Queensland Fishing Monthly January 2020

ABT BARRA TOUR RESULTS • FISHING THE FLATS

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Features Fishing the flats • Mackay impoundment barra • Barra facts: sights and sounds • Tips for summer camping •

Boating & Kayaking Kitting out the kayak • Propeller know-how • Yakking the creek: Tallebudgera •

Tried & Tested Obsession Spinnerbaits for bass • Whittley SL22 HT with Yamaha F150hp • Stessco 620 Albacore with Yamaha F200hp •

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January 2020, Vol. 32 No. 3

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22

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Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas

Printing: APN – News Corp Australia Production: Karen Millward Keith Hawley

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Warwick Lyndon with a 70cm passionfruit trout he caught on a soft plastic off Cairns.

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QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

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values of recreational fishing and other outdoor activities, and will help to answer such questions as: • Does recreational fishing have a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of fishers?

• How do the benefits of recreational fishing compare to other outdoor activities?

• What is the economic value of recreational fishing to the Australian economy, and the

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quantify that! You can fill it out at www.nationalrecsurvey.com. au, and be in the running to share in $6000 worth of prizes.

The survey is run by the Valuing Recreational Fishing project, which is funded by the federal government and Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC). The survey will measure the social and economic

economy of different states and territories?

• What barriers sometimes prevent people experiencing benefits from fishing?

All Australians aged 18 or older are invited to take part, even those people who don’t fish very often, or haven’t been fishing for a while. If this is you, you’ll be asked when you most recently went fishing, and why you haven’t gone recently.

This is an important part of understanding when fishing does and doesn’t form part of people’s lives.

And if you go fishing all the time, that’s great too – you’ll be able to provide valuable input on the value of fishing for you.

The bottom line? Please spend the time to do this survey.

They won’t ask for GPS marks, and the information won’t be used to restrict fishing access, regardless of what the tinfoil hat brigade will have you believe!

The survey is open until 14 February, 2020.

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PARTNER CONTENT Black Magic Masterclass

Got a spare 15 minutes to help protect recreational fishing? Take some time to fill in the National Recreational Fishing Survey, and show policy-makers how important fishing is to Australians.

Surveys like these don’t come around very often, and they help us to understand how many people fish, their patterns in doing it, how much money they spend doing it, and some of the more indirect stuff, like how fishing affects your mental health.

If you’re anything like me, fishing time is quality time – either by yourself or with family and friends – where you can renew your connection to the natural world. You don’t need to stress about the pace and demands of modern life when you’re fishing, and there’s an old saying about the time spent fishing not coming off your number of days allocated on this earth.

Maybe the NRFS will

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REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 14 Camping and 4WD 70 Cooking 67 Dam Levels 62 Freshwater 62 Fun Page 88 Sheik of the Creek 69 Tech Tricks 16 Tournament News 71 Track my fish 84 Trades and Services 86 What’s New Boating 95 What’s New Fishing 80 SPECIAL FEATURES Fishing the flats Mackay impoundment barra Barra facts: sights and sounds Tips for summer camping

From the Editor’s Desk...

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BOATING AND KAYAK

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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 50 Ayr 51 Townsville 52 Cairns 54 Port Douglas 54 Hinchinbrook 55 Cairns NFZ 55 Lucinda 56 Cooktown 56 Cape York 57

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 40 Rainbow Beach 41 Gladstone 42 Lake Monduran 43 Bundaberg 44 Rockhampton 44 Yeppoon 45 Mackay 46

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SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast Canals 29 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane Offshore 33 Brisbane 34 Northern Bay 36 Noosa 37

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After a flat start to the year?

BRISBANE

Bob Thornton

One of the great things about South East Queensland and Northern NSW is that you really don’t need a boat to experience some great fishing. It’s true that landbased fishing elsewhere in the country can turn up some pretty fantastic results,

While many of us may have started our fishing journey flicking lures across the sand flats for bread and butter species like bream, whiting and flathead, we still come back to fish these same areas time and time again.

Why? Because it’s accessible, requires very little tackle, and it provides a good fishing fix! It’s a popular pastime at this time

Flathead are the real prize on the flats in SEQ, and soft plastics are usually the most effective presentations. but SEQ and Northern NSW’s beautiful, sandy and crocodile-less flats would rival the best.

Walking tidal flats is where many anglers cut their teeth on lure fishing, and even now with so many people fishing these areas, it’s still possible to find your own patch of flat to spend a few hours.

of year when quick, easy and kid-friendly is on the menu, and it’s a great way to score a feed while you’re at it.

Sure it’s not as glamorous or untouched as the flats fishing in the north of the state, but what could beat parking the car, walking to your spot without constantly looking over your shoulder

for crocodiles, catching a feed for you and the family, and walking back into town to grab an ice-cream?

For those yet to try walking the flats, or anyone wishing to hone their skills further, let’s dive in and check it out.

WHERE TO GO Finding suitable flats to fish is probably the most difficult part, and it helps to be able to identify the things that attract bread and butter species.

Flats can form anywhere along the tidal section of a river, creek, coastal lake, inlet, harbour or bay, so there’s a lot of water to rule out.

As a general rule, I won’t fish a flat that doesn’t have at least some yabby holes on it. Yabbies are an important food source for a range of predators, including whiting, and given that many bigger predators also eat whiting, it just makes sense to fish where the yabbies are.

The second thing I look for is some changes in depth.

Small undulations, holes, drains, and even the drop-off back into the main channel are things that give predators a reason to be there. They allow the fish to hide from prey and predators of their own, and to seek shelter from the current.

Speaking of current, it’s definitely something else I like to have on a flat. Tidal movement brings everything alive, and ambush predators like flathead can lay buried in the sand while food is brought to them. Hunting species, like bream, whiting and trevally, will use the current to move around and find the small animals that have become exhausted fighting against it.

Something that is not necessary but preferred, especially when chasing flathead, is some structure.

Sporadic patches of weed,

rock or shale are sufficient structures for flathead, as these things too hold small forage species like crabs, baitfish, prawns and other small morsels.

Of course, you want your chosen flat to be wadable, and anything deeper than waist deep becomes uncomfortable.

I like to find a flat with shin to knee-deep water, with deeper water over a metre deep within casting range. The bigger the flat, the longer you can spend exploring and catching fish!

WHAT TO BRING Essentials To me, the gearing up aspect is what makes this form of fishing so attractive. You can get away with carrying so little gear, you sometimes don’t even need a bag!

Apart from a rod and reel, if I had to list the ‘bare essentials’ and why they’re essential, I could do it in one sentence, so here goes: A pair of pliers for unhooking fish safely, 4-6 different lures to cover your options and some spare fluorocarbon trace if you break off. That’s it.

It’s worth remembering though that with summer upon us, water and adequate sun protection also become essential.

Optionals There are a few things that I’ll also bring along to make the whole process smoother.

One thing I like to bring with me, especially if chasing flathead, is a small trout net, which I keep clipped to my backpack. Dealing with flathead in knee-deep water while they trash with trebles in their mouth can potentially end up a disaster, so the net helps me to keep some distance while I unhook it.

Some people may prefer a lip grip for the same reason.

An old school wading bag is a good idea if you intend to keep fish, as it saves having to run back to an esky way up on the bank every time you

Sight casting to flathead is not impossible, but this image demonstrates just how hard it is to see them against the sand, let alone from a distance! catch a keeper. The good old Alvey Surf Wading Bag is still fantastic for this job, however there’s other brands producing products like these now.

A measuring tool that you can fold away easily will also be essential if you’re keeping fish. Alternatively, you can do what I’ve seen plenty of old timers do, and mark the legal lengths of your target species with a marker pen on your bag. It’s simple, but it’s clever!

TACKLE Tackle for the most part can be kept fairly light, unless you want to specifically target larger flathead. Most bread and butter fish you’ll cross paths with in the shallows can be easily subdued with light estuary tackle.

For rods, any spin rod in the 1-5kg range will handle most things, including big flathead if you take it easy.

With reels, it’s not necessary to have the latest and greatest in spin reel technology, so anything from in a 1000-3000 size is fine.

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GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats.

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JANUARY 2020

OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast

Bream are another main player in the shallows, and respond to a variety of different lures and flies.

For all my flats work I use braid for the simple reason that I can cast light offerings further – a huge advantage when fishing this shallow – and most braids between 2-10lb will suit this work.

Some bream tournament anglers use light fluorocarbon straight through to minimise the shadow cast by the line, but I prefer the extra bit of distance I get when using braid.

On the end of my braid I like to use a fairly long leader of fluorocarbon, and again, anything in the 2-10lb range will suffice. If big fatties are on the cards it may be worth upsizing your leader, but in doing so you’ll probably prevent a lot of enquiries smaller fish. I prefer to fish as light as possible to maximise my bites, even if it comes at the risk of losing a bigger flathead.

With your lures, you don’t need to bring a whole boatload with you, but it does pay to have a few different types just to keep your options open. To cover my bases, I’ll usually have some topwater presentations like poppers and small stickbaits, some small bream-style crankbaits, some minnow-profiled jerkbaits, and some lightly-weighted soft plastics. If you organise a box with 2-3 of each, you’re more than ready to hit the flats. Just keep in mind that the majority of fish in these shallow areas are used to eating small prey items, so keeping your presentations under about 50mm is a good idea. Again, if flathead are your target, you can go bigger than this, but it will come at the expense of bites from bream and whiting.

KNOW YOUR TECHNIQUE When I go out for a flats session, I usually fish in a way that doesn’t limit me to any one species, so instead of

focussing on species, I’ll look at some techniques.

Bibbed lures Small crankbaits are what I would call the ‘all-rounder’ of flats fishing. They can imitate many different food items, and they will catch just about anything.

Because you’ll only be

fishing in water around 2ft deep or shallower, there’s no need to use a hardbody with a giant bill, because all this will do is make the lure dig up lot of sand and swim sideways.

Instead, I like to get a small crankbait or jerkbait that dives to around 2ft. This will mean the lure makes contact

A delicious bag of flats-caught bounty, with a few tasty crustaceans thrown in. There’s no shame in taking a few for a feed; they don’t call them bread and butter species for nothing!

occasionally with the bottom, stirring up sand and mud and starting predators from afar, but still swims fairly true.

How you work your hardbodies can vary. With small traditionally crankbaits I prefer a steady wind where I can feel occasional contact with the bottom, throwing in a pause here and there to mix up. These presentations will catch everything on the flats, but are particularly favoured by bream. If you feel the tell-tale ‘tap-tap’ of a bream trying to eat your lure, just keep winding until you feel them eat it properly and let the weight of the fish load up the rod. It’s very simple! This will work particularly well around rubbly bottom.

When using longer minnow-styled hardbodies, I like to work them with twitches and paused. Several rips to get it kicking up sand before a few second’s pause drives flathead crazy, especially if the lure suspends.

Soft plastics Softies are a good trick to have up your sleeve, and definitely one of the main players on the flats. They are very versatile, and are the sort of lure you can fish different structures and depths.

Generally speaking, light weight of 1/8oz or under will be fine, especially in such shallow water. If you want to

fish into some deeper holes, going up to a 1/4oz may be a good idea, especially if there’s a bit of wind and current around, making contact with your lure difficult.

Again, sticking to 50mm and under is the way to go to cover your bases.

Topwater Fishing topwater presentations is without doubt

Hardbodies are a great tool for covering water and finding local hotspots.

In terms of shapes and sizes, there are really no rules.

Small creature baits that imitate yabbies will obviously work wonders on any flats-dwelling predators, especially whiting.

Flukes, jerkshads or flick baits are a great choice if there are prawns around, and will fool anything that’s in the mood for these small crustaceans.

Traditional paddle-tail shads or grubs are great for either slow winding or hopping along the bottom, and would be my number one choice if I was targeting flathead.

the most fun way to fish the flats, and given that the surface is only inches from where most of the fish are sitting, they work pretty well too!

If the area you’re fishing is experiencing a run of prawns, you’d almost be silly to want to start with anything else.

It was about 15 years ago that throwing small poppers, stickbaits and bent minnow type lures over sandy flats became a popular technique for whiting, and today it’s still a very effective way to fish.

I’ve found that fishing this way tends to select out bigger whiting, and I doubt anyone would complain about that. Of course, when people started having success on the whiting, many noticed that other fish didn’t mind smacking a small piece of plastic off the surface To page 12

Casting lures in shallow water often produces bigger whiting.

JANUARY 2020

11

From page 11

either, however each species seems to prefer a slightly different retrieve.

Whiting seem to prefer a constantly moving bait, so for a popper that would be small pops with the rod tip while gradually winding up the slack, a tight and fast walkthe-dog with stickbaits, and just constant twitches for the bent minnow. Whiting have great eyes, so pausing the bait only gives them a chance to

look at it. If you start getting boils behind the lure or notice several whiting shadowing your bait, it can even pay to quicken your pace!

Bream on the other hand can be very responsive to a pause, but not always. It can be beneficial watching how the fish react to the lures, and being such a clear environment this is something you can do quite easily, especially if you’re wearing good polarised sunglasses.

When many of the flats become exposed at low tide, casting plastics into the deeper channels can pay off.

This feisty whiting took an Atomic Pop 50 in pearl chartreuse over the sand flats around Ballina. Image courtesy of Joe Allan.

Flathead are another fish you’ll have to read on the day, but in general I’ve found they aren’t too fussy. In fact, so user-friendly are the flathead sometimes that you can miss a strike, watch the flathead settle back down to its ambush position, re-present your offering and watch the fish have another go.

With small pelagic fish such as trevally and tailor, faster retrieves tend to get more attention, but, like flathead, if they are really in the mood, you really only need to get something to them – there’ll look after the rest!

Flies If you like fly fishing, or even want to learn, this is a great place to break out the wand. A 3-6wt with a floating line, a light tippet and a small Clouser minnow is all you need. With no sink time and

generally nothing to obstruct your casting, it makes for pretty easy fly fishing. If the wind get’s up, I generally just turn so the wind it at my back and it will carry the flyline out further on delivery.

Fly fishing is a particularly deadly technique on flathead, as they can’t resist something natural on the flats, however bream and whiting will also chew a fly, especially a smaller one. While Clousers are many peoples’ go-to on flathead, changing to a Crazy Charlie or Vampire style pattern will get the attention of bream and whiting as well.

I like to keep contact with the bottom when I fish flies over the flats, however it’s not necessary.

SOME TIPS When I fish these areas, I like to take a few steps between each cast so that I’m

covering water. That’s the trick when you’re flats fishing, just keep covering water until you come across a productive area.

Unlike with other types of flats fishing, most of the time you’re not sight fishing.

Given that most of your foray is either small and moving quickly or buried well in the sand, you won’t catch a glimpse of most of them before setting the hook. If you do though, it’s always worth a cast, but I usually find if I can see them, they can see me, and all of a sudden eating isn’t the first thing on their mind.

High tide is the best time to be fishing up shallow, as fish will use the opportunity to get into the shallows where they can round up bait. As the tide drops, however, it isn’t the time to be heading home. Low tide sees fish falling back into little channels, and fishing into these areas can still see some

very productive sessions.

Wading in SEQ and Northern NSW is far safer than doing so further north, however these areas aren’t without their dangers.

Stingrays, while fairly placid, can react violently if stepped on. In lowlight conditions or murky water, I prefer to shuffle rather than walk, so if I do make contact with a ray, it will be a gentle nudge; you want to avoid stepping on them! As a general rule, keep looking down and watch where you’re putting your feet.

FEELING FLAT? If you’re looking for a fishing fix that requires little gear, little clean up and can produce some solid feeds, why not give estuary flats fishing a go? It can be done all year round, at any time of the day, and is easy enough for small children and ham-handed adults to pick up.

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’’

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Why structure is so important NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Recognising and understanding structure is critical to catching so many types of fish — in both fresh and saltwater — yet some anglers still struggle getting their heads around this basic concept. Here’s how (and why) it works: Fishing writers like me are always banging on about the importance of ‘structure’ in our how-to articles, yet I’m sure this term still leaves some anglers puzzled, confused and scratching their heads.

Basically, structure — at least as it applies to fishing — is any object, feature, element or abnormality that breaks up an otherwise reasonably uniform stretch of terrain, seascape or environment.

It could be something as obvious as a dirty big boulder, a fallen tree or an undersea reef pinnacle, or it may be as subtle as a line of bubbles or foam drifting in the current, a transition

First light filters through the fog on prime bass water. There’s plenty of juicy structure along that deeper left bank, but don’t rule out a weed bed or isolated log on the shallower side either, especially in low light conditions.

FADs or fish aggregation devices are classic pieces of artificial structure that attract all manner of marine life, including tripletail like this beauty Jo Starling pulled from under a bamboo raft FAD in Indonesian waters.

Frigate birds begin to wheel overhead and a brown booby lands on the raft. A passing loggerhead turtle paddles over for a look.

Down below, a squadron of tiger-striped wahoo hangs menacingly in the current

between dirty and slightly clearer water, or the hidden layer in a lake where the water temperature changes abruptly across a vertical distance of less than a metre. These are all structures and they can all be keys to finding and catching fish.

Most anglers understand

This bream is finding both food and shelter in a wavewashed gutter that’s literally bristling with marine life.

It’s not only fish that love snags or fallen trees! The presence of water dragons like this gorgeous specimen is often a good indicator of the likelihood of encountering bass, Murray cod or other fishy predators.

that when they’re chasing bass, Murray cod, bream, jacks or barra, they’ll tend to do better if they cast their baits, lures or flies as close as possible to the cover of snags, mangrove roots and rock bars. Fewer stop to think about why

What a fishy set-up! A tropical run-off drain with a snag right in its mouth. You’d almost guarantee a strike from a barra, jack or estuary cod on the first cast at a structural element of this calibre.

14

JANUARY 2020

these structural elements actually attract and hold catchable fish.

The best fish-holding structures offers three critical benefits to the fish they attract: food, shelter and a point of reference or home base for navigational purposes.

Think about a bamboo raft FAD (fish aggregation device) anchored or drifting in warm, tropical seas.

Within days (sometimes hours) of being deployed, tiny fish and larval crustaceans will begin to gather in the shadow of this raft, seeking shelter from seabirds or other predators, and possibly nibbling on the algae already beginning to grow on the bamboo.

Shortly afterwards, the first cruising mahimahi (dolphin fish), rainbow runner or tripletail will wander by, spy the cloud of little organisms sheltering under the raft and happily chow into them. Soon other predators will join the first one and, even if they succeed in eating all the small fry, they’ll tend

beneath the FAD, while further out, a massive blue marlin begins to stalk a pod of juvenile yellowfin tuna that are also using the raft as the centre of their hunting activities.

A fallen casuarina tree in the upper reaches of a southern estuary works a little differently, but the same general principles apply. Tiny fish, shrimps and prawns hide amongst the twigs. Barnacles and algae grow on the timber.

Bream move in to crunch open the tasty barnacles and luderick graze on the algae. A school of estuary perch swing by to chase the small fry and their flashes and splashes attract a passing mulloway. The system is working: life is attracting other life, all driven by the presence of a single, fallen tree.

Consider these things every time you wet a line. Think about why a particular piece of structure might attract and hold certain types of food and

An old set of bridge pylons and the accumulation of flood debris they’ve trapped marks a prime piece of mid-stream structure. to hang around in close proximity to the raft, using it as a home base or a point of reference in the otherwise vast and featureless ocean.

Life attracts life.

the fish that eat them.

Consider which items of structure have more to offer than others. Then question your assumptions. If you do, I guarantee your fishing results will improve!

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Tech Tricks

Quick and easy way to make the Snapper Jig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Recently I came across a great jig, which is quick and easy to assemble yourself with minimal materials. It is rather similar to a fly I have previously tied to catch an array of tropical species. This jig is a more weighted version of that pattern and could be used to catch species such

as snapper, barramundi, pearl perch, flathead, trevally and numerous reef dwellers.

It can be fished in deeper offshore waters and will cast exceptionally well for shore jigging. The Snapper Jig, as it’s simply called, was initially developed and used by Kiwis for targeting snapper across the ditch.

After making a few of my own and swimming them, it wasn’t hard to imagine how well they would work on our snapper as well as

numerous other demersal species. When jigged near the bottom, or simply dead sticked in current, the action of the fur creates a very lifelike appeal. I am sure they would also be a hit with Murray cod when tied on lighter jigheads.

The Snapper Jig is tied predominately with zonker (strips of rabbit fur). This material possesses a lot of action in the water and will waft and ripple with the slightest movement.

Even a slight current will

1

There is a small material list required for the Snapper Jig and most aspects will be available from a good tackle store that additionally sells fly tying gear. I have used the TT Big Eye jigheads because these have strong hooks and already come painted. However, you could use any quality painted or unpainted jighead. A little flash adds life-like appeal and flat-waxed nylon thread is used to affix the materials to the hook. You can use any colour of zonker strip you like but I have chosen a white and a pink barred zonker for this jig. A bobbin and a fly vice will make the task easier but is not a necessity. Scissors and some glue will also be required.

3

Cut 10-15 strands of krystal flash that are a little longer than the hook you are using. Krystal flash (twisted strands of mylar) gives life-like appeal to any lure however any reflective flash is worth using. Tie these strands in at the point where you attached the thread. Do a couple of half hitches with the thread (or whip finish if you know how) and then add a little glue to increase durability.

16

JANUARY 2020

create great action from this material. Additionally, zonker is fairly durable and comes in an array of colours, some with barring to offer greater effect.

The two strips added to the rear of this jig are similar to the candles (long tentacles) of a squid. I am not too sure how the snapper and other species visualise the snapper jig, however they seem to like it. This could either be due to hunger or curiosity. As fish do not possess hands, they will

often bite something foreign to ascertain whether it is a food item or not. Regardless of why they bite it, once your rod is buckled and your drag is screaming I guess the reason doesn’t matter.

Fishing this jig can be as simple as lowering it close to the bottom and then putting the rod in the holder and allowing the rock of the boat to do its job. This deadsticking approach can be very successful, especially in a bit of current when drifting along.

Another approach is to cast it out (either from a boat or shore-based perspective) and allowing it to hit the bottom before lifting the rod to hop the jig. Next, lower the rod, wind in the slack and allow the snapper jig to sink down again before repeating the sequence.

Obviously a wide array of other retrieves could also work well.

Let’s look at how simple it is to tie a snapper jig.

2

Attach the thread onto the shank of the hook, roughly opposite the barb. Flat waxed nylon thread will not rot like many other threads however you could even use some rod binding thread, light braid or almost any other strong thread you have at hand for this task.

4

Cut a strip of zonker that is at least as long as the entire jighead.

Tie the first one in on the far side of the jighead using a series of thread wraps. Again half hitch and add a little glue (fly tying head cement is ideal but superglue or Zap-a-Gap will suffice).

Tech Tricks

6

5

Add another length of zonker (which is the same length as the first) on the side closest to you. Again, half hitch the thread and add a little glue. These two strips will move enticingly and kick as the jig is retrieved.

At this same position, secure in one end of the zonker you have chosen for the body. This can be the same colour or a contrasting colour to the first two pieces you tied in. Do a few half hitches and some glue before wrapping the thread forward until it is all the way up to the jighead.

8

7

Begin winding the zonker strip around the hook shank firmly while keeping the skin flat to the shank. As you do each wrap, preen the hair backwards before doing the next wrap. Continue along the shank like this until you get all the way up to the rear of the jighead. Use a series of thread wraps to secure the end of the zonker strip. Cut away the remaining thread and add some glue to increase durability.

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When completed the snapper jigs present well and look enticing.

There are no rules as to colour and it pays to make several different models. Therefore, you can try several options on any given day. Different weights can also be made depending on the water depth and current in which you are going to use them. There are a lot of options in relation to colours and you can even add numerous other materials to spruce up your jig. Once you have fished these jigs, I reckon you will agree that they are an easy-to-make and exciting jig.

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BLACK MAGIC

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Looking inshore to target big black marlin For many anglers, catching a marlin is the pinnacle of fishing and often thought of as an unrealistic target species that’s best left for hardcore anglers with all the gear and big boats. While this could be said when it comes to chasing a blue marlin in 600 fathoms of water 40nm+ off the coast, there are certainly much easier ways to tick a marlin off your bucket list.

This is especially true if you live on the East Coast anywhere between central QLD to the South Coast of NSW. Every year around spring, black marlin start making their way down the coast, providing amazing fishing opportunities to inshore anglers often within a few miles of land. In some areas, they can even be caught land-based.

If you know what to look for, what to use and when to do it, these fish are not that hard to catch.

There isn’t a better sight than a marlin in full flight. if they’re not there. Early in the season, it’s important to keep an eye on reports up the coast. I live at Port Stephens, so I know that if they haven’t shown up at South West Rocks I’m

Black Magic’s KLT Hooks are the best in the game and their tough fluorocarbon leader is perfect for inshore black marlin.

TIMING Knowing when black marlin are going to show up is the first thing you need to understand, as you won’t catch them 18

JANUARY 2020

probably wasting my time.

When they do show up, it tends to be in waves over couple of months with water temperatures and bait dictating their

movements. Warm blue water between 21-25°C is ideal for inshore black marlin and sea surface charts will give you a good understanding for where the best water in your area is currently holding. While you will have to pay for access to the most current sea surface temperature sites, it’s worth it to take out much of the guesswork for which direction you should head.

Once you’ve found the water you’re looking for, bait schools are the next thing to further hone in on.

Slimy mackerel, yellowtail scad and pilchard schools are the primary food source for inshore black marlin and usually hold around structure, current lines and temperature breaks. A good sounder will not only mark the bait but can also mark up actively feeding marlin.

GEAR AND TACKLE Having the right tools for the job is very important for any fishing and marlin fishing is no exception.

Mono line is definitively the way to go, as the stretch in the line acts as a shock absorber, especially when the fish jumps. Something like Black Magic IGFA rated line in 10-15kg is spot on when it comes to fishing for black marlin and will subdue even fish approaching 100kg, which are not as uncommon as you might think when fishing inshore.

When that big stubborn fish does come along, even on light tackle it can put the

hurt on you. This is where the Black Magic Equaliser Gimbal and Harness comes into play, taking much of the pain away from long fights with big fish that don’t want to play the game nicely. The new equaliser also has a twin pin system that will accept bent butt rods without any adapters needed.

Leaver drag overheads are traditionally favoured for marlin fishing. The main advantage of these reels is the free-spool function, which allows you to disengage a pre-set drag, allowing the marlin to eat the bait with no resistance on the strike. This is very important when trolling

live or skip baits on circle hooks, which is the most effective way to catch black marlin.

Once the fish bites, the line pops out of the outrigger clip in free-spool with the ratchet on and then it’s just a matter of pointing the rod at the fish while it’s taking line and gradually applying drag as you lift up on the rod. When done correctly, this gives the best possible hook-up rate for marlin fishing by far.

Larger spinning reels with the baitrunner function will also act the same way and are becoming popular alternative options, particularly when fishing with 10kg line.

The best circle hooks to use for inshore live bait trolling are the Black Magic KLT range, as they are the perfect shape and size as well as being super sharp. For inshore black marlin, the 6/0-7/0 size is right on the money. Bridle rigging the baits will keep them alive longest and also limit the chance of the hook getting caught in the bait when the fish strikes. This is done by attaching a short loop of either Dacron or 50lb mono to the hook and using a bait needle to poke it through the clear cartridge in front of the eyes of your slimy mackerel or yellowtail.

Once the loop is through the fish, you put the hook through the loop a number of times and secure it about an inch from the fish’s nose. It’s important to not go too heavy on your leader so 60-80lb Black Magic Fluorocarbon Leader fits the bill.

While slow trolling live baits is probably the most effective way to catch inshore marlin, lures also have their place. They are particularly useful when you want to travel to another area but could potentially catch fish between locations. They allow you to cover more ground, as you can troll them much faster than live baits. For inshore fish, skirted lures like the Black Magic Maggot, Flea and Saury ranges are all the perfect size.

It’s thrilling to fight marlin only a few kilometres from the shoreline.

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An influx of mulloway YAMBA

Dave Gaden

As is always the case at this time of year, Yamba will be overrun by holidaymakers trying their best to enjoy the great beaches, cafes, restaurants, clubs and above all else, catch a feed of fresh fish. All of this should be very achievable this month.

In the estuary we have been experiencing one of the best runs of blue swimmer crabs we have had in a long time. They have come into the river in big numbers despite the lack of any substantial rainfall. When looking for a decent spot to put the crab traps or dilly nets out, try to find a substantial change in the bottom. The edge of a sand bank coming out of a deep section of water will quite often produce better

than a flat area of the bottom.

Set your traps spaced apart in various depths and check them regularly, moving the non-productive ones to where the crabs are on that tide.

Flathead will be in reasonable numbers away from the main section of the river. Try the entrance to Lake Wooloweyah, around Joss Island or Back Channel on the north side of Goodwood Island near the entrance to the Esk River.

Tim Baxter from Warialda scored a PB mulloway.

Harrison bagged out on his first trip to sea, which included this great pearly.

Flicking plastics around these shallow areas will get you a feed pretty quick.

The good old sand whiting will be a major target species for a lot of people this summer, as they’re great fun to catch and fantastic on the plate. Look for deep water on a full tide. Pumping yabbies is a deadset killer but if you can’t find any, beachworms will still catch plenty. For those who really want to get into the bigger fish, get out on a high tide in the middle of the night.

This month we will start to see a consistent run of some of the pelagics offshore. Mahimahi will be around most days at the FAD but they will also show up randomly around the close reef off Angourie and Woody Head. Try and have a light float line out or a live bait ready in case you see that blue and yellow flash swim past the boat.

This month is also the start of mackerel season, so if your mahimahi line gets sheared off put the light wires on because the

Don George caught his best snapper for the day from Brooms Head Reef.

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spotties are here!

For targeting mackerel, I would start the morning north of Woody Head in Shark Bay trolling 6” pink squid lures around 10 knots.

Run the lures a long way back behind the boat – I set mine at 25 seconds back at 10 knots. Later in the morning, find a good patch of bait and anchor over it with very light float lines and pillies. Berleying with chopped pillies will certainly increase your chances of a hook-up and will help to hold fish when you do get them around.

Heading south to the reef off of Angourie and Brooms Head this month will find good numbers of pearl perch and snapper in 35-45m of water. Drift this ground with a standard paternoster rig and cut baits of pillies and squid. You will find all sorts of other tasty fish there like Venus tuskfish, Moses perch, and Maori cod. If you find it’s a bit quiet on the in close reef, head east to around 70m and you will find large bluespotted flathead in numbers. Flathead are great eating and they are easy to catch.

Heading north up to Black Rock and South Evans Reef, you will find trag in good numbers in around 30m

N O I P R O 485 SC Ricky Durrington from Warwick caught a solid mulloway. Head north this month for these fish.

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Bluefin Sports Wade from Yamba landed a beautiful pearl perch from the 100m wide ground. of water. Once again, drift fish them as long as you can.

The afternoon northeasterly is almost a certainty and by then you will know where the fish are and be able to anchor on them.

The north grounds have been producing more and more quality pearlies and snapper each year but it’s the amount of mulloway we catch that’s the most surprising compared to 12 years ago.

These fast growing fish have had a boom in numbers and can make a trip once you get one in the icebox.

Remember that this is a very busy time and a bit of patience at the boat ramp may be needed some days.

Please travel safe if you are heading this way, and enjoy the start of 2020!

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Barry from Rathdowney with a decent snapper.

JANUARY 2020

21

Surface fishing takes the cake BALLINA

Joe Allan

The beaches have been producing good catches of whiting and flathead.

Look for the main gutters around South Ballina, along Patches Beach and Boundary Creek. Fresh bait is always better so try digging for pipis or getting a few beachworms.

Offshore has been patchy, with the best results on mahimahi coming from around the FADs. Make sure you get a long drift on these and live yakkas have been best fished

with almost no weight. If you’re getting bites but not hooking up, try putting a treble hook as a stinger hooked into the fish’s tail.

This has helped a few local boys turn those bites into fish. There have been some juvenile kingfish off the FADs as well and these guys can be pretty fun on light tackle.

Mackerel will have come by now and should be really thick through January. There were good reports around the Gold and Sunshine coasts in December, so as the water warms up these beauties should come along with it.

The lower reaches of the Richmond have produced some great catches of bream lately. Try casting noisy crankbaits at the walls early in the mornings while the tide is running. Fluorocarbon line straight through is best suited for this. The best lure colours will depend on the water clarity, with dark colours for low light, solid/ bright colours for dirty water and more translucent/natural finishes for bright sun and

Tyler Rodgers with a tasty flathead caught in the lower reaches of the river.

Casino. If you’re out early or late and the cicadas are deafening, remember to tie on your surface lures to imitate these tasty snacks for bass. The trick is to not do too much; just shake

your rod tip slightly every now and again, exactly like a cicada that’s fallen out of a tree. This time of year, surface fishing is so good it’s hard not to give it a crack!

Adrian Melchior with a fat Aussie bass caught upstream of Woodlawn. The fish was fooled by an Atomic Hardz Vib 60 in the prawn tiger colour.

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JANUARY 2020

clearer water.

The whiting fishing has been going well of late. The shallow sand flats in North Creek and out the front of the RSL have been producing solid fish on stickbaits.

Crabs have turned up in patches around the middle reaches from Pimlico to Broadwater. Plenty of blue swimmers are still around and muddies have shown up but you might have to do some searching for them.

Hopefully we’ll get a bit of rain to stir them up more.

Give the pots plenty of time to settle and let the crabs find the bait. The best baits are blackfish frames if you can get your hands on some.

Bass have been around Coraki and Woodburn but have also moved upstream and spread right out. For good numbers, try the upper reaches around Lismore and

Mick Rodgers with a decent Richmond River mulloway.

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Heavy hitters are out in force THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

Good numbers of mahimahi, kingies, a few mackerel and pelagics have been giving fishos grief off the coast. Red dogs are smashing just

best, with the odd one hitting stickbaits, poppers, jigs and big plastics.

Find the schooled up fish then drop your baits and lures to score.

Spanish mackerel and the odd spotted mackerel have started to show up.

Trolling dead baits and

hardbodies has been working well for Spaniards, but slimies, small bonito and pillies have been the best troll baits and are catching more. The odd fish has been taken on stickbaits/poppers, floating half pillies and metals, but it takes a lot longer to

Matthew Lewis nailed this solid Tweed kingy on a live bait. about anything that comes close to the heavy structure that they call home. Whiting are fully pushing up into the skinny water and yabby banks, and flathead are stalking these whiting packs in the shallows. Bass are in full boof mode, hitting surface lures at dusk and dawn.

OFFSHORE If the last month is anything to go by, we should be in for a great pelagic season. Trolling around current lines, floating debris, spawn lines, reef lines and working birds from the 24s out to the shelf is still your best bet for a solid mahimahi, wahoo, billfish, yellowfin or longtail. The 50m, 100m, 200m, 400m and 1000m lines have been fishing better than in close. The FAD is also fishing well for mahimahi.

They aren’t as big, but are easily caught on metals and pillies.

Big kingies have been hanging around the close reefs. Live baits trolled or unweighted live drift baits have been working 24

JANUARY 2020

Quality mixed bags have been coming in from Tweed. Brooklyn poses with her dad’s catch.

raise a fish. The occasional spotty has been caught with floating and trolled pillies.

If you find the schools of yakkas and slimies, you’ll find the spotties.

There have been some great mixed reefies on the close reefs and in the shale. Fishing plastics, drift baits, octo jigs, micro jigs as well as bottom bashing has been catching quality pearlies, sea perch, tuskies and the odd pigfish and decent snapper. Dusk and dawn have been fishing the best in close but once the sun is up, dropping off to deeper water is a must for finding reefies.

Some big deep-sea monsters have been coming from the 400m lines, with bass groper, hapuka and bar cod all taken this month. However, electric reels are a must. There is still lots of bait around in close, so look at Point and 10-Minute reefs, Snapper Rocks, Kirra bait grounds, the sand pumping jetty and the yellow marker for a range of different baits.

ESTUARY Mangrove jacks are out to play and they are wreaking havoc on most anglers. Fishing heavy structure is the key to finding these red dogs but getting them out is another story. Live baits, large strip baits and dead baits have been working best at night on a filling tide, and a wide range of lures have been effective during the day.

Trolling hardbodies along the rock walls has been productive on the run-out tide. Working the same rock walls with vibes and slow rolled plastics has also been working well. Surface lures have been most effective around pontoons and drains at dusk and dawn.

Packs of whiting have been pushing up into the skinny water this month.

Look for sand banks with the most yabby holes to score the best packs.

Live yabbies, blood and beachworms have been fishing great as usual, even in the channels, and surface lures over these same filling banks have produced some quality fish too.

Flathead aren’t that far behind the whiting, and working the same sand banks with 2-5” plastics will catch the nicer flathead. Trolling hardbodies between spots has also been producing so have a hardbody sized between 35-120mm set up on another rod.

Lots of bull sharks have started to push upriver and chase schools of mullet.

Large dead baits and live baits are the go, and the top baits have been freshwater

Nick Dillon scored this mahimahi on a trolled skirt. eel, whole mullet or tuna, stingray flaps and live mullet fished on the bottom.

Get up past the sugar mill for the best results.

There are still lots of trevally around the bridges at night. If you find the packs of herring, you’ll find

around now after taking a hiding over Christmas. Get away from the crowds to score the better models.

This may mean getting right upriver and into the brackish creeks for muddies. Around the weed beds will produce quality blue swimmers.

Joel Graham had a great battle with this red dog on light gear. the trevs. Lightly-weighted live and dead herring have been the most productive baits, whereas vibes, jigs, plastics and swimbaits have been the pick of the artificials.

Lots of crabs are moving

BEACHES A few good tailor have been caught this month, mainly at first light off the headlands on metals and in the gutters on pillies at night.

Dart have moved in

and are sitting in gutters, around headlands and rock walls during the day.

Whitebait, small metals and plastics have all been fishing well for dart.

There are still bream, flathead, whiting and trevally sitting in the

deeper gutters at night and half pillies have fished best.

FRESHWATER The back creeks and upper river in the Tweed hinterland have been fishing well. Surface lures at dusk and dawn have

been productive when matched to the insects in the area. Once the sun is established, switch over to diving hardbodies, jig spins, spinnerbaits, vibes, blades and plastics. Start aiming for the shadow lines from the trees, overhanging

Joshua Crabtree caught this solid 52cm jack on a slow rolled minnow.

branches, submerged logs and branches for best results.

Fishing the dam has been tough lately. Find the schooled up fish and drop your spoon on their head to score bass.

LOOKING AHEAD The storms should slowly start to shake things up. Mackerel and kings will dominate the close reefs, while the pelagics will be out wide. Mixed reefies will slow down a lot over the next month.

The jacks will continue their dominance of the rivers and if there’s rain, fish towards the mouth. If we don’t get rain, fish upriver.

The yabby filled banks will continue to hold the best packs of whiting.

Find the good banks of yabbies and score.

Crabs will be out on the move. Any rain around the full moon will produce a great feed. Remember to mark your floats and pots otherwise they will be confiscated. Check the DPI website for numbers, bag and size limits.

We sometimes get a run of school prawns around the start of January.

A butterfly scoop net or registered haul net is your best bet to get a feed of schoolies.

Justin Wilson worked the skinny water with live yabbies and caught a tasty feed.

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Raining on Gold Coast’s parade SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

We desperately need rain. The old saying that a drought on land is a drought at sea has never been as appropriate as it is now. Persistence and hard work will pay off and there

are a few options that will see the rod bent this month but the Southern GC just isn’t fishing as well as it usually does in January.

ESTUARY Bait fishing in the estuary has been producing the usual catches of bream, whiting and the odd flathead.

Whiting have been a little smaller than usual this year

Saratoga have been biting during the warm weather.

but the numbers are good.

Flathead have been very hard to come by and even the anglers that fished the Flathead Classic back in September, which is the peak of the flathead season, found it very tough.

You cannot beat live baits for whiting. It’s hard to beat live bait for most fish but when the whiting sizes are a little down as they have been this year, having the right bait can make all the difference. Having a yabby pump is a great start, as live yabbies are probably the best all-round estuary bait.

However, when it comes to whiting, worms are the pick of the bait. The three worms that are commonly used for whiting are beach or sandworms, bloodworms and wriggler worms.

Beachworms are cheap and it’s relatively easy to learn how to catch them.

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to collect beachworms, they are cheap and available at most tackle stores. They are also very long, which means you can get many pieces of bait from a single worm.

Bloodworms are a lot harder to find and they live in the mud around mangrove roots. They can be dug out using a garden fork but they are very small and even a big one is only two or three pieces of bait. You will also need to be aware that they have claw-like teeth and will bite. It is worth it however, as they are simply a much better bait. When the big fish are not around in good numbers like they have been this month, switching from beach to bloodworms makes a massive difference.

Fish them on the edges of yabby banks, weed edges or where the current builds up a shallow sand bank. Always fish the edges, as the bigger fish like to stay close to the protection of deeper water.

I sometimes fish in 3m of water for big whiting. There is always a good chance of a big bream when fishing bloodworms on the edges of the banks as well.

Wriggler worms are a light pink colour and when I was a kid, they could be found all throughout the canals of the Gold Coast.

Unfortunately, sandfly spraying killed many of them but over the past decade we have seen them start to come back. Still, they can be hard to find and the best way to locate them is to pump them up with a yabby pump.

Unlike pumping yabbies, you don’t do a number of pumps in the same hole; instead we just do a single pump or turn over the sand with a garden fork and go looking for them in the sand. Wrigglers are a lot of hard work but these little buggers are incredible bait that can attract the biggest, fattest whiting.

For lure anglers, it is hard to go past trevally and mangrove jack this month.

Jacks are at their best at the moment but haven’t been easy to find. Working lures around the rock walls, pontoons and bridges at first and last light works best. There are a number of different retrieves that work well and these days.

Most anglers are cranking soft plastics back at warp speed but I have found it is very dependant on the mood of the fish. Most days they prefer a lure that has been twitched in their face due to their aggressive nature.

BEACHES Whiting have been biting well on the beaches but as we move into summer, the fish have been smaller but in better numbers. Pipis and beachworms have been the pick of the baits. Finding a

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First light will see plenty of bass on the points at Hinze. nice gutter that has a shallow edge and waves breaking hard on the shore is ideal. I always stand right back from the shoreline so that I don’t scare fish that are in close.

Bream and flathead are around this month and don’t dismiss mulloway as a winter fish. They will also be in the gutters at this time of year and respond well to live baits and dead strip baits.

Unfortunately, sharks love these baits as well so it can be frustrating some days.

If you have the kids on holidays and they want to have a go at beach fishing, dart are a fantastic option.

normally dislike a northerly; however, I have found that once the winds have blown from the one direction for a week or so, the fish become used to it and will come on the bite.

The bass in Hinze and Clarrie Hall are very lethargic during the day but are feeding aggressively on the points, lilies and weed edges at low light. Surface lures have been working well and one technique that I like to use is casting the lure out and leaving it to sit on the surface for 20 seconds or so. Bass will often come up and snatch

Flathead have been hard to find, but persistence will pay off.

They will take most baits but due to their small mouths, worms work best. You can thread a small amount of worm onto a size 6 long shank hook and do very well on dart.

FRESHWATER In the lead up to writing this, bass have been biting in the hot northerly winds.

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Hopefully we will see the winds settle as we move into late summer and the fish will continue to bite.

There have been reports of saratoga hitting lures but no mangrove jack from Clarrie Hall that I know of yet. There’s always a chance though, so it may pay to beef up the tackle.

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A new year of Jumpinpin fishing adventures Gutter, the top of Crusoe Island, the deep water off Swan Bay, the Stockyards, Cobby Passage and the mouth of the Logan River.

The hot and humid weather should also fire up mangrove jacks, which are one of the best eating fish you can get and put up a brutal fight, usually resulting in the fish winning! If you’d like to take on one of these brutes, you need to target structures like rock walls, jetties, pylons, bridges or sunken snags. They use structure for cover to ambush their prey and quickly return to it with their prize.

Any live bait drifted in

JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

I hope everyone had a good break and is raring to get stuck into what should be another cracking year of fishing the ’Pin. Plenty of boats will be heading out over the school holiday period chasing a feed of bream, whiting or flathead and they should all be around in good numbers as they were this time last year.

Now is the perfect time to be chasing elbowslapping whiting. They love bloodworms, beachworms, yabbies, squid, prawns, small soft plastics and shallow diving lures and there have also been a few fishos chasing them on

snags also works well but be prepared for an explosive strike when they hit. You have to pull them away from the snag as quickly as possible because if they get you in, they usually win.

Mackerel and other pelagics are due this time of year and are often not too far off the ’Pin Bar. Try to find bait schools or look for birds working the surface and you should find feeding macks.

Good luck in the new year! I hope it is a prosperous one with great fishing. Keep gathering knowledge on how to catch the fish you’re after and soon they’ll become easier to catch.

The author and his brother caught this Spaniard just beyond the ’Pin Bar. small poppers in shallow water. Surprisingly, they will actually rise to the surface and hit a lure. Some of the top spots to try are Ageston Sands and the junction in the Logan, Slipping Sands, the Pig Styes, top of Crusoe Island, the Gold, Green and Pandanus banks and the Never Fail Islands.

If you’re targeting bream, most of them have been caught near the top of the tide near rock walls or areas covered in snags. Using a heavier line is recommended, as they can snag you up quickly.

Berleying is definitely beneficial and larger baits such as half pillies, heaped mullet or chook gut or large flesh baits will definitely entice the bigger fish in. Try around Kalinga Bank, the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie, the point on Short Island, the Stockyards or any rock wall or deep snag you can find.

Flathead will continue

bassco boats

January is a great time to bag a good haul of whiting.

to make up the bulk of the catches, as they will still be around in large numbers after their breeding run. Aim to fish at the bottom of the run-out tide, as this is when lizards become more active and feed. As an ambush predator, they will be lying in wait behind snags, holes, drop-offs, drains and where the sand meets rock walls.

Flathead will take a variety of baits like prawns, pillies, yabbies, herring, mullet or whitebait. I’ve found whitebait work better than most baits. You can either use a small two ganged rig using 1/0-2/0 hooks or a single hook threaded through the eye with the hook turned out. Plastics and diving lures are all the rage as you can cover more area searching for the fish. They tend to congregate in small schools so if you catch one, there is almost certainly more.

The pick spots to try around the ’Pin are the bottom of Kangaroo Island, Whalleys

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Hot fishing awaits GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn Instagram: @josh__dunn__

Welcome to a brand new decade! The start of the year always gets me excited, as I can sit down and remember all the great

memories from the year prior and I can plan out my future trips and bucket list species.

January will be a month of warm water temperatures, especially deep in the canal systems where there is less water movement at the change of tides. At times

Harrison Branch tempted this jack with a ZMan 5” StreakZ.

these spots can produce a lot of fish, like mangrove jack, bream, trevally and flathead. The bait will be found in shaded areas including jetties, mangroves, bridges and natural structure, so cast and keep your lure in amongst structure and in the strike zone for as long as possible.

A natural presentation will be your best bet in these areas, as the water can be very still with not much movement.

Don’t let that throw you off; there are plenty of good fish in these areas so try and be as quiet as possible. An electric motor can be the difference between a bag of fish or a donut.

Flathead will be found in the deeper parts of the canals and Broadwater. I tend to use naturally-coloured lures.

Bridge pylons are a good place to start your session, as this is where some of the larger models will wait for passing baitfish. These fish will most likely lie in the current around 2-3m behind the last pylon.

Position the bow of the boat into the current and the first pylon, where you can easily cast your plastic or unweighted bait along the pylons. Retrieve your plastic back to the boat while bouncing your lure

Dan Robinson with a mid-30cm bream taken on mullet. along the bottom as close to the pylons as possible, but hold on tight, as you may hook something unexpected that also likes the look of your lure!

Within the next month we will definitely see temperatures rise – both

water temperatures and on land. This is exciting to hear, but at the same time can create some nasty afternoon storms, so be careful on the water and check the local forecast as these storms can build quickly. Fingers crossed we can get as much

rain as possible.

January is set to be a magnificent month of fishing. Keep in mind it will certainly be hot and UV will be very high, so keep reapplying sunscreen and drink plenty of water. Here’s to a happy New Year!

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High expectations for peak summer action most crowded fishing spots on the Gold Coast when the fish are on the chew, and it is common to have over

GOLD COAST

David Green

January is a busy time on Gold Coast waters so it pays to get up early and fish before the boat traffic begins. The current on the inshore grounds will strengthen and the water should warm up to around 27°C. This will bring a lot of great fish such as wahoo, mahimahi, black marlin and mackerel in close to the coast. The estuaries are still waiting on substantial rain but there’s plenty of fish to target in the meantime.

OFFSHORE GROUNDS It is a good month to troll lures on the close grounds off the Gold Coast, as the annual run of small black marlin should be in full swing. These fish generally start to show in numbers in December, peak in January and start to thin out by the end of February. They respond to trolled skirted lures, trolled dead baits and drifted or slowly trolled live baits. Good areas to try this month include the Cotton Reef east of Jumpinpin, the Gravel Patch off Burleigh Heads and the 50m line east of Southport. If the current

a hundred boats fishing the reef on weekends during the mackerel run.

Further out to sea, there

Mangrove jack have been in excellent condition. pushes in close to shore, the edge of the run-out tide east of the Seaway and Jumpinpin Bar also holds a lot of fish.

If there are big schools of pilchards in the area, small black marlin are generally not far away.

Mahimahi are a common and welcome catch this month. They respond to the same methods used for marlin, but particularly enjoy brightly coloured lures and

live baits. Mahimahi are one of the fastest growing fish in the ocean, reaching 8-10kg in their first year of life. While they are superb eating, they need to be very carefully handled once brought on board, as their wild thrashing can make them very dangerous if left unrestrained on the deck. I like to tie them up, putting a barbless hook in the mouth and pulling the tail around

so the fish is in a circle with its tail tied to the hooked lanyard. If you find a floating object or a dominant current line, there should be a few mahimahi in the area.

Spanish and spotted mackerel will start to show up on Palm Beach Reef.

Float lining with pilchards, spinning with metal lures and trolling dead baits are all effective tactics. Palm Beach Reef is one of the

January is peak black marlin season.

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should be plenty of big blue marlin beyond the 100m line. The early season bite has been excellent, with most boats getting a few bites every day and the fish averaging around 150kg. If the Fraser Island fishery is anything to go by, we should have an excellent run of blue marlin this month as the current pushes further south.

As well as blue marlin, the wide grounds should produce a few black marlin, wahoo and mahimahi this month.

Bottom fishing will be slow due to the current. There should still be a few kingies, pearl perch, pigfish and rosy jobfish on the 50-fathom line, current permitting, and closer to shore there should be teraglin, tailor and a few snapper. The 42-Fathom Reef east of the Seaway can fish surprisingly well in January if the current slows down.

BROADWATER AND RIVERS It has been a very dry spring and summer and the estuaries need good rain.

Target species this month include whiting, sand and mud crabs, mangrove jacks, bream and mulloway. There should still be a few big flathead around on the sand flats on big tides.

It has been a very good season for mangrove jacks so far, with a lot of good fish over 50cm turning up in the

good numbers this month in the Broadwater and in the Nerang and Pimpama rivers.

Casting unweighted yabbies over the sand flats on a rising tide using ultralight tackle is a very effective method.

Bloodworms, shrimp, yabbies and small soldier crabs are all very effective baits. If there are small shrimp or jelly prawns in the shallows, small stickbaits and poppers are also effective, particularly in windy conditions. Wind fast and don’t stop your retrieve when you see a fish following the lure. Whiting will often

strike a lure repeatedly before hooking up. Cast downwind in water depths of 15-45cm for best results.

The dry conditions have greatly affected crab numbers this season. Hopefully good rains in early January will get muddies on the move.

Most of the crabs have been caught in the Pimpama River and areas such as the Coomera, Coombabah Creek and Jacobs Well Channel have been quite poor. Try chicken frames or mackerel heads for your overnight pot sets and remember that the new bag limit is seven

male crabs over 15cm wide per person. Additionally, your pots and floats must be labelled with the address of the individual user.

The Jumpinpin entrance is a good spot to try for mulloway using soft plastics in daylight hours. White jerkshads are a very effective lure to use in summer, and try to minimise your jighead size so it is just enough to get to the bottom in the current.

January should be an interesting month to fish the Gold Coast, but we need a bit of rain to flush the system out.

Spanish mackerel will be available around Palm Beach Reef.

Coomera and Nerang rivers.

A lot of these fish have been caught casting paddle-tail soft plastics and hardbodied minnows around floating pontoons. Bait fishing at night using small live baits

or mullet fillets has also been very effective around the run-out tide. Giant trevally, big-eye trevally and estuary cod can also caught using the same methods.

Whiting should be in

Mark Frendin took this whiting on a Bassday Sugapen.

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FIND OKUMA ON JANUARY 2020

31

January jacks are in full swing right now SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

The hot weather is here and the fishing will be heating up.

Mangrove jack are in full swing and terrorising baitfish up and down the coast. All bridges, pontoons, snag piles and rock bars will be holding fish at certain stages of the tide. Look for areas with a lot of tidal run in the middle of the flow and then target these areas as the

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tide slows.

Low light conditions in the early morning are my favourite for lure fishing and late into the hot balmy nights I prefer live baiting.

Sovereign Islands, Aquatic Paradise and Raby Bay canals have been giving up some good numbers of late.

Flathead are scattered up on the flats. There are plenty of pan size fish getting caught around the back of Garden and Snipe islands. The bigger models have been a little

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harder to tempt recently.

If trying to target big fish in the shallows throw big baits. Big hardbody lures designed for barramundi are a great starting point.

I also love fishing large swimbaits for them. Fishing these big lures slow in shallow clear waters makes for some insane visuals.

Don’t be scared to try big lures, as I’ve had great success on the Zerek Affinity, which measures in at 220mm long. When fishing these types of lures, work them slow with lots of stalls and pauses.

This month is one of my favourite for big bay snapper. Their numbers are low but their quality usually lifts. Target these bigger fish in the deeper sections, arund 10m+. Places worth having a look are the Harry Attkinson artificial reefs, the Peel Island artificials, and the spit beacon at Peel and the western side of Mud Island. You don’t need to use massive plastics or baits for them, as small 3” ZMan MinnowZ and StreakZ will match the hatch with what they feed on. Using your sounder to locate these fish is the key.

You may need to be patient, but you won’t find them if you don’t go looking.

Summer whiting are going to be everywhere with some large specimens around. The mouth of the Pimpama and the sandbanks in the middle reaches of the Coomera River and Nerang River have been producing good numbers and the better quality are coming at night on bait.

Brenden Whyte with a Brissy River thready. There have been plenty caught around the port this season.

For those of you wanting to have some fun catching whiting on lures, use slender profile topwater lures to target the bigger models during the day. It’s a great visual way to fish and it’s great fun on the light string. The Logan

the middle reaches from the well-lit areas at night.

The rock bars in the middle reaches, along with the sunken wall, are producing their fair share of pan-sized snapper and decent bream.

There have also been a lot of sharks caught in the city

reaches on large live baits like mullet.

If you have a great capture from the southern bay you would like to share, email them through to nick@techfishing.com. au. Until next month, Tech-it-easy!

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Chris Gartner with a decent jack caught on a Zerek Live Shrimp.

River has been producing a few fish up around the banks at Lone Pine.

There have been a lot of sharks down towards the mouth and some large models have been caught.

If you enjoy catching sharks, now’s the time to be out there.

The Brisbane River has been fishing quite well.

There have been plenty of threadfin salmon and the occasional mulloway caught around the Port.

There’s still a lot of smaller fish coming from

Flathead have been found scattered up on the flats. This one fell to a large swimbait.

Battling the flow and tackling the howling wind BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

I hope everyone enjoyed the Christmas/New Year period and maybe even got to wet a line! Anglers have the best of both worlds east of the South Passage Bar at present, with pelagic species on the rise and still enough bottom dwellers around to keep the reef fishers busy.

On charter of late, we’ve been working the wider reefs for amberjack and trag when the current allows and when we can’t work the wide grounds, we’ve been float

A 12kg amberjack gave this angler a workout on snapper gear.

This charter group caught quality snapper on the 29-fathom line when the current was roaring south.

lining for snapper on the closer reefs out to around 70m. I like a bit of flow in the water, but we had extended periods of strong current pushing south and this made fishing out wide tough. It’s still possible to work the strong current, especially when float lining, but as soon as you get any wind with it the drift can push you too fast and make it very difficult to fish. As the wind is predominately from the north this time of year and the current is pushing south, this can really

force you along and make fishing near impossible in the deeper water.

When conditions have allowed, we’ve had some red-hot sessions on ambos and trag nailing live baits and this should continue this month. Snapper catches have also remained solid and we’ve had some good sessions along the 29 and 33-fathom lines, as well as out on the 90m line. If you’re prepared to hunt around and be patient, snapper are still worth the effort this time of year.

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Spanish mackerel should become more active in the Point Lookout area and if the Straddie locals are out there in their tinnies, it’s a fair indication there’s a few around. Trolling swimming gar or live baits will both take their fair share of Spaniards and for lure fishers, hardbodied lures will do the job. The shallow coffee rock reefs in tight to Moreton Island can also start to hold Spanish and school mackerel and I find slow trolling live baits works well in this shallow water, where keeping noise to a minimum is important. Find the bait in this area and mackerel shouldn’t be too far away.

The close in reefs around

Point Lookout can produce some real colour in the kill tank this time of year, with Venus tuskfish, Moses perch, fusilier and Maori cod as well as the usual juvenile snapper and pearl perch. Bottom bouncing with fresh strip baits is all that’s required to snare a feed.

At the time of writing, we haven’t had a chance to work any of the new FADs on charter but I’m sure they’ll be holding mahimahi by now.

• Until next month, enjoy your fishing, take care on the coastal bars and if you’d like to join me on charter (max. 8 persons) give me a call on 07 3822 9527 or 0418 738 750 or visit my new website www. outlawcharters.com.au.

These happy anglers caught some solid snapper on the 33s.

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JANUARY 2020

33

Getting in some fishing before the holidays end BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Many anglers are still on annual leave during January and the juniors aren’t back at school for a few weeks, so there’s still plenty of time for a few decent fishing trips.

Warmer conditions produce more aggressive behaviour from many species due to heightened metabolism. Whether you are into the fast-paced action of targeting pelagics or the more relaxed approach of soaking worms for whiting or live baits for threadfin, January has plenty on offer.

BAY PELAGICS Moreton Bay has plenty to offer for anglers during January. Pelagics are usually vey active with several species of tuna and mackerel on the hit list.

One of the favoured targets is spotted mackerel, which are aggressive predators that can be voracious and plentiful.

Large schools can be sighted surface feeding at a broad array of locations throughout the bay. Concentrating your search around the shipping channels, northern edge of The Paddock green zone, Small Ships Channel and around the Measured Mile will usually see results for anglers with the right approach. However, spotted mackerel can appear almost anywhere in numbers varying from less than a handful of specimens to several thousands.

Targeting these fish can be quite simple. Casting a

20-40g metal slug or slice and retrieving it as fast as physically possible will usually see you hook up quickly. This approach will work adjacent the beacons lining the shipping channels.

However, as mackerel are much deeper in the water column, the lure must be allowed to sink all the way to the bottom before the retrieve is started. Often numerous mackerel can be taken from a single beacon before they wise up and trying the next closest beacon will usually see you back into the action.

School mackerel can be found in the bay virtually all year around if you know where to look, however spotties usually appear some time in summer. By January, spotties should be in sizeable schools at several places throughout the bay, although every year is different – sometimes their numbers are very limited. If motoring around the bay looking for mackerel isn’t desirable to you, floating out a pilchard while anchored around the bay islands may still see you score.

With heightened numbers of baitfish congregated within Moreton Bay, tuna will also be in residence.

Mac tuna, bullet tuna and the highly-prized longtail tuna are all a serious proposition.

Like mackerel, tuna can be located anywhere, however the shipping channel precinct would be a good place to investigate.

Tuna are often more pedantic in their feeding activity. Sometimes you will need a precise replica of the baitfish on which they are feeding to have any

Billy caught this snodger Brisbane River flathead.

34

JANUARY 2020

chance of hooking up. Metal slices and slugs will often be to their liking, however at other times you are best to downgrade the profile to a small fly. If the baitfish are a bit larger, a stickbait can get the strike. I like to use stickbaits and 30-40lb braided main line these days,

covering more ground. The sharks will find the trail and follow it up to the source.

Baits such as whole fish (mullet, gar, slimy mackerel, large pilchards etc.) and fillet baits are all worth using.

I like to use two circle hooks snelled onto nyloncoated wire and a heavy

will put you in good stead.

The lures closest to structure are generally the ones that get nailed. Deep diving minnow lures (especially suspending models), paddle-tail plastics, crustacean profiles (prawn and crab) and vibration baits (hard and soft) can all work well. More adventurous

Pelagic action in Moreton Bay is awesome early in the year with longtails, mac tuna, bullet tuna, school mackerel and spotted mackerel all serious possibilities. as it allows me to subdue the longtails quicker, greatly increasing their chance of survival once released.

Jerkshad plastics rigged on jigheads are also great offerings for a broad array of pelagics, including tuna.

Mac tuna and bullet tuna are not considered table fish, but their oily flesh makes ideal bait for many species.

Additionally, they are a lot of fun on light spin gear and a great target for the juniors and newbies.

SHARKS One of the more abundant species in the rivers and bay during the warmer months are sharks. At times they seem like they are in plague proportions and any decent fish hooked will get the short back and sides treatment or be lost completely. Targeting sharks is a lot of fun and a great way for anglers to learn the skills in handling their tackle and fighting a worthy adversary. Within Moreton Bay, anglers should easily be able to hook a few sharks around the bay islands, the spoil grounds and along the edges of deeper channels.

Deploying a few baits while you drift along will generally reward. Heighten chances by deploying a tuna oil slick – simply put a small bottle of tuna oil on a string into the water with a few small holes in it. The further that you drift, the better the chance of encountering a few sharks as you will be

monofilament wind-on leader. The majority of sharks in the bay will be sub 1.2m and can be handled on quite light tackle (4-10kg).

Larger specimens will also be hooked, however the smaller ones are the best to eat if bled and skinned soon after capture.

The Brisbane River also has a healthy population of sharks, especially in the upper reaches. Anglers fishing from the bank or boat can catch sharks right along the length on a variety of baits. A small to medium live catfish can be suspended under a float and its struggles will soon entice any shark in the near vicinity. Other baits, including small whole fish (dead or alive), and chunks of eel and fillet strips, can be productive. Again, rigs can vary but a circle hook on a nylon-coated wire leader will work well.

ESTUARY AND RIVERS A host of quality species will be on offer in the rivers and estuaries over the coming months. Mangrove jack fishing has been fairly good so far this season with plenty of quality red dogs being hooked. More experienced anglers are subduing the better quality fish, however a few newbies have scored fish that may be their PB for years to come.

Casting lures around prominent structure such as bridge pylons, mangrove snags, pontoons, and jetties

anglers will often opt to use swimbaits, poppers or flies in their quest for these crimson estuarine brawlers.

Most live baits will also be effective.

Estuary cod will be a common capture by anglers targeting jacks, as they live in the same areas and respond to the same techniques and lures. To specifically target them, anywhere that has an abundance of crabs will have cod in residence, as crabs are a favourite food of estuary cod. Rock walls are especially good places, as they offer a food source as well as cover for cod, which like to lurk in the crevices between the rocks.

Flathead are a staple all year round and anglers with the right techniques will have no trouble finding a few. Trolling the edges of major sand and mud banks during the falling tide is a proven way to score a few flatties. On the higher stages, you can get up on top of the banks and cast lures such as soft plastics, swimbaits and blades. Bait fishers can also target these same locations and drifting with small whole fish baits aft is a reliable way to entice a few flathead.

Whitebait, frogmouth pilchards, hardiheads and gar can all work. Strips of fillet from mullet, tuna and gar are also worth using and drifting in the channels on the lower stages of the tide or up on the banks during

the higher stages will be productive. Bream, whiting and numerous other species will be caught as by-catch.

Threadfin salmon numbers have been fairly healthy recently. For those fishing the Brisbane River, the lower reaches commonly hold good schools of threadies during the warmer months. These schools can even be found well outside the river mouth on the flats, both north and south, and around the beacons. Jighead rigged plastics and vibes are common lure styles to target threadfin, however some anglers also score results on micro jigs, flies and even deep diving minnow lures.

Live baits are probably the easiest way to get a few threadies but a lot of other by-catch will also take a liking to them. Sharks, rays, pike eels and catfish are usually unwanted, however the occasional larger snapper, mulloway, cod and flathead will be well received by live baiters. Mullet, prawns and herring are the most readily used live baits, but yakkas, slimy mackerel, gar and pike can all be used successfully.

Fish baits close to the bottom yet as lightly-weighted as possible. Deploy these out from the major shipping wharves and jetties or along the edges of the decline into the main river basin. Often the period around the change of the tide will offer some of the better results. Night sessions are often more productive than daylight hours due to decreased boat traffic and heightened activity from prawns.

ARTIFICIAL REEFS The artificial reefs can hold many different fish species. Species such as snapper, sweetlip, morwong, cod, mulloway, school mackerel, tuskfish and numerous others are common captures. Fishing these artificial reefs (predominately the Harry Atkinson, Curtin, Bill Turner, East Coochie and West Peel) can be done from anchor or on the drift.

Keeping quiet will greatly increase your results so anchoring well up from your chosen bait deployment spot and using an electric motor to transit is a wise option. When it is noisy, the fish will go off the bite or even move away from the area completely. Quality baits and thoughtful rigging will bring success. Fresh and live offerings are preferred, but the humble frozen pilchard and squid still have a lot of runs on the board.

Drifting over the reefs while casting lures upcurrent and then retrieving them back with the current is another highly successful technique. Jighead rigged

plastics and vibes are the most popular options. Flies fished on fast sinking lines can work a treat on some of the shallower artificials.

Locating fish using the sounder and dropping down micro jigs can be successful in the deeper areas, especially for snapper and mulloway.

James was kicking back and swimming a few live baits out the back of his tinny when this big Brissie River thready decided to interrupt.

Drifting a pilchard mid-water is likely to produce a school mackerel or quality snapper.

You just never know what is going to show up next at an artificial reef.

CRUSTACEANS Mud crabbing can be rather good during January, especially if we get a few good downpours to flush the crabs from deep inside the mangrove expanses and out into the main river systems and estuaries. When it rains, lowering salinity levels will force the crabs out into areas where the salinity is higher.

Anglers setting pots in the rivers and estuaries after rain will generally be rewarded well. Safety pots baited with fish frames, chicken carcasses and other such treats will be productive.

The same pots and baits will attract sand and blue swimmer crabs around the mouths of the estuaries and rivers. Both crab species have been more readily available out into Moreton Bay where setting pots in the gutters, channels and edges of banks will work well, and allowing pots to soak overnight or at least for a few hours over a tidal change will produce the best results. Ensure your crabbing apparatus conforms to the regulations and that you have a suitable measuring device with you so that you

can adhere properly to bag and size limits.

January usually sees decent schools of prawns in the Caboolture and Pine rivers and a few other systems. Again, rainfall has a big impact on the numbers of prawns on offer. The deeper holes in the Caboolture River, such as the Jew Hole and Stockyards, are well known but there are many other holes along the system where prawns can be caught.

The same can be said for the Pine River.

Although prawners often congregate just upriver from the highway bridge, there are plenty of places to sound out in your search for prawns.

A quality sounder and 12ft top pocket prawn net will go a long way to guaranteeing a successful outing. You are allowed a 10L bucket of prawns per caster with a maximum of 20L per vessel. The next few months should see an increase in prawn numbers and size in many systems.

CONCLUSION Hot weather raises water temperatures, which in turn increases baitfish activity and predator aggressiveness.

For anglers, this can result in some excellent fishing, crabbing and prawning.

Hopefully we will also get some decent rain to help the farmers and put some

Dependent on rain, prawning can be fairly productive during January. The northern creeks and rivers often have decent numbers of medium-sized banana prawns. much needed nutrients into the waterways. Heavy rain can slow things for a few weeks but will then bring many benefits over the next year or so.

There’s a seafood

smorgasbord out there just waiting to be caught so don some protective clothing, slap on some SPF30, fill the icebox with some chilled drinks and get out there amongst it.

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12/06/2019 11:48:45 AM

35

Time to test Santa’s gear!

NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

Welcome anglers to the New Year, or as I like to say, ‘Happy New Gear!’ If you

festive season. The weather has given us a reasonable serving of good fishing days over the last month, allowing anglers to express their enthusiasm to test their newfangled presents.

Ongoing northerlies along with sporadic southeast winds

BREAM Bream catches are seasonally good around the warmer months, as the rise in both water and air temperatures fire bream into feeding more regularly. Surface fishing has been exciting for the lure

Live baits and hardbodied lures have bagged the most jacks this season. were successful at dropping those subtle hints for fishing gear before Christmas, you know exactly what I mean.

It has been great to see our waterways busy over the

have typically peppered our northern bay allowing the presence of baitfish to feed into our many rivers and estuaries making fishing decent over these steamy humid days.

There have been some great catches of flathead around White Patch, the mouth of Glasshouse Creek, and the drop-offs around Toorbul.

fanatics amongst us, especially around the top of the tide, when waters spread over rock bommies and weed flats allowing for roaming bream to feed in these areas.

Lightly-weighted soft plastics like ZMan SlimSwimZ and Gulp! Crabbies have been standout performers with neutral colours being on form to combat the clear waters due to lack of rain. Hopping retrieves have worked well when fishing waters loaded with snags and bommies.

Slow rolling retrieves have been more fruitful when fishing rubble and weedy flats.

The weedy flats throughout Pumicestone Passage have been popular over this

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summer, especially around Donnybrook, Ningi Creek, Sandstone Point, Beachmere and Deception Bay. CRABS Steady sand crab numbers have been reported over the Christmas and New Year period with Deception Bay still leading the charge like previous months.

Pumincestone Passage has been a close second with many anglers taking advantage of the holidays to spend more time out on the water laying pots throughout.

During extended periods of northerly winds, Deception Bay is always a solid option for sand crabbers. The combination of the northerly winds and tidal currents are favourable to that area.

Mud crabs have also been caught in the upper reaches of the Pine and Caboolture rivers lately with Elimbah, Hussey and Bells Creek also producing the stable results in the Bribie area.

MANGROVE JACK With steamy days occurring more regularly, the odd mangrove jack is still being caught around our northern waters. The most popular places are the canals at Newport waterways, Ningi Creek and the upper reaches of the Pine River.

Live baits and hardbody lures have bagged the most jacks with the peak times being at dusk and at night.

These aggressive feeders love targeting their prey where the light is low, especially around fallen tree snags, rock bars and under pontoons. Hardbody lures to try are Ecogear SX48F and SX60F, Jackall Squirrel 61SP and 67SP and Lucky Craft Pointer 65XD, which all dive quite deep with some possessing suspending capabilities.

FLATHEAD Good numbers of flathead

It has been exciting times for bream anglers using surface lures. have still been appearing lately, with anglers scoring great catches around the Bribie region. White Patch, the mouth of Glasshouse Creek and the drop-offs around Toorbul have yielded great success. Further south the spots to target have been the mouth of Cabbage Tree Creek, Dohles Rocks, The Wells and Woody Point jetty.

The 100mm Squidgy Wrigglers in bloodworm, wasabi and lava have been popular with the flathead over these warmer months. A twitch-twitch-pause retrieve is doing the trick. Be sure to also give ZMan 4” StreakZ a go this summer as their swimming action is enough to tempt any dusky on the prowl.

SAND WHITING Nice sand whiting are still being caught this month with the southern beaches of Bribie still being the standout area.

Bloodworms have still been the pick of the baits amongst the avid whiting fishers with pipis also coming into the mix. Further down the bay, Margate, Hays Inlet and the

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lower reaches of the Pine River have been repeatedly producing whiting. However, size has sometimes been the issue with anglers having to sift through the smaller ones to get a good bag of legal fish.

Persistence will pay off!

TIP OF THE MONTH The harsh summer sun can take its toll on our bodies at the best of times, but our gear can also feel the full brunt of its fury if left unattended. Rods and reels can cope with punishing usage but lures and soft plastics stand very little chance when left out in direct sunlight. Be sure to protect your hard earned investments by storing unused tackle away in hatches and bags to ensure their longevity remains.

Even adding some moisture absorption material (e.g.

Silica pouches or even raw rice) can help remove any unwanted moisture assisting trebles, split rings and jigheads increase their shelf life.

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Got to love January!

NOOSA

Peter Wells

With a bit of luck, the weather gods will smile on us in January and bless us with some fantastic offshore conditions so we can get out and get amongst the fish. Offshore should be fishing well this month and whether you are chasing tuna in the bay, running wide or heading up to the reefs off Double Island, there are plenty of opportunities for offshore anglers.

Trout fishing is a little more complex than just sending a lump of squid down on a paternoster rig.

Fishing hard to the reef is key. A running ball sinker rig with the sinker all the way down on the hook with a glow bead will increase your chance of a good trout.

Chardons Reef has been the go-to spot for those wanting a feed of mackerel. Although the fish haven’t been huge, they have definitely made up for it in great numbers. This is also the time of year when we see some marlin around

To the south, the Gneerings always produces well in the later months of summer. Live baits will pick up anything from cobia to kingfish on the morning tides with a good berley trail going.

The upper reaches of the Noosa River will be one of the top spots to fish for mangrove jacks this month.

Trolling lures like Jackall Squirrels and Zerek Tango Shads in 69mm are perfect fished early in the morning.

Casting these lures hard up against the banks is another approach that produces

Richard Blundell was pleased with this vibrant tomato cod. bucks are out on the hunt for some female company. Fresh baits and regular checking of pots is the key to getting a good feed of crabs. Fresh mullet or fresh fish frames are as good a bait as any and crab pot placement is essential, so get them up into the deeper holes close to the bank and snags.

Down at the Maroochy River mouth there has been some excellent mulloway, tailor and the odd queenfish.

The Twin Waters canals have been providing anglers with some great sessions around the weir with big trevally crashing baits and lures.

Fishing this area at night can also be very rewarding,

as the jacks will come out and feed. Just remember the insect repellent, as the sand flies can be pretty thick.

On the beaches, whiting have been in good numbers from Mudjimba all the way up to Sunshine Beach.

Peregian seems to be the pick of the spots, with plenty of fish on the run-out tide.

The ever-present dart are plentiful and great fun for kids to catch. If you are after some bigger ones time your fishing with the top of the tide. If you just keep getting small ones switch to bigger baits and cast that bit further out a lot of the time the bigger ones are just at the back of the breakers.

Over on the Noosa North Shore, the third cutting has been fishing well for small tailor on sunset and daybreak while up past Teewah whiting, dart and tailor are on the chew. When night fishing, if you get a tailor try using them as strip baits for larger mulloway. They find fresh tailor hard to resist.

• Don’t forget to check in to www.fishingnoosa.com.au for all the latest up-to-date info on fishing and bar crossings.

The knowledgeable teams at Davo’s Tackle World Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

Carl Ryan landed this 75cm snapper on a soft plastic.

The close inshore reefs have been providing anglers with cobia, snapper, sweetlip and many other reefies, along with the occasional large cod. Coral trout on Sunshine Reef are in full swing now and with the right gear on the water early, you can increase your chances of hooking some good fish.

Chardons. Trolled skirts and big hardbodied lures should get you in the game.

North Reef has been good for sweetlip, cobia and tuskfish as well as mackerel on floater baits. Another great option here is a dead bait trolling rig, trolled slowly and loaded with a slimy, saury or gar.

Mangrove jack are a great target species this time of year.

plenty of jacks. Fishing up past Johns Landing and around the mouth of Lake Cootharaba is where most of the action happens.

From Lake Cooroibah down to Tewantin you can expect plenty of flathead, trevally, mangrove jacks and school mulloway at this time of year. This area is best fished with soft vibes around the top of the tide. Live baits of poddy mullet and herring are great baits as well and will surely get a hit.

Big whiting are on the bite in the Maroochy and Noosa rivers with those fishing surface lures taking some great fish over the 40cm mark. Fishing topwater for whiting is not that hard but you do need the ideal conditions to get the most out of it. A light breeze at your back will put a ripple on the water, making it safer for whiting to come up and feed as well as making it easier for you to cast those light lures. Using a light mono leader is a must, as fluorocarbon will sink and upset the way the lure works.

Finally, don’t stop working the lure because as soon as you stop, the fish will spook.

If you are using a popper, smaller subtle blips are better than big splashes.

Crabbing in the upper reaches of the Maroochy and Noosa rivers can be very productive in January, as big

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Fine-refuting fisher hooks bigger penalty and conviction A recreational fisher who was caught illegally fishing in a no-take area off Orpheus Island opted to have the matter heard in court — only to receive a higher penalty from the Townsville Magistrate Court.

The fisher received an original $2,100 fine for trolling through the no-take green zone north of Townsville last year, with the court increasing the fine up to $2,500 and recording a conviction.

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority compliance and field operations assistant director Ben Kettle said it was a timely reminder for fishers to know the zoning rules and how to use a GPS. “Marine parks visitors

need to understand where they are going and what’s allowed before getting to the boat ramp, and ensure they have access to zoning information on-board,” he said.

“There are a variety of zoning tools available including GPS, free zoning maps and the free Eye on the Reef app — so not knowing is no excuse.

“In this case, the offender had a GPS unit, but didn’t know how to use it. This is a timely reminder to prepare ahead of going out on the water.”

Wi t h increased pressures on the reef, the authority and its partners are running more aerial and vessel patrols day and night to catch poachers in the act.

“We’re regularly

patrolling the reef and are also running regular compliance and education campaigns so everyone knows about the rules — if you fish in a green zone you will get caught and can expect a $2,100 fine, or to appear in court,” Mr Kettle said.

“It’s so important for marine parks users to protect their patch of the reef: follow the zoning rules and, if you see anyone doing the wrong thing, report it.”

The community can report suspected illegal fishing activity anonymously via the Authority’s free 24-hour hotline: 1800 380 048 or online at www. gbrmpa.gov.au/report-anincident. Every report is taken seriously and contributes to protecting the reef. – DAF

READER’S STORY

Norman Martin and Adam Garde are remembered

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On the night of 13 September 2019, Norm and Adam sadly lost their lives in a boating accident in the waters off Yeppoon. Two men doing what they loved, went out on an adventure and never made it home to their families.

Not only were these two men family, they were the greatest of fishing buddies.

Every chance they got they packed up their gear, got a boat ready and headed out on a new adventure. They were never short of a fishing tale or two.

They will be sadly missed and leave behind Ruth, Kylie, Phoenix, Vrai, Camdyn, Vicki, Brynie, Kara and Kerrod.

JANUARY 2020

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Sunny days on the horizon HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

The tail end of the year produced some relentless northerly trade winds, which has made venturing across Breaksea Spit either impossible for the

somewhat wild conditions were rewarded with good results on blue marlin with the odd striped mixed in. The majority of fish were caught trolling the shelf line, zigzagging the drop-off from west to east and covering depths from 200-600m. The better

welcomed by-catch. When handled correctly, bled and iced down, all species are incredible on the plate.

The ‘deep dropping’ fad has kicked into gear with more crews venturing out to the deeper grounds in search of opportunities to bag a feed while trying to

Christie Green caught a tasty grass sweetlip while fishing the reefs. smaller vessels or very uncomfortable, with very few days of glorious weather. Hopefully a new year will bring some better weather.

Nevertheless, those who did brave the

bite periods were around the build up after the first quarter moon and around the dark moon. The warmer currents brought good numbers of mahimahi and the odd wahoo and yellowfin, which are all

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escape the relentless sharks that plague the shallower grounds. Pearl perch, snapper, flametail, bar cod, kingfish and amberjack have all been taken from depths of 120-250m, using small cut baits of pencil squid, tuna and yakka. If you are feeling fit enough, try dropping down a heavy knife jig or flutter jig if the currents allow and hold on!

There are some seriously big critters lurking down there.

A feed of quality mixed reef fish is still easily attainable from the shallow grounds around 30-50m, with endless country to explore. Finding new ground will nearly always result in better quality fish.

Having the ability to be

mobile and fish more areas should also help to reduce unwanted shark encounters.

I’d hate to be a helpless baitfish this time of year, as with increasing water temperatures we will continue to witness the pelagic scene fire up throughout Platypus Bay and off Rooney Point.

There is only so much you can write about chasing spotties – find the birds, find the bait and you will find the fish. Spotties have been located and caught just on the other side of the banks and up towards the grounds wide of 6 Mile Arch Cliff. The larger congregations have been found in the Pocket and off Station Hill, but expect the sharks to be hot on their tails in this area. The usual metal slugs from 15-40g fished with a moderate to heavy highspeed spin outfit will be most effective.

Schools of mac tuna have been prolific throughout the same area and should continue to assemble in numbers, terrorising the bait balls.

Observing the feeding patterns of the fish while approaching the school can often identify the target species. Spotties will feed either just below or slice the surface, whereas mac tuna usually turn everything to foam as they smash into the bait balls.

The flat country stretching from Wathumba Creek north to Rooney Point is always worth a

Big bull mahimahi put up a great fight and taste even better. prospect on the first of the run-out tide, with the added possibility of sighting a big golden trevally, queenfish or longtail tuna. Try intercepting them with a soft plastic, sinking stickbait or a fly in a baitfish profile.

Longtail tuna numbers are increasing and can be found working in with the mac tuna schools, however they are much easier to target when found in small pods. Sharks are also less likely to be hot on their

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A well looked after billfish gaining all its colour and energy back after a solid battle.

tails in this scenario. It is worth dropping a metal slug or soft plastic down below the tuna schools and working it up the water column, as often you will find golden trevally, broad-barred mackerel or queenies schooled up below devouring the scraps floating down.

People keep buying bigger boats to venture further offshore, but some of the best reef fishing this time of year is merely a few kilometres from the boat harbour. The shallower fringing reefs around Point Vernon, the bay islands and Urangan Channel are great locations to start targeting grass sweetlip, trout, cod, blackall, tuskfish and the odd grunter. Night sessions over the neap tides will produce the better results, aside from trout and tuskfish, which prefer the dawn and dusk bite period.

A variety of fresh baits from banana prawn and squid to cut herring and pilchard are all fantastic baits, fished as lightly as possible to minimise snagging up. Soft plastics are also very effective, especially smaller prawn and paddle-tail imitations around 3-4” tea bagged while drifting across the patches of reef or wrecks.

It pays to try and land your reefies quickly this time of year to escape the sharks and XOS-sized GTs that typically take up residence throughout the bay’s waters, especially around the Roy Rufus Artificial Reef area. For those looking to target the To page 41

Trophy options available RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

We’ve been very lucky to have a good run of weather again with lots of fishing.

OFFSHORE The fishing has been more about quality than quantity with some decent snapper, red emperor and amberjack being caught.

Live bait has played an

important part and it has been well worth hunting down a few yakkas before you start. Most reefs have had a big old cod waiting for a struggling live bait.

Tuskfish, Moses perch

There have been some cracking amberjack on offer.

Ricky scored a beautiful Rainbow Beach red emperor.

From page 40

GTs, gear up with 80lb casting set-ups and work stickbaits or poppers over the wrecks and around the fringing islands for some explosive action.

Queenies will also be active over the larger tides and can be found up on the flats or schooled up in the deeper channels.

Small topwater lures, soft plastics and vibes will account for their fair share of fish and can produce some spectacular

visual acrobatic action.

Don’t leave the ramp without a few small squid jigs, especially if you’re spending a day fishing the inshore waters. This time of year pencil squid can be found in good numbers around the reef edges, Urangan shipping channel and wrecks throughout the arti. They will often give their location away after following baits or lures up to the surface and you can quickly switch to a jig and pick them off.

Colin McGuire displaying a solid jack.

Please note that with the new Queensland size and bag limits in place,. Pencil squid have a new possession limit of 50.

Hopefully we’ll get some rain so we get a good run of prawns. Typically, after the seasonal rains the river systems get a good flush, instigating a significant spawn of banana prawns. If this happens, expect to catch good numbers throughout the upper reaches of the main river systems, down the Straits and in the Urangan Harbour. Mud crabs should be on the move this time of year, however the lack of rain accompanied by the fishing pressure has definitely had an effect on their stocks, so getting a feed may prove difficult.

The summer drought, consistent wind patterns and hot muggy conditions have contributed to firing up the jacks. The Burrum River and its three tributaries are the perfect starting point.

The build up from the neaps will produce better results, with quality fish expected to come from targeting heavy structure such as rocky outcrops, rock bars, laydown logs and tree piles.

Bait fishos will usually produce the better numbers of jacks and it is a great method to learn their habits and feeding times. For those who enjoy the hunt and challenge of scoring one on a lure, hardbodies, vibes, soft plastics and surface presentations all work depending on the particular scenario, so it

and hussar are also in good numbers out wide.

On calm days, big long drifts with cut baits of mullet and squid is a sure fire way to fill an icebox.

GREAT SANDY STRAITS Mangrove jack are still on fire, with big catches of quality fish on almost every

snag and deep mangrove hole in all the major creeks.

Good flathead have been landed in the same areas.

JANUARY January is generally a great fishing month, with the return of the mackerel season if all the conditions are right. I usually catch many pearl perch towards

the later part of the month.

Take care on the water these holidays and remember to have lots of fun.

• To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters, phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www.keelyrosefishing charters.com.au.

pays to have a variety on hand and ready.

The many creeks on the western side of Fraser Island from Coongul Creek south also consistently produce jacks. Targeting similar structure on the dropping tide should pay dividends. In particular, casting in tight to the mangrove roots and tree line on the flood tide can make for exciting fishing.

Another major draw card to the river systems this time of year are threadfin salmon. As jelly prawn numbers increase along the muddy riverbanks, creek mouths and drains, threadies will get more

active. Although you will actively see them feeding, catching them can be another story. Downsizing your presentations and plenty of persistence is key, as it can take many casts to draw a strike. This bite is often best fished over the larger tides because the flats become more exposed and the creeks and drains flush right out, congregating them in less water and smaller areas.

Over the smaller neap tides, fishing upriver to target deep schooling fish with soft vibes will be a very successful technique.

Take extra care with these fish coming from the deeper

water and try to minimise their time out of the water if you wish to release them. The best practice would be to unhook them boat side. Grunter are another fantastic target species to fill in time during those periods before threadies come on, and can be targeted in the deeper holes that coincide with a bend in the river or on the gravel sections of the river.

Here’s hoping this year brings us some much needed rain and better weather conditions than the year just gone, with plenty of bent rods and tight lines.

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January’s rich offerings GLADSTONE

Dylan Christie

Holiday season is upon us and there’s no better time than now to grab the family and get out and enjoy what’s on offer throughout Central Queensland.

Mud crabs are on everyone’s target list this month. Crabs did start off a bit slow, however we

Awoonga is continuing to make headlines and for good reason, with plenty of quality fish being captured.

People are showing up from all over the country to fish the mighty Lake Awoonga and reaping the rewards of Queensland’s most heavily stocked barramundi impoundment. It can be daunting when you first drive over the hill and see the size of the lake but with

There should be plenty of quality grunter in the local creeks in January. have been hearing reports of some very good quality crabs around. Rain is needed to get them really moving and provided we get some soon, the crabbing will fire up. Your best bet is crabbing the building tides toward the moon and pushing your pots as far to the back of the mangrove gutters as possible.

Fresh bait is the top option when it comes to crabbing.

a bit of local knowledge, you will be onto the fish in no time.

In previous reports, I have said the build to the full moon is the best time to fish the lake, and time and time again it has been proven true. The afternoons into the night seem to be the pick of times to be on the water, as usually there is a afternoon breeze concentrating fish to

the points where fish will consistently be on the move.

Then, it’s all about putting your lure in the right spot and holding on. Awoonga barramundi would have to be one of the dirtiest fighting fish, as they try to bury you in any structure, weed and timber.

Paddle-tail soft plastics around 5-6” have been doing the damage lately, rigged with standard worm hooks and the popular Owner Flashy Swimmer. If you are choosing to fish the schools in the timber, that’s when suspending jerkbaits come into their own, as you can rip them down and hold them in the face of the fish for much longer than any lure style.

Last but not least, the Zerek 4.5 and 5.5” Live Mullet have been extremely popular with anglers recently.

The local systems have really fired up over the past month with the big increase in water temperatures, and now is the time to target mangrove jack. They can be found throughout most of CQ, however they do seem to inhabit some creek systems a lot more than others. Jacks don’t often just hang out in the middle of nowhere; they like the safety of hiding behind structure out of the main flow so they can dart out to ambush baitfish and prawns. Early morning is a great time to target jacks on surface lures like fizzers, stickbaits and poppers. As the water warms, they tend sit deeper so jerkbaits and soft plastics come into play.

The creeks have a host of other species to chase including grunter, golden snapper and flatties. For the kids, it’s a great time to head down to Wild Cattle Creek, pump some yabbies and chase elbow-slapping summer whiting. If that

Mangrove jack will be firing this month. sounds up your ally, there are some good beach type areas easily accessible towards the high tide that are great for kids, like Boyne River mouth, Wild Cattle and Barney Point Beach. These spots are all wind affected so it pays to fish them in the mornings before the winds pick up too much.

Summer months are my favourite time to fish the reef, as the water temperature is up and the fish seem to be more aggressive. The problem with summer is the weather is more unpredictable, so if you are heading out be sure to keep an eye on

the weather reports. I’m predicting that if the weather opportunities arise, coral trout and red-throat will be fired up, especially since recent closures and bad weather has kept anglers from getting out for a bit.

I’m very excited to see what this month has on offer for offshore fishing, as it’s been a while since there have been more opportunities to get out than just small mid-week windows.

It’s great to see that Lake Awoonga Boating & Leisure Hire are back up and running. They cover all your boating, kayak and BBQ

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Jacks are a top summer target for most anglers.

Rethinking Monduran tactics for summer LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

It’s been over ten years since the water level at Monduran has been at 65% and it’s continuing to drop fast as drought conditions worsen. Barra are very sensitive to decreasing water levels and one of the most popular ways to target barra at Monduran is by casting to shallow points and bays. As a result of the water level dropping quickly, barra have now become a harder target in the shallows.

However, as one door

closes another will open.

Just recently we have started to target barra in deeper water in the middle of river arms and bays, something we have not done much of over the last 10 years. This can be done by trolling and by casting and both can be as productive as each other.

Deep diving hardbodied lures about 120mm in size with a depth of around 4m have been the best for trolling. For casting, the same lures can be used as well as a range of soft plastics and swimbaits.

Six Victorian mates recently spent five nights on a houseboat for their first fishing trip to Lake

Monduran. As part of their preparation they had booked the houseboat with two tender boats, as they were flying into Bundaberg from Victoria and had no other means of organizing or transporting boats. They had then booked a charter with me to start their fishing trip off. Upon arrival into Bundy, they jumped into a hired minivan and set out for Gin Gin to stock up on supplies, food and beverages. Then it was onto destination Lake Monduran, where I greeted and briefed the boys on the houseboat and got them under way.

The same afternoon

I caught up with ‘Team Vic’ to show them around.

After a couple of hours of not spotting many barra on the sidescan and with light winds forecast for the next week, my advice to them (outside of casting the areas I had shown them) was to troll around, as there were big numbers of barra in the deeper water. The next morning they set out in the two hire boats to try their hand at trolling the deeper timbered water in the middle of Bird Bay. They boated four barra for their first outing and ended up boating a total of 26 barra for the four days with the majority of

them being over 90cm. It’s been a couple of years since we have seen these numbers of barra in the bigger range being caught. It’s a great effort for first time Monduran barra fishers.

The Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra Competition has awarded the first prize winner for the Rapala guaranteed monthly $1,500 prize pack for the biggest barra caught on a Rapala lure. Paul from Ballina was another first time visitor to Lake Monduran who was lucky enough to win the Rapala giveaway with his first ever barra, measuring 91cm. Don’t forget to

register at www.goldenbarra. com.au for your chance to win. There are two months left so don’t miss out on the massive prize pool up for grabs.

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

Check out my Facebook page for up-to-date barra info, Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters.

Awoonga barra are moving onto the points GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

Gladstone had a very windy and dry Christmas, so here’s hoping for a bit of rain in January.

getting more reds than those fishing south.

The pelagics have been quiet, although this is not a time of year when we focus on this fishery too much.

In the more sheltered waters, inshore anglers have

Trent Mauloni with a healthy Awoonga barra. The dam is fishing better than ever at the moment.

OFFSHORE There have been very few windows of opportunity for anyone wanting to get offshore.

Generally at this time of year many anglers target sweetlip, however recently it’s been tough going, even for the most seasoned sweetlip angler.

The ‘drought on land, drought at sea’ must be true!

Even when sweetlip have been hooked up, it’s still a big challenge getting them past the sharks, which can get pretty bad at this time of year.

Those venturing out and throwing stickbaits over the shallow reef for trout have been having a ball.

This is an exceptionally fun way to fish.

Anglers who target the deeper water for reds and nannies have been finding mixed results. Those who were heading north to the shoal country have been

best at other times.

ESTUARIES The inshore estuary fishing has been a bit more reliable lately. In the creeks, jacks are really firing and responding to a variety of live and dead baits, as well as lures. Every system seems to be producing well, and the average size is also up on previous years, with a lot more fish around 50cm. This could just be because there’s more people out fishing for them and there are more reports coming in.

The Calliope is the current standout for jacks. Turkey Beach, which is normally a hotspot, doesn’t seem to be getting as much good feedback as usual, however this could just be because the local systems are firing and people don’t have any need to travel too far for some jack action.

Crabs are still really slow. Normally they should have fired up by now, in

Hayley Jones with a huge tasty inlet crab. been finding good numbers of doggies and longtails in the shipping channels.

Speaking of the shipping channels, grunter have been on the chew. Vibes are a great option if the tides are small and the current isn’t up, but 60-80g slow pitch jigs work

what we call the ‘Christmas run’, but the dry weather has kept the catch rates low.

AWOONGA DAM The main talk of the fishing community at the moment is the action at Awoonga. It is fishing better than ever, and now some

The author with a grunter caught on a 60g Yakamito Rager jig. bigger fish have moved onto points. Points are easier to extract fish from, and they tend to attract bigger fish!

There haven’t been many reports of metre-plus fish just yet this season, but the next few months should see it happen.

The lead up to the full moon, as usual, is a good time to be fishing in this dam, but be courteous of other anglers, as there will be a lot of people fishing on the lake.

Awoonga’s barra are starting to eat bigger baits like 7-8” plastics, big hard swimbaits, soft vibes, and of course suspending jerkbaits.

Please take care over this busy period in the Gladstone region, and enjoy your time in the water!

• For more information on what’s biting, or to stock up with all the tackle and bait you need, drop into LJ’s Compleat Angler Gladstone at the Gladstone Marina on Bryan Jordan Drive. You can also check out the latest news, photos and specials at Facebook Compleat Angler Gladstone.

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Hot, dry, tough rewards BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

January already and who knew it would be so dry? Like the rest of the country, we are really feeling this long hot dry spell.

The only saving grace for our main river, the Burnett, has been the forced release of water from the failing Paradise Dam. The State Government finally released its findings and revealed that the dam is pretty much next to useless with its new capacity

THE BURNETT RIVER As mentioned, the only freshwater in the region is flowing down this river so it has been really firing up.

The mud crabs have been on the move but over the holidays it will pay to stay with your pots.

Baitfish have moved all over the waterway so we are even seeing some big pelagics right up the river.

Live baiting at night has been producing some great results with big mangrove jack, cod and lots of sharks, which are great sport.

Fishing early mornings before the heat starts will

down the ramp – sitting on the ramp holding up the queue while you take off the motor support bracket or undo your straps will not endear you to anyone.

While I’m am at it, if you’re new to the area and using the town ramp early in the morning and late in the afternoon the sand flies are savage, so be prepared.

If you are visiting the region for the first time and looking for likely spots to catch a feed in the river, look for bends, deeper holes and drop-offs. Fish fairly light with standard 3-4kg outfits capable of catching

Mangrove jack have been on the move in Baffle Creek, get in early or late and avoid the heat.

Getting your barra fix will be easy this month. of 43% of its original design.

We are then told this could change, as if we get another big flood event it could just fail completely! Not great news for water security in our area. There are several plans being thought out at the moment and you can guess who will be fitting the bill for the repairs and rectification work, us the Queensland taxpayer once again.

be well worth it, as you will get in to have a fish and be gone before the holiday traffic.

If you are planning on getting the boat out for the first time in a while don’t wait until the boat ramp to start it as stale fuel, flat batteries and leaking fittings can spoil your experience. Another tip is to get your boat ready before you start backing

most of our estuary staples and try to get fresh bait. I hope you enjoy yourself as our region has a lot to offer.

BAFFLE CREEK Baffle Creek will be hot and busy over January but that doesn’t mean don’t go fishing. It just means fish smarter not harder.

The full moon is on the 11th so the build up to these tides will be ideal. It’s close to the biggest daytime tides

of the year so there will be a lot of movement. The next new moon is on the 25th with big tides and well worth fishing the few days leading up to it.

There have been good mangrove jack around the creek and anglers have been spending plenty of time chasing them lately.

The upper reaches have fished pretty well but the middle reaches around the ferry crossing seem to have the lion’s share of bait for predators.

The water temperatures will be really climbing in Baffle Creek unless we get some fresh soon, so my tip for January would be to fish the shallows early then move to the deeper cooler water and search for those schools of bait that are holding up.

BARRA FIX With the barramundi season well and truly closed, the impoundment barra scene has gone nuts. Locally we have an abundance of riches when it comes to impoundment barra options.

Our closest option, Monduran Dam, is a 45-minute drive from Bundaberg and is absolutely going off with big numbers of fish being caught all over the dam.

The fish sizes have been ranging from the smaller 50cm models to the high 70s and early 80s, these fish go very hard in the timber and are responding to paused hardbodies and hopped vibes.

Just down the road, about an hour and 20-minute drive, is Lake Lenthalls and

the barra there are also on the chew. These fish are on average a bit smaller with plenty of 50 and 60cm models being caught and, again, hardbodies have been the preferred lure style.

There is also Lake Awooga, which is one of my favourite barra dams in the state. It is a cool 2-hour drive from Bundaberg and, yes, I do drive up there for a day trip because it’s usually worth it. Awoonga is just going nuts with most fish between 70 and 90cm, and plenty nudging the mid-90s, which is the ideal size. They are getting to that eat-whatever-theylike-size so bony bream imitations are going well.

As I wrote earlier, the full moon is the 11th so get up there for a night session, it will blow your mind.

River fishing is top-notch ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The river has been fishing well over summer, with a great number and variety of species on offer. It has been very clean and salty and there have been plenty of crabs and prawns, even around the town reaches. The close freshwater systems are still extremely dry and rapidly decreasing in volume and while the fish are very easy to catch at this time, the pressure and stress it puts on the fish means 44

JANUARY 2020

they do not release well at all, so it is best to leave them alone and protect them for the future.

FITZROY AND THE NARROWS Great numbers of big king threadfin salmon have been in town and some even larger models closer to the mouth. Along with salmon, many anglers have been catching solid bags of grunter and some good mangrove jacks.

The small amount of rain and clean river water has done wonders for prawns and crabs in the system. The prime time is when you can go and net prawns and sort them into two categories, bait or

‘cooker’. Two hours before the low tide and one hour after before the water starts getting a bit murky on the incoming is the best time to go netting. If this lines up with early morning or in the evening then you are in luck.

Some great spots to go for prawns include Queens Wharf, gutters along the Devils Elbow stretch, and the mud flats along the northern banks of the town reaches. The best mesh size to use in your net is 3/4”, and my preferred net of choice is a 10’ drawstring.

If you’re starting out, a 7’ bottom pocket is ideal as an all-round net and certainly can be repaired more easily

than if you bust the main lines in a drawstring net.

RIVERS, CREEKS AND BEACHES There has been a huge amount of bait in the system over summer so far, providing great conditions for fishing everywhere.

Between prawns, herring, little frogmouth pilchards and gar, there isn’t much else out there a fish would prefer to eat! Trying to see what’s around when you go on your next trip is going to put you in a good place. The next time you are in a tackle shop, select a lure that resembles the bait and watch it work more effectively than any To page 45

There is no better feeling than when you put in the time to scan up a school of fish and position the boat correctly so you hook up almost instantly!

In close is the place to be YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

The season ahead looks to be a cracker, with quality reefies and offshore species venturing into very close waters. The close rubble grounds can really fire up over

the bottom dwellers. We really need the rain, but we can take advantage of the current situation while it lasts. This week I have seen a few largemouth nannygai around the 80cm mark landed just past the islands. Red emperor are also about and some of the recent captures were well inside the usual fern

night has not been giving the same returns.

All these spots will have bait schools that also take off when the sun is up.

It pays to get your bait jigs out and get a few live baits.

The rubble patches can also produce school mackerel or Spanish whenever the bait schools are around.

Big grunter have

Craig Robertson from Reel Fishing CQ scored this serious nannygai within 20km of Yeppoon. summer. The lack of rain out west and north of us means that the Fitzroy isn’t flowing fresh, letting species that would normally stay a bit wider come into the close areas with the schools of bait and new growth on the bay reefs.

The whole of Keppel Bay and surrounds is producing plenty of action from pelagics and

country locations.

All the little rubble and reef patches from the islands heading in virtually any direction have shown good signs. These shallower areas will only fire around dawn and dusk, so make sure you’re in position with baits down ready for the brief bite windows. Once the sun comes up, it is time to move out to the deeper water. Fishing all

appeared in many different areas lately. The Pinnacles and the wrecks just north of Yeppoon is a great starting spot, especially around either the full or new moons. I prefer to target grunter at dawn and dusk.

The bite will pick up again as the near full moon peeks over the horizon. Just like estuary grunter, they are a lazy fish that will sit out of the current behind

structure, in pressure waves or below the current flow in bottom undulations or reef edges.

Prawns, squid, pillies and fresh strip baits can all attract grunter. I have taken the odd grunter on older bait, but fresh is by far the best option. Once you have the school interested and feeding, bring out vibes and plastics. Over the past five or six years, vibes have won the lure battle and sometimes they even win over baits.

Live baiting can be good at times when you have smaller livies like greenbacks, prawns or poddy mullet. All these live baits are good for golden snapper too. The Barge, the Pinnacles, Mystery Reef, the Rama, Eight Metre Drop-off, Cape Capricorn and Quartz Rock are some of the better local spots.

Grunter fishing also leads to some quality by-catch such as golden snapper and even black jewfish. Jew can be a problem and with the new fisheries laws in place, they could be in a closed season.

Once black jew come on, drop the size of the baits so they lose interest and you can get back to the better fish.

Spanish and the lesser mackerels have picked up a little in previous weeks with the Christmas mackerel run. The bigger tides are probably the best time in the water around the islands and inside the bay. A high tide about mid-morning is as good as you’ll get and the coastal spots need depth to work well. When we get the glass offs or winds below 5 knots, the schoolies flood the shore-based spots around Rosslyn Bay

From page 44

random colour.

Fishing the gutters, drains and creek mouths in Coorooman has proved to be an excellent way of getting a feed of grunter, whiting, salmon and bream.

The mouth of Corio Bay as the high comes off the front yabby flats has seen a good yield of whiting, bream and flathead.

CRABBING Crabs have really kicked into gear lately and solid specimens have been caught. We have been getting some good ones by running pots in town reaches with threadfin salmon frames so they aren’t just wasted by going into the bin.

Make sure you check up on the new regulations and limits for the crabs we get around here.

Angus caught a decent threadfin during a night session where he also netted a huge amount of prawns.

Warwick Hodges landed this big gold-spot cod at Keppel.

Harbour, Porcupine Point and Stevensons Rocks. The little tinnies can have a crack at them at Claytons, Rita Mada, Mother Macgregor, Bangalee and Corio Heads. Those with a bigger craft can hit the islands off Emu Park such as Pelican, Wedge, Divide, Quartz, Little Quartz, Findlays, the Jew Hole, the Barge, Forty Acre, Man andWife, Outer, Barren or any of the local bait grounds. Spanish will be likely at Manifold, Barren, Conical, Liza Jane, Flat, Perforated, Hummocky, Man and Wife, Humpy, the wide red spots and the shoal grounds.

Pillies, ribbonfish, gar and any number of large deep diving lures will do the trick most days. If I get a small iodine bream or a just legal hussar, they get put straight back out live, with a couple of hooks in them hanging about 3-4m under a float. Whenever we bottom fish, we always have a floater out to get a big Spaniard for the table.

Giant and golden trevally are in good form at present. Any of the islands, rocks or bommies with a hard defined current line and wash are worth a shot. This area is becoming well known for the size of the GTs the local crew is producing.

The majority of young anglers are using poppers or stickbaits on trevally and they keep coming up with great fish. They often nail a few Spanish mackerel in between.

Big goldens have been fairly active on the rubble headlands and bays around the main Keppel group.

The ground around Square Rock and Sloping are a

good place to start looking.

There are some big northern blues passing outside the islands and up the coast.

They will take smaller live baits and trolled pillies, but chrome lures will have them in a frenzy. Walking the beaches on the islands or north of Yeppoon and lure casting the flats with small vibes or plastics gives you an opportunity to nail a trevally, queenfish, giant herring, permit or even a bonefish. Whenever the schools of herring, small whiting and hardiheads are present, predators will be following them.

The estuaries will be hit-and-miss as always over summer. When we get those hot stinking days, even the fish need a rest. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best options for most of us anyway. Flathead come up over the banks with the rising tides and run off them as the tide drops. They will move on and off a bank in the same direction and once you work out each spot, it becomes easier to anticipate where they are likely to be at different stages of the tide.

The bigger fish never seem to stray too far from the deeper areas of the systems and I like to fish the banks adjoining channels or holes on the run-out.

Whiting, bream, mangrove jack and cod are on the menu in most of our systems. King threadfin salmon have continued in fine form, although all the attention they receive can make them a bit skittish at times. Lures or live baits work well and the evening is probably the best time.

The Fitzroy is the choice location but Corio and Coorooman Creek do have small populations.

JANUARY 2020

45

Best of the barra dams been red-hot so far this summer and January should see more of the same until the start of the wet season proper, which usually doesn’t happen until February. Anglers have been regularly catching barra in Kinchant and Teemburra dams well over the 120cm mark and just before Christmas I heard of two 140cm barra caught in Teemburra. Mackay has some very serious barra in our three dams.

Most of the really big

MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

Happy New Year to all readers and fellow anglers.

January in Mackay should be a great time to get out on the water and try out all that super new gear the big man delivered for Christmas.

MAFSA has topped up Eungella and Kinchant dams with SIPS funded barra before

beds. Hardbodies also work well in the dams but they aren’t great around weeds, as the trebles attract any weed within metres of the lure it seems!

Surface presentations are another great way to target dam barra and I find this is the most exciting and challenging method. Cast a surface lure up into the inlets in the weed beds, around weed ‘islands’ or among the timber and hang on. Barra will take fizzers,

Mary-Anne Borg caught a massive 137cm Kinchant Dam barra on an 18cm Strada lure around a weed ‘island’.

Young Haylie from Townsville with her first ever barra – a terrific Teemburra Dam special caught on a popper while on charter.

Christmas and with good water levels and weed beds, the fingerlings should show great growth rates and be near legal size within 12 months.

Teemburra Dam also got a top up with barra grown by MAFSA in the hatchery. These fish were bought with MAFSA funds and were stocked into the Pioneer River as well as Teemburra.

The dam barra scene has

barra have been caught casting very large paddle-tail plastics. Paddle-tails are great for beginners to use as they have plenty of action on a simple slow straight retrieve.

Cast them out, let ‘em sink and then slowly retrieve – nothing could be simpler and it gets results. These lures work best in the open basin areas of the dam around points, stumps, laydown timber and weed

stickbaits and poppers but the rear prop on many of the fizzers seems to restrict hook-ups. I usually cut them off the rear to leave the back treble exposed.

The reports of some sooties partly roeing up in Eungella Dam before Christmas hopefully means big rains aren’t far away.

MAFSA has not tried catching brood stock yet, as

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they don’t roe up properly until we get some decent rain and the stream level rises.

Fingers crossed that those conditions aren’t far away so MAFSA can put out a reasonable batch and finally crack the 1,000,000 sooties spawned and released out of the hatchery.

Down in the mangroves, it will be more of the same if we don’t have huge rains. Just like all summer, flathead will be one of the most reliable catches and they can be found in the creeks, estuaries, along the beaches and around any islands that have some sand banks exposed at low tide.

Flatties like clean water and can be caught on any common angling style. Small live fish, live prawns and yabbies are the best baits and you can take your pick with lure styles/brands/types.

Grunter and jacks will start to taper off with the oncoming wet season. Whiting and bream will also become harder to find once the rain starts.

The creeks have plenty of estuary cod in them. They are usually in hard cover and often hit lures and baits targeted at jacks. The old cod will still hang around even with a fresh.

King threadfin salmon will be plentiful through January, as they don’t mind a bit of discoloured water at all and will work their way up the systems almost into freshwater. Barra are obviously still around in good numbers but don’t target them until 1 February and if you catch one by mistake, release it straight away.

The best spots to fish the creeks in January include the big inlet system at Sarina Beach, Sandy Creek and Pioneer River systems, and the NFZ area centred on Seaforth.

Even with rain, these systems usually clear up quickly. There are plenty of spots in these systems that allow shore-based angling, as they are pretty open and crocs are not as much of a hazard as up in the mangroves.

It still pays to be very careful and avoid wading in water above knee height.

Offshore results will depend on wind and rain.

Strong winds obviously keep all but the very large trailer boats at home, while heavy rain sends a plume of freshwater out to sea, which tends to put the fish off.

Pelagics like mackerel and tuna definitely lose interest and shift elsewhere when the

fresh extends into the ocean.

Up to Christmas, there was still plenty of pelagic activity right through the district with small macks, mac tuna and longtails working right in on the harbour walls and all the close inshore islands, including those up in the NFZ area and to the south off Sarina Inlet.

Reef fish around the inshore islands are similarly put off the bite by fresh water influxes, although this is mainly felt around those very close to shore. The farther out islands and reef systems are much more affected by wind than by rain. Good reefies can be expected through January and the shipping channel is continuing to fish well for red-throat and nannygai as well as some mega red emperor. Remember to watch the bag and size limits with the new regulations, as ignorance of the changes is no excuse.

Lucky locals have plenty to keep busy during January and the only real deterrent to getting out on the water will be heavy wet season rains, which normally hold off until February. With all of these options, why not come and join us in paradise? See you at the ramp.

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Holiday fever is high WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

Christmas is over for another year and I hope Santa filled your stocking with plenty of cool fish catching goodies. We are now right in the middle of the holiday season and I’ll bet there are a high percentage of readers currently away from home, exploring some new fishing grounds. Good luck to you all and I hope you have a great holiday.

not hard to find a nice piece of turf to have all to yourself.

Over the last few weeks we’ve had to endure a run of nor-westers, which not only makes it hard to find somewhere comfortable to enjoy a fish, it doesn’t do the bite any good either. I was fortunate enough to get away for most of the bad weather and enjoyed doing a little cameo guiding on my old stomping grounds up in Weipa. I have to send out a special thank you to Pugwash for providing us with a boat and car so that we

for most estuary anglers has been mangrove jack. They have been biting just about anything that gets thrown at them, providing plenty of entertainment and feeds for local anglers.

The shallow, close to home fringing reefs have been tough for the time of year. We did lose five days of the month targeting reef fish because of a reef fishing closure but outside of that, the reef fishing has still been hard. The shallower reefs have been holding a lot of bait though and this has provided

Dan Callison caught this giant herring on fly. instant, never to be seen again.

When the weather allows, try and get out around the outer edges of the islands and out to the shoals to do some deep drift fishing. At this time of year, species like golden snapper and nannygai feed hard and we quite often see some of the biggest fish for the year caught. I’m a fan of jigging when out on this country, as

Some of the bigger profile jigs can take a bit of time to get down to the bottom, especially when fishing in 50m+ of water.

As a result I use micro jigs, as their small profile allows them to penetrate down through the water column and get to where the fish are holding quickly and efficiently. It always annoys the person fishing next to you when you’re hooked up

summer. They have been easy to find and biting well so hopefully they will continue to provide good light tackle entertainment. On the days when they’re going nuts and turning the ocean to froth, try throwing a heavy jig or weighted bait into the melee, as quite often under the surface feeding tuna, there will be a piscatorial lucky dip of other

Glen Taylor with a gleaming golden snapper. These fish should feature more regularly over the next few months.

Hydeaway Bay is currently buzzing with activity. All the available accommodation options are booked out and it appears as though every second person has bought a boat with them. We have an almost endless array of fishy options for people to enjoy so it doesn’t matter how many boats are on the water, it’s still

could get out and enjoy some of the top-notch sight fishing that the western side of Cape York has to offer.

The northerlies haven’t created a complete scene of doom and gloom, as there have still been some quality fish available. Up in the creeks has been one of the better places to be and the main target

some consistent pelagic fishing. Species such as school mackerel and tea-leaf trevally have been the mainstays.

Hopefully this month the shallow reef fishing will improve, as this is typically the time of year to get up in the shallows. Casting shallow hardbodies and poppers is always a good ploy to nail a tasty trout or two and for bait fishers, floating out whole, unweighted pilchards catches plenty of fish too. However,

Gold-spot cod will be a viable target in January and hardbodies are a great way to bring them unstuck.

After finishing a hectic, fun-filled day on the water, there’s no better way to end it than with a coldy in hand watching the sun set over the water from Cape Gloucester Resort.

Dan’s sight-fished golden trevally fell for a Pink Thing.

50

JANUARY 2020

if you decide to chase a trout in the shallows, be prepared to go hard on them as soon as they’re hooked or your dinner will bury itself in the reef in an

there isn’t much out there that won’t willingly scoff a jig. Big soft vibes and plastics work well, as do bucktail jigs, micro jigs and the like.

to a good fish and they’re still waiting for their bait or lure to get to the bottom!

Tuna have dominated the pelagic fishing so far this

XOS-sized pelagics looking for an easy meal. You never know what you’ll pull out – perhaps a cobia or a massive giant trevally!

January can be hard to predict for the estuaries, as we are now moving into the most unstable weather period of the year. To date, we have had bugger all rain but the heavens could open anytime. If they do, there will be plenty of happy crabbers and prawn netters around. Barramundi are still off-limits but as long as the rivers don’t go into flood, the mangrove jack fishing should be on fire.

This month can be a ripper for sight fishing up on the flats and you don’t have to look hard to find some quality country. We are blessed to have so many choices of flats and species to chase on them.

It doesn’t really matter what direction the wind blows from, To page 51

Options will depend on the wet season ahead AYR

Steve Farmer

Thanks to the erratic weather at this time of year, it’s hard to know what to expect on the Burdekin fishing scene during January. Of course, most weather related fishing outcomes hinge on the wet season – when and if it arrives as well as how much rain it actually dumps across the north. If it’s a ‘good’ wet season, flooding could wipe out local estuary fishing for months.

When I penned this report, conditions were dry but relatively cool for December. So far the dreaded summer westerly winds haven’t dominated the local weather patterns but that is bound to have changed by January. Many anglers, especially those fishing bluewater shoals and reefs, believe westerlies put fish off the bite, while others simply dislike the heat and storms that often come with this land breeze.

Estuary fishing conditions can be pretty uncomfortable in a westerly wind too, although fish catches don’t seem to be From page 50

as there is always somewhere sheltered to go for a drift or a wade.

Casting flies is the first choice for most sight fishers but sight casting the flats doesn’t have to be the domain of just fly fishers.

Casting small lures on super light spin gear can be also highly successful. If you are

Be prepared for summer storms if you’re out on the boat this month. impacted as severely as bluewater catches. In fact, some estuarine species can fish better in these torrid, stormy weather conditions, like mangrove jack, a classic summer catch in North Queensland. At this time of year, these bronzed bruisers will crash tackle a bait or lure dropped close to structure and you’ll need some serious tackle to stop them in their

tracks and hold them out of the timber. I don’t fish for jacks with anything less than a 10kg outfit.

When you’re targeting jacks, the optimal tides depend on the creek you’re fishing and the actual height of the tide. If the creek banks are likely to be breached by the rising tide, which will then flood back through the hectares

have to. It’s all about the thrill of stalking a cagey fish, presenting your lure or fly correctly, then watching the fish move onto your offering and inhale it before proceeding to blast all over the show in a bid to win its freedom. It’s adrenaline packed stuff and very addictive. If you haven’t tried it before, wipe the dust off your old bream rod, pack a

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Glen caught a tasty grunter. They normally bite better in the cooler months but they have hung around a bit longer than usual. keen to have a go at this style of fishing, use fluorocarbon for your leaders and make them as long and as light as you dare.

Sight fishing isn’t a style of fishing where you normally fill the boat up with fish, but you don’t

few small lures and go for a quiet walk across a tidal flat.

You’ll love it and I’m sure you will be back for more.

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of mangrove swamps lining the creek, you’ll need to do most of your fishing well before the top of the tide, even beginning with the very first of the making. Once the tide goes over the bank and through the mangrove roots, jacks (and other species) will follow it, foraging for a feed but well out of reach of even the most accurately cast lure or bait.

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When deciding on the best part of the tide to fish for jacks, consider how much submerged structure the creek has at low tide. In some creeks, the falling tide leaves mangrove roots hanging like stalactites along the bank, exposed and fishless until the rising tide floods in around them again.

As long as we don’t have a flooding event, you can also expect grunter, golden snapper, salmon and flathead, although lizard numbers will be on the decline. Find a creek mouth flooded by a clean making tide (not always easy in the Burdekin) and you might be able to hook a trevally or queenfish.

So far prawners haven’t had much luck in Burdekin estuaries, probably because of the distinct lack of rain.

Once the early storms (or even just a few light showers) start, the prawns should fire up so whether you want top fresh baits or a tasty feed for yourself, make sure the cast net is on board when you head for any of the deltas, beaches or creeks during January.

AVOID SUMMER HAZARDS Almost every year

summer storms catch North Queensland boaties out, building in the afternoon and early evening and then tracking without rhyme or reason, especially during the night. Usually the best you will get from the BOM is a general storm warning.

This is not a criticism, as accurately predicting where these storms will form and track is difficult or sometimes impossible.

Boaties should err on the side of caution and cancel a planned fishing trip if the possibility of storms has been forecast, especially if you’re planning to go offshore or overnight.

Remember, with Burdekin creeks being so tidaldependent it may not be possible to access shelter in an emergency.

If you do decide to go, make sure you have good ground tackle – it can save the day, especially if you are anchoring on a lee shore like Cape Upstart. Batteries, bilge pumps, all lights and electronics should be checked. Safety gear such as EPIRBs and flares must be in date and tested where possible. Lifejackets should be accessible and worn if conditions turn nasty.

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51

Jacks are raring to go TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

The weather is bloody hot in Townsville at the moment and it has kicked jacks into gear. The timing of the hot weather to coincide with the closing of barra season couldn’t have been better if it was scripted! At 29.5°C, it’s like a turbo charger for jacks and apart from their size being exceptional for this neck of the woods, the way they’re hitting and fighting is next level.

Our standard tackle for pursuing jacks is 20lb braid

We have recently had a few cracking jacks sessions with over 20 jacks landed for the day, but the accidental barra captures have rivalled the jack numbers. Our attempts to reduce the barra interceptions seem futile, as both species are fired up and smashing every type of lure we throw. Barra have often been shouldering the jacks out of the way to beat them to it, a phenomenon we don’t usually see.

LURE OPTIONS Those little drains that you may be cautious of being stranded in at low tide are firing but be warned, take the

you’re going to sweat.

Hardbodies like the Halco Laser Pro 120 STD, particularly with the shallow bib, can be productive in this area. When tweaked over the top of rocks or horizontal structure, they’re a notorious big jack catcher. The Roosta Popper is another one that’s proven itself and every time the young fella puts one of these things on, he pulls good fish.

Weedless lures are going to be the best option for the really tight stuff, and skipping them into seemingly unreachable holes and gaps is where they shine. Matching

Tannhym caught this jack with a 60mm Halco Roosta Popper. matched with 30lb Unitika FC leader, and we manage to get about 95% out with a bit of cautious thumb added here and there to add extra encouragement to leave home. However, over the last month our percentage of ‘smokings’ has increased, as has the average size of the jacks.

Now I’m the first to admit that if something or someone proves to me that there is a better option in any particular aspect of fishing then I’m the first to adopt it, and my initial rejection of the FG knot is one such example. Apart from its reliable consistency once you’ve perfected it, it allows me to use the longer leaders I’m so fond of, as I can wind them onto the reel through the level wind and it will still cast faultlessly.

Short range accurate casting dictates the need for lures to be wound right up to within an inch of the rod tip, and the smooth casting connection of the FG makes the FG an imperative knot. I customise the finishing of the knot to ‘ramp’ it for the retrieve through the guides, but that’s only a personal touch to suit my requirements.

Even though it’s closed season for barra at present, good luck avoiding them!

52

JANUARY 2020

insect repellent. A few hours locked into one of these tight little creeks would be just about unbearable if it wasn’t for the jack fishing that’s currently drawing us in. The midges, mozzies, sandflies and March flies are absolutely relentless, and in some areas even love the taste of the repellent! Long sleeved fishing style shirts and heavier material pants are the only option, so take heaps of cold water because

the correct hook size for the plastic is imperative, and too big of a hook for the sized lure will give an unnatural presentation and pop out when skipped, detracting from their ‘snaglessness’.

Be prepared for the line to start ripping from the spool immediately, sometimes before it’s even stopped skipping. Even a 40cm jack can do you over if his head is in the sticks.

The two best plastics for

Tannhym dropped to a crouching position and gave it everything for the first few seconds to land this jack. weedless stuff are the Halco 4 and 5” Paddle Prawn in lumo and the Atomic 4” Plazos Prong in radioactive rooster.

Both mount perfectly on 5/0 EWG hooks and the most versatile depth is the 1/4oz, with the 1/3oz working better in deeper water or when the tidal flow is a bit quicker.

OFFSHORE Big mackerel have been smashing gar rigged on wog heads. Go hard on them, as the sharks are also capitalising on the mackerel spawn. When breeding congregations of tightly packed big Spanish are found, big spoons have been one of the few lures tough enough to withstand the brutal fight tactics needed to land these fish, many of which are over 30kg. It’s not very sporting and if you’re just after a monster Spanish then this technique will land it for you, but be very careful as a Spaniard that’s intended to be released is an evil, fast, gnashing weapon of a thing with a mouth full of razor blades.

I know I keep saying that well-known marks have well trained sharks, but it’s true. If you’re going to an area that is frequented by anglers, the

sharks know it’s not worth going anywhere else to hunt as someone will show up shortly to ‘donate’ everything they hook. Anglers that research and explore new locations have a much better catch rate than those who go to the overfished spots.

Trout jigging is becoming more and more popular, and often out-fishes bait fishing when fished side by side.

Braids are the only way to go and 30-50lb spin or overhead

grunter in the area will get fired up. For the choppers though, the size is increased to 100-150mm depending on the depth, with the bigger heavier sizes best for 15m and deeper.

For those more technically minded anglers, we have recently been doing a few trials on lures with UV accents added to their colour schemes and gotten some surprising results. I used a UV torch (normally used

Sometimes the rattle of the trebles and profile of a hardbodied lure is what’s needed to get a response from jacks.

The author caught this solid jack on a Halco Paddle Prawn.

outfits are best, as the lighter line will have more contact with the smaller lures at depth. For leader, 40lb FC will land most fish for you.

INSHORE Grunter and golden snapper are pretty popular amongst inshore small boat anglers, but the weather has held them back until recently.

Soft vibes and blades work well for both species if you change sizes depending on the fish. For grunter, I prefer 40-50mm vibes and blades, as they love a small lure with heaps of action. If you work them in about 4-6m of water with short lifting action, any

to activate the cements and glues used for tying flies) to inspect a range of lures and it really emphasised just how it affects a fish’s response to a lure. I’ve always believed contrast was making the difference to our strike rate but now it seems more like the UV active component may be the game changer.

Going into January, it’s anyone’s guess as to what the weather’s going to do.

At the moment, the clouds are building almost every morning. No matter what there will be something to catch somewhere, so get out there and have a go.

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Could be a dry January CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

Last January saw over twice the average rainfall dumped on Cairns and it certainly turned the fishing on its head. This year the wet season seems to be later than usual so, while it will be nice to get some rain, let’s hope it’s not like last year!

I’m expecting a drier than average January, so I’ll focus more on low rainfall fishing options rather than flood fishing tactics.

Conditions that keep the

water temperature below 30°C at this time of year include strong southeasterlies, cloud cover and rainfall, so there is a good chance the water temperature will be getting up there this month. It was slow to rise over spring but continual light winds and low rainfall will see it climb pretty high, hopefully not to the extremes that caused widespread coral bleaching some years ago!

The basic strategy for reef fishing this month is to go deeper as the water temperature rises. If it’s below 29°C, start by fishing the normal depths of 20-40m of water for trout and 40-50m for reds. More boats

The deepwater fishing has been exceptional lately with decent reds like this one caught by Brenden Kent.

are fishing deeper in recent years, with 60m+ receiving increased fishing pressure.

The tyranny of distance keeps the boat numbers down to a certain extent as crews are travelling 60km+ offshore in many cases. There are plenty of 50m areas closer inshore but 60m+ requires getting significantly further out.

It’s not just the pro-boats fishing 100m+ anymore either.

However, I find anything over 65m gets a bit too much like hard work dragging a big fish up from those depths.

The deepwater fishing has been excellent lately with quality reds coming to the boat on many trips. The added bonus of fishing extra deep is a change of species. While red emperor and largemouth nannygai are still staples, species like goldband snapper and jobfish become more common. Some people are switching to electric reels and hand winch set-ups to ease the pain but it takes the challenge out of it for me. An added incentive to go deep is the likelihood of fewer sharks, as they have had less exposure to fishing boats and learning how to nail an easy feed. From my experience, the more fishing pressure a reef area gets, the more prolific the sharks.

The turn of the tide during day and night, dawn and dusk, along with moon rise and set, and moon directly above and below are all good stimulators of fish activity, so plan your trips around these key periods.

When it’s hot, fish are no different to humans. They become lethargic and don’t

Top quality golden snapper have shown up around Cairns. move around a lot, so you will need to go against the trend and do the moving. Keep shifting every 30 minutes or less if you are not getting any action, until you find fish feeding. It requires a lot more effort from anglers but it often pays big dividends.

Golden snapper should be frequenting the inshore rocks, bommies, wrecks and headlands this month. Last January was a bit hit-and-miss due to the massive rainfall, but the previous year had some excellent catches of quality golden snapper coming from these locations. Late spring saw some top quality golden snapper show up around Cairns and while the numbers weren’t great, the quality was top shelf. Live baits, even the odd fresh dead bait and soft plastics were producing the goods. Water depth didn’t seem to be that important, with

good fish coming from 4-20m.

Like reef fishing, moving around constantly until you locate feeding fish seemed to be the trick, especially in daylight hours. There have been some large schools of monster sardines hanging around and hopefully they will stay on longer than normal.

Rain seems to move them on, so if it stays dry they may stay longer. Lots of bait seems to be a precursor to good golden snapper activity, as they appear to be more pelagic than most anglers realise.

Huge tides around the full moon on 11 January and the new moon on 25 January should see grunter come in onto the hospital flats and rubble, shell and weed areas in Trinity Inlet. It’s a boon to have both the full moon and new moon high tides over 3m, so make the most of the double whammy this month and put

grunter on your agenda. A couple of hours either side of high tide should be the best time, with the slack water right at the top of the tide often producing the best fish.

When the northerlies are in, threadfin and blue salmon should be around the northern beaches, especially Holloways and Machans. Numbers have continued to rise, which is due in no small part to the total commercial netting ban in the Cairns NFZ. Like grunter, the top of the tide tends to be best, especially if you are shore-based.

If the skies do open up, the break through creeks along all the beaches will be a good place to wet a line. Crabs will be hard to find unless there is enough rain to flush out the streams and it’s a bit early for prawns, so chasing a feed of fish will be the most productive pastime this month.

We’re hoping for an uneventful wet season PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

We’ve seen a mild build up to the wet season this summer. The beginning indications in the early parts of December suggest it will not be a repeat of last year when we experienced a very turbulent and early start with a cyclone around the Christmas period. Ocean water temperatures are still below previous years, which hopefully equates to a non-eventful wet season without the threat of cyclones.

In recent times the weather’s settled into a traditional summer build up with winds shifting to the east and north at times. They’ve remained relatively calm so there has been ample opportunity to fish in any location, with anglers going to fish out on the 54

JANUARY 2020

reef while the window of opportunity is there.

On charter, we have found the fishing to be above par for one of the hottest times of the year. I believe the lower than normal water temperatures have kept the fish more active as when it goes hot and very still, the reef fishing can be rather tough. Numbers of fish have been up and the quality is exceptional, with 10kg red emperor, 8kg nannygai, 5-6kg coral and bar-cheek trout and 6-8kg trevally featured heavily. Add to this spangled emperor, sweetlip, stripey and bigger than normal Moses perch, a day on the reef has been fruitful and varied.

The gamefishing season has recently wound up for the year but there will still be some yellowfin, mahimahi wahoo and similar out wide for a bit longer.

Over the coming weeks, the yellowfin tuna congregations will be watched closely by the bigger game boats with the ability

to travel vast distances from the shelf.

The heavy tackle gamefishing got off to a slow start this year as the currents took their time to kick into

gear. Once they did though, it literally exploded overnight up on the Ribbon Reefs with multiple vessels recording 6-7 tagged big black marlin in a day. This first occurred

in mid-October and then the fishing remained fairly consistent from that point on, extending even into the end of December. Big fish were still being landed late

Good numbers and quality of reds have been found on the reefs.

in the year.

Closer to home, the rivers and creeks have been a bit tougher to engage as we haven’t had any decent rain in some time to stir up and rejuvenate the systems.

The heat of day has been a lot tougher and night has produced a lot better, particularly with live baits such as mullet. Mangrove jack and golden snapper relish this time of year in the deeper parts of the system. Across the flats on a rising tide, some decent grunter have been caught on strip baits but the explosion of juvenile sharks have been a nuisance when trying to target fish in the shallows.

I suspect we’ll see some good weather for the start of the year before things inevitably change.

If sea temperatures don’t get too much higher, the reef will continue to fish well and is probably worth focusing on for the moment.

Hot weather equals hot fishing CAIRNS NFZ

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

With summer in full swing and plenty of humidity in the air, the creeks and rivers will be at their best for those chasing trophy fish.

The main target species for anglers fishing the Cairns Inlet, Barron River, Thomatis Creek and Half Moon Creek systems will be the mighty mangrove jack. So far it’s been a bumper season for these angry red devils, with big numbers of trophy jacks hitting the decks of both lure and bait anglers. The inlet has been producing the biggest fish

The Molix RT Shad has been a standout jack lure this summer.

School size golden snapper have been readily available on the neap tides.

Big jacks are prime targets in the NFZ at the moment.

and flicking 3-4” paddle-tail plastics at mangrove edges and roots have been doing the damage. Fish around 45cm are pretty common, with the odd 50cm+ beast crunching lures at times. My top three plastics for this style of fishing are the Molix 3.5” RT Shad, the Live Target 4” Slow Roll Shiner and the Biwaa 4” Submission Shad. Early morning on the incoming tide has been proving popular for those throwing surface frogs and poppers while the water is low. There’s not much better fishing than experiencing a big jack crunch your lure off the top!

Another species biting well has been golden snapper. These fish are best targeted over the neap tides, as they hang in the deeper holes and bends.

Vibe style lures like the Jackall Transam and Zerek Fish Trap are the best way to target these fish, especially when the tide is slack. They’re commonly caught up to 70cm in the creeks this time of year. Golden snapper put up an awesome fight and taste even better.

Salmon have shown up in big numbers this year.

Blue salmon are in plague proportions with massive schools working all systems.

Good schools of threadfin have been running around with them and it pays to work over schools to find these fish.

These fish are very underrated as a sportsfish; they can run hard and put out some pretty cool jumps as well.

In NFZ news, we held our big NFZ forum last month, which saw all three zones getting together to plan merging all three into a giant barramundi superhighway. The good news is that by working together we are going to get the best out of these areas for everyone who uses them, so stay tuned for some big news.

Prioritise bite times HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

So far the heatwaves haven’t been so bad compared to previous years, but it sure gets quite hot out on calm days with no wind around. Anglers who fish daylight hours during the heatwaves should concentrate on the prime bite times, which for most inshore species is generally three hours

before the bottom of the tide and two hours into the incoming tide.

As we’re in the quieter period for charters, I have only heard a few inshore reports that fishing has been patchy. While a lot of us have been targeting golden snapper, it has been hard keeping barra away from vibes and herring baits when fishing the deep holes.

It is best if you can just dehook them in the water and let them swim free as soon as possible, minimising

disruption to them during the closure, but with the ever increasing shark presence it may be safer to quickly place them on a cool wet floor or towel, dehook, and then quickly release them back into the water.

Fishing a little wider out the front has been quite frustrating with so many anglers losing good fish to sharks. On some spots I’ve found that on a certain day you can pull up a few good fish with no problem at all, then upon returning the next The sharks didn’t get this nannygai!

Neil with his solid golden snapper.

day, everything gets pounded by very large bull sharks.

Once you lose a fish or two, it’s time to move.

You may also return to a productive spot the next day and still mark good reds on the sounder, only to find they don’t respond at all and you’ll see those big shark shaped shadows on the side imaging hounding the fish from above. It’s hard to find an area anywhere these days that isn’t affected by sharks.

Clearly, the number of bull sharks has exploded over the years since protection measures were put in place.

With only another month to go before the barramundi season reopens, anglers

should now be dusting off their gear, servicing reels and stocking up on lures in readiness for the opening of the season. If the weather is not that great, it may be a more productive use of time to visit your local tackle shop.

The only thing that could make it a slow start to the barra season is if we get a lot of decent rain, causing floodwaters and making the barra go quiet for a few weeks until it settles. I think we should be in for a decent wet season given the flooding that occurred last year but only time will tell.

Be wary of the afternoon storms that can develop out

of nowhere. Some of them can be very intense and aren’t much fun for small boats, particularly the ones that develop on land and head out to sea. Keeping a close eye on the BOM weather radar is a must if you’re in phone range when you see thunderheads develop on the horizon.

• Bookings are filling up quickly for the 2020 barramundi season starting in February, so now is the time to get in and secure your spot.

To book a charter, you can email us at info@ ianmoodysportfishing.com or phone 0402 339 459 with your enquiry.

JANUARY 2020

55

It’s time to make plans for the year ahead LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

Trying to predict the fishing in January can be difficult, as everything revolves so heavily around what is happening with the weather. Normally the bulk of our rain falls in the next few months but anything is possible in the tropics!

I can guarantee it will be stinking hot and the humidity will be so thick you can cut it with a knife most days.

Hopefully storms will be brewing up overnight to give some relief from the heat of the day and to help green up the place, as it resembles a desert these days. I’m hoping to tick more boxes off my fishing list by learning new techniques, and attempting to break PBs while I’m at it!

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL Similar to the last few months, the fishing should be pretty good up the channel, especially for anglers chasing golden snapper, bream and

grunter. These species will be moving around, feeding up in the deep holes of the channel and deep sections of the many creeks and rivers.

The better spots will have some bottom structure, such as rock or rubble, and some bait in attendance. It doesn’t need to be spectacular on the sounder, just an area that holds life. Live or fresh bait will catch the best fish, normally either early morning or at night. It still amazes me how a spot will seem devoid of any quality fish but as soon as the sun sets, the bigger fish move in to feed.

The creeks and the channel will run very hard between tides. Fishing the bottom at these times can be near impossible so it is very important to plan your session to coincide with tide changes. If it is a period of smaller tide variances, you can fish at any time.

However, any tide change of 1.5m or more will be difficult and may require you to find some backwaters or areas where the tide isn’t

Toni G caught a typical Lucinda trout.

Working prawn imitations into structure can produce mangrove jack. running as hard.

Mangrove jack will be active this month, as they love the heat and humidity that summer brings. Tide changes in the morning or afternoon are the time to chase them and if you can get lucky with a storm building up in the background, even better. Mangrove jack like some current running to get them feeding and in an aggressive mood.

The difference between catching a few fish and catching lots, is your ability to get your lure in close to the structure. You will often see a few casts land 30cm from the snag for no results and then a cast placed right on the snag is met with a brutal hit immediately. Jacks don’t mess around so lock them up and turn them away from the snag straight away.

If you don’t, they will get back into their snag and then it’s game over.

Jacks are not real fussy and will happily try to eat anything that swims too close

to their home. For most lure fishers, it’s all about chasing them on surface, with small to mid-size poppers and soft plastics such as frog imitations. I almost always use ZMan Finesse FrogZ when chasing jacks, as they skip and can be rigged snagproof so you can get them deep into structure.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF I’ll be heading out to the end of the sugar loader jetty on first light and throwing some surface lures around for big angry GT every chance I can. It can be intense fishing with more battles lost than won, due to the ridiculous structure. Oyster-covered pylons are everywhere you look and most fish won’t be interested in your popper unless it lands really close to their pylon homes. Don’t attempt this style of fishing if you’re not prepared with a strong rod and reels capable of heavy drag settings. Using the boat strategically will help push odds your way to

around the islands during summer, as most quality fish move deeper to combat the warm water. Finding good ground deeper off the islands will give you a shot at trout and emperor species. Big longtail tuna will also be frustrating anglers, busting up then moving 100m before doing it again. They are the most annoying tuna to chase around. Sometimes you get lucky and can get a hook-up, signing you up to an epic fight, as these tuna know how to take a lot of drag quickly and they never give up.

The warm waters mean cobia will be making a nuisance of themselves on the wrecks and reef edges.

They will eat most things and

Molly-Rose scored this little nannygai. land these fish.

Great golden snapper and bream fiswhing will be available for anglers fishing good baits around tide changes, especially at night.

Wait until the smaller tides so you can easily fish all night. Some good squid can be caught out the jetty as well so it’s a great idea to get a squid light out. Live squid is the best golden snapper bait.

Not much happens out

a live bait suspended under the boat while reef fishing will normally get eaten.

Cobia are very inquisitive and will follow hooked fish to the boat then swim around until you feed it something.

They fight hard and are pretty good eating if you prepare them correctly. They release well, so quickly unhooking them and spearing them back in will see them swim off with no worries.

Big fish coming out to play COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

You have to love this time of year. Nothing compares to heading out to sea with the water like glass as you speed off to the reef, hoping to land some quality fish.

The coast line in Cooktown is stunning, with large mountains reaching up into the sky right along the coast, but the wind blows so much that there are few times when you can see the coast from the water. It’s so rare for the weather to drop here that when it does, the whole town seems to shut down and go boating and fishing. However, this time of year there seems to be more calm days than rough, so there should be lots of opportunities to get out and 56

JANUARY 2020

Col landed this tasty cattle dog cod as by-catch.

Jett Ryder fought this 22kg Spanish mackerel onto the boat with the help of his dad Mark.

enjoy what the sea has to offer.

With temperatures soaring and the build up to the wet season in full swing, the hot conditions are tough for fishing, especially in an open boat. You have to be sun smart and cover up as much

as possible but still allow for circulation, as humidity is so high. Having a buff to protect your neck, ears and face is a great investment and they are so light and breathe so well they don’t To page 57

Tropical tails are wagging CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

January is a fantastic month for almost nothing but offshore fishing in the Cape. The first deluge for the year (if it hasn’t

However over on the east coast, especially offshore, the scene will be set for glassy, calm conditions interspersed with the odd tropical deluge.

Boats equipped to head out to the shoals and reefs from the Barrier Reef to the Coral Sea will be in for a treat.

as good for pelagic speedsters, so look for pressure points and reef entrances for a hot bite.

Yellowfin tuna may make an appearance out wide of these same reef entrances and generally the incoming tide will see birds start hitting the water as a giveaway sign. Wahoo may turn up wide around oceanic bait. Be sure to keep a trolled lure or bait (preferably with a short length of wire) shallow and fairly close in the spread to account for either wahoo or Spanish mackerel.

Coral trout should be around in good numbers with

the fishing generally better in the 15m+ depth range. The exceptions to this are around well washed outer reefs and over flats with excellent current flow. Trout can turn from fussy feeders into all guns blazing in the wink of an eye. Subtle changes in wind, light and tide can trigger an aggressive bite and the explosion on a surface lure is something else!

The full range of emperors and snappers should be close by. Spangled, variegated, red-throat, yellow lipped and longnosed emperor will all take a

This green jobfish was taken on the outer reef.

A beautiful coral trout taken from a remote cay. already arrived) will be imminent. Every estuary and bay on both sides of the coast will likely be stifling and at times devoid of sportfish. The west coast in particular will enter three of its toughest months for fishing with monsoonal onshore winds buffeting the coast each afternoon.

Red bass and jobfish will be ready to tangle in the shallow to mid-water sections adjacent to reef structure. Both will rise to surface lures and hit a metal jig in 40m of water with equal gusto. During these warmer months, it is important to have good current flow when fishing the shallows.

Warm stagnant water is not

This shallow reef line would be a great place to target emperor species.

From page 56

get uncomfortable in the high humidity conditions.

Water clarity is amazing at this time of year and it’s awesome to boat over the reef and see what’s below.

With clarity so high, fishing deep is key. Hungry fish are going to be where the bait is so looking along the deep edges for bait schools is the way to produce good results, especially when chasing coral trout. They are so aggressive and will be on the bite quickly. When you start catching other fish, it’s probably time to look for another spot. More trout will move into the area if the current is strong, as the scent of bait will move along it, but to catch coral trout consistently, moving and finding bait schools will

Josh was pleased with this big red emperor.

SEASON

7

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 5.00pm on

lure twitched seductively in the shallows. Most of them will feed in the sand and gravel patches as the slope descends off the reef. All these species will at times come into shallow sand and bommie territory, especially during the night.

Cape York offers a huge chunk of the Great Barrier Reef in its realm. Much of this is in near pristine condition, despite setbacks from coral bleaching. The zonings at times can be

restrictive to remote fishing adventurers but the sheer enormity of the reef makes up for it.

All of these reef dwelling fish should be treated sustainably. Try and return any unwanted or non-targeted species in good condition and only use as much bait as is needed. Keep safe, particularly if venturing out wide. Get accurate weather reports and make a solid plan in case it all goes to mud.

produce better results and get your bag quicker.

Mackerel have been biting well and some very large specimens have been caught up to 25kg. On one troll, Jett Rhyder caught a 22kg Spanish that put up a great fight and we had to cut it in half to fit in the 200L icebox. It was truly a trip young Jett will remember for a lifetime.

Red emperor and largemouth nannygai have been around in large numbers and size. They are always a good option for avoiding the heat of day, as they are easier to target at night when they move around to feed. Large squid with a pilchard inserted in it is the best bait by far for chasing large emperor and nannygai. We have also seen some large cattle dog caught recently and they are by far the

best cod to eat, so they are a welcome by-catch.

The local wharf has produced some decent mangrove jack lately and the bait schools are still thick. Herring are also great bait for chasing coral trout on the reefs. You can freeze them and salt them so when they defrost, they’ll look and feel fresh.

Reef fishing will be the go this month, with lovely weather and beautiful conditions expected.

However, all local fishers will be looking forward to next month when the barramundi closure will end and they can be targeted once again. You have to love the options available up north. Who would want to live anywhere else?

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57

Barra

Impoundment barra at Mackay and Proserpine BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

One of the great things about working for this magazine is that there is always research for further articles to be done in between deadlines.

Research takes many forms, and one of my favourites has to be fishing for barra so I can share results with readers.

Obviously some trips are better than others, but I always ensure that my magazine reports are accurate.

I recently went on a trip north to Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust impoundments. There are some interesting findings from all that ‘research’, which involved some early starts, much casting of fly tackle and the awesome power of big barra. Again, it was a case of some you win, some you lose… but it’s always great to try!

KINCHANT DAM We started at Kinchant, which has long been a favourite impoundment of mine. Unfortunately, in the last few years it has been bedevilled by everencroaching weed beds.

Of course, the barra

love the weed beds. They cruise in and out of them in their little highways and byways, find lots of tiny tucker items in their labyrinths, and taunt anglers by waving spade-like tails at them in inaccessible areas.

When hooked, many barra dive straight into those weed beds, and it’s very difficult to extract them.

Consequently, we did it tough at Kinchant Dam with the fly gear; we couldn’t cast far enough away from the boat with floating flies and lines to avoid spooking fish – and where we could use the intermediate sink rate lines the fish chose to be elsewhere. My Lowrance doesn’t lie: if there are no barra showing there are no barra in the area.

However, anglers using lures, especially vibes, were better placed to catch the resident barra. The lure anglers were ripping the vibes back around the edges of the weed beds, especially the large central one, and scoring some excellent fish.

With that in mind, there’s certainly a case for visiting Kinchant if you’re in the area, and are prepared to work the weed beds hard.

During our time fishing in this smallish impoundment, most of the hook-ups occurred on calm nights.

Peter Faust Dam has an interesting mix of barramundi habitat.

TEEMBURRA DAM On to Teemburra Dam, which was at 98% capacity during our trip. Teemburra is a must-visit dam. It can be so generous at times, and the concept of an impoundment perched high within a mountain range system with such fantastic topography is totally unique.

Teemburra was my favourite dam back when we started impoundment barra fishing in 2003. In those days the water level was around 25%, and we caught lots of fish.

Over the past decade,

however, the dam has filled and spilled fairly regularly, and this has made the fishing very different.

Teemburra can now be either rewarding or tough going. It was the latter on this trip, and we had to work hard for our fish. A couple of sessions yielded donuts for our trouble, and

and a veritable forest of standing timber to give the fish sanctuary and places to sneak a feed without giving much away.

Our favourite points revealed a few fish moving about, and we fished hard by changing flies (after obvious rejection) until a fish either signed on or

between shoreline lilies and those further out in 4m of water. We scored some hook-ups but it was devilish work extracting those fish from the lily beds; fly lines and leaders don’t cut plant stems the way braid can. Everything just seems to hang up! Fortunately, only ‘small’ barra around 80-90cm were on the job.

Anglers fishing weedless plastics, the ubiquitous frogs and other weed-resistant offerings would do well in those places, as well as in the timbered sections where we would often see a decent swirl just after daylight.

PETER FAUST DAM (LAKE PROSERPINE) Down in level to around 74% full these days, Peter Faust has always held an interesting mix of barra habitat. The timbered areas are as productive as ever, and the weed beds are still prolific, with many quite healthy barra that seem to be thriving despite dropping water levels. There are also some very interesting flats

This 1m barra caught by Steve Kampe is typical of those taken recently at the impoundment.

Teemburra Dam’s lily beds harbour a healthy population of barra.

Hooking them is a lot easier than extracting them.

I’m not talking about the Krispy Kreme ones.

Still, the dam never looked more promising, with massive weed beds around the flats and points, lily beds in every bay,

we got sick of casting for no result. We usually fish only where we can give a barra 30-40m to tear off before tiring, but we broke that rule on this trip – we cast flies into sanctuaries

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These flats often have very small weed beds on them, plus open areas without timber which suits anglers very well, because the

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Barra fish seem to mooch in and around them at all times of the day and night.

On the topic of night

there would be very small fish skipping clear of the water followed by ripples and swirls that could

the fish to scoot into and we blew a few good photo opportunities through their loss.

structure scan, or there would be a huge boil over a nearby weed bed as we drifted towards it, or a fish would follow a fly to the boat before dropping gently out of sight. Most sessions either Denise or I would bring a fish to the net, fish lose a fish to snags or fail to connect on a decent hook up but

Faust fish did not seem to be on the job while we were there for a week.

FREE CAMPING On the plus side of things the camping area just to the south of the Peter Faust boat ramp has now opened and offers free camping at this stage. It’s very basic yet, without power or necessary

how things pan out. Kamp Kanga is still the go-to venue for those of us that like air con when sleeping, plus hot showers and other bits of luxury to enjoy between stints on the water.

So that’s the result of the recent barra expedition; prospects for the coming months certainly look quite good in all of these

This fish might not be the biggest barra in the lake, but the author was still happy to catch it on fly. fishing, the weed beds out from Faust Point have moved a long way from the shore, but anglers sitting on the outer edges have still been doing quite well.

Back to the flats. We actually scored some sight fishing for barra on a couple of these flats in that

never, obviously, be made by such tiny tackers and with a fly gently thrown towards the disturbance a metre or more of feisty barra would sign on for a tug of war. Unfortunately, one particular flat was adorned with fallen timber and other debris that suited

But the thing that really impressed me about Peter Faust was the sheer presence of fish.

Let’s face it; few things are more encouraging to the barra angler than the sight of moving fish!

We nearly always saw them on the Carbon 12

Denise Kampe with a solid impoundment barra. to barra starved anglers from Brisbane that’s pretty encouraging fishing.

The really large Peter

amenities on site but development will progress as is always the case and it will be interesting to see

impoundments but barra being barra it can be a case of success or failure on any given day.

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59

Barra

Barramundi sights and sounds for success PART II SE QLD

Ron Jenkins

This month we’re going to be looking at two senses that we share with barramundi, hearing and seeing. However, as you will learn, barramundi sight and hearing are very different to those of humans.

BARRAMUNDI HEARING Don’t get hearing confused with lateral line operation. Lateral lines deal with low frequency vibrations in the water by objects displacing water as they move around, thus sending out waves of energy at low frequencies.

Hearing is to do with higher frequency acoustic/ sound signals being transmitted through the water. These acoustic signals are frequencies higher than those to which lateral lines are tuned.

Some are within normal human hearing range.

Barramundi are classed as hearing specialists in the piscatorial world.

Fish don’t have ears and humans do, so can we hear better than a barramundi?

Let’s go diving into the barramundi’s underwater world where sound travels faster (up to five times faster) and there’s less audio absorption. Put your head underwater and note the difference. You’ll hear an outboard motor underwater long before you hear it with your head out (and louder too).

So, can barramundi match our hearing? They sure can! Their hearing (without ears) is just as sensitive as ours (with ears) and occupies the bottom half of our audible frequency range.

Barramundi have a hearing threshold of 70db of signal pressure while a diver has a threshold of about 67db of pressure wave. Forget the technical figures. It just means they can hear about the same as us. Barra also have a lateral line for the low frequency signals while humans don’t, so they’re streets ahead of us already.

But where are their ears? They don’t have ears that we would recognise, but they do have bony things called otoliths, and they work in conjunction with their gas bladder to amplify low level higher frequency acoustic signals that their lateral lines can’t detect. The gas bladder is compressed and expanded by incoming sound waves through the barramundi’s body.

The bony otolith is 60

JANUARY 2020

Fig 1. A barramundi eye. levered from the gas bladder to ‘amplify’ sound being fed to the fish’s nerve centre. Pretty much the same as human hearing with its eardrum and anvil lever mechanism.

So what can an angler do to turn barramundi’s exceptional hearing to advantage? Use lures that make noise that attract the fish’s attention! Trebles rattling around on splitrings during stabbing retrieves produce noise.

Rattles don’t work very well on lateral lines, but they do work on barra hearing if they produce noise above 100hz (6000rpm). So do outboard motors roaring past or up to a spot at 5,000rpm.

Don’t think for one minute that electric motors are silent in the barramundi’s world, because they’re not. The electric motor spinning on its bushes or bearings produces a constant low-level acoustic whining noise. In addition, the underwater vibrations produced by the slowly rotating propeller blades can easily be picked up by the fish’s lateral line.

BARRAMUNDI EYES Barramundi inhabit shallow waters that can range from fairly clear on headlands and impoundments to dirty/ murky in estuaries. Mostly though, they prefer turbid (murky) water in bigger river systems like the Fitzroy and Mary rivers and therefore they have less need for their eyes to see colour, although they can (better than humans).

As a result, a barramundi is a murky water sight specialist.

One thing they all have in common (along with humans) is that the receptors that allow them

to see are the same and it’s only the mix of the two types of receptors that vary.

The receptor type for seeing colour is called a cone, with different types of cones for different colours.

The receptor for seeing monochrome is called a rod. It simply ‘measures’ how much light is being viewed and the colour of the light doesn’t matter, it’s more a matter of how much.

Human eyes are surrounded by lots of light and lots of colour, so there are plenty of cones (for colour) and also rods for when light is low (at night). An owl doesn’t need lots of colour cones for its nocturnal

the type of water (turbid or clear) in which the fish species evolved.

What about barramundi?

They mainly live in a low light environment day and night and have more use for rods than cones. It’s turbid water where light doesn’t penetrate as far as it does in clear water. So colour disappears first as it turns into monochrome (grey) and eventually fades to black. As a result, barramundi have evolved with more rods than cones for vision. They still see colour but not to the same depths as they can see monochrome (about

Here’s how a barramundi’s party trick eyesight works. Note the reflected light rays on Fig 1. That’s the ‘eye-shine’ that we see, the pink to pinkish-red. Some of that reflected light is reflected again from the back of the retina to the optic nerve.

The extra distance travelled (twice the thickness of the tapetum lucidum) results in two images arriving at optic nerve not quite simultaneously therefore slightly blurred as one image is superimposed on the other. This allows the barramundi to see nearly perfectly in shades of increasing greyness in times of low light (dirty water, night etc.) down to zero light (black).

Barramundi do not possess infra-red or ultraviolet eyes as some will tell us. Firstly, the eye-shine is simply the colour of the liquid associated with their party trick eyes. Other animals that operate in low light conditions possess similar party trick eyes.

Cats, possums, crocodiles, spiders and foxes all possess the tapetum lucidum arrangement.

Secondly, infra-red and ultraviolet light are well beyond the detection range of both human eyes and barramundi eyes. Both types of light are invisible to us (but they exist alright) and have been mistakenly referred to as ‘black light’ over the years.

Fig 2. A barramundi eye’s sensitivity to light. activities, so its eyes have more rods than cones.

Fish use a mixture of rods and cones for vision just like humans. The ratio of rods (for monochrome vision) to cones (for colour vision) is determined by

2/3). To enhance low light vision, barramundi have an eye trick, which passes light through the optic nerve twice before being processed. Barramundi can see in far lower light levels than humans.

If there’s sufficient light, the fish will see the three colours because the cone sensitivity of the eye peaks on red, green and blue electromagnetic wavelengths. As you can see on Fig 2., red

cone (more of a reddish pink) corresponds with wavelength 564nm, green cone corresponds with wavelength 534nm and blue cone corresponds with wavelength 420nm.

Going back to the infra-red and ultraviolet colours for a moment, infra-red lies to the right side of the red wavelength at about the 750nm wavelength. Meanwhile, ultraviolet lies to the left side of the violet wavelength at about 390nm. They are both invisible to the human and barramundi eye. The purple tinted colour that you see from a UV torch isn’t UV at all. It’s simply purple (though not far away from the start of the UV spectrum).

Meanwhile the eye rods (dotted line) are tuned to a wavelength of 510nm and see whatever amount of light is available at that wavelength. The rods measure only light intensity at that wavelength and not the colour (cyan/ green) that corresponds to that wavelength. As the fish spends more and more time in murkier water, the response curves move to the right (towards red) over time. The blue cones are used less and less.

The barramundi eye is coincidently especially attuned to waters in which impoundment fishing is carried out, where the turbidity contaminants favour green as an overall water colour with a wavelength close to 510nm, which is optimum rod response.

Double whammy response if fishing in greenish/ turquoise water like that found in impoundments and particularly inshore rocky headlands.

If there’s sufficient light to see colour, then there’s too much light for the very sensitive rods (being 1000 times more sensitive than cones) which retract into the back of the eye.

When the light level is low, the colour fades and the rods start to come into use.

Just like humans, it takes them a little time to adjust to night/low light vision.

Pulling a barramundi into a boat in broad daylight can blind them, as their eyes are probably semipermanently in ‘rod mode’ in the Fitzroy River’s usual murky turbidity. That’s why you should put a rag over their eyes whilst in the bright sunlight.

So there’s just a brief run down of a barra’s sight and hearing. You can apply this to your fishing when targeting this enigmatic and often-elusive species!

Stay tuned for next month!

Cressbrook Fish Attracting Structure Project FMG

Peter Jung pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

The Fish Attracting Structure Project is headed up by Dr Andrew Norris and is a three year habitat enhancement plan based at Cressbrook Dam. It’s funding has come via the collaboration of the state

Stocked Impoundment Scheme. It was the decline in captures and the numbers of anglers travelling to target them that inspired the Fish Attracting Structure Project.

If the project is successful it may be rolled out in other impoundments throughout Queensland.

WHY CRESSBROOK DAM? When Cressbrook Dam

The six types of structures that are being deployed at Cressbrook Dam are (front to back): Spider, Georgia Cube, Hardwood Crib, PVC Tree, Suspending FAS and Brush Bundles. government, Toowoomba Council, the local fish stocking group and the federal government through FRDC. It is the largest scale deployment of fish attracting structures in an impoundment in Australia.

Cressbrook Dam is a little over 50km from Toowoomba and an easy two hour drive from Brisbane. Like the majority of SE Queensland impoundments, it is a fishing-focused destination.

The local stocking group has been the driving force behind stocking the lake with Australian bass, golden perch and a few Mary River cod.

Funding for fingerlings has predominantly come through the State Government

rock outcrops but, other than natural undulation, there is no hard structure present in the dam. The good fishing relied on healthy weed beds to draw fish to the edges or schools of baitfish to bring the bass and golden perch together.

With the heavy fluctuation of water levels in recent years, weed habitat has been lacking and finding schooled fish has been difficult. Sounder readings done during the bathometric surveys showed that significant numbers of the stocked fish were in the no access zone near the dam wall of the lake, where there is some remnant habitat. It was therefore decided that Cressbrook is the ideal location to place various forms of structure into the lake to create habitat for the bait and predators.

It was also vital that the local community support the project to ensure a positive outcome.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE PROJECT As one of the first and largest scale projects of this type in Australia, there are some key outcomes the team wanted to achieve to ensure future success. They were: to establish what is best practice for Australian conditions, determine the pros and

The driving force behind the Fish Attracting Structure Project (left to right): Peter Taylor, President of the local stocking group, Andrew Norris, Dept of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Joe Ramier, Toowoomba Shire Council. the local fish stocking group, the Toowoomba and District Fish Stocking Association, who have been a huge

Signage is in place at the boat ramp that shows what to look for on the water, as well as the coordinates

and the use of an underwater drone are some of the key monitoring methods to be used. However the biggest and most valuable tool will be through the acoustic tags attached to 30 bass and 30 golden perch.

The 30 bass were always part of the project, but the local stocking group provided funds for the golden perch to also be tagged.

There are a number of monitoring stations deployed around the lake that report the movements of the tagged fish, hopefully travelling between the structures. The tags will provide two years of significant information.

Monitoring has already begun with 274 structures in place and there are positive signs that the fish are frequenting them, in particular the golden perch, in the system.

Two more structures head to their new home.

Some of the 200 structures that were deployed at the end of 2019. was created and completed in 1983 all of the timber and natural structure was removed before the dam was filled. There are a few

A pontoon has been added to one of the electrofishing vessels to assist with deploying the structures.

cons of each structure type, monitor the structures to observe fish numbers and, lastly, how quickly a positive habitat is created.

Andrew Norris is a Senior Fisheries Biologist and is recognised as a world leader in this field.

He travelled to the United States to investigate the best structure to use to begin the project. Back in Queensland, he collaborated with Dr Michael Hutchison who surveyed the lake to establish depth ranges and the best locations to place the structures (optimal depths with minimal chance of movement should a flow event occur and maximum access for anglers).

A large part of the project is the creation and building of the structures. Step forward

contributor building the structures and getting them to the lake to be deployed.

DEPLOYED STRUCTURES Six different types of structures have been deployed around the lake.

Of the six structures, two are made of natural materials (the Hardwood Cribs and the Brush Bundles), and the other four are made from various artificial materials, predominantly PVC piping (Georgia Cube, Spider, PVC Tree and the Suspending FAS).

Each type has a specific deployment strategy.

The Brush Bundles and the Spiders are ideal for shallower water to create habitat accessible to shorebased anglers. The other structures will be better targeted from on the water.

In total, 700 structures will be put in place. In the previous six months, 274 have already been deployed with a further 200+ placed at the end of November.

Anglers have full access to all of the structures.

of each structure. Once all the structures have been deployed the coordinates will also be available online from the Fisheries Queensland website.

MONITORING AND REPORTING Measuring the effectiveness of the structures is an important part of the project and a number of systems have been put in place to do this.

Targeted angling of the structures and control sites, angler surveys, electrofishing

CONGRATULATIONS Well done to state government, the Toowoomba Shire Council and to the local stocking group for coming together and getting the Fish Attracting Structure Project up and running. Talking to various representatives from stocking groups and the angling fraternity, everyone was very positive about the work being done, which will hopefully once again see Cressbrook Dam as a key angling destination in SE Queensland.

Signage at the boat ramp is very informative for anglers.

JANUARY 2020

61

New Year fishing plan TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

Here we go, heading into a new year! The freshwater scene had tales of woe and glory from last year, and it is likely to be more of the same for next year.

Some of the creeks and rivers are very low and the fish are suffering and, in some cases, dying from the prolonged drought. On a more positive note, there are still fish to be caught with plenty of water in some rivers, creeks and lakes.

Even the lakes that are below 10% capacity still seem to be faring well for now.

All I can think about lately is impoundment barramundi. Once you get a taste for the action these fish can turn on, you’ll be left wanting more. The resurgence of the southern barra lakes has a lot of

anglers excited. We already have some well-developed barra lakes further north that have trophy fish but now we can chase quality barramundi within 5-6 hours drive from Brisbane. Most people long for those metre plus fish, which we will see a lot more of this year from Monduran, Awoonga and Callide dams.

While these fish can earn you a few more bragging rights, the smaller models still prove to be a handful and are capable of peeling line, jumping and stitching you up in the structure.

To me, barra have it all.

They are the ultimate sportfish and to have consistent numbers of quality fish locked in impoundments, creates unique and worldclass fisheries. While the state suffers the effects of drought and the dams still have some water, these fish are going nowhere. Locked behind the dam wall, they will only grow bigger. I have been enjoying

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST It is a good time to troll a few deep diving hardbodies through the deeper sections of the lake. Straight out from the boat ramps and in Beams Creek (which is through the buoy line past the pumping tower) are good places to start. Some quality suspending bass will be on offer. Lures that are capable of diving to around 10m deep are best. The 50mm Poltergeist Crazy Deep, Blitz Baga, Little Rippa and Golden Child are a few good ones to try. There is no need to troll under electric power.

The outboard tends to move the boat along a bit faster and really get the lures working to get the maximum action and depth.

Watch your sounder when trolling and exploring the deeper water of the lake.

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catching them over the last few years and watching them grow but now they have hit 80-90cm average, they have that extra appeal.

It is a hard battle to keep the fish in there if big rains come, yet the stocking groups never give in. And, if we don’t have any of that flooding rain that causes fish losses from these lakes, we are in for a hell of a lot of fun. I am lucky enough to have experienced what the lakes had to offer prior to the 2011 and 2013 floods. Just the thought of that coming back is enough to make my brain tick over and think about barra fishing just about every minute of the day. If you haven’t already witnessed this fishing, do yourself a favour and plan a trip. It doesn’t need to be to the southern lakes as there are many other options further north. The barra craze is about to come back in a big way.

Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel!

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Weipa

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Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

school is found, try casting into them. Spoons are a good summertime option if the fish are up off the bottom and suspended. If they are a bit closer to the bottom or prefer a bit more noise and flash try spinnerbaits and chatterbaits. I have been using assist hooks rather than the standard hooks usually found on these lures. They are ideal for converting a few extra bites when the fish are just tapping at the tail of the lure.

• For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street. They have a great range of lures and fishing

Gold Coast

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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

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Schooling bass may be found along the drop-off ledges and off the points. Often these fish will be in 8-11m of water at this time of year. If a good

Lacey Pearce worked out how to catch Somerset bass on tail spinners. She picked out a few quality ones between the rats.

Gympie

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Cairns 1

26

19

33

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Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

5

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Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

10

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

11

Maryborough

Roma

gear. The boys can sort you out with the right gear and give you some tips on where to find them. The gates to the boat ramp are open from 6am to 8pm.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The fish at Somerset have been a bit slow for the last few months. I predict this will change as the heat will really see trolling lures pick up. Unlike casting, when boats are on the move, the fish don’t seem to shut down as much and you can just keep catching from the same schools. Some of the better fish concentrations have been holding between Queen

BRISBANE

Street flats and Pelican Point. You will need to explore both flats and deep water at this time of year as the fish can be mobile.

Deep diving hardbodies are ideal for this lake. I am a big fan of timber hardbodies as they just seem to catch more fish than plastic ones. If you are using a plastic lure, make sure it can dive to 10m and is a silent model. However, you won’t always need lures to dive to 10m because the middle reaches of the lake can hold fish in as little as 7m. You can either shorten deep lures up or choose a shallow one and run it To page 63

QLD AND NORTHERN NSW DAM LEVELS Dam............................ % Full

        

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

OCT NOV DEC 5 5 5 66 64 63 4 4 4 24 23 21 88 83 75 86 80 71 39 37 34 64 63 60 0 0 0 30 28 26 3 2 2

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

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

8 7 7 38 38 37 3 3 3 99 97 91 14 12 10 3 3 3 89 87 85 82 78 75 86 76 59 40 34 31 4 3 3 93 86 81

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

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

64 63 54 71 69 67 45 41 35 63 61 59 75 74 70 5 5 4 69 68 66 98 97 89 81 76 69 48 39 28 50 48 46 75 71 66

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 11/12/19

(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.)

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JANUARY 2020

a long way back. I find the latter approach to be deadly as shallower lures usually have a smaller profile. My favourite for this is the 3m diving 50mm Poltergeist.

While rated to 3m this lure will easily reach 5-6m when fished on light braid.

This is the next tip for success – use lighter lines to ensure your lures reach maximum depth. I would rarely use more than 8lb braid. I usually troll the lures 40m behind the boat but this distance can vary if you need to shallow up your offering by running it shorter.

Lure casters can find it very difficult at this time of year. On the calm days, when the boat sits still, the fish get even harder to tempt.

You will sometimes score a few quick ones from a new bunch of fish by retrieving spoons through them. If they are high off the bottom and suspended, tail spinners and soft plastics burned through them can draw a reaction strike. However, when the wind is blowing, that can all change. I love to do summer wind drifts over the schools and try a range of lures on them. You might pull a few on blades, spoons, plastics, vibes and tail spinners but on those windy summer days, there are two better options.

Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits really shine at this time of year and can get bites when all else fails.

Heavier lures around 5/8oz are perfect for this approach.

It was around these fish last summer that I developed the Hot Bite Spectre Vibration Jig and Midget Spinnerbait lure ranges. The assist hooks in the skirts really seem to convert a lot more bites.

• Somerset Fishing has their store-based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Friday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online via the website www.somersetfishing.com. au. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK There were still a few bass schools out from Billies Bay last month. The flats out in the middle were holding these fish but they seem to be harder to find. Some bass were also schooling around the edges of the lake. Being so spread out, trolling deep divers is a good way to cover water and catch a few fish while searching.

When fish are found, try blades, tail spinners and spoons on them. Catfish can be a problem when fishing vibrating lures close to the bottom but the bass will sometimes be mixed in with them. Golden perch will also be found out on the flats mixed in with the catties and bass.

• The guys at Charltons

weed to hide and launch an attack when food comes passed. Take advantage of this by covering plenty of water in search of hungry ones.

• For all your fishing needs call in to see the team at Charltons at Redbank.

Drew heads out to the lakes regularly and keeps fish fingers on the pulse. The store has a great range of lures for freshwater species.

NORTH PINE (LAKE SAMSONVALE) CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE The lake is still fishing well. The upper section inside the boating access permit zone is fishing very well with spoons, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits doing the damage.

Unfortunately this is out of reach for most anglers so kayaking from the Forgans Spinnerbaits and chatterbaits will be on the bass menu this month. The clear bladed Spectre can be a real standout.

Bait and Tackle at Redbank are the boys to see about Wivenhoe, Moogerah and Maroon. Their impressive wall of lures is enough to make any freshwater angler drool. Call in, stock up and get a few tips on where to head before your next trip to the lakes.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, RATHDOWNEY Moogerah is a good option for anglers chasing some summer bass action.

Most of the fish seem to be up in the start of the timber.

Head to the middle of the lake where the trees start and troll around through them or cast lures in the same area.

Lipless crankbaits are hard to beat as it performs so well on this lake when casting or trolling.

If you choose to troll, work your lipless baits with an electric motor (or paddle craft) to control the speed. You want the lures just swimming to achieve the right depth and fish catching action. Once you feel you have the right speed, check your lure’s action beside the boat before tossing it 30-40m behind the boat. If you don’t have an electric motor, you can troll shallower hardbodies with the outboard. The 50mm Poltergeist 3m is the ideal lure for this lake.

Lure casters should keep a close eye on the sounder. Look for fish and take note of the depth they are suspending. Once you establish this, try to fish lures around the same depth rather than under or over them.

Lipless baits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits can all be used around the trees. Don’t be afraid to get right in tight to the structure with your casts and bump the timber

occasionally. You may need to up the size of your gear to extract the fish from the timber. Heavier braid of 10-20lb with 14-20lb leaders can put the hurt on the fish to get them out. I like baitcast outfits for this hand-to-hand style combat.

MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BEAUDESERT, BOONAH Topwater time! If you are prepared to rise early or stay out late, you will be rewarded with some good surface fishing action. Bass love to feed on top during the low light times and you will often come across some better quality fish. Try working your lures over the top of

broken weed beds or along the drop-offs of the weed edge. A 60-80mm long popper, fizzer, stickbait and any variants will all produce. Look for sheltered areas out of the wind where the lure will have more presence and be easier for the fish to find.

Not all the action will be on top. You can manage to string together a nice haul of bass by working the weed with spinnerbaits and beetle spin rigged plastics throughout the day. Look for deeper pockets inside the lush weed. The edges of the weed where it drops away to deep water are also worth a shot. Bass use the shaded areas inside the

Cove launch area is the next best option.

Here in the middle section of the lake you will be able to paddle around to the points and bays flicking spinnerbaits and chatterbaits as you go. You can also troll the same lures while on the move or try running some medium diving hardbodies.

If you have a sounder on your kayak, you will be able to locate any deeper schools of bass while moving around. These fish will still be suckers for spoons and blade baits.

• Tackleworld Lawnton is an ideal port of call for all your fishing needs if fishing the lakes on the north side of Brisbane. The guys can point you in the right direction and help you experience some awesome fishing close to the heart of Brisbane and even further afield.

SUNSHINE COAST REGION BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Borumba will be a little busier at the tail end of the holiday period. Skiers can make fishing the basin of the lake less enjoyable but if you can dodge them and put up with the noise and wakes, there will be fish to catch.

The points and Junction area will be worth exploring with spinnerbaits, chatterbaits and blades.

Further up the lake, there will be the occasional bass and golden perch around the steep banks. This area is also the best place to chase the highly sought after saratoga. Other species generally come as by-catch when flicking the edges for

these fish.

Casting poppers early, then plastics, spinnerbaits, swimbaits and hardbodies through the day will put you in with a good chance of catching toga. Always keep an eye on the sounder as you explore the structure for them as bass may be seen holding a little deeper in the water column and will respond better to deeper presentations.

• 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.

Cast a line at Lake Somerset Holiday Park Experience Queensland’s best bass and redclaw fishing with us. Make a whole weekend of it with a range of accommodation options including cabins, safari tents, powered and unpowered sites.

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63

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK There have been plenty of quality cod caught from Leslie. Don’t go expecting it to be easy as you will have to work for them.

Some days they will be fired up and others they will refuse to eat. Golden perch have been very tough on lures with a few falling for baits.

The dam is very low at around 6% but there is still plenty of water for the fish to hide in and if the water gets too hot, they can drop back into the old creek

old boat ramp. I did note the water clarity was quite poor, and less than 30cm in most of the lake, but the cod still seem to be finding the lures.

Working the flats outside the old creek bed seems to be producing most of the cod. On a recent visit, we spent a lot of time working close to structure in the way of rocks, trees and even some artificial structures without seeing much on the sounder at all.

The cod we did see and get bites from were in fairly open country, in 6-12ft of water. This could explain

drop-off ledges is a good way to fish the lake at the moment. It can seem a bit strange not fishing hard to the edges but it is only the steeper ones that will hold fish. When you toss big swimbaits, you won’t catch anything else apart from the odd suicidal golden perch.

Trolling and casting spinnerbaits and chatterbaits is another way to get the cod to bite. I like the trolling option as it allows you to cover so much water. Be smart about your trolling run and control your boat speed to keep the lures close to the bottom. I like to use 1oz spinnerbaits and 1/2

the bottom in around 4m of water. This sort of approach gets the lures a bit deeper and therefore can pull fish at any time of the day.

• Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear while at Warwick Outdoor and Sports at 115 Palmerin Street Warwick. For a small store, it carries a great range at a very competitive price. Warwick is only a ten minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need.

COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD Coolmunda is now just a puddle with only the main creeks and out in front of the wall holding good water. The water colour is

poor for luring but bait anglers can still try their luck for cod and golden perch. The fish must be thick considering how much water is left.

Driving down below the old boat ramp you will be able to find somewhere for boat launching. Look for good solid areas to launch and stay away from anything that could bog you down. A car will do the job for small boats but bigger boats will need a 4WD. Take extra care when travelling around the lake as there will be obstacles to avoid.

Live baits like worms, shrimp and small crays will all work. Just about anywhere in the creeks over 4m deep is worth a shot but

WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION

When the sounder shows this, get excited! Inside the circle is a big cod holding next to the chain of a marker buoy. That’s his rock out to the right of the boat. bed, which is still around 10m deep. Boats can still easily be launched from the hard bank below the

why so many are falling to big swimbaits.

Casting the open flats or working along the

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or 5/8oz chatterbaits when trolling. At around 2km/h, which is ideal cod speed, these lures are bumping

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BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY The fish are a bit scattered through the deep water this month so trolling will be one of the best ways to catch them. Look for fish around the points up near the dam wall and from The Island down to The Junction. These bass and golden perch can be caught on 5-8m rated diving lures.

Watch the sounder closely to work out where the best concentrations are and focus efforts on these spots choosing lures to suit the depth the fish are holding.

Lure casters may find the fishing a bit more difficult. It is very important to locate a good bunch of fish to target and then choose a lure that you can count down to them. Suspended fish are common for this time of year and keeping the lure in front of them when they are well off the bottom can be difficult. Spoons, blades and small but heavy spinnerbaits should all get

the bites from them if you get the presentation close to the mark.

• Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water enjoying the view. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items including an excellent range of proven fishing tackle.

For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call (07) 4168 9694.

• For the latest information jump onto Facebook and check out Matthew Mott Sport Fishing for Motty’s latest fishing reports.

BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI Bjelke is just a puddle, but a puddle full of fish!

The bottom end of the lake continues to produce. The action has been great at this lake in previous years through the summer months and so far it is shaping up to be another great year.

Hopping small blades off the shallower flats and into the creek seems to score the most fish. Boats are great to

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE The barra fishing here has been exceptional. One thing I have learned is you can’t always go on last month’s reports to catch fish. Last year when I fished the lake, the fish were in the weed one month and then outside it the next. This has a lot to do with water temperatures but if you do find good healthy weed, never dismiss it.

I have been telling myself the bulk of the fish are now in over 2m water.

This may be the case but it always pays to explore weed pockets and weed beds. I can recall many sessions in summer further

north when we have had a ball throwing surface frogs right up on top of broken, shallow weed beds.

Having said that, I would be going with my gut feeling and focusing on the fish in 2-4m of water for most of my fishing action. Those late afternoon sessions that extend through into the night are prime time to be on the water. It seems most boats on the dam during this period are having some sort of action.

This shows a lot of promise as the boats can be spread out all over the lake. Some of the major weed points are prime areas and if you can stake a spot on a windblown point you are in with a very good chance.

Earlier in the afternoons,

be prepared to move around if the action is slow. Bank fishing is also worthwhile as there is deep water access from the shore now the water has dropped back into the old creeks. The early morning and late afternoon will be the best times to try your luck.

• The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around one kilometre away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171. access the best fishing and move about but you will also stand a good chance of catching fish from the shore near The Quarry area.

Bass and golden perch should both be encountered around the wall end of the lake. While a lot of the bass are smaller models, there are a few nudging 50cm in length. Take care if navigating elsewhere throughout the lake as it is very shallow in places.

• For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into Bass 2 Barra.

You’ll find the stores at 119 Youngman Street Kingaroy. Matthew Mott also runs fishing charters on the dams and you can reach him through the store for bookings and enquiries on (07) 4162 7555.

• The Yallakool kiosk is all set up with a great range of tackle if you don’t happen to have the right lure or lose one.

Be sure to call in and check it out. Give them a call for accommodation and camping bookings on (07) 4168 4746.

I like the bays off the main basin dirtied by any rough water. Fishing in the rough water isn’t for everyone and care should be taken in boats under 4m in length as the place can be rough even if it is only blowing 10 knots.

A bit of extra weight on the anchor chain could certainly pay off as it is hard to hold position if you are in the waves and teeth of the wind.

Soft plastics have been scoring a lot of the fish. Zerek 5” Flats Shad, Berkley 5” and 6” Hollowbelly and Happy Rock Medium Willy and Max are all great lures for this lake. I have a preference for the lighter colours but like all fishing this can change, and the fish will make the final To page 65

From page 64

call. Rigging on jigheads around 1/2oz will see the lures tracking at around the right depth for this time of year. It always pays to carry a range of heads in case the country you are fishing is shallower or the fish are moving through deeper

water. These lures are great for rolling through 2-4m of water. You can upgrade the split rings and belly treble to make the lures more barraproof. The next time I visit the lake it will be the first lure I tie on and throw.

• Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs

To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 4975 0033.

CALLIDE CLOSEST TOWN: BILOELA Summer has been the best time to target Callide’s barra for the last two years.

The fish get mobile late in

around this lake. The barra follow the wind so use this to help pick your fishing spot.

The most exposed and fishy looking bank in the wind is likely to have fish visit it in the late afternoon or even through the night.

Heavier soft plastics will be good when flicking from boats. There is no need to land the lures hard up against the edge. The warmer water will have the fish roaming a little deeper. Focus on 2-5m of water. If I had to pick two lures for this time of year, I would be running a 140mm Molix Shad Swimbait or Zerek 5.5” Live Mullet.

Good numbers of barra were holding further up the lake in areas around the islands last month. These fish can be very mobile moving

hundreds of metres at a time when the weather changes. If you have a sounder capable of finding them, I’d suggest looking during day time hours and then choosing spots nearby that the fish are likely to move to at night to feed. Check deep treelines through the day as the barra can be fond of the spindly tops. They will be hard to get a bite out of but it is always worth a shot.

Trolling the buoy line near the dam wall with deep diving lures can produce fish at any time of the day or night. The numbers of fish in the area aren’t high so expect to put in a lot of time to get results. Still, it is an easy and laid back approach to barra fishing. Deep divers are great for this, chuck out

a couple and go searching.

During daylight hours don’t hold back on the speed. Use your outboard to troll up to 6km/h and get those lures well back. At night when the fish move through the water column more, it can pay to mix up the lure selection and troll on electric motor.

• The camping area at the dam has undergone some big improvements recently with an amenities block has been added to the park. It is situated in the powered camping area and has toilets and showers and will soon have a laundry as well. If camping or caravanning isn’t your thing, there are 5 fully self-contained cabins. You can contact the Callide Retreat on (07) 4993 9010 for bookings and more information.

Today’s sounders are great for scanning wide with side image to locate these fish.

Once found, try hopping vibes and spoons or rolling plastics through them.

Trolling is an option in the timber but expect to get snags. It works very well out in the open part of the lake. The fish can be found anywhere between the timber and the dam wall. Stick to the old river edges and you will increase your chances.

The dam wall buoy line area and below the picnic huts are prime spots and offer some protection from the wind late in the afternoon.

Deep divers like Scorpion Crazy Deeps and the 80mm Poltergeists account for a lot of the trolled fish.

Late in the arvo and into the night, the fish will become more mobile.

Staking out a spot on a point, hump or weed edge can be rewarding. Flicking soft plastics until the fish arrive is the best approach.

Pick out a few spots and rotate through them waiting to see if the barra turn up on the sounder.

If you are fishing inside the tree line at night, I’d suggest having a spotlight or bright torch to aid in navigating the tree jungle.

• For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake call Lindsay at Barra World on (07) 49454641. Lindsay’s barra tours can be busy in peak times so book ahead. You can also keep up to date by visiting their Barra World Facebook page.

Camping is now available for a 72 hour period right at the lake with more big plans to upgrade the new facilities in the future.

WHITSUNDAY REGION

As the sun sets, the barra start to move. This windy Awoonga shoreline had a dirty water line, which produced the goods early in the session. and you want to add some extra speed to the retrieve.

Jigheads like the Barambah Lures Barra Jighead and TT War Head or Headlockz HD are ideal.

A lot of fish have been falling to jointed swimbaits in the last couple of months.

It seems these lures are ticking all the boxes with the vibration they are putting out. We found the Zerek 5.5” Live Mullet was perfect for the fish at the moment while they are in the deeper

fishing charters on the lake. It is hard to beat time on the water and this is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish.

You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyand sportfishing.com.au.

• Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby.

the afternoon and into the night. They can be hard to find during the day and even harder to catch. Working the points and windblown shorelines within sight of the boat ramp is a good spot to find some of the better quality fish.

Last month, some landbased anglers came across a run of 60-70cm fish near the boat ramp. Usually the average fish is 80-90cm long but there were quite a few metre-plus models cruising

PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH Summer has always been a tough time for me to fish this lake. I believe it is the way I have always approached the fishing, which has let me down.

The fish move a bit deeper during summer so it is time to go sounding and looking rather than fishing shallow points and weed areas. The shallows might be good at night but during the day the fish will prefer deeper haunts.

In the timber, look for humps adjacent to the old creek beds that are likely to hold staging fish. The barra use the channels to move around and will rest up in the treetops or move onto flats nearby.

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65

New Year, new tactics!

LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

Happy New Year!

Hopefully Santa was good to you and you’re all stocked up and ready to catch a mighty Tinaroo barra. January is a great time of year to be out at the lake chasing these fish, and there have been quite a few quality barra landed recently. A new year brings opportunities to explore new tactics and broaden your knowledge on how

best to tempt these chrome trophies in Tinaroo.

The New Year should see the start of the wet season kicking in. Therefore, barra will move around the lake and many of the larger fish will feel the urge to head downstream and spawn. This gives anglers the opportunity to try new spots around the lake. Most areas that hold baitfish will also hold barra.

At times the barra will congregate towards the dam wall area, and many good sessions can be had around the northern end of the dam

in January. The mouth and upper extremities of any of the many watercourses that flow into the dam can also hold good barra at the start of the wet, as the fish eagerly await the first of the inflows. Exploring new areas at this time will allow you to develop a greater bank of spots to fish in the year ahead.

The good news is that once located, Tinaroo barra tend to respond well to a range of baits and lures. During the summer months, the barra feed quite aggressively so it

The author with a medium-sized barra caught on a swimbait. is a good time of year to try new lures. This can include paddle-tailed soft plastics, floating and suspending hardbodied minnows, hard and soft vibes, as well as surface offerings including poppers and walk-the-dog style sliding lures.

The old saying ‘elephants eat peanuts’ will ring true in most fishing

to turn up in the catch numbers. This also means that anglers can deliberately target certain classes of fish by adjusting lure sizes.

Having said this, Tinaroo barra are notoriously aggressive and if your lure finds itself in the right place, more often than not it will be engulfed.

Hard and soft-bodied

Plenty of small to medium sized barra have been captured recently.

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situations, lures across a range of sizes will work in Tinaroo. There have been amazing numbers of small to mid-sized fish captured recently, which means that the fish stocked over the last two years are really starting

swimbaits also seem to be taking off in popularity across all types of fishing, and the impoundment barra scene is no different. These lures are generally quite large and reasonably heavy, and emit a very strong

swimming action even when worked slowly.

The best way to fish swimbaits for Tinaroo barra is to make a long cast and then work them back with a slow to medium retrieve.

Mixing up the retrieve by pausing or adding some erratic action by flicking the rod tip is also a good idea. Molix and Zerek make excellent soft swimbaits in a range of sizes that are very easy to work straight out of the packet. Hard jointed swimbaits, such as those produced by Barambah and RD lures, have also accounted for several quality barra recently. Fishing larger sized swimbaits can be a good tactic to entice the big barra to eat, and the fish caught using this tactic are usually quite sizeable. Just be sure to use good quality leader if trying these lures, as they certainly aren’t cheap!

With the summer storms building from the west, always make sure you keep an eye on the weather in order to stay safe while out fishing on the lake this month. See you out there!

• If you want to keep up with more of my FNQ adventures, you can like ‘Wazza’s Fishing Page’ on Facebook or ‘Wazza’s Fishing’ on Youtube.

If you catch a tagged barra in Tinaroo, please report it so that the growth rates can be tracked.

Cooking

Enjoy the raw delight of salmon ceviche BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Ceviche, also known as seviche or sebiche, is a seafood dish originating in South America. It is typically made from fresh raw seafood cured in citrus juices, such as lemon or lime, and spiced up with various seasonings including chopped onions, salt and coriander.

An important tip is to use a glass bowl when marinading the salmon in the lime juice. The acidity of the lime juice reacts with a metal bowl to give an unpleasant taste to the fish.

When serving ceviche, pile the mixture on top of pieces of tortillas, which can be either gently warmed in a microwave or fried until crisp in a lightly oiled frypan. You can also use corn chips as an alternative.

Ingredients • 400g salmon, skin removed • 2 limes, juiced • 1 tsp lime zest

1

• 1 bunch coriander, leaves and stems, finely chopped • 1 red onion, finely chopped • 2 ripe tomatoes, seeded and diced

Chop the salmon very finely and place the pieces in a glass bowl. Add the lime juice and lime zest and stir to coat the fish pieces. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for a couple of hours. The lime juice ‘cooks’ the fish and the salmon flesh becomes firm and opaque.

• 1 Lebanese cucumber, seeds removed and diced • 2 red chillies, finely chopped • 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, finely shredded

2

• 1/2 tin chopped tomatoes, processed to a puree • 1-2 ripe avocadoes, cubed

In another glass bowl, thoroughly combine the chopped coriander and chopped red onion.

3

Add the fresh tomatoes, cucumber, chillies, oregano and tinned tomatoes to the coriander/onion mixture.

6

Mix thoroughly together to combine.

4

7

• Tortillas

5

Tip the drained salmon cubes into the salad mixture.

At the end of the marinading time, drain the salmon.

Present the ceviche in a serving bowl with the cubed avocado on top.

8

Serve the ceviche with tortilla wedges or corn chips. Add a couple of lime wedges on the side for an extra hit of citrus.

JANUARY 2020

67

Smart tips for summer camping BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s that time of year again: longer days and warm weather make it a perfect time to set up camp near water for a crack at our finny friends.

Your favourite spot might be out in the bush, on a dam or river bank, well up the beach or in one of the camping grounds that we are so lucky to have in our country. Whichever option you choose, there are steps you can take to make your outdoor holiday even better.

It’s far better to discover a worn out pole when you’re at home rather than at your campsite! departure date. Most tents have eyelets on the corners and elsewhere (at ground level) to secure them and maintain correct shape.

If you have a close look at these eyelets, you may discover a bit of wear and

A pair of new ropes with their adjusters. Ideally you’d get springs as part of the package.

How long would that tent corner eyelet last when a strong wind is blowing?

BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME One of the essential actions to take is to properly plan your trip from start to finish. That includes making sure that anything you bring is in the best possible condition for the task ahead, whether it’s rowed, towed or stowed.

that all fittings, wiring, closures and seals are in A1 condition, and that wheel bearings are in tip-top shape as well. If your trailer or caravan hasn’t been used for a while, you might assume that all is well, but that’s not necessarily true.

If you have a camper trailer and haven’t used it

you get to the camp grounds you can impress everyone with your expertise!

Pre-checking is vital for all camping equipment.

This means looking closely at what might be holding things down (or up), and the means of securing a tent, fly, or other items against adverse weather. Visual

Getting a tent rope properly secured in very hard ground is no problem whatsoever with the right tools. tear, especially if the tent is getting older. Fortunately, repairs are not hard to arrange; most large camping stores have contacts for this

sort of work.

The next thing to do is check the tent ropes to ensure tensioning devices are still working smoothly,

and that there are no frayed or worn sections likely to break under hard or prolonged strain when tensioned. And then

The screw peg in action.

If your home away from home is a camper trailer or caravan, you need to ensure 68

JANUARY 2020

for a while, consider doing a practice speed run setting it up at home. Later, when

inspection is vital, and any repairs should be attended to well in advance of the

It’s not the fanciest camp, but it worked fine at Lake Monduran camping area.

there’s the problem of tent pole bolts and nuts going missing, and ropes without tensioners.

A spring on the end of a rope at ground level will provide some flexibility when strong winds are making things unpleasant.

If you buy a new set of ropes, ensure that springs are provided for them.

STRATEGIC STORAGE TACTICS The statement ‘strategic storage tactics’ might sound a bit extreme. However, if you arrive at a camping area in adverse conditions, such as a storm or at night, it can make life difficult if you’re not well organised.

You want to be able to quickly locate what’s required for a smooth and untroubled camp set-up.

The clue is to visualise the set-up before you arrive, and pack important camping equipment in the right order for retrieval.

Sorting gear in order of importance from the ground upwards, and then stowing it so it comes to hand rapidly, is the best way to achieve an easy camp set-up, even if conditions are far from ideal.

ARRIVAL TIPS If you’re planning to set up camp in a popular camp ground, there’s every chance that your

neighbouring campers will be pretty close. If you arrive at your site late at night and start unloading

to illuminate that section of the park, and start setting up ground tackle with hammers. You will be

and can easily tolerate some necessary disruption close to their camp. And if you plan to stay up late setting up tackle

Camping takes many forms. This is at Weipa, with a great fishing waterway less than 100m away. equipment, closing car doors repeatedly, and allowing car music to waft through the ambience, there will be some frowns.

It’s even worse to rig up a big, powerful LED light

very unpopular, and your neighbours might even give you some colourful advice about what they think!

It’s far better to time your journey to arrive when other campers are still up and about,

for the next day, consider your light – make sure it can be turned down so it doesn’t disturb other campers.

TENT PEG TRAUMA One of the real nuisances in camping can

raise its ugly head at the start of proceedings: the pegs can sometimes be very hard to get into the ground.

It’s not a problem with beach camping, because sand pegs are easy to set up, but it can be frustrating on packed dirt. Sometimes the ground is so hard you’d think it had been compacted by a road roller!

I can think of three very popular camp grounds within easy reach of Brisbane (no names!) where trying to get metal pegs into the ground will always see drama. Even stout pegs can end up bending under the hammer. Then, later, they are very difficult to remove when it’s time to break camp.

I have overcome this problem by upgrading to mechanical power.

I now have pegs that screw readily into place, and they are just as easy to remove without the slightest effort on my part.

It took a very modest cash outlay to achieve such great satisfaction.

My new tent pegs are not specifically designed for the task. Far from it – they are actually heavy-duty 210cm screws designed to hold heavy landscaping timber together. I obtained these from a hardware store (the name starts with a ‘B’),

and these little beauties have a point sharp enough to get them started no matter how tough the going without first drilling a pilot hole.

A hexagonal recess on the head of the screw accommodates a dedicated driver bit, and my set-up uses a socket linked to the driver bit. With a cordless drill they screw rapidly and remorselessly into any ground no matter how hard, and yet, while totally immovable they will still reverse back out with the drill in seconds.

For the record, there are screw-in style pegs available at camping outlets and online, and these would also be worth checking out. However, I stand by the fact that the landscaping screws are very good value for money, and take minimal effort to use.

PROPER PLANNING Camping is great at this time of year, so make the most of it and the tremendous fishing opportunities that go along with being in the right place at the right time. Just remember those seven P’s before you hit the road with your fishing tackle and that home away from home.

What are the seven Ps? Prior Proper Planning Prevents Painfully Poor Performance!

FISHING NEWS

Best laid plans for just one successful trip BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

So another year of Christmas goes past, and planning for the annual Dudds trip gets underway, but with one notable exception. This year I plan to stay for the whole five days.

It usually starts with false optimism. This time we’re going to crack the code. This time we’re going to be rewarded.

This time there won’t be those intense, hot, mozzie-plagued periods of frustration. Those drawn out hours of nothing, nothing, nothing…

This time, we’re sure, we’re going to at least achieve what we’ve failed to do in years past. Get enough bait. And when we do get some live baits, we’re going to stretch some line.

That’s the trouble with our style of fishing.

It can take long periods of backbreaking casting to get enough herring or mullet to actually sit on a rock bar, or in a snag filled hole on that tight bend for the 30 minutes before the dropping tide traps you for five hours. The isolated mangrove trees

that gave up two or three livies on previous trips don’t necessarily provide this time around. That shallow gutter that we chucked into doesn’t always reveal a skip of two or three banana prawns like last time.

So we try new areas.

We push through virgin mangrove creeks and gutters.

We tear new holes in new nets on new jagged oyster covered tree stumps. And probably, like last time, we’ll have six or seven prawn,

mullet or herring, which will be reduced by one or two when you open the lid and that one perfect sized jack lolly takes that millisecond to flip through the open top and slip from your desperate lunge into the chocolate soup

that surrounds you.

So by the time the second day comes around, we’re physically comatose.

That 10 hour day now mocks us with strained shoulder joints, cut hands and burnt faces. By the end of the

second day of our planned five day break, we feel like David Warner on a seaming track – completely clueless. We like to think that like him, we could be bombastic bullies on a flat track, but we’ve never had that chance.

Because we take our breaks when our jobs allow, we’re tide takers.

So we’re either in 4m of flats emptying run, or in a lifeless space fishing a 1m dead zone. And the only good thing about the force four wind that blows us into waiting trees, and swings us on the anchor like a blind man’s kite, is that it blows bities past us like three-oh slugs, tearing pieces of our flesh from uncovered skin as they fizz past.

But this year... this year will be different. I know where the herring schools congregate now. I know where the snags are. I know where a little prawn pod will skip, and where demented bite sized mullet will scoot when the boat nears. This year is going to be different.

I know that’s what I said last year, but last year I was wrong. The full five days this year. No question. Trust me.

It’s going to happen. It has to happen... it has to!

JANUARY 2020

69

Mitsubishi Outlander Exceed BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s hard to believe that the Outlander has been on our roads for well over a decade, with the earliest models driven off a car carrier in February 2003. While there have been a lot of changes

approaching.

The Exceed is available in either 2.4L petrol or 2.3L diesel, and I reviewed the latter.

I found the fuel injected turbo diesel (124kW/360Nm) to be very smooth, quite powerful and frugal both around town and on the highway.

The diesel engine was linked to the Outlander’s S-AWC (super all wheel

control), which provides some diversity in driving modes.

There’s the 4WD Eco – standard – 4WD auto, plus 4WD lock, all on hand at the touch of a button.

The Exceed also featured Blind Spot Warning and Lane Change Assist, while Rear Cross Traffic Alert will assist when moving out of a congested car park and the

like, as it alerts against a car crossing behind at the wrong time. Wouldn’t I like that on my own car!

Another bonus on the Exceed is low speed intervention, which prevents contact with an obstacle should the accelerator be accidentally activated when too close to something ahead or behind.

If you get too close, the unit brakes automatically.

INTERIOR FINISH Today’s Outlander Exceed has a moderately revised interior with re-sculpted and quite comfortable seats which, with lots of fore and aft room, offer plenty of space. Even the tallest drivers won’t be cramped behind the wheel of the Outlander.

There’s also rear seat air-con now, and with some extra soft touch surfaces on the dash and doors as a bonus. All the dash features and controls

It is not recommended to take the Outlander up the beach, but it can certainly handle off-road work to a surprising degree.

Attractive styling is a popular feature. to the marque since then, it’s one vehicle that always seems to have had a steady sales stream.

The latest iteration proves that Mitsubishi have kept on making a good thing even better (and larger) than those early models. Today’s Outlander is available 5-seat or 7-seat configuration, in 2WD or 4WD, powered by petrol or diesel engines and a petrol/ electric hybrid as well.

OUTLANDER FEATURES

Mitsubishi have ensured that every Outlander comes so well equipped – even base 2WD models – that very little remains on the options list.

For a start there’s excellent smart phone integration, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, MP3 compatible sound system with AM/ FM plus digital radio, USB inputs for front and rear seats, Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming plus voice control.

A large touchscreen hosts

The Outlander’s dash is more practical than pretty, and houses a large touch screen. In this image you can also see the controls on the steering wheel.

Leather seating sets the Exceed apart, with the added advantage of electric adjustment.

Mitsubishi’s Smartphone Link Display Audio, allowing apps from compatible phones to be controlled from the screen via Apple Car Play and Android Auto. A leather-trimmed wheel and gear shift handle are standard, as are wheel-based controls for the cruise control, speed limiter, sound system and phone. A reversing camera

Even with the second row seats upright there’s a lot of cargo space in the Outlander.

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JANUARY 2020

and rear parking sensors are also provided.

On the exterior there are LED daytime running lights, and windows are tinted as well. Roof rails, 18” alloy wheels and seven air bags are also within the package.

Safety is paramount, with ESC, AEB, and hill start assist to please the driver. The tow rating is the standard 750kg for unbraked trailers and 2000kg for a braked unit.

EXCEED FEATURES The top of range Exceed, as reviewed, is a bit special in that it’s also a 7-seater but equipped with a host of features to appeal to both driver and passengers. It has a sun roof, electric tailgate, keyless entry, push button park brake, leather seats plus electrically adjusted driver’s seat. Standard Exceed trim also includes rain sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlights, as well as auto low beam so that the headlights dip when another vehicle is

were in the right place for easy recognition and use, with the adaptive cruise control and speed limiter activated by an easily found and recognized switch on the steering wheel.

I didn’t mind the finger touch park brake, although I know that some people might.

SUMMING UP As a mid-sized SUV

the main 7-seat rivals being the Honda CR-V, Nissan X-Trail and Holden Arcadia, all vying for the buyer’s dollar.

All of these SUVs are popular, well equipped and pretty easy on the eye, if not the hip pocket. Still, the popular Outlander looks good and has a surprising amount of room for a mid-sized wagon. It

This year’s model provides air-con for the second row of seats. with a good range of models, engines, and drive modes to choose from, the Outlander ticks a lot of boxes. It continues to sell quite well against its competitors, with

gets the job done in a quiet and unobtrusive manner as a family wagon, with some handy attributes for a weekend away. However, although it has seven seats, the third row

seats are best left to children to clamber in or out of.

A run up the beach? That might stretch the friendship.

However, paddock tracks and the like should be no problem as the Exceed has reasonable ground clearance plus the advantage of 4x4 drive. I really enjoyed my country run, and the corrugated roads and rougher surfaces proved no bar to good road manners and a very smooth ride. The diesel engine took care of hills and overtaking with ease thanks to the surplus of torque and well-matched gearing from the 6-speed gear box.

Fuel consumption with a decent load aboard on over Cunninghams Gap and beyond (not towing) was around 8.4L per 100km. That figure is a fair way from Mitsubishi’s quoted 6.2L/100, but so be it.

The boot capacity with all seats folded is a surprising 1608L, which is large enough for a lot of tackle or camping gear to come along on a trip.

If a mid-sized SUV is on your wish list, one of the Outlander variants might be perfect for your needs.

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2020

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

29 Jan-2 Feb

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 11 Australian Championship hobiefishing.com.au Bemm River

4-5 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 1 Gippsland Lakes

abt.org.au

8-9 Feb

ABT BREAM Round 2 Mallacoota

abt.org.au

8-9 Feb

Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Family Fishing Boondooma Dam

Russel 0417 717 324

22-23 Feb

ABT BREAM Queensland Open Moreton Bay

abt.org.au

29 Feb-1 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 1 Bemm River

hobiefishing.com.au

1 Mar

ABT BASS Electric Round 1 Richmond River

abt.org.au

7-8 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 3 Derwent River

abt.org.au

11-12 Mar

ABT BREAM Round 4 St Helens

abt.org.au

21 Mar

LAFMA Carp and Tilapia Eradication Competition Wyaralong Dam

Lloyd Willmann 0429 614 892

21-22 Mar

ABT BASS Pro Round 1 St Clair

abt.org.au

28-29 Mar

Hobie Kayak Bream Series 12 Round 2 Gorges River

hobiefishing.com.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.

BOONDOOMA DAM YELLOWBELLY

MAJOR PRIZE

VALUED AT $15,000

395 DRIFTER TINNI

$50,000 Estimated CASH & PRIZES

* Prize picture for illustralion purpases only

Pre-Nominations accepted from 3rd January email: boondoomastocking@gmail.com.au

FOOD & DRINK STALLS

Competitors must have a Fishing Permit, Camping available at the Lake Boondooma Kiosk Ph: 4168 9694

8TH & 9TH 2020

$50,000 Estimated CASH & PRIZES MAJOR PRIZE INCLUDES: • 395 Drifter Bluefin Tinni - Mercury Motor 20hp including trailer, Garmin fish finder & safety gear.

COMPETITION HOURS: Saturday: 5.00am until 6.00pm Sunday: 5.00am until 9.30am GILLED & GUTTERED WEIGH-IN TIMES: 12.30pm to 1.00pm Saturday 6.00pm to 6.30pm Saturday 9.00am to 9.30am Sunday CATCH AND RELEASE TRACK MY FISH TIMES 5.30am to 12.30pm Saturday 1.30pm to 6.00pm Saturday 5.30am to 9.00am Sunday LUCKY DRAW & PRESENTATION TIMES FRIDAY: SATURDAY: SAT NIGHT: SUNDAY: 8.00pm 1.00pm 6.30pm 9.30am

$20 Seniors / $5 Juniors

Cut off date for Pre-Registration is the 31st Jan 2020

FEBRUARY

GILLED/GUTTED & CATCH-N-RELEASE SECTIONS BRIEFING & RANDOM PRIZE DRAWS Friday Night 8pm @ Registration Site Competition Hours 5am Sat - 9.30am Sun

SENIORS - Prize Money for each weigh-in period for the heaviest of each target species, plus trophy & prize money for the heaviest overall Yellowbelly & Australian Bass.

JUNIORS – Winner & Runner-up for each weigh-in period, plus a trophy for the heaviest overall Yellowbelly & Australian Bass LIVE WEIGH INS for Bass, Yellowbelly, Silver Perch, Jew & Spangled, Perch OPEN to: SENIORS AND JUNIOR ANGLERS.

Proudly brought to you by the Boondooma Dam Stocking Group

FOR MORE INFO: BOONDOOMA DAM FISH STOCKING MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION INC

PH: RUSSELL- 0417 717 324 JANUARY 2020

71

Tested: Meet the ultimate cranking battery FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Upfront, let me tell you that I’ve always been a fan of lithium batteries. I bought my first set nearly a decade ago and they instantly made my bass boat around 100kg lighter.

The trouble is that they are expensive. Plus, anti-lithium battery proponents would have you believe that they catch fire every other day of the week.

I’ve never had a problem with lithium batteries. My first set was imported from the USA under the Lithionics brand. They made my Phoenix bass boat ride very level and it jumped out of the hole

Energy lithium crank in the Bass Cat for around six months and it’s done everything I wanted it to do.

Made of securely housed, rectangular lithium phosphate (LiPo) cells, I went over the top and ordered a custom battery with a built in 20AH, 600CCA jumpstarting battery in the same case. As a result, it’s a little heavier than my last lithium crank battery (at a whopping 9kg) and it’s the equivalent of 160AH of lead acid battery capacity.

It even has a Bluetooth dongle that attaches to the terminals and every time I power up the boat, it pushes a notification to my phone and lets me know the charge percentage. I still haven’t seen it under 100%. Maybe I went a little over the top… but potentially, I do have two sounders, a Hydrowave, two livewell pumps, three navigation lights, a Garmin VIRB camera, two PowerPoles and an iPad charging all at once. It’s way more of a load than we expected our batteries to take a decade ago.

One thing about LiPo is that these batteries take charge quickly. My Mercury

The 1500CCA, 160AH equivalent cranking battery sits in the bilge of the Bass Cat with the trolling motor battery and the Power-Pole pumps.

These cranking batteries have a built-in voltmeter.

My old lead acid batteries weighed nearly 40kg each and there were three of them on-board – two for the electric motor and a cranking battery for the outboard. The outboard cranking battery had to be that big because of all the electronics I ran off it – double livewells, two sounders, lights, accessories and anything else that needed 12V DC. Of course, the outboard would help recharge the cranking battery but sometimes you’d fish all night and there wouldn’t be enough charge to turn over your motor in the morning – not ideal. In comparison, the lithium batteries went 28kg collectively.

There’s simply a limit to what a standard lead acid battery can do. You can only get so much capacity from that mix and anyone who has lifted a car battery knows that lead is dense enough to result in a heavy unit.

Enter lithium batteries.

Lithium battery technology powers your tablets, Dysons, Teslas, your drones and your phones. It’s ridiculously light, takes charging very fast and holds its voltage through nearly its whole discharge.

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JANUARY 2020

with ease. It made sense – re-powering with lithium batteries was like throwing a 100kg dude off the back of your boat. It doesn’t matter what you’re in, every planing hull I know is more efficient and can get into shallower water with 100kg less weight in it.

greenmarinelithium.com

for the one that suits your boat and that will fit straight into your existing battery case.

I love my Green Energy crank and I reckon that you will too.

As soon as you turn the isolation switch on, your phone gets a push notification with the status of the crank battery.

I’ve had this for a few years now and it was time to replace my cranking battery with lithium as well.

For this, I got the Green Energy team to source me the ultimate cranking battery. It

This Bluetooth dongle attaches to the terminals and transmits battery information to your mobile phone or iPad. My current boat (a Bass Cat) already runs a 24v 24-106 Torqeedo lithium battery for my electric motor. It weighs 23kg (instead of 78kg for a comparable lead acid setup).

V8 200hp on the boat has an 85A alternator and this battery will drink in the incoming charge much more quickly than a lead acid one, hence the battery always reading 100% back at the ramp.

If you’re using these Green Energy batteries to re-power your trolling motors, you’ll find that not having to run 12V batteries in series for 24V and 36V setups takes lots of points of failure out of the system. More connection is more points to corrode and let you down.

The 24 and 36V options from these guys are all in one case.

With one set of terminals, there’s only one connection that can go wrong.

Lastly, the question everyone asks about lithium batteries is the price. The top-of-the-line, custom battery I bought cost around $1,200, but cranking batteries start from $550.

Check their website at www.

had to fit in the existing tray, have a built in jumpstarter and voltage gauge, Bluetooth connectivity to my iPhone and more than enough cold cranking amps (CCA) and

capacity to power all of my electronics at once.

A few weeks later, Steve and Lee turned up with my new baby. It weighed 5kg, nearly fit into my tray (I did have to modify one edge) and had all of the bells and whistles I wanted.

Until you pick it up, this lithium looks just like a standard battery. It’s in a rugged, plastic case, has a couple of terminals on the top and (in this case) a voltage meter and a sneaky, unlabelled silver button (more about that later). Go to pick it up though, and your eyes will widen. You brace yourself for the weight and remember to ‘lift properly by bending the knees’, but the battery weighs bugger all.

It reminds me of the old boat shows where boat dealers would have an empty Century Battery case to display a product on their stand. The case weighed only a few hundred grams. You’d pick up the case and pretend it weighed 30kg and then drop it on your mate’s foot. They’d jump a mile!

I’ve now had the Green

The battery-monitoring app graphs your battery voltage during your trip.

30th Boondooma Family Fishing competition The 2020 Boondooma Dam Family Fishing Competition is celebrating 30 years. Participants can expect a range of great prizes, and an amazing

weekend of family fishing fun held on 8-9 February!

The competition for 2019 saw a huge attendance of 945 entrants, including 236 juniors.

Profits from the event are used to supplement fishing permit funds from the Queensland Government and to date approximately 5.3 million fingerlings

The money raised from the event will go back into stocking for Boondooma Dam.

This year’s Boondooma Dam Family Fishing Competition will be a great weekend of family fishing fun!

have been stocked into Lake Boondooma.

Included in the prize pool is a Bluefin 395 Drifter tinny with a 4-stroke Mercury 20hp motor, provided by longtime sponsor Cunningham Marine Centre.

And if that’s not enough to tempt you, there’s no need to fish to win prizes!

Just register for substantial random lucky draws over the weekend.

Nominations are $20 per adult and $5 per junior

(16 years and under).

Registrations will commence on Friday 7 February at 12pm with briefing at 8pm.

There will be a Gilled and Gutted section for yellowbelly, bass, eel-tail catfish, silver perch and spangled perch.

There is also a Catch and Release section for the longest of all the same species using the Track My Fish app.

The major prize will be the boat/motor/trailer

package valued at $15,000 thanks to Cunningham Marine Centre.

Full food and drink stalls will be at the event site, and will include burgers, hot chips, ice creams, a coffee van, wood fired pizza and a licensed bar.

For more information, please call Zac Steinhardt on 0456 999 332.

Hope to see you there for a fun filled weekend of camping, fun and tight lines. – BDFFC

Wyaralong Carp and Tilapia Eradication comp The annual Logan & Albert Fish Management Association’s Wyaralong Dam, Carp and Tilapia Eradication competition will be held on Saturday 21 March, 2020.

money received from the Stocked Impoundment Permit Scheme (SIPS).

There are heaps of prizes and giveaways and two lucky entrants will go home with a kayak. You don’t even

a small group of concerned anglers in the Rathdowney/ Beaudesert area to get introduced noxious carp out of the Logan and Albert River systems and replace them with native fish.

The competitions have removed 10 tonnes of carp from the rivers and raised approximately $65,000 to purchase fingerlings for the native fish stocking program.

The tilapia population has exploded in Wyaralong Dam since 2014.

This family orientated one-day event is a fun fishing day aimed at catching pest fish.

Competitors will help remove some of these noxious fish (carp and tilapia) from the dam as well as helping Logan & Albert Fish Management Assoc (LAFMA) raise some funds to supplement

have to catch a fish to be in the running for top prizes.

Competitors can fish from the bank, kayak or canoe, and even a boat as long as you don’t start the motor as this is an electric only impoundment. Motors can be left on the boat but must not be started.

The ‘Carp Out - Natives In’ concept was started by

LAFMA, formerly known as Carpbusters, run seven successful Easter Carp Eradication competitions from 1998 to 2004, removed more than 10 tonne of carp from the rivers and raised approximately $65,000 to purchase fingerlings for the native fish stocking program.

LAFMA decided to take on Wyaralong Dam as a

project for their fish stocking program in 2012. As the Logan and Albert system was already infested with carp and tilapia, it would not be long before these pests took over at Wyaralong.

All net profit from the competitions are spent on Australian bass and Mary River cod fingerlings to stock in the dam. LAFMA, in conjunction with Fisheries, decided to make Wyaralong a trophy Mary River cod fishery, stocking mainly

Mary River cod with a back up of Australian bass.

Results of 2019 eradication competition The continuing aggressive takeover of the fishery by tilapia was evident by the final numbers of fish caught and destroyed in a seven hour window – 1554 tilapia and 25 carp. The results of the 2014 competition where 273 carp and only 75 tilapia were caught in the same seven hour time slot.

The tilapia population

has exploded in Wyaralong Dam so it is hoped that the continuous stocking of the dam with an apex predator, such as the Mary River cod, we will once again ‘Restore the Balance’.

For more information, entry forms etc, go to www.lafma.org. A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish Wyaralong Dam for anglers 18 years and over. – Lloyd Willmann, Logan & Albert Fish Management Association JANUARY 2020

73

Taylor finally seals a BREAM Grand Final win Thirty-six year old dentist Tristan Taylor finally got the job done at the 2019 Costa BREAM Series Grand Final, held on the Gold Coast in late November/Early December, 2019. He’s placed second twice previously – the last time the headline event was on the Gold Coast in 2007 and once in a Forster, NSW Grand Final.

The win capped off a magic year for the Brisbane breamer. He committed to fishing the full series in 2019 and attended every event across the country.

His qualifying effort earned him two event wins (at Bribie Island and Gladstone) and the Power Pole Angler of the Year title.

Now that’s a reward for three days of quality breaming.

Tristan Taylor took home a $70,000 Bass Cat Margay powered by a Mercury 150hp ProXS and fitted with a Motorguide X5 and a Lowrance LIVE12.

Tristan’s secret to success was quality bream from the Macleay Island area.

His win was not a sure thing, though, with fellow Brisbaneite Denis Metzdorf leading the event after day one and challenging the whole way through. Ultimately, Metzdorf fell 500g short, but it was a magic final stop for Taylor that got him the final upgraded he needed to seal the deal and take home a BassCat Margay/Mercury outboard package, worth $70,000.

“We had a very ordinary final day on my regular run, which included trashing the prop and gearbox on my motor,” Taylor said, “and we

left early with under 2kg in the livewell.”

“But on the way up to my northern spots, I saw this bank on the inside of Stradbroke Island with some rocks on it and we decided to give it a go on the way back. Before I’d gotten a cast in, my non boater, Col Wilson, was hooked up on a big upgrade.”

After that, Taylor and Wilson boxed two more solid upgrade fish before limping back to the weigh-in.

“Best. Decision. Ever,” Taylor continued.

Although Col caught that

BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Tristan Taylor 2 Denis Metzdorf 3 Mark Crompton 4 Vaughn Lewis 5 Jamie McKeown 6 William Lee 7 Michael Thompson 8 Scott Towner 9 Steve Morgan 10 Brett Crowe

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize Bass Cat/Mercury rig worth $70,000 15/15 8.42 15/15 7.93 Power Pole shallow water anchor 15/15 7.54 Millerod 15/15 7.46 Costa Sunglasses 15/15 7.18 Costa Sunglasses 15/15 7.17 Cranka Crab pack 15/15 6.87 OSP/Imakatsu pack 15/15 6.84 Cranka crab pack 15/15 6.75 15/15 6.70 Sunline/Lucky Craft pack

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 74

JANUARY 2020

upgrade fish on a Gulp Crabby rigged on a jighead, Taylor’s weapon of choice was the ubiquitous Atomic mid depth 38mm crankbait in a variety of natural colours.

“You couldn’t even count the number of bream these baits have caught over the years. Not just for me, for people all over Australia,” Taylor said. His colour of choice for this event was GGB (ghost gill brown).

He threw the bait on a Samurai Reaction 201 rod, a model that he has been using successfully for the last decade. He paired it with a Megabass Idaten Racing Condition 2506 reel, 10lb Unitika braid and 6lb Unitika Eiger leader.

“With that outfit, I’d be confident bream fishing anywhere in Australia,” Taylor concluded.

Bass Cat Australia’s Craig Simmons was on hand to present the prize.

“This rig is ideal for anyone who wants to move up into a comfortable bass boat for the right price. It goes well with 115hp (even though the prize model runs a 150hp ProXS Mercury) and you can tow it behind most mid-sized vehicles,” said Simmons.

“What a finish!” Said Mercury Marine’s Anthony

Brown, watching the coverage afar from Melbourne.

Indeed, all ABT sponsors created prizes and atmosphere worthy of a season-ending national event.

Taylor’s future plans involve training for a gruelling triathlon next year before concentrating on fishing again.

Scan the QR code to watch the interview with Tristan Taylor.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 3 highlights.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 1 highlights.

Scan the QR code to see the Day 2 highlights.

BREAM Series presented by

Denis settles for second place Denis Metzdorf is considered a southern Moreton Bay specialist and he came out guns blazing with a tournament best 3.20kg limit on the first day to take the lead. Unfortunately, he couldn’t repeat his day two heroics and slipped into a solid second by the end of the event.

“One day my time will come,” said Metzdorf, who is a perennial placegetter in local events, from club derbies through to the Queensland Open.

Taking home a PowerPole for the runner up position, it’ll match his existing pole nicely and offer him total boat control.

Denis concentrated on his regular spots around Macleay Island and threw a combination of baits, including his favourite Pontoon 21 crankbaits.

“That Crackerjack 48 in the deep diver had saved me so many times over the years. It really is a musthave bait for me when I’m fishing for bream,” Denis continued.

He definitely lost key fish over the three tournament days, mainly in shallow, rocky water, but conceded that it’s the nature of the beast in the environments he chooses to fish.

But he had some wins as well.

One particular fish is memorable from the highlights video.

Denis hooked and was winding in a small bream when he saw it was being followed by a cloud of bigger bream. He quickly

Denis Metzdorf led the event after the first day of competition, but struggled for quality kickers on the final two days.

Boaters and non-boaters fished together and shared their collective weights over the course of the Grand Final. The shared weight events have been happening at the BREAM Grand Finals for 20 years.

got his non-boater, Glen Sturrock, to drop a Cranka Crab into the mix and he immediately hooked a quality upgrade.

“That’s awesome teamwork,” Denis said when recounting the story on stage.

“I’d also like to thank my friends and family for their messages of support … they’re awesome,” he concluded.

Wilson wins from back of boat Scott (son) and Col (father) Wilson are regulars on the Costa BREAM Series and although Scott did well on the boater side, the old man took top honours in the non-boater division.

He, as well as second placed Tani Konsul, took home a Hobie Passport MirageDrive 10.5 kayak for their efforts.

Unlike normal qualifiers, the BREAM Grand Final is sharedweight. This means that a boater and non-boater fish together for the day for a collective limit of five bream between them.

The fish are weighed and both anglers get that weight on the scoreboard.

It makes for a supportive environment on the boat

and allows anglers to work as a team.

As it happened, Col not only got to influence his own fate, both he and Tristan used their last minute surge to pip their opponents.

“I caught that first upgrade on a Gulp Crabby on a jighead and it was a pretty busy little session we shared,” Col said.

When asked about his experience on tour this year, Col was very happy with the format.

“You get to meet and fish with some good people and you end up looking forward to catching up with them again at the next event,” he said.

Travelling with his son is just a bonus and so is the Hobie, which will help Col to further fishing freedom.

The top two non boater prizes were the quality Hobie Passport kayaks with MirageDrive, a great way to get out on the water for some fishing freedom!

Scan the QR code to watch the interview with Col Wilson.

The Grand Final is unashamedly a winner-takesall event, but don’t worry, Denis won a Power Pole as well as a second place badge.

McKeown wins Australian and Queensland Open winner Jamie McKeown added a further trophy to his mantelpiece with the 2019 Mercury Cup. Awarded to the highest ranked Mercury owner for the season (which includes Opens and Grand Finals that the Angler of the Year doesn’t), it gave him a $1,500 bonus at the end of a great season from the Queenslander.

McKeown entered the event only needing to finish to get the points needed to take the win. Finishing 5th made the margin very comfortable indeed.

“I run a 225hp OptiMax on the back of my bass boat.

She’s done plenty of hours and has plenty of mojo,” McKeown said.

Indeed, Mercury stepped up to the plate in a big way this season to help celebrate their 80th anniversary. There was $8,000 in total given to the top three Mercury owners in each of the BREAM Qualifiers. That’s $1,000 per event supporting those who support the ABT sponsors.

The Mercury Bonus program will continue in 2020.

The 2020 ABT season is nearly locked in. All dates and information can be found on www.abt.org.au. We really appreciate all sponsors and anglers from 2019. It’s been a season to remember!

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Col Wilson 2 Tani Konsul 3 Craig Johnson 4 Neil Kelly 5 Bernard Kong 6 Sam Peck 7 Glenn Sturrock 8 Jacob Smythe 9 Fred Fraser 10 Stuart Walker

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 15/15 8.07 Hobie Passport 10.5 15/15 7.86 Hobie Passport 10.5 15/15 7.46 Millerod 15/15 7.46 Costa sunglasses 15/15 7.13 Costa sunglasses 15/15 7.09 Cranka crab pack 15/15 6.83 Cranka crab pack 13/15 6.81 Keitech pack 15/15 6.66 Squidgies pack 15/15 6.65

Jamie McKeown won the 2019 Mercury Cup based on rankings points of Mercury owners over the 2019 Tournament Season, including the Grand Final.

JANUARY 2020

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2019 BARRA Tour busts big barra records!

The Zerek BARRA Tour is always a highly anticipated event by barra teams from all over the country.

It’s a week and a half of high intensity barra tournament fishing, with four events in the period, mainly focusing

on the afternoon and evening bite. It means that you don’t have to fish in the heat of the day, and anglers take advantage

of the rising/full moon conditions on some of the best barra dams in the state.

Like 2018, this year’s

tour focused on the Mackay/Whitsunday area, with events on Kinchant, Teemburra and Peter Faust dams. All these dams are

famous for their potential to produce XOS barra, and the tour started with a real bang on the very first night!

Kinchant yields three monsters Often dismissed by BARRA Tour regulars as being the ‘mud puddle’, Kinchant Dam didn’t fish to its potential when it came to numbers of fish, but it really delivered when it came to big barra.

And one team, Western Adventures from South East Queensland (Dylan Mott and Ben von Pein), bagged two giants to claim the Power-Pole round of the Tour, a 35.24kg (128cm) and 31.44kg

John Campbell, who later that evening bagged the event’s Big Barra (49.6kg and 137cm) next to the boat ramp, is in the background of the pic.

“We noticed that the barra were sitting pretty close to the bottom, so we fished our baits close to the bottom,” said Ben, who hooked and landed both of Western Adventures’ big fish. The first one ate a Jackall Transam with upgraded hooks and the

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

With a 32kg+ winning margin, team Western Adventures left the event with plenty of cash and trophies and one of the biggest winning margins in BARRA history! much weight the fish would gain them.

All weights allocated are calculated from a length/ weight curve supplied for impoundment barra from Queensland Fisheries after anglers log an image of the catch on the ABT

‘JC BIG BARRA’ IS BORN It’s hard to comprehend catching two barra for well over 60kg and not being the focus of attention the day after, but that’s exactly what happened. It was John Campbell’s Jackall Big

Team Western Adventures’ Ben von Pein broke the internet with this 128cm (35.24kg) brute at the Kinchant event well before the sun set.

(125cm) fish. They added two smaller fish later in the session, finishing one barra shy of a limit.

Here’s how they did it.

“We decided to mix it up a bit and try a run-and-gun approach,” Dylan said when quizzed about his tactics, “and we caught that first fish in a spot we hadn’t fished before.”

While he was a little cagey about their spot choice, most anglers would agree when looking at the image of the 128 that it was in the area of the boat ramp.

125cm fish scoffed a Slick Rig burned off the bottom.

Ben’s tackle consisted of an Edge ISR706 rod and Shimano Stella 4000 reel spooled with 30lb Sufix braid and 80lb Schneider leader.

“The 128 was actually a pretty lazy fish,” Ben said.

“It tried to jump a few times and then wore itself out.”

“It was a big, deep, old fish that had a glazed over eye,” continued Dylan, who mentioned that they kept a pretty close eye on the scoreboard to see how

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was larger than any barra ever caught on the tour, and much longer than the 130cm Zerek brag mat supplied to all teams at the start of the tour.

After the pixels were counted, a new BARRA Tour legend was born.

John caught the fish on a jighead-rigged Castaic Jerky J swimbait, a relatively small lure for a giant fish.

For all the people who thought Ben just got lucky, he did it again after dark with a 125cm (31.44kg) fish!

Tournament Series app.

Mott contributed some smaller fish to the bag later in the evening on his Dobyns Sierra 704 rod and souped-up Shimano Tranx reel but Ben’s two early giants sealed their win.

They finished nearly 33kg ahead of second place.

Barra of 49.6kg (137cm) that set social media alight.

The brute was the team’s only fish for the night and saw them jumping into second place from dead last. It was landed right at the start line next to the boat ramp.

“It was definitely a fish

Swimming the big girl before release. She was last seen in the vicinity of the Kinchant Dam boat ramp…

ROUND 1 RESULTS

JACKALL BIG BARRA

John Campbell of team Barrametics/Castaic landed a 49.60kg (137cm) beast fishing a jighead-rigged Castaic Jerky J swimbait right near the boat ramp.

of a lifetime,” said John, left with only a brag mat shot and an image of swimming the fish for release.

“I really wanted this amazing fish to swim away, so we did the brag mat shot only and let her go,” said John, with the move proving popular with anglers and the mat-shot showing how ridiculously large the fish was.

Tournament organisers had to get Infofish to extrapolate the length as it

Scan the QR code to see John Campbell’s Big Barra interview.

Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein John Campbell/Brody Eves Geoff Newby/Phill Lyons Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Matthew Mott/Tom Griffiths Quintin MacLean/Col Brett Mick Chelepy/Chris Ballard Peter Laine/Zac Hunt Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith

4/5 1/5 5/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 3/5 2/5 2/5 2/5

Western Adventures Barrametrics/Castaic Lowrance Likely Lads Humminbird/Edge Rods Garmin/Dobyns Rods Imakatsu Extreme Secret Spot Barratrauma Tree Huggers Fishing Monthly

82.42 49.60 38.91 33.36 27.54 24.64 23.29 18.37 17.59 15.59

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize Pack Prize pack Prize pack

Teemburra tough work with only two limits For a lake full of big fish, Teemburra sure has been tough for the last couple of years on the Zerek BARRA Tour, the Edge Rods round being a struggle for most teams with only two catching a limit.

It was the momentum of team Barrametrics/ Castaic, however, on the back on another Jackall Big Barra (22.33kg, 116cm) that trumped the smaller fish limits and delivered John Campbell and Brody Eves their first ever BARRA Tour win, a pile of cash and a cracking pair of Edge rods.

This time, however, it was Brody who stole

a little bit of tension so that the hook doesn’t come out and then you go in and try to untangle it,” Brody said.

And that’s just what he and JC did.

“We tried to keep it a little quiet because there were a few other teams in the vicinity,” said JC, “but there definitely were a few little quiet fist pumps going on.”

Earlier in the session, JC landed a small barra of 60cm. It added 2.66kg to

their 2/5, 24.99kg bag. That fish ate a Jackall Squirrel that he fished on his favourite saltwater casting rig - an Edge Black Widow Inshore 6’6” paired with a Shimano Curado and 30lb Toray braid.

With a first and second place in the books, Brody and JC hit the half way point of the tour leading the coveted Team of the Year (TOY) race and headed towards Proserpine for the final two events.

When you’re on a roll, you’re on a roll! Two big barra and a 1st and 2nd placing saw Team Barrametrics/Castaic lead the Team of the Year race going into the third event.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

the show, boxing the big fish amongst some serious timber.

“It was pretty late in the

JACKALL BIG BARRA

night and I was fairly tired.

I was sitting on JC’s motor and casting when the barra hit,” Brody explained.

It ate a 6” Berkley Hollowbelly rigged on a 5/8oz jighead with 30lb braid and 60lb Black Magic leader. Brody fished the bait on a Samaki 7’ spin rod and

a 4000 Shimano Stella.

“The fish jumped once and then just ran through the trees, it went around three or four and then ended up in a weedbed,” Eves continued.

Brody’s advice about what to do when a big barra runs through the trees?

“You freespool it with

Col Brett is a BARRA Tour stalwart who jags the odd barra occasionally.

ROUND 2 RESULTS

Brody Eves, the other half of team Barrametrics/ Castaic, managed the big barra for round two.

The 22.33kg (116cm) Teemburra terror ate a Jackall Squirrel in tight to the timber, and had to be gently coaxed out to be landed.

Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

John Campbell/Brody Eves Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Troy Dixon/Bone Lim Jamaes Wilson/Liam Robinson Mick Slade/Ben Wilcox Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith Peter Price/Greg Thomas Michael Detenon/Luke Mulcahy Quintin MacLean/Col Brett

2/5 3/5 3/5 2/5 5/5 5/5 2/5 1/5 1/5 1/5

Barrametrics/Castaic BME NQ Zerek Silver Roll Hole Lucky Craft Humminbird/Edge Rods Fishing Monthly Lowrance Venom Imakatsu

24.99 21.56 21.14 19.53 18.10 17.48 14.54 10.85 10.85 8.00

$1,500 + EDGE Rods $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

JANUARY 2020

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Samaki All Nighter gives Venom best limit Michael Detenon and Luke Mulcahy have fished plenty of BARRA Tour events in the past, but it all came together for them in what we unofficially call the ‘BARRA marathon’, a 16 hour event that runs from 4pm-8am the next morning, allowing competitors to fish an afternoon, evening and morning bite time.

With their biggest five barra weighing 76.05kg, Team Venom had a sensational session, boxing a dozen fish between sunset and 1am.

“We were fishing a spot in around 10ft of water with scattered trees,” Michael said after the third round, “and fish seemed to be moving through all night. We had very little company but we do expect

there to be a few more boats around tonight for the start of the last event.”

Reaping the karma associated with using the sponsors’ products, both Michael and Luke used Venom 7’6” Swimbait rods to deliver a pair of Zerek Flat Shads to the strike zone.

Luke used a 9’ Flat Shad retrofitted with a TT

Team Venom registered a near-80kg limit to take the chocolates at the Samaki All Night event.

Michael and Luke’s first BARRA event win yielded cash, badges and trophies.

Swimlock jighead with an extra treble. He pinched two points on the treble under the plastic of the lure to make it swim true and hooked most of his fish on that treble hook. He fished this on a Shimano Tranx reel loaded with 40lb braid.

“My theory was ‘big lure big fish’, which sort of worked out. I only landed four barra myself, but it included the biggest one.”

Michael downsized to the smaller 7” Flat Shad and only modified it by adding a split ring and treble to the factory attachment point.

JACKALL BIG BARRA

Rick Napier managed to wrangle the biggest barra for round three, a 20.70kg (114cm) Faust beast.

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“The smaller Zerek was getting more bites on the night and they’re definitely a tough lure, you’d never wear one out on a barra. You’d definitely lose it before it failed.”

Indeed, the pair had to chase several of their fish through the trees to land them.

If a metre long barra wants to run around a tree, there’s not much you can do to stop it.

You just need to follow them around, untangle your line and hope for the best.

With all of their fish coming before 1am, the pattern looked good for them

to keep the roll going in the final event of the tour, the Wilson Fishing Faust two-dayer.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

PETER FAUST ALL-NIGHTER RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Michael Detenon/Luke Mulcahy Quintin MacLean/Col Brett Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Peter Price/Greg Thomas Glen Smith/Julian Howard Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Geoff Newby/Phill Lyons Peter Laine/Zac Hunt

5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 5/5 4/5 3/5 5/5 3/5

Venom Imakatsu Western Adventures Humminbird/Edge Rods Triton/Edge Rods Lowrance Better Late then Never BME NQ Lowrance Likely Lads Barratrauma

76.05 71.61 63.91 59.51 59.04 44.56 41.91 39.41 44.56 35.34

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

Garmin/Dobyns Rods takes Faust Two-Dayer Matthew Mott has always performed well on Peter Faust Dam and he and his teammate Tom Griffiths were pretty disappointed with their performance in the all nighter.

“We had plenty of good bites from fish that most

likely would have won that event, but most of them didn’t stick,” Matthew said.

“Come this event, everything went right.”

Because of this, Team Garmin/Dobyns Rods took the final event of the tour and $1,500 cash in a fine

display of barra fishing that had them win with a margin of over 30kg from the closest competitor.

“It’s good to have the monkey off the back, I dropped quite a few fish in the first three events and it felt great to stick them one

It all came together in the final event of the Tour, with Garmin/Dobyns Rods distancing themselves from the rest of the field by over 30kg.

after the other,” said Tom Griffiths. By ‘monkey off the back’, you might wonder whether he meant his teammate, Matthew Mott…

The pair set up in a bay on the southern (windy) side of the lake and didn’t have much company the whole time they fished. Their prime lure? A 130mm Squidgy Slick Rig in TNT colour that took Tom’s fancy. After six fish in a row, the lure also took Matthew’s fancy.

“We were fishing a weedy bay in about 9ft of water.

There was a channel with a little less weed in it and it seemed that’s where the fish would bite,” Tom explained.

He fished his modified Slick Rig with spinning tackle and definitely thought the extra speed he could gain with the lure got him the extra bites.

Scan the QR code to see the winners’ interview.

Tom Griffiths fit right into the BARRA Tour. He’s a bit of a larrikin and super handy with a rod.

There’s footage of several of Tom’s fish and retrieve style in the winner’s interview video that’s available on the ABT Tournaments YouTube channel (or by scanning the QR Code hereby).

Motty also praised the latest Dobyns rods for their success.

“We’re finding that the extra 6” on these 7’6” spin rods is making a lot of difference for us with casting distance,” Matthew explained.

“And what about the Garmin gear? That Force electric is solid as a rock and the Live Scope is changing the game when it comes to watching how the fish behave around your baits,” he continued.

Noticeably relaxed, the team not only took the final event win, but plenty of laughs from the Tour.

“It’s a great time with a bunch of like minded anglers and I love it,” said Matthew. “ I t ’s bloody grouse,” said Tom.

JACKALL BIG BARRA

PETER FAUST TWO-DAYER RESULTS Place Team

Anglers

Fish Weight(kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Matthew Mott/Tom Griffiths Ben Tunsted/Dylan Bryer-Mills Peter Price/Greg Thomas Steve Morgan/Nicholle Smith Craig Griffiths/Karim DeRidder Rick Napier/Dustin Sippel Troy Dixon/Bone Lim Aaron Beck/Jamie Brady Dylan Mott/Ben von Pein Mick Weick/Brendan Barnett

10/10 8/10 7/10 9/10 6/10 7/10 5/10 7/10 6/10 5/10

Garmin/Dobyns Rods BME NQ Lowrance Fishing Monthly Humminbird/Edge Rods Triton/Edge Rods Zerek Part Time Hookers Western Adventures Tree Huggers

114.60 83.34 76.60 75.16 74.89 60.01 54.83 54.33 52.59 47.82

$1,500 $1,000 $750 $500 Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize pack

For the Faust Two-Dayer, big barra honours went to Greg Thomas, who landed a solid 19.18kg (112cm) fish.

Humminbird/Edge Rods Team of the Year It’s hard to keep great barra anglers down and for a fifth time (Craig) and fourth time (Karim), Team Humminbird/Edge Rods took the coveted Team of the Year trophy.

Judged over the four events, it rewards the most consistent team over the course of the Tour.

Finishing with a 4th (Kinchant), 6th (Teemburra), 4th (Faust all-nighter) and 5th (Faust 2-dayer), the pair displayed the ability needed to always be within striking distance of the win.

They credited their tackle and gear to their win, praising the Humminbird imaging, Edge Rods and a variety of baits distributed

by Fish Tec Solutions.

“With the way the weight system is versus length it’s harder to get up there,” said Craig, “so we aimed to be consistent

through the events and stay in the top five.”

“Also, with the draw (teams pick their start number out of a hat at the

briefing), you couldn’t plan what you wanted to do, so in pre-fishing we were trying to find more ‘areas’ than ‘spots’, so we could just go

There are plenty of versions of this photo; just the years and the sponsors change. Well done to the 2019 Zerek BARRA Tour Team of the Year, Craig Griffiths and Karim DeRidder.

and work around certain areas. I think the key was to find the numbers of fish so you could wing it on the night,” Karim added.

“We’ve been doing it long enough now to know what the fish do when the wind changes and the sun goes down, so we just had to keep running around to find them fish,” said Craig.

At Kinchant, the guys used Edge baitcasting rods to throw plastics and vibes to the weed edge, while at Teemburra, it was a suspending OSP Rudra jerkbait that did the damage. The final events at Faust were spin rod territory, with an Edge Rods Delta 744 spooled with a Stella and 50lb braid doing the damage.

“These rods are incredibly light and strong,” said Craig.

“You can cast them all day and night and that’s important in the BARRA Tour events.”

Congratulations on your continued success, Craig and Karim!

Scan the QR code to see the TOY interview.

JANUARY 2020

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING STORM ARASHI GLIDE BAIT

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Engineered to achieve the perfect lifelike swimming action, the Storm Arashi Glide Bait lets you take advantage of one of the hottest, most effective techniques for targeting trophy flathead, mulloway, barra and Murray cod.

The Arashi Glide Bait is very responsive, with an exaggerated swimming action that flows from side to side with every turn of the handle and every twitch of the tip. It is very stable and has a super slow sink rate (.4ft/sec), and can be fished effectively at all speeds, allowing anglers to speed up or slow down to match the behaviour of the fish.

Made to target the largest predators, this lure is built with a durable triple-pin construction and swivelling hook hangers that prevent fish from gaining leverage during a fight. Included with a snap and an extra tail that will keep your bait in running order, even after vicious strikes, the Arashi Glide Bait offers a high-quality alternative to overpriced, hard-to-find glide baits. It’s available now in eight fish-catching colours. www.stormfishing.com

BLACK MAGIC UTILITY BOX

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Black Magic has added a new waterproof Utility Box to their range.

One of the main differences with the latest model is that it has a seal fixed to the lid designed to keep the contents dry, and less likely to suffer from water damage or corrosion. There are two latches on the front and one on each side. When combined with the two sturdy hinges, they lock down securely, ensuring a good, tight seal.

There are 13 compartments in the Utility Box for storing an array of tackle, some of which have removable sidewalls, allowing the box to accommodate larger items.

This box measures 270mm x 170mm x 45mm, and has been specifically chosen to fit into Black Magic’s Tackle Bags and Tackle Packs.

Visit the Black Magic Tackle website for more information on the Utility Box and a range of other tackle storage solutions. You can also find more information, news and catch photos on their Facebook page (www. facebook.com/blackmagictackle), check them out on Instagram (@blackmagictackle) or subscribe to the Black Magic YouTube channel. www.blackmagictackle.com

SAMAKI ZING XTREME V2

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Zing Xtreme’s amazing blanks are only one of the features that contributes to the series’ success. The smart Samaki technology of MDC (Multi Direction Carbon layer) improves strength, and the X Power weave construction gives you precision casting, great action in the fight and enough grunt to get you out of sticky situations.

Other features include Fuji KW and LKW series guides, Fuji TVS and VSS reel seats on spin models, Fuji PTS and SK reel seats on baitcast models, and custom super-hard EVA camouflaged grips with superior carbon locking rings.

Zing Xtreme caters to all fishing enthusiasts, with 7’0” spin models in extra light, light, medium and medium heavy 1-piece and 2-piece that sit alongside the 7’6” extra light solid tip flats rod, and 7’6” extra heavy offshore rod. Cast models range from 5’4” through to 7’0” in medium, medium heavy, and heavy, covering everything from bass to barra. www.samaki.com.au 80

JANUARY 2020

PRODUCT GUIDE

X-RAP MAGNUM PREY

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The Rapala X-Rap Magnum Prey is a compact, long cast stickbait that works with a variety of techniques, from subsurface sweeps to skipping on top – just add a boiling school of pelagics, cast and repeat.

This lure is weighted extra heavy for extreme casting distances, and features a darting baitfish action. It’s an ideal choice for fast and aggressive predators feeding on top or in the shallows. Lipless design and fluttering action on the drop allow natural baitfish-imitating presentations. On fast retrieve, the lure skips on the surface like a fleeing baitfish.

Equipped with VMC 3X Strong Coastal Black Trebles, the 100mm Magnum Prey weighs 41g and comes in 12 proven colours, including UV colours. Built heavy and aerodynamic for extreme casting distances, it delivers even in the most demanding saltwater fishing conditions, and stands up to unforgiving punishment.

Other features include through-wire construction, quality X-Rap finishes, saltwater prey patterns, and 3D holographic eyes.

Price: approx. SRP $30 www.rapala.com.au

WILSON CAMO BACKPACK

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Designed specifically for fishing, the Wilson Camo Series Backpack makes life easier. Side access to the internal cargo area allows anglers to easily keep the backpack over one shoulder while accessing the internal cargo area – there’s no need to completely remove the backpack.

Other features include three tackle trays inside the main cargo area. There are two standard large trays, and one large tray (with no dividers) for bigger lures such as swimbaits and surface lures. There are also four external zippered pockets for accessories such as leader and fishing gloves, as well as two Velcro secured tool holders and a massive front flap with even more storage for things such as plastics and spare hooks. An external sunglass holder and a retractable tool lanyard are also included.

The top pocket has elastic webbing for securing jumpers or rain jackets, and the adjustable shoulder straps are padded for comfort and feature a chest strap. The sturdy zippers are easy to open, even with cold hands.

As well as being ideal for hiking, this backpack serves as a complete kit for a boat. www.wilsonfishing.com

PALMS TURN POP

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

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The new Palms Turn Pop is designed to target smaller species like bream and whiting on the surface.

Fitted with a treble on the belly and twin assist hooks at the rear, this proven set-up will convert more strikes into hooked fish.

The rear assist hooks are also fitted with red rubber legs, giving the presentation more appeal on the pause. Retrieve options include pop and long pause, quick short sharp pops, and consistent skipping on the surface.

The Palms Turn Pop measures 50mm and weighs 3.9g. There are six transparent colours in the series, covering all conditions – clear water, dirty water, bright light or low light. For more information on this and other Palms lures, visit the EJ Todd website. www.ejtodd.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

DAIWA SHORE SPARTAN

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Daiwa Shore Spartan lures are designed with a dimpled body that helps you cast further, while their through-wire construction and durable 1.8mm ABS thick plastic bodies ensure ultimate durability.

Featuring Owner split rings and hooks, there are four models – the 140mm Power Splash popper, 140mm floating Rough Ride stickbait, and the 120 and 140mm Break Through sinking stickbaits.

The Power Splash cup-face popper is capable of spitting a large amount of water, however it can also be retrieved fast, creating an enticing bubble trail and wobble. The Rough Ride stickbait has a tungsten weight at the rear, producing the perfect floatation level to create the tantalising dive and ‘S’ wave action.

The lures’ dimpled design acts like a golf ball travelling through the air, aiding the lure to track straight and true, and it also aids the bait’s motion subsurface. This design characteristic is most evident with the Break Through sinking stickbait, which can be retrieved ultra fast without breaking the water’s surface – a key trait for targeting high-speed pelagics. The Break Through also features a very low centre of gravity for enhanced performance and tracking. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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TALICA II 20 AND 25 REELS

The iconic Shimano Talica II 20 and 25 models have received a welcome upgrade for 2019 with the introduction of a spare mono line cam.

The reels are still factory fitted with a braided line cam that provides a smooth drag curve to suit anglers spooling with braid. For those who run a full spool of mono IGFA line, a spare mono cam is available inside the box to make the drag curve ideal for the preferred line class once changed over.

All of the other Shimano features that make the Talica II reels so sought after have remained the same, but now the reels’ drags can be set more accurately so you can be even more confident when you hook that gamefish of a lifetime.

Price: SRP $1010-$1030 www.shimanofish.com.au

OKUMA KOMODO BAITCAST RODS

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The Komodo SS baitcast reel has a reputation for strength, reliability and stopping power. The matching series of rods follow the same design principles, from their quality finish, 30T Toray carbon blank construction and Seaguide Hero Hi-Grade Low Frame Casting Guides, to the attention to detail in bind and metal component highlights, and custom ergonomic reel seat for increased ‘feel’.

Available in a selection of models that cover heavy bass fishing and extracting mangrove jack, to taking on monster impoundment barra and bucket-mouth Murray cod, this series of rods will impress in terms of both finish and performance. For those throwing big swimbaits, there’s even a model for you, without the insane price tag commonly associated with swimbait rods. This model (KM-C-801H) is 8ft of pure casting and stopping power, with an 8-15kg rating and casting weight rating of 1-4oz.

The other four models are: KM-C-601MH (med-heavy action, 6’0”, 6-8kg line rating, 1/43/4oz casting weight), KM-C-661MH (medheavy, 6’6”, 6-8kg, 1/4-3/4oz), KM-C-661H (heavy, 6’6”, 8-15kg, 1/2-2oz), KM-C-661XH (X-heavy, 6’6”, 8-20kg, 1-4oz).

Price: SRP $129.90-$149.90 tackletactics.com.au

BALISTA TREMOR

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The BalistaTremor is an Australian creation designed for one purpose: to catch big native fish.

At 200mm in length, the Tremor has a 3-piece jointed body, and internally it is fitted with advanced electronics with a rechargeable battery, with an in-built vibrator to mimic an injured fish. Of course, it also features Balista’s trademark LED technology that will entice the most aggressive reaction bite.

The Balista also comes with three interchangeable bibs – crawling, wake and diving swim bait. Whether it is trophy Murray cod, barramundi or any other big bait eating predator you are chasing, the Balista Tremor has been designed to get bites from temperamental big fish. On its first day in action at Lake Mulwala – a notoriously pressured fishery – it produced four Murray cod between 95-110cm, at a time when it was unheard of to get so many bites from big fish in the one day.

To see the Tremor in action, search for ‘Balista Tremor’ on YouTube. You can also see the rest of the range on the Balista Lures website, or on their Facebook page. www.balista.com.au

JIG STAR KATANA BRAID 8X

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Jig Star evolved after its founder and acclaimed Jigging expert Chris Wong in New Zealand had spent many years jigging with some of the world’s most renowned big fish anglers from Japan, USA, Taiwan, SE Asia, South Africa and New Zealand.

Hundreds of hours were spent testing products on ridiculous sized yellowtail kingfish and humungous hapuka.

Katana Jigging and Popping Braid is an 8-Carrier high pitch Dyneema line. Katana Braid is a multi-coloured braid that changes colour every 10m and features Micro Pitch braiding technology, with an advanced coating process.

This helps produce a braid that is extremely strong, while still being thin and having minimal guide friction.

Katana Braid is available in 300m and 1000m spools in PE 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 breaking strains.

To find out more on the Jig Star braid range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com

DAIWA SEAJIGGER

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Seajigger has been one of Daiwa’s most popular surf and rock fishing line of rods, and this year the series has been updated to be better than ever before.

HVF carbon is where it all begins, with Daiwa’s low resin, high strength, reduced weight, high density carbon the foundation for a series that is stripped of unwanted weight, and loaded with all the power that you need.

Daiwa’s X45 blank technology further enhances Seajigger’s design and performance level by eliminating blank twist and distortion to increase casting distance.

Design features include ultra-thin Winn wrapped butt section for blank protection, minimalist EVA grips, and Fuji reel seat, while Fuji Alconite Lowrider stripper guides and new lightweight LKW guides provide superb casting ability delivering anglers tangle-free casting all day long.

Classic in style, and advanced in design, function and application, Seajigger offers diversity, strength and exceptional value like only Daiwa can. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au JANUARY 2020

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WHAT’S NEW FISHING LUMICA L.E.D ROD LIGHTS

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Lumica Japan are the developers and inventors of the chemical light stick, and they have now developed a superior range of LED lights for anglers targeting fish at night and in low light conditions.

The Lumica L.E.D Rod Tip Lights are perfect for fishing at night, and simply clip onto your rod tip. They are quite small so they don’t weigh down or affect the tip action of your rod.

The lights are available in two colours, sunset red (visibility of 60m) and sea green (visibility of 100m). They are both available in two sizes so they will fit most rods on the market, and they are super bright and re-useable.

The lights are very easy to use and also feature an on/off switch so you can turn them off easily when not in use. The LED rod lights require a lithium BR/CR 425 battery, and will last approximately 12 hours with continual use.

To find out more on the Lumica range visit the Juro OzPro Tackle website. www.jurofishing.com

OKUMA SABIKI UTG ROD

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PRODUCT GUIDE

LIVE FIBRE BLADE N TAILS

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The Samaki Vibelicious is now available in two new sizes and five new colours.

The new 85mm size is designed to target the likes of bream, flathead, jewfish, yellowbelly and bass, while the 150mm is a heavier weight vibe to target offshore reef fish and bigger estuary brutes such as barramundi and jewfish.

Each model’s colour selection has been created for different target species in all locations around Australia. The new colour range includes natural baitfish colours and bright attractants with UV additives. Introducing Hardy Head, Coral Trout, Stripey Snapper, Fairy Floss UV, and Ghost Bait UV. The Vibelicious Fork Tail comes in 70mm, 85mm, 100mm, 125mm and 150mm sizes.

The 100mm and 125mm have now been upgraded with the new YS81 Decoy Hooks and new Decoy EX Strong Split Rings. The 70mm, 85mm and 150mm are all available with BKK super sharp hooks and Decoy EX Split Rings.

As always, every Vibelicious contains premium Japanese stainless wire and is made of the toughest 10X super stretch material, for maximum durability. www.samaki.com.au

BANDICOOT HEADLAMP

BETTER TACKLE FLASHER RIGS

The Knog Bandicoot Headlamp isn’t like other headlamps. It uses silicone to seamlessly merge the strap, body and LEDs together, rather than fabrics or multiple elastics which are fiddly and unreliable. The silicone band is tangleproof, won’t lose strength, and doesn’t need constant adjusting.

The durable Bandicoot is super lightweight at just 60g, with a compact and sleek design.

The headlamp incorporates quad optics which are integrated into a single-piece chassis, removing the need for a clunky hinge.

The four sets of LEDs are optimally placed for their each individual purpose – a high beam to see with, elliptical beams for broad ambient light, a red light for darker environments, and down lights for reading.

Now, with the ModeMaker app, users can experience added functionality and program their Bandicoot Headlamp from a library of light modes - with 100 lumens being its maximum output.

The Bandicoot Headlamp also offers USB charging capabilities, meaning you can top up the battery at any time and always begin your adventures at maximum brightness.

Price: SRP $59.99 escape2.com.au

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JANUARY 2020

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The Okuma Sabiki UTG rod is designed for jigging sabiki rigs when gathering bait, with the design allowing the rig to be wound inside the rod to minimise snagging and tangling when not in use.

This rod boasts quality components, and has been designed from the ground up to overcome the shortcomings of other sabiki rods. A slight increase in length allows more brands of jigs to be wound completely inside the rod, while the slimmer design increases the action of the rod and in turn the fishcatching action of the jig.

Designed to be used with either spin or overhead reels, the Sabiki UTG is a 2-piece design for easy storage, with a butt join rather than the traditional join above the bottom line guide, which can make line feeding difficult and cause snagging of swivels on sabiki jigs.

The tip of the Sabiki UTG is also uniquely designed to remove the snagging that occurs both on the outside of the tip and internally where the tip joins the rod blank on traditional sabiki rods.

Price: SRP $79.90 www.okuma.com.au

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The Live Fibre Blade N Tails series takes in just about every lure casting scenario available to Australian anglers.

Built on Toray graphite blanks and fitted with Fuji Faslite guides, the new Blade N Tails series has been modelled on the popular BNT series.

Features include specialised skeleton reel seats that allow the angler’s hand direct access to the blank for the ultimate in sensitivity, actions that have been specifically developed to enhance lure casting and the effective working of lures, and a range of one- and two-piece options that allow the travelling angler to fish with a quality stick built for Aussie fishing.

There are 18 rods in the range, with everything from ultralight 4-8lb spin models through to a 30-60lb heavy baitcaster. The range will be expanded as demand heats up for this series. www.wilsonfishing.com

NEW VIBELICIOUS ARRIVALS

PRODUCT GUIDE

BROUGHT BROUGHT TO TO YOU YOU BY BY

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When Australian fishing rig specialist Josh Price designed Better Tackle’s flasher rigs, he had one thing in mind: to make every product better than anything else on the market.

Better Tackle’s flasher rigs feature a rapidrelease rig-winding board, making it quicker for you to get out on the water when the fish are on the chew. Tried and tested two-tone colour selections, along with lumo eyes that mimic baitfish eye-shine, give you the ability to match your offering to what your target species is chomping on.

The unique design gives this flasher the perfect shape, flash and silhouette to attract finned predators, while still keeping its shape fish after fish. The outstanding strength on each rig’s knot and leader is no accident, nor is the quality of the hooks used. Every component and design feature of every rig has been carefully considered, to maximize catch rates and longevity.

And remember that flasher rigs are no longer just for snapper – they are perfect for a range of species, including coral trout, red emperor and nannygai.

Price: from SRP $8 www.bettertackle.com

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

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

BROUGHT BROUGHT TO TO YOU YOU BY BY

Obsession Spinnerbaits now obsessed with bass NTENT CO

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At the time I realised that he did have a few styles that could crossover into the tackle box of someone looking to catch Australian bass. They were his Mini Single and Mini Twin Spin models, of which a few had to come home with me.

Fast forward two years and the Mini Single has become a part of my go-to bass fishing arsenal. I have also gotten to know Ray better, even fishing his home waters (Lake Mulwala) with him. During that two-year period he was always keen to create a range that had a bass focus, and the Bass Six Pack was born. In the range there are six bass-specific colours based around

CA N T H E Q R

The GOAT colour in action.

RE ONLINE MO

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Several years ago I met Raymond Parry from Obsession Spinnerbaits at the Australian Lure Expo in Ipswich. He’s a down to earth Aussie lure maker, designing lures to catch Australian native fish. Initially, the main focus of his spinnerbaits was targeting Murray cod and golden perch, and with my love of using spinnerbaits I promptly tested a few for the magazines. You can check out that review at www.tacklejunkie.fish.

TESTED

Raymond’s Mini Single model. The new spinnerbaits are available in three weights – 1/4oz, 1/2oz and 5/8oz – and are a single Colorado blade configuration. The six colours are GOAT, WB, DONC, GM, BG and PBJ. A COMBINATION OF ROBUST AND FINESSE Spinnerbaits for bass in Australia have come a long way.

Gone are the days where large profile, clunky lures were good enough. Bass anglers now demand smaller profiles with quality components. From the instant that the spinnerbait hits the water, we want it to work to our advantage.

The spinnerbaits in the Obsession bass series fall somewhere in the middle of finesse and robust. The use of a single Colorado blade reduces the footprint of the lure while

The PBJ colour, or peanut butter jelly as the author’s youngest daughter calls it, is a natural colour with a purple highlight through the skirt. colours, so GOAT and PBJ naturally appealed to me.

However, the baitfish profiles of WB and GM quickly became favorites of mine in waterways like Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam here in Southeast Queensland, as they contain large populations of bony bream.

More recently I have tested the BG (black and gold) and DONC colours. The surprise packet has been the DONC colour, which is a natural colour with a chartreuse highlight through it. It has quickly rivaled the GOAT as a favourite, and who doesn’t need a Donk (reference Crocodile Dundee).

If you scan the QR code on this page you’ll see a video that takes you through the colours and has some fishing action from my field testing. Alternatively, you can go to YouTube and search for ‘Obsession Spinnerbaits’.

Although I have been mainly targeting bass, and have caught bass on every colour, the Six Pack spinnerbaits have also accounted for a number of other species like golden perch, Mary River cod and southern saratoga. Due to the slightly more robust style of the lure, I have no doubt that they would deal with a Murray cod as well.

To view the full range, find your local stockist or place an order online, head to www.obsessionspinnerbaits. com. They are well worth checking out!

All the six pack colours are ideal for our native species. This is 54cm of Lake Somerset golden caught on the GOAT colour.

It pays to bring a DONC.

maximising the flash and vibration. The wire and even the hook are on the heavier side, while the skirt quality and style is finesse orientated.

This combination is the key to the effectiveness of these spinnerbaits. They work well as soon as they hit the water, they will deal with a lot of abuse, and most importantly they have consistently caught fish for me on many different waterways and in many different situations.

THE COLOURS Although the colour range isn’t huge, this may well be a blessing in disguise. The six colours are a good mixture of baitfish and natural colours, and the head colours are also cleverly matched to the skirts, with some having highlights that extend into the skirt colour. There is no questioning the bass appeal of the colours available.

ON THE WATER I have been using the GM, WB, GOAT and PBJ colours for more than 12 months now. I have always fished natural

WB will be a very popular colour in lakes that have large quantities of baitfish.

JANUARY 2020

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Top 5 fishing events for 2019 SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Last year I put out a list of the top events we were involved with, and I thought this was the right time to repeat the exercise. I am a big believer in repeating the things that work and the group of events that I have selected each have unique characteristics that others should have a look at emulating.

Last year (as of November) we had put through 194 events, 19,000 fish and 36,000 participants. To be frank, I was knackered and was looking forward to December when we could get prep work done for 2020.

If there is a common thread to my top picks it’s that they know their audience and give them lots of what they want – and that is more than fishing.

In terms of the state of competitions in general it’s a mixed bag. I think the fragmentation of the competition scene with a proliferation of events puts a lot of pressure on sponsors and dilutes the prize pool overall. Not every competition has prizes at their core but increasingly prizes are what gets bums on seats. The cost to be competitive technologically is only going up – it’s understandable that competitors are looking for some payback for their investment. I do think it’s a shame though that achievement in of itself is not valued in the modern era.

More and more cash is king, not least because the best fishers already have all the gear and any gear they win will end up on sale but that is a double-edged sword. More cash does attract the better competitors but has the effect of either reducing the field for the event, as it’s harder for the second tier fishers or they take competitors out of smaller events leaving them struggling to survive. I don’t think the number of events being run now is sustainable and a thinning out is inevitable.

I also think that weigh-in events will continue to struggle as there is a chunk of the community that have decided they need to be cancelled. For the record – I don’t have a problem with weigh-in events, much less trophy fish like Marlin, but there is no doubt that events that have large fish have a problem on social media. I am not blaming them personally.

I love all types of fishing events but there is a reality and it needs to be tackled. I do think we collectively need a positive strategy that ensures events are well run and responsible and so long as they are defended and the good work they do promoted to the wider community.

On the positive side, the level of innovation is on the rise and my picks for the top events are the ones who are trying new things and attracting a growing audience. One of the most positive changes I am seeing is a focus on business models and delivering value to participants and that goes beyond the prizes. In the long run I believe events that offer an experience will be best placed to attract those second tier anglers who provide the financial base that competitions need. Not everyone is after the same thing in a fishing competition and with a limited population of fishers, focusing just on the best anglers is a recipe for trouble.

TOP FIVE

last event. The events are sufficiently challenging to attract the high-end fishers, although they have confessed more than once to me that they are there for the fun and to get away from the antics that happen in the more professionalised circuit. In terms of the complete package – serious fishing, serious fun and knowing your audience – I think any event would do well to learn from Matt and Andrew.

Matt and Andrew do everything right, which means they are in demand to run more events – more than they can realistically do. Fishing Freshwater have found that perfect balance between competition and social that allows everyone to have get something from the event even if they aren’t finding the fish. Every event was fully booked last year it will be the same next year. If I have a complaint it’s that I don’t get the break time I used to because the fishing was a lot slower a year ago.

2: LUREMASTERS

I was warned that the luremasters event would be full on and they delivered in spades. Luremasters is run in the Auckland Bay area, but technically it extends to the whole north island, so long as you can get back to the weigh-in. The initial single day event was supplemented with two monthly events and across the three events 1900 fish were recorded with snapper up to 83cm to the fork in all three events. Target species are mostly snapper, king and kahawai though with the most species format we had catches reported from as far away as Fiji. Luremasters has a huge and loyal following of fanatical kiwis and they know how to have a good time. At the same time they are super serious about their fishing.

Dan and Wayne are the most approachable guys you will ever meet and they use social media in a really creative way to have direct ‘conversations’ with their competitors. They livestream regularly and every time they want to make an adjustment to their format they put it out to the wider world on the livestream, conduct polls and get comments to get direct input. This ‘direct’ relationship with what is over 500 fishers enables them to road test concepts before they put them into action and deliver exactly what there competitors want. This avoids one of the key pitfalls I have seen with events in Australia where the best fishers get the say on how things should happen. Luremasters has the similar high-energy approach of Dean’s SCF events, a similar amount of citizen science data, a great after party and a fanatical following.

I expect them to top the list in 2020.

3: DAIWA NZ KOHGA COMPETITION

1: FISHING FRESHWATER

I am going to regret this, as Matt Mott will never let me forget it, but the best this year I have been involved with is the Fishing Freshwater crew. For an event series that prides itself on its rough nature, the series ticks every box there is in terms of innovation and focus on audience. First, they don’t do sponsors – they pay for all their prizes outright. Second they work direct with councils to put on the events, including fun days, fireworks and more where needed. Every event has a band and like at Rainbow Beach, when the fishing is done, the festivities begin.

Matt takes his whole Smak Lures store with him to each event, which means if you don’t have something that’s working you can always duck back to camp and get something that will.

The series attracts fishers of all abilities. Success is shared with no secrets on what is working and a focus on helping everyone catch fish. As a result, across the year the group collectively doubled their output, then doubled it again in the 84

JANUARY 2020

This is an event that would go to number one in terms of pure innovation. We have been working with Daiwa NZ for over a year and they are now the largest single group in the Track My Fish family. A little while ago they contacted me to look at a multistore competitive format, it’s not the first time that’s been done but it’s the first time that’s been done on that scale and it demonstrated that even in a format like this tactics are everything. Right out of the gate Top Catch Whangaparaoa jumped to first place and for the whole three months the event was run they were leading right up to the end.

While the event was a little slow out of the blocks the weekly biggest snapper kept everyone in the hunt ensuring that while fishers didn’t have a crack every weekend they did take the chance to get in on the action. In the end stores needed a best three of over 2m to make it into the top 10. Daiwa spread the action with the weekly snapper, most species, biggest snapper, kahawai and yellowtail king as well as the best store overall. All up 30 stores took part and I think it’s the template for trade level events into the future.

4: RAINBOW BEACH FAMILY FISHING CLASSIC

Rainbow Beach Family Fishing Classic is probably the last event I would expect to make it on my list because it’s as old school as they come. This is the traditional weigh in personified and seven plus days of it at that. That said, they know how to put on a party for the community and they are pushing the envelope in a different way. Home base is at the local sports club and the weigh in itself is conducted over a couple of hours and projected onto a big screen.

With lots of music, food and beverages on offer the whole community turns out giving the event an authentic festive vibe. The idea of a seven day fishing party seems something from a bygone era but given the event is run by a very savvy 21-year-old woman who has fishing in her blood, the future is looking bright.

While I think that the traditional weigh in format has had its day, the fish all end up on the dinner table and the event enjoys a lot of community support. During the event there are specific days for ladies and veterans and there are a number of multigenerational families that provide their own personal competitions. This event demonstrates why the values of the local community are king. Others may see it differently but you won’t win people over by bashing them and on what I saw they were responsible and having a good time. Beyond the festivities they have a photo only event, which had hundreds of entries and some serious professional photography that captured the essence of fishing, and the fishing generations of Rainbow Beach. All up, who doesn’t love a party and when you are celebrating fishing what better excuse do you need to grab a beer and kick back.

5: SCF AUSTRALIA/KING OF KINGS

SCF was my pick for last year and given that Dean has gone bigger and better this year, it would be easy to put him first again. Given that he’s done all the work himself it’s a credit to him that he has managed to put together the best citizen science model going and given the Game Fishing Tagging program and Suntag have a long track record that is saying something. I am not demeaning them in any way, nor underselling the good work they are doing, both are the elite when it comes to citizen science. The difference with Dean is while traditional programs attract the best fishers, Dean has been successful in taking citizen science to the masses with the second largest group in the Track My Fish family and only one of two with over a thousand participants.

To be fair, Dean is not a rocket scientist when it comes to the citizen science, but when it comes to marketing, Dean knows how to generate the kind of energy that gets people out fishing. SCF was recognised by Advance Queensland as the only fishing-based citizen science organisation to receive funding from the department responsible for science as opposed to fisheries activities and I think that is a real feather in his cap. His 750 fish reported in 2018 has been more than doubled to 1900 and it’s the multispecies format for his events that is the key to his success. By providing 20+ chances to take home $500 he attracts the widest possible audience, the best fishers eye off doubling or tripling their winnings while the bread and butter species allow families to have a crack. In the end fun comes first, and the serious science is tucked away to the back. I think that is the right way to do it, there will always be a lot more people interested in a good time fishing than ever will be interested in citizen science. Allowing participants to do both effortlessly is winning at all levels.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

WRAP UP

YAKHUNTERS

Yakhunters is the only ‘kayak’ only group on our list and I expect will roar into the top 5 next year. They are also the only group we deal with covers all states.

They were relatively recent additions to the Track My Fish family, joining us mid-year but they made up for it with their events running across multiple locations simultaneously. As a kayak agnostic group they are the main alternative to the Hobie series where the shared love of kayak fishing is enough to get you going. Even though they were late starters Yakhunters is now the third largest of our repeating groups and I expect them to be double their size this time next year.

Yakhunters understand that kayaks and camping go hand in hand thus they offer the opportunity for their growing tribe to get away from it all and bond over beers.

There are a lot of under 25s in there but some are older anglers as well and I think that mix of ages is important to the vitality of the group. Some older wiser heads temper the more extreme impulses of the younger members, while the energy the younger members have pushed the older fishers to lift their game. As a result the mix of getting away from the grind, beer and some serious but goodnatured competition is a formula that is offering a real point of difference to the mainstream events.

The Yakhunters team have something big in the works for next year, probably the most daring innovation I have seen on my travels and while I can’t say more, watch this space, I think these kayakers will be global in a couple of years time.

COBRAM BAROOGA ANGLERS

Cobram Barooga Anglers contacted me last year and we have followed their development throughout the year, including me getting down there for a comp during the winter.

On paper the club seems similar to the traditional clubs but they too have a similar model to Yakhunters with a limited number of events where everyone gets away from it all and camp in communal groups. With a growing membership that numbers over 200 and only in its second year they are doing something right.

I actually lived and worked in Cobram in my late teens and in returning the region, like many rural towns it has had some ups but a lot more downs. That natural cycle of adversity breeds self-reliant people and I think there is a ‘community solidarity’ element that is key to their success.

That said, they know their community well and a stressed community doesn’t need high-octane experiences so much as a chance to get away from it all and forget the troubles of the world. Like Yakhunters there are a lot of younger members, but in this case more families and out of six events there are a good three to four chances for some quality time on and off the water. As with most events a couple of good fishers dominate, but the attraction isn’t the winning, it’s the time away with family and friends sharing a passion and a beer or two.

Image courtesy of Cobram Barooga Anglers Facebook.

Maybe next year I will find something more technical to grade events on, but I really believe the secret to success for majority of events is fun no matter how serious the fishing is. I have had a lot of conversations this year that go along the lines of “I stopped going to X event because it became too serious”. The Australian market is just not big enough to knock back paying clients. Not everyone can be a winner, but everyone can have a good time and the more you do as a host to bring the fun – and it can be your own special brand of fun, the greater the chance that next year you will be knocking back participants.

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Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATION & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE

Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636 CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

Allfly Outfitters – 0428 615 885 Alvey - www.alvey.com.au Bait Tackle Store - www.baittacklestore.com Barambah Lures - www.barambahlures.com Bayside Bait & Tackle – 07 3820 9757

MARINE MECHANICS

C & Horsey Lures - 07 3275 1881 Chilton Tackle Co - http://www.chiltontackleco.com.au/ Coomera Bait & Tackle - www.coomerahouseboats.com.au Crab’n Gear - www.crabngear.com.au

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Gem Bait & Tackle - 07 3287 3868 Halco - www.halcotackle.com

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

Hillies Lures – www.hilliesspinnersandlures.com Hot Bite Fishing – 0427335343 JML - www.jmlaa.com Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au Nomad Design Tackle – www.nomaddesigntackle.com Tackle Club - www.tackleclub.com.au Southern Cross Lures – 0428 667 550

NORTH QUEENSLAND

Sportys Fishing - www.sportyswarehouse.com.au Wilson Fishing - www.wilsonfishing.com

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

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

GOLD COAST T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

Fisho’s Tackle World - www.fishostackleworld.com.au

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS

Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911

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HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557

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Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230

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

Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

Bottlecreek Farm Accommodation ENQUIRIES : STACEY AT REMAX ON [04 3887 7403] OR STACEY@REMAX.COM.AU

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BOAT MODIFICATION & REPAIRS

FIBREGLASS Repairs

Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883

Excellent fishing and crabbing

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

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1.3km River Frontage Boat Ramp

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MACKAY BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658

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

FRESHWATER Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

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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JANUARY 2020

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory CHARTER BOATS

NORTHERN NSW

N O W AVA IL A B L E

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835

GOLD COAST

Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

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Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726

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22 85

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

BRISBANE Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

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• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req.

• Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

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MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956

• Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au

Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958

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SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814

Clocks $

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Incredible Charters 1300 655 818 Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151

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Throw Pillows

Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

Jump onto our website and place your order today!

20 3 3

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND (Cont.)

Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217

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

Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

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

wp.fishingmonthly.com.au

Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382 Roko Island Fishing Charters 0488 074 593

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0834 or email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au JANUARY 2020

87

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS GREAT BARRIER REEF SPECIES

ANGELFISH BUTTERFLYFISH CARDINALFISH CLOWNFISH DAMSELFISH GROUPER POTATO COD PARROTFISH HAMMERHEAD SURGEONFISH

DTD - REAL FISH OITA

TRIGGERFISH MAORI WRASSE RED BASS WHALE SHARK CORAL TROUT STOUT MORAY BLUE SEA SLUG MINKE WHALES GREEN SEA TURTLE

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: QLD Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

QLD JANUARY 2020

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The ‘Real Fish Oita’ is an incredible, award winning squid jig manufactured in Europe by leading Croatian company - DTD. Taking out the coveted ‘best new product’ in its class at the EFTTEX 2015 Expo in Warsaw, this wonderful range is now available in Australia through Dogtooth Distribution.

The product imitates real fish species. This coupled with DTD’s use of only the highest grade materials available, ensures great balance and results in superior catching ability. With the unique ‘fish parasite’ feature, aimed at luring predators in for an ‘easy kill’, these truly unique jigs are set to explode into the Australian market.

FEATURES - Double weight system with inner weight designed to produce sound while squid jig is in action.

COLOURS - 7 different designs representing popular fish species.

ADDITIONAL - Luminous body, fish parasite, great balance, sound effect, quality stainless steel hooks SIZES - 5 Sizes available www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Dylan Starr, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for November is N Boulton of Marsden, who won a Fishing Monthly Subscriber prize pack.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

P Moody of Kingston, S Dawson of Gympie, D Buxton of Kippa-Ring, T Sharp of Wodonga, D Johnson of Woodgate, W Robinson of Raceview, J Boneham of Eight Mile Plains, D Gates of Strathpine, B Verhoeven of Redbank, E Dillmann of Southbrook, P Mader of Aitkenvale, A Scott of Proserpine, B Rosenthal of Thornlands, S Theofanes of Home Hill, T Sugaya of Currumbin, K Cook of Bli Bli, D McClurg

of Boondall, Z Steinhardt of Tivoli, K Bennett of Doonan, G Mason of Kalkie, J Kelly of Deception Bay, S Davies of Emerald, A Stoffels of Yarrabilba, L Pirlo of Modanville, P Cauchi of Kepnock, R Brown of Edmonton, C Rowe of Loganholme, A Hall of Lucinda, G Stephan of Aratula, J Dawson of Cordalba.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.

– QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE ZMAN LOGO

88

JANUARY 2020

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Gummy Shark

The answers to Find the ZMan Logo for November were: 10, 14, 26, 29, 32, 36, 46, 48, 52, 57, 66, 69, 84, 90, 94. – QFM The Find the ZMan Logo prize winners for November were: D Harrison of Millbank, M Gillett of Boonah, R Elworthy of North Bundaberg, K Edwards of East Innisfail, R Davis of Sarina, T Gretton of Springsure, G Watter of Ripley, T Gyte of Aspley, J White of Aspley, D Parker of Branyan,

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 90 Summer fun in the yak Inside story...

Stessco is an Australian owned and operated family business. With a love of fishing and boating, Stessco has built a wide-ranging network of dealerships, with the goal of providing customers with dependable, value-for-money aluminium boats. Stessco prides itself on the wide variety of options available which can be added to the already wide range of different vessels.

Troy Brown recounts some recent forays in his kayak and provides tips for finding some of your own summer fun!

92 Kayak kit-out

Justin Willmer looks at kayak kit-out options in time for the best time of year to be out on the water!

94 More on propellers

Made for...

Wayne Kampe takes a more in-depth look at propellers and the pros and cons of different materials.

This month...

98 Whittley SL22 HT with Yamaha F150hp

Anglers who are after a reliable tinny that can be customised to suit their individual requirements and fishing style.

QFM’s Bob Thornton climbs into the new Stessco Albacore 620 powered by Yamaha’s F200hp. Check it out on page 96!

Editor Steve Morgan tests out this magnificant fishing machine in some beautiful conditions.

JANUARY 2020

89

Kayaking for jacks but leaving with donuts BRISBANE

Troy Brown

The transition from the cooler months is now complete, so kayak anglers are chasing the dominant summer species, such as mangrove jack. Catches of these great fish are

usual, with some solid fish boated. The kayak didn’t have a sounder fitted, so finding large schools of fish in open areas was near impossible.

Nevertheless, I still managed to catch some excellent bass by simply trolling deep-diving hardbodied lures in open areas of the dam. When a school was located with the trolling

Flathead like this specimen have been hard to find recently. appearing in good numbers, but they certainly seem to be less prolific than in recent years.

The lack of substantial rain over our systems has to be part of the reason, as it cannot be a coincidence that low storm activity has been accompanied by deteriorating catch rates.

My goal for the month was to highlight Tallebudgera Creek as a mangrove jack hotspot. I am a relative newcomer to mangrove jack fishing as the bulk of my experience is with estuary species, such as bream, trevally and flathead. As an ‘all rounder’ rather than a specialist fisher, I rarely struggle to catch fish but the past couple of weeks have severely damaged my confidence. Chasing jacks in Tallebudgera has shown that a one-eyed determination is sometimes not enough.

Thankfully, North Pine Dam was true to form and resulted in a good day’s fishing.

NORTH PINE DAM Beginning at North Pine Dam, I launched at Forgan Cove with local Lee Major.

North Pine delivered as

lure, I switched to casting a paddle-tail soft plastic rigged with a simple jig spinner attachment.

Matt Graham with his first Tallebudgera Creek jack, captured on a ZMan Trick SwimZ in pearl glimmer.

The fishing at the dam has certainly slowed a little since it was first opened to paddle craft, but the opportunities are still incredible. Some exceptional bass and yellowbelly have been caught around the dam, with countless lure types responsible for solid catches. Spoons still

Greg Matthews managed this 51cm red dog while casting at a snag. The fish followed the soft plastic from the snag, paused and then engulfed it near the kayak.

90

JANUARY 2020

seem to be the dominant lure, but don’t be afraid to mix up your offering with a variety of hardbodies and soft plastics, as discovering new ways to catch these fish is incredible fun.

TALLEBUDGERA CREEK I feel like a fraud even writing about this frustrating waterway. My greatest annoyance is that because I have fished the creek from my boat, I know this waterway can produce some great fish.

I have great memories of fishing from the shoreline near the tourist park with my late father, plus expeditions further into the system. Those fishing days were typically very productive, with even the shore-based fishing producing some extraordinary catches.

Bream, whiting, trevally and flathead were easy targets.

My first kayaking foray to Tallebudgera Creek was from Murlong Park, which is a popular location for water sports and day-trippers.

Joined by fellow kayakers Ray Hawes and Michael

Sweeney, I was expecting a good day on a creek I knew held some quality fish. My fishing companions got onto some early fish, but I was rigged heavy in preparation for a jack and happy to let the smaller fish pass me by.

The nearby rock walls and pontoons seemed perfect structure for mangrove jack, so I anticipated at least one or two of these fish to come aboard my kayak.

My first indication that it was going to be a tough day should have come from the Fishing Calendar app on my phone. The modern day equivalent of the Anglers Almanac, this app uses the lunar cycles to predict the likelihood of catches on any particular day for your location. On all of the days I had available to fish for the month, the prediction was awful. The predictor can be wrong, but I have found that it does typically mirror the mood of the fish, even if it is only one piece of the puzzle. When you add the

Tim Donselaar shows an example of the effectiveness of the ZMan Trick SwimZ on Tallebudgera jacks.

This fish was caught with the green lantern colour. effects of lower than average rainfall, different tidal flows and weather conditions, the impact on fishing can be quite pronounced. Heavy summer storms will help revive these systems, providing a muchneeded flush and switching on the aggression of the local jacks.

After countless casts, barely any fish on my sounder and increasing frustration, I was becoming concerned that a Tallebudgera donut was looming. I thought my fortunes might change, as I saw big fish arches in a deeper section of water near a bridge.

As I had no vibes or blades rigged, I figured trolling a hardbody lure would be my next best option. Quickly turning the kayak to make a run at the spot I estimated the fish to be lurking, I cast out the only lure I had rigged – an RMG Poltergeist still attached from the previous

When the fishing is tough, any fish will do! many foul words, I was left both exhilarated in identifying what I thought may be a big jewfish and upset because of my own stupidity. That one moment basically summed up my day, as later I watched a mangrove jack dart from under a pontoon to smash my soft plastic, only to miss the

Michael Sweeney managed this flathead in the very busy waterway near Murlong Park. week of bass fishing.

In what started as a rush of pure excitement, my rod bent over and the line started stripping at incredible speed from my reel. It was at that moment that I realised I had tightened the drag down on my reel while hosing off saltwater, but obviously had failed to loosen the drag afterwards.

Just as I realised my mistake, the fish made a huge surge and snapped my leader. After

territory. I arrived armed with my jack arsenal of paddletail soft plastics and a variety of hardbodied lures. Once again, I spent the day casting fruitlessly at every snag, rock wall and pontoon I could find.

Skip casting plastics under snags, running lures beside pontoons and along the edges of rocky structure produced no fish, despite trying low, mid and deepwater tactics.

Various retrieve speeds and different combinations of slow rolling, hops and pauses failed to entice a strike.

By the day’s end, my frustration was verging on the point of downright anger, as I have not seen many places that should fish better than this location. The structure

hook by mere millimetres.

With a never-say-die attitude, I decided to have another shot at the Tallebudgera jacks. The launch site for this expedition was the Creekside Park on 19th Avenue Elanora, which placed us close to prime jack territory. This is an ideal place for launching kayaks, as boat traffic is minimal and the riverbank offers convenient access to some prime mangrove jack

is seemingly made for mangrove jack and I know it has produced some excellent fish. Nevertheless, the rare poor days are what make the majority of trips feel great, as the occasional failure is needed to remind us that this sport does require skill and determination. If you cannot handle the failures, you will never be able to enjoy the successes.

SUMMER FUN Frustrated by poor catch rates, driven to distraction by strong winds and dreaming of higher rainfall, the past weeks have been tough. While lower than average summer rainfall is predicted, we can still be hopeful of frequent downpours to help flush our waterways, while the changing barometer should excite the brawling mangrove jack. If not, I’ll be heading back to the freshwater impoundments, as although summer bass can be more difficult to entice, they certainly seem less fickle than the saltwater species.

The best part of fishing from a kayak is the opportunities it offers the angler. While long trips into the middle of the bay are not practical, kayaks can access many areas that are not navigable in a boat.

When times are tough, use this advantage to explore deeper into areas where the boats cannot go, as this is your one true advantage against other forms of fishing.

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91

Kitting out for kayak fishing BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Summer is a time when many anglers buy their first kayak. Kayak fishing is a great sport because it’s inexpensive, you can launch anywhere, keep it as simple as you like, and catch some quality fish. Some of my biggest fish have come from my smallest and most basic kayak.

Over the coming months I have a few adventure articles planned, however I will also be getting down to the nuts and bolts of kayak fit-out in more detail, including installing a sounder to my small kayak, along with fitting out rod holders and lights, and looking into more detail on kayak storage and transportation. To kick things off though, let’s take a look at the gear that I carry in my small and large kayaks. Hopefully this will assist you in selecting items to make your adventures safer and more comfortable, and ultimately help you catch more fish. Yaks on!

1. LIFEJACKET The first on any list would be a PFD (personal flotation device) or lifejacket. Ensure you have a quality, comfortable and well-fitted PFD and, more importantly, wear it! I am a capable swimmer, but I still wear one. For years I have worn an inflatable PFD for

The author prefers not to use flushmounted rod holders, as they keep the reels close to the water. These combos are safely stored at the front of the kayak. paddling. It also lets you focus on the fishing, rather than your sore butt!

3. PADDLE If you’re purchasing a package there may be an opportunity to upgrade the paddle, and it’s probably worth doing. Alternatively, if you already have a kayak with a cheaper paddle, and you’re enjoying kayak fishing, you can look at upgrading your paddle down the track.

Cheap paddles often have alloy shafts, which can be heavy and transfer cold through your hands, while a fibreglass shaft is lighter and more comfortable. Cheap paddles often also have basic plastic blades that are less efficient due to their shape, and power is lost when the blades

An accessory float is ideal for keeping landing nets and other accessories from sinking. freedom of movement and comfort. However with the development in the design of foam-filled PFDs, including mesh backs, better distribution of bulk, lighter and more compact materials, quality zips and accessory pockets, I will be looking to change up to these. When it comes to safety, they are the ultimate.

2. SEAT I still see kayak anglers out paddling and fishing without a quality, well-padded and supportive seat… or a seat at all! A quality seat allows you to be more comfortable, spend more time on the water, have more support and power when 92

JANUARY 2020

flex. Fibreglass-infused plastic blades, along with some of the more techy plastics, are much more durable and rigid.

Carbon fibre is another option and one that is often preferred by ocean paddlers looking for the ultimate in rigidity and weight savings when covering distance.

However for the river, estuary and impoundment paddler who is battling rocks, logs and other structure, the price and fragility of carbon fibre is probably not desirable.

4. WATER I always carry more water than I think I’ll need. I carry it in a vacuum-sealed flask so

that even when it’s warm in the sun, the water inside the bottle is still cool and can keep me cool and refreshed, even when I’m covered head-to-toe in sun protection clothing. It’s much better than a single-use

sun angle. A decent pair of polarised sunglasses will allow you to fish longer and make your sessions more enjoyable, and often more productive.

When I want a photo without them, I push them up on my head, with the head sock securing them, or push them onto my leg.

Other anglers prefer to use retaining leashes or clips to secure their sunglasses. The important thing is to have a plan, otherwise you will be looking for them, hear a splash and then watch them sink! On extended adventures I carry a spare pair in a dry bag inside the hull of my kayak, along with the first-aid kit and other bits and pieces.

7. TROLLEY A trolley is a handy accessory, allowing you to set up the kayak and wheel it to and from the water ready to go, rather than carrying the kayak to the water and then carting

Everything within reach, including sounder, tools, rod storage and icebox.

I now have complete piece of mind that no components of the trolley can separate and end up in the water, with the trolley also attached by bungee cord.

My larger kayak has a specifically designed trolley to suit it, however even this trolley has been retrofitted with C-Tug wheels.

8. LANDING NET A landing net makes landing and handling fish simpler and safer. As kayak fishing has grown in popularity, the range of ‘kayak’ nets has increased, and there are now several quality options for anglers. I prefer a shorthandled net, which I stow in a rear, flush-mount rod holder

The layout of the author’s large kayak. plastic bottle. I add a few ice cubes to the bottle too, as it helps to keep me going in warm weather.

In the big yak my water bottle sits behind my seat or tucked under the front of the seat, while in the small yak it rests in the bottle holder between my legs.

5. SUNSCREEN/SUN PROTECTION Don’t forget the sunscreen, and don’t forget to put it on your legs if you’re wearing shorts! I always apply sunscreen before I venture out fishing, and I reapply throughout the day, keeping the sunscreen handy. In my large yak, I store the sunscreen in the mesh side pocket, and in the small yak I keep it tucked in behind my seat or stowed in my tackle dry bag.

Sun protection clothing is a big part of kayak fishing, and there are many options to cover you head to toe, while keeping you warm, cool or dry.

6. SUNGLASSES Sunglasses aren’t just for protecting your eyes from the sun; sunnies also protect your eyes from branches, flying lures and other objects, while cutting glare and increasing your chances of spotting fish.

In a kayak we are often low to the water, making it more difficult to see what is in the water, due to glare and

gear back and forth. The C-Tug trolley is a standout for me, with its durable, corrosionresistant materials, wheels that don’t require inflation, and the ability to dismantle it and stow it inside your hatch.

I carry a bungee strap (occy strap) to secure the trolley to the rear of my smaller kayak while fishing.

When I secure the trolley on the back of the kayak I also take the strap that’s designed to hold the kayak on the trolley, and I feed this through each wheel and the two top sections of the trolley, then do the strap up.

on my small yak or beside the seat in my large yak, both within easy reach. If you’re using a short handled net, remember to leave enough line out of the end of the rod to guide a fish in.

Some anglers prefer long-handled nets, however I find that when stowed in a rear flush-mount rod holder they can be in the way when casting, and they also act as a sail in windy conditions.

Rubber net material is ideal because hooks and lures rarely tangle in this material.

It’s also less likely to snag on other items in the kayak, it

passes through the water easily and protects the slime coat on the fish.

In the past I leashed the net to the kayak, but when landing and handling fish the leash tangled with rods, lines, other leashes. Moreover, leashing a net to your kayak creates a potential tangling risk for the angler should anything go wrong and you end up in the water. Instead, I now attach an accessory float that will save the net should it be dropped into the water, while allowing much more freedom of movement with the net, and minimal tangling.

The big rig fitted with everything within easy reach.

9. LIP GRIPS Lip grips make it safer and easier to handle fish for photos, release and transfer to the icebox. My lip grips are leashed to the kayak on a retractable leash that is long enough to reach comfortably to the water on either side of the kayak. Better quality lip grips are especially important when handling larger fish that can twist and open cheap grips.

These are another accessory worth spending more money on if you plan on doing a lot of kayak fishing.

10. PLIERS I often don’t carry pliers when fishing soft plastics as I am dealing with a single hook that makes handling and removal simple. As soon as treble hooks are involved though, I carry pliers. It’s safety first when multiple hook points are flying around attached to an angry fish. A net, lip grips and pliers should see you avoiding those trebles.

I keep my pliers leashed

An anchor and running rig or anchor trolley can make fishing easier in the wind and current.

13. RULER Don’t forget your local rules and regulations in terms of size and bag limits, along with a ruler to measure your catch, be it for keeping track of PBs or keeping a fish for a feed.

Some anglers prefer a roll-up mat style of measuring device, which can be stowed

foreign odours, such as fuel and sunscreen. I like to apply scent every 30 or so casts and after catching a fish, which means I need to keep the tube handy. In my larger kayak I stow the scent within easy reach in a mesh side pocket or in the accessory tray in front of me, while in the smaller kayak I stow it

in the drink holder, tucked in the space under my legs or in one of the many pockets of my long fishing pants.

15. ROD HOLDERS In my smaller kayak I have two rear flush-mount rod holders and another two in front of me. However, on the whole I’m not a fan of flush-mount rod holders as I believe your reels are too close to the water. I have also seen a few rod combos lifted out of the rear ones with the paddle, and lost while paddling the kayak. If you want to use flush-mount rod holders, I recommend keeping an eye on how wet the reels are getting, while also attaching leashes to the combos.

In my smaller kayak I lay my two rod combos in front of me, and in my larger kayak I have created and attached a 4-rod holder unit using Railblaza mounts and accessories. Railblaza adjustable rod holders allow you to slide a lock around

I use a Deeper mobile sounder that clamps onto the kayak and connects to my mobile phone as a head unit (screen).

There are plenty of videos and articles out there about mounting sounders, and I will also be mounting a sounder to the small kayak in a future issue, outlining options such as in-hull transducer and external mounting options.

On the smaller kayak I generally drift or anchor in the shallows, and have the anchor tied to the front handle, with a short second rope tied with a loop around the main anchor rope and then back to a side handle. I can simply pull on this rope to bring the anchor rope back to me and then retrieve the anchor.

19. ANCHORING An anchoring device can be a good option for holding

The C-Tug trolley makes for an easy trip to and from the water. It can be strapped on the back or dismantled and stowed in a hatch.

17. ICEBOX Regardless of the size of my kayak, I always attach an icebox, using the rear well and bungee or tie-down straps to secure it in place.

An icebox allows you to take a feed and cold drinks out, or bring a feed home in the best condition. I either use a zip-lock bag containing a couple of ice bricks or a couple of frozen bottles of water to keep things cool, washing and reusing the

The layout of the author’s small kayak. to an attachment point or attach an accessory float.

11. SNIPS/SCISSORS Don’t forget your scissors or snips for rigging. I carry a Boomerang Tool Retractable Line Snip as I can attach this with my lip grips and it has its own retractable cord. If you have a drink bottle holder on your kayak, this may be your go-to place for storing snips and other bits and pieces.

12. DRY BAG OF TACKLE Over the years I have stowed my tackle trays, tackle and plastics in a variety of different storage devices, however in recent times I have found a dry bag to be the simplest. I load in a couple of small tackle trays, a dozen packets of plastics, leader and other accessories, and roll the top closed, leaving enough air to float it should it end up in the water. You can tuck a dry bag behind the seat, in the rear well, under some bungee, use its locking clips to clip it somewhere, or pretty much stow it anywhere out of the way. I use a Sea 2 Summit dry bag as they are quality, keep the gear dry and they are white inside, which makes it much easier to find what you’re after, including a particular colour soft plastic.

when not required, and rolled out and dampened prior to use, to protect the slime coat on the fish. I prefer a plastic ruler as it is less prone to being blown around in the wind. I use either a 40cm model, which covers me for a flathead’s minimum size in QLD, or a folding version if I’m after more length. This ruler is either leashed to the kayak or has an accessory float attached so that it floats if lost overboard.

14. SCENT I am a big believer in applying scent to my lures to attract fish and trigger strikes, while also masking

A portable sounder, like those from Deeper, is a good option for smaller kayaks.

The little yak rigged and ready. to secure the combo in the holder.

In the future I will be fitting out my smaller kayak with rod holders, and will write an article on the process.

16. SOUNDER As you explore deeper water your sounder will become your eyes under the water, assisting you in locating depth, structure, bait and fish. On my larger kayak I have a sounder and transducer mounted using Railblaza mounts and accessories. On the smaller kayak, if I require a sounder,

water bottles to minimise my impact on the environment.

18. ANCHOR RUNNING RIG I have an anchor running rig fitted on the larger kayak.

It consists of a pulley on the front and rear of the kayak, with a loop of cord running between them and then a tag line running off this loop to which the anchor line is attached. This allows me to easily slide the anchoring point from the front to the rear of the kayak, or anywhere in between to control the drift or anchoring angle, when it is safe to do so.

position, especially if the wind is blowing or there is a bit of current. A safety note when anchoring: be careful not to get side-on too much in wind or current when your anchor grabs. Also, when retrieving an anchor, be prepared for it to suddenly release from the bottom.

Anchoring options include an anchor, grab anchor, stakeout pole, sea anchor (drogue/drift chute) and more. You will find articles and videos on each of these options, and we will look at breaking them down in more detail in a future article. I generally carry a Cooper poly anchor, as it is lightweight (weighted in the point), plastic and grabs well in the bottom that I generally fish, which is weed, mud and sand. If you’re offshore or in heavy current, a length of chain and reef anchor are a good alternative.

Other aspects to consider when getting into kayak include visibility, such as a brightly coloured kayak, flag, paddle, icebox or clothing, along with lighting if you’re paddling in darkness. Basic survival equipment and a first aid kit are other items that I also often include in my kit, depending on the adventure.

After 35 years of fishing from a kayak, this is the setup that I have found to be the safest, most comfortable and most productive. I’m sure that over time this will evolve further, however for now I hope this has inspired you to consider how your kayak is kitted out next time you are out fishing, or maybe add an extra piece of gear or two that improves your experience.

See you on the water.

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A layman’s look at propellers PART II BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

As we discussed in last month’s issue, there’s far more to buying a prop than just putting one on and seeing how the boat performs.

THREE BLADES OR FOUR? The proliferation of 4-stroke engines has affected propeller design.

These engines need to run at very specific RPMs for maximum longevity, which means that propellers are now pitched in far smaller increments than they used to be. This caters for the

the additional bite created by the extra blade. This is an important factor to be considered when pulling very hard from start up, as is the norm with tow sports or when the engine is fitted to a larger craft with extra weight around the transom area.

Interestingly, a 4-blade unit can often run faster,

as a 3-blade prop, so if you switch from a 3-blade to a 4-blade you might see the pitch decrease by 1-2”.

This will ensure that the engine’s rpm remains in the correct operating range.

In some instances a poorly handling craft will improve markedly if you switch to a 4-blade prop, but for most of our lightweight fishing rigs and runabouts, a 3-blade propeller is the go.

STAINLESS STEEL OR ALLOY Now comes the controversial question: stainless steel vs alloy.

Both materials have their own advantages and disadvantages. In years past, alloy was able to be tweaked into more complex shapes than stainless

Three-blade alloy props are cheap and versatile. This old stager has done some work but still does the job. formed into some pretty dynamic shapes to get that bit more performance from a given size (by cupping

The right propeller on the right rig is an awesome combination.

Last month we looked at diameter (the overall size of the blade as measured tip to tip), as well as pitch (the theoretical distance the propeller will move the

need to adequately match the 4-stroke engine’s torque curve.

This also raises the question of whether a 3-blade or 4-blade prop is

and more economically, at mid-range rpm than a 3-blade prop! This is significant because many anglers prefer to run their rigs at mid-range revs in the pursuit of economy, especially if they are travelling long distances.

It’s often the case, too, that a 4-blade prop might keep a larger, heavier boat planing at less speed and RPM than a 3-blade counterpart.

A 4-blade prop will often have a smaller diameter for the same pitch

Although not as common as 3-blade propellers, a 4-blade prop can make a big difference to some boats. steel. However, modern manufacturing techniques have largely overcome this alloy advantage.

Alloy props are cheaper and available for virtually every boating situation these days, and can be

the tips of the blades, for instance). However, the material is not so capable of withstanding bumps and knocks. A boat that is going to be used frequently around hard or shallow ground, or in stump-

Sheer strength is the strong point with stainless propellers. Look at the thickness of those blades! boat with one revolution).

The ideal propeller has the correct diameter, plus a pitch that will keep the engine in its most favourable operating range while maintaining a chosen speed. The engine should be running at factory-specified RPMs at full throttle, not overw or under-revving.

While it’s true that blade area gets the boat going, it’s pitch that gives the desired momentum.

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the best one for a given task.

Generally, 3-blade props are more common because they are available in more size ranges and cost less than 4-blade models. They also frequently provide a higher top speed, but let’s not write off the 4-blade prop just yet; 4-blade props usually provide more thrust and very smooth cruising performance. Also, 4-blade propellers can provide more lift at the stern because of

As the water levels go down, the stumps and submerged obstacles come up! The best plan to avoid damage to props and/or gear boxes is to keep the speed down.

riddled impoundments, will likely not have an alloy prop stay in shape as readily as a stainless one with its thicker, stronger blades. It doesn’t take much of a ding to deform an alloy prop, and I speak with some experience here!

Stainless steel is far more able to withstand a few dings or nicks without malformation.

That said, if a boat running a stainless prop happens to collide with a rock or big stump at higher engine revs, the prop might well survive the impact but shortly afterwards the gear box might start making noises that cost a lot of money to eliminate.

Repairs can cost far more than replacement of a prop.

Luckily, many propeller manufacturers these days incorporate a very strong splined rubber bush in the prop’s hub to safeguard the gearbox by shock absorption of any impact on the blades, as the boat is put into or out of gear, or from an impact.

An alternative is just to swing an alloy prop and keep a spare on board. Alloy props can cost around half as a much as stainless ones, which means you can keep a replacement alloy prop on board for emergencies.

The choice comes down to what your plans are for your new rig. Tell the dealer what you’ll mainly use the boat for, the expected performance and terrain.

This should result in the right propeller, as per the dealer’s judgement, on your rig from day one.

LOOK AFTER THAT PROP! Take care to respect the propeller at all times. Careful inspection is essential after any impact to avoid vibration or possible gear box damage at a later time. A damaged prop will also reduce performance considerably.

While minor scuffs or imperfections can be easily filed out of alloy, it’s much harder with stainless steel, and should be left to a professional.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING

PRODUCT GUIDE

FOULFREE TRANSDUCER COATING 1

SILENT TORQEEDO 1103

Propspeed has created a revolutionary foulrelease coating designed specifically for transducers: Foulfree.

Designed by industry-leading engineers and designated by Airmar as a certified transducer coating, Foulfree releases marine growth, reducing the maintenance needed to keep transducers clean and streamlining water flow.

Fouling on the face of transducers can reduce their sensitivity, bottom-echo returns and positive fish targets. Transducers also perform best with minimal turbulence over their surface during operation. Foulfree is a specialized foul-release coating that is biocide-free and does not poison marine growth. Once cured, Foulfree forms a super-slippery surface over the transducer, preventing marine growth from attaching to its surface. Offering a long service life – it lasts a minimum of 12 months. www.oceanmax.com

With its integrated lithium battery and its outstanding efficiency, the Torqeedo Travel is equivalent to a small petrol outboard.

The newest Travel model is the 1103, which features direct drive, making the motor almost completely silent.

The 1103 is completely waterproof (IP67), has an instant throttle response, and an on-board computer with GPS-based calculation of speed and remaining range. This information can also be accessed via your smartphone.

The Travel 1103 is virtually maintenance free and comes with a 915Wh battery for increased range. It can be recharged from normal household power, from your boat’s 12V battery, or from a foldable solar charger (sold separately), even while underway.

The overall weight is 13kg, and the motor can be easily disassembled into three parts (motor, battery and tiller).

To get a sense of just how quiet the 1103 is, search for ‘Fishing Monthly’ on YouTube to see our boat show video. www.powerequipment.com.au

RAILBLAZA RODRAK

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The Railblaza RodRak is an expandable fishing rod storage system for hanging your rods from any vertical or horizontal surface.

This kit will hold two fishing rods inside the gunwale, under the cabin roof, on the shed or garage walls, or any other place you can screw into. The hooks can be installed standalone, or joined together. If needed you can add a 4mm bungee cord (not supplied) as a retention band.

RodRaks are made from UV stabilised, fibreglass reinforced engineering plastics with stainless steel fasteners.

Features include: soft flexible inserts protect handle and tip, and allow fast and easy stow/ removal; rod handle size from 2.5-3.8cm diameter; stackable for multiple rods; suits vertical or horizontal surfaces; made from UV stabilised, fibreglass reinforced engineering polymers and stainless screws; fits all rod lengths; and available in white or black.

The kit comes with 2 x handle end hooks, 2 x tip end hooks, 4 x hook inserts and 8 x stainless steel screws.

Price: SRP approx. $35 www.railblaza.com

GARMIN GPSMAP 86I

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The Garmin GPSMAP 86i is a premium handheld that has wireless connectivity, making it a virtual extension of your onboard marine system.

The 86i is water resistant, floats and has a sunlight-readable 3” display. It lets you stream boat data from compatible chartplotters and instruments, and stay in touch with inReach satellite communication and two-way text messaging via the global Iridium satellite network (subscription required). It also functions as a remote control for Garmin autopilot and select Fusion products.

The 86i supports BlueChart g3 charts, and its adjustable GPS filter smooths speed and heading indications over swells. You can track and share your journey, and, if necessary, trigger an interactive SOS. You can also receive marine weather forecasts directly on your device.

A worldwide basemap is preloaded, and there’s the option to add BlueChart g3 coastal charts. You can also sync the 86i with the Garmin Explore portal and app.

GPSMAP 86i offers Wi-Fi connectivity, ANT+ and Bluetooth. Its internal, rechargeable lithium battery provides up to 35 hours of battery life in 10-minute tracking mode2. www.garmin.com

STANDARD HORIZON GX1400

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The GX1400 Marine VHF Transceiver is ultra compact, measuring just 156 x 61 x 100mm.

Its slim rear case allows for greater mounting flexibility in tight spaces.

Constructed with an advanced rugged diecast chassis, this 25W VHF radio has a host of features, including: meets Class D DSC (Digital Selective Calling); radio controls on the microphone; E2O Easy to Operate icon/menu system; oversized full dot matrix display (31mm x 55mm) with new brighter backlight for better contrast; built-in separate receiver for CH70 (receiving DSC calls); DSC test call and auto DSC channel change selection; GPS position and time shown on a full-dot matrix display when connected to a GPS receiver; NMEA in and output connections to a compatible GPS chart plotter; programmable soft keys; automatically poll the GPS position of up to six ships using DSC; submersible IPX8 waterproof rating (1.5m for 30 minutes); preset key used to recall up to 10 favourite channels; and programmable scan, priority scan, and dual watch.

Price: approx. SRP $295 www.standardhorizon.com

STABICRAFT 1850 FISHER

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Stabicraft’s new 1850 Fisher has more beam, more stability, more space, more bow access, more fuel capacity, and more choice in package configurations.

There are now multiple 1850 Fisher packages to suit different styles of boating. Each package has varying specifications and multiple options, allowing you to customise to your preference, whether fishing with the kids, or heading offshore with your mates.

The new 1850 Fisher range has EPAcompliant fuel tanks, which carry up to a huge 150L of fuel – more than its predecessor and one of the best in its size class. The biggest upgrade though is space. The new Wide Body hull gives boaters much more cabin and deck space plus more stability and on the water performance. It provides a safe and stable platform for anglers and families alike.

The walk-through windscreen, as well as increasing visibility and cockpit space, opens up crucial access to the bow. It creates an ideal loading, un-loading, casting and anchoring point.

For more information see the Stabicraft website or contact your nearest dealer. stabicraft.com

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

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Stessco 620 Albacore with Yamaha F200hp - SC

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plenty of dry storage.

Overall the ride was very smooth, and the boat handled extremely well and felt stable on the turns. Given the day we had and the centre console configuration of the boat, we did get a bit wet, but if you drove more sensibly than we did you could easily avoid the late shower!

The top speed of 68km/h

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Bob Thornton

It’s rare enough that I get to leave the office to test such a big, bad-ass boat, but even rarer that mother nature dishes out some conditions to adequately test it in!

Stessco never cease to amaze me by just how many types of boaters they can cater to. From decked out tinnies and jon boats for fishing ponds, to sleek, tournament-ready fishing machines, to familyfriendly runabouts, and all the way to comfortable offshore rigs for the most serious of anglers – they literally do have it all.

This time round we were testing out a boat in the latter category, the 620 Albacore, the biggest in its series. This premium fishing rig, with its hi-tech fit-outs, big T-top and dual-axle trailer was a tad intimidating at first, however after a quick tour courtesy of Stessco’s Lance Warren, it was clear to me that this boat was built with the serious offshore angler in mind!

A QUICK LOOK Having a quick walk around, Lance told me that this is the largest of the Albacore series, at 6.55m long, with the others coming in at 5.9, 5.6 and 5.42m.

“The Albacore series of boats was one of the first boats the Stessco name branded as a centre console sea-going boat, so it’s one of the original Stessco boats,” he explained.

And with it being one of the SPECIFICATIONS Length (mm) ....... 6550 Beam (mm) ......... 2480 Depth (mm)......... 1480 Bottom sides (mm) .. 5 Top sides (mm) ......... 4 Max. hp ................. 200 Transom height .....25” Max. people.............. 6 96

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specialised purposes, and sometimes even singular species. This version of the 620 Albacore is the perfect boat for someone who wants to fish offshore but not limit their fishing to only a few species.

This is truly a ‘jack of all trades’ offshore boat. Whether it’s dropping baits and jigs for reefies, trolling for mackerel, popping for GTs, or even

PERFORMANCE

Main: With four aboard and the hammers down, this big offshore machine was in its element.

Above: The Yamaha F200hp was extremely quiet, even while cruising. originals, it’s clear Stessco have had a long time to modify and perfect the fit-out and design, culminating in a boat that is, as Lance puts it, “tough as nails.”

This latest version of the wellproven workhorse is tougher than before, with thicker plate bottom and sides and upgraded horsepower rating.

This rig was fitted a Yamaha F200hp (its maximum horsepower), and its optional features included but were not limited to, dual Humminbird Solix units, JBL stereo, BLA Drum Winch, deck hose and a 112lb Minn Kota Ulterra on the bow. All this added up to an impressive looking rig that was not only perfect for taking on just about any offshore fishing challenge, but also a boat with enough creature comforts to entertain any non-fishers. You can get a more thorough rundown of these electronics from Marcel Krieger from BLA by scanning the QR code hereby!

TRAILER AND LAUNCHING It always makes sense to put a boat on a trailer designed specifically for it, and this is especially for true for larger rigs such as this one.

Stescco offer their customers an extended warranty of five years (on their premium hulls like the Albacore) if they chose

to sit that boat on one of the OEM trailers built by Dunbier.

Stessco actually set these trailers up for their boats, so you’ll know you’re getting the best trailer possible for that rig.

In this instance, the dualaxle composite design of the trailer made launching and retrieving very easy for two people, with one person needed to connect/disconnect at the winch end and one person at the helm to guide it as it gently slides on or off.

Trailing will obviously demand a vehicle with a decent towing capacity, but this is the reality of owning a sea-going boat of this size.

ON THE WATER When we motored out of Scarborough Marina, there were four of us aboard; two shy of the maximum persons allowed on this craft. Once underway the first thing I noticed – and it is such a small thing – is the padding around the gunnels, which is a great bracing point for passengers, especially on the choppy day Moreton Bay dished up.

The cast deck up the front featured removable padding, meaning the cast deck doubles as a lounge if you just want to enjoy a day on the water with a few snacks, almost like a bowrider. I also liked that with the way the Ulterra was

mounted, it didn’t impede sitting space when stowed.

Being a fishing boat, this boat had space to move around the whole boat’s perimeter unobstructed while fighting fish. This is a huge plus when going after bigger ocean going trophies, and while this is going on the skipper can position boat with ease from the centre console.

Underdeck and gunnel storage will be very attractive to serious offshore fishers, and the underfloor kill tank toward the stern will negate the need for extra eskies. The large console also allowed for

RPM ...................... km/h ....................... km/L 1000 ............................. 7 ......................... 2.41 1500 ........................... 11 ......................... 2.13 2000 ........................... 13 ......................... 1.46 2500 ........................... 15 ......................... 1.22 3000 ........................... 24 ......................... 1.32 3500 ........................... 35 ......................... 1.54 4000 ........................... 44 ......................... 1.49 4500 ........................... 53 ......................... 1.30 5000 ........................... 59 ......................... 1.00 5500 ........................... 68 ......................... 0.97 WOT ........................... 68 ......................... 0.93 was impressive for a boat this size, however if you wanted to save on fuel and still get to your spot fairly quickly, idling back to around 3500rpm will still get you along at about 35km/h with a fuel economy of 1.54km/L. VERDICT There are many specific boats on the market for very

searching for billfish, this boat would step up to the challenge!

With all the bells and whistles this boat had fitted, it would go for around $95,000, however Albacore 620 packages will start at about $60,000.

For more information or to find your closest dealer visit www.stessco.com.au.

The slightly rougher than usual conditions allowed the team to really test out the offshore capabilities of this boat.

Top: Entrance from the rear of the vessel is not only easy, but also very safe for younger passengers.

Above: Wiring is all internal, but not unreachable – a great balance.

Top: Space is a big feature of the 620 Albacore, which is important when fighting big angry ocean predators, or rocking out to your favourite tunes played through the speaker, as the team may have done…

Above: The bait board is an essential piece of equipment to anyone dropping bait for reefies.

The F200hp is one of the more popular models in the Yamaha range, and given the quietness, economy and reliability, it’s not hard to see why.

The room at the stern was fantastic, and the underfloor kill tank had room enough for even long fish such as Spanish mackerel.

That’s one tricked up dash! You can check out Marcel Krieger’s tour of the dash in the video.

Top Left: It’s a small thing, but the foldaway checker plate ladder at the rear makes getting into the boat that much easier.

Bottom Left: The BLA drum winch is a luxury for anyone who doesn’t want to be manually pulling the anchor rope all day. Right: The T-top managed to keep the sun off four people, while also not impede on casting space.

Left: Being able to walk all around the boat unobstructed will appeal to any serious angler, and the padded gunnels make an excellent brace point.

Right: The view from the lounge/casting deck up the front shows the internals of a boat that is, as Lance put it, “tough as nails.”

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Whittley SL22 with Hard Top and Yamaha F150hp - SC

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Length................. 6.6m Beam................... 2.4m Transom.deadrise .23° Fuel ..................... 210L Water..................... 30L Dry.tow.weight2100kg Max.hp .................. 225 Capacity ..... 7 persons 98

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s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We’ve previously tested a Whittley SL22 with a 250hp Volvo Penta inboard, so it was good to be able to get out in the same hull powered by an outboard, albeit 50hp less than the SL22 that we tested with a 200hp Volvo.

The Whittley Sea Legend hulls are a deep vee (23° at the transom) designed for boating in open waters.

On the spectrum of fishing boat to cruisers (Whittley do both) these are a solid fishing boat with just a little bit of luxury. Whittley’s cruisers are the opposite: luxury that you can fish from.

The test boat had the hard top option fitted. The options list is a little unusual in this boat; the hard top is optional while the rubber flooring, freshwater deck wash and plumbed live bait tank is standard. Order the hard top, though, and all of the handrails and rocket launcher rod holders are included.

As a fishing boat, the SL22 is entirely capable.

The flooring is full, custom-

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The helm is comfortable and well laid out. Increasingly though, I find cable-driven throttle and shift boxes stiff and clunky compared to Yamaha’s digital shift and throttle. If you can afford the upgrade, you’ll never go back.

This boat is fitted with

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Whittley dealer Northside Marine, and although the boat with all of the options as tested was $118,000, packages start from $104,000.

For more information visit Northside Marine at 2294 Sandgate Road Boondall or www.northsidemarine.com.au.

PERFORMANCE

Main: The Whittley Sea Legend 22 (SL22) is one of Whittley’s fishing boat range, as opposed to their popular trailerable cruisers.

Above: With a deep vee and plenty of weight in the hill, the SL cuts through rough water with ease, and lands softly both into and with the prevailing chop. routered decking and is easily maintained with a hose when you get home from a day’s fishing. There’s a substantial kill box under the floor, and the optional bait station at the back complements the built-in live bait tank on the port side.

Unlike some other Whittleys, there’s room to flush mount large electronics and to see them from the cockpit.

On a twin axled trailer, there’s just over two tonnes to drag around, meaning that you can haul it with a standard twin-cab ute or 4WD. Getting in and out of the rig while on the trailer isn’t difficult with the boarding ladder folding down on the starboard side.

At first glance, I thought that this rig would be a little underpowered, yet the F150 4-stroke Yamaha got the

boat up and on the plane pretty easily. This motor is a stalwart of the Yamaha range and will offer years of trouble-free boating.

Wide open, the rig delivered 70km/h at 6000rpm, while the most economical cruising speed was at 4000rpm where the Yamaha yielded 1.7km/L at 41km/h. With a 210L underfloor fuel tank, that gives the boat a theoretical range of well over 300km, which is plenty for a big weekend on the water with your mates.

Quite unique are the seating arrangements at the helm. Off the back of the helm seats are some rear-facing single seats with significant storage underneath. Not only are these an excellent place to sit and watch if your rod is getting a bite, they’re a

way to keep extra passengers in the shelter of the hard top while travelling. A rear lounge seat doesn’t do that.

RPM......Speed.(km/h). Economy.(km/L) 1000 ......................... 9 ....................... 3.5 2000 ....................... 15 ..........................2 3000 ....................... 21 ....................... 1.3 3500 ....................... 32 ....................... 1.5 4000 ....................... 41 ....................... 1.7 4500 ....................... 48 ....................... 1.6 5000 ....................... 56 ....................... 1.6 6000 ....................... 70 ....................... 1.1 trim tabs and you do need to use them to level the ride. With a big day’s load on board, they will be increasingly important.

This test rig was put together by Queensland

Make sure that you check out the video boat test through the QR Code at the top of this page. You can also find the video on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

As a fishing boat, the SL22 has plenty of space and plenty of storage for your tackle.

Bait fishos aren’t forgotten about either, with very comfortable rear-facing seats.

Top: It’s a neat set-up for the cranking and backup batteries – up and out of the bilge and in the cupboard down the back. The charger and isolators are easily reached.

Below: The rear-facing passenger seats are an alternative to a rear bench seat. These ones have plenty of storage underneath.

Top: It wouldn’t be a Whittley if it didn’t have some basic comforts. The cabin is comfortable and practical.

Below: The dash is simple, yet there’s plenty of room to flush mount your favourite brand of sounder as well as engine gauges.

Yamaha’s 150hp pushed the SL22 to 70km at 6000rpm. The best economy was at 4000rpm with 1.6km/L.

The fibreglass hard top is an option in this boat. It costs around $6400, but it comes with all of the rod holders and grab rails.

The custom SeaDek is a great feature of many modern boats, and this Whittley comes with plenty of it. It’s on the floor, in the side pockets and on the gunwales, and comes standard with this model.

Top: A padded gunwale, versatile side pockets and a movable vertical rod storage lets you organise your gear and your day on the water.

Bottom left and right: Freshwater washdown is standard, as well as the plumbed bait tank.

The white hatch on the floor leads to an underfloor kill tank/wet storage area.

JANUARY 2020

99

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