Queensland Fishing Monthly February 2017 by Fishing Monthly

BARRA ARE BACK • TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE INSIDE

Boating and Kayaking

Stacer Nomad Ranger 4.89 • McLay 581 CrossXOver • Kayak fun in the sun •

Features

Getting ready for barra opening • Moreton Bay spotties • Fitting out a new boat • Health check for a pre-loved rig •

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Tried and Tested

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February 2017, Vol. 29 No. 4

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 18 Ballina 20 Iluka 22 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Tweed Heads 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Gold Coast Canals 28 Gold Coast 30 umpinpin 32 Southern Bay 36 Brisbane 38 Brisbane Offshore 40 Northern Bay 42 Caloundra 44 Noosa 45 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 83 Rainbow Beach 83 Fraser Coast 84 Lake Monduran 85 Bundaberg 85 Gladstone 87 1770 86 Rockhampton 87 Yeppoon 86 Mackay 89 Stanage Bay 88 TOURNAMENT ANGLER GUIDE

From the Editor’s Desk... February each year used to be one of our smaller issues of Fishing Monthly – we put it together while still recovering from the Christmas break. There’s usually cricket on the radio in the background as we’re proofing the pages. It was about getting up to speed as we entered another busy year. That changed a couple of years ago when we started publishing ABT’s Tournament Angler Guide in the centre pages. All of a sudden, February turned into a monster issue – one of the biggest of the year. It’s no secret that ABT and Fishing Monthly are siblings. Born in the FM offices in 1998, ABT (Australian Bass Tournament) has always been a company with the aim of creating a pathway in competitive fishing. Hey

– where else can you spend a day or two fishing with some of the keenest anglers in the country. The backbone of the BREAM and BASS events is a concept of boaters/ non-boaters. At each of the events, ABT gets boat owners to take out anglers that are at the tournament without a boat. And believe me, there’s no better way to learn more about how to catch a bream or bass than to spend a day with someone who is most likely from a different part of the country, but shares your passion for tricking your quarry with an artificial lure. In the early days, it also served the purpose of eliminating cheating – and even rumours of cheating. There’s no such thing as collusion, fish in traps or any rule breaches when competitors are randomly

paired each day. But the best part of the system is that there are no secrets. No secret spots, no secret techniques. If a new lure is catching fish, then that information spreads like wildfire. It makes all of the competitors better anglers, quicker. So what the Tournament Angler Guide does is to take a lot of that information and techniques that have been distilled over the previous twelve months and present it in a way that might help YOUR fishing – no matter whether you are a tournament angler or not. So don’t skip those pages just because you are not – or don’t want to be – a tournament angler. There are just as many gems in those pages as there are in the rest of the magazine, especially for bream, bass and barra enthusiasts.

GIFT RECIPIENTS WELCOME Welcome to all of the new subscribers that received a Fishing Monthly subscription for Christmas. Subscription sales through our iSubscribe portal were up 6% this year on last year. We hope you enjoy getting the magazine in the post each month. There’s nothing like kicking back with the latest Fishing Monthly and spending some quality time dreaming about how, where and when you’ll next go fishing. CRAB MISHAP In December’s issue of QFM Gordon Macdonald wrote an excellent article on setting and making crab pots. Unfortunately due to a typo we wrote that it was okay to keep the female crabs. It was meant to say ‘do NOT keep’ female crabs. Apologies to Gordon and our readers.

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Tommy ‘Sleepy’ Slater loves locking horns with barra, and February is the time to be doing it A Simon Goldsmith image.

FEBRUARY 2017

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AUST

Spot on in Moreton Bay The barra are back on Health check for a pre-loved rig Final boat fit-out

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ING TRADE

SERIOUS ABOUT BIG BARRA When you target big barramundi it is important that you choose a quality braid and leader with proven abrasion resistance. The larger barra will often swallow your lure and if you aren’t using a quality line, their rough mouths can wear through it, causing you to lose your fish. We pride ourselves on creating top of the line fishing tackle and our range of braid and leader are a perfect example of what seperates us from other brands in terms of quality and endurance. Try these products for your barra fishing this season.

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Spotty mackerel

Spot on in Moreton Bay loose, especially with the old 12ft fibreglass rod and Alvey reel. As beginners in those years we knew nothing of chrome slugs, paravaning or anything else, as the only other people catching them were the ring netters that used to be in the bay. I remember the first time an old timer came up to me in his boat to help me catch a few fish. He could see me trying hard

BRISBANE MORETON BAY

Spero Kartanos

Spotty mackerel fishing in Moreton Bay is probably the most fun you can have in SEQ when the weather gods are on your side. I started fishing for them 40 years ago when the only thing most of us knew was to throw a pillie at whatever was splashing on top of

with stainless wire through the middle, a single 5/0 hook at one end and a swivel on the other end, belted flat with a hammer to look like a small baitfish. To keep it shiny he would run his knife along the lead. With all that weight he could cast it much further than I could ever throw a pilly. He gave me two of them and had the time and patience to tell a young know-it-all how to

A lovely mixed bag of spotted and school mackerel. SPOTTY SPOTTING Spotties have been coming into the bay for as long as anybody can remember. The first run can be as early as October, consisting mainly of large females. Then there’s normally a quiet period for two or three weeks, before an explosion of thousands of

schools apart. With the help and guidance from the old pro ring netters, we figured it out. It made it so much easier to find the spotties. The first thing to look for is the terns flying slowly above the feeding school of fish. Sometimes the terns even look like they are doing the backstroke. Why?

behave differently is when they stop feeding, such as when a bait ball gets smaller or a boat scares them. They don’t go far away and don’t go deep. Instead, they actually circle around to find the bait ball they were just on. If you hang around the area and actually keep an eye out, most times you will see

It’s not hard to catch a good feed of spotties once you know how. the water. We used 40lb+ wire trace and just waited to get hit. There weren’t too many hits, although when one did decide to grab, all hell would break

with pillies and wire trace with not much success. He had made his own lead sinker lures which worked unbelievably well. They consisted of a barrel sinker

catch spotties, and from then on my fortunes changed. I will always be grateful to him, and take the time to help other people the way he helped me.

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fish. This lasts until at least February. Most years it keeps going all the way through to Easter. We learned the best way to target these fish was to look for feeding schools, power up to them and throw chrome slugs around the schools with a fast retrieve. It sounds easy, but you have to know which feeding schools are mackerel and which ones are not. It took a little while to learn how to tell the feeding

Because mackerel don’t push schools around like tuna do. Instead, they surround the bait, bring it to the surface, and then take turns going through the bait while the others swim around like circling wagons in the old cowboy movies. The birds look like they are doing the backstroke because the mackerel keep the bait in one place, and the birds try to hover rather than fly forward. Another way mackerel

them swimming in a large circle. Many fish get caught by anglers throwing the slugs around the area they were feeding, sometimes even without seeing the fish. The easiest way to identify spotties, however, happens on dead calm days. Spotties swim the way ducks fly, in a triangle formation, with a single fish at the front followed by two or three and so on behind them. This is very different from the way

Spotty mackerel

Spotties have small spots concentrated in a band. School mackerel have fewer, larger, haphazard spots, which extend further down the fish’s belly. tuna swim, which is willynilly in one big group, darting all over the place. That’s why you should always keep an eye out on glassy days for this formation on the surface. It’s easy to see and you’ll know they are spotties. TACKLE AND TIPS When you find a feeding school, the best way to catch them is with chrome slugs. There’s a huge range on the

market, and the appearance comes down to personal preference. Just remember that these fish normally eat whitebait, bluebait or frogmouth pilchards, so make sure your slug is around that size – about 5-6cm. When it comes to weight, you can use anything from 25-40g. I usually use 34g. I retrofit my slugs with a single hook, as it makes it easier to unhook

the fish and much easier to release them (the limit these days is only five over 60cm). When I cast and retrieve around the feeding school, I never use wire trace or swivels. The swivel gets bitten off too many times, and I find you get many more strikes without wire. All I do is double the line, which is normally 15-18lb, as I don’t like gaffing the fish and the

double line helps me lift them out of the water. Many anglers are now using paravaning in the bay for school mackerel, and this concept also works very well for spotties, especially on the days they are not feeding aggressively on the surface. When you are travelling at 5-6 knots while you’re looking for feeding fish, and have the paravanes out, you can catch one where you least expect it. Another thing I learned was that once you find the fish in a certain part of the bay, they tend to be there for a while until big winds and bad weather move them on (most likely they can’t find the bait). Also, the water temperature needs to be above 24°C. That’s why most of the ring netters didn’t go out until after 10am; the best time to catch them was around lunchtime when the water was very warm. And remember that those frames are very nice on the BBQ. The flesh is moist and delicious, and comes away easily from the bones. Everyone is sceptical at first, but when they try it, they love it! Now that you have the information you need to target these great tablefish, I hope you’ll get out there soon and give it a go!

Nicholle Smith with a gigantic 115cm black

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Barra

The barra are back on BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Big barra are on the top of many anglers’ bucket lists. Everyone wants to catch a metre long barra, but in the briny those big girls are hard to come by. If you ask anglers who regularly fish for barra in coastal rivers and estuaries, they’ll tell you that even live baiters can do it pretty tough at times, which means that lure and fly anglers will also be behind the eight ball. With experience it’s easy enough to work out where barra should be, but sometimes it’s a lot harder to find them wanting to be caught! And for a really big fish – the magic metre – things get

hour of an ebb tide. With a fair amount of current to contend with, the fly rod was usually put aside for the baitcaster and the ever-reliable Zerek Live Cherabin, Zerek Hot Legs or Zerek Flat Shad. I like these lures because they’re almost entirely snagless, and they scored some pretty good barra which, to me, are any fish over 80cm. FINGERS CROSSED FOR THE SALTWATER FISHING There’s been lots of anticipation for this year’s barra opening, along with speculation on how good it will be. It all comes down to rainfall and its effect on rivers and other barra habitat. Unfortunately, in many areas rainfall has been sparse along the Queensland east coast, which means the barra might

great patches of fish. Alternatively, we could get rain events that turn everything on its head. At this time of year streams and rivers can rise rapidly, with things changing in a week. Streams flood, fish move. There’s action! And of course, all’s not lost if the barra are quiet. There can be some great by-catches such as jacks, threadfin salmon, cod, and other fish that hit hard and pull even harder. There’s nothing wrong with casting to a snag for barra and hooking a jumbo jack by accident. THE DAMS Over the last few months the fishing in the dams has been on the up and up. If you’re after that metre fish of a lifetime, this is probably your best chance of getting one.

Prime barra habitat in Lake Monduran. The best part is that a lot of it is very close to the ramp these days. just that bit more difficult. When things are right, however, the fishing can be spectacular. I have had some very rewarding sessions fishing coastal areas for barra on lure and fly. While working rivers and creeks, I’ve had the best results during the last

not have entered the usual areas they frequent to breed. Or, they may not have moved back after spawning to those areas we expect them to be at this time of year. That may mean some keen barra stalwarts will do it tough, while other anglers may find

From Tinaroo to Teemburra up north, and Awoonga to Gin Gin’s Monduran further south, good fish seem to be on the increase this year. This follows extensive restocking efforts to build up numbers after the mass exodus of fish over most spillways during

The magic metre barra is a fish that’s on a lot of anglers’ bucket lists.

Not the world’s largest barra, but the author was pretty happy with this fish from the Kolan River. the massive wet seasons a couple of years back. True, you won’t always do well in impoundments, but at least you know the big bruisers are there. It just comes down to finding them. As long as you have a boat or kayak to get onto the water, and the right tackle for the task, there’s plenty of reason for optimism. And even if you don’t have the expertise to pull fish under the most difficult conditions, it’s always a treat just to be there. MONDURAN TRIP Monduran Dam, so very close to the main population centres of the southeast, is an impoundment that I’m probably most familiar with. At a near full level and with weed beds galore, lilyfringed bays, shallow flats and prominent points lined with timber, it has an exciting diversity of barra habitat. The best part is that this impoundment is so large that scores of anglers can go about their business without being in each other’s way, or even seeing each other. If you’re new to this dam, or haven’t fished it for a while, you should know that at this time of year many fish move from more far-flung arms of the dam to west towards the main basin and areas not far from the wall. They’re no doubt hoping for another flood to occur and cut them loose! Fishing Bird Bay, SDA Bay and other closer areas are the way to go at the moment. These areas are within 5km or so of the ramp, so people

with smaller tinnies are just as likely to score a fish as those anglers setting out with 150 or 200 horses prancing on the transom. Trolling the main basin can be as successful as any other method as summer draws on. A spell of settled weather will fire up these southernmost barra big time, while weather changes on a daily basis seem to promote a bit of lockjaw. We made a trip to Lake

The Side Scan sounder is a great tool for barra anglers, and images like these certainly help build confidence when you’re fishing hard. Monduran recently, and I was very excited by what I saw while checking out some of our favourite flyfishing spots. Our preferred spots are areas less than 4m deep where we can use our fly gear not far from timber, but not right in it, or on a fairly open point near solid cover. The fish there are

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likely to be looking for an easy meal at dawn, on dusk, or after dark. The 10wt fly rods we use are set up with large arbor reels kitted out with the same weight intermediate sink rate lines set up with a 2.8m, 30kg leader with a 20kg fluorocarbon bite-off section at the fly. A floating line of the same weight is always handy for fishing 6/0 Gartside Gurgler flies after dark for a bit of surface action when the

fish are obviously boofing in the area. This doesn’t happen a lot but it’s too good to miss when it’s on. If you don’t tie your own flies, tackle store Gold Bombers or Bush Pigs will fill the bill admirably, and while the 10wt rod is a bit of a beast to repeatedly cast, the power

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Barra is necessary for big fish. Our fly tackle simply doesn’t have the stopping power of powerful overhead or threadline tackle setups with 50lb braid connected to an 80lb leader, so we’re content to fish areas where fish can run a bit before being played out. Wide flats with small areas of skinny sticks are also good. Overall, the less snags around the place, the better. The areas I’ve mentioned will work really well for lure anglers also, especially those who aren’t really skilled at playing big strong fish like barra. Shortcut to success Back to our Lake Monduran trip! We arrived at Lake Monduran Holiday

Park’s camping area late in the afternoon on the fourth day of hot, northerly weather. We set up camp quickly, had a snack and launched the boat at 5:45pm. It was straight to Bird Bay for us, and at 6:40pm a 99cm barra ripped into Denise’s fly and simply took off on its tail. It seemed to be more airborne than in the water. Even with the 10wt tackle hard at work in the hands of an angler who really knows how to use it, this was still one mighty feisty fish. It gave us a hard time, trying to get into nearby timber and trying to wrap around the prop until I raised it out of the way. Experience and strategic force prevailed in the end, and we returned to camp flushed with sweet success.

One of the delights of barra fishing in the saltwater is the by-catch. What’s wrong with casting for a barra and landing a mangrove jack instead?

We were well primed for more of the same, but our next couple of sessions were much more difficult due to daily weather changes. Barra would swirl at our flies but not properly take them. A massive boil, a tweak on the fly (how a barra can do this eludes me) happened several times. We returned to the same bits of timber later on, and with a different fly on the leader, but still didn’t get a hook-up. IMPOUNDMENT FISHING TIPS There’s a huge difference in fishing styles for saltwater and freshwater work. In the briny, barra seem to be a lot more tolerant of boat and angler activity. On lots of occasions I’ve moved into a snag under electric power to retrieve a fouled-up lure, moved back to the previous area under electric power and latched onto a fish next cast. Obviously, the fish move a short distance away and then regroup around the snag as the boat moves off! There is no way that would happen in an impoundment. Once the boat is close, there’s usually a massive bow wave or giant boil of water, and it’s game over for that spot. You need to approach a chosen fishing area as quietly as possible. Either use the electric motor to sneak in, or shut it down and drift to a chosen spot if

Having hooked this fish on the lily edge, the author gives it the butt to prevent it powering back into the plants. you can. I then tie the boat to a snag or tree to keep it still while I fish the area. Yes, the anchor lock on an electric will hold the boat steady but it still generates quite a lot of noise, which is not a good thing. Tying up makes more sense, but it’s wise to have a quickrelease loop handy to free the boat if you need to chase a really big fish. If I want to anchor I have a cement block with a ring bolt in it as my weed bed

anchor. There’s a float set up on the anchor rope so I can get rid of the anchor rope quickly if I want to. THE SOUNDER Side scan systems have opened up barra fishing in a way we never thought possible a decade ago. They don’t worry the fish at all, judging by the results I’ve achieved with the sounder marking fish around us. It really adds so much more confidence when you’re casting to a fish that’s

quite visible on the sounder. The only problem is that they still might not bite. That’s barra all over! That’s why you need to put in the time and persevere. To score a big barra there’s a lot of persistence required, and faith in your technique. And when a big fish finally scoffs your offering, it’s really important to stay cool and take control as early as possible in the fight. Good luck!

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Tech Tricks

Build yourself a fast, effective outboard lock BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

These days theft is very common. Fishing gear, crab pots and even entire boats and trailers regularly go missing. While some thieves go to lengths to secure what they want, most only take

something if it is quick and easy to take off with. Although battery-powered angle grinders and other cutting devices can sever even the toughest locks, they’ll generally attract some attention. It’s the quick grab and getaway that needs nipping in the bud. Putting hitch locks on your trailer, keyed locks on your boat hatches

and not leaving anything to chance will generally be enough to stop most dishonest individuals. Small outboards are commonly only held on by two screw mechanisms with a flat paddle on each end to allow hand tightening (and loosening) for easy attachment and removal. Many boaters overlook the need to secure their

outboards to their craft. Most smaller outboards weighing less than 35kg are easy fodder for thieves. Padlocking the two nylon paddles together will offer some protection, but a single hit with a hammer or other heavy object will snap one of the paddles to allow quick removal. Numerous outboard locks are available and cost $70-150.

Recently I bought a 3.95m vee-nosed tinny for a bit of crabbing, prawning and freshwater fishing. On the transom was a 2-year-old Yamaha 25. I considered purchasing an outboard lock for it. After seeing the expense for such a simple device, I decided on a DIY project. I had all the basic tools required and was lucky to secure some aluminium

offcuts from a mate. You can also get a metre of suitable box aluminium from Bunnings for around $10, which would make three brackets. Additionally, you could use tube alloy or even stainless steel. Providing it fits lengthways over the paddles on your outboard’s securing screws, it’s suitable. Let’s look at how to make this device.

You’ll need an angle grinder with a cutting disk, safety glasses, a drill with a couple of drill bits (the largest would be 13mm), a G-clamp or two, ruler, marker pen, a file and a piece of aluminium or stainless tube or box around 2530cm long, depending on the distance apart your tightening lugs are. You’ll also need a quality longnose padlock. I have used one that shares a key with padlocks on my spare tyre and tow hitch.

Measure the diameter of the screw on your outboard securing lugs. The majority have a 13mm slot in them, but it’s best to check.

Use the ruler to mark a straight line down the tube from each side of the 13mm hole to indicate where the slot will be cut. The portion in the centre marked with the ‘X’s will be waste material.

With both lugs on your outboard screws facing inwards, slide the tube over until it’s fully on. Mark the spot just to the side of the screw on the open end of the slot where the padlock will go. I like to have the bulk of the padlock resting between the transom and the bracket. Drill through both sides of the aluminium at this position with a hole larger than the diameter of your padlock bolt. Use your file to remove any rough metal shavings. 14

FEBRUARY 2017

Use a G-clamp or two to secure the aluminium to the bench. I used a Flexovit 100x1.0x16.0mm Ultra-Fast Cut Reinforced CutOff Wheel, which was less than $2 at Bunnings. Ensure the blade is securely in your grinder and don a pair of safety glasses. Start your cut from the top of the material and score just inside the line by moving the angle grinder backwards and forwards until you are all the way through.

On your tubing, measure in about 30mm from one end and then find the centre. This is the position where you will drill a hole to start the lengthways slot. Using a small drill bit (5mm or less), drill through the aluminium (just through one side of the tube) at this central position. Next, use an 8-10mm drill bit to create a larger hole. Your final hole will need to be roughly 13mm wide, unless your outboard securing screws are a different size. I had a 12mm bit and rocked the bit sideways in the hole to make it slightly larger.

Work along each side of the designated slot, just inside the marked line, until you have cut up each side and can remove the waste section. Go gently with the angle grinder and work in a backwards and forwards motion to avoid the blade biting and gripping, which could snap the blade or make the angle grinder buck out of the slot. For maximum control, use two hands on the grinder. While it’s still clamped to the bench, use your flat hand file to neaten up the slot, both inside the tube and out.

This is how your lock should now look. I used 30mm square tube and found these end plugs at Bunnings for around $1 each, which neatened up this DIY project. Your padlock will need a long throat to fit through the 30mm bar and still close. The better quality the padlock, the harder it is to cut. You can opt for a stainless steel marine padlock, but most normal padlocks will work fine with the occasional dosing of lubricant.

When slid over the outboard securing lugs and locked, this is how your DIY outboard lock will look. Once in position, the other end cap can be tapped in. You can add a little loom tube to the top of the slot to eliminate any rattling. This lock will stop 99% of dishonest individuals.

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Prepare for a wild bass chase NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Summer time is bass time, and chasing wild bass in our coastal rivers and creeks is an extremely addictive pastime. The natural range of Australian bass includes coastal rivers and creeks stretching all the way from Bundaberg in Queensland to Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. Recently, that range has been significantly extended, thanks to breeding and stocking of hatchery-spawned bass into man-made dams and impoundments. While there’s a lot of emphasis on fishing for stocked impoundment bass these days, there’s nothing quite like chasing these wonderful natives in the flowing waters where they evolved. Wild bass need access to brackish, tidal waters in order to spawn. Their downstream, pre-spawn migration typically begins in late March or April and by May and June, a large percentage of the adult bass in any system will be concentrated in tidal waters. Under the right conditions, they’ll spawn here from

most river bass extend from October until March, when most are upstream in the fresh and feeding actively. Bass are rather cryptic predators. While aggressive and able to consume large

produce exceptional fishing after sunset. The fact is, bass are very good at hiding and spend a heck of a lot of time lurking deep in the shadowy cover of snags, submerged boulders and

to cover during the day and keep them in the strike zone as long as practical. During low light periods, explore the more open areas of pools and holes with shallow runners or surface lures.

Kayaks and canoes are ideal vessels when it comes to chasing river-dwelling Australian bass. Light to medium spinning tackle works well. You don’t need fancy gear, either. Simply beef up your bream or trout tackle with slightly heavier line and leaders and go for it! If

you’ve never chased wild river bass before, do yourself a huge favour and have a crack before this summer ends. It’s a total blast!

The author with a typical river-dwelling wild bass, taken on one of the most reliable lures available for catching this species – a spinnerbait. prey (up to and including baby birds, lizards and small snakes), they’re also inherently cautious and even shy, especially in shallow, clear water during daylight

undercut banks. They will race out and grab a hapless morsel that comes close enough. They don’t generally cruise around actively looking for meals until light levels fall.

Four popular lure families will cover most river bass fishing scenarios. They are 5-8cm floating/diving plugs, compact spinnerbaits, soft plastic grubs or shads on 2-7g heads (with or without Beetle Spin arms attached) and surface lures. Of course, that last category is extensive – basically, fizzers, paddlers and poppers cover the bass bases.

River bass rarely stray far from cover, at least during daylight hours. Accurate casting is a definite bonus.

You’ll know if you hook a thumper like this one. Don’t go too light with your line and leaders, as bass fight like demons! June until September, before spreading back upriver into the fresh again. The peak fishing times for

FEBRUARY 2017

hours. I know some small creeks which you’d swear were devoid of bass during the day, but which fire up and

Bear these habits in mind when targeting river bass. Cast your sinking or diving lures as close as you possibly can

Surface lures are extremely effective on bass and great fun to use! They usually perform best at dawn, dusk and through the night. Don’t rule them out at other times of day, as you can place them very close to cover.

Warm water pelagics storming in YAMBA

Dave Gaden

The holidays are over and with that, Yamba will start to quieten down somewhat. In the 1970s when I first came here, Yamba was almost a secret except to those who fished it, now it seems that everyone has heard of Yamba and the town and waterways are busier every year. The big Clarence River seems to have handled the growth well, with most being able to get a feed of fish or crabs on a daily basis, regardless of their local knowledge or ability. This summer I’ve seen guys catch a mulloway on a blade on Middle Wall while someone is screaming past only 10m away on the loudest jet ski ever invented. That’s a healthy system! Large dusky flathead

have been in good numbers this summer, with numerous fish between 2.5-4.5kg being caught daily. These fish are spread throughout the river, with fish being taken at Ashby, Maclean and Harwood all the way to the corner of the south break wall at Whiting Beach. Consistent large flathead usually means live baiting with hearing or poddy mullet, but many of these fish have fallen to trolled hardbody lures like the Zerek Tango Shads, soft plastics like ZMan 2.5” Curly TailZ in motor oil colour, and blades. It seems they will take whatever is on offer when the warm weather comes. Whiting have also been great this season and are showing no signs of easing up. Live yabbies, if you have the energy to pump them, bring the fish unstuck easily. Beach worms are always handy to have on hand, and for those who like using lures,

try popping for them. They hit the popper with such ferocity at times, and then tail walk like a marlin. My only advice on popping for them is to get the popper to imitate a scared showering prawn, pop it fast in short bursts, and don’t stop. The Clarence is once again experiencing a better than average run of crabs this

the morning to find a feed of these fast fish. You don’t need a huge boat to fish them either, as the ramp at Woody is very protected and the bay itself has a reef shielding it from the sea. Lots of anglers fish for spotties in 4m tinnies and do very well. Trolling pink squid pattern lures at a little faster than normal (close to

Pigfish are probably the author’s favourite eating fish, and when chasing snapper or pearlies, they’re always a possibility.

Plenty of anglers have been cashing in on the great run of pelagics lately.

Some fantastic mackerel have shown up in recent weeks.

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summer, both blue swimmer and muddies. Crabs have been taken in big numbers all the way up past the Broadwater. Be aware that you cannot use a crab trap upstream from the courthouse at Maclean, only dillies or hoop nets are allowed in this water. Check new regulations on what info must be on the float for both traps and dillies. With four dillies and two traps allowed per person, you should have enough arsenal to take a feed home quickly. Normally, I would suggest where to chase them, but honestly, they have been that good you should be able to get some wherever you go. Offshore, the warmer water has brought the pelagics with it. Spotted mackerel are a great target fish this time of the year. Shark Bay on the north side of Woody Head is always a good place early in

10 knots) is a fun way to get a few, but float baiting with a whole pilchard on a very light single-strand wire can be bedlam. Another good spot to try is just off of One Man Headland south of Angourie in about 30m of water. Spotties haunt this spot every February, and there is usually a few less boats to contend with. This month I like to fish the wider grounds in around 50 fathoms, as it produces a good spattering of quality reef fish. Snapper are out there in good numbers, although they usually aren’t monsters. The average fish is around 40-45cm, but they’re good table fish and when you find them a bag limit can be easily achieved. Pearl perch are not usually far away from the snapper, just look for a bit of harder and smoother bottom for the

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There are some truly monstrous pearlies out there at the moment.

Most people heading out for a feed aren’t disappointed. pearlies. If you get a snag and pull up a bit of wire weed, (which will look like a red rusty spring, stick around that area. I don’t know why, but pearlies love wire weed. We regularly get fish to 5kg, which is good for pearl perch, but average fish will still be just over 40cm. The prize when fishing these grounds is the black-spot pigfish. This little beauty is just about my favourite fish to eat. You won’t catch big numbers of them, but 2-3 piggies is heaven on a plate. The grounds are vast and easy enough to find, NE or SE from the bar, once you get to 19nm, the sounder should read 47-50 fathoms (90-100m), then any show of fish should see you hooked up! Fisheries have reinstated the FAD about 7nm SE of the bar, and this should start to hold some mahimahi. Trolling past with lures can help you to find fish, or

throwing lures at the FAD may also be productive. I prefer to drift past the FAD and throw a handful of old bait at it two to three times before I fish it, just to get them in the mood. A good mate of mine showed me how to do this a couple of years ago, and the results are amazing. By the time you throw your first handful of bait at them, the numbers have doubled and they are in the mood to attack. Remember, these fish are delicious fresh, but only fresh, so just take what you can eat in the next couple of days. Marina Boat and Tackle are very pleased to announce that we have been appointed the Pro MinnKota and Humminbird agent for the area. If you are in Yamba, call in and see myself or Rob and have a look at the huge range in stock and get the good oil on what’s biting where.

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Radical river fishing BALLINA

Joe Allan

The fat man in the red suit has come and gone and everyone is back at work or school again. Some great times were had on and around the Richmond River over the holidays. Offshore has produced quality fish when able. The 32s are holding snapper of average size and you can pretty much guarantee a good feed. The FADs are holding mahimahi. The bigger models come from the 48s when the tide is really moving. However, the mackerel and marlin have been a bit quiet since Christmas. The beaches of South Ballina hold good numbers of dart and whiting. When the swell is down, try flicking blades and plastics like the Atomic 3” Prong for flathead

Bon Lawler with a beautiful Aussie bass taken up a small creek.

Tayla Egan with a solid bream caught on an Atomic Crank.

Nigel Skyring caught this solid whiting in North Creek. in the low tide gutters. This can be a really productive technique and you may be

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the beaches. It only takes a couple of idiots to spoil the fun for everyone. In the river there are great numbers of whiting on the flats around Pimlico Island on surface, as well as bream and flathead. The Bassday Sugapen 70s are still producing great numbers. At this time of year, it is great to see the number of families lining the river with kids just hoping to catch something. Getting kids into fishing is something that is easy to do if you use fresh bait, the right equipment and don’t make them stay out in

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the sun too long. In the main river, try Mobbs Bay or the weed flats past the Ferry with the little ones. With all the fresh that’s been showing up, lower reaches have had good mulloway off the breakwalls in the last part of the run-out tides. Big hardbody lures, paddle-tail soft plastics have been producing the best. Anything that produces big movement and pushes a lot of water is good. Once you hook something, get it in fast. There are plenty of toothy critters around looking for a feed. Bass are in the main river sections and the fresh water coming down from Kyogle and Casino should really get going once this settles down. Dirty water fishing can still produce good numbers. A good start is the drains and creeks running into the main river. Chatterbaits like the Bassman Mumblers are a good start as well as noisy jerkbaits like the new Bassday Mogul 66. Use something with loads of noise and plenty of flash. Nevertheless, you might have to do some traveling to find the fish, but when you do, you can rack up good numbers quickly. Crabs are a little quiet. The new moon should fire them up. Remember to mark your pots properly, as NSW Fisheries have been around

confiscating unmarked equipment and issuing fines. They will take anything not marked or not marked as per regulations. They are also checking fishing licences, size of fish and bag limits. If you haven’t got a licence, it’s worth getting one. The money goes back into the fisheries

The author with a fit and healthy bass caught on an Atomic Bulldog.

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and facilities and above all else, it’s just not worth the fines. Rules are there for everyone to abide by so the fisheries are sustainable for everyone in the future. If you see anything suspicious, please report these to authorities. Until next issue, tight lines.

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Catching wind of the spotties ILUKA

Ross Deakin

Rain would be nice, if it wasn’t just a sprinkle. We need a few solid days to flush the old Clarence, green the grass and get this end of the river in gear. As we all know, you just can’t count on normal weather patterns anymore. Fishing in our part of the river has been fair this month with very nice whiting and flathead caught. Better flathead numbers are being seen around Harwood and

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and 1000g. Both caught their fish around Moriarty wall. Tim Forest caught a 3.85kg corker at Browns Rocks on a Squidgy Prawn. There have been some decently big whiting around, such as Tim Geide’s 410g fish caught on a popper around Browns Rocks. Mulloway catches have been quiet on our end. Reports of lovely fish taken around Maclean in some of the deeper holes have come through to us. Tailor have been mostly quiet this year. There have been reasonable fish caught in the river. We weighed in a 1.6kg tailor caught off the bluff by local Dan Pianta. Snapper are still around close in. I took a 6.5kg fish only a few hundred metres

off Woody Head. They are also being taken straight off the headlands with pillies as the preferred bait on early mornings. Black Rock just north of Shark Bay has seen nice teraglin and snapper. Out wide to the 80m mark, we’ve seen great pearl pearch, snapper and teraglin. Spotty mackerel have been making a show on and off with the flipping northerly winds, which bring in the colder water currents and shut them down. We need more consistent southerlies and they should be on. Local angler Miles Holmes caught a 20kg Spanish mackerel trolling with a pink squid skirt just off Woody Head. There have been some good morning catches of spotty mackerel, but not consistent. Longtail tuna won’t be far off! Have an awesome summer fishing in our beautiful area. Remember to grab your NSW fishing licence if you’re from interstate. You can now download your one and threeyear licence to your phone through the DPI website. • For all your fishing needs and up-to-date information and tips for spots and fish drop into the shop for a chat. Iluka Bait and Tackle is located at

Spotty mackerel have been popping up during morning sessions occasionally.

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Cool species in close, while river species heat up THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

With strong northerly winds blowing, last month saw a mixed result for fishing in the region. Colder ocean temperatures mean snapper and other winter species hang around longer on the close reefs. Unfortunately, it keeps all the pelagic species away. Northerlies mean warmer water temperatures in the rivers, so jacks, GTs, whiting and flathead are on the chew.

50s. Try trolling skirts and flicking metals for the best result on these speedsters. Big kings and GTs are still hanging around the 9 Mile, with live bait doing all the damage on these knucklers. They’re the talk of the town this month, so get onto it before the crowds do. ESTUARY Estuary water temperatures are sitting at 26-28°C, which is perfect for the summer pelagic species. Mangrove jack really love warm water and northerlies and are obliterating tackle. Try deep

The author with a nice spangled emperor at Fidos caught on a plastic. OFFSHORE With the water temperatures sitting around the 22-23°C mark, colder water species should hang around longer on the close reefs. Quality table fish including snapper, pearlies, spangled emperor, golden snapper and tuskies are still regularly caught. Light weighted plastics, un-weighted strip baits and pilchards are doing all the damage on these species. Try Fidos, 5 Mile, 9 Mile, 24 and 36 fathom reefs with good soundings of fish. There have been reports of small packs of mahimahi around the FAD and on the

diving lures and live baits along Chinderah rock walls, Cobaki Bridge, Boyds and Tumbulgum Bridge. Jacks have also been caught around the Condong Sugar Mill. Watch your baits up there, as there are bull sharks in the water. Warm waters make these big girls push up the system to drop their pups off, so stay safe. Whiting and flathead are firing. Poppers, yabbies and worms still produce quality fish. Try drifting sand banks on the high tide and drifting off drop offs on the run out tide. Bigger flathead like the 3” and 4” plastics.

Nixon Stayt with a nice whiting caught on yabbies up at Cobaki. The Piggery, Terranora, Cobaki, and Stotts Island sand banks are fishing well. GTs and bigeye are around Boyds Bay Bridge and Jack Evans Anchorage. Blades, small micro-jigs and live baits are your best bet for these speedy brutes. Good numbers of mud crabs move around on the big tides and full moon. A well-placed pot in a back creek, drain or hole is your best bet for a big can opener. Remember regulations, size and bag limits.

waves and drains waiting to pick up your bait and any food that flows past them. Small metals and plastics work well and are a lot of fun on light gear and are dynamite on these wave warriors. There are heaps of beach worms and pipis on the beaches at the moment so try digging or catching some yourself. It’s a great activity for the kids. The odd tailor and mulloway are still around. Headlands and rock walls still produce fish this month. Try heavy weighted plastics, big

rivers is sitting around 27-30°C and the surface temperature of the dam is 28°C. With no real rain around, Clarrie Hall Dam is a bit weeded up, but the river from the spillway right up to the weir wall is fishing well with the Uki stretch producing fat bass. Early morning and late afternoon are still the peak bite times and winged cicadas are the lure of choice for these feisty fish. Deep diving hardbodies and jig spins working well once the sun is up. Casting for the structure and shaded areas in the deeper pools is a must when fishing for these hard-hitting freshwater brutes. A good fluorocarbon leader is a must. NEXT MONTH Summer species should start showing up in numbers, providing the southerlies hang around. Look for warmer current lines to pick up mahimahi, wahoo, blue and black marlin. The 24, 36 and 50 fathom lines should all start producing fish. Warmer waters on close reefs will see mackerel species show up. Try

metals, half pillies and troll baits around the 9 Mile, 5 Mile, Fidos and Kingy reefs. They should all produce fish in the coming months. Jacks will turn on more as the waters warm up. Live bait, deep diving hardbodies, surface lures and plastics are still your best bets. Large strip baits seem to work better on these red dogs as the months go on. Whiting will thicken up and targeting them on a popper or walk-the-dog lure is really fun, especially went you have about four or five of them chasing your lure. Cobaki Lakes, Terranora Lakes, the Piggery and Broadwater are always worth a pop for these ghosts of the flats. Crabs will be on the move next month. They move on the high tides around the full moons. Try around freshwater drains and lake overflows for the best results. Rain should see Clarrie Hall Dam open up for the bass to feed properly. The river will fish well in the next month. Cicadas, hardbodies and jig spins are the lures of choice for most anglers.

Kim James with a nice kingfish caught at the 9 Mile Reef on a live bait. BEACHES Gutters on the open beaches from Fingal to Byron Bay have quality dart, whiting, flathead and bream. Find a well draining gutter on the run out. These species hang in the

baits and whole worms along and around the rocks. FRESHWATER The bass are firing with the cicadas around and high water temperatures in the rivers and dams. The temperature in the

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The fish we’ve been waiting for SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Danny Sands

The dreaded northerlies have started to blow out and we should see more southerly winds in February that will improve the water temperature, water clarity and push the bait close to our shores. All these factors will bring the pelagic species on, which is what all the anglers are waiting for. Mackerel numbers have been very scarce in the last month or so and fish were only caught after a short southerly blow, and only on the Palm Beach Reef. Expect good numbers of spotties and the odd Spaniard mixed in from Mermaid Reef and the 12-fathom bait reef off Southport. Float lining

pilchards and casting 25-40g metal lures in a berley trail will get the most fish. The first week in February is usually when I start to fish for Spanish mackerel. Over the last couple of years, I’ve preferred to troll two rods with live baits like slimies and yakkas. I put one on a downrigger and the other close to the surface, and I always have a 65-80g metal slug on a spinning rod. A good sounder is an effective tool when chasing mackerel and makes them easier to spot. Schooled up mackerel down deep have the tendency to be tight-lipped. They can be easily tempted by a live bait offering on a downrigger. David Green introduced me to spinning for Spanish mackerel with 65 and 80g slugs many

years ago. I have caught many more after this trip and worked out the best technique. Make long casts and let your metal hit the sea floor. Try to bring your lure up at a 45° angle, as this seems to get more bites than a vertical retrieve. Diamond Reef, Focus Reef and Burleigh Gravel Patch are great spots, and over the border try Fido

INSHORE The water temperature will peak this month in the estuary systems and this will fire up the local mangrove jack population. Slow rolling soft plastics under pontoons and along bridge pylons has caught most of the fish. Many of the rivers and creeks have excellent rock bars and bridges that mangrove jack call home. February is a great month to target the red devils.

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The sounder shows a big school of Spanish mackerel stacked on top of each other.

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Reef. Bottom bouncing often gets overlooked due to the mackerel fishing. The close reefs off Southport can be very rewarding, with good numbers of snapper that will start to turn up this month. Float lining pilchards down a consistent berley trail is a great way to get a feed of these tasty red fish.

I like to use live herring and mullet fillets as bait with 20lb mainline and 40lb leader. I still prefer to bait fish for jacks at night on a run-out tide. The coffee rocks in front off TSS in the Nerang River will produce quality

fish this month. The whiting in the Nerang River have been in big numbers around the Council Chambers. Fishing the week before and after the full moon with bloodworms and canal wrigglers has been producing elbow-slappers up to the low 40cm mark. The whiting have also been caught in good numbers around Crab Island drifting over shallow yabby banks. It’s a great way to introduce children to fishing, as bites are very common. Mulloway have been in excellent numbers. Both the Seaway and Jumpinpin bars have been producing big fish over the 30kg mark. Timing is everything in catching these fish. Try live baiting with yellowtail pike on the change of tide on sunrise or dusk. Sharks can be a problem when chasing mulloway, so heavy tackle is required. Use 80lb main line and 100lb leader with a locked up drag.

The long-range weather forecast predicts good rainfall for the southeast. If this happens, wet a few crab pots while you fish, look for any drop-offs in front of any creeks and use plenty of bait. Mackerel heads and chicken frames work well together. FRESHWATER Surface fishing for bass has produced plenty of fish in Hinze Dam. Try the upper reaches of the Nerang and Tweed rivers for bass as well. Cicada and spider lure profiles have worked well. It’s good practice to let your lure sit for a while on the surface before retrieving. A high barometer mixed with early and late afternoon sessions can often lead to good numbers of fish. Overall, most of the action will be chasing pelagic fish offshore on the good days, with plenty of bread and butter species to be targeted on those windy days.

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Baitfish bring in the predators GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn

Without a doubt the weather over the past month has been extraordinary, although we did see it coming with that warm winter. Temperatures have hit over 40°C in some parts of the Gold Coast, making fishing easy for some and difficult for others. Talking about fishing, it too has been hot! All I see now is jack after jack on

Facebook, daily. Anglers have braved the hot weather and late afternoon storms to put together good bags of jacks. All this has got me just eager to get on the water. A recent outing saw me with some decent fish, mostly around bridge pylons and jetties where the water isn’t flowing as much. Z-Man 3.5” Trick SwimZ in bad shad are worth a go as these things are as close as you could get to a mullet in a predator’s eyes! There’s a few ways you can fish these; top water, snagless or the

usual bouncing along the bottom. Casting these bad boys into thick mangrove lined banks, weedless and weightless is just calling for a screaming reel – hold on! Some decent whiting have been caught in good numbers on the Gold Coast of late. Areas including the sandbanks in The Broadwater the sand banks in the Nerang River. Look for sandflats where bait would be pushed up onto at high tide where predators like whiting, flathead and bream would lay on the

deeper edges waiting for the run-out to attack. A couple of hours before the bottom of the tide will be your best shot. Surface lures, small and light plastics and worms will be the go. Flathead will be found in the deepest parts of the canals and Broadwater, so be sure to use natural coloured lures. Bridge pylons are also a good place to start the session, as some of the larger models will await any passing baitfish. These fish will most likely lay head into the current around 3m behind the last pylon. Position yourself with your bow of the boat into the current and near the first pylon, where you can easily cast your plastic or unweighted bait along the pylons. Bounce your lure along the bottom as close to the pylons as possible, but hold on, as you may hook something unexpected that also likes the look of your lure! In the next month or so, we will see lotsww of bait throughout the canals, Broadwater and seaway. We will also start to see water temperatures rise as the weather warms around midday. The best fishing will come from 4-7am and again from 4-8pm.

Several species of trevally will be making the most of the amount of baitfish available.

Flathead can be found in the deeper holes during February. Basically, the hotter days will fish better in the afternoon, where the heat off the rocks along the canals walls will attract most of the bait. If the bait is present, then this should attract larger predators like jacks and trevally.

February is the perfect month for the warm weather species including jacks, flathead, whiting, bream and trevally. In saying that, these fish can be hard to find at times. Just persevere and find the bait! See you on the water.

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Game on for blue marlin GOLD COAST

David Green

During January the offshore fishing has been hampered by green, relatively cold water extending offshore for over 30km. February sees boat traffic on the Broadwater drop off from the madness of the summer holidays,

and when the big tides push into the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances it often brings in big schools of frog-mouthed pilchards. OFFSHORE The pelagic season has generally been quite poor with a few mahimahi, the odd small black marlin and many hours of fruitless trolling for not many bites. Hopefully this month will

see a big improvement in catches and a marked improvement in water quality. Despite poor inshore marlin fishing, further out on the continental shelf there have been quite a few blue marlin encountered in water depths between 100-400m. February is generally a top month for blue marlin and action should increase as the water warms up and the

The author leadering a blue marlin.

A decent Spanish mackerel from the 24 fathom line.

current begins to run hard. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested in chasing blue marlin from a trailer boat, pick a day when the forecast is good and make sure you have plenty of fuel. The run out

to the grounds is generally 50-60km offshore so you need to be well prepared. We usually put the lures in on the edge of the continental shelf in about 100m of water and head east. The depth drops

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off quickly and in less than 30 minutes at troll speed you will be in 300-400m of water. I troll a spread of five lures but, depending on your crew, a couple of outfits as a minimum can

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be just as effective. Use a minimum of 24kg tackle (stand up 37kg is preferable) and work current lines, bait or dolphin schools and be on a constant look out for birds. The bites will come if you are patient and persistent. Seeing a blue marlin smash a lure is one of the most exciting things in fishing you will ever see. Troll speed is generally around 8 knots. Use big skirted lures on at least 300lb leader. It can be a steep learning curve, but it all starts with being prepared to have a go on your own. February should see plenty of mackerel on the inshore grounds once the water clears up a bit. In the early part of the season a few smaller Spanish mackerel and spotted mackerel turned up on Palm Beach Reef, but they disappeared as soon as the water became dirty. There has also been a lack of inshore current. If things improve there is plenty of bait on the 18-24 fathom reefs so the mackerel should be in good numbers this month, with a few wahoo turning up on the 24-36 fathom lines. Bottom fishing has been surprisingly good through the early part of summer, probably due to the lack of current and relatively cold water. In February there will still be a few parrotfish, pearl

perch, teraglin and pigfish on the 36 and 50 fathom lines but it is usually a very slow time for the bottom bashers. Micro jigging is an option at this time of year and is effective on mackerel, kingfish and tuna. BROADWATER AND RIVERS February sees boat traffic on the Broadwater drop off from the madness of summer holidays and when the big tides push into the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances it often brings in big schools of frog-mouthed pilchards. There can be some great spinning using metal lures and plastics for trevally, tarpon, tailor and smaller tuna species. There are often small schools of queenfish in the Seaway entrance in February. These make fantastic teaser baits for small marlin. Whiting are a major target species in February and in hot conditions the best fishing is often at night. The Nerang River near the council chambers is a particularly productive area at night. Set yourself up with a long 2kg-3kg nylon trace and use worms, yabbies or small shrimp. The run-in tide is generally the most productive. If you like chasing whiting on poppers, there are plenty of spots to try this month. I like the flats around Crab Island,

Franco Martinese with a great catch of crabs. the mouth of the Pimpama River and the lagoon area near the Jumpinpin Bar. Look for shallow sand flats with plenty of holes. The whiting start to move onto the flats as the tide floods, and if the day has 15-20 knots of breeze the

fish seem much more savage on surface lures. While you generally don’t catch as many whiting on poppers as you do on bait, it is a fun way to fish. When whiting are are hunting for prawns in the surface layers they can be

extremely aggressive fish. My favourite lure for whiting is the Bassday Sugapen, a lure that needs to be wound quite quickly. There should still be plenty of mangrove jack around this month and they

are often very active on the surface in February, with the period around dawn often the most productive. There have been quite a few jacks over 60cm caught this season already. Working floating pontoons using 3”-4” paddle tail plastics on 3/8-1/2oz jigheads is particularly effective. At night, mangrove jack move away from cover and are often caught on small live baits and strip baits at this time. Both the Coomera and Nerang river systems fish well for jacks in February. Flathead fishing is generally pretty quiet this month although there may still be a few big fish up on the flats during the early morning high tides. There are also a few mulloway in the entrances being caught on both live baits and lures. I recently saw a magnificent 147cm mulloway caught on a live yellowtail at Jumpinpin near the mouth of Swan Bay. It was a magnificent fish. Crabbing for mud crabs is generally very productive this month in the Pimpama River on the big run-in tides. Make sure you have your pots and floats well marked. Overall, February is an interesting month to fish the Gold Coast. Hopefully the blanket of cold green water that has been off the coast for the last month will disappear and the game fishing will improve.

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Flushes fire up the fish JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

February is a great time to fish the ‘Pin. With some decent flushes of rain going into the system, it’s going to be a cracker of a month for fishing. Just remember, the Logan River is shut

river tends to fire at this time of year. Some nice whiting have been on the bite through January and should continue to be on the chew right through February, with good quality fish at well over half a kilo and around the 40cm mark on offer. Try to time your whiting fishing around the larger tides. They love fast

should be a great starting spot. Also try Canaipa Passage near Slipping Sands, North West Mosquito Island, the Never Fail islands and the Gold Bank. Worms and yabbies are still the best of the baits. For a bit of fun, you could try luring for them in the shallows using small stickbaits or poppers. It’s a

A good feed of sandies caught from Canaipa Passage.

Kellie Paterson with a quality Jumpinpin buck. for crabbing, prawning and collecting yabbies and worms. It is open to fishing, which is great, because the

running water. The Logan River has produced decent fish lately around Ageston Sands and Marks Rocks and

great way to chase whiting and it’s a real thrill to get a hit in the shallows where you can see the strike happen.

A lot of small to medium bream are on offer at this time of year, as you’ll find when you head out. The larger fish have been coming mainly from rocky outcrops like Giants Grave, the Powerlines, Flatrock and Rocky Point. Using baits like mullet fillets, squid, gut and any bait that holds onto the hook will give you a better chance of hooking a fish. Baits like prawns and yabbies are great, but can be easily picked off. The flathead fishing just keeps getting better and better at Jumpinpin. I’ve really noticed the shift in the way people are fishing for them. There are a lot more fishos out there on the water using soft plastics and trolling hardbodies and going away from the traditional bait fishing for flatties. They don’t tend to stay in the same areas for long, opting to work an area for ten minutes or so then move to another spot and do the same. It does help you cover a large area to try to find where the fish are holding. If you get a few, there are always more in the same spot. Keep persisting and you can pick

up a couple quite quickly. If you are going to use bait, stick to small fish like white bait, hardiheads, small gar, pillies, froggies and mullet with a lightly weighted sinker – just enough to get the bait to the bottom. When using soft plastics try to use ones that mimic these baits, as that is what they love to feed on. All hardbodies getting trolled already look like these baits and the secret is to just find the areas where the fish are. You shouldn’t go wrong. Try around the bottom of Kangaroo, Pandannus weed banks, the Stockyards, the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie and Cobby Passage. A lot of sandies are along the deeper holes of Tiger Mullet Channel, Tabby Tabby, Canaipa Passage and near Diner Island. Muddies have come on since we finally got some decent rain with the creeks and drains flowing. Unfortunately, the Logan River is out of bounds for crabbing and it’s usually a real hotspot at this time of year. We’ll all just have to venture out a bit further and

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try some new spots. Some good places to try are off Cabbage Tree Point, Cobby Passage, Diner Island, along the Never Fail islands and behind Eden Island. It’s a great time of the year for those wishing to head out chasing a feed of the brutes and speedsters that frequent our coastline and just inside the bar at this time of year. Mackerel, tuna and small black marlin will be on offer with the chance of mahimahi, bonito, cobia or mulloway off the close reefs near bait schools. Tailor should start to show up off the beaches just inside the bar chasing schools of white bait. Thanks for all the reports. If you have any questions on conditions or what’s biting, drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au. I’ll catch you next month. • Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

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Southern Junior

Early bird catches the worm MORETON BAY

Ryan Smith

Low light periods can be the best time to go for a fish, and you would be surprised what you can find creeping up in the shallows before the sun’s up. One of my favourite forms of fishing is setting my alarm half an hour before first light and riding my push bike down to the water to throw surface lures as the sun’s starting to come up. I have found this to be very effective, and even if you don’t get a fish or two, the sunrise is still truly stunning to watch. Wading the flats during the low light periods can be a real eye-opener with the species you see swimming around hunting for food. Waking up when it’s still dark and grabbing my rod and a few lures to put in my pocket and riding down to the water is something I have done for the last 14 months. Walking out in the crystalclear water and having a flick around for species such as bream, whiting and flathead can be so peaceful. Seeing flathead cruising in water that’s only just covering their backs is something that I love

seeing and is quite common, even along the busiest of beaches come daylight. My preferred way of fishing the low light times is with surface lures. I have a range of surface lures to

suit the conditions including Bassday Sugapens, Atomic K9 Walkers and small cup faced poppers such as the River2Sea Bubble Pop in the natural prawn-looking colours. I also carry a few

A bream from a recent mission on an Atomic Crank 38.

soft plastics and couple of hardbodies. When using lures like the Bassday Sugapen, I like to put my rod tip up and give it a wiggle to make the lure swim side-to-side with a little push of water from the small cup face on the front. When chasing species like bream and flathead, I prefer to pause the lure every metre or so and pause for a few seconds at a time. You’ll find that bream love the pause. They come up underneath it and look at it before they suck it off the surface. Whiting love a lure that’s moving fast. They will chase it down before jumping out of the water to strike it. Keep in mind that as soon as you pause it, they seem to shy away. Also, a great idea for the surface lures is putting small assist hooks on them. I find little assist hooks on the back of the lure with a little bit of sparkle is a great modification. My favourite hooks to use are the new Atomic Trickbitz and the Decoys in the 8-10 size. I find that these stop those short strikes and can often lip hook a fish when they aren’t really in the mood for eating.

Justin Parkin took this solid bream cruising the flats early in the morning. Walking around and casting in random spots can get you some fish, but my preferred method is to find the bait the fish are feeding on. Upon seeing either bait flicking and skipping across the surface or bait swimming around, I like to cast over them and work my lure into them with plenty of pauses, so they can get a good look at your lure. Prawn season is my favourite, because you see prawns skipping across the surface and bream poking their noses out of the water to suck them in. When walking a sand flat, I also like

to target either yabby beds or some form of structure that is different from the standard flat bank, which can be a deeper gutter or a patch of weed. This type of fishing is one of my favourites, because of the things you see, and the fish you catch. It’s really something special. On the school holidays, I find myself doing this form of fishing almost five times a week, because it is so enjoyable. Even if you aren’t catching fish, the sight of the sun rising over the water is a wonderful thing to see. Until next month, tight lines!

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Pelagics, snapper and mulloway in the bay SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

With the holidays over, things have finally settled. The mayhem and chaos that come with it have passed. The weather hasn’t helped things with some very windy days blowing by. It seems that all week is calm and once the weekend rolls on in, the wind picks up! It’s very frustrating for those

of us working Monday to Friday. I envy those of you who can fish during the week. PELAGIC ACTION The highly anticipated spotted mackerel are here. There have been reports of schools showing up from Tangalooma down to Goat Island and everywhere in between. Keep your eyes peeled for surface activity and birds diving, as this will be a good indication of mackerel feeding. I have

Rich Lukker with an unusual capture from Moreton Bay – a giant herring! This was caught on a TT Switchblade after sounding up a school.

found the best bet is to head towards the Harry Atkinson Artificial and search around there. Between Harries and the Sand Hills has been a popular area for them. Mackerel will chase bait schools between Peel and Goat Island. These schools can just randomly show up, so it pays to have a rod ready and rigged with a small metal slug that you can quickly get into the schools. I prefer smaller sized lures up to 20g, as most often the bait they are feeding on is quite small. Soft plastics fished slightly slower can also work if they are being fussy. This may result in bite-offs, but can help get you a few extra bites. In particular the 5” ZMan StreakZ in bubblegum colour are a gun bait! SNAPPER During this time of the year, a consistent way of getting a good feed of snapper in Moreton Bay is to move away from the crowds and find somewhere out of the box. Aim to be out on the water as early as possible and try to get to your spot before everyone else wakes up! I’m a big fan of fishing the shallow reef edges. The

average size can be smaller, but it’s a good place to fish while the boat traffic is up and there is plenty of action. Fewer anglers will target these areas and focus on the deeper reefs. Using lightly weighted soft plastics rigged on 1/8 jigheads hopped along the reef edge or deep diving crankbaits will keep the bites coming. Aim to fish the low light periods of the day and use the tide to drift so you cover more ground. MULLOWAY The mulloway have been around, but unfortunately not in any great numbers. Here one day and gone the next seems to be the common theme. Keep a close eye on your sounder and ensure you get your lures down to them once spotted. Peel Island Artificial Reef has been producing the odd fish for anglers willing to put in the time. Jigheads of 1/2oz weight rigged with 3-5” soft plastics have been the best method. The new Z-Man 5” Curly Tail StreakZ have just been released and are going to be a killer on the mulloway and snapper. I’m hopeful that the weather will start to settle

Chris Torley with a great by-catch. There are plenty of these grey suits out at the Peel Artificial Reef. over the next few weeks and maybe get out a few times! Now is a great time of year for big snapper, so make the

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Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

It has been a fairly volatile summer so far with changing conditions, stinking hot days, regular storms or showers and wind blowing from every direction, especially the north. The fishing has been fairly good for most in the rivers, creeks, estuaries and bay. Species such as mackerel, mangrove jack, prawns, threadfin, cod, longtail tuna and many others have been popular and successful targets. In addition, anglers have scored a lot of other species either by choice or as

warmer months and explore a few of the fabulous February fishes on offer. PRAWNS Every year it seems as if more and more anglers are getting out and securing themselves a feed of prawns. I headed out on Christmas Eve to try and score a few for the table and stumbled upon a good patch. I managed a full 10L limit of quality banana prawns for a few hours of casting, which was great and appreciated by the family on Christmas day. The issues relating to the outbreak of white spot disease, which has affected some prawns in the Logan system, are varied. The situation isn’t quite as widespread as some media outlets have portrayed.

population. Flow on effects to other species, which feed on them were also a possibility. Recently there have been no reports of outbreaks in any other systems and let’s hope it remains this way. Although prawning has not been allowed in the Logan River system, there have been plenty to catch in other rivers such as the Brisbane, Caboolture, Pine and Coomera as well as numerous other creeks and channels in the estuaries. Large, locally made top-pocket nets ($350-450) are favoured by serious prawners. Any decent store-bought, top-pocket net of 10ft or 12ft drop will work well and secure you a good feed of these succulent crustaceans. Some anglers just cast blindly and

Spotted mackerel have been a little sporadic at times, but there have been some decent specimens caught in recent months. by-catch. Hopefully we will get some decent rain before long to give the systems a good flush before winter. For now, let’s enjoy the rest of the

It is great that something was done immediately to halt the spread of white spot, as it could potentially have dire effects on our entire prawn

hope the prawns are where the net falls. This can result in a lot more effort for fewer prawns. Use your sounder to find the prawns and optimise

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catches. On the Lowrance in my little tinnie, the prawns show up as a blue haze and are quite obvious. You’re best to search for prawns in deeper holes and channels. Once located, make your cast and allow the net to settle on the bottom. Most standard nets will require some extra rope, because you will often be working in depths of 10m or more and the rope that comes on the net will not be long enough for the net to reach the bottom. Once settled, small tugs on the anchor rope will get the net’s lead-line moving inwards across the bottom. This will frighten the prawns up out of the bottom silt and they will flick up into the net. If you have a top pocket net, most will be trapped in the upper pocket in the net where they are easy to remove. Keeping your prawns alive in salt water for some time will often see them purging, which makes them easy to clean later. Most creek and river systems will be worth some exploration over the coming months if you are after a feed of prawns or some prime baits. MACKEREL Mackerel, especially spotties, have been a little patchy at times. There are definitely enough in the bay to keep you looking. Often I have found that they are not feeding in tight, surface busting schools, but are just cruising around plucking off the occasional morsel. Birds often wait overhead, high up off the water and wheeling about in one area. While you can’t usually see the mackerel, getting into position close to where the birds are and simply blind casting will entice a few. I got my first full bag of spotties on 1 December this way. They were all quality specimens of 78-87cm and were taken on a combination of slugs and stickbaits. With high levels of boat traffic on Moreton Bay over the holidays, it has been hard at times to get onto the spotties. As soon as you stop near any wheeling birds you have numerous boats racing over to see what’s happening, which disperses the few fish that are there. In recent weeks, the schools have been a lot easier to pluck a few specimens from and anglers are locating spotties in virtually all areas of the bay. Common grounds to begin your search for spotties and other pelagics include the area north of the Harry Atkinson and Foul Grounds, the northern boundary of the Paddock Green Zone to the Four Beacons, Mud to Measured Mile, Middle Bank, all major shipping channels, around Peel Island, Rainbow Channel, and adjacent to the Naval Reserve Banks and the

When you’re getting succulent banana prawns like this almost every cast, it makes the effort worthwhile. Banana Banks, just to name a few. If you see birds patrolling a particular area, get to the general zone, cut your motor and wait. A few blind casts may reward, or the intensity could build until there is a major bust-up close by. Most of the surface feeding schools have been spotties. A few school mackerel have also been caught. School mackerel have been more common around the beacons and margins of the bay islands than in open waters. Drifting out an unweighted pilchard rigged on ganged hooks while fishing around any of the bay islands can reward anglers with a mackerel or numerous other species. This same approach can work adjacent to the major shipping channel beacons, especially around the tide changes. Another approach for probing these zones is to cast a chromed slug or slice close to the beacon and then retrieve it flat-out once it hits the bottom. Trolling deep diving minnow lures or a drone or spoon style lure behind a paravane is a good way to score a few mackerel along the edges of major banks and channels. Remember that there are differing size and bag limits for each mackerel species, so be familiar with these and how to identify each species before you head out. CRABS Crabbing has been fairly good of late with both mud and sand crabs available in decent numbers. The numerous downpours have helped to flush mud crabs into the greater systems where they are easier to target. Good downpours early in January were a boost for crabbers working the estuaries and larger river systems. Setting safety pots in deeper holes, along the

edges of collapsed mangrove banks, the mouths of gutters and drains feeding out of the mangrove expanse and wetlands as well as deeper channels will likely reward. Baits such as mullet, chicken carcasses, fish frames or a few pilchards in a mesh bag are all good choices for crabs. It’s best to leave your pot over a tidal change with a good five or six hours soak time. Night periods with decreased boat traffic will often produce better results than daylight hours. While it is ideal to leave your pots set for extended periods, you’d be wise to stay close to your pots because theft and raiding are far more common than they should be. Returning to find your pots empty, often with the entrances left open, or the pots gone altogether is extremely frustrating and will spoil your trip. Sand and blueswimmer crab numbers have been healthy in areas. At times it seems as if the shallows (waters less than 8m depth) are the more productive zones, especially around the outside contours of the bay islands. At other times the deeper areas along the edges of the major banks and towards the Sand Hills seem to fire. I don’t crab enough to work out any pattern to this, but I’m sure the commercial crabbers are on the ball and know where to set their pots at any time to guarantee the best yield. Read between the lines. MANGROVE JACK For many keen jack anglers it has been a hit and miss season. At times the jacks have been very cooperative and anglers have scored several in a session. However, many anglers have had numerous fishless trips before they score results. Many systems between

Brisbane and the Gold Coast are well known as productive jack waters and many anglers are working closer to home and probing the creeks and canals in the Brisbane, Redlands, Caboolture, Bribie and Redcliffe areas. If you check out Google Maps for many creeks and canals you will be able to pinpoint spots nearby that are likely to hold these crimson sportfish. Saltwater areas with good structure in the form of bridge pylons, mangrove snags, pontoons, jetties, rock walls and the like are high possibilities to produce a few jacks. Canal developments hold a broad array of structure and are prime places to probe for jacks in the middle of suburbia. Many anglers use lures such as diving minnows, vibration baits, topwater offerings and soft plastics. Live baits will also produce great results. Mullet, prawns, herring and pike are commonly used offerings for jacks and work well fished close to the bottom around structure and in deeper holes. Cod will also respond well to the same offerings in the same areas as jacks. You may encounter cod as by-catch when catching jacks or specifically targeting them by casting lures around rock walls, especially the ones with crabs in residence.

LONGTAIL TUNA Numbers of longtails began to increase a little during January. They’re still not as abundant as they were at this time last year. They may be available in good numbers soon. For anglers willing to search, longtails can usually be found along the edges of major shipping channels and banks, especially on a falling

the rising tide. Longtails can pop up anywhere at any time, so it pays to be alert when moving through the bay. A quality pair of polaroids and good eyes will allow you to see them jumping clear of the surface from quite some distance away, especially during favourable weather conditions. The larger fish, which feed and

slugs and slices. I use Nomad Madscads, Old Dog Stix, Duel Adagio, Maria Mucho Lucir and numerous other offerings. These larger specimens will commonly inhabit a particular area because there’s scattered concentrations of baitfish to be dined upon. If there aren’t enough baitfish to herd into a ball, they will roam and pluck off morsels

Keen mangrove jack anglers like Matt Mundy definitely put in the casts and hours, so every fish is well-deserved. This was one of three quality fish taken during a recent session cranking deep diving minnow lures around structure. tide. The Tangalooma area, Rainbow Channel, Rous Channel, a bit west of the Curtin Artificial and just south of the Four Beacons have all been worth a look on

roam in small numbers, will eat a broad array of offerings including pencil poppers, stickbaits, sliders, jighead rigged jerk-shad plastics and numerous chromed metal

at will. Drifting through areas where you have seen the odd breaching fish while casting your lures will often reward. With a good pair of polarised sunnies you may even be able

to see the occasional longie cruising just below the surface. Casting ahead and bringing your lure across their path will often produce an exciting chase and aggressive strike. Larger numbers of longtails will be found smashing bait balls on the surface if there are enough baitfish. These fish will also eat lures and will sometimes be very profile-orientated, only eating offerings close to the profile of the baitfish on which they are feeding. For this reason, it pays to have a variety of lures in different profiles. When the baitfish are miniscule, often just a 1.5cm clear body with an eye will do great. The flyfishers get the best of the pickings, as they are able to present such a small offering. THREADFIN The Brisbane River and most other major river systems along the coast all hold good numbers of threadfin salmon. Target these with live baits and an assortment of lures. As the prawn schools move along the river systems, threadfin are never far away. Anglers with quality sounders can easily locate these large fish and then present a vibration bait, soft plastic, jig or numerous other lures to get the strike. Often they will school in large numbers and some anglers will score numerous specimens in a session.

Mulloway, jacks, flathead, trevally, bream and several other species are often encountered as by-catch. The Brisbane River fired early in January with good numbers of 90cm+ mulloway being caught. The dredge holes at the mouth by the retaining wall, the ledge west of the sewerage shute and around the bases of the beacons leading out from the river mouth were just a few of the locales where anglers scored mulloway and other species, including quality snapper. Live baiting along the edges of the main drop-off into the riverbed is usually successful as well. Although February can be an extremely warm month, anglers will be motivated by the quality of fishing on offer. From surface busting pelagics in the bay to aggressive snag dwelling jacks in the estuaries and thumper threadies in the rivers, there is some pretty hot fishing to be had. Seafood lovers will be taking the opportunity to score a feed of crabs or prawns. Early morning, evening and night sessions will avoid the heat of the day and are the times when many fish species are more active. Swap the Xbox for a tackle box and the remote for a rod. Get out into the great outdoors to sample some the fabulous February fishes.

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Snapping up snapper while we wait for pelagics perch and other colourful species. I’ve found fresh strip baits such as mullet, tailor, and tuna work very well and resist the pickers better than the softer baits. Being pelagic season at this time of year off the South Passage Bar, you’d think this report would be all about mackerel and wahoo. Recently, there’s not a lot happening. I’ve spoken with a few mackerel fishos and they’ve been putting in the hard yards for only a fish or two at best. The old mackerel pros always spoke of sevenyear cycles and after a few

BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

Unlike last year, the run up to Christmas and New Years saw plenty of unsettled weather with limited opportunities to get offshore. When we did manage to get a charter in, good snapper kept us busy, but unlike the previous year, the fish were caught in the 60-70m of water and not out wide on the 90m line. We had a look out there on several trips and there was no shortage of fish on the sounder. Getting the bite was another issue. Not spending as much time out wide meant we didn’t have the chance to catch a few bonus mahimahi. Lately, mahimahi just turn up around the boat and we’d quickly toss them a half pillie or livey, if we had any on board. The size of the mahimahi has been good with many 8-10kg fish. We caught most of our snapper in 60-70m, starting on the mid to northern 29s out to the broken bits of ground on the back of the 33s. Between the 29s and the 33 fathom line, there is also

There have been a lot of really nice squire caught on the 29s. a number of isolated bumps that quite often hold good numbers of fish and will fire up when other areas are quiet. These isolated bumps are quite small, so if you see another boat working one of these, leave them to it, as a second boat with a sounder running will most likely shut the fish down.

It will pay to try and find a lump to yourself and if you don’t have one in the GPS yet, make sure you’re keeping a close eye on your sounder while travelling between the main lines of the reef. Snapper and squire will continue to be a viable option this month, east of the south passage bar and along

with the deeper reef areas like the Shallow Tempest will hold good fish as long as there is plenty of bait holding there. Over the next couple of months, bottom bouncing the shallow ground around Point Lookout can produce good mixed catches of tuskfish, Moses perch, squire, pearl

This great 4kg snapper ate a free spooled pilly.

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Bream fishing is looking up with warm weather been the pick of the soft plastics, with live poddy mullet also being used to good effect. The mouth of the Pine River has been a little quiet on the flathead front of late, with the upper reaches fishing okay, especially on the bottom of the tide. Hays Inlet, Clontarf Foreshore and the mouth of Cabbage Tree Creek have also been working well, with the brightness during the day being just as popular as the lower lit hours. BREAM Being my favourite time of the year to chase bream, the warmer water leads to a great topwater bite in many shallow areas throughout

NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

What a change a month makes. After enduring one of the hottest starts of the year on the water, it has been a pleasant change to once again get some more bearable weather while enjoying our much-loved hobby. Consistent northerly winds and seasonal currents have smashed anglers over the last month with the dedicated (and often sunburnt!) ones getting rewarded for the diversity in their skills. Rather than suffering the grind of fishing in a tinny in open waters experiencing what an egg feels like in a frying pan, many anglers have opened their minds a little by chasing fish in other ways like seeking refuge in the shade of estuaries, creeks and even under bridges to get some reprieve for the humidity and blistering sun we have been experiencing over the last month. Anchoring up or holding current with electric motors along shore banks and bridge pylons has been working well for

Topwater breaming has been sensational during the summer.

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the bay. Daiwa Slippery Dogs, Lucky Craft Sammy 65s and Megabass Dog X Jrs have been amongst the popular topwater lures, with bright colours working the best in open flats. The Peninsula has been fishing well for bream over the last month, with the northerly winds making it tough at times to find numbers of fish. In times of freshening winds, where a topwater bite is not happening, deep cranks and lightly-weighted soft plastics are the next best option, with leader size depending on the clarity of the water. Estuary cod and juvenile squire have been

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many, with warmer waters making fish more active in shallows. FLATHEAD Flathead numbers have been good with the warmer weather, and anglers are finding shady areas like snags and pontoons. These are ideal for targeting flathead, as the cool of the shade, especially around areas of good current flow, has proven to be good for flatties. In the Bribie area, White Patch and Sylvan Beach have been the best flathead areas, with good current and sandy terrain ticking all the boxes for good catches. ZMan SwimmerZ and Diezel MinnowZ have

Mud crabs have been on fire in the Pine River.

the culprits for many lure losses and stitch-ups on the peninsula over the summer months, with upgraded leader strength giving you a higher percentage chance of not becoming a reddy statistic! Ningi and Elimbah creeks have been fishing well for bream on the fuller tides, and lightlyweighted plastics targeted at the shade of the trees are working well in that area. ZMan 2.5” GrubZ, ZMan Slim SwimZ and Pro Lure Live yabbies have been a hit, with liberal coats of Pro Cure in mullet and the new sardine/pilchard worth a shot. CRABS What is a Queensland summer without sand crabs! The majority of the open areas around the Northern Bay have sand crabs around this time of the year, with hotspots being the Bramble and Deception bays and the lower reaches of Pumicestone Passage and the Pine River. For the more estuarinebased anglers, mud crabs are also on the menu in the warmer months, with the outgoing tide being favoured for these delectable crustaceans. The upper reaches of the Caboolture and Pine rivers have been great this summer with Schultz Canal being the surprise packet to pick up a couple of muddies. Be sure your pots are properly marked and be sure not to tamper with other peoples’ property. TIP OF THE MONTH Lures and soft plastics are a costly investment when fishing. Be sure to keep your valuable lure trays and soft plastic packets out of the direct sun light, as the delicate plastic can often expand when exposed to extreme heat. Be sure to stash them away into hatches and tackle bags to protect them from harmful rays.

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Wrecks are still delivering plenty in the heat CALOUNDRA

Damian Parker dpfishingmonthly@hotmail.com

South East Queensland is in full swing with spotted and Spanish mackerel from Cape Moreton to Double Island and beyond. Bait schools are plentiful and keeping these speedsters very active. We are currently seeing a lot of Spaniards caught and weighing in around 5-10kg. The average school-sized spotties is around 3-5kg. The season will only improve over the next month or two and we should see the Spanish at a much larger 15-20kg and above. With mackerel fishing especially, the rule is find the bait, find the fish. Mackerel can often be seen slicing and slashing their way through bait, pushing the school to the surface resulting in a feeding frenzy. A slow trolled dead or live bait presented in this zone will result in a hook-up. Cast a 20-30g chrome or metal slug over the school, wait 8-10 seconds and then retrieve at high speed. If at first you don’t succeed, try again! I like to find out what they are feeding on. You can generally get a brief glimpse

at the type and size of bait the mackerel are feeding on, then match the catch. Select a lure or slug that best replicates the bait for an increased chance of hook-up. The tackle stores across the coast are stocked with all different shapes and sizes, so grab a mixture and find out what works best for you. You can’t go past a good old deep diving bibbed hardbodied minnow for a mackerel bite. I like something around the 150mm mark trolled at 7-10 knots. We are spoilt for choice with the amount of quality lures available and I stick to something that resembles a slimy mackerel or yakka. If mackerel fishing isn’t your cup of tea then maybe a mahimahi, wahoo, marlin, cobia or a variety of tuna tickles your fancy. Hutchies, Caloundra Wide and the Barwon Banks are all home to the above species right now. I love summer, because you never know what is going to hit your spread of lures. The sound of a screaming reel is music to anglers’ ears. There are still plenty of tuskies, hussar, pearl perch, trout and a variety of the emperor family on offer across our vast reef systems. The many wrecks around

Kyle with a cobia caught at Caloundra 12 Mile. the coast are still home to XOS kingfish, cobia, cod, snapper and pearl perch. Just last week, I drove over a wreck off Caloundra Wide and the

sounder was alight with bait. I dropped a live bait to the depths and before it hit the bottom, I was bent over the gunnels and connected to a

15kg yellowtail kingfish which was filleted later that afternoon. The estuaries have slowed down a little but locals are

still managing to rustle up a feed of quality whiting around the 600g mark and bream in and around the Pumicestone Passage. Flicking soft plastics and surface poppers in the earlier or later parts of the day will see you bag half a dozen good quality specimens. Flathead can’t resist something skipping along the surface. Nor can bream, so you’ll never know unless you have a go. Around the military jetty and Pelican Waters Bridge Entrance are two cracking spots to fish, because almost anything could take a bait or lure at any time. The Caloundra Bar is forever changing with tidal and current flows landscaping the sea floor. Use a good pair of polarised glasses to pick out the deeper sections and present your offering. Be on the lookout for current lines, eddies and backwash areas. These are areas where the bigger fish will be hanging out. The Currimundi Lake is another good option this month for a bream or whiting. Again, fish dusk or dawn for a greater chance of hook-up. Overall, February is a great month for offshore fishing, but a little slower for our rivers and lakes. Stay safe and connected.

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FEBRUARY 2017

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Sunshine Coast reefs are really firing up now NOOSA

Peter Wells

On the offshore scene, anglers have been making the most of the weather conditions to get outside and chase those great pelagics. This is that great time of the year where we see the much larger mackerel, tuna and wahoo gracing our local reefs. Some of the best results we have seen have come from trolled live and dead baits. Hervey Bay garfish, sauris yakkas and pilchards have all got the runs on the board and when rigged on a weighted chin guard with a squid skirt teaser have

all landed. On the Southern Reef, things have come alive with Coolum, Gneerings, and Currimundi reefs all holding good schools of tuna and mackerel. Out towards Murphys, wahoo and mahimahi have also been boated. NOOSA AND MAROOCHY RIVERS In the Noosa River, we still have plenty of flathead and whiting in the system. The run-out tides are fishing well. Soft plastics in a prawn profile have worked well on the flatties with the ZMan ShrimpZ in the po’ boy. For the whiting angler, live worms and yabbies have claimed some real

Mark Whiting landed a nice Spanish mackerel out on the reefs. been the most popular for getting the results. Bigger Spanish and tuna love this presentation and some great fish have been landed. Halls Reef, Sunshine and Coffees have all produced. Using deep diver lures like the Nomad DTX minnows around the northern end of Sunshine Reef has produced some nice fish. In the bay there are huge bait balls and plenty of bird action with small ‘jelly bean’ mac-tuna. The odd long-tails are on the surface and some mackerel are underneath the bait balls. Anglers have found that using jerk shad soft plastics fished to the bottom produced some good fish. The odd bite-off indicates bigger fish cruising down deep. Casting a wellpresented slug like the River2Sea Sea Rocks has also worked well. Heading out wide, the Barwon Banks and the Hards have seen some great results with these deeper reefs producing snapper, mahimahi, cobia, cod, pearl perch and mulloway in the past few weeks. Anglers that made the big steam north of the reefs off Double Island have also shown some great results with reds and large mackerel

elbow-slappers. Heading out for a late afternoon/evening fish is a great way to chase mangrove jack. Work the pontoons and structures that line the Noosa River or upriver between the lakes. For the best results live bait has been the key. Suspending lures have also claimed some great fish. The Zerek Tango Shad in red has been a favourite with anglers and has been claiming some great jacks. Cast these lures

up early to avoid the rush at the ramps and increased noise from holiday boat traffic. • For all the latest information, log onto www.fishingnoosa. com.au for up to date bar and

fishing reports. Don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting.

LUCKY STARH TAVERN

FISHING CLUB

IS SEEKING NEW MEMBERS The reefs are producing well as Cory Router found out with this mulloway. close to snags and structure followed by a couple of quick winds to get the lure down in the strike zone. These lures will then suspend in the water and small movements will keep the lure in the strike zone. Early mornings on the river have been great fun for surface anglers with the tide pushing the bait in. The trevally and tailor are never too far behind. Using small surface walkers and poppers has produced some big hits. Crabs have been in good numbers with some quality bucks potted over the last few weeks. Fresh mullet and a full tide cycle should see some results and positioning your pots close to mangroves in the deeper water will make a difference. In the Maroochy River, head upriver if you are chasing jacks, threadfin or mulloway. Fishing upriver from Coolum Creek has been the most productive with the low light periods helping. With the jacks and mulloway, try using lightly weighted fresh mullet strips or bonito strips cast into some snags or deeper holes. Mulloway and threadfin have been responding well to soft vibe lures like the Samaki Thumper Tails slowly worked across the bottom. ON THE BEACH There are good numbers of mackerel getting caught on the beaches up north. For

the opportunity to tangle with one of these monsters off the beach, a big cast to the back of the breakers is essential, as is live bait. A great way to get your bait out there is to use a slider rig. These rigs are designed to slide down the line, and when using live bait the bait will continue to swim down towards the sinker. Talk to the team at our Davo’s stores to get all the info on how to work this system. Locally, there are large numbers of small dart getting caught and a few larger tailor. Whiting are in good numbers and fishing the gutter has been paying off. Pipis, worms and prawns have all claimed some good fish. During this new moon period there is always the chance of catching a big mulloway on quality flesh baits like fresh mullet or bonito. The most successful mulloway anglers are the ones that leave the rod in the rod holder and wait for the fish to run! FRESHWATER FISHING Lake Macdonald and Borumba Dam are both producing quality fish with bass shining at Lake Macdonald and the much sought after saratoga at Borumba. Spinnerbaits, weedless plastics and surface lures are all working well with the better fish getting caught in tight structure. Be sure to get

The Fishing Club running at the Lucky Star Tavern at Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane was originally formed in 1988. We are looking for new members that will commit to a Friday night raffle roster, which funds our monthly trips; these include deep sea charters, beach, estuary & day fishing plus a fully funded Christmas function. All enquiries to Allan: 0437 777 347 or Peter: peter_honda32@hotmail.com

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Stann Anderson found success in his hunt for mangrove jack.

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The demise of the Noosa River I am on Chemo and have serious health problems from living in the spray drift since the early 1990s, when the macadamia farm first started spraying. I have been forced to totally abandon my home, hatchery and Gilsons Road property on the instructions of Biosecurity Queensland’s Senior Fish Pathologist – just one of the six veterinarians and pathologists who investigated the strange p ro b l e m s which continued to get worse during the spray season. These problems resulted from chemical spray drift and runoff, which contaminated all water supplies, including drinking water tanks, ponds and air at Gilsons Road. No one is allowed to breed Australian native fish without a licence and must report any major problems to Biosecurity Queensland, which I have done each year. Unfortunately, this major contamination issue turned political and is a very unpopular issue. Noosa

River has an A+ rating, so this contamination problem could upset the tourists. Something must be done! Dr Roger Chong, Biosecurity Queensland’s Senior Fish Pathologist, found the cause for all my fish deformities and deaths. The solution was for me to totally exclude the macadamia chemicals, which is not possible, so I had to relocate. There was nowhere else the government would allow me to move, as the site must be licenced for me to continue to spawn fish. I moved to my second licenced property near Tewantin just to prove a point in 2012 and used all new brood fish as instructed by Dr Chong. Production, growth and health returned to normal pre-macadamia days, despite no home, no hatchery sheds and very limited 240V power. The fish thrived and I achieved the highest health score possible – a 10 out of 10 in the hatchery accreditation program. Scientists have grave concerns for the Noosa

River Australian bass and the Noosa River sea mullet reproduction. I’ve taken many photos through the years of the deformed eggs, embryos and newly hatched Noosa River fish. Each year I continue to spawn fish newly caught from the Noosa River and the horror story just goes from bad to worse. My microscope documents the date and time of each photo and video. The facts discovered clearly show it is just the tip of the iceberg. Toxic Valley on Facebook gives more information about the impact of agrochemicals. The page and film Toxic Valley feature some of the Noosa River facts. It has premiered in Sydney in November and is coming to Queensland soon. Microscopic photos show the disaster of the fish reproduction failure every year since 2008. This might continue, if the Agrochemicals are not removed from our still beautiful, but toxic river. – Gwen Gilson

FISHING FILL-ITS

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The creative minds behind Jackson lures in Japan have researched extensively to create the best soft vibe possible, and their latest creation is the Quiet Beats series. One outstanding feature of the Quiet Beats soft vibes is the action. Its sensitivity is excellent, with the weight balance and sharp topside being the key. The draw of the rod to get this lure working is extremely minimal. The designers

have perfected this attribute to give the lure the ability to work in subtle situations, and also to give the angler the option to crank up the sonic vibes when needed. The balance of a soft vibe has to be perfect, and the way a lure falls is just as important as the way it rises. The fall on the Quiet Beats is exceptional. The range was tested by the Aussie Jackson pro team on everything from bass and flathead through

to tropical species, and it’s also been subjected to strength testing in the workshop. Anglers can choose from two sizes (69mm/11g and 86mm/18g) and 10 colours, consisting of solid, transparent and heavy flecked finishes, all with carefully selected and sized hardware. They’re available exclusively from Tackle World stores for SRP $15.99 and $17.99. - FM FEBRUARY 2017

THE R ECR E ATIONAL ANGLER’S LINK THE PRAWNS JUST AIN’T PRAWNS This month will be the start of the banana prawn season for 2017. Since just before Christmas we have had a continuing stream of advice notices from DAF (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) regarding white spot syndrome virus. They have ranged from downright scary to boring. Some of them have come from Fisheries QLD and some from Biosecurity Queensland.

Australia has been lucky that until now it has been declared white spot free. That doesn’t mean that we haven’t had instances previously. So far they have been able to be controlled before running rampant through wild stocks. We have been leading a charmed existence until now, because even though white spot is rampant overseas, our international borders are certainly not closed to this disease.

public arena and generally no advices on the product, imported raw prawns are sold through retail outlets for human consumption. Anyone who purchases these prawns might toss the shells in the local creek to feed the crabs or use the last few as bait. They run the risk of causing a white spot outbreak. This disease is so virulent and with such a high mortality that if either of those scenarios were to occur during peak prawn

These prawns have classic WSSV white spot lesions visible.

The prawns with white spot syndrome virus have white spots on the inside of their shells. This is an excised cuticular epithelium with calcified white spot lesions on cuticle. The problem with this is that due to Christmas and New Years, we needed some clear and concise advice and some strong and effective action from Biosecurity Queensland to further enforce a message to the general fishing public that this could be very serious. This time of year we have more recreational fishers on the water than any other time and a lot of them are not part of the usual networks that that information flows through. WSSV or white spot syndrome virus can be devastating to our recreational fisheries as well as the commercial and aquaculture prawn industries. It is extremely virulent and has a very high mortality rate. It can wipe out prawns and yabbies, infect mud crabs and sand crabs and is transferred by worms. This virus survives freezing and can only be killed by being cooked at very high temperatures or when all their hosts are dead.

FEBRUARY 2017

WSSV causes no disease in humans, so uncooked prawns that have white spot have been allowed to be imported into Australia and still are. With no suitable information in the

season, the results could be devastating – from just one instance. Two things need to happen urgently – Firstly the message needs to get far and wide that prawns

not sold specifically as bait should not be used as bait and no prawn shells should be disposed of in our waterways. Secondly, no imported raw prawns should be allowed into this country. This is an excerpt from an advice we recently sent to Biosecurity Queensland with respect to the two new programs for WSSV. Recreational fishers consider the threat of WSSV both real and implied to be significant. The impact of white spot to the everyday activities of recreational fishers has the ability to go from inconvenience to absolutely catastrophic in a very brief span of time. Because this virus has an

This virus quickly causes devastation to prawns, crabs and other estuary species.

www.sunfishqld.com.au

impact on worms that are carriers through to prawns, yabbies and crabs that will suffer significant mortality and includes many fish that may be caught having only just ingested the infected prawns or yabbies, there is not a fisher that would not feel the effects of this virulent disease on their fishing. This surveillance program must be paired with sufficient legislative power to achieve the goals of the program and prevent any further transmission or re-infection. More than a half of Queensland’s recreational fishers (approximately 350,000) live in South East Queensland with ready access to fish in Moreton Bay. There are no words to indicate the magnitude of the effect that this virus has the potential to inflict. It should be noted that given the time frames and the time of year to consider these programs, Sunfish has not had the capacity to canvas responses from all the recreational fishers likely to have views on the white spot situation. Based on the responses and comments that we have received, we believe that the prevention and control program is deficient given the possible magnitude of the threat. The risk management approach for the importation of raw prawns to prevent introduction of white spot into Queensland and Australia has failed. The risk assessment approach should be reviewed as a matter of

urgency and we advocate a complete ban on the importation of raw prawns as the best alternative to prevent further transfers of white spot into Australia. A high level information program should be immediately implemented by DAF to warn people that imported raw prawns must only be used for human consumption, and not be used as bait, fed to aquatic animals, or discarded into local waterways. We are aware that the prawn aquaculture industry is also seeking a ban on the import of raw prawns, as this is the most likely way that white spot can be introduced into Queensland and Australia. We support this position. Sunfish Queensland urges Biosecurity Queensland to take a firm proactive position against white spot syndrome virus and prevent it from becoming our next tilapia, because the consequences could be much more catastrophic. Please share your opposition to the importation of raw prawns into Australia that could wipe out recreational fishing as we know it.

Email: judylynne@sunfishqld.com.au

Northern Junior

Soft plastics are the go WEIPA

Jackson Bargenquast

The Gulf of Carpentaria is a place where everyone can catch a fish. Everywhere holds fish. It’s a place where the fishing can be absolutely insane. Nonetheless, there are times when even this ocean paradise can shut down. When this happens, catching a fish is difficult and new tactics need to be invented for success.

beaches of Cape York, we sight fish a lot of barra, salmon and other pelagic and estuary fish varieties. While queenies and trevally are willing to take just about anything, the other species of fish can be very spooky and difficult to catch. In these circumstances, where the water is clean and clear and the only shelter for the fish schools to hide in is the odd oyster covered rock, the loud rattle of a minnow or aggressive action of a diver repels them. Once a barra

A Storm soft swim bait wedged in the throat of a big blue salmon. Barra are one of the most difficult fish to understand in the whole ocean. A single drop in temperature or barometer, or even a slight rise or drop in tide or light

or salmon is spooked on the flats, the chances of it even thinking about eating again are very low. Even the tiniest of minnows have no effect.

flats, they were feeding on tiny hardiheads no bigger than 2.5-3”. We matched the size and colour of the baitfish, but we hadn’t matched the action. Unlike mullet or large prawns that flick and twitch quite aggressively, these tiny hardiheads paddled along under the surface ever so delicately, creating no ripples or bow waves. The answer was small unweighted soft plastics that created no aggressive vibrations and, just like the hardyheads, crept slowly under the surface. This was the key. We caught dozens of small barra using the subtler plastics. We returned a few days later with the same plastics and only landed a couple of barra. We took a closer look and barra were feeding on mullet of 4-6”. We tried out a slightly larger size plastic with the same effect as the last trip. On this particular day, the colours that stood out were deep red and black. On the last trip, the stand out colour was silver or blue. This situation shows that at times when the fish are being difficult to catch, the subtle and diverse soft plastics can make all the difference. The beauty of fishing soft plastics or soft vibes is the range of the depths and the actions that can be used. They are not only for shallow water situations, but also for fishing deep reefs where many species such as golden snapper, giant trevally, mackerel, tuna and even the famous coral trout are quite easy captures. I recently went out on a fishing trip with

Soft plastics aren’t just for flicking around the shallows. This 110cm black jewfish was caught offshore on a plastic worked over the deep reef. mark. One of the best sport and eating fish, black jew can be very hard to convince to bite, even when they are in large numbers. Jigs, deep divers, hard vibes and even baits such as live mullet or dead prawns seem to have no effect. Without a doubt, soft plastics are the best imitation for targeting fish in tricky situations. On top of this, soft plastics can bring you some unexpected, rarely seen and awesome catches. I took my mate Axel out a while

back and we were chasing golden snapper or cobia around some shallow reef. I was using a 10” soft plastic when all of a sudden it took off. After a few long runs, the surprisingly heavy fish slowly started to come up. I first called it for a GT, then for a big cobia or maybe a foul-hooked shark or ray. Dad knew what it was and called it. It was a big Queensland grouper around 110-120lb! After a quick photo, this monster was released and powered back

to the depths. We finished up the day with a couple of little golden snapper, stripeys and a colourful little black spot cod all on light gear. Since then I have never been game to put on such a big plastic again! In conclusion, when fish are being tough to catch, or are after something a little more subtle, nothing can beat a well-presented soft plastic. Good luck to all you anglers over the last of the holidays. As always, think like a fish.

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ER NO TIMB NO ROT A great little black-spot cod caught over the shallow rock in the mouth of an estuary. On light gear, like the Okuma Ceymar, mojo rod and 12lb braid, these fish are great fun. levels, can be the difference between a donut session or a crazy series of explosions and jumping chrome. In the dirtier river waters, barra are often more willing to take hardbodied lures, such as minnows and hard vibes. On the clean sandy

What is it that is making these fish so difficult to catch? Taking a closer look at the bait that the fish were feeding on is the trick to success here. In the rivers, a barra will take just about anything from prawns, crabs and even decent-sized mullet. On the

Dad’s mates Scotty Gorman and Evan Ikin, where we found a massive school of fish. We dropped 9” scented soft plastics into the school and hooked-up immediately. They ended up being all large black jew over the 1m

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2017abt calendar BREAM SERIES

The Costa BREAM Series returns in 2017 with Australia’s premier tournament bream series hitting the road mid in February and travelling across the country until it arrives at Lake Macquarie in early December for the biggest event on the bream calendar, the Costa BREAM Grand Final. Eight qualifying rounds will test anglers, with QLD, NSW, Victoria and Western Australian all playing host to events. Costa BREAM Qualifiers • Boater $250 • Non Boater $125

Franklins Australia BREAM Australian Open (Boater only) $500

DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

18-19 Feb

VIC

Mallacoota

Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier #1

22-23 Feb

VIC

Gippsland Lakes

Gippsland Lakes BREAM Qualifier #2

1-2 Apr

Albany

Albany BREAM Qualifier #3

5-6 Apr

Blackwood

Blackwood BREAM Qualifier #4

20-21 May

NSW

Manning River

Manning River BREAM Qualifier #5

16-17 Jul

NSW

Richmond River

Richmond River BREAM Qualifier #6

19-20 Aug

QLD

Gold Coast

Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier #7

30-1 Oct

NSW

St Georges Basin

St Georges Basin BREAM Qualifier #8

1-3 Dec

NSW

Lake Maquarie

Lake Maquarie BREAM Grand Final

25-27 Apr

NSW

Sydney Harbour/Hawkesbury River

Franklins Australia BREAM Australian Open

AUSTRALIA BASS PRO SERIES DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

29-30 Apr 3-4 Jun 7-8 Jun 5-6 Jul 8-9 Jul 2-3 Sep 14-15 Oct 16-17 Sep

NSW QLD QLD NSW NSW NSW NSW QLD

Hawkesbury River Cania Dam Boondooma Dam Lake St Clair Glenbawn Dam Clarence River Richmond River TBA

Hawkesbury River BASS Pro Qualifier #1 Cania BASS Pro Qualifier #2 Boondooma BASS Pro Qualifier #3 Lake St Clair BASS Pro Qualifier #4 Glenbawn BASS Pro Qualifier #5 Clarence River BASS Pro Qualifier #6 BASS Pro Grand Final Storm BASS Australian Open

BASS ELECTRIC SERIES DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

12 Feb

NSW

Clarrie Hall

BASS Electric #1

18-19 Mar

QLD

Lenthalls

BASS Electric #2

8-9 Apr

NSW

Toonumbar

BASS Electric #3

20 May

QLD

Hinze Dam

BASS Electric #4

17-18 Jun

QLD

Borumba Dam

BASS Electric #5

30 Jul

NSW

St Clair

BASS Electric #6

13 Aug

QLD

Moogerah

BASS Electric #7

28-29 Oct

TBA

BASS Electric Convention

KAYAK BREAM SERIES PRESENTED BY DAIWA DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

Bigger, better and more rewarding than it’s ever been the Basscat Australia BASS Pro Series is set to challenge and reward anglers in 2017. Six Qualifying Rounds throughout the year held on Queensland’s and New South Wales’ finest bass rivers and lakes, plus a Grand Final on Northern NSW’s Richmond River in October presents anglers with a Basscat BASS Pro calendar like they have never seen or experienced before. New challenges, new waterways and new opportunities are all on the tournament menu for the new tournament season. 2017 is definately the year of the river rat on the Basscat BASS Pro tour. Basscat Australia BASS Pro Qualifiers • Boater $250 • Non Boater $125

Storm BASS Australian Open (Boater only) $500

ePropulsion headlines the 2017 BASS Electric Series, with the new season featuring seven Qualifying Rounds and an end of year BASS Electric Convention set to take place in Queensland in October. The series kicks off in February at Clarrie Hall Dam in NSW before it travels its way through Queensland and New South Wales with a combination of single and two-day events. Anglers will fish for a combination of cash and prizes at each round plus the all important qualification berths into October’s BASS Electric Convention. To qualify for The Convention all you need to do is place in the top five (top ten at 2-day events) at one of the seven Qualifying Rounds, or finish in the top 15 of the BASS Electric Angler of the Year points race. It’s that easy. Check out the calendar to find out where and when you can get your ePropulsion BASS Electric fix. BASS Electric Entries • $50 (single day events) • $100 (two-day events)

BARRA TOUR DATE

STATE

LOCATION

EVENT

31 Oct

QLD

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event) BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

1 Nov

QLD

Teemburra

3-4 Nov

QLD

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Evening Event)

5-6 Nov

QLD

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Night Championship)

21-22 Jan

VIC

Marlo

Round 1

25-26 Feb

VIC

Bemm River

Round 2

25-26 Mar

VIC

Mallacoota

Round 3

8-9 Apr

Adelaide

Round 4

29-30 Apr

To be announced

Round 5

Get your barra fix in 2017 with the Zerek BARRA Tour. Returning to the barra filled lakes of Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust Dams, the Zerek BARRA Tour will hit the north on the peak barra bite, the full moon in November. Having emerged from their from their winter slumber and in full spring bite mode the barra should be primed to wreak havoc and deliver anglers the ultimate BARRA Tour experience.

30 Apr

NSW

Clyde River

Round 6

BARRA Tour Entries $250 (per event)

20-21 May

NSW

St Georges Basin

Round 7

10-11 Jun

NSW

Port Macquarie

Round 8

22-23 Jul

QLD

Gold Coast

Round 9

13 Aug

QLD

Mooloolaba

Round 10

26-27 Aug

To be announced

Round 11

16-17 Sep

NSW

Forster

Round 12

16-19 Nov

TBA

Australian Championship

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The Hobie Kayak BREAM Series hits the water nation wide to offer anglers the ultimate kayak bream experience. Featuring events in WA, SA, VIC, NSW and QLD anglers are spoilt for choice in 2017 with 12 rounds in the series. All events of course lead to the biggest event of the year, the Australian Championship. The Big Show will see anglers fish from identical factory supplied Hobie kayaks in a bid to be crowned the Australian Champion. Hobie Kayak BREAM Series (Hobie rounds) • $50 (pre-event entry) or $70 (late entry) for single-day events • $100 (pre-event entry) or $140 (late entry) for two-day events N.B, For non-Hobie run rounds see individual organisers for entry details

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Fine-tuning your tournament fishing approach SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

When it comes to tournament fishing, successful anglers are always looking for that edge to get one up on their competitors. Quite often, it can be the subtle differences that can make or break a tournament result. If you have been in the scenario before, you would know full well how much of a change one bite can make to your day’s fishing. Catching that kicker fish is not just a gain on the scoreboard, it’s also a mental gain. Once that fish is in the well, your tone changes, your thought process changes, and you suddenly feel more energized. You are far more attentive and you know you are back in the game; it’s amazing what adrenaline can do! So how can you increase the chances of this happening? When competing against a high quality field of anglers, there aren’t too many 4

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secrets, everyone is using the same lures, techniques and more often than not, fishing the same areas. Being able to find a niche and zone into a pattern is what will make you stand out. So here are a few ideas that can help get you a step ahead I won’t go into too much detail (I could fill up a book), but my hope is that this will start a change of thought process to get you thinking of ways you can give yourself an edge. DO YOUR HOMEWORK While it will ultimately come down to tournament day, putting in the early preparation work will reap dividends when it counts. Often anglers will associate the early prep work with fishing new systems, or systems that you may not regularly fish. Early preparation, even for local events, is a great starting point, as it helps get you thinking and in the right frame of mind. Resources such as Google Earth, Nearmap and Marine Maps are all great places to start. If you have access to Nearmap, it provides amazingly detailed

satellite imagery and is great for finding new fishy areas. I like to look at the moon phase, tides and also look at weather patterns. These are all variables that will affect your event, and understanding them and learning how to adapt if this changes is very important. Looking through previous tournament results is also a good idea, as this will help when it comes to lure selection, and give you an idea of what to expect for the time of year. Stock up on the gear you love. I’m sure there are a number of anglers who have been left short of their favourite lures due to them being sold out. A good example is the Cranka Crab – a must-have on the bream tournament circuit. It is also a lure that at times has been hard to come by. Whatever it is, be sure to get it well in advance to save you scrambling around the week before the tournament! Keep your fishing gear organised. Store your lures neatly, ensuring they are rust-free and ready to use. Having all your gear neatly

Storing everything so you can find it easily will ultimately mean more time spent fishing and not rummaging around in the boat.

packed in the boat means that when you need to find a particular lure or tool, you can easily get to it. There is nothing worse than having to go through the whole boat to find that pair of split ring pliers or that pack of trebles that you were sure you packed! Being organised will save you time on the water. UNDERWATER EYES It’s hard to ignore the technological advances in fish finders these days – it’s an important aspect to anyone’s fishing. A quick look through the boats at a tournament and you will quickly see that the majority of anglers are kitted out with some of the latest and greatest gear. Some anglers will never use their sounder to its full potential and some will rarely take it off the GPS screen. Sounders are our eyes under the water, and in my opinion, heavily under-used when it comes to tournament fishing, especially in the bream circuit. Here’s a few ways you can make the most of the technology. Side Scan Technology

is available with most sounder brands and prices have dropped dramatically over the years, making it affordable to all anglers. It basically allows you to scan the seabed over 50m

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au each side of the boat. So imagine being able to cover the whole width of a river, with just one pass! Now think about how helpful that could be for finding structure that nobody else

Keeping notes from your trips is fantastic way to get a particular location sussed.

has seen. It’s not all about finding big schools of fish on the sounder. Most of the time just locating bait, finding new structure, or keeping an eye on depth changes and water temperature can be enough to crack a pattern. Understanding how to use all the features on your sounder will help you in a big way, and there are so many tools available to us. We need to make the effort to learn how to use them in order to make the gains. CARRYING SPARES Ever been in that position where you wished you were throwing a different strength line? Maybe you’re downsizing from 4lb fluorocarbon to 2lb, or even going up a notch and looking for something heavier. If you can afford to have 20 rods on your boat, then this may be easy done. But for the rest of us, deciding what rod and reel combinations we take and what line we spool the reels with can be a daunting task. With a diverse range of fisheries on the tournament trail, you could be fishing 2lb in crystal clear water one day or up to 16lb in the oyster leases the next. One way to solve this problem is keeping a

The author believes that it’s important to look for any edge that you can get over other anglers. In a tournament scenario, it can make a world of difference. few spare spools. Some reels come with these as standard, but generally the higher end gear doesn’t, and it may mean buying a few aftermarket spools, which is well worth it in my opinion, as it gives you that extra option when it comes to deciding on lines. I keep an array

of different strength fluorocarbon lines, as well as braid from 6-12lb. This way I know I can cover any situation I come across, and there’s no need to compromise. A good idea is to label your spools, just so you can keep track of what is what (comparing 2lb with 3lb can be quite tricky!)

DEAR DIARY Your friends might ridicule you for it, so this might be one you keep hidden away, but keeping a diary of your fishing trips is a great way to keep track of patterns. I got this idea from Steve Morgan a couple of To page 6

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years ago after he showed me his notes from a few trips chasing threadfin salmon in the Brisbane River. He had detailed the times he fished and even had a few diagrams showing how he fished certain areas. It may seem a little overboard, but when I thought about it, a lot of really valuable information that we learn from fishing is just forgotten. We tell ourselves “I better remember that for next time”, but chances are, we will forget! Jotting down some information from a trip, whether it be good or bad will help you in the future. As time goes on and you increase your ‘database’ of information, you will be able to pick up consistent patterns that occur. For example, you might notice that in certain times of the year, the run-in tide fishes better. Maybe the barometric pressure reaching a certain point triggers a bite period. This is especially important for tournaments. After spending two or more days on the water you are bound to have learnt something new or picked up on a detail that helped you catch fish, or maybe even caused you to lose fish. This information is

Tournament Angler Guide gold; a successful angler is one that is always willing to learn. Whenever I can remember, I try to record as much information as I can from a fishing trip, noting down the moon phase, tides, lures used and any specific events

that occurred that day. It only takes a couple of minutes, but is well worth the time spent! Eventually, you will have a great bit of info up your sleeve that is going to help you on the water. If you are tech savvy, you could always collate this

When everything comes together, you should find yourself catching more fish.

information on a Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet too, which would make it easy to search for key words! START FINE-TUNING I have found that

abt.org.au by breaking down the processes involved and dialling in on each trip, you can find ways to really home in. Anything you can change to better your

Using online mapping resources can give you an idea of what you’re in for, particularly if you’ve never fished a certain body of water before.

stormfishing.com.au 6

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angling is going to benefit your results in the long run. It only takes one cast, one bite, to turn it all around. We have all been there, and it’s a great feeling.

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Hobie winner’s winning notes – confidence is key Richard Somerton

Last year was very rewarding, and I enjoyed fishing the 2016 Hobie series. I went into this season with a bit more competitive drive, which I had been struggling with in the previous year. Again, it was a full calendar, with tournaments in Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and finally a return to Tassie! The Hobie Australasia team had again put another interesting and varied season together. BEGINNINGS It all started for me at Bemm River, an arena I have previously done extremely well in. Going into the competition I was confident of at least a top 10 finish. I didn’t adapt well to the sudden rise in water level, wind strength and the hammering my spots got on pre-fish, but I stuck to my plan, with the result of 32nd… ouch! With the biggest turnout ever in the kayak series of over 100 competitors, I knew it was 8

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going to be a big year. Mallacoota again put on the numbers and was the second of the World Qualifiers after Bemm, and one I wanted to get up on the podium and to gain back some vital Worlds team points. I had a good plan, that unfortunately relied on at least one good Mallacoota beast, and I didn’t quite get there, finishing 4th. It was great to see Carl Dubois take the win and it was the start of his dominance that would eventually see him take out a well-deserved Angler of the Year title. OVER THE DITCH! It was then time for Hobie to take the show overseas! That’s right, the black bream Mecca of Tasmania. I had fished the Scamander for trout once, and that was about it, and being yet another Worlds Qualifier, I had put hours of research in with Mr Cranka Crab himself, Steve Steer. Myself and a few others found it to be a tough bite, and not the system I had heard it was, and this combined with my reluctance to use soft plastics saw me finish a disappointing 12th, and

definitely not where I had told myself I would finish. A few days later and a short drive down the road was the Swan River, and the next round of the Hobie roadshow. I love this place, and have fished it both in tournaments and socially. It has flats, racks, rocks and is very tidal. It has everything an angler could want for black bream, including some true beasts. After the prefish, I was confident and even said to my wife Tanya, “I’ve got this.” Well, it might have been a bit cocky, but I have been told you must win it in your head before going on the field. Well, finally it all came together for me with a good kicker fish on each day backed by solid bags, and this saw me take out my first win of the series and a major boost to my confidence. BACK ON THE MAINLAND The season rolled on, and I managed a 6th at St Georges Basin, and being my first yellowfin event of the year, it gave me a bit of hope that my yellowfin mojo hadn’t left me leading up to the big event, the Forster round!

In the lead up to the Forster tournament, I studied maps, tides, previous locations and distances. The major unknown for me was the new launch site, as I had always fished events from down the front. Not being sure whether to hit the lake or not, I put all my efforts into throwing Cranka Crabs around racks. Again, I went into this event knowing I would win. I had convinced myself that was what was going to happen anyway… I admit, things got a bit shaky on the prefish when it was very slow, but when an area and a pattern came together again, my confidence skyrocketed. Over the next two days, I managed two good bags that included a cracking fish that took out my first ever Boss Hog big bream! In the end, taking out the win at Forster was pretty big for me for many reasons. This was the final Worlds scoring round, which saw me go from 5th and just in the team to the top qualifier. This was also my biggest win by numbers with the largest field ever at a kayak round in NSW of 96, and this just

shows how big the kayak tournament scene is getting. I managed to squeeze one more event in down at Nelson on a very swollen, dirty and flooding Glenelg River, and again I was thinking a good game until I pulled up on Thursday night and saw the state of the water. The doubts crept in and continued throughout the tournament. There were fish there, but for the first time this year, I didn’t fill my bag and came away with 6th place. WARMING UP FOR THE BIG DANCE Going through and wrapping up the year I had, it was evident to me that my mental state had a lot to do with my performance. The events I had convinced myself I was going to win, I performed well in or won! So, when the Australian Championship came around, I had it won. In my head, anyway… Preparation for the Gold Coast started with me pouring over maps and the internet trying to formulate a plan, as I had never fished there before. I wanted an area a long-distance peddle from the start so the fishing

pressure wouldn’t be too bad. The area had plenty of structure and hopefully a larger than average fish. I had ruled out the flats heading into the event due to what I had heard regarding the crazy boat traffic! I had a chat with fellow Cranka Pro Staffer Stephen Maas pointing out my plan and listened to his thoughts. He gave the thumbs up and a couple possible lure colours and I was confident with my starting plan. When the Championships rolled around, I was ready to go, with the only question mark hanging over my plan being the new Hobie drive, the reversible MD180. Would it be slower, harder or just so different that I wouldn’t be able to put my long-distance plan into action? Those doubts were soon gone ten minutes into the pre-fish. The drives were fast, and I could maintain a higher than average speed. I didn’t make the long run up to the comp day planned areas, instead finding similar locations closer to the start line. I worked through different canals trying several pontoons, jetties and boat hulls catching fish regularly.

I found pontoons on points, junctions and multiple ones together, which ended up being the standout spots. They just needed a little bit of water movement to check the final fishabilty box! COMP DAY Day one Day one of the tournament started with the usual pandemonium of the start followed by the settling into the long peddle to my first spot at the northern end of Sovereign Islands around 11km away. By the time I reached Ephraim Island, I was on my own and as I went past, I noticed some mangroves with cormorants in them. I put on a plastic and cast it to the nearest mangrove tree. Bang! I was on. Over the next 15 or so casts, it was almost a fish every cast, but with only one legal amongst them, I thought I may have been wasting my time. It was back to plan A. The next hour or so went slowly, with a couple of fish in the well from plastics thrown under pontoons until the tide started to run out, and that’s when the Cranka Crab in cockle and brown came into play along with the MD180 drive. I thought I wouldn’t use the reverse function much, but it turned out to be a game changer. I could position myself even in the strongest

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au areas of tide up current, and then fish the crabs back under the pontoons and boats. I quickly got my last fish, and then a couple of small upgrades over the next few hours before it was time to start heading back, hitting some spots on the way. I ran into my peddling buddy Mitch King in a canal system just after I had scored a nice 700g fish on the crab. He was struggling, but told me they were just coming on. I moved up a small canal and got another upgrade followed by a legal, and then it was time to head back to the starting line. It was both an interesting and nervous wait to find out how my bag stood up against everyone else’s, and by the finish of the weigh-in I had a day one lead over the ever-dangerous Kris Hickson by only 20g! Day two The day two plan was very much the same as day one, with the only change being spending a bit more time in the mangroves of Ephraim Island. The legs were feeling the burn at the start, and there was definitely fewer kayaks going north by the time I hit the mangroves. As I approached the spot, I saw one tinny and another yak (non-competitor) on the best section of the mangroves. Bugger!

I found some birds in a large tree and fired in a cast. Bang! A small fish, but at least they were there. The next fish was deep hooked. Legal, but bleeding a bit, and I decided to let him swim. I hoped that didn’t turn out to be a wrong decision. The next fish was a nice one over 700g that hit hard, jumped twice and ended up hanging out of a tree! There was a moment of panic as I raced in and shoved the net under it. That was number one! A few casts later and another 500g fish in the well, I decided to head north and continue with the plan. It turned out to be very slow, with only a bit of by-catch. I also had the curse of the dreaded camera boat stalking me for a while. I added one to the live well that I plucked off a pontoon, but the owner seemed to take offense by charging down, starting his boat and revving his engine! I decided to move on, giving him a smile and a parting comment on his passive aggressive behaviour. By 11 o’clock, I was starting to doubt my plan and heading back down the system. I managed another reasonable legal, but I decided to hit another canal on the way home. By the time I got there, the tide was almost dead low and I

had an hour left before the peddle back. Luckily, the place was on fire! I filled my limit, upgraded three times and smacked a handful of legal fish on top of that. I felt confident, but I knew if the marinas had fired, it was going to be very close. CRUNCHING NUMBERS Again at the weigh-in,

It was an amazing feeling to see that bag of fish hit the scales and see my weight come out on top! After five Championships with a couple of close call podium finishes, it was fantastic to be able to get the win! I couldn’t have done it without the support of some great people and companies.

and keeping it fresh and exciting. I would also like to thank Duffrods, Cranka, Humminbird, SLH/Lovig Kayak Fishing and RhinoRack for their continued support and gear. All the other competitors that head all over Australia to compete definitely make the series what it is, and a huge hats off goes to each

The Gold Coast was an excellent venue for a Hobie Grand Final. it proved to be tough for some and better for others, and after a few words with the guys, I was feeling very confident.

I would like to thank Hobie Australasia for putting all the time, money and effort into running these tournaments year after year

and every one of them. Finally, I must thank my wife Tanya for all the belief, love, support, and understanding. Bring on next year!

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To be or not to be sponsored, that is the question

Elliot Fooks

Fishing is an industry the takes on many forms. For some, it’s a weekend passion, for others it’s their work, and for a lucky few, it’s both.

As anglers we are all heavily invested stakeholders in this industry, and we all have pride in fishing and what it has given us, but what can we give back? If you turn up to any ABT tournament, you will see a wide range of boats wrapped

with a plethora of sponsor logos, as well as anglers wearing jerseys from every brand under the sun. What do anglers and brands actually get out of these deals? And, more importantly, what do anglers and sponsors want from these deals? During my years

Sponsoring anglers is just one component of a company’s marketing strategy. The decision to sponsor an angler uses up money that could be spent elsewhere. Carl Jocumsen knows this well, and looks after his sponsors. 10

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working for ABT, I heard many anglers talk about sponsorship as both a privilege and a right. However, there’s a debate as to whether it should be viewed as a transaction or a job. WHO AM I? Sponsored anglers are just one part of a company’s complicated marketing mix, and the decision to sponsor an angler takes away from other areas the business can spend its marketing dollars on. While some sponsors will expect very little and give very little, if you want to be worth the investment the business needs to see a return. While it may not be popular to say being a sponsored angler is a job, that’s what it is. However, it should still be a positive experience for you, adding to your enjoyment and, in turn, helping the industry grow. While it may all sound like more work than it’s worth, the key is to think about what you can bring to our industry and sport. Let’s take a step back and think about assessing the skills you have and what you can bring to the table. Before you think about targeting sponsors you need to identify a few things. Identifying what drives

Tournaments often see many sponsored anglers getting together, all vying for that top spot. you to get out on the water should be easy. Your fishing passion may be solely competitive tournament fishing, or it may be broader. Look at identifying your

‘fishing brand’, which is the kind of fishing that people can associate with you. This brand will change and grow thoughout the cycle of the seasons.

Remember, much like the company that you want to represent, you have many dimensions. These are the areas that make you different from all the other anglers knocking on a company’s door. Your seasonal angling will start to help form the story of you as an angler, and help people connect with your story. The second thing to identify is what content of

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abt.org.au value you can produce. As we all can see, there are hundreds of anglers out there pushing their passion on all forms of social media, but what are your strengths and key differences? Much like your fishing, this is a skill set you need to evaluate and grow as time passes. Break this down like any business problem and look at creating a personal strength, weakness, opportunity and

threat analysis to see where you stand. At this point, it is critical to see where your skills are in relation to what you want to achieve, so I recommend doing this SWOT analysis by scanning the QR code hereby with an end goal in mind. Your content creation should go beyond photos of you holding a fish. It doesn’t hurt to tell the story of what you got the fish

It is critical to see where your skills are in relation to what you want to achieve before you think of approaching any potential sponsors.

on, where you caught it and what it means to you. For you, it may be about reviewing tackle through text and video, or it could even be a weekly podcast you create about your fishing adventures and what you caught your fish on. It’s also key to benchmark your output against others in the industry, as this is a great way for you to see who is represented in

the industry and what they are producing. Look at both the quality of the content and how regularly they are producing content, and this will give you an idea on what you will be expected to produce for a sponsor. While benchmarking gives you a start on what to do, you need to form your own style. This may not be a big change from what others are doing, but try to give

WEB LINK

Scan the QR code to do a SWOT analysis. To page 12

Once you know what content you want to create, you’ll be able to understand what you can do to add value to a brand.

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yourself a consistent point of difference from other anglers. It’s critical for all of us to not turn into copycats, as this devalues good content and sucks out the incentive to create different and interesting content. If there is content that excites you, don’t copy it. Instead, use it as inspiration to help push your own content. In turn, you will help push others to create and grow as anglers and producers. From here, you can begin to think about what value proposition you will be able to pitch to potential sponsors and who these sponsors could be. PITCHER UP? So you know what content you want to create, and you are starting to understand what you can do to add value to a brand. Now it’s time to assess which brands in the market you would be an asset to. Similar to assessing your own skills, you need to look at the products you use and understand what message and brand identity the marketing team of your chosen brand is putting out into the public domain. While it is easy to just look at your tackle and pick the brands you see the most of and say, “I will talk to them” – try to think past

Tournament Angler Guide the obvious. Look at brands that create products that fit into your style. This could be a wader and clothing company that fits more with your passion for shore game bass fishing, rather than traditional tournament gear. Try to identify a few brands that you have a connection to and start looking at the content they are creating. It should be very clear what each brand is good at doing, and where they concentrate their marketing. Look at every avenue of marketing that the brand uses. This could be across both social and traditional media. This will identify gaps in what they do, areas they could improve upon, and avenues they have never or aren’t currently exploring. This will give you areas where you can target your pitch to. Just remember that someone who is in the marketing department will have (or should have) based all their decisions on research and experience, and you are not the oracle. It’s about showing what you think is great about their company and what you can do to help in a positive and polite manor, because more often than not, marketing teams get emails demanding sponsorship for nothing. While assessing the target, it’s then time to

start building your skills in content creation and creating a folio of work. In a way, you are going to pitch for a job position they didn’t know they needed to fill, so you need to have some ‘wow’ factor. Show them the story of why you love their product and what

it means to you. In any part of life, it’s easier to have a connection to someone if you know their story, and for all of us, most of the lures in our tackle box can evoke a story. This story telling is a way you can thread yourself and the brand together and show

abt.org.au how you are not just asking for product, but rather, you want to be part of their team. When pitching, get creative in how you show this. Think about how your pitch links with your content. It could be as simple as emailing them a link to a video you have

Sponsored anglers will often wear their colours when out on the water.

created using their product, or possibly writing a review about the new product they have coming out and ask if they would like to publish it on their website. If you want something of value, put work into it and offer them something of value first. WHERE TO NOW? If you can’t say that you have a passion for the brand or believe in the product, don’t ask to be sponsored by them. It should be a product you’d be happy to promote even if you weren’t getting paid. Our fishing time is limited, and the companies’ financial commitment to the sport is also limited, so be honest with yourself and think about what you want to do in the fishing industry, because at the end of the day we are all stakeholders in the sport. While it may sound difficult to be sponsored or get sponsored, it’s always exciting to be part of the fishing industry. It may take time to get involved, but if it’s your passion, then create the content you want to see. Create goals for your fishing as a sponsored angler, and this way over the long term, you can show the brands you love what you are doing to help the industry. That’s the way to earn stronger support from fishing companies.

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MAP IT. OWN IT. SHARE IT. I can’t believe how good this map is I just downloaded free off the Quickdraw™ Community. Look at this structure, those drop offs. Never would have known about this lake without the community. It’s fun fishing new water. I’ve already caught two nice keepers. Of course, I’ve uploaded some pretty nice maps, too. Glad someone decided to share this one.

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A fresh approach to fishing structure for bream BRISBANE

Tom Slater

At the recent Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier one of the best-kept secrets of the Coast shone through, shedding the light on a new weapon in the increasing arsenal of the modern day bream angler… New techniques often arise out of the equally inspiring factors of location and equipment. Great anglers faced with new locations or armed with new equipment create or adapt new techniques. As word gets out, these techniques spread to the heads and hands of more and more anglers who each apply their individual experience and their own spin. Soon the new technique or lure’s popularity runs out of control and is used to catch fish all over the country. The clear waters of the Gold Coast’s canal system are ironically complex and present anglers with many challenges. Seeing fish is not the issue, but turning sightings of fish into fish in the livewell can be tricky. 14

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For a long time anglers relied on what can only be described as an ultra finesse approach to get finicky bream to bite. That approach can certainly work, but often anglers are left on the brink of insanity as they repeatedly watch fish after fish look but not bite their perfectly presented offerings. The weapon that was revealed at the most recent ABT event presented a complete turnaround from the days of unweighted plastics and 2lb fluoro. Grab yourself a chrome reflective pattern jerkbait and a pair of pliers and get ready for some of the hottest structureorientated bream fishing you’ve ever experienced. THE THEORY A wildly twitching super reflective, gaudy coloured jerkbait underneath a floating pontoon might ring alarm bells for some anglers, but rings the dinner bell for otherwise hard to tempt bream. Local bream fishing guru and Sporty’s Fishing staff member Alex Roy has honed this technique for many years and now relies

upon it more than any other when attempting to bag the biggest limit he can on the maze of canals that litter his home waters. “It all began with the desire to actively target a whole school of fish that were underneath a pontoon. We’d always thrown surface lures because of their draw

power but because the bait was always invisible to the vast majority of the fish sitting underneath the pontoon you would only ever draw out one or two fish. Tuning a jerkbait to run underneath the pontoon put it in front of the whole school. An erratic fast retrieve drew the first few

and once you had two or three the school would follow. It’s so effective because once you have the school interested pack mentality takes over and that’s often when the larger fish in the school assert their dominance.” THE TECHNIQUE This technique is

The Imakatsu IS Wasp 50 is the must-have lure for jerkbaiting pontoon bream.

perfectly suited to any floating source of shade. Most commonly this refers to pontoons, but boat hulls work equally as well. The basics involve getting a small 40-50mm shad profile mid-depth diving hardbait, bending the tow eyelet to deliberately force the lure to swim on its side and using that sideways swimming action to track your lure underneath the structure, drawing the attention of any fish suspended beneath. This isn’t a finesse approach either, retrieves are fast paced and full of twitches. Often the more erratic you can make your lure, the better, with the idea being that the less time the fish have to look closely at your lure, the less you have to serve them up the platter of ultra-realistic, super finesse hodgepodge that we’ve been feeding them up to this point. This is a place for heavy leaders and bright colours, the ones that normally lie dormant in the rusty corners of your tacklebox. The key in this technique lies in the tuning of the tow-point on the lure.

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abt.org.au Without this step, the lure fails to swim underneath the pontoon and you risk missing fish that might be holding on the far edge of the pontoon, unable to draw them from that distance. If you want to go the whole nine yards, equip yourself with two outfits, one with a lure that is tuned to swim right, and one

that is tuned to swim left. Switching out as you fish the face of the pontoon from the sides or back corners. To tune your lure, you need to bend the tow point eyelet on the bib of your lure in the direction you’d like the lure to swim (from the lure’s point of view). So if you’re looking down the back of the lure from

the tail towards the bib and you want the bait to swim right, you would bend the eyelet to the right, which if flipped looking head (bib) onto the lure, would be the left. Certain lures may require less or more tuning, and some can even be tuned by hand with no need for pliers. A side effect of tuning

In most cases the hits, hook-ups and fights will happen tight to structure.

Getting the attention of the whole school means the bigger fish will try to assert their dominance by striking first.

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lures is a loss of absolute swimming depth, so a lure that would normally travel 5-6ft deep might only travel 1-2ft deep. This side effect is positive, as you want the lure as close to the underside of the pontoon as possible. If you were to attempt to tune an already shallow diving hardbody, you’d fail to achieve enough depth at the optimal retrieve speed to get the lure underneath the pontoon. Likewise attempting this method with an ultra deep diving lure will not have the lure high enough in the water column. When the fish are often focused on the underside of the structure

feeding, getting your lure up there is imperative. The retrieve is where this technique really stands out. There’s no room for slow rolls and dead sticking here. To ignite a school of bream underneath a pontoon you need to create competition. By getting multiple fish interested in your lure, you create a sense of panic among the fish. They’re worried another fish is going to steal their meal, so they bite hard and aggressively, and often the largest fish in the pack will assert their dominance. Begin by casting well past the pontoon or boat, as close to the edge as you can.

Then wind your lure down and allow the lure’s tune to take the lure on its side into the line of the pontoon. When your lure draws near to the structure, speed up, engaging twitches as you increase your lure speed. Don’t be afraid to work the lure the entire length of the pontoon before pausing. If you don’t get hit mid-retrieve the pause on the closest edge of the pontoon is likely where all hell will break loose. By then, you’ve hopefully received the attention of the whole school of bream that reside under the pontoon, and when your To page 16

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bait suddenly lies dormant their opportunity to strike will arise. It is best to keep your rod tip pointed towards the sky. An elevated rod tip will help limit the depth

Tournament Angler Guide of your lure, so you can keep it perfectly situated just below the bottom of the structure you’re fishing. Roy also believes this is the optimal position to strike from when the inevitable hit eventuates.

THE EQUIPMENT It’s important to equip yourself with the right gear for the job, and it all begins with the right bait. In this instance, a mid-diving shad profile jerkbait between 40-50mm is ideal. Gold

The Gold Coast’s canals are a great place to try out new techniques.

Coast gun Alex Roy, is a firm believer in the Imakatsu IS Wasp 50. “I will only ever use the Wasp, I’ve got so much confidence in that bait and it swims at the perfect depth. I just couldn’t bring myself to use anything else. The bait casts well, which helps when casting in windy conditions. It’s also handy to stay as far back from the pontoon as possible, especially since I’m in an aluminium boat that does suffer from hull slap noise more so than a fibreglass boat. The bait has a really thin tail, which aids the hook-up rate, plus it suspends perfectly. Probably my favourite trait is the fact that I can tune the lure with a forceful push of my thumbnail, not having to constantly reach for a pair of pliers.” The key is to look for baits that exhibit a great erratic action when twitched. You’ll also want to find one that suspends perfectly in saltwater. That pause once you’ve worked your bait the length of the pontoon or boat hull is the make or break moment, and a floating or sinking bait will look unnatural, which will cost you bites. Colour is where all modern trends go out the window. Manufacturers in

abt.org.au Australia have been so hellbent on making the most natural looking translucent colours in years past and for the most part, these are

the least effective colour patterns for this technique. Patterns with overriding chrome or reflective sides prevail on days when the

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abt.org.au sunrays make the reflective surfaces of the bait come to life. When the sun stays hidden behind the clouds, solid colours with a more matte finish tend to out-perform their blingy brethren. Roy’s favourite? Plain old white, “The thing with this

vibrant pearlescent finish.” You’ll want to get hold of a rod with a good tip, twitching lures at this pace requires good feel and a very soft slow tapered rod quite often lacks the feel required for imparting the perfect twitch. Ideally the perfect rod would exhibit a

being said, if I do hook a brute and need to put the hurt on, the bottom end has more than enough power to muscle them out on even 8 or 10lb line.” This is no place for spider web thin 2lb line. Fishing a braided line will help you create the small,

he needs to stay further away than anglers fishing in fibreglass boats. This technique also doesn’t require the lengthy leaders employed by a lot of southern bream fisherman. Roy explains there’s rarely a time where your leader knot even enters the water. “I always make my leaders the optimal length for maximum casting distance, which is having the knot just outside the reel when setting up to cast. Because I like to hold my rod tip up while I retrieve, the leader knot is almost always actually out of the water. You also

want really direct contact with the lure, and having a long leader will hinder that sensitivity.” PUTTING IT INTO PRACTICE Putting this technique into play requires knowing locations in your local waterway that are likely to hold good numbers of fish. The reason this works so well is that the speed and energy of the retrieve makes the fish react, and once you have multiple fish interested a frenzy takes over and they can’t help themselves. You’ll want to find pontoons that are holding a school of fish.

If there are only one or two fish on each pontoon or boat you aren’t going to spark that pack drive. While this technique first made headlines on the Gold Coast, there’s no doubt its potential carries far and wide from its origins. If you think about some of Australia’s best breaming waterways, there’s plenty to encourage anglers to adopt this new technique. Waterways like Sydney Harbour are poised to show their full potential as the ABT tour heads back for the muchanticipated Australian Open format in 2017.

Tuning the lure to track left or right is as simple as squeezing the eyelet left or right with your fingers. technique is the fish don’t ever get that long to look at it, and the whole premise relies on grabbing the attention of one, two then all of a sudden the whole school. So it’s no place for translucent patterns. Solid colours with bright contrast or flashy foil definitely work best. My favourite is a solid white pattern with a

cushioning bottom end as quite often hook-ups will be from a swiping strike with the hooks outside the mouth. Roy prefers the EDGE Black Widow 701ISR, “It’s a fast-actioned rod with the perfect tip for twitching lures, it’s not overly stiff through the middle section, which helps avoid pulling hooks. That

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erratic twitches, and also help to increase your casting distance. While this is close quarters fishing, having the ability to punch a fast, accurate and long cast will help to line up retrieves to maximise the time your lure spends underneath the structure. Roy believes the added noise from his aluminium hull boat means

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BassCat BASS Pro Series: the year of the river rat Elliott Fooks

ABT’s BASS anglers have honed their bass-catching craft on some of the best impoundments across Queensland and New South Wales for the last 15+ years. This still water focus has pushed anglers’ abilities, techniques and tackle to a point where fishing for impoundment bass is a refined art. In the late 1990s when it all began, a white 1/2oz Kokoda spinnerbait cast to the edge was king. As simple and effective as the Kokoda spinnerbait purchased from Big W was, there was a desire and need for anglers to evolve. Over time, developments in tackle design resulted in a tournament landscape filled with an expansive and eclectic assortment of tackle and techniques to help anglers catch fish regardless of where they were and what they wanted to eat. As the Bass Cat BASS Pro Series moves into its 19th tournament season in 18

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2017, the new series heralds a new frontier for anglers: the rivers. It’s a new chapter in the evolution of ABT tournaments. The inclusion of two river rounds and a river Grand Final offers new opportunities and challenges, and will create the most diverse BASS series Australian tournament anglers have ever had on offer. In 2016 we got a small taste of the river life, and if we are to take anything away from Kris Hickson’s victory in ABT’s inaugural river round on the Richmond River last year, it’s that the river rounds will bring out skill sets in our anglers that many of us have not witnessed before. 2017 will be the year of the bass fishing river rat. To give all anglers new to river fishing an insight into the tricks of the trade, we interviewed three of the best river rats on the tournament trail. We asked them to give us their insights on what’s in store on the 2017 tour, and share their ideas, tips, tricks, and must-haves for success on a very different tournament

landscape. THE ROAD AHEAD With every new season there is always an air of excitement for all anglers who are keen to hit the tournament trail, and 2017 is shaping up to be an even more exciting year for our trio of river rats. Last year’s Richmond River champion and 2016 Angler of the Year Kris Hickson is making the rivers a key focus for 2017. “With my busy tournament calendar for 2017, the BASS river rounds are going to receive a lot of my attention,” he said. “It’s really going to make for an exciting Angler of the Year race.” For Tom Slater there will be an even greater industry benefit to the change of focus. “I think we will see the evolution of equipment for river bass fishing explode with more coverage, and that can only help get the best tackle into the hands of bass anglers,” he said. Joe Urquhart agrees with Slater. “I really think it will help push every angler to

become better at their sport, as well as give them a better understanding of what works for them,” he said. The unknown quantity of the rivers provides opportunities to those

anglers with an intimate knowledge of river fishing, and it also freshens up the trail for experienced ABT anglers. The 2017 season looks like one of the best seasons to be an ABT

BASS angler. WHERE OH WHERE IS THAT BASS The Hawkesbury and Clarence rivers are much bigger than any impoundment we have

Beautiful environments and beautiful fish are all part of river fishing for bass.

abt.org.au here in Australia. It can be a daunting task to try to break down a river system to find where the bass will be located. As anglers it is going to take a shift in thought pattern to locate these fish. “Bass in the river behave

down on one spot if there’s enough water, but you need that movement to keep them feeding,” Slater said. Hickson sums it up very simply with an old saying: ‘If there’s no run, there’s no fun’. Staying with your tidal

coming from and where the fish will line up on the structure. It’s all about knowing where the bait will get pushed into first. For Urquhart, the age of a spot can be a telling factor as well. “Bass move up and

Having a range of baits is the key to finding success in river environments. completely differently from lake fish,” Urquhart explained. “During the times ABT are running the tournaments, most fish won’t be schooled up. They will be tight to structure.” Slater stressed the importance of knowing the annual migration patterns of the bass, and where their upper and lower travel limits are. “I really try to work out how far I think the bass will move down in a system to breed, and I try to work out how far back up they will be at any given stage,” he said. “From there I start looking at aerial maps to give me some starting points.” Once you have got an area to start fishing, it’s all about understanding the tides and where the fish will be throughout the session. It starts with a rise, ends will a fall and you need it to move. When asked about how to manage the tide, our anglers’ voices raised with excitement, with all three of them agreeing that an intimate knowledge of the tide is the first key to success. “You need to know what the tide is doing at each section of the river you want to fish,” explained Urquhart. “In big river systems you can have really big time differences in when it will be moving. This can even differ for opposite sides of a bank.” Having tidal movement is one of the triggers for bass to feed, and anglers need to manage this throughout the session. “Bass can move up and

movement will make for a big difference in the amount of river you can cover, so look at planning your session and fish with the tide. “You don’t want to be leap frogging yourself up the river,” Hickson said. “If the tide is pushing out then start fishing down with it and you will find more switched on fish.” GET TO KNOW YOUR A B C Once you have found the stretch of river to start fishing in, and you know your tide in the area, it’s now time to categorise your spots to focus your time even better. Slater begins a session looking for what he calls A, B and C spots. “You want to look for spots with good current pushing on to it, a good amount of shade plus places to ambush prey from,” he said. “These are your golden A spots – the ones you want to stop and focus your fishing on.” Remove the shade and the spot becomes a category B for Slater. They are still worth attention, but he will spend less time setting up for these spots. “I try to focus on a high percentage of A spots and cover water between these key spots. It is all about only spending time on the best spots in a river full of great snags,” he said. While our two other anglers look for the same elements in a spot, for Urquhart and Hickson there are a couple of extra key details they look for. Hickson needs to know where the bait will be

down a river throughout their whole life and they get to know where to stop off for a rest,” he explained. “Old fallen trees will have been used by these fish in the past. Bass can be creatures of habit.” For anglers making a change to the river for the first time, Urquhart has some more wisdom. “Bass are great food for sharks and big cod which means they won’t move far to eat your lure,” he explained. “You need to find the structure they are hiding in.” SKIP IT, FLIP IT, PITCH IT AND MAKE SURE IT’S IN DEEP With the bass sitting tight to the structure, hiding from sharks and other predators, your casting accuracy is going to be tested. “A missed cast will mean a missed fish,” Hickson warned. “You will only get one shot at each fish.” Each of our anglers stressed the importance of taking time to position yourself so you can make the best possible cast. “When I come to an A grade spot I take an extra few moments before I make a cast,” Slater said. “You really need to get it perfect first go.” Urquhart agreed. “You need to get your lure as deep into the structure as possible, and I will use any method of casting to do so,” he said. Both Hickson and Slater believe it’s time for anglers to learn new types of casting techniques.

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“For me, skip casting and landing the lure softly have really helped all my structure fishing,” Hickson said. “Bass will reward a good cast.” Slater thinks that flipping and pitching will come to the forefront in the coming season. “I like to cover water quickly all day, and pitching really helps cover water with short, rapid casts when fish are tight to

structure,” he said. IT’S TOOL TIME To create these perfect casts our anglers use different tools to get the job done. Slater, who focuses on flipping and pitch, looks for a baitcasting rod longer than 7’ to get the job done. “I position the boat 6-10ft out from the bank so I want a rod that allows me to easily pitch my bait in and give me good control,” he explained. “It means I

can cast with less effort and control the fall of the bait.” Urquhart opts for a baitcasting outfit as well, but he favours a shorter rod and looks for one in the 6’5” range. “I find the shorter rods give me better control and allow for more casting angles,” he said. Hickson also sticks with the shorter rods, but a spinning reel is his first choice. This option allows Hickson to skip

tournament g r u ea yo

r ..

right here.

River currents and tides are a whole new consideration for the river rat.

cast his baits deep into the structure without the fear of backlashes. The days of the standard 7’ rod are

abt.org.au like jack fishing, you can have less than a second to turn the boat and get that fish out of cover,” Urquhart

Urquhart thinks the smaller boats in the field can use their size to their advantage. “In the rivers there are

KEY LESSONS FROM THE MASTER RATS Here are five things to do in 2017. 1. Get back out in the yard and practice your casting, and then spend 30 minutes at the end of each fishing trip practicing different casting techniques. It’s time to skip and pitch like a BASS Elite angler. 2. It’s time to get intimate with bass. You need learn their breeding and movement patterns. Where will they be in the river system come tournament time? Do you know where the bass will be next Tuesday at 1pm? It’s time to research. 3. Learn to read the water, know where your current breaks are and where fish will be sitting in the structure. 4. Know your tidal differences. You need to pinpoint where the tide will be running at every stage of the tide. When there’s no run there’s no fun. 5. Don’t throw your confidence out the window. It may all sound like you’re going to Africa to fish for a new species, but start with key baits and techniques you have confidence in, and grow from there. numbered on the rivers, and anglers will need to pitch the best rod for each specific job. While all three anglers have different ideas when it comes to rod selection, they all agree that your electric and boat set-up are key to landing those fish, and cable-steer electric motors are a must-have for the rivers. “Cable steer electric motors will help you get fish out of the structure and allow you to position yourself for your cast far better than an electric drive,” explained Hickson. “Bass fishing can be

explained. “Direct steering gives you another 10% in your favour.” You won’t see shallow water anchors being used in lakes often, but Slater believes his Talon is almost as important as his electric motor. “Having a Talon allows me to stop dead in position and get that perfect cast in,” he explained. “Once I get the bass in the boat it also allows me to stop and put fish in the live well without drifting over my other key spots.” While most anglers dream of running a fast fibreglass bass boat,

so many great spots that the bigger boats just can’t fit into,” he said. “Although you may not have the speed that the big boats have, you can find some great water all to yourself in a small boat.” If you’re a non-boater with a smaller boat wanting to try a round as a boater, the river may be the place to start. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO EAT? When it comes to baits, all three of our anglers spoke of having one key bait they’re confident throwing, and then expand To page 22

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their offering from there. “Bass will eat almost anything during the day and night, but only in very

Tournament Angler Guide specific windows,” said Urquhart. Slater explained further that it isn’t about one key lure for all the structure on offer.

LURES OF CHOICE • Bassman Spinnerbait in chartreuse • TT Snake Head in range of weights with your favourite small plastic • Deep Crank Bait – Look to the OSP Blitz range • Pro’s Factory Motion Jig in colour MO107

It’s about identifying the key bait for the moment you’re fishing in. When pressed for what baits are a must, Slater said he starts with a dark coloured jig with a blade attached and a weedless soft plastic. Hickson and Urquhart also favour weedless plastics, but both think you can’t go past having a deep crankbait and spinnerbait set up on

your rods. “I really don’t like saying that one lure is going to work,” Hickson said. “It’s

abt.org.au that perform well in tight structure. COME ON DOWN! While most anglers have

tides. It’s a fun new challenge and a new skill to put in your quiver. It’s going to be an

Spinnerbaits are a staple for many river rats.

Kris Hickson knows his way around rivers, and his results definitely reflect this.

about confidence in your lure and presenting it deep in the structure, and changing until you find the key on the day.” While all three anglers were hesitant to make a definitive list of lures, their choices all point to lures

years of experience on the waters above the dam wall, it’s time to get down in the flowing water. It’s time to do some homework and look at how bream anglers target fish in the flowing water, practice your casting and learn your

exciting year on the 2017 Bass Cat BASS Pro series, showcasing new skills and helping anglers grow. Whoever wins the 2017 Angler of the Year will have to master both the still and the moving bass waters.

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Big bait swimbait madness for XOS barra Simon Goldsmith simon@fishingmonthly.com.au

You would have to be blind or hiding under a rock not to be aware of the swimbait trend that’s making its way through the Australian sportfishing scene at the moment. Highly addictive to use, swimbaits are by no means a new phenomena, though the current wave of interest in them is exposing anglers, and fish, to baits and presentations that both haven’t seen before. When thinking about big baits, and especially big swimbaits, it’s hard to not think of barra, with the thought of a 120cm Faust giant inhaling your $100 swimbait enough to get any angler licking their lips. Are swimbaits for barra addictive? Yes. Effective? Yes. Are they the great all-rounder that will put fish in the boat like a Slick Rig? Definitely not. They are, however, an effective tool, that in the right place, and at the right time will tempt fish, when others fail. 24

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LOOKING BACK As I mentioned, swimbaits are nothing new on the barra front and in the early 2000s when impoundment barra fishing was on a rapid rise there was a small group of progressive anglers throwing them. Most of the baits they threw they sourced from the US, or had been brought to our shores by visiting anglers from overseas. Steve Morgan had some pretty heavy exposure to what swimbaits could do in the mid 2000s when fishing various West Coast events in iconic California lakes like Clear Lake. “The learning curve is pretty steep when you’re in the boat on one of the hottest swimbaiting lakes on the planet with the guys that were instrumental in creating the technique,” Steve said. “There are a lot of Californian lakes that get an annual top-up of yearling trout. Trophy largemouth bass gorge themselves on these – sometimes straight out of the hatchery truck. That was the genesis of a lot of the 8-12 inch long hard, jointed baits and XOS plastic swimbaits like the Huddleston.

“The most effective one I found for use in Australia was a Mission Fish, which was a snagproof, cast-anywhere soft plastic paddle tail with a concealed hook. Trouble was that it was basically barraproof as well. They’d eat the hell out of it and all you’d end up with was a foot of scuffed leader,” Steve continued. Still, experiences like these planted the seed for future development. An angler that has squeezed a lifetime of barra fishing into the last 15 years is Jason Wilhelm, a barra guide at Lake Awoonga in its glory years, and the winner of the inaugural BARRA Tour event (Lake Awoonga, 2005), Jason has spent many years trialling and refining catching barra on swimbaits. “One of the first barra I landed on Lake Awoonga back in 2003 spewed up a giant bony bream around 300mm long. It immediately got me thinking, why am I using such small lures for fish that obviously eat such large prey? From there my interest in big baits started and in 2005 after taking Bushy fishing on Awoonga and sharing my perspective and experience,

he went away designed a series of boney bream imitation prototypes, and after extensive R and D and trial and error the legendary Squidgy Bony Bream was born. It became pretty clear during some of those onwater R and D sessions that big lures stood out over every

other presentation, but it was also apparent that there were other times when they yielded no interest at all,” explained Wilhelm. IN ITS PLACE While it can be easy to get wrapped up in the hype of the swimbait craze, it’s important to keep our feet

firmly planted on the ground. Jason Wilhelm thinks this is very important. “Plenty of time onwater chasing barra has shown me that big swimbaits are an important string to your barra fishing bow. Don’t make the mistake, however, of thinking that they’re the magic bullet

The rewards for fishing big baits for barra can be awesome.

for catching giant fish, or will deliver you fish every time you use them. It’s important to keep their ability and use in perspective”. Carl Jocumsen is an angler who’s perhaps thrown more swimbaits than any other Aussie angler, and just like when targeting largemouth bass, he sees swimbaits as the lure to pick up and throw when big fish is on the menu. “We’ll fill our limit with jigs, cranks, or whatever they’re keyed in on, and once

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au we have our bag we’ll pick up and throw the swimbait to try and catch a mega upgrade. A big swimbait can trigger the apex predator to bite like nothing else will, and I use and have had success using this approach when chasing barra,” explains Carl. And that’s exactly what our 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour Team of the Year Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder did on the 2016 BARRA Tour. “We’d fill our limit with

traditional lures like Slick Rigs, and once we had our limit one of us will put it down then pick up the swimbait rod and throw big swimbaits for the rest of session,” explained De Ridder. It’s an approach that regularly pays dividends for the pair and generates that big bite when the big fish come out to play late in the session. “Late at night is often when the smaller fish will retreat and the bigger fish will begin to move and feed,

Purpose-built rods and reels are important when fishing such a large bait.

so the timing with pulling out the big baits is often perfectly coincided.” “In some ways I think the fish may be looking for that last big meal before they retire for the night and retreat back to the weed or deep to rest and digest what they’ve eating during their period of feeding.” WHEN DO WE DO THIS? While De Ridder has given us an insight into when and what time of the day they’ll pick up their elephant hunting swimbait rods and start throwing XOS baits for XOS barra, there are prime times of the year for swimbaits, particularly at Peter Faust Dam, the lake they find tends to be the pick for catching barra on swimbaits. “The end of September through to late January seems to be the peak for swimbaiting,” Griffiths says. “We theorize that outside of this the fish are feeding on different sized bonies, feeding on something other than bonies, or feeding in a manner that makes them less willing to eat a swimbait. It also seems to be more an after dark thing rather than during the day.” Jason Wilhelm sees a similar warm water pattern; one he thinks is driven by digestion and metabolism. “When the weather and water is warm and the fish

are in full active feeding mode they seem to be more willing to eat big baits. Their feeding and digestion is in overdrive and it’s when that it’s like that that I will pull out the big swimbaits,” explains Wilhelm. BAIT UP There are many different swimbait types available and while there are at times overlaps or hybrid combination of different types they can essentially be categorized into three distinct groups, hardbody, soft body and paddle-tail. Within each of these groups there are subcategories, let’s take a look at them. HARDBODY Single jointed baits Made of two solid body parts joined by a hinged connection. This joint allows the lure to swim when it’s retrieve through the water. Glide baits A single piece swimbait that in most cases has a sleek hydrodynamic profile that gives the lure a wide more elegant s-shaped swimming action. A lure that can be worked slower than a single joint swimbait and can have a stop start retrieve imparted to it like a jerkbait. Multi-jointed baits A bait made of more than two sections hinged together. They have a wider smoother action than single jointed

baits and deliver plenty of noise due to all their joints and body parts. SOFT BODY Full Body A one-piece soft body swimbait that generally has trebles attached to the belly. Line through As the name implies the line runs through the nose of the bait and exits on the top of the bottom of the bait. You then connect the line to the hook. The bait runs up the line during the fight minimizing damage to the bait and eliminating the fish using the lure as leverage during the fight to dislodge it. Top Hook Features a hook that runs from the nose, where the eye of the hook is, and exits through the back on the top of the bait. Can come in a variety of different weights including weightless. Has great hook exposure, hook up rate, and are great for fishing along the bottom. Some come with an eyelet at the bottom for fitting a treble. PADDLE-TAIL Hollow body A hollow tube-body style paddle-tail bait. Their hollow body makes them soft and provides good hookset due to the fact that they compress easily when bitten. They come either unweighted or with a belly weight style To page 26

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hook set-up. Can be fitted with a variety of hook and weight set ups. Solid Body This is the most well known and popular type of swimbait for barra (a Squidgy Slick Rig is one of these). Their solid body

design makes them highly durable, allows them to stay rigged correctly for longer, and allows for good hook exposure and penetration. Has hook position and location the same as top hook soft body swimbaits, with the eyelet at the nose or on top of the head with the hook point

Swimbaits come in all shapes and sizes, it’s just a matter of picking the right one for the situation.

located on the back. Come pre-rigged or can be rigged in multiple ways with aftermarket hooks and weights. TIE ONE ON When it’s go time to tie on and start throwing a swimbait, Griffiths go-to is of the soft bait variety. Having tinkered and trialed his own hand poured paddle tail swimbaits for the last three years, Craig has created a selection of large hand pours he believes are on the money.

“We’ve imported a lot of soft swimbaits over the years and while many of them worked well after a lot or trial and research we created a bait that is tailor made for barra,” explained Griffiths. Being rather tight lipped about the exact nature of his hand poured swimbaits, Griffiths did give us some insight into their size, where and when they fished them and how they fished them. “Our baits are anywhere

abt.org.au between 170 and 250mm long. Up to 200mm in size we’ll rig them on our custom made jigheads, once we get larger than that we’ll mould it all in one. Once you get over that size you’re less inclined to get body roll in the lure and it’s more just a tail beat from the paddle tail,” explained Griffiths. Once he has his limit Griffiths will fish deeper and wider with his swimbait than he does when chasing limit sized fish.

Among all the soft swimbaits available, the Zerek Flat Shad has developed a following.

“The bigger fish are out wider and we’ll weight the swimbait so we can fish our swimbait slow, retrieving it slow and methodical across the bottom,” explained Craig. “It can be slow and hard going throwing swimbaits, and you can do it for very little return. The key to catching fish on them is to use them, and use them often and not put them down. The more you use them the more confidence you will get in them and confidence is the key to success,” concluded Craig. Another guy who’s a sucker for a big paddle-tail swimbait is Troy Dickson from Wilson Fishing and on the 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour he got to experience the power of throwing XOS bait. “We’d throw the 7” Zerek Flat Shad to fill our limit then one of us would cut that off and we’d tie on the 9” version to catch a big girl. We’d fish the same area, throw the big bait long and hard and retrieve it back with a slow roll. As long as you could feel the thump of the tail beat through the rod you were all good,” explained Troy. While the 9” Flat Shad comes pre-rigged on a on a weighted, chemically sharpened Mustad worm hook Troy retrofitted it, rigging it on a 12/0 Mustad Big Game jighead.

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abt.org.au GET HARD Carl’s a sucker for a big swimbait, years in the US has seen to that, and it’s the hard variety that he ties on more than any. “There’s something captivating about how a big swimbait works its way through the water and when it comes to a commanding presence and ability to push the buttons of fish a hard

swimbait is hard to go past,” explains Carl. For his barra fishing Carl favours some of his go-to largemouth bass glide baits and jointed swimbaits. Wind blown ambush points such as weed edges and channels featuring broken weed and weed towers are prime places for Carl to throw a swimbait. “The shallow running

SUCCESSFUL SWIMBAITS AND RECOMMENDED TACKLE Lures • 9” Zerek Flat Shad • Bull Shad • Megabass Mag Draft • Deps Slide Swimmer 250 • Gan Craft Jointed Claw • Roman Made • Strike King Shadalicious • Jackall Gantia • Storm Suspending Shad Rod • 7’6” Venom Swimbait • 7’9” Dobyns DC 795 SB • 8’ Dobyns DC 806 HSB • 7’10” Millerods BeastFreak Reel • Shimano Calcutta 300B • Shimano Conquest 400 • Daiwa Zillion Crazy Crank (sub 100gram lures) • Daiwa Luna 256 and 300 (100gram plus lures) • Daiwa Shrapnel C3000H Line • 50lb Power Pro Super 8 Slick • 50 Sunline Castaway • 60 or 80lb fluorocarbon leader

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swimbaits are most effective when the barra are looking up or the bait is getting silhouetted against a big sunning sky or moonlit night,” explains Carl. In locations such as these Carl will fish his bait slow and methodical, and he’ll try and cover as much water as he can, ensuring his lure stays in the strike zone as long as it can, and that the lure works as it’s designed to do, sliding, rolling and gliding throughout the retrieve. “Swimbaits aren’t like a jerkbait that you rip and work to get it to swim. In contrast you don’t want to over work them. Largemouth at times will shadow a swimbait for quite some distance before they eat it. I find barra won’t tend to do this, they instead will ambush the lure comes it comes into its feeding zone. So you want to make sure you give them every chance to eat it,” explains Carl. Karim is another angler who loves his hard swimbaits. “My number one swimbait is definitely the big paddle-tail soft plastics but I also love throwing hard swimbaits. I especially like the big glide baits such as the Lucky Crafts, Live Targets and Rapalas, and find fishing them over the top of weed or sinking them

A great time to use swimbaits is at night. down deep to flooded weed an effective way to catch fish,” explains Karim. Karim matches the retrieve to the lure, and of course, the lure to the location that he’s fishing. When fishing big soft paddle-tails he’ll work them with a slow rolling, with occasional burn, retrieve grubbed across the bottom, while for the glide baits he fishes with a slow roll across the top, or with a series of sweeps with an occasional pause.

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THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS Jon Millard is an NQ lure junkie that’s been throwing swimbaits for barra for many years and he’s equally at home throwing hard and soft swimbaits, both in the shallows and in the deep. “I’ve been throwing swimbaits for quite a while. I first started throwing them on the Ross River in Townsville before I even started fishing the dams,” explains Jon. An angler that sees swimbaits as another lure

option to fish in most locations and opportunities rather than just a big bait to throw after dark for kicker fish, Jon’s go-to hard swimbait is of the single jointed variety. “The multi jointed swimbaits may look more natural to the eye with their snaking swimming action but I actually find the barra prefer a more side-to-side gliding action that you get from single joint baits,” explains Jon. A very open-minded angler, Jon will fish swimbaits To page 28

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super shallow for fish held up in weed, and also down deep to fish stacked up in the main basin. “Swimbaits are very diverse, you get them in different sizes, actions, and sink rates so there’s a bait that you can fish in just about any situation. My favourite hard ones are the Gan Craft Jointed Craw and Megabass Limberlamber, while when it comes to soft swimbaits I like the 6 ½” Strike King Shadalicious, Storm Suspending Shad, and Imakatsu Bacurato,” explains Jon. “I think some people sell swimbaits a little short and don’t take full advantage of what they have to offer. They’re more than a one trick lure variety, and if you only see them as an upgrade option you’re missing out.” POLES APART When it comes to throwing big swimbaits, the gear used to do it is poles apart from standard barra tackle. “The demands and pressures on tackle when throwing swimbaits are immense. You’re talking about lures that are up to 30cm long and 8oz (226g) in weight. The load that a lure of this size puts on a rod is enormous, and the stress and shock it imparts on the reel and line is like nothing

Carl Jocumsen applied a bit of large mouth bass methodology to tempt this Faust kicker on a big hard swimbait. else in cast and retrieve barra fishing,” explains Carl. Successful swimbait fishing requires a dedicated tackle system and in many ways the system starts with the rod. A rod that needs enough flex to be a casting rod, yet the strength to launch a heavy lure a long way. A man that knows rods and rod building intimately is Ian Miller of Millerods fame. The man that makes the swimbait rods that Carl exclusively uses, Ian says there are many key

elements that a swimbait rod needs to have. “When it comes to swimbait rods, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s all about the lure. The main job of the rod is to cast a potentially big, heavy lure so it can be presented in the strike zone, and because swimbaits come in many sizes and weights, the rod must match the lure weights you intend to use. “While barra will take huge swimbaits, the majority of suitable lures currently in vogue are in the range of

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around 50-100g or so. Don’t get too confused by line breaking strains for the rod, just check rod specifications for recommended lure weights to make sure your swimbait rod is suitable for these lure weights (what you’ll likely be using). If you want to throw really ‘big baits’ then you’ll need a more powerful rod, and that will be a completely different animal... because one rod won’t do it all,” Ian says. “When it comes to rod action, the rod should load easily without a severe ‘lockup’ point on the blank. This is kinder to hook-holds of trebles and this smoother action will also assist you to cast more easily as the rod will do the work for you”. “Most swimbait rods are longer than we traditionally use for barra fishing. Quite simply, a long rod will cast further and more easily than a short rod and getting good distance is important when fishing swimbaits. A longer rod can incorporate a nice high reel position for comfortable casting, has plenty of tip length to swing hard with, and has room to incorporate that smooth action. The rod really needs to be getting toward 8ft in length to do this. Obviously, a long, powerful rod can easily become heavy and unpleasant to use, so it’s important to me that the rod should be relatively light in the hand, and well balanced. I also want sensitivity to get feedback so I know the lure is swimming properly, and where it is in relation to structure”. “A swimbait rod that’s designed for casting heavy lures of 100g or more should, by necessity, have enough inherent power to catch barra. But be aware that a swimbait rod that’s designed for smaller baits up to about 60g may not be quite up to the job, especially around bigger fish”. “Swimbaits were developed in the USA and many American rods can be used here, because

abt.org.au it really is more about the lure than the species. There are a couple of potential drawbacks though, such as one-piece construction that for rods of this length can be a hassle for many of us, and small guide trains. For these reasons it’s well worth considering the handful of ‘Aussie designed’ swimbait rods, which are already available. And the fact is this is one area of fishing where a good technique-specific rod design not only makes fishing big swimbaits possible, it actually makes it amazingly easy,” concludes Ian. Another man that knows much about swimbait rod design is Troy Dixon from Wilson Fishing. The distributor of Zerek lures and the manufacturer of Venom Rods, Troy has been instrumental in the design of the Venom Swimbait rod, a rod designed by Australians for Australia species and applications. “The rod was designed to cast lures, and not just to lob lures, but to actually load hard and power cast lures a long way. It does that and it will throw swimbaits up to 180g with ease. It also has the strength to allow you to muscle big barra, something

GETTING TACKLED The second import element in the swimbait tackle system is the reel, and traditional low profile barra baitcaster don’t quite cut the mustard, especially when throwing big swimbaits. “Big baits are hard on a reel, with their heavy weight prone to chewing out reel gears due to the relentless grinding of retrieving big swimbaits. Large barrel size reels in the 300-400 size are way to go to handle the rigors of this style of fishing,” explains Ian Miller. Carl has experienced it first hand what heavy swimbaits can do to a reel that’s not up to task, and for him it’s the Shimano Calcutta 300B and Shimano Calcutta Conquest 400 when it comes to hurling swimbaits. “You need the bigger spool reel to handle the power and rotational speed that’s generated during the cast, and you also need the extra line capacity that a big barrel reel delivers,” explains Carl. GET SWIMMING Swimbaits have definitely raised the roof when it comes to the size of baits that anglers will throw, the question is how big is too big and what’s the biggest swimbait that barra are likely to eat?

Fishing Monthly’s Steve Morgan started experimenting with swimbaits over 10 years ago, but found a lot of the earlier models weren’t well suited to barra. not every rod designed for barra can do. What a rod of this caliber does though is that it can then expose weaknesses in your terminal tackle due to the power that you can exert with the rod,” explains Troy. As I mentioned, when it comes to the tackle for swimbaits, it’s a complete system and for the system to work all parts needs to be up to scratch.

“We’ve seen barra with 300mm plus bonies stuck in mouth and we’ve seen the size of some of the bait swimming around in places like Peter Faust Dam. I don’t think barra eating swimbaits that are 300-320mm long is out of the question. Sure, it won’t be very common, but when it does happen it’s going to be like nothing else we’ve experienced in impoundment fishing barra fishing so far.

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2016 ABT Rankings and Angler of the Year The cream rose to the top in 2016 with a host champions finishing the tournament season on a high. Victoria’s Warren Carter showed that he’d lost none of his bream fishing prowess while fishing on the BASS Pro tour to finish the year with the Power-Pole BREAM AOY trophy on his mantelpiece. Last year’s nonboater AOY champion Stuart Walker made it back-to-back titles, with his three round wins for the year anchoring his AOY win. Man-on-fire

Mark Crompton finished the season as the number ranking breaming boater while Stuart Walker added the number one nonboater ranking to his AOY title. On the bass front Kris Hickson claimed the Bassman Angler of the Year crown, while bass debutant Paul Aldous picked up the nonboater title. Steve Kanowski finished another BASS Pro season as the number one ranked BASS Pro boater while Brett Hyde ascended to the top of the non-boater rankings tree.

Adrian Wilson once again had a stellar year on the BASS Electric tournament trail wrapping up his season with a solid result in the Bluefin/ ePropulsion BASS Electric Convention to retain his number one BASS Electric Ranking. Wilson however relinquished his AOY crown from 2015 with tournament stalwart Les Smith winning the Angler of the Year title courtesy of a career best year on tour. BREAM kayakers had a big year on tour in 2016 with Carl Dubois breaking

Terry Allwood stands proudly with his family and his 2016 Basscat BASS Pro Grand Final shield.

Warren Carter motored to success in 2016 winning both the Mercury Cup and Power-Pole BREAM AOY titles

BREAM PRO RANKINGS

through for his maiden Angler of the Year win. With Richard Somerton (2nd) and Chris Burbidge (3rd) just behind him in the points race, it’s year that Dubious is sure to savor, and I’m sure driven to try and repeat. Chris Burbidge continued his year as the king of the rankings, finishing the year at the number one ranked bream kayaker in the country.

BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mark Crompton Kris Hickson Steve Gill Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Brad Hodges Ross Cannizzaro Steve Morgan Tom Slater Russell Babekuhl

Barra was once again on the menu in 2016 with the formidable pairing of Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder retaining their Team of the Year title. It was a hotly contested race though and while Griffiths and De Ridder were quick out of the gate claiming victory in the first two events of the 2016 Zerek BARRA Tour, they only won the TOY title by one

point of a strong finishing Matthew and Dylan Mott who claimed victory in the final two rounds at Peter Faust Dam. Griffiths and De Ridder finished the tour on a double high with both anglers finishing the year as the number one ranked BARRA angler. For full rankings, records, and earnings of each species and series visit www.abt.org.au.

NON-BOATER 257 250 242 220 210 191 183 180 156 155

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stuart Walker Clint Voss Grayson Fong Simon Johnson Alex Franchuk Jonathon Thompson Shaun Egan Mike Hodges Rodney O’Sullivan Jesse Rotin

267 217 211 206 203 194 193 186 181 160

BREAM PRO ANGLER OF THE YEAR (AOY) BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 30

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Warren Carter Cameron Whittam Mark Crompton Steve Morgan Steve Gill Kristoffer Hickson Russell Babekuhl Graham Franklin Jason Harlock Chris Seeto

NON-BOATER 386 382 381 380 380 375 368 360 356 346

t 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stuart Walker Grayson Fong Clint Northcott Rodney O’Sullivan Jonathan Thompson Bernard Kong Blake O’Grady James Morgan Mick Thompson Tanya Konsul

390 384 379 377 372 366 364 352 350 329

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BREAM KAYAK RANKINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Chris Burbidge Richard Somerton Michael Maas Glenn Allen Simon Morley Carl Dubois Stewart Dunn Ben Phayer Tony Pettie Jason Meech

BREAM KAYAK AOY 333 292 279 279 272 249 245 234 228 221

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Carl Dubois Richard Somerton Chris Burbidge Tony Pettie Michael Halliday Simon Morley Mitch King Aaron Williams Jason Meech Glenn Allen

493 488 456 455 454 454 448 443 438 437

BASS PRO RANKINGS BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stephen Kanowski Warren Carter Kristoffer Hickson David Young Paul Gillespie Mark Lennox Peter Phelps Craig Simmons Tom Slater Mitchell Cone

NON-BOATER 238 217 213 205 204 202 193 190 182 177

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Brett Hyde James Reid Peter Morgan Luke Draper Shaun Falkenhagen Jason Martin Ben Randell Tony Neal Cameron Ley Owen McPaul

208 199 194 184 180 170 168 157 150 149

BASS PRO ANGLER OF THE YEAR (AOY) BOATER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kris Hickson Brian Everingham Mitchell Cone Simon Marchant Tom Slater Craig Simmons Owen McPaul Mark Lennox Peter Phelps Daniel Brown

NON-BOATER 291 288 288 285 285 282 279 279 276 274

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Paul Aldous Brett Hyde Aimee Thompson Tony Neal Jason Martin Mark King Simon Johnson James Reid Ben Randell Orton Marchant

281 281 280 277 275 273 271 270 266 266

BASS ELECTRIC RANKINGS BASS ELECTRIC AOY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Adrian Wilson Charles West Jonathon Bale Tom Reynolds Les Smith Tim Steenhuis Rebecca Smith Robert Butler Joseph Urquhart Brett Kleinschmidt

386 365 354 310 300 296 268 248 209 202

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9

BARRA RANKINGS 1 1 3 3 5 5 7 7 9 9

Craig Griffiths Karim De Ridder Ashley Sims Dan Curry Dustin Sippel Rick Napier Jake Mitchell Wally Wilton Geoff Newby Phil Lyons

234 234 181 181 166 166 164 164 160 160

Les Smith Charles West Johathon Bale Adrian Wilson Dean Thompson Chris Osley Brett Kleinschmidt Tom Reynolds Jeremy Mcconnell Tim Stenhuis

472 464 442 382 371 368 350 347 280 280

BARRA TOY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Humminbird/Ej Todd South Burnett Directions Cairns Custom Sunline Likely Lads Jackall Triton/Edge Rods Rent Star Get Flicked Tree Huggers

Craig Griffiths/Karim Deridder Matthew Mott/Dylan Mott Wally Wilton/Jake Mitchell Trent Short/Matt Gibson Geoff Newby/Phil Lyons Ash Sims/Dan Curry Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Omar Hamid/Chase Bursnall Shane Snell/Ryan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett

299 298 295 293 290 289 271 270 270 270

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Have a crack at all the macks RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

Although the weather has been hot and uncomfortable, we have managed plenty of trips offshore and what a cracking start to the year we’ve had! The arrival of our Spanish and spotted mackerel has certainly been keeping the fishos busy with plenty of pelagic action. It’s been great that we haven’t had to travel too far to get our rods bent and our reels screaming. Flicking both pilchards and lures in amongst the pack is doing the trick for the macs. The reef fishing offshore has also been very

good with some nice snapper, on and around the new and full moons. Maori cod, Moses perch and tuskies have also been thick. Live baits have been picking out the big Maori and estuary cod.

With the continuation of hot, steamy weather around the Great Sandy Strait, barramundi and mangrove jack have been on fire. Kauri Creek is one of the hot spots with reports of barra nudging

A happy crew bagged out on spotted mackerel.

900mm long. Whiting and flathead continue to bite well. The bottom end of Fraser Island around the old logging ramp has seen very good catches of both species. On the beach, there have been some nice little patches of whiting around the Oaks. Just to the north of there on the point, large dart are being caught. February is another red-hot pelagic month. It’s probably the best for spotted mackerel. Last February we also caught a lot of nice red emperor on our northern grounds. • To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www. keelyrosefishingcharters .com.au.

Great Spanish mackerel are on the chew.

Missing rains bring clear water HERVEY BAY

Josh Power

The bay has been busy over the Christmas school holidays, and although the weather has not been all that brilliant, there have been enough good days to keep most holiday anglers happy. We have missed all the rains that have fallen to the north and south of our region so far this year, resulting in clearer than usual waters in the bay and its feeder rivers and creeks. The extended dry season has had a profound effect on our local fish populations and even more-so the migration and distribution of our pelagic species. The bay’s waters haven’t been as nutrient-rich as they might be at this time of year, resulted in fewer baitfish and therefore fewer pelagics. A few small black marlin were found in the northern bay in early summer, but far greater numbers frequented the pockets of warm water offshore from Fraser. Dragging out the heavy tackle and venturing to the deeper canyons and sea mounts off Fraser is becoming increasingly popular as more and more crews are realising the heavy tackle potential of Fraser Island waters, and crossing swords with blue and black marlin up to 900lb. Blues are the more common catch from the wider grounds, with an average blue falling somewhere around 250-400lb. Platypus Bay is usually alive with bait schools being harassed by tuna at this time of year, but with the dry conditions, the tuna schools have been more scattered. The central bay areas with the stronger current have been more productive.

Spotty mackerel can still be found in the same central bay areas, though the persistent northerlies have kept their numbers down this season. School and Spanish mackerel can be found over many of the wider bay reefs as well as inshore. Giant trevally are making a nuisance of themselves over many of the popular inshore reefs, knocking off hardearned reefies and mackerel, or smashing livies meant for reef fish. The huge range of Nomad poppers and stickbaits has been popular for the GTs both locally and for locals heading further north. The hot summer conditions have really suited our inshore reef species. Coral trout and estuary cod have been taking livies over the turn of tide, together with tea-bagged plastics in the deeper water. Trolling hardbody lures like Spoonbills, Tilsans and Warlocks has been a great way of getting a few trout and cod over the shallower reefs and ledges. Grass sweetlip have been in great numbers throughout the lower bay. Squid, hardiheads and any other firm bait will soon secure an easy feed of sweeties, particularly early or late in the day and into the evening. Pencil (arrow) squid have turned up in the bay right on cue. These smaller squid are best targeted with smaller 1.5-2.0 sized squid jigs, with white, pink and orange being the favourite local colours. Boaties can expect these squid to turn up almost anywhere at night, so make sure you always have squid jigs on board. Shore-based anglers seeking pencillies will need to head out to the end of the Urangan Pier at night. An LED light or lantern lowered to just above water level will assist in attracting the squid to you. A paternoster-style rig and

appropriate weight to get your jigs to the bottom will also work from the pier very early in the morning. The pier was a hectic spot over the Christmas break as hundreds of local kids and holiday-makers enjoyed a mix of sport and relaxation. Depending upon the tide and the water quality, the pier has produced all the usual summer targets from whiting, flathead and squid to GTs, mackerel (school, broad-barred, Spanish and spotted), queenies, tuna and cod. Heavy tackle nighttime sessions are popular throughout the warmer months for those looking to tangle with the bay’s shark population. Speaking of sharks – the future is looking a bit scary. Our green friends keep telling us there is a shark shortage and that you cannot take out the apex predators. In Hervey Bay at least, we have a serious over-population of apex predators – very large, toothy, hungry ones. These big sharks (of many species, but most commonly bull sharks) have become accustomed to following boats and haunting popular reefs for an easy feed. Even the local commercial shark fishers are complaining that the bigger sharks are eating the smaller targeted sharks straight out of the nets. So the next time you are fishing and get taxed by a big old noah, move on to another area some distance away. Boaties that continue to fish on in an area, thinking they can get a few fish past the sharks, are kidding themselves and ultimately killing off the reef fish population for no personal gain. The increasingly popular Northern and Southern Gutters are prime examples of areas that once produced fantastic reef fishing, but have been devastated by sharks. It’s harder than ever to get a good haul of quality reefies there. These sharks are a serious

problem both inshore and out wide until the winter months. The Mary and Susan rivers have been producing some excellent king salmon and grunter. River Heads itself has been ‘vibe central’ over the bigger full/new moon phases as boats jockey for position over the schools of big threadies hanging in the back eddies off the rocks. Threadies are highly susceptible to barotrauma, so if possible try to release any not destined for the table without lifting them from the water. The Burrum River system and its feeder rivers (Cherwell, Isis and Gregory) have all been producing sensational mangrove jacks this summer. Hardbodies up to 100mm, ZMan SwimmerZ and MinnowZ, and the good old faithful Prawnstars are producing the goods late in the afternoon. Lenthalls Dam has been absolutely firing all summer for barra. Cricket scores of little barra have been smashing surface offerings late in the afternoon into the evening. The new Z-Man Turbo-CrawZ rigged weighted or unweighted and fished fast or slow across the tops of the vast lilies and weed beds have been outstanding, as have the Z-Man FrogZ. Small poppers, Bagleys Finger Mullet and fizzers are great around the fringes of the weed near and after dark. Suspending hardbodies like Jackall Squirrels, retrofitted 80mm Warlocks, Tilsan Barras and 14a and 15a Bombers have been the go-to lures during the day. Many anglers have reported only small barra while fishing the shallow weed beds, while others fishing points, lay-downs and drop-offs have been finding plenty of barra up to the mid-90s.

Dane Radosevic and Lee Rayner with a quality GT. So, all in all, it’s been a bit tough for those chasing pelagics at times this summer, but the river, dam and reef fishos have been having a great time (as have the sharks). Bring on some rain, the prawns and barra season, and the New Year is looking very rosy indeed.

This report was compiled by the team at Fisherman’s Corner in Hervey Bay. For more information on what’s biting, and where and how to catch them on the fantastic Fraser Coast, drop in and see the crew at 59 Torquay Rd, Hervey Bay or give them a call on (07) 4128 1022.

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Get ready for threadies and avoid the catfish FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

With the summer school holidays coming to an end, reports are filtering in from most of the ocean beach as well as the western shores north of Moon Point. Anglers fishing at first light or at dusk are the ones with the biggest smiles. It looks very much like the dreaded weed has cleared and if history repeats itself, the island beaches should be clear for at least the next six months. After that, who knows? We certainly don’t want a repeat of last year’s infestation. On the ocean beach when things are looking a bit grim, there is one fish that usually comes to the rescue – dart. During daylight hours, their preference is to be in the deeper gutters or just beyond the surf break. This is where most of the fish have been taken. Often, a long cast is needed to reach them. At night they venture into the calm inshore gutters where some good catches were made last month. In Hervey Bay, weather and sea conditions haven’t

always been favourable for offshore vessels. After putting up with days of northerlies, there’s one top day, maybe two, then a southerly buster and a return to the air from the north. Popular northern grounds like the Southern and African gutters have been rewarding those who have beaten the weather with sweetlip, red emperor and scarlets. Further south around Wathumba and the Arch Cliff Six Mile, golden trevally, scarlets, school mackerel, and mac tuna have been easy to hook-up. The problem is that the sharks are still busy. Anglers are coming home without bringing a fish to the boat. Such exercises can be very expensive considering the costs of artificials and line lost. Further south in the bay, the Artificial Reef and Channel Hole are allowing some good fish to come to boat, but sharks are becoming more of a problem. On the shallow reefs, coral bream, blackall, blackspot tuskfish, Moses perch and stripies have been taken during late afternoon, early mornings and during the night. Unfortunately, the very unwelcome salmon catfish have been

Almost a metre, this threadfin salmon was taken in the lower Mary River. making their presence felt around the northern end of Woody Island. In 2014, we experienced an invasion of catfish and it looks like we could be in for another. These are dangerous and slimy to handle. I will not bring one into the boat, preferring to sacrifice terminal gear. Another problem is that they are seriously big fish considering the line class that most shallow reef anglers are using. Hooking up and playing one takes valuable time, particularly when the angler has only a

small window of favourable conditions to fish. From limited reports, they are a good eating fish. This might be so, but for me, this is a catch and release species. Hardly surprisingly, the Urangan Pier has been a popular fishing spot during the holidays. I wish I could say that everyone took home a feed of fish. I know that many would have enjoyed the experience striving to hook-up with the illusive big one. Having said that, some good fish were taken, mostly by specialist anglers working

live baits near the outer end of the pier. In the inner gutter, there were catches of whiting, gar, bream and flathead. In the Mary River estuary, threadfin salmon have been producing plenty of excitement. They have always been a resident of the river and the last few years have seen catches increase. I think that this is partly due to the better understanding of the habits fish have and the ways to target them. I also believe that, due to rises in water temperature, more of these typically tropical fish are finding their way to our southern estuaries. Of course, this doesn’t just apply to the Mary River. Threadfin salmon are also known as Burnett salmon or kings in Maryborough. Recent catches in the Mary River have exceeded 120cm. A relative, the blue salmon, or Cooktown salmon, is also caught in the river. The Burnett salmon can be distinguished from the Cooktown salmon by the presence of long filaments protruding from below the mouth. In the blue salmon, these are much smaller. Threadfin salmon have a wide variety of food sources depending on seasonal availability.

Prawns appear to be right at the top of the list. Live prawns make excellent bait. Live herring and other baitfish work well too. They will take dead bait strips when presented well. The best artificials come close to mimicking their current food source. Successful anglers have their own particular favourites that include plastics, vibes and poppers. In the Mary River, rock ledges, snags and eddies are all worth testing out. The mouths of small creeks and drains are threadfin hang-outs as they wait for small fish and prawns to wash into the main stream. As prawns leave the rivers and venture out onto the flats, they are followed by threadfin salmon and other predators. This month, there will continue to be plenty of good fish in the river. If bait netters are taking prawns in the shallows outside the river, then this could be worth a try. On the flats, threadies tend to be somewhat scattered as they feed, so they might not be as attractive a proposition as when they are hungry and concentrated within the rivers and creeks.

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Some great family fishing fun at Lake Monduran LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

With the Christmas and New Year’s holiday period behind us, my wife Kelly and I would like to thank the many families and anglers that

chose Lake Monduran Holiday Park as their holiday destination. Over this holiday period, we saw many of these family and friend groups having a ball catching 50-65cm barra, with the odd fish around a metre mixed in amongst them.

One family group in particular boated over 25 barra for three days, resulting in a stack of fun and some long-lasting memories. Lake Monduran is not limited to just great barra and bass fishing. We have also seen many families water skiing, kayaking,

Chase and his dad Kevin had a great day on the water. Chase was pretty stoked to get his dad onto a decent barra.

sailing, jet skiing and bird watching. Everyone can enjoy this vast and vibrant waterway together. WHAT’S TO COME As a trend, the next month should bring with it some hot barra fishing. Through the day, barra tend to go deep, making them a hard target. Our bite times usually range from late afternoon through the night and into the early morning. The period through the middle of the day is best spent getting some rest and relaxation. As usual, windward points and bays will produce most of the bites. The northerly wind over the season has been the best for firing up the bigger barra, so keep a close eye on the weather and wind forecast. The southeast wind this season has also produced good bite sessions on the 50-80cm barra with the odd metre fish mixed in. Areas such as Bird Bay, Rainforest, Jacks and Insane Bay have been the pick of the areas to target.

LURES Soft plastic paddle-tails like the Z-Man SwimmerZ, Happy Rock Big Willies and the ever-reliable Squidgy Pro Range plastics have all been working well, and in the hardbody range, Rapala X-Rap, Jackall Squirrel, Smash Minnow, Storm Thunder Barra and Storm Arashi Minnows have also been working well. When casting and retrieving soft plastics and hardbodies, a dead slow roll is often the best method of retrieval. Just make sure your lure is creating the action it’s designed to. Short, sharp twitching and then pausing your lure for five seconds or so is also another successful method commonly used. DON’T COME UNDER-GUNNED I often see anglers fishing the lake with equipment not meant for metre-size impoundment barra. Mainline, leader and landing nets are the main reasons anglers lose fish here. For your mainline,

Big barramundi are on again BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

February means the barra are back on the target list. In our region

the schooling fish can be a deadly technique. I’ve found the fish like the vibes hopping past them. Sit back and cast up current, as this can also help get those bites. Trolling deep diving lures past these

for barramundi trolling with its ability to dive to 5m+ and hop over most snags and rocks. Trolling up current keeps the lure down in their faces longer. Banging away on the bottom and attracting the attention of fish nearby

With high water temperatures during the day, night fishing for barra is not just pleasant but very productive. there are so many options for targeting barramundi, they have pretty much shown up in every system since the 2013 floods. The Burnett River will be one of the most popular spots as the season opens. Deeper holes in the river are the best places to start. Hopping soft and hard vibes over

deeper holes seems like such an old-fashioned technique these days, but believe me it is still a great way to get bites. When you’re trolling, you are keeping your lure down at the depth of the fish for longer. When fish are moving around, you cover more ground. The Halco Poltergeist has to be an all-time favourite

is the key. Rolling big soft plastics has been the gun technique in the dams for many years and those anglers that have keyed into how successful it is in the salt have been reaping the rewards for a while. Rolling soft plastics is a great technique for barramundi and most predatory fish in estuaries.

They key to getting more bites is to get your offering right in front of the fish. Being able to rig a soft plastic weedless and roll right through even the heaviest structure is an invaluable asset. Looking for barramundi anywhere other than deep holes and rock bars takes a bit of work. Finding feeding lanes and travelling lanes is very important if you want to catch them consistently. Barramundi move around a lot and will travel from one spot to another when the time is right to feed. A good fish finder helps a lot. Being able to set it up correctly and read it is even more important. Most of the top end fish finders will be able to separate barramundi and show you exactly where they are and where they are going. If you’re not seeing them, they are either not there or you need to tune your unit to suit the conditions. It’s been a very hot start to the year and barramundi, like most estuary species, aren’t that active when the water temperature is over that 32°C mark. Try fishing early or even into the dark, if you’re fishing smaller creeks and rivers where the water temperature is very high. Hopefully we will see a bit of February rain to help the barramundi move around some more and fire up our autumn fishing.

you need at least 40lb and max 50lb braid. Your leader should be at least 50-60lb fluorocarbon or 60-80lb supple mono. You will also need a large landing net; there are a few different styles and types on the market these days. I like to use a large retractable silicon mesh style net. There are a couple reasons for this. The large silicon holes in the net make it easy to remove your lure and hooks once the barra has been landed. Secondly, barra have a protective slime or mucus on the outside of the scales, and the silicon mesh is soft and non-abrasive, so it will lessen the removal of this mucus, leaving the fish in better condition. • We look forward to seeing you in the next few months, so please don’t hesitate to contact us for accommodation inquires. Email info@lakem.com.au or call us on 0741 573 881. Follow the Facebook page Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters for fishing updates.

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Less traffic and more rain mean more catches 1770

Des Carnell

The last couple of months have yielded a mixed bag of weather for the 1770 area. One of the great things about this part of paradise is the number of estuary systems that can be accessed, allowing you to always find a corner or bank out of the wind for your tinny. Round Hill Creek was exceptionally busy over the festive period, so finding quality fish was tough. Those that were able to hook into quality jacks, did so by fishing the tide changes late at night or in the early hours of the morning before too much boat traffic hit the water. The bonus of fishing these time slots is you can avoid the heat of the day. Thinking about that first jack screaming off for the cover of the nearest snag usually helps me kick out of bed when the alarm buzzes. It’s great fun throwing hardbody lures and soft plastics on the lead up to the full moon. On these nights, it’s possible to throw

lures tight to the mangroves without snagging up with the help of the moonlight. Floating deep diving lures helps. Bump the lure into snags, pause to allow the lure to float up before starting a slow retrieve again. You will also find that jacks at night seem more likely to range further from their snags, depending on the tidal flow and bait location. Keen fishos will go to great lengths to capture live baits for jack fishing. If live baits are hard to come by, or your fishing window is limited, success can be had on strips of fresh mullet fillet. There have been small GTs roaming Round Hill Creek providing fun on light estuary gear. Just in front of the 1770 Campground small mackerel and queenfish have been pushing in on the making tide. Most of the activity has been on the tide changes early in the morning and again late in the evening. Just look for the birds and showers of bait. The baitfish are only small and with the clear water it pays to match the size of these fish with your lure presentation to increase your

Adam Meridith scored a new season barra from Round Hill Creek, 1770. Photo courtesy of Wayne Bryant. chances of a hook-up. You will catch queenfish using 3” paddle-tail plastics with a quick retrieve on 1/4oz jigheads. This sort of action can be a great way to introduce kids to lure fishing, as you can sit at your campsite and watch for the bait showers then grab the kids and get into the action. Whiting are plentiful, and drifting with yabbies on the making tide over the

numerous sand bars in Round Hill Creek will get you a feed. Some elbow-slappers are around the yabby banks where the tide flows into deeper water. Fish over the bank casting into slightly deeper water. Round Hill Creek has produced the goods for those wanting fresh muddies. Many crabbers report good catches over the festive period. Fresh bait and good pot position are

the secrets to success. Over the coming months, crabbing will be more productive, as visitor numbers to our area taper off until Easter. Chicken frames, roo tail or fresh fish frames are great crab baits. Creek prawns are easy to catch in many of the local estuaries and should be around in good numbers. Grab your cast or drag net and work around any run off areas.

Hopefully you had a chance to go through your barra gear over the last month, as these iconic fish are back on the target list this month. It really pays to make sure your drag is running smoothly when targeting barra, as the speed at which they hit and take off is blistering. A rough drag will put unnecessary pressure on knots and hook points, often resulting in a bust-off. Over February there will be an increase in quality fish captures, as recent rain will flush prawns and baitfish out of the upper reaches. A reduction in boat traffic will also mean fish will roam further from their holes. February is a great month to be up the creeks, so get out there and enjoy our beautiful part of the world. Thanks to Wayne Bryant for all his help putting this report together. • Stay at 1770 Camping Ground right on the beach at 1770, and for your local fishing advice call Tony or Josh Lunn at Agnes Water 1770 Bait & Tackle, phone (07) 4974 9304.

Go and find new spots to try YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

We’ve had 12 months of barra fishing in the Fitzroy River since the net free zone was established. Although the closures came in on 1 November 2015, they were at the start of the yearly seasonal breeding closure. We’ve had time to

Over the closed season, many of the hardcore barra fishers in this area hit the closer dams to get their fix. The reports from Faust and Kinchant were amazing with lots of metre plus fish and plenty of others just under. Gone are the days when these fish were considered to be lazy swamp donkeys. They really do put up a fight. It also takes a bit of time and effort working on methods and locations to catch them

Charlie Hohn with a nice Fitzroy River barra. evaluate. The results so far are very positive and the average size of barra is quite a bit larger than previous years. I have seen far more fish over a metre than ever before. Providing the wet seasons keep coming and we get the big fresh flows, the fishery will only get better. The number of huge fish in our area keeps rising. 86

FEBRUARY 2017

with any sort of regularity. The dam fishery is better over the full moon and most of the trips are planned around those periods. Working lures in the dams at night is the best option. Many anglers fish into the night and sleep during the day. Most of the dedicated barra bunch are using big plastics and vibes in all the systems to produce some

fantastic captures in both the fresh and the salt. The styles of retrieve can vary greatly depending on the mood of the fish. Slow rolling along the edge of weed beds and tight along structure can work well a lot of the time. When things are quiet, it pays to change things up a little. The old pause and sit between short winds can be very effective when the fish are a bit lazy and other times a quick twitch and wind will do the trick. I have spent time watching the younger anglers doing their individual little tricks to get the barra to bite. The one common denominator for all of the anglers who regularly score numbers of good quality fish is trying something different when results aren’t coming. It will depend on rainfall and the state of the river as to where the fish will be over the next month. If we get enough localised rain to fill the ponds and small creeks creating a runoff effect, then places like Moores Creek and Gavial will be hot. All the fresh creeklets flowing into the river will draw the barramundi in like magnets. If all the flow is from out west bringing weed and dirty water, a fair number of the barra will move downstream towards Port Alma and Connors Creek area. We have had a very slow start to the wet and the river is running with mud and

weed at present, so we’ll be concentrating downstream or in other systems like Coorooman Creek, where the flows are local only. Corio Bay to Waterpark Creek is another system that holds quite a few barra and the flow is mainly from the local falls. Due to the large catchment, it can run for weeks. We find after the initial flow that the fish soon settle back into routine and some of the best barra and jacks in the region get caught in very freshwater. Golden snapper are one of the most popular species around here and it seems every fisher has them on their bucket list. We are pretty fortunate in that they cover a fair part of our area from the river right up to army country. I have said it before and keep reminding people that golden snapper like the same country as grunter. Any time I want to look for a golden snapper, I move through the grunter spots until I find them. The best grunter spots in the Fitzroy River all have golden snapper, especially Connors Creek and the Mackenzie hole. Coorooman Creek is the same at the Wedges cockle beds and the grunter holes along the Black Banks. The same also goes for offshore – try the mulloway and grunter holes and you are definitely in the running for a golden snapper. Big plastics and vibes work very well, as do big

Mark Sheen nailed this barra in the town reaches of the Fitzroy. lures trolled along rubble drop offs and headlands. Remember that golden snapper grow very slowly and it is easy to fish them out of a spot. They suffer badly from barotrauma and don’t survive release in anything over 8-10m. King salmon are another fish that has gone from strength to strength over the past year, as the big schools just keep appearing at different parts of the river. Prior to the barrage opening, they occupied the area below Gavial on nearly every low tide since November. With the mud running recently, they have moved downstream and probably spread out a bit looking for the bait schools and prawns. In recent weeks, there were some amazing captures both in size and quantity.

They release very well and the tag and release crew scored hundreds of kings, which all got to fight another day. Corio and Coorooman Creek have king salmon in less numbers than the river and it is quite rare to catch more than one or two in a session. We have been trying all sorts of ways to get consistent captures of large redfish. Emperors and largemouth nannygai are getting harder to catch in big sizes, as everyone hits the same grounds over and over again. Many ask what we do to keep producing. The only answer I have is to find your own spots. On a recent trip out wide, we found five new spots and each one of those produced a trophy-sized To page 87

River predators get to work ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The closed season for barra, one of the main target species in Central Queensland, is over for the 2016-17 summer meaning it’s back onto the hit list for these prized sportfish. The weather in January was decent enough for many anglers to get out and catch a few good ones amongst the rainy days. The estuaries have been fishing nicely and the freshwater areas have been going well in the afternoons. FITZROY AND THE NARROWS Closed season for barra is over in our region as of midday 1 February. With the gates opened mid-January the town reaches and the 400m mark will be pretty fresh. Barra will still be there amongst some of the new freshwater migrants

The author landing this plate size king running some 15lb Sunline SuperPe on a Loomis NRX. but heading towards the mouth of the Fitzroy is your better option. Some of the great places to target multiple species and try and get away from some of the freshwater species are the stonewall near Nerimbera ramp, the rock bars near the port or shooting into the Narrows. The threadfin have been going well on

lightly-weighted plastics and medium sized minnows around the 80mm mark. There have been numerous mangrove jack caught around the area recently with most of them being taken on soft plastics like Gulp Shrimp and minnows or hardbodies like Lucky Craft Pointers and Sx60s.

RIVERS CREEKS AND THE BEACHES In the creeks and beaches there have been reports of large bream and flathead in the deeper parts of the water. Areas to target for flathead are channel mouths or drop-offs in the channel, from rapidly dropping knee-deep water to water over a metre deep. Bream on the other hand, especially pikey bream, moses perch and the odd grunter have been a very common catch for people fishing places like Corio Bay, the Narrows and Coorooman. The best places to target a majority of the estuary species would be headlands along the beaches that, on a calm day, can result in queenfish and trevally. Medium running bream styled hardbodies have been working well using natural baitfish patterns. These lures typically dive 1-2m and are around 40-50mm long. The yabby flats are faring very

Pick the right weather window GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

The weather has been fairly inconsistent over the past month, with only small windows of opportunity to get offshore, and plenty of storms too. Those who have found windows to get out have been doing really well, and reaping the rewards across all forms of fishing. ESTUARY While the barra season has been closed, there’s been plenty of mangrove jack firing in the Boyne. A local charter operator has been regularly getting 6-7 in a session, which is fantastic fishing. The best results have come mainly on Lucky Craft G-Splash 70s and other topwater offerings. From page 86

red emperor on the first or second drop. The key is to watch you sounder closely and immediately mark any little feature. Go back and do a slow run around looking for bait or fern. Most fishers are in that much of a hurry to start catching fish that they don’t want to put in any time looking. These are the same guys that say the fishing is no good anymore. We may put in two hours looking for two hours fishing, but the dividends get returned each and every time with quality fish. Most of the reefies are going well and once more coral trout are topping the list. Although the average size is only 40-50cm,

A few anglers have been hitting the local golden snapper (fingermark) population, and soft vibes over the rock bars seems to be the most reliable method at the moment. A lot of barra were caught in the closed season, which is a good sign for this month when the barra season re-opens. There are heaps of grunter getting around at the moment. They were in great form through winter, and they’ve carried right through to summer! The standout area for grunter has been Tooloola Bend. Whiting are still in fine form, and a couple of local anglers have been catching them with topwater presentations. Seven Mile and Turkey beaches have been producing good

whiting catches and walkthe-dog lures have been the pick for lures. There’s nothing more relaxing than cruising the beach and casting into shallow water for some tasty sand whiting. Grab some little topwater lures and give it a go! OFFSHORE Offshore fishing has been really good, with both inshore and offshore reefs giving up some fantastic catches. It’s been a matter of choosing a good weather window to venture out, but those who do, usually end up getting their bags on reefies. Red throat emperor have been thick, and getting a bag of trout hasn’t been too tricky either. Further out, big stickies have been working for trout and big GTs. GTs have also been out on the wrecks as

well, with the odd golden trevally mixed in with them. I actually went out recently to jig a wreck offshore, and we could get our jigs to the bottom because the trevally were so thick! Red emperor are generally hit and miss at this time of year, but as soon as it starts to cool off, they will come back on the bite. Good luck this month. Pick a good window, and you too should be in for some great fishing. • 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.

there are lots about. The key to getting trout is to pick depth changes on a weathered side of a patch. Anywhere food can

come to them is a spot to try. I like country around 14m for the bigger barcheek and many of the ferny rubble patches in the deep water

hold bluespots. Live bait, fresh bait and lures work equally well for trout. Those who watch their sounders get the best results.

If you’re wondering why there are so many turtles lately, or clutter on your sounder, there are so many jellyfish in the river lately that they are being caught in the trees on high tide. well lately and lots of people have been catching ripper whiting and flathead using

lightly-weighted yabbies on the calm flat areas of the estuaries.

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Nothing set in concrete for uncertain township STANAGE BAY

Von Ireland

We’ve had a funny month. The heat promises huge storms and rainfall, which will ensure we get barra and muddies in the next two years. Our fingers are crossed. The road into Stanage Bay, which as we all know is 60% unsealed, changes with and like the weather. When we last travelled it recently, the corrugation was at it best, from the start of the dirt to the end of it. Find your sweet speed and stick

to it. Stay aware of the speed limits, cattle, wildlife and big pot holes. These can break your bank and destroy your holiday. The sweet speed is usually around 60km in most heavy 4WD vehicles. We have had enough rain to green the pastures and fill the rainwater tanks. There still hasn’t been any run off rain, which we need to turn on the sealife. Nice catches of grunter, tuskfish, bream, cod and muddies have been pulled into tinnies. Well done to all the people who took the time to call in and get some info with their bait and ice before

Leah caught fish just near camp while her hubby Dan, went and set the crab pots. She caught a grunter and a nice tuskfish.

hitting the estuary. Thankyou for calling back in to show me your catches. For me, it makes it all worth being behind the counter, instead of in the boat. It sure is good to know I’m not always bumming my gums for nothing. For the island skippers, when the weather was great, the usual grassy sweetlip was in good stead. Anglers with big poppers chasing trevally were rewarded with golden, tea-leaf, giant and turrum adorning their ice boxes. Anglers also pulled in nice large-mouth nannygai, small-mouth nannygai, cod, red emperor and large-mouth sea perch, and yummy-sized Spanish mackerel. These are fish anyone would be proud of, so well done! Gary, Troy, Justin and Tim caught these fish. Most fishers believe there are no fish out here in the summer months – truly! You showed them all differently. ADF ISSUES Don’t forget the Australian Defence Force, proposing to buy prime beef grazing properties on the Stanage Bay Road. Shoalwater Bay is not enough for their and their neighbours’ needs. One name

With many areas around Stanage Bay being bought up, anglers and property owners aren’t so sure that the fishing will be there for them in the future. I’ve heard mentioned is the Singapore Defence Force. We at the end of the road are not privy to any information, apart from “At this stage we are not interested in your township.” That’s all fine and dandy, but please tell us why and how. The defence force has already purchased two cattle properties on the western side of the Stanage Bay Road and they already own kilometres on the eastern side of the road. Do the government and defence force think we are silly enough to believe they will leave us and other cattle properties not receiving their probable letters alone in the long term? Nobody knows for sure – not even the soldiers. It’s best we enjoy what we have while we have it. Stanage Bay offers a wide range of accommodation, from budget to luxury. I have two, Pacific Villa and Pacific Oasis, both purpose-built for fishers. As they say, enjoy it while you can. The Australian Defence Force has claimed they

require lots more land to accommodate our friends in the Singapore Army. The Singapore Army is very cashed up and it’s burning a hole in the Australian Government’s pocket. Quite a few of the large cattle properties along the Stanage Bay Road and surrounding areas have received letters from the government with the proposed intentions to obtain more land for military exercises as part of the Shoal Water Bay Military Area Expansion. At this stage they claim they have no requirement for the Stanage Bay Township. This all sounds fair enough and we’re told it’s a major financial benefit to our region. How are they going to handle us wanting to tow boats and caravans in amongst major military exercises along the road? Will it be something to brag about at the pub, having been overtaken by a large military tank in a hurry? They haven’t mentioned it, but common sense must kick in soon. With an

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expansion, will they require more sea area for military ships, barges and boats and take our favourite fishing spots? There’s nothing like having a ship the size of a city in the way of your drift line. There have been meetings held with many politicians from all parties attending. You end up leaving not much the wiser. They have an incredible ability to talk in circles. Congratulations to one of the country’s female senators for attending the meeting at Marlborough and taking a stance. There are so many problems with this proposal that have not been thought out, and so many people that are affected with no chance of compensation. It’s very typical of government. Us little people just have to keep trying to make noise. The ADF have placed nothing in concrete at this stage. You can’t help wonder how this pristine part of our country can co-exist with extremely large military exercises. We have travelled around most of this country and this small part of Australia has some of the most beautiful and untouched areas you will find. Make some plans to come and visit. This paradise may be here for a long time to come, but with the flick of a pen from our high and mighty it may not be here for us to fish, explore and enjoy in the future. There is more information online on the ADF site and Facebook, with maps, interviews and shows from the ABC available. • Don’t miss out on the amazing fishing and crabbing at Stanage Bay! Call us at Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation on (07) 4937 3145, check out www.stanagebay.com, email stanagebaymarine@ bigpond.com or look us up on Facebook.

The rains mean a good start for barra season allowable limit. Sheer, shortsighted, stupidity is the only way to describe that behaviour. The rains will ensure bait prawns will be in bulk numbers in the creeks and the barra will be on the chew. Drifting a bunch of live prawns on a 7/0 hook under a float into a snag or rock bar is an almost sure-fire way to score a barra. Unfortunately ,everything else in the creeks loves prawns too, which means you’ll have plenty knocked off by undersize pikey bream and cod. With our large tidal runs, lots of lead is needed to stop prawns or other baits from floating on top of the water. The freshwater run off means that many creek systems will be discoloured, but remember the fresh water always floats on top of the heavier salt water. With these conditions I recommend fishing the run-in tide and targeting creek and gully junctions, rock bars and isolated snags. These habitats can be found in most of our creeks from Rocky Dam around Koumala to the Proserpine River. Of particular interest will be the barra returns from the NFZ centred on Seaforth. Results of a survey conducted three months after the NFZ

MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

What a start to the New Year. Mackay has had heaps of rain, strong wind warnings and local flooding.That was just the first week! At my place I measured 500mm of rain in the first seven days and while the local flooding is a pain, all this rain is magic news for the opening of the barra season on 1 February. Get out there and score yourself a healthy saltwater barra. FISHING RIVERS AND CREEKS Before the rains, there were plenty of reports of small prawns in the creeks, but they would not mesh in a cast net. A couple of creeks in the Net Free Zone (NFZ) around Seaforth were the exception, but human greed reared its ugly head with reports of anglers catching in excess of the allowable limit. The Boating and Fishery Patrol have been checking catches at the Seaforth ramp and making sure that people complied with the regulations. Congrats to the Patrol and brickbats to the grubs who were keeping more than their

declaration were an eye opener with improved catch rates, catch sizes and species variation all showing positive signs resulting from the zone. The next survey will take place in late February/early March and should show up some really interesting stats. TARGETING BARRA Many visiting anglers tend to be put off by Mackay’s large tidal range but remember the basic rule - the fish live here and they have to eat! The trick is to work out when and where they will be feeding. As applies anywhere, major predators like barra will follow the bait, so find the bait and most times you will find barra. Prime times shown in the lunar based tables also give relevant clues on times barra are likely to be on the chew. They are not infallible, but when they are used purely as a guide, can be a useful tool. Barra are creatures of habit and will look for the easiest places to get a feed. Look for them at the mouth of any gully that runs off the main creek especially if there is a snag or some rocks nearby. On the run-in tide, fishing back onto a rock bar is a good tactic, but once the bait moves upstream the barra will follow. While they will sit on a snag,

barra are also cruisers and can show up any time anywhere. At the top of the tide they can be found mooching around on sand and mud flats that dry out as the tide falls. Look for the bait movement. Barra will be caught in surprisingly shallow water at times, but as a general rule they like to be in a metre or so of water at a minimum. In shallow water they need a quiet approach, so use the electric if you have one or anchor some distance away and use long casts to get to the desired areas. The number one bait is live prawn, followed by live mullet, herring and whiting. The last three don’t attract the small pikey bream that the prawns will, but it is a trade off; you’ll get more bites on prawns, but more pests. Lure anglers have an unbelievable range to choose from these days. Soft plastics are now probably the number one lure used for barra. Don’t be afraid to tie on a 150mm or 200mm paddle-tail and work it super slow just so that big paddle tail is getting that great slow side-to-side beat. Combine this with a bit of roll and you can be onto a winner. Use any of the well-known brands like ZMan, Storm,

Rapala, Reidy’s and similar. Some mates have had terrific results with large Castaic paddle-tails rigged on pretty light jigheads but using around a 7/0 hook. Work the plastics with the current or across it. Plastic prawns are a dime a dozen these days but the best in my opinion comes down to two brands, Prawnstar and Zerek. Plenty of others have been successful too. Rigged weedless, the Zereks can be fed down into a snag. Hook-ups are almost inevitable and the fun begins as you try to horse the barra out of the snags. Great fun! The rains have seen the last of the pelagic species like the small mackerel and tuna head for clearer waters on their southern migration, although there is plenty of trevally around. The influx of freshwater also turns on the oyster crackers or snub nosed dart/permit and they can be found around the creek mouths, the beaches and around the harbour walls. They’re a top sportfish and not bad on the BBQ either. GETTING OUT TO THE DAMS On the freshwater scene, the dams are fishing well for barra with plenty of metre plus fish coming from

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Kinchant Dam around the full moon. Teemburra barra are continuing to frustrate as they will hit lures with apparent gusto one day and then have lockjaw the next, but isn’t that one of the things that keeps us going back? MAFSA have had several poor spawnings of sooties in the hatchery, but at last they scored several 3kg+ females, all in roe from Middle Mreek in Teemburra Dam, so fingers crossed this lot will be a successful spawning. Don’t forget if fishing the dams, a SIP permit is required and can be bought from either the Post Office or online. I notice it has now risen in price from $38 to $50 and no longer includes your spouse. So if you both go dam fishing regularly, their cost has risen by $62 annually, which is a considerable increase over the previous $38 for both. While all the rain and strong winds have blown offshore fishing off the menu, Mackay always has plenty of angling options. Local tackle store staff are always happy to help out with the latest news. Why not come and join us in paradise? See you at the ramp.

Offshore reefs keep giving love WHITSUNDAYS

Luke Griffiths

Big old fat rain. It was a wet and windy start to the year with the monsoon trough bringing much needed rain to the region. It was starting to look like the old wet season we typically have up here during the summer months, but I guess we’ll have to wait

and see. It was probably well timed with the opening of barra season this month. Anglers everywhere will be dusting off the barra rods and fine-tuning their tackle boxes in preparation of hunting down these iconic fish. The rain will definitely play a positive part in the estuaries for barra fishing, so we should see some good fishing. Our region is home to many fantastic

river and creek systems and exploring them is half the fun, especially after flooding. There are many small tributaries that provide flood water run-off into the estuaries, so looking for these is a good start. Be aware, as many of these are on private property. Make sure you gain permission before entering. No matter your technique, targeting a barra or two is definitely on the cards if

you are estuary-bound this month. With all the rain and estuary fishing, another good idea will be to set a few crab pots while you are lurking around the mangroves, landing yourselves a mud crab or two. Perfect for a Valentine’s Day dinner if you ask me! FISHING THE REEFS That’s right, Valentine’s Day is upon us this month and what better way to spoil your significant other than to buy them that boat they’ve always wanted! If that’s not on the cards, a trip offshore definitely should be. The outer reefs have been fishing very well of late and keep on giving. The sharks have been giving everyone curry in the deeper waters around the reefs, so fishing the shallows is a great option and has been producing well. Coral trout, red-throat emperor and red emperor have been solid in numbers, so look for a few of these if heading out wide. The big Spanish have also been around in good numbers out wide, so

Alex was very happy with his red emperor, caught on a deep shoal wide of the islands. floating some baits for them is a good idea. Back in closer the deeper shoals and reefs have been fishing okay with a slight drop off in action. We should still see good numbers around this month. You may have to

Zach Reid with a nice red emperor. They are still on offer this month.

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work a bit harder for them. The nannygai, red emperor, coral trout and sweetlip have been available with the sweetlip really out in force, which is fantastic as they make for a great meal. The islands have still been fishing well with loads of coral trout being claimed, along with sweetlip and Indonesian snapper. The Whitsunday Passage is a great place for these fish. Just look for the smaller tides. The current can really move through as it is water compressed between the islands. Most island reef edges and fringing reefs should see you with a brace of fish. Remember to double-check your zoning maps as there are a few green zones around the islands. Good luck if you are heading out this month. • If you’re interested in a game, sport or reef fishing charters around the Whitsundays, give Luke a call on 0429 724 822 or email info@ renegadecharters.com.au.

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This red emperor put up a solid fight for Blake, who recently fished onboard Renegade.

Hot calm weather makes great holiday memories AYR

Steve Farmer

The Christmas to New Year period is popular with Burdekin anglers keen to fish new country. This year turned on some hot, calm weather for adventurous boaties along much of the North Queensland Coast. Simone, Russell

Beach offers boaties two launching ramps. One is off the esplanade at the northern end of the beach and launches across shallow flats into the open sea. Consequently, the safe use of this ramp is very tide and wind dependent and many locals use a tractor when launching here. The other ramp is single lane concrete and launches into the sheltered upper

likely-looking mangrove bank yielded a decent mangrove jack – a positive start to the fishing holiday. The next day, with Lauren, Dan and Darcy along in their 4.5m Tabs Sport Fisher, they trailered their rigs and travelled southwards to Clump Point Boat Ramp at the top end of North Mission Beach. Burdekin boaties complain about how busy Ocean

The sandspit on Dunk Island is a popular place. and two-year-old Ellie Sutcliffe teamed up with Russell’s brother Dan, his partner Lauren and their seven-week-old son Darcy for a few days of relaxed fishing and boating in the Kurrimine Beach and Mission Beach area. They based themselves at the QCWA Holiday Units at Kurrimine Beach (great value, they reported) and explored and fished the waters around Kurrimine and as far south as Mission Beach. Kurrimine

This tiny bay was made for two tinnies and was a great place to cool off. swimming and generally relaxing around Dunk. They trolled some shallow sections of Fringing Reef not much deeper than 2-3m. Their hardbodied minnows produced three coral trout and they missed a similar number. Russell also scored a golden trevally when they drifted along a drop off, casting soft plastics. They stowed their fishing gear to explore the green zone on the southern side of Dunk, finding a tiny bay bordered by mangroves and rocks and just big enough for a couple of tinnies to pull up on the sandy beach. It was a perfect spot to enjoy a cold drink in the shoreline shade and a cooling dip in the shallow, clear water.

reaches of Maria Creek at the southern end of the township. To an extent, this ramp is also tide dependant, with sandbars limiting navigation on the low tide. Simone, Russell and Ellie slipped their 4.2m Stacer into Maria Creek soon after arriving for a brief reconnaissance mission. They reported spotting large flathead rocketing out of the clear, sandy shallows as they idled past and a short baitsoaking session against a

the other skippers they spoke to weren’t doing much better. With just one more day before they had to head for home, the two families opted to return to Dunk Island and it didn’t disappoint them. Their final day was almost a carbon copy of their first visit to the

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This mangrove jack came from Maria Creek at the southern end of Kurrimine Beach.

Russell Sutcliffe with a couple of coral trout trolled up in shallow water near Dunk Island.

Creek is on a good day, but at Clump Point, the old story about needing a cut lunch and a gallon of water to park the vehicle is close to being true. It’s busy there. With the boats launched and the vehicles eventually parked, the bows were pointed southwards towards Dunk Island. Dunk Island is about 6nm south of Clump Point and just a couple of nautical miles offshore from South Mission Beach. Perfect conditions gave them a smooth ride south and they spent the day fishing,

Another great spot to kick back is on the sandspit on the western end of Dunk. There are National Park camping and day-use areas here, as well as a makeshift bar and café. Simone said the burgers and chips were excellent, although a little expensive. It may be a better idea to pack a lunch, if you choose to head there as well. Dan and Russell headed out wide to fish the reef proper. They put in the hard yards, but still came home with only one fish in the icebox. Their only consolation was that most of FEBRUARY 2017

Nothing can rain on the barra opening parade TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

I suppose you might call what we’ve had recently ‘rain.’ It’s nowhere near what we need this month. Going by our long term forecast, I was hoping we’d be able to say that it’s so wet we’ve all got webbed feet and are taking the boat to work. So far there’s more dust in the air than rain.

With the opening of barra season upon us, it’s not just the quality of barra fishing that is going to suffer, but also the spawning and natural recruitment of juveniles to maintain future stock levels. One of the advantages up here is that there is other stuff to go for apart from barra and those species have been keeping fishers happy in recent times. The last set of big tides

This decent golden snapper was taken trolling a 150mm 8m Scorpion in a likely-looking spot.

saw a lot of big grunter schooling up around the deeper river mouths and shoals, and live herring have been working well on them. If your live baits die, try a butterfly filleted herring, as this has been the bait of choice for the guys chasing bigger fish in the 70cm class. As is often the case at this time of year, there are barra mixed in with the them, particularly the schools near headlands and rivers, so you could get more than you bargain for. The top of the tide and the initial run out have been the best times. Casting the snags for jacks has been a good way to find some action. Apart from a couple of unstoppables that we have hit just recently, the average size is down a bit at the moment. Tilsan Barras twitched over the top of the laying down horizontal timber are a good way to tease them out. This can be exciting, as a lot of the strikes are in clear view. Skipping prawn imitations is my preferred way to chase these toothy buggers when the tide’s a bit higher. Jacks chase the bait way back in amongst

The author’s mate sent him a photo of a mud crab in the Tamworth Woolworths seafood department at $129.99 per kilo. Paying that for a crab would have sucked, that’s for sure. That would put the crab in this picture at about $200. Think about that!

the roots and tiny drains though, and the bite often happens as soon as the lure stops. Be ready to keep their head pointing at you when the bite comes. Atomic Prongs and Madeye Paddle Prawns are my choice due to the success I’ve had on them. Rigged on a Gamakatsu hook, the bite to fight ratio is quite good at the moment. We had a bit of a road trip down south for the break, so I haven’t heard much about the mackerel fishing in the last couple of weeks. There were a few doggie mackerel at the channel marker when I went out the other day, so it could be worth a shot on the ledges in close with slugs. Trolling smaller hardbodies around 3-4m depth is an accepted technique for the doggies and a range of lures work. The favourite lure for doggies has long been the Flatz Ratz. There are other lures that draw the bite as well, depending on the depth they’re sitting in. The 4m diving 90mm Scorpion and the Poltergeist are a couple that we use when we decide to have a bit of fun with them. To be honest, doggie fishing isn’t that popular here, and we usually just end up catching a couple casting the 5” Paddle Madeyes at them. Trolling is a very effective technique on a range of species. Recently I wanted to scan an area to see what was about close to the bottom. It was in 8m of water and there were fish on the sounder. The tide was ripping and the wind had whipped the water to a choppy mess, so casting softies and keeping in contact with the lure was near impossible. I tied on a 150 Scorpion with the Crazy Deep 8m bib and within a short time had a couple of choppers around the 68-70cm mark on board, before it got to rough and I bailed. Trolling is also a great way to get familiar with new water. If you have side scan capabilities then the zigzagging pattern at around 3 knots can get you amongst the fish. As you make a zig or zag, you’ll find your lure

Tweaking the Tillies over the horizontal logs is a great way to get some action. While the jacks haven’t been big, they certainly have been plentiful. slows down a little then speeds back up again as you straighten up. This adds a little bit of variation into the pattern of the lure. The ambition is to scan an area, marking any obvious features and ledges, while still having a lure in to prospect along the way. It’s amazing how many times this form of exploring turns up the goods. In 5-7m of water, I do the same scanning thing on the Lowrance HDS looking for any fish, bottom change and contours. With a touch screen, it’s a two second job to save the mark. Hopefully we should get some decent rain in the next few weeks and this should get the barra on the chew as

Mixing it up a little when things are slow can make a difference. The first cast with the 4” Atomic Shad got smashed at a time when the bite was pretty quiet.

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they head upstream to gorge on the previously landlocked tarpon heading for open water. This is the time of year that barra fishers sweat on, and hopefully numbers will be high enough to make it a backaching opening. Over the last few months there has been an increase on croc incidents and you would do well to keep this in mind, as they’re nowhere near as shy as they once were. I hope you all had a great New Years and Chrissy period, and Santa brought you a heap of shiny new lures to go and throw at the big large-mouthed, pink-eyed leaping perch that should be on the go this month.

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It’s still early days for the rain HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

I’ve spent the previous month away on a road trip to Brissy targeting threadfin, so I’ve been away from what’s happening locally. My brother who also runs our charters with me has had plenty of time on the water and has kept an eye on the local scene. The weather has been a little erratic still, with conditions sometimes

varying on a day-to-day basis. There hasn’t been much rain. It’s still early, days really. Some exceptional size golden snapper (fingermark) have been caught both in the day and night. While on charter, my brother Ian spoiled his clients with a nice 92cm fish taken on a vibe during daylight hours. It was caught very close to another mark that I got a couple of months back. The massive schools of 3kg fish that normally infest our water from November haven’t

It’s great to see grey mackerel back in numbers.

shown up in strong numbers. It seems we have sacrificed numbers for size in the cycle for this year. Another local angler I know has been doing well at night recently landing seven fish in one session. They were all around the 5-7kg, which are impressive fish. The bigger fish are always easier to catch at night. Some nice grey mackerel around the metre mark have been great fun too with some of the best numbers seen for this time of year in ages. Small metal slices are the way to go to catch greys and they can be a dead giveaway sometimes as they spear across the surface, similar to a northern bluefin tuna A few black jewfish reports are in. There’s nothing of real significance. They can be a welcomed by-catch during night sessions for golden snapper, as they are similar in their demersal habits. Many years ago, Hinchinbrook waters were

alive with black jew. Over time it came to a grinding halt through overfishing. While species such as barra and threadfin can sustain themselves fairly well considering the amount of pressure that are on them, it’s the black jew that can’t seem to maintain their levels here by a long shot. Places such as Mackay, Rockhampton and further south have some good black jew fishing available, because the pressure has not reached a critical point. The best thing to do is fish responsibly with this species. The best thing about what’s to come in February is of course the opening of the QLD East Coast barra fishing season. It’s time for the barra to put their crash helmets back. As for what February has in stall for us weather-wise, will the monsoon open up on us and spoil the start of the season, or will it be plain sailing? I guess we’ll find out. Either way, we need our rains. I’d sacrifice the start of

Some really big golden snapper are around this month. the season for the benefit of the future fishery. If it’s not raining cats and dogs and there is no flood water spewing off the coastal plains, then you should stick to traditional styles of fishing, as its most likely they won’t go into strange spawning practises. The run-out tides during larger tides are a popular period to fish for all lure anglers. The amount of gutters and drains in the Hinchinbrook area is amazing and they will most probably be the busiest areas too. I tend to think more outside the square to most

barra anglers. I will be looking for more oceanic fish that feed in a pelagic manner around open water and herring schools. Once you get your head around it, it will open up a whole new world of thinking. Those types of methods are being revealed this year in our online barra masterclass Barra Basics. • If you would like to book a charter or join our fishing community for some great fishing competitions etc, head on over to www. ryanmoodyfishing.com. And you could also win a free charter drawn twice a year.

Hinchinbrook is firing up now LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

The wet season is always an interesting time in the tropics. In saying that, the last few years have seen the southern half of the state get a lot more action from rain and flooding. Everyone is hoping for a good wet season after a disappointing few years. To think Townsville is on heavy water restrictions is hard to believe when you see the amount of water that runs away during floods. As we head into February, it has started

to rain every night, this is a good sign for the next few months. The fishing at Lucinda has been great with warm water, good tides and afternoon storm activity firing up the fish. As always, the weather will dictate what you can and can’t do in terms of fishing options. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL The big news is that the gleaming chrome barra are back on the target list. There will be plenty of boats pulled up in front of their favourite snags, drain or flats waiting to lob that first lure or plastic in hope of a Hinchinbrook barra. There isn’t anything too difficult in catching a barra here at Lucinda. It’s

Hopefully GTs stick around, they are so much fun. 94

FEBRUARY 2017

very important to get your timing right and the best time without fail is 3 hours before and after low tide. Barra, like most fish, like some current moving to fire them up as this pushes baitfish past their feeding spot. You will be very surprised at the type of water they will hold in. Strong currents, although difficult to fish, can offer feeding barra. Plenty of lures and plastics catch barra. If you’re looking at using hardbodied lures then make sure you have a few different styles that cover both shallow and deeper waters. Soft plastics have changed the game in terms of fishing tight to structure and if you haven’t given them a go yet, I suggest you do. Check out the TT SnakelockZ matched with ZMan 4’ SwimmerZ (pearl colour) as this is a deadly combo for barra! Hopefully there are more reports of threadfin salmon being caught in better numbers. We had a few epic days finding a few schools up creeks and on light gear they provided so much fun (and a tasty feed!). Most people use their sounders and locate them in the channel itself as they can sometimes school up in the deeper water. I have not been lucky enough to stumble upon them in the deep yet, but they are there. If you can find them in the deeper water, dropping blades, vibes or big curl-tail grubs can be effective. Keep in mind that threadfin are renowned for being very fussy eaters at times. It pays to change your offerings if

you have found fish but can’t get them to bite - persistence will pay off. There have been good catches of big golden grunter. These are spectacular fish and not only do they grow pretty big, they fight hard and taste amazing. Fishing deeper rubble areas in the channel with nice fresh baits of sardines, prawns or squid around tide changes will see rods getting bent. There is also the chance of catching golden snapper and the odd black jewfish as by-catch while chasing grunter, which are both welcome surprises. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF Christmas and the New Year’s long weekends were blessed with great weather and boats were filling up the car parks day and night. When there are so many boats out fishing and seas are flat it can be tough. But I can say the majority of boats were spending some time cleaning fish when they got back. Plenty of trout have been caught and all reefs seemed to produce good

Barra are back, so sleep goes out the window. catches. Britomart reef was again a stand out, other then the wider reefs that receive less angling pressure. The southern side of the reef has a terrific edge that drops into deep water and seems to hold good trout when the current is hitting it. Anchoring up and dropping strip baits of fish or pilchards will attract a lot of attention. It’s important when chasing trout to turn them straight away as their lunge for cover can be brutal and quick. If you can turn them, then you just need to get them through

Jacks are always around, which is why we love them.

the sharks, but this can be difficult sometimes. The jetty has been hit-and-miss lately. I’ve had mornings out there that have been action from the first cast with mini GTs on the surface and golden snapper on the bottom and then turned up the very next morning to not find a fish, even though conditions are near identical. Fishing does your head in sometimes. If winds allow, smaller boats can sneak out safely and experience some great sportfishing. The jetty can offer an array of species using different techniques. I’ll just add that for visitors, there is a very shallow section about 4km out. There have been a couple of capsizes and I know it would have troubled some others that were lucky. This area isn’t marked and its best to be vigilant as on a low tide with a lot of current combined with NE afternoon sea breezes it can get very messy.

Even fish are trying to stay cool CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

If last February is any indication of what’s to come, then the word for it will be ‘hot’ and not the fishing. We’re hoping for the other big performer in February – rain! February is traditionally one of the wettest months in Cairns and if we don’t get the rain, we are sure to get the heat. Barra will be the fish on most anglers’ minds this month. While barra don’t mind warm temperatures, they also don’t like excessive heat. Hopefully we had enough rain in January to allow them to spawn in peace before anglers and netters descend upon them. While the Net Free Zone from False Cape to Taylors

Point protects barra in Trinity Inlet and the Barron River, there are plenty of other places where netters can wreak havoc on breeding stocks. Anglers looking to open their barra account for the year will have plenty of options, with the best determined by the prevailing weather conditions. If there hasn’t been sufficient rain to trigger a spawning, the headlands will be a good place to start. Last year they were relatively quiet, in spite of low rainfall. Last February, the most productive barra grounds were in the deep waters of Trinity Inlet, as barra sought refuge from the heat by going deep. Soft vibes, soft plastics, prawn imitations and live baits fished around structure were the top techniques in the inlet. Here’s hoping there has been significant rain and the barra have dispersed back

into the streams. If this is the case, focusing around drains and creeks flowing into the main stream is the way to go. Look for any colour change, as barra use this for ambush. If there is no colour change, work the current line where the two streams converge. Bright coloured lures, along with silver and gold, work well in these conditions. If barra are proving too big a challenge, a bit of sedate bait soaking for grunter is a good way to relax through the heat. The monster morning high tides in the lead up to the full moon on the 11th and the big morning high tides before the new moon on the 27th will be the best times to focus on grunter fishing, especially on the hospital flats out the front of Cairns Inlet. The last half of the run-in and the first of the falling tide

Anglers looking to open their barra account for the year will be hoping to emulate Craig Dayes, from Mareeba.

are the best times for grunter. Right up the top of the inlet, on the shale and rubble, is another area worth checking out. Fresh strip baits of mullet, gar, sardines, mud herring, squid or cuttlefish will all work at various times. Another go to bait is peeled prawns. It’s best to buy half a kilo of small eating prawns from a seafood outlet if you can’t buy locally caught prawns from one of the tackle stores. Make sure you buy wild caught prawns, not aquaculture prawns. If humans can taste the difference, imagine what it must be like for fish! If the prawns have arrived on the beaches, creeks or inlets, then the salmon won’t be far behind. Northeasterly winds are another good indicator that salmon could be around. Prawns are an obvious salmon bait. They are also partial to mullet, sardines and mud herring, dead or alive. Luring can also be productive at times and is a bit more challenging. If flicking the snags and rock patches chasing barra and jacks is more your style, then the afternoon low tides around the full and new moons are the pick of times. Cast deep into the structure with prawn imitations, soft plastics and deep diving minnows. Work the lure actively with minimal retrieve in the early stages to maximise your time in the strike zone. Look for shady areas and give these spots the most attention, as fish, like humans, will be seeking shelter from the heat. February is a good time for land-based anglers to focus on the run-through creeks common to all our beaches.

Yellowlip emperor are a relatively rare catch off Cairns. Note the Araphat style hat, which is ideal for hot conditions, especially when wet down regularly. A combination of big tides and rain invariably see these creeks open to the ocean this month and signal one of the few times of the year when it’s worth fishing the beaches close to Cairns. Most of the year the beaches are pretty light on for action. When the creeks are open and the bait is moving, predators are on the prowl. The top and bottom of the tide are the best times to look for some beach fishing action. The more bait action there is, the more likely you are to have success. The inshore islands, wrecks, reefs and wonky holes are all worth a look this month for golden snapper, nannygai, trevally and cobia. Live baits are the best option but jigging soft plastics, soft vibes and micro-jigs can also prove very productive at times. Dawn and dusk are the best times, not only for action but also for comfort. Dawn is by far the best of the two simply because the winds are lighter. Summer is characterised by an afternoon sea breeze, as the scorching land becomes hotter than the warm water.

The reef fishing will greatly depend on the weather. If you get a chance to head east, deep water is the best option. Fish like coral trout will be avoiding the high water temperatures up shallow, so fishing from 40m and deeper is the most productive method. There is usually no big run of any species and a wide range of species on offer. A major consideration this month is managing the hot conditions. If fishing through the day, drink plenty of water, apply sunscreen regularly and cover up with a hat and long sleeve shirt. Wet your hat and shirt regularly with cool freshwater. Once you start wetting down you have to keep it up, otherwise your clothes turn into a sauna. Make sure you have ample water before beginning. Saltwater will do the job, but tends to leave you feeling sticky and clammy, while freshwater is a bit more refreshing. Arafat style hats are ideal for this, as they can be dipped regularly in a bucket, to conserve water.

Extended continental shelf life PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer

The build up to the wet season has been progressing nicely since the start of the year with decent rainfalls falling across the region without causing any major flooding. It is what many would call a traditional wet season. In fishing terms, this translates to a transitional period of new life from the ground up with plenty of food available along the coastal systems and extending out to the Great Barrier Reef. Inshore, the rains have stirred up the rivers and creeks and in between the heavy rainfall when the water settles, this has been prime time to target our predatory species. These species include mangrove jack amongst the snags and now the barramundi, which are now in open season since

1 February. The two iconic species have welcomed the abundance of fresh bait like prawns and other small fry and have been a regular catch for those who have collected similar live bait or used similar imitation lures. The mouths of smaller feeder creeks running into the main stretch of water have been great spots and the edge where the dirty water meets the clean has been the ideal strike zone. Out in the mainstream, there has been a steady supply of mid-sized queenfish and trevally and they have been most active when the waters begin to clear. Small soft plastics and hardbodied lures have been successful. With a lot of new bait showing up, the beaches have really come on and we’ve seen tarpon, queenfish, trevally and now barramundi. There has also been a lot of shark activity, as groups of small sharks have been born in the shallows and they smashing the bait. Black tip and bull sharks have all

been quite active, especially later in the day. The next couple of months should see a few big GTs enter into the shallows taking advantage of the rich food supply. Further offshore, the rains have assisted in revitalising the reef scene, with a wide range of species biting with more regularity. Coral trout have been consistent, with the nannygai, both small and large-mouth, also improving considerably following the hot dry spell. On top of these species, there’s always your bread and butter species on the chew. These have included sweetlip, Moses perch, stripies and various trevally species. The cobia have continued to show up consistently and their numbers have been really good for over six months now. The Spanish mackerel have almost dried up completely, with only the odd big rogue one being caught here and there. Even light tackle efforts trolling lures have often gone

unrewarded in and around the outer reefs. On the shelf, there has been some good light tackle sportfishing on offer. Mahimahi numbers have been great, with some big bulls reaching 15kg and the yellowfin tuna up to 25kg also in the mix. Searching for bird life on the surface has been key, and they tend to feed off the skipjack tuna schools. There have been some decent sailfish caught along the outer reef edges, but they seem to be the only billfish around, as black marlin numbers have dried up. Looking ahead, the big question is how much rain are we going to get this year? Too much rain can shut down our fishery. The other big question is what sort of cyclone activity are we going to see this year? Predicted forecasts suggest we might see a bit of both. If so, the fishing will be best in between these dark periods when conditions settle, and quite often, it is red-hot.

Mahimahi have been busy on the continental shelf during January. FEBRUARY 2017

The weather conditions are ideal for the reefs COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

The wet season has seen good rainfall for Cooktown and surrounding areas. This has been a big relief for our waterways, fishing quality and also for our farmers who have been trying to turn over soil, which was looking more like dry dust bowls settled on a scorched dry ground as hard as concrete. February and March should provide plenty of rain for our region. ACTION ON THE REEFS The winds over January have been especially favourable for reef fishing with the odd heavy downpour out on the boat. To be honest, a bit of fresh water and cloud cover have been a welcomed relief for those hot and stinky summer days. Local reef anglers have had great success on the reefs often pulling up anchor early, as bag limits have been reached. Coral trout and nannygai seem to

be the target species due to their table quality. Some nice mixed bags consisting of red and long-nose emperor, reef jacks and jobfish have been reported this month. Finding the bommies with bait for trout and the rubble patches for the nannygai will produce a nice catch. Remember to brush up on your fish identification. A recent trip with friends from out of town nearly saw a paddle-tail (a no-take fish known for ciguatera) end up

in the esky during a night session catching nannygai. The paddle-tail has a resemblance to the smallmouth nannygai and without care can be easily mistaken. There have been plenty of reports of Spanish mackerel getting around the closer reefs with the most successful technique being lightly weighted live or dead baits floated down a berley trail. This same technique has produced some quality cobia over the last month too.

A great barramundi cod caught and released on the reefs.

The mild winds will continue right through until the end of March, which means plenty more opportunities to get out and fish the reefs. Reef fishers need to take care navigating at this time of the year because of driftwood, sometimes as big as power poles, floating around in the sea. ESTUARY FISHING The Cooktown region estuaries have been producing some quality fish. The Endeavour River has produced mangrove jack on a daily basis. Most catches have come from the wharf, Marton Boat Ramp, the Stone Wall and up the North Arm of the Endeavour. The mangrove jack and estuary cod are responding really well for those who like sight casting lures into snags or trolling. Live and dead baits sunk down into snags is an effective way to catch these fish. If you head down near the river mouth you can try for trevally, queenfish and mackerel while trolling lures or floating dead or live bait.

Spanish mackerel can be found around the closer reefs like this one caught by Tim Kreis. The river’s banks and lagoons have already overflowed this wet season. This is like a double whammy of great news for our barramundi fishing enthusiasts because February means the opening of Qld’s barramundi season. A lot of keen anglers fishing along the Cooktown wharf have caught a good by-catch of barra from around the pylons. Mud crabs have also been flushed out of their holes from the excess freshwater

and they tend to move down to the mouths of river systems or into the bays where there is more saltwater. You will be able to catch plenty of mud crabs along the first few Ks of the river systems. Think carefully about where you will place your pots because driftwood and trees that flush through from the floods can tangle with the rope and floats on your pots and drag them to unknown locations, or snag them under debris that builds up.

Wider grounds are where the food abounds CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

February can be a difficult month for inshore and estuarine anglers up in the Cape. Monsoonal winds and rain can be a

daily occurrence at times in February, but those lucky enough to take advantage of calm weather windows at this time of year will often be larger vessels, capable of heading offshore to the outer reefs, deep shoal patches and bluewater currents out wide.

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Blue marlin, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and mahimahi might be on the scorecards of charter vessels working around offshore pinnacles and bait gatherings. The chance of smaller black marlin, sailfish, Spanish mackerel and giant trevally damaging a spread of lures will increase around the outer reef edges and inshore shoal and reef grounds. Inshore areas are quite often dirtied by the sediments carried off the land throughout February. Headlands and coastal beaches on the east coast will usually have enough sediment not to be their usual crystal clear. On the west coast beaches, this is not necessarily the case. Current lines from the rivers mixing with shallow and clearish beach waters can bring about brilliant fishing. After serious rains, there can be a real mixing of fish activity along the coast, especially in saltwater areas surrounding a freshwater plume. King threadfin, little steelbacks, blue salmon, queenfish and catfish can swarm in these areas at times,

feeding on tiny baitfish and crustaceans. Just offshore along the west coast’s shallow reef systems live almost every trevally species and sometimes they are thick. The species list can consist of giant trevally, Papuan, bigeye, bludger, golden and diamond trevally to stretch the arms of those jigging and casting soft plastics around reefy grounds. All these fish pull and can leave anglers sore in the shoulders. Isolated reef patches in deeper, cleaner water will work better at this time of year, especially on neap tides. These are spots where fish have a chance to settle as soon as there is a break in the weather. Generally spots between 15-35m of water down the west coast and 20-80m+ on the east coast are the areas to be targeting. If it’s pelagics you are chasing off the west coast, a little run in the tide may be needed to fire the fish up. Isolated rocks and contour lines will hold good numbers of Spanish

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Pilot whales corralling bait offshore.

Check out this huge coral trout taken over shoal grounds! mackerel out wide. Longtail and mac tuna will show up in large, sporadic pods basically anywhere wide of the coast in the giant Gulf of Carpentaria. Finding sailfish and small black marlin will be a process of locating baitfish holding midwater and during calm conditions up on top. A spread of trolled skirts with added variation of skipping garfish is what’s needed to target these fish on light tackle. When you locate sailfish, the whole deck needs to be prepared, because a whole pod might show

up, ready to eat anything presented. Always have a spin rod rigged and ready to chuck at any dark shape you cruise past on the surface. February will be a tough month for most inshore, but for all those lucky enough to avoid unpredictable weather and find themselves way offshore under clearing skies, the rewards will definitely be there. • For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com.

The wet season is here WEIPA

Mark Bargenquast

After a reasonably dry start to summer, this month is shaping up to be pretty wet. Already Weipa and surrounds have received over 400mm of rain and it’s still coming. Creeks and streams that feed the main

seem to breed in similar locations and conditions. There have been plenty of big female barras hanging around the bridges and river mouths and unfortunately some illegal activities by recreational anglers are killing quite a few. It’s not a good look! Barramundi season up here in the gulf shuts from

run of grunter and the usual tarpon, queenfish and trevally around the lights at night. The odd black jewfish has been making an appearance as well. Offshore has been difficult with constant wet season northwesterlies and swell making the water dirty. Between the rain and wind, not many have ventured out. On the rare days, a few sailfish, tuna and mackerel have been out wide. Alan Philliskirk had a good day just before Christmas landing seven out of ten sails – not a bad effort. Mud crabs have been hit and miss. With this fresh, they may start to move again. High daytime tides during summer could have something to do with it.

Scott Gorman with a 90cm Weipa permit caught on the Mission River with a Threadybuster! The lows are at night, but it’s not a good idea to leave pots in overnight up here, as they get eaten by crocs and bullsharks! Depending on the next month’s rainfall, we could have a very interesting report. Fingers crossed!

You’ve got to be happy with this beaut of a Wenlock River sooty. rivers are just starting to run. The trouble up here on the cape is it’s nearly all bauxite, which is very porous. It takes a lot of rain to create a decent runoff and it’s happening. With a good wet, hopefully the barra will have a decent spawning along with threadfin salmon, which

midday 7 October until midday 1 February and QLD Fisheries law clearly states that it is illegal to deliberately target barras in in their wild population areas during the closed spawning season, even for catch and release purposes. Evans Landing Jetty has been busy with a good

A good wet will see plenty of these guys on the beaches.

It’s not hard to get a few table fish up here with two drops and two keepers!

Just go with the flow up north FRESHWATER

Angus James Instagram: @jimmygusjames

This year is at full steam ahead! This is the year to explore new systems and crack a few PBs in the process! We have had some good rainfall, which is great because it brings life back into many of the systems that have been struggling in the past. This is awesome for all the sweetwater systems as the fishing really begins to fire up! Sooty grunter are a favourite among many lure fishing anglers. They are a tough Aussie

critter that provide hours of entertainment and can put your light line fishing skills to the test. Spinnerbaits produce the results when targeting these beasts, and a great way to rig up is to attach a grub to your stinger hook. This help keep your stinger hook on the spinnerbait, and the grub tail makes this presentation absolutely deadly, not to mention basically snagresistant, giving you plenty more opportunities to be right in the strike zone. They are also suckers for surface lures, so cast your surface offerings out as far as you can and work them slowly. The surface strikes from a big aggressive sooty can be simply amazing!

Streams will be flowing at this time of year, and looking fantastic!

Sweetwater jacks will be high on the list of anyone after some light tackle sport. Jungle perch, as always, will be out in force. February is when you can expect to find some bigger models. All this humidity and water movement in the rivers send the mangrove jack into overdrive! Smaller grubs and paddle-tail plastics are the perfect presentation for the smaller sweetwater models. Work your presentations as naturally as possible, using the flow of the water to drift your presentation in front of the snags and hold on tight! They will hit hard and fast! A nice tight drag is a must. My favourite lure for this is the ZMan 2.5’’ GrubZ. These fish are stunning to look at, and when juvenile their white stripes and vibrant blue markings under their eyes truly stand out against there deep red colours. Even

the small ones go hard, and they’re so much fun on the light gear! Jungle perch can certainly be targeted with great success all year round, but I like to go search for the bigger models around now. All this extra flowing water really gets them on the chew! Systems get a good flush out and this keeps them flowing. I really enjoy making the trip into rain forest country and exploring all the little magical systems that the jungle has to offer! JP will eat just about anything that will fit into their mouth, so take a wide range of lures with you. Surface lures work best, and like

most sweetwater predators, JP sure put on a show, especially in the crystal clear waters! On many occasions when pulling my lure out to release them, I have come across some interesting

finds inside their mouths including lizards, mice, bats and even a live green tree frog! Get out there and enjoy the adventure! See you all next month.

Make sure you’re ready when one of these red devils grabs on! FEBRUARY 2017

Peaceful fishing at last TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

Christmas holidays seem to draw people out by the thousands to our most popular lakes and rivers. I can’t say I blame them. Our waterways provide excellent outdoor fun and great camping opportunities. I braved the crowds on Leslie Dam just after Christmas and it was pretty hectic out there. Up the back of the dam, where it is less than 100m wide, the water skiers were doing slalom (zigzag) runs through the lure trollers. It was almost just as busy in the main basin and the banks were littered with cars, people and a tent city. Fishing in crowded locations isn’t really for me. The peace and quiet which is usually associated with fishing is one of the attractions. If you are prepared to travel, you can usually find a quiet spot that has plenty of fish. On this occasion, I just didn’t have the time. Despite all the water activity, we still caught

plenty of fish, so you can imagine how it will get better now the crowds have packed up and gone home. We are now in our rainy season of the year. Low pressure systems could possibly dump widespread rain and cause runoff, which will change the fishing in the rivers and dams. Some of the lakes could use a top up, but fingers crossed they don’t pour over and lose fish over their spillways. Keep this in mind while reading these reports, as significant weather events or even big isolated storms can really alter the fishing at this time of year. The managing bodies of the lakes have online information to show lake capacity. Visit the SunWater and Seqwater websites if you want an update when planning your next trip. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel! TOOWOOMBA TACKLE STORES To o w o o m b a - b a s e d anglers must fish a lot, as there have always been so many stores offering fishing tackle. It was sad to see the closing down of one of the greatest stores, Tackle World

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST There will be a good mix of small and big bass to be caught in Cressbook. The smaller fish are usually easy to find in schools and will be easily fooled into eating 1/4oz blade baits. Occasionally there are bigger fish mixed in with the rats and they will fall for the same presentation. Bigger bass tend to school together in Cressbrook and if you can find their location, you will reap the rewards. There

probably won’t be too many schools of bigger bass, as a lot of these fish scatter in the deeper water. Try looking around the campground point, Deer Island, and the toilet points up either end of the lake. The bigger fish will be keen to eat reaction style lures like spinnerbaits, tailspinners, and blade baits. A soft plastic wound through them on the slower days can also get the job done, so play around with these different offerings until you work out what they want most. Lure trollers can take advantage of the suspended

DAM LEVELS

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

NOV DEC JAN 5 5 5 82 80 84 36 32 27 41 38 78 84 77 72 90 82 95 75 71 68 82 80 76 12 10 9 60 59 57 97 92 81

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

14 17

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

holding. Take your time and let the drag on the reel do its thing when hooked-up. There is no rush and there isn’t much they can wrap you around out in the open. Medium-sized deep diving lures seem to be better out in the deep water. The Blitz Baga, Golden Child and Little Ripper are some of my favourites. There was a report of a massive 67cm bass taken trolling the deep water using a downrigger to push lures even deeper. Bait fishers will catch fish when using live shrimp. Other baits will be a lot slower to get a response. Try fishing in over 8m of water and target the points that extend into the dam. If you have a quality

58 58 53 73 71 71 7 7 7 98 97 100 48 42 43 70 70 68 97 95 95 84 80 105 88 76 93 52 41 58 30 28 16 78 72 61

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

sounder and can locate fish out in the deeper water, it can pay to use your electric motor to spot lock on top of them. A slow drift can also work on the still days when wind is at a minimum. Drop your live shrimp straight over the side and fish them at the depth the fish are holding. It is important to watch your rig’s depth on the sounder or measure the line as you let it out to get it as close to the fish as possible. Often the bass will school up below a stationary boat, so the action can be quite good when the fish are in the mood. For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on Cressbrook and

BRISBANE

the surrounding dams, call in to see the specialists. In Toowoomba, Fish’n’Bits in Alderly Street have a great range of lures and fishing gear. At Highfields, you will find Highfields Bait and Tackle at the Coles shopping centre. Doug has a top range of freshwater gear and plenty of hand-crafted timber lures. Support these tackle stores because they will be able to direct you to where the fish are biting and offer invaluable advice. 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

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

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

99 99 99 91 90 88 91 89 87 61 58 56 60 57 59 99 99 97 79 77 76 93 90 99 39 34 38 95 94 89 76 74 72 88 84 81

For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams. All figures are % readings Current as of 18/01/17

(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.) 98

FEBRUARY 2017

Maryborough

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

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Weipa

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

Toowoomba. Formerly called Mullet Gut Marine, the store was responsible for taking my weekly paycheque on many occasions when I was a youngster. Older Toowoomba anglers will know there is a lot of fishing history that goes along with this store and its owners, so it is sad to see it close its doors. There was some confusion when Highfields Bait and Tackle made their move from their old location on the New England Highway behind Subway to the new location at Coles Shopping Centre late last year. Plenty of old customers thought the store had closed down. This isn’t the case. Doug moved his shop to the corner of the main Coles building at the Plaza Circle Shopping Centre. Since the move, he has concentrated on stocking a lot more handcrafted timber lures, which have been very popular. Fish’n’Bits is still in the same location on Alderly street on the Southern side of Toowoomba. Kris and the team have the biggest range of freshwater tackle in Toowoomba and the skills and knowledge to help you use it. fish out in the deep water. These bass are often spread out, so dragging a deep diving lure behind the boat is a good way to cover heaps of water and fool a few. The bass encountered while trolling are often the better quality models with most fish over 40cm and some over 50cm. Just because they are bigger fish, don’t make the mistake of using heavy line. To achieve the maximum depth out of your lures and the best action, stick with a 2-5kg rod and a reel spooled with 4-8lb braided line. This thinner line will slice through the water with less resistance and drive those lures down deep to where the fish are

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rules. The gate hours for the boat ramps and day use area will be extended this month to 6am-8pm. SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The fishing fired up a notch over the Christmas holidays. Plenty of big bass were caught from schools around Pelican Point, Bay13 and Queen Street. In typical Somerset fashion, the lake can be on fire one day and tough the next. When the bass have decided to bite, there have been plenty of double figure tallies in a session with quite a few over 50cm long. Try looking for schooling bass in around 10m of water on the edges of the old riverbed as it wanders past Pelican Point. Other areas have also held fish. From all reports, the bigger ones have been closer to Pelican. Once found, the bass have been responding well to lures with a bit of flash. Spoons and tail spinners have been the standout offerings with blades and soft vibes a close second. Fish are more responsive in the morning and late afternoon would

Using a side image sounder is a fast and accurate way to locate hidden features like logs and rocks. With this unit you can place a cursor over the object and mark it even after you’ve driven past it. see similar activity. During the middle of the day, things have been tough for the lure casters. Switching to trolling is a good way to keep the action going. Trolled deep divers will account for plenty of fish. The secret to trolling lures in Somerset Dam is to get them to run as deep as possible. Use 4-8lb braid and have them swimming around 50m behind the boat while trolling on the outboard. Lures like the Blitz Baga, Little Rippa and JDK Rippa are ideal for this dam, as they can reach over 10m deep if necessary. Tighter schools

MACKAY REGION KINCHANT CLOSEST TOWNS: MACKAY, MIRANI After heaps of rain in the Mackay area, the dam has had local runoff and been pumped full of dirty water from the Pioneer River. The barra fishing has been tough for some time and will start to improve over the coming month as the fish adapt. Look to the flooded grass areas and try fishing lightly-weighted plastics or surface lures. If you are planning on fishing Kinchant, Teemburra or Eungella, be sure to call in and see Bruce and Ash at Nashy’s Compleat Angler on Harbour Road, North Mackay. Ash works in the store, but also as a fishing guide on the lakes. Some firsthand information as to where they are biting always goes a long way. Nashy’s has

a great range of tackle suited to the dams as well as all the other fishing options the Mackay area is blessed with. You can call the store for more information or to put some gear on hold on (07) 4957 2272. TEEMBURRA CLOSEST TOWNS: PINNACLE, MACKAY Teemburra has also dirtied up after the inflow from the Mackay area rain. The dam would usually stay quite clear but the floodwater coming in actually ran dirty in both creeks and this had a significant effect on the water colour. The basin of the lake is stained and more fishable than the water up the arms. As the dam settles, the fishing should improve this month. Look for barra over the newly flooded grassy areas. Flooded grasses seem

Fishing into the night can be the secret to getting bites from barra. Adam Krautz nailed this fine specimen when the fish became more active and started cruising past the boat after dark.

can also be targeted by trolling tail-spinners. Motor along using the electric at 2km/h and have your tail-spinner out 50m behind the boat. This should see an 18g Jets tracking at about 10m deep. Check out How to Troll Tail Spinners on Youtube. Mixed in with the bass will be quite a few golden perch. These fish will also take trolled lures along the riverbed drop offs in the mid-section of the dam. Goldens can also be targeted along the rock walls around Pelican Point and opposite the Spit. To the north of to attract plenty of bait life and the barra won’t be too far away. Surface lures like the Cultiva Tango Dancer or Rapala Skitter Pop are perfect for probing this water. A weedless rigged soft plastic like a PowerBait Rib Shad or Reflexion Swimbait can also be worth a toss into the shallows. Slow and shallow presentations are most likely to do the trick. Other options worth playing with will be a twitched shallow running hardbody and a slow rolled glidebait. PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH With rain in the hills at the back of the dam last month, there was some inflow at the top end of the lake. This saw barra caught in the Proserpine River around the trees where the water was pushing in. The bite here will slow down if the water stops pouring in. The basin of the lake close to the dam wall has been producing some of the best action. Lure trollers are catching plenty of fish on deep diving lures fished around 7-10m deep. Metre plus specimens are common here and can be found in tight concentrations at times. The fish tend to come and go and will often bunch up around a tide change in the salt or late in the afternoon just before dark. Lure casters are also finding these deeper water fish, which will suspend in the deepest water of the lake. Using a sounder to pinpoint a concentration

Kirkleigh, switch to a shallower offering, which runs 6-8m deep and explore the timber and drop offs. Bait fishing will be exceptional if you are able to score some live shrimp. The river below the dam has always been a reliable place to set some shrimp traps. If you are staying in the campground below the dam wall, there are several tracks leading down to the water’s edge. Traps can be baited with cat food or pilchards, as these really seem to attract shrimp well. Some tackle stores sell live shrimp. Fish’n’Bits Toowoomba and Highfields Bait and Tackle are two stores that definitely carry them. For the latest reports, check out Somerset Fishing Tackle online and on Facebook. The store has now closed in Kilcoy and moved to the dam. The trailer can be located in the day use area at Kirkeigh where it will be open every day over the school holidays. The opening days are due to be re-evaluated and you can expect them to be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week. Somerset Tackle has a great range of lures and gear suited to fishing the dam. of fish is the key when casting. There is a lot of barren water between the fish, so understanding your sounder is very important. Once found, these barra will fall for bigger soft plastics slowly wound through the school or a hopped vibe like a Transam or Samiki vibe. It is important to present the lure close to the depth where the barra are suspending. For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake, call Lindsay or Dane at Barra World on (07) 4945 4641. The store has just ordered in heaps of new tackle and will stock a bigger range of gear from this month. Barra World is right on the highway in Proserpine and specializes in barra fishing tackle as well as catering to the needs of anglers fishing the nearby estuaries and offshore.

They also have the knowledge and skills to help steer you in the right direction. Call in and see them or consider doing a phone or online purchase, as they mail order fishing gear all over the place. For some of the most competitive prices around, visit the website www. somersetfishing.com.au. MAROON CLOSET TOWNS: BOONAH, BEAUDESERT The weed beds at Maroon continue to produce plenty of bass. Early and late sessions using surface lures will see you in with a good chance of nailing some bass. Last month the better quality surface fish were a bit over

40cm long. During the brighter parts of the day, switch to soft plastics, beetle spins, spinnerbaits, tail spinners and blades and fish them around the edges of the weed. Bait fishers will catch plenty of bass next to the weed edge on live shrimp. The occasional golden perch can also be caught on bait. Try the points where the weed protrudes out into the dam or out from the left-hand bank in the start of the timber. Position the boat where the sounder shows the weed finishes and the bottom is clear or in about 5-7m of water.

Big bass are still on offer at Lake Somerset. Early morning will be the best time for casting spoons and tail-spinners to these fish.

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SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA MacDonald is a prime location to fish some topwater offerings early in the morning. The weed growth has really taken over. Finding where it is just below the surface and working lures over the top will draw strikes. Walk-the-dog stickbaits like the Cultiva Zip’n Ziggy are perfect for

this approach. Use plenty of stealth when you are moving along on the electric and try to place long casts over the weed to avoid spooking fish. When you’re hooked-up, don’t hold back and go hard with a high rod angle to keep the bass out of the vegetation for as long as possible. Usually the fish will make it into the weed. If you can take some energy and fight

WIDE BAY AND BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY Trolling will be very effective this month. Suspending bass and golden perch will be found in the basin of the lake, through the Narrows, the Barbers Pole and at the Junction. Most of the suspended fish will hold at 7-8m deep, so choose a hardbody lure capable of reaching them. For fishers using mono lines or heavier braids over 14lb, deeper lures like the Smak 19 or Golden Child will be needed to reach the fish. Shallower offerings will be capable of reaching the same depth when running 4-8lb

braided line. In this case, lures like the Brolga, Smak 16, 3m Poltergeist and No.3 StumpJumper are ideal. Darker lure colours have been most popular. In the timber, the fish have been quite pressured and are getting harder to catch. Casting spinnerbaits can be successful in this area. Lure casters can also catch plenty of fish up near the dam wall in deep water out in the middle when there aren’t many other boats on the dam. With fishing pressure, these bass quickly disperse. Bass to Barra in Kingaroy carries a great range of trolling lures and other lures suited to freshwater fishing. The staff there are experts on

out of them before they bury you, you will stand a better chance of getting them and your lure back. Soft plastics, blades and spinnerbaits will be good offerings during the daylight hours. Fish these tight to the weed drop-offs. Rip them out if they become weeded up and continue fishing. Lures tearing out of the weed can often be a bite trigger. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL There will be a lot their local dams, so be sure to ask a few questions and get pointed in the right direction. 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. BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI The lower half of the lake has been great for lure trolling. The falling water level has concentrated fish numbers in this area

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around the tight structure lining the edges. Saratoga are often the target when edge fishing and they are still about in good numbers, as you venture further up the lake. The toga aren’t a fussy fish and will take all types of lures including small hardbodies, spinnerbaits, plastics and surface lures. I like to fish a 75mm paddle-tail plastic rigged on a 1/4oz jighead and beetle spin frame. This lure is great for exploring

heaps of water, ideal around the weed and the single hook can produce a better hook set in the toga’s bony mouth. 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.

Topwater lures like the C’ultiva Tango Dancer are perfect for tempting bites from Lenthalls barramundi. and also introduced a few all set up with a great range bigger lure. If by chance boating hazards. If you are of tackle if you don’t happen you encounter a larger unfamiliar with the lake, to have the right lure or lose fish, you can guarantee take it slow. The islands and one. Be sure to call in and the lure will be able to Lightning Ridge can be just check it out. Give them a handle any abuse the fish below the surface and will call for accommodation and dish out. destroy your prop if you camping bookings on (07) Smaller topwater lures, run aground on them. If you 4168 4746. which are more suited to have a Lowrance or Simrad bass or mangrove jack, LENTHALLS sounder, make use of the will also draw plenty of CLOSEST TOWN: Insight Genesis map feature, interest from the smaller MARYBOROUGH which provides detailed Lenthalls Dam has been class of barra. Skimming contour maps of the dams. fishing well for bass and a soft plastic frog over Lure trollers have been barra. Bass fishers have had broken weed beds in the having plenty of success success along the steeper shallows can be a way on 5/8oz spinnerbaits. The and medium tapering banks. to single out the bigger Smak and Smako models Casting TN60 Jackalls or barra. Soft plastics rigged have been working a treat similar lipless crankbaits on weedless jigheads like when trolled using the is a great way to explore the Owner Beast Hook can outboard motor. The key is water. Work these lures be used to extract barra to fish them on lighter lines down the weed edges and holding tight to the weed. of 4-8lb braid. The light, bounce them off any nearby I like to hop and slow roll thinner line slices through drowned timber. Always Transams down the weed the water and ensures they keep an eye on the sounder, face. The lighter gauge reach their maximum depth. as bass may be found in hooks on these lures rip If trolling hardbodies, schools outside the weed through the weed well. opt for lures with smaller edge. If these fish are found, You can accurately fish bibs and less action. These good numbers can be caught them close to the weed lure styles seem to draw by hopping blade baits and pop them out to keep more interest from the through them. them clean. dam’s bigger fish. Even The barra most willing As darkness falls, the working a bibless lure like to take lures have been the barra will start to move the TN60 Jackall behind smaller models of 50-60cm. more and can be seen the boat can score the better These fish will be lurking cruising through on the quality models. around the shallow weed side image outside the For help catching Bjelke edges and lilies. Barra will weed beds. Here, the fish and Boondooma fish,» call 2 STROKE 4 STROKE OPTIONS be caught on standard come fromOR all over the lake. can into BassE 2 Barra. » The2HP store TOAt90HP soft plastics with the hooks times they’ll be found » SHORT OR LONG SHAFT stocks an F awesome range of in tighter concentrations. exposed or even with an FI IEN our These sweet spots T »stinger gear suited toCchasing C L Ehook. I L E Nadded »areSoften N » Pup RFUofLthe smaller Lenthalls A OW freshwater fish and theTstaff Dam has theEbacks have all the knowledge to bays boating restrictions in in the creeks leading WERRIBEE COREY GAUCI MARINE ��03 8763 2565 guide you DAMIEN on howHYDE to use into��0455 the dam. SUNSHINE MARINE 276place. 833 Only 4-stroke or it. You’ll find the store direct It’s hard to beat surface WALLAN DAYS MOTORCYCLES & MARINE ��03 5783 3500 Injection 2-strokes AVAILABLE at 119 Youngman upATto lure presentations, HINDMARSH (SA) FITCHStreet THE RUBBER MAN ��as08they 8346 (not 5193 carburetted) Kingaroy. Matthew Mott 60hp can be launched on just seem to perform well MOOROOK (SA) MOOROOK MARINE ��08 8583 9185 also runs fishing charters on the lake. A speed limit of 6 all �� day long. Barra-sized FRANKLIN (TAS) FRANKLIN MARINE 03 6266 3768 the dams and you can reach lures like the Cultiva Tango knots applies when on the LAUNCESTON (TAS) C�H SMITH MARINE ��03 6344 1166 him through the store for Dancer surface walker are move. The gates to the boat BURNIE (TAS) BURNIE MARINE SERVICES �� 03 6431 3082 bookings and enquiries on ideal for these fish and the ramp and campgrounds (07) 4162 7555. locked between smaller barra don’t hold are The Yallakool kiosk is back on whacking this 8pm-6am each day.

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less boat traffic in the main basin of the lake this month. Lure casters may find bass on the points or up at Borumba Flat just before the timber. Bait fishing with live shrimp can also be productive in these locations. Just inside the timber, there will be schooling bass, which will fall for soft plastics and blade baits. Quite a few bass have also been taken when fishing spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits

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DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Cooby has fished well over the last month. Golden perch are still the main fish caught and most boats score a few for their efforts. Small Murray cod just below 60cm long have been mixed in. The standout fish, which really got the locals talking, was caught by Kris George from Fish’n’Bits. Kris was fishing with Carl Jocumsen and Nathan Palmer targeting the lake’s bigger cod. He was using a Megabass Magdraft soft plastic swimbait

effective and doubles as a good casting lure too. If fish are spotted outside the weed edge, you can slow the boat down and work these sinking lures closer to the bottom by retrieving or hopping them back to the boat. Some goldens are still being taken by hopping blades. The Ecogear ZX40 remains the number one fish taker and accounts for most of the bites when using this approach. It is best to find a few fish in open water before you start hopping blades. There aren’t a lot of big schools this year as the golden perch seem to be spread out in all depths and

Blake Ehrlich peppers a rocky outcrop with a spinnerbait in Leslie Dam. These rocks are home to Murray cod. Not all fish are visible to the naked eye and may need to be located on the sounder. when he hooked what the boys had been chasing for several Cooby fishing sessions. The Murray cod was landed and measured 122cm long – an absolute beast of a fish. The weed edges will continue to produce for trollers working their hardbodies in 4-5m of water. Smaller lures like the Halco 3m Poltergeist or StumpJumper No.3 are ideal. I like the darker coloured lures for lure trolling and they seem to remain the best choice when the water is clear. A trolled TN60 Jackall can also be quite

hold all over the lake. Bait fishers will be able to catch goldens, eel-tailed catfish and maybe a cod if lucky when using saltwater yabbies and live shrimp. A few fish can be caught by landbased anglers from the rock wall, which is half way to the dam wall from the boat ramp. There are well-worn vehicle and walking tracks leading to this area. Boat fishers can try from the private ramp or on the northern side of the lake opposite the rock wall.

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA DAM CLOSEST TOWNS: GLADSTONE, BENARABY The fishing has been a bit tougher over the past month. When the weather patterns are stable it has been at its best with many smaller barra reported. These fish are mostly below 60cm, but there is still the chance of a bigger fish up to a metre long and even the possibility of one of the lake’s older fish,

which could be even bigger. With the chance of hooking a larger specimen, it pays to fish a suitable line class just in case. Braided lines of at least 20lb topped with a 60lb leader should suffice. Small hardbodies like the Jackall Squirrel and Lucky Craft Pointer are ideal for working the lake edges and standing timber. These lures can be ripped down to depth and then paused for long periods before twitching them back to the

Position the boat in around 6m of water and fish late in the afternoon as the sun goes down. The lower light level will see the fish venture away from the weed more looking for their next feed. Cooby Dam’s proximity to Highfields and Toowoomba makes it a very popular fishery. If you are looking for somewhere close to home to drop the boat or kayak in, Cooby is worth a visit. The dam hours are now 6am-8pm, which is perfect to fish into the dark for a late arvo cod. Just remember, no outboard motors are allowed to be used on the dam. The concrete boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places. A big electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can be left on the boat but must not be used. Tackle, lures and saltwater yabbies can be purchased from Highfields Bait and Tackle at the Coles Circle Plaza Shopping Centre in Highfields. Call in and see Doug and check out the great range of fishing gear, kayaks and accessories he has on display. LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK Leslie Dam has been fishing very well for golden perch and smaller Murray cod. There seem to be ridiculous numbers of undersized goldens being caught at the moment. This is great for the future. If you are catching these babies, return them quickly and safely to the water to grow up. Mixed in with the small yellowbelly, there have been quite a few nicer fish. Trolling lures in less than 7m of water will put you in with a good chance of catching

fish. Some trolling action will come from the main basin. The upper half of the lake should produce better numbers. The green 3m Poltergeist was very effective on my last trip and we caught fish on a range of lures, which we kept rotating through the day. Lure casters will be able to get into the golden action around the rocky structure on the bottom. It pays to run a side image sounder to pick up rocks or fallen trees out to the sides of the boat. These can be jigged with blade baits or lipless vibes. Bigger lures used around this structure are more likely to produce a Murray cod. Casting the rocky edges of the lake with bigger spinnerbaits is another good way to fool the bigger green fish who call this lake home. Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear 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 Golden perch are still pretty quiet for the lure angler. Most fish have been caught on bait. Try live shrimp around the drop off to the old river and creek beds out from the boat ramp. Fishing along the rock wall can also be worth a shot either very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. These rocks hold plenty of bait and are a good place to toss in your shrimp pots. Murray cod are taking lures. Try trolling the drop offs of the lake leading into the timbered areas. Big lures

Sam Pisani caught this golden perch at Leslie Dam trolling near the Black Boys. like the Kezza Mud Rat and Codculla are ideal for this. If they are dragging bottom, just shorten up the line until they are swimming just above it. Once inside the timber, give casting swimbaits or cod sized spinnerbaits a try around the structure. Fish tight to the trees and allow the lure to sink past your target area before dragging it back through. Cod bites are super aggressive at times and will wake you up in a hurry when things are slow and you’re not ready. The cod come in all sizes at Coolmunda with fish ranging from undersized to well over a metre long. The dam is shaping up to be the best impoundment cod fishing spot in Queensland, so make the most of it while they

are biting. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only one kilometre away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway and 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 and the river below, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

2 Dams

1de stination H

South Burnett

· Boondooma Dam · Bjelke-Petersen Dam ·

The BEST place in QLD to catch Australian Bass and Yellowbelly Adam Krautz has been whacking the Coolmunda cod by fishing big spinnerbaits to the timbered areas. boat. The trees in the basin of the lake and start of each arm will be worth exploring. There are also reports of fish inside New Zealand Gully and along the weed edges on the eastern side of the lake. If you want to tangle with a bigger fish, switch to soft plastics and work the weed edge. Concentrate on points and bays and position the boat a cast away. Fish late in the afternoon as the light fades. Keep a close eye on your sounder for any passing fish as they move just outside the weed edge. Just keep casting. Around the

full moon period, fish can be a little more active and willing to bite better into the night. Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge has a few productive secret spots up New Zealand Gully. The Gateway Lodge is on the way into the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air-conditioned, selfcontained cabins. Each cabin has its own verandah. To book in a stay, give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 4975 0033.

STAY

NIGHTS AND

CATCH

SAVE

of the month BOONDOOMA DAM

BJELKE-PETERSEN

www.lakeboondooma.com.au www.yallakoolpark.com.au FEBRUARY 2017

101

Suzuki Vitara Turbo is the hot hatch to catch BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Suzuki has made an art form of releasing new models at just the right intervals to make a good impression on potential buyers. First came the neat Vitara SUV with a

double the torque of the 1.6L petrol model. Turbo charging sells cars, so Suzuki read the market pretty well and recently introduced the newly revised Vitara with it’s turbo petrol engine outputting 103kW of power and 220Nm of torque linked to the proven 6-speed smooth-as-silk auto

PETROL TURBO THE GOODS The Vitara Turbo petrol, whether in front wheel drive auto or all wheel drive auto – the latter is called the All Grip – is that much better performing, quicker in response and more fun to drive all round. The new comer’s turbo charging tells the story.

Like a lot of modern SUV wagons, the Vitara offers ample room for storage of fishing tackle. Love that high lift boot lid.

Looking every part the SUV, the Vitara is a handy vehicle for the young and young at heart. four-cylinder 1.6L petrol engine in both manual and auto guise, outputting 86kW of power and 156Nm of torque. Then the punchy 1.6L common

gear box. For my money, there has never been much to complain about with any of the Suzuki Vitara models. I enjoyed driving the 1.6L

Red highlighting within the Vitara’s cabin is a definite eye-catcher. rail direct injection turbo diesel (another fourcylinder engine) came onto and stole the scene, thanks to it’s well-tuned output of 88kW of power and 320Nm of torque –

manual petrol last year for a road test of country and city driving. I enjoyed the ride, the balance of the little wagon and the high seating position that comes with any of the Vitara range.

The 1.6L petrol auto sprints to 100km/h in 12.5 seconds, according to Suzuki, whereas the Turbo petrol slices the time back to 9.5 seconds. Tests by another independent reviewer saw the 0-100km/h figure consistently timed at around the 8.4 second mark. That’s some food for thought there. Those figures might not do much for die-hard petrol-heads, but for work away from the traffic lights or highway overtaking, there is plenty of get up and go in reserve. One of the more pleasing aspects of the new 1.4L Turbo petrol power plant is the way it’s cosseted by the 6-speed auto to cater for a long work life. At 110kph, the engine is sitting just on the 2000rpm mark. A lack of appreciable turbo lag means instant response to right foot input at any speed whatsoever. The same engine, with all it’s willing performance, is

$16,999 www.hardkorrcampers.com.au 102

FEBRUARY 2017

as quiet as a sewing machine at idle, hardly noisier under hard acceleration. Linked to the 6-speed automatic are seamless shifts. Only the tacho’s movement really indicates what’s happening within the engine and drive train. The Hungarian-made Vitara has wheel paddles for those drivers who like to take charge of the gear changes. On a road with some hill or a series of bends to negotiate, the Vitara’s welltuned suspension setup handles with great ease. The

unit can handle a serious array of road conditions. Four driving modes are on hand via a push and turn dial on the centre console. Auto mode sees the front wheels doing the work until tyre slippage is noted, and then the AWD kicks in. Sport mode sees the AWD system engaged for maximum adhesion on bends, and changes to both accelerator and torque characteristics, so the auto unit revs just that bit higher for greater response. Lock mode constantly

The Suzuki’s high standard of finish is easily seen in the seat stitching. powerful braking system and chassis make light work of demanding situations. Off the hard bitumen, the All Grip system of the reviewed

distributes high torque to the rear wheels to generate maximum traction in sticky road situations. Lock automatically moves into

Snow mode at speeds over 60kph. Snow mode provides optimal configuration on slippery surfaces such as snow, ice or mud, in accordance with accelerator or steering inputs at the time. This mode uses sensors to detect slippage and prevent wheel spin by allocating torque to the rear wheels as required. ALL GRIP TOPS THE RANGE The All Grip 6-speed auto as reviewed – the top of the range – featured push button starting, leather trimmed seating and steering wheel, front and rear parking sensors, hill descent control, hill hold control, LED headlights, Apple Car Play, auto electric window, cruise control, a rear view camera linked to the 7” touch screen with it’s many features, red highlights around the dash, seating and other subtle eye catchers. A five star ANCAP rating is standard along with seven airbags. If the cap price service program ($1540 over 3 years) is maintained, Suzuki’s warranty is extended to a full five years. With a 47L fuel tank (premium unleaded, please) there’s a substantial cruising range for the smart looking hatchback with fuel economy figures of around 6.7L/100km. The only downside to the Vitara is the lack of a fullsized spare wheel. It’s a pity given the amount of boot space available, which, even with the 60/40 fold down rear seats upright, is a handy 375L. This extends to some 710L of cargo space with the rear seating right down. To sum up the Vitara Turbo, there’s a lot to like about this well-finished, well-performing SUV with spot-on handling. The only question is: is iwt a hatch or wagon? It’s certainly not troubling buyers! Prices for the Turbo petrol autos are $29,990 for the two-wheel drive version and $32990 for the All Grip, plus onroads for both.

The Vitara’s 6-speed auto unit sees the Turbo taking it easy. On the M1, the tacho hasn’t even reached 2000rpm at over 100km/h.

25th annual Hervey Bay Family Fishing Comp The annual VMR Hervey Bay Family Fishing Competition organised by the Hervey Bay Boat Club Fishing and Social Club will be held from 9-12 March this year at Dayman Park in Pulgul Street, Urangan. This will be the 25th year of the popular event which attracts entrants from all over Australia to participate in an exciting four days of fishing and fun. Each angler can hope to win a prize or two while enjoying the excellent facilities of the Fraser Coast and the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay and Fraser Island. The fun starts on Thursday with cold drinks and hot food available from 5pm. The official opening is at 6pm with lucky draws and spinning wheel raffles. The same goes for Friday through to Sunday. On Sunday from 12pm the fishing prizes will be presented. There will be over $30,000 worth of prizes to win in the spinning wheel raffles and lucky draws, including $1000 cash to win each day. Every senior

This awesome 8.5kg barra would have made a big splash in the Any Other Species category! entrant will be in the senior draws including the Super Draw for an $8000 boat or $5000 cash. Every junior entrant will be in every junior draw including the Junior

Super Draw for an iPad. Many entrants do not fish at all and simply go along to enjoy the atmosphere at the presentations, partake in the food and refreshments

and perhaps win some of the hundreds of prizes and cash up for grabs. You can start fishing immediately after the official opening and there will be

around $10,000 of cash and prizes to win in both the live and dead fish categories. Eligible species in the live section are flathead (live only), bream and whiting, and species eligible for the dead weigh-in are whiting, blackall, bream, golden trevally and coral bream. Also for the seniors there is an Any Other Species category, which excludes flathead, cod, Spanish mackerel, sharks and rays. Daily prizes will be a rod and reel combo for the heaviest fish of each species and the Any Other Species category, plus runner up prizes and 90L ice boxes for the overall winners. Everyone that weighs in a live fish will go into a draw for a Watersnake electric motor and there will be $1000 for the best fish over 5kg in the Any Other Species category. Weigh-in times are Friday and Saturday 8.30am-6pm and Sunday 8.30am-12pm. Draws and presentation times are Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6pm-8pm and Sunday noon to about 3pm. There will be a licensed

bar and plenty of hot food at the Sunrise Rotary caravan. Heaps of Fraser Island ice boxes, cash and fishing tackle are there to win in the continuous spinning wheel draws. Thanks to the excellent support and generosity of The Fraser Coast Regional Council and local businesses, the competition has been a huge success each year, so make plans now to enter this popular event. Entry forms are available at tackle shops in Hervey Bay and Maryborough, at the Chronicle offices and at the Hervey Bay Boat Club, Sporties Club and Pialba Bowls Club. Phone 0407 663 578 or head to the website, www. fishingcompherveybay.org. au. You can also check out the Hervey Bay Boat Club website for information. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; George Duck ENTRY COSTS Senior $40 Junior (17 and under) $10 *Juniors are eligible to enter the Senior section.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2017

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY JUNE

11-12 Feb

Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competition Boondooma

Terry Allwood 0400 860 122

12 Feb

BASS Electric Major #1 Clarrie Hall

www.abt.org.au

18-19 Feb

Mallacoota BREAM Qualifier #1 Mallacoota

www.abt.org.au

22-23 Feb

Gippsland Lakes BREAM Qualifier #2 Gippsland Lakes

www.abt.org.au

9-12 Mar

VMR Hervey Bay Family Fishing Competition Hervey Bay

George Duck 0407 663 578

18-19 Mar

BASS Electric #1 Lenthalls

www.abt.org.au

1-2 Apr

Albany BREAM Qualifier #3 Albany

www.abt.org.au

5-6 Apr

Blackwood BREAM Qualifier #4 Blackwood

www.abt.org.au

8-9 Apr

BASS Electric #2 Toonumbar

www.abt.org.au

29-30 Apr

Hawkesbury River BASS Pro Qualifier #1 Hawkesbury River

www.abt.org.au

20 May

BASS Electric #3 Hinze Dam

www.abt.org.au

20-21 May

Manning River BREAM Qualifier #5

www.abt.org.au

3-4 Jun

Cania BASS Pro Qualifier #2 Cania Dam

www.abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours. Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name. FEBRUARY 2017

103

WHAT’S NEW FISHING AUSTACKLE CRASH CRANK

The Austackle Crash Crank is the new floating crankbait designed for tough targets. It’s perfect for Murray cod, barramundi, mulloway, estuary cod, golden perch, mangrove jack and many more. The Crash Crank’s painted bib increases the profile of your lure while keeping it at a manageable size without the need for heavier rods. You can cast with ease, or troll. The large bib and buoyant body make the Crash Crank easy to work through snags and right into the face of fish, to maximise your catch rates. Boasting top quality design and construction, the Crash Crank has a straight through one-piece internal wire and upgraded VMC hooks and rings. This effective new lure comes in 74mm and 44mm lengths, weighs 35g and dives to 7m. www.austackle.com

GEECRACK MESH ROD COVER

SKELEFISH MUDDIE

A big buck mud crab created in Bigfish’s 3D ‘Skele style’ is latest addition to the Big Fish range. The Skelefish Muddie is illustrated in amazing detail with hints of the green and yellow carapace over the ‘skeleton’ body. The mud crab is posed in different aggressive stances on the front and back of the shirt, and sizes range from X-Small to 5X-Large. Bigfish creates some of the most practical, comfortable and sun protective apparel on the market. BFMaxFlow is a high performance, moisture-wicking fabric that is not only soft to feel, but durable and incredibly cool to wear. The breathability is second to none, and the fabric is rated as UPF50 (excellent sun protection). This apparel is aimed squarely at anglers, and is designed to stand up to the harshest of elements. For full sizing information, or to see the full range of apparel and designs, visit the Big Fish Gear website. Price: RRP $89.95 www.bigfishgear.com

LIVELY LURES MOHAWK

The latest addition to Lively Lures stable is the Mohawk, which is a deep diver for fresh and saltwater fishing. The Mohawk is suitable for both inshore and freshwater species. It dives to 3m plus and can be cast or trolled, and it comes battle ready with #4 VMC hooks. Like all Lively lures it’s built tough to withstand the harsh treatment Australian fish can dish out. Rather than being a two-part plastic lure, it’s made from polyurethane, which provides a stronger end product that is solid bodied with all components built in. This means the lure will stay together and swim even if it has been punctured by sharp teeth. The Lively Lures Mohawk is currently available in 10 fish-catching colours, and you can buy them online direct from the Lively Lures website. For more information and photos look up Lively Lures on Facebook. Price: SRP $15 www.livelyluresonline.com.au

STORM SX BLOOP FROG

DAIWA SALTIST COASTAL RODS

Plenty of freshwater predators live and hunt under thick cover such as lilles, weed mats and tangled branches, but there’s limited ways to fish these areas. That’s where the Storm SX Bloop Frog can change the game! With a well-tested weedless design, the Bloop Frog can be twitched or walked over the thickest cover. The soft body collapses upon strike, allowing for better hook up rate. The chin of the frog stays up at rest, but once twitched, gives off a very seductive ‘bloop’ sound. The frog can be either walked like a stickbait, or twitched like a popper and the long trailer skirt makes for an extra level of attraction. A rear weight is a plus for castability, and at 20g, this little beast can be thrown on the heavy tackle often used to fish frogs. The SX Bloop Frog floats, comes in six froggy colours and the body is 7cm, a perfect snack size for bass, barra, Murray cod or saratoga. www.rapala.com.au 104

FEBRUARY 2017

Most of the damage to a rod’s guide or finish comes when you’re travelling from place to place. Banging around in a rod locker or vehicle can result in tangled rods, lures and line, as well as the possibility of broken tips and scratched guides or blanks. An easy way to avoid all this hassle is to use a mesh rod cover from Japanese company Geecrack. Geecrack Mesh Rod Covers slip on and off with ease. They slide easily over guides, line and even small lures, so you can prerig ready to go. The durable PVS mesh won’t go mouldy when wet, and hooks are easily removed if they get caught in the mesh. Different colours help you easily identify different rods, which is one reason why covers like these are so popular with tournament anglers around the world. There are two models to choose from: a baitcast version (170cm long, 3cm opening), and a spin version (170cm long, 6cm opening). Price: SRP $24.95 www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

Saltist has been synonymous with the Daiwa saltwater range for over a decade, designed and built to handle the punishment from the coastal environment. Inshore lure fishing with soft plastics and hard bodies, using smaller reels and braids has evolved such that a specialist range of light tackle rods is required. With that in mind we introduce the Saltist Coastal rod series. By combining the latest in Daiwa blank technology with a well-designed range of models, the Saltist Coastal opens up a whole new world for the inshore saltwater lure angler. Features include HVF, Fuji Alconite Guides, Fuji reel seats and V Joint. There are five spin models, ranging from the SAC70M (213cm long, 1-piece, medium action, fast taper, 7-21g cast weight, 4-7kg line rating) through to the SAC70XH (213cm, 1-piece, extra heavy action, fast taper, 21-60g, 12-17kg). There is also an overhead model, the SAC70HB (213cm, 1-piece, heavy action, fast taper, 14-50g, 7-12kg). www.daiwafishing.com.au

5 6 visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING HALCO CHROME TIGER COLOUR

After extensive product development and field testing, Halco has expanded its colour range. The new pattern is called R49, also known as chrome tiger. It is now available in the Laser Pro 190, Laser Pro 160, Max 190 and the Max 130 models due to popular demand. Based on a highly reflective body, the R49 chrome tiger features striking body stripes, a jet black back and is paired with a strike-attracting bright red head. The R49 also includes Halco’s unique ‘designed to bleed’ painting technique. When savage strikes take off some of the outer paint, they reveal a blood red colour underneath. This makes the lure look like a wounded baitfish that would make an easy meal. To check out the complete Halco colour range, head to the Halco website. It has recently been redesigned with extra features and videos, so it’s well worth checking out. www.halcofishing.com

GIANT KILLING JIGGING SP RODS

10 12

Majorcraft has unveiled a new giant killer with the release of the Giant Killing Jigging SP range. Four models feature in the range, offering jigging fans an array of choices, weights, and options for their next jigging session. True to their Japanese pedigree, the new Giant Killing rod range is superb in design and refinement, with Cross X Force technology, and ergonomic reel seats and grips combining to make this series stunning in power and performance. Like all Major Craft rods, Giant Killing rods have been selected for Australian fishing conditions. The Major Craft range also includes two-piece spin estuary rods ranging from 7’0” to 7’6”, with a crisp action and light feel. There’s also an offshore spin range, which suits both bait fishing and lure casting. Ranging from 7’0” to 8’3”, these rods are built tough and feature the same high quality Fuji K guides. The Major Craft range also features travel rods and egi rods. For more info check out the Majorcraft website. www.majorcraft.com.au

ZMAN 5” STREAKZ CURLY TAILZ

The popularity of the ZMan 4” StreakZ Curly TailZ in both the fresh and salt has led to the development of the larger 5” StreakZ Curly TailZ profile. This profile features a minnow-shaped body with belly slot for easy weedless rigging or adding a squirt of scent, and its long, lively curl tail is sure to make it a goto for snapper, mulloway, flathead, barra and a variety of other species. The 10X Tough, super-soft and flexible ElaZtech plastic allows you to catch more fish per lure, while having a realistic feel that keeps fish biting. The buoyancy of ElaZtech also ensures the plastic has a tail up ‘feeding’ pose when at rest on the bottom, which attracts fish and triggers strikes. As well as being a deadly profile on its own, the ZMan 5” StreakZ Curly TailZ is also sure to prove popular as a spinnerbait or ChatterBait trailer. It’s available in eight colours with four per pack. Price: SRP $11.50 www.tackletactics.com.au

SHIMANO OCEA SPOUTER

The Ocea Spouter is a surface lure like no other. It looks pretty much like your standard cup-faced surface popper, but an internal chamber behind the face squirts a rooster tail of spray out behind the lure’s head as it is swept through the water. The principle is not unlike the front of a jet engine on a plane, being narrow in the front and then widening internally. The internal chamber also aerates the water, creating even more whitewater and commotion than a standard cup-faced popper. With a low down tow point, it is also a lot easier to work than a conventional cup-faced popper and therefore gives lots more ‘pop’ for far less effort. Heavy-duty in-line single hooks rigged on 150lb breaking strain split rings demonstrate that this lure is all about big fish business. It’s available in two sizes — 120 and 150mm, with casting weights of 52 and 94g respectively — and five colours ranging from clear through to multi-shaded. www.shimanofish.com.au

DAIWA J-BRAID X4

Supreme line management is critical for longer casts with fewer knots. Daiwa J-Braid X4 PE boasts all of that, with a smooth, round profile design that wraps neatly and evenly onto the reel spool. Being a four-strand braid, it’s also one of the more affordable options on the market. Perfectly suited for spin and overhead reels, and available in bulk spools, J-Braid X4 is colourfast, and the multicoloured version is metered in 10m, 5m and 1m increments, making it ideal for offshore applications. The casting distance of J-Braid X4 is complemented by its thin diameter – but don’t be fooled. Despite being thin, J-Braid is strong. The multi-coloured version is available in 20-80lb breaking strains, so strength is never an issue. J-Braid X4 also displays excellent abrasion resistance to give you confidence to fish it in even the heaviest structure. In field testing, this is where this braid really excelled. Daiwa J-Braid X4 is available now in 135m, 270m, 300m, 500m and 3000m spools. www.daiwafishing.com.au

AUSTACKLE MURRAY 12 COD SHIRT Step out in style with a new design Murray Cod sublimated fishing shirt from Austackle. This lightweight, superfast drying shirt will ensure you stay comfortable all day long. These shirts are long sleeved and without a cuff so you can stay cooler, while still having the flexibility to raise a sleeve if you so desire. The fabrics have been thoroughly tested both on and in the water to meet demanding Aussie conditions. These shirts will not shrink or fade, and they are rated to UPF50+ to give you maximum sun protection. The Austackle Murray Cod Shirt is available in kids sizes 4, 8, 12 and 14, and adult sizes XS through to 6XL. See the Austackle website for sizing information, or ask your local tackle store to try one on. Price: SRP $65 www.austackle.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au FEBRUARY 2017

105

WHAT’S NEW FISHING NEW PACEMAKER COLOURS

Renowned for its high speed trolling ability, the Pacemaker is now available in two new colours: UV squid and mahimahi. Pacemaker’s sleek design has been tweaked and fine-tuned to allow you to troll faster with a wider trolling spectrum to attract a variety of aggressive fish species. The ideal troll speed is 6 knots for most pelagic species, which the Pacemaker handles with ease, but it can increase its speed up to 15 knots in most models. Structurally sound, the Pacemaker incorporates a one-piece stainless steel welded wire, heavy-duty split rings, VMC 3X Perma steel hooks, realistic eye, prism tape insert and the original Samaki-designed colour concepts including slimy mackerel, yellowfin tuna, stripy and pilchard. These lures are available in 140mm and 180mm lengths in two diving depths each, ranging from 2m to 8-10m. They’re dynamite on tuna, mackerel, wahoo, barramundi, kingfish and more. For information and stockists visit the Samaki website, or follow them on Facebook and Instagram. www.samaki.com.au

WILSON’S VENOM STICKBAIT RODS

The 7’11” two-piece Venom Stickbait rods are built on the Venom patented himodulus blank, coupled with Fuji Silicone K-Frame guides to give exceptional casting performance. The softer tip of the Venom Stickbait rods give better action to stickbaits and allows the angler to work the lures through calm and rough conditions perfectly. Tested in the brutal fishery of Wreck Reef, the Venom Stickbait rods accounted for all the target species including Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, dogtooth tuna, red bass and coral trout. Two rods are in the range; the Stickbait 1 is a 30-50lb braid rated rod that can cast stickbaits between 25-100g, and the Stickbait 2 is a heavy rod that is rated for braided lines from 4060lb and can cast larger stickbaits between 40g and 150g. Custom shaped slender grips finish off these exceptional rods, giving the angler more feel and control when the pressure is on. When casting distance is a premium, you can be sure the Venom Stickbaits will deliver it and have the strength to manage any encounter. www.wilsonfishing.com.au

LUNKERHUNT ZMAN PINK FISHING 14 POPPING FROG SHIRT The Lunkerhunt Popping ZMan’s popular fishing shirt is now available in pink. This quality, lightweight shirt has a UPF45 sun protection rating. It has a collar, long sleeves, zip front and is manufactured from dye sublimated, quick dry material, ready for your next big fishing adventure. Additionally, the quality of the manufacture means it won’t fall apart. This shirt is absolutely perfect for keeping the sun off this summer, and at an affordable price too! The initial run of sizes available includes kids sizes 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14, along with adult sizes XS, S, M, L and XL. These shirts are available to order now from your local tackle store or online from the Tackle Tactics website. Get in now while stocks are available. Price: SRP $49.95 www.tackletactics.com.au

NEW KNELLER TIMBER LURES

Paul Kneller began making lures 24 years ago under the banner of Deception Lures, which he sold in 2004. Now, after opening a tackle shop with his wife Cheryl, and taking a break from lure designing, Paul is back with a renewed passion for lure making. He’s hard at work creating timber lures with incredible detail. One new models is the Chernobyl Shad 55FD, a 55mm fat-bodied all rounder for bass, bream, flathead, EPs, trout, sooties and more. It dives to around 3m, with a great crash dive on retrieve. It weighs 6g but casts surprisingly well, even off a baitcaster outfit. Another model is the Toxic Shock 70F, a 70mm long wakebait. With a subtle stabbing of the rod tip you can make it walk the dog just below the surface, and when paused it quickly floats back to the surface. This retrieve lets you keep it in the strike zone for a long time. Alternatively, you can slow roll it back, bringing the big tail wag into play. The Toxic Shock 70F is a great lure where a more subtle presentation is required, especially in hard fished areas. Weighing 8g, they cast really well off baitcast or spin tackle. w w w. a u s t r a l i a n l u r e s h o p . c o m . a u / knellerlures 106

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PRODUCT GUIDE 13

Frog calls fish in from afar by creating a surface disturbance. The Frog’s concave face catches water, creating a commotion with popping and spitting noises. Once the fish come over for a look, the lure’s lifelike swimming legs convert looks into explosive strikes. Fitted with a strong double hook, the Popping Frog is as weedless as they come, with a super soft body that allows for excellent hook ups and lifelike feel. The Popping Frog’s super-soft hollow body compresses quickly under the slightest amount of pressure. When it does, the sharp, high quality upturned hooks are ready for the hook-set. These lures generate tons of action with minimal movement. They can be worked along edges, through grass, in pockets and on open water. The swimming legs extend on each action and retract on the pause, just like a live frog. These floating lures are available in 40mm (1/4oz) and 55mm (1/2oz) sizes, and come in a wide range of colours. www.ejtodd.com.au

WILSON LURE WRAP

Seeing a need to protect the blanks and guides of rods from lure damage in transit, Wilson Fishing has developed the 26cm x 15cm Wilson Lure Wrap. The Lure Wrap encloses the lure and the rod, stopping the lure from banging around while you are underway. The damage that can be caused to a rod blank, the bindings and the guides can be quite significant if you travel distance in a boat with lures rigged, as almost all of us do. The Wilson Lure Wrap stops this damage by protecting the rod blank from a wildly swinging and swaying lure. Additionally the Lure Wrap reduces the risk of anglers catching themselves on the hooks of rigged lines and allows for better storage of rigged rods, whether in rod lockers or in rod stands. Coming in packs of two, the Wilson Lure Wraps are simple, effective and one of those products that you can’t believe you didn’t think of yourself. www.wilsonfishing.com

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING

Geecrack – If you don’t already know the brand, you will

The Geecrack Gilling 75SS is a small swimbait that has a enticing action that mimics a baitfish.

came from nowhere to eat the lure. On top of this, the Mustang 50’s castability was excellent for a small lure. Those extra couple of metres can sometimes make all the difference. The BB Mustang weighs 10g and comes in 16 colours. GEECRACK SWING CHATTER I first became aware of the Geecrack brand through the Swing Chatter. I had been searching for a chatterbait that had something other than a 4/0 or 5/0 hook that I could use to target bass. My search had proved to be harder than I expected until I came across Swing Chatter. The 2/0 hook size and smaller profile were what I was looking for. I was surprised at the amount of action/ vibration that these lures have, even on the drop. The first fish I caught on the Swing Chatter hit it on the drop, and the many fish that followed came during the pause in a retrieve. The Swing Chatter leaves you in no doubt that the lure is swimming as it should be. The vibration of the blade as it swims is very apparent not only through the line, but through the rod tip as well. The second great feature was the

These days Aussie anglers are familiar with the quality of Japanese fishing lures. However, what many anglers may not know is that the Japanese products in Aussie stores are only a small sample of what is available in Japan. A brand that comparatively few Aussie anglers know of is Geecrack. Australian wholesaler Dogtooth Distribution is set to launch Geecrack in a big way, showing off the brand’s attention to detail and product diversity, which will undoubtedly make it a favourite in 2017. How do I know? Because I put them to the test. The Swing Chatter has a grub keeper so you can add a soft plastic to increase its profile. In this case it is a Geecrack Bunny Hog.

Although small and stout in size, the BB Mustang packs a punch and proved to be the stand-out lure during the author’s trip. GEECRACK TINY GILLING 75SS The Geecrack Gilling is a slow sinking swimbait with a replaceable plastic tail, and it’s available in 165mm, 125mm and 75mm sizes. I hadn’t had a great deal experience with swimbaits, and was keen to try it out. I could see myself seductively twitching the Gilling in pocket water surrounded by weed beds and structure, and rolling it over weed beds or sinking it next to a laydown, before retrieving it along the length of it – all of which it is ideal for bass. I found that the Tiny Gilling casts like a demon on spin tackle, and using a slow roll the segments of the lure produce a lovely tail beat action. It sits about a foot below the surface and is a true baitfish imitation. The area I fished is full of bony bream,

spangled perch and barred grunter, which are the staple diet for the local bass, golden and silver perch. The Gilling 75SS was a very similar profile to these fish, and bass and silvers climbed all over it. There is no doubt that allowing the lure to slowly sink and giving it a twitch occasionally was a great looking retrieve. Unfortunately, on this trip that’s not what the fish wanted. A slow rolling retrieve achieved the best results, with the fish consistently hooked on the forward treble. The Gilling was also at home cast across flowing water, and it had fish ducking out of their hidey-holes to eat it. The 75SS weighs 10g and is available in 31 colour combinations. GEECRACK BB MUSTANG 50 This squat, 50mm hardbody was the surprise packet of the trip. The BB Mustang is a highly buoyant lure, which on a medium fast retrieve, dives to about 1m. It has two segments, with the second segment aiding the lure’s rolling action. For such a small profile lure it has a wide action, and because it’s so buoyant it’s great to work in and over structure. When I say surprise packet of the trip I don’t mean that I didn’t believe it would catch fish, I just didn’t expect it to be the lure to catch fish when no others did! On more than one occasion, sections of the river seemed devoid of fish. However, when I cast out the BB Mustang the fish

TESTED

you can add a soft plastic of your choice. I caught fish with and without the addition of a plastic, with my plastic of choice being another Geecrack lure – the Beat Craw. Swing Chatters are available in 1/2oz, 3/8oz and 1/4oz sizes and come in 22 colours. Geecrack Beat Craw and Bunny Hog It would be remiss of me not to mention the Geecrack Beat Craw and Bunny Hog soft plastics. They are yabby imitation soft plastics that are very lifelike. The Beat Craw

The Geecrack Swing Chatter is a great option if you are looking for a smaller profile chatterbait. is 3” long and the Bunny Hog is available in two sizes, 5” and 6”. I have used them predominately to increase the profile of my spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. The claws create extra vibration and appeal to draw fish to them. The claws of the Bunny Hog in particular have a lot of movement for their size. This movement would also ensure they would also be very effective used on their own on a jighead. The Beat Craw is available in 17 colours and the Bunny Hog comes in 12 colours. CONCLUSION This is only a small cross-section of the Geecrack lures that will be available in Australia in 2017; there are plenty of other options that Dogtooth Distribution will be

Another chunky bass that had to have a crack at the BB Mustang. profile. Most of the chatterbaits I had come across were bulky to say the least. Not only did they have large hooks, they also had big skirts and big blades – great for targeting our bigger natives but less suited for bass. The Swing Chatter’s skirt, by contrast, is sparse, making it more of a finesse bait. And if you do want to increase the profile of the Swing Chatter, you can. Integrated in the head is a grub keeper, so

bringing in. Lures like the Orenta 70 lipless crankbait, the Daisy Spin deep jig or the Sugari 60 suspending minnow all have a place in any native angler’s tackle box. So remember the name Geecrack the next time you are in your local tackle store, and check out the quality of these lures for yourself. If the store doesn’t have them, tell them they should check them out too! - Peter Jung

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

Black Magic Whiting Snatcher and Whiting Whacker

The author with a double hook-up on the Whiting Snatcher paternoster rig. Any Fishing Monthly readers who read my weekly Moreton Bay reports (reports.fishingmonthly.com.au), would know I’m definitely an old school fisherman. A lot of us old schoolers find it hard to change the ways we have always caught fish; it’s a lot easier to stick with the kind of fishing that we know, and to keep using the tackle we have confidence in. Recently I was asked to try out some Black Magic whiting rigs. Now, I have fished for whiting the same way for decades. I have been catching these tasty fish consistently in my local waters for many years, and haven’t changed my approach much at all in that time. I was quite sceptical about trying something new, but I thought it might be interesting just the same. So I said yes, I’d be happy to try them out. Before long a parcel from Black Magic found its way to my doorstep. I opened it up and found some of the recurve circle KL hooks they make for whiting, and also some of their premade whiting rigs. Black Magic makes two different versions of whiting rigs – a paternoster rig and a running rig. Both rigs use fluorocarbon trace and Black Magic’s Japanese KL recurve hooks (a variation on the traditional circle hook). The paternoster rig is called the Whiting Snatcher, and it comes with either pink or green lumo beads for that bit of extra attraction. The running rig is called the Whiting Whacker, and it comes with red

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beads. Both rigs have bright tinsel to add some flash to your bait, with the choice of several different colours. With my new rigs and hooks in hand, I set off to my whiting grounds. PUT TO THE TEST I didn’t take any live bait on my trip. All I brought was the Black Magic rigs, a couple of packets of Berkley Gulp Sandworms, a

hook, and both worked. And yes, as circle/recurve hook fans would expect, all the fish were getting hooked in the side of the mouth. I have to say with this tiny hook I really expected the whiting to swallow it. However, that blurb on the packet about the hook hooking the fish on the side of the mouth was totally correct. It was a surprise to me but I was very happy to be wrong. By the end of the session we had managed over 40 fish, using only eight Berkley Sandworms, the Black Magic whiting rigs, and seven prawns. After this experience I think it’s going to be hard to go back to long-shank red hooks and live worms and many packets of prawns! I figure why would you bother when you can catch that many fish without outlaying all that money on live bait! Even after all those fish we caught, the rigs were in excellent condition. There were a couple of things I would change though. For my specific kind of fishing, which is chasing diver whiting in Moreton Bay, the 15lb trace is too heavy. The packet says the rig is suited for both whiting and small reef fish, which explains the heavier line, but it doesn’t suit the specific fishing I do. I re-rigged the rigs on 10lb line, and the results were significantly better fishing with that light leader and small sinkers. It wasn’t a hassle re-rigging with a different leader; I just used a blood knot and it was fine. I recommend using 8lb or 10lb for this application. Another thing I found was that the paternoster rig was a lot more successful than a running rig. I expected this, having tried running sinker rigs in this area years ago. The problem is weed. When we used running rigs in the old days we were running our hooks through the weed. When we switched to paternoster rigs some years ago, we found the hooks sat nicely above the weed and our catch rates improved significantly. If you’re drifting and you’ve got your line 30ft to the side or back, the first hook is close to the bottom but not right on it, and the second hook is up a bit further again, so you get no weed on your hooks.

All baited up and ready to go. small packet of prawns and a bit of squid. I have to say I was not feeling too confident, but knowing the whiting were there I felt it was time to try these new ways. To my utter surprise, the whiting loved the Black Magic rigs. I tried using a small piece of Gulp Sandworm at the tip of the recurve, and then a small piece of prawn on the

The whiting are happy to come up off the bottom to eat these higher baits, so you don’t have to worry about that. If you’re fishing the surf, however, I’m sure the running sinker rig would be the go. The only other problem I had was that, with my fat fingers, it took me a little longer than usual to get a little bit of bait on the

recurve hooks. I had trouble getting the worms to sit the way I am used to seeing on a hook. Still, it didn’t seem to matter one bit as the fish kept getting hooked. I suspect I just have to accept the idea of the baits sitting in a different way, instead of me wasting time getting them to look the way I’m used to seeing them on a traditional long-shank J hook. RECURVE HOOKS After my first trip I went back out again to try the Black Magic KL hooks with bait. What can I say… they worked, really well!

All the whiting hooked themselves in the corner of the mouth. I tried using both worms and prawns, and found worms to be the best. It’s a bit hard to feed a prawn nicely onto the KL hooks, but the worms go on well. People used to bait fishing for whiting would know that worms can be very expensive, but I found that with these recurve hooks I was able to get away with using a shorter length of worm. On a long-shank J hook I used to use a 1” or 1.5” length of worm, but with the KL recurve hooks I had excellent results using only 0.5” of worm. That was a benefit I didn’t expect. On a subsequent trip I used even smaller pieces – only 1cm long. We ended up catching 50 whiting using only three bloodworms. The KL hooks caught every single fish in the side of the mouth. People who chase other species with recurve/circle hooks would know that you often need to avoid striking, as it can pull the hook straight out of the fish’s mouth. You either wait for the fish to hook itself, or give a slow lift. With these whiting, however, it didn’t matter whether you struck or not. They sucked the worms right in and hooked themselves instantly. In fact, I believe you’re more likely to pull a long-shank J hook out of a whiting’s mouth when you strike, as those hooks lie straight when they get sucked in. All in all, I would definitely recommend giving these hooks and rigs a go – and this is coming from a fisherman who finds change a bit difficult to adapt to. The fact is that they worked. – Spero Kartanos

The ultimate boat test BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again. It’s a mystery to me why the Dudds haven’t been signed up by a boat builder. If there is one group on the planet that would advertise how tough and durable your product is, it would be the Dudds.

Think about this, Quintrex, or Polycraft, or TABS or Seajay. A trial of your hull for twelve months and at the end of that time, you get the naming rights for the hull model. I can see the ad now: Polycraft Ocean Dudd, Proven on the Water. I can see people lining up to get this boat. There are buyers out there who are genuinely hard on their gear, who actually fish like we do –

flat out or go home. And what’s the use of having a sleek craft that looks the goods if it doesn’t stack up to a stack up? That’s like this latest demand to have a wrap on your boat with a picture of a barra with its mouth gaping open and an angry look in its eye. What sort of annoys me is the angry look in the eye, because fish don’t really get angry. They just do what

Matthew Wright, 13, from Burpengary caught this epic 6kg spangled emperor at Mooloolaba.

they’re designed to do, which is eat things. This happens to coincide with our idea of anger, but that’s another column right there, so I’ll block up right at that point. Back to the wraps: personally I can’t think of anything I’d be less likely to order on a new boat if I ever managed to snare one. That wrap becomes a catalogue of all the ridiculously inept decisions I’ve made while behind the wheel of the boat. Why on earth would I leave that out there for people to laugh at? I may as well get a waterproof iPad, stick it on the transom at the ramp, and replay stupid accidents I’ve

had to keep people entertained. But anyway, boat makers, I’ve seen the ads around the place with wannabe Dudds on these ads for beer, or tackle shops or whatever, and these guys are all absolute amateurs. I don’t understand why these companies pay presumably big coin to imposters. Why would you hire the Monkees, if you could pay the same price and get the Beetles? If you want to have people’s respect, why wouldn’t you employ the best and most destructive? These pretend losers haven’t got the same appeal to the masses of boat buyers that we have. The same authenticity, the same cachet.

It’s the Dudds that have got the runs on the board when it comes to carnage. It’s like buying a watch advertised by Adam Sandler when you should be getting George Clooney. Not that I’m comparing the Dudds to George Clooney. Can you imagine him charging into a rock bar on Baffle Creek? Wouldn’t happen. That’s where the Dudds have the market absolutely cornered. Can you imagine one of the Dudds charging into a rock bar on Baffle Creek? Of course you can. But what boat are we in, and how well does it survive? Over to you, Polycraft. Or Quintrex. Or TABS. Whoever.

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FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION EMOTIONS OF AN ANGLER

ANGER ANXIETY BOREDOM CONFUSION DESPAIR DOUBT ECSTASY ELATION ENVY FRUSTRATION

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

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

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Dynabait worms are an all-natural, freeze-dried bait. Just soak them in water, and within minutes they’re ready to go! As soon as they hit the water, they release a potent mix of hormones and enzymes that fish can’t resist. These worms are dynamite on bream, whiting, bass, flathead, blackfish, cod, yellowbelly, trevally and many more! Dynabait Bloodworms, Tubeworms and Sandworms are available at all good tackle stores.

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to C Cleary of Gooburrum, 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

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The subscriber prize winner for December was J Sydes of Bridgeman Downs, who won an Aquayak Kayaks Snapper Pro valued at $599. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE DX POINT LOGO

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

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FEBRUARY 2017

The answers to Find the DX Point Logo for December were: 15, 18, 24, 28, 30, 34, 36, 46, 54, 60, 66, 75, 76, 77, 115. – QFM The Find the DX Point logo prize winners for December were: L Dewar of Roma, L Rojahn of Banyo, B Tieman of Buxton, A Bragg of Mount Isa, G Priestly of Silkwood, R Elworthy of North Bundaberg, T Davidson of Guyra, L Finney of Manumbar, G Miles of Lota, R Taskis of Ashmore, G Vipond of Holland Park, S Whitfield of Broadbeach, H Becker of The Range, G English of Bowen, C Rowe of Loganholme, K O’Brien of Burrum Heads, J Willmann of Windaroo, W Adamson of Tallegalla, A Tretter of Ocean View, B Lobley of Silkstone, G Leverton of Taylors Beach, C Couper of Chinchilla, D Cauchi of Bundaberg, L Pirlo of Modanville, C Hendry of Imbil, M Harrison of Newport, D Gibson of Banksia Beach, E Lezuchowski of Darra, A Jones of Warwick, B Drummond of Mount Warren Park, K Martin of Dalby, B Schmidt of Dalby, F Heiniger of Woombye, R Maynard of Nundah, N Humble of Rockhampton, F Brook of Leeton, G McArdell of Point Vernon, R Ramsay of Taylors Beach, J White of Aspley, T Hodges of Ballina. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

Cooking

Cooking up a storm with a creamy crab quiche BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Lynn wrote an article on extracting crab meat in the August issue of Queensland

Fishing Monthly last year. This month, she follows on with another recipe using crab meat. It’s still the hot crabbing season right now, so there’s time to catch and cook up a feed.

Ingredients: • 1-2 sheets ready-made frozen puff pastry (thawed to room temperature) • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese • 2-3 tbsp Parmesan cheese (roughly grated or shaved) • 500g crab meat • 6 eggs • 1 cup cream • 1/2 clove garlic (finely grated), a bunch of chives.

Scatter all of the crab meat evenly across the top of the cheeses.

Pour the wet mixture into the pastry base.

The wonderful seafood flavour of crab is very apparent in this creamy, cheesy, savoury quiche. The crab quiche can be served hot, cold or at room temperature for a delicious

lunch or light dinner. Here’s a handy hint: you can also use small segments of bay prawns in this recipe. These can be combined with the crab meat. In order to

Line the base and sides of a pie/quiche/ flan dish with puff pastry. You don’t have to lightly oil the dish before you add the puff pastry. Trim any excess pastry from above the lip of the dish (you may omit this step if you prefer a more rustic look).

In a separate bowl, crack all six of the eggs and whisk lightly. Combine the cream with the eggs and whisk until they are thoroughly combined.

With the oven at 375°F/190°C, cook the quiche for 30 minutes in the preheated oven.

maintain the right ratio of ingredients, just keep the seafood meat total to around 500g. Instead of using a single family-sized pie dish, you could use a muffin tray or

single serve pie dishes to make individual quiches. You will need to adjust the time for baking to suit. To get started with this fun recipe, preheat the oven to 375°F or 190°C.

Spread the grated cheddar cheese across the inside of the pastry base. Sprinkle the shaved Parmesan over the grated cheddar.

Blend the grated garlic into the cream and egg mixture. Snip the chives into the mixture. Whisk the chives in.

Cool the cooked quiche slightly for about five minutes to allow it to firm. Cut it into wedges before serving. FEBRUARY 2017

111

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

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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.

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boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 116 Jacks and yaks Inside story...

New Zealand boat designer and manufacturer McLay Boats has a truly comprehensive range of aluminium fishing and trailer boats. New Zealanders who are serious about their recreation aspire to own a McLay, and the demand is now spreading across the globe.

Made for...

These are purpose-built aluminium boats. McLay understands the need for bespoke design, and has experience doing this for New Zealand and overseas markets, whether it’s for charter operators or just to create something a buyer can’t find.

This month...

Steve Morgan catches up with David Garcia from Warragul to give the 581 CrossXOver a run.

Reece Thomas talks about his experiences and offers some advice for catching Gold Coast jacks.

120 Kayak fun in the sun Justin Willmer explains the value of mixing kayaking and relaxation with friends.

122 Health check up

Steve Farmer provides a checklist to go through when you buy a boat second-hand.

124 Final boat fit out New rigs come with a variety of fit out options, as Wayne Kampe explains.

126 Stacer Nomad Ranger 4.89

Steve Morgan and Andrew Stephen take this rig out for a spin on Port Phillip Bay in Victoria.

Go for red on the Gold Coast KAYAK HOTSPOT

Reece Thomas

Every year as summer approaches and temperatures soar into the high 30s, many anglers turn their attention to mangrove jack. If you have ever had the opportunity to land one of these beasts, then you will know why the addiction is overpowering. Last year, my good mate Josh and I set a goal to chase mangrove jack from a kayak, and while this may sound like an impossible task, the kayak provided great advantages like stealth and access to areas that boats couldn’t. We chose to target the tight areas on the Gold Coast, of which there are many. As always, we carefully studied Google Earth, looked through the myriad of little canals with likely jack holding structure and a suitable launch spot for the kayaks. There are literally so many places you can sneak a kayak into once you start to study Google Earth and this had us keen to explore. We would load up either early morning or mid-afternoon and focus our sessions around these times of day. We took a completely different approach to conventional jack fishing and scaled back our gear.

Paddle-tail plastics are a tried and tested method of tangling with Gold Coast jacks.

Fishing the Gold Coast, it’s normal to be fishing right in the middle of suburbia. Most of the areas we fished were heavily pressured by either land-based, boat or paddle craft and the resident jacks had no doubt seen plenty of lures come past their homes, so by changing our approach from the norm, we hoped to unlock a few jacks. We found that early morning sessions were time for topwater lures, and this saw us bringing out the small walkers and poppers and working them tight against any rock wall, pontoon or mangroves. While doing this, it’s a good idea to keep a close

Josh King with an absolute screamer of a Gold Coast jack.

Mangrove jack are such a valuable part of the Gold Coast’s fishery, so most choose to release 99% of their catches.

SEASON

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on 116

FEBRUARY 2017

eye for any surface bust ups or bait movement. Once this window closes, we fished light spin outfits with 10-12lb leaders working small plastics, mainly paddle-tail minnows and grubs from 2.5-3” on lightly-weighted jigheads. We like to cast these parallel along rock walls and work them back to the kayak with a slow roll retrieve. If this slow roll retrieve fails to entice a bite, you can let the plastics sink a little deeper and work it with short erratic hops along the structure or bottom. Another technique that has proved successful is casting small hardbodies from 45-60mm in length, most of these were deep

divers getting down to depths of 2-2.5m. Prime positioning of the kayak is vital to ensure you have these lures running as close as possible to pontoon edges, moored boats and rock walls. For us, the challenge was always going to be extracting the bigger fish once hooked on relatively light gear, and having a paddle style kayak isn’t going to be in your favour. It’s a classic case of ‘you win some, you lose some’, but that goes for all jack fishing. We have, however, adapted a few techniques that we use to extract big snapper from shallow reefs and used these with some success on the jacks.

Last season ended fairly well for us, and saw a few mangrove jack slide into the net and a couple more steam train us into the nearest structure. As usual, there was always the by-catch of cod, bream and trevally to keep us alert waiting for that next jack strike. So next time you’re thinking of heading somewhere new, why not explore the huge network of waterways on the Gold Coast and hit some artificial structure in search of the mighty mangrove jack. By squeezing up where boats can’t, you’ll be in with a chance of hooking into a red devil.

Hardbodies are a great way to probe artificial structure.

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The world’s #1 aluminium fishing boats! Tracker’s outstanding quality and unique manufacturing process have made them the world’s largest boat builder – producing more than 40,000 aluminium fishing boats per year. Their foam-filled, unsinkable, 3mm plate alloy hulls are robotically welded to deliver superior quality at a lower cost – and are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Nitro boats are foam-filled to exceed US Coast Guard survey requirements. This gives you the safety of level floatation, security and comfort – and additional fishing stealth – all backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Tracker’s Pro Guide series is designed with a deep-vee hull for exceptional performance, even in rough waters. Their Diamond Coat finish is a Tracker exclusive that resists oxidation, providing protection and a shine lasting 70% longer. Standard features include a Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance colour sounder, plus tournament-ready live well systems and rod lockers.

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WHAT’S NEW BOATING SUZUKI JOYSTICK CONTROL SYSTEM

The Suzuki Precision Manoeuvring (SPM) joystick control system provides fully integrated electronic throttle, shift, steering and joystick control for twin and triple-powered boats equipped with Suzuki’s high-performance 4-stroke outboard motors. SPM utilises the Suzuki Precision Control (SPC) drive-by-wire throttle and shift controls, combined with electronic power steering and joystick control systems and is available with DF150TG, DF175TG, DF200AP, DF250AP and DF300AP outboard models. While underway at higher speeds, an advanced electronic helm provides steering via a control module, with steering effort and number of turns lock-to-lock completely customisable based on user preference and driving style. At low speeds, the joystick can be engaged, providing integrated throttle, shift and steering control to manoeuver the boat in practically any direction when pulling up to the dock, trailering or navigating through close quarters. www.suzukimarine.com.au

TORQEEDO CRUISE POD DRIVES

The Torqeedo Cruise 2.0/4.0 FP and 10.0 FP (Fixed Pod) deliver the top performance that German company Torqeedo is renowned for. Despite being virtually silent, the pod’s performance is equivalent of 5, 8 or 20hp. These motors are lightweight with an optional folding propeller. The Cruise 2.0/4.0 FP propels boats up to 4 tonnes at over 11 km/h and runs for around nine hours at slow speed; and the Cruise 10.0 FP propels vessels up to 10 tonnes up to 32km/h at WOT, and runs for over six hours at slow speed (boat dependent). There is minimal noise, direct cooling in the water and an intelligent computer. The lithium batteries are far lighter than lead batteries, delivering increased range and power. The pod versions are corrosion-protected, very robust and safe, thanks to an emergency magnetic kill switch and no need to carry fuel. Tests have found that a hull-mounted pod drive decreases performance by less than 0.1 knot, so drag isn’t an issue. Price: from RRP $5610 www.torqeedo.com

NEW HONDA PORTABLE 3 OUTBOARDS

Honda has launched three new portable outboards: the BF4, BF5 and BF6. With weights starting from just 27kg, combined with a new carrying handle design, they’re very easy to transport and store. The tiller handle can be fully folded to make the unit even more compact. These engines are equipped with a Honda’s decompression mechanism, which makes starting the engines a breeze whatever the temperature of the engine. For boaters who are sick of getting a tingly arm from harsh engine vibrations, there are new rubber engine mounts integrated into the outboard to absorb practically all vibrations across the rpm range. Hidden under the cowl is an additional 1.5L of fuel, providing up to 43 minutes of travel at WOT. The BF5 and BF6 can also be connected to an additional external fuel tank. These engines share the same 1-cylinder, 127cm³ engine block and benefit from Honda’s industry leading 4-stroke technologies. The new models are available in short (15”/38cm) and long (20”/51cm) shaft. marine.honda.com.au 118

FEBRUARY 2017

FUSION RV-FS402 SOUND-PANEL

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Fusion RV-FS402 Sound-Panel is a complete, shallow-mount 200W dual speaker system, designed for easy and versatile installation. Encapsulated in a single enclosure, Sound-Panel has dual 4” speakers, tweeters and a passive radiator, all tuned for premium sound delivery. Available in black or white grilles, as well as four mounting optional accessory brackets, Sound-Panel is suited to any size vessel and is engineered with IP65 environmental protection against the harsh marine environment. “In boat design, proper location of stereo components is often an afterthought,” said Chris Baird, Managing Director of Fusion Entertainment. “Until now, installers would put speakers wherever they had room, usually overhead, resulting in poor sound quality. Our new Sound-Panel’s powerful components allow for a single, easy-to-install unit to provide superior sound quality with minimal space. If you install a TV, you can mount Sound-Panel just underneath it for a true theatre experience. Whether sitting at anchor or [underway], SoundPanel will let you feel every note in your playlist.” www.fusionentertainment.com

LOWRANCE PRICE DROP

Lowrance has announced a price drop across its HDS Gen 3 range of multifunction displays. Buyers can save $300, $400 and $500 on the 7”, 9” and 12” models respectively, regardless of whether purchasing a head unit only or a transducer package. HDS Gen3 combines a fast processor with enhanced built-in fishfinder and chartplotter technologies. CHIRP, StructureScan HD and StructureScan 3D sonar imaging produce a distinct view of fish holding near the bottom and structure. A multi-touch display and full keypad operation offer fingertip access to all features. It’s all designed to be easy to learn, with operations similar to a smartphone or tablet. HDS Gen3 displays network together, so multiple units may be employed at the helm to allow full screen sonar and chart, or additional units on a casting deck. This system also offers full boat integration. The new RRPs for HDS Gen3 when optioned with a TotalScan Transducer are $1699 (HDS-7), $2899 (HDS-9) and $4199 (HDS-12). Other transducer options are also available. www.lowrance.com

YAMAHA F90

Yamaha’s new lightweight F90 4-stroke is equipped with a 4-cylinder, 16-valve in-line SOHC 1.8L engine, with bigger displacement than the previous generation 1.5L engine it replaces. The bigger F90 is nearly 10kg lighter than the old engine, resulting in improved performance and better balance when fitted on hulls in this category. The F90 is based on the F115B’s 4-cylinder power unit. The design allows the F90 to achieve the weight savings of a single camshaft while still achieving the smooth and efficient performance only seen in 16 valve, 4-cylinder engines of this size. The F90 delivers a 10% improvement in fuel economy, and it’s also very smooth and quiet. It shares the same installation mounting holes as other outboards of similar sizes, making for an easy switch from a twostroke or other brands. It’s compatible with Yamaha’s command link digital gauges, and is also NMEA2000 compatible. www.yamaha-motor.com.au

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

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BRISBANE SOUTH

SUNSHINE COAST

Springwood Marine

BUNDABERG

White Water Marine

10 Hinde St, Ashmore 07 5532 4402 www.whitewatermarine.com.au • sales@whitewatermarine.com.au

GLADSTONE

Steve Fleetwood Marine

10 Morgan St, Gladstone 07 4972 9463 sfmarine@tpg.com.au

Caloundra Marine

8 Baldwin St, Caloundra 07 5491 1944 www.caloundramarine.com.au • sales@caloundramarine.com.au

3475 Pacific Hwy, Springwood 07 3297 8200 www.springwoodmarine.com.au • sales@springwoodmarine.com.au

GOLD COAST

Angus Smith Marine

6 Plume St, South Townsville 07 4771 4046 www.angussmithmarine.com.au • boats@angussmithmarine.com.au

Adrians Marine Centre

28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg 07 4153 1819 www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au • adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com.au

Kayak fun in the sun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Hopefully you managed to get the kayak on the water over the holiday break and find a fish or two. There were no extreme fishing trips for me over the break. I got the yak in the water to introduce some newbies to the sport, and to spend some time paddling with friends that wouldn’t consider themselves hardcore anglers. These trips reinforced to me that our sport is so much more than just fishing. It’s the adventure, the mateship, interaction with nature, scenery, the serenity. Then on top of all of this, there’s still the fishing.

RUBY’S MORNING ADVENTURE My first adventure was with Miss Ruby, a nineyear-old who has been doing a bit of land-based bait fishing with dad, but never paddled a kayak. Our plan was to paddle about a kilometre, mostly in the shallows, then pull our kayaks up onto a sandbank where we would fish for Ruby’s first flathead. Ruby is a pretty adventurous young lady and took most things in her stride. Anything she was unsure of we worked at slowly and systematically. After wheeling her kayak to the water, it was PFDs on and then we played around in the shallows for fifteen minutes or so, as Ruby learned how to propel the kayak. We turned left,

kayak up onto the beach, so that it was easier to jump out. Then it was into the fishing. We had a few casts with my go-to plastic and then I suggested changing to my wife’s favourite, which worked, of course. I was casting, Ruby was retrieving and hopping the plastic, and then screaming as a flathead grabbed her lure and sped off across the shallows. I reassured her that all was good, to take her time. After a couple of minutes, we had a flathead in the net. It was her first flathead and she chose to keep it for her and her dad to have for dinner. A dozen casts later and it was fish on again. This fish ate the soft plastic as Ruby was lifting it. The strike was brutal, followed by a first run that took some drag and saw a big smile on Ruby’s face as she fought it more confidently. Around 42cm, this one was destined to become fillets for Ruby’s grandparents, who had looked after her over the holidays. The tide turned to run-out and we made the call to paddle the short distance back

Ruby looking cool while she learns the basics. Note that she has her water bottle and PFD. to our prearranged pick up point. The wind picked up as predicted and was blowing against us. Ruby had plenty of stories to tell, we had both had a great time, created some great memories and as Trace Adkins sings, ‘she thinks we’re just fishing.’ ISLAND LUNCH My wife Sheri planned the second adventure. It was to be a few kilometres of paddling

across the Pumicestone Passage for lunch and a swim on the inside of Bribie Island, north of Brisbane. Joining us were our friends Aimee and Toby, who wouldn’t consider themselves hardcore, but they definitely enjoy wetting a line. We had a great day on the water and you can probably think of a spot in your home waters where you can paddle a few kilometres, escape the

Ruby was interested in what her flathead had been eating, so she investigated while filleting. I’d like to share a couple of these adventures and then break down a few aspects that made these missions successful. There’s also a few things you can keep in mind when paddling and fishing with kids, newbies or softcore anglers. With more people getting into the sport and plenty more kayaks sold this Christmas, we have the opportunity to assist these new paddlers and ensure they have a comfortable, safe and productive introduction to the sport we love.

right, paddled backward and managed to avoid crashing into the mangroves before we pushed out a little deeper and allowed the current to guide us in our direction of travel. Along the way we spotted jellyfish, stingrays, birds and I ensured that Ruby was comfortable and tracking okay. As her confidence in her paddling and stability grew, we took more time to enjoy the sights and chat. We then talked about leaning back in the kayak, paddling a little faster and sliding the

Sheri and Toby headed for their island destination. 120

FEBRUARY 2017

Ruby’s first flathead caught on ZMan 3” MinnowZ.

crowds and enjoy lunch, a swim and a fish. We set off and caught the tide, travelling as a group to ensure that we were more visible to boat traffic and stopping at one flat for a quick flick on the way. I managed one flathead that was kept to fillet up for the guys to take home. Then we decided to head for our destination, as the forecast was for strong afternoon winds that would be pushing us home. We pulled the kayaks up on the sand, under the shade of a tree, enjoyed our bread rolls and fruit salad, and then had a swim and a flick while standing waist deep in water. It was relaxing, fishing and chatting with a magnificent backdrop of the Glasshouse Mountains. It’s definitely not all about the fishing. We had a few bites on the soft plastics, almost landed a longtom, fed some of our bread roll to whiting, gar and herring that were swimming around our feet, and spotted a small squid that was netted for closer inspection before being released again. It was a great catch-up and as a bonus, we planned a future lightweight kayak camping adventure further up the Pumicestone Passage. With the wind forecast to blow up with the turn of

A relaxing way to wet a line on a hot day.

the tide, we opted to head for home. As the tide began to run out, the wind kicked up and pushed us in the right direction. It was a good call to leave before the winds became strong, as it became quite rough while we were packing gear and loading kayaks. It had been a great day kayaking, swimming, adventuring and fishing, even without catching loads of fish.

Here’s a few reasons why these missions were successful and a few things to keep in mind when paddling and fishing with kids, newbies and beginner anglers. TIDES WIND AND WEATHER The tide can be your friend. Use the tides to move you to and from your fishing, swimming or camping destination. If anything goes

Just one of the many creatures you can see on a kayak fun fishing trip.

wrong with you or your gear, it’s much easier to journey home with the tide. Keep an eye on websites like Seabreeze and Willy Weather. The last thing you need is to be paddling or fishing with a beginner in poor weather, or battling strong winds, especially on a long paddle home. On both of these adventures, we planned to make the most of the morning weather, used the forecast winds to carry us home and were off the water before the wind reached 20 knots. FISHING We all say ‘a fish is a bonus’ or ‘it’s not all about the fishing.’If you carry this attitude into these adventures, you’re likely to enjoy them more. In fact, if the session does produce a fish, it can actually be more enjoyable than a hardcore fishing session where catching is the primary objective. I prefer not to fish most of the time when guiding kids and newbies. Instead I ensure they’re geared up correctly, casting in the right spots and working the lure effectively. I talk them through all of the little things that we take for granted when fishing. At the end of the day, this will help make them a better angler that we can share future adventures with. KAYAK OR LAND-BASED Just because you’re adventuring in the kayak doesn’t mean you have to fish

we can bring them together for the ultimate kayak fishing experience.

my kayak, allowing them to paddle more freely and be less concerned about losing gear

Ruby had a great morning out and caught a couple of flatties for a feed. PFD AND GEAR Make sure they’re wearing a foam-filled PFD and explain that if they tip the kayak, just float around. You can even have a swim with the kayak and PFD in the shallows and climb in and out of the kayaks a few times before your adventure. I carry the icebox, net, lip grips, fishing rods and other gear on

while their confidence grows. It’s a good idea to talk about clothing when planning your adventure. Your paddle buddy should be dressed for the adventure, location, weather and sun. Make sure you carry plenty of cool drinks and food to avoid hunger, thirst and that angry little monster that can come out of any of

A nice flatty for the table – just add chips!

This is a nice shady point to stop and have lunch.

Ruby’s second flathead. She was confident enough to hold this one.

from the kayak. If you have someone that is new to fishing or new to kayaking, make the most of the paddle and then select a suitable land-based location for fishing. This makes it much easier for you to assist them with it, without having to battle the wind and tide. You can easily focus on one thing at a time and keep things simple. Ruby loved the kayak adventure and now has some fishy tales to tell. Both the paddling experience and fishing experience were positive, without the complication of combining the two. As she becomes more experienced at both,

us when confronted with a lack of either. A handful of lollies stashed in a ziplock

bag (remember any special dietary requirements) has been the key to reigniting the enthusiasm, renewing the focus and subduing the monster on many adventures. KNOW YOUR LIMITS It’s a good idea to spend some time in the shallows like Ruby and I did, learning to control and manoeuvre the kayak and gain some confidence. This also allows you to quickly assess their abilities so that you can alter your adventure as required. Well, that’s a quick look at a few things that have helped make my experiences with kids and beginners more successful. It can be extremely rewarding to see a beginner flourish into a capable paddler, a new angler catch the first of a species and also to share these adventures and experiences with others. Be a good guide, be prepared, be patient and who knows – you could be embarking on a journey with your future paddling and fishing buddy, sharing adventures and making memories. See you on the water.

This looks like a good spot for a fish and swim. FEBRUARY 2017

121

Health check for a pre-loved rig AYR

Steve Farmer

Most of us have bought a pre-loved or secondhand trailer boat outfit at some stage – or are planning to. Dollar-wise, they can be great value and are often the only option, especially if you’re buying your first boat. Another bonus is that if you manage to find a rig that suits your fishing style, then a lot of the time-consuming customisation will already have been done – you can hit the water straight away and fish the way you like. Seems so simple, right? Not always. While you can expect everything to be perfect and ready to go if you buy new, there are no guarantees with a secondhand outfit and it’s worth spending a bit of time checking over your new purchase before hitting the water, or the road. I learnt the importance of this many years ago when I

don’t know much about the history of the rig or how it was maintained by the previous owner. Like me, you probably don’t know if there’s grease in the bearings until you actually check. So, I suggest you forget any plans about an immediate maiden voyage and give your rig a health check before it hits the water. The checks I suggest below are what I have done to my boating outfits in the past. I am not a qualified marine mechanic, so please use this list as a guide only. If you aren’t comfortable doing some of them yourself, then find an expert to do the job for you. Some points might seem pedantic, but there are also sure to be other important checks that I have missed. By the way, this isn’t just going to cost you time. Dollars are bound to be involved, so I hope you’ve got a few left over from the purchase. So, let’s get started – the sooner it’s all ticked off, the

The maiden voyage should be fun and hassle-free.

It pays to check your running gear. This hub is missing a wheel stud and the bearing grease is contaminated by water. if at all doubtful. And don’t forget the spare. If you don’t have a spare, get one as soon as possible. Wheel nuts There’s not much point in

having a spare wheel if you can’t change it on the side of the road. Make sure you have a wheel spanner to fit the nuts and a jack suitable for jacking up the rig. Remove the

can properly check the rollers. Replace any worn, broken or split rollers and bent shafts, and ensure they’re all spinning freely. Ensure all rollers and balance boards or side rollers are adjusted properly. This can make launching and retrieval much easier. Tail lights Working tail lights are essential. Plug them into the tow vehicle and make sure they are all working. Look for dull lamps, cracked lenses, loose wires that need cabletying into place or bare wires that need a couple of wraps of electrical tape. Check wires and bulb holders for corrosion or tarnishing. If they are in

handles for easy operation. Lightly lubricate the handles if necessary. Wear pads where the strap passes over the gunwales will save the strap from fraying, but may need regular replacement. Number Plate/rego sticker Ensure the number plate is in good condition and lit by the tail light and the trailer rego sticker is current. THE BOAT AND GEAR The Hull Replace any tattered rego number stickers and make sure the boat registration sticker is on and is current. Check the drain plugs are in good condition and buy a spare or two. If you have a tinny with

This is what can happen to near perfect-looking tyres that are more than six years old. bought a pre-loved 4.8m tinny. When I got it home I knocked the grease caps off the hubs and couldn’t believe my eyes. One bearing was almost devoid of grease – plenty of rust but not much lube. How it didn’t fail on the 80km delivery trip I don’t know. The reality is you probably don’t know a lot about that boat you just bought. Sure, you checked it out as best you could in the time available and if it hadn’t looked good you wouldn’t have handed over the cash, but you probably

sooner you can confidently hit the water. THE TRAILER Tyres Good rubber is essential, especially if your rig is large and heavy or you plan to do a lot of highway kilometres. Look for excessive tread wear and cracks in the walls, and check their age. Tyres have a life of five or six years – any older than that and they risk shedding their tread on a long, hot drive, as I found out the hard way. Tyres are expensive, but definitely worth replacing

Make sure all your trailer lights are working before hitting the road.

This roller definitely hasn’t been doing its job.

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nuts one at a time and wire brush the threads if they are rusty. Spray the threads with WD40 or a similar product to minimise corrosion and then replace them firmly. Bearings Check the seals and grease and look for water contamination. Jack up each wheel and check for excessive play in the bearing. Spin the wheel and listen for any rumbles from a dry or rough bearing. If doubtful, remove, clean and re-grease the bearings. Replace any marked, pitted or rusty bearings. Rollers You’ll probably have to launch the boat before you

doubtful condition, consider changing them to new LED tail lights. Winch A bit of lubrication can make a big difference when retrieving your rig. Grease or oil the gearing, shafts and handle sparingly. Check the wire winch rope for broken, protruding strands. They can cause hand injuries. If your winch has a webbing strap, check it for fraying or damage. Ensure the hook is in good order and that a safety chain is connecting your boat to the trailer. Jockey wheel A jockey wheel is a big benefit, even on smaller boats and regular lubrication will ensure they are in good working order. Replace broken parts such as wheels or handles. Tie-down Strap Check the strap for damage and the tensioning

a removable floor, lift it out and clean out the inside of the hull to reduce the chances of unseen corrosion. Navigation Lights Navigation, anchor and other lights should be tested. Check for cracks in lenses and corrosion of metal parts. Carrying spare fuses and globes is a good idea. Batteries Ask your battery retailer to test and check the age of your batteries. Replace them if your battery expert recommends doing so. If they are okay, check electrolyte level and then clean up the terminals. Fully charge batteries prior to use. Switchboard If you have a switchboard, ensure it is in good overall condition and that all switches and fuses work. Check for corrosion or loose connections. Ensure you know what each switch does and label them if necessary. Carry spare fuses

for each circuit. Electrical Equipment Power up electrical equipment such as sounders and radios at home as a preliminary check, but give them a proper check as soon as possible after getting on the water.

travelling. EPIRBs and flares have expiry dates, which must be checked. Carry out the test operation on the EPIRB. Ensure they are in good general condition. Familiarise yourself with the operation of the EPIRB and flares. The EPIRB must be registered in

Check the gauge on your fire extinguisher. This one needs replacing.

Check the dates on EPIRBs and flares. EPIRBs must be registered in your name.

Inspect the switchboard for corrosion or loose wires and label each circuit so you can find it in an emergency. Bilge Pump Fill the boat with enough water to cover the bilge pump and switch it on to test. Ensure the pump is not blocked by any rubbish in the bilges and that it is pumping a good flow and runs freely and smoothly. Do not run the pump dry. THE SAFETY GEAR Make sure you have all the safety gear required for the waters in which you are

your name. Lifejackets should be in good condition with no tears, frays or excessive fading. Inflatable lifejackets need to be serviced every year, so check the service date. Ensure the floatation rating of the lifejackets matches the size of your crew. Check the pressure dial on the top of your fire extinguisher to ensure it is still serviceable.

Ensure the bilge pump is not restricted by rubbish in the bilge.

Test the bilge pump at home rather than when you need it most.

Inflatable lifejackets must be serviced annually, so check the date. Ensure the pin is still in place. Invert the extinguisher and shake it for a few minutes to free up the powder that may have become packed in the bottom of the cylinder. THE OUTBOARD The outboard is probably the most important part of your rig once you’re on the water and unfortunately, it’s unlikely you will know the service history of your secondhand outboard. I’m definitely not an outboard mechanic and would probably book it into the local marine dealer for a service. That way you’ll know what state your outboard is in. If you’re a confident DIYer, I would suggest changing the oil in the gearbox (checking for signs of water contamination), changing the water pump impellor, also remove, grease and replace the propeller and replace the spark plugs. You should also drain or replace any filters, check fuel hoses and connections for hardening or cracking and discard any fuel if you aren’t sure of how old it is. Ensure the outboard is clamped firmly to the transom and is secured with a safety chain. Finally, give the motor a run on the ear muffs or in a drum. IT’S ALL WORTH IT It seems like a lot to do before even hitting the water, but many of the points above should only take a few minutes each. The reward is that you are more likely to enjoy a hasslefree maiden voyage, which is a good look in the eyes of your fishing mates, and especially important if your children or a hesitant first mate are along for the shakedown cruise. Most of all, you’ll know you’ve done

all you can to ensure your new rig is safe and well-maintained and ready for a bit of boating and fishing fun.

Check that lifejackets are in good condition and the floatation rating matches your crew.

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123

Consider your options for a final boat fit out BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

So you’ve got your own boat. As it’s coming from the factory, there are options aplenty. Customisation of features is something that a lot of makers are putting across the table these days. The options can be highly attractive too, with factory spec sheets showing such

goodies as live wells for bait and catch (plumbed or otherwise), extra seats with accompanying spigots, drink holders, berley buckets, custom wraps, a bimini, storage bins, rod lockers, rod holders, rod racks, cleats and rails, cockpit lighting, deck wash and side pockets. Even extra compartments within cast decks are negotiable these days. Mandatory of course, are transducer brackets and a pod up front on which

to mount an electric motor. In boats likely to be ranging far and wide, a radio is a smart investment in safety. Fish finders and other nav aids are pretty much standard these days and as even small tinnies are seen sporting high end sounder/plotters, somewhere to mount a unit is essential. There’s lot of money tied up in that list of options, so where does it start and end? Starting is easy: ending is the problem in my view. SORTING IT OUT: GLASS FIRST The size of the boat and its construction will have a major bearing on features. While it might seem easier to add extras to an alloy craft than a glass one, a lot of quality glass-makers are incorporating useful options as well, to maintain sales in today’s very

they’re worth the extra money involved. Forward seating is offered in walkaround or centre console glass rigs. If a storage compartment is offered under that seat, so much the better. A deck wash is handy in any larger boat and well worth the money, even it it’s just to clean up at the end of fishing. Rod holders are a huge asset in any larger boat, but beware of rocket launcher style rod holders that might put rods right up on top of a hard top or other framework and make them hard to access. A well constructed bait station that isn’t cockpit intrusive and equipped with inbuilt rod holders is very good value, as a rod can be placed in the holder while terminal tackle is worked on. Electronic aids and

That’s a decent live well. Optioning for one that large would be great.

There’s a pack of good options here. Deck wash, rod holders in side pockets and a decent bait station are all handy in a fishing rig.

Setting up the sounder in just the right spot is always important in a smaller alloy rig. Quintrex got it right with this one.

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competitive market. Starting with a glass boat, it makes sense to have side pockets within the cockpit work area, rod racks or rod holders horizontally mounted along at least one cockpit side wall. If there’s an option to have rod tips tucked up within the side deck up front and out of harm’s way, it’s worth looking at. Rod lockers aren’t always offered, as many prefer to have easily accessible rods. Live bait wells are a great selling point in any boat and can usually be set into a transom corner. Ask the question, ‘Are we really going to fish with live bait?’ If it’s not a priority, then save your money. A catch well large enough to keep the day’s prize in is a must, but it pays to find out if it can be drained and cleaned after use, to ensure fishy smells are finalized. A berley bucket is always handy in any boat – all it takes is a mounting point set up at the factory and it’s up to the crew to see if they want the berley bucket along on a trip. Cockpit lighting is useful. While not everyone fishes at night, some boaters have it installed to sort things out in the boat at night, if lighting is poor where the craft is stored. Cleats are handy in any craft, and if the pocket is deep enough, pop up style cleats are a great asset. Totally unobtrusive until required,

a radio are standard in any larger rig. My only suggestion regarding the sounder/plotter is to purchase the very best you can afford, as it’s a mighty investment in fishing pleasure. With a larger craft, which glass rigs tend to be, the depth of the

A catch well of those proportions isn’t going to be cheap. If you’re confident about your offshore fishing, the outlay makes a lot of sense. pocket is always the decider for the extent of the options list. The overriding factor is necessity. EXTRAS FOR AN ALLOY RIG Alloy craft start at smaller sizes than glass ones. Moving away from small tinnies, where options can be limited to things such as a factory installed flat floor, bow mount thruster plate, paint or rails, extras are certainly available for rigs over 4m. From the outset it makes sense to consider some of the pros and cons of the options I’ve already mentioned. They can also apply to alloy rigs, especially larger ones. A popular one for alloy craft is variable seating, which means that extra seat spigots are installed in places where they might be useful to distribute weight, for extra crew, or perhaps assist in the style of fishing. If the boat has a cast deck up front and a seat spigot is optional up there, it might be better to have a spigot installed for a smaller bicycle style seat, rather than a full sized one that

takes up more room. Carpet flooring is a big seller in alloy craft, especially hookless carpet. Ticking the box for this stuff is very wise. Many times I’ve let an Owner treble touch my standard carpet flooring and had to use pliers to extract it – a waste of time while my wife is catching fish. Rod lockers seem to be offered a fair bit in larger alloy craft. In my view, it’s a toss up between these somewhat bulky items and standard horizontal side mounted racks. It comes down to available cockpit space – if it’s not sufficient then horizontal racks are fine. Vertical ones also useful when set up on consoles. Side pockets are handy so long as they don’t intrude too far into the cockpit and gobble up work area. Live wells and live catch wells are useful assets if suited to the fishing style, and if they’re large enough to be worthwhile. Unfortunately, some catch wells are too small to be useful. Have a look at one already installed in the sort

A set of rod holders like these will be an asset in a fishing craft.

Even a smaller live well such as this one can be useful in a rig where live baiting is part of the fishing fun.

of boat under consideration, to see if it’s large enough to do the job. Are you targeting mackerel? Then a bream and bass sized catch well is useless. Plumbing to live catch wells is vital, especially for competition anglers. It’s worth the extra dollars to have it set up from the outset. Anchor wells are a source of complexity. If the well is not drained, then a wet anchor warp might cause issues in time. If there’s no lid on the well, consider if the anchor rope will bounce out under way in rough, going by the

SUMMING UP The main issue with any optioning up of a rig is not to overdo things. Cluttering a rig with more seats, things that overly intrude or take up space, or items that will seldom ever be put to use is simply wasting money. Manufactures hugely boost their profits from the extras, as a look at an options price listing will rapidly confirm, so it makes sense to consider most of the likely fishing scenarios and then assess how a range of selected options might best assist that fishing.

Optional rocket launcher style rod holders are great, but it’s better to ensure rods are still within easy reach.

This side pocket is compromised by the plumbing. shape of the anchor well. Additional compartments for fuel (tote) tanks are a possible source of annoyance. Some manufacturers insist on making them so confined that a cast deck hatch over the top of a full tote tank just won’t close properly. Measure the area to ensure the tote tank will fit, especially if the compartment has been set up for either equipment or tote tank storage. Somewhere to mount the sounder in a smaller alloy rig is a priority. If a side mini console type mounting point is available, go for it.

Upright rod racks are a useful option in a console craft and ensure optimisation of space.

A drop down rear seat is a great option to provide extra room in a fishing cockpit. Note the deck wash there as well.

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125

Stacer Nomad Ranger 4.89 with all the trimmings FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Melbourne Marine Centre has really found its feet when it comes to being a marine dealer. We’ve done plenty of boat tests for one of Melbourne’s newest boating establishments, including Patrick Dangerfield’s Ve r a d o - p o w e re d Northbank, Brian Sanders’ 750 Hard Top and some great entry-level boats. You know that they’re really getting into the swing of it when they turn up to a

Telwater on Queensland’s Gold Coast) plate boat that normally retails in the mid $30K range, the Melbourne Marine Centre team decided to put together the ultimate piece of kit that could fill any boat fishing role you liked in your home state. From southern bluefin on a nice day through to Mallacoota bream or Murray River cod, there’s not many situations where this boat would look out of place. Here’s why; created with a full checkerplate, self-draining deck, the Nomad is supplied on an alloy I-beam trailer, also made by Stacer. The

Catch and Release hitch on the winch post easily allows one-up launch and retrieval. Mechanical override brakes help you stop on the road. From the bow, there’s a combination of Lone Star anchor winch and Mud Magnet anchor up front, right next to the MotorGuide Xi5 electric motor, for finesse control of the boat and ‘virtual’ anchoring. Rarely have we seen such a combination, yet it seems to work well on the water. The deck is 100% self-draining, unpainted checkerplate, which could well do with a coat of paint

The 4-bladed Spitfire prop and 90hp 2.1L Mercury jump the Stacer up and out of the hole. The boat and motor paint schemes also complement each other nicely. test with a boat that’s pimped to within an inch of its life. That’s exactly what happened when Dealer Principal, Andrew Stephen, rocked up to the Patto River ramp with a big smile on his face and this little pocket rocket swinging off the back of the work ute. An Aussie-built (at 126

FEBRUARY 2017

PERFORMANCE RPM.......... Speed (km/h).............Economy (km/L) 750.................................3................................... 2.0 1000...............................7................................... 2.3 2000............................. 11................................... 1.5 3000.............................29................................... 2.4 4000.............................43................................... 2.5 5000.............................59................................... 1.9 5500.............................65................................... 1.9

• fitted with a 17” Spitfire 4-blade propeller.

On the test day, the Nomad ate up the small chop with a maximum speed of 65km/h and an optimum fuel efficiency of 2.5km/L of fuel burned. to soften the glare in more tropical climates. As is, it’s a workhorse that’s easy to clean and as tough as nails. The centre console is the hub of operations, with a Garmin 7408XSV the heart of all sounding/GPS and Fusion functions (with a Fusion Link). A 4” Mercury VesselView displays all of the engine telemetry from the 2.1L 90hp workhorse on the back. “The 2.1L Mercury has been an awesome motor for us,” said Andrew, “they’re trouble-free, look good and give great economy.” Melbourne Marine has also added some of their own customisation in the form of a couple of internal, transom mounted live bait tanks. Fitted with clear front panels, they’re a practical and good looking addition. On the outside of the transom, they’ve added some neat LEDs for extra bling and squid attracting ability.

Overall, it’s a rugged, good looking rig that ate up the 5-10knots of breeze on the test day. Make sure that you watch the boat test video on your smartphone by scanning the QR code on this page, or check out the FishingMonthly YouTube channel for all of out digital video content. As tested, the pimped Stacer came in at $56,060, but basic packages start from $36,500 drive away with a new Yamaha F90hp.For more information we recommend SPECIFICATIONS Length.................... 5.16m Beam......................2.22m Length on trailer...6.60m Capacity...........5 persons Fuel............................. 77L Max hp......................... 90 Hull weight............. 490kg Bottom sheet..........4mm Side Sheet............2.5mm

contacting Northside Marine on 07 3265 8028 email info@nsmarine.com.au. or checkout their website w w w. n o r t h s i d e m a r i n e . com.au. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications. VIDEO

Scan the QR code to see the full boat test with Andrew Stephen from Mercury Marine.

There’s a casting deck up front that sits higher than the cockpit floor but lower than a specialist lurecasting boat deck – ideal for using the electric motor in rougher seas like in Port Phillip Bay.

With Telwater’s Catch and Release bracket, it’s easy for the owner to single-handedly launch and retrieve the Nomad.

Left: Between the outboard and the scupper outlet are some custom LED lights. You can never have too much bling and squid don’t bedazzle themselves. Right: The single axled rig is towable by a vide variety of vehicles and as a bonus, they’re easy to manoeuver in the garage or in confined spaces.

Left: Thanks to the Garmin being a hub for the GPS, sounder and Fusion and the Mercury Vessel View displaying all of the engine data, the helm layout is clean and simple. Right: The beauty of any centre console is the ability to fish all around the boat. The 489 is a perfect example of this.

Left: Simple storage space is very import in any boat to put all of those items you need to get your hands on quickly. Right: With four basic rod holders in the transom, you can expand the capacity with three-way inserts.

Quiet at idle, the Mercury gives well over 150km of range with the 77L of on-board fuel.

That’s a lot of accessories on the front deck, but MMC have shoehorned them in.

You don’t see a butcher buying meat, and you should see a boat dealer’s own demo boat with all of the bells and whistles. Andrew Stephen didn’t disappoint in this regard. FEBRUARY 2017

127

McLay’s 581 CrossXOver with Suzuki 140hp 4-stroke

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I think there’s no argument that the New Zealanders have been making bulletproof alloy boats ever since that famous whale got ‘beached-as’ last decade. And for a long time before that. As a result there have been plenty of rigs to cross the Tasman to be used by Aussies that love running them hard. Also, I think there wouldn’t be many arguments against the statement that some of these boats aren’t the most eye-catching rigs on the market. Pleasingly, McLay combine the toughness of a 5mm plate hull with practical finishing and aesthetics that draw a smile and not a wince. The 581 CrossXOver’s name aptly describes the hull – it’s a fusion of a hard-ass fishing boat with enough creature comforts to keep the family on the water longer. Powered by the rock-solid Suzuki 140hp, the McLay won’t break the bank at the dealership or the bowser, with a comfortable cruising

McLay combine toughness and practicality with smart lines and creature comforts. speed of 4000rpm delivering 40km/h at 2.5km per litre of fuel burned. The 18” pitch aluminium Suzuki propeller jumped the 581 up onto the plane with ease and with judicious use of the trim switch, it took on an attitude that chewed up any small chop that Port

SPECIFICATIONS Length..............................................................5.81m Beam................................................................2.28m Freeboard.........................................................72cm Hull weight......................................................700kg Transom height................................................... 25” Horsepower................................................90-115hp Bottom sheet....................................................5mm Side sheet..........................................................4mm Fuel....................................................................130L 128

FEBRUARY 2017

Phillip Bay could offer on the test day. You can tell that McLays are designed by anglers. Heavy traffic areas are unpainted. Instead, bare aluminium sections are covered with a coating called Nyalic, which stops oxidation and keeps the ‘new boat’ look. This means that you can spend your time getting to work landing fish or pulling pots instead of babying your paint job. The walkaround is abundantly non-skidded and there’s a mountain of grab rails exactly where they are needed. Add this to a cockpit floor lined with a removable, washable rubber

matting and you’re ready to get the messy jobs done and to wash up perfectly afterwards. Warragul Marine’s David Garcia spends as much time in these McLay boats as anyone, and is in love with this layout. In fact, Warragul add their own touches to these rigs, with the baitboard withdraw being an after-market inclusion. Indeed, the entire transom area is impressive with a clear-fronted live bait tank, walk through transom door with ladder and neat folding and stowing bench seat making this cockpit one of the best designed I’ve been in. “Everyone likes to get their kids out on the water and introduce them to fishing, and this CrossXOver is predominantly aimed at the family fishers,” said David Garcia.

PERFORMANCE RPM.......................Speed................................ Km/L Idle (600).......................4.3........................................5 1000.............................6.4.....................................4.1 2000..............................11.....................................2.2 3000..............................21.....................................1.6 4000..............................39.....................................2.5 5000..............................52.....................................1.9 WOT...............................68.....................................1.6 *Fitted with 18” Suzuki aluminium propeller

As tested, this rig on a twin axled Dunbier trailer came in at $66,000, although packages start from as little as $53,000. To find out more, drop into Reef Marine or visit their website at www. reefmarine.net. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers,

hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications. VIDEO

Scan this QR code to see Steve Morgan talking about this boat on the water.

The 140hp Suzuki jumps the McLay out of the hole. Spinning an 18” propeller, the hull was quite trim-sensitive and responded well to proper trimming.

Sometimes it’s the small things – like the water diverter that stops wash dropping into the cockpit – that makes boating a more enjoyable experience.

This rig would turn heads at any boat ramp around the country. The Nyalic coating on the unpainted, high-traffic areas looks good and will keep the boat looking good for years to come.

We don’t see that many carpeted dashboards, but the covering helps dampen the sound. We are big fans of under seat storage.

Non-skid on the walkaround is a nice touch. We had no problems getting from the bow to the stern.

With the canopy and wraparound clears, you can be comfortable in most weather conditions.

The rear pod and steps combine with broad reverse chines to make the 2.28m beam as stable as possible. The welded box section to mount transducers and other sensors is a nice touch, and keeps the integrity of the hull intact.

Plenty of places to hold onto up here, and a full-sized hatch helps you anchor. FEBRUARY 2017

129

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today.

See your authorised Mercury Marine NORTHERN NSW / GOLD COAST BRISBANE WEST Dealer today. TWEED COAST MARINE KAREE MARINE 32 Machinery Drive Tweed Heads South Phone: (07) 5524 8877 | Fax: (07) 5524 3324 Email: dan@tweedcoastmarine.com.au Website: www.tweedcoastmarine.com.au

1776 Ipswich Road Rocklea Phone: (07) 3875 1600 | Fax: (07) 3875 1622 Email: sales@kareemarine.com.au Website: www.kareemarine.com.au

BRISBANE HOLT MARINE

MERIDIAN MARINA HORIZON SHORES ONSHORE MARINE

BRISBANE SOUTH COORPAROO MARINE

BRISBANE BAYSIDE MIKES MARINE

TOOWOOMBA WATERSKIERS WAREHOUSE

BRISBANE SOUTH MANLY HARBOUR MARINE

BRISBANE NORTH BRISBANE MARINE

IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE

BRISBANE SOUTH SPRINGWOOD MARINE

BRISBANE NORTH CUNNINGHAM MARINE CENTRE

Cabbage Tree Point Road Woongoolba Phone: (07) 5546 2480 | Fax: (07) 5546 1362 Email: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au Website: www.onshoremarine.com.au

91-93 Neil Street Toowoomba Phone: (07) 4637 9511 | Fax: (07) 4637 9513 Email: rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au Website: www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au

45 Huxham Street Raceview Phone: (07) 3294 3944 | Fax: (07) 3294 5320 Email: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au Website: www.ipswichmarine.com.au

57 Cavendish Road Coorparoo Phone: (07) 3397 4141 | Fax: (07) 3397 6339 Email: info@coorparoomarine.com.au Website: www.coorparoomarine.com.au

570 Royal Esplanade Manly Phone: (07) 3893 2199 | Fax: (07) 3893 2188 Email: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au Website: www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

3475 Pacific Highway Springwood Phone: (07) 3297 8200 | Fax: (07) 3297 8290 Email: sales@springwoodmarine.com.au Website: www.springwoodmarine.com.au

25 Queens Road Everton Park Phone: (07) 3353 1928 | Fax: (07) 3353 4548 Email: info@holtmarine.com.au Website: www.holtmarine.com.au

9 Smith Street Capalaba Phone: (07) 3390 3418 | Fax: (07) 3823 5856 Email: sales@mikesmarine.com.au Website: www.mikesmarine.com.au

306 Duffield Road Clontarf Phone: (07) 3889 3033 | Fax: (07) 3889 5390 Email: info@brismarine.com.au Website: www.brismarine.com.au

23-25 Snook Street Clontarf Phone: (07) 3284 8805 | Fax: (07) 3284 8813 Email: sales@cunninghammarinecentre.com.au Website: www.cunninghammarinecentre.com.au

Pro XS FourStroke Performance Redefined aLL new 2.1L modeL

Torque (Nm)

UNthiNk

115hp FoUrStroke torqUe compariSoN

previous 1.7L (L) modeL

Engine Speed (rpm)

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today.

SUNSHINE COAST NORTHCOAST BOATING CENTRE

ROCKHAMPTON RIFEN BOATS

INNISFAIL COASTAL MARINE & OUTDOORS

MARYBOROUGH FRASER COAST BOATING

MACKAY SUGAR CITY MARINE

CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE

HERVEY BAY BAY CITY MARINE

BOWEN REIBEL MARINE

KARUMBA JONES MARINE

BUNDABERG ADRIANS MARINE CENTRE

INGHAM J&B MARINE

264 Nicklin Way Warana Phone: (07) 5493 9376 | Fax: (07) 5437 6144 Email: mail@northcoastboatingcentre.com.au Website: www.northcoastboating.com.au

120 Richmond Street Maryborough Phone: (07) 4122 1770 Email: sales@frasercoastboating.com.au Website: www.frasercoastboating.com.au

55 Islander Road Pialba Phone: (07) 4128 9944 | Fax: (07) 4125 2350 Email: sales@baycitymarine.com.au Website: www.baycitymarine.com.au

28 Ritchie Street Norville Phone: (07) 4153 1819 | Fax: (07) 4154 4808 Email: adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com Website: www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au

6 Dooley Street North Rockhampton Phone: (07) 4927 9150 | Fax: (07) 4921 3502 Email: rifen.boats@bigpond.com Website: www.rifenboats.com.au

11 Victoria Street Mackay Phone: (07) 4951 4711 | Fax: (07) 4957 6034 Email: goboating@sugarcitymarine.com.au Website: www.sugarcitymarine.com.au

34 Don Street Bowen Phone: (07) 4786 2944 Fax: (07) 4786 6606 Email: remarine@bigpond.net.au

79 Herbert Street Ingham Phone: (07) 4776 1188 | Fax: (07) 4776 1288 Email: jbmarine@bigpond.com Website: www.jandbmarine.com

178 Edith Street Innisfail Phone: (07) 4061 8272 | Fax: (07) 4061 7718 Email: joel@coastalmarine.com.au Website: www.coastalmarine.com.au

5 Hannam Street Bungalow Phone: (07) 4033 8800 Email: sales@aussiemarine.com.au Website: www. aussiemarine.com.au

38 Yappar Street Karumba Phone: (07) 4745 9159 Email: jonglo@bigpond.com Website: www.jonesmarine.com.au

6500

5500

5000

4500

4000

3500

3000

2500

2000

Built on the legendary Pro XS reputation for superior hole shot, top end speed 115hp produces up to 23% morE and durability. Mercury’s new 115HP TorquE and quicker acceleration than the previous 1.7L FourStroke. Pro XS FourStroke redefines outboard performance.

Unbridled power, unexpectedly compact, uncompromising reliability, unbelievably fuel efficient. Mercury’s all new 75-115hp FourStroke Range. Unlike anything the world has ever seen.

6000

everything you know about 75-115hp FourStrokes.

UNBEATABLE 75-115HP FOURSTROKE

LIMITED TIME ONLY

UNBEATABLE

SMARTCRAFT Unbridled power, unexpectedly compact, uncompromising reliability, unbelievably fuel efficient. The Mercury 75-115hp FourStroke range delivers unbeatable low-end torque and quicker acceleration. Purchase a 75-115hp FourStroke before April 21st and receive a bonus SmartCraft upgrade to a VesselView 502 multi-function digital display, plus also get Mercury’s exclusive Active Trim – the first and only GPS based automatic trim system. So for a truly unbeatable deal, see your participating Mercury dealer today. See website for full program terms & conditions.

mercurymarine.com.au

BONUS

VesselVie w 502

FREE UPG RADE VALU ED AT

Active Trim

$1541