Queensland Fishing Monthly June 2018 by Fishing Monthly

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Features Moreton Bay snapper • Top tips for winter flathead • Lure Expo sneak peek • Lowdown on leaders • Halco Madeyes Review •

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June 2018, Vol. 30 No. 8

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22

dirt cheap and there’s the odd early morning around the campfire with an ale or three. So why am I banging on about it? If you’re jaded by boat shows that are big on boats you can’t afford and low on tackle, we know that you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what these little Aussie battlers have on offer. Of course, Fishing Monthly will have a stand there and will be offering great gifts for those of you who choose to sign up or renew at the show. And I’ll be kicking around the show all day, either at the Fishing Monthly stand or at the Social Media hub. Make sure you come and say gidday – I love talking fishing with keen readers. See you there! The details are in the Lure Show article inside this magazine, or you can visit www.lureshow.com.au.

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QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

AUSTRALIAN LURE EXPO

10 14 53

And then there’s the other half of the equation: nearly all of the lures are for sale. As a keen angler, I find it hard not to become excited when browsing the stalls and indulging in the creations that lure makers have spent the best part of a year devising, carving, painting and presenting. So be warned. The impulse buying can be hard to control! Plenty of exhibitors also camp at the Showgrounds. It’s

JUNE 2018

The key to the show’s success is its accessibility. Stands are only 20% of the price of a booth at a big boat show, and entry is $10 with free parking. Kids are free. What that means is that those guys and girls who literally run a garage business can afford to come and sell their wares. And a family can come and join in the fun for $20 entry. I can’t even park a car for a day in Brisbane or Sydney for that.

AUST

It’s a little cool this morning as I write this Editorial. For anglers, the drop in temperature means lots of things. It gets the bream and tailor moving, the Murray cod start to get itchy and you put the warm water techniques in the cupboard for another season. But for the last few years, winter is becoming all about the Lure Show. The brainchild of freshwater fishing advocate Garry Fitzgerald, it’s grown to become a festival of Australian lure making and innovation. And it’s populated by the coolest group of Aussie-backyardshed innovators you’ll ever meet. From humble beginnings in the Fernvale community centre in the Brisbane Valley, it quickly outgrew that venue and was welcomed by the Ipswich Showgrounds.

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 18 Camping and 4WD 76 Cooking 93 Dam Levels 70 Freshwater 70 Fun Page 96 Junior Northern 69 Junior Southern 34 Politics and fishing 45 Sheik of the Creek 77 Sunfish 85 Suntag 82 Tech Tricks 16 Tournament News 88 Track my fish 84 Trades and Services 94 What’s New Fishing 78 What’s New Boating 98 SPECIAL FEATURES Snapper in Moreton Bay Tips for winter flathead 2018 Lure Expo

From the Editor’s Desk...

BOATING AND KAYAK

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 62 Ayr 63 Townsville 64 Hinchinbrook 65 Cairns 66 Cairns NFZ 66 Port Douglas 67 Lucinda 67 Cape York 68 Cooktown 68 Weipa 69

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 46 Rainbow Beach 48 Bundaberg 48 Lake Monduran 49 Gladstone 49 Rockhampton 50 Yeppoon 50 Stanage Bay 51 Mackay 52

PRO

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane 36 Brisbane Offshore 38 Northern Bay 40 Noosa 42

ING TRADE

Fishing Diary Angler: Andrew Garner Location: FAD off Coffs Harbour Date: March 3rd 2018 Conditions: NE 8 kts, turn of tide Black Magic Tackle: KS 7/0 hook 60lb Tough Trace Note: “Black Magic gear never fails me, even when dealing with an acrobatic ﬁghter like this fella”.

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Snapper

Snapper fishing in Moreton Bay MORETON BAY

Spero Kartanos

Snapper are as good an eating fish as you will find in Moreton Bay and, depending on what gear you’re using, they are a great fighting fish as well. Those of you who read my weekly fishing reports (reports.fishingmonthly. com.au) would know that I love catching these fish. I get a lot of questions from readers asking for advice, so I decided to write an article to help all the local snapper hopefuls out there. Follow these tips and you should be on the path to success! LEARNING THE ROPES I started catching snapper in the 1960s with my dad, fishing in the very fast running tides in the entrance to Port Philip Bay

A steady stream of berley attracted this fish to the bait.

Green Island is easy for small boats to get to. in Victoria. We used lead the size of a small Coke bottle and a 30-40ft trace, with smashed up blobs of squid for bait, or alternatively fresh barracouta (with the bones broken) or salted pilchards. During snapper season there were plenty

of big fish around 20lb, although my dad loved eating the smaller 20-30cm ‘pinky snapper’, which we Queenslanders call ‘squire’. After moving to Brisbane 42 years ago, it was time to put the knowledge my dad had

passed onto me to catch the snapper in Moreton bay. However, I discovered that it’s not the same as fishing for them in Victoria – especially the type of baits and rigs to use. I remember sitting at the Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef for months on end when there were only a handful of boats, even on the weekends, and I caught hardly anything – just a small fish every blue moon. And yet, a lovely old fisherman would turn up, anchor 50ft from me and within an hour (depending on the tide) he would have two or three huge snapper in the boat. All I could do was sit and stare, wishing I knew what he was doing. After a while he must have felt sorry for me, because one day, after catching his snapper, he came over and said, “I see

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you’re not getting very many.” He proceeded to let me know how and when to target them, and what was and wasn’t the best bait for snapper in the bay. On my next trip I went back to the same spot on a grey and drizzly summers day, with a bucket of whiting for bait, and I caught 11 snapper in an afternoon session. Four or five of them were over the 15lb mark, and I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! Everything changed from that day on. Some 40 years later, we obviously don’t have the numbers that we did then. However, it’s not all that hard to catch a keeper if you put the time and effort in, and the weather and tides are on your side. Moreton Bay has plenty of fish for all, and snapper are one of the best eating fish there is. You can also pick up a tasty bycatch of grassy sweetlip while you’re at it. BAIT AND BERLEY Whiting is my first choice of bait. Live whiting are best, but whole dead ones are excellent too. Even just the whiting heads are good baits, with a hook through the nose and the frame cut up for berley. Over the years I have found other baits that are extremely good are garfish, pike, razor pillies, small horse mackerel, cuttlefish, small octopus and whole squid. If you’re running low you can also try grinner fillets, if you can put up with the stink. In the past I have also used mullet strips and pillies, but I’ve found that the small picker fish rapidly demolish soft baits, so most of the time you are sitting there with an empty hook, waiting in vain for a

The author with a quality snapper caught in the middle of the day. fish to bite. Yes, there’s a chance you may catch a big fish on a pilly, but for me whiting is the safest bet. This tough bait will resist the pickers for a long time, giving bigger fish a chance to home in on it. Another thing I strongly recommend is to always berley when you’re fishing for snapper. I can’t believe the number of times I’ve found heaps of my berley in their stomachs. You can berley with just about anything, including mashed up fish frames, old

bait, prawn shells, cat food, livestock pellets with added tuna oil, or just pre-made berley from a tackle shop. However, my preference is to simply berley with whatever you are using for bait. You should deploy small pieces of berley (no larger than 2cm) and keep a steady stream going. Add a bit more every 3-5 minutes. People worry about overfeeding the snapper, but with the amount they can hold in their stomachs, and the sheer number of

With their iridescent blue spots, juvenile snapper are a pretty fish.

Snapper small fish around, I don’t think you can overfeed your quarry. Berleying does attract unwanted species like gummy sharks, stingrays and such, but I don’t really mind because that just means the berley is working! TACKLE When fishing for snapper, I find baitrunnerstyle reels to be by far the best. As well as the original Shimano Baitrunner, I use similar style reels from Penn and Daiwa in 450 and 550 sizes. The rods I prefer are around 7ft with a fairly solid body and a lighter tip, rated to around 8-20lb. My favourites are Wilson

SEQ SNAPPER TAGGING DATA In 2013 Suntag published some interesting results from their South East Queensland snapper tagging data. Of the 12,477 snapper tagged in SEQ from 1985-2013, there were 731 total recaptures, including fish recaptured more than once. Growth rates Of the recaptures, 344 were at liberty for over 90 days and showed positive growth. Most of the fish tagged were in the size range 200-299mm. The projected growth of these fish is approximately 80mm at the end of the first year, 140mm by the end of the second year and 175mm by the end of the third year. Movements From 1985-2013 there were 14 fish tagged in Moreton Bay that were recaptured outside the bay. Of those, 12 moved to the north while two moved south. The furthest distance moved was a fish tagged at Green Island and recaptured on the inside of Fraser Island, having moved 290km. However, the vast majority of fish moved less than 20km, and many fish were recaptured in the same place they were first tagged, even after a long period of time – up to four years later.

is dependant on how fast the tide run is. I love fishing with no sinker when possible. WHEN AND WHERE When you are considering where and when to fish, remember that it all comes down to the winds and tides. I prefer the outgoing tides in the shallow grounds of Green, St Helena, Mud and Peel islands, especially with the wind in the same direction. I find afternoon tides to be the best, but I have also caught many fish

in the middle of the day. Cloudy days are best. My two favourite spots for snapper are the eastern side of Green Island in about 16-20ft of water, and the Lazaret Gutter at Peel Island, only a couple of hundred feet into the gutter. The place to target these fish in the bay is not on the top of the shallow grounds, but on the drop-offs, as that’s where the fish will end up as the tide recedes. This is the To page 12

Google Earth views of locations where snapper tagged are available from the Suntag website at www.info‐fish.net/suntag.

Always remember that you’re not home and hosed until the fish is actually in the net!

Blue Steel and Penn Regiment rods. I recommend using 18-25lb line, and I find that dark green mono works very well in Moreton Bay. Tortue Tournament Super Control, Penn Super X and Berkley Trilene Sensation are all good lines for this purpose. The hooks I use are Mustad Big Red suicide hooks in 4/0, 5/0 and 6/0 sizes. Using larger hooks minimises unwanted by-catch. If you use smaller hooks you’ll catch all the little fish like bream, Moses perch, baby snapper and sweetlip, and of course,

those spiky happy moments. When it comes to the rig, I have traded in my old Victorian deep sea paternoster rig for a running sinker in the shallow reefs around the islands in Moreton Bay. However, I have kept the long traces (up to 30ft) with a running sinker where the tides are strong in the deeper waters, like the artificial reefs and Cowan reefs. Everywhere else I use a 2ft trace on a small ball sinker, or the small sinker on the hook. You should use just enough lead to get you on or close to the bottom, which of course

When targeting snapper you can get a welcome bycatch of sweetlip.

JUNE 2018

Snapper From page 11

reason I like the outgoing tide the best. I have found that as the tide grows the fish move up to the shallows

to feed, and trying to fish there in between the coral and rocks is just too hard with bait. If you hook up to a good fish there, you’ll

usually get broken off. So what time of year is best? I have caught snapper all year round, both big and small, but in the

The author’s favourite setup: a Penn 4500 Live Liner spin reel, Wilson Blue Steel rod, and a pile of whiting heads for bait.

The author and his godson in the early days at Peel Island. Catches nowadays aren’t as good as they were then, but you can still catch a feed when you know how.

JUNE 2018

cooler months the catches do improve quite a bit. Even so, I prefer fishing for them in the warmth of summer! THE SNAPPER EXPERIENCE The size of snapper in Moreton Bay varies a lot. On some days every fish you catch will be squire-size, around the 25-30cm mark, while on other days the fish are 35cm+. The bigger fish seem to be more solitary than the smaller ones. You’ll usually catch only one larger snapper; you’d be lucky to get two. The fight put up by these fish is quite distinctive. They have a great first run and then a steady fight with plenty of head shakes. Just remember that the fight is never over until that snapper is netted and in the boat, so don’t be too quick to assume you’re home and hosed – especially when you’re hooked up to a good one. There are many ways

SNAPPER FACTS Scientific name: Chrysophrys auratus Other names: squire, knobby, pinky snapper, old man snapper Habitat: Juvenile snapper (less than 30cm long) are commonly caught around inshore reef areas, and often in schools of around 30 fish. Mature snapper often inhabit reefs, but can also be found over areas with a mud or sandy bottom. Adult fish can be found in a range of depths, up to 300m. Although snapper are capable of moving long distances, many fish don’t move far. Diet: Snapper have a varied diet. They like to eat crustaceans such as prawns and crabs, but will also eat fish, marine worms, shellfish, sea urchins, starfish – even jellyfish. Size and age: the common length for snapper caught is around 2040cm, and the maximum total length recorded is 130cm. Some of the biggest snapper caught have been around 40 years old, and scientists estimate that this species could potentially live for over 50 years. Behaviour: mature fish gather in large schools in their traditional spawning areas, which are usually in water less than 50m deep. They are serial spawners, meaning they have more than one spawning event per year. Snapper will usually spawn only when the water temperature is around 18°C. Studies in New Zealand have found that some juvenile snapper change sex from female to male, but once the fish reach adulthood there are no further changes. Range: These fish have a huge range – they are found in coastal waters off China, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, New Zealand and Australia. In Australian waters, their main range starts at around Gladstone, and extends all the way along the coasts of NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, and up the West Australian coast as far north as Port Headland. Occasionally the odd snapper is reported north of this zone. Name: interestingly, despite their name, these fish aren’t technically ‘true’ snapper. The are actually members of the seabream family, and are related to bream and tarwhine. ‘True’ snapper are in the Lutjanus family, which includes such species as black-spot snapper (Moses perch) and saddle-tail snapper (largemouth nannygai). Size and possession limits: in Queensland the minimum size for snapper is 35cm. The in possession limit is four, with no more than one fish over 70cm long. to cook these fish. You can bake them whole (the cheeks are delicious), or fry or grill the fillets. I love frying

snapper fillets in tempura batter. You can also boil the head and body to make the best fish stock ever!

I hope this article helps you to get a Moreton Bay snapper on the table. Good fishing!

The perfect bait is a whiting head rigged with a running sinker down to the hook, or above a swivel on a 2ft trace.

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Flathead

Five tips for winter flathead fun AYR

Steve Farmer

Flathead are a popular and ideal fish for anglers new to lure fishing. They are often found in good numbers in areas that

Here are five tips for new and experienced lure fishers hoping to snare a flatty or two. 1. FISH LIGHT Even large flathead can be fairly easily handled on relatively light tackle. They are clean fighters in mainly

against the flathead’s spiky gill covers. This sort of rig is lightweight and easy to fish with all day. It will fire small lightweight lures a fair distance, allowing you to cover more ground. If you are fishing the shallows or the fish are particularly spooky, being able to cast well ahead can make a major difference to your catch. 2. THE RIGHT LURE Lures for flathead must be able to get to the bottom one way or another. Diving minnows or sinking lures such as weighted soft plastics or metal slugs will do the

job. The flathead’s hunting tactics of concealing itself in the sandy bottom to lay in wait for passing baitfish and crustaceans, means you need to have your lure bouncing across the bottom to elicit the best response. Hunting like this means the flathead doesn’t expend a lot of energy when it feeds. A brief burst from its buried hideout to nail the unlucky baitfish is all that’s required. This may be why even the smallest of lures (less than 5cm) can be very effective on even the largest of lizards. 3. SLOW DOWN Retrieve speeds can make a big difference to

Small hardbody lures will take large flathead. are easily accessible, even without a boat. The lizard can also be one of the easiest fish to catch on a lure, although, frustratingly, this isn’t always the case. Like many anglers, flathead figured prominently in my earliest lure-tossing successes and I still enjoy walking the sand flats, flicking small lures in search of lizards.

clear country and as such are unlikely to cut you off on a snag. In my experience it’s the smaller lizards that are more likely to turn on a lively tussle, while the larger fish usually fight slow and steady. A 3-4kg spinning outfit comprising of a light rod around 2m long and a reel holding about 150m of line will do the job nicely. Add a heavier leader to protect

This flathead came from the barely submerged sandbar in the background.

Working a drop-off for flathead.

your catches and flathead are no exception. Most of us are inclined to crank the reel handle a little too fast and I know I regularly have to remind myself to slow down. I recall one particular day I was flushing fish after fish, but couldn’t raise a single strike – until I slowed my

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Gutters or inlets channelling baitfish in or out of backwaters are likely to hold feeding flathead.

retrieve and quickly landed a couple of quality keepers. The only thing to be aware of is that you don’t slow to the point where your floating minnows are rising well clear of the bottom. Ideally a slow, stop/ start, jerking retrieve will have your lures skipping erratically across the flats, sending up puffs of sand whenever they touch the bottom, just like a classic, wounded baitfish. I remember one clued up angler who took the slow retrieve tactic to the extreme. It was late afternoon as he ambled down to the water’s edge and fired his Cotton Cordell Spot (a sinking lure) as far as he could across the inlet. He made himself comfortable in the soft sand of the beach before casually cranking in a metre or so of line every couple of minutes. That’s all. And it worked. He had fresh flathead for dinner that

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Sinking rattlers, such as the Rattlin’ Spot, cast well and take plenty of flathead.

Flathead night while everyone else went home to dig out the can opener. 4. LOOK FOR STRUCTURE Just because flathead roam mostly on the open sand flats doesn’t mean they

5. FLATHEAD HOTSPOTS The classic flatty hotspot is a drop-off with the tidal current washing over it. The flathead lay in the deeper water of the drop-off, waiting for the tide to push the bait over the edge. A drop-off in the mouth of a shallow inlet or creek is ideal as the bait moves in and out of the inlet with the rising and falling tide. Other features on the flats, such as gutters, channels and backwaters that have the potential to channel the current and baitfish, are also worth a try. Having said all that, if all this fails, fish the featureless shallows. After spending a fruitless hour flogging a classic drop-off one morning, we flicked our lures into water barely ankle deep to find it alive with hungry flathead.

to always fire a few casts at any structure on the flats. I have also found lizards lying within centimetres of the waterline in the shade of dune vines flooded by the king tides of summer. Fishing a classic drop-off a

BONUS TIP As the salesman said, ‘But wait, there’s more!’ Here’s your bonus tip. If you’re fishing a sand flat pockmarked with yabby holes (always a good place to start flicking), keep an eye out for feeding stingrays. The theory is that the rays settle on the bottom and work their flaps to suck the yabbies from their burrows, resulting in a very visible cloud of dirty water. The flathead follow the feeding rays, picking up any yabbies they miss. Flick your lure into the cloud, or close to it, and chances are you’ll score a lizard. I hope these few tips will help you nail a lizard or two on a lure. Get out there, give them a try and I’m sure you’ll have some flathead fun too.

The result of an afternoon’s flicking on the flats.

Flathead are often found in easily accessible spots, making them ideal for newcomers to the sport. aren’t drawn to structure. A snag or weed bed in the middle of a sand flat is like an oasis in the middle of a desert, providing shelter for nervous baitfish. So where else would a hungry flathead want to be? It pays

short cast from the shoreline wasn’t producing the goods, but when I lobbed a cast in close to the floating vines I took a hit straight away, following it up with one of the best sessions I can remember.

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Tech Tricks

Basic bits and tricks to catch a luderick BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

From the waters of Southern Queensland to well down the East Coast,

cold weather means it’s time to chase luderick. These estuarine brawlers, also known as blackfish, are aquatic vegetarians, predominately eating weed baits. Cooler conditions

REEL While any reel can be used for this form of fishing, a centrepin style is definitely desirable. When drifting the bait along under a float, the minimum resistance obtained from a centrepin reel as the line slowly trickles out will mean that the float will stay upright and drift at the same speed as the current, offering a natural presentation. Centrepin reels like this Alvey model have a bearing on the shaft to offer free, effortless rotation of the spool. The line will play out slowly and you will stay in touch with the drifting float. Once a ‘down’ is registered (when the float dips down as the fish mouths the bait), clamp your hand down on the spool and lift the rod to set the hook. Free play of line with virtually no resistance isn’t available when using any other style of line. Alvey are continuing to make luderick reels, which is great as they are the best value centrepin reel on the market and Aussie-made.

ROD Rods for targeting luderick can vary in length (generally between 2.7m and 3.6m) yet all are slow tapered rods that have plenty of bend and shock-absorbing ability. I opt for a 3.15m model as that suits the estuarine places I fish. For open ocean rock fishing you would often use a longer model, and while fishing in more confined areas (such as under a low bridge). In this case, you may require a much shorter rod. One difference with a rod designed for use with a centrepin reel is that the first guide above the reel is much lower on the rod. This is so that the line trickling off the reel is supported and will transit through the guides smoothly and without sagging between the first guide and reel, which would stagger line flow. A decent rod specifically made for luderick fishing using a centrepin reel can start from as little as $100, however some anglers will simply add an extra (lower) guide onto a suitable rod that they already have in their possession. 16

JUNE 2018

promote weed growth of several kinds on the estuarine and oceanic rocks, which attracts greater numbers of luderick to lurk in these areas as they begin their spawning cycle. Targeting

these estuarine eaters can be a real challenge, with special tackle, technique and tricks needed for a consistent outcome. Let’s look a little at some of the tackle required and why it is needed.

LINE For float fishing, it’s better if the line floats on the surface so that the drift of the float is unimpeded and you are directly connected to the float when striking without any line sag. To achieve this you have two main options. Sunline make a floating line called Fine Float 2 that comes in breaking strains between 6lb and 20lb. I have been using this for a long time (previously called Unitech Float) and find it ideal for the purpose, as the high visibility makes it easy to determine the path of the line. It floats consistently and has a degree of stretch to absorb the lunges of the fish. The other option is to use a quality monofilament line and then add some fly line floatant or Vaseline to it to aid it in floating. This will need to be reapplied at least once a trip. If the line doesn’t float and sinks then it will impede the natural drift of the float affecting presentation and reducing the striking ability. I commonly use 5-6kg floatline, however I would go a little heavier if using a dressed monofilament line. One thing to keep in mind is that your main line needs to be heavier than your leader. If the hooks become snagged and you need to break off the rig then the lighter leader will break first and you won’t lose your float, which is attached to the main line.

FLOATS Floats for targeting luderick are a little different to many other floats and possess a long stem, which is weighted at the bottom to make the float sit upright in the water. Due to the fact that the weed baits often need to be fished deep in the water column the float must slide along the line, therefore it has small eyelets through which the main line is threaded. I like a float with straight sides as these tend to be more stable in the water and will travel at a more consistent rate with the current. When weighted correctly, there will be no change in resistance as the float is pulled down under the water. I make all my own floats (see July 2017 QFM), however you can purchase some fairly decent ones these days. A bright colouration to the top stem will make it easier for you to detect the slightest dipping of the float.

FLOAT STOPPER To stop the transit of the float up the main line, a float stopper is used. This is threaded on the line by passing the main line through the small wire or monofilament loop on which the stoppers are currently threaded and then sliding the stopper down so that the main line kinks over and the stopper passes onto it. This stopper can be slid along the line with a small amount of pressure to adjust the depth at which your bait can sink to. This float stopper is small in profile and smooth enough on the outside so it will wind through the rod tip on the retrieve. When deployed, the bait will sink down until the stopper rests against the top of the float eyelet. A small bead is often put on the line below the float to stop the knot of the swivel (which joins the main line and leader) from jamming on the lower float eyelet.

LEADER Luderick can be very spooky and pedantic at times, so having a leader with minimal visibility in the water can go a long way to improving results. Fluorocarbon leader is reputed to neither attract nor deflect light; it has a low visibility and is ideal for this purpose. A neutral coloured monofilament line is also a respectable choice. The leader line should be slightly lighter than the main line you are using to prevent float loss. I commonly use 5kg main line and 3.6kg leader for fishing estuarine rock walls, however in some areas you may need slightly heavier.

Tech Tricks SPLIT SHOT Although your float will generally be weighted on the bottom of the stem to guarantee it sits bolt upright in the water, additional weight may need to be added to the leader to make the float sit low in the water. Ideally, just the top stem of the float should protrude from the water’s surface, which reduces the resistance required for the luderick to pull the float under. If there is too much pressure required, the luderick will often refuse the bait quickly, generally before you have opportunity to strike. Split shot (a small ball of lead with a split down the middle) is added to the leader to get the weighting right and fine tune the float to near-neutral buoyancy. Simply put the line in the slot of the sinker and then apply pressure to close the slot, securing it to the leader. These come in numerous sizes (some of which are designed to be easily removable) so you can be very precise in the weighting of the float. Often they come in dial packs with an array of sizes at your fingertips.

HOOKS In years past anglers would use any small, strong bronze hook (such as a Mustad 540 or 542) to catch luderick. Today speciality patterns exist that are ideal. These patterns are strong enough to withstand the jaw pressure of the fish, green in colour to be less obvious within a weed bait and chemically sharpened to provide better penetration. The Mustad Sneck and Gamakatsu Panfish are two readily available patterns. For purple and black weed (less commonly used) the Gamakatsu SL45 or a strong, short-shank, bronze hook would be a better choice. For areas luderick fishing in South East Queensland sizes #6 to #10 are generally suitable.

DROPPER LOOP For attaching the hook to the leader, a dropper knot (or paternoster loop) is the best choice. Having the hook on a loop is ideal for using long weed strands (such as string weed) as the weed can be passed through the leader loop before wrapping it around the hook, which assists in holding it in place. Also the hook is held away from the leader, which reduces the chance of the luderick biting (and possibly damaging) the leader when it mouths the bait. The hook must be put on the leader before tying the loop knot and tensioning it, as shown. The loop should roughly be large enough to pass the tip of your finger through. You will generally have two hooks on your rig and will use the dropper loop for the upper hook and a perfection loop (or Lefty Loop Knot) to secure the bottom hook. The hooks should be around 25-40cm apart.

BAIT BUCKET When you gather this weed it needs to be kept cool in salt water until use. I like these small plastic containers designed for beetroot, olives and others as there is an internal colander, which allows the weed to be removed while you change the water and they don’t leak. I often gather weed a few days before use and keep it in a container filled with salt water (from where I gathered the weed) in the vegetable crisper in the fridge. Once I’m fishing, I will remove a portion and put it in my bait bucket on the belt, which makes it convenient to re-bait. Leftover weed can be kept frozen for berley (weed, dry sand and bread crumbs) for future trips.

WEED There are numerous types of weeds that can be used for targeting luderick however cabbage and string weed are the most common. Oceanic rocks and estuarine rock walls often have these green growths on them, however you may need to visit at low tide to gather some. String weed can often be found in tidal drains and muddy banks and cabbage can be gathered from rock walls, jetty pylons and floating pontoons where it grows around the waterline. Gathering weed from the area where you intend to fish makes sense as this is the weed that the fish are most likely to be eating.

LANDING NET Many spots where you target luderick will be around rock walls and concrete structures, so a landing net will be required to secure your prize. Ideally the net should have a handle at least 2-3m long and be light enough that you can hold it at arm’s length to net a fish yourself. Due to the light leader, soft action of the rod and chunky weight of the luderick, you will find it extremely difficult to swing a luderick up onto the platform on which you are standing. A decent landing net is the only way to avoid losing quality fish.

KEEPER NET Luderick have a black gut lining which begins to taint the flesh of the fish once it’s dead. For this reason you must either dispatch and fillet the fish immediately upon capture or keep it alive until you do so. Having a decent keeper net allows you to put the luderick back into the water until you want to dispatch it, making life easier and your fish feast more tasty. Luderick are fairly hardy and will even live for a decent time in a hessian bag, so long as it’s in the water, however ringed keeper nets like these will keep your catch alive for hours on end. JUNE 2018

The lowdown on leaders and we why use them lure or fly. The best leader materials are generally clear and not too glossy. Their clarity allows light to pass through, reducing visibility and the creation of shadows, while a low gloss finish minimises the incidence of flashing in bright sunlight. A third and final reason for always using a mono

PART I NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

These days, the addition of a leader of some sort at the business end of your line is regarded as almost mandatory, especially when using braided or fused gel-spun polyethylene (GSP) main lines. But why is that so, and how do you choose the best leader setup to use? These days, a large and growing percentage of keen Aussie anglers have made the switch to using braided or fused GSP main lines for at least some of their

Braided main lines offer all sorts of advantages, but you really should add a mono leader, regardless of whether you’re chasing bass in the fresh, or billfish offshore.

Sharp-eyed and finicky fish like this whiting are far less likely to detect a length of fine mono leader. Tying your braid straight to the lure or hook would almost certainly cost you bites in finesse situations. fishing. They’ve done this because these ‘super lines’ offer distinct advantages in terms of casting ability, bite detection, hook-setting power and sheer fishfighting strength. Braided or fused GSP lines are extremely thin for their breaking strain, meaning it’s possible to fit more line on a reel, cast further and work lures or baits deeper in the water column without adding too much extra weight to the line. You’ll also maintain much better contact with your lure or bait, as the very low stretch characteristics of braid really enhance the angler’s sense of feel. However, one of the downsides of GSP is the fact that its use practically demands the addition of a leader for most common forms of fishing. There are a couple of reasons for this:

while under pressure. Due to the way they’re constructed, using thousands of minute fibres known as ‘angel hairs,’ these multi-strand lines quickly lose strength when abraded. Tying braid straight to your hook or lure exposes the last metre or two of line to all sorts of damaging contacts with rocks, oysters, snags, pylons and so on, and that’s before a fish ever gets involved. Fine, sharp fish teeth such as those found in flathead or Murray cod are kryptonite to these super lines, especially when the fish

use of monofilament leaders virtually mandatory whenever you’re running gel-spun main lines. There are more reasons for always using a leader with GSP lines; as thin as braids are for their strength, most are also opaque. In other words, light doesn’t pass through them. This can potentially make these lines more visible to fish in many lighting conditions, as well as increasing the density and definition of the shadows they cast. Adding a leader of single strand (monofilament) line, either nylon or fluorocarbon, is generally accepted as being the best way to separate these solid, visible, multistrand lines from your bait,

A leader of nylon or fluorocarbon adds a small but valuable degree of stretch to the equation when a powerful fish is close to the boat or bank, thus helping to prevent pulled or straightened hooks. leader when you’re running braid is related to the very low stretch of gel-spun lines. In many cases, it can actually be an advantage to incorporate a small amount of controlled stretch into your rig, and using a monofilament leader is the easiest way to do that. Having a slight ‘cushion’ or ‘spring’ in the form of a few metres of relatively stretchy leader material can be a real bonus, especially

Firstly, while gel-spun polyethylene (GSP) line is very durable and hard wearing when dealing with smooth surfaces like reel spools, rod runners, bail rollers and clean boat hulls. It abrades quickly when it comes into contact with rougher surfaces, especially

that own them begin shaking their heads from side to side. The same goes for species with rock-hard, sandpaper jaws like barra, queenfish and threadfin salmon, to name a few. Even without the next two factors described, GSP’s lack of abrasion resistance under tension makes the

Queenfish have hard, sharp-edged jaws that could easily abrade through braided line if it were connected directly to the hook or lure.

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(especially where a length of stronger, tougher and more abrasion-resistant material is needed at the working end of the rig) then how do we pick the optimum leader setup for each fishing scenario? How long should that leader be, what should it be made from, and how is it best connected to our main line? These are questions I’ll answer in depth next month, in the second part of this double-header on leader lore.

Even the widely-spaced, conical ‘holding’ teeth of a mulloway are capable of damaging fine braids.

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in the closing stages of a fight, when there’s only a short length of line between angler and fish. If we accept that the use of leaders is virtually mandatory when running GSP lines (for the three critical reasons just explained), and often highly advantageous even with monofilament main lines

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Cold weather worth braving YAMBA

Dave Gaden

June is here, winter is here, cold is here! I hate the cold, but I love winter. On a personal level, I can’t stand to be cold like most normal-minded people, but winter and the cold make for great reef fishing in shallow water as well as calmer seas.

playing with frozen bait isn’t that appealing, but the expectation and results of a hot snapper bite at daylight is very appealing. The close grounds are the go for those who get going early. Plumbago and Red Cliff as well as Shelly Headland in the south are easy targets from Yamba. To the north, Black Rock, South Evans Reef and even just in front of Woody Head

The guys flicking big plastics will find the fish very close to the surface so use as light a jighead as you can, but don’t go too light on the tackle. The bigger fish will head straight down into the kelp bed and bust you off. If you can’t stop them and you can feel the line running through the kelp, free spool the fish, as nine times out of ten it will swim up once the pressure is released. If plastics aren’t for you then floating baits with very light or no sinker (depending on current) will

get a feed in no time. Just get a nice long strip of mullet flesh or half a pilly and flick it out 20m behind the boat and that’s all you will need. The shallow water fish really are an early start target, and I usually give up on them around 8:30am, as I think they move wider. Mind you, plenty of my mates catch them all day there and think I’m crazy for leaving. But, as the morning breeze abates I like to chase the fish in 40m of water. Winter is the time they

Nathan with a mulloway from a local reef.

Laurie from Werribee took this lovely spotted mackerel. Around Anzac Day each year they get their first frosts up in the tablelands to the west of us, with freezing southwesterly winds blowing down the hill, making the water cold. Setting up the charter boat at 4:30am and then

are great close grounds. Get in close in around 10m of water or less and look for the kelp on the sounder, as big snapper will be cruising these areas for the next three months, giving you plenty of time to hone your skills.

Jason caught this snapper in relatively shallow water.

really school up, making them a lot easier to find on the sounder. Unlike summer and autumn, where we drift over the ground, you can set an anchor on a patch of fish and load up when they are bunched like this. The ground from Red Cliff to Brooms Head in 40-45m of water would be a good place to start, and similarly the north ground outside South Evans break in the same depth will hold good fish. If you want to try your hand at fishing a bit deeper, then this is the month. The current on the 50 fathom line should have dropped away enough for you to comfortably fish this depth. The grounds themselves may be more difficult to find if you haven’t been out there before. As a base mark, if you travel ENE or ESE from the mouth of the

Clarence for 19 nautical miles, you will start to find reef in 85-100m of water. It will be easier to find the fish on the sounder than to wind them up from that depth, I will guarantee you! In the estuary, the signs are pretty good for a big luderick season. The middle wall is a great spot to start, around the tide gauge on the Iluka side of the wall, if you haven’t a favourite spot, will produce fish. Other spots to try will be Turkeys Nest on Iluka side, the Peninsula units near the Yamba Shore Tavern (easy stop for a counter lunch as well) and the sides of Oyster Channel bridge. Bream will be schooling up for their spawn, and this normally happens on the full moon at the end of June or early July. Night fishing for these guys is one of my favourite things.

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Nothing fancy, just anchor up on the middle wall with a heap of good berley and some prawns and mullet strips for bait. It is not uncommon to land 50 fish in a session at this time of the year, keeping just a

couple of studs for a feed. It really is great fun. If you haven’t fished much at night, there are a couple of things you need to know. The law will require you to have an all-round white light

(commonly called an anchor light) turned on in your vessel the whole time the sun isn’t up; you may also need other lighting

at a spot in the dark and turn a light on, but if you get set up while it is still light and turn your lights on before it gets dark, then

guarantee it won’t frighten the fish off, and you will have a lot less chance of getting a fine from RMS, or worse still, being run over by another boat. So if you are wondering what to do in the colder months, head to Yamba or Iluka and take advantage

of the great fishing at this time of the year! On a personal note, I’d just like to mention that my good friends Bruce and Glenn Alvey have been able to keep this Australian Icon of a business open, and this is fantastic news for all anglers.

11-year-old Tynan from the Gold Coast was stoked with this mahimahi.

14-year-old Tasman was very happy with her Venus tuskfish.

to see what you are doing while fishing. To some people this would seem to defeat the purpose, because of the fact that a light may frighten the fish off. This is the case if you turn up

the area hasn’t changed for the fish, as with a well-lit bridge. I fish with a light on all the time (but never shine a bright light into the water). If you keep a light on all the time I’ll

Don Causley nailed this nice pearl perch.

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Ballina beach fishing continues to improve BALLINA

Joe Allan

The beaches both north and south of Ballina have been fishing well over the last month with good reports of tailor, whiting, bream and dart being caught. Fresh baits like blue pilchards gang rigged on three 4/0 hooks have been getting the best results. If you’re into throwing slugs, try 20, 30 or 40g models, depending on the size of the swell, and choose a run-in tide. The last half hour before the sun sets in the evening is really the perfect time to be trying this, and there have been quality numbers caught in this short period. The flathead have been pushing up past the ferry and into the lower reaches of Emigrant Creek, although this time of year isn’t the time the big girls come out to play. You will get some nice fish as by-catch when fishing for mulloway, as they start to become more active around now. The deeper holes along the town stretch and past

the ferry will produce the best chance for a big mulloway, with live mullet being the best bait on either

of the slack tides. Most of the bream are still hugging the rock walls, but the odd one is

Ben Rampling with his children and his 15kg mulloway.

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out on some of the sand flats during the run-in tides. There do seem to be some good quality fish amongst them, and with the water starting to drop in temperature, the big snowies, as they’re known around here, can’t be far off. Fresh prawns and nippers can be really productive for these guys, and can be fun for kids to collect. You are always pretty much guaranteed to catch some nice fish with fresh baits and quality hooks. If you’re into lure fishing, give small crankbaits a go and get them tight into the rocks and hang on. With light line the bream you hook can give you some stick and provide some great sport. The run-in tide has also produced some luderick along the walls on cabbage and peeled prawns, or yabbies on the run-out. If you can find any weed flies, it’s worth giving them a crack too, either under a float or fished on a very light weight like you would an unweighted soft plastic down a wall. A lot of old timers will swear by long soft rods for this type of fishing, which are tried and tested, however don’t be afraid to give your normal bream rods a go though. Although they handle the fish just as easily, they just don’t have the same reach when landing a fish on the rocks, which the longer rods help with.

Bryce Cameron with a cracking Spaniard caught on a stickbait. Offshore fishing has been alright, with decent catches of snapper off the close in reefs likes Riordons, and also up towards Lennox Point. When the tide isn’t pumping, try fishing really light jighead rigged soft

plastics up on the top of Riordons Reef. As light as a 1/6 or 1/4oz isn’t too light! The snapper will come off the bottom and hit the plastic on the drop most of the time. Until next month, tight lines!

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Slow currents and big smiles THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

It’s that time of the year again when the gentle giants grace us with their presence, and this means a few things for anglers. Slow currents, snapper, kingfish and cobia! Slowing currents are finally giving anglers a chance at keeping on the bottom, and it opens up various techniques such as bottom bashing, soft plastics, drift baits and micro jigging in most depths off of Tweed. Close reefs are fishing well for snapper, tuskies, Moses perch and spangled emperor. A few packs of tuna are starting to feed up on bait schools and the kings and cobia aren’t far behind. Most

but it is only a small window as the sun rises and sets. It’s now closed season for bass in the Tweed region, but it doesn’t mean you still can’t fish for them. Most impoundments are still fishing well. The wild bass are still fishing well, just remember there’s a no take rule on bass now. The submerged rock walls around the brackish and up to weir in the Tweed have been fishing well for the river bass. OFFSHORE The weather has finally settled down and so have the currents. Most reefs off the Tweed coast are fishing well for mixed reefies. Try 3-7” plastics, drift baits, and small micro jigs around Fidos, Mudhole, Five Mile, Nine Mile and Kingscliff Reef

Finding working birds and targeting them with metals on light gear is pretty addictive. Boat placement is crucial. Tuna normally feed into the wind, so doing a wide loop around them and positioning yourself 50m in front of them should see you on the money with reels screaming. There is the odd large mulloway sitting on isolated wrecks in 40m and deeper. Soaking a live bait such as a pike has been catching a few recently. There’s plenty of bait schools at Kirra Reef, Point Reef, the sand pumping jetty, Ten Minute Reef, the south side of Kingscliff Reef and the eastern yellow marker of Cook Island. ESTUARY The cooler water in the estuary has triggered the bream

Finny Ay was stoked with this solid Tweed mulloway. smaller boats are finally taking advantage of the weather and are able to get out and amongst it. The estuary has had a bit to offer in recent weeks. Bream are starting to school up on most rock walls and bridges. School mulloway are sitting in the holes around bridges. There are still good flathead and whiting up in the skinny water sun baking. The beaches are all starting to fish well this month. Metals at dusk and dawn off the rock walls and headlands are catching some nice tailor,

and 5-9” plastics, jigs, and patanoster rigs on the 24s, 36s and 50s. Large jigs are getting the kings and larger snapper out wider. There is the odd kingy floating around Nine Mile and the Mudhole. Trolling live baits over the shallow reefs and locating bait with arches sitting around it on your sounder, then going to neutral to allow your bait to get down to them is the key to getting a big kingy or cobia. Down rigging baits and livies is equally good. A few packs of tuna are starting to show up this month.

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are being caught up in the shallows this month. Throwing 3-5” plastics is a technique that is catching a good feed. Working vibe lures off the bottom in deep holes is also catching the big girls. You can expect good numbers of GT, big-eye and the odd school mulloway and large flathead out at the river mouth sitting along the rock walls. Plastics and small micro jigs are working best. The odd trevally is falling to a high speed metal, and the right weight is critical when fishing these areas. Current and structure will dictate your weight. There will be mulloway sitting in the various holes around the Tweed. The bigger holes have been holding the bigger fish. Live baits on a run-out tide of a night or at dawn in one of these holes should put you onto a silver ghost. Live pike and mullet seem to be the best baits at the moment. There is still the odd bigger whiting up in the skinny water. Yabbies and worms are working best for the bait anglers. A few diver whiting are also popping up in the deeper holes of the Tweed, and again, worms and yabbies are working best. BEACH The beaches and headlands have been fishing well this month. Metals off the rock walls and headlands at first light are catching some good tailor. These fish seem to go off the bite after the sun is up.

Mako Dillion took this nice Brunswick Heads flathead. beach worms are working best. The odd mulloway is sitting in the deeper gutters of a night. Live bait, beach worms, and large strip baits will do the damage this month. For beach and rock action this month, try Tweed rock walls, Snapper Rocks, Fingal Headland, the south wall at Kingscliff and Hastings Point. FRESHWATER Clarrie Hall Dam will still fish well this month. Try up in the skinny water around the lilies at first light with surface lures and jig spins for best results. NEXT MONTH As winter fully decends upon us, we will see more whales move through our area,

bait schools on close reefs. Anglers will have access to deeper waters and more techniques for fishing that deep water. The mulloway, bream, flathead, GT and big-eye will be the go-to for most estuary fishers, but they should also be more predominent over the next month as well. Diver whiting should start moving into the holes and deeper channels in the systems. The beach will get cleaner and the gutters and headlands will fish really well next month. Tailor should start their run up the coast as they migrate north. Mulloway will move into these gutters to feed up and

to start schooling up in good numbers around the various rock walls and bridges, and anglers are having fun on the light gear. Targeting these areas and good structures like oyster racks with small lightlyweighted plastics, crankbaits, blades, small crab lures, small vibes and drift baits on 6lb leader can test the best of anglers. Try the oyster racks in Terranora lakes, Boyds Bay bridge, Nusics Hole, the Blue Hole, Jack Evens rock wall, the trawlers and Barneys Point bridge for some fun. Some good flathead

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Glen Miles with a nice spangled emperor from a close reef off Tweed. There is also the odd one in the beach gutters of a night, and they seem to be responding to whole pilchards. Some good dart and bream are also being caught around the headlands and rock walls. Strip baits, half pilchards and

which means less current, colder water and sunny but crisp days. The snapper and other reef fish will start to move to shallow grounds and onto the closer reefs. Packs of cobia and kingfish will also torment the

make the most of the mullet and tailor run. Bass will move down to the salt as they start their spawning season. Remember, it’s strictly no take, and a quick release is important to ensure the future of the species.

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Offshore and estuary fishing are looking great GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

The chill is in the air and it’s an exciting time for anglers on the southern end of the Gold Coast. Our beaches are beautiful all year round, but when the swimmers are thinned out and the tailor are running, they’re even better. There’s plenty to get excited about with the offshore and estuary fishing as well. OFFSHORE With the calm weather and moderate current, it’s a great time to chase snapper. Last year we had a great snapper season, so hopefully this will continue. The close reefs will see plenty of action and the trag jew will also take a snapper bait. If the current allows, try dropping soft plastics down on 1-2oz jigheads. Once the lure hits the reef, lift it a good few metres off the bottom and put some action into it by giving the rod some short, quick lifts. Some anglers lift the plastic off the bottom and place the rod in the rod holder, allowing the swell to lift and

drop the lure. The snapper will hit the lure and run like a freight train. They have to be one of the hardest hitting fish in the ocean. Good plastics are the 7” Berkley Gulp Jerk Shads,

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Sam Swanson landed this trevally while kayaking the canals. Trevally have continued to bite as the water cools.

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biting but the big Spaniards have all but disappeared. There have been plenty of anglers targeting spotted mackerel on Mermaid Reef, Palm Beach Reef and the gravel patch off Burleigh. These fish will move on soon, only to be replaced by cobia in close and kingfish out wide. Plenty of mac tuna and even the odd yellowfin will be around, so there’s plenty to get excited about. ESTUARY My boys and I have been out chasing flathead over the past few weeks. We have been getting a few here and there, however the numbers have been disappointing. While we don’t see big numbers and big fish until August, we usually do a little better as soon as the water cools. Perhaps it’s just us but I expect the flathead fishing to improve significantly this month. The good news is that there have been good numbers of trevally. These fish love the drop in water temperature and we find that when the mangrove jack go quiet, the trevally are still on the bite. Live bait, soft plastics and hardbody lures all work well. Fish early mornings and late afternoons around structure like bridges and rock walls; there is no lack of structure around the canals on the central and southern Gold Coast. Whiting are still being caught, but again I expect this to go quiet as the water gets colder. Spawning bream will replace the whiting so keep using the same fresh or live baits. Bream can be found around any natural or artificial structure as well as deep channels and weed edges. Night fishing is always best and if you are able to catch live prawns around the full or new moon, a good session is all but guaranteed.

Just keep in mind that these fish are spawning, so only take what you need. Big mulloway will also be a target for night anglers. The Tweed River can fish very well for mulloway and there are loads of opinions for catching them. Live baits or very fresh strip baits are ideal fished around the change of the tide. While I like a high tide change, low works well too. To learn how to catch big mulloway, nothing will prepare you better than hours on the water. Work hard and the reward will follow. BEACH It’s tailor time, and a great time to also target flathead and bream from the beaches. While the smaller tailor will school up and often be landed in big numbers in the

gutters, the bigger greenbacks are often caught in patches as they swim alone or in small groups. Metal slugs are perfect as they cast well and tailor love anything that shines. The old school pilly on ganged hooks is also very effective. I like to mention bream and flathead in the surf during winter. It’s a little early for flathead but they will start to appear from this month right through to around October. Bream on the other hand are very active in June. Big bream put up a great fight in the surf and come out of the water all chromed up – they even taste better. The Straddie Cocktail (pipis and a small bit of worm) is the best bait. Ghost crabs are also a gun bait for the bigger fish.

Jacob Ward with a quality winter lizard. These fish are on the bite but scattered this month.

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Gearing up for winter bream JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

Big bream will be the most targeted species this month. They move into the sheltered waters of the Pin to feed up for their breeding season and you will notice the quality and size of the fish you catch will improve. We’ve already seen some bream over 1kg caught and like the prawn season I expect this bream season to be a bumper one with some excellent fish to be caught. When fishing for these larger bream, the best way to go is upsize. These fish don’t mess around and will usually be found around heavy snags and rocks that they will use to bust you up. A 12-20lb line should be enough with a heavier

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leader line to a 1/0-3/0 baitholder hook and a sinker to fit the conditions and make sure you get to the bottom. Upsize your baits as well to tempt the larger fish, larger banana prawns, bigger clumps of mullet and chicken gut, larger mullet and bonito strips. Also set up a good berley trail to get the fish feeding. Night fishing has always proved more fruitful around the last few hours of the run-in tide. Try hitting the beaches along North or South Straddie in good gutters where tailor and dart are usually found; these areas should hold some big sea bream as well. Other great spots to try are

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the deep water off North Straddie, Kalinga Bank, the Stockyards, Short Island, Karragarra, Jacksons, the Power Lines, the north wall of the Seaway and Tabby Tabby Island. The water clarity is usually spot on at this time of year as there is little rain, which is great for flathead fishing, because you can sight fish for them or at least see weed clumps and snags a lot easier and concentrate your efforts on a specific target. When you find snags or weed there is usually a flathead or two nearby, so flick or troll your lures past them and try to bring the flatty out of hiding. They might not go for it the first time, but when you get one off a certain snag you’re targeting it’s an extremely satisfying feeling. The run-in tide is the best time to chase some tailor this month although most should be choppers as it has been pretty quiet so far this year on the greenbacks. If you’re using metal lures, try to use smaller 10-40g ones as the bigger ones aren’t getting the hits. They should be schooling up, so keep an eye out for the birds working and move with the schools. If not, try floating a pilly or dropping one to the bottom in the deep water off Kalinga Bank or Crusoe Island. The odd tailor has been caught around Tabby Tabby as well. Winter whiting become more prevalent in the cooler months. Distinguishable by small black spots along their flanks, winter whiting have no size limit and a bag limit of 50; they’re easy to catch and taste fantastic. Use light line, small sinkers, small hooks and small bait

Winter brings on the big bream. This one went over 1kg cleaned and was caught by Mark Drescher. around sandy shoals and yabby banks and you’ll be on a winner. The best spot is the Pelican Banks towards Redland Bay but you can find them at the Broadwater down the coast, Tiger Mullet Channel, between Mosquito and Tabby Tabby Island and near Slipping Sands. June has many cold, still nights with small tides, which are a great time to head out for a mulloway fishing session. Livies are clearly the best bait, whether it’s mullet, herring or beach worms. They will also take strip baits of bonito, tailor and mullet. They are a very cunning predator known for being finicky and they play with the bait for ages before swallowing it. Patience is

the key when mulloway fishing. The best spots to try for a mulloway are the deep water off the bottom of North Straddie, the hole in Cobby Passage or Marks Rocks in the Logan River. Thanks for all your reports and fish weighed in. If you’d like any up to date information on what’s biting, drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on 3287 3868 or email gembait@ tpg.com.au. I’ll catch you next month. • Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coming in closer this month for a feed GOLD COAST

David Green

This month the water temperature will drop on the inshore grounds and a lot of the pelagics will start to move north to warmer waters. Despite this, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to chase big mackerel and wahoo, and a lot of the

biggest of these species turn up in June. Trolling baits from a downrigger is the best method to catch big mackerel. However, the season this year has been quite erratic and dirty water has been a problem on the inshore grounds. Bottom fishing improves this month and snapper, teraglin, tuskfish and pearl perch start to show on the

36 and 50 fathom reefs. Float lining, soft plastics and live baits are all effective. Fish dawn and dusk for the best results. Mulloway start to turn up in numbers on the inshore grounds at night and live slimy mackerel, tailor and tarwhine are all effective baits. Cobia also show up in June and the 20 fathom reef is a good place to look for

A nice longtail tuna â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the area just east of the Jumpinpin Bar is worth a look for these fish on the last of the run-in tide.

JUNE 2018

these fantastic fighting fish. Cobia like big soft plastics and large live baits. A lot of berley also helps and it pays to be patient and wait for the fish to come to you. Cobia around 30kg are fairly common in June, although the seasons tend to be quite erratic from year to year. The artificial reef located in 23m of water northeast of the seaway also commonly holds cobia. The area just east of the Jumpinpin Bar is worth a look on the last of the run-in tide. This holds longtail tuna, some big Spanish mackerel and quite a few spotted mackerel. Look for the birds and bait schools and cast metal lures, stickbaits and large soft plastics. If the water is blue and warm, the fishing can be very good in this area. Trolling bibbed minnows or garfish is another good method to try. The longtails can sometimes be just at the back of the surf line. Keep your distance and make long casts. A highspeed retrieve is essential; these tuna are fantastic fighters that can take a long time to wear down. Out on the continental shelf the water generally remains warm throughout

Mark Frendin with a decent flathead.

usually quite a few white pilchards in the estuary in June and these attract a lot of attention from tailor and flathead. The water is generally pretty clean in June and this makes for excellent lure fishing. Work the tops of the flats on high tide and the draining

channels as the water runs back off. I generally mix trolling and casting at this time of year. While you may catch the odd big flathead, most of the fish encountered are between 40 and 60cm in length which are the best eating sizes. Trolled Micro Mullets and Zerek Tango

Shads are very reliable and catch flathead of all sizes. For casting I like to use a mix of soft vibes like the Fish Trap, small prawns, soft plastics and blades. It pays to experiment as the tastes of our local flathead seem to vary from day to day. Mulloway are another good target this month, and tend to bite best on tide changes in the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances. Live mullet and live pike are the preferred baits. I like to fish a high tide change between 7 and 10pm and most of the bites come as the water slows down. I prefer to use

mono to braid for this type of fishing as the bigger fish are easily spooked and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed that they often drop the bait on braid. The mulloway action increases towards the end of the month and generally peaks in July. During daylight hours the entrance of Swan Bay is a great place to try using live pike or big soft plastics. A lot of mulloway over a metre long are caught here. Mud crabs slow down this month but there should still be plenty of sand crabs around on the run-in tide close to the weed beds. Use mullet, flathead or

whiting frames. Sandies are probably the best eating of all the crab species and make a delicious feed when steamed in salty water. Good areas to try for sand crabs are around the eel grass beds in 4-6m of water. They tend to be much more active when the water is clean, conditions are calm and the tide is running in. Overall, June is very much a month of transition when it comes to fishing on the Gold Coast. Conditions are generally good with calm seas and not much rain. There are plenty of good options this month.

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the month, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a good time to chase blue marlin, with increasing numbers of striped marlin showing up as the water cools down a bit. Most of these are caught on trolled lures. The last three blue marlin we caught from my boat Gemma 3 were in depths less than 200m, which is relatively shallow for blues. We have been doing quite well on the locally made Fat Boy lures, particularly the tube-style heads. These fish are a great challenge from a small boat. For the best results invest in a few 37kg trolling outfits. On 24 or 15kg gear it can be nearly impossible to get the fish up to the surface when they go deep. ESTUARIES AND RIVERS The change in seasons sees a lot of fish movement throughout the estuary and big schools of mullet start to move towards the entrances. The water cools and the fishing generally improves. Flathead and bream start to show in numbers and more big mulloway start to move into the estuary at night. If you are targeting flathead, work the central areas of the estuaries and up the creeks. The fish are yet to start their downstream movement in preparation for spawning and most are feeding actively. There are

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Snapper numbers will increase SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

Over the past month the southern bay has been a great place to be. There

has been plenty on offer, from whiting and flathead through to snapper and king threadfin salmon. As the water cools some new species will be on the cards as well. The bream will start to school up for their spawning run, and will dominate catches over the coming months.

greenback. The tailor schools have been moving in with the tide, and pushing back out with the bait. You should always keep a small slug or plastic rigged up, ready to cast at the schools that pop up. Flathead have again been quite consistent, and there are plenty of decent-

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This nice Jumpinpin threadfin fell victim to a Zerek Fish Trap. The best places to start looking are down around the Jumpinpin area, the mouth of the Logan River and around the Amity rock wall. At this time it’s easy to catch a lot, with cricket scores not uncommon. Please remember the old saying, ‘limit your catch, don’t catch your limit’. Prawns have still been around in great numbers, and guys using sounders to locate the schools have been having the best results. The smaller tides seem to make it a little easier to stay on the schools once you’ve found them. The best spots have been the salt works, the deeper water off the bottom of Long Island, and around the bottom end of Lamb Island. Tailor have started showing up around the Pin. There are plenty in the chopper size range, but bigger slab baits or larger surface poppers will give you a better chance of catching a bigger

sized specimens among them. Good numbers of fish have been caught on the weed beds in front

of Victoria Point, and in between Garden and Macleay islands. It’s also worth having a look in Canaipa Passage around the top of Russell Island, and also the bottom end of Russell Island. Snapper numbers are starting to increase, with nice pan-sized fish common around the reef edges. Fishing low light periods and using light lines, while keeping boat noise to a minimum, should see you with a few fish coming over the side. Mud Island, Bird and Goat islands, South West Rocks at Peel, and the sunken reefs at Peel

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and Potts Point are all consistent producers at this time of year. The big mulloway should start to push in through the Pin bar, and follow the sea mullet schools that will start running as it cools down. There will still be plenty of school-sized fish on offer close to the Pin bar or river mouths. There has been the odd threadfin salmon and hairtail chasing through the bait schools around the back of the Pin area, in some of the deeper holes towards Jacobs Well. It can take some time to locate these fish with the sounder, but it’s well worth it once they’re located. If you’re targeting hairtail you will need to run a really heavy leader, or even wire. They have really sharp teeth and will chew through anything under 50lb if they inhale your bait or lure. Threadfin also have raspy teeth that can chew through light leaders. Once again, anglers have been getting good catches of winter whiting once the schools have been located. Move around until you find them and then work the area over. These little fellas are tasty morsels, but please don’t take more then you need for a feed. If you have a great capture from the Southern Bay you would like to share, email it through to nick@techfishing.com.au.

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Get into shallow water snapper MORETON BAY

Ryan Smith

The long, warm days are by far behind us and the colder weather has settled in. The cooler weather instantly means snapper to me and I love chasing them in the shallows. Throwing lures in 1-2m of water and being able to tangle with a few of these hard-fighting fish is something that always gets me excited. Moreton Bay is a renowned snapper fishery across the country. You can be chasing them in a variety of depths in the bay and there are so many different techniques to catch them. My favourite so far has been using lures in shallow water. This type of fishing is accessible to any fisho, as you can catch these fish off the land, boat or kayak. The kind of terrain I like to look for is generally something with a bit of current moving across a flat with some form of structure on it. Reef, rock, gravel and weed are all the sorts of structure that I look for. I also like a flat that has a deep drop-off near it. I find that in the low light periods the fish

will be right up feeding on the flats then slowly make their way to the deeper water. You can actively be chasing the fish with this in mind and follow them as they move from the shallows to the deep. With that in mind, low light times aren’t the only time you can find these fish in the shallows. There are fish on the flats

light 2-4kg spin rod and a 2500 reel is all you need. A high quality braid around 8-10lb is necessary to make long casts with light lures. Always buy the best quality you can afford; I would recommend getting a high quality PE braid. Fluorocarbon leader is a must for this type of fishing. The water quality in winter

the same apart from leader strengths: one rod with 4lb, one with 8lb then one a little bit heavier with 12lb. This allows you to always have a rod rigged, so if you’re busted off during a hot bite, there’s one ready to go instead of having to retie leaders and lures. The wonderful world of lures, there are thousands and thousands of different lures on the market and to most anglers it’s hard to know where to start. Almost every lure you see on the tackle shop walls will work at some point in time. Any soft plastic around the 3” mark that replicates either a baitfish or prawn will work

The author with a juvenile snapper that fell to a ZMan Slim SwimZ. wonders. Matching this to a 1/12-1/6oz jighead with a hook to suit will have you in business.

Finley Pell was rewarded with a nice-sized juvenile snapper caught on a soft plastic using the techniques explained. at all times during the day, however I have found the lowlight periods have always produced the better quality fish. When talking about gear for this type of fishing, a

is generally very good and the fluorocarbon is just a lot harder to see underwater compared to other leader materials. What I tend to do is have 2-3 rods rigged all

Fish like this are accessible to any landbased, boat or kayak fisher.

In the hardbody department, a diving bibbed lure around the 50mm size should mimic a baitfish perfectly. The lures that I can recommend are the ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ and GrubZ, Atomic 3” Prong and the Gobblers 3” Curl Tail and the 3.75” Jerk Shad soft plastics. Some hardbodies that have been working wonders lately are the Atomic Crank 38, Imakastu Wasp and the Daiwa Double Clutch. I encourage you all to give this form of fishing a go, because it can be truly rewarding. That is all from me – until next month, tight lines and screaming drags!

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Braving cold is worth it for piscatorial rewards BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With the weather conditions decidedly colder than a month ago, anglers will now be noticing a lot of species have increased in prominence throughout the Moreton Bay region. Species such as snapper, luderick, mulloway, squid, tailor and the like will be coming to the fore this month. Other targets still worth chasing include longtail tuna, threadfin, prawns and numerous others. With the days decidedly shorter and the air temperatures somewhat crisper, anglers will need to rug up for those early morning starts or late afternoon sessions. However, with quality fish on offer, braving the cold is usually worthwhile for the piscatorial rewards. SNAPPER The cold weather definitely increases the number and quality of snapper to be found throughout Moreton Bay, but you often need to work your way through the smaller fish to get the larger specimens. Don’t be annoyed with these smaller specimens – treat them with respect and release them carefully as they will one day be the knobbies that you will be bragging to your mates about catching. Often their aggressiveness towards baits will mean you are constantly rebaiting and releasing smaller specimens. In amongst these hordes of juveniles, there are usually a few larger, wary specimens

lurking around the fringes. Using larger baits will often entice them in once the pickers have had a crack and berleyed the water with their antics. Tougher baits such as salted mackerel, bonito and tuna fillets are great offerings, especially in conjunction with softer baits such as pilchard that can be ripped apart easily, creating a feeding frenzy amongst the smaller specimens. The pilchard creates a bit of berley and the tougher fillet bait remains on the hook to entice the lurking knobbies. Other great baits for snapper include mullet fillet, gar strips, squid, pike fillet, large green prawns, small live baits and even chicken fillet. Obviously fresh is best however plenty of quality snapper are caught on quality frozen baits, which are a lot easier to acquire. Snapper are also suckers for a well-presented lure. Cast and retrieve offerings can include soft plastics (jerk shads, paddle-tails, curl-tails and all manner or crustacean profiles), vibration baits (both hard and soft) and numerous types of jigs. Drifting across productive looking grounds such as the fringes of the bay islands, the artificial reefs, and any shallow rubble or coffee rock areas while casting and retrieving these lures is a recipe for success. Stealth in the shallow water is a key to heightened success and those with electric motors will be able to reposition quietly. Once a drift is finished and you are well away from your chosen fishing area (and preferably the area others are fishing)

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Justin Harding with a cracker Brisbane River mulloway recently hooked on a live bait fished on light line during an afternoon session. start your motor and skirt well wide of your drift line to begin a new drift. It only takes one idiot to drive over shallow grounds with a noisy two-stroke motor while they sound it out to totally shut it down for all the others fishing the area. The shallower the water is, the more likely that this will be the case. Casting up current and retrieving your lures back to the boat with the current provides the best presentation. Slow retrieves with occasional changes of pace or subtle hops will generally work a treat. With soft plastics I definitely recommend some form of scent to mask the human smells, sunscreen and possible fuel residue that may be on your fingers. I mainly use the Pro-Cure range and S-Factor, however there are plenty of great ones available. Trolling lures is another successful way to tempt a few snapper. Most lures that dive in excess of 4m will work well when trolled around the aforementioned grounds. Using an electric motor to do this will increase your chances considerably. The edges of channels and drop-offs are also worth trolling, as are the shallower sections of artificial reefs such as the Bill Turner and East Coochie. By-catch can include grass sweetlip, estuary cod, mackerel, big bream, flathead and occasional others, especially the undesirable grinners. LUDERICK Luderick are a species worth chasing during winter. They are a great target on those days that are too windy to head out in the bay. A short session can produce several fish that can be processed to provide tasty white fillets for the table. I do nearly all my luderick fishing from a landbased perspective, however boating anglers will have a

broader array of locations at their beckoning. Locations where weeds such as cabbage (string, purple and black) grow are worth targeting. Commonly these areas will include rock walls, harbour entrances, collapsed mangrove banks and ocean rocks. If you check out an area at low tide, you will soon see where the weed is growing. Collect some for bait and return on the higher stages of the tide and you should be able to produce a few luderick. Luderick fishing is a little different to many other forms of fishing. Weed baits are suspended beneath a float (commonly close to the bottom) and drifted along with the current close to the structure. Often you will need to adjust the depth of the bait to locate where they are feeding. Weight your floats to be just above neutral buoyancy so that the luderick needs minimal effort to pull it under and they don’t detect the resistance. When your float dips down (or it rises), strike to set the hook on one of these estuarine brawlers. Long, soft rods will absorb the luderick’s lunges and a centrepin reel will allow the float to drift along unrestricted. Floating line, sneck style hooks, split shots, fluorocarbon leaders, float stoppers and a few other items are required for successful luderick fishing. Check out my techniques article in this issue for a little more about the tackle required for successful luderick fishing. BAY PELAGICS Even during winter the bay will offer up pelagic species. Longtail tuna are the prize capture, however the large schools are often hard to find. You might find less than a handful of tuna in one area

and they are usually spread out and just feeding casually. Offerings such as pencil poppers, stickbaits, chromed slices and jerk shad plastics can all work, depending on the tuna’s mood. I generally opt for a stickbait that I can work reasonably slowly such as a Nomad 115mm Madscad or a pencil popper. Other pelagics that can still be caught include school mackerel, bonito, mac tuna and bullet tuna, although they can often be a little fussy in their diet. Often the channels and adjacent flats will hold the smaller tunas and bonito and school mackerel may still be caught around the shipping channel beacons and artificial reefs.

MULLOWAY A favourite species for many SEQ anglers during the cooler months is the mighty mulloway. Often referred to as ‘ghosts of the estuary’ due to their elusive nature and whitish coloration in the water, mulloway are now a fairly common capture for anglers fishing South East Queensland’s estuarine waters and Moreton Bay. Within the bay mulloway are often taken as by-catch by those targeting snapper and other species on baits and soft plastics. Specifically targeting them can greatly increase your results. Within the river and creek systems, mulloway can be caught in good numbers and to respectable sizes. With the minimum size limit set at 75cm, any fish kept for the table will provide a good yield of tasty fillets. Mulloway can commonly be caught to lengths in excess of a metre with trophy specimens even reaching weights of over 35kg, although fish approaching this weight are very rare in this neck of the woods. Fishing live baits such as large mullet, pike, yakkas and slimy mackerel is probably the best way to try and secure a larger specimen with night time sessions in the major channels and deeper holes being your best bet. However, numbers of smaller mulloway to around 120cm are fairly common captures and are taken on both baits and lures within the Brisbane River, Logan River, Caboolture River, Jumpinpin area, Pumicestone Passage, Moreton Bay and many other creek and rivers both north

Blair Valentine caught this longtail tuna out from Tangalooma in a borrowed tinny while holidaying at the resort recently.

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and south of Brisbane. Other quality baits such as banana prawns, herring, fresh squid, mullet fillets, tuna strips and even pilchards will tempt mulloway, and a live offering is definitely the go if you want the best chance. In the bay, mulloway are predominately caught around the artificial reefs and wrecks. Often they can be located using good sounder skills. Present a vibration bait, soft plastic or micro-jig, or obviously live offerings also work in this situation and are the best option if you prefer the more relaxed approach of anchoring and drifting a few offerings aft. In the Brisbane River, mulloway can be located in a broad array of locations. The dredge holes along the retaining wall at the mouth, Claras Rocks, the declines into the main river basin, the deeper holes along the front of most wharves and

in most shallow water areas around the bay islands and mainland and also in the channels and flats. Specific targeting will reap rewards, however any bait in the water (and even some soft plastics) will be pounced upon by a squid. Shallow areas where clean water flows over structure such as rubble, reef, rock or weed are prime areas to cast a few squid jigs. These prawn-profiled squid lures are generally worked with slow winding and occasional pauses in shallow water or hopped erratically in the deeper areas. Deeper channels can also hold good numbers of squid and simply drifting with an egi or baited skewer is all you need to do to locate a few. Around the sandy flats and channel edges squid will even hold on areas of discoloured sand, so these are worth a few casts, especially along the

decent numbers of tailor being caught, many in the rivers and estuaries. Night time and early morning sessions in the Scarbough/Redcliffe area (including the Woody Point Jetty, Hornibrook Bridge, Scarborough Jetty and from the numerous rock groins and concrete structures) have been producing legal tailor. The Manly rock wall, Wellington Point Jetty, Gateway Bridge platforms and other locations have also been worth floating out a few baits such as small pilchards, whitebait, hardyheads and even fillet strips. Casting all manner of lures will also produce a few. Boating anglers have access to a much broader array of locations. The Brisbane River has held quite a few quality tailor and the easiest fishing has come to those casting lures or drifting baits around lighted areas in the lower reaches (below the

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Cold weather and clear water mean bulk squid. These tasty cephalopods are great fun to catch and can be taken readily by land-based anglers. jetties (adhere to approach channel edges on the falling restrictions), the ledge just tide. Squid will lie in ambush upriver from the sewerage in these areas and prey on chute and many other baitfish and crustaceans, locations are all worth which are forced from the checking out if mulloway are banks into the main channel on your wish list. with the falling tide. At night, lighted locations There are many mainland can encourage baitfish and areas where anglers can prawn activity, which in target squid land-based. turn can attract predators Bankside spots including such as mulloway, threadfin the Wynnum and Manly NEW RELEASE and tailor. Mulloway have precinct, Wellington Point become an almost year- Jetty, Scarborough foreshore, round target in South East Brighton and Shorncliffe Queensland over the last foreshores, Victoria Point few years, however the area and many others are cooler months will definitely worth looking. increase your chances of Night sessions can be tangling with a few. especially rewarding and SQUID many anglers are able to A dining delight for locate the squid using highboth humans and saltwater powered (usually minimum predators is the squid. Tiger, 150 lumen) head torches to arrow and bottle squid are the locate the squid before they main types found throughout even have a cast. However, our inshore waters. If a feed blind casting to areas such of calamari is on your wish as shallow weed beds, along list then you’ll mainly be rock walls, the edges of VELOCITY SPORTS targeting the tiger and arrow shadow lines and the lighted squid. Both can be found in areas around jetties, bankside roughly the same locations, restaurants and boat ramps however the arrows are will definitely hold you in definitely more common out good stead of scoring a few in the bay than around the succulent cephalopods. foreshore areas. The larger TAILOR tiger squid can be located Already I have seen some

Gateway Bridge) during the darkened hours. Trolling or casting lures along the retaining wall at the mouth and around the Gateway Bridge and numerous jetty pylons will also reap rewards. The Amity rock wall, Red Beach area, around the Bribie Bridge and numerous other spots have also been worth targeting. As yet many beaches have been a little quiet but this should improve over the next month or so. CONCLUSION With the cooler conditions there have been some quality targets coming to the fore. Anglers are still managing to find species such as school mackerel, crabs, prawns, cod, threadfin, tunas and many other worthy targets. I find colder conditions less enjoyable to fish in than the CRUSADER warmer months, but with the array of quality species on offer I’m still able to drag my carcass out of a warm bed to wet a line. Fill the thermos, throw on a jumper, trackie-daks and a beanie and get amongst them.

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Bottom fishing will pick up in cooler temps BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

The bottom fishing should improve this month as the water temperature continues to drop a little more. Recently, we haven’t had a cold snap as yet, but let’s hope it’s not far away, because it normally signals the start of the snapper season. This time last season the 29, 33 and 35 fathom reefs were producing some quality fish and on charter we had

some sessions on the 33s and fish up to 5-6kg were quite common. Free spool or float lining fishing is the way to target these better quality fish and fishing as light as possible is the key. All of the mentioned reefs predominantly run north to south and all several kilometres long, so with the use of a sea anchor you can sometimes get quite a long drift along the reef, covering plenty of different ground and fish schools. These reefs are in close proximity to one another, so

and samsonfish lately and although they aren’t as thick as they were during the warmer months we’ve still been boating some solid fish. Mulloway will also be worth chasing over the next couple of months,

mackerel and tailor along with tailor and bonito fillets will do the business. For those anglers wanting to chase pelagics, there will be a few solid Spanish mackerel and wahoo about that will respond well to a large live bait.

Anglers have had success on school-sized amberjack with a few trag and juvenile snapper mixed in recently.

A few solid amberjack and a nice pearl perch that ate a live bait.

if one’s not firing then it’s just a short run to another bit of ground. Most of our snapper on charter are caught on pilchards, but we also do well on fresh fillet baits such as bonito, mac tuna and tailor. Another key to this style of fishing is having a reel with light free spool so baits can run down quickly through the water column with the lighter leads. When snapper fishing, your

sounder doesn’t have to be lit up like a Christmas tree to catch a fish. Scattered flecks up off the bottom are all you need to catch good fish. The wider grounds such as Deep Tempest and the 90m ground to its southeast should also start to hold good numbers of snapper and should be well worth the run out there. We’ve been doing a bit of live baiting for amberjack

Another solid bag-out on amberjack and trag. especially on the closer reefs. Anywhere along Shallow Tempest holding bait schools, the higher lumps on the 29s and the 50 and 60m lines south of the Cathedrals will all hold mulloway. Live pike, slimy

• 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.

n o e b o t t Wan f o r e v o C the ? y l h t n o M Fishing Do you love your monthly issue of Fishing Monthly? Do you think it’s about time you were on the cover? Well, we think that too, and are offering you the chance to do just that. The June, July and August issues of Queensland, NSW and Victoria/Tasmania FMs will all feature readers’ pics on the front covers. And there’s no reason why it can’t be you... Entry is simple. Email us your cover-worthy pic. Remember, though, that it needs to be the right composition and resolution to work. After that, it just needs to get through the Grumpy Old Men committee (Steve Morgan and Matt Drinkall) and then BOOM, you’re the latest cover model.

Be creative - we like images that aren’t just ‘person holding fish’. • • • • • • •

Other parameters of which you need to take note: Portrait format (photo must be taller than it is wide). Leave enough room for a magazine masthead at the top of of the image. Leave enough room for the bottom banner and bar code area. Shoot in the highest resolution your camera can take. Use fill-in flash to help remove any shadows under caps or biminis. Live fish look way better than dead ones. Any fish must be legally captured (within season/size limits).

Head not too high in the shot to allow for Masthead Portrait format

And then email your image to: frontcovercomp@fishingmonthly.com.au with a description of the what/when/where/how of the capture. Be sure to include your details, too, because we’ll post out a framed copy of the winning covers to the entrant.

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Anglers are harnessing the cold NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

As we head into the depths of winter for this year, it has actually been good to see some cool weather, unlike last year’s unseasonally warm winter. The cool weather has helped the fishing in the northern bay with good reports trickling through from anglers who have harnessed the cold. FLATHEAD It’s great to see numbers of flathead have started to increase as the larger breeders have moved into our systems. The Pumicestone has been on fire with lizards and our other estuaries have been showing great form too. Bongaree (outside the IGA) and Donnybrook have both been producing with the dropoffs outside Spinnakers also delivering some good fish. Moving south, the mouth of Newport waterways and Margate Beach have been working well but, be warned, the pike population has been

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limitless. Under the Ted Smout Bridge has been a favourite, and the flats outside Dohles Rocks has also been found to be good. The mouth of Cabbage Tree Creek has been popular lately with fresh baits working well there. On the soft plastic front, loud and proud has been the motto, with the southeasterly winds stirring up local waterways. BREAM As these guys should be in the thick of their spawn, numbers have still been steady with size being a little lacking at times. Most of the larger fish usually feed up at night with the bigger tides leaving the medium to above legal-size fish stalking the daylight hours. The peninsula has been the go with slower presented plastics when the westerlies have stilled the surface chop. North Reef, Queens Beach and Shields Street have been the pick of spots with snapper fishers landing great bream as by-catch in these areas. The Wells have been fishing great after a three-year substandard fishless sabbatical, which has been awesome for the local kayak fishers. The Pine has been quiet on the bream front where Cabbage Tree and Nudgee Beach have been fairing well, especially on the run-out tides. Hardbody lures have been the go in these areas. Try Atomic Crank 38s, Daiwa Spikes, Jackall Chubbys and Cranka Crabs. The 2.5” ZMan GrubZ rigged on 1/16oz TT HeadlockZ have also been playing the right tune for some anglers. Be sure to scent your plastics for that added appeal. SNAPPER Juvenile snapper quantities have been slowly building into this winter with quality fish being few and far between. Cooks Rocks at

Numbers of flathead have started to increase as the larger breeders have moved into the systems. Bribie has been the surprise candidate for the pick of spots with Shield Street at Redcliffe also putting up its hand. The Ripples have been showing mixed bags of juvenile snapper and bream lately and the Bribie Bridge has rewarded night anglers who have braved the cold. Soft plastics have been working well in these areas. A slow retrieve with big hops works quite well. The abundance of bait on the peninsula has been like a beacon to the reds. Tailor by-catches have been rather prevalent and sometimes painful. SQUID Squid have started their annual spawning run on the peninsula with clear days and westerly winds being the choice conditions to chase these cephalopods. The water clarity has been high on the peninsula assisting anglers. Mud Island and Green Island are producing good catches. Fish the southern side of Mud

Island at the top of the tide and be sure to drift to cover more ground. SAND CRABS Deception Bay, Bramble Bay and the Pumicestone Passage have been the pick of areas, however precision driving is often needed to navigate through these areas at times. Be sure to have your pots marked with the appropriate details as listed on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website. TIP OF THE MONTH Ever been badgered for having too much gear? Well this is the time where having multiple outfits comes in handy. Having a different outfit for different species can be handy when a heavier leader is needed to chase bigger fish while you are fishing light to get the bites and vice versa. Sometimes when the fish aren’t biting ask yourself whether you are fishing too heavy? It’s all trial and error!

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Now is the perfect time to head offshore NOOSA

Peter Wells

With the start of the winter months we are going to see those crisp, clear and still mornings that are perfect for heading offshore. The closer reefs like Sunshine have seen some great action with cobia, snapper, tuskfish, sweetlip and the odd coral trout all hitting the decks. Fishing baits hard to the reef with a size 10 ball sinker has claimed some great fish.

pearl perch and cod, while the Hards and the Barwon Banks have fished well for tuskfish, pearl perch, hussar, cobia and Moses perch. To the south, Murphys Reef and the Gneerings have had snapper, grass sweetlip and Moses perch taking squid, slimy mackerel and pillies. Most fish have been taken at first light, so be early. There have been quite a few schools of mac tuna smacking baits on the surface, so make sure you have your spin rod rigged and ready with a metal lure in the 20-40g size.

Declan Fitzgerald caught this 1.3m, 18kg Spanish mackerel on PE3 with a Shimano 120mm RockSlide stickbait after an awesome 30-minute fight just off Coolum Reef. The snapper are really starting to come on and as the water continues to cool we will see both size and bag qualities improve. Lately, most of the fish have been in the 2-3kg range. The best baits have been live yakkas, pillies and squid, and a slow floater rig in a good berley trail seems to be the most productive method. Soft plastics and micro-jigs have also been working well on the reefs. Up on North Reef there has been some great action with cobia, Spanish mackerel, pearl perch, Moses perch, snapper and tuskfish all featuring on catch lists. There are still a few pelagics around; most of the Spanish are 10kg+ fish. This is that great time of the year where there may not be as many, but the ones you get are high quality. Heading a little further afield, the reefs off Double Island Point have been good for snapper, cobia, red emperor, tuskfish, 42

JUNE 2018

Families have enjoyed some great fishing in the Noosa River with some good catches of whiting being reported. The top of the tide and the first hours of the run-out have been the prime times with

Gympie Terrace, the dog beach and Frying Pan all fishing well. Live worms, freshly pumped yabbies and peeled prawns have all been the go-to baits for catching a feed. Plenty of quality whiting have also been caught on surface lures with the Strada Virals claiming some quality fish. Flatties are still in great numbers with the channels around the river mouth being the most productive. Soft plastics and vibes have been working. Lures like the Fuze Pulse soft vibes have been popular with anglers, and Chasebaits Curly Baits and Paddle Baits in 3” have also got the runs on the board. The winter bream are really starting to come on with good numbers being caught. The river mouth and the deeper channels in the lower sections of the river on the run-out tide have fished well along with the bridges and structure that lines the river. Very lightly weighted baits fished in a well-maintained berley trail have claimed some good fish. The bigger predatory fish continue to be in great numbers in the system. Giant, tealeaf, golden and big-eye trevally as well as queenfish and tailor have all been landed. Some popular lures that have produced the goods are Strada Torment 80s, Strada Viral 85s and 110s and the ever-popular Storm Chug Bug. Plenty of fish have been taken around the Frying Pan and Woods Bays and the current line at the entrance to the Woods Bays. First light and dusk have been the prime times. Anglers have also had success fishing around the moored boats in the Woods Bays, throwing plastics as the sun gets a little higher. Other options are the deeper sections of

Young Harry Down with a cracker diamond trevally taken from around Tewantin in the Noosa River on light gear while chasing bream.

the headlands have been very productive with good catches of bream, tailor and some legal snapper. Live worms and pipis have been working very well for the whiting, as well as whole pilchards, mullet and bonito strip baits on the larger fish. The Sunshine Beach down to Marcus Beach stretch has fished well for whiting, bream and schoolsized mulloway. On the southern beaches goodsize dart have come from along Mudjimba Beach. The start of the run-out tide is the prime time. Chopper-sized tailor have been taken from the gutters around Yaroomba and off the rocks. Pilchards on a gang of 3x4/0 or 3/0 hooks has secured the fish. The better tidal phase has been the run-in. Reports have shown that there are some good mulloway around after dark using mullet fillets, whole squid and beach

the river like in front of Coast Guard, around the back of the Noosa Sound and the Tewantin stretch of the river. In the Maroochy River, bream are also on the chew with plenty of quality fish coming from around Pincushion Island at the mouth of the river. The best baits have been mullet fillets, mullet gut and live yabbies. Trevally have been smashing surface lures like the Sugapen and Zippin Ziggys around the current line outside Eudlo Creek and the entrance to the Twin Waters canals. Flathead have been caught in the lower reaches on small pillies and prawn profile soft plastics. The Black Banks have been seeing some quality whiting on the start of the run-out tide with most fish taking worms and yabbies. Good-size tailor have been

Rob Bauer with a very nice whiting – Rob was fishing the Maroochy River flats with a freshly pumped yabby and got a great feed of whiting, the best going 39cm.

Father-son team, Cleveland and Riley Maltman, picked up a pair (52 and 55cm) of sweetlip from around the Gneerings.

in the river mouth and some choppers have been caught opposite the jet ski run. Most of these fish were taken on the top of the tide and the start of the run-out. Throwing small metal lures like the Sea Rock Pilchard slugs around 15-40g should land you a feed. On the beaches the section from Teewah Beach to Double Island on Noosa’s North Shore has seen a lot of action with bream, flathead, whiting and tailor all on the score card. The rocks around

worms with the new moon being the key. Good spots include the gutter north of Stumers Creek, Yaroomba Rocks and Pin Cushion up to Marcoola Beach. • Don’t forget to check in to www.fishingnoosa.com. au for all the latest up to date info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Davo’s Tackle World Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Innovation is the key WEIPA

Dave Donald

As I pointed out in last month’s Fishing and Politics column, Queensland’s fisheries management has been on a downward spiral for at least 50 years in spite of repeated attempts by both commercial and recreational fishers to remind Fisheries officials and the relevant ministers from both sides of politics of that very fact. Ralph De Lacey’s exposé of the sometimes-chaotic circumstances involved in the haphazard development of Queensland’s net, trawl and marketing regulations in his book The North Queensland Fishing Eldorado documents a journey of ‘development at all costs’ with scant regard for the long-term future of the industry. Unfortunately, this philosophy based on the premise of endless marine resources still persists, particularly in political circles, to this very day. The continuing focus on jobs, growth and development still largely ignores the status of the inhabitants that swim in our rivers and seas and the increasingly effective methods used to harvest those areas. Similar scenarios are happening all over the globe, and it would appear that modern fisheries management and politicians, in many cases, still haven’t learnt from previous mistakes and are ready to risk the future of their fish stocks in their eternal quest to make economic figures look good. There is no better trigger for radical change to management policies than the economic ruin that follows a fishery collapse. A hard lesson requires an even harder response and in those examples that have resulted in positive outcomes, there are lessons that can be applied to fisheries under pressure that will help them recover before problems become severe. Is our current Fisheries Review scrutinizing these examples in search of an effective solution to our obvious problems? The solutions would appear to be there, in plain sight! A commercial fisher from Lakes Entrance, Victoria, recently travelled the world as part of an industry award, the Nuffield Scholarship, investigating how management regimes were applied in different countries. Wayne Dredge’s tour took him to the Americas, UK and Europe. In British Columbia, he reported that a radical revue of their practices had rejuvenated a fishery that had been shut down in the mid 1990s due to overharvesting and high grading via trawling. The solution involved integrating all seven of their fisheries into a single entity under one management plan that had

operators monitored either electronically or by on-board observers every time they left port, as well as having their catch limited by an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ). Mr Dredge found that none of the commercial fishers he spoke with had wanted monitoring on their vessels initially, but now see it as a very positive, indeed necessary, step. “It makes fishers individually accountable by making their activities 100% transparent. This means they can prove they are doing the right thing while those doing the wrong thing can be individually penalized by authorities instead of punishing the entire sector for the actions of a few,” Dredge explained. I read this statement with a vivid sense of déjà vu. What Mr Dredge is implying would appear to support my recent comments criticising those commercial fishers who ‘steal’ from the fishery by operating illegally and unethically. Our new reforms have to include the regulations necessary to ensure that all of our fishers operate in an open and transparent manner. The benefits in terms to long-term market accreditation, community acceptance and value adding are glaringly obvious. Mr Dredge also commented, “Fisheries managers, and indeed politicians whose portfolios cover fisheries, must also concede that while Australia’s fisheries are in good shape environmentally, the way in which they are administered is outdated, counterproductive, inefficient and in contrast to a more ecosystem-based model.’ It makes activists like myself, who have been hammering away at our fishing bureaucracy for decades with a similar message, question whether all our thousands of words in submissions and hundreds of hours on committees have penetrated even a couple of synapses in the collective brain that purports to run our fishery in a ‘sustainable’ manner. I understand Mr Dredge was scheduled to address some of our review stakeholder committees. Perhaps his extremely important message may eventually find its way into the process. It’s definitely long overdue. The efficiency of monofilament nets is another subject of Mr Dredge’s study. It’s been a controversial subject for a very long time. Mr De Lacey mentioned the industry concern regarding its use way back in the 1970s, not long after its introduction. Again, the issues regarding mono nets are not just confined to Australia; some countries or states are already banning their use, particularly in offshore waters. As part of their strategies to reduce the sometimes massive amounts of by-catch

that results from the use of large monofilament nets, conservation groups World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) have not only been calling for a significant reduction in their use but have taken the unprecedented step of actively purchasing commercial licenses. Crowd funding campaigns centred around halting the deaths of large marine megafauna (dugong, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, large sharks), allowed WWF to recently raise enough funds to purchase three licenses from the Great Barrier Reef lagoon area. The fact that these considerable sums were contributed within time frames of a couple of weeks gives some inkling of the degree of public concern about the environmental impacts of these controversial fishing methods. As part of their submission to the Fisheries Review, WWF is calling for a net free area extending from Cooktown to Cape York on the East Coast, an initiative already supported by their acquisition of the only active netting license in the Princess Charlotte Bay area. The logical extension of this net free area would include the western side of Cape York Peninsula down as far as Cape Keer Weer, something that has already been advocated in that area for over 20 years. Few waterways in the northern part of the Peninsula have sufficient populations of marketable species to support full-time commercial net fishing anyway, another fact that is confirmed by Mr De Lacey’s hands-on account. To achieve the 60% of original stock goal of the current Fisheries Review, it is blindingly obvious that substantial reductions in commercial effort are required. That means that licenses must go; this will require large amounts of money either from government or within the industry. The successful campaign from WWF should be seen as a win-win scenario for both sides, as it has removed effort outside of the normal funding process, and probably even raised remaining license values. It was therefore disturbing and almost laughable that the commercial fishers representative body vehemently protested the WWF taking these licenses out of circulation altogether. That’s a ludicrous situation in my books and shows just how out of touch our commercial fishers are with the reform process. There’s a lot more to come, so it’s certainly about time the industry dragged itself into the 21st century! There may be a message there for our management team as well. JUNE 2018

Radical reef fishing in June HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

Traditionally the start of May sees the weather conditions begin to stabilise and in June we get those glorious runs of fantastic weather that will allow more anglers to head further offshore to get stuck into some outstanding reef fishing. The eastern side of

rapidly retrieved knife jig. For those with the ability to fish electric reels and drop to depths exceeding 200-300m, their efforts have been rewarded with good numbers of flametail, blue-eye, pearl perch, bar cod and ruby snapper. There have been a few boats trolling heavy tackle on the shelf and it has been paying dividends with reports of 2-4 bites per day from a mix of striped, black and blue

Josh with a solid trout that he caught while reef fishing the gutters. Fraser Island has been fishing incredibly well for both reef and pelagic species and should continue to do so over the cooler months. For those heading north and crossing the breaksea spit, the shallower grounds of 30-50m have been fishing well for tuskfish, sweetlip, hussar, nannygai, coronation trout, snapper, red emperor and green jobfish on fresh bait. The deeper grounds towards the continental shelf in the 80-120m range have seen pearlies stacking up in large numbers with snapper mixed in. For those wishing to get stretched, kingfish and amberjack have been schooled up in large numbers and love a

Pearlies are on the chew and have taken a liking to baits and soft plastics.

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JUNE 2018

marlin; the majority of the fish are around the 300lb class. Down the southern end of Fraser across the Wide Bay bar and out from DI, the reef fishing has been firing! Reports have come in of tuskfish, pearl perch, snapper, reds and coral trout being caught in good numbers and crews will continue to enjoy this incredible fishing for months to come. Throughout the central bay the gutters are teeming with life and fishing exceptionally well. Ample numbers of quality coral trout, tuskfish, sweetlip, nannygai, Moses perch and cod have been caught on both live and dead baits and tea bagged soft plastics. We are entering prime time to target big reds on the northern gutter and although their numbers are not as prevalent as they once were, they can still be caught if targeted correctly. Snapper and mangrove jack will also be worthy targets at this time of year as they congregate in quite large numbers, generally feeding hard during the dark

periods just after sunset or early in the morning. Berley can be very effective in drawing in both species and stimulating a feeding frenzy. Anglers can drift lightly weighted baits such as pilchards or live pike down and it will generally be intercepted before hitting the bottom. Pelagics, such as Spanish mackerel and cobia, can be a nuisance while reef fishing at this time of year, often taking live baits or a soft plastics on their way to the bottom in search of better quality reef fish, however fishing areas holding less bait will often eliminate this issue. Set the alarms for 3am and gear up for those chilly early morning runs as snapper have moved into areas like the Burrum 8 Mile, 25 Fathom Hole, southern and northern gutters and throughout Platypus Bay and wide of Roonies. The volume of fish and size will only increase

over the next few months as we proceed through winter. Larger aggregations of fish will be found in locations where yakka schools are in greater numbers, as this is a five-star meal for a hungry snapper. It’s worth searching around and paying close attention to your sounder until you locate the food source. There are numerous methods and techniques to target snapper, including trolling deep diving hardbodies, jigging micro-jigs, hopping soft plastics and anchoring up and creating a berley trail then drifting a bait back down it. All of these are very effective when done correctly and can bring success on any given day. Fire up the smoker boxes! As the water temperature begins to drop and large masses of herring move into areas like the Burrum 8 Mile, 6 Mile at Arch Cliffs, Red Neds and around the many inshore beacons such as NU2 and Fairway, large numbers of school mackerel will be close behind. If last season was anything to go off we should see another incredible year on the school mackerel. This species would have to be one of the easiest fish to target as they congregate in such large numbers. The two most effective methods of targeting them are to spin a 35g flasher spoon up from the bottom and to flick out a bait, whether it’s a pilchard or a live herring on a set of gangs. Snapper have moved into our inshore waters and are congregating around structures holding baitfish. Areas such as Moon Ledge, the Channel Hole, Three Ships and the Goori are all worthy locations to try your luck with fish up to 70cm being reported. Anglers trolling deep diving hardbodies or hopping soft plastics have been tempting the better classes of fish, and bait fishos have been experiencing great success on the juvenile snapper. Targeting the low light periods and evenings as always will produce the best results, especially when there is the least amount of boat traffic on the water. The flats fishing on the western side of Fraser at this time of year is exceptional with the traditionally stable weather patterns providing gin-clear waters ideal for the avid fly and lure angler. For the flyfishers, golden trevally, GTs, giant herring and queenfish will be found mooching the shallow country south of Moon Point in search of their next feed and are best targeted on the last of the making tide around the mangrove line. Lure anglers can experience some incredible finesse-style fishing at this time of year using smaller topwater presentations,

Snapper time! A well-presented soft plastic can often be too hard to refuse for a hungry, roaming snap. such as Bassday Sugapens or Jackson Ebi Panic and hopping lightly weighted soft plastics. Lures like the ZMan 2.5” Grub in bloodworm are a definite go-to for whiting, bream and flathead. The last of the making tide is always preferable for whiting and bream as they forage in and around the mangrove line. The mouths of many of the adjacent

seaweed or broken rubble. The popular locations to drop the pots are out the front of the Burrum River, Gatakers Bay and off Wathumba Creek. Squid – whether you use them for large cut baits out on the reef or cut them into rings, crumb them and deep-fry them, now is the time of year to stock up on some 2.5 jigs and start targeting them in the bay. They prefer to congregate

The author with two solid bream caught while working the flats on Fraser Island. creeks are holding good numbers of fish. Flathead can be caught during this time, however they are best targeted on the run-out tide as the water drains off the flats, forcing baitfish to drop back into areas including drains and creek mouths. The mud crab population has certainly slowed down over the past month with the gradual drop in water temperature, however don’t put your crab pots away for the season just yet, as sand crabs are a prime target over the colder months and can be caught in quite large numbers. Although they don’t have a possession limit, please take only what you require to ensure we have stocks of this tasty crustacean for many years to come. Sand crabs can be caught throughout the bay and likely to reside around areas of sand with seagrass,

around some form of cover or structure for protection as this allows them to blend in with their surrounding. The preferred areas to target them are around rocky outcrops, seagrass beds, coffee rock and the inshore islands. Winter whiting numbers are increasing and starting to congregate in certain areas forming large schools which can be easily found due to the large number of tinnies all fishing within close proximity of one another. The grounds off Gatakers Bay and towards Toogoom traditionally produce greater numbers, however the better class of fish can often be found in the deeper channel on the southern side of Big Woody down to the Picnic Islands. Live yabbies or small cut baits, such as strips of squid, sand worms and peeled prawns are working best.

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Good fishing if you can make it offshore RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

It’s still a bit of a mission getting offshore with

the weather, but it’s getting better. Offshore we haven’t been breaking any records for days at sea, but the trips we have done have been

On the beach, good whiting are still being caught around Inskip Point but there have been days with annoying weed to deal with. In the same area there are plenty of deep gutters and I’ve had reports of chopper tailor in them at dusk. June is one of my favourite months

for my favourite fish, pearl perch. In the past we have experienced many bag-outs of these delicious table fish. • To enjoy a day on the water with Keely Rose Fishing Charters phone Ed Falconer 0407 146 151 or visit www. keelyrosefishingcharters .com.au.

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

A happy crew with a big catch of snapper. on fire. Some good quality snapper have made an appearance with the help of berley, so it’s not taking long for the action to start. Slowly floating pilchards and soft plastics down is working the best. Pearl perch have also shifted up a gear with some absolute horses around the 6kg mark.

Big estuary cod and some thumping red emperor are also on the chew offshore. Live bait is a must for both these big guys at the moment. We had a bit of a late run of spotted and school mackerel and when they fired up we had so much action. The 30g Silver Twister lures did most of the damage.

Paul with a huge 15kg red emperor.

The cold has set in already BUNDABERG

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Queensland certainly got an early winter blast last month and the locals felt it. By the locals, of course I mean the fish although we humans were certainly rugged up against those cold westerlies. With winter setting in it’s time to target the more temperate species that move into our area with the cooler water temperature. This is why our region is so great to fish, we have the best of both worlds! THE BURNETT RIVER The Burnett has been

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JUNE 2018

producing some great fishing lately and this won’t change too much, just the species. The water will get clearer and cooler. The grunter that have been a regular catch for the bait fishos will still be around this month but as the water clears you may have to switch to lighter leaders and live yabbies or prawns to get the good ones. We will see the bream move in and start to fatten up as they get ready for their spawning run. They will take live offerings and fresh bait on light tackle. The mouth has seen schools of small tuna chasing baitfish and they have had both Spanish and school mackerel with them. Trolling lures or baits around the leads should see you get into some great pelagic action. WOODGATE The prawns have been on again at Woodgate, which certainly gets the boats moving. Just remember the possession limit on prawns is a 10L bucket. Gregory River has been producing some nice whiting, bream and flathead around its mouth and as the weather cools this should only improve. Upstream there were some nice grunter being caught mostly on bait but there have been a few keen anglers getting them on soft plastics. Theodolite Creek saw a lot of traffic over Easter but should have recovered by now, so pump some fresh yabbies and chase those whiting and flathead on the flats as the tide rises. Off the beach, the whiting, dart and flathead have been regular captures

Blake Ehrlich with a nice yellowfin tuna from a recent visit to Bundaberg. and (surprise, surprise) fresh prawns seem to be the gun bait. OFFSHORE The weather has been very patchy but there have been a few windows where the big boats have managed to get amongst the reef fish. Coral trout, red throat, hussar and parrot have all been on the menu and, other than the trout, they should all keep biting during June. The wrecks offshore have plenty of cobia and Spanish mackerel on them at the moment and live baits have been best. The sharks have been giving anglers a

hard time in the last few months but as the water temps drop they will hopefully move around a bit and give us a chance to get the big fish to the boat. I saw a great tip for those guys using messy bait like cuttlefish heads – take zip lock lunch bags with you and once you have broken open the block divide the bait up in the bags and put them back into the esky. They stay fresher and if you don’t use them they can just go straight in the freezer when you get home ready for the next trip.

Mondy is alive and well for seasonal change LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

Since the flood at Monduran during October 2017 and fluctuations in the dam’s level over the summer period it has been difficult to gauge how many barra still remain in the lake. Now that the lake’s level has stabilised over the last few months, it’s evident that Monduran is alive and well, but who would have thought

that our good old Monduran ‘winter bite sessions’ would prove to be been amazing? We have learned over the years that barra love to feed through the cooler months, but this season has been ridiculous so far, with literally 10-20 barra being boated by some anglers over the course of a day’s outing and numbers like 30-40 for other anglers. TOPWATER ACTION Recently the lake’s level was sitting at 99%. The recent water rise has covered old weed Monduran winter barra bite has been sensational!

There have been fantastic results for visiting anglers.

beds and lily pads creating fish lanes, alleyways and broken weed on popular points and bays. These areas will have any topwater fishing enthusiast salivating and are perfect for some surface action. The best bites have been in the early mornings and late afternoons. Surface lures, such as ZMan Pop Frogs, ZMan Hard Leg Frogs and Rapala Skitter Pops, have had proven results. These barra will also

run up and down these old weed edges, which have been covered in deeper water much further out from the existing shoreline. These edges are easy to find with side imaging sounders. Once you find barra moving along these edges, it’s best to start slow rolling suspending minnows and lightly weighted soft plastics. Some lures that have been working well are the Jackall Squirrels, Jackall Smash

Minnows, Rapala X-Raps and Shadow Raps, and in the soft plastics the ZMan 4” and 6” SwimmerZ, Pro Range Squidgies and Happy Rock Softies. STOCKING SUCCESS No doubt stocking fingerlings well up in the higher reaches of the lake’s vast rivers and creek systems amongst healthy weed beds have had proven results. Baby barra thrive at Monduran for a number of reasons. First is the sheer size of the lake; the lake is massive covering over 5500ha in surface area, giving barra free range without having to compete amongst themselves. Also, the lake is filled with an abundance of baitfish that would seemingly never run out. Thirdly, structure and weed beds throughout the lake create cover if needed and are crucial for survival. All in all, these contributing factors make Monduran a success story for anglers and wildlife enthusiasts alike. As long as we keep stocking fingerlings, we will preserve

this lake’s angling future for generations to come. ANOTHER VISIT FROM THE BALLINA BOYS! We recently had some anglers from Ballina staying with us on their annual Mondy barra pilgrimage. The boys worked hard for the amount of time they were here and based all their fishing around predicted almanac bite times and of course first light and last light bite times. The boys were well-rewarded for their efforts, boating a staggering 83 barra for five days of fishing between five anglers. Results like this come from plenty of research, seeking local knowledge prior to arrival and having a plan of attack in mind before you arrive. • For fishing info you can contact Rob through his Facebook page, Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters. For Camping and accommodation you can contact any of the helpful staff on 1800 228 754 and (07) 4157 3881 or email info@ lakem.com.au.

Great results at the HookUp GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

Weather-wise, May was much kinder then the previous months! We were lucky enough to jag a few good days at the start of Australia’s biggest family fishing competition: the Boyne Tannum HookUp. This event runs every year over the May Day long weekend, and attracts people from all over the country. It is both a live and dead fish competition, with most of your estuary species being live categories and offshore species dead. A big congratulations must go out to all the HookUp committee who work tirelessly to ensure this whole weekend runs well without any dramas. Now to the fish caught! There were some cracking fish caught over the weekend, including Josh O’Donohue’s Spanish mackerel which saw him take out Largest Mackerel as well as Largest Overall Fish. It came in at just under 30kg gutted and gilled! This was the first time the comp had held a teams category, and it was great to see team Salty Crew/LJ’s Compleat Angler taking out the live fish category. The team consisted of brothers Cameron and Brandon Gillet along with Richie O’Brian and Cameron’s partner Connie Mylrea. These guys put in a lot of time and effort into their fishing and tactics over the

weekend, and were rewarded for doing so. OFFSHORE With a few good days falling over weekends, many anglers were lucky enough to get out the reef and get a good feed. The cooler water is moving in, and so are the Spanish mackerel – and they’re in good numbers. The normal haunts of Rundle Island, Outer Rock and Jenny Linde banks are producing, and there are some absolute crackers coming from Rock Cod Shoals way as well. For those using lures, Halco Laser Pros have been catching their share, but the stand-out way to catch Spaniards has been

Big red emperor have begun to turn up for those who have put the effort in. Going to the same couple of spots every time the weather comes good isn’t the way to find big red emperor. Farming your current spots and spending time sounding for new spots will always produce more numbers and better quality fish. The bigger reds are all coming from big baits, and two of the best are whole mullet fillets and whole hussar fillets. Rigged neatly on a set of strong 7/0 or 8/0 gangs, those baits are pretty hard to beat. Sweetlip (red-throat emperor, spangled emperor etc)

Sean Ibbs managed this nice jack over the Boyne Tannum HookUp weekend. with the ever-reliable wolf herring. Rigged with a chin guard and a set of 9/0 or 10/0 gangs, they’re pretty hard to beat! Largemouth nannygai have been on the chew up north and on the wonky holes. The bigger fish have been coming on live baits and metal jigs.

are beginning to slow up, and the size is starting to get smaller on the shallower reefs. As the cool weather comes in we can expect those bigger fish to move into the deeper water, and become a little less prolific. I had expected the trout to slow up with the lipper but I could not have been more wrong. Over the past few weeks

every boat I’ve spoken to has been catching plenty of trout, and big ones at that! Sykes Reef, Broomfield and the wider shoals like Innamincka and Haberfield have been the stand-outs. INSHORE Inshore, the barra certainly haven’t slowed up with cold. If anything it’s given them one last crazy bite time before they slow up. There have been reports of 20+ fish coming from the dam in recent weeks. The top of the Boyne has been fishing extremely well too, with plenty of metre fish coming from up there. In the harbour the salmon have moved in and schools are terrorizing bait at all the usual haunts – the mouth of the Calliope, Fishermans Landing, Quoin Island and any rocky outcrop through the Narrows. Mangrove jack are beginning to slow as the water temperatures drop, although the ones that are being caught are absolute horses, with plenty coming in over that 50cm mark. Crabs have been steady, and we can expect them to stay that way over the coming weeks. As we move in into June we should start seeing more consistent weather patterns and more offshore fishing come into play. Salmon should have well and truly moved, and jacks and barra will begin to take a back seat to the cool weather species. The mackerel run should be on fire if early season fish are anything to go by. If the water temp stays right, we should see a few smaller marlin to start working their way down from up north.

Cameron Gillett with a quality barra that won a day category at the HookUp. Until then, happy fishing. • For more information on what’s biting, or to stock up with all the tackle and bait you need, drop into LJ’s Compleat Angler Gladstone

at the Gladstone Marina on Bryan Jordan Drive. You can also check out the latest news, photos and specials at Facebook Compleat Angler Gladstone.

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Winds are dropping out ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The cooler nights hit us quickly this year. We are still getting a bit of sting from the sun during the day, but certainly nothing like mid-summer. The winds appear to be dropping out, making it easy for everyone to get out wide. Plenty of mackerel and tuna are already being caught around the islands, anglers are still getting barra and salmon at the port, and there are plenty of flathead and whiting in the estuaries. THE FITZROY The river has been fishing well, with a number of people catching large barra. A good portion of these fish are coming from the port and the mouth of the river. The best way of targeting them at the moment is to find where they are schooled up and work the school with vibes or large plastics. When the fish are sitting deep, the

Andrew Cowley caught this flathead off the flats on fly at Great Keppel. smaller tides are definitely easier to fish. As the water temp continues to drop, the barra will move into the deeper holes along the river, along with the deeper gravel/ rubble patches. With the lure market full of wild and interesting lures, sometimes it pays to try some you have not used before. One example is the River2Sea Chasebaits Smash Squid. Not only have they been deadly on the reef, but plenty of salmon, grunter, jewies and barra have fallen victim to these lifelike lures.

RIVERS, CREEKS AND BEACHES Many of the local creeks and beaches have been fishing well. Coorooman has been holding many large grunter, jewies and flathead, good-sized salmon and some pretty decent bream. There has been a great amount of prawns and whitebait in the systems, both of which make great live bait. A good way of live baiting with prawns and whitebait is using a wide gape hook and a small sinker, just enough that the water flow won’t move the bait once it has settled.

Fishing run-out tides is definitely the key at the moment; working the drains as the tide runs out and sand/ mud bars as the water is draining off them can be very effective. On the lure side of things, casting into the drains and gutters with ZMans, Atomic Prongs and Gulps has worked surprisingly well also. The little 3” Gulp Minnow in the watermelon pearl colour has proven to be very good for grunter and bream. FRESHWATER LAGOONS With the weather cooling down, it’s slowly getting

Matt Hildebrandt with a nice saratoga caught from his Dream Kayak. harder and harder to get bites in our freshwater areas. Smaller surface lures and very shallow sub-surface lures have been the only way to get any bites. The afternoon has been the only

Darryl Yarrow with a tasty spotted mackerel from Outer Rock.

time of day that produces; after the water has heated all day, the fish rise to feed on any insects or terrestrials that are on the water. CRABBING Crabbing is pretty good at the moment, with many people catching a heap of bucks at the Corio Bay and Coorooman. Whole mullet are still doing the trick, like last month. Thankfully we are still getting patches of rain, enough to stir the crabs and keep them active and feeding on all the stuff coming out of the creeks after the rain. The crabs will eventually slow down, but for now they are still in good numbers.

The cold triggers the winter species bite YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

Finally we have received the cool blast that signals winter is here. Many of our local species need this trigger to get them fired up. Grunter, bream, flathead, whiting, blue salmon and queenfish are all very active over the winter months. Blue salmon have picked up in most of the local creeks and the river lately. Corio Bay and Coorooman Creek are both showing quality blues at the moment. You can start looking around the

mouth and work upstream along the banks and any of the yabby beds on the rising tide. Blues can be quite noisy as they smash small whiting, poddy mullet, herring and yabbies in the shallows. This makes them easy to find and shows you the sort of spots they are likely to turn up at on other stages of the tide. When using bait I like to hook two or three yabbies through the tail at once and use the smallest sinker that will hold bottom. If you have live prawns then they work just as well with a 2 or 3/0 through the side of the first segment joint from the tail. This lets them crawl around a

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Chayse and Deakin Smithwick with a couple of local Spanish mackerel. bit and attract attention. Blues will take small chrome lures like Flashas and Bumpa-Bars worked along the bottom in subtle jigs. They can also take natural coloured hardbodies and plastics. Ross Creek, the Fitzroy Delta, Pumpkin Creek and the Causeway are other spots worth a shot for blue salmon. Estuarine grunter have picked up in all of the local systems from the Fitzroy River to Corio Bay/Waterpark Creek. The bigger grunter have been between 500 and 700mm over the last moon. The best time to target these big critters is around four days before to four days after the full moon. I also like to work the new moon, which seems to be nearly as good. The black nights can make it a little difficult getting to your spots if you don’t have adequate lighting and the route set out on your plotter. Coorooman Creek has a good supply of grunter at

various spots. The cockle beds around wedges can go off when conditions are right. Any of the deeper holes heading upstream are worth a shot, particularly if they have any rubble or any structure in them. I like to check the holes at either end of the long mud banks as well. The Fitzroy River has some of the best grunter around and can be in form for days on end. As the river cleans up you can find them right up into the town reaches, however the hole on the corner at Devils Elbow is the prime spot as a rule. Nearly every bend right down the river has a hole and any of them are likely grunter spots. Down in the delta in the Port Alma and Connors Creek there are several jewfish holes which all hold grunter. Waterpark Creek is the best area in Corio for grunter and the spots are pretty easy to find if you watch your sounder. Just like most systems there is usually a deep hole on bends

and many of these hold fish. The two holes either side of the Corbetts Shacks are worth a look when the temperatures drop. I usually drift these spots at either end of the tides when it starts to slow down. Light gear and big prawns are the best option for estuary grunter. They will take herring, pilchards and flesh baits, but good-sized prawns are the pick bait nearly all the time. More grunter are caught on lures every season. Gold metal vibes are by far the best and small plastic vibes are next in line. Black jewfish are also in fine form recently and the coastal jewfish holes are all producing. Spots like Corio Heads, Double Heads, the Pinnacles, Findlays, Ironpot, Quartz, Wedge and Cape Capricorn have serious quality black jewfish over the cooler months. Pillies and squid are

the prime baits, although fresh strip baits are hard to go past. When the doggy mackerel and bonito schools are in the bay, their fillets will usually to almost any baits for most fish around here. Like grunter, black jewfish are more active over the moon phases. My favourite time is the rising tides, rising moon. Grunter and golden snapper are very likely by-catches when the black jewfish are a bit slow, but once the big schools move in the other fish don’t get much of a look in. Keppel Bay is coming alive with schools of mack tuna and northern bluefin tuna as we start to see better conditions and clearer water. We have had an extraordinary run of windy weeks where To page 51

Nathan Sugars with a winning red emperor.

Estuaries are the go STANAGE BAY

Von Ireland

May was a wonderful month. The monster muddies and the estuary, land-based, reef and island fishing all gave anglers a good fill of the delightful pristine sweet seafood that Stanage Bay is renowned for. At the moment the road into Stanage Bay has soft corrugation and pot holes with water. At least you can see them with the water in them. If you slow down and take in the sheer beauty of the green pastures with the fat, award-winning cattle, take a photo or two of the creeks with water to add to the excitement when telling family and workmates after your fishing trip of a lifetime.

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES Jett Slade with 75cm barra. reef and islands also have been adorning the iceboxes with grassy sweetlip, redthroat emperor, and red emperor. A visiting husband and wife fishing team only went as far as the Duke Islands to be

rewarded with red emperor. With nice windows of good millpond weather, decent tides and fish on the chew, everyone I met was happy they came to Stanage for their break away from

society. For June we should see bigger catches of reef and pelagic species, including Spanish mackerel. With the constant showers of rain, the boat ramp parking area is full of caking, red and salty mud. I recommend signing the township petition for a sealed, line-marked car park and visiting the carwashes in Rockhampton when you leave Stanage Bay. The boat ramp parking is totally misunderstood by the visitors; they really should pop into one of the local shops and ask advice on how to park for maximum ease to all. With the Boyne Tannum Hook Up being held, I presumed Stanage would be a ghost town again and I’m sure everyone thought the same. • Call into Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation at the back of the boatyard on the way to the boat ramp and you’ll be impressed. The Tardis tackle shop holds more than you think and can get you in or out of trouble. Plenty of accommodation is available for 2018; all kinds of things can make an unexpected lastminute cancellation. To be sure, phone Von on 4937 3145, email stanagebaymarine@ bigpond.com or find us on Facebook.

seems to grab their attention and draw a strike. The smaller lures get more hook-ups than bigger lures and less dropped fish overall. Chrome slugs, flashas and twisters all go very well for most of the pelagics we get through here. Bonito should be arriving soon and the chance to have some great ultra light sportfishing action combined with collecting top-shelf mackerel baits is hard to pass up. Watson’s leaping bonito rank with the best Spanish mackerel baits anywhere. They excel. That means it’s time to refresh the freezer with bait for the coming season. Small jigs, flies or chromies work very well for bonito and once you find them it doesn’t take long to fill the bait box. Doggie and grey mackerel numbers have increased lately with the better weather. The big schools that were outside

the islands have started to filter in. Forty Acre, Conical, Rita Mada, Iron Pot, Double Heads, Rosslyn Bay harbour wall, Farnborough, Findlays, Pelican, Wedge and Divide are the pick spots on glassy mornings over winter. Spanish mackerel are still in great form locally. Sunken Reef and Sweetlip City at Conical, Outer Rock, Flat and Perforated, Man and Wife, Barren Manifold, Flat, Perforated and Liza Jane are the closer areas. The average fish are around 6-10kg with a few 15kg at times. Coral trout are going strong as usual in close around the islands. Red emperor and largemouth nannies have been taken quite close lately, although they are normally in bigger numbers out wide at this time of year. Tuskies, stripies, hussar, cod and jobfish have all been reported this week and that looks good.

The monster muddies that Stanage is known for are around this season. The estuary has given up flathead, grunter, blue salmon, barra, black jewfish, bream and cod. Good quality crab pots with fresh bait usually end up with a legal to monster-size muddy. The From page 50

offshore fishing was ruled out and the bay was so filthy that the tuna and bait schools detoured around the outside. However a week or so of decent weather has turned the mid-year expectations around. Once the baits have moved in the pelagics follow and everything in bay fishing improves. I always like to grab a tuna for the freezer and one for immediate fresh flesh strips. The reefies all like the bloody red fillets and catches improve with fresh bait. Tuna will take a variety of lures and jigs, but prefer them to be around the same size as the bait they are feeding on. At the moment the baits are around 50mm, so I bring out the 50mm red and white feather jigs. They are the same size as the baits but the different colour

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JUNE 2018

Anglers will be enjoying the Mackay ‘winter’ MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

June sees us moving into winter proper, and this change in season affects species availability throughout our waterways. Having said that, our winters are pretty mild in comparison to more southern areas, and that’s why the nomads head north in numbers. The first noticeable change is the drop in water temperature, and with it the considerable slowing down of the barra bite. This year to date has been a pearler for barra, both in the salt and in the freshwater, but their metabolism will slow right down over the next couple of months. They are still around and still feed, but they get to be pretty hard work – so much so that many anglers don’t bother chasing barra over this period. However, there are a few clues where you might find barra willing to smack a live bait, lure or fly. They will be looking for warmer water, so in the creeks check out the sandbars which are exposed at low tide. The sand warms

up and as the flood tide covers the banks, barra will move into the warmer water to feed. This is skinny water fishing so stealth is of the essence – long casts, electric motors and quiet anchoring will be needed. If you roar up and hurl the anchor over, you may as well go home as the barra will have shot through. In the dams the same principle applies, i.e. find the warmer water and chances are you will find the barra. Look for areas that get the most sunlight during the day

and work those spots. Use the same pointers year round, such as weed bed edges, lily pads and laydown timber in the warmer areas, and again you should find fish. SALMON Winter sees our salmon season in full swing, with both king threadfin and blue salmon moving around in all our creeks and estuaries. Blue salmon in particular can be found in large schools, which unfortunately makes them attractive netting fish. They will congregate in the

Young Jack Walker looks a little wide-eyed at this 3kg mud crab his dad caught south of Mackay.

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channels both inside the creeks and out in the open areas seaward of the creeks. The NFZ centred on Seaforth will have a real positive impact on blue salmon numbers in that area, and some top sport can be had. Blues are also a good eating fish in my opinion, provided they are iced down straight away after bleeding the fish. Often on a hot bite it’s hard to stop and attend to the fish, but the result on the plate is worth the effort. Blues will take strip baits, livies, yabbies and prawns, so the bait angler has plenty of choices. These fish will hit smaller barrastyle lures, but lure anglers will probably get the best results from small plastics and small metal vibes. Fly fishos should look to weighted prawn imitations and simple patterns like Clousers. The colour does not seem to be an issue with blues, and the action seems the catalyst for a bite. Because blue salmon are schooling fish, there’s the temptation to keep catching more and more, but it’s not necessary as three or four good-size blues will provide plenty of top class meals. Both blues and king threadies will move almost into freshwater on the big moon tides. They can be found working baitfish or small prawns way up the creeks, which are sometimes so narrow that a boat can’t turn around. Both species are impressive fish and fight well, and deserve more recognition than they get. Anyway, enough about the salmon, let’s look at what else is about the place! BREAD AND BUTTER SPECIES In winter we see genuine elbow-slapper whiting moving into places like Bassett Basin and Cullen Island, both of which are right in the centre of the city. Many shore-bound anglers prefer to fish the run-up tide from the city centre road bridges, while boat anglers generally like to move upriver with the tide, picking off a few whiting here and there. It’s not a bad way to spend a clear night, with all the stars and the city lights in the background. Pikey and silver bream are also on the move as they prepare to spawn. Pikeys in particular can often be sight cast to as they mooch around mangrove roots and other structure. They are good fun to catch, and are great on the plate. In common with most species of bream they will take a variety of baits, lures and flies. It’s just a shame they don’t grow to about 5kg or so! There should be plenty of flathead around during

Sooties in the shallows are always fun, especially on a 6wt fly outfit. June, and they are easy to find by checking out areas at low tide for the tell-tale indentations in the sand. Come back as the tide rises and you can almost bet on catching a lizard. Don’t think all the big girls are down south either, as we have a fair smattering of big female flatties here. If you are cleaning fish on a sand bank, then throw the entrails back as berley and set out a small livey or bunch of yabbies to score a lizard or two. CRABS The crabs are still being caught in good numbers, but as the weather cools off more they will be less prevalent. In the local magistrate’s court a commercial fisherman recently copped a substantial fine for lifting other people’s pots, and in one case he was filmed removing a crab from some one else’s pot. It’s good to see the Patrol staff targeting the ‘share farmers’ who rob people’s pots. OFFSHORE So far we have had a few weeks of quite calm, still weather, and that has bought the bait schools in close. Longtail tuna have been hanging around the harbour walls and up towards Lamberts Beach, and there have been some solid fish caught already. Just like mackerel, the smaller

models usually turn up first, but so far we have had 10kg+ longtails being caught, some within a decent cast of the shore. The bigger bait schools and the smaller mackerels may put in an appearance around the end of the month, but this will depend on whether we get some decent northerly winds. The calm weather has also let the boats get well offshore, with great catches of nannygai, trout and sweetlip (emperor) all being reported. Winter time is also Spanish mackerel time, and there are plenty of these fish moving out around the islands. As the bait comes closer inshore the Spanish will surely follow, which means there are good times ahead for mackerel anglers! FRESHWATER Back on shore, and in the freshwater my old friend the sooty grunter will stay on the chew throughout the colder months. The other day I managed 15 sooties in a couple of hours in the Pioneer River near Marian. A small black foam popper and a 6wt fly rod gave me heaps of fun, and a very pleasant couple of hour’s fishing. So as we progress into our ‘winter’ why not head north and come and stay in our piece of paradise. See you at the ramp.

A few barra are still about, like this mid 60s salty caught by Adam Walker in the heart of Mackay.

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

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16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

2018 Australian Lure, Fly and Outdoors Expo Whack the dates in the diary, on your phone or up on the wall in the shed – you’ll want to make sure you’re making the trip to be at Queensland’s Ipswich Showgrounds on the 16 and 17 June for the 2018 Australian Lure, Fly and Outdoors Expo, or as we all fondly call it – The Lure Show!

What started seven years ago as a celebration of Australian lures and luremaking has rapidly grown to an event which satisfies all anglers, whether they be fresh or salt water focused. Unlike every boat show you’ve ever been to that leaves you wondering ‘where’s the tackle?” The Lure Show will completely 2

2018 LURE EXPO

satisfy your every need and want to add to your tackle collection. It’s two days of non-stop fishing-focused action. With Australia’s biggest collection of lure makers all under the one roof, the expertise on offer is unparalleled. Carving, painting and lure swimming demonstrations and general lure making

advice is as thick on the ground as the tackle bargains in the room. Everyone is selling. The Lure Show turns the Ipswich Showgrounds into the biggest, most diverse tackle store around. You are guaranteed to find things that you don’t yet know you can’t live without. You won’t want to miss

the lure demonstrations at the casting tank. Here you will find the lure makers themselves giving guidance on how their lures have been designed to swim and how to get the most out of them.

more than happy to help with identifying any lures you’re not quite sure about. Love an artistic lure or new design? The Lure Show Award entries are always a crowd favourite and are

DETAILS When: Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th June 2018 Where: Ipswich Showgrounds, Ipswich Time: 9:30am – 3pm SAT; 9am -3pm SUN Web: www.lureshow.com.au Tickets: Adults $10, Kids Under 16 FREE (when accompanied by an adult). Pre-purchase tickets online to avoid the lines. The presenters hub is where you’ll be able to pick the brains of some of most knowledgeable anglers around including Jake Newmarch (Newmarch’s Fishin Mission); Liam Fitzpatrick (JML Pro Staffer) Brendan Goulding (Fish and Whipz) and lure making legend Peter Pakula (Pakula Lures). You’re likely following them on Facebook, watching their YouTube videos or checking out their tweets – now is your chance to meet them face to face and talk all things fishing. Got some old wooden Australian lures lying in the garage that need a new home? Bring these to the show as you won’t find a hungrier pack of collectors anywhere in this wide brown land. These guys are also keen to help you sort your own collection out and are

a brilliant showcase of the craftsmanship, creative talent and skill of our local lure makers. They seem to get better and better every year.

When’s the last time you paid $10 to get into a show? Combine this with FREE parking and you get in and out of The Lure Show for less than half the price of any boat show on the east coast! Tickets are available online now, and there are

group discounts available for fishing clubs. Get in touch at www.lureshow.com.au. Don’t forget to ‘like’ The Lure Show on Facebook ( w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / AustralianLureExpo) and stay up-to-date with all the 2018 Show news.

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

Learn from the experts at the Presenters’ Hub We’ve assembled the ultimate fishing think tank and the presenters hub is where you’ll be able to pick the brains of some of most knowledgeable anglers around. Here’s a sneak look at who’ll be talking all things fishing across the weekend:

BRANDON GOULDING Look up Fish and Whipz on YouTube and you’ll find Brandon Goulding’s kayak fishing exploits. He’s got a knack for paddling to find the big bass and he’s keen to share his knowledge at the show.

JAKE NEWMARCH One of the most excited anglers around, Jake Newmarch is a rising online fishing star. His YouTube channel Newmarch’s Fishin Mission has everything from cod and bass fishing to chasing big fish offshore with new videos uploaded weekly – his enthusiasm is highly contagious!

JOHN COSTELLO John Costello is the king of mangrove jack fishing in SEQ. He’s got a few DVDs under his belt now including Monster Jacks and The Kayakers Guide to the Gold Coast and is only too happy to share his tips and tricks. Bring all the lure knowledge you have and take part in John’s quizzes on Saturday.

LIAM FITZPATRICK Liam Fitzpatrick is the jack of all trades when it comes to fishing South East Queensland – whether he is micro-jigging reef fish or chasing bass in a muddy backwater, you can be sure that Liam is collecting social media content for your viewing pleasure.

DEAN THOMSON Dean Thomson is a gun on the local BASS Electric Tournament scene, and he has also spent some time in Japan testing his skills fishing tournaments there. You’ll find him at the Expo all weekend sharing his tips on chasing everything from bass to jacks in SEQ.

STEVE MORGAN One of the biggest lurenatic’s around, Steve Morgan is one of Australia’s highest ranked bream anglers. His fishing adventures have taken him to nearly every state in Australia and a few overseas destinations this year alone. He loves nothing more than talking all things fishing and sharing his knowledge, tips and tricks with anyone willing to listen.

TAYLOR MCKINNEY-SMITH Another newcomer to the Social Hub this year is SEQ fisho Taylor McKinneySmith. You might know him from instagram as @teasmithy where you’ll see highlights (and some lowlights) from trips chasing all sorts of fish from big wild Murray cod in New England to his beloved stripeys up north. Representing brands such as Tide Apparel and BONE Rods, he’ll have plenty of technical expertise, tips, tricks and anecdotes to share with you on the day.

What’s On at the Expo LURE DEMONSTRATIONS IN THE BIG TANK You won’t want to miss the lure demonstrations at the casting tank. The 7m long tank is perfect for showing off the capabilities and swimming action of lures at the show. Best of all, demonstrations will be given by the lure makers themselves, so you’ll hear straight from the horse’s mouth how their lures have been designed to swim and how to get the most out of them. LURE OF THE YEAR AWARDS Celebrate the latest innovations in Australian lure making with the Lure of the Year Awards. With an expanded group of categories catering to commercial and cottage makes of all types of lures, from timber minnows to bladed lures; winning a LOTY is guaranteed to increase demand and sales

from both tackle stores, collectors and the general public alike. Entries are displayed in a big glass-fronted case and are one of the most popular exhibits at the show. The winners will be announced at the Lure Expo Dinner held on Saturday 16 June from 6:30pm at the Reception Hall onsite at the Showgrounds. You’ll be able to see the winners on the Sunday at the show or on the Australian Lure Fly & Outdoors Expo page on Facebook. FLY TYING COMPETITION Want to see some of Brisbane’s best fly-tiers in action? All of the entries to the Best Fly section of the Lure Show awards must be tied at the show. These guys will be doing their thing on their stands and on the stage on the Saturday, so you’ll have a great opportunity to see how things are done with this live fly-tying action.

KIDS ZONE Want to bring the kids along to the Show? No worries. Accompanied kids under 16 y/o are free to enter and this year the local Ipswich Boy Scouts will be helping out by entertaining with fishing related activities. A gold coin donation to the Scouts (which will help them attend the Australian Jamboree) will keep them entertained while dad is off filling the tackle box. COLLECTORS ARE HUNGRY FOR YOUR LURES Each year the Collector Zone seems to get bigger and more active. Collectors of Australian lures are there in force, displaying, buying and selling Australian made lures in their own, special zone. “We want you to scour your tackle boxes, boats, garage sales and secondhand stores and bring in the gems that you find,” said Debbie Dare, Collector Zone co-ordinator and huge fan of Aussie lures.

• Tournament quality hooks • Rear weighted for extra casting distance • 8 proven holographic colours • 20 grams • 55 mm long; the smaller profile = more bites • Ideal for slow winding and hopping HOT TIPS

2018 LURE EXPO

EXPO

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EVENT ENTRY

Jungle Lures

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

Muggo’s Whiptail Lures Lures

Jollip Chilton Lures Tackle Co.

Bush’n’Beach Fishing Magazine

Bills Boxes

112

Waterstalker Lures / Cod King Lures

AC Lures

SEQ Fly Fishers

Tonic Eyewear

Kuttafurra Lures

Bassman Spinnerbaits

84 Brisbane Fly Fishing Club

Ninja Lures/ Ninja Bibs/ Beardy’s Lures

Ballista Lures

12 Dynamite Lures

13 87

Lively Lure

RodZilla Adventure Tackle

C&S Horsey Lures

Barambah Lures

C-Map / Navico

AFN Fishing & Outdoors

Charlton’s Fishing

Cross Fire Lures

Variety Fly Fishing Competitions

Morry Kneebone Lures

BEST IN SHOW

Thug Lures

D&S Lures

Farm Creek Lures

One Cast Lures

Loolah Lures

105

16 Lobby Lures

STAGE

Yak Hunters Australia

Casting Tank

STAIRS TO LOWER LEVEL

PRESENTERS HUB

Queensland Fishing Monthly

Bass to Barra

Shads Lures

94 Sommerset Fishing Tackle

Kneller Lures

18 Caino Lures

19 Tricky’s Lures

20 8X2.4

Ray’s Aussie Lures

9x6

Brisbane Yamaha

Club

GLO-X Powerless Illumination

22 58

Bass to Barra Smak Lures

43 Mick Molnar Marine Art

5x3

Brisbane Yamaha

140

FFSAQ

3x3

Brisbane Yamaha

140

Cod Hound Mencho’s Predator Lures / Lures / BRA Lures Zoomy Lures Lures

FG Wizz

FOOD COURT

Fishing Unlimited

Kids Zone (Scouts)

Northside Marine

THE BOAT SHED 4

2018 LURE EXPO

Lure Collectors Precinct

TOILETS

FOOD VAN

Mad Dog Lures

Lures

Southern Cross Lures

Basscat Australia

Dave’s Lures

BLA

MB Custom Lures

140

Fish King

Ipswich United

KEN ROBERTS PAVILLION

Exhibitor Stand Number AC Lures.......................................53 AFN Fishing & Outdoors...............80 Allfly Outfitters..............................73 Balista Lures.................................93 Barrambah Lures..........................84 Bass Cat..................The Boat Shed Bass to Barra................................57 Bassman Spinnerbaits.................86 Beardy’s Lures..............................89 Bills Boxes....................................45 BRA Lures....................................40 Brisbane Yamaha........................140 Bush’n’Beach Fishing Magazine.112 C-Map / Navico............................82 C & S Horsey Lures......................50 Caino Lures..................................19 Charlton’s Fishing.........................12 Chilton Tackle Co............................5 Cod Hound Lures.........................40 Cod King Lures.............................81 Crossfire Lures.............................83 D & S Lures.....................................6 Dave’s Lures.................................22 Dynamite Lures............................13 Farm Creek Lures.........................14 FFSAQ..........................................60 FG Wizz........................................37 Fish King.......................................96 Fishing Monthly Magazines..........70 Fishing Unlimited..........................36 GLO-X Powerless Illumination......58 Humminbird / Minn Kota..............64 Ipswich United Sportsfishing Club..............................................44 Jollip Lures.....................................4 Jungle Lures...................................1 Kneller Lures.................................18 Kuttafurra Lures............................77 Lively Lures...................................78 Lobby Lures..................................17 Loolah Lures.................................16 Lure Collectors Precinct...............30 Mac Lures.....................................21 Mad Dog Lures . ..........................61 MB Custom Lures........................43 Mencho’s Lures............................39 Mick Molnar Marine Art................42 Morry Kneebone Lures.................51 Muggo’s Lures................................2 Ninja Bibs.....................................89 Ninja Lures....................................89 Northside Marine.....The Boat Shed One Cast Lures.............................15 Predator Lures..............................38 RodZilla Adventure Tackle.............56 Sandfly Lures................................65 SEQ Fly Fishers............................52 Shads Lures.................................75 Smak Lures..................................57 Solo Lures....................................22 Somerset Fishing Tackle...............69 Southern Cross Lures...................41 Thug Lures......................................8 Tonic Eyewear...............................54 Tricky’s Lures................................20 Variety Fly Fishing Competition....55 Waterstalker Lures........................81 Whiptale Lures................................3 Yak Hunters..................................76 Zoomy Lures................................39

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

BARAMBAH LURES

HOT BITE FISHING

FISH KING

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Hot Bite Fishing have some exciting new products that will be released at this year’s show. The Gang Banger G2 spoon is a tournament quality spoon suited to swimming, hopping and jigging through deep fish. Somerset Tackle will be showcasing these lures and they will be available to buy at the Expo. New colours in the original Gang Banger spoon and Signature Edition Jets Tail Spinners will also be for sale through Charlton’s Fishing and Somerset Tackle. Hot Bite Timber Lures will be available for the first time ever but only in limited numbers through Somerset Tackle’s stand. Expect to see an ultra-deep diver for trolling or casting and hopping with a chin weight, and the highly anticipated release of the Big Tosser and Little Tosser swimbaits. Their rear bib sets them apart from other lures and gives the body an awesome action and rear end shake. Some say their introduction could be the start of a whole new swimbaiting craze, twerkbaiting! Creator Jason Ehrlich will be at the show all weekend and up for a chat. Come in and check out all the new gear and see him at Somerset Tackle or Charlton’s Fishing stands.

Fish King jerseys are high quality sun protective shirts for men, women and kids. They’re made from a high quality breathable cool-mesh fabric that is sun protective, comfortable, quick drying and won’t shrink. They are printed with Italian ink by the process of sublimation. This printing method allows for infinite design and colours, and embeds the ink in the fabric so they won’t fade over time. The specially designed collar is an important feature of all their jerseys. The design ensures the collar will stay up all day long to prevent neck burn. The extra long zipper can be easily opened to increase airflow on those hot days. A large zippered pocket is a popular feature on all of the jerseys. The pocket is great for securely storing your keys, phone or camera. The zipper is functional as you can open it with one hand and your items are not going to end up in the drink. Thumb holes provide added sun-protection for your hands. Your hands are always exposed to the sun when fishing and this feature adds important sun-protection. The thumb holes will also keep your hands warm on those early morning fishing trips. Make sure you check them out at the show.

Creative and life-like creature lures are the forté of Matt Fraser from Barambah Lures. Water Dragons, Blue Tongue Lizards, Murray Cod and the recently released Manic Budgies are his trademark models, and he is set to release a new model at the 2018 Lure Show. These timber lures are painstakingly hand-made and painted with amazing attention to detail. With a high-end price tags, most of Matt’s lures end up in collector’s cabinets to be admired for their art. However, for those whofish them, every one is built to catch cod, and they can produce the goods! Barambah Lures are in big demand, and general wait times stretch out over 6 months. The Expo is a perfect time to skip the waiting and buy a Barambah Lure, but it is advised that you get in quickly as they will sell out fast!

SOUTHERN CROSS LURES •• • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Southern Cross Lures are a family-owned and operated business based in Toowoomba. They specialise in using exquisite red cedar and white beech timber for their lures. As knowledgeable producers they only use quality components with VMC hooks and two pack paints for a hard glossy look. These lures will last a lifetime.

Authentic by Nature

Stand 84 Lure Expo 2018

WHEN FISH FIGHT DIRTY SEE US ON STAND 37 @ THE LURE EXPO

Barambah Lures

Creative and innovative handmade and painted timber lures by Matt Fraser

ORDER ONLINE

www.fgwizz.com.au

THE ULTIMATE FG KNOT TYING TOOL 2018 LURE EXPO

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

EXPO

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

B.R.A LURES

ONE CAST LURES

YAK HUNTERS

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B.R.A Lures are all handcrafted from timber and have been inspired by the traditional lure makers that come from the Tenterfield region. You won’t be disappointed by a B.R.A Lure’s action, strength, and their ability to catch those fussy native fish. Turn the odds in your favour and check out the B.R.A Lures at this year’s show.

Specialising in timber lure making components

One Cast Lures are hand crafted timber lures made by Ipswich local Sel McLennan. Sel, a long time kayak fisherman, designs lures suitable to catch fish that he targets while fishing on his kayak. One Cast Lures specialises in diving lures in three sizes: the Romtom to target Murray cod, golden perch and large Australian bass; the Tazer to target Australian bass and golden perch; the Romtom Mini to target bream, Australian bass, golden perch, flathead, mangrove jack; and, many other saltwater species. To date, One Cast Lures has had surprising results catching massive fish despite not being designed bear such a battering, including a 109cm barramundi on a Tazer Lure and a 80cm barramundi on a Romtom Mini. One Cast Lures tends to experiment with colours and rarely sticks to a set colour chart, and can customise your lure colours as required. Come by stand 15 at the Expo. Like them on Facebook and Instagram or visit them at www. onecastlures.com.au.

AFN SPECIAL OFFER • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

PO Box 909 Cooroy Qld 4563 Ph: 07 5447 7800 Mobile: 0490 354 039

E: peter@fishingunlimited.com.au

From its humble beginnings, based on a shared passion of kayak fishing by four mates in Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, the group Yak Hunters was born. This ever-growing group of kayak anglers has since rapidly expanded to consist of six separate state groups around Australia and nearly 10,000 members nationally in just over two years. The Yak Hunters social media avenues and community awareness are ever increasing, with new members eager to keep up with news and learn new tips and tricks relating to the popular sport of kayak fishing. The goal of Yak Hunters is to promote the growth of kayak fishing around Australia and to construct a community approach to kayak fishing. Yak Hunters also aims to increase angler awareness of the practice of sustainable fishing, in order to help take care of our oceans and waterways and to provide a stable and sustainable fishing environment for future generations to come. The organisation also helps the local community by hosting regular charity fundraisers and supporting the growth of small Australian businesses with regards to the fishing community and industry. Each Yak Hunters state group will also hold local events and community projects specific to an area - this helps local anglers in that region to meet fellow kayak fishing anglers and to become a part of the larger Yak Hunters national community. Yak Hunters also hosts a series of fishing competitions throughout the year in state by state and national formats. From online fishing competitions such as a monthly ‘Fish Of the Month’ competition to the recent launch of the ‘Yak Hunters Elite series’ around Australia, there is always a heap of events and fun to be had for all kayak anglers of all skill levels, with some sensational prizes to be won in the larger competitions - including kayaks and more. No matter what state you are in, if you’re a kayak fisho or are looking at getting into the sport or meeting like-minded anglers, you will always find great advice, handy product awareness, tips, tricks and new friendships waiting for you throughout the national Yak Hunters Australia community. If this sounds like you, come and see the guys at the show and find out more.

COD HOUND LURES • • • •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Keep an eye out for

SOUTHERN CROSS LURES at this year’s

Australian Lure, Fly & Outdoors Expo We have released a new sub-surface lure for you to see. 6

2018 LURE EXPO

Katie Classon and Frank Prokop from AFN will be bringing some special subscription offers to the 2018 Lure Expo for their two national fishing magazines, Freshwater Fishing Australia and Sport Fishing Yak Fisher Australia! They will also have copies of the newly released 150th edition of Freshwater Fishing there too!

Cod Hound Lures produce hand-made timber lures and spinnerbaits. They are fitted with high quality BKK hooks and are proven fish catchers on both fresh and saltwater species. All their lures are tank tested and can be ordered Australia wide. See them first-hand at the Lure Show.

The Australian

Lure Fly & Outdoors

16-17 JUNE 2018 • IPSWICH SHOWGROUNDS

EXPO

MICK MOLNAR MARINE ART

ALLFLY OUTFITTERS

CHILTON TACKLE CO.

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Allfly Outfitters are a family-owned business specialising in top quality flyfishing equipment, such as Royal Wulff, Ballistic Spey, and Aspen fly reels. They also provide flycasting tuition to improve your casting skills and enhance your general flyfishing abilities. This can be done either through one-on-one tutoring or on a group casting day. All equipment is provided, but you can bring your own if you want. All classes are conducted by a Fly Fishing International Master Caster instructor with over 22 years experience in Australia, Asia, USA and South America for salt and freshwater species. For more information, check them out at the show.

MAD DOG LURE • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Chilton Tackle Co. specialises in premium hand-made wooden lures, with a particular focus on swimbaits. It is owned and operated by Blair Chilton who has been making lures for a number of years before establishing as a company in early 2017. Chilton Tackle Co. produce lures of all shapes and sizes, however with the growth in swimbait fishing for species such as barramundi and Murray cod, Blair set out to remedy the lack of high quality Australian-made swimbaits. Each Chilton Tackle Co. swimbait is uniquely designed to produce a life-like action that predatory fish find irresistible. They are individually cut and hand carved from a variety of timbers, then sealed and foiled with each segment of the lure individually weighted and balanced. They are then finished with highly detailed paint schemes and tough clearcoats before being assembled using heavy duty, stainless connections. Chilton Tackle Co.’s range of swimbaits includes models from 90-300mm that can be fished from the surface to any depth. Along with swimbaits, Blair also produces a whole range of lures targeted at Australian fresh- and saltwater species. You can find Chilton Tackle Co. on Facebook and Instagram, at www.chiltontackleco.com.au or contact Blair at Blair@chiltontackleco.com.au.

C & S HORSEY’S LURES

For the first time at this year’s show you will be able to buy a piece of Mick Molnar Marine Art. There will be plenty of striking masterpieces to choose from, including a beautiful turtle hatchling and all the fish favourites you expect to see.

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PREDATOR LURES • • • • • • •••••••••••• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

This year at the Lure Expo, Mad Dog Lure will be bringing their Wahoo timber lure, Mad Mullet, Jack Dog, Bean Dog, Little Dog, Crazy Critter and Zombie Critter. Come and say g’day at Mad Dog Lures and admire the workmanship.

C & S Horsey’s Lures are hand-made injection-moulded lures that catch fish of all types and sizes in fresh and saltwater. Cole and Stephen make the lures right here in Queensland and are proud to bring you a range of lures ranging from the ever popular and versatile Tom Thumb, Baby Bandit and Mini Boggle-eye range, and the more specialised lures, Mustang, Phantom and Dirty Harry for chasing barramundi and cod.   With a wide range of colour options and the ability to customise your colour if needed, why not give a true, tried and tested Horsey’s lure a swim.

BEARDY’S LURES

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Predator Lures will once again be attending the 2018 Lure & Fly Expo. As usual they will have their great range of hardbodied lures, spinnerbaits, and hummers (better known as chatterbaits). They will also be displaying their new range of hand-crafted wooden surface lures.

• Premium Australian handmade wooden lures • Specialising in swimbaits

www.chiltontackleco.com.au Blair@chiltontackleco.com.au

Daniel ‘Beardy’ Beard, creator of Beardy’s Lures, is a Lure Expo success story. Beardy came along to the first Lure Expo held at Fernvale seven years ago as a wide-eyed and eager wantto-be lure maker. He went around the show visiting all the lure makers, asking every question under the sun and soaking up all his newfound knowledge like a sponge. Fast-forward 12 months and Beardy was at the second Lure Expo, not just visiting but as an exhibitor under his own brand – Beardy’s Lures. Garry Fitzgerald, founder of the Lure Expo, remembers Beardy’s first year as an exhibitor, “He brought along a selection of lures he had made up and, to be fair, they were a bit rough.” Beardy took it all in his stride and was more determined than ever to master the skills of lure making. With mentoring from some of the cottage lure making industry’s

finest his lures have become more refined and innovative over the last few years. A testament to just how far this lure maker has come. At the 2018 Lure Expo Beardy will be showcasing his new range of surface lures. This year you’ll be able to score yourself a Limited Edition Beardy’s Lure when you purchase a 12 month subscription to a Fishing Monthly magazine, you’ll find them in front of the stage at the Expo. You can catch up with the man himself on site 89 at the Expo. Beardy is only too happy to share the tales of his journey to being a lure maker and, of course, talk all things fishing.

ALLFLY OUTFITTERS

We offer : • Fly rods, fly lines for fresh and saltwater, speciality lines. • Spey lines. • Reels, backing leaders and Tippet. • Lines cleaning and conditioning. • Tuition from a Fly Fishers International Master Casting Instructor. For individuals and group.

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PH: 0428 615 885 2018 LURE EXPO

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Reef and rubble patches are scoring well WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

It was a slow start to last month with cyclone Iris hanging around offshore and limiting the days that most of us could make it onto the water. Thankfully she never made landfall, as the scars left by Debbie are still fresh and raw with most of us. Since Iris fizzled

unusual for this time of the year. I would normally expect to be seeing more big fish. The deeper reef systems have fired up like a beauty though and it’s been good to be regularly pulling big golden snapper, grunter, nannygai and the odd deep water trout over the side. June is another great month to be out on the briny with a plethora of species being on offer in

Thomas Shields with a beauty of a golden trevally, which ate a soft plastic and then put on a great display on 3kg line. it’s been game on with some magnificent fishing being enjoyed by all. The cooling water has signalled a change in what’s biting and where. The beach fishing scene is livening up for shore-based anglers with scores of whiting, garfish and tiger squid beginning to congregate along the shorelines of our beautiful beaches. The flathead are starting to hang around as well, but I have noticed that they have been a little cagey and hard to get a bite out of on a lot of days. On the shallower reef and rubble patches in Edgecumbe Bay we’ve been enjoying some nice pelagic activity on various species. Big golden trevally have been prolific and on some days I have had to drive away from them with clients complaining of sore arms. That’s pretty cool. Up in the shallows and mixed in with the goldies we’ve also been enjoying some champagne popper fishing for big giant trevally. Surface fishing for big GTs is just the best and when you can indulge in it in 3m of water it’s even more fun. On the same country and mixed in with the big trevallies there have been oodles of school mackerel and they have been handy for putting some dinner fish into the ice box for clients. I love these little guys – they’re super tasty. The shallow closeto-home reefs have been producing good numbers of coral trout and sweetlip, but average sizes have been down a little with most fish being in the small to average sized bracket, which is a little 62

JUNE 2018

reefies waiting to do battle. Spanish mackerel have already started to show up and if the current patterns continue they will only get thicker, which will make them a viable target this month. This is getting me excited as locally the Spanish bite over the last couple of years has been poor and I’m hoping this year that we get a good regular bite from these big toothy speedsters. Trolling is the age-old favourite technique for catching Spanish mackerel and locally here at Hydeaway Bay dragging fresh baits around definitely out-fishes lures. I’ve managed to catch good numbers of Spaniards trolling lures around most other areas of our beautiful state. For some reason here they want fresh baits. Garfish and ribbonfish (wolf herring) are the two most common baits to use and slow trolling ribbonfish is what brings most of the bigger fish unstuck. Be sure to keep an eye on your sounder while out on your mackerel hunt, as I find quite

Hydeaway Bay local Nick Gilchrist with another nice GT caught in the shallows. This one ate a pencil popper and was a PB for Nick. away from the fish; you’ll be surprised at how often this technique will get a sulking fish to bite. Another good ploy with deep sulky Spanish mackerel is to drift over them and drop down either micro or knife jigs. Remember these fish aren’t in an active hunting mood, so don’t rip your jigs up through the water column at a hundred miles an hour as they more than likely won’t get off their backsides to chase it. Leave your jig down deep and madly bounce it around right in their faces; this will quite often get a reaction or an instinct bite. The deeper bottom fishing should continue to fire on our local rubble and fern patches and I expect that largemouth nannygai, grunter,

Andrew Phillips, a visiting angler from Victoria, caught this solid goldspot cod, which tried its best to rip him out of the boat. do make an appearance then there will be tuna action aplenty. Quite often during June on Reel Addiction we catch some of our biggest

Courtney Schutt with a prime example of a golden snapper, which she dragged up from a deep patch of rubble. the Whitsundays. Heading out from the beach at Cape Gloucester first thing in the morning the air is crisp, clean and invigorating and it definitely helps to heighten my senses for hunting down some big fish. It will be the peak of the trade breeze season though and most of us will be praying for calm days to get onto the wider grounds where there will be some big pelagics and deep

often early in the season the fish are sulking down deep in the water column and they can be a little tedious to get a bite out of. This is where slow trolling ribbonfish is handy. Try stopping your boat above where the fish are sounding and let your bait sink down to them. Once the bait is down in their faces, engage forward gear and move ahead slowly to drag your bait up and

Ben Schutt with a 20kg+ giant trevally hooked and fought in just 2.5m of water. It was an awesome fight.

Courtney again with a beaut grunter, which she caught on a strip bait. black jewfish and golden snapper will be on the chew in this country. It’s been good to see some decent nannygai being caught already as they were one species that became like hen’s teeth last year post cyclone Debbie. It’s amazing how one single weather system can affect a fishery so much. Some species simply disappeared and others, such as leopard trout and redthroat emperor, have become almost daily fare. June is a good month for bait schools (predominately herring) to be hanging around the outer islands and if they

longtails of the year. Fish in the 15-20kg bracket aren’t out of the question and they are a serious challenge on light spin gear. When targeting schools of tuna boiling on the surface, don’t be scared to chuck in a heavier jig and get underneath the feeding tuna. There is quite often a piscatorial lucky dip of XOS-sized pelagics to be found. Giant-sized queenfish, cobia and multiple species of trevally and mackerel may well be present and they are all fish guaranteed to put a smile on any angler’s dial. Good luck to everybody this month, hopefully the weather gods shine upon us and we can all enjoy some time out on the deeper blue stuff.

Nannygai have been succumbing to slow pitch jigs. This Molix Thasis has been particularly kind to the author.

Late rain muddied the waters AYR

Steve Farmer

Looking back through old reports has highlighted the fact that late season rain and the resulting flooding and dirty water has been a regular lament over many of the past dozen or so years in the Burdekin. Reports of estuaries being discoloured and the fishing being a bit on the quiet side have featured in this column as late as May and June on a regular basis. And it’s no different this year. Recently my daughter Aimee and I planned on luring up a few flathead at Phillips Camp, but when we arrived at the ramp we found conditions far from favourable for lure fishing. Winds to 20knots and a large tide didn’t help, but the fishing grapevine had suggested clarity was improving – that didn’t seem to be the case. However, we persisted, hunting out sheltered pockets of cleaner water at the top of sandbar inlets near the creek mouth. We walked the sand flats, trying to increase our chances by flicking noisy Rattlin Spots in high contrasting colours through

The kids were keen to help release 200 fingerlings in the Burdekin. the cloudy water. Exploding sand clouds showed where we flushed a dozen or so decent duskies and Aimee took one strike, but that was it. We briefly changed tactics, firing lures at a protected mangrove bank when the usually-strong current dropped out at the top of the tide, hoping for a jack or even a barra. However, by then the fish were well back amongst the mangrove roots and our hardbody minnows failed to draw a single strike. It was a disappointing couple of hours (yes, we threw in the towel early), but give it a couple of weeks and I reckon things could be different. This month the water should be

clearing, there’ll be a nip in the air and Burdekin estuary fishing will be firing up once again. Whiting and flathead will be the number one estuary targets, with grunter and salmon also likely. Determined jack and barra fishers will still be hoping for one or two of these popular species; live baits (especially prawns) will probably be more effective than cast or trolled lures. While I really enjoy luring for flathead, the old lizard also responds well to live baits. Herring, small mullet or prawns fished on a short leader and light sinker and allowed to drift with the current will often appeal to

even the largest of lizards. Whiting are also probably a popular food item with flathead, but with the species governed by a legal size of 23cm, the smaller whiting that are more likely to be on the lizards’ menu cannot be legally used as bait. From estuary bread and butter species to bluewater speedsters, the story is much the same, although water clarity isn’t such a problem in open waters. A couple of recent calm days saw quite a few boats fish the shoals and reefs, and results were mixed. Some boats reported reasonable catches of quality reef fish like red emperor and coral trout, while others struggled to put a scale in the icebox. Recently Spanish mackerel hadn’t arrived in good numbers, but by June schools of fish around 8-10kg should be moving through the Alva Shoals area, as well as Cape Upstart and Camp Island waters. Combine that with a few days of light winds and Burdekin bluewater fishers are bound to be smiling. WORLD FISH MIGRATION DAY The Burdekin’s World Fish Migration Day celebration was held on the

The Burdekin Fish Restocking Association took part in the World Fish Migration Day at Lilliesmere Lagoon. banks of Lilliesmere Lagoon in late April, promoting the importance of healthy, clear waterways in maintaining our fisheries. Most anglers know that barramundi need to travel between fresh and saltwater to breed, but many other species (such as the much sought-after mangrove jack) also have to make this journey. Unfortunately many of our natural waterways are blocked by dams, weirs or the infestation of aquatic weeds, effectively preventing fish from swimming along them unhindered. One such choked Burdekin waterway was

the Lilliesmere Lagoon and Kalamia Creek system. After a combined effort by a number of community groups over many years, the weed problem is now largely under control, and fishways have been installed recently to help fish swim upstream. The day raised awareness of some great work done by these groups, but also included some practical steps to further enhance the waterway; 480 trees were planted along the bank and the Burdekin Fish Restocking Association took part in the day by tagging and releasing 200 barra fingerlings, with the help of all the kids present.

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JUNE 2018

Numbers and sizes of barra have been good TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

It was great to see the mood in Townsville lift during and after the substantial rain event that we finally copped in the north. It had been so long since we actually got reasonable rain that we were starting to wonder if it would ever happen again. Thankfully we had enough to keep some of the creeks that used to be classified as permanent flowing well still, so that should help things. The numbers and sizes of the barra have been really good as well, and lure casting is working very well for those reading the tides correctly. Basically the bigger tides see them around the headlands and flats, and for the smaller tides they tend to head upstream to more traditional barra casting structure. Flats casting is a risky business for the inexperienced and it only takes one misjudgement to get stuck, sometimes for a couple of tide cycles before the water rises

This colour has been working very well for the author lately. No doubt when the water cools a bit more or changes clarity, another one may take its place. consistent basis over a day on the water. Several trips over the last few weeks have proven this to be the case and with one in particular it seemed to be a colour thing. Last year Halco released the Laser Pro 120 in silver with black stripes, a black back and red head – all chrome finish. Since its release it has

with their wider action, but with the rod tip pointed downwards they can reach a couple of metres when needed. Timber is a bit of an unpredictable material and some batches are more buoyant than others. It’s sometimes a bit of an unknown as to where a Tilly will suspend or float, but either way, it will be a cracking lure

One noticeable change in the barra since the rain is the increase in body weight. They’re all fat as mud now, and though we don’t usually keep barra for the table, we have necked a couple in recent times as they’re superb on the plate. far enough to float your boat again. I don’t know anyone who carries enough water to last that long and even in winter the heat will dehydrate you very quickly, and the sandies and mozzies aren’t even worth thinking of then. Apart from the weedless rigs that should be a part of every angler’s routine by now, hardbodies are an increasingly under-used tool in this age of soft and rubbery things. When the fish aren’t down deep they are often best targeted by casting floating hardbodies in close to the horizontal snags and almost suspending them for a few seconds to tease any fish that might be sitting there into engulfing your lure. In thick timber, floating is the best option to clear the snags and work the lure forward to the next opportunity. When a particular lure is producing more consistently than all the others you have to start questioning why and what it is about that lure that makes it more appealing on a more 64

JUNE 2018

been a proven fish catcher time after time, particularly when the water’s a bit clearer. That chrome can be seen way down in the depths flashing away. Moonlight even reflects off the thing. A wider action and bigger hooks are more suited to bigger fish. Deeper diving lures are best around the higher tides when mangrove branches are down a bit deeper, and the shallower models are better when the tide drops and the snags are just protruding or are a few centimetres under, and can be waddle overhead of the potential fish-holding structure. Obviously, the frequent interception by mangrove jack can be expected – they are suckers for the lure described above. Other times a more versatile jack-barra happy medium is the timber-bodied Tilsan barra; it’s a North Queensland special for those in the know. Tweaked on a rod tip upwards retrieve, they can be fished just under the surface

in a variety of situations. Any slowly floating lure looses its tendency to float the deeper they go. A lure

that slowly floats just under the surface will either suspend or very slightly sink the deeper it goes, so this is worth remembering. Also, lures that suspend in the salt will sink in the fresh, so that’s another variant to keep in mind. Offshore fishing has been absolutely frantic in recent weeks when the wind has backed off enough for trollers and bottom fishers to get outside. Three weeks ago the wolfies showed up in big schools around the river mouths and these toothy buggers get followed by the Spanish mackerel, which has happened in a big way. THE QUESTION ABOUT SHARK NUMBERS One of the more wellknown marks had mackerel from top to bottom in 28m of water the other day, and boy, the sharks sure made a meal of any hooked fish. Several anglers put the ratio of eaten fish to landed fish at about ten to one. Sharks endangered? My elbow! Tell me what happens when the top-of-the-foodchain predators outnumber the fish? I’m not even talking about the potential for humans to become more appealing to sharks as we flail about in their dining room. I’m talking about the balance of predators and food being out. Fish numbers become seriously affected. Green zones were supposedly put in place to protect fish stocks and breeding populations and locations. So why is it okay for the rest of the ocean to cop a battering from the most efficient predators, which need large amounts of food to survive? The bigger the fish hooked, the longer it takes to land and the longer it takes to land, the more likely it is to get eaten. Now this is happening in the shallows, out at the reef and everywhere in between. On the surface or down deep, the results are the same.

Sustained high waters have exposed some rock bars that were previously silted up. Karl Romano caught this beautiful red jack by hopping an Atomic Fat Grub over the rocks on a 1/3oz head on an incoming tide.

Some big barra have been moving around since the fresh and are still showing up. Be prepared for that fish of a lifetime. Nobody agrees with the despicable finning trade, where live stumped carcasses are thrown back overboard to slowly die. That wasn’t done by our Aussie commercial fishing sector. As fishers we all kill whatever it is we hunt for the table as quickly and humanely as possible. The rest of the carcasses were dumped overboard, even though there was and still is, a legitimate demand for flake or shark flesh. That was just wrong. The fact remains; there are

logic and realism needs to be used in the approach to the problem. I encourage the government to do a survey of offshore fishers as to the amount of fish that get eaten on average over a day’s fishing on the reefs around here, or anywhere in North Queensland for that matter. How many dollars worth of sinkers, hooks, bait and so on are lost over a day with two or three mates often spending hundreds of dollars on fuel to get out

If you do hook a decent sort of a fish then try to ensure that you can keep it upright until it can support itself. This is obviously only possible if you are in a croc-friendly environment. more than enough sharks to sustain a commercial industry at controlled levels and in doing so we would lessen the pressure on fish stocks considerably. You have to laugh when the surveys on shark numbers are carried out in the Green Zones where sharks have to actually hunt. How about going just outside the Green Zones to the nearest legally accessible fishing locations and see what the results are. Well known marks have welltrained sharks, and they are increasing in numbers at an alarming rate, so let’s see where the blame game starts about the number decline on some fisheries. I think we all know who will cop the blame again. Fishers! It has to be said and some

to their spots? Then add up the revenue raised by the registration of boats, trailers, vehicles and the maintenance of these items over a year to pursue the sport of fishing. Licence fees, torch batteries, sunscreen and fishing apparel or clothing, Aeroguard – the list goes on and on. Go on, pollies, do a survey to get some sort of realistic idea. Get an independent and honest shark numbers survey underway and then publish the findings for the public to peruse. Use no predetermined outcome, no botched figures or discriminative locations to back up previous claims by minoritys groups that have no scientific foundation – just an honest evaluation of shark numbers over the last ten years.

Much-needed rainfall HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

Last month I was talking about a couple of late rainfall events where we received around 300mm on each and that we had another on the way. The last one was a ripper and just when we thought another failed wet season was upon us the heavens opened for a late encore and it

If you punish a spot too much, it will take some time for these foragers to return. You only need a few to make up a good feed for the family but if you continue to fish, you are just making it harder for yourself and the species. Maybe turn your attention to other species once you have caught a few. The barra fishing has been reasonable, however they suffer a lot from change and the water temperatures are on the drop as we speak.

starting to recover with big GTs and larger schools of tuna bashing up mega schools of juvenile herring. I haven’t seen this in 3-4 years and some of it is happening straight off the beachfront when cleaner water prevails around the top of the tides. Another species to show up soon are big Spaniards and these will remain inshore for a few months before moving out in late September. Knowing where the

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Charter clients are happy during the run-off. came down. The Herbert River catchment received an outstanding 800mm+ of rain and the footage of Herbert River falls was simply mind blowing. This was the kind of event we really needed and already signs are there that the fishery is improving. In previous years we have had rather poor fishing for golden snapper (fingermark) but in recent weeks they are in plague proportions and fishing very well at night in the channel. The cooler waters are no issue with golden snapper and in the past we’ve had great winter sessions following good wet seasons. Golden snapper have fast become one of the most prized demersal species in the north. They are good looking, fight well and of course one of the best eating fish in the ocean. You can’t be too complacent with overfishing.

This current period can see them suffer from lockjaw for some time before coming back on in a big way once the water temperature has stabilized and they become accustomed to it. They will also aggregate a lot more, meaning you might not find them in many areas. When you do they are in good numbers. They are usually in two modes: hugging and aggregating around the bottom in a dormant state or heading to a feeding location that they know is going to happen because that becomes second nature to them. It’s all about bait movement, water conditions (temperature and movement) and stability. It can be a long learning curve for many anglers but anglers who put the time in start to get on top of it. The same applies to all species. We have also seen other evidence of a fishery

Another great barra from the late run-off this year.

garfish schools aggregate is a bonus, especially when they are away from the shallows. Some species of gar like the shallows but others hang in the deep, so getting to know your bait and its habits is very important. These are the kind of things that many fishers overlook. Once again, time on the water is most people’s constraint. In June I would also expect to see the other pelagics, such as golden and diamond trevallies, visit inshore holes and headlands. Metal slices retrieved fast are the best method when the tidal movement picks up, because the fish are stimulated and spread out a bit. Turn your attention back to deep jigged plastics once the tide backs off, but only where the aggregation of fish settles. Winter can be a fun period for anglers allowing different species and techniques to come into play because you don’t see them year round, so enjoy the changes while they last. • If you would like to take an extreme shortcut to some of our northern species then check out our online fishing courses. Thousands of anglers are now taking advantage of it because of the success of other anglers. We have so much free stuff on there too to help budding anglers achieve their goals. Check us out at www. ryanmoodyfishing.com.

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

Take advantage of calm days in windy June CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

The one constant in June is invariably the wind, so make sure whenever there is even a sniff of a drop in the breeze that you are ready to take advantage. Early morning raids are the best way of making the most of the conditions. Any area that has even a bit of protection from a headland or island will stay calmer for that bit longer, before it starts to blow again. The old pattern of massive high pressure systems over

1030 hectopascals marching across the Great Australia Bight and ridging up the North Queensland Coast has returned with a vengeance this autumn and winter, so we can expect plenty more windy days before this winter has passed. The fishing has been pretty good, when boats have managed to get out, with the reef producing trout in the shallow and largemouth nannygai and red emperor in the deeper water along with a wide array of less popular species. Mackerel have made a solid early showing, as have small black marlin, which have the sports fishos licking their

Golden snapper like this one caught by Paul Ulcoq have been the standout catch in the Cairns Inlet.

lips in anticipation for another bumper pelagic season. Inshore, barra have continued to tick along, while golden snapper have been the standout catch, both along the headlands and in the Cairns Inlet. There isn’t a week that goes past without another photo in the local Cairns Post of golden snapper caught in the inlet, providing everincreasing evidence that the Net Free Zone is working in favour of recreational anglers. As the water temperature continues to cool, more reds will be found out on the shallower (less than 40m) rubble country between the reefs. In the main, however, the deeper you fish up to 120m, the more chance you have of finding reds. Sharks continue to be a problem for most anglers, with the odd lucky boat having a shark-free trip. Mackerel are definitely the most sought-after species at this time of year and early indications are that it will be a good year, especially on Spanish mackerel, which have been around in good numbers well ahead of schedule. Let’s hope they hang around for the next few months so anglers can get a fair crack at them when there is a long awaited flat patch. When the winds are a bit high for comfortable fishing, places like the Cairns Inlet leads, Fitzroy and High islands and the wrecks around Double Island are where you can squeeze in a dawn raid

The beaches will continue to produce the odd pelagic like this golden trevally caught by Clint Mogg. and get back to the boat ramp before the winds really get going, usually by 9am. When the doggies show up, which can’t be far away, one of the most effective baits is live sardines, rather than the more popular whole pilchard. On its day, the good old pilly will do the job. When things are slow or the fish a bit hesitant, there is nothing like a live sardine to get the action happening. My preferred rig for live sardines is a single, black 3/0 long shank with a small black short shank stinger hook sliding on a 27lb mono wire trace and a black swivel. Put the large hook in behind the shoulder from the right side. If you come in from the left shoulder, when the hook lays along the fish the point of the hook is pushing

into the shoulder because of the offset. This makes it more likely you will miss setting the hook on a strike. The small hook goes in just in front of the tail, from the opposite side to the large hook. I always carry a few made-up rigs curled around the trace and kept in a used soft plastic zip pack, ready to deploy whenever the opportunity arises. Add a bit of berley in the form of chopped up sardines and if there are any doggie mackerel in the vicinity, you will be in with a good chance of getting amongst them. Even when a monster Spaniard decides to crash the party, this rig will handle the extra pressure. The inshore wrecks, islands and reefs in the Cairns area are well worth a trip when

the winds subside, as there will be plenty of action from the bottom to the surface. On the bottom, you can expect to find golden snapper, the odd nannygai, trevally of all varieties, cod, and cobia and of course school, spotty, grey and Spanish mackerel, depending on the location and the day. Live baits are definitely an advantage but not a necessity. Pelagics will respond to microjigs, slices, soft plastics and hardbodied lures, as well as the old faithful pilchard. The beaches will continue to produce the odd catch but will be very dependent on bait movement. Pelagics, like golden and giant trevally will come in shallow if bait is plentiful or in low light conditions, so don’t discount this very relaxing way to wet a line. Another option worth exploring, when the winds prevail, is trekking the local freshwater streams in search of sooty grunter and jungle perch. In the bigger streams, there is also the chance of tangling with a barra or mangrove jack, which will really test your light gear. Sooties and JPs are very line sensitive, especially in clear water, so go light and quiet if you want any success in the clear winter streams. Remember to be croc-wise around our waterways, no matter how far you think you are from tidal waters. Nothing short of a major waterfall will halt their progress upstream.

Trinity Net Free Zone is full after the big wet CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

The winter months can be tough fishing in the north but with the Trinity Net Free Zone full of fish after a big wet, the chances of snaring that magical metre barra or trophy jack are still better than ever. During the cooler months the water temperatures can really shut down the bite, but the fish still need to eat so it’s about making subtle differences to get the bite. Firstly, bite times reduce quickly, which means you need to be in the right place at the right time. The change of tide is always the best time to trigger a bite pattern. Anglers fishing the inlet and northern rivers have suggested the first of the run-in for jacks and the first and last hour of the run-out is best for barra. The best tool you can have at this time of year after a tide is a quality side imaging sounder to 66

JUNE 2018

Mangrove jack will still be chewing, however they may take a few more casts into the snags to get them to bite. help you locate the fish. My head is forever buried in my Humminbird Mega when looking for barra during the cooler months as they tend to school a bit tighter. When you can find them, your chances of getting one to bite go up considerably. Your next best tool is one you can’t purchase and that’s patience. Just because you can find the fish doesn’t mean they will bite and you need to put in plenty of casts before the line goes tight.

To increase your chances, it’s always a great idea to fish as light as possible. This is why I prefer braid like Sunline Siglon, which is half the diameter of most braids, so I can still fish 10-16lb, but with a diameter of normal 4lb braid. Leader is also important and high-quality fluorocarbon like FC100 is a must, especially when using light poundage for fish like barramundi, which can shred line with ease. The water

will also be much clearer during the winter months with the lack of rainfall, so lighter line and more natural presentations are a must. To also enhance your chances of getting that bite, try smaller lures like Wrigglers or Flick Baits as the jellybean theory works very well when the water is cold. They may not be keen for the main meal, but a well-presented ‘snack’ is always welcomed by most predatory fish. The smaller daytime tides through winter make fishing deeper bends in places like the inlet much easier. Vibing is your best technique in these areas. Look for the deeper holes on your sounder around the 5-6m mark. Golden snapper will also be in these areas, especially in the inlet. About 150m off the Navy Wharf is a great place to start for these fish as well as many of the semi-submerged wrecks. Mangrove jack will still be chewing, however they may take a few more casts into the snags to get them to bite. Once again smaller lures are the go and using your Minn Kota Electric to spot

lock and really work snags over with multiple casts is important. I like a very slowmoving presentation for jacks in winter and even surface lures during daylight or dusk are a very good option. Don’t be surprised if you nail a few grunter while chasing jacks at this time of year as they move into the snags during the colder months. The Barron River, Thomatis and Moon Creek

will all be good spots to target jacks. Finally, the Cairns Fishing Committee has been continuing to meet and develop a Recreational Fishing Strategy for our area. This includes more funding for land-based spots and resources, facilities, lighting and fish stocks. It’s never been a better time to fish in Cairns, so make sure you get out and enjoy it.

After the rains, barra are a distinct possibility.

Fishing is changing after a great wet season LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

June means clear waters and persistent southerly trade winds, both of which can prove a headache to fishos. After a great wet season the fishing has been fantastic; the barra fishing has been epic with plenty of fish in the 60-70cm bracket providing lots of fun and some tasty fillets. During the cooler months the southerly trade winds can be a real pain, as they seem to never let up. The odd small window of opportunity must be grabbed and having boats full of fuel and gear rigged and ready means you should be first to the spots and hooked up. It’s also about now that the start of the majestic whale migration is happening and there is no better way to break up a fishing trip than witnessing these massive mammals playing around. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL Around this time of year the fishing for barra can become slower. The reason for this is the drop in water temperatures makes them less motivated to feed. They still eat but they become pickier and bite times are fewer and far between. My tip for those wanting to try for barra would be to pick your times carefully. Tides with a bigger variance that will create a colour change and push baitfish into smaller selected areas mean predatory fish, such as barra, don’t need to work as hard for a feed. If you’re using lures and soft plastics then slow down your

After a great wet season the fishing has been fantastic; the barra fishing has been epic with plenty of fish in the 60-70cm bracket providing lots of fun and some tasty fillets. retrieves as much as you can. You want to keep your offering in front of the fish for as long as possible. Smaller live baits can also prove effective and several live prawns on lightly weighted hooks normally prove irresistible for any fish that swims. Mangrove jack fishing normally slows down around this time as well due to those cooler water temperatures. The best thing about jacks is they are aggressive fish by nature and can’t help but have a swipe at a well-worked lure or plastic. They may not be in the mindset to actually eat it, but if it’s in their territory then chances are they will attack it. With the clear water, using surface lures for jacks is great fun and also effective. By far my favourite way of chasing these fish is with ZMan FrogZ. In particular the 2.75” Finesse

Frog that is way too addictive once you start using it. If you haven’t tried this style of fishing, get into it. Fishing the channel rubble and rocks will provide some good golden snapper and grunter fishing and sourcing some quality bait will push odds in your favour. The difference between gathering your own bait with a cast net and buying frozen bait from a tackle store is massive. You can’t beat fresh bait and the difference between the boats putting some good fish in the esky and those coming home empty handed is normally time spent getting the perfect baits. Blue salmon should be schooled up and free swimming around the many creeks. They can appear anywhere but creeks that have some sandy banks that are tidal are normally great places to

start looking. Salmon follow the tide into creeks and feed as the water rises over these flats. They are aggressive fish and will respond to pretty much any technique you want to use. Using some stealth while searching for schools can sometimes mean you are surrounded by hundreds of fish, which is a sight in itself. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF It’s an exciting time to be heading out into the blue water if the weather allows it. Sometimes the consistent southerly trades won’t let up for months, which is extremely frustrating as the fishing can be mind blowing at this time of the year. The jetty should start to have massive schools of queenfish stacking up and it’s no secret that the iconic jetty is one of the best places to land cricket score numbers when they are on. The use of quality sounders makes finding fish very easy and gone are the days of ‘prospecting’ around the jetty until fish are found. These days I just drive around until good shows of fish are on my sounder, press spot lock on the electric motor and try different techniques until I find one that works. Queenfish respond well to plenty of techniques and if they’re in the mood then it’s near impossible to get anything through a school without hooking up. The simplest method I have found and by far the most consistent has been using 5” plastics rigged on 3/4oz jigheads. ZMan JerkshadZ or StreakZ are proven winners and also are tough enough to catch multiple fish. Queenies have very rough sandpaper

mouths that will ruin plastics and leaders very quickly. Make sure your plastic gets below the school of fish and work it with speed back through them; these fish love to chase and seem to get excited when their prey is heading towards the surface. Watching several fish following your plastic as it reaches the surface before turning away or eating it at the rod tip is so crazy and something I never tire of seeing. After you have caught a few, it’s great fun trying to race them and not actually hook up, which is almost impossible. Queenfish need to be unhooked and released as quickly as possible otherwise they will die very easily. So if you’re chasing photos, make sure cameras are ready to go and you spear the fish back into the water as soon as possible. This month the schools of Spanish mackerel are starting to stack up around the islands, wrecks and reef passes. Anywhere that has strong

currents and plenty of baitfish is a perfect spot for these fish. Setting some trolling gear with a few deep diving lures is a good way to relax and should see rods bent with plenty of action. Mackerel respond well to lures trolled around the 6-8km/h, so it pays to make sure you are using lures that will troll at these faster speeds. I would also suggest not using wire trace straight away as this can deter fish from eating. If you find you’re getting bitten off all the time then the use of wire is necessary. It’s also time for the mighty whales to be making their move north, so keep an eye out for these amazing mammals. They will always do their best to avoid boats but take care, especially at night. Don’t run into them when they’re resting on the surface. If you are lucky enough to cross paths with some, make sure you sit back and enjoy the show – sometimes they love to play up a little for the camera.

Cold, clear water means fast fish.

The red fish are coming in hot PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

There’s no doubt we are heading deep into the dry season or winter pattern in the tropics. Daylight hours are drying up, temperatures are very comfortable and there’s the hint the southeasterly trade winds may take hold. In fishing terms it has meant the rivers and creeks have become a bit more challenging as water temperatures drop. There has been the odd barra report going around, but they will soon dry up. Mangrove jack, estuary cod and golden snapper are hanging in there more consistently and more known winter species are now laying claim. These fish include mid-sized giant trevally (even though they can be around most of the

year), queenfish, grunter, sicklefish, flathead and big fat bream. The best chance you can give yourself as the days get cooler is to coincide any wind with the tide in the same direction. Calmer clearer water will also enhance your chances of success. If the waters get really dirty, don’t be afraid to revert back to a bit of prawn, pilchard or squid to encourage a bit more activity. If you’re fishing after dark, live baits will still tempt golden snapper and also entice trevally varieties and tarpon in the deeper holes. The opposite can be said for the reef fishing because it has gone gangbusters in the last few weeks. As the seasons change it tends to trigger the fish into overdrive and the red species such as coral trout, red emperor and small and largemouth nannygai can come on the bite in a serious way. I manage a

fleet of charter boats in Port Douglas and the catches have been phenomenal at times. The crews have had to drive away from the bite on some occasions in fear of reaching bag limits, particularly on the nannygai species. With a bag limit of nine per person on the nannygai and them going ballistic it doesn’t take long to reach solid numbers. When the largemouth are up around the 8-9kg size and the smallmouth around 5kg, esky/cooler space becomes an issue as well. The coral and bar-cheek have also been right up there in size around 6kg and they’ve also had serious bursts with up to a dozen being caught in one session. The red army has been on the charge, and there have been a variety of other species doing their bit to put a bend in the rod. Trevally species such as golden, goldspot and

tea-leaf have been relentless at times. Big cobia have been around more often than not and Spanish mackerel are becoming more frequent as the days go by. If you add bread and butter species to the equation such as sweetlip, stripeys and Moses perch, a day’s catch can soon amount into something massive. Not too much will change on the reef department in the coming month and wind will be a contributing factor. Southeasterly trade winds can kick in for days on end dictating the depth you can target fish. Ideally you want calm days with a bit of run in the tide and you shouldn’t be disappointed. Furthermore if you can luck the weather, there’s nothing better than being on the reef at this time of year. Us locals are blessed that we can drop whatever we are doing and go enjoy the splendours of the reef when they present.

Dragon Lady Charters have enjoyed great success on the big largemouth nannygai. JUNE 2018

The water holes shrink in June CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

As the water cools, the water holes slowly begin to shrink and for the first time this year an increased amount of life will begin to concentrate in less space. June is a good time to contemplate this shrinking phenomenon and what part it plays in the fishing in Cape York. The land and waterways slowly begin to exert less influence on the coast and

open sea. Springs seep water profusely under the pressure of a wet season but quickly diminish in the dry season. Creeks that were a raging torrent months earlier and full of black bream can barely muster a trickle by the end of June. This shrinking of waterways can have a dramatic effect on the fishing throughout Cape York. This rugged Peninsula is literally dissected by tiny rivulets turning into pristine rivers. From Cooktown in the east to Kowanyama in the west, a

A tiny saratoga from an even tinier lagoon.

close map will reveal a maze of waterways all the way north to the Tip of Cape York. On the western coastline, this will include saratoga, which are an awesome freshwater fish to target. What makes these fish so special is the unique environments in which they live. Even in the tiniest of little waterholes, which must have taken swimming across waterlogged land to get to, saratoga will be there. Even where the archerfish, barramundi and tarpon couldn’t reach, you can still often find saratoga patrolling the edges looking for frogs, grasshoppers, lizards and anything that ripples the surface. These prehistoric fish are an iconic species in Asia where their label of ‘dragonfish’ has earned them a good luck status. A keen awareness for their surroundings shows in the tank and this is reflected in nature. Fishers targeting saratoga at this time of year in Cape York will need either small boats or the ability to access spots on foot. The best thing is most places that hold saratoga, will also hold barramundi. These two seem to be fairly happy bedfellows and even better, both will lovingly

smash a surface lure! Fizzers, poppers and walkthe-dog style lures all work well on these confined species. Sometimes a subtle approach is needed around the lily pads with a plastic frog or some close rubber or fly imitation. At other times a hefty splash or fizz is needed to wake sulky fish out of a slumber. Late afternoons are a prime time for this type of fishing. As the sun sinks and light slowly leaves the sky, predators throw caution to the wind, often in a short window of time, and are willing to take surface presentations. This period can arise again during the early evening and even

A nice blue-spot trout caught in shallow water. sometimes late into the night. Trying to reach these locations by boat becomes more challenging as the dry season kicks in. River levels

The bounties of the Gulf – mud crabs and tiger prawns.

have dropped, sand bars and rock bars have grown shallower and tiny boats are often needed to scoot over logs and branches. This is not territory for a brand new flow coat! Hopping out of a tiny boat to walk dry driver channels can bring fishers on foot into some stunning sceneries. Lily-lined pools studded with branches and trees that have fallen in make homes for the giant saratoga and bronzed barramundi. Every fish caught in this country feels like five caught from a boat! • For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com

Cool nights and trade winds mark changes COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

As predicted at this time of year in Cooktown, the nights have finally started to cool and the trade winds are in full swing. The day temperatures have dropped a couple of degrees, too. These seasonal changes mark the start of our southern cousins coming north in droves to tour and explore our beautiful lands and waterways that surround us. It’s a great time to come to the Cape. We have the privilege of having some of the best camping and fishing spots within a few hours’ drive from Cooktown. You will start seeing locals venture

been flooding in about rat barra being caught in the upper reaches of tidal flow estuaries and the odd larger fish caught suspending a live bait under a float. Grunter are another common species to try for at this time of year. Try the deeper holes on the clear days and up on the sand flats during a making tide on either overcast days or at night. The grunter can spook easily, so stealth fishing is the key. Estuary cod will also be biting. Try around the snags for a few. You may be rewarded with some nice by-catch using this technique. Don’t forget to soak some pots during your day on the river. Plenty of mud crabs have been caught

out to some of these remote fishing locations as the water recedes and the roads harden up. The grass is still green and the rivers are still running. There’s still the odd shower here and there but this only keeps the heat down, which makes camping much more pleasurable. The seemingly relentless Cooktown breeze has only allowed a few opportunities to get out on the reefs over the last month. However, the reports have seen some quality size fish being caught. Very big largemouth nannygai catches are coming in at this stage and will continue to be caught in throughout the month. You have to get out into the paddock away from reef structures and get lucky by finding a ‘wonky hole’ on a

from both the Annan and Endeavour rivers. Lakefield National Park (southern and central end) is set to open on 1 June. Barra will be in all the waterholes throughout the park. Flicking lures for barra while walking the banks is the most common method. Another method is using small tinnies, which allows you to cover more of the waterholes with ease. Whichever method you use, remember to be croc-wise, because some big crocs are about. While the trade winds blow, a lot of Cooktowners hit the park. From Cooktown, you can fish some Lakefield destinations and still make it home for dinner.

Trent Kirk with a nice black jewfish caught on a recent fishing trip north off Cooktown.

Kira Hall with a decent largemouth nannygai. 68

JUNE 2018

flat sea floor if you want to catch these big red monsters. A good way to do this is to study the bottom closely with a quality sounder while trying to troll up some big pelagics. The Spanish mackerel are still being caught consistently if you are willing to put in the time on the troll. Other qualitysize fish are being caught this month and will continue to be caught next month;

these include reef jacks and spangled emperor, found on the reef edges and coral trout from the bommies. With few opportunities to get out onto the reef the rivers have been the prominent fishing adventures. The estuaries will be relatively clear, but we have been experiencing a late seasonal rain. This means plenty of estuary action. Local reports have

Jen Hall with her first jack caught bottom bashing.

It’s the start of the tourist season in Weipa WEIPA

Mark Bargenquast

Finally tourists have begun to arrive, towing an array of boats covered in dust and sitting on broken trailers. The silly season has arrived! May is generally

the onset of our visitors from the south, most doing the big trip to the Cape and dropping into Weipa for a few days of fishing. Most visitors fish Andoom Creek or the Mission River looking for the elusive barramundi, but usually catch a load of blue

Nick Stock with a big queeny on a popper.

salmon, grunter, pikey bream and jack (going by the waste bin at the fish cleaning bench in the park), unfortunately some are undersized and a few juvenile grouper which are mistaken for cod are also killed. Make sure you check legal sizes and species when visiting here as the local fish authorities won’t take kindly for the excuse of ‘I didn’t know.’ Offshore a few tuna and Spaniards have been around down to the south. They’re still patchy. A few weeks ago bait balls with cobia, GTs, tuna, Spaniards and brassy trevally were happening but these have slowed at the moment. Last week we had a group of Japanese anglers for the week who only wanted to target barramundi; the guys mainly fished topwater lures and were getting up to 50 bites per day in the shallows with a good average size. One day we landed 40 jacks with the same technique, which was a good effort

The author and Jackson with a fly-caught tripletail. – most were 38-45cm but great fun! This week we had a cool snap, which will save a few barra from the waste bin in the park, as they slow down and become tough to catch. With a little knowledge and

patience, they will bite. A big issue worth noting for travellers is the new boat ramp facility at Evans Landing; be wary if there’s a big southeasterly wind (which is our trade wind up here in winter). Rough waves

make this structure very hazardous. It has simply been constructed in the wrong spot and wears the full brunt of the waves blowing down the river, often breaking over the pontoon. Big thumbs down to the designers of this one!

NORTHERN JUNIOR

West Coast wonderland WEIPA

Jackson Bargenquast

You really can’t beat living in Cape York. There’s awesome fishing and exceptional pig hunting right on your doorstep, not to mention the endless wide open space of the Cape, much of it uninhabited and readily available for exploration. With the wet season long gone it’s time to enjoy a little dose of the dry season, which has its perks. The rains may mean freshwater run-off, resulting in plagues of barramundi, however it also means stirred up water and fresh that travels out to sea, which can affect pelagic fishing and upset the reefies. On top of this,

the freshwater swamps get flooded and rivers run cold, liquid mud for many months. These factors make it much harder to chase sooties and

Saratoga, as well as making it tougher to hunt feral boars. It’s also extremely humid. As winter sets in, however, the humidity is

Measuring over 60cm long and weighing around 12lb, this is the elusive and powerful triple tail. It’s a very unusual fish.

Although the wet season is over, there are still a few barra kicking around.

replaced with warm but fresh weather, with chilly mornings and evenings. Winter here provides the perfect conditions to have fun in the sun. Pelagic fishing is also at its best at this time of year. Hordes of hungry tuna and Spanish mackerel chop bait shoals into confetti, and large cobia and trevally lurk beneath, slurping up all of the scraps that descend. All of these species can be caught regularly on lures, flies and live baits, and if these predators are feasting on a tightly-packed bait ball, they will feed for hours on end, meaning that setting a hook

isn’t hard. Just look for the birds and rig up your lines. There is one issue, however, that may affect your success rate, and that is the ferocious, flesh-rending bull sharks that swarm below the feeding pelagics. These 10ft long, 600lb powerhouse predators can be devastating, eating pretty much every fish hooked off of bait balls within a few seconds. That’s except for those damn remora which, along with thug cobia, follow the tax men in huge numbers. The intense offshore action is not only emphasized by the usual Weipa candidates, but also by seasonal visitors. These include enormous manta rays feeding on jelly prawn schools, and 40ft long Bryde’s whales, which engulf whole bait balls in one single gulp. Inevitably there are also species of fish that are seasonal visitors, such as the famous sailfish, which are chased by many Weipa billfish enthusiasts over the dryer months. The sails are accompanied by the fluorescent mahimahi (dolphinfish) and also by other billfish species such as black marlin. There is also a very unusual and very unique fish that arrives at this time of year: the elusive triple tail, also called jumping cod. This bizarre ambush predator resembles a giant pikey bream with a barramundi head, the teeth of a piranha and the colour of a grouper. While it is

Keen young angler Olivia Ross with a beastly brassy trevally that nearly pulled her arms out of the sockets! debatable as to whether these fish are actually pelagic (they don’t travel as quickly or efficiently as pelagics such as tuna), they are definitely found offshore and often prefer to reside under some kind of floating structure, such as a piece of driftwood or an old broken-off buoy. These bits of structure attract baitfish, which in turn attract the triple tail. They are a well camouflaged fish; the juveniles are bright orange to resemble a mangrove leaf, and they gradually change into dull greyish brown to black once they reach adult size. Recently I managed to snag a couple of these solid beasts on lures and fly, and I can happily say they fight extremely hard. Although their reputation as being good eating may be correct, I was much happier to watch these strange hunters return to their watery world unharmed.

The rivers may be salting up again, but despite popular belief the barra aren’t gone. These lethargic chrome predators are simply going to be a little more challenging to catch while the weather is a bit cooler. The best method has changed from flicking vibes and divers over colour changes or into run-off waterfalls, to casting shallow divers over snake drains and mud flats. You can still have some great fun doing this. The barra have been feeding well at night lately, so it’s worth flicking some plastics around rocky headlands accessible by land or boat in the hours of darkness (just watch out for crocs). You may even pick up a jack or king salmon if you’re lucky. Good luck to all anglers over the upcoming dry season, and remember to think like a fish. JUNE 2018

Get ready to tease out the winter fish bite TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

It may be the start of the slower freshwater fishing but it’s an exciting month for me. Although not timed to perfection to coincide with the best fishing months, I am

releasing a new lure through stores on 18 June. This spoon’s development started around two years ago and the final product testing has been underway for the last five months. The lure (Gang Banger G2) is the perfect weight, flies through the air like a missile and enters the water like a bullet. Despite weighing in

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST There are no changes yet, so Cressbrook Dam remains closed due to the algae outbreak. Hopefully the cold weather will roll the algae and the dam will reopen to water-based activities. For updates, visit the Toowoomba Region Council website.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The bass are schooling thick around Pelican Point. Finding fish has been very easy; getting them to bite has been the hard part. Last trip we found two big schools on the southern side of Pelican Point, one on the hump on the outer eastern edge and another closer to the

at 20g, the lure has a much smaller profile than others, which means there is less planing surface and the lure rises quickly off the bottom. It also means it requires just a little more speed than the original Gang Banger to kick it into the same swaying, swimming action. Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel!

14 31

Weipa

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

as well. When you find these fish, they can be smaller but will often be more willing to take lures. The bass will often bite in windows where they drop their guard and feed. Strike the right day and you may experience some hot action. Make the most of it though as you never know how long it will last before they go back to being tight-lipped again. In typical fashion, you will often pull fish from a new spot before they shut down and refuse to eat. When the boat

Gold Coast

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

drop-off on the northern side. Between these bigger schools were plenty of other scattered bass as well. With so many fish on the sounder it made me wonder if there would be any other big schools through the lake in other areas. The most fishing pressure has been around Pelican Point but often more active fish can be found further north. Spots like Bay 13 wide of Queen Street and the flats either side of Kirkleigh often hold bass

Winter bass at Somerset will be holding close to the bottom. Try fooling them with the new Gang Banger G2 spoons. They are ideal for slow winding and slow hopping over the winter months.

Gympie

Cairns 1

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

Maryborough

Roma

is sitting stationary on them this is often the case. Rotate between schools frequently when casting and you will increase your catch rate. Trolling seems to be the best way to fool the fish and keep them biting for a longer period of time. Hardbodies have been unproductive with the fish responding better to smaller and more subtle presentations. One of the most reliable lures to use is a tail spinner trolled using the electric motor. There are a lot of variables that affect a

BRISBANE

sinking lure’s depth, so here is a guide to get you close to the right spot. We troll 18g tail spinners on 6-8lb braided line. Cast the lure around 50m back behind the boat and troll a straight line at 1.8-2.2km/h. Using this approach, the lure will swim at 26-32ft deep (8-10m). Lure depths can be altered to suit the depth of the lake by altering the speed; slower equals deeper and faster equals shallower. To page 71

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

        

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

MAR APR MAY 14 14 11 98 96 95 17 22 21 42 40 38 102 100 100 106 104 100 80 77 75 99 98 97 4 3 2 47 45 45 50 45 43

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

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

29 29 27 57 56 55 9 8 5 92 100 100 27 26 25 57 54 50 103 100 99 70 98 95 62 97 99 92 98 87 10 10 9 105 102 102

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

Maroon 100 100 99 Monduran/Fred Haigh 103 100 99 Moogerah 90 88 87 North Pine/Samsonvale 89 90 89 Peter Faust/Proserpine 69 78 72 Pindari 60 59 59 Somerset 77 79 77 Teemburra 91 98 98 Tinaroo 48 95 97 Toonumbar 102 100 100 Wivenhoe 77 77 77 Wuruma 101 99 98

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 15/05/18

(All levels correct at time of going to press. Dam levels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.) 70

JUNE 2018

From page 70

When you hook a fish and have others fishing in the boat, stop the boat and retrieve the other lures in behind the hooked fish. The commotion is all that is needed to wake the other bass up and excite them. Try not to stay stationary for too long or the bass will move to the boat away from their normal habitat and you will soon experience shut down fish like the lure casters do. Lure casters can expect to catch fish on a variety of lures. Switching around can make all the difference on some days. In the past

month, spinnerbaits, soft plastics, soft vibes, blades, tail spinners and spoons have all caught fish. On the dead still calm days I often stick to slow winding or slow hopping Gang Banger spoons, as I can fish well away from the boat. On windy days, I let the boat drift and experiment more with other offerings (especially tail spinners and spinnerbaits). There have been plenty of redclaw crayfish caught in around 5m of water. Catches may slow a bit more as the water cools down but I am guessing there will still be enough moving around to get a good feed in opera

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA There was a late flurry of golden perch and cod last month. The fish were being caught by boat fishers on baits and lures, but as quickly as the action started, it died down. Lure fishing will be very slow now due to the colder water. Hopping small blades is really the only option for consistently catching golden perch. Trolling hardbodies is really only an option if you are in search of one of the lake’s elusive Murray cod. Bait fishing outside the weed edge in water 6-9m deep can produce fish over the winter months. While live shrimp are often the best bait, the humble frozen saltwater yabby seems to be even more effective on the now lethargic

fish. From the boat drop baits straight over the side and fish them vertically on an almost tight line. Using this approach you can feel the fish sucking and picking at the bait. Lower the rod tip when the fish picks to allow them to suck the bait in and then lift again to see if you have any weight. Avoid aggressive striking. For all your bait, hooks and sinkers call into Craig’s Home Hardware in Highfields. Cooby Dam’s proximity to Highfields and Toowoomba makes it a very popular fishery. If you are looking for somewhere close to home to drop the boat or kayak in, Cooby is definitely worth a visit. The dam hours are now 7am until 6pm. Remember, no outboard motors are allowed to be used on the dam. The concrete

SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA Bass and saratoga seem to hang on a little longer in MacDonald and continue to eat surface offerings this month. The weed bed edges will be the place to target with surface walkers and frogs. The new Jackson Risk Bait Walker has been a standout. Around the bubble trail and the Botanical Gardens, sound up the bass and try hopping lures like the new Gang Banger G2 or Jackson Dart Magic.

BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Bass and saratoga are worth chasing up in the timbered arms. Make the most of it before the water gets really cold over the next two months. The Kingham Arm has been the better option up in the timber with spinnerbaits and surface lures doing the damage. Surface walkers like the Lucky Craft Sammy 65, Cultiva Zippin’ Ziggy and Duo Realis Pencil 95 are ideal for working the weed, lilies and timber structure. Smaller

house traps. Somerset fishing has moved the tackle van up the hill closer to the campground. Look for them inside the day area up near the toilet block above the boat ramp. The boys will be there from Friday to Sunday. They have the right gear and they can steer you in the right direction, as they always know where the fish are schooled up. MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, BEAUDESERT The cool weather and clear water of Maroon will be perfect for flicking jerkbaits to bass around the edges. Start right up in the shallows

and on top of the weed early in the morning with lures that dive to less than 1m. As soon as the light intensifies go to deeper jerkbaits and probe the edges of the weed. Long pauses are important using the jerkbaiting technique. It allows the fish plenty of time to come and inspect the lure before deciding to whack it. Once a lure has reached its diving depth opt for a twitch-twitch-pause style of retrieve rather than just winding. Other lures can still be effective. Soft plastics, lightly rigged and fished around the weed edges, will also pull their share of fish.

boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places, but a big electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can be left on the boat and must not be used. COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD The golden perch will be hard to come by now with just the occasional one caught on lures. Bait fishing with shrimp and saltwater yabbies can see a few more fish caught but again they will be hard work. The Murray cod are still an option and will continue to bite all winter. Early morning starts are a must with some of the best action occurring just as the sun peaks over the horizon. The rest of the day can be hard work but the rewards are there. Just keep casting and hoping the cod will be there and turn on. With the dam dropping, there are less places

for the cod to hide, so look for trees to cast at which are in 2-4m of water. This seems to be the most productive depth. Big spinnerbaits around 1oz in weight rigged with plastic trailers and a stinger hook are ideal. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around 1km away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has an extra two new wheelchairfriendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake and the river below, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

profiled spinnerbaits from 1/4-1/2oz are ideal for working the weed edges. The spinnerbait is a better way to encourage bites from both togas and bass. Focus on the steeper banks when chasing bass and allow the lure to fall down the face of it before retrieving. 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.

Out deeper at the base of the weed beds and on schooling bass, lures like small blade baits and the new downsized Gang Banger G2 will be perfect for hopping. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS; BOONAH, RATHDOWNEY Schooling bass have been keeping some anglers happy over the last month. Most of the fishing pressure has been across the Spit, which extends from the northern ramp and across towards the dam wall. These fish have turned it on some days but at other times have been very hard to entice. Soft

plastics slow rolled across the bottom are likely to be the best way to fool these fish. When the action is slow and fish are hard to find, try searching the eastern side of the dam as well. Sometimes the bass move from the Spit to the east and school up in 6-9m of water. Golden perch numbers have also been higher than normal over the past couple of months. These yellow brawlers are likely to slow down over winter but the bass will still be an option. Pick the warmer days and the lake will still be an enjoyable place to fish.

Murray cod action will keep freshwater anglers happy over the winter months. Coolmunda trees and big spinnerbaits are definitely the go.

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WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY Boondooma has some

morning. Flick right up into the shallows early and then slow things down and sink lures closer to the bottom

are seeing a few bass on the sounder below the boat. Look for schooling fish around Leisegang’s Ledge and up around Pelican Point. Sound around to find them before you start

Slowing down and using suspending hardbodies will often fool the winter barra. The Jackall Squirrel Hank Tune is a proven fish catcher. very healthy weed beds worth exploring with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits first thing in the

as the sun begins to rise. Soft plastics and blades are also worth tossing around the weed, especially if you

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and around the yellow marker buoy between the ramps. Live shrimp dropped into these fish are sure to produce bass and golden perch. While lures will be a bit slower, they’re still worth a try. Soft plastics and blade baits should get some attention from the deeper fish. Early in the morning, the banks in front of the wineries and on the back side of Bass Point are worth a flick with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Try smaller offerings. Hopping 1/4oz blades out from the edges can also work well, especially if there is a drop-off between you and the bank you’re casting to. For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into Bass 2 Barra. The store stocks an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish and the boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it. You’ll find the stores at 119 Youngman Street Kingaroy. Matthew Mott also runs fishing charters on the dams and you can reach him through the store for bookings and enquiries on (07) 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. CANIA CLOSEST TOWNS: MONTO, BILOELA There are plenty of bass schools through Cania Dam at the moment. These fish can be found from the main basin up into the timber. These fish have been getting a bit tougher to tempt, but continue to eat all types of lures. Being in a transition time where the cold starts to affect them more, you can target fish out in deep water and up on the shallow edges. On the edges try lures like spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and suspending jerkbaits. Using these lures here you also stand a good chance of hooking a saratoga. Out in the deeper water, the bass have responded well to all types of lures. As the cold sets in more, soft plastics may start to dominate catches more.

to fish as this makes all the difference. Once you locate them they should be catchable with soft

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plastics, blades, spoons and tail spinners. In the timbered arms and around the first rocks in the Stuart after the Junction, bass and golden perch can be caught on bait. Live shrimps are the best bait. If you can’t get a hold of any, try using saltwater yabbies. Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water, sit by the fire and enjoy the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into one of the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items including an excellent range of proven fishing tackle. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call (07) 4168 9694. BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI Most of the fish have been caught in the lower part of the lake over the last month. Not much will change, so stick to looking for schools along the dropoffs between the two boat ramps. Schooling bass and goldens can also be found out in front of the quarry

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Trolling Jets Tail Spinners is almost cheating when it comes to catching fussy bass. CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE When the weather patterns have been stable, the barra have been chewing. The dam has been fishing quite well leading into winter. Sessions working the timbered edges and lilylined banks of the main basin and its bays during the day are scoring multiple fish. The majority are below 70cm in length but there have been quite

a few bigger ones closer to 90cm caught. Weather will have an even bigger influence on the fishing as things cool down more. Pick the nice warm days and slow things down to suit the mood of the fish. Suspending lures twitched in front of their faces will be molested. Night sessions seem to be producing more fish, but you need to find an area that they will move into for feeding. Mark from Awoonga Gateway has had some great sessions after sunset when the barra

have moved into his ever-faithful bay in New Zealand Gully. Shallow diving hardbodies twitched back to the boat have drawn the best response. Mark has a few productive secret spots he’s always willing to share. The Gateway Lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby. The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, self-contained cabins, each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 4975 0033.

WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH Don’t put your barra rods away just yet. The barra will still be catchable in Faust over the coming month. Schooling fish in the basin of the lake on the eastern side seem to

be becoming more common. When these fish can be found sitting higher in the water column they will usually bite lures. Dropping 20-30g vibes into the fish or casting big soft plastics is the way to get a reaction. This open water fishing relies heavily on sounding

up the fish and positioning the boat in the right spot to work lures through them. If you’re not confident in this style of fishing, give trolling a go. Trolling with deep divers like the Scorpion Crazy Deep will ensure your lure is close enough to the fish to get a bite. Some anglers have even switched to using downriggers to accurately place the lure in front of the fish they are

Beat the winter blues LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

The cooler months are well and truly upon us and at this time of year, the general consensus is that the lake becomes hard to fish. While some aspects of this statement are accurate, it’s certainly not the end of the world, and there are several things you can do to tip the scales in your favour when fishing Tinaroo during winter. The first thing that people assume is that the barra ‘hibernate’ during the cooler months and don’t eat. This is simply not true – big barramundi need to eat constantly to sustain their large mass and condition, and while they’re slightly less active they can be targeted successfully in winter. Tinaroo is located in tropical Far North Queensland, but what most people don’t realise is that the Tablelands are approximately 800m above sea level, and temperatures here actually get quite cold in comparison to the coastal areas. Water temperatures in the dam can easily drop well below 20°C, even in the sun-warmed, shallow fringes. This presents an extra challenge to Tinaroo barramundi anglers, but the barra are catchable. A slight change of thinking and approach is all that is needed to continue targeting barramundi over the cooler months. Generally, the barramundi

Even in the weed, there’s no hiding. Here we can see four barra in the tops of weed and not far away from a submerged tree branch. Use your sounder to locate the fish and rule out the fishless water.

Quality sooties like this one are great fun on light gear. prefer to seek warmth via all available means during these times and are likely to be in slightly different areas than when the water is warm. They do this by finding warm, shallow water in areas where the safety of deep water and cover is still close by. They will also be attracted to any shallow area that has windblown, oxygenated water blowing into it, which brings with it added elements of warmth and safety, as well as the baitfish that barra like to devour. The top tips for anglers targeting Tinaroo barramundi over winter are: • Be as stealthy as possible; barra will congregate in shallow areas when the water temperatures drop, therefore they will become very easy to spook. • Get your lures close; big impoundment barra are lazy at the best of times, but they

Tablelands Fish Stocking Society recently stocked a small number of juvenile red claw back into the dam in an attempt to re-establish stocks.

also have a high metabolic rate. Especially during winter, an easy meal will be scoffed if little energy expenditure is required. • If fish are located, persistence is the key; just like in the warmer months, big barramundi do not come easily and may only be triggered to bite for a short period of time. Another option (and to be honest, my favourite) is to instead turn your focus to sooty grunter when the barra fishing gets tough. These fish are a genuine angling target and provide great sport when hooked on lighter gear. The best method of targeting these fish is to get baits and lures deep into structure and pay very close attention to your line. These things hit hard and their first run is very powerful, much like a mangrove jack in the saltwater. Once the first run is endured, however, sooties are usually relatively easy to subdue. The sooties in Tinaroo are extremely well-conditioned and many fish surpass the magic 50cm mark with some much bigger specimens also lurking around. Don’t forget that this year’s Tinaroo Barra Bash is scheduled for 21-23 September. This fantastic event is a must-do if you are into fishing and presents an amazing opportunity to have a relaxing and enjoyable trip with the family or to go hard and try to mix it with the local gun anglers. If you’d like to keep up with more of my adventures from FNQ, like my Facebook blog on Wazza’s Fishing Page or subscribe to Wazza’s Fishing on YouTube.

seeing on the sounder. When downrigging, guys have been running big Laser Pros and big soft plastics. Finding concentrations of fish is still the key. Trolling covers plenty of water but abandon the barren areas until you locate fish on the sounder. Concentrations of barra will also be found inside the timber. It’s usually the case that when you find one, there will be plenty more. Spend some time searching and using your sounder to locate the fish. The deeper creeks and the old river are like barra highways and the trees

that line the edges hold good numbers of fish. It’s a matter of following these old creek courses and exploring the nearby flats to see where the barra are. Once found, you can cast the tops of the trees with 5m diving lures and allow them to slowly float back up right in the guts of the tree. If you see numbers of barra on the sounder in more open water, give vibing a go. The Transam is very effective and so too is the Madness Vibe. Cast these lures over the fish and jig them back through them. There’s quite a bit

to fishing this lake and being successful. I highly recommend a visit to Barra World for the right gear and as many tips as you can get. For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake call Lindsay or Dane at Barra World on (07) 4945 4641. You won’t be disappointed as he often delivers the goods and always shares a wealth of knowledge. The store is right on the highway in Proserpine and specializes in barra fishing tackle. You can also keep up to date by visiting their Barra World Facebook page.

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Matthew Taylor

Unfortunately, not much has changed since my last report, with the fishing still extremely tough. This can be attributed to the transition phase that the lake has been undergoing between summer and winter patterns. Luckily, we can expect this to change very soon. Over the next few weeks, we will begin to see plenty of fat fish caught. This is because bass roe up and feed over the cooler months. As typical for this time of year, ice-jigs have been one of the most successful lures on the tough bite, particularly the Smak Lures 12g Glider. Due to the murky water

Brett Klaws caught this cracker bass on a Hot Bite 18g Jets Tail Spinner.

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The author with another tailspinner-caught bass. After feeling a fish tapping his lure, a quick burn resulted in this fish. colour, darker colours like jack off, smoke yellow core and blue moon have been very successful. I have found that ice-jigs start to come into their own from about the end of April at Somerset. Like many other anglers, I also believe that when the wind is blowing from the southeast that it will be an ice-jig bite. While I don’t think this is as relevant during the winter and spring months, during autumn I swear by it. When the wind has been blowing in other directions, a variety of lures have been successful. There have been no real patterns, so I recommend being open to options and not being bound to one lure. Chances are that you will have to throw everything in your box until you get one to chew, and then start again. Unsurprisingly, slow rolled curl-tailed soft plastics have caught some great bass up to 50cm in length, as they often work well when the fishing is tough. When the fish have been on the bottom, super slow rolled 18g Jets tailspinners, Palms Slow Blatt Oval spoons and Halco Twisties have been the go. Dressed blades, soft plastics and Hotbite Torpedos (a lure with an added beetlespin), have worked well in the same way. When the fish have been suspended, burning these

lures has been very effective. The most popular areas have been the Dogleg at Kirkleigh, Pelican Point, the Happy Clappers/Wyangi Creek and the Brads Bank Point. However, there have also been bass located in areas surrounding the Spit. While this may be uncommon for this time of year, it’s no surprise due to many recent water releases, which often draw the bass down the dam. It won’t be long before we see

bass holding in areas like Bay 13 and Queen Street, as the cooler weather will push the thermocline deeper, and the fish with it. Yellowbelly have been rather quiet recently. With that being said there have been some great fish up to and over 50cm caught. The majority have come from the timbered area of the lake. Some anglers have managed to find some good golden perch schools around the

trees, with lures like Ecogear ZX40 blades and Jackall TN60 lipless crankbaits accounting for good fish. Trolling hardbodied lures through the timber has been very effective too. You won’t go wrong using lures like the StumpJumper and Smak Blitz Baga. • On your next trip to Lake Somerset, make sure to drop in and g’day to the team at Somerset Fishing Tackle, located in the Lake Somerset

Niki Sticklen with a 52cm yellowbelly caught on a trolled hardbodied lure.

Will Challenor with a cracker Lake Somerset bass.

Holiday Park. With a wealth of knowledge and experience on the dam, they will be able to help and answer any questions you have. Stocking a huge range of competitively priced fishing tackle, they have everything for your bass and yellowbelly needs. Be sure to like their Facebook page, @SomersetFishing, and follow them on Instagram, @ SomersetFishingTackle. With new products like Meegs Lures in stock, it’s a store that you have to check out. Between May and August, opening hours are 6am to 5.30pm. There are two main boat ramps available for use: one located at the Spit and the other at the Lake Somerset Holiday Park. To see more from Matt, you can find him on Instagram (@matthew____ taylor) and Facebook (@ matthewtaylorfishing).

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Manual Triton – an easy drive BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

The world of utes in Australia has two tiers: dedicated work utes (the ones you hose out at the end of the week) and lifestyle utes (remove all tools and watch those rod tips).

Right at the base we have the likes of the Indian and Chinese made models. These workhorses won’t give up the ghost in the dirt and dust, but they can be a bit rough around the edges for family fun. Moving right to the top in the Lifestylers list there’s the top shelf V6 Amaroks, Ford’s XLT Rangers, SR5

Hilux (all three now being seriously shaded by the Mercedes Benz X Class) while in the middle of the pile we have the Mitsubishi Triton, Nissan Navara, Mazda BT50, Holden Colorado and Isuzu D-Max. Understandably, it’s the mid range offerings – particularly the dual cab models – that are the most

in demand, which is exactly why the Mitsubishi Triton, with its modest price and good road manners, is going to score well with buyers. It’s a perfect weekday work horse and a classy lifestyle tow wagon for weekend fun times. GLX MANUAL Mitsubishi’s Triton is a time-proven ute with a huge range of variants. Budget priced petrol engined two door/2WD models start the list which extends right up to the top shelf four door Exceed with its many desirable features and auto gear shifter. Once away from base petrol powered models, the very smooth Direct Injection (DiD) 2.4L diesel engine with its 133kW of power, 430Nm of torque, drives the rear

Wheel-mounted controls allow the driver to concentrate on driving. not every buyer will opt for the auto. There’s a couple of thousand dollars price difference. I found that shifting between the six forward gears was made easy by the

The Triton’s sleek shape, handy side steps and ample wheel arch space make the Triton a work ute with great recreational capability. Comfortable cloth covered seats are standard in the GLX Triton.

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smoothness of the gearbox, and well spaced ratios kept the engine in turbo boost. The easy clutch take up of the dual cab Triton made changes in ratio easy to achieve. The Triton’s gearbox was pretty smooth and some more kilometres on the odometer would doubtlessly see it even more user friendly with less chance of a miscue. Overall, styling is unchanged from last year with little to discern 2018 from 2017. The smoothness and tractability of the direct injection common rail diesel engine has undergone slight but definite improvements to performance and tractability. It is now very highly regarded as both

The Triton’s centre dash camera/infotainment set up is easy to use. wheels and the buyer will have a choice of manual or auto gearboxes, two or four door models to choose from. The reviewed mid spec level GLX Triton was a manual model. Yes, I know that autos are easiest to drive especially on loose beach sand where immediate take up and quick application of turbo enhanced power makes 4WDs a lot harder to bog, but I purposely selected a manual to assess the compatibility of engine and gear box simply because

A wide sweeping dash layout gives the Triton GLX a car-like ambience, as does the considerable amount of room for driver and front seat passenger.

an easy performer plus a legend for frugal fuel consumption. PASSENGER FRIENDLINESS The cabin of the GLX Triton is enhanced by the clever use of contrasting tonings and silver high lights. handy features include dial

Triton owners will also find that MP3, iPod and Bluetooth compatibility along with a decent radio will make travel just that bit more enjoyable. All the seats are cloth covered and I found the front seats quite comfy for three hour stints at the

no slouch taking off from traffic lights in the city, nor a slug on the highway when overtaking. The ride on most surfaces was more akin to a car than a light truck with only the worst surfaces tending to remind me that the rear suspension is still a leaf spring set up – in common with nearly all work utes – which can rebound when the vehicle is unladen. Fuel consumption was a miserly 10.8L per 100km on average, the ute unladen but travelling pretty quickly on the highway runs.

keep on coming. Towing specifications are 3,100kg for braked trailers, 750kg for unbraked. EASY 4WD As a dedicated 4WD, the GLX Triton packs both high and low range capacity operated through a central console dial. It made transferring drive from rear wheels to 4WD high or low range virtually instantaneous. The Mitsubishi’s generous ground clearance, excellent wheel travel, and turbo boosted 430Nm of torque, will enable owners wanting to tow boats or trailers to inland

presentation, enjoyable driving experience and all round comfort. But the main reason why it maintains such strong market presence year in, year out, is the price: a few

The Triton dual cab GLX has generously wide doors. a temp air con, electric windows plus plenty of handy storage spaces around the console and side areas. A tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel was ideal for driver comfort, along with a convenient arrangement of control buttons on the steering wheel.

wheel. The rear seating offers ample head and leg room but might be more enjoyable for two adults rather than three for longer trips. Mitsubishi are also strong on safety features with seven air bags as standard. Even though not

The Triton’s styling is distinctive and modern. thousand dollars less than competitors. In some deals free auto transmission is a sweetener as well. No small wonder that we see so many Tritons on our roads these days.

A big reversing camera made connecting to the boat a breeze. With the boat on the tow bar all tendency to jiggle or bounce was suddenly removed and the Triton’s engine showed me just what pulling power it had on a handy hill near home. With the turbo working, the power just seemed to

streams or up the beach to do so pretty easily. Keeping the turbo humming is the trick, which is easy to master, not at all tricky work. SUMMING UP The Triton has so much going for it in all aspects of feature

Towing the Galeforce was no chore for the Triton with its 3100kg braked trailer capability.

THE SHEIK OF THE CREEK

Renewed faith in humanity BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

The Triton’s console switch made it easy to convert from 2WD to 4WD. I was impressed with the large 6” colour screen for the infotainment and reversing camera. In particular, the reversing camera had a high mounting point which made lining up the tow ball of the Triton with the tow hitch of the Galeforce’s Dunbier trailer a breeze.

mandatory for this class of light commercial vehicle, the Triton has Electronic Stability Control along with speed sensing auto door locks. AN ENJOYABLE DRIVE A mix of city and country driving revealed that the manual Triton was

There’s a 2.4L direct injection common rail diesel in the Triton’s engine bay.

Sometimes it’s the little things that can restore your faith in humanity. More often than not it’s also the little things that can destroy your faith in humanity too, but that’s another story. Let’s stick with the positives today, children. Let me expound a little on this theme. Manboobs and I were out a couple of months ago and somehow managed to rip off the reef anchor when we were pulling it up in 80m. We weren’t going down for it, but because the intervening months have been windier than something that’s really, really windy, we haven’t taken the boat out. So Boobies only remembered late the night before that we didn’t have an anchor. He managed to salvage an old reefie from the back shed, and also scrounged up a couple of metres of chain from under the chook pen or somewhere similar. What he didn’t manage to scrounge up were any

D shackles to attach yon chain to yon anchor. So I got a call at quarter past stupid o’clock asking me to bring up any shackles I had kicking around, which I did. What I didn’t do was take those shackles out my car and put them into Boobie’s car at half past a little less stupid o’clock, when I got to his place. So we found ourselves at the servo, content in the certain knowledge that they’d have what we were looking for. After all, they had more lolly water than you could poke an ugly stick at, a plethora of iced coffee, spare parts for space shuttles and a complete rebuild kit for a Holden Special Red Motor. But no D shackles. So anyway, Boobies is on his way out sans D shackle when he’s followed by a fellow fisho, who runs over to his rig and pulls a spare D shackle out from under the toolbox. I’ve got a spare one, he says, and hands it over. Perfect. He’s heard Boobies asking old mate in the servo and takes it on himself to fix us up. Now that is top notch, don’t you reckon? I’d like

to think that young fellow would see this and give himself a pat on the back, but given only me and Mum read this column, that isn’t going to happen. Nevertheless, it made me and Boobies happy.

The only way we would have been happier is if the little p*#@k had handed over the coordinates for his favourite reef spots as well, but he wouldn’t do that. Some people.

JUNE 2018

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DAIWA RYOGA 1520

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

BLADE N TAILS ULTRALIGHT ELITE

The Live Fibre Blade N Tails Ultralight Elite redefines what Australian built quality is in a market full of imports. The Ultralight Elite uses K-Frame silicone guides to deliver smooth casting and high performance, whether that’s casting small bladed lures or jigging soft plastics in the trees or over the flats. The guides are strategically placed to increase casting distance and minimise friction or sharp angles. The rear end has been upgraded as well, with high performance EVA merged seamlessly into a comfort grip reel seat that fits perfectly in the palm of your hand. The rear grip has been split to provide the perfect balance while in use. Rated at 4-8lb, the 7ft one-piece Ultralight Elite is ideal for fishing small blades for bream, flathead, golden perch and bass, as well as fishing lightly-weighted plastics for a host of estuary and freshwater species. www.wilsonfishing.com

ATOMIC TIMS PRAWN COLOUR

Prawns are a staple for feeding fish in all depths of water, and it makes sense that the Atomic Semi Hardz range adds a colour already present in the iconic Atomic Hardz range. Tims Prawn, a shrimp pattern, quickly became a go-to for anglers all over the country when it was introduced in the Hardz line-up, and now that popular natural colour is available in the full range of Atomic Semi Hardz Vibs in sizes 40, 50, 60, 75 and 110 as well as the Minnows in 40, 55 and 65mm models. Semi Hardz can be fished from the surface down to any water depth, making them usable in a wide range of conditions and for a huge range of species. Our ambassadors have already landed whiting and flathead as well as offshore favourites like snapper and pearl perch, and even coral trout. Semi Hardz are also very effective on mulloway. Tough rubber construction with wire running through the lure allows them to stand up to even the toughest adversary. Price: RRP $13.95 www.atomiclures.com.au 78

JUNE 2018

ZMAN BEANIEZ

PRODUCT GUIDE

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

BLACK MAGIC FLIPPER JIGS

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

MUSTAD XL JIG WALLET

Jig fishing anglers will love the Mustad XL Jig Wallet, a jig wallet designed to accommodate all of your jig fishing needs. The XL Jig Wallet contains storage pockets that are constructed from tough mesh to allow the jigs to breathe and dry, yet remain safe in transport and use. There are five extra large jig slots that will take jigs up to 30cm, 18 jig slots that will take jigs up to 20cm and 12 jig slots for smaller jigs up to 15cm. That’s a total of 35 jigs that can be carried in one handy wallet that is easy to store and transport. The XL Jig Wallet also features a large mesh pocket on the outside to store accessories such as assist hooks, leader and more. If you’re into fishing jigs and you’ve been having trouble storing them, then the Mustad XL Jig Wallet will give you the answer you’ve been looking for. www.wilsonfishing.com

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

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EUREKA JELLY VIBES

Eureka Jelly Vibe lures are made from a durable soft material and feature a balanced internal weight system, for superior vibration and action on the drop and lift. Eureka Jelly Vibes also feature a multistrand wired through construction, a holographic head for added attraction and quality black nickel chemicallysharpened treble hooks. They are superb on mulloway, barramundi, mangrove jacks, flathead, bass, bream, redfin and more. The Eureka Jelly Vibes are available in two sizes, a 67mm model that weighs 7g and a 95mm version that weighs 20g, and both lures are available in four brilliant colours. www.jurofishing.com

SHIMANO TIAGRA ULTRA RODS

All serious gamefishers know that their gear needs to be up to the challenge of prolonged fights with exceptionally large fish. This is why the new Shimano Tiagra Ultra series are proving so popular, especially with increasing numbers of bluewater anglers using braid. Factory built, but with that custom rod style, the componentry on the Tiagra Ultra series is first class: braid friendly Alps RX guides, Winn foregrips for comfort and grip, and either detachable Pacific Bay Channel Lock straight carbon or curved butts depending on the model. The blanks all this wizardry sits on though is where the action begins: Biofibre High Pressure Carbon 300 blanks across five line classes from 10-15 to 24-37kg, with sweet, smooth parabolic actions. This is just what you need when fishing braided line for marlin, tuna, swordfish and sharks. Match one of these beauties up with a Talica overhead and enjoy all the advantages braided line brings to game fishing. www.shimanofish.com.au

ABU GARCIA REVO ALX

Based on high quality components and a lightweight design, the Abu Revo ALX incorporates new technology including the Salt Shield Concept bearing and AMGearing systems within the compact Revo design. SSC (Salt Shield Concept) bearing employs newly developed ball bearings coated with a water-repelling shield, which greatly reduces rotation noise caused by salt adhesion, improving operation and durability. SSC is applied to key HPCR (High performance corrosion-resistant) bearings to provide an increase in durability, smoothness, and corrosion resistance. The AMGearing System combines a precision-machined aluminium gear with Abu’s COG (Computer Optimized Gear) gear design, for the ultimate in smoothness and durability. The C6 carbon body and rotor provides significant weight reduction without sacrificing strength and durability. Revo ALX is equipped with the Rocket Line Management System, which is a combination of bail angle, spool lip design and slow oscillation that gives anglers the ability to cast further and manage line more effectively. There are six models, ranging from 2000 to 5000, for everything from bream on hardbodies to snapper on plastics. sizes. All models feature 7+1 bearings with super

smooth carbon drag systems, with drag force from 3-10kg. Price: SRP $299 www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

REDINGTON MINNOW

The new Redington Minnow rod was designed and tuned to meet the needs of younger anglers and flyfishing novices. It’s built with enough power to throw a wide variety of flies, but the shorter 8’ length offers less swing weight to make it easier for casters of smaller stature to make effective stops at the end of their casting stroke. This 2-piece, 8’0” 5/6wt graphite rod has a medium action, attractive trim details and cosmetics, and alignment dots. The packaging design is kid and parent friendly with additional tips, techniques and games for kids to get started flyfishing. The Minnow rod is matched to a Crosswater 4/5/6 reel, which as lightweight construction that lessens the overall weight of package. It has a large arbor design for easier and quicker retrieve, and a durable design with an easy to change spool. It also has a strong disc drag system for great fish stopping power. The reel is pre-spooled with backing, RIO Mainstream WF fly line, and knotless leader. This combo comes complete with a Cordura rod tube and is backed by a 1-year warranty. www.jmgillies.com.au

LIVETARGET BAITBALL 11 SPINNER RIG

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

REESE TARP CLIPS

Quick and easy, the Reese Tarp Clips are designed to create a handy anchor point anywhere along the edge of a tarp. There is nothing worse than trying to secure a tarp when the eyelet is broken. The Reese Tarp Clips eliminate this issue. The handy tarp clips provide a vise-like grip on the material to supply additional attachment points. Quick and easy to tighten and release, the Reese Tarp Clips are ideal for tarps, canopies, awnings, tents, covers and much more. Made with high impact resistant material the tarp clips are heavy duty and crack resistant. Sold in a handy 4-pack, the Reese Tarp Clips come in a handy reusable container. They are available for purchase from Repco stores nation-wide. Reese has been producing a quality range of vehicle accessories since 1952. Full of features, the quality designs are safe and reliable for everyday use. Price: SRP $9.99 reeseproducts.com.au

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

WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

PRODUCT GUIDE

Halco Madeye soft plastics tick all the boxes

The author’s biggest bream in quite some time was caught on the Madeye Flutter Shrimp in coffee’d shrimp colour. Australian lure company Halco began manufacturing lures in Western Australia back in 1950. Their range of products includes iconic lures like the RMG Scorpion, Halco Laser Pro, Twisty and many more. There would have to be a Halco lure in most keen anglers’ tackle boxes. After many years of being at the forefront of hardbody lure design, Halco have branched out into the soft plastic side of things with their purchase of Madeye soft plastics. As you would expect, the company has expanded and developed this budding range with the same vigour and quality that defines their hardbody lure ranges. They have six styles in the Madeye range, and I grabbed four of them to test out for the magazines. MADEYE SOFT PLASTICS 101 The range of Madeye Plastics covers the full spectrum of soft plastics fishing from finesse styles for bream and whiting through to deep water jigging with larger offerings. The six styles of plastics are the Paddle Prawn, Flick Stick, Octoskirt, Flutter Shrimp, Whippy Worm and Mad Craw.

These days most anglers expect their soft plastics to have substantial longevity, and Halco has achieved this with their Rubber Stretch Technology (RST). The copolymer material that the plastics are made from has up to five times the durability of a regular soft plastic, and it is also incredibly buoyant. The advantage to the angler with this is that pickers are less likely to destroy your plastic before your target species has a chance to have a crack at it, and if pickers do attack the plastic they are less likely to render it unusable. The buoyancy also adds to the natural look of the lure; it sinks in a realistic manner, and at rest it sits upright and has a natural movement to attract predators. Mad Craw The Mad Craw is a lifelike yabby imitation that is 2” long. The attention to detail in this plastic is second to none, right down to the fold in the tail of the yabby. The Mad Craw comes in four colours, of which I grabbed three – the Jelly Prawn, Salt and Pepper, and Marron. My first intention was to use these lures to target bream. These fish love what

The Madeye Paddle Prawn has a sensational action and the flathead loved them.

JUNE 2018

Flounder are a welcome by-catch. This one took a Paddle Prawn in the raw prawn colour.

many people would call a creature bait, and the Mad Craw fits into this category. During my testing, the bream definitely took a liking to the Mad Craw. The various legs and claws provide plenty of movement, and most of the bream caught grabbed them as the lure was dropping. I guess they had to, because if their prey did reach the bottom there was every chance a flathead would grab it before the bream had a second chance. No complaints here, but you will note in the images that the flathead didn’t mess about. On a side note, it is really surprising just how buoyant these plastics are. I would normally use a 1/24oz jighead in the areas we fished, and had to up it to a 1/16oz or 1/12oz jighead depending on the current. Also, I found that a small drop of super glue on the grub keeper helps reduce the plastic slipping down the hook. As well as chasing bream, I can also see me using these lures chasing trout in the lakes and the rivers. What trout can resist a yabby if it’s on offer? Flutter Shrimp The next plastic I tested was the Flutter Shrimp. This small prawn imitation is pretty much the opposite of the Mad Craw in that it has a simple design – a traditional prawn profile with a small curly tail. It is available in five colours and is 2.5” long. I grabbed the Jelly Prawn and Coffee’d Shrimp colours. When the plastics arrived I was most excited to see the Flutter Shrimp, because small curly tail plastics have been the undoing of many species of fish, especially the bream I wanted to target with it. I was a little surprised by the smaller profile the Flutter Shrimp had (I had pictured something a little less finesse), but was stoked with the colours I had chosen. They were spot on. Like the Mad Claw I used slightly heavier jigheads and targeted bream around man-made structure and across the flats. I was met with instant success, and was immediately wondering why I hadn’t gone to this lure first. While hopping it across an open area with structure nearby, I scored the biggest bream I have caught in some time. It went nearly 40cm to the tip, which is a solid fish for the area. Both colours were effective and, unlike the Mad Craw, super glue wasn’t a necessity when rigging them. The plastic still slips, but mainly due to a fish grabbing it, rather than it moving by itself. Paddle Prawn When it comes to the Paddle Prawn,

The unexpected bonus when fishing the Mad Craw was how much the flathead loved them. There is a marron-colored Mad Craw in there.

PRODUCT GUIDE there is a lot going on. It is available in four sizes (3, 4, 5 and 7”) and has up to seven colours, depending on the size. The profile of the plastic is a prawn-style head with legs and feelers attached to a body that tapers back to a paddle tail. The wrist of the tail is thin, maximising the action. I chose to use the 4” version, and picked the Ivy Flash, Jelly Prawn and Raw Prawn colours to test.

WHAT’S NEW FISHING TESTED

Flick Stick The Flick Stick is the most traditional of the profiles in the Madeye range. It has a largish body that tapers to a long tail. Available in three sizes (3, 5 and 8”), it is a baitfish imitation and comes in up to seven colours depending on the size of the lure. The model I tested was the 5” version. The beauty of a plastic with this profile,

Double hook-ups are always welcome. Nicholas Willett showing off a couple of nice fish caught during the fishing challenge.

to make excuses, but given slightly better wind conditions, I am pretty confident the challenge would have been achieved. The results are a great testament to how well the Madeye plastics work. My final word Testing the Halco Madeye Soft Plastics has been great fun. Overall, each had the correct attributes to be successful and this was proven during the fishing challenge. Traditionally plastics made of tougher material tend to be a problematic to rig, but I didn’t find this to be the case with the Madeyes. A dab of glue on the Mad Craw was my only thing out of the ordinary, and the longevity of the plastics themselves was great, with only the paddle tail of the Paddle Prawn going a couple of times. I would love to see a few more natural

Some solid bream came to the author’s Madeye party! The Paddle Prawn was the surprise packet of the plastics tested. You cannot understand how much movement this plastic has until you rig it and get it into the water. The tail has a very strong movement, as you would expect, but it is the body roll that is awesome. The vibration this plastic produces can be felt

is that with its streamlined design is it gets into the strike zone faster and stays there better during a retrieve. The trade-off for this is that the angler needs to impart the action to the lure. This is the case with the Flick Stick, however with the suppleness of the tail there is some movement, which can’t hurt the effectiveness of the lure. A

The jelly prawn coloured Mad Craw was the downfall of this bream. testing the Madeyes. The challenge was this: five hours on our favourite waterway to catch a fish on each Madeye plastic and each colour tested, making it 10 overall. We picked favourable tides and had a crack. In total, three species and 19 fish were caught in the five hours, and we managed to get fish on all bar two of the plastics. Not

colours in the range, as my preference with most of my fishing is to use natural colours, but I am sure that will be in Halco’s plans, as I believe the Madeye plastics are well and truly here to stay. To find your nearest stockist and more about the Halco Madeye soft plastics, go to www.halcotackle.com. They are well worth trying. - Peter Jung

The author generally prefers natural colours when fishing for flathead. However when fish like this take your jelly prawn coloured Paddle Prawn, you can’t help but smile. with every movement of the fishing rod and wind of the reel. During testing the target species was flathead, and it was no surprise that they took a liking to the Paddle Prawn. Fished on a 3/8oz jighead, you can use a hop or slow lift retrieve. It was extremely effective during the slow movement periods of the tide, when the action of the lure really came to the fore. When there was a lot of flow, the buoyancy and action of the lure means it grabs too much water, moving the plastic more than you would like. A simple adjustment to your retrieve helps keep it in the zone and catching fish. All three colours were effective, but I need to make special mention about the Raw Prawn colour. It looks fairly plain in the packet, but the clear UV belly provides added appeal, and if the fishing is tough I believe that UV makes a difference.

jerk shad shape is a proven fish catcher, and the team at Halco have done a good job with the Flick Stick. I used the raw prawn and ivy flash colours during testing, and both proved to be big fish catchers. The majority of the better quality flathead fell to them. The Fishing Challenge It’s always fun to get to test lures for the magazines, but it’s not always easy to find new ways in which to do it. Most of us tend to have favourite species or types of fishing we prefer. Certainly in my case, chasing flathead and our other estuarybased species is what I love. My friends and I tend to have reasonable success, and have a lot of fun doing it. Given the fact that we know how to consistently catch fish in our local waterways, I decided to set a high bar for myself and friend Nicholas Willett while

The Flick Stick is the most traditional of the Madeye plastics tested. It proved to be the big fish catcher, with plenty of flathead over 50cm hitting the deck for the author.

JUNE 2018

News

Suntag monitoring summery: Hinchinbrook fishery SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

For years Hinchinbrook has been a destination for anglers wanting a great fishing experience. With a vast fishing area, a Net Free Zone and a multitude of small creeks with a reputation for good jack fishing, there are many reasons to make the journey. In my recent visit to the region, locals highlighted many concerns about the quality of the fishing. Despite a long-term Net Free Zone,

the barramundi fishing is still well down on the newlyminted Net Free Zone in Rockhampton, prompting the Ingham Rod and Reel Club to fundraise and restock the area. Beyond that, there were broader concerns about the quality of the fishing overall. While it’s too early to draw formal conclusions, there is evidence that the quality of the fishing is below locals’ expectations, and below the long-term reputation of the region. No doubt this will provoke discussion, and collecting more data is one of the first steps to improving the fishery.

Data: Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys Mangrove Jack

TOURISM TRAFFIC Hinchinbrook is a key tourism destination for anglers; visitors account for around 71% of the fishing trips reported via Queensland Fisheries boat ramp surveys in 2017. Of those visitors, 34% came from southern destinations, while 66% were interregional.

Unlike many other tourist destinations along the coast, more fishers come for the inshore/estuary fishing than offshore, so locals are often competing with the visitors. A total of 61% of the visitor fishing destinations were estuary, and 91% were estuary/inshore.

HOW GOOD IS THE FISHERY? Infofish Australia has assessed four key fisheries: sports fishing, bread and butter, crabs and offshore. I don’t want to talk down the value of fishing in Hinchinbrook, because the region is spectacular and, relative to many other areas, can produce some good fishing. That said, the results are not what the locals would like them to be, and not close to leading the state. The locals have indicated that in their eyes they should see comparable results to other Net Free Zones. There are a couple of issues with that comparison. First, there is less longerterm data available at that provides a picture of the

productivity of the system. Second, there is anecdotal evidence of periods of high harvest activity, mainly from visiting anglers; again if this is correct, the datasets are not capturing these events adequately. The raw data does show that fishing conditions for anglers surveyed at Hinchinbrook are not as good as their nearby neighbours or similar regions further south. Given the importance of tourism fishing to the region, thought needs to be put into how to find balance in the fishery. To view a detailed analysis of the 13 species reviewed, go to crystalbowl.com.au/hinchinbrookfishery-summary/.

Data: Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys Pikey Bream

SPORTFISH Many fishers have made the pilgrimage to Hinchinbrook (myself included) to enjoy the local jack fishing. Given that 79% of anglers that report fishing for jacks were visitors to the region, this journey is still popular today. From Fisheries boat ramp surveys, Hinchinbrook ranks 8th behind both Cairns and Townsville on catch rates. Sportsfisher visitors to the region have oscillated between 1.1 and 1.5 fish per angler per day in recent years, with 2017 coming 82

JUNE 2018

in at 1.3 fish/angler/day. (Note that these are raw catch rates, rather than catch rates that combine unsuccessful trips. Actual catch rates will be lower however at this point; time has not been available to adjust catch rates). The Hinchinbrook region also has a barramundi reputation, though with its short rivers the area is a less productive system than, say, the Fitzroy, and relies on top-ups through stocking. In previous years escapees from the local

farms formed part of the mix, but these have been harvested heavily. Local fishing competition results would shed much more light on the barramundi conditions and trends, and if these become available, they will be included in the assessment. Anglers report a catch rate of 0.32 fish/angler/ day for barramundi via

Fisheries boat ramp surveys in 2017, while sportfishers reported a catch rate of 1.5 fish/ angler/day. That result is from smaller sample size, and catch rates are behind Mackay (1.8), Rockhampton (1.9) and Gladstone (2.2). (Note that the southern catch rates are adjusted for unsuccessful trips; thus the gap between regions is probably higher.)

BREAD AND BUTTER Barred javelin are the main target in the Bread and Butter fishery, with pikey bream (and rockcod) as a secondary target. These species are likely present in the same areas and respond to the same methods. As an indicator species, we have a direct comparison with the new NFZs, with results in Rockhampton and Mackay

better than Hinchinbrook for catch rates based on wFisheries boat ramp surveys. Still, Hinchinbrook enjoys the 4th best catch rate for the state, and the 3rd best catch rate for pikey bream, although the average size of pikey bream at 261mm is one of the smallest for the state for pikeydominant areas.

News OFFSHORE In the offshore stakes, the one piece of good news is coral trout numbers. Anglers are reporting the 3rd best catch rates in the state, though they are still some way behind Cairns. The fish are comparable in size on average to Cairns. With 66% of the coral trout trips being visitors, this is one of the most successful tourism species for the region. Other critical offshore species include largemouth nannygai (saddletail snapper), smallmouth nannygai (crimson

Data: Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys snapper), and red-throat sweetlip (red-throat emperor). Hinchinbrook ranks 6th on crimson snapper catch rates and 7th on saddletail snapper. Cairns and Townsville both rank higher on crimson, though only Townsville ranks higher on saddletail. Both Cairns and Townsville rate higher on average fish size for both species. For red-throat emperor, Hinchinbrook ranks 9th on catch rates but 4th on average fish size, so there are some quality catches to be found.

Mud Crab

YOUNGEST TO 1000 FISH

Data: Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys Lachie Baker with one of his 1000+ tagged fish. Last month Suntag recognised the achievements of a legend of the industry, and this month we need to (belatedly) recognize the efforts of an angler who is only just FISH TAGGED BY LACHIE BAKER Species

Number tagged

Australian bass.............. 47 Barcheek coral trout........ 6 Barramundi.................... 29 Barred javelin................. 14 Blackspotted rockcod... 71 Blue threadfin.................. 8 Cobia............................. 20 Common coral trout........ 2 Crimson snapper............. 4 Dusky flathead............... 38 Giant trevally.................... 8 Golden snapper............. 13 Goldspotted rockcod...116 Grass emperor..............114 King threadfin.................. 7 Longfin rockcod.............. 1 Mangrove jack............... 62 Maori rockcod............... 28 Mulloway....................... 18 Pearl perch...................... 4 Pikey bream................... 36 Queenfish...................... 10 Red emperor.................... 1 Red-throat emperor......... 1 Saddletail snapper.......... 1 Snapper....................... 247 Spangled emperor........... 9 Speckled javelin............... 1 Swallowtail dart..............11 Tailor................................ 7 Tarpon.............................. 1 Yellowfin bream........... 126

beginning his journey. Lachie Baker is the son of Suntag President Glen Baker from Stones Corner Marine, and Lachie completed his 1000 tagged fish almost exactly one year ago to the day of writing this article (May 12, 2017). His father is usually on the ball with this sort of thing, but only just realized that the milestone had passed; with changes in Suntag last year, this was missed internally as well. 1000 fish is a significant milestone for any angler, but when you’re 15 years of age it’s an especially significant milestone. Lachie is by far the youngest angler to have achieved that mark. Lachie recorded his first tagged fish on 11 August 2008, a pikey bream. It’s taken 3196 days to reach the target, and in that time he has achieved six Tagging Achievement Awards. If anyone out there wants to employ someone who has persistence, give him a call. Lachie’s achievement also highlights that you don’t need to focus on a particular species to get your numbers up, as Lachie has 32 species on his list. His achievement is even more remarkable when you consider that he is missing out on some local species. It all goes to show that age is no barrier when it comes to developing fishing skills.

Common Coral Trout

CRABS Mud crabs are the number one target for visiting anglers, putting visitors in competition with the local professional fishers and local fishers. Hot competition for

crabs is pretty much the story across the state, but with the much higher targeting of visitors, there is an argument to suggest that visitor income may be of equal importance

to commercial fishers. Whether visitors would extend their stay or local spend if crab fishing results were to improve is unknown. Commercially, crab fishing represents a 7% share of the state catch, and has been as high as

12% in the good years. In 2017 recreational fishers reported catch rates that dropped to one legal crab in 10 pots, down from one legal crab in six pots for 2016. The commercial catch is significant at 64 tonnes in 2017.

JUNE 2018

Changing of the guard SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

This year I had the fortune to get ringside seats to the Barra Nationals, which is one of the premium competitions around. Staged over five days in mid 30s temperatures, fishers enter into what is both a physical and mental battle. The Nationals is the fishing version of test cricket, and at some point I think fishing needs to explore the T20 model, but that is a discussion for another day. As with test cricket, you need incredible mental fortitude, and some would say luck, to win the event. Around six years ago I analysed the Rocky Barra Bounty and decided (without knowing the individual) that Craig ‘Griffo’ Griffiths would be the man who would determine the winning team, not just for the next year but years to come. That determination was based on a straight-up analysis of his performance data matched up with the evolving characteristics of

changing of the guard, we need to start with the man responsible. JOHNNY MITCHELL Many readers will recognise the name Johnny Mitchell. Johnny has produced a whole series of DVDs on fishing and runs master classes, particularly for barramundi both in Gladstone and in Darwin. Having worked my way around experts around the globe trying to understand precisely what is so special about fishing and why it’s not like any other sport, I have built up a set of characteristics that define the ideal fisher. If that set of attributes had a name – it would be Johnny Mitchell. Once upon a time, we didn’t have houses, cars, the internet or PlayStations. In our earliest days, we had the most basic tools on offer, things that could be crudely constructed, yet effective, such as spears. It’s just as well we did, because as hunters go, we lack the natural weapons such as claws and teeth or natural defences like a thick hide to survive for very long. Given the evidence of seven billion members of the species we have today, those simple tools

Craig Griffiths – in a way, he’s a very finely-tuned machine, and if you are going to beat him, you need to find a way to beat that machine. the river. Craig would go on to win the next four in a row. I will make another prediction, competitions like the Nationals will change in tactics because competitors like Griffo will force others to up their game to match them. Last article I explored the home field advantage and how even in the ABT with all the knowledge sharing, the ratio of locals to visitors had only broken even. The Daly River, with its wildly changing moods should, in theory, provide an almost unstoppable advantage. This month I want to explore why Craig and his team are the first I have encountered who genuinely turn that on its head. Before that, there is another element to this story. Griffo didn’t win the last Barra Bounty in 2017. To adequately explain the 84

JUNE 2018

gave us an insurmountable advantage. We have been so productive with tools that entire species have gone extinct by our hand. It’s not just the tools, but the combination our powers of observation and ability to learn and remember those learnings that made humans genuinely formidable hunters. Johnny Mitchell exemplifies this. I have met many fishers that are exceptional at working out a fish, at understanding their patterns and habits to the point where you would say they think like fish. Johnny takes observation to another level. Johnny isn’t just curious about the habits of fish; he is curious about the whole natural world. He uses electronics like most fishers, but it’s the computer between his eyes that is remarkable.

As a fishing guide, Johnny spends the kind of time on the water most dream of. It would be easy to spend that time getting up a series of GPS marks and recording success and fishing to the marks. That isn’t enough for Johhny, he doesn’t want to catch fish – he wants to understand how the natural world works in the way that the earliest hunters had to. Good fishers know how to work out the conditions and adjust, but Johnny is next level, having a built-in library of so many variations of the environment that he often doesn’t have to work things out – he knows what is going on. That isn’t just a memory thing – he has internalised it, so he doesn’t have to think about what to do next in many situations – he acts. That is not to say that process itself is unusual, as most high performing individuals develop an exceptional level of skill through their focus and hours spent developing that skill. Ask a Brownlow medallist AFL player how they make split-second decisions, and they will tell you they don’t, there isn’t time to process, only time to act. To be able to perform without thinking, you need to practice and practice a skill thousands of times at the maximum level of challenge so that your brain develops superhighways of processing ability. In this mode, the brain hardwires the actions into clusters of neurons, so that thought is no longer required. While there are many good, even great fishers I have met, those with that unique processing ability are few and far between. Johnny has it. Part of the reason why humans have this ability is down to our earliest days. If you are hunting or being hunted and you aren’t exceptionally quick, then every second counts. Computer coders use this sort of trick all the time to gain performance – a specialist routine that is efficient will always outperform a general calculation. What is so exciting to me about fishers like Johnny is that it’s increasingly rare to see this kind of development when it comes to hunting or our interactions with the natural world. Partly that is because our busy lives take up time that we would need to dedicate to the learning process, but also technology rewires our brains differently – one that generally reduces the ability to develop these skills. CRAIG GRIFFITHS Back to Griffo and how Johnny fits into the story, Griffo’s ability I will explore later but suffice to say, Griffo has supernatural sixth sense abilities of his own, though they come via a very different

means. Griffo doesn’t make mistakes; his bad days would be blinders to the rest of us mere mortals. In a way, Griffo is a machine, a very finelytuned machine, and if you are going to beat him, you need to find a way to beat that machine. In 2017, Griffo was defeated by the human supercomputer or at least by proxy. An unexpected victor appeared to prevent Griffo going five in a row, a guy called Jeff Dyne. I have to say, I didn’t see it coming, I keep track of competitors that I think are capable of going next level and Jeff hadn’t appeared on that list. Little did anyone know that quietly in the background Jeff had been training under the tutelage of Johnny for around 18 months – he was determined to win the Bounty and not knowing how to address his limitations he sought out a coach. The reason this completely blindsided me is unlike other sports, fishers don’t often do that. It’s the most natural solution, but anglers tend to try and work out their problems or consult a mate – they don’t often go for professional coaching. It’s a shame that our tournament circuit doesn’t have the prize money that is attracted abroad, as if it did I think things like fishing coaches would become more common. Jeff’s approach is also a sign of the level of professionalism that Griffo has bought to the sport. This is the point where unfortunately, I have to say as exceptional as Johnny is – Griffo and more importantly the trail he has blazed will in my mind, change barra tournament fishing permanently. Craig like Johnny is one of the elites, but in a very different way. Craig is no doubt an excellent fisherman, but it’s his skill in another areas that has given him an edge. Craig has long been a pioneering innovator when it comes to the use of echosounder technology, and it’s the long hours spent mastering the use of the technology that has made him the best competition barra fisher that I have seen. Griffo has mastered the technique of fishing different conditions, because he has mastered the time vs lure in front of a fish equation and that is for a fundamental reason: Griffo wants to win. The problem he is solving is how does he win the most number of events he can. That can be an abrasive experience, as he doesn’t ever take a backward step. I have butted heads with Griffo on many occasions, but his skill and innovation have over time won me over. There is no doubt in my mind that in 10 years, the best barra fishers

Johnny Mitchell isn’t just curious about the habits of fish; he is curious about the whole natural world. will fish the Griffo way. How has Giffo mastered the time vs lure in front of the fish equation? To be fair to him, I don’t think it’s right to give away his key secrets, not that he will tell anyone and besides, even if I did, this is not as simple as ‘adopting his technique’. Mastery of any skill takes time and practice; it’s not enough to do what the master does. Still, reverse engineering processes are what I do for a living, so I have a good understanding of the elements, if not specific pieces of data that remain protected by his steely wall of silence. Think of it like this, you can wait for the fish to come to you, you can find the fish, or you can know where the fish are. Griffo has a particular routine on the water in preparation for an event. As I think this is critical to his success, I won’t share the detail. How he uses this time is where he and Johnny overlap, it’s in this period that he focuses on understanding where the fish will be and importantly, where the fish he needs to win will be. It’s a lot easier to win if you aren’t spending a lot of time finding the right fish or worse – hoping they will turn up. The one hint I will give here is Griffo knows precisely where the right fish need to be for his crew to target them successfully and that is not just a GPS mark. What I can talk about – mostly because other competitors will have observed this by now is his competition day tactics, is that Craig is one of the most mobile fishers around; he doesn’t waste time and energy throwing lures at the water. Instead, he uses his mobility and technology to quickly assess how many fish are in an area – if they aren’t there he moves on. For this reason, Steve Morgan has nicknamed him ‘The Viking’ – Craig moves in, plunders, and moves on. If there are four fish in an area, he locates them, targets them until they are either caught or go to ground, and then he leaves. With a stock of high probability sites to work with, he can maximise the chances of finding fish and, importantly, if they aren’t there. Griffo isn’t wasting time or energy casting

at nothing. MAN VERSES MACHINE I don’t wish to simplify things to the point where this is simply an equation of man verses technology. Griffo has some serious fishing skills and Johnny provides classes on how to use echosounder technology, however their specialisations and the way they use technology are what separates them and as technology develops that separation will only increase. This kind of industrial fishing may grate on some, but if not Griffo then at some point, someone will perfect the technique. Technology is changing everything; fishing is no exception. I admire the naturally developed fishing skills more, because I understand their roots and the work that goes into making an elite fisher. On the other hand, I can’t deny that technology used well does give an undeniable performance advantage. TIME IS THE KEY The one thread that has passed through this article is the importance of time. It takes time to hone and perfect any skill, be that a traditional fishing style like Johnny’s or the technologydriven methodology of Craig. In a competition time is the enemy; you have to defeat time as much as your opponents. Somewhere in the current generation coming through there is a Johnny or a Griffo beginning their journey to perfect the art of fishing. Competitions are not places where you should be working things out. You need to be able to deal with the conditions that are presented to you every day. That’s why the home field advantage is so huge in fishing. Time is the most precious resource in a fishing competition; if you can use time well and maximise the number of fish you put a lure in front of, you will end up in a position to win. Technology – at least for barramundi fishing – is getting to the point where there are solutions to the home field advantage, provided you’re willing to invest the time in mastering the technology and applying those learnings on the water. I have no doubt this will be one of the key battlegrounds for future fishers.

RECREATIONAL FISHERS SHOULD BE VERY, VERY AFRAID

Rec fishers do care. Individual anglers fish for a variety of reasons. For some it is their recreation, an opportunity to be out in the fresh air and be active or an opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends. For others it is their sport where they pit their fitness and practiced skills against the environment and the wily fish – remember it is called fishing and not catching for a reason. Then there is a large portion that still go fishing for the same reason that their parents, grandparents and great grandparents did – to put fresh fish on the dinner table. I have yet to meet any fisher who says that they do what they do to become involved in political campaigns or to wade through dozens of pages of public service speak and then painstakingly complete not one, not two but five surveys all with the same closure date just so that they can continue to do what they love without worrying about what rules they may inadvertently be breaking. In Queensland

recreational fishers are being asked by Fisheries Queensland to make responses to all the reviews that it has started. Sadly, this plays into the hands of seasoned public servants with hard and fast preconceived agendas. As a career public servant, on many previous occasions I have defended the processes and the base grade public servants who are directed to enact those processes. This time, however, a couple of very senior bureaucrats are manipulating the outcomes. More importantly the views of those anglers who wish to make reasonable catches and food for their families are not being taken seriously. The Sustainable Fisheries Review promised to overhaul antiquated Fisheries Regulations and outdated management protocols into a Fisheries Management system that was managed under a Harvest Strategy with open and transparent protocols with clearly defined trigger points and responses that treated all fishery users equally according to their existing catch shares. Many of the generational changes would have helped

to overcome serious gaps in data that Fisheries Qld have bemoaned in their inability to trace seafood from water to plate. The current process however looks and feels like a management plan being developed in the 1990s. It’s important to note that none of the species under review are regarded as ‘overfished’ by the recent stock status report completed by many Fisheries scientists who are experts in assessing the status of our fish stocks. Here are the issues. INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE DATA IN DISCUSSION PAPERS “The number of commercial licences in the fishery has been reduced significantly in recent years, with more than 120 licences removed. Less than 200 large mesh net licences remain. There are also 22 tunnel net licences and 36 ocean beach licences and around 280 bait net licences.” What was left out is that in 1990 there were 668 net licenses fishing for 38,396 days and taking 5577t. In 2017 there were 356 licences fishing for 27,727 days and still taking 5579t. During those 28 years the take was only less than the 1994 total four times. The lowest catch year was 1991 with a total of 5169t. During those 28 years there were four times that the catch exceeded 8000t. The average take for those 28 years is 6745t. Therefore, even though the licenses have been removed we have seen an increase in tonnage and not a reduction. This smoke screen will

be used again when trying to validate that there is an intention to halve the number of crabbers holding endorsements, but they will each hold two endorsements. That means each crabber will have double the number of pots that they legally can now. Bottom line – there will be the same number of commercial pots on the water while the recreational possession limit is being pushed to be reduced to three – reduced by 70%. CONSULTATION BIAS Firstly, the average Mum and Dad rec fishers had no representation on the Inshore Finfish working group. This is the working group that relates to most of SEQ recreational fishers. Between them the original three rec fishing reps could only manage 1 or 2 of them to attend the full meeting each time and they all belong to specialty fishing groups with little capacity to represent the majority of our fishers. Now that the discussion papers and surveys have been completed a genuine recreational fishing representative for the masses has been appointed. Let’s hope it’s not too little too late. Secondly, there has been no opportunity for groups of recreational fishers to meet together with Fisheries Qld representatives to voice their opinions. The only opportunity has been in groups of up to four or so in limited time slots. If one or two people have a different opinion to the panel they can be discredited by Fisheries Queensland with a comment that it was only from one or two so it doesn’t really count. What is of greatest concern however is the way

the panel have been trying to lead the responses from people who don’t have the capacity to counter these tactics. In addition, different information is being given to different groups based on the panel’s opinion as to the ability of the attendees to engage. Specifically, the discussion papers state very clearly, “Bag limits will be reviewed to ensure they are simple. Wholesale changes or reductions to bag limits are not proposed.” When Sunfish Qld met senior Fisheries Qld managers we were also told that wholesale reviews of the bag and size limits were not proposed. When Queenslandd Amateur Fishing Clubs Association met senior Fisheries Qld managers they were also told that wholesale reviews of the bag and size limits were not proposed. And yet when a couple of old fishers had their meeting at Scarborough they were told that they should expect combined limits and boat limits on top of bag limits,

even though we don’t have bag limits, we have possession limits. They also had to avoid making any kind of vague assent when several times the officers made slightly differently worded comments that a mud crab limit of three should be plenty. These guys were also told that they should expect that everything they catch will have a limit placed on it including squid, yellowtail and hardiheads and that the limit would most likely be 15. At another meeting with a ‘bread and butter’ fishing group the head of Fisheries Queensland foreshadowed reductions in possession limits, and made the statement that she could not understand why recreational fishers would want to attain the possession limit (e.g. 20 tailor at Fraser Island, 30 or 50 whiting, five flathead, etc.) This is not consultation – it is underhanded and manipulative.

Rec fishers have a voice.

MOVING THE START LINE

Anglers need to be able to feed their families the fish they have freshly caught. During all the levels of discussion and consultation prior to the release of this Strategy we

were clearly lead to believe that existing catch levels would be used to determine current catch share. For the

commercial sector this would become their Total Allowable Commercial Catch and would be shared among license holders as Individual Transferable Quotas. We already have possession limits to share our Total Allowable Recreational Catch. If any species needed to be under less pressure everyone would take their portion of that reduction. Instead, recreational possession limits are going to be reduced with no changes to current commercial catch levels. If you still want to feed your family your locally caught fresh seafood, contact the Premier’s

www.sunfishqld.com.au

Office on: (07) 3719 7000 or premier@ministerial.qld. gov.au, contact the Fisheries Minister’s Office on: (07) 3719 7420 or agriculture@ m i n i s t e r i a l . q l d . g o v. a u , contact you local State

Member who can be found at www.parliament.qld.gov. au/members/current/list and please tell them that: • Recreational fishers should maintain their existing catch share

A family fishing together onshore.

• Green zones should maintain their existing share • Commercial fishers should not increase their current catch share • Recreational possession limits should not be reduced unless the Total Allowable Commercial Catch for that species is reduced by the same percentage as our possession limit • Recreational boat limits and combined species possession limits increase the complexity for recreational fishers and are in fact another way to reduce possession limits and are not acceptable. – Sunfish

Email: admin@sunfishqld.com.au JUNE 2018

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The 2018 World Sooty Championship wraps up Eungella Dam was the venue for the INDT 2018 World Sooty Championship event held over the May Day weekend and hosted by Mackay Area Fish Stocking Association Inc (MAFSA).

are presented for scoring in good condition. Keegan kicked off the scoring in pretty spectacular fashion with 454mm and 460mm long sooties. Geoff Newby followed

heading to all parts of the dam. The main basin proved to be the better prospect with most of the 56 fish presented for scoring caught there. The leader board changed several times during the afternoon with the big mover being Shane Snell, who managed to improve his score by 1278 to jump into 3rd overall. Another angler who leapfrogged many others was Trent Power, who presented three fish for a score of 1199 points. Geoff Busbridge stayed in touch with the leaders, improving his score by 1238 points. Geoff again fished the deeper water and was rewarded with solid fish.

somewhat by the time the boats headed off. At the start of session three, five anglers were in the running to be the 2018 World Sooty Champion angler and as the boats started to return to the control point with fish, the tension kept mounting as the progress scores went up. Among the top five, Geoff Busbridge and Mick Slade were back quickly with two fish each. The session belonged to Craig Birkett who improved his score by 1213 points, but with a poor first session, his overall points weren’t enough to get him amongst the top anglers. Over the tournament,

World Sooty Champion Angler Geoff Busbridge with one of nine fish he caught using mainly 3” ZMan Curl TailZ worked around heavy timber in 20m+ of water. A total of 73 senior anglers and a record entry of 19 juniors competed in the three-session event held over two days. The weather for the most part was anglerfriendly, although the winds came up on the Sunday morning providing some anxious moments and rough rides for the smaller boats. SESSION ONE After the pre-start briefing Saturday morning, the boats were given the go ahead. Within the first half hour, Keegan Hayden was back at the control centre with two fish to present to the officials. Under the rules, an angler may only have a maximum of two fish in the livewell at any one time and this ensures the fish caught

close behind with a 360 and a 338mm fish, again within the first hour. Then all eyes were on four-time champion angler Daniel Grech as he drew up with two smaller models. At the end of the session at midday, 48 fish had been caught and Keegan Hayden was at the top of the leader board at 1747 points (calculated at a point per mm LOA) with four fish. Other notable catches from the Saturday morning session included Geoff Busbridge’s stonking 474mm fish to go with two others to give him a session score of 1236. SESSION TWO Saturday afternoon again saw all boats flagged off and

Geoff Busbridge and Junior champion Liam Hislop with tournament director Tim Galletly (centre). His score of 1238 was just pipped by Shane Snell on 1278 who was the session two winner. SESSION THREE Sunday morning dawned with freshened winds and anglers ready for the 7.30am start. Thankfully the really strong winds during the night had died down

10 anglers scored with fish of 450mm or better, with a close tussle for the biggest sooty between Kevin Flanagan (485mm), Mick Slade (495mm) and eventual biggest sooty winner Geoff Busbridge on 496mm. A total of 49 seniors caught point-scoring fish ,and four juniors presented

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

Mick Slade placed 2nd overall in the competition, and this 495mm fish was pipped by 1mm for the biggest sooty of the event. nice fish to the officials. Of the juniors, Cooper Slade and Bryce Purdy vied for the largest fish at 415mm and 408mm respectively. The overall junior champion was Liam Hislop with a total score of 713 points to nudge out Thomas Cross with 691 points. Although he didn’t win any of the three sessions, Geoff Busbridge was very consistent and kept plugging away and upgrading his score. After tallying all scores and double checking, Geoff Busbridge was declared the 2018 INDT World Sooty

Champion Angler with a score of 2671 points, just above Mick Slade in 2nd with 2595 points. Over the event 153 fish were caught with an average size of 375mm – 5mm longer than the 2017 average. At the presentation, Tournament Director Tim Galletly thanked all anglers who participated, and a generous round of applause was given for Craig Birkett of INDT, the naming rights sponsor of the event. All results can be viewed on the MAFSA’s Facebook page. – MAFSA

TOP FIVE ANGLERS Place 1 2 3 4 5

Angler Geoff Busbridge Mick Slade Keegan Hayden Dean Coghill Ashley Sims

Score 2671 2595 2497 2393 2365

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2018

JUNE

JULY

2-3 Jun

Round 6 Hobie Kayak Bream Series Gold Coast

hobiefishing.com.au

2-3 Jun

ABT BREAM Series Round 7 Hawkesbury River

abt.org.au

7-9 Jun

Frenchville Sports Club Barra Bash Frenchville

frenchybarrabash@gmail.com

8-10 Jun

Weipa Fishing Classic Cape York

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9-10 Jun

Tweed Coast Marine Greenback Fishing Comp Tweed Coast

Stephen Duffield 0421 052 135

10 Jun

ABT BASS Electric Series Round 3 Wyralong Dam

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7-8 Jul

ABT BASS Pro Round 4 Lake Boondooma

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11-12 Jul

ABT BASS Pro Round 5 Cania Dam

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29 Jul ABT BASS Electric Series Round 4 abt.org.au Lake Macdonald 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. 88

JUNE 2018

Evans Head Fishing Classic returns with AFT On the back of the successful 2017 Evans Head Fishing Classic, Australian Fishing Tournaments (AFT) is returning and will once again be managing this world-class fishing competition and making a significant contribution to the local economy in the process. The Evans Head Fishing Classic will be held from 6-13 July and concludes with the main prize draws and presentation on the Friday. There is a Cadet Competition

also on from 8-9 July with a kids activity day on Sunday. The event takes place behind the Evans Head Woodburn RSL Club on the river; the event site features a food alley, displays from sponsors and a tank to show off some catches. The Woodburn Evans Head RSL Club are also strong supporters of the event. The Evans Head Fishing Classic is synonymous with family fun and now well into its 20s it has continued to add new and exciting ways to get everyone

luderick and flathead. For cadets, there are the usual estuary suspects: flathead, whiting and bream and trag are back in the mix this year. Over the weekend, come down with the little ones in for the Cadet Competition on Saturday and Sunday, a junior two-day competition

the chance to win one of two boat motor trailer packages sponsored by Quintrex/ Evinrude E-Tec. There is a host of other prizes from sponsors like Lowrance, Samurai Rods, Wilsons, Hobie Kayaks, Frogleys Offshore and others. The pool is going to be better than ever.

All seven-day competitors have the chance to win one of two boat motor trailer packages sponsored by Quintrex/Evinrude E-Tec.

The Evans Head Fishing Classic is a family-friendly event spanning over an even wider area this year.

involved. Last year the organising committee made changes to the event with the addition of the Catch ‘N Snap entry system. It allowed anglers to enter photos instead of whole fish. Anglers photographed their competitive catch on brag mats, then had the option to keep the fish or release it. The photographed catch is judged on length only. This system was a huge hit and will continue in 2018. The broadened competition fishing zones

continue opening up more space and places for anglers to fish from: you can launch from Byron to Yamba and fish both estuary and offshore. For AFT and entrants, this delivers a contingency for bad weather conditions and opens more fishing opportunities. It also takes pressure off the local fish stocks. Fish categories include snapper, pearl perch, mulloway, tailor, king/ cobia, amberjack/samson fish, whiting, bream,

Get the kids involved! The Evans Head Classic has a kids activity day and a Cadet Competition for the juniors. with prize pools open to all buddling anglers under the age of 16. Champions, competitors and all attendees will be in the running for a total prize pool of over $100,000. All seven-day competitors have

Come on down to check it out – you might even enter once you see the prizes! To enter or find out more, visit www. evansheadfishingclassic. com.au – Evans Head Fishing Classic

JUNE 2018

Howarth homes in on the Goldy

STORM

The 2018 Costa BREAM Series has returned to the spiritual home of tournament bream fishing – the Gold Coast – for the Ecogear BREAM Qualifier and has seen the coming of age of bream young gun James Howarth with his first tournament victory with 10/10 fish for 5.5kg. On day one Howarth took the long journey to Raby Bay canals. “I really wasn’t confident in the canals of the Gold Coast, so I took the hour-long journey up to the less-pressured waters of Raby Bay and targeted fish around the pontoons and boat hulls with a mix of Ecogear SX40 and Cranka Crabs,” said Howarth. Once in location Howarth would use a two-pronged approach to extract the most fish from each location. On the boat hulls and expansive pontoons he would target fish with an Ecogear SX40 in bluegill making long parallel casts to the structure before starting an aggressive retrieve along the structure with the intent of keeping the lure away from the smaller

The champion James Howarth and his spoils of victory. fluttered to the bottom or as it just came in contact with the bottom. While his day one limit of 2.46kg kept him in touch of the leader, he knew he would need to find bigger fish on

area. With the water being a dirtier Howarth changed his key crankbait to a Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR in a chrome finish to grab the attention of the fish in the area.

pontoons with cleaner water and wind pushing on them. From there it’s just about triggering the big bites and an erratic aggressive retrieve gets them to bite,” said Howarth.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG The Duffrods Big Bag went to tournament winner James Howarth with his tournamentwinning 3.04kg day two bag. The key bait for his big bag was a Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR.

Howarth’s plan of attack was a carbon copy of his day one approach – using his aggressive and erratic retrieve on his crankbait and mixing it up with the slower presentation of the Bream Prawn and Cranka Crab on the poles and vertical structure. With his limit in the boat by 8.30, he was able to focus the rest of his session on upgrading his bag. “The key for me on the Gold Coast is to find the

This change in location paid dividends and saw Howarth take the Duffrods big bag with a 3.04kg limit. “I really had a great weekend catching up with all the other anglers. I need to thank everyone who helped me out: Lowrance Electronics, Northside Marine, my work and Minn Repairs and Servicing who came out on Friday night to fix my wiring issues,” said Howard.

WINNING TACKLE James Howarth proudly holds two of his Gold Coast winning bream.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 90

JUNE 2018

bream that plague the canals and tempting one of the bigger fish. His tackle of choice for this presentation was a Nordic Stage matched with a Daiwa Ingis spooled with 8lb Daiwa J Braid and 6lb Yamatoyo FC leader. Once Howarth felt he had extracted all that he could from his crankbait presentation, his attention would then turn to the poles and anchor structures. For these areas Howarth used a combination of lightly weighted Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns and Cranka Crabs. His aim with these lures was to cast his lure tight to the structure before allowing it to slowly float down the side of the structure with most of his fish intercepting the lure as it

day two if he was going to step it up and take the victory. With this in mind Howarth opted to stay closer to the start/ finish area and targeted similar structure in the Jumpinpin

Rod: Nordic Stage Reel: Daiwa Ignis Line: 8lb Daiwa J-Braid Leader: 6lb Yamatoyo fluorocarbon Lure: Ecogear SX40 in bluegill colour, Zipbait Khamsin Tiny DR, Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns and Cranka Crabs

TOP 10 BOATERS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler James Howarth Wally Fahey Denis Metzdorf Steve Morgan John Siggs Chris Britton Todd Riches Aaron Sharpe Michael Thompson Kristoffer Hickson

Total Fish 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10

Total Weight (kg) 5.50 5.13 5.01 4.89 4.74 4.68 4.57 4.38 4.24 4.01

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

Fahey finds them upriver Wally Fahey has continued his strong form in his maiden season as a boater on the Costa BREAM Series taking out second place with 10/10 fish for 5.13kg. In contrast to Howarth, Fahey headed upriver to the area around the casino to start his session fishing pontoons

and bridges in a milk run of spots throughout the area. When targeting the pontoons Fay used a combination of Ecogearaqua Bream Prawns in salt and pepper colour and Gulp Crabbies in camo rigged on 1/40oz TT Hidden Weight jigheads. To cast his plastic tight into the cover Fahey used a

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM Walley Fahey secured the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream Prize at the Ecogear-presented event with the SA local value adding his event winning for his 1kg+ kicker fish caught on day one.

Daiwa Sol UL701 matched with a Sol 2000 spooled with 6lb Evo8 Tournament Braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock. While the pontoons allowed Fahey to fill his limit early, he knew there would be larger fish holding tight to the bridge pylons. When targeting the fast flowing waters of the bridge pylons Fahey opted for the ever popular Cranka Crab heavy in olive colour, Fay would cast his crab tight to the structure before allowing it to drift down into the eddies. For this presentation Fahey used a Daiwa Zero

BREAM SERIES

701ULXS matched with a Sol 2000 spooled with 6lb Evo8 Tournament Braid and 4lb Sunline FC Rock. While he was able to get the bites around the bridges it proved to be a hard challenge extracting the better fish. While on day one Fahey was able to extract those better fish, on day two he was unable to seal the deal and missed that one key upgrade to clinch the win, but with his experience as a boater growing, it won’t take long for Fahey to put it all together and take his maiden ABT victory.

Ecogear SX40LC

Walley Fahey lead on day one of the event but was overtaken on the final day to finish second.

Pontoon

Quick retrieve with regular twitches and jerks of lure.

Thompson tames the Bay Popular angler Mick Thompson has taken victory in the Non-Boater division Ecogear Bream Qualifier with 3.67kg and in the process reached his goal of making the 2018 BREAM Grand Final. Thompson was paired with Aaron Sharp and Steve Eldred, which played to his bay fishing strengths, “I love fishing the shallow stuff, so I had the perfect draw for the tournament,” said Thompson. On both days Thompson fished shallow broken weed and rubble areas in 3-6ft of water. In

these areas he would make long wind-assisted casts throwing his Atomic Crank 38 Deep in ghost gill brown as far as possible before dragging and bouncing his lure through the weed and broken, reefy bottom. With lots of fish only biting the lure tentatively, his key adjustment was to hold off striking on the fish and slowly winding fish onto the lure. While the big bream that the bay is known for didn’t show their heads, his slight adjustment meant Thompson had a consistent tournament catching over 20 fish each day and managed to fill his limit by 9:30 each day.

To land all his fish Thompson used a 13 Fishing Omen Black 7ft 1-3kg rod matched with a Daiwa Certate 2506 spooled with 8lb J Braid and 6lb Sunline Bream Special FC. When asked after the event, Thompson explained that his aim was to qualify for the 2018 Grand Final, “All I wanted to do was to come here and qualify for the Grand Final; to finish first is unbelievable,” explained Thompson. On stage he was also very quick to thank the people that have helped him get into tournament fishing, “Everything I know about bream fishing has come

from Grayson Fong – we fish together a lot trying to perfect a lot of different techniques. I also have to thank both Aaron and Steve for all the little things I picked up off them over the weekend,” said Thompson. With the Ecogear round of the Costa BREAM Series run and won attention now turns to the West Coast Qualifier and Hawkesbury River Qualifier. For information on this or any other ABT event near you head to abt.org.au.

Mick Thompson was a popular victor, claiming the non-boater title at the Ecogear-presented event.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler Michael Thompson Paul Langley Grayson Fong Mark Saric Tyson Hayes Khoi Pham Louie Wardini Colin Wilson Rodney O’Sullivan Cristian Bermudez

Total Fish 10/10 8/10 8/10 8/10 7/10 7/10 7/10 6/10 7/10 6/10

Total Weight (kg) 3.67 3.34 3.10 3.09 2.93 2.81 2.64 2.55 2.53 2.42

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

The boys cashed in for Hobie Bonus bucks. JUNE 2018

Swanson swoops in for win The Casino Outdoors BASS Electric Series bounced back with a vengeance after a fishless opening round of the series with 66 anglers and plenty of limits featuring at Clarrie Hall Dam for the second event of the series. One of the more popular stops of the BASS Electric Series, it was Casino local and BASS Electric regular Nathan Swanson who claimed top honours at Clarrie weighing in a 2/2, 2.185kg limit to secure the win. With no pre-fish under his belt Swanson started his tournament in the upper reaches using a three-lure approach, throwing an OSP Bent Minnow, Jackall TN50 and a beetle spin rigged jighead soft plastic.

STUART STRIKES GOLD FOR SECOND Stuart France continued his good form on the BASS Electric tour with the former BASS Electric Convention champion securing a podium finish at Clarrie Hall. Fishing behind the island in the middle reaches of the lake, France starting off throwing a ZMan CrusteaZ topwater for little reward. France pulled the pin and moved down the lake to a location where he’d caught fish while pre-fishing the week before. “I caught my first fish at around 8.30am on a plastic in the back of shaded bay in 18ft of water and it took the plastic tight to the weed edge,” explained France. Nathan Swanson with his brace of Clarrie Hall winning bass.

BIG BASS

STORM

Nathan Swanson secured the Big Bass prize at Clarrie Hall with the event champion value adding his event winnings for his 1.155kg fish caught early in the session on an OSP Dunk.

fresh fish. It was during this move and search that he found his third fish – an upgrade – once again caught on a soft plastic. This fish would prove to be his last fish for the session and was the fish that moved him into second place. The tackle France used included a Barrabass IP841

and XSB822 rods, Daiwa Luvias 1003 and Caldia 2500 reels, 10lb Sunline Siglon PEX8 mainline, 8lb Sunline V Hard fluoro leader, camo coloured Berkley Gulp Worm rigged on a 1/6th jighead, and an ayu coloured OSP Power Drunk crankbait.

Stuart France returned to the winners podium, securing the runner-up position at the second event of the series.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 92

JUNE 2018

Moving through a weedchoked section that narrowed as the lake merged into the river Swanson swapped lure and began working an OSP Dunk in about 13ft of water. “The water was a milky colour up there. I threw the crank tight to the weed edge and worked it with a pausejerk retrieve, allowing the lure to suspend and sit still for 5-10 seconds,” explained Swanson. The approach paid dividends with Swanson putting his first fish in the well at 7.30am when it slammed his paused crankbait. Swanson fished his way further up the creek until he reached the bridge then he turned around and fished his way back down the lake. “I caught nothing until I got back to the spot where I caught my first fish and at about 10.30am another fish ate my crankbait,” explained Swanson. Swanson’s second bite and fish was it for the session, and he got no other bites. Swanson’s quality certainly made up for his lack of quantity with his limit securing him a 120g winning margin over 2nd place.

He second fish came at 9am, this time it was on a hardbody, an OSP Power Dunk fished at suspended fish holding on a main lake point. While France could find suspended fish getting them to bite proved very difficult. “They seemed to be between seasons – not in summer mode, yet not quite in winter mode – when they schooled up on a point,” explained France. France decided to move up the lake to get away from the crowds and hopefully find

Anglers waited patiently in the rain for the 7am start.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: 3-8lb, 6’7” NS Blackhole Reel: Daiwa Certate 2004 Line: 6lb Sunline Super PE Leader: 8lb Black Magic FC leader Lure: OSP Bent Minnow, Jackall TN50 and a beetle spin rigged jighead soft plastic, OSP Dunk

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler 1st Nathan Swanson

Fish 2/2

Weight (kg) 2.185

Big Bass (kg) 1.155

2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th

2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2

2.065 2.005 1.940 1.835 1.825 1.790 1.755 1.655 1.625

1.075 1.045

Stuart France Luke Clark Jesper Noisen Chris Osley Deegan Graham Scott Byrant Steve Kanowski Shaun Falkenhagen Darren Painter

1.080

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

Prize $440,Trophy, $150 Big Bass $320, Trophy $240 $200 $180 $140 $120 $100 $100 $80

Cooking

Making perfect sushi rice and scattered sushi BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Sushi rice is the basis for all types of sushi recipes including maki (rice wrapped in nori seaweed sheet), uramaki (rice on

the outside), nigiri (small amount of pressed sushi rice topped with seafood), tempi (cone shaped sushi) and chirosizushi (scattered sushi). Rice for making sushi rice is available in most supermarkets in either the rice aisle or the Asian section. If

INGREDIENTS

Scattered Sushi • 1 nori sheet, toasted • 1 cup either vegetable or seafood stock • 2 tbsp soy sauce • 2 tbsp mirin • 250g green prawns, peeled and deveined • 250g prepared squid • 250g piece salmon, skin on or off • 1 fillet white fleshed fish • 2-3 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise • 2-3 green shallots, finely sliced • 1 small cucumber, cut into fine batons Rice • 3 cups sushi rice • 3 and 1/2 cups water • 1/2 cup rice wine vinegar • 2 tbsp sugar • 2 tsp salt

Wash the rice in a fine-mesh strainer until the liquid coming off the rice runs clear. Rinsing the rice removes excess starch so the rice doesn’t turn into a glutinous gloopy mess when cooked. Cook the rice then remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to stand for 10-15 minutes.

Place the salmon skin-side down in a clean frypan. Cook a minute on each side – this will leave it raw in the middle. Remove the salmon from the pan and allow it to cool, then break the salmon into pieces and place it to one side. Do the same with the squid. Shallow fry over a medium heat and add a little cooking oil to the pan. When the oil is hot, add the squid pieces for a couple of minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove the squid from the pan and place the pieces to one side.

you can’t find specific rice for making sushi then a short grain white rice will suffice. Having made your sushi rice, get ready to make rice into a simple scattered sushi. Scattered sushi is served on special occasions in Japan such as Doll Day, birthdays and anniversaries. I like it because it is an uncomplicated

freeform presentation that is the simplest of the sushi dishes to put together, and it’s fun! Scattered sushi is basically sushi rice with a variety of toppings scattered over a bed of rice. It uses all sorts of seafood (both raw and cooked) as a complement to the rice. In this version of scattered sushi we use

a few different methods of preparing the cooked seafood – poaching and sautéing. I have used Japanese mayonnaise to coat the white fleshed fish in this recipe. Japanese mayo is available in the Asian section of most supermarkets. It’s different in thickness and flavour from Australian mayo; it’s thicker,

usually made from egg yolks only and the acid component is rice wine vinegar, instead of lemon juice. You can usually purchase your nori sheets already toasted but if you have untoasted nori, simply pop the nori sheet into a dry frypan over a medium heat for a minute on each side.

1 3

Measure the ingredients for the sushi rice dressing (rice wine vinegar, sugar and salt) into a small saucepan and heat them over a low heat until the sugar and salt have dissolved in the vinegar. Then remove the saucepan from the heat and with a wooden spoon ladle it into a bowl. Cool the rice quickly by lifting the rice up with the spoon and letting the heat out. You can help this process by fanning the rice at the same time. Tip the dressing over the cooled rice and gently fold the liquid in. Your sushi rice is now ready for making sushi.

Spread some Japanese mayonnaise over both sides of the fillet of white fleshed fish. Using the pan in which you cooked the salmon, wipe it out (to remove any salmon scales), add some more oil and then heat the pan again over a medium heat. Place the coated fish into the hot pan and cook the fillet on both sides until just cooked through.

Combine the stock, soy sauce and mirin in a saucepan and heat it on your hotplate to bring the liquid to a gentle simmer. When the stock mixture is hot, add the green prawns and poach them until the prawns turn pink. Using a slotted spoon, remove the poached prawns from the stock and place the prawns to one side.

To assemble the scattered sushi, place a generous amount of sushi rice on each serving plate. Alternatively serve it family style on one large platter and let the diners serve themselves with their seafood of choice. Next scatter the salmon and mayocoated fish pieces over the rice. Then place the poached prawns onto the sushi rice, add the calamari, sprinkle on the sliced green shallots and cucumber batons and tear a toasted nori sheet over the almost-finished sushi rice ingredients. Once you’ve sprinkled the nori pieces across the top you’ve completed your scattered sushi. JUNE 2018

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This section in QLD Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. 94

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Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177

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

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS STUFF YOU FIND INSIDE FISH

ANCHOVY SHAD ALEWIFE PILCHARD MINNOW KILLIFISH GUDGEON BALLYHOO GARFISH ROUND SCAD MULLET

LEATHERJACKETS ARROW SQUID CARPET SNAKES CICADAS FROGS CORMORANT SHRIMP PRAWNS CRABS SOFT PLASTICS

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

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

QLD JUNE 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

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

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

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

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for April were T Berber of Moorina, J Duncan of Miles, J Van Der Glint of Winfield, M Petersen of Taringa, B Wild of Griffin, I Hutchinson of Theodore, who won a prize pack of Sufix braid and leader. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

W Geaney of Beecher, M Powell of South Grafton, P Hardie of Gatton, B Fisher of Roma, F Brook of Leeton, B Mumbray of Yorkys Knob, C Simpson of Woodbury, G Sprott of Glenlee, D Deppeler of Burpengary East, G Essex of Toowoomba, D Hopf of Kingaroy, R Dowden of Bundaberg, R Elworthy of North Bundaberg, B Devine of Pialba, M Sheen of Norman Gardens, M Collis of River Heads, K Baggett of The Caves, D McCristal of Fig

Tree Pocket, J Higgins of Caboolture, J Ryan of Yeppoon, A Duxbury of Caboolture, R Smith of Chinchilla, B Nimmett of Lowood, J Paul of Inverell, A Morrison of Forbes, A Kittel of Logan Village, R Whillans of Bellara, A Hewlett of Mothar Mountain, P Moody of Kingston, J Maguire of Kalkie, M Mahony of Canungra. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE GAMAKATSU LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Gamakatsu Logo for April were: 12, 16, 20, 28, 34, 42, 44, 47, 53, 58, 63, 64, 68, 76, 99. – QFM

JUNE 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Redfin

The Find the Gamakatsu prize winners for April were: T Perry of Edge Hill, D Park of Highfields, J Rogers of Tambo, M Chadwick of Burrum Heads, L Stewart of Capalaba, E Lezuchowski of Darra, G Green of Currumbin Waters, N Humble of Rockhampton, K Martin of Dalby,

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

Bar Crusher leads the industry in design and quality to produce some of the most advanced plate aluminium fishing boats on the market. Incorporating exclusive innovations, Bar Crusher Boats are renowned for their superior performance.

Made for...

Bar Crusher’s philosophy is all about ensuring the buyer ends up with a boat that’s ideal for their offshore boating needs. Bar Crushers deliver a super-smooth ride – a far cry from the uncomfortable, pounding ride of traditional aluminium boats – and superior stability at rest.

This month...

Steve Morgan recently tried out the 780HT model, and he had a lot of fun putting this offshore beast through its paces! You can check out his findings on page 108.

102 Doubling up!

Justin Willmer looks at the joys of joining two kayaks together for a different kayaking experience.

104 New from Mercury

Steve Morgan recently caught up with Mercury Marine to see what’s new in the Mercury world.

106 Kampey’s new rig one year on Wayne Kampe was happy with his new 4.5m Galeforce a year ago when he bought it, but has it stood the test of time?

110 Cruise Craft 595EX The challenge with this test was to see whether the 595EX rides as well as it looks.

WHAT’S NEW BOATING HAINES SIGNATURE 1 545F

RAYMARINE LIGHTHOUSE 3.4

The new 545F from Haines Signature Boats is aimed squarely at anglers and families. Measuring 5.45m in length and 2.13m across the beam, the 545F gives you the space to move around freely thanks to its huge open floor plan and a high freeboard for added safety, particularly when it comes to family boating. The open half cab features windows and bunk cushions with storage underneath, a split dash with walk-through windscreen for easy access to the anchor and a helm console that has room for gauges, controls and state-of-theart electronics up to 12”. Extra-wide side pockets, a live bait tank and glovebox means there’s plenty of storage space. A 100L fuel tank, four stainless steel rod holders, transom door and a sports steering wheel are just some of the standard inclusions, with plenty of options available. The 545F is rated to 90–150hp and has a soft and stable ride, and it’s available on a single axle trailer to make towing and launching a breeze. Price: from $49,990 BMT drive away www.signatureboats.com

Raymarine has announced LightHouse version 3.4, the latest free update to the LightHouse 3 operating system. Axiom users can now stream entertainment from Netflix and Spotify, as well as access Theyr’s GRIBview precision global weather service app. LightHouse 3.4 also adds Bluetooth audio output. Connect Axiom’s Bluetooth to your marine stereo system or Bluetooth enabled speakers and enjoy digital audio from your streamed movies and music. Other features include: Vessel Alarm History and Management; Chartplotter ‘Find Nearest’ Hot-Spotting (use a long-press anywhere on the chart and trigger the ‘Find Nearest’ menu to see points of interest); Chart Tide Mode for tides and currents; fuel management tools; and Network Dimming for MFDs and instruments (one command dims the entire helm). LightHouse 3.4 is available free at the Raymarine website, or via your MFD’s built-in Wi-Fi if you’re in wireless range. Certain features are available only on Axiom and Axiom Pro. www.raymarine.com

LOWRANCE CASHBACK PROMO

MERCURY’S 6-YEAR 5 WARRANTY

Lowrance has announced its latest promotion in Australia and New Zealand. Up until 31 July 2018, Lowrance is offering up to $500 cash back on each SKU across the entire HDS Carbon range. The Lowrance HDS Carbon adds a highperformance dual-core processor, multi-touch SolarMAX HD screen, dual channel CHIRP and Network Dual Sounder to the proven features that have made HDS multifunction displays the choice of anglers at all levels. The HDS Carbon series includes 16”, 12”, 9” and 7” models. Anglers in the market for a want-it-all integrated system need a processor that can smoothly drive the high-tech capabilities of HDS Carbon, like StructureScan 3D with SideScan and DownScan Imaging, new FishReveal, dual channel CHIRP sonar, StructureMap and Broadband Radar support. HDS Carbon takes processing power to a new level with a dual-core processor that allows anglers to switch between applications and simultaneously view independent sonar feeds with ease. www.lowrance.com

SNAP-LOC ROD HOLDER

The Snap-Loc Rod Holder is a unique, onestep, instant strike Rod Holder that’s ideal for general light to medium trolling and bait fishing. It’s versatile and adaptable to any boat or fishing situation. The Universal Rail and Deck Mount Rod Holder offer many different mounting possibilities. When you place the rod, either spin or baitcast, into the holder, it pushes the front lever down and locks the rear lever over the top of the rod butt. The weight of the rod is sufficient to firmly lock the rod. Any additional downward weight, even the drag of a sinker or lure, locks the rod more securely in place. Key features include: additional security lock fitted; most combos can be locked on foregrip or rear grip; clip-in insert allows use of very small diameter rod butts; overhead reel stays upright; heavy-duty vertical and horizontal adjustments; heavy-duty lift and rotate lock for total flexibility and precise rod direction control. The rod holder can be quickly removed and fitted to another mount, and its slip-resistant universal rail clamp fits 1 1/4’ (32mm), 1’ (26mm), 3/4’ (23mm), and 1’ square (26mm). It features stainless steel components and is UV, salt and oil resistant. www.jmgillies.com.au 98

JUNE 2018

For 2018 Mercury has announced an extended 6-year warranty for all recreational outboards. This covers everything from the lightest 2.5hp model all the way through to 350hp Verado outboards. To be eligible, simply have your Mercury engine serviced at an Authorised Service Centre at the recommended servicing intervals and you’re covered by an additional 3-year factorybacked warranty, which is on top of the first three years of coverage. The warranty is non-declining, meaning that the coverage is the same on the last day as it is on the first. The warranty is also fully transferable, meaning that if the outboard is sold during the warranty period, the second (or any subsequent) owner also gets to enjoy the peace of mind of the 3+3 = 6 year factorybacked warranty. Mercury’s new 3+3 = 6 year warranty automatically applies for new outboards purchased in 2018. The warranty applies to all Verado, FourStroke, OptiMax and TwoStroke outboard engines. www.mercurymarine.com.au

SIMRAD SPECIAL OFFER

PRODUCT GUIDE

Simrad has announced its latest deal in Australia, offering a pair of Apex Mako Sunglasses (polycarbonate), valued at RRP$199, with the purchase of any NSS evo3 multifunction display. Next generation Simrad NSS evo3 multifunction displays feature new SolarMAX HD screens, Dual Channel CHIRP sounder compatibility and an expanded keypad, plus a host of premium features. The NSS evo3 series include 16, 12, 9 and 7” models. An easy-to-use interface, and support for full operation via touchscreen or keypad ensures trouble-free operation in all weather conditions and while the boat is in motion. Mako sunglasses produce leading, fashionforward fishing frames catering to those who not only need effective sunglasses but also want to look good wearing them. The Apex is made of tough, warp-resistant TR90 nylon composite material, delivering a light and comfortable feel. The fit reduces fogging, while rubber inserts in the nose and on the arms reduce slippage. The offer is available until July 31, 2018. www.simrad-yachting/mako

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

Advertorial

The world’s easiest fish finder? It was announced as ‘the world’s easiest fish finder’, which is a big claim to make. Given that marine technology is advancing at an incredible rate, ease of use is something that can often be missed with some complex features becoming available of recent times. The Lowrance Hook2, with its additional features, needed to tie high-end specs with ease of use. Has the Hook2 achieved that? Available in wide range different options, the Lowrance Hook2 comes in five different screen sizes, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 12”. Depending on the size screen you pick, the units are also available with three different sonar capabilities – Bullet offers traditional sonar with a GPS Plotter, SplitShot, which offers DownScan and Sonar with GPS mapping. Lastly the TripleShot which offers, SideScan, DownScan and Sonar with GPS mapping. So basically, there are plenty of options! For me, I went with a Hook2 9” TripleShot unit, which I mounted into a kayak. When it came to the installation, I had it all set up within about 30 minutes. It was simple. There are two cables, one goes to a battery and one goes to the transducer. Both plug into the back of the sounder unit and it’s done! For the kayak,

It’s a great feeling when you can see the fish on the sounder and then catch them!

I went with a 12amp battery and mounted the transducer off an arm screwed into the rear of the kayak. The first thing I noticed upon turning the unit on was that the menu is incredibly simple to understand. If you have used a smart phone, it’s much the same. The HDS units also offer a similar set up, which is what it initially reminded me of. I’m used to touch screen, and I have been using a touch screen sounder for a few years now. One of my concerns was if it would be easy enough to navigate around with the use of buttons. The intuitive layout of the menu meant that it was easy and you didn’t have to scroll through a large list of items either, which is a pet hate of mine. My first trip out with this sounder was an eye opener. Hooked up on the kayak, I fished an area I had fished plenty of times in the past, but never with a sounder. I took this opportunity to sound around looking for structure that I had not seen or fished before. Using the SideScan, I found a small boat wreck and then proceeded to catch a number of bass off it. I was sold at that point. I had caught fish that I definitely would not have targeted without it. I ran my settings on auto out of the box. It provided me with clear definition on side, down

These fish were showing predominantly to the right side of the kayak, so the author knew exactly where to cast.

Just plug and play! Two plugs in and away you go. Simple and easy! 100

JUNE 2018

The Hook2 made finding schooled fish a breeze.

and standard sonar. All I changed was the colour palette. I was able to customize my screen to show exactly what I wanted too, such as the size and layout of each panel, depth, temperature, time, speed. It can be configured to personal tastes, which is great! So what’s it worth? The Hook2 price range started from $159 for the 4” version. I did a comparison of other similar spec units of a range of brands and the Hook2 came in best at price and features. There’s no other sounder out there under $1,000 that can do what these can! My favourite thing about this sounder is that it is just easy. Easy to install, the settings can be left on auto. Basically, you don’t need a degree to run it! When I take my kayak out, it’s usually a spur of the moment decision to have a quick flick. The last thing I want to worry about is taking time to set up my sounder. The Hook2 is perfect for this scenario, and the more I use it, the more I enjoy it. I could go on about how good it is, but at the end of the day, you have to see for yourself! Get down to your local boating store and have a play with one. They are going to be a very popular addition to the Lowrance stable. A sounder that combines, usability, with high-end technology, what’s not to love! For more information on the new Hook2 range, or anything else from the Lowrance stable, visit ww2.lowrance.com/en-au. - Nabeel Issa

SEE MORE, FIND MORE,

CATCH MORE

SPECIAL OFFER

UP TO $500*

CASHBACK Find your most elusive prey with FishReveal™ smart target viewing. With fish-finding CHIRP sonar and structure-revealing DownScan Imaging™ together at last, fish have nowhere left to hide. For a limited time only, purchase any HDS Carbon fishfinder chartplotter and get up to $500 cash back. Redeem at lowrance.com/catchmore.

*Terms and Conditions Apply. By redemption only. Valid from 1st May 2018 - 31st July 2018.

Double your fun by doubling up your kayak BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I affectionately refer to my adventurous parents as the ‘Grey Nomads.’ They travel, fish, camp, 4WD and even in their 70s can regularly be found kayak fishing the rivers

my dad said he had an idea about fitting out the kayaks for SA. I thought, ‘Here we go…’ The rest, as they say, is history. So, the plan was to join two kayaks together to make a larger craft and here’s why: my folks had previously travelled to SA caravanning and kayaking with Dad’s brother Neville

them the added security of a larger profile in the water, making them less attractive, while also offering additional stability and structure, should they actually get up close and personal with one of the local sharks. At first I wasn’t too keen about them building a craft to take on the sharks,

The boys were all smiles when their combined kayak setup proved successful on the water.

A feed of blue swimmer crabs in the rear well after a successful mission. and estuaries. My dad (Ron) is also a bit of a tinkerer. He added a hoist to one of their vehicles to lift their kayaks onto the roof, rails to the rear of his kayak along with an electric motor

and his wife Michelle, the four of them paddling Malibu Mini-X kayaks. During a couple of their paddle adventures they came across sharks, including one larger specimen, without incident

however I then thought the chances of them actually coming face to face with jaws were pretty minimal, while the project would be fun and they would end up with a cool platform to fish and crab from, if we could

being the same model should make joining them together simpler, so we used Dad’s as a reference point and nutted out a basic plan with two struts across the kayaks – one mounted in front of the paddler’s feet and a second one mounted behind the seat. Although they wouldn’t be venturing into rough waters, the system for joining the kayaks had to be solid and sturdy, so as not to fail or damage the kayaks, while also being simple and relatively quick to install, lightweight and manageable. Dad came up with two perfect struts from his shed – nicknamed the ‘shed of death’ because there’s so much treasure (junk) stacked up to the ceiling in there – and we were underway. The struts were actually a couple of lengths of aluminium channel that were left over from when they had solar panels mounted on the roof

of their house and they were perfect. Tick that off the build list. When it comes to mounting items on the kayak, my go-to mounts

This mount is lightweight, solid, secure, and it mounts across a larger area than the standard StarPort with four bolts rather than two. This would be rock

The Railblaza StarPort HD is a solid mount option with an ingenious and simple star insert and sliding lock system. and accessories are without doubt Railblaza, so I went and had a dig in my Railblaza crate in the shed, coming up with a StarPort HD mount.

solid once fixed in place on the kayak, and the fishing version of the Mini-X kayak has both the luxury of plenty of flat surface space for mounts, as well

The front strut also created a storage platform for the crab nets, making more room for the pilots. and steering system, and numerous other mechanical and electronic additions. When I visited them prior to their recent South Australia caravan and kayak adventure, 102

JUNE 2018

but enough to open their eyes to the presence of these apex predators. Dad’s theory was that if they join two kayaks together for crabbing and fishing it would give

come up with a suitable design. Dad and Nev decided to join their kayaks together as they would be venturing further in search of blue swimmer crabs. We figured that both kayaks

It all looked solid during the initial assembly at home prior to the adventure.

as access for mounting via a front and rear hatch. These are important things to consider when mounting accessories on your kayak: do I have a suitable mounting location? Can I access the area for

one super-stable, larger watercraft for fishing, crabbing and exploring. I was pretty impressed with the old bloke’s handiwork. The two kayaks could be separated or joined in minutes by simply sliding

The Railblaza StarPort HD is a solid mounting point on the kayak. mounting? Will it interfere with my paddle or pedal stroke and will it interfere when transporting and storing the kayak? After a quick call to Jason at Viking Kayaks on the Sunshine Coast I had eight StarPort HD mounts ordered (Part #03-4046-11) – two for the front and two for the rear of each kayak, along with eight Attachment Adaptors (Part #02-404311); this ingenious little star locks into the mount and can be added to almost anything you want to attach to your kayak using a StarPort mount. Job done, these arrived by courier and I passed them onto dad, hoping they would be suitable. It didn’t take long until the mounts were on the kayaks, the Attachment Adaptors were mounted onto the two aluminium struts and the two kayaks had effectively become

the locks on the eight mounts open or closed, then removing or adding the two lightweight but sturdy aluminium struts – a

fish with plenty of kayakfriendly, sheltered waters, unpressured fisheries and shallow, clean waterways. There’s also the snook, KG whiting, salmon, snapper, squid, blue swimmer crabs, razor shells, oysters and plenty more. Favourite destinations along the way for my folks include Coffin Bay, Streaky Bay and, the location where the double yak had plenty of use, Smoky Bay. The boys said everything went to plan with the double yak and it was almost too smooth. They wheeled their kayaks to the water, with the aluminium struts simply laying in the kayak, launched, attached the struts to one kayak, floated the other kayak under the struts, put the Attachment Adaptors into the StarPort HD mounts on the second kayak and slid the locking switch to lock them in place – ready to adventure.

The struts are attached to Ron’s kayak via four mounts, then Nev’s was simply floated under and attached via his four mounts. success. We farewelled the Grey Nomads and looked forward to hearing how the double kayak went once they returned. South Australia is a great place to visit and

And they’re off! It was a good day to take the double for a test cruise.

SEASON

The test drive went well and the craft was stable. The boys found that they had plenty of working space with the ability to stack their crab nets on the front strut that joined the kayaks. The two motors, one Watersnake 18lb and one Watersnake 24lb, pushed the craft along at a fast walking pace and Dad said one motor would have effectively done the job if the currents weren’t too strong. With crab nets set, the boys had some fun cruising and enjoying the stability of the craft. When it came time to check the crab nets the boys realised that they again had the benefit of increased working area and stability, while also having two sets of hands at the ready to sort the crabs and the

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on

Batteries for the electric motors are stowed in the centre hatches and there’s storage for the crab nets on the front strut. crabbing equipment. The quality crabbing continued from their previous South Australia adventures, with a couple dozen crabs for the session and plans for crab sandwiches, crab mornay and seafood pizzas, along with the squid that the ladies had landed while they were chasing crabs. A kayak fit-out idea had become a reality, from the idea phase through the planning stages, the construction and finally the field testing. There are so many accessories you can add and fit-out options for your kayak, from seats, coolers, sounders, anchor running rigs and rod holders to sails, outriggers, lighting and even bimini tops. Remember to spend some time exploring what is available from kayak specialists and hardware

A tasty feed of blue swimmer crabs, destined for sandwiches, Mornay and seafood pizzas. stores, and spend some time planning your fit-out. The old saying always rings in my ears when I start a fit-out project: measure twice, cut or drill once! If you keep these

few things in mind when planning and implementing fit-out projects, the projects can be almost as fun as getting the kayak on the water to chase a few fish… almost.

Michelle landing a nice squid – they were another target species on this adventure.

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday JUNE 2018

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Mercury’s 4.6 litre 4-strokes from 200 to 300HP FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

You will have read earlier in the year about the big Mercury launch Fishing Monthly attended in Miami, Florida. At that time, the American outboard giant released a naturally aspirated 4-stroke outboard platform with large capacity (3.4L), abundant mid-range torque and fantastic efficiency in a package whose looks divided customers. Some loved it and some were a little standoffish when asked what they thought about the futuristic design. Fast forward a couple of months and it’s like déjà vu, only this time on the Gold Coast in Queensland and in conjunction with the Australian, New Zealand and South Pacific region Mercury Dealer Conference. Mercury were very serious about keeping this product under wraps until the 18 May embargo date. At the

Top: If the AMS (Advanced Mid Section) of the Verado was made of glass, this is what you’d see - latest technology balancing to reduce noise, vibration and harshness and integrated power steering. All AMS is silver, so you can pick a Verado build from a mile away. Below: Here’s where the power is generated. The 4.6L V-8 builds upon the 3.4L platform with two extra cylinders in the 4-valves-per-cylinder, double overhead cam design. Importantly, there’s no service required for the life of the valve train, keeping costs down. JUNE 2018

1: At the initial launch of the modern design of the 3.4L in Florida, there was divided opinion about the styling. Fast forward to the Aussie launch and everyone now loves the shape. But they love the performance even more. 2: Just like their smaller brothers, the new V-8 4-stroke Mercurys are available in black or white. Any of them with this silver mid section (called AMS or Advanced Mid Section) is a Verado iteration. These will replace the current 200-300HP L6 Verado line-up. 3: In the USA, saltwater boats usually run the white motors and the freshwater dudes choose the black. Both colours are available in the standard range and they all can be fitted with the custom colour panels, just like the V-6 3.4L models. 4: Usually, Mercury designs a motor and then beefs it up to become a commercial workhorse Sea Pro version. In the V-8 design process, Mercury started at the SeaPro and then worked down to the recreational models. This means that their DNA is tough! launch event for the dealers, mobile phones and cameras were banned! Media were allowed a little more flexibility, but I wouldn’t want to be the guy who broke the official embargo date. So here’s some news that we’ve been sitting on for nearly a month! Mercury have built upon – literally – their 3.4L platform and have now released an 8-cylinder version of the 6-cylinder technology. Displacing 4.6L and massively lighter than the L6 Verado lineup, there was no reason to keep any of the original Verado 200-300HP engines in the range – as well as the entire direct injection OptiMax 2-stroke outboards. All of these will now cease to be available after stocks run out. The same way the 3.4L killed the L4 Verados, this 4.6L platform has killed the

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have packed in more torque throughout the rev range, particularly in the mid-range, which is the part of the curve where you’re pushing your rig up and onto the plane. On the dealer test day, everyone was talking about how, irrespective of the load carried, these motors threw the craft up and onto the plane. Turning the capacity into horsepower is the four valveper-cylinder, dual overhead cam design. And as with all modern Mercury platforms, they are designed to require no valve train servicing for the life of the engine. That’s one of the main reasons that these four strokes will be cheaper to service than ever before. VARIOUS VERSIONS On paper, there seems to be many iterations of the platform to suit all of the market segments that these motors will service. VP of Sales, Randy Caruana, explained one of the differences in design. “Previously, we’d created a platform and then derived a commercial

Now there’s a twin rig with a whopping 9.2L of displacement. This Southern Formula is right at home in its natural environment - the ocean. And at the dock, you can push a button on the VesselView and open an exhaust port to make these Verados sound just like the V-8s that they are. Boat porn excellence.

Pro XS isn’t just for bass boats. It’s for anyone who wants lighter weight, better hole shot and optimum performance at a small price premium.

bigger OptiMax and smaller L6 Verado outboards. Forever. Let’s take a few steps back, though, and recap the benefits of this platform, as it shares so much with its 3.4L siblings. UNDER THE HOOD There’s a saying in boating – and in fact for most engines – “there’s no replacement for displacement”. By now, you’d have deduced that these V-8s have a 4.6L capacity. How does that compare with the models they are making obsolete? Well, the 200-250HP OptiMax were a 3.0L engine and the supercharged Verados only 2.6L. Where you feel the difference is how the motor performs when you punch the throttle down – Mercury

grade SeaPro model for the commercial market. In this case, we designed the commercial motor first and then created the recreational derivatives,” he said. The V-8 4.6L motors will be available in 250 and 300hp in a CMS (conventional mid section), or AMS (advanced mid section which will be the new Verados). The Pro XS models will span 175 to 300hp where the 175hp is a V-6 3.4L and 200, 225, 250 and 300 are the V-8 4.6L. The cool thing is that no matter whether you are re-powering from a OptiMax or Verado with cable, hydraulic or electro-hydraulic steering, all current versions of Mercury compatible steering will work with these motors. Keeping your current steering

and SmartCraft gauges will help keep your repower costs down. A lot. LIGHT WEIGHT One of the first questions on everyone’s lips after the unveiling was about weight. To really be competitive in the smaller boat marketplace, it needed to be significantly lighter than the L6 Verados they were replacing.

stepped out of the boat with the same windswept smile. “That guy knows how to drive a boat,” was usually followed by, “that torque just pushed me back into the seat.” And these were experienced boat dealers. EXCELLENT ECONOMY Kris himself admitted he was still getting used to the lack of weight on the transom

The V8 package is surprisingly light weight and compact. This 225 Pro XS weighs in at the same weight as the V6 it replaces. And it plugs straight into your current Mercury rigging - whether you run Verado or OptiMax.

Dealers in particular love the cowling access panel. You can check and fill the oil from here and also remove the cowling with a one-pull handle. It beats hanging over the back of the boat if you’re trying to do this with the boat on-water. The answer was greeted by silence and nodding of heads. The 4.6L weighs in exactly the same as the lightest of the motors it replaces. A 250 ProXS 4.6L weighs the same as an OptiMax 250 Pro XS at 229kg. Wow. “We’ve had some of the professional bass anglers running these motors on Lake X in Florida recently and they all had just one question – ‘when can I get one?’” said the Mercury Professor, Robin Senger while detailing the performance advantages of the ProXS platform in his Fishing Monthly video interview (scan the QR code hereby on your smartphone to watch it). A CMS 250 4.6L is a staggering 49kg lighter than an L6 Verado of the same horsepower. That’s a performance increase equivalent to chucking a small adult (or large child) off the back of the boat - permanently. IMPRESSIVE TORQUE When I was reporting on the 3.4L 175-225HP platform earlier in the year, I said that they “delivered the same hole shot and ‘sit down’ style punch in the 2,000 – 4,000rpm range that makes you smile and giggle.” Well, add another 1.2L of displacement for an extra 14kg of weight and it only strengthened my opinion. Interviewing dealers who were taken on a ride by Kris ‘Captain Risky’ Hickson in a 225HP Pro XS version on his 19ft bass boat, unanimously

but marvelled at the economy improvements over his current Verado Pro 225. “I’d use around 113 litres per hour at wide open throttle, but I’d struggle to use over 80 with this motor,”

interviews by scanning the QR codes on this page. AMS, ASC, ARO If you’re researching this new motor platform, there’s a few acronyms that you’ll need to know. Lots of it is the same technology that we reported on in the 3.4L, but let’s recap. ASC: Adaptive Speed Control. This is a paradigm shift where the throttle governs the RPM of the engine rather than the amount of fuel delivered. It means that if you set it to 3,000 rpm, it’ll automatically add or subtract throttle to keep the motor at 3,000 rpm. When you turn a corner, you usually have to add throttle yourself to keep revs high. ASC does this for you and improved the driving experience. AMS: Advanced Mid Section. This is the part of the outboard between the powerhead and the gearbox.

Do you love it or hate the look of it? Staring down a 4.6L V-8 ProXS in the wild. Kris remarked. He went on to mention that the lack of weight in the rear end meant that he could now fish shallower water and access areas that he’d been unable to with the L6 Verado. Al McGlashan had similar feedback. He’s been running a pre-production V-8 for a little while now and has spent more time running them than anyone else on the test day. “I’m excited by the extra range that I get. This motor uses 20% less fuel than my L6 Verado and to me, that means that I can go father with less pain at the fuel pump. Watch out New Zealand,” he exclaimed. You can see both of their

SOUNDS LIKE A V-8 Lastly, I’m sure that you’re wondering if these motors actually sound like a V-8? Well, they do and they don’t. Apart from the mean, V-8-sounding Pro XS versions, the exhaust is geared for quietness over turning heads at the ramp. But if you have a Verado version, there’s a sneaky button that you can push on your Vessel View that opens one of the exhaust ports and most definitely created that distinctive V-8 tone. That will turn heads… and it automatically kicks back into ‘quiet mode’ at a pre-set rpm. It’s audio-bling at the push of a button.

Gun ABT angler, Kris Hickson from Manning River Marine, wore a 4.6L for the launch week. I’m pretty sure that he doesn’t want to take it off. The Pro XS weighs the same as the OptiMax model it replaces and a whopping 60kg less then the L6 Verado that he usually runs. He also reported over 20% less fuel used at WOT. AMS is what turned a supercharged 2.6L Verado into a smooth, whisperquiet outboard. AMS in all of the 4.6L outboards is silver. Whether the motor is black or white, a silver mid section means that it’s a Verado. And it means that the noise, vibration and harshness of the powerplant is at a minimum. ARO: Advanced Range Optimisation. Mercury’s Chief Technology Officer, David Foulkes, explained this to me in Florida at the 3.4L launch. “Basically we have an algorithm that works out which area of the rpm versus engine load we could change for the benefit of fuel economy, and we wanted to apply that in as wide a range as we possible can so that you get the biggest benefit,” David explained. “The secret is, however, to be able to switch between

the standard mode and a leaner air-fuel mixture mode and for the customer to never know that they’ve made the switch. We’ve patented a series of algorithms to make that customer experience exceptional.” It means that these motors share the exceptional fuel economy of the 3.4L platform. SNEAKY COWL HATCH How’s this for unique? The ability to remove a cowling with a handle and a single unlatch point is innovative. Add to that a point to check and fill the oil under the same lid and you have a point of difference that users will really appreciate. Owners of the V-8s will share this ability and the inspection hatch is on all models in the platform.

AVAILABILITY Released after the 3.4L platform, expect these engines to be in-country from July onwards. Demand will obviously be high initially, so Mercury’s Nicholas Webb gave some advice to customers who want the latest technology first. “Put an order in with your Mercury dealer as soon as you can. Supply will improve over time, but your Mercury dealer is the key to earlier supply,” Nicholas said. So how did I enjoy my first V-8 motor launch experience? Fantastic! It’s an exciting time to be involved in the industry with lighter, faster, quieter and more technically advanced motors than ever before. As a customer, it doesn’t get any better than that.

MORE INFORMATION ONLINE

Steve Morgan tests the new Mercury 4.6 litre V-8s at the Australian dealer and media launch on the Gold Coast.

Al McGlashan has put more hours on the new V-8 than any other Australian media after running one in secret recently. Hear his views on the motor here.

“Professor Mercury”, Robin Senger, explains the differences between a standard mercury 4.6L 4-stroke and the Pro XS platform.

It wouldn’t be a V-8 Pro XS if Kris Hickson wasn’t running one. Hear what ‘Captain Risky’ thinks about his time in charge of the 225 Pro XS. JUNE 2018

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Galeforce 4.5m CC with 75 E-Tec after extended use BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s hard to form a true lasting impression of a boat in only a short time of ownership. The glow surrounding any new rig is just too brilliant for you to detect things that could have been done differently

THE EXPERIMENT WORKED Our 4.5 Galey was a newby – a boat never previously laid up in a mould, yet with a heritage that meant the experiment was unlikely to fail. In essence, I wanted a craft I could move about the place by myself at home or elsewhere, that could be used in Moreton Bay and surrounds and in

and decent freeboard are the same format as the 4.8, 5.5 and even 6m Galeforce models. Accordingly, the 4.5 sees less hull in the water at any given time, which must have had some effect on issues such as stability, overall performance and other things. We’ll look at these and other factors later. One thing was always certain – there was never

There’s no denying the 4.5 Galeforce is a small boat but it certainly fulfils a number of roles with ease. deck up front for best storage capacity. Time off the trailer in an entirely open boat has shown this was a smart choice. Everything I needed out of the weather has been

Our requirement for plenty of storage space within easy reach for cameras and other equipment plus a decent dash area to set up a big screen sounder sealed that deal.

The high bow and generous freeboard mean that this small craft can handle less than ideal conditions quite well. or better. Everything is shiny and new, and when initial sea trials seem to justify your choice, the rosy glow about the craft just seems to get brighter the while. Time spent in different boating conditions can change this perspective.

any impoundment or other place along the east coast where I could get the hull off the trailer. Since last June I have fished everywhere from Luggage Point to Lucinda and several freshwater dams in between, really putting the boat through its paces.

going to be the same amount of fishing room in the 4.5 as the 5.5 that preceded it. However, I knew that 99% of the time the only people aboard would be me and my wife Denise, and I reckoned we could live with this prospect fairly easily.

The author’s eyes under the water – two fish are in sight, so how many others are also there? easily stored, plus there’s a full width-of-boat insulated icebox ahead of a full-sized centre console. The icebox has a sloping floor and bung to port, great for a clean out. The console choice was difficult: in such a small craft why take up so much room with a full sized console? What would be wrong with the smaller single console?

A generous rail on the console has also made it very safe to go forward to fish or attend the waterproof – note, waterproof – hatches within the deck. So while things are a little tight skirting the console, for us it works. LOVE THAT SOUNDER The Lowrance Carbon 12 has been simply brilliant once I understood that this

very high tech bit of kit was as much a computer as a sounder. All systems need to interface on the Carbon 12 and once they do it’s game on! I’ve learned to distinguish mulloway from threadfin in the Brisbane River and bass from tilapia and golden perch in the southern stocked impoundments. Barra in the northern dams? On the sonar section of the screen these are red runways of motion, and on the structure scan they’re shiny grains of rice. In retrospect, that Carbon 12 has been one of the best investments in fishing pleasure I’ve made. THE 75 E-TEC In a boating era dominated by 4-stroke outboards one might wonder why I opted for a 2-stroke, albeit a leader in ultra low emission output, on the transom of our boat. For a start, I have owned five Evinrude E-Tecs and fully understand the power, reliability, and economy that these engines provide. The choice of a 75 E-Tec has been a good one given the design of the little fibre glass hull; with it’s 21° Vee the rig sits well down in the water at rest (thus providing a lot of

In this photo you can get an idea of the space between the console and side deck. Sometimes you’ll get an increased appreciation for certain aspects of the boat, while at other times you’ll wish you’d done one or two things differently. In this article I will outline exactly what almost a year of ownership of our 4.5 Galeforce centre console has brought to light. But first, some background. 106

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Some notable fish have been welcomed aboard: a 1m+ barra from Peter Faust, some big mulloway from the Brisbane River and a 121cm thready from the same area. As a fishing boat, it certainly works! So what is the 4.5? It’s precisely the 4.8 with 30cm removed from the stern. The deep vee format, Delta plank, reversed outer chines

And as the previous owner of both a 4.8 and a couple of 5.5 Galeforce models, I’m in a good position to note the changes brought about by such a reduction in hull size. A SUCCESSFUL LAYOUT In setting out the needs and wants with Galeforce Boats of Maryborough, I opted for the normal cast

The Evinrude E-Tec 75 has proved a great investment with ample power and pleasing fuel economy.

stability) and I wanted plenty of power to get the hull up and on the planing plank. The 75 E-Tec was the lightest low emission 75 on the market, yet as a fuel injected 2-stroke the engine has serious grunt, lifting the deep vee shorty up onto

our fishing lifestyle. The Dunbier SR4 has been under the boat on a trip to Tully in north Queensland via Lake Proserpine and Lucinda, and inland to fish Cania Dam as well. This strong and reliable trailer has proved its worth every metre of the way.

rapidly to avoid heading towards top speed regardless of conditions. There’s obviously a very favourable power-to-weight ratio here! Moving from a 5.5m Galey I noticed that the 4.5’s hull can be influenced by wave action when travelling

Denise likes to fish up front against the lean post, which is an excellent brace point. the plane in around three boat lengths. Additionally, it will run all day at over 30kph (3000rpm) with a fuel consumption of 13L per hour. I can go much faster, but I have little need for speed and like the low revs/low fuel consumption combination. Telling it as it is, I concede the E-Tec with its distinctive resonance is not as silent at idle as some engines, but it differs little in decibel level at 3000rpm and above compared with most other outboards on our market. MOTORGUIDE XI5 Along with the Lowrance Carbon 12 sounder, the MotorGuide Xi5 55lb thrust electric motor has been a great asset for virtually every aspect of our fishing. The Anchor Lock, GPS tracking, and the small increments of adjustment available for precise fishing work have been the big attractions for us. DUNBIER SR4 MULTI ROLLER TRAILER The trailer turned out to be another good choice for

THE FINER POINTS OF THE DASH LAYOUT I opted for I-Command dials as my primary information source. Along with engine rpm, these multi-function instruments provide me with everything from engine temperature on warm up to fuel use per hour, plus fuel used since the last fill up of the 60L underfloor tank. This last aspect I treasure; it’s brilliant to know that there has been, for example, exactly 18.8L used over the last couple of excursions. Resetting the fuel usage gauge is a ten-second job once the tank is refilled. AND NOW FOR THE HULL Coming to terms with the entire Galeforce 4.5 package was an interesting business. As mentioned, the 75 E-Tec kicks the craft onto the plane very rapidly, seconds after the throttle lever moves hard forward, but once the ride levels out the next move is always to back power off

briskly in cross chop or swell simply because there is – when compared to the larger Galeys – far less boat in the water to counter this type of wave action. Mind you, I’ve been in other similar sized and even larger craft where this situation occurs, so it’s not unusual to have some helm input to keep on track in these sea conditions.

The next observation was an eye-opener. Despite its smaller size, I found the ride of the little 4.5 to be as good as the other Galeys I’ve owned (sometimes better) when travelling into short, sharp chop – the sort of stuff we see with wind versus tide. Don’t get me wrong on this; I’m not talking about bar crossings or wild bay waves that are so widely spaced that the hull drops fairly off one green one into the base of another. I’m referring to the sort of short, close-spaced stuff that fresh breeze kicks up on dams or estuaries. I’ve found that instead of slackening off it’s always fun to pack on some power, marvel at the ride quality and grin at the way displaced water is kicked well aft and away from the hull. As with the other Galeforce rigs I’ve owned, if you’re travelling with strong wind on the quarter and in a paddock of white horses as far as the eye can see, you need to wear your spray jacket. This is an open boat, remember – there’s no half cabin for protection. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Interestingly, I found the 4.5’s hull was inclined to be weight-sensitive underway. As the Motorguide Xi5 and the large deep cycle battery to power it were both located to port of the hull’s centre line, the craft tended to lean underway, much the same as side console runabout can do with just one aboard. I corrected it

An exact record of fuel usage is a highlight of an Evinrude I-Command gauge. Along with other useful information, the Evinrude I-Command gauges provide useful engine warm up data at start-up.

by extending the cables and moving the big battery from the forward port hatch to the starboard hatch – half an hour’s work. The big questions remain: what’s the rig like to fish out of? Are there shortcomings? As planned,

Here’s some idea of the space between the console and side deck. it’s a two-person fishing boat, or three, if they all know what they’re doing. Having said that, the rig can certainly handle the rated four persons with one seated on each side of the console if necessary. The 75 E-Tec has the juice. When onto fish I remain aft of the console to keep an eye on the Carbon 12 sounder. Denise fishes up front against the lean post, which really is one of the megastars of our boat. It’s handy to the electric motor and makes a fabulous brace point. Typically, we tuck in behind the console seats underway and then, when it’s time to remove rods from their side holders, Mrs Catchem goes forward while I fish aft. Sometimes I choose to remove a pedestal seat to make more room (usually when flyfishing) as the seat stem slips into or out of the floor spigot with ease. This is a very simple method

BOATS FOR SALE on TRITON 18 PRO Location: NSW

$36,000

of providing more workroom in a jiffy. Shortcomings are simply that the room that we were used to has been reduced. If you moved from a smaller rig up to the 4.5 Galey, things would obviously feel different.

Stability-wise there are no shortcomings. We move about freely within the rig as necessary without any drama, thanks to the rail on the console. And when locked onto a big fish it’s surprising how easy it is to move or position things to counter the actions of the fish, or to lead it to the outstretched net. As an all-round small craft for a two-person team, I believe this boat will take a lot of beating. Other potential owners might opt for a smaller console to enhance workroom, maybe fit a smaller motor, but this little unit does thrive. The things I’d regard as very important, regardless of the budget, would be the console grab rail, the lean post up front and the movable pedestal seats, which can rapidly provide more workroom and an easy clean out. What would I change if I were to order another one? Nothing.

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SKEETER ZX190

CUSTOM QUINTREX EXPLORER HAINES HUNTER 445 CUSTOM

Location: NSW

$45,000

$12,500

Location: VIC

$29,000

BASSCAT COUGAR Location: QLD

$75,000 JUNE 2018

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Bar Crusher 780HT with Yamaha F300hp 4 stroke

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RPM........................ km/h....................... km/L 1000 .............................. 9 ..........................1.9 2000............................ 13 ..........................1.0 3000............................ 36 ..........................1.5 4000............................ 54 ..........................1.1 5000............................ 67 ..........................0.8 5600 ............................ 80 ..........................0.8 * Figures from Yamaha Performance Bulletin Main: What do you get when a Bar Crusher dealer says, “Let’s see if we can order the most optioned-up Bar Crusher ever?” A 780 Hard Top with a 300hp Yamaha 4-stroke and all the fruit. Above: This 780HT has been fitted with a 500L (instead of the standard 330L) fuel tank, but at the expense of an underfloor kill box. It gives this rig a theoretical range of over 700km at the economical cruising speed. toilet – you know, all of the things that are necessary for a big day on the water. That’s what you get for

Length:........................................................... 7.8m Beam:.......................................................... 2.45m Weight.on.trailer.(dry):............................2,380 kg Fuel: ...................................... 500L (330 standard) Max.hp: ........................................................... 300 Capacity: ...............................................6 persons Materials:...................... 5mm bottom, 4mm sides

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door and boarding ladder arrangement. You can watch a video review of the boat test on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube

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this rig. It’s long enough to bridge the waves, heavy enough to move the water (and not vice versa) and dry enough in the wheelhouse to cop a gale warning and still keep you warm and comfortable. And it had all of the accessories – a fridge, radar,

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

I asked Stones Corner Marine’s Glenn Baker if he was in an option-ticking mood when he put together this demo rig for their dealership in Brisbane. After all, this 780 Bar Crusher hard top with a 300hp Yamaha 4-stroke was one of the most kitted out boats that we’ve tested in the last couple of years. “We like to have all of the good gear on our demo boats, because customers see the finished product, relate to it and then want to take it home,” Baker smiled, “and that’s exactly what a demo boat should do.” We knew we were in for a great day on the water in this epic rig – even though Moreton Bay was white capping and there was hardly another trailer at the ramp. It didn’t matter in

of the rough water and the waterline length bridged the gaps. Quartering the slop, you’d definitely get wet if it wasn’t an enclosed hard top design, but the cabin and

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$165,000. A great Australian built boat with enough gear and range to take you to a different state. We had Stones Corner salesman, Troy Wegner, take us out for a spin on a day that was perfect for seeing what hulls like this can do. “This boat has a 500L

fuel tank rather than the 330L standard, but it comes at the expense of an underfloor kill-box,” said Troy on the test day. After running the numbers, we calculated that this rig would have a theoretical range of over 700km with that tank and a captain sitting on 3,000rpm. At those revs, the Yamaha pushed the 780 along at 41km/h and delivered 1.6km/L of fuel burned. If you’re showing off to your mates at wide open throttle, you’ll only get 700m/L, but you’ll have plenty of fun. It all depends on how much you like spending money at the bowser. The way that the Bar Crusher ate up the sub-metre

chop was impressive – the faster you went, the more the hull got on top

new hard top design kept the cabin warm and dry. There’s a lot to like in a rig like this, but I was particularly impressed with the lockable cabin, the dash that can flush-mount any of your electronics and be visible from where you’re fishing and the practicality of the transom

channel or by scanning the QR code hereby with your smartphone. Or better still, get in touch with the guys from Stones Corner Marine to check out this weapon of a rig yourself, they’re at www.

stonescornermarine.com. au and at Stones Corner

Marine on Facebook.

Like all boats, economy varies with how heavy you are on the stick. Drive this rig as fast as it will go and it will sting you with 700m/L performance. You’ll at least double the range at 3,000rpm and still travel at 41km/h.

Yamaha’s 300hp 4-stroke is an imposing piece of machinery. It’ll give you 1.6km/L at 3,000rpm and 41km/h.

How’s this for luxury? An Engel fridge/freezer that slides out from under the seat. No use having over 700km of range if you haven’t got a fridge.

As you’d expect, there’s enough cockpit space in the 780 to take all of your mates fishing. And most likely a few of their mates as well! The chequer plate deck is easy to clean and very practical for an offshore boat.

There’s a mile of visibility with Bar Crusher’s new Hard Top design and the forward-sliding windows allow the ventilation that you need in warmer climates. The helm is well laid out and there’s a lockable sliding cabin door. To keep your gear secure when you’re on the road. It also offers the family privacy if needed.

Top: Now that’s a bait board! There’s nothing worse than a cluttered bait station. Left: There’s both a fresh- and saltwater deck wash on the 780. The freshwater version has a 60L tank. Right: With folding rear ladder, transom door and non-cushioned rear lounge seat, egress from the boat is as easy as it gets.

Top Left: The cabin-fitted macerator toilet will make the weekends with the family more comfortable for everyone. Top Right: Although an option, I’d call the Stressfree anchor winch on this boat a necessity. Left: These are neat. They can caddy up to 4 rods, as well as your favourite lures along the side pockets. Right: There’s enough room in here for a day’s worth of live baits and the clear lid allows you to continuously assess their condition. JUNE 2018

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Cruise Craft 595EX with Yamaha F200 4-stroke - SC

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Main: At full cry, the Cruise Craft 595 looks, sounds and feels great. It’s what you’d expect from a premium Australian boat builder. And Cruise Craft have a sound relationship with Yamaha – the F200 is an ideal power plant for the type of fishing you’d do in this rig, delivering just under 1.9km/L at cruising speed. Above: Although the test day on Port Phillip Bay was glamorous, the rough water ability and quietness of the Cruise Craft hull is legendary. We can report that it goes well on flat water! the test boat was fitted with the maximum 200hp. At over 2t on the trailer, it’s not a light rig, however the F200 delivered maximum economy of 1.8km/L at 3600rpm and a comfortable cruising speed of 40km/h. Want to drive this rig flat out? No worries, it’ll give you a smooth 77km/h at 5900 rpm and 1km/L, so ease up on the throttle if you want less pain at the bowser.

Length.......................................................5.95m Length Overall..........................................6.35m Length on trailer.........................................7.5m Height with targa.....................................3.22m Height with screen..................................2.43m Tow weight............................................. 2100kg Beam.........................................................2.44m Transom deadrise........................................ 20° Transom height..............................................XL Max hp......................................................200hp Recommended hp................................... 175hp Capacity.......................................... Six persons Fuel............................................................. 190L JUNE 2018

important if you need to store your boat undercover in an area with limited height. Want to know more about this rig? You can watch the video review on YouTube on the Fishing Monthly Magazines

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If you’re a fan of Fishing Monthly boat tests, you may remember the test that Streaker Marine’s Sean Savage and I did on the $200,000 Cruise Craft 685HT. Powered by a 300hp Yamaha, it’s a dreamboat for plenty of anglers out there, and Sean has seen plenty of them roll out the door ever since. This time, we’re taking one of the smaller Cruise Craft models for a spin – the 585EX with a 200hp Yamaha. Built in Brisbane to exacting standards and factory fitted with motors and trailers, Cruise Craft boats have a reputation for quality and a price tag to match. Incidentally, the Cruise Craft factory also makes the Streaker boat brand now in Brisbane. This test is for Streaker Marine. It’s a small world in the boating industry. The 595EX (Explorer) is the third smallest and third largest fishing boat in the Cruise Craft range. Designed to run a 175hp outboard,

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

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made from scratch from the water up and it carries its beam a long way forward. That gives it the ability to stay on the plane at slower speeds, which helps while driving in rough water. When looking at the

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From bow to stern, the build and design quality is obvious and the boat rides quietly on the water. At the helm, there’s ample space for whatever suite of electronics you want to fit to be flush mounted. The helm seating is comfortable and designed to store coolers underneath. I’m a particular fan of the soft top fitted with a slide out sunshade, especially in northern climates where it’s virtually mandatory to fish undercover. The test boat was also fitted with clip-in carpet, which makes life easier at the wash-down stage, especially if you’ve had a busy day on the fish. Sean Savage has sold plenty of Cruise Craft packages and rates the 595EX as “The best bang for buck in the Cruise Craft range.” “And the resale value of these rigs is also amazing. The fact that everything is plush and factory-fitted

means that there’s ultimate confidence from both the dealers and the customers that everything is done right. We love selling them,” Savage continued. “What I also like about the hull design is that it was

RPM................... km/h.................... km/L 700............................5........................ 1.7 1000..........................7........................ 2.5 2000........................ 15........................ 1.9 3000........................ 24........................ 1.6 3600........................ 40........................ 1.8 4000........................ 45........................ 1.7 5000........................ 61........................ 1.3 5900........................ 77........................ 1.0 *As tested with a 17” S/S propeller differences between the base model price (packages start from low $90K) and the test boat ($111,850), a lot of the cost is made up of the stainless steel, factory-fitted folding Targa top. Erected, the boat’s height tops out at 3.22m, but folded down you can fit it into a garage with a 2.45m clearance. That’s

YouTube channel, or by scanning the QR code on the page hereby with your smartphone. For a face-to-face chat call into either Wynnum Marine (07) 3396 9777 www.wynnummarine.com. au; or, Townsville Marine (07) 4774 3777 www. townsvillemarine.com.au.

At wide-open throttle, like all boats, the economy drops. If you want to go 77km/h at 5900rpm, the fuel calculations become easy – you get 1km/L burned.

The 595 is supplied from the factory on an Australian built Easytow trailer with twin axles. Indeed, the whole boat/motor/trailer is factory rigged for the best in quality control.

There’s plenty of cockpit space and removable carpet to aid cleaning after a big day on the water.

Here’s the rear bench seat deployed. The mechanism is strong and neat to pack away.

You can store a few rods or gaffs in the side pocket as well as tackle in the bottom section.

This model comes with a sliding, lockable cabin door for privacy and security.

Now there’s a helm that’ll hold all the electronics you’ll want to put into a $100K+ boat. Cruise Craft cabins are always a combination of style and practicality. This one takes an optional toilet for a weekend away.

The 20° of deadrise at the transom and a 2.44m beam combine to offer good ride and stability at rest.

Cruise Craft’s bait stations have evolved over the years to this design, and it’s removable for family days.

The slide out shade option on the targa top is wonderfully practical and you can keep your excess rods out of the way above it.

The Stressfree electric anchor winch is bordering on a standard inclusion rather than an option. Once you’ve had one, you’ll never go back.

Cruise Craft’s Yamahas are factory fitted in Brisbane for the best in quality control. JUNE 2018

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A NEW ERA in FourStroke

The All New Mercury V-8 & V-6 175-300hp FourStroke Range The new era of revolutionary Mercury FourStrokes deliver unprecedented performance, reliability and efficiency, never before imagined in an outboard. Mercuryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s advanced design and engineering delivers best in class performance, with superior torque and faster acceleration in a smooth, compact, quiet and fuel-efficient package. With features previously not seen in an outboard including Advanced Range Optimisation (ARO), Transient Spark Technology, Adaptive Speed Control and Idle-Charge battery-management. The all new range of Mercury V-8 4.6L and V-6 3.4L 175-300hp are the only choice when considering high horsepower outboards. All round excellence. A performer in every situation.

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