fillet or bonito strip out in a likely looking gutter. You may not see any large numbers of these razor-toothed eating machines, but the ones that do come into the gutters at night are generally quality fish, so be ready and have wire traces handy because these larger fish can do serious damage to your rigs. Some of the better-quality whiting have been coming from the beaches rather than the Richmond River of late. As with dart, pipis and beachworms have been the gun baits for these tasty little critters, but if you can’t get your hands on either of those baits, then you could try strips

particularly at night. We have still seen quality flathead from Pimlico Island to the mouth of the Richmond. Most of the larger fish have taken live herring and the smaller fish have fallen to dark-coloured soft plastics, prawns and white pilchards. One fish species that has been surprisingly prominent this season is mangrove jack. Some good reports have been coming in of quality fish caught on hardbody lures and live baits. The Atomic Shiner 75, Lucky Craft Pointer in 100mm or 78mm size and ZMan 4” SwimmerZ have been good options. Most of the rock walls from Wardell Bridge to the mouth of the river have produced at least a couple of fish in the past month, especially on the run-out tide in the afternoons.

fish are being released to fight another day. Bass are on the chew and are spread out all over the system. With the balmy evenings the surface bite will really hot up towards Christmas and all the way through until the end of January. If you haven’t tried this style of fishing for our aggressive freshwater natives, get some poppers and have a crack. You might be surprised how much fun and how addictive it can be. Look for any over-hanging trees that have cicadas making an awful racket. You don’t even need to be accurate with your casting as when the cicadas fall, they’re generally out from the bank, not right up the back in the shadows like you need to get to with spinnerbaits or crankbaits.

Summer heat has anglers frothing THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

Warm humid nights and sweltering days have revved up the summer species. Jacks, trevally, whiting and flathead are dominating the estuaries this month. Anglers are looking forward to having their arms stretched by big Tweed red dogs this month.

of Nine Mile, Five Mile and South reefs have seen pelagic species hanging in these currents. Trolling black and purple 150-300mm skirts has been catching a few billfish, mahimahi and wahoo, but the wahoo and mackerel are preferring 300mm hardbodies trolled around the bommies. Downrigged live baits around Nine Mile, Five Mile and South reefs and Windara banks are also catching

A cracking marlin that put up a big fight. Good numbers of summer pelagics are starting to show themselves around the Tweed. Billfish, mahimahi, kings, mackerel, yellowfin and wahoo are keeping anglers’ arms busy and lines tight. The odd snapper, pearly and spango are being caught on close reefs around dusk and dawn. Bass are really starting to fire up too. The abundance of insects and recent showers and storms have really turned the wild bass and impoundment bass on.

some solid kingfish, the odd mackerel and a few wahoo. But it’s a catch 22. The kings are only hitting baits rigged on fluorocarbon leaders, whereas the wahoo and mackerel are hitting wire and fluoro, but are marking short work of the fluoro leaders. So I like to troll two troll baits at this time of year: one fluoro and one wire. This covers both sides. Then, once you start getting bites and catching fish, you’ll know which rig to use. For bigger kings out wider try reefs and rocks in

James Walker with a big female mahimahi. OFFSHORE Currents are now cranking offshore, which has most anglers heading out to chase summer pelagics, which are here in good numbers. Current lines on the 24s, 36s, 50s and even off the back side

100m with 300g jigs for an arm stretch. Mahimahi have been on the FAD off of Tweed this month. Bigger ones are out wider on the 36s and the 50s. Look for current lines. There is the odd mackerel on the back side of the bommies,

trolling hardbodies, floating ganged pilchard and garfish has been working well, along with slow trolled swim baits. You only want to troll swimbaits at about 2 knots and always remember to break the backbone of your swimbait so it gets a nice swimming action. A properly rigged bait will swim upright and won’t spin. It will have a nice tail wobble and track straight. Rigging these baits about 10ft off the bottom will see line peeling off your reels in no time. The schools of yellowfin have shown up. Out wide, look for that magical 25°C water for best results. There is still the odd mixed reefy around, as well as snapper, pearlies and spangled emperor on the close reefs. Fish dusk and dawn with drift baits and plastics for best results. ESTUARY At this time of year most estuary anglers only have one thing on their minds and that is big red dogs (mangrove jack). Some real crackers have been caught over the last month. Live baits soaked of a night around heavy structure have been producing the bigger models. Taking the time to catch quality baits and keeping them alive with aerators and pump, then rigging them properly, is crucial to getting a big jack. Using a fluorocarbon leader with stinger rig or double snelled rigs is a must with live baits, because jacks hit really hard and head straight back to their heavy structured home. Plastics, hardbodies, surface lures, vibes and blades have all been producing this month. Slow rolling plastics along the rock walls and bridge pillars, trolling rock walls with 90-200mm hardbodies, and vibes and blades worked along the rock walls and bridge pillars have been the methods to catch a nice red dog. Try rock walls around Fingal and Chinny, and Barneys, Cobaki and Boyds Bay bridges. There are plenty of trevally in the systems this month. Fishing live or dead herring around the bridges of a night and working artificial lures around the bridges and rock walls of a day will get your line screaming.

Whiting have arrived and are in good numbers. Yabbies, blood and beach worms have been fishing really well, but surface lures are catching the bigger ones. Fishing topwater is one of the most fun ways to catch whiting, and all you need is a 4-6lb main line with 6-12lb leader on a 2-4kg rod with a 1000-2500 reel. I like to run a slightly softer rod when working surface lures, as it makes it slightly easier to keep the lure wobble when using walk-the-dog lures and poppers. You want a quick retrieve for the most action. Sometimes you think you’re going too quick until that first pack attacks your lure. You want loose drag as most hook-ups are only in the lip and the fish can pull hooks easily. Stingers or single hooks off the back hook mount can also help in more hook-ups and better penetration into the mouth. There are still some good flathead around, and working plastics and blades around the skinny water has been working very well. Trolling 50-150mm hardbodies between sand banks has been catching some bigger models, and blades worked

it around the run-out tides. There are lots of crabs around now that the water temps have risen and the storms are here, and soaking a pot is always worth it while working your favourite fishing spots. I like a full 24 hours. However, you never know how they will be moving around this month. There are also plenty of bullies up around Murwillumbah. BEACHES The beaches are still fishing well when the wind and swell permits. Fishing the gutter along the beaches south of Tweed to Byron Bay has been fishing

Kane Rowsell with a big fat Uki bass. in the deep water on the last of the run-out have also been successful. Flathead always love the last of the run-out tide, and lie in wait for the bait to move off the sand and weed banks, which have nowhere to go other than to the deeper water. Since the opening of the Mooball Creek mouth at Pottsville in late October, the big lizards and the odd mulloway will be sitting around the mouth eating all the bait washing out. It will be worth working

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Kingfish are ruling the seas this summer.

well. Dart, whiting, bream, trevally, flathead and the odd mulloway and tailor are all being caught this month on beach and blood worms, yabbies, whitebait, pilchards, pipis and various artificials. Working the gutters at low tide has been very productive on light gear. FRESHWATER Bass have woken up this month and are on fire, and it’s thanks to the storms and insect bloom. Fishing surface lures at dusk and dawn is

really addictive at this time of year. Hearing that big ‘boof’ gets me every time! Surface lures such as winged cicadas, bibbed cicadas, bugs, frogs, walk-the-dogs and poppers have been fishing really well in the wild systems and the dams. Getting those surface lures right under the overhangs is the key. I like to slow twitch my cicadas out, with 1-3 second pauses in between my twitches. This is just too irresistible to most bass. Try the creeks around Tyalgum, below the dam wall, around the weir, Uki and Terragon and even out in the pools in Piggabeen and upper Cobaki. Jig spins, spinnerbaits and hardbodies are the go once the sun is up. THE MONTH AHEAD We will see more mackerel, billfish, wahoo and mahimahi coming through this month. Trolling current lines and finding bait will see you onto good pelagics. The FAD will produce some nice small mahimahi, but look for floating objects for the better fish. We can expect the Spotted and Spanish mackerel to move onto the close reefs and sit off the backside of bommies. Jacks will really feed up this month as they start to fatten up for their spawning season. Get those lures and baits out around the structure for an arm bending. The whiting will start to get thick and get really hungry as they go into their spawning season. Those surface lures will be the go. Bass will also keep smashing surface lures over the next month. Get those insect lures out and start honing your position casting.

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Deck the halls with brand new fishing gear palagics as the current has picked up, making bottom bashing a little harder. Having said that, there are still some snapper in close, and out wide it is still worth getting down deep to chase pearl perch. Keep the boat drifting and use plenty of lead otherwise getting to the bottom might be a little tricky. Mackerel have started to show up in close off the tweed, but most are just school mackerel at the moment. As the month

SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

It might be busy at this time of year, but the variety that is available makes the fishing interesting and therefore worth braving some crowds. The estuary is fishing very well this month and reports from offshore suggest that this season might see the return of a lot of old favourites. BEACH Dart, whiting and bream dominate the catches over the summer months, but the sheer numbers can make up for the lack of variety. Unlike tailor and mulloway, the big, deep gutters will not be as productive as the gutters found close to shore. These close gutters are full of worms and pipis that attract massive whiting, loads of dart and big bream. Keep well back from the shoreline if the gutter is in close and you’ll do a lot better. If the sweep is strong, keep the bait moving by slowly retrieving it, otherwise you’ll find that it

Mangrove jack season is awesome for father and son bonding. Cody Ward caught the jack and dad couldn’t be prouder. is washed up on the shore before you know it. ESTUARY Whiting will be in good numbers in the estuaries as well. The best tip that I ever received when looking for good spots to fish for whiting is to find the dirty sand banks. ‘Dirty’ sand banks are banks that are full of weed, crab and yabby holes, mud and

even rock. The clean sand bars that you’d be happy for the kids to build sand castles on are no good for chasing whiting. There have still been a lot of flathead around. They can be caught all year round, but usually by Christmas they are very lazy and not interested in feeding. They do seem to be a lot more active at night

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The yellow marker out from Cook Island has seen a number of good-sized mahimahi as well. On the 36 and 50-fathom reefs there have also been good catches of kingfish and amberjack. Metal jigs worked hard and live baits will do the trick, and some fish are landed on skirted lures intended for marlin. Marlin are also a good option this month. There have been a few blacks caught in close around the

this time of year and it’s during the last month that good numbers of flathead can be targeted. Lure anglers will love the fact that trevally and mangrove jack have fired up and should only get better as the water continues to warm up. The canals and lakes of the southern Gold Coast will have plenty of trevally. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to target these speedsters. Surface lures can be a lot of fun to target trevally and often they make it very easy by hitting baitfish on the surface, giving away their location. If you find that they are a little shy and just following the surface lure then switching to a soft plastic or sub-surface hardbody will often do the job. Mangrove jack have been biting well in the upper reaches of the Tweed and this month they begin to turn up in the canals and around the bridges of the Southern Gold Coast. Early morning works best as they seem to be shy when the boat traffic begins to show up, but often can still be caught on slowly rolled soft plastics. Rolled slowly with the odd long pause is best, but consider the structure you are fishing and how best to get the lure into the strike zone. For example, the jacks will often sit low on the bridge pylons but high up under a floating pontoon. Additionally, the canals and lakes that produce trevally and mangrove jack will also see the odd tarpon and giant herring in the same area. Perfect location for kayak and shorebased anglers. OFFSHORE The Tweed and Southern Gold Coast reefs have seen good numbers of

Warm weather means the trevally are more aggressive and night is a great time to target them on surface lures. draws on the spotties will appear and continue to improve in numbers. Mahimahi are keeping anglers happy, especially those who have the coordinates for the FAD. Working metal slugs around the FAD and the channel markers work best.

24 and 36-fathom reefs as well as Burleigh gravel patch. The blues will still be around this month, but reports have been slow coming in, which may say more about the weather than the fishing. Be safe, have a great Christmas and catch plenty.

There’s lots of flathead still about this month, but bigger fish are getting harder to find. A good sounder and electric motor is a huge help.

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Weather outside frightful, but fishing so delightful GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn Instagram: @josh__dunn__

As we head into December, with Christmas just around the corner and everyone out shopping for presents, now is the perfect time to get out and make the most of this weather. With the extreme heat, afternoon storms and glamorous days, the last thing you want to be doing is spending valuable time shopping… right? Unfortunately, getting on the water these past few weeks has been tough due to the horrible weather, especially looking back to early November. Windy days are nothing but trouble, with wind knots and donuts on the water, unless you can sneak into a tight canal. In saying this, it looks like we are set to get some quality days over the coming month, making up for all the lost time on the water last month. Lately, flathead have been coming through in solid numbers. The larger models have been surprisingly laying in quite shallow water. I can’t be

Summer is the perfect time to target trevally, especially on an overcast day when the baitfish feel more confident and stray out from the pontoons. sure if this is because of the warmer water or them wanting to hunt down an easy meal of passing

mullet. Although, I can be sure that they are in feeding mode and some quality fish have been taken using

this plan of attack. While anglers are getting caught up in the mentality of large flathead only being in deep water, they need to start mixing it up and seeing what works when the deep water isn’t producing. Mangrove jack were a slow start to the season, although without doubt the success rate is picking back up. In saying that, last season my first jack was caught early to mid September, in comparison to this season, when I barely saw any action on social media until late October. The good thing is that the build up for the peak of jacks season should be firing. Most fish of late have been caught on dusk. Tides don’t really play a massive part when it comes to fishing for jacks, but I find two hours into the start of the run-out will produce most fish. One thing I have learnt from recent seasons was to persist in every jetty. Every jetty, rock wall or retaining wall you fish, put in extra casts. Normally, if I angle my boat right I can get at least 2-3 casts each side of a pontoon, including

BOWRIDER

DECEMBER 2018

the front. One thing I’ve noticed, and I bet I’m not the only one, is the heat this summer is extraordinary compared to past years. In fact, Bureau Of Meteorology reports that last summer Queensland as a whole had the second warmest summer on record, being also the driest summer since 198990. This year’s summer is certainly creeping up

fast, and the heat is now setting in. In conclusion, December is set to be heated and dry! I will say, make the most of fishing right before the storms, while keeping an eye on the barometer. Mangrove jack and bass fishing is a perfect time to get out for that weather! This month, keep up with the sunscreen and like always, persist on the water!

Mangrove jack had a slow start to the season, but are now picking up in numbers.

Summer fishing had me a blast JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

Flathead will be continuing to make up the bulk of the catches as they will still be around in large numbers after their breeding run. If you’re after a feed of flatty then now is the time to get out there and hit the water. Aim to fish the last half of the run-out tide, as this is when lizards become more active and feed.

Being an ambush predator they will be waiting for the tide to drop behind snags, weed, holes, drop-offs and where the sand meets rock walls. Flathead will take a variety of baits like prawns, pillies, yabbies, herring, and mullet. Another great bait to try if you haven’t already is white bait. Flathead love them and I’ve found that they work better than most other baits when chasing school flathead. You can either use a small two ganged rig using 1/0 or 2/0 hooks or a single hook

threaded through the eye and then turn the hook out. Plastics and diving lures are all the rage as you can cover more area searching

there have been a few fishos chasing whiting on small poppers in shallow water. Surprisingly they will actually rise to the surface and hit a

Wilson rep Scott ‘Fozzie’ Fleming with a cracking 82cm Jumpinpin lizard that he scored using a Zerek Flat Shad.

The author picked up this big girl while trolling a lure in a foot of water through a weed patch. for the fish. They tend to congregate in small schools, so if you catch one there is almost certainly more. The better spots to try around the Pin are the bottom of Kangaroo Island, Whalleys Gutter, the top of Crusoe Island, the deep water off Swan Bay, the Stockyards, Cobby Passage and the mouth of the Logan River. Now is the perfect time to be chasing 40cm+ elbow slapping whiting at the Pin. They love bloodworms, beachworms, yabbies, squid, prawns, small soft plastics and shallow diving lures and

lure in shallow water. Some of the pick spots to try popping are Ageston Sands and the junction in the Logan when the river is clean, Slipping Sands,

weather will also fire up the mangrove jack, which are one of the best eating fish you can get, and put up a great fight usually resulting in the fish winning. If you’d like to take on one of these brutes then you need to target structures like rock walls, jetties, pylons, bridges or sunken snags. They use these structures for cover to ambush their prey and quickly return to it with their meal. Any live bait drifted in front of these structures usually proves irresistible to a hungry jack, or you could try casting larger plastics at these structures and twitch them away from the snag imitating a wounded fish.

Trolling lures close to these snags also works well but be prepared for an explosive strike when they hit and try to pull them away from the snag as quickly as possible, because if they get you in they usually win resulting in loss of gear and fish as well. • Thank you for all your reports and feedback and if you have any questions give us a call on 07 3287 3868 or pop in and see me at Gem Bait & Tackle or you can email gembait@ tpg.com.au. I’d just like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year with plenty of fishing for all.

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An awesome underwater shot of Richie’s cod after it smashed a Tango Shad. the Pig Styes, top of Crusoe Island, the Gold and Green banks, Pandannus Bank and the Never Fail Islands. December is still a good time for bream at the Pin. Berleying up is definitely beneficial and larger baits such as half pillies, heaped mullet or chook gut or large flesh baits will definitely entice the bigger fish in. If you love chasing bream try around the drop-off of Kalinga Bank, the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie, the point off Short Island, the Stockyards or any rock wall or deep snag you can find will usually hold a few bream. The hot and humid

Estuary cod become more active when the water starts to heat up, so catches like this will become more common through summer.

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Have yourself a very mahimahi Christmas GOLD COAST

David Green

December sees things really hot up off the Gold Coast. The water temperature on the inshore grounds heats up to around 25°C and there is a marked increase in pelagic activity on the inshore grounds.

OFFSHORE The season for juvenile black marlin in central Queensland has been fairly quiet and we should start to see juvenile black marlin arrive in Gold Coast waters this month, but I don’t think they will be in big numbers. Mahimahi have already turned up and I think December will be a great month for this species. There should also

be a few wahoo around this month. In the early part of the season I usually troll skirted lures on the 50m line, and concentrate on spots with known aggregations of bait. The Cotton Reef east of Jumpinpin is a great place to start trolling, and Sullies, a couple of miles to the north, also holds good numbers of fish. Skirted lures on 10kg tackle are generally effective.

Kane Barclay with a whopping mahimahi.

I like to use a mixture of head types and colours, and I find small Meridians particularly productive. Trolling dead baits and live baiting are other good alternatives, but probably the most effective method is switch baiting, where hookless teasers are trolled and a live bait is deployed once a fish is raised. The 36-fathom reef is also worth a look this month. Out wider there have been quite a few blue marlin and in this fishery you can catch blues every month of the year, with December definitely being one of the better months. These crazy fish are amazing things to catch and the take-off is one of the most spectacular sights in gamefishing. It pays to use at least 37kg tackle. I like a mix of large and small skirts and use a single hook placed well back in the lure. This ‘gaff rig’ gives a very positive hook up most of the time. I generally work the contour just wide of the continental shelf in between 200-400m of water. If you find bait and birds inside this line work the area. I’ve caught quite a few blues in water depths between 80-150m. There should also be a few medium black marlin and

Mark and Connor Frendin with a nice pair of flathead.

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striped marlin around in the same area. By-catch when chasing blue marlin includes mahimahi, wahoo and the odd yellowfin tuna. As the East Australian Current moves in the bottom fishing slows down. There should still be a few snapper on the 36 and 42 fathom reefs this month and tuskfish, pearl perch and pigfish are also present. Out on the 50-fathom line there should be a few pearl perch, rosy jobfish and amberjacks, current permitting. On the inshore grounds Palm Beach and Mermaid Reef should start to produce spotted and school mackerel this month in the week leading up to the full moon, and the odd cobia also often shows on Palm Beach Reef in December. The artificial reef just north of the Seaway should continue to produce a few mulloway at night on live baits. It is also a good time to stock up on mackerel baits for the coming season, and there are often schools of small tuna feeding on the run-out tide lines just to the east of the Gold Coast Seaway. ESTUARIES AND RIVERS December generally sees a marked increase in boat traffic and the central part of the Broadwater can be a crazy place to fish in the middle of the day. Despite this, there is some great fishing if you can fish early and late before the water traffic starts. Target species this month include whiting, mangrove jack, mulloway, flathead and mud and sand crabs. While the flathead slow down a lot this month as the water temperature increases, there is still some good fishing to be had on the top of the tide on the many sand and weed flats in the Broadwater and around Jumpinpin. Casting long three hook hardbodies and unweighted soft plastic stickbaits is often effective in December. There are also a few nice flathead in the deep

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Laura Priest with a great black marlin. water around the entrances, but by now the spawning run is generally over and the fish have dispersed. Whiting become a lot more active this month. The Pimpama and Nerang rivers and Coombabah Creek all have good whiting fishing this month. Soldier crabs, bloodworms and shrimp all make excellent baits and if there has been a bit of rain, yabbies work well too. Surface lures are another good option, particularly if the fish are chasing prawns up on the flats. The area behind Wavebreak Island is a great spot to chase whiting on surface lures. The small Bassday Sugapen is my favourite whiting surface lure. Some of these whiting are over 40cm long. There should be a few mulloway around in the entrances. Live baits and big soft plastics are the best way to catch them and most of the bites occur right on the tide change. Look for deeper areas adjacent to structure. You can

often see mulloway on your sounder holding close to the bottom. Quite a few of these fish are over a metre long. Mangrove jack are active this month and the many floating pontoons in nearly all the canal systems are likely to hold jacks. Hardbodies and soft plastics are very effective. The Nerang and Coomera systems seem to hold the most jacks. They are notorious for busting lines and fight hard. The key to landing them is to go as hard as you can on the fish in the first few seconds so you can turn its head and lead it away from structure. Mud crabs start to move about this month and the Pimpama River and Coombabah Creek are worth a look on a big run-in tide. Out on the weed beds in the Broadwater there should be plenty of sand crabs. Overall, December is a great month to fish the Gold Coast and with the warm water set to arrive the game fish should not be far behind.

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Get ‘thready’ for some Christmas fishing sportfish and looking to release them, you should always have a release weight with you. Threadies will suffer from barotrauma when pulled from deep water and if you want to release them in good condition this is a must. Summer whiting are in great numbers throughout the Logan River and sand banks close to the ‘Pin Bar. Up in the super shallow water you can target these big fish using long

SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

Holiday season is upon us. It’s going to be nice and hot and so will the fishing. The bay shallows are firing at the moment. Plenty of pan-sized snapper, grass sweetlip and big bream are being caught around the shallow reef edges. Small plastics or hardbodies have been doing all the damage. Larger topwater lures have also been accounting for fish. Topwater fishing the reef edges is so much fun as you will see a lot of the fish bow wave your lure before hitting it. Early mornings on dawn or late afternoons will see the most action. There have been quite a few reports of some decent school mackerel up through the Rainbow and Rous channels. Look for the birds working as this is always a tell-tale sign of where the fish are lurking. They are feeding on small bait, so try to match the hatch and use small slugs or small plastics. Mangrove jack have been firing of late. Plenty of fish have being caught on lures and live bait in the canals at Raby Bay. The smaller creeks like Tingalpa

A solid threadfin caught on a TT Switchblade. and Eprapah have also been fishing well. Logan River is running a little dirty at the moment after all the recent rain we’ve had. There has also been plenty of good cod and Queensland groper as by-catch. Make sure you look after these fish as the Queensland groper are protected and need to be released unharmed. The Jumpinpin Bar has

Some metre-plus threadfin salmon on the new Lowrance HDS Live unit.

produced some nice fish over the last month. There have been plenty of mulloway and bigger flathead coming from the deeper water. Usually fishing the hour each side of the tide change will see the best results. There is also some good flathead coming from the areas around Tipplers. Some of the fish have been up super shallow, so don’t be scared to cast up to 10cm of water. The threadfin salmon have been caught in numbers throughout the Brisbane River the last month. Lots of fish have been coming from the middle reaches, with the better quality coming from around the mouth. If you’re fishing at night you are best to target around the lights and fishing shallow diving hardbodies. But, if you target these fish during the daylight hours you’re more likely to find them closer to the bottom and using vibes like the TT Switchblade

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It’s time to ho, ho, hook up this December BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

We’re at the pointy end of the year where the days are long and hot and many species of fish, especially pelagics, are feeding aggressively. Whether you are fishing the bay chasing tuna and mackerel or further offshore after marlin, wahoo, mahimahi and others, the prominence and feeding ferocity of many species will be at a high. Inshore species such as cod, mangrove jack, threadfin and others will have increased metabolisms and appetites due to the warmer conditions. Add to this species like mud crabs, sand crabs, banana prawns and possibly even the odd squid and you have the makings of a seafood feast to grace the Christmas table. With many adults on annual leave and the kids on school holidays, there is no reason not to get out amongst this action. MACKEREL A favourite of the bay anglers, and a staple food source for many, mackerel can be plentiful and highly aggressive in their feeding activities during the warmer months. Warm weather promotes increased numbers of baitfish and increases the mackerels’ metabolism. Add these factors together and you have some aquatic carnage to take advantage of. Large surface feeding schools of mackerel and other pelagics can often be located. Imitate-the-bait and you are in with a great

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Reggie is a gun with the bay mackerel and regularly scores quality captures using a variety of methods. chance. High-speed offerings are often required as speed will catalyse a strike most of the time. The common offering is a small-chromed slug or slice, however, jighead rigged jerkshad plastics, small stickbaits and weighted casting minnows will also excite these veracious predators into striking. Casting to the edges of the melee is desirable and will limit bite offs. Mackerel will generally immobilise their prey before engulfing it therefore tail hits are very common with a fast-moving offering. This also dictates that you should start cranking the reel handle before the lure lands so that it is already moving at a pace before it

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hits the brine. Mackerel schools can be located almost anywhere, however, more common areas at this time of year include the shipping channels, northern edge of the Paddock green zone to Four Beacons, around Middle Bank, west of Peel Island, Measured Mile precinct, Small Ships Channel, Rous Channel and around Gilligans Island (out from the mouth of Pumicestone Passage). Whenever you are transiting through the bay, it is always good to have a rod rigged with a chrome slice or jerkshad plastic as mackerel can show up anywhere at any time. Predominately it will be school mackerel (which have been around in varying numbers for the last few months) however, towards the latter part of the month we may see a few schools of spotties begin to appear. When these fish enter the bay heaps of surface busting schools are a common occurrence. While school mackerel can also be found feeding in this aggressive display of wanton mayhem, they are also common within the channels and around the channel markers, often feeding deeper down. Trolling spoons behind paravanes, deep diving minnow lures and drifting pilchards are all great ways to get amongst these tasty specimens. LONGTAILS The influx of baitfish into Moreton Bay during the warmer months also means increased activity from longtail tuna. These can be located in the same areas as the mackerel and can appear almost anywhere at any time, so it pays to be ready to cast. The size of the baitfish that the longtails are feeding on can dictate how easy

they are to tempt. Often when they are eating the juvenile baitfish (which are often not much longer than a centimetre or so) they can be very hard to tempt. The longtails can become very profile-orientated and delivering such a small offering can be almost impossible, unless you are a flyfisher. Anything larger than the bait on which they are feeding will be ignored. However, on occasion they may eat a larger, slow moving offering such as a stickbait. Using a floating stickbait (120-150mm) and retrieving with long sweeps of the rod and pauses may work. A slow crank across the surface can also be a catalyst for a strike if they feel like eating something different. Doesn’t always work, but is worth a try. Flyfishers can present a small, baitfish profiled fly pattern such as Queenie Killer, Bay Bait, Surf Candy,

Eyes Fly or similar. How you retrieve this will depend on the tuna’s feeding antics. If they are fairly aggressive and smashing into the bait then a fast, hand-over-hand retrieve is desirable. If they are mooching around close to the surface, slurping the occasional baitfish, try a slower retrieve with long slow strips and a pause between. Casting out the fly on an intermediate line and simply allowing it to slowly sink will also work well. Longtails will think it is a wounded baitfish and will slurp it up. Strip strike and you will soon be trying to control the line zipping up off the deck. Perseverance can often pay and continually trying different lures and retrieves should bring you results. At times longtails will even refuse your best efforts, leaving you frustrated and fishless. THREADFIN The last few months have been good for anglers targeting threadfin in the Brisbane River and other systems. Anglers employing a variety of methods have taken good numbers of quality fish. Live baiting has been taking the majority of the better fish from the Brisbane River. Specimens to over 120cm have been taken on baits of herring, banana prawns, pike and mullet. The zones out from the docks, around the edges of the declines into the main river basin, underneath the Gateway Bridge and eastern end of the Oil Pipeline have been some of the more popular spots. Baits are generally fished lightly weighted yet close to the bottom in these zones. Around the change of the tide often produces the most action, especially early morning and late afternoon. Night sessions can also be highly productive and soaking a few baits in

the warm summer darkness can be a very enjoyable and relaxing way to fish. Gathering the bait is usually the most exhausting part of the trip. A cast net is usually required and netting around places such as the boat ramps, sewage shoot, Boggy Creek, Aquarium Passage (Doboy Creek), the little beach near the Pinkenba boat ramp and Breakfast Creek will generally allow you to get enough baits for a decent session. Keep these alive in a decent amount of water using an aerator or constant water changes. Often the water on the surface is quite warm, so only replace a bit of the water at a time, not the entire amount. An insulated container such as an old icebox is ideal if you do not have a designated live-bait well in your boat. Quality fresh baits are also worth using, however, live is always best. Lure fishers have also been getting good results using vibration baits, an array of plastics, micro jigs, minnow lures and even flies. Threadfin have relatively poor eyesight therefore putting your offering close to them will increase chances. They use the long filaments protruding from underneath their head to detect movement in the water. Working vibration baits with small hops will be better than big erratic movements. Soft and hard vibration baits will work well, however, I often find that the hard baits with loud rattles do not work as well as the silent models. There are a lot of great plastics that will work well including jerkshads, paddletails, T-tails, prawn profiles and even crabs. At night, threadfin can often be found high in the water column, especially around lighted areas. This will provide easy

Longtails can reach impressive sizes in Moreton Bay and are occasionally located in large schools. They may seem to be ravenous, yet they can be hard to tempt and several different lure profiles will need to be tried in an attempt to get their interest.

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opportunity, especially for those using flies, minnow lures and even topwater offerings. MANGROVE JACK AND COD These species are commonly found in the same areas, however, it jacks are definitely the more prized capture. Both will respond prominently to live baits and numerous lures. Getting your offerings close to structure will greatly increase chances because these species will hunt by ambush, staying close to structure and darting out when a morsel comes within reach. Fast reflexes, a sturdy drag and good rod work will be needed to turn the odds in your favour and pry them away from their sanctuary. The numerous creeks, rivers, residential canals, harbours and other inshore waters offer a broad array of fish holding structure including rock walls, pontoons, jetties, bridge James with another cracking Brisbane River threadfin pylons, submerged wrecks, taken on live baits fished down towards the mouth. mangrove snags and rock bars. All these will be prime downpour, muddies will be and the pockets will collect areas to target mangrove jack pushed well out of the system a lot of shell, stones, mud and estuary cod. Many of due to lowering salinity crumps and other garbage off these areas can be fished from levels. This makes them more the estuarine floor. Quality a shore-based perspective. vulnerable to being caught as nets are not cheap but are Well-lit areas around bridges they are easier to access. As a worthy investment if you are common locations for the salinity levels return to are keen on securing a feed anglers, many of whom normal, muddies will again of tasty prawns. Pro Throw soak live baits while they work their way deep into the offer a good range of quality cast a few lures around on estuarine mangrove system. nets and these are available another outfit. Other captures Those crabbers going to the throughout most decent will include trevally, tarpon, effort to put their pots into tackle outlets. Now is the hairtail, bream, flathead and these areas will be rewarded time to get ready for the an array of undesirables, with quality rusty bucks. new prawning season as the Safety pots and open-top next few months generally especially on the baits. Boating anglers have a pickup (lift) pots are the only produce some of the best broader array of opportunity ones still legal in Queensland opportunities. Remember that and have the ability to waters and are best baited there is a maximum take of approach structure from with fish frames, chicken a 10L bucket of prawns per different angles with their carcasses or whole mullet. person and Fisheries regularly lures. A lot of water can be Smaller baits such as chicken show up and do checks. probed in a few hours of necks, pilchards, small pieces CONCLUSION lure casting. Early mornings, of fish offcuts/skins/gut or December is a great late afternoons and night leftover bait can be secured time to be on the water. The sessions are definitely the into a mesh envelope that is heat can be a little bit of best for targeting jacks and then attached inside the pot. a deterrent for some, that cod as they are generally This is also a great way to is why early morning and more aggressive and will preserve bait when setting the late afternoon sessions can lurk a little further from their pots for a long time as it will be especially enjoyable. structure. The decreased boat take the crabs a lot longer to Breaking up the day by traffic is definitely a plus in decimate the supply and get stopping at one of Moreton their fill. many areas. Bay’s lovely islands, PRAWNS CRABS beaches or sand banks for a The warmer months At this time of year, swim is recommended when NEW RELEASE prawns can be a bit hit and venturing out with the family are primed for crabs within Moreton Bay and the rivers miss. Decent rains back in over the Christmas break. and creeks feeding into it. October produced a small There are a lot of great Sand crabs should be available run of prawns in some fish species on offer within in numbers throughout systems and anglers have Moreton Bay and the Moreton Bay and well into the sporadically found decent systems filtering into it, so mouths of rivers, creeks and patches since, but they the desire to get out amongst estuaries. Setting safety pots have not been consistent. them should be high for around the fringes of the bay The northern creeks and serious fishers. There will islands and along the ledges rivers are usually the first be an increase in boat traffic and edges of deeper channels to provide some decent during December so stay should put you in with a great catches with the Caboolture, safe while out on the water chance of success. Ideally you Pine and Burpengary Creek and make sure you protect want to leave your pots for being worth a look during yourself, friends and family at least three hours, but an December. Often it is possible from the elements with a overnight soak is even better. to get a decent feed of prawns little slip, slop, slap and It pays to set pots in differing for the Christmas table if you sip. Hope you venture out VELOCITY SPORTS CRUSADER depths to heighten chances. spend a little time sounding regularly and get into some The mouth of the Brisbane around these creeks. of SEQ’s finest aquatic River and well south in the A quality 12ft top-pocket offerings over the next bay into the Jumpinpin area net is ideal for this pursuit, but month or so, especially if will still yield the sandies and you can get prawns in almost Santa brings you some nice you will also encounter mud any decent net. However, nets new tackle for Christmas. with bottom pockets will be Stay safe and enjoy your crabs in these areas. After a sizeable harder to get the prawns out Christmas break.

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It’s been a real mixed bag on the reefs lately BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

Offshore fishing east of the South Passage Bar in December has the potential to turn it on with plenty of options for the boaties. With the water temperature already up at 24-25°C, pelagics such as wahoo and mahimahi have already started showing up with reported catches from the point lookout area and out around the wave buoy. The summer run of Spanish mackerel shouldn’t be far away, with Boxing Day being regarded by many as the traditional start of the season. Stickbait and popper tosses have been boating some solid winter fish, so it will be interesting when the annual run of smaller fish turns up following the bait schools south. Slow trolling

swimming gar or live bait should get you in the game if there’s a few Spanish floating about. We haven’t had what I’d call a ‘full on’ wahoo run off Point Lookout for a few years, but since late October there have been a few fish caught, so we might yet have a decent run this season. High speed trolling with skirted lures will do the damage, but make sure your hooks are razor sharp. Early morning, late afternoon and tide changes are all good times to have a troll. Amberjack, samsonfish, yellowtail kingfish and solid trag jew are normally quite active on the wider grounds this time of year. All respond well to live baits and all except trag jew can fire up on the jigs as well, that is if you prefer to work for your fish. Although the bigger snapper schools have

A rare catch of a red cornetfish.

DECEMBER 2018

moved on for this season following the cooler currents, you can still get a feed of snapper. Shallow Tempest is worth a go for some good quality specimens up to 5-6kg and the wider grounds are the best chance for numbers of fish in the 35-50cm bracket. On charter of late it’s been a real mixed bag. We’ve had some good sessions on ambos, trag and juvenile snapper, but nothing has fished consistently. The run-up to the full moon in late October saw us boat some solid catches, but we had a couple of days directly after the moon where we had to work hard for fish. Since then, fishing has improved. As we’ve got away from the back-side of the moon with some solid hits on juvenile snapper, trag and mahimahi. December and January fished well for us last

A quality yellowtail kingfish caught in 50m of water. year with amberjack, trag and juvenile snapper dominating the catches on the wider grounds, and with a little luck they should turn it on again for us. The Christmas and New Year period is normally fairly busy on the water, so

take that extra bit of care, and also make sure your boat is up to speed before heading out. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season and that you get that new bit of gear you wanted from the big fella.

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.

A solid catch of trag and amberjack. These species are prevalent this time of year.

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Holiday fishing set to fire NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

With the humid weather pumping along like a welloiled machine, it seems that Mother Nature has been both cruel and kind to us over the last month. We’ve had a reasonable run of good days of weather amongst the bad days, and at the end of the day, anglers can’t be choosers.

the winds helping to push bait into our favourite estuarine areas and therefore bringing feeding predators with them Anglers have been reporting mixed results lately, with the increase in water temperatures starting to set some normality to our bread and butter summer species of summer whiting, flathead and the ever-present bream. Catches of summer whiting have been steady over the past month, with the popular spots being the

Jack attack in the upper Pine River, on a Cranka Crab, no less! In the northern bay we have had our fair share or easterly winds of late, both from the north and south, giving our east-facing fishing areas an absolute hiding, and forcing anglers to seek shelter in the protected waters of our many estuaries. But this has also worked in our favour, with

southern beaches of Bribie from Buckleys Hole around to Norfolk Creek, Margate foreshore along Suttons Beach and Hays Inlet. The general consensus has been bloodworms and fresh yabbies for bait, with diehard whiting hunters always benefiting from using red tubing along their

leaders. Light leaders around 4lb have also been a must to increase catch rate, especially on clearer cloudless days. While chasing whiting, anglers have also been getting solid legal flathead, as these two species often share common feeding areas during the warmer months. Anchored anglers are commonly using two rods, one for whiting and one with a bait left out the back of the boat waiting for a humble flathead to latch on. For the lure minded, moderately-weighted soft plastics around 3-5” have been the weapon of choice, including ZMan 3” GrubZ, 4.5” Razor ShadZ and 3” Slim SwimZ, Atomic Plazos 4” Prongs and Shads Lures 3” Ribbed Candys. Good lizard reports have been coming out of Pumicestone Passage around 112 near Poverty Point, White Patch and Sylvan Beach, and further south try the mouth of the Caboolture River, the northern side of North Reef and the mouth of the Pine River upstream of the Haughton Highway. Bream numbers have been sound over the past weeks, with the breezy days making these roaming crusaders more aggressive throughout the day. Flooding tides and 10-15 knot winds are ideal conditions for bream, as they tend to be less ‘spooky’ as they cruise shallower waters to feed. Light winds can also assist anglers choosing to drift, as this allows you to cover more area stealthily for better results. For the anchored fishers, baits like mullet strips, yabbies and chicken breast have been working well, with lighter sinkers proving to be beneficial. For the lure minded, mid-diving cranks such as Atomic Crank 38 Mid, Jackall Chubby Shallow, Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts 55SP and the Daiwa Presso

Minnow have been working well in the shallows during flooding tides, with natural and clearer colours being the pick of many. Rocky points, rubble flats, weedy banks and reef bommies have been the areas of interest for bream during these warmer months, as it gives them ample coverage to ambush current fluttering bait as they pass with the variable wind patterns. Some average-sized mangrove jack have also been reported in a few of our creeks in the northern bay, but a good dose of rain would definitely help our cause, providing a nice purge to our creek system. The upper reaches of the Pine and Caboolture rivers have produced a few just legal jacks for the dedicated anglers, with many saying it’s a lengthy time between bites. A few specimens have also come out of the Pacific Harbour canals at Bribie, with locals saying they can hear several ‘boofs’ at night with jacks attacking prey around pontoons and rock walls. Reports of mud and sand crab catches have been circulating over this month, with afternoon thunderstorms providing enough rains to

Adrian Wong with a solid morwong taken off Scarborough. push muddies into our creeks looking for a feed. With many females finding their way into pots there has been a good ratio of bucks to keep anglers happy for their hard work. Sand crab catches have been more common through the main channel of Pumicestone Passage, and Bramble Bay outside of Woody Point is also

producing good numbers. MONTHLY TIP As lure popularity has grown over the last decade, many of us own multiple trays of these expensive hobby candies. Be sure not to expose them to excess sunlight, as our extreme temperatures can warp hardbody lures and melt soft plastics.

Summer is a great time to get stuck into bream on lures.

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O come all ye flathead NOOSA

Peter Wells

With the lead up to summer being quite dramatic in terms of weather conditions local anglers have some interesting challenges to deal with. Most of the Sunshine Coast rivers went from spectacularly clear to almost chocolate. Noosa in particular had over 500mm of rain in one week. These conditions definitely change the way we approach our fishing.

Whiting anglers tend to concentrate most of their efforts around the river mouths with the best results coming on the top two hours of the tide. Bait anglers were using freshly pumped yabbies, beach worms, soldier crabs and peeled prawns and getting some outstanding results with plenty of elbow slappers moving into the area to feed on morsels of food disturbed by the run-off. Surface lures were also working well but only on the clearer run-in tide. The new small sized Sugapens have

Little Sunny Armstrong with a bream.

been well received with plenty of anglers singing their praises. These lures are super light so only very light braids will give you a decent cast. Also, using mono as a leader is a must as fluorocarbon will sink and can upset the action of these lures. Dusky flathead have been in outstanding numbers and with the quality of fish taken it would seem that the slot limits applied to these fish are definitely working. There have been some outstanding fish hitting the magic metre mark over this spawning period. These fish have been more predominant on the run-out tide. Fishing the edges of sand and mud banks has been where most of the fish have been taken, with lures and baits claiming fish. For those just getting into plastics fishing, flathead are one of those fish that are relatively easy to target. Small fish and prawn profiles are what works best and in the dirtier water fishing bright colours is essential. From my experience the slow roll across the bottom is the best method, so having the appropriate size jighead is very important. Basically, if you are not on the bottom you are not in the game. The new Bio Tough Lures from Squidgy have

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DECEMBER 2018

Michael McMahon with an 80cm snapper from the local reefs. been a huge success since their launch last year and have a great range of styles and colours perfect for the job. This is also the time of year that mangrove jack anglers really start to get excited, with plenty of quality fish on offer. These fish are the brawlers of the rivers and are one of the toughest fighters out there. The one thing that really fires them up is a sudden change in the weather. Storm conditions during spring and the early months of summer result in some great captures. The sudden change in barometric pressure is the cause and it seems the fish are conditioned to feed hard at this time. This in turn makes targeting them that bit easier. I am not suggesting that you should be out there in an electrical storm with a graphite rod in hand, but those hours leading up to

The new colours in the Daiwa Double Clutch range and the Zerek Tango Shads have been flying off the shelves with some great results. On the offshore scene the weather conditions have also changed the way we fish. For the bottom bouncers, things are relatively good with plenty of quality fish taken on the closer reefs. Recent rains result in a mass evacuation of baitfish from the rivers as these fish move out to sea in search of more saline water. This in turn brings the more predatory fish to the closer reefs to feed. Sunshine Reef, Jew Shoal, Halls Reef, Hancock Reef and the Gneerings are all prime areas to target. Sunshine Reef is one of the more popular destinations to head to, as it always seems to have a good population of coral trout at

Kalani Love with a great 80cm flathead from the Maroochy River. storm activity will deliver the best results. Live baits of poddy mullet or herring cast around structure will get quickly gobbled up by a hungry mangrove jack, but hooking them is only half the battle, getting them out of their snaggy homes is when the real fun starts. Using good quality eight carrier braid of around 20-30lbs and a fluorocarbon leader of al least 25lb will give you the tools to stay in the game. For the diehard lure anglers, red suspending lures are very popular and are usually the first to hit the water.

this time of year. Local legend ‘Chicko’ from Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa has been slaying these fish, with some solid specimens landed in the past few weeks. You can also expect to find snapper, sweetlip, tuskies, pearl perch, cobia and mulloway all feeding on the bounty of baitfish on offer. With this in mind, having some live baits on board is essential. Make sure you have a bait jig or two set up ready to go and a suitable vessel to keep your prized livies in good condition.

Plastics and micro jigs have also claimed some great fish. Working these lures hard to the bottom is the only way you will come into contact with the bigger fish, so make sure you have the right weight jighead or micro jig to cope with both depth and run. For those of you that are itching for pelagic fun you will have to run a little wider to find fish. These fish are generally bluewater species and are not that often found in those cloudier waters. Large tuna schools were already moving into the area before the rains, so it stands to reason that these fish will be that bit further out. Spanish and spotted mackerel were also around and were seen by local divers. Fishing the Hards, Barwon Banks and the reefs off Double Island should see you come into contact with some great pelagics. On the beaches things have also improved greatly after some big swells hit the coast and created some great gutters in close. Whiting and dart have been in great numbers feeding on all the exposed pipis and beach worms. This is great news for the younger anglers, as most of the gutters are close in and therefore an easy cast. Mulloway and tailor numbers have also improved with a lot of good-sized fish taken. Fishing the incoming tide early morning or into the evening has seen the best results with mullet fillet, pilchards and bonito fillets the stand out baits. Flathead have also been in the gutters and anglers have been taking their smaller 7ft outfits down to the beach and working plastics on larger jigheads with some quite interesting results. Quality flathead and good-sized trevally have been taken in this manner. • Don’t forget to check in to www.fishingnoosa.com.au for all the latest up to date info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Davo’s Tackle World Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Sign the petition to stop commercial netting in the MAKE YOUR Great Sandy Marine Park DREA

A REALITY

Do you live and fish between Baffle Creek and Tin Can Bay? The ‘Great Sandy Designated Area’ (red cross-hatched yellow conservation zone) does not exist in any other marine park in the country! The Great Sandy Designated Area incorporates areas of conservation park zones in: Baffle Creek and tributaries, the Elliott River and tributaries, the Burrum River and tributaries, the Mary River and tributaries, the Great Sandy Straits and Tin Can Bay Inlet. This anomaly overturns everything a true yellow conservation zones is there to protect! The commercial sector will boast that it also allows recreational fishers to use three lines or rods per person with a combined total of six hooks when fishing in this area. Recreational fishers in true conservation park (yellow) zones in the Moreton Bay Marine Park are now able to use up to two hand-held rods or handlines per fisher, with no more than

two hooks in total for each fisher. There are also six rivers and creeks in the State Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park Zoning Plan allowing the use of two lines and hooks. The Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance will be insisting that recreational anglers will be allowed up to two hand-held rods or handlines per fisher, with no more than two hooks in total for each fisher once the Great Sandy Marine Park is ‘corrected’ and the Great Sandy Designated Area is removed! Please support and sign the petition if you want to stop commercial netting in our Great Sandy Marine Park, which includes; Baffle Creek and tributaries, the Elliott River and tributaries, the Burrum River and tributaries, the Mary River and tributaries, the Great Sandy Straits and Tin Can Bay Inlet. We then ask that you share this petition with all of your contacts, family and friends. We will need all the support we can get if

‘we’ are going to see that unrestricted numbers of commercial fishers are fairly compensated and removed from our Great Sandy Marine Park under the current full term 10 year review due to be completed in this year! You can email Hon Leeanne Enoch, Minister for Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Minister for the Arts at environment@ ministerial.qld.gov.au or Algester@parliament.qld. gov.au. - Fraser Coast Fishing Alliance VIDEO

Scan the QR code to view and sign the petition to stop commercial netting in the Great Sandy Marine Park.

Shark control equipment deployed in Whitsundays For the first time, shark control equipment has been deployed in the Whitsundays. Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol Shark Control Program Manager Jeff Krause said Fisheries Queensland had prioritised reducing the current risk of dangerous sharks being in the Cid Harbour area following two shark attacks there. “To have two shark attacks in the same place within 24 hours is unprecedented,” Mr Krause said. “The Queensland Shark Control Program contractor based at Mackay has deployed three shark control drumlines in the Cid Harbour area this morning. “Three locations were identified for the drumlines at Sawmill Bay. “The drumlines are likely to remain in place for at least the next week with the situation to be reviewed regularly. “A Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol boat has also been on site again today advising people to avoid swimming in the area.” Mr Krause said the area was not covered by the Shark Control Program which operates at 85 of Queensland’s most popular beaches.

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“However, given the unprecedented attacks in the same location in such a short time, Fisheries Queensland has deployed additional gear temporarily to reduce the risk to swimmers,” Mr Krause said. “At this stage, there is no evidence to indicate what the species of shark involved was. “However, species targeted in the shark control program in other areas of North Queensland include tiger sharks and bull sharks.” Mr Krause said with school holidays commencing, it was important for people to be aware of safe swimming practices. “Apart from Queensland’s coastline, sharks are found in a variety of habitats including estuaries, rivers, creeks, canals and streams - both saltwater and freshwater,” Mr Krause said. “To reduce the risk of a shark attack in Queensland waters, people should be discerning when choosing where and when they swim.

Mr Kruse said swimmers should also follow these safety guidelines: • Swim or surf only at patrolled beaches and between the flags • Obey lifesavers’ and lifeguards’ advice, and heed all sign and safety warnings • Leave the water immediately if a shark is sighted • Do not swim or surf after dusk, at night or before dawn when sharks are most active • Do not swim or surf in murky waters • Do not swim in or near mouths of estuaries, artificial canals and lakes • Never swim alone • Never swim when bleeding • Do not swim near schools of fish or where fish are being cleaned • Do not swim near or interfere with shark control equipment • Do not swim with animals Follow Fisheries Queensland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@ FisheriesQld). – DAF

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The

Perfect

The best Christmas gifts ideas for 2018 FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Christmas is a time for family, friends and fun. There tends to be a fair bit of cheer involved, and way too much good food. People flock to their favourite holiday destination with unwrapped gifts packed, ready to be used for the first time. When it comes to fishing tackle, there are plenty of gift options for any level of angler. The hard part is deciding whether the gift should be practical, outside the box or the start of someone’s fishing journey. Here are some ideas to get you started.

COMBOS

••••••••••••••••••••• Combos fit into the

‘practical gift’ category. There are fishing combos available for almost all aspects of fishing, from colourful kids’ outfits to heavy rods and overhead reels to target larger pelagic species. Most combos include appropriate line, and may even come with a few lures or hooks and sinkers. They also come in many price points (just remember that you tend to get what you pay for). Combos aren’t for everybody. However, if you’re buying for someone who either doesn’t fish often, is a fishing novice, or who wants to try a new style of fishing, a combo is a great choice. Entry level Prices for entry level combos range from around $40-$100, and it doesn’t really matter what brand you

choose. These outfits will get you fishing, and with minimal maintenance they should last a couple of years. Style specific There are so many different ways to catch fish these days that fishing style specific or species appropriate outfits are very popular. Combos to fish with lures or entrylevel bluewater options tend to range from $100$300. There is some real value in these outfits, as manufacturers push the boundaries of product quality. The quality of fishing products, like any other sporting equipment, continues to move forward. Older technology then filters down into the inexpensive ranges, which is a win for everybody. In this category, those brands that put a lot of effort into research and

development also offer the best quality for the price. Daiwa has shown this for many years, and the 2018 TD Black combo is no different. The reel features Daiwa’s latest LT (Light Tough) technology, and the rods are built on their Nanoplus HVF blanks. They’re super lightweight outfits and are great value for money. Shimano is the other major brand that makes good combos during these seasonal periods. They ensure that each outfit is balanced, and only the current reel and rod models are used.

SPIN REELS

••••••••••••••••••••• There are a few key things to look for when purchasing spin reels. Reel size relates to line capacity, line strength and castability.

The smaller the reel, the less of each you get. So if the fishing you are doing is finesse-related, where casting distance is not required, you would look at 1000-1500 size reel. As the casting distance, water depth and size of species increases, the reel size increases as well. When it comes to ball bearings and drag, many people think that more equals better. However, that’s not necessarily the case. With ball bearings it’s important that they are stainless steel, to resist rust. Three good bearings are better than 10 mediocre ones. Reel drag systems have become much stronger in recent years. There are some very small reels with 4-5kg of drag out there, but a smooth drag is the key. Unfortunately, price point

tends to dictate this more than anything else. Entry level Having said all of that, there are some fantastic reels available under $200. The Okuma brand has always offered quality affordable reels, and the new Helios SX range is no exception. They come in three sizes and are well worth a look. Another brand I have tested a number of time for the magazines is ATC. I have a number of the ATC Valour reels in my arsenal of outfits, and I cannot fault them 18 months down the track. Another reel to look out for are the Rapala X-Spin reels. They are solidly built and well priced. Medium level If I can save a little on a rod, I will spend a little more on a reel. It is this $200 to $350 price

DAI TD B WA LA COM CK BO DAIWA TD SOL III

A UM S K O LIO HE

ATC VALOUR

DECEMBER 2018

SHIMANO STRADIC FK

SHIMANO CURADO DC

Guide point I am talking about. Most brands include their top line technology in these medium level reels, and you can expect to get some longevity from them with minimal maintenance. The standouts for me from the 2018 offerings are the Rapala R-Type reels. These reels are great quality for the price; they’re designed to deal with bigger fish and not break the bank. Shimano’s Stradic reels continue to impress as well, and the Stradic FK is no exception. I have Stradics that are over 10 years old and still going, and the latest version seems to be even more robust and angler friendly. Finally, I feel that I have to include the Daiwa TD Sol III LT reels, even though they’re a fraction over this price bracket. LT means Light Tough, and they certainly are. It’s amazing that a reel that feels light as a feather can be so strong. Additionally, like all the Daiwa reels at

SAMAKI ZING GEN II

this level and above, it’s packed with features.

BAITCAST REELS

••••••••••••••••••••• Baitcast reels have never been everybody’s cup of tea. Bird nests due to uneducated thumbs have deterred many anglers from using them, but that all changed this year with the introduction of the Shimano Curado DC reel. The DC stands for Digital Control, and without getting too technical, you basically cannot get a bird nest while casting. There is a plenty of other tech in the reel as well. This would be a very special gift for any larger lure casting enthusiast.

RODS

••••••••••••••••••••• Most rods these days are made to preform a specific task within a type of fishing. There is a reason that many anglers have a nest of rods in the house: each has its own task and is

a must-have. Spin rods I will focus on graphite based rods, as they form a big part of the market these days. Yes, composite rods still have their place, as they can cope with knocks and abuse far better than a graphite rod. However, the power to weight ratio of graphite just can’t be beaten when you’re fishing for extended periods. When it comes to spin rods, there is fantastic value for money and a broad range of fishing options available. It is ABSOLUTELY amazing how much bang for your buck you can get. Here are a few examples: • Samaki Zing Gen II – this series of rods has 18 models ranging from 5’4” to 9’0”. They look fantastic, have quality components and are very well priced. • Okuma Helios rods – the ideal match for the Helios spin reels, which I mentioned earlier. Helios rods are built using Toray CT40 blanks with Fuji components, and

would be a great present for that special angler in your life. • Daiwa TD Hyper rods – these rods showcase what ‘light and tough’ is all about. I tested the 701LXS earlier in the year and I am still amazed at the technology Daiwa has put into a $130 rod. • Okuma Pressure Point rods – tailored more towards the heavier end of town. This new range of rods focuses on anglers looking to cast poppers, stickbaits and larger plastics for big bluewater beasties. Highly affordable rods for this type of fishing. • Rapala Maxwell rods – these caught my eye at this year’s Australian Tackle Trade Show. This solid range of rods looks fantastic, and any angler would be happy to unwrap one on Christmas Day. Baitcast rods Most of the above ranges also have baitcast options, which are well worth looking at, but there are also a couple of others that I would like to mention.

• Dobyns Sierra rods are a new series available in 2018. They complement the Fury, Champion Extreme and Champion XP ranges already available. If you are looking at baitcast rods, you need to check these out. • Bone rods – A range made up of 21 options, with the majority of them being baitcast. There are several series within the range, including the Voyage series of travel rods. They are some of the best travel rods I have seen. • Live Fibre Venom – these rods are now well established amongst Murray cod and barramundi anglers. Speak to any angler casting big swimbaits and lures for these species, and they will know and recommend these rods. Bluewater rods The Australian-made Wilson Live Fibre Game Series is one of the best new game rod ranges for 2018 – and the RLF46FRD model took out the Game Fishing category at the this year’s AFTA Tackle Trade Show.

It’s fully rollered, features premium components, and comes with an interchangeable bent butt. Another new release worth checking out is the Shimano Tiagra Ultra series. These rods feature braid-friendly guides, and selected models have interchangeable butts. Jigging rods Jigging, in particular micro-jigging, has really taken off in Australia. Rapala Australia with their Storm Gomoku range set the standard, and they are now raising the bar even higher with the new 2018 release of the Gomoku Gen 2. The Belize, Azzura and Vanuatu rods come in light, medium and heavy sizes, with overhead and spin options.

LURES

••••••••••••••••••••• The lure styles and brands that anglers’ use are often just personal preference, or simply what people have read about in To page 48

ANO SHIM A TIAGR ULTRA

OKU M HELI A OS

E IBR F E LIV AME G F RL

GOMOKU GEN 2

OKUMA PRESSURE POINT

DECEMBER 2018

The From page 47

magazines like this one. Rupe Gaden and I have both written comprehensive reviews of species-specific lures, and these articles can also help you choose the right Christmas present. You can read them at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au, and they cover bass, Murray cod, barramundi and trout. If you’re looking at other species, there are plenty of lures hitting the shelves that will make great additions to anglers’ collections. Here are a few that have caught my eye. Soft plastics The Halco Madeyes soft plastics are not a new offering, but are hugely popular along the West Coast of Australia. I tested a few of the range earlier in the year, and have since added them to my collection. An increasing number of East Coast anglers are now seeing the quality of the Paddle Prawn, Flick Stick and Flutter Shrimp ranges, and are adding them too. The ZMan range of

plastics is far too massive for me to cover here. There is a reason why so many people love these plastics: they catch fish! The addition of the midnight oil colour provides an Australian flavour that I am sure will be on many shopping lists over the Christmas period. Atomic soft plastics have been around for many years. The name may have changed (they’re now called Plazos) but the lures sizes, shapes and options are up there with the best. You tend to get a few more packets of plastics for your hard earned as well. Hardbodies – small Strike Pro lures are one of the original finesse baits to hit the lure fishing scene. Anglers targeting bream, trout, redfin and the like swear by them. The Bass-X, Flatz Minnow and Slinky Minnow are favourites, and the options don’t stop there. Rapala has released a couple of models this year just in time for Christmas. The Jack Deep, Shadow Rap 07 and the Rip Stop have

already proven themselves on trout in our alpine lakes, and the Jack Deep in particular has kicked plenty of goals on Australian bass. Zerek lures have become must-have in many anglers’ tackle boxes. There is a model and style to suit many types of fishing, with the Tango Shad being a standout. Atomic Cranks, like the Atomic soft plastics range, is full of proven lures at great price points. Many tournament anglers swear by the lures in the Cranks ranges. Hardbodies – medium/large Halco is a brand synonymous with producing quality lures designed for Australian species. There ranges cover the full spectrum of species, from bluewater to barramundi and our iconic native freshwater fish. Rapala has always produced quality lures, and this was further enhanced a few years ago when they added Australian colours

and fitted terminal tackle suited to our fish. Rapala lures are always worth checking out. Samaki is another brand that has taken the industry by storm in recent years. Lures like the Pacemaker are standard fare for anglers targeting our bluewater species. Home-grown lures Australian lure makers are an amazing group of very talented people. Just go to the Australian Lure Expo each year and you will be amazed at what is available. A number of these lure makers now have products available through select tackle stores. Matt Fraser launched his Barambah Lures into the commercial sector recently. His Manic Budgie and Bidjiwong 200 would make epic presents for any avid Murray cod angler. Aaron Young, the designer of Kuttafurra Lures, is recognised as one of the best of the new wave of Australian lure makers.

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From surface crawlers to deep divers, his lures are first class and would look great hanging on your Christmas tree. Spinnerbaits have a big place in the Australian fishing scene, and Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits has strived to produce the best spinnerbaits and their variants for native fish. Look out for them in your local tackle store.

LINE

••••••••••••••••••••• I hadn’t planned to write anything about the various lines available, and but then I realised that 2018 has seen the release of a number of high quality lines that would be a great present for an avid angler. One of the new releases was Daiwa’s J-Braid Grand. This Japanese-made, 8-strand PE line is superstrong and has excellent abrasion resistance. It’s set to be very popular amongst the followers of

Daiwa products. Sufix has also released two new braids that have tongues wagging. The first is Sufix 131 braid, which is a little bit different. A single GORE performance fibre is surrounded 12-carrier braided line, producing an incredibly abrasion resistant yet fine line. The second offering is the Sufix X8. The X8 is a slightly lower price point than the 131 and is well positioned in the 8-carrier braid market. Finally, I would like to add an Australian flavour to the line market. Platypus has been producing line since the late 1800s, and this company has always been at the forefront of innovation. Their offering in the 8-carrier market is P8, and it’s accounting for a wide range of Aussie species.

TACKLE STORAGE

••••••••••••••••••••• Looking after your tackle, both on and off the water, is a big part of

RAPALA JACK DEEP

HALCO MADEYES

CO HAL D HAR ES I BOD

STRIKEPRO BASS-X ZEREK TANGO SHAD

ZMAN MIDNIGHT OIL

BARAMBAH BIDJIWONG 200

BARAMBAH MANIC BUDGIE 48

DECEMBER 2018

SAMAKI PACEMAKER

fishing. Being organised means you have more time to actually fish. Tackle bags have come a long way from the canvas backpack I owned as a kid. Most tackle bags have multiple pockets, come with tackle trays and have holders for your pliers and other items. Many weigh next to nothing, and are designed to dry quickly. If only they were available when I was fishing the Murrumbidgee River! Wilson Fishing won the Best Tackle Management category at this year’s AFTA show with their Platinum Tournament Bag. When it comes to complete tackle storage systems, it doesn’t get any better than this. The Tournament Bag has multiple pockets, eight waterproof tackle trays, a couple of handle options and a base designed to reduce water getting into your gear from below. There is also a backpack option in the same series. The Plano brand is

Guide

regarded as having some of the best tackle storage solutions available. The bags and other items come in a magnitude of sizes and configurations to suit every angling situation, so there’s something for everyone.

SUNGLASSES

••••••••••••••••••••• Quality eyewear is essential for every angler, and the options available have increased dramatically in recent years. The biggest mover and shaker has been the brand Costa, and this is a big win for Australian anglers. Costa spends a huge amount of time and effort in developing their lenses and giving back to the aquatic environment. Their Untangled range frames are made from discarded fishing nets that otherwise would be drifting in the ocean and creating a hazard for marine life. This is just one of many positives that the Costa brand offers. Australia also has

some quality producers of sunglasses, with one of the best being Tonic Eyewear is one of these. Tonic introduced the Tango frame at this year’s Tackle Trade Show, providing anglers with a superior quality lens in a great looking frame.

WATERCRAFT

••••••••••••••••••••• I was going to call this section ‘kayaks’, but the introduction of SUPs (stand up paddleboards) into the fishing market means that a kayak isn’t the only option anymore. Hobie kayaks and SUPs are some of the most soughtitems at every boat show I go to. Hobie does a great job of showcasing what they offer. The last couple of years have seen them introduce a SUP with their Mirage Drive pedal system, and this year they released a new kayak, the Mirage Compass. A lower price point offering, with all of Hobie’s quality components, the Compass has been a hit at the shows

and is sure to be high up on people’s Christmas lists. I also want to mention Australian made and manufactured kayak brand: Aquayak Kayaks. Based in Melbourne, they produce a great range of recreational and fishing kayaks. I have tested a number of them for the magazines and I’d be stoked if one of the kayaks found its way under my Christmas tree!

ESKIES AND COOLERS

••••••••••••••••••••• Is there anything more Australian than giving somebody an esky for Christmas? Even better if it is one that has every bell and whistle you could ask for. This summer, I recommend looking out for Otterbox eskies and coolers in stores. We had a number of them delivered to our office and took them out and about with us. We had a chuckle when we read that they were ‘bear-proof’, but we certainly appreciated

how tough and durable they were, and how well they kept our drinks and food cold.

STOCKING FILLERS

••••••••••••••••••••• There is no shortage of smaller items that are practical for any angler. Here are a just few of the options out there. The ultimate stocking filler is something that I haven’t seen before here in Australia. It’s called the Tackle Club. You just pay X amount per month and get a box of tackle delivered to your door. Pricing starts at $49.99 per month, and you get a minimum of $80 worth of tackle each month. You just tick the box related to which species you chase. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. Other ideal stocking fillers are sun protection items, such as head socks and sun gloves, which make a perfect summer gift. Fishing pliers, split ring pliers and scissors are other items that you just can’t have

enough of. It’s amazing how many of these find their way to the bottom of your local waterway! Something that really caught my eye this year is Samaki’s ceramic braid scissors. They may be a bit more expensive than others, but they stay sharp longer than any other offerings I have seen, and they won’t rust. Something a little left of centre is packets of pre-rigs. Species-specific rigs are available, you just tie them on and you are ready to fish. There are plenty of brands out there that will do the job, but Black Magic and Mustad rigs are at the better end of what is available. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOOD SHOPPING TO YOU ALL I hope that these pages give a bit of an insight into what is available out there and what that special angler in your life may want for Christmas. Don’t forget to support your local tackle store, and have a safe and Merry Christmas!

HOBIE COMPASS

OTTERBOX ICE BOX

DIAWA J-BRAID GRAND SAMAKI CERAMIC SCISSORS TONIC TANGO

IX SUFF 131 BRAID

COSTA UNTANGLED

WILSON TOURNAMENT BAG

TACKLE CLUB DECEMBER 2018

‘Wrapping’ up the fishing year on a high note HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

After last year’s incredible season on the billfish wide off Fraser Island, this year has seen great numbers of experienced vessels and crews and amateurs venture to the Fraser Coast to sample what has been another hot bite so far this season! Blue marlin is the main species hot on everybody’s mind and they have been in incredible numbers with crews reporting 10-15 bites per day. With good numbers of striped and black marlin also hanging around some crews have recorded slams for a day’s fishing, tagging all three species. The majority of the fish being caught have been estimated around the 200-400lb mark. There have been some larger specimens upwards of 600lb tagged and released. The majority of the fish have been targeted and caught trolling the 200-400m line east of the Break Sea Four Mile crossing and

The author with a solid coronation trout that fell victim to a well-presented strip bait float-lining on a jighead. down south towards the Waddy canyons. Crews have been fishing both lures and switchbaiting, and the Tornado lures have definitely been a stand out performer. Fingers crossed that this red-hot bite continues throughout December and into the New Year. These same grounds have been providing the deep drop fishers with some incredible fishing, with crews returning some quite considerable hauls, included in the mix were quality bar cod, flame tail, rosy jobfish, pearl perch

Tommy with a solid jack he tempted with a wellpresented live bait while fishing the Burrum River.

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DECEMBER 2018

and snapper. Current can be a nuisance this time of year and can make fishing the deeper water near impossible, however, if you time it with less then 1-2 knots of current it is definitely fishable. Pilchards, pencil squid and tuna fillets are fantastic baits that can be salted down to create tougher more potent baits for fishing the deep, the addition of a glow stick or flashing light to your rig will also increase your chances. The closer in reefs and bommies have been fishing well and will continue to do so right the way through summer, permitted we get the weather to allow anglers to get out there. Topwater anglers will start to harass the GT and Spanish mackerel populations, targeting the pressure edges and fusilier schools with large poppers and stickbaits. Vertical jigging slow fall jigs and soft plastics is another successful method to set hooks into a vast variety of pelagic and demersal species, with the possibility of some kingfish, amberjack, green jobfish, coronation trout, red throat and tuskfish to name just a few. Moving closer, the annual run of juvenile black marlin off of Rooney Point kicked into gear early November and if the season is a good one we should see numbers of fish hang around right the way throughout December. The majority of the crews have been trolling lures with Pakulas and Tornados claiming catches, with some crews preferring to switchbait from skipper gars bridle rigged on a circle hook. If you are going to try your luck at a marlin then buying a teaser of some form will be a worthy investment, as it often is what raises and excites fish into biting. Platypus Bay has been teeming with schools of mac tuna feeding on smaller baits. Small metal slugs and various eye and candy flies have been accounting for bites, however approaching the fish has been a little tricky on certain days with them tending to be quite finicky. Longtail tuna can

often be caught this time of year, with small pods turning up. You are best stalking small patches of birds consisting of as little as 2-3 hovering or circling an area, then blind cast the area with either metal slugs, fly or a ZMan 5” StreakZ in the bubble gum pink. Spotty mackerel will also be another hot species to target throughout December, as plague proportions of fish move into the bay to gorge themselves on the abundance of bait. They can make for great sport on fly or convention tackle. After a considerable amount of rain in October and early November our major river systems had a muchneeded flush, which saw the dirty waterline push out to Pelican Banks. Although less then ideal for fishos, at the time this event had pushed some much-needed nutrients back into the bay and the fishing has really bounced back. The shallower inshore reefs, artificial structures and islands have all started to produce a variety of sweetlip, tuskfish, blue parrot, cod, Moses perch and coral trout on live and dead bait and lures. Stock up on the pencil squid jigs as they have started to turn up in great numbers throughout the bay, with popular areas being the Urangan Pier, main shipping channel, outer banks and around the Arti. During the day they can be caught fishing smaller 1.5 and 2.0 jigs rigged on a paternoster rig and dropped to the bottom. At night, with the aid of a light, you can tease them right up to the back of the boat and

Colin with his first billfish, a nice striped marlin caught on the shelf off Fraser fishing heavy tackle. pick them off. Mangrove jack and threadfin salmon will be the two primarily targeted species in our many rivers and creeks. The Susan and Mary rivers are season producers of prize-sized threadfin salmon and after the pre-seasonal rain should see fish in good numbers. Using a sounder will help you find fish in the deeper holes, the back eddies of rock bars and in the main river runs. The best method is to target them with soft vibes

The author with a solid blue marlin caught off Fraser Island while fishing heavy tackle. This year’s bite has been insane with double-digit figures not uncommon for a day’s fishing.

or with baits, preferably live prawn or herring. Good numbers of fish will also be targeted across the flats and drains. This style of fishing appeals to many mad keen lure anglers, as the visual aspect of sight casting to a feeding fish can really get the adrenalin pumping. Smaller profile lures are always affective, with hard vibes and shallow diving hardbodies twitched or slow rolled often proving to be best. Mangrove jack have been on the move and a likely target for anglers fishing the Burrum River and the creeks on the western side of Fraser Island, with some quality fish to 57cm being reported. Drifting baits across rock bars and tight into the bases of snags has been a very productive method as usual, with fresh mullet slabs and live mullet or herring tempting bites. Lures anglers have also been pinning hooks into quality red dogs using soft plastics, like the ZMan 4” SwimmerZ rigged on a weighted worm hook. This allows the presentation to be fished hard in the structure. Another alternative has been deep diving hardbodies. The trick to fishing the right hardbody is to select one that dives deep within the first few initial cranks of the handle, this enables you to get that lure down into the strike zone. The days have been getting longer and we’re enduring some extremely hot and humid days. This has meant the early morning

‘Yule’ have a ball RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

December already. This month the fishing really heats up, and there are plenty of good options here at Rainbow Beach. Pretty good sea conditions have allowed us to get offshore for quite a few fishing trips. OFFSHORE We had another good run of snapper on the close grounds. Bottom bashing and floating pilchards proved to be killer techniques when targeting snapper. Large estuary cod have been an easy target. We have found any sort of live bait gets the results, particularly crabs. OUT WIDER Some solid red emperor are on offer out wider. They can be found along with quality tuskfish, Moses perch and hussar.

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES There are some solid red emperor on offer off Rainbow Beach. GREAT SANDY STRAITS It’s been a hive of activity in the straits. There has been lots of baitfish and this has been attracting schools of tuna. They are heaps of fun on light gear using small silver slugs. Whiting have been thick throughout winter and this is looking to continue into summer. They can be found

Harry and Clint with a catch of cod, nannygai and snapper. From page 50

and late afternoon sessions should spur a definite bite time, with the majority of fish feeding within this period leaving the window for opportunity quite short. Impoundment barra fishing is back in SEQ! How fantastic is it to see Lake Awoonga and Monduran firing again. After losing so many fish to the floods that sent the majority of the big fish over the wall, it is great to see the next era of fish. Fingers crossed that we don’t get another flood this season so we might get to see these fish reach the magic metre mark. The majority of the fish being caught have ranged from 50-75cm, with the odd fish over 80cm being reported, and double-digit figures of fish being hooked and landed. Lake Awoonga is crystal clear at the minute and has an incredible weed growth, creating perfect walls to target. Fishing parallel along the walls of weed has been proving a successful technique,

allowing anglers to keep their lures in the strike zone for longer. Targeting wind blown points and bays has been producing the better bite, as the fish are less spooked. Hardbodies have been the preferred lure option, either slow rolled with a few twitches or twitching and stalling the lure for short periods of time have been the preferred techniques. Lures of choice have been the proven Jackall Squirrel 79, Lucky Craft Pointer 78XD, Duo Realis jerkbait 100s and Jaz Rapide shads, and sticking to the clears and more natural colours is working best. Topwater has been another exciting technique and has proven very successful fished into the evening using walkthe-dog lures like the Bagley Finger Mullets or cup-faced poppers like the Rapala Skitter Pop. Lake Monduran has been fishing well, with most crews making the trip leaving rewarded for their efforts. With water temperatures reaching 29-30°C throughout the day, the early mornings and late arvo sessions just on

in particularly large numbers around the full moon. ON THE BEACH Whiting are also plentiful around Inskip Point. Live beachworms have been doing the job. Around this same area you could also find some quality flathead. They are being caught on soft plastics in the new formed sink hole. DECEMBER This is always an exciting month. Mackerel turn up in numbers during December, making for some exciting catches. Last December we had some decent pearl perch fishing, hopefully this happens again this year. May you all have a merry Christmas and many fishy catches this holiday season. • To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit w w w. k e e l y r o s e f i s h i n g charters.com.au. dark have been proving to be the hottest bite periods. Try targeting wind blown points and bays. Slow rolling and twitching Jackall Squirrel 79s has been the most successful technique working tight to the weed edges and fringing lily pads. Down the back of Bird Bay has been one of the most productive areas, along with Insane Bay and Heart Bay. Topwater has also been gaining some attention with the bug life on sunset going crazy. Bug activity is usually the tell tale sign that topwater will start to fish well again. Walk the dog and popper style surface lures have been getting bites worked across the shallow flats and along weed edges. From the team at Fisho’s Tackle World Hervey Bay we wish you all a very safe and enjoyable Christmas, consisting of bent rods and some fresh seafood to dine on. We are open seven days a week excluding Christmas day, with all the gear to cater for your needs over the festive season. Until next year – tight lines!

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DECEMBER 2018

Bountiful barramundi in summer LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

Constant wind from one direction and stable weather patterns have made for some of the best October and November months I’ve witnessed since the recent floods. There have been a few days here and there through these months that have not produced barra, but the majority of these days have. As a trend, early mornings

and late afternoons have been the best bite times. It’s essential to be on the water at first light and as the sun goes down to maximise your chances of finding feeding barra. In most cases at this time of year Mondy barra will go deep through the middle of the day making them difficult to target. Northerly winds are quite common over the next coming months. This wind pushes into places like Bird, SDA, Cow and Rainforest bays and the South Arm of B. These

are the areas you will find feeding barra. A southeast wind is also very common leading up to Christmas. The best spots to find feeding barra in this wind are White Rock, Insane Bay, Heart Bay, Pig Trap and Jacks Bay. If you are heading to Lake Monduran over the next couple of months for the Christmas break, don’t forget to enter yourself and the family into the Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra Comp. There are over $40k worth of prizes

to be won and registration is free. We have plenty of kid’s activities going on throughout the school holidays, a big New Years Eve Party and a Monster Sponsor a Barra raffle with heaps of great prizes. • We hope you all have a safe and enjoyable Christmas break and we look forward to seeing you here at Lake Monduran for some great fishing, camping and holiday fun. You can contact us on 07 4157 3881 or email us info@lakem.com.au.

A Monduran barra with some interesting coloration. These fish will be around in numbers and are a great option while barra are in closed season elsewhere.

You will love chasing warm water species GLADSTONE

Dylan Christie

It’s no secret that Awoonga is on fire with people traveling from all over Australia for the opportunity to tussle with the iconic barramundi in one of Queensland’s premier dam fisheries. Awoonga is stocked with

hundreds of thousands of barramundi annually and that is really starting to show over the past 12 months, even more so coming into the warmer weather. At this point in time the main basin seems to be holding the best number of fish, with people consistently landing them in the 80-90cm range and we have even heard of a few that have ticked over

Call Jamie today to book your next trip Ph: 0407 434 446

that magic metre mark. These fish seem to be holding in standing timber in depths anywhere from 8m right up into the shallows. The best times to target these areas are early morning and late afternoon, even through into the night, and if you can time that around a full moon you are in for a cracker session. Deep diving hardbodies such as the Lucky Craft Pointer 100XD, the Duo Realis 100DR and the Bassday Sugar Deep 90mm Barra Tune are all proving their worth in the timber. Large paddle-tail soft plastics are also continuing to snag some large fish. Soft plastics that are doing the damage are the Samaki Bomb Shad, Keitech Swing Impact, Berkley Hollow Belly and the Westin Shad Teez rigged weedless with the Owner Flashy Swimmer and Beast hooks. Shallow bays and weed beds are also holding great numbers of fish in the smaller size class between 65-75cm, which can be great fun for sight fishing and will test your gear to its limit. In the low light parts of

so many options for surface lures and at the moment the most popular are un-weighted soft plastic frogs, mainly because of the weedless rigging system that allows you to cast them where no other lure can go. In the more open bays there are opportunities to throw walk-the-dog style lures. Poppers and fizzers are also attracting feeding barra. While chasing them on surface is fun, don’t get stuck in the trap of only throwing topwater lures, as some days the effectiveness may not be the same. Shallow diving hardbodies and lightlyweighted soft plastics are other ways to target barramundi that are holding in the shallow bays. The options are endless when fishing Awoonga, so make the most of this fishery that is right on our doorstep. THE HARBOUR In my opinion the Gladstone Harbour is one of the best fisheries in the area, offering an option for just about any style of fishing. Only a couple of minutes drive and you can be fishing deep rock bars, huge open sand flats

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The author with a light coloured jack caught in the Boyne River while rolling plastics around a rock bar. the day barramundi can be targeted on surface. Watching them bow wave behind your lure is an exciting way of targeting them. In some cases you’ll even see shoulders of fish chasing down your lure retrieved along the surface, waiting in anticipation for that explosion to follow. There are

and even coral bommies, not to mention the artificial structure, keeping in mind the exclusion zones around the wharfs. Tide Island is continuing to produce spectacular golden snapper, with fish pushing well up into the 5kg bracket, not to mention the by-catch of large black jewfish and estuary

Craig Olive caught this Awoonga barra on surface. Awoonga Dam is a great barra fishery. cod. Tide Island has plenty of deep water structure around it and it’s not hard to see why fish like to hang around it. Golden snapper are being taken on Samaki Vibelicious soft vibes, Berkley Gulp soft plastics along with live herring and gar, and if you can get some squid you’re in with the best shot. Now that the weather has warmed up it is more common to see your coastal species like bar-cheek coral trout, stripeys and grassy sweetlip show up around Rat Island and North Entrance. We have heard there are plenty of beautiful coral trout being caught trolling shallow diving lures around these areas, with one of the standouts being the Strada Tera 150. OFFSHORE Summer is a great time to fish the reefs if the weather allows you to get out there. In recent times we have seen some great captures coming in from out wide during the small weather windows that we have had. Cape Capricorn and the gutters are producing excellent catches of nannygai, coral trout, red emperor and cobia, and there is even the odd Spanish mackerel as well. Out around Masthead and Sykes reefs the fishing is really heating up, with mixed bags of red throat, coral trout, tuskies and red emperor. Deeper water around Cabbage Patch has also been responsible for producing

some of the better catches we are seeing. What better time of the year to jump in for a spear as well. Who knows, you might jag yourself a painted crayfish. December through into January, if the wind stays down, stickbaiting and popping is well worth a crack, as there are already signs of a great season ahead. Inshore areas typically hold big GTs through the summer period and the reef flats, well, you can catch just about anything from coral trout to cobia. ESTUARIES Mangrove jack are on with some spectacular sessions in South Trees and Calliope River as well as the Boyne. Best way to target these estuary brawlers is surface lures early in the morning and late afternoon, then through the hotter parts of the day try a suspending hardbody or even a weedless rigged soft plastic, just so you can fish those hard to get to snags where other lures will get caught. Mangrove jack tend to hang around rock bars, overhanging trees, mangrove roots and you can even find them feeding in the shallows over gravel bars and sand banks on a making tide. The by-catch is usually quite fun, you can find yourself catching anything from trevally to flathead and everything in between. To page 53

May your December catches be merry and gold GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

The talk around town is all about Awoonga Dam. The dam is fishing the best it has since the 2010 floods and it has got the entire state talking. The boat ramp car park is full nearly every day and the best part is everyone is catching fish. Best of all,

a little more effort than others but as a general rule right now, if you’re fishing the right area and right depth they will bite. The standout hardbody lures over the past two months are the Duo Realis 100DR, Yakamito Hyper Jerk 90, Jackall Squirell 79 Hunk Tune and Lucky Craft Pointers in the 78XD. As for colour, nothing has really jumped out from the crown in these lures. Just

Cortney Meiers with a Gladstone Harbour golden snapper taken on a Yakamito Hyper Jerk.

An 85cm Awoonga barra. This was the best fish the author caught last month. Expect to see some bigger fish starting to turn up through December. 90% of the fish being caught are in the 60-80cm category with the odd one over 80cm and there are reports of a few coming in over the magic 1m mark. At the moment the fish are hanging in the free standing timber, deep in it, which makes the fight short and hard. The fights either end in angler delight or donating another lure to the Awoonga Dam. No particular part of the dam is fishing better than any other, it just depends on the elements, wind direction and human pressure as to where produces the most fish on the day. I have now found fish in every corner of the dam. Deciding where I am going to fish for the day will generally depend on what way the wind is blowing and if that direction has been consistent in the days prior. For example, if the wind has been blowing constantly to the New Zealand gully side of the dam I will find a bay or point with some free standing timber on that side of the dam and work that until I find the fish. Of late they haven’t been too hard to find. These fish are luckily still in the ‘dumb’ stage where they aren’t too hard to entice to bite. Of course certain days require From page 52

Good numbers of grunter are being caught in the narrows along with the odd blue salmon still kicking around. They are mainly being caught in the deeper holes on the neap tides but fishing up on the flats during the bigger tide sets can also be quite rewarding. Grunter can’t resist a well-placed soft vibe, blade or plastic, so if you can find them schooled up you’re in for a ball. FOR THE KIDS Whiting and flathead fishing is very good at the moment throughout Wild

about every colour has been accounting for fish. Personally I’ve been going for whites, naturals and dark colours, but I know others have been catching fish on golds, silvers and chartreuses. In the plastics there have been three standout lures that have been catching well above the rest and that’s locally made Happy Rock Softies in the Medium Willies and Maxx swimbaits, Castaic Jerky J shads in the 5” and Lunker City Shakers in the 5” and 6”. The Castaics and Happy Rock Medium Willies are generally being rigged on flashy swimmers, while the deeper body profile on the Maxx and Lunker means rigging on a tradition jighead is much more efficient for hook up ratios. Those fishing sun up and

sun down using surface lures have been killing it on the ZMan pop frogs, Duo Pencils, Rapala X-rap Props and Zerek Geckos. There’s not too much that beats this and early morning barra surface strikes, so don’t be afraid to chuck on a surface lure if fishing the shallower bays and weed beds. While the saltwater barra closure is on there is no better time to get out and explore the amazing fishery we have on our doorstep. In the salt the mangrove jack have well and truly fired up in just about every system from Baffle Creek to Port Alma. The lack of fresh flow in all the major systems have kept all options open throughout November. Traditionally, once the likes of Baffle Creek, Deepwater Creek, Turkey Beach area and Calliope River start flowing fresh the jack fishing becomes harder and harder and you have to start looing elsewhere. Although we desperately need some decent rain I am not complaining on that front. What’s been working? The new Nomad design 85mm DTX minnows have been

accounting for some serious fish when worked over deep rock bars and snags. The trusty Diesel minnow in Houdini and Lunker City 3.75” shakers have been a standout when fishing overhanging timber. Golden snapper are starting to turn up in the Calliope River and throughout the harbour in bigger numbers and better size. Any deep structure is a starting point for these fish. The rock bars around Tide Island and Quoin Island are good places to start, while the train bridge and Bund wall in the Calliope generally holds fish. Live mullet or, even better, squid if you can get it will account for the best fish, while vibes, Gulp grubs and the new Gulp King shrimp have been enticing the bite for me of late. Big grunter have moved offshore to spawn and have turned up at all the usually haunts. Once again the most entertaining and exciting way to catch these fish is slow pitch jigging. When schooled like they are at the moment they can be easily sounded up on offshore gravel bars and around wrecks. They will bite aggressively and continuously on just about any coloured jig if worked correctly. The last few times I have been out chasing them I’ve had the

most success on the Yakamito Spirit Jig in 60g and the Storm Koika in the same size. These jigs are easy to work and have a great action on the drop, which is when 90% of the fish will hit. Other lures that have worked well are the Gulp King shrimp and the 93mm Madness vibe. This vibe is like no other on the market as it has a hard silicon texture that will not rip on fish and is moulded over a solid wire rather than the tradition multi-strand wire most other vibes come rigged with. This not only means longevity, but also that the vibe can be bent to vibe more aggressively and also bent back into shape after being wacked by them bigger fish. Offshore the bigger red throat have started turning up and the trout have began grouping in shallower water. This is the perfect time to get out and start throwing some stickbaits and poppers over the shallow reefs for big trout lipper and GTs. Expect the big GTs to start turning up at some

of the closer spots like Rundle Island, Hummocky Island, Bustard Head and Sable Chief Rocks. December should fish exceptionally well offshore providing the weather gods play nice. The crabs have been slow and will continue to be pretty ordinary until we get some much-needed rain. Hopefully in the coming month we see some decent rain to liven things up for the following months, although not too much that we send that dam wall over again. All the hard work we see go into Awoonga Dam, the last thing we need is to lose all those fish again. • 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.

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The author with a 13kg red emperor taken in the last good weather window. Cattle Creek and the lilies. Early morning making tide, as the fish are just starting to feed up into the shallows, is the preferred time, but they can be caught throughout the day. Hands down the best bait in our region for these fish has to be yabbies, so make sure you head down to Wild Cattle and pump a few before you head out. • The staff here at Pat’s Tackleworld Gladstone have their finger on the pulse as to what’s going on out at the lake, so don’t hesitate to drop in or even give them a call. They are more than happy to

help get you onto that fish of a lifetime! They have a huge range tailored to barramundi fishing, keeping up with new trends and are still stocking the old faithfuls. For all the latest news on what’s biting and where, drop into Pat’s Tackle World Gladstone at 23 Lord St, Gladstone Central and chat to the friendly team. You can also follow Pat’s Tackle World on Facebook ( w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / PatsTackleworldGladstone), Instagram (@ patstackleworld) or check out their website at www.tackle worldgladstone.com.au.

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May your days be fishy and long ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

With the closed season for barramundi well upon us, these iconic sportfish are off limits in most areas. The threadfin salmon are still hanging around, more and more grunter and golden snapper are being caught around the headlands and rock bars.

FITZROY AND THE NARROWS Over the past few weeks there have been some impressive captures in our Net Free Zone, many of these have been jewies, but alongside them have been big threadies, queenies and some very impressive grunter. There have been incredible amounts of prawns in the system. Targeting the creek entrances, gutters and

drains has yielded good results for most anglers. The rock bars around the port and out the front of Curtis has produced great fish also. Many anglers choose to use smaller, more weighted lures to entice the jacks, grunter and golden snapper, but are still able to cast them with their standard barra gear. Some great lures include, Lucky Craft Pointer XD78, Gulp 3” minnow and ZMan 4” SwimmerZ.

The author caught this great blue salmon after scanning the drains and placing the right cast.

RIVERS CREEKS AND THE BEACHES As we move into the holiday period the main fishing areas like Coorooman, Corio, Causeway and the Fitzroy will begin to see more pressure, so it is important to get every advantage you can. In summer this usually means really early starts to be on the water before sun up and fishing that first light period while the water is cooler from the night before and the fish are more active. Sounding around for structures has helped many anglers, and Coorooman is a great example of how a bit of work with the sounder can be very rewarding. Fishing the gutters on an outgoing tide can get you a multitude of species but the gutters can take very different shapes, forms and direction. Scanning over them can be crucial to seeing how they flow. Working the depth will yield bream, grunter, flathead, whiting, salmon and pretty much every estuary species going. The key baitfish in these waters at the moment are mullet, prawns and some little white bait, cast netting these or matching your lures to the style and size of the bait in the estuary will greatly help with

Troy with a cracking nanny taken on a Shimano Colt Sniper jig. the catch result. Of late we have been using the Gulp 3” prawns, Gulp 5” Jerk Shads and ZMan StreakZ 4” curl tails, we then select the colours we think will work best for the day’s fishing. These lures have proven themselves time and time gain. FRESHWATER LAGOONS The rain has really swung the freshwater fishing into high gear. The best time to hit it if you can is as it stops raining or storming, or pretty soon after. This is due to the rain knocking bugs onto the surface and oxygenating the surface, and the fish love it. Lightly-rigged plastics

or surface lures are the go; my choice is the LuckyCraft Sammy in the 65 and 85. If you don’t luck out with some rain, early mornings and late afternoons are a really good place to start. CRABBING There has been a great amount of crabs in the river and estuaries of late. Setting the pots just below the low tide mark along the mangrove edges has proven to be the best method lately. Mullet heads are always good, but many anglers have reef frames left over from the good weather and they have been pulling some big crabs from them.

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DECEMBER 2018

It’s a wonderful fish STANAGE BAY

Pee Wee

Merry Christmas to all! I hope you’re all geared up and excited for the festive season, with boats ready to hit the water and coldies on ice.

season now closed you can still target other estuary fish species such as bream, cod and salmon. These guys can still be fun to catch and there are enough getting about to keep you amused and fed. Prawns are on the menu for catching these guys.

towards Shoalwater there are plenty of grunter and queenfish. The odd mackerel is still being caught around Sail Rock on spoon lures, proving to be some great entertainment. Stanage Bay has been lucky enough to get some of the storm action, bringing

An awesome sweetlip caught onboard the Wellsy. mindful of storm activity when going boating. The heat has been crazy,

which some love. Don’t forget to stay hydrated and sun smart. On that note, I

A Wellsy crew member with a red emperor. Getting to Stanage should be a breeze with the road into the bay now in great shape. Just be mindful of the holiday traffic in and out. The road can be hectic. Muddies are slowly coming out and about after a quiet spell, but it can be hit and miss as to where you’re placing your pots. If you’re up for a few days it might pay to move the pots around a bit and try different areas. With barramundi

DECEMBER 2018

Whiting are around at low tide off Flat Rock and Alligator Bay. Mulloway are being caught at the Jew Hole, but the numbers haven’t been there this year in comparison to previous years. Jew can be caught using prawn, squid, patience and perseverance. Out wide the Marble Islands have some beautiful coral trout, tuskfish, cod and red emperor being caught. Sweetlip and stripeys are hanging about Hexam Island. South

some much-needed rain and stirring up the fish. The campgrounds and nearby secluded spots will fill up fast as soon as holidays begin, so make sure you’re one of the lucky ones to snag a spot. In relation to the storm activity, Stanage Bay is a pretty sheltered area that doesn’t seem to cop the nasty super cell effects, so if you’re worried about the summer storms, I wouldn’t let that hold you back from a great trip. Just be a bit

A cracking black jew from Stanage Bay.

wish you all luck on the water, stay safe and value the time spent with family. Buy the kids a rod and show them what living is really all about! • Book into your Stanage Bay rental – all the rentals are set up for fishers and are budget priced – bring some camping gear with you and spend a night or two on the islands. Many fisher rentals are continually improving. Once it used to be simply the basics, however now it’s about the amount of toilets, fish-cleaning areas and parking, not to mention the closeness to the boat ramp, pub, fuel and tackle shop. Call Pee Wee on (07) 4937 3145 or email stanagebaymarine@ bigpond.com for any further queries on Stanage Bay. Until next time, enjoy the photos. For more pics, find them on the Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation Facebook or anywhere on the web.

Find the wonky holes to fill those bags! YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

Over the hot months we get some fine weather in the early hours of the morning. These days are the pick for hitting the outer walls at Rosslyn Bay Harbour, and for the adventurous anglers there are spots like Stockyard Point and Five Rocks, where school mackerel and tuna are almost guaranteed. The calm mornings combined with an incoming tide are perfect for the land-based anglers. The preferred methods are floating out pillies, big herring or gar under a balloon, casting out an unweighted pilly or throwing out chrome lures with a

are wonky holes. If you study the maps for wrecks or contours that indicate ancient rivers, deltas and streams, you will have a great starting point. There are patterns that should become quite clear. Once you work that out, you can actually deliberately look for wonky holes successfully in new ground. Many of these spots are so small that more than one boat at a time find it almost impossible to fish. These holes are created by freshwater springs and in dry times they can fill in with tides, currents and other factors. Once the underground streams move again they will open up the holes and will start to fish well again. This happens with the wet season in normal years and probably also has

Mark Simpkins with a very tidy wonky hole nannygai. highspeed retrieve. O v e r the years our gear has got a little heavier after losing some serious Spaniards and northern blue tuna on light doggie rigs. There are plenty of Spaniards and doggies around the islands and the shoaly rubble patches just offshore from Yeppoon. Finding big offshore species in close regularly is pretty hard these days. With all the technology available, even anglers in small boats are fishing an ever-increasing radius from the local boat ramps. Luckily for us, the average punter is either time poor or can’t be bothered to put in the effort searching out new country. There are a few hints that work well for us. It’s no secret that the majority of wrecks in Queensland are trawlers and the majority of those have sunk when gear has hooked up on the bottom. Lots of these net grabbers, particularly in what appears to be in the middle of nowhere,

something to do with the big reds and nannies coming into the near grounds over summer. In this particular area our wonkies usually only hold a few quality fish on each one. We also find if you drop one of these big fish or play around getting it in, that you won’t get another fish there in that session. One of our crew drops a jig straight over as we get to the new spots and time after time he picks up a trophy fish. One of the things we look for while travelling in any direction is bait schools. Over the years we had found bait in the same spot nearly all the time without much visible structure. We used to wonder what it was that attracted the schools, particularly as there was no shelter. In recent times as our equipment reached a level that will read the bottom much better the answer was visible. It has shown that stacks of these were wonkies that had partially filled in over

SEASON

the year. Since then we revisit all of our bait marks during or after the wet to see if they have opened up and are flowing. Big bream are firing in all the estuaries and the local headlands. Places like Stevensons Rocks, Wreck Point and Bluff Rocks are best fished from the shore within 50m of the car. They are top spots to take the kids over the holidays. The rock bars just inside the mouth of Corio or Coorooman creeks produce loads bream over a kilo during summer and the super clean water makes them among the tastiest bream you can get. The beaches are going well with whiting and dart at present especially the gutters from Barwells Creek to Sandy Point. There is a very good chance of a big blue salmon up there too. The salmon have been working the foamy current edges taking yabbies, prawns and pilchards. King threadfin salmon are spread right through the river at the moment and are the primary capture of the guys fishing the platforms, jetties and high banks heading away from town Mangrove jack are appearing in more reports this year than ever before. They are being found in areas that you would not normally expect. From the top end of The Fitzroy and into the many little mangrove creeks and all the smaller systems heading up the coast there have been some solid fish landed lately. Coorooman Creek and The Causeway have the best reputations, but the other estuaries are improving steadily. We may not have the amount of jacks that some other places have, but we do have lots of untapped areas. Don’t let a bit of fresh put you off either. Last year I caught my two best jack where fresh was flowing into a little saltwater creek A recent search for bait around Corio and the Keppels led me to find some schools of extra large queenfish. I didn’t have any light gear to target them with and overhead red emperor outfits squid gear or bait jigs don’t cut it. Over the years we have had some serious queenies caught wherever the bait schools are holding at a number of locations from Cape Capricorn

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Darren Bayzand nailed this large grassy sweetlip on an isolated patch of rubble. up into Army country. I look for rock headlands and bommies adjoining sandy beaches where greenback herring or hardy heads are schooling in the little bays. Spots like Keppel Rocks and Quartz are specials down the southern end of the bay while Ironpot, Rosslyn Bay Harbour front wall and Little Corio are the next lot of spots easy to get to for the small boat guys. The islands have plenty of queenies that will be around the quieter beaches mainly on the eastern side. The one spot that breaks the rules is the sand spit in front of Hideaway at Great Keppel. The big boats leave a hole from prop wash when they are dropping of tourists. Hardiheads and herring flood into the hole feeding on stuff kicked up by the disturbance. Trevally and queenfish tear through picking of the baits until things settle again. It can be hard to get a shot while the boats are there but as soon as the back out and go there is a

brief window here you could be blown away. Depending on the area, it can be hard to beat a lightlyweighted livey drifted through the edges of the bait schools or alongside bommies and rocks.

I personally prefer lures for the fun value. There are a lot of lure methods that work well including poppers, plastics and hardbodies. We usually pull up away from the spot and high-speed a few poppers from the rock edges through the whitewater and into the clear. If that doesn’t get a reaction after a dozen casts or so, we move away to the next spot. One of the best spots at Little Corio has an ideal drift pattern on the run in where you get a line over some deeper bommies and right along the headland. In this location I like to use 3” paddle-tails in white or grey. Here we cast over the top of each of the bommies using a fast-twitching action. Quick trolling small minnows around the headlands can be a great way to get queenies and there is a big chance of landing a golden snapper or some other welcome by-catch.

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May you have a very mackerel Christmas MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

Mackay area locals are sitting pretty leading up to Christmas. With plenty of great fish and other seafood abundant in our waters, stocking up for the festive season is well and truly underway. Mud crabs are a favourite and although there has been a distinct lack of rain, the muddies have been plentiful in the mangrove creeks and gullies. Many anglers take a pot or two to set while fishing nearby. This allows them to keep an eye on the pots, which deters the poachers who lift other peoples’ pots. Fresh baits of fish frames and chicken carcasses are still favourite baits, and if you have them, small mackerel or tuna frames are fantastic attractors due to their oil content. Pilchards in some gutter guard or similar will also work well. The lack of rain and flushing of the creeks will see muddies right up the main creeks and into the side gullies. Many of these gullies dry out completely on low tide and many locals use

this to stop the poachers, by setting the pots near high tide then returning on the next tide. As a warning to any would be poachers, many people are now setting up movement activated cameras in the mangroves to record any disturbance of their pots. Prawns are also high on almost everyone’s list for Christmas, but unless we get substantial rain in the next couple of weeks the cast and drag nets will not see much use. The seafood retailers are doing a bonanza trade in prawns, which of course helps the local economy, but many people prefer the ever so sweet school prawns they catch themselves. On the fish front, the northerly winds are still with us. The bait schools of small herring and frogmouth pilchards are hanging close inshore and the small mackerel and tuna are having a field day. These species should hang around until after Christmas, but their proximity to shore is governed by the winds. Northerlies are the go but strong SE winds push them further offshore and out of reach of the ‘tinny brigade’. Bait and macks can be found around the islands off Seaforth (watch the

green zones) around Cape Hillsborough, Shoal Point and down around the Harbour and out from the Pioneer River mouth. At times the fish will work right in along the rock walls inside the mouth of the river and if the bait is there the predators follow. Further south check out the Sarina area beachside towns and the islands out from Cape Palmerston will also have their share of small macks and tuna Drifted and trolled pillies account for many small and not-so-small mackerel, while barra style hardbodies will usually troll up a few fish also. Trolling is a good way to locate fish and once in the general area I prefer to either drift or anchor up quietly and cast lures or flies. A floating pilchard set out on a gang hook rig is also a good back up option. If the bait tends to spin in our strong currents, lop off the tail and that usually helps and also sets out a small blood/berley trail as a further attraction. Berleying at anchor is a good tactic that is not used nearly enough here. Minced up pilchards, fish frames with a little tuna oil and some pellets can really get the fish on the chew, but watch the

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current as the berley can also take the fish away if not used wisely. Casting lures down a berley trail is a favourite tactic of mine to score a few doggies or spotties, and bled thoroughly and iced down they produce a great feed. Served with a nice fresh salad, and a crisp white wine or icy cold beer and you have a meal fit for a king. Other summer close inshore options include grunter, grassy lippers, and blueys and they are all top quality tucker. The blueys in particular grow to quite substantial sizes and they are usually found up in the rocky shallows and heavy gear is the norm. Handlines with up to 40kg breaking strain are the go. These things really motor hard when hooked among the rocks and turning them is not easy. Large green prawns are the number one bait for blueys and will catch the other species mentioned also. Further offshore the reef closures have finished and plenty of anglers will be chasing a feed or two of coral trout for Christmas around the islands and reef, which is large trailer boat country in our area due to the distances involved. Many trout are found in surprisingly shallow water and lighter gear for better presentation is the way to go in the shallows. In the deeper waters heavy handlines still rule, although many anglers now use stout boat rods and overhead or spin reels and heavy braid lines. Number one bait for trout is the humble pilchard, but they will take fish flesh baits and soft plastics are accounting for more and more fish. Red emperor, red throats, and pinkies will all be on the chew out in the deep channels and I expect the shipping channel will see plenty of boat activity on the calm days leading up to Christmas. Big baits equals big fish is the rule out here, but my spies tell me that plenty of quality fish are getting ‘sharked’ on the way up. The sharks can get so bad that the only option is to motor off elsewhere and find a new spot to fish. Spot lock electric outboards are proving a boon for this type of fishing and saves the hassle of anchoring in deep water. Back onshore the bread and butter species like whiting, flathead and bream are all on the go during December and are available to land-based anglers. Any of our beach areas will produce fish, and there is plenty of safe wading water in the Pioneer River and nearby Bakers, Sandy and Reliance creeks. Stick with the open sand flat areas, using fresh yabbies for bait and you should manage a feed without too much difficulty. Alternatively

There is still the odd monster Spanish mackerel around the inshore islands as Justin Locher found when he dropped a Raider jig among some bait showing on the sounder. casting small hardbodies or plastics will also account for plenty of fish. Barra are off the list in the salt, but there are other options like grunter, cod, trevally, king threadies, flathead and mangrove jack. Gee, we have it tough here don’t we? All these species can be caught on baits and lures, but the cod and jacks are snag dwellers and losses are high, as you have to get right in the snag with your offering to entice a bite. Chase the jacks on the really still, hot humid days and don’t ignore any rock bar or isolated rock formation. The others listed are usually more open water type predators that move around with the tides. On the larger tides, they will move way up on the mud/sand flats near the top of the tide and although they spook easy due to the shallow water, a quiet electric powered approach will usually get results. Fresh bait or lures/flies will all work up on the flats. Those chasing a barra fix during December should head for our three stocked dams: Eungella, Kinchant and Teemburra. There are strong chances of landing a barra well over a metre in length. Kinchant is probably the easiest to fish and is very popular, while Eungella is the hardest to chase barra in. My pick is Teemburra Dam,

which happens to be one of my all time favourite places in the world and it has been fishing really well through early summer. I expect this to continue during December. MAFSA Inc. has completed the SIP funded stocking of the dams for the year, but if other funds allow, there may be further top ups early in the new year. The hatchery has been put to good use to grow out barra fingerlings, which have been released in the upper reaches of the river, above the three weirs. My old mate the sooty grunter has also been on the chew in the dams and the Pioneer River freshwater reaches. The lack of substantial rain has meant that so far there has been no spawning run of sooties but MAFSA members are hopeful of at least one successful run once we get some rain. In the meantime, the hatchery crew have been honing their skills on the barra grow out, under new hatchery manager Matt Tratt. Good work team, it is great to see those small fish in the tanks. So, that is a round up of what to expect coming up to Christmas. We have plenty of options, great fishing, great weather and a perfect place to spend Christmas. Why not come and join us in paradise.

DECEMBER 2018

I’m dreaming of a Whitsundays Christmas Winter belonged to the mighty Spanish mackerel and what a mackerel season it was; definitely the best that I’ve experienced. Slow trolling wolf herring accounted for most of the fish, but we did manage to jig a few as well. For about six weeks we were averaging about 5-6 bites a session with the average

WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

This year has gone quick. I can’t believe that I am writing for the Christmas issue already, where did all that time go? For me this year has been a blur, piles of days on the water hunting everything that swims by whatever means possible. From soaking baits on reefs to sight casting with fly rods on the flats, I’ve not left a stone unturned. Along the way there have been some exemplary captures and I’ve been lucky enough to witness many clients catch that special fish that they’ve always wanted. It hasn’t been all beer and skittles though,

well to lure fishing. I can only hope that this will improve shortly. With December upon us and the Christmas holidays looming in the not too distant future I expect there are a lot of anglers around chomping at the bit to hang their work clothes up for a while and get out on the briny. Hydeaway Bay

Coral trout aren’t the only tasty morsels being caught at the moment, there are plenty of these bad boys around as well. reefies was micro jigging, these tiny little beauties punched way above their weight and accounted for a lot of trophies.

Summer is the time to bust the hardbodies out and get into some tasty trout action.

It’s the season to catch trout. Fish like this should be daily fare over December. we’ve had to endure some tough bites and I’ve had my fair share of days where I’ve come home scratching my head thinking ‘well what the hell was that all about?’ But that is fishing and it’s a big part of what keeps us all going back out there and trying again. The first half of the year most of the trophy-sized fish caught were right up in the shallows and the pelagics dominated the show. I had a few days where I had to drive away from massive golden trevally in search of other prey as people were complaining of sore arms. The big goldies weren’t the only fish around, the school mackerel were here in droves and in feeding on them were some massive giant trevally and Spanish mackerel. Chasing down and catching 30kg Spaniards and similarsized giant trevally in 3m of water is something that has to be experienced to be believed. As the water began to cool off the best action 60

DECEMBER 2018

moved into the deeper water. Around the outer edges of the islands there was a brief but cracker bite on some big golden snapper, jewfish, grunter and gold-spot cod. As I’ve

just said, the bite was brief with most of these species, with the exception of the jewfish, as they have been biting well up until just recently. The outstanding technique on the deep

Golden trevally don’t get much better than this one, which measured in at just over a metre. It was foul hooked in the side and boated on 10lb string. How hard do you reckon this pulled?

Anglers don’t normally come across large numbers of queenfish over the summer, but when they’ll be crackers.

fish being around 15-18kg. In my books, that’s not bad fishing. Spring was a mixed affair and I have experienced my fair share of tough days, which is a little unusual for this time of year as I would normally expect to do a little better. The tuna and other pelagics haven’t fired up as well as I would expect them to and when there have been a few around the water has been filthy making them hard to target. The shallower close to home reefs have started to come to life and throw a few trout finally, which is nice to see. Most of the better fish are falling to standard cut baits at the moment as the constant run of northerlies has made the ocean a horrible silty colour and this doesn’t lend

will be the same as any other Queensland holiday destination, with every piece of accommodation crammed and booked out. If you’re coming to our little piece of paradise this holiday season and you’re bringing your boat with you I have some good news, you won’t have to spend too much money on fuel as the best action will be right on our doorstep. The fringing reefs out in front of Hydeaway Bay and Dingo Beach will be alive with some nice coral trout as will the inner islands such as Mantaray and Saddleback islands. The mainland headlands such as Georges Point and Cape Gloucester shouldn’t be left unexplored either, although you will need neap tides to fish in these areas, as the

tide flow can be fierce. As a general rule I prefer the ebb tide to fish this country, but it can be hard to pick and you just have to be out there to be in the game. Shallow reef fishing won’t be the only option this month, but there is normally some nice pelagic activity to be enjoyed. It’s a bit of a lucky dip and you never really know what’s going to turn up on the

doorstep. I’m hoping to run into a big fat queenfish or two along with some golden trevally and tuna. As always with hunting pelagics it’s imperative to find the bait first. Any of the mainland or island headlands are good places to have a snoop around, as are the eastern and southern shores of Edgecumbe Bay. Once you’ve located a particular bait source, make sure

that you take a minute to identify what the bait is so that you can match a lure to the size of the bait present. In the excitement of it all, simple things like this are easy to overlook and as a consequence your results probably won’t meet your expectations. Up in the creeks the barramundi are obviously off limits but the jacks aren’t and they should be

Blair’s son Caleb missed out on the jewies, but he was still happy to get his first reasonable large mouth nannygai. active. These feisty little critters are just too cool, I love them. I haven’t seen any rain on the horizon as yet, but if we do get lucky and get a good downpour or two then the prawns will spring to life and they’re another one of my favourites. Spending an hour or two with a cast net and a mate or two is pure bliss and the best bit is when you’re back home with the boiling pot going,

Whitsunday local Blair Jenkinson was pretty happy to get in amongst some black jew action.

a cold beer in hand and enjoying some idle banter with good mates. Until next month, good luck, enjoy yourselves and I’ll see you out there somewhere. • 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’

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Prepare for holiday fishing fun AYR

Steve Farmer

December is a hectic time of the year for many Burdekin fishers as they wind down after the cane-crushing season and prepare to make the most of some well-earned holiday and fishing time. PREPARING FOR A TRIP Whether you’re towing the boat further afield for a Christmas break in new country or heading for the family hut at Cape Upstart or one of the many estuaries in the Burdekin Delta, careful preparations can make or break your time on the water or road. Ensuring your vehicle, boat, trailer and fishing tackle are all serviced and in top condition goes a long way towards a hassle-free fishing holiday. Tyres are often the achilles heel of trailer boat rigs. Even if they have plenty of tread and appear to be in good condition they should be replaced when they are around six years old. Beyond this age you run the risk of them failing – often at the most inopportune time. Another must when preparing your rig is to check that your safety gear is in good condition and appropriate for the area you plan to fish and that flares and EPIRB are in date and registered. Fresh fuel is also a good

Pre-trip research will ensure you know where the launch ramps are at your holiday destination. way to start any major trip, especially if your rig has been sitting unused for a while. However, if you have a long drive to your destination fill up when you get there rather than hauling extra weight all the way from home. If your fishing destination is new to you it’s worth doing at least a little research before you leave home. The internet is ideal, or you might study fishing magazines such as QFM for suggested fishing spots and techniques. The area reports will give you an idea of the species you can expect to catch. Another option is charts (marine and topographical) that hold a heap of information if you scan them carefully. You can hit the

ground running if you’re clued up on the location of launching ramps, channels, holes, hazards and structure. Once you’re on the ground, chat with the locals at every opportunity. They

might not lead you to their favourite fishing spots, but most are happy to offer a bit of basic information and advice, which can make a big difference to the success of your fishing and boating holiday. Finally, keep an eye on the weather reports. December can be an unstable time of year and you don’t want to get caught out in a storm or brisk afternoon sea breeze. A good plan of attack at this time of year is to fish early and be home by lunch. DECEMBER FORECAST With the barramundi closed season now a third of the way through, experienced barramundi anglers will have by now easily switched to targeting other estuary species, such as mangrove jack and golden snapper. These species inhabit similar country and

Don’t forget the stinger suits.

The North Barnard Islands, just south of Innisfail, are a picturesque trailer boat destination. respond to similar fishing techniques used to take barra. If it is mangrove jack you’re chasing then I recommend reducing your lure size to around 10cm; same goes if you’re live baiting for jacks rather than barra. Most Burdekin estuaries are producing jacks, especially for lure tossing fishers, with Hell Hole, Phillips Camp, Plantation and Ocean creeks being the most convenient to access. Preferred tides vary from one angler to the next. Some anglers like to fish the last hour of the ebb and the first hour of the make, while I prefer half tide or better and a moderate run. Much depends on the snag structure of the bank that is holding the fish. In some creeks at low tide there may be a few snags in the water while in others a threequarter tide will spill over the creek bank and through the mangrove roots, taking the fish well out of reach of

lures and baits. Other species that Burdekin estuary anglers should be geared up for are grunter, salmon and flathead and, in some estuaries, trevally. Small mackerel species are also a possibility in some creeks if anglers fish small lures or baits in the cleaner waters near the mouths. Bluewater anglers fishing waters around the shoals, Cape Upstart and Camp Island can expect to tangle with pelagic speedsters like queenfish, trevally, cobia and longtail and mackerel tuna. Forecasting the fishing across Burdekin waters can be difficult at this time of year with so much depending on when, or if, the wet season begins. As locals know, an early wet season and flood will shut down Burdekin fishing for weeks or months at a time and you’ll need a flexible approach to get your fishing fix.

My true love gave to me five golden snapper HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

I cannot believe December has arrived so soon. The water temperature in open waters inshore has been below normal and many species have been a little late to start their summer run. I have never seen water this cold at this time of year, but all we

can hope is for it to warm up again and very soon. The late bout of cold water has stalled the arrival of big golden snapper schools, but as we speak we have just had our first good run on them. The threadfin salmon have been slow to start this summer, but it’s been like that for nearly three years now. The constant drought and heavy netting to the north has been taking its toll on the species in our region.

Closed barra season? No worries, it’s golden snapper time in North Queensland. 62

DECEMBER 2018

The past month has still had a couple of periods of good fishing, even though some periods were cut short with some big easterly changes coming through. Easterlies are not a common wind direction here and it makes it difficult to access Missionary Bay in a smaller boat, as well as travelling up the channel in open water as it funnels around the island and it becomes more of a southeaster, which is always the hardest direction to go up the channel in. We’re also starting to see a few northwesters and while they are not good for the fishing at least that brings the monsoon flow and storms with it. Golden snapper have just showed and the session we had a few nights ago was sensational. I was taking our gameboat to Townsville and anchored on one of my favourite spots in the Hinchinbrook Channel while staying overnight. Dropping large plastics into the scattered school in the hole saw some real great action. We had over 30 bites in a 40 minute window,

with most fish being 75cm or better. The four biggest were 80cm each. All were returned, except one, and the shallow waters made sure that we had no issues with barotrauma. Catching them on plastics at night is something you need to try. We’ve still seen some late Spaniards spearing out of the water and also the odd school of northern bluefin. They are a little late in their season and their presence will have something to do with the cooler water no doubt. There have been plenty of huge gar schools, which is their favourite meal. They should move on soon, as the seasons will surely catch up. I have also heard the offshore run was not very productive for the commercial guys this year, too. Also the larger oceanic grunter will become available to anglers and are quite often a by-catch of golden snapper. Large grunter will also take a small vibe and many other soft plastics for that matter. If you are going to live bait for them then stick to greenback

Golden snapper on plastics at night, you gotta try it. herring, but fresh mullet strip and calamari are good backup options. December is also the month for tripletail and they can be a little tricky to find for the novice angler. A little tip would be to look for structure on the flats, such as big logs and also around channel markers. They will take a large variety of lures and even take a dead bait such as a whole pilly. They really are gullible and once you find one the angling part is easy.

•If you would like the trade secret shortcuts to mastering golden snapper, or maybe you’re a barra fanatic that heads north every season, then our masterclass ‘Barra Basics’ could be for you. Check out these premium online courses here at our fish smarter website, www. fishsmarter.com.au. And keep an eye out on our website for December Christmas specials. Hope you all have a safe and fishy Christmas.

Away in a tinny, fish along the weed beds TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Barra season is now closed, and over the last few days the water has become a bath, with temperatures at 30°C in some of the creeks. The end of the barra season saw some reasonable numbers but sizes were way down in our local area on average. The latest serious weather event in March must have triggered a spawn. Hopefully this wet season doesn’t turn out to be another fizzer, and the barra get a chance to do their thing properly this year. Thankfully, the weirs in Townsville are stocked quite well with barra and several times over the last year there have been quite substantial releases. We’ve also had the first couple of hopefully many fingerling releases in Ross Dam as well. This is a long overdue effort to develop a first class fishery for the tourists and Townsville anglers. If this continues it is sure to become a premium travelling fisher destination for anyone with barra on their mind. Just remember though, you will need to purchase a Stocked Impoundment Licence if you’re going to have a crack at the weir’s population of big barra. WHAT NOW So, with wild barra off the list for a while, our focus changes to other species to pass the time and maybe learn some tricks and techniques. I think that there has been enough evidence over the last few seasons to prove that golden snapper aren’t just a summer species, but it’s probably fair to say that they do become more active in the warmer months. Traditionally, golden snapper have been mainly targeted a week or two after the full moon, and live squid are the best bait if you’re serious, but in more recent times it’s

the lures that have become the most popular challenge for golden snapper chasers. Being more associated with depths over 10m, big golden snapper are high on the list of sport and table fish, but around the full moon and bigger tides we often chase them in the shallower 4-5m range.

on that is a 7” Paddle Prawn with the accompanying Octo skirt of a contrasting colour. The heads are always coated in the Protec Powder Coat, with chartreuse being a standout for the clearer deeper scenarios. In the shallower stuff it’s often the Atomic Prongs or 5” Paddle Prawn that do the

Don’t forget to vary your colours depending on water clarity. This 4” Prong in radioactive rooster is a great dirty water presentation, especially when combined with the powder-coated head. I’m not as big of a fan of vibes, like most deeper water enthusiasts, and when the mackerel are around it can be quite an expensive way to fish as they get snipped off all the time. Many of our bigger fish are caught on much less expensive setups, mainly the Atomic Prongs and the Mad Eye Paddle Prawns. Jighead weights are determined by depth and water movement, but as a general rule if we’re in about 10-12m of water, a 1oz Atomic Seeker Head with the 6/0-8/0 hook, and mounted

Barra may be off limits to target and take for now, but it won’t be long before we can get back into them.

job, but usually on a smaller 1/2oz head with 5/0 hook. Lifting the lure up a metre or so from the bottom during the retrieve seems to get the most attention. Our golden snapper sessions are mostly dictated by weather conditions as we are fishing from a small boat, but when all is good we don’t have to go to far from home to get amongst a few. JACKS North Queensland has some exceptional mangrove jack fishing, and there are times when they will have a go at anything, but that’s not all the time. As with most fishing there is one main key to success, and I’d have to say that with jacks, the ability to be able to cast accurately will give you the best possible chance of hooking up. Given the fact that jacks will often hit a smaller lure, and turn their nose up at a barra-sized lure, it may be necessary to get your hands on a mangrove jack specific casting rod if you have trouble loading the rod with a smaller lure. While I still get a reasonable amount of jacks on the Laser Pros, it’s when I drop down to either Tilsan Barra and Bass 68mm Scorpions or the weedless plastics that ‘spot on’ casting becomes extremely difficult on the heavier rods. Another thing about jacks in the north is that it’s often the most uncomfortable, sweaty,

humid, stinking hot drains out of the breeze that have the most fish in them. Mosquitos and sand flies are often damn near unbearable, so good luck finding an area that has less of these mongrel little insects swarming around your head. We wear fishing style shorts at all times when we’re on the water, but tuck it in when you’re in the drains because if they bite you all over the guts it’s a frustrating few days of scratching and itching. The rewards can be great though, and we often have 20+ mangrove jack days on a range of lures, from plastics to divers to poppers and fizzers. Although sometimes, days of scratching sand-fly bites makes you wonder if it’s all worth it. GRUNTER A common by-catch while chasing the golden snapper is the highly-regarded grunter, which in my opinion pull every bit as hard as a golden snapper, and are almost as good on the plate. The accidental captures are more on the shoal type areas, and usually when we’re using smaller softies with lighter lines. A bit of an indicator that there may be grunter around is that you’ll feel some picks at your lure as you work it that seem hard to hook. This quite often turns out to be grunter picking at the tail, and all that’s needed to convert these subtle attacks into hook ups is to downsize your lure and line, and one colour combination that works well for us on the grunter is the pink head white body. Tide wise, there are two main times that we do well on the grunter, and that’s the very top and turn of the tide in the shallower locations, and the beginning of the push in for the deeper spots. Generally we use our lightest outfits for the grunter. We often use smaller 3” Prongs and 4” Paddle Prawns for them on light 1/4oz heads, and they need to be cast and worked on the lighter lines. Normally we’ll use 6-10lb braid and 15-20 leader, and being a pretty clean fighter, it’s more of a tactical fight than a ‘knock ‘em down, drag ‘em out’ style of snag scenario more associated with snag bashing. Deeper channels close to weed beds seem to be flourishing more and more in recent months and so are a good place to start looking. OFFSHORE It’s pretty pointless even attempting to beat the sharks on the more common known marks at present, and anglers who are searching for lesser known locations are faring much better, though they are still getting a substantial amount taken. On sneaky lesser-known spots, anglers are often landing enough fish to keep them happy before

The author had never seen a pomphret up close until Tannhym hooked onto one recently. It looked totally different to what he thought they would, but it nearly pulled the young fella out of the boat! the sharks show up. Trout, nannies and some nice red throat have been the reward for doing a bit of seeking for unknown reefs and shoals. In close there are still some marlin and sailfish being caught, with some big sails in particular. We’ve seen plenty of accidental captures of billfish while chasing Spanish with gars and even floating pilchards have been intercepted. Offshore shoal areas have been the best from what I understand, but I am not a game fisher, you’d be better off getting in contact with the Townsville Game Fishing Club for a more detailed and up to date report. Sooties and jungle perch fishers have been reporting great captures in the bigger

rivers, but many of the smaller creeks are in a very bad way due to the long dry season we’ve experienced. I crossed a creek the other day that is normally around a foot deep of crystal clear flowing water that meets the salt a kilometre or so from the crossing. Long dry expanses of sand, with tiny putrid holes of black water now make up the majority of this small system. Plenty of other waterways have gone the same way, and we are relying on a half reasonable wet to get back liveable water for resident fish populations. Anyway, I suppose what’s important is that there’ll be plenty to do for the next couple of months while barra are off limits, so good luck in the hunt.

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Wishing you a fishtive season CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

With Christmas just around the corner anglers will be looking for some seafood to enhance their Christmas feast. There will be a bit on offer, but you may have to work for it. The reef will be the best option, if the winds and storms allow, but the estuaries may also turn up a feed, depending on prevailing weather conditions. The weather is anyone’s guess, with the odd false start to a solid lead up to the

wet season, leaving everyone guessing. Hopefully we will get a good wet in Cairns, like last year, but who knows. Reef fishing has been sporadic, with some excellent catches interspersed with some fizzers. The one big constant has been sharks. Some trips have been a total bite-off, while others have managed to get a few past the razor gang. Unfortunately, I haven’t spoken to anyone in recent weeks who has managed a shark free trip. Catches will be a bit of a mixed bag, with trout, spangled emperor, stripies and Moses perch up shallow and large mouth nannygai,

Michael Spyrou, from Cairns, certainly opened his Spanish mackerel account in a big way with this beaut.

red emperor, reef mangrove jack and spangled emperor in the deeper water. Moving around until you locate feeding fish will be the key to building a bit of a tally, as fish will be pretty scattered. As always, look for bait on the sounder or birds diving to locate a patch of action. Often tuna feeding on the surface will mark a patch of rubble bottom that can hold reds, so sound around if you find a big patch of tuna feeding consistently in the same area. Trout will be the main target up shallow, so again, look for bait on shallow bommies or bommies where the current is hitting the reef. If the water temperature is high you will need to fish deeper than normal. December usually offers more than its fair share of calm days, so the opportunities to head to the reef should be there, but be mindful of the heat. Cover up against sunburn with light clothing, drink lots of water, not alcohol, and stay cool using freshwater to dampen your clothing regularly. Using these strategies, you can stay pretty comfortable but get it wrong and heat stroke can be the fallout. Dead calm, hot, summer days can be pretty stifling, so if it all gets too much at anchor, toss out a few lures,

wog heads or swimming gar and go for a troll to put a breeze in your face. The big advantage of trolling for pelagics in the heat is the constant breeze created by the boat moving. Pelagic fishos will have plenty of options, with mahimahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and Spanish mackerel around for those prepared to put in the effort. The odd sailfish and marlin should still be around for those that want a bit more excitement. Closer to shore, the wrecks, reefs, pinnacles, isolated rocks and islands should be holding their share of trevally, mackerel and cobia up top and large mouth nannygai and golden snapper on the bottom. It’ll be a bit hot to spend too long grinding away with slices and jerk shads, so spend the time to search out some good live baits, either with a cast net or jig, before heading out. The extra time taken to collect live bait is well worth the effort. The beaches, especially Machans and Holloways, will be worth a look for blue and threadfin salmon if the north easterlies come in, which is pretty common this month. The top of the tide early or late is a good starting point and a relaxing ways to start or end the

Rod Stanley with a sample of the quality trout, which will hopefully be on the bite this month. day. The headlands should be holding golden snapper and a few mangrove jack, with dawn, dusk and through the night as the best and most comfortable times to chase these red brutes. Live bait is the most productive method to target these fish but tossing soft plastics, especially paddle-tails, is far more fun! Grunter should be on the move out on the hospital flats and over grit and rubble patches in Trinity Inlet. The best time is the run in on the big morning high tides, around the full and new moons. Fish until about an hour after the turn. Start in about 3m of water and move with the tide if the fish go off the bite. Fish light

with fresh bait and as far away from the boat as you can cast. Grunter are quite timid fish, so heavy gear and boat noise will put them off very easily. The freshwater can be productive this month, especially if there has been enough rain to run a bit of a fresh in the local streams. Crocs are very active this month, so be careful and don’t be tempted to cool off with a quick dip. Mud crabs and prawns could be worth a look if there has been enough rain to put a fresh into the tidal reaches. If there has been no rain then they are pretty well a waste of time. Here’s hoping you can find enough seafood to make it a merry fishmas!

‘Yule’ love fighting fish on offer this Christmas CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

With the barramundi season closed anglers in the Trinity Beach Net Free Zone will be turning their attention to the many other target species that have thrived under the net free protection.

One fish which has boomed in numbers this year has been threadfin salmon, which have been thick along the open beaches and headlands and towards the mouths of rivers. Threadfin salmon are terrific sportfish and when in good numbers can be really fun to catch. They fight hard and love to jump. The mouth and hospital flats of

the inlet have been holding good schools of these fish and those fishing live and lightlyweighted baits on the bigger tides on the flats have been doing well. The open beaches, in particular Machans and Holloways, have been producing plenty of fish for land-based anglers fishing large flesh baits and live baits. The calm days associated with

Blue salmon are a fun sportfish.

Summer sees mangrove jack really come on the bite. 64

DECEMBER 2018

the summer months are the perfect time to be fishing the open beaches and headlands. There was a terrific run of salmon recently, which saw plenty of anglers hitting the beaches all scoring excellent catches of these fish. The other species that will be a prime target in December will be jacks and there are some cracking session to be had in December. The warm water coupled with stormy afternoons will produce plenty of jacks in the inlet, Barron and Thomatis and Half Moon creeks. Snag bashing using paddle-tail plastics or suspending hardbody lures

will be the best way to target these fish and getting lures right in amongst the snags is the best way to get these fish to bite. Just make sure you have your drag set hard, as they will bury you. The Cairns Inlet continues to produce the best quality jacks, with many reports of 45-55cm calibre fish coming in all over the place. The recipe seems to be pretty much the same, find a creek with plenty of timber and cast away until you find them. In the smaller creeks like Half Moon and Thomatis the numbers of jacks are still

there but the size is down with the average fish being around that 35-40cm. While the barra are off the menu the plans to enhance the NFZ continue with further stocking by the Cairns Stocking Group of another 2,000 fish in the Cairns Inlet at the end of October. There are also plans to run a tagged barra competition in 2019 with big cash prizes for those lucky enough to catch a tagged barra during the open season. It is exciting to see local and state governments getting behind the NFZ and ensuring its success.

Marvellous marlin mayhem PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

The seasons have certainly turned as the mercury levels for land and water continue to rise. In my opinion December is traditionally the hottest month of the year in the tropics as we await the build up to the wet season. The upside is that generally speaking the seas are very calm allowing anglers to access vast areas. Even though temperatures are rising it hasn’t stopped the awesome fishing in Far North Queensland. At the forefront at this time of year is the heavy tackle marlin season rolling along beautifully with some epic encounters being had on the edges of the continental shelf. Local grounds including Saint Crispins, Opal Ridge and Linden Bank have seen really good numbers of marlin this season. There are plenty of fish between the 250-500lb range followed by good numbers of fish right up to 900lb. The season is far

from over but there have been at least half a dozen 1000lb fish tagged and released in local waters to date. Skippers are saying that an afternoon incoming tide with nice blue, clear currents coming in from the Coral Sea is when the bigger fish to bite. The light tackle season is also ticking along nicely with plenty of Spanish mackerel and wahoo on the take in open waters. Now we are also just starting to see the ever-playful mahimahi turn up in numbers and their acrobatic antics are a whole lot of fun. Add to this the tuna aggregation wide of the shelf that is taking place and this opens up more possibilities, including blue marlin plus the yellowfin themselves. Also popping up at various times are a few sailfish, which are a welcome surprise when targeting other species. On the reef itself the fishing has been a bit patchier, but on most days there is a hot bite on the go. Depending on where you are and what you are pursuing the fish have come on the chew in

a major way and often it is associated with a tide change. In the deeper waters you could chance a nannygai or trevally, and in the shallower waters it could be the coral trout or spangled emperor that decide to have a crack. There has been a lot of side attractions in recent times with really good numbers of cobia around and big rogue Spanish mackerel that tend to roam the ocean as individuals. Other species to rock up have included 30kg cod, 6kg reef mangrove jack and recently the Dragon Lady charter caught and released an estimated 100kg Queensland groper the size of a 44 gallon drum. As can often be the case at this time of year, the numbers of fish might not be at their greatest but the quality and size can be exceptional. For those fishing closer to home coastal reefs are still holding a few Spanish mackerel and the doggy mackerel are hanging in there. Wonky Holes has been producing some thumping large-mouth nannygai and there is the ever present gold

spot cod for the taking. A few big 1m+ queenfish have been frequenting various spots along the coast and have been prone to take a big live garfish or mullet floated out the back of the boat. Our coastal waterways have become a lot harder to fish especially in the heat of the day. We are in desperate need of some serious rain to ignite our estuaries and creeks into action and stir things up. Low light periods and night fishing efforts have been rewarded with some amazing mangrove jack, golden snapper, trevally and tarpon. Along the beaches there have been a lot of smaller sharks and shovelnose ray patrolling the shallows. In between these dominant species has been some handy blue salmon and good-sized queenfish, but they are competing hard with the toothy critters. There is still a lot to play with in the last month of the year and some of the most exciting fishing may just transpire if you’re in the right place at the right time.

A local charter playing out an estimated 600lb black marlin.

Casting through the flow LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

I cannot believe it’s this time of year again, where do all the months go? Time flies when you’re having fun and there has been plenty of great highlights for everyone fishing out from Lucinda. We have had some awesome weather windows with relatively flat seas and the fish have been hungry. There is a lot of talk about the upcoming wet season and although the experts are saying below average rainfall there are plenty of locals that think we are going to get some serious rain. Currently there are some storms building up over the range, which is typical for this time of year, but they just never seem to be able to make it over and give us much rain. It’s also getting hot and humid and with the dry conditions it can be tough going, especially if the fishing is slow. Barra closed season has begun and I hope these fish are being left alone to do their thing, an earlier wet season would do wonders for these fish. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL There are three main species on the list for anglers fishing the channel: mangrove jack, golden snapper and grunter. If you are fishing deeper holes up creeks it is very possible to catch all these

species together, especially if you’re using fresh or live baits. A good sounder is worth it in this situation, as sending some time sounding out a creek can pay big time when a great spot is found loaded with fish. For those fishing bait you should try a simple sinker running straight to the hook, and make sure the sinker is only heavy enough to get the bait to the bottom. Fishing lighter lines and trace will help get more bites and in most situations you can handle landing fish with ease if you are patient. A sinker running to a swivel attached to trace and hook is the most commonly used rig and allows the bait to waft around naturally with the current. Spending some time with the cast net and collecting enough fresh and live bait is crucial for good results, fresh bait will out-fish store bought frozen bait every time. The

best thing about the summer months is that banana prawns usually make an appearance and they are absolutely deadly baits. Rig two or three together through the tail on the same hook and hang on, as it won’t be long before they draw some attention. When trying to locate a good spot I would suggest heading up your chosen creek around low tide and pay good attention to the sounder; creek junctions and hard corners normally mean deeper holes and gutters. These areas are where fish will sit and wait to feed or use to move around from one spot to another, grunter are known to school up and move in with the tide to feed and if you’re lucky enough to be in the right area you can have some great action. I’m pretty sure I write about it every month, but

Molly-Rose and her first jack on a soft plastic.

Hinchinbrook is known for its mangrove jack fishing and what we may lack in size we can make up with numbers. Choose a stretch of river that offers good snags and get ready to cast as the tide starts to push back in. Jacks love good current bringing bait past their lairs and will sit deep in their home facing the current, watching and waiting. Casts need to be accurate, and near enough is not good enough when it comes to jacks. Hardbodied lures are effective but soft plastics rigged on snag-proof jigheads are deadly. Those who haven’t tried chasing jacks on surface are missing out as it is very addictive and the adrenalin kick is insane. ZMan FrogZ can be rigged weedless and skipped way up behind the mangroves or deep into snags, then worked out, which can see the most amazing strikes. Make sure your gear is up to this style of fishing as most of the time you’re in all sorts of trouble right from the start. Heavy drag settings and quick rod work is needed or you will get stitched up and once they get home you very rarely get them back out. Mangrove jack are my favourite fish; they demand respect and once you have witnessed the sheer power and aggression these fish are capable of you will understand. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF Just thinking about early morning popper sessions along the jetty as the sun slowly rises

This is how the author plans to spend the next few months. makes my arms all twitchy. The local GT seem to fire up a little with the warm water temperatures, and pair this with a good incoming tide pushing past the pylons and you have a recipe to get stretched. The major problem is stopping these fish, which can prove to be near impossible, no matter the gear you’re using. So make sure you pack plenty of gear and be prepared to lose most of it without landing a fish. Island fishing will be a lot tougher now, as the fish will move deeper to escape the warm water temperatures. Find some isolated rubble patches that have some bait hanging around and you should be in with a shot. The humble pilchard is tough to beat out off the islands, especially for trout. Add some squid to make a tougher bait, so the pickers don’t strip all your bait before something decent comes along. The best bet for those

wanting to head out to the reef is heading off early morning and getting back around lunchtime as you can set your watch to the northerly that will blow up hard everyday between the islands and the mainland. The other option is to stay out and head back in late at night when the wind drops out again. Keep an eye out for storms that can build up quickly at night. These storms can be fierce and move very quickly, catching people off guard. I just want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. I hope everyone gets lots of new shiny fishing gear to use. Fishing is an amazing sport that gets you outside and you will over the weeks, months and years of travel and see new places while meeting people who share the same passion. Bring on 2019. DECEMBER 2018

Jacks are on the naughty list COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

December in Cooktown marks very long hot days and hot sleepless nights (if you live without modern comforts like air conditioning). The heat at this time of the year

boaties to travel greater distances and people can fish places that rarely have any fishing impact. So make sure your boat and gear are all up to scratch before you head out on your long-awaited trip to avoid any catastrophes. When the waters are still out on the reefs, you might like to fish a little deeper in

pulling in a quality catch of any of spangled emperor, coral trout, nannygai, reef jacks or cod. If you’re outside a yellow zone while bottom fishing, try floating a live bait out the back for cobia and Spaniards too. Some quality cobia have been getting caught while anchored up off the reef

strip baits while berleying into a snag or rock bar is the best way to chase jacks in the rivers. Mudcrab catches are being reported more frequently now. The Annan River seems to produce more frequent catches of full bucks. Big trevally have also been spotted terrorising baitfish around tidal pressure points in the rivers. The baitfish have been washed down in the tidal currents and become disorientated while getting smashed by prowling trevally. It’s a great sight watching big bow waves aggressively zig zag

Cooper Kirk with the haul from his first successful crabbing mission in the Annan River.

Mitchel Johnson got his PB GT flicking a popper in the shallows. edges lately. The estuaries in the Cooktown region have some great mangrove jack fishing at the moment and this will only get better through December and January. Throwing soft plastics around the snags or floating

Tom Quinton with a decent trout caught on a dead bait.

The author with a solid mangrove jack. is enough to make new residents pack up and head back down south where they came from. On the other hand, our seasoned locals who manage the heat, with plenty of drinking water and shade, know that December and January is when the winds taper down and sometimes even come to a hot deathly stillness. This is perfect on the fishing front, with consecutive glass out days allowing

the water column as the fish may spook easily from boat noise in shallower waters. Fishing in 20m or more will have greater success. Find some fish-holding structure or bommies at this depth, which won’t take long if you’re trolling around for mackerel. Once you’ve marked some good spots or caught enough mackerel, go back to these spots previously plotted and use bottom rigs. Shortly afterwards, you should be

Erin Kelly with her first Spanish mackerel caught trolling a Rapala X-Rap.

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along the surface of the water at a great rate of knots while the trevally are feeding. Lakefield National Park (LNP) will be closed very soon if it has not already. Go on Cook Shire’s website for current information. If you manage to get in there then be prepared for either a quick escape or staying an extra few days because the storms can drop some serious rain in short intervals, which may have you sitting at your camp a little longer than expected while waiting for the road to dry out again. The saltwater stretches in LNP will be the best fishing at the moment for mangrove jack, estuary cod and trevally.

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Scoring sack-fulls of fish this silly season CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

When mangoes start dropping on the ground in Cape York, we are well and truly into silly season. That intense build-up of cloud and thunder and humidity spreads across the cape and proceeds what locals affectionately term ‘the wet.’ But in December, anglers can expect red-hot fishing as many species are going into hyper-drive. Despite the closure of the barramundi season across the entire peninsula area, fishing options still abound. For anglers walking beaches and sight casting across creek mouths, December can be a dream come true on either coast. This is the month you are bound to have sticky, windless mornings on the beaches and crystal clear conditions. Flyfishers in particular

love these conditions, as the opportunity to polaroid cruising fish substantially increases. This type of fishing can be equally enjoyable with a light spin outfit casting plastics and metals. The east and west coasts of Cape York are vastly different in nature. Each coast has its strong points throughout the year, but December will see both sides equally glorious. The fish might have shorter, sharper feeding sessions in these slick conditions, but it’s a pleasure to fish anyway. As an angler, you never quite know when a school of fish might suddenly appear and turn things upside down. Composure is hardest earned during the moments when all your wishes are coming true. Sight casting to tropical speedsters in the shallows of Cape York is mostly about keeping your wits about you, and not panicking when it’s time

to throw a short, simple cast out in front of a cruising fish. Some of the quarry on offer will include tarpon, queenfish, blue salmon, giant herring and permit. All are highly sought by flyfishers as well as a host of others including golden trevally, diamond trevally, tuskfish and members of the sweetlip family. Small mackerel, cobia, golden snapper, mangrove jack and various cod species increase in chance as you move towards rocks, points and shallow reefs. The fishing this time of year is nearly always best in the early to mid morning. On the west coast anglers will have the sun on their shoulders and enjoy spotting fish with this advantage. East coast anglers tend to travel past the shallow bays and creek mouths when the wind is down, negating many of these inshore locations. A sudden squall is very much on the cards this

A morning glass off produced a red-throat emperor. time of year. Even under pleasant conditions, always take out a good wet weather jacket and a spare towel in December. Be mindful that weather predictions for the cape may cover a broad area and the words

‘scattered showers and thunderstorms’ are used quite loosely. Remember the risks when travelling coastal areas in small boats and act accordingly. Some great fishing memories come from

these end-of-year days. Glamour weather is the main draw card and the fishing can be a bonus to the crazy reflections, cloud formations and aquatic turmoil playing out below the waters surface.

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Thomas Ross caught this massive land-based saltwater barra in Mackay using a soft plastic ZMan MinnowZ during winter.

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www.bonitoboats.com.au DECEMBER 2018

Trolling and tossing topwaters are tempting fish TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

The year just seemed to fly by! It seems the older you get, the quicker time goes by. I guess this just means I’ll need to fit in more fishing trips next year to try and drag it out a little longer. Last month was an awesome one for freshwater fishing around most of the lakes. The bass were a bit tougher but the golden perch, Murray cod and barramundi picked up their acts and came out to play. You can expect more of this action this month as well. The warmer water may start to cause some changes, however, and you may need to fish the cooler water layers or concentrate efforts in the morning and afternoons when the sun isn’t so intense. It’s a really good time to try for some topwater action. Surface lures in the early and late parts of the day will be very productive. The warm weather and extra bug activity seems to draw the fish to feeding closer to the top. With hotter weather and the sun more overhead, the bite windows will be short but the action can be intense. Fish like bass, saratoga, sooty grunter and

barramundi are all worth targeting. Murray cod are also on the hit list as the season reopens in December. They are tough brutes to tempt on the surface in the lakes but the rivers and creeks are a different story. The crack of a cod strike on a surface paddler is enough to make kookaburras cry and leave a stain in your undies. Surface fishing is awesome. To watch a fish take your lure off the top is as good as it gets in fishing. Fly fishers refer to the surface take as a rise. The mood of the trout indicates the type of rise. Even when fishing hardbody surface lures to our Queensland natives, you can get fish in varying moods, but most of the time it’s just an eruption on top. Topwater tactics will keep you amused early and late in the day but the action will be taking place down deeper during the heat of the day. Staying on the move to locate fish when casting is a good idea. The other option to cover water is to troll. A lot of people screw their noses up at the thought of trolling. Some say they would rather cast to feel the bite or get the satisfaction of knowing they have fooled the fish by working the lure the way they want it. The

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST The bass fishing at Cressbrook was great for the last two months. Big fish over 50cm long have been common. I did three trips over this time and on each occasion, we landed at least a couple of 50cm+ fish. The rest have been over 40cm long, with only a few smaller

ones mixed in. Spoons have dominated catches with all our fish, and most others I have heard of, caught on an assortment of spoons. It has also been great to witness guys new to this style of fishing whacking them. When it all comes together, the double hook ups start to become more common. After hyping you up with promise of big Cressy bass,

DAM LEVELS

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let me now enlighten you with what the following month will bring. The fish are likely to break up from the bigger schools and scatter more into deeper parts of the lake. Some schooling fish will still be found. The northern banks of the main basin have been holding quite a few fish in 7-12m of water. The schools are likely to be small so you will need to find them first to successfully catch them casting. The points out from the campground have also

SEP OCT NOV 5 5 5 88 87 86 17 16 17 31 34 38 97 100 100 82 77 72 66 65 63 90 89 87 0 0 0 0 0 39 36 29 28

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

14 31

Weipa

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

been holding fish on occasions. These are prime spots to drop a live shrimp. Try to position the boat in 10m of water at the end of the point or where schools of fish can be seen. Lure trolling will be a great option if the fish scatter out into deeper water. These fish can be found out from the boat ramps in the middle of the dam. Trolling deeper diving hardbodies will get the bites. Silent types are my favourite. This makes timber lures and To page 69

23 21 20 49 48 47 4 3 3 96 93 88 20 19 18 46 44 42 92 92 97 84 81 79 82 74 68 34 30 26 8 8 7 98 114 101

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

23 25

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

Roma BRISBANE

Big bass have been on the chew at Cressbrook.

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

Maroon Monduran/Fred Haigh Moogerah North Pine/Samsonvale Peter Faust/Proserpine Pindari Somerset Teemburra Tinaroo Toonumbar Wivenhoe Wuruma

93 92 93 94 94 93 77 74 74 80 80 80 65 63 61 55 47 45 77 78 77 92 89 85 82 76 71 91 98 100 70 69 70 94 99 99

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 14/11/18

(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.) 68

DECEMBER 2018

Maryborough

w w w. b a r g a i n b o a t b i t s. c o m . a u

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

Gympie

brought to you by

Dam............................ % Full DAMS Atkinson Awoonga Bjelke-Petersen Boondooma Borumba Burdekin Falls Callide Cania Clarendon Cooby Coolmunda

way I see it is you can take lure trolling as seriously or laid back as you want. As the skipper of the boat, there are a lot of things you can do to increase your chances. Studying the sounder for structure, fish and bait is only a small part of it. You need to position lures over the prime fish holding area for as long as possible and that can be quite a challenge. Hardbodies work well, but aren’t the only option. Sinking lures like soft plastics, spinnerbaits, tail spinners and lipless crankbaits can all be trolled. This is where the fun really begins, as you need to work out how deep these lures will run when travelling at different speeds. This is tricky on its own. Throw in the length of the line trailing behind the boat, line diameters, leader size and length, individual lure characteristics and you suddenly have a puzzle to piece together. Who said trolling needs to be boring? When you work it out, the rewards will come. Big fish will be sliming up your boat a lot more often! From myself and Hot Bite Fishing, thank you for your support throughout the year. Have a safe and Merry Christmas. Until next year, buckled rods from The Colonel!

From page 68

solid plastic ideal. Chose a lure to reach the fish. They can be found from 7m deep to well over 10m. Light lines are necessary when the fish go deep and lures like the Blitz Baga or Little Ripper will reach them. Even though they can scatter around in the deep water, better concentrations will be found in some areas. Watch the sounder closely and try to work out where they are holding in the best numbers. For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on Cressbrook and the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits in Alderly Street. They have a great range of lures and fishing gear. The boys can sort you out with the right gear and give you some tips on where to find them. Just remember there is a speed limit of 8 knots and a restricted area at Cressbrook Dam. 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 will be extended this month to 6am until 8pm. SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The schools of bass are likely to be found in the middle reaches of the dam with a few around the mouth of Beams Creek and some out from The Spit. These fish will start to move around a bit more due to the warmer water temperature. Some days they will be schooled up in around 7-11m and others they will head out deeper and suspend in the old river channel. It can make locating fish hard at this time of year. You need to spend a lot of time moving around and watching your sounder. With the fish so inclined to move about, trolling lures is a great option. Deep-diving hardbodies are great for searching the drop offs and adjacent deep flats. When

bass are found in reasonable numbers, trolling soft plastics and tail spinners can also work well. Schooled bass will take spoons and spinnerbaits. Getting the bites can be tricky and a moving boat will often produce better than a stationary one. Windy days can actually be more productive. Establishing a long wind drift over fishy area is a great way to fool them at this time of year. You’ll also find a bit of breeze more comfortable than sweltering on those hot, calm days. Somerset Fishing 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 online via the website www.somersetfishing.com.au. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch. WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK It’s a tricky month to predict. There should still be quite a few schooling bass and golden perch around the lower part of the lake out on the flats wide of Billies Bay. These fish sometimes thin right out in December. If they are still around, casting spoons, soft plastics and spinnerbaits will be the go. Plenty of golden perch can also be caught on the flats and humps around 10m deep at this time of year. Fork-tailed catfish will be in plague proportions. These fish can be fun if you want to catch something on a lure but for those targeting a particular species, they are a nuisance. Trolling deep-diving hardbodies around the drop offs to the old river bed should account for a mixed bag of all three species as well. Extra deep divers are often necessary to score fish in this dam. Watch the sounder and match the lure to suit the depth the fish

SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA Bass Bay and the Jabiru bird watching hut have been producing the most fish. Chasebaits 2.25” Curly Bait and Entice 2.5” Curly Tails have been the pick of the soft plastics for many anglers. These can be rigged on a 1/8oz jighead to fish these areas early morning and late afternoon. Trolling along the deeper drop offs should work well for schooled bass using a variety of different depth diving hardbodied lures. A standout has been the OSP Dunk. Up in the weedy

margins, surface lures will come into their own for enticing bites from bass and occasionally saratoga. Walk-the-dog lures like the Cultiva Zip’n Ziggy are perfect. 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 Fishing inside the left arm, The Junction and opposite the boat ramp has been the best with low lying trees and drop offs in the open water the best. Saratoga and bass can be caught on spinnerbaits, surface lures and hardbodied diving lures. Lures like the

Adrian Ehrlich caught this solid bass on a Gang Banger G2. Spoons are a great year round option for deeper holding fish. are holding. Up at the top end of the lake, kayaks can be launched below Somerset Dam wall. This snaggy stretch of water is home to plenty of golden perch and quite a few bass. Casting lipless crankbaits is a good way to get the bites when numbers are found. Trolling is a good option to cover water and locate the fish. Lures that dive 3-5m are ideal for this section of the lake. One of my favourites is the bloodnut (black and red head) Halco 3m Poltergeist. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: RATHDOWNEY, BOONAH I haven’t heard many reports from Moogerah, but I will make some predictions as to where the fish will be found. Bass and golden perch should be located through the timbered section of the lake. Often the fish suspend through the trees at this time of year. When this is the case, big numbers can be caught by trolling lipless crankbaits around the timbered area until you find the most productive spot. Make sure you keep an eye on the sounder while trolling. If schooling fish are spotted deeper in the water column, try tempting Jackson IGA Jig Spin, Chasebaits Wiggle Bomb, Lucky Craft 65mm Pointer and the Berkley 65mm Shimma Shad are all worth stocking up on. Smaller Bassman spinnerbaits cast into weed edges rigged with small curly tail plastics and worked back slowly can also work well. Small plastics in the 2.5-3” are ideal. Good examples of these are the Chasebaits 3” Paddle Bait and the Entice 2.5” Curly Tail. 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.

them by casting a spoon like a G2 Gang Banger. DYER CLOSEST TOWNS: GATTON, LAIDLEY Hopefully as the lake heats up, the fish don’t suffer in the shallow water. They have managed to make it through the past couple of years and even continued to bite well during the summer months. The bass and golden perch will be sitting close to the bottom in the deeper section. It will be important to fish as close to them as possible. Lures like soft plastics, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits should perform well. If kayaking, trolling diving lures that run close to the bottom will also

score fish. You can mix it up and troll spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits, but as they are sinking lures, you will need to control speed to keep them in the strike zone. NORTH PINE (LAKE SAMSONVALE) CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE There was still no word on the completion of construction works at Forgans Cove. At the time of writing, it looked very close to finished, so it won’t be too far away. The fishing will be epic once this section of water opens to paddle craft. Keep an eye on the SEQWater website for updates on information and when kayaks will be allowed on the lake. On the land-based fishing scene, angling is still permitted around the walking trails and at the easily accessible Bullockys Rest. Walking down to the end of the point and launching spoons into the middle of the lake can account for a few bass. The action won’t be as good as in winter when they school there, but roaming fish will still pass through. For an update on the fishing and all the right advice and gear, call in to Tackle World Lawnton. These boys will be able to sort you out and ensure you stand a good chance of boating a few fish.

KURWONGBAH CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE The warmer weather has seen the fishing action change a little. Bass have been holding around the edges where they can be caught on spinnerbaits. The beauty of the spinnerbait is it can be fished at any depth due to the fact it is a sinking lure. This makes it very adaptable when fishing different sloping edges and weed formations. Early morning is prime time to throw some surface lures. Topwater offerings will catch bass and you may also run into the occasional saratoga. Toga aren’t considered common, but enough are encountered that you are always a chance when flicking around the lakes edges. Kayaks are the best way to access this waterway. The edges are very weedy and this makes bank fishing difficult. The rules and zones are clearly shown at Mick Hanfling Park (the launching point). Tackleworld Lawnton is an ideal port of call for all your fishing needs if fishing the lakes on the north side of Brisbane. The guys can point you in the right direction and help you experience some awesome fishing close to the heart of Brisbane.

Cania Gorge

LAKE CANIA - ONE OF THE TOP

4 STOCKED DAMS IN

QUEENSLAND!

www.caniagorge.com.au

WOOD FIRED PIZZA SATURDAY NIGHTS

Bush Walks

Boating

Fishing

Kayaking

l Events Room l Bird Feeding l Jumping Pillows l Pools & Water Park Complex l Outdoor Movies l Bettongs l Wine Tasting l Tennis Court l Open Fires l Self Drive 4WD Trips l Camp Oven Dinner l Morning Tea l Challenging nine hole golf course l Plenty of Red Claw n Creek 5 kms from our carava Situated on the Three Moon ts. ris tou attraction to our park Lake Cania is a very big dams in Qld, and has been d cke sto It is one of the top 4 ga. Bass, Yellow Belly and Sarato stocked with fish including .. its. ation holds Cania Fish Stocking Associ 07 4167 8188

Cania Dam Rd, Cania Gorge, QLD

info@caniagorge.com.au DECEMBER 2018

to pounce once it reopens. LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK Leslie continues to fish well for a mix of species. Trolling has been fooling plenty of golden perch and Murray cod. The goldens are suckers for smaller hardbodies and lipless crankbaits. If you specifically want to target the cod, try casting or trolling a spinnerbait. Working structure in 3-7m of water is the best way to encounter more fish. Watch your sounder closely for any drop offs, granite rock or the occasional big tree. The same structure is a great place to drop a bait, jig, blade or vibe style lures. Even Leslie’s smaller fish don’t seem to hold back on eating the bigger vibes. Using a bigger offering instead of the smaller blade style lures can be the way to fool more cod, but having said this, the next cod to engulf a ZX40 blade won’t be the last. Bait anglers will see most action when using live shrimp and saltwater yabbies. Leslie is a great spot for bank fishing. You can catch fish on bait below The Washpool

camping area. The bank here drops away quickly into deeper water around the more prominent points. Quite a few Murray cod have also been caught on spinnerbaits fished from the bank. Inside the yellow buoy line near the wall (the 6 knot zone, not the restricted area) there are heaps of cod holding rocks within casting distance. Rumour has it this is where the metre plus fish have been coming from. 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 The fishing at Coolmunda fired up more last month. The dam level is low, making the drop offs in the main basin the best places to explore. Along these edges, there are plenty of old undercut tree stumps that hold golden perch and Murray cod. Trolling this edge is a very effective way to fool fish. Smaller hardbodies that dive

3-5m deep are perfect for the golden perch. Cod will get into the action on these too, but you will have more success if you specifically target them. Bigger hardbodies and spinnerbaits trolled along the snaggy drop off are the way to go. Coolmunda has a great mix in the size of cod on offer. You never know if you are going to score a 60cm model or a fat-gutted brute over a metre long. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around one kilometre 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.

is working out the most productive depth to place the pots. Stagger them at different depths until you work out what is most productive. 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 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 We are moving into a red-hot month for Bjelke. The fish were chewing already last month even though the water was a bit discoloured after a small rise in the dam level. Quality bass and golden perch can be found schooling around the edges of the lake. Lures like blades and spinnerbaits are perfect for getting the bites. Work the lure all the way back keeping it close to the bottom, as most fish will be in around 3m or more of water rather than right up in the shallows. This also means you will be able to see them on the sounder. Once the water clears a bit more, trolling the edges of the creek bed between the boat ramps will produce good results. This is also a great place to hop blades

along the bottom. Small blades like around 1/4oz are ideal. 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 stores 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) 41627555. 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 It’s a great month for bass fishing at Cania. Trolling lures is an awesome way to get into the action and when you work out your lure depths and where the fish are, expect huge numbers of fish. The bass can be found out in the deepest water in the lake where they will suspend at a comfortable level. This can change as the thermocline moves and the lake heats up. Often a productive depth is around 3-4m. Shallow-diving hardbodies, lipless crnakbaits and tail spinners are all great choices. If trolling sinking lures, you will need to work out how far to cast them and what speed to drive on your electric motor. Hardbodies are much easier as they tend

to dive closer to a specific depth. Easier isn’t always best option though. Better concentrations of fish can be targeted by casting with soft plastics, lipless crankbaits and blades. It can be tricky at first to present a lure to suspended bass so take note of how fast you are winding and how long you sink the lure. If you get a bite, you will need to repeat the successful formula. Early in the mornings, spinnerbaits can be cast to the edges. This is likely to be successful up in the timber and on the banks in the middle reaches. Bass and saratoga should take your lure, but don’t expect the action to last very long. As the sun heats things up, the fish will quickly move deeper and scatter.

all worth a go when the light level is lower. As the sun rises, switch to deeper soft plastics and suspending hardbodies. The timbered areas will hold more fish on a regular basis now the water temperature is up. The shallower weed beds will be a better option closer to the hours of darkness or even at night. Fishing here is best done with shallow running hardbodies or weedless soft plastics. The Owner Beast Hook is a great weedless option for barra fishing. Their stainless screws hook

hold onto the plastics well without tearing them during fishing and the wide hook gape ensures a better hookup ratio. Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake. He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. Justin reports the size of the fish is increasing with the average fish now around 78cm with plenty of bigger 80-90cm models to boost the average. He has successfully guided clients onto fish through the winter months so will

have a good understanding of their movements throughout spring. You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyand sportfishing.com.au. Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, self-contained cabins each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 49750033.

Awoonga Dam barra are in excellent condition. Once hooked they peel line like they are supercharged. Kerry Ehrlich caught this one on a Powerbait Bubble Shiner.

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Just when the fishing was firing up, the dam had an outbreak of bacteria, forcing the Toowoomba Council to close it to all activities. It will be worth watching the council website for updates,

as the golden perch action was good prior to the closure. If the dam reopens, try fishing the broken weed clumps around the perimeter. Slow trolling lipless crankbaits and small 3-4m hard bodies will be successful throughout the day, but especially right on sunset. The fish will get a good rest during the closure, so be ready

Golden perch fired up last month and will continue to take cast and trolled lures. Mornings and afternoons are likely to fish best. WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY The lure fishing may be a bit tough this month at Boondooma. The lake had a rise in water level and the dirty water has made its way all the way to the dam wall. Working blades and trolling hardbodies around the points in the lower part of the lake should still produce a few fish. If you are heading to the dam make sure you pack your redclaw crayfish traps. The fresh and dirty water tends to stir up these tasty critters. Traps baited with the likes of cat food, paw paw, partly-boiled potatoes and chicken necks all draw them in. I have heard of some weird and wonderful baits over the years. The trickiest part CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS; BENARABY, GLADSTONE Awoonga Dam has been on fire. The barra fishing has been awesome with plenty of fish around 70cm being caught. Bigger models to just over 90cm are also a chance so be prepared for larger fish at all times. The warmer weather will see the fish move deeper during the day. Afternoons and mornings are prime times. Surface lures like walkthe-dog stickbaits, poppers and soft plastic frogs are 70

DECEMBER 2018

Murray cod have been loving trolled spinnerbaits at Leslie. This one was caught by Luke Kronk on a 1oz spinnerbait in around 4m of water.

WHITSUNDAY REGION

MACKAY REGION TEEMBURRA CLOSEST TOWNS: PINNACLE, MACKAY Teemburra seems to be pick of the Mackay lakes for chasing barra this year. A quick look at the number of trailers at the boat ramp will soon reinforce this statement. The quality of the fish on offer has really picked up over the past few years with quite a few barra around 120cm mark being landed. The stocking group has done a top job of to ensure there are barra of all size to play with. Up in the shallower weed beds and lily areas, smaller fish are more common. Teemburra is an excellent surface fishery and walking a lure like a Cultiva Tango Dancer through this type of structure should get the desired response. Weedless soft plastics are also worth a try up the backs of the bigger gullies where there is plenty of submerged weed. The bigger barra seem to prefer slightly deeper water. Keep a close eye on the sounder and search the major points and fish staging areas outside the weed beds. These fish

love soft vibes like the FLT Transam 95 and Berkley Shimma Shad when they are hopped along the bottom. Don’t let the amount of snags scare you. Work out the best casting options where the lure won’t be fouled up as often and keep working them. When the fish are under the boat, don’t be afraid to jig them vertically. Closer to darkness, the barra will start to prowl and move across the major points in good numbers. There have been plenty of fish caught on all types of bigger swimbaits. Both hard and soft varieties are producing fish. It is still hard to beat the paddle-tail plastic variety and Powerbait have the pre-rigged Ripple Shad in a number of sizes. I am quite fond of the 160mm version and just dress it with an upgraded stinger treble and split ring. You can toss this lure on heavier swimbait gear and really get stuck into the fish once they are hooked. Oh yeah, Teemburra has plenty of trees, so don’t come under gunned for fishing around tight structure. A metre plus fish will stitch you up very quickly!

PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH Faust started to fish a lot better last month. Hopefully this action continues as the water continues to warm. It is likely the fish will move deeper during the day due to the heat. Working the deep trees lining the creeks through the timber or searching for schooling fish on the creek edges and

humps out in the middle is the way to go. Vibes are very productive on fish found staging out in the middle. Both soft and hard versions will get the bites, so pick one you feel confident in and stick with it. Mix retrieves up using hops and winding to bring the lure back to the boat. Up on the shallower points and in the weedy areas, barra can be caught on hardbodies, soft plastics

and surface lures first thing in the morning. Rotate between lure selections and move around until you work out some sort of pattern. Only a month ago, some anglers had good success using long casts over shallow weed and working shallow diving hardbodies back to the boat. Fish are unpredictable and change their habitat with the seasons, so be prepared to experiment. The full moon will be the prime time to target fish at night. This period

Teemburra Dam has been producing some excellent barra. This smaller fish was fooled by hopping a soft vibe through fish spotted on the side image.

seems to produce a lot of bigger fish on the wind blown points. Casting big plastics is a proven way to get the bites. Keep a close eye on the sounder to see if fish are moving through the area and just keep casting until the bite and mayhem begins. Away from the full moon, the bite should also be good as fish start to move just on dark. Not as many people brave the darkness but plenty of fish can still be caught in the pitch black of night for those with persistence. Trolling out in front of the dam wall will also be popular this month. Deep lures like the Scorpion Crazy Deep are perfect for exploring this open area. Watch the sounder for fish or schools of bait and work those areas. For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake call Lindsay at Barra World on (07) 49454641. Lindsay’s barra tours can be busy in peak times so book ahead. You won’t be disappointed as he often delivers the goods and always shares a wealth of knowledge The store is right on the highway in Proserpine and specializes in barra fishing tackle. You can also keep up to date by visiting their Barra World Facebook page.

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Dashing through the dam, in a rusty old tinny pinging of sounder transducers, blasting of music from ski-boats and roaring of boats in every direction, it’s no surprise that the fish are generally more cooperative and active during the weekdays, which for best results, is when I recommend you fish the dam. If you do opt to fish on a weekend, I suggest arriving at the lake as early you can and staying as late as possible. More often than not, the best bite times will be at dawn and dusk. Bass have settled into their traditional summer

locations. Expect to find quality fish from Pelican Point to the timbered section at Kirkleigh. The December is here and primary areas that you so too is the relentless should check for schools Queensland summer heat. of bass are Brads Bank, While kicking back on Pelican Point, particularly the veranda with a cold the southern end, and drink may be all that’s Kirkleigh flats. on your mind after a long While Lake Somerset is day at work, don’t let the often unpredictable on the heat put you off a trip to best of days, there are three Somerset Dam, as it could key lures that I recommend be well worth your while. you utilise over summer. Traditionally over Year-round the lure summer, weekends at Lake I use most is the spoon. Somerset see immense Halco Twisties and the Hot They can’t all be big fish! Joel Brazier and Jye Gilmore boating and fishing Bite Gangbanger G1 and G2 with a few bass from a recent fishing tournament. pressure. With the relentless are my personal favourites. Often winding these lures slowly will be enough to While there are several the optimal reaction bite. entice a strike, although different makes and Smak Lures, Bassman to establish a consistent models on the market, I’m Spinnerbaits, Jackall and technique, through summer personally a big fan of the many other brands make I generally choose to burn Hot Bite Jets. Again, while their own versions. If it’s them, meaning to retrieve the fish will often eat it what the fish are after, each the lure quickly. When when slow-rolled, burning brand of lure will work on doing so, I use the Halco and letting it drop back any given day. Twisty. The key reason for to the bottom after 6-10 While I have detailed this is because it comes winds will regularly entice some of the best lure in several weight options, a reaction bite. presentations for bass with heavier versions such My last lure during the hotter months, N o accep mination as the 30 and 40g, allowing recommendation is the don’t be lulled into a false ted fro s m noo the lure to quickly, rise spinnerbait. I recommend sense of thinking. For your n Fri and sink again through the it because it is extremely best chance of a successful $20 Se n $5 Jun iors water column. successful when worked day on the water, mix up iors MAJOR PRIZE: Food & The other lure that quickly, which allows flash, your lure presentation and drink b BOAT, Steve Otto loves using 40g Halco I regularly use MOTOR during vibration and speed of lure retrieve. In last month’s availab ooths Twisties. Big bass love them, too! le summer is&the tailspinner. to be maximised, creating report I detailed several TRAILER SOMERSET DAM

Matthew Taylor

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MA DAM YELLOWBELLY ONDOOMA DAM YELLOWBELLY ING COMPETITION

other lures you need in your arsenal over summer, along with reasons why. If you haven’t yet done so, try to get your hands onto a copy of the November issue, as it is well worth a read. What I will say is that the key topics, that is, reactionstyle fishing, big-baits and flyfishing, have also been successful techniques over the past month and are all worth giving a go. Regarding lure colour, there has been no real standout or pattern. White, silver, light blue, olive and gold have all been successful, and are all great options to begin with. If schooled bass aren’t your thing, trolling is a great technique to catch quality and quantity of fish during summer. Using light-braided fishing line, alternate between heavy spinnerbaits, tailspinners and hardbodied lures for your best chance of success. Until next time, happy fishing. To stay up to date with the fishing at Lake Somerset, make sure to check out my Instagram, @ m a t t h e w _ _ _ _ t a y l o r, and Facebook, Matthew Taylor Fishing.

FISHING COMPETITION BOONDOOMA DAM YELLOWBELLY BOONDOOMA DAM YELLOWBELLY

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Jingle barra, jingle barra, jingle all the way LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

The jolly fat man is almost ready to pack the sleigh and head off, and at this time of year a big barra is on everyone’s Christmas wish list. The biggest bonus when fishing stocked impoundments like Tinaroo is the fact that trophy-sized barra can be targeted while the wild fish are off limits to anglers. The lake has been producing great numbers of quality barramundi recently, and those who put the hours in are reporting many multiple fish sessions. It is not uncommon to catch numerous fish in a single session once a qualityfeeding zone has been found. These occur wherever bait congregates, particularly if this coincides with some structure in the form of a point, bay, drop-off or timbered area. As per usual, the rule of thumb is to fish the windward side of any prominent structure and focus on the peak morning and afternoon bite times. Early and late afternoon sessions that extend into the early evening are generally necessary to make the most of the key feeding activity in Tinaroo, although recently I have seen several quality fish taken well into the bright daylight hours. Fish have been caught on a variety of lures recently, with swimbaits, shallow and deep diving

bream, but also includes mouth almighty and other forage fish. I was fishing a large swimbait recently, but noticed that the size of the baitfish in the area had dropped, so I tied on a small vibe and was rewarded straight away. The same thing happened in reverse a few sessions later, when I was fishing a small soft plastic with no luck, but upgraded to a large, rattling, shallow diving hardbody

when spending a few hours side scanning becomes invaluable. Your sounder also allows you to map the prominent structures of the lake, which is vital to your long-term success as water levels rise and fall, as well as making travelling around the lake much safer. The other vital information that your sounder can give you is water temperature. It is amazing how much difference 1-2°C in water

The author with a healthy barra.

Liam Casella was fishing with his sister Marita when he nailed this beast. and got crunched within a few casts. This proves that it pays to spend the time searching for quality areas (and fish) and then persist in these locations, but try new presentations until you unlock the secret. Having multiple rods rigged

This is what to look for on your sidescan – you can see a school of bony bream around the boat and three barra out to the left. hardbodies, vibes, soft plastics, spinnerbaits and surface lures all reaping rewards when used correctly. For me, the best colours have always been natural hues during daylight, but for night fishing I prefer those that will throw a strong flash or silhouette, namely silver, gold, white and black. The most important thing to remember is to match the size of your offering to the size of the bait that the fish are feeding on. This is usually bony

and ready will definitely increase your time being productive, and allow a backup should you get busted off or snagged. I generally fish with three to four rods all rigged with different lure styles or colours, but lately have also been experimenting with a small swivel and split ring in order to change lures even more frequently. This allows me to use my favourite stick for the whole

session in order to maintain ‘touch’ with casting and working lures. This does not appear to have affected my hook up rate compared to using a loop knot to connect the lures. If you are having trouble finding the fish in Tinaroo, it might be worth writing to Santa regarding a new sounder. A sounder with side imaging is crucial in identifying bait and fish holding structures, and also finding the schools of barramundi to be targeted. Once located, Tinaroo barra tend to hang around similar areas for a reasonable amount of time before moving on, and this is when you should be fishing hard. Certain changes in season, temperature and water levels will all see fish move around the lake and congregating in different areas. This is

Terry Connelly with a cracking Tinaroo barra.

temperature can make. Pay attention to your sounder and use it as intended – as a search and scanning tool that informs your fishing. If you put in the time, you will be rewarded. Please take care on the water over the holiday period, as there will be

large numbers of people out enjoying the lake. Merry Christmas – I hope you catch a monster! 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.

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DECEMBER 2018

2019 Outlander ticking boxes BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

One of Mitsubishi Motor’s great success stories has been the Outlander. The little SUV’s basic design concept of a modest but useful people mover has been on our roads for some time now, but that does not seem to adversely affect sales.

There is the choice between four spec levels: ES, ES ADAS, LS and top shelf Exceed. Under the well-shaped bonnet there are four engines (two petrol and a diesel plus the PHEV hybrid) to choose from, along with three gearboxes. Within the range there are models offering all wheel drive or front wheel drive; no matter how you look at it there’s considerable choice when it comes to

inserts, A/C vents in the rear for auto models plus some variation in seating and storage at the rear. All vehicles within the range have cruise control. The reviewed Exceed also comes with an electric parking brake, sunroof, a full leather interior, front and side cameras, daytime running lights, power tailgate, rear spoiler, folding mirrors, keyless entry, electric front seats,

carbon added a bit of bling to the dash and interior, but it’s still functional rather than fancy. DECENTSIZED INTERIOR As I hinted at earlier, the Outlander has a good-sized cabin given the vehicle’s somewhat compact dimensions and this means that you could seat seven aboard, admittedly with varying degrees of comfort. Front seating and leg room is fine, second row is also quite good as far as head and leg room is concerned, with the third row of seats best left to agile youngsters that like to scramble in and out. Luggage capacity will always depend on the seating in use and with all three rows of seats upright there’s only room for groceries with a remaining 128L, but the capacity rises to 477L with the third row

The Outlander Exceed has clean lines and a sunroof.

The 2019 Outlander has sleek lines that blend seamlessly into each other, giving the impression of function and easy use. Many owners see the Outlander as an SUV that’s a tried and proven product, having stood the test of time. So, it simply does what it is designed to do with efficiency and complete lack of fuss. Also, to my mind, the Outlander has an important value for money component, plus it’s far roomier than the modest exterior might suggest. That aside, the Outlander is certainly a work in progress, so to speak. From a standard five seat SUV of around six years ago, today’s Outlander is now available in 13 distinct models including the plug in hybrid PHEV with its own spec sheets and lists of models as well. Buyers can look at versions with five or seven seats within the whole range (even the base $29,990 ES model offers seven seats).

Mitsubishi Outlanders. MODEST UPDATES FOR 2019 2019’s Outlander brings onto our roads virtually unchanged exterior styling, but there are 18” alloys, new bumpers (with updated fog light housing up front) a new grille with mesh

Very comfortable electrically adjusted front seats are just one of the Exceed’s attractions.

The Outlander’s driver warning/safety system relies on some pretty easily deciphered graphics for activation. 74

DECEMBER 2018

smart key start up, and smart looking roof rails, but no spare tyre. The dash layout of the Outlander (including the reviewed Exceed) was functional rather than cutting edge design, but that aside it was simple to identify the required

controls for the dual climate air system plus navigate around the 7” touch screen with its multifeatured infotainment setup. Apple Car Play for iPhone and Android Auto were noted as was DAB radio feed, the car’s six speakers (Mitsubishi cars always have great sound systems and headlights) plus Bluetooth. GPS Navigation relies on a link with a smart phone, as most people have a smart phone today this is not a deal breaker. Touches of faux

Hiding under that cowling is a four cylinder direct fuel injected 2.2L diesel engine with a lot of get up and go.

Seven seat configuration is available throughout the Outlander range, although the third row seats are probably best left for youngsters to enjoy.

down and folded. If you go to the trouble of folding the second and third rows of seating (second row fold down is time consuming) there is a magnificent 1608L of space to fill with fishing gear, camping equipment or whatever else you need to transport. SAFETY FEATURES ABOUND Model and seating options aside there’s a lot more to next year’s Outlander than what I’ve mentioned. Safety is a big factor with the Outlander Exceed with blind spot warning, lane change assist, lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, active stability control, hill start assist, rear cross traffic alert, multi around monitor, adaptive cruise control plus the all important ultrasonic mis-acceleration mitigation system, AWD eco, AWD auto as normal drive modes with AWD Lock for those forest trails and tracks. Note that the entire Outlander range has a five star ANCAP rating and there are seven air bags, abs

There are no radical styling changes to the 2019 Mitsubishi Outlander, although the daylight running lights are featured among new equipment.

stability, traction control and a handy reversing camera with sensors. On the road, the Outlander Exceed with its 2.2L turbo diesel engine (in standard All Wheel Drive

the reviewed Exceed’s package, but with a 740kg unbraked and 2,000kg braked trailer rating – and the general overall solid feeling of the wagon, plus the fact that the engine was

A U S T R A L I A

Margay 2017 The Outlander has a direct injection diesel engine, which sets it apart from its siblings.

There’s nothing particularly outstanding about the Outlander’s dash layout but it works. mode) made for a pleasant ride around the suburbs or drive on the highway. The driving position was excellent, visibility fine all round, the handy updates from blind spot warning and other safety systems proving to be very useful adjuncts when in multi-lane heavy traffic situations. The Outlander’s over all ride was quite comfortable thanks to the Macpherson

willing to perform when prodded – I’d easily see the diesel Outlander towing boats within the stated tow weight range. SUMMING UP There’s no denying that the 2019 Outlander is perhaps a little bland when compared with some of the modern competition, yet I believe it can still hold its own as a lifestyle SUV. I really enjoyed the drive of

to do some towing or other fishing orientated pursuits. The Outlander is a pleasant overall drive with the Exceed’s diesel engine and six speed auto making the wagon a fairly frugal combination with a figure

of 10.6L/100km achieved with four aboard, plus luggage and fishing gear. Fuel tank capacity is 60L. The Outlander comes with a five-year/100,000km warranty, plus four years’ roadside assist.

$49,990

• 17’7” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Pantera II 2017

The Outlander’s dash layout is functional rather than game changing, but everything is where it should be. It has steering wheel paddles for those that like to play with gear ratios.

$74,990

• 19’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 200 hp Mercury Optimax • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

Yar-Craft 1785BT 2017

There is 477L of load space available with the third row of seats down. strut front suspension and rear multi-link setup, which ironed out most bumps and thumps on roads. With little exterior road noise intruding into the driving compartment, the seven-seat wagon is an excellent unit for family transportation or RV usage on weekends. WILLING DIESEL ENGINE The diesel engine linked to a six speed auto unit was nothing less than peppy and moving away from lights or accelerating to overtake was a very easy and efficient business. The auto unit offered seamless changes although there are wheel-mounted paddles for those that like to do their own thing with the gear ratios. On the M1 the 2.2L diesel engine with its 110kW/360Nm output felt very smooth and capable of hard work. Unfortunately a tow bar was not part of

the Exceed, yet I can see the dollar savings in the more down specced Outlanders as well, because they are just as roomy, comfortable, and equally useful as suburban units for weekday work or

$59,990

Like most modern SUVs, the Outlander has a generous number of controls for various functions on the steering wheel.

• 17’5” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 75 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Sabre FTD 2017

$59,990

• 18’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

With a tow bar on the rear the author would have no hesitation in towing his 4.5 centre console with the Outlander diesel.

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Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com DECEMBER 2018

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

Achieving success in the surf Catching fish from the surf beaches is one of the most basic and relaxing styles of fishing there is. While it can be an extremely productive way to fish, it also requires quite a bit of knowledge of what to look for, and how best to approach your target species. Without a doubt the most important element to catching fish from the surf beaches is knowing how to read the beach. Many anglers think beach fishing is a lucky dip, and that it doesn’t really matter where along a beach you choose to fish. The truth is though that 90% of fish you catch from the surf will be caught from the deeper gutters and

Whiting are one of the easiest species to target from the beach. the full brunt of the waves. Fish like bream, whiting, dart, flathead and rays take full advantage of this, and they in turn start attracting other smaller predators

This whiting fell victim to a live worm on sunset. troughs. Sometimes these high percentage zones can be quite large and spaced closely together, while at other times they can be as little as 30m wide and kilometres apart. Fish are attracted and concentrated into gutters for a few reasons. First of all, the deeper water provides refuge from the turbulent surf zones, and it’s also where food like pipis, worms and crabs will wash into after being dislodged from the adjacent banks, which take

like tailor and salmon. The food chain continues all the way up to apex predators like sharks. And then there’s the ultimate beach prize, mulloway, which are also drawn to these areas, especially after dark. When you break it down like this you start to get an idea of how important it is to chose the right area to fish. Your decision will usually be the difference between catching something or nothing. Identifying these areas is not that difficult, and the

best way to look for them is from a high vantage point on low tide. You can spot a gutter between two banks, with darker coloured water funnelling out to sea, and where the waves roll through rather then breaking. A trough is a deeper stretch of water running parallel to the beach with a shallow bank behind it. Sometimes you can have a series of troughs behind each other, which require large casts to make it into the zone. Once you can identify where you should be fishing, the next thing is to employ the right methods for your target species. This is another factor that many anglers get wrong when fishing from the beaches, especially when it comes to bait selection. Fish on the beaches can be quite fussy and switched onto their present food sources, which is why baits like squid, prawns and chicken gut will often perform poorly. For bread-and-butter species like bream and whiting on the ocean beaches you just can’t beat live worms or pipis for bait. You will also get plenty of welcome by-catch using either of these baits; the likes of salmon, dart, flathead and mulloway all find them hard to resist. Setting up for this style of fishing is super simple,

especially using some of the Black Magic pre-made rigs. The Whiting Whacker, Whiting Snatcher and Sandy Snatcher are perfect for this style of fishing. The Whiting Whacker and Snatcher run small KL circle hooks, which are better suited to pipi baits. The Sandy Snatcher uses long-shank hooks, ideally sized for live worms. Both are a double paternoster rig ready to go out the packet. Black Magic also make what they call a Longreach rig which, as the name suggests, gives you significantly extra distance when casting. These are best suited to using half pilchard baits to target the likes of salmon, tailor or even mulloway. While the rig looks a bit complicated, once you tie it to the rod you’ll see that it’s very simple and great for reaching that far-out trough that is out of reach of standard rigs.

Longreach rigs use larger hooks, with a 3/0 suicide and 5/0KL combination with a float on the arms of the dropper to

Black Magic Sandy Snatchers are the perfect beach rig for bread-and-butter species.

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DECEMBER 2018

keep your bait slightly off the bottom, away from the likes of crabs and rays. To cast it, the bottom hook clips into a plastic shield near the sinker to give a aerodynamic, super long cast, and once it hits the water the hook disengages from the plastic shield. OUTFITS The good thing about beach fishing is that unless you’re targeting mulloway with large baits, you can have one rod that virtually covers everything else. Something around 10-12ft with a softish tip that quickly locks up two thirds of the way down the rod is a really good compromise. Spin reels in the 40006000 size, or smaller Alveys, are perfect for this style of fishing, and I always spool them with monofilament line. While I probably use braid for 90% of my fishing, mono is far superior from the surf beaches. Mono seems to resist tangles when rigs get thrown around in the surf, whereas braid will catch on just about anything. A good 6kg mono such as Black Magic Velocity Surf will handle just about anything from the beaches.

A big Christmas list of things I’m grateful for head injuries are commonplace but at this point in time, not yet fatal. I’d probably like to keep it that way. My wife deserves special thanks for allowing me to go fishing without complaint. In fact, over recent years she has got to the stage where she encourages me to go at every opportunity, and has been known to have a little tanty if a trip falls through. There have even been occasions when she’s organised for me to head off over certain weekends and waved goodbye as I’ve headed out the driveway. It’s a funny sort of wave, but what a great partner. Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude for the sheer number and variety of fish that I manage to lose, and the special part of the world in which we live. I doubt there’s anywhere else on the globe I could manage to get lost in quite so frequently, fall onto so roughly, and injure myself on so badly and yet still get up and have another go so often. I know you’re not responsible for these things Santa, but in the off chance you think I’ve turned a corner and become a better person, it’s a five metre centre console with a four stroke. Kind regards, Sheik.

BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

Dear Santa… So it’s Christmas time, and instead of asking for something this year and being rejected again, I’m going to let you know all the things for which I’m grateful. That way, you’ll know I’ve been a very good boy, and you might see your way through to pushing that boat down the chimney. I know the gap down to the wood fired stove is only small, but surely with your um… weight issues, it’ll go down easy if you sit on the prow? Not that I’m fat shaming you or anything, but you have to admit, it’s been a fair time since I first saw you in your fancy red suit and in all that time, you haven’t managed to drop any condition. Maybe Mrs Claus needs to cut back on the carbs she serves up. Anyway, first of all, let me say I’m grateful for the fishing companions I’ve got. Stuffer, Boobies, Skipper, Doughers and Pommers are all firstrate mates, and they’re also prone to doing dudd things quite often. Not as often as me, but at least I feel less of an outcast when I snap a rod, or hit a sandbank when I know

the quality of stuff ups the other Dudds can muster up in short notice. I’m also grateful for the fishing gear that I’ve managed to accumulate over the years.

I’ve come a long way from using rods I’ve dragged up from the bottom of the Condamine and stuck in an axe handle, and while the stuff I can now pull out of the shed

is not top of the line, it’s at least good enough to cause me to cry when I break it. I’m thankful that I managed to sell my old boat. That’s all I’m going to say

about that. I’m appreciative of the ability to withstand large amounts of pain over long periods. Fishing the way I do means that shoulder, elbow and

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DECEMBER 2018

Cooking

You ‘wok’ believe these steamed fish fillets BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

This is not your bland watery tasting steamed fish! It is a recipe that tastes of light fish flavours with beautifully

and gently accented Asian notes. ‘Best ever steamed fish’ is a name we often use to affectionately describe this recipe. I use a single 30 cm diameter bamboo steaming basket for fish fillets (I would

Ingredients • 2 reef fish fillets (skinned) • 4 green shallots (or spring onions) • Handful of coriander stems (and roots if you have them) • Coriander leaves • 4 cm piece of fresh ginger • Juice from a lemon • 2 tablespoons sesame oil • 2 tablespoons cooking oil of your choice • 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Place the steamer basket (with lid on) over simmering water in the wok. Take note that the water level is below the level of the tray.

Once the fish has finished steaming, place the steamer basket on a plate. This plate will catch the hot oils that will be poured over the fish later in the recipe.

When the oils are hot, pour them carefully over the garnishes on the steamed fish. This lightly blanches the coriander, green shallots and ginger and releases their beautiful flavours and aromas. 78

DECEMBER 2018

have used a larger diameter option if I could find one in the stores). The double/triple stacks of 25cm diameter basket (like we used in the September edition) are for wontons, gyoza and other small steamed treats. Bamboo steamer basket stacks are made of interlocking trays with perforated bottoms

that slot one tier on top of the other. The whole stack (or alternatively a large diameter single basket with lid) is placed over a pot of simmering water so the steam rises through the layers and cooks the food. Line the bottom of each tray of the bamboo basket with either baking paper, lots of

Place baking paper in the steamer basket and then spread a layer of half of the ginger that has been sliced, coriander stalks (and roots) and lengths of green shallots across the baking paper. You will need the remainder of the ginger and some green shallots for later in the recipe.

Put the steamer basket with lid on over the steaming water in the hot wok. Steam the fish fillets for a few minutes until the flesh turns opaque white (it will flake easily when cooked). The amount of steaming time will be dependent on the thickness of the fish fillet.

Now sprinkle the top of the steamed fish fillets with the coriander leaves, julienned green shallots and julienned ginger.

Give the warm oils a moment of two to do their thing. Finally drizzle the light soy sauce over the fish fillets.

edible green leaves or both. This prevents the food from sticking to the grid-like ‘shelf’ of the basket. Then add the food you want to cook in a single layer to each basket. If using multiple baskets, stack the baskets on top of each other. The top lid is placed on the stack as the uppermost tier.

Handy Hint 1: You can substitute the coriander leaves with another herb. Handy Hint 2: Lightly crushed lemon grass stalks can be added alongside the spring onions under the fish fillets. Handy Hint 3: Lime juice can be used instead of the lemon juice.

Squeeze the lemon juice over the skinned fish fillets.

Julienne the remaining green shallots and ginger into fine strips.

In a small saucepan, combine the sesame oil and the cooking oil. Then heat the oils in the saucepan over a medium heat.

Lift the fish fillets, as well as some of the coriander stalks and green shallots, out of the basket and plate on a serving dish.

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Moose mounts SWR comeback

STORM

Forster local Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu blitzed the field on day 2 of the final Costa BREAM qualifier at South West Rocks to take the win in convincing fashion. Manusu said he pre-fished the river some two months prior, and found good numbers of fish well upriver around Frederickton. Unable to fish on the official practice day, Manusu relied on his vast knowledge and experience of the area and the previous pre-fish. Based on this knowledge, Day 1 saw Manusu start well upriver, pitching ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ in motor oil and Cranka Crabs to structure that he has previously done well on over the years fishing teams comps. This resulted in only a few fish for Manusu early, and he decided to make the big run downriver to try and secure a few kickers in big fish spots. This plan did not pan out well, and he soon saw himself back upriver filling out his bag where he started his day. Manusu said it was easy to make the decisions to run from one end of the system to the other knowing his boat is capable of travelling at

Grant ‘Moose’ Manusu was elated to collect the first place cheque and an invite to the 2018 Costa BREAM Grand Final. around 145km/h. Manusu weighed a respectable day 1 bag of 2.36kg that saw him sitting in 7th place overnight. Day 2 saw Manusu head back to the Frederickton

area. He knew the system would struggle from pressure as it always does on day 2. He knew if he was able to get a bag similar or better to his day 1 bag he would move up the leader board. Manusu didn’t change much, and used the same techniques and lures as day 1. With four fish in his bag early, one of which was a 1.05kg kicker, he knew he only needed one more decent fish to be in contention of

winning. Manusu initially filled his bag with a 25 forker, which is a just-legal fish, and soon after he upgraded it with a 26.5cm fish. Not feeling completely comfortable with his bag, Manusu went back to the spot where he caught the 1.05kg fish. This move saw him capture a 850g fish which rounded out his bag to 3.53kg and was enough to leapfrog him into the winner’s seat.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG The Duffrods Big Bag prize went to event winner Grant Manusu on Day 2. The bag weighed 3.53kg.

Grant Manusu with his day two kicker fish. Both bream were caught on ZMan Slim SwimZ in motor oil.

Scan the QR code to watch the day one highlights.

Scan the QR code to watch the day two highlights.

TOP 10 BOATERS

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

DECEMBER 2018

Scan the QR code to watch an interview with the winner.

Place Angler

Fish

Weight(kg) Payout

1 2

Grant Manusu Steve Morgan

10/10 10/10

5.89 5.13

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cam Whittam 8/10 4.58 Craig Simmons 8/10 4.55 Jamie Mckeown 8/10 4.46 Richard Potter 10/10 4.09 Denis Metzdorf 9/10 3.91 Grant Kime 8/10 3.85 Charlie Saykao 7/10 3.62 Ross Cannizzaro 9/10 3.52 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

$2800 + Duffrods Big Bag $1500 + $250 Mercury Bonus + $200 Pro Up $1000 + $150 Mercury Bonus $800 $700 + $100 Mercury Bonus $600 $500

Morgan takes second Mr Consistent Steve Morgan secured the prestigious crown of BREAM Angler of the Year with his 2nd place on South West Rocks. Cam Whittam needed to finish 3rd or better to beat Morgan for AOY, but he also needed Morgan to finish two places behind him. Half of the plan worked for Whittam as he was able to secure 3rd place, but in true Queenslander style Morgan fought hard and pipped the Victorian by just over 500g to secure his 1st AOY title since the format was adjusted to the current national system. Morgan being in his brand new Basscat Pantera powered by a 200hp Mercury V8 used the power and travelled about 30km up river to the Kempsey Bypass Bridge. Morgan started on the

bridge by pitching heavy Cranka Crabs on the Daiwa Mebaru 8’6” teamed up with an old Daiwa 2500 Luvias spooled with 8lb Sufix fluorocarbon. Morgan was able to nab a few decent fish here before moving to the steep edges and broken weed flats. He switched to his confidence presentation, topwater, throwing Imakatsu Dilemma poppers. Morgan filled out his bag using this presentation, but interestingly he was catching two bass to every bream. An important lesson Morgan learnt was that he had to move the lure slowly and as quietly as possible to avoid the hungry bass beating the bream to the lure. Day 2 saw Morgan head for the same spots. To his surprise he didn’t get a bite on the Kempsey Bypass Bridge, so he didn’t waste much time

there knowing that the bream had not replenished. Morgan then moved to the broken weed edges and flats and used the topwater presentation again. The bass bycatch was again fun but a problem, and Morgan had to switch to the more quiet presentation of a Tiemco Red Pepper Micro rigged with assist hooks. He used the lure slowly and quietly to avoid the bass, and was able to produce three bream before he ran out of goodlooking edges. Morgan then moved to the opposite side of the river, which had a nice looking weed edge that dropped to a sand bottom. He used a deep crank presentation to fill out his bag of 2.30kg, which was enough to secure 2nd place overall and 2018 Angler of the Year.

BREAM SERIES

Steve Morgan looking chuffed with his South West Rocks effort of securing second place overall and being crowned 2018 Costa BREAM Series Angler of the Year.

Johnson bags limits both days

WINNING TACKLE Rod: 13 Fishing Envy Black Reel: Shimano Twin Power Line: Sunline 4lb Lure: 2.5” ZMan Slim SwimZ in motor oil Jighead: TT 1/8oz and 1/12oz

Shoalhaven local Craig Johnson was the only non-boater to fill day 1 and day 2 limits to secure the

2.5” Slim SwimZ in motor oil

non-boater 1st place trophy by a whopping 1.54kg. Johnson drew Stu Robinson as his 1st day boater, and the pair headed to a stretch of rock wall just past the Jerseyville Bridge. Johnson said he slowly chipped away at a small bag of 2.15kg throughout the day by throwing heavy Cranka Crabs in olive to the rock wall where he was targeting cruising fish. Johnson said patience was the key on day 1. He knew the fish were there, but finding the actively feeding fish was a different story. Day 2 saw him in the boat with Wayne Robinson and sitting only 190g in front of 2nd place. Johnson knew if he kept his cool and used the same technique he would be able to patiently pick off a limit. Luckily for Johnson, his boater for the day decided to fish a similar area to where Johnson had secured his day 1 limit. He fished this area exactly the same, pitching the Cranka Crab to the rock wall hoping for active fish to pick it up. Johnson was skilful enough to return a limit of 1.99kg and secure his 2nd

non-boater win in 10 years. He was really pleased as it also pushed him into 5th place in the non-boater AOY standings. Johnson was throwing olive Cranka Crabs on his Millerods 7’0” XF with a

Shimano C2000S reel spooled with 6lb Sunline braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock leader, he said it was important to use relatively light leader in the heavy structure as the water was very clear.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place Angler

Fish

Weight(kg) Payout

10/10

4.14

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Craig Johnson

$200 Hobie + Costa + Prize Pack Matt Vaccaro 6/10 2.60 Prize Pack Louie Wardini 4/10 2.33 Prize Pack Michael Thompson 5/10 2.27 Prize Pack Russel Winters 5/10 2.11 Prize Pack Chris Micallef 5/10 2.06 Prize Pack Daniel Hayes 3/10 1.35 $100 Hobie + Prize Pack Christian Wardini 3/10 1.27 Prize Pack + Pro Up Brendan McNamara 2/10 1.23 Prize Pack Grant Oliver 3/10 1.17 Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Craig Johnson secured his second Non-Boater win in 10 years by filling full limits on both days.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM

Scan the QR code to watch an interview with the non-boater winner.

Jason Martin only managed one bream for the two days of fishing at South West Rocks, but it was the fish that secured him $500 and the Daiwa J-Braid pack. The 1.14kg beast fell to a heavy Cranka Crab, which is a consistent big bream lure. Martin was fishing Jerseyville Rock Wall deep with his boater early on day one when he nabbed the tournament’s big bream. DECEMBER 2018

Phelps flushes away opposition

STORM

The ‘Prince of Glenbawn’ Peter Phelps has claimed the $10,000 victory in the 2018 Storm Bass Australian Open with a bumper 10 from 10 limit of 11.52kg. Phelps also claimed the event big bass prize with a solid Glenbawn bass of 1.48kg. Phelps narrowly snatched the Australian Open Crown from Tim Oakley who finished 2nd, weighing 11.02kg and Steve Muldoon who finished 3rd with 10.71kg. The 2018 Storm Bass Australian Open was held on the Glenbawn Dam for the first time in ABT history the anglers were to weigh 5 fish limits on this popular NSW impoundment, under strict conditions with a NSW Fisheries permit. When chatting to ABT one of the first things he mentioned was how lucky he was to get the opportunity to pre-fish it a few weeks earlier. Phelps said the first day in pre fish was really windy and raining and then the second day was hot and glassed out. Phelps said this really helped him dial into a pattern on each day and knew he would be able to use that knowledge no matter what the tournament threw at him weather wise. Phelps’ official pre-fish day couldn’t have gone any better, he said he found fish early and was ready to get off the water by 8am feeling confident with what

The Prince of Glenbawn, Peter Phelps showing off the cheque and trophy from the Storm Australian Bass Open. he had found weeks prior and on the official pre fish day. Phelps knew it was his tournament to win. Peter started day one in an area he calls the ‘8 knot zone’. He said it was strange that only he and 2nd place getter Tim Oakley were fishing the area. Phelps said he thought there should have been more boats there as it is a well known big bass spot. Phelps only stayed in this area a very short time before moving with only three small bass in his well. Phelps then started targeting rocky points and bays back down the lake

and secured the event’s Big Bass on a 3/8oz chatterbait. He said he soon worked out that the big fish were shallow and he then concentrated his efforts in around 6 foot of water depth. By around 8:30am he said the chatterbait bite would stop, he then switched to a Pros Factory Equip Emotion jig with a yabby style creature bait plastic as a trailer, he was able to locate a few weed patches that was holding concentrated fish and he cashed in. Day two was similar to his day one, slowly winding

his chatterbait from the shallows to deep. This again shut down by around 8:30am, he then again switched to the jig and targeted the same areas he did the previous day. Phelps said he really started to struggle when the wind died and the sun was high, but by this time he had his day two limit which was enough to secure him the win. Phelps stated he had one of those weekends where every move he made was the right one. He said at times he felt like he was the only boat on the lake and the fishing was just insane.

Scan the QR code to see the winners interview.

Phelps shows off just how big the bass are in Glenbawn Dam. The big bass was 1.48kg. Scan the QR code to see Day One highlights.

RESULTS Place Angler

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

DECEMBER 2018

Scan the QR code to see Day Two highlights.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Peter Phelps 10/10 11.52kg $10,000 Tim Oakley 10/10 11.02kg $4,000 Steve Muldoon 10/10 10.71kg $2,500 Rob Tilley 10/10 10.68kg $1500 Glen Hayter 10/10 10.54kg $1,400 Luke Draper 10/10 10.53kg $1,300 Tom Slater 10/10 10.43kg $1200 Kris Hickson 10/10 10.26kg $1,100 Graham Ford 10/10 10.15kg $1,000 David Welfare 10/10 10.12kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

STOR

Oakley a close second Tim Oakley narrowly missed 1st place by 500g but was chuffed with $4000 and 2nd place with a total weight of 11.02kg. Oakley told ABT that he started day one with reaction baits with a jerkbait being the go-to. He said he got

dusted up by a few really big fish early but still managed to fill a decent limit with a few kickers mixed in. On day two Oakley changed to a chatterbait, but this only worked early before he (as he puts it) “fished head down bum up” with a jig.

BASS AU STRALIA N OPEN

He started targeting trees and laydowns in 4-5ft of water. Oakley said the key to his second place was maximising his time and fishing everything in front of him to keep his lure in the water for as much time he possibly could.

Tim Oakley came home strong on day two but narrowly missed out on first place by 500g.

Tim Oakley with the kicker bass from his day two bag.

Pro’s Factory 3/8oz Equip Motion

Steve Muldoon all smiles with his 3rd place cheque.

Muldoon finishes third Steve Muldoon collected $2500 and 3rd place. It was a similar story from Muldoon. Muldoon said he was at the arena before the pre-fish ban came in. He said he put a lot of work into fishing different areas to where he had previously done well. Muldoon said he found good bass in and around the 8-knot zone. On the official pre-fish Muldoon used his time to rule out areas. He utilised that

tactic so he didn’t catch fish he knew he would want during the tournament. Something important he did realise during the pre-fish was the bass seemed to have moved into the middle reaches of the lake. Muldoon told ABT he used 1/2oz Bassman Carls Compact Spinnerbait in black early on day one before switching to Pros Factory Hybrid 3/8oz Jig with a generic creature style plastic trailer. He caught good fish

WINNING TACKLE

Steve Muldoon at the bump tub with one of the kickers from his 5 from 5 bass limit.

Heavy Timber Outfit: Rod: Daiwa 7’3 medium heavy action Reel: Daiwa HRF 9:1 spooled with Fluorocarbon All round Outfit: Rod: Daiwa 7’2 medium action Reel: Daiwa Steez ATW Line: 15lb J-Braid 12lb Daiwa Leader Lure: Pro’s Factory Equip Emotion Jig with a yabby style creature trailer.

on both techniques and switched up to the jig when the conditions changed slightly. It was then he seemed to think the bite improved and the bass were reacting better to the jig than the spinnerbait. Based on the better jig bite Muldoon commenced day twi fishing with the jig and it didn’t leave his hand for the rest of the day. He continued to target fish in the middle section of the lake on both edges, he was fishing any structure he could see, whether it was rocky points, trees or laydowns he just knew he had to put his lure in the right places for the big fish to bite. Muldoon uses a Daiwa Gen Black rod coupled with a Daiwa Exist reel spooled with Sunline 8lb braid and Sunline Shooter leader also in 8lb. DECEMBER 2018

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Brought to you by

2018

DECEMBER

1-2 Dec

Lake Mulwala Cod Classic Lake Mulwala

www.codclassic.com.au

2019 JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

12-13 Jan

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 1 Bemm River

hobiefishing.com.au

9-10 Feb

Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Comp Boondooma Dam

Terry Allwood 0400 860 122

20-21 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 1 Marlo/Bemm River

abt.org.au

23-24 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 2 Gippsland Lakes

abt.org.au

2-3 Mar

ABT BASS Round 1 Clarence River

abt.org.au

2-3 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 2 Mallacoota

hobiefishing.com.au

9 Mar

ABT BASS Electric Round 1 Richmond River

abt.org.au

19-21 Mar

ABT BREAM Australian Open Sydney

abt.org.au

23-24 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 3 Botany Bay

abt.org.au

30-31 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 3 Sydney

hobiefishing.com.au

6-7 Apr

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 4 Blackwood River

hobiefishing.com.au

13-14 Apr

ABT BASS Electric Round 2 Toonumbar Dam

abt.org.au

26-28 Apr

Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Charity Flyfishing Comp Bass on Fly Lake Maroon

Jeremy Wakelin 0447 741 709 or redlaughter@optusnet.com.au

27-28 Apr

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 5 Nelson

hobiefishing.com.au

30 Apr-1 May

ABT BREAM Round 4 Albany

abt.org.au

4-5 May

ABT BREAM Round 5 Blackwood

abt.org.au

18-19 May

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 6 Woy Woy

hobiefishing.com.au

25-26 May

ABT BASS Round 2 Glenbawn Dam

abt.org.au

22-23 Jun

ABT BASS Round 3 Lake St Clair

abt.org.au

22-23 Jun

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 7 Gold Coast

hobiefishing.com.a

30 Jun

ABT BASS Electric Round 3 Maroon Dam

abt.org.au

6-7 July

ABT BREAM Round 6 Bribie Island

abt.org.au

13-14 July

ABT BASS Round 4 Cania Dam

abt.org.au

28 July

ABT BASS Electric Round 4 Lake Gregory

abt.org.au

10-11 Aug

ABT BASS Round 5 Somerset Dam

abt.org.au

7-8 Sep

ABT BREAM Round 7 Gladstone

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. 84

DECEMBER 2018

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA TD BLACK RODS

An evolution of the popular Generation Black rod 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. With higher graphite density able to be achieved through Nanoplus technology, the result is a lighter, crisper, more powerful rod, while the addition of Braiding X technology further enhances rod performance by increasing wall strength and reducing blank twist. Optimum casting and fighting performance is elevated courtesy of the TD Black’s Fuji Alconite K guides, with their lightweight construction and tangle-free design 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 new TD Black series is available in single and multi-piece offerings, with a multitude of lengths, weights, and powers. Whether it’s finesse 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. www.daiwafishing.com.au

NEW ATOMIC METALZ SIZES

Atomic Metalz were launched many years ago in a 35 and 40mm size. They immediately became a hit with bream and bass anglers, and were used effectively by some teams to win events where the fish were holding deep. The lure’s effectiveness is down to the careful design and the speed at which the blade works, sending out a vibration that attracts nearby fish. The designers have also worked hard to ensure action at slow speeds. Across the entire range, all sizes swim confidently and perform with that fish-attracting vibration. With feedback from ambassadors, Atomic have added new larger sizes – 55mm, 80mm and 110mm – to cover the full breadth of inshore and offshore fishing as well as impoundments. Team ambassadors have caught bass, bream and threadfin salmon on the 55mm versions during testing, and coral trout and sweetlip have been caught while being fished deep off the reefs. The models are 35mm (1/8oz), 40mm (1/4oz), 55mm (1/2oz), 80mm (1oz), 110mm (1.5oz), and they’re available in a slew of natural and striking colours. Price: from RRP $15.95 www.atomiclures.com.au

NEW LASER PRO 190XDD BIB

Do you want to troll fast and deep but on line classes that still allow you to enjoy the fight, rather than drag it in on heavy gear? Halco have the answer: the new Laser Pro 190XDD Crazy Deep bib, which trolls faster and is far more stable than its predecessor, while reducing the amount of drag required to hold the lure in place. The new 6m+ diver has been trolled to 13kt in calm conditions but it’s the rough, choppy stuff that can get most lures into trouble. Troll at anything like normal bibbed trolling lure speeds in these conditions and the new Laser Pro 190XDD will eat it up. It has already racked up some impressive captures including XOS tuna, wahoo and mackerel. “We had the bib regularly hitting bottom in 6.5m of water during testing on a 50lb outfit with 80lb leader,” said Halco MD Ben Patrick. “You can run it on 10kg line at 6-8kt in just about any conditions that you are likely to fish, and have very few issues.” www.halcotackle.com 86

DECEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

OTTERBOX TROOPER 4 COOLERS Equipped with innovative mounting systems, Duraflex tie-downs, 2” wide padded shoulder straps, and unique backpack conversion for Trooper LT 30, Trooper soft coolers are perfect for fishing and camping. The Troopers’ wide openings allow for easy loading and quick access to cold food and drinks. Exterior pockets with water-resistant zippers provide added storage. The coated nylon exterior is water, puncture, UV and chemical resistant, and the heavy-duty base protects the bottom from abrasion. IT’s rated IP-65 to protect against rushing rapids and pounding waves, and is backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. Features include: 19L or 28L capacity with food-grade liner; quickly convert from shoulder carry to backpack; leakproof seal; accessory mounting system; waterresistant exterior pockets, and premium grade insulation (keeps ice up to 3+ days). Price: from SRP $369.99 www.otterbox.com.au

OKUMA EPIXOR XT SPINNING REEL

The award-winning Okuma Epixor XT offers a quality build and a load of features at a very affordable price. The build includes Okuma’s C-40X long strand carbon fibre technology, which is substantially stronger than standard graphite. At 25% lighter, 50% stronger and 100% anticorrosive, the Epixor’s body, frame and side plate are extremely lightweight and durable. Other features include rigid metal handle design, machined aluminium, 2-tone anodized spool with LCS lip, heavy-duty solid aluminium bail wire and TCA (Torsion Control Armor), a C-40X double arm design that encases the body of the reel, offering higher torsion and flex resistance under heavy pressure. Smooth performance is based on 7BB+1RB stainless steel bearings, quickset anti-reverse bearing, RESII: Computer Balanced Rotor Equalizing System, CFR: Cyclonic Flow Rotor and slow oscillation for improved line lay. With models to suit everything from bream and bass to barra, mackerel and snapper, the Epixor XT is backed by Okuma’s 10 Year Warranty. Price: SRP $99.90-$119.90 www.okuma.com.au

BLACK MAGIC MAGGOT

The Black Magic Maggot has been off the market for a couple of seasons, but due to high consumer demand it’s back and better than ever. Now with 10 exciting colour choices and the same weighted head used in the original range, these lures are going to be an excellent choice in most sea conditions. They are available unrigged or you can have them pre-rigged and ready to troll on 200lb Black Magic Tough Trace and an 8/0 closed gape game hook. These lures are length 7.9” (200mm) in length, and available colours are: Dr Evil; Flaming Squid; Flying Fish; Fruity; Hot Rocker; Jack Mack; Lumo; Psycho Kriller; Skippy and UV Squid. For more information on these and other lures in Black Magic’s range of skirted pushers, visit the Black Magic Tackle website. For all the latest news and catch photos, follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/blackmagictackle) or Instagram (@blackmagictackle). www.blackmagictackle.com

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EAGLE CREEK CARGO HAULER

7 8

The Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler duffel is tough, lightweight and functional. Crafted from an extra durable, water-repellent coated Bi-Tech Armor Lite fabric, it has a fusion of technologies that merge optimum abrasion resistance with ultralight carry technology. With a custom bartack reinforcement on all high stress points for efficient schlepping, one can simply lift and carry it by the unit’s removable backpack straps, padded lop haul handles, or convenient side-grab handles. The foam padded bottom helps keep your gear intact while on the road. Access your gear easily via the u-shaped lid and sizeable, zippered end pockets, which are easy to open even if you’re wearing gloves. The unit has 10 lockable zippers and the ability to be packed down into its own front-end zippered compartment. To cap it all off, the Eagle Creek Cargo Hauler duffel features six heavy-duty lash points for attachment to a roof rack. It has a storm-flap shield zipper, made to protect your cargo from the rain. Price: SRP $139.99-$179.99 www.escape2.com.au

OCEAN BORN FLYING SERIES 9 10

Renowned tackle innovator Patrick Sébile has created a new company called A Band of Anglers, and the range includes some truly unique topwater lures. The Ocean Born Flying Series of Poppers and Pencills dramatically increase casting distance without sacrificing action or fish catching ability. Each model features side wings and low air friction ribs that allow them to seemingly ‘fly’ through the air, even under windy conditions. Roughly 85% of air flow passes underneath the belly of any lure when casting, and the Flying Series lures’ ribs significantly disrupt this air flow and cause less resistance/turbulence. Both lures come in Floating (FL), Sinking (SK) and Super Long Distance (SLD) versions, as well as a range of colours. These lures are versatile and easy to master; all you have to do is change or alternate the retrieve speed and rod action to make the lures pop, spit, walk or create a bubble trail. The FL and SK models come with 4X trebles, and the SLD model comes with 6X trebles. www.blackmagictackle.com

EUREKA 3D BAITFISH 9 AND OCTANE

Two of the latest releases from Juro Oz Pro Tackle are the Eureka 3D Baitfish and Eureka Octane Jig. The Eureka 3D Baitfish has an extraordinarily realistic baitfish finish. These lures can be used as a micro-jig or as a casting/trolling lure, and have a superb action. The 3D Baitfish comes with a wire through the entire body, and is rigged with a quality in-line single hook, making it harder for fish to throw the lure. It weighs 40g and comes in six fish-catching colours. The Eureka Octane Jig is an ultra-realistic squid/octopus imitations designed for slow pitch jigging. They have exceptional realism and a tantalizing action. Each Octane Jig features a solid ring with quality Dacron running to twin assist hooks that feature ultra-sharp points that have the fish hooking themselves. Octane Jigs weigh 50g and come in six proven colours that imitate a squid perfectly. Five of those colours also feature a highly luminous underbody for maximum attraction. www.jurofishing.com

WILSON GRAPHWRAP RODS 10 The Wilson Graphwrap is a new series of rods designed to be durable and go the distance. Designed on a graphite composite core with a solid glass tip, the Graphwrap series leaps beyond normal expectations with its custom designed, power-giving graphite outer spiral wrap. This unique spiral wrap gives these rods incredible strength, which adds to the durability of these tough, ocean thug busting rods. Designed in Australia to meet the demands of our harsh fishing environment, the Wilson Graphwrap series brings toughness, durability and user-friendliness together in the one package. For more information on this and other new releases from Wilson Fishing, head to their website. For the latest news, helpful tips and catch photos you can follow Wilsons on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ LWilsonAndCo, or Instagram (@wilson_ fishing). www.wilsonfishing.com

SHIMANO LURE STORAGE

Shimano have expanded their successful tackle storage range to include five new releases, with two of them are targeted squarely at lure anglers: the Game Lure Wrap and Soft Plastic Wallet. Large lures are often the hardest to organise, and any seasoned angler knows that proper tackle storage saves precious time when on the water. Six large Velcro-sealed sleeves ensure your lures don’t tangle, and the breathable, fast drying, heavy-duty mesh makes the Shimano Game lure wrap battle-ready and designed to hold all manner of lures. Whether you’re trolling your biggest skirts for XL black marlin, stickbaiting monster GTs or throwing swimbaits at Murray cod, the Game Lure Wrap has all bases covered for your XL lure storage needs. For any prepared angler, soft plastics are often the most difficult lures to organize. Featuring 10 Velcro removable sleeves and internal zippered mesh pockets, the Shimano Soft Plastic wallet is the perfect storage solution for all soft plastic lures, scent, tools and leader. Price: SRP $39.95 (Game Lure Wrap), $39.95 (Soft Plastic Wallet) www.shimanofish.com.au

SQUIDGY BIO TOUGH CRAWLER

Since their launch in 2017, the Squidgies Bio Tough range of durable, stretchy and more environmentally-friendly bioplastics have made a big impact. From the sweet waters of the high country to our estuaries, bays and offshore, Bio Toughs are the goto choice of many tournament and social fishers. This season, three new families of tails join the growing Squidgies Bio Tough lineup, expanding its appeal to finesse fishers targeting finicky adversaries: from trout, redfin and bass to bream, flatties, whiting and more. One of the new models is the Crawler, which is available in 40mm and 45mm lengths. The Crawlers perfectly imitate bottom-dwelling critters including yabbies, crabs, nippers and shrimp, as well as all manner of other fresh- and saltwater creepy crawlies. Designed to be fished with standard jigheads, the Bio Tough Crawlers have already been accounting for a range of species, including bream, trevally, flathead, whiting, bass, and more. www.shimanofish.com.au

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING NEW MUSTAD RELEASES

Two of the latest releases from Mustad are the 10881 Jigging Single and Mustad TG77 3x Treble. The Jigging Single is a super strong, super sharp hook designed for jig fishers. Featuring a large eye for ease of connection, it has a short shank and a wickedly sharp UltraPoint hook point that is up to 30% stronger than traditional chemically sharpened hooks. Available in sizes from 1/0-11/0, the Jigging Single can be used to make assist rigs, or you can use them back-to-back on large lures like poppers and stickbaits, tied together with cable ties. The TG77 3x Jawlock Triple Grip Treble features an opti-angle, chemically sharpened needle point for ultimate hook-ups and connections that never let you down. Designed with a standard shaft length and a three extra strong build, these trebles are perfect for retrofitting lures. The build is Nor-tempered for 30% more strength, and the specialised wide bend means that when the hook point bites in, the fish stays hooked. www.wilsonfishing.com

ABU GARCIA ROXANI

Following its release in the Japanese domestic market, Roxani spinning reels exemplify sleek reel design and performance in a compact package. Based on high quality components and a lightweight design, the Roxani incorporates new technology including a one-piece Durametal body that houses an AMGearing system with Computer Optimised (COG) gear design and Salt Shield bearing technology for smoothness and durability. SSC (Salt Shield Concept) bearing employs newly-developed ball bearings that are coated with a water-repelling shield which greatly reduces rotation noise caused by salt adhesion. The AMGearing System combines a precision-machined aluminium gear with Abu’s COG (Computer Optimized Gear) gear design, resulting in a gear system that delivers the ultimate in smoothness and durability. The Rocket Line Management System – a combination of bail angle, spool lip design and slow oscillation – lets you cast further and manage line more effectively. Dedicated to light to medium lure fishing, the Roxani is available in 2000, 2500, 3000 and 4000 sizes. Price: SRP $249 www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

NORMAN LURES SPEED CLIP

Great for saving time and hassle, the Norman Lures Speed Clip is the quickest and easiest way for you to attach a lure to your line. You can basically think of Speed Clips as split rings that open. Equipped with a circular design that gives lures the freedom to run true, these Speed Clips are stronger than other snaps and work well with braided lines. In addition to this, it takes only one hand to attach these Speed Clips to your lure. Just tie it to the end of your leader and you won’t have to worry about retying your lure again. Just squeeze both sides of the clip together to open the jaw, slip one arm completely through the eyelet of your lure until the jaw can freely close, and you are ready to go. Made of stainless steel, Norman Lures Speed Clips can be used in both fresh and saltwater. They are available in two versions 88

DECEMBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

– 25mm/23kg (pack of five) and 15mm/10kg (pack of 10). www.jmgillies.com.au

DAIWA SALTIST X

13 16

Rigorously designed and tested, and loaded with the pedigree and features that have made the Saltist name famous, the new Saltist X series has it all. Featuring HVF graphite and Braiding X technology, the result is a blank with maximum graphite density and a high resistance to twisting and distorting when under load. Saltist X blanks are slim, lightweight and sensitive, yet immensely powerful and strong, making sure you’re prepared for when that fish of a lifetime comes along. Fuji’s new Fazlite Anti-Tangle K-Series guides ensure trouble and tangle free time on the water, while EVA Grips, and Fuji reel seats and butt caps make sure the comfort and control boxes are ticked. There are 12 models in the range, so whether you’re jigging for snapper on the reefs, popping for GTs on the bommies, or casting for tuna and mackerel on the rocky headlands, the Saltist X range has you covered. www.daiwafishig.com.au

EUREKA GLIDE BLADE KNIVES

Eureka Glide Blade knives offer an exceptional range of knives with outstanding features at affordable pricing. The Eureka Glide Blades currently are available in a Straight Fillet 6” and 8” model. Each knife features a 3CR13 stainless steel Satin blade that is strong, flexible and holds great edge retention. The textured soft grip handles are comprised of nylon and rubber, enabling the handle to fit comfortably in your hand while also reducing the chance of slippage and injury. Each handle also features a finger guard for added safety. The Eureka Glide Blades come complete with a leather sheath with a belt clip to protect the knife and keep it within reach if required. For more information on this and other products in the Eureka range, visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. You can also check out the latest catch photos, tips and videos on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ JuroOzProTackle), and YouTube (www.youtube. com/user/JuroOzPro). www.jurofishing.com

SAMAKI ARCHER ROD SERIES

The Samaki Archer series of rods hits the nail on the head with design and componentry. They are built on crisp matte black blanks which transmit the slightest of bites, and features include carbon locking rings with gold trim detail, composite AA Cork and Ultra Hard EVA grips plus the new Fuji Fazlite guides. The soft yet firm cork is chiselled perfectly for your grip, and turns the rod into an extension of your body. The first model is the extra light 6’9 2-6lb spin, designed for finesse anglers targeting the likes of bream and trout. Then there’s the light 6’11 4-8lb spin model – the ultimate all-round estuary rod for bream and flathead, as well as freshwater species like bass and yellowbelly. The medium, heavy and extra heavy 7’0” spin models are designed for inshore plastics or throwing slugs at pelagics, with a model to suit your lure choice. Casting options range from the new 7’0” medium-heavy 10-17lb suited to big rubbers and vibes, to the 6’0” medium-heavy and heavy models designed for Murray cod, barra and jacks. www.samaki.com.au

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News

Forecasting the Fitzroy barramundi fishery SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Rockhampton’s fishery is unique for a couple of reasons. The huge estuary makes for a perfect barra breeding ground, there is a net free zone, and there is one of the biggest recreationallycollected datasets going.

The local Suntag club, Captag, is very active throughout the year but nowadays recreational fishers of all stripes contribute data. Additionally, each year there is a large recruitment survey to check on the status of new fish in the system. This all adds up to one of the best understood systems in the country.

There is so much data that pretty much any question you can conceive of has been answered – even so, new ones will be added in 2019 as they are every year. In this article, we look back on 2018 and forecast 2019 so you can plan where you will be, come the end of the closed season.

KEY TO GRAPHS • T20 – top 20% of fishers who catch 80% of the fish • RBB – Rocky Barra Bounty • WTF – Women That Fish 2018 OVERALL SUMMARY Catch rates and stock levels have fallen slightly due to recruitment being insufficient to offset fishing and natural mortality. Initial strong recruitment in 12 Mile Creek was lost in a fish kill in April-May with a low level of recruits recorded the river in the second half of the season. • T20 fishers of the 10 forecasts, 9 (90%) were within 10% of the forecast range. • Catch details were collected for 639 fisher days with 421 from T20 fishers, 193 from the Rocky Barra Bounty and 25 from the Women that Fish competitions. • Overall catch rate was 1.6 fish/fisher/day and was lower than the forecast range of 1.8-2.2.

DECEMBER 2018

• Catch rate for legal fish was 1.1 fish/fisher/day and was within the forecast range of 1.0-1.4. • 62% of fish caught were legal ranging from 580-1200mm. • The average length of fish was 632mm. • For legal fish caught by T20 fishers 17% were kept. • 99% of fisher days complied with the VCOP (2 fish kept from 600-1000mm). • Strong recruitment in 12 Mile Creek from JanuaryMarch was followed by a forecast fish kill in April-May with 180 recruits rescued and moved to Raglan Creek. • Few recruits were recorded in the river in the second half of the season. • Poor/moderate recruitment from 2016-2018 resulted in a slight decline in stock levels

with recruitment being insufficient to offset fishing and natural mortality. • Overall trend in stock level is in a slight decline from 2017-2018. • For barramundi stocked above the barrage in Alligator Creek in 2015 10.6% have been recaptured below the barrage and for fish stocked in Deep Creek in 2015 there have been 8.2% recaptured below the barrage. • River flow was low for most of the year and was well below the median annual flow for the river • Forecast for the Rocky Barra Bounty was 370-470 fish with 507 actually caught (7.9% above estimate). Catch rate for T20 fishers in the Bounty was 1.9 fish/ fisher/day compared with 1.6 for T20 fishers.

WHAT WAS 2018 LIKE? Season 2018 proved to be a mixed bag. The catch rates for legal fish continue to be strong, while at the other end a fish kill in the 12 Mile put a big dent in the next generation coming through. Here is a detailed summary of what was experienced in 2018 – shorter version, lots of

big fish, very happy fishers. Put Rockhampton onto your bucket list for 2019 now. FORECASTS VERSUS ACTUAL There were 10 forecasts made for barramundi in size of fish, catch rates, trends in stocks, recruitment and fish numbers in Rocky Barra Bounty. Catch details were obtained from T20 fishers

(top 20% of fishers that catch 80% of the fish) from fishing trips and Rocky Barra Bounty and Women that Fish competitions. Their catch rates do not reflect the catch rates of the total fishing population, however their catches are more sensitive to changes in fish stocks and are comparable from year to year.

News FORECASTING 2019 Season 2019 looks like it’s going to be a good one, even if down slightly based on the results of 2018. Good fishers can expect to score a legal fish every time they head out, with a 1 in 20 chance of catching a trophy fish. Here is a forecast of the year ahead. • Catch rates are forecast to decline slightly, however the catch rate for legal sized fish will remain steady. Based on climate projections recruitment is forecast to be poor/moderate following

3 years of poor/moderate recruitment. Stock levels to decline slightly as fishing and natural mortality continues to exceed recruitment. • For T20 Fishers, legal size fish will make up the greatest proportion of their catch (55-75%) with a slight increase in trophy size fish (0-15%). This means their overall catch rate is set to decrease slightly (1.3-1.7 fish/ fisher/day) and also decrease slightly for legal fish (0.8-1.2 fish/fisher/day) • Forecast for recruitment is poor/moderate with El Niño

conditions expected during the recruitment period (Jan-Apr) with below average rainfall and wet season river flows. • Rainfall and river flows in late Dec-early Feb will be critical to recruitment success, however the outlook is negative. • Recruitment forecast variation might be higher due to the area’s demise in commercial netting. Likewise, this could cause the increased population of legal fish to cannibalise the smaller recruits before they get access to the nurseries.

DECEMBER 2018

Top 5 events in 2018 As we close out the year, I thought it was time to reflect upon the events that we have been involved in. Track My Fish just crossed 50 events and monitoring projects since October 2016, and as I write this, I am about to head to New Zealand for trial events. Things started off slowly, now I only have December off for maintenance and updates before launching into 2019 where our first event starts over in WA on 16 January. Having said that, I can’t wait to get out on the ABT Barra Tour – we have two members of the Infofish team going this year, so the bug is catching. One of the things that often surprises event organisers is we make every effort we can to get around to the event to be there in

do all the work helping people get across the app, we take scorecards, run the live scoreboards, get stuff for social media – basically anything we can do to help we do. That makes life a lot easier for event organisers as they can just focus on other things – like fishing. We don’t charge anything extra for that service, many events help us out with accommodation – I am setting up my XTrail for sleeping on site to make that easier. While we are onsite, we are there to work. Or at least, I am told that it’s work because being a sports tragic at heart my dream job is being the stats man/commentator at ESPN Cricinfo, so for me it does not work so much as living the dream. I have loved every event I have been involved with, but just to set the bar for everyone – I have selected

EVENT SUMMARY: THE REEL WIVENHOE CLASSIC Total Hours 15 Total Fishers 92 Total Teams 62 Total Fish 167 No. Teams Caught Fish 46 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 16 % Teams Caught Fish 74.2 Best Team Big Delemma (11 fish) Mins/Fish 5.4 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 0.91 Average No. Fish/Fisher 1.82 Total Species 5 Total Trophy Fish 24 Total Legal Fish 127 Total Undersize Fish 0 person. Sometimes, that presents challenges – In September we had events on the Sunshine Coast, Rockhampton and Atherton Tablelands, so I couldn’t be in three places at once. That weekend required the whole Infofish team to go separate ways, and even the development team got in on the action as each of the events had their own custom app. The thing I love the most about getting to the events is we make life easier for the event organisers. Like an extra pair of hands, we

my personal top 5 events of 2018. I haven’t picked them on anything other than these were the events that caught my attention with x-factor or bravery. We have started to put together an overall stats block for each event we go to so that fishers can evaluate the different events and have a sense of the differences between them. The measure I look at the most is the minutes between fish, this is the ‘excitement factor’ for an event. The lower this value, the higher the potential live audience for real-time

social media, scoring and commentary because there is action aplenty. Not every event looks to the excitement factor, but events that harness a strong excitement factor with audience interaction will have a significant advantage in attracting an audience, younger fishers and sponsors. I have other measures for excitement factor in development, but that will come in 2019. On that point – we all know that mobile coverage sucks in remote areas, that is, many places we fish. This is the single biggest bottleneck in audience development long term, but that is a discussion for another day. Onto the top 5. 5: SWANFISH (SWAN RIVER) Swanfish is an annual event over in Perth hosted by Recfish West. This was the second event we put together with a branded app and the very first we have run where there was no briefing session for fishers using the app. Swanfish was also the first land-based event we have been involved with, the centre of a capital city no less. I have reported on the Swanfish event in an earlier edition of Fishing Monthly but the thing that makes this my first choice is the way Recfish West took the bold decision to go from a traditional weigh-in event to an app-based catch and release event sending a clear signal to the community even at the risk of losing entrants. All the evidence I have seen so far where we have been involved in that transition says you do lose participants in the short term mostly older but gain younger fishers once they realise that there is an option that suits them. Swanfish is the slowest of the events in the top 5 with 8.7 minutes per fish but that is far from shabby, and I expect that will get even better next year. 34% of the fishers caught fish, which reflects the number of families involved, and there

2018 saw some exciting fishing events all around the country, but 2019 is set to be bigger and better! 94

DECEMBER 2018

EVENT SUMMARY: SWANFISH

were two trophy fish. Swanfish has the foundations for growth with some marketing. I am looking forward to getting over for Swanfish 2019. 4: THE REEL WIVENHOE CLASSIC (LAKE WIVENHOE) Anyone who has met Matthew Mott knows he is a force of nature, that unique combination of fishing talent and larger than life personality. Half of what he says is true, so is the other half. Matt needs a straight man to make the act work, and when you add in Andrew Mitchell, you have a dynamic duo. It has to be said that while Andrew is the quieter of the two, he has his own evil streak if you

Total Hours 24 Total Fishers 221 Total Fish 166 No. Fishers Caught Fish 76 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 145 % Fishers Caught Fish 34.4 Most Fish Joseph Gardner (6), Danny Robbins (6) Mins/Fish 8.7 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 0.38 Average No. Fish/Fisher 0.75 Total Species 14 2 Total Trophy Fish Total Legal Fish 43 Total Undersize Fish 54 fish with 24 of the 167 fish being trophy size. 3: BARRA NATIONALS (DALY RIVER) If you are a serious fisho, you should aim to do the Barra Nationals at least once in your life – just make sure you practice your drinking skills, because the boys in the Territory will leave a

seems highly unlikely that the locals will give him an easy time so he will want to be top of his game. Knowing Griffo – he will be, so expect fireworks. Griffo made this year’s Nationals a fun experience for me, as while Griffo was an unknown for most of the field, I have been analysing

The 4lb Club at Hinchinbrook is a hard comp to top in terms of the excitement factor. happen to get caught making a goose of yourself. Andrew is the glue that makes the events run and deserves a lot of credit for the hours he puts in. The fishing freshwater series has become the most anticipated event on my calendar because the folks out west know how to have a good time. Things happen out there that just don’t happen in the sanitised city life anymore. I cannot recommend more highly to go to one of the fishing freshwater events, leave behind the stresses of daily life and remember that in the end – the good times are what you live for. Everyone needs to see Matt the MC once in their lives, late-night TV talk shows are a pale shadow of the real thing. Lake Wivenhoe has a reputation for big fish, not high catch rates but the rate of 5.39 minutes per fish was far from slow action. This is a teams event with a larger number of family teams, so we focused on results by team. 74.2% of teams found

slew of unsuspecting eastern coasters in their wake. The nationals is the biggest event on the fishing calendar in my estimation, the fishing equivalent of Test Cricket as much a test of endurance as

his performances since 2012, so I saw the ominous signs on the first day. Having said that the remote location for the nationals made the first day of the event a technical nightmare for us, though

EVENT SUMMARY: BARRA NATIONALS Total Hours 47 Total Fishers 210 Total Fish 1185 No. Fishers Caught Fish 197 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 13 % Fishers Caught Fish 93.8 Most Fish Craig Griffiths (30), Wally Wilton (30) Mins/Fish 2.4 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 2.7 Average No. Fish/Fisher 5.36 2 Total Species Total Trophy Fish 4 Total Legal Fish 492 Total Undersize Fish 640 fishing ability. It’s a cutthroat business on the water but one huge party off. This year Craig Griffiths snuck into town as an unknown quantity and snuck out equally fast having just raided one of the biggest trophies in the land. He has plans for 2019, but it

we managed to bring things together by the final day. Forewarned is forearmed and we added new features to the app that will make running events with no mobile signal (and lots of competitors) a much smoother process. The lack of signal makes the nationals less appealing

as a real-time event, but the endurance factor provides a lot of compensation with the last two days being full blackout there mouthwatering anticipation when it comes to announcing the winner. The nationals turned out a fish every 2.4 minutes, with 93.8% of the field catching at least one barra with four trophy fish. Expect a few more trophy fish next year and a few less small fish, which will amount to better scores. 2: 4LB CLUB (HINCHINBROOK) If you are after the excitement factor in an event, the 4lb Club is the number one event on our calendar. The first day was murder for me, trying to get

The Barra Nationals on the Daly River is a competition every serious angler should try at least once.

EVENT SUMMARY: 4LB CLUB Total Hours 17 Total Fishers 113 Total Fish 1118 No. Fishers Caught Fish 97 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 16 % Fishers Caught Fish 85.8 Most Fish Michael Raisbeck (38) Mins/Fish 0.9 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 4.95 Average No. Fish/Fisher 9.89 Total Species 44 Total Trophy Fish 12 Total Legal Fish 338 Total Undersize Fish 660 all the teams sorted (with competitors registered by nickname) and processing 550 fish in a day. The second day was much smoother up until 3:30pm when a flood of catches came in from the remote areas. I was in a groove by then, so the scores were all completed on time

Then there are the anglers pulling coral trout, sweetlip and other reef species. Respect! Producing those sorts of numbers takes some serious fishing skill. As much as I love the anglers on the bream, bass and barra circuits, I think that this was one of the most complete

in the mood to see a good fishing comp! 1: SCF RESEARCH & SUSTAINABILITY EVENT (SUNSHINE COAST) It’s going to take an unbelievable event in 2019 to top the SCF Research & Sustainability Event for me. My first involvement with the event dates back 12 months and much of the past year has been spent running back and forth from the Sunshine Coast. To be fair, when Dean Jackson first contacted me, he put up all the right numbers that suggested he knew what he was in for, but no new event is easy to get off the ground. Anything named ‘Research & Sustainability’ is going to be hard to market to a region that has been dominated by traditional weigh-in events for decades.

I knew that there was a kind of underground movement of younger guys who love catch and release fishing, what I didn’t realize was how large that group was or that they would turn out in such numbers. What really took the event next

care and released into the waters safely lest the green movement come down on the event. We also allowed rays, I actually openly advocated for it on a hunch, and we discussed handling so that both fish and humans exited the encounter uninjured. Rays proved an unbelievably popular category, and it was evident on the final day from the exhausted, emotional, ecstatic winners that we made the right call. All credit to Dean, getting any event off the ground is hard but to deliver a concept that should be unmarketable and pull together the community to achieve something special will be really hard to top. He put up his own money, and I felt we had to do the same – I stand by my core beliefs that fishing will be around forever if fishers help ensure there are more fish in the future. The good news is Dean isn’t done, he is already working on events in other locations. He has definitely found the right

balance for an extraordinary weekend. I was part of the start of something that was good in the old-fashioned sense of quality and morality, and I am so grateful to the community for making this work. So how did the event do? The objective was to spread the effort across species – the event managed 70 species in total. We measured handling issues for the first time in any event with only 3.9% of fish having problems, none severe but we will be going back to competitors next year and making some recommendations to get even better results next year. All up 756 fish were caught at 2.9 minutes per fish. BRING ON 2019 We still have events to run, but I am already looking forward to the coming year. Every time we get involved in a new event there is a chance to meet new people, learn new things about the fish we all love. Thank you to everyone who shared their events with

The teams at the 2018 Barra Nationals had a great time both on and off the water.

Anything named ‘Research & Sustainability’ is going to be hard to market to a region that has been dominated by traditional weigh-in events for decades, but the stats proved otherwise, with 166 fishers taking part in this exciting event. with one person on a job that took several to do before. The other thing that makes this event so special is the results are all achieved with 4lb line, a gobsmacking 1118 fish at that. Hinchinbrook is not the gentlest of environments either. Two of the most common species, blackspotted and goldspotted rockcod (156 and 118 fish respectively) indicate a lot of time fishing structure.

fields of skilled fishers I have ever seen. The numbers back me up on that. A fish every 0.9 minutes with 12 trophy fish and 85.8% of the field coming back with fish is impressive stuff. Add in 4lb line and that’s something special! Think you have something better? You’re always welcome to get in touch with me and show me how it’s done. I am always

level was the appearance of spearfishers, free divers, families, land-based, boat based, inshore, offshore, pelagics, bait, lures – basically every type of fisher you could imagine. This was a community wanting to make a statement, and as the local member popped in to see Dean at his café, I think that message was heard loud and clear. On the briefing night I had the job of presenting the rules, and as there were sharks included on the list, I laid down the law. Including sharks was about gathering data, all sharks had to be handled with

balance of fun, excitement for the followers, a format that is aimed at doing good things for the fish and fishers. My sports heart and stewardship mind found a

us… I hope we deliver even bigger things in the next 12 months. Have a safe Christmas and get out the fishing rods! See you all in 2019!

EVENT SUMMARY: SCF RESEARCH & SUSTAINABILITY EVENT Total Hours 36 Total Fishers 166 Total Fish 756 No. Fishers Caught Fish 123 No. Fishers Didn’t Catch Fish 43 % Fishers Caught Fish 74.0% Most Fish Trent Kiehne (30) Mins/Fish 2.9 Overall Catch Rate (Fish/Fisher/Day) 2.3 Average No. Fish/Fisher 4.55 Total Species 70 Total Trophy Fish 19 Total Legal Fish 442 Total Undersize Fish 295

Fishing freshwater events such as The Reel Wivenhoe Classic is a great way to unwind and enjoy your time on the water. DECEMBER 2018

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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

NORTH QUEENSLAND Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS 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. 96

DECEMBER 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

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND 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 Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

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

• 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

TOUCHSCREEN WITH KEYED ASSIST!

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

HERVEY BAY

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

BONUS

MARINE CHART OR TOPO MAP! *By Supplier Redemption

1249

echoMAP CHIRP 95sv PLUS SideVüTM Combo

*BONUS MARINE CHART OR TOPO MAP BY SUPPLIER REDEMPTION - See http://www.garmin.com/au/company/promotions/for full Terms and Conditions

• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

CHARTER BOATS

NEW!

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

$ www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Andrew Chorley

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727

5-Way Corner Rod Holder With Adjustable Mount Legs

0407 627 852

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND (Cont.) 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

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

NOW YOU CAN TIE THE PERFECT FG KNOT EVERY TIME

WATERPROOF AND FLOATS!

279

STEREOACTIVE Waterproof Floating Stereo

PAIR LED 149 Series Trailer Lamp Set With Number Plate Lamp

STORES

CELEBRATING

WIDE

YEARS

AUSTRALIA

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

7999

NO MORE bulky braid/leader joins

SEE IT! .. BUY IT! .. www.fgwizz.com.au

www.bargainboatbits.com.au

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

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS FISHY CHRISTMAS CAROLS

AWAY IN A TINNY DECK THE LURES JIGGING BELLS DRUMMER FISH JOY TO THE PERCH O FISHY NIGHT DAYS OF CARPMAS SANTA COD LAST CODMAS

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

LET EM CHEW SNAPPER BABY SALMON TELL ME FLATTY THE SNOWMAN WAHOO WONDERLAND BOAT RIDE FELIZ NANNYGAI ANGLERS SING SHALLOWLUJAH

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 DECEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

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

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Ella Heathwood from Mission Beach, 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 October is J Bowyer of Blackall, who won a Wilson Fishing Pack valued at $300. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

Jackson of Long Flat, G Green of Currumbin Waters, W Gore of New Beith, A Hall of Lucinda, E Lezuchowski of Darra, R Kunde of Beerwah, J Conte of Tullera, R Whillans of Bellara, R Brown of Edmonton, C Renz of Crestmead, I Wogandt of River Heads, D Skewes of Bli Bli, G O’Brien of Redlynch, C Thorne of Roma, B Devine of Pialaba, S Langdon of Albany Creek, P Fels of Cushnie. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

MAJOR FIND THE PRIZE

The Daiwa Major prize winners were: 1st J Laseczyk of Newborough who won $1000 Daiwa products, 2nd D Spinks of Scone who won $500 Daiwa products, 3rd R Taskis of Ashmore who won $200 Daiwa products Well done to all our prize winners. Prize delivery can take up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

DECEMBER 2018

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Snapper

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for October were: 16, 19, 20, 22, 36, 44, 49, 57, 58, 64, 67, 68, 74, 84, 101. – QFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for October were: M Baker of Gorokan, C Henry of Imbil, M Holding of Deception Bauy, A Svaikauskas of Alligator Creek, G Mason of Kalkie, J Wilson of Nanango, A Stoffels of Yarrabilba, T Graeff of The Gap, S Dawson of Gympie, G Watter of Ripley, J Routledge of Bundaberg, D Deppeler of Burpengary East, M Robinson of Raceview, B Newton of Trinity Beach, M Boyle of Slacks Creek, J Rogers of Tambo, G Essex of Toowoomba, D Hutchins of Bundaberg, B Frankel of Urangan, L Napier of Gooburrum, R Benson of Boondall, M Chadwick of Burrum Heads, N Humble of Rockhampton, E & V

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

After years of research, Quintrex has released the Apex Hull design set to revolutionise the boating industry. From humble beginnings in 1945 Quintrex has remained the leader in aluminium boat research and development for over 70 years.

Made for...

Quintrex’s aluminium boats feature technology-driven hulls that leave competitors in the wake. Their unique ability to stretch form aluminium allows them to create shapes only previously made in fibreglass, delivering the softest, driest riding aluminium boats on the market.

This month...

Editor Steve Morgan has a run in Quintrex’s Trident 650 with 200hp Mercury 4-stroke. Check it out on page 108!

100 Yakkin’ Gladstone

Troy Brown and Ron Hess shine a spotlight on the wonderful kayak fishery that is Gladstone!

104 One of those days in the kayak

Justin Willmer highlights everything doesn’t always go smoothly in the yak, and all you can do is laugh!

106 Be weather wise Wayne Kampe provides some tips to stay safe during stormy season in Australia!

110 Northbank 550R

Steve Morgan jumps aboard this beautiful machine, powered by Mercury’s 115hp 4-stroke!

DECEMBER 2018

Kayaking Gladstone surrounds BRISBANE

Troy Brown & Ron Hess

The Gold Coast may be Queenslandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most publicised tourist drawcard, but many of our true jewels lie outside the confines of the glitter strip and Brisbane. Regional centres have many attractions to offer the casual tourist, but for those seeking exciting kayak fishing action, Gladstone and the wider Central Queensland area is a true hotspot. The Gladstone region is known for its simple access to the Great Barrier Reef, as well as close proximity to natural attractions such as Heron Island and scenic national parks. Nearby coastal towns such as 1770 and Agnes Water offer laidback experiences for tourists. Keen kayak anglers will enjoy the impressive scenery and tranquil atmosphere of the area, but their attention will focus squarely on the abundant fishing opportunities in local waterways. Kayak fishing is a fast growing sport in the Central Queensland region, with local groups in almost every local town. The Gladstone, Rockhampton,

connect you to local kayak fishers, who are pleased to offer a personal tour of their favourite fishing locations. The barramundi season closed is at the start of November, but these acrobatic fish will often become by-catch while targeting other species. When caught out of season,

January is prime spawning season for barramundi, so protecting any accidentally captured fish will ensure healthy future populations. If you do wish to target barramundi during the closed season, nearby Lake Awoonga is an ideal location. As water temperatures increase,

the main boat ramp area, or access points at the rear of the dam on the GladstoneMonto Road, you will be impressed with the fishing opportunities on offer. Patience and research will reap rewards at Awoonga; learning what they eat and where they reside can be a process of trial and

Adam Williams is always willing to share his knowledge with fellow kayak anglers.

Cameron Delaware with a 74cm flathead caught in South Trees Inlet. these amazing fish need to be released as quickly and carefully as possible.

so does the barramundi activity in this iconic lake. The Gladstone Area Water Board is responsible for a superb stocking program, allowing kayak anglers to catch the fish of a lifetime. Specimens exceeding 36kg have been pulled from the lake, although smaller fish will still offer an exciting challenge from a kayak. The lake also offers the rare chance of catching an elusive mangrove jack, with small numbers having been released into the lake. The prospects at Awoonga will entice even the most diehard kayak fisher, with species such as sooty grunter and saratoga rounding out an impressive list of light tackle sportfish. Whether you launch from

error. Local soft plastics brand Happy Rock Softies have achieved a cult-like following at this dam, as they have been designed for local conditions and fish.

Ron and Roxy with a healthy Boyne River mangrove jack.

Cod are a common by-catch. and Yeppoon fishing groups have large numbers of dedicated kayakers, most of whom are willing to assist with local knowledge for visitors to the area. Facebook is the meeting point for many of these groups; a quick search will 100

DECEMBER 2018

If barramundi need to be lifted from the water, ensure they are supported horizontally with both hands. To keep your catch healthy, minimise their time out of the water and gently swim the fish prior to release. October to

While the closed season restricts access to the many barramundi hunting grounds around the Central Queensland area, the alternatives to

Mangrove jack will be out in large numbers. Friendly locals such as Cameron Delaware can help you find the fish.

chasing wild barra are numerous. As temperatures in the area increase, so does the activity of some prized Gladstone fish species; mangrove jack, yellowfin, pikey bream and grunter can all be caught in significant quantities. Boyne Island and Tannum Sands feature a number of tributaries, which are ideal for kayaking. The Boyne River meanders up towards Awoonga Dam, with branches such as South Trees Inlet offering prolific fishing. Common catches include bream, flathead, whiting and the powerful mangrove jack. Wild Cattle Creek is another

prime location, accessible from the southern end of Tannum Sands Main Beach. Offering a diverse range of species such as mangrove jack, black and gold spot cod, flathead and whiting, Wild Cattle Creek is unlikely to disappoint. An hour south from Gladstone you will find the township of Turkey Beach, a small fishing village located in the protected waters of Rodds Harbour. While you are unlikely to encounter turkeys, keen

kayak anglers are nearly certain to meet popular local fish species. Paddling the mangroves and rock bars will yield quality flathead, trevally, mangrove jack and queenfish. While fishing this area, the local sand-fly population will undoubtedly pay you a visit, so ensure you are carrying a quality repellent. For those who are more fearless, a trip to the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton is a must. This world-class fishery has a reputation of

metre long barramundi and solid threadfin being caught in the limits of the CBD. Due to the possibility of an encounter with the local crocodile population, it is wise to enlist the assistance of the local kayak fishing experts. There is a strong social bond within the kayak fishing community, so finding a local fishing partner will prove to be a simple task. While fishing the Gladstone area, you will benefit from using the same

Adam Williams is an expert at catching big Boyne River barramundi.

lures and techniques used by locals. Popular lures include Rapala X-Raps, Ecogear ZX40, Zereks Tango Shad, and other lures in the 40-65mm range. The deadly Happy Rock Softies are as popular for in the estuaries as they are when chasing barramundi, so grabbing a packet or two is recommended. When fishing for mangrove jack or barramundi, cast the lure as close as possible to trees, mangroves, or rocky ledges. Small twitches, a slow roll and periods of allowing the lure to suspend will all encourage a fish to strike. Work the lure all of the way back to the kayak, as often the strike will come mere moments before you complete your retrieve. At that moment, it is vitally important that your drag is firm enough to slow the charge of a large fish, but also loose enough to prevent line or rod breakage. Disaster typically strikes when the angler least expects it, as the load on a rod when the lure nears the kayak is far more intense. Popular launch sites near Gladstone include the Bruce Highway bridge at Benaraby, the power station boat ramp on the

Cameron Delaware displays a typical Gladstone grunter. Calliope River, Toolooa Bends boat ramp at South Trees Inlet, the Tarcoola Drive boat ramp at Boyne Island, or the Wild Cattle Creek boat ramp. Kayak anglers who wish to combine their chosen sport with a

relaxing holiday should place this region at the top of their wish list. With natural beauty, interesting townships, superlative kayak waterways and amazing fish habitats, Gladstone is an ideal destination.

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! BRISBANE NORTH

BRISBANE YAMAHA

174 Bruce HWY, Burpengary

PHONE 07 3888 1727

BRISBANE QUINTREX

BRISBANE SOUTH

3775 PACIFIC HWY, LOGANHOLME

PHONE 07 3133 3468 BUNDABERG

142 Enterprise St, Bundaberg

BOATS GALORE

PHONE 07 4152 6744

SUNSHINE COAST RAY SCHOLES MARINE 146 Eumundi Rd, Noosaville

PHONE 07 5449 7633 SUNSHINE COAST

8 Baldwin St, Caloundra

CALOUNDRA MARINE

PHONE 07 5491 1944 TOOWOOMBA WATER SKIERS WAREHOUSE 91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba

PHONE 07 4637 9511 GOLD COAST

SURF COAST MARINE

50-54 Brisbane Rd, Labrador

PHONE 07 5563 7733 TWEED COAST

TWEED COAST MARINE

32 Machinery Drive, Tweed Heads

PHONE 07 5524 8877

DECEMBER 2018

101

WHAT’S NEW BOATING STEFAN LAUNCHES NEW REFLEX RANGE 1

SAVAGE RAPTOR EXTREME

Stefan Boating World has launched a new range of Reflex Boats, delivering affordable family boating. The Reflex Marine Division has been designing and building Reflex fibreglass boats since the 1970s, and their Chianti models exceed International CE requirements and are certified for stability and floatation compliance. They have outstanding build quality and fit-out, with zero timber. There are six models available: the Chianti 485, 530, 585, 635, 655 Hard Top, 705 Hard Top, powered by Yamaha. The 485-635 models are small enough to launch and retrieve on your own, yet big enough to handle the rough stuff and carry four to seven people in comfort. The 655 and 705 models are aimed squarely at anglers. They have uniquely designed cockpits, a large uncluttered working area, easy walkaround access to the bow, and ample seating for long trips offshore. www.stefanboatingworld.com.au

The Savage Raptor Extreme is a v-nose punt dinghy with increased internal freeboard thanks to the higher sides and greater beam. Suited for river, creek and estuary fishing, boaties of all ages will find enjoyment out of this boat. Available in two models, 355 and 375 with 15hp and 20hp ratings respectively, the Raptor Extreme is a great choice for off-road and camping adventures. Trailerable or a cartopper, this dinghy is designed to add excitement in the most remote areas. This boat comes standard with grab rails for loading, anchor storage and a deep floor for comfort while on the water. There are also large front and rear bench seats with plenty of room in the centre for fishing and crabbing. The Raptor family consists of the Savage Raptor, Raptor Extreme and Raptor Pro, ranging from 3.5m to 4.4m. They have been created to take anglers on adventures all over the country, from the rainforests in Northern Queensland, to the lakes across Western Australia. www.savageboats.com.au

CLUB MARINE’S SUMMER REWARDS 2 Club Marine is giving away $25,000 worth of prizes in its ‘Summer of Rewards’ promotion. All participants need to do to be in the running is to have a Club Marine Pleasure Craft Insurance policy and a Club Marine Magazine subscription in either Australia or New Zealand at the time of each draw between November 1, 2018, and March 31, 2019. Each month during the promotion period, five Club Marine members will each win $1000 to spend at Club Marine Member Rewards partners (listed on the Club Marine website). Club Marine members enjoy a wide variety of exclusive benefits from a ever-growing group of prominent marine businesses. With Summer of Rewards, 25 winning members will each receive $1000 to spend with up to three Member Rewards partners, including Henri Lloyd, Hamilton Island, Musto, Big4 Holiday Parks, Australian Marine Wholesale, Barz Optics, Boat Shoes Online and JSW Powersports, among others. Prize winners will be contacted and announced on the Club Marine website after each monthly draw. www.clubmarine.com.au/ SummerOfRewards

NEW LOWRANCE ELITE TI2

The Lowrance Elite Ti2 gives anglers access to features previously reserved for Lowrance’s premium HDS family of displays. One of the main features is Active Imaging Sonar, which combines Lowrance CHIRP sonar, with Side and DownScan Imaging to allow anglers to quickly search fish-holding structure, and enhances FishReveal with higherlevel clarity and target separation. Simple to use, without the need to change frequencies while fishing in most conditions, the Active Imaging 800kHz setting provides crystal-clear detail with uncompromised range. For anglers needing to see farther than 120ft (36m), Active Imaging can also operate at the 455kHz frequency. Elite Ti2 also lets you wirelessly share sonar and charting between two displays, as well as sync waypoint data. Additionally, it provides Bluetooth notifications so you can keep their phone stored in a safe location while still receiving incoming call and text notifications. Lowrance Elite Ti2 is available in 7”, 9”, and 12” display sizes, and various charting and transducer bundles. Price: SRP $1299-$3599 www.lowrance.com 102

DECEMBER 2018

C-MAP EMBARK APP

C-Map Embark is a navigation app that simplifies planning, cruising and fishing. It shows you the most important info at any given time, so you can discover new places safely and confidently — just like a local. There is helpful info about local marinas, harbours, beaches, shops and more, and you can also share exciting new places and routes with friends. Embark is powered by map data from official hydrographic offices, and it’s continuously updated and augmented to help fill gaps in coastal and inland water bodies. Updated monthly, the maps ensure users always have the most current charts on smartphone, tablet or PC. The charts show all the info needed to navigate safely, and Contour Mode offers a hires bathymetry view, helping you target the best fishing spots. Users travelling to an area without internet or cellular data coverage can upgrade to Premium and download off-line maps and weather. C-Map Embark is now offering users a free twoweek trial on Google Play and the App Store. lightmarine.c-map.com/mobile/cmap-embark-app

C-MAP GENESIS SOCIAL MAP

PRODUCT GUIDE

2 3

5 6

C-Map Genesis subscribers can now select and follow Favourite Waterbodies in Social Map and get weekly updates about increased acres mapped on them. Selecting a Favourite Waterbody will provide both free account and Genesis Edge subscribers with: an up-to-date accounting of how much of the waterbody’s total acreage has been publicly mapped by the C-Map Genesis community, and quicklinks to view and/or download for use on a compatible Lowrance, Simrad or B&G sonar/GPS unit updated charts for your Favourite Waterbodies. After selecting one or more Favourite Waterbody, you will receive a weekly email that announces how many acres of new mapping was added in the previous week to the chart of your Favourite Waterbodies (provided the waterbodies were updated that past week). Social Map is a free online collection of inland and coastal charts generated by fishing, cruising, and sailing enthusiasts. Anyone with a C-Map Genesis account can download Social Map charts to an SD card for use in a compatible chartplotter. insightgenesis.wordpress.com

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

MAJOR PRIZES

FIND THE

LOGO COMPETITION

1st PLACE

1000

There are 15 logos hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly.

Find the logo and page number, fill in the entry form and go in the draw to win!

RRP worth of Frogley’s Offshore products

2nd PLACE

The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of each month will win a packet of the world’s finest hooks from

500

All entries will go into the major prize draw (APRIL 30 , 2019).

RRP worth of Frogley’s Offshore products

www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

3rd PLACE

200

RRP worth of Frogley’s Offshore products

PAGE NO: 1

NAME ............................................................................................................

MAIL ENTRIES TO: QFM Find the Gamakatsu Logo Competition, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 31ST DECEMBER 2018 Original entries only. No photocopies.

SUBURB .................................................................P/CODE ........................... PHONE .......................................................................................................... EMAIL ............................................................................................................ DECEMBER 2018

QFM DECEMBER 2018

ADDRESS .......................................................................................................

103

Just one of those days… BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I caught up with my mate Baz recently and we ended up talking fishing and it wasn’t long before a plan was hatched to kayak fish

first casts for the day. I let Baz drift ahead of me to get first shot at the fish. Three casts in and my little 2.5” paddle-tail soft plastic was nailed by what felt like a solid flathead. A few spirited runs and I had a mid 50s flatty beside the kayak and slid the net under

back of Baz’s kayak, as there was no need for a second icebox to keep our lunch separate from the catch. A couple of ice bricks in a large zip lock bag would ensure the catch was kept in good condition, for a feed of fresh flathead fillets and salad. So often when you catch

What a cracking morning.

A fun size trevally in the net after a spirited fight on light gear. early the next morning. The water wasn’t a great colour after some recent rain, the moon wasn’t ideal and the breeze was supposed to blow from a direction that isn’t favourable… but you know what, we had the time and the morning was supposed to be fine and calm. A 5am arrival and we were pushing the yaks off not long after, making our

Just as the tide was starting to turn to take us back toward our launch point Baz cast to the edge of a nice drop off, the plastic sank to the bottom and he started a slow hop and wind retrieve that resulted in a solid hit! Unfortunately, that’s where the strike ended, resulting in a few muttered words. Baz was suffering from ‘one of those days’, including no bites, catching loads of weed and other random structure and even scoring a nice loose loop of line that took some sorting. Just when we thought it couldn’t get worse I looked over to see Baz stretching

Even small flathead are good fun. This one ate a midnight oil coloured ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ.

it for easy handling. Once on the lip grips Baz snapped a couple of pictures and I decided to keep this one for a meal after releasing the bulk of the fish landed of late. The lip grips make it easy to transfer the fish securely to the icebox, minimizing the chance of ‘the one that got away’ stories. As we were only doing a short session we just had the one icebox, stowed in the

A solid flathead to start the day, landed on a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ.

Ready to launch and get stuck into a few fish. 104

DECEMBER 2018

a fish straight up you get pumped for a hot bite and then that’s it… and this was one of those days. We made plenty of casts to good water for hardly a rattle. All of the usual structure failed to produce until finally I hooked another smaller flathead. This was followed by a couple of rattles and then another flathead in my net that was soon released. We were enjoying the cracker morning on the water, drifting close enough to have a chat, but I could sense that Baz was getting a bit frustrated that he hadn’t hooked up. The last couple of times we had fished were in my boat and Baz had landed some nice bream, flathead and trevally.

his back a bit and then he was in the drink! He leant too far to one side, the yak had tipped and he ended up taking a dip. Fortunately, the kayak had remained upright so no gear was lost… well, almost no gear. Baz noticed the rod and reel I had let him borrow were nowhere to be seen and as we were drifting quite quickly, so it was long gone. I blame myself for this incident as my pedal kayak needs the broken rudder cable replaced and my seat inside is leaking, so I took my small kayak and he used my wife Sheri’s kayak. This kayak is specifically designed for female paddlers and is light, tracks well and is easy to handle – but it

does have a reduced payload and is slightly narrower and less stable. I jokingly said to Baz before we launched that I was lending him an inexpensive rod and reel combo so that when he falls out of the yak and loses the combo it won’t be a big deal. Good thing I carried a spare combo for him in my kayak. Being a surfer Baz had no problem getting back onto the kayak and I struggled not to take a photo of him laying flat with his face in the seat and his feet hanging over the nose. I opted instead to take one when he was safely back in the seat. There were no smiles, well other than mine, when I paddles over

A mouth built to terrorise baitfish.

and passed him the spare combo I was carrying with me. I assured him that losing the rod and reel was worth every cent after witnessing the priceless display of acrobatics, but I couldn’t get much of a laugh out of him.

and Baz had still not landed a fish, only the one bite. The three hour session had produced only four flathead and one trevally, not terrible, but definitely not a hot bite. I was ready to head for home, however, Baz was looking

with a long paddle back to our launch point against the tide, we instead pulled into the bank, loaded our kayaks onto the trolleys and rolled them back to our launch point with just one quick stop on the way to pick up a

however, I find leashes often get in the way and make fishing more difficult. Instead I now opt to run entry-level rods and reels on the SUP and in the kayak, leaving the high-end gear for boat adventures. You can pick up a reasonable combo from $80-$200 that will handle bream, whiting, flathead, trevally and so on, and it’s less of a worry in terms of it getting splashed or potentially lost. We have only lost a couple of combos over the years, however, if you want to be safe leash it. Also, the number one rule for me is don’t put the combo in the flush mounted rod holders on the sides of the kayak behind your seat as I have heard of at least half a dozen being lifted out with the paddle stroke and lost. In hindsight, when faced with the tough bite, we could have paddled back to the launch site and moved spots, changed up lures more often or tried

Baz gearing up for an early morning session.

This day turned into a hot session after catching a fish on the third cast. To follow this up I landed another small flathead and then hooked onto something that ran hard and the head shakes told me that it wasn’t a flathead. A couple of solid runs and then I saw silver, confirming my belief that I had hooked a trevally. Trevally are great fun on light gear, but this

for redemption and I was happy to tag along. We paddled a few hundred metres and drifted a long flat that normally produces a few fish. The problem was we were now well into a big run-in tide and it wasn’t feeling very fishy, with a breeze from the north, strong current and

feed of hot chips. Baz was angry with himself for falling in, losing the rod and reel and not catching any fish… but you know what, that’s fishing and I’m sure it won’t be long until we are both sharing a laugh about the that time we had a bit of a shocker and he went for a swim. Some

Baz working a plastic down a weed edge. something completely out of the box. At the end of the day these tougher days on the water make the good ones even better and at some point we are all going to have ‘one of those

days’. The best thing you can do is get back on the horse and now that Baz has had a couple of days to lick his wounds we are already planning our next adventure. How sweet

the feeling will be when his rod loads up on the next fish that he hooks and who knows, we might even share a laugh about this not so perfect day out. See you on the water.

Rather than fight the current back, the guys paddled to the bank and loaded the yaks onto the C-Tug trolleys for an easy roll back. little bloke had punched well above his weight and it was nice to get a few pictures and then send him on his way. There have been quite a few trevally caught of late and these fish are too good to catch just once, so I always return them to the water. By this time we had reached our launch point

not much bait around. I had one bream rattle on the flats, with no hook up. It was then onto a weedy drain that has produced in the past and again Baz was landing plenty of weed but neither of us hooked a fish. We persisted for an hour or so, flogging the water to foam for nothing and

days you catch them and some days you don’t, but guarantee you won’t catch them sitting at home. It was good to catch up, go on an adventure, see some turtles and dolphins, and still end up with one in the icebox for a feed. If the rod was leashed on we would still have it,

The author with a fun size trevally landed on a soft plastic. DECEMBER 2018

105

Don’t let bad weather spoil your summer BRISBANE

forward to keep it directly head-on into the majority of the wind and horizontal rain. The visibility was close to zero, but we were far more concerned about the amount of water gathering aft in the cockpit

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

How good is this summer boating! You don’t need to rug up on those early morning starts, and with daylight around 4:00am it’s a matter of smug satisfaction to be pushing off from the pontoon when lots of less fortunate people are still burrowing under the bedding. A successful fishing trip always involves combining a series of variables. Smart anglers consider the tides, time of day, and available time on the water. And of course, the photos they’ve seen on social media. Where would we be without those images to spur us on? Once you have those variables sorted out, you need to look at the weather forecast and consider what effect that might have. A forecast of showers via a prevailing wind is not a great deterrent if you’re fishing in an estuary or some other place where there’s lee shore shelter, and the wind is unlikely to be excessive. Most skippers carry reserve wet weather gear in their boats and besides, we all know how easy it is to fish in light rain – and the fishing is

This boat test was carried out in less than ideal conditions. As long as it’s safe to set out, the show must go on! are not at home. Your boat is in the water and it’s a fair run to the ramp, so it’s a bit late to be wondering if those big dark clouds approaching fast from the west might be storm clouds. It’s a fair bet they will be. If there’s phone coverage (remember that this is never a given), a look at the BOM or similar site could well confirm there’s a storm looming. Shortly, the sound of thunder will reinforce the folly of being on the water in deteriorating conditions. You now need to cooly consider your next move. If the ramp is too far away, there is no option but to

Maroon Dam on a rainy morning. Break out the rain gear and go catch those bass! often better on those days. That said, fishing well away from base or out in one of the larger impoundments is a far different matter, especially if we adjourn the occasional showers and rain gear scenario, and instead think about a big fat thunderstorm. BEWARE THE WEATHER ALERT You know the sort of thing I’m talking about. At the end of a hot day there’s a weather alert on TV that warns viewers to remove anything outside that could be shifted by strong winds, to get the car under cover, and also beware of large hailstones. There are similar warnings on the news websites. But let’s suppose you 106

DECEMBER 2018

else in the boat, but hey – we were still afloat and underway. BE WEATHER AWARE The lesson here is to check all of the weather forecasts before you set up the gear. And don’t make a

take it head on and ride the beast out. SEEKING SHELTER In an impoundment you should head straight for a lee shore and anchor in the shallows under the lee of some trees or a bank. This is as good as it might get under those circumstances. Don’t ever be tempted to tie to long dead standing timber as the boat will pull hard during squalls, and if that spar succumbs to the pressure and falls into the boat there could be very serious consequences. You should also remember that heavy rain, even for a short time, will cause a surprising amount of water to accumulate on the floor of any open boat, so stand by with the small

bucket. Move anything off the floor that should not sit in an expanding puddle. I have been caught out a few storms over the years. These trips were certainly memorable, for all the wrong reasons. One of the times we got walloped was at Lake Monduran. We were well up one of the main arms when a hailstorm struck late in the afternoon, and we were lucky that the hail wasn’t large. Another bad experience came when we decided to stay overnight at Wathumba Creek on Fraser Island. Big mistake. Our target was small black marlin on fly, and the blacks were on the inside of Fraser, within reach of a run north in the 5.5 Galey centre console. The forecast was for light winds and a possible 10-15 knot northeaster mid morning on the next day. No worries, we’d be heading back to Urangan harbour by then! It was dead calm when we climbed into the tent to sleep, but it all turned feral when we woke to casuarina trees sighing to a building northwest blow. Unfortunately, we needed to wait for some water to float the boat which was hard on

the sand at daybreak. The trip south to Urangan was a nightmare of white water on the beam and salty slaps in the face, but we made it back eventually. It was just

In estuaries and creeks, protection from strong wind isn’t far away.

The author’s boat high and dry in Wathumba Creek right when increasing wind from the northwest made them eager to return to base. one of those unlucky times when a favourable forecast proved incorrect. Another time we got caught out in a storm was on Moreton Bay. The boat was a half cabin so we simply drove slowly

floor. Although the bilge pump was giving its best, it looked to be losing the battle so we had to get bailing with a bucket. At the end of the hour-long episode we were soaking wet, as was everything

Some fairly heavy clouds gather at Lake Moogerah. Fortunately, in an impoundment of this size it’s easy to head back to base when you spot a storm looming.

habit of pushing yourself and your boat to the limits, because sooner or later you will bite off more than you can chew. It’s never been easier to assess weather forecasts and likely conditions as long as there’s internet connection available. The Bureau of Meteorology covers the whole of Australia, and many websites incorporate BOM information into their forecasts. If you take Brisbane’s Moreton Bay as an example, there’s Baywind Moreton Bay, Coastwatch Moreton Bay, Moreton Island Weather Watch Forecast 14 day, Willy Weather Moreton Bay, Moreton Bay Weather Seabreeze, Moreton Bay wind forecast, and BOM Moreton Bay Radar. Other waterways near cities and towns also have similar data available. There’s no reason to not to be well informed. Moving from forecasts to current conditions, prevailing wind/wave scenarios are also available via the Observations and other similar pages within weather sites. These can provide wind strength plus wave heights for a huge number of localities in real time data configuration. Local Observations are great to check before you leave home. After all, why drive to the ramp when the conditions are hostile? If you’re planning a trip to a location where the phone coverage is poor, it’s particularly important to closely examine the forecasts and to be super alert for signs that things will turn bad. At the first hint that things might turn pear shaped, start the engine and get going. Once you hear the thunder you have lost control of the situation!

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107

Quintrex Trident 650 with 200hp Mercury 4-Stroke - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Length �� 6.69m Beam �� 2.48m Main motor �� 300kg Min HP �� 150 Max HP �� 200 Bottom sheet �� 5mm Transom �� 5mm Top sheet �� 3mm Capacity �� 8 persons Hull weight ��1020kg 108

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For all of the Telwater Yellowfins I’ve tested over time, I’d never done a Quintrex Trident, so we were pretty excited when Mandurah Marine arrived with a 650 Quintrex Trident Hard Top loaded with one of the new Mercury V-6 3.4L 200HP four strokes. There’s no denying that it’s a good looking package – with the Australian built hull and trailer matched at the factory, complemented by a dark factory installed wrap that matches the jet black and futuristically styled outboard, but it’s in the water where a boat really needs to impress. So, we launched the rig at the public ramp at Mandurah and took her out to sea. First impressions are strong. This is a plate boat with a full, unpainted, aluminium chequer plate deck that would be well suited to some serious

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Steve Morgan

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spectacular fishing. Supplied on a Quintrex twin-axled aluminium I-beam trailer, the rig weighs in at under 2,500kg fuelled and loaded. This means that it can be towed behind nearly all twin-cab 4WDs with relative ease. A fold down boarding

FMG

I wasn’t a big fan of the deckwash and fuel filter taking up side pocket space – even though they’re accessible for maintenance and inspection. I was a fan, however, of the tiltable rocket launcher rod tubes. I’m 5’10” and

PERFORMANCE RPM Speed (km/h) Economy (km/L) 600.............. 4.............................1.60 1000............ 8.............................2.05 2000............ 15...........................1.55 3000............ 24...........................1.20 4000............ 48...........................1.65 5000............ 60...........................1.20 5575............ 74...........................1.05 Main: There’s no doubting that the Trident/Mercury combination brings the goods. The Quintrex factory wrap offsets the jet black motor and the angular lines complement each other. Above: This Trident took the option of extra fuel capacity instead of underfloor kill tanks, giving the rig 250L in total and over 400km of theoretical range. fishing mates doing some serious miles in their search for fish. A pleasant day on the water with no real chop or wind swell didn’t really give us the chance to put the Trident through its paces on a lumpy ocean, but it did allow us to complete a full set of performance statistics. As expected, economy with the new Mercury peaked at 1.65km/L at a cruising speed of 48km/h at 4,000rpm. The V-6 was very quiet at cruising speeds and travelling was pleasant on the calm seas. The motor revved out to 5,750rpm while achieving a top speed of 74km/h. Notably, economy tanks at the top of the rev range and delivers around 1km/L.

The whole idea of a hard top is to offer a part of the boat that’s right out of the elements for when things get hot, rough or nasty, while still leaving ample cockpit room for activities like fishing. The Trident gets this balance right. High gunwales and a 2.48m beam combine to make the Trident a great compromise between comfort on the go and stability at rest. The test boat didn’t have an underfloor kill tank as is popular in east coast boats. Instead, it’s fitted with extra fuel capacity. This Trident carries 250L underfloor to allow a theoretical range of around 400km. The compromise is that you need to bring an icebox for the fish. That’s

not uncommon for WA, where anglers are used to traveling distances to access

ladder and transom door lets your mates or family easily load while at the ramp. The transom mounted bait board and port-side livewell allow you to get the job done down back when you reach your destination.

often have trouble loading the higher launchers and I appreciate the ease of which these are loaded. As tested, the Trident weighed in at $105,536. Visit www.quintrex.com.au for your nearest dealer.

The Mercury 3.4L platform has the reputation for providing increased midrange torque and the rig definitely packed a punch getting out of the hole.

Carpet-free chequer plate floors look practical and they are – you can clean up with a power washer or a garden hose.

A pair of comfortable helm seats with storage underneath them is all a serious angler needs.

The rear bench seat folds away when you’re fishing and the transom bait station features a second shelf to hold the gear you use all of the time.

Plenty of room to stretch out here. Not so sure I’d want to share the space with a couple of mates for an overnighter.

Top: There’s plenty of freeboard to keep you confidently fishing in open waters. On water transom access for swimmers is easy with the duckboard, transom door and fold down ladder. Left:The test boat came with a berley pot built into the transom. Right: Supplied on a twin-axle Quintrex trailer with electric hydraulic brakes, the Trident will tow behind most twin cab 4WDs quite easily.

Top: The Trident cruised most economically at 4,000rpm where it delivered 1.65km/L and just under 50km/h. Above: You know that this rig will turn heads at the ramp and on the water. DECEMBER 2018

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Northbank 550R with Mercury 115hp 4-stroke - SC

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Steve Morgan

RRM.....Speed (km/h)............Economy (km/L) Idle........................ 2.0.................................. 1.5 1000....................... 6.5.................................. 2.8 2000..................... 11.0.................................. 2.0 3000..................... 19.5.................................. 1.9 4000..................... 38.5.................................. 2.3 5000........................ 58.................................. 2.1

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Fairly early on in the purchase process, you’ll need to make some big decisions when it comes to buying a boat – and in particular, a fishing boat. You’ll need to decide if you want an open boat, a centre console, a runabout (with minimal cabin), a cuddy cabin or a cruiser. Generally, the more comfortable you get, the less fishing room and functionality you have in return. And the perennial compromise is between family comforts and fishability. The ‘runabout’ layout skews a long way towards the angler. There are no bunks up front but there’s miles of cockpit space. No lockable space, but heaps of options to tote a lot of gear around. A runabout is a real angler’s boat. Northbank make a SPECIFICATIONS Length................ 5.50m Beam.................. 2.34m Capacity...... 7 persons Fuel...................... 100L Max hp................... 150 Deadrise.................21° Hull weight........ 750kg Tow weight...... 1450kg 110

DECEMBER 2018

spread of baits out the back. What would we add? Clears for one, to add that extra level of waterproofing, and we’re always a sucker for a dash that allows for flush mounting of electronics.

But we know you’ll be able to catch fish from this rig. The question is: will you get the rest of the family across the line? For more information go to www.northbank.com.au to find your nearest dealer.

Main: Northbank’s 550R runabout powered by the Mercury 115 CT 4-stroke is a smaller boat with a mile of cockpit space. Additionally, it gets great economy, with 2.3km/L at 4000rpm. Above: As tested, the Northbank 550R package will cost you around $60,000. great 5.5m runabout in their 550R, which combines their build quality with a simple, practical design. When paired with a double axle trailer and a 115HP Mercury 4-stroke with the CT (Command Thrust) gear box, it gives any angler the tool they’ll need to get out and about in semi open and open waters. Importantly, this rig weighs in at around the $60K mark, which is right in the hitting zone of plenty of anglers who want to take that step up from an open tinny. Also, you can tow it behind virtually any SUV or twin cab 4WD.

Melbourne Marine Centre’s Andrew Stephen was excited about the capabilities of this rig, and explained that it’s much more flexible in use than you’d think at first. “Some families would write this off as a fishingonly boat, but that Mercury with the CT gearbox will easily throw the kids around on a tube,” Andrew said, “and there’s still plenty of shade with the soft top to have a great day out on either the fresh or the salt.” Mercury’s Andrew Small added, “With a 6-year warranty and the CT gearbox, this 115 offers the

boater a wide range of prop selection, with the ability to turn blades that offer greater thrust.” The test rig ran a 17” stainless steel Vengance prop on the 2.38:1 box. Performance-wise, the rig sat most economically at 4000rpm, delivering 2.3km for each litre burned, and cruising at just under 40km/h. We loved the build quality and simplicity of the Northbank. And the space. There’s as much space in this boat as any in this size class. Serious anglers will love it – especially with the seats swivelled around and a

The Mercury CT gearbox spun a 17” propeller and gave great hole shot.

Twenty-one degrees of deadrise will make for a comfortable ride home in sloppy conditions.

Supplied on a twin axle Mackay trailer, the 550R sits wonderfully on the road and trails true.

The storage up front is simple and nowhere near as comfortable or complicated as a bunked, cabin boat. This suits plenty of anglers.

Long side pockets – and we mean LONG – will swallow up a lot of your everyday gear.

There’s easily enough room for half a dozen rods in the rocket launcher.

Mercury’s 2.1L 115hp with the CT (Command Thrust) gearbox is designed for lots of torque. Spinning a 17” Vengance stainless steel propeller, it jumped out of the hole.

You step through the windscreen to deploy the anchor in this rig, and there’s plenty to hold onto and tie onto.

That’s why you buy a runabout – for the mountains of deck space. The layout of the 550R is simple and effective. The folding rear lounge provides additional passenger seating while travelling.

The helm is simple and comfortable. You can turn the seats around to fish from if you’re soaking baits.

It’s not the fanciest bait board in history but it will definitely get the job done, and keeps a low profile.

Thinking of a serious fishing boat that’s a step up from the tinny but isn’t a stretch to operate and keep clean? The runabout format may be for you. DECEMBER 2018

111

UNBEATABLE 150hp FourStroke

The Mercury 150hp FourStroke is the largest displacement and lowest weight outboard in its class. The perfect partner for powering trailer boats.

UNEXPECTEDLY COMPACT MERCURY

HONDA

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DISPLACEMENT COMPARISON SUZUKI

3000

2500

3000cc

206kg 217kg

2867cc

2000

223kg

2670cc 2354cc

232kg MERCURY

THE MERCURY 150HP FOURSTROKE COMES IN AT AN INCREDIBLY LIGHT 206KG* MAKING IT THE LIGHTEST IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

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THE MERCURY 150HP FOURSTROKE IS THE LARGEST DISPLACEMENT, HELPING OUT GUN OTHER 4-STROKES IN THE CATEGORY.

*Based on Mercury’s 150hp (L) model. Information based on all manufacturers’ claimed horsepower and weight figures.

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