Queensland Fishing Monthly - March 2015

GET READY FOR YOUR EASTER FISHING TRIP

Features

Beach fishing secrets • Is silence golden?

• TNQ freshwater fishing • Easter camping made easy •

NEW

Find the VMC logo SEE INSIDE! COMP

Tried and Tested

How-To

Mackerel swim bait rig • Pirtek Challenge tips • What’s all that Chirp about?

• Improved Bristol knot

Mako G2H5 lenses • ATC Valiant SW spinning reels • Haines Signature 650F Hard Top • Mojo 4m tiller steer

•

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March, 2015 Fishing Monthly G R O U P

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Alastair Vanstan caught this impressive 33kg, 1.5 metre mulloway on a Black Magic 8/0 Gummy Snatcher rig while fishing the Far West Coast of South Australia.

This 10.5kg red emperor was landed by Ben Ellison on Black Magic 60lb Supple Trace while fishing North East of 1770.

Kent Walker landed this maori cod using Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace fishing over the Great Sandy Straight Bar.

These two fine snapper, weighing 3.8kg and 4kg, were landed by Steven Azzopardi in Port Philip Bay on a Black Magic KL 5/0 hook.

Black Magic 60lb Tough Trace was used by Adam Epifanis to catch this excellent cobia while fishing from Forster.

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YOUR PHOTO COULD APPEAR IN OUR ADS! If we use your photo in our advertising you will receive a FREE BLACK MAGIC CAP AND PRIZE! Include your name, address, fish weight, where you caught it and which Black Magic or Wasabi products were used. Send a high resolution image to: photos@blackmagic.co.nz

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March 2015, Vol. 29 No. 5

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

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Ballina 24 Iluka 26 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Tweed Heads 28 Southern Gold Coast 30 Gold Coast Canals 32 Gold Coast 34 Jumpinpin 36 Southern Bay 38 Brisbane 40 Brisbane Offshore 42 Northern Bay 44 Caloundra 46 Noosa 48 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Rainbow Beach 50 Hervey Bay 50 Fraser Coast 52 Bundaberg 53 Lake Monduran 54 Gladstone 57 Rockhampton 58 Yeppoon 59 Mackay 60 Stanage Bay 63 TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

From the Editor’s Desk...

A lot has happened politically since the last issue. The Queensland state election was called, disputed and finally decided. Just before we went to print, Labor was announced as our new government.

So what are the expected outcome for recreational anglers? There were a few Labor promises that we’ll be following closely to make sure that they follow through and if they make a minority government with the KAP, then expect some net-free areas on the Fitzroy River, Seaforth and Trinity Inlet.

More details on this in the next issue.

BE ON THE COVER This issue’s cover pic is the first of three in the next three months (March, April, May) that feature YOUR images. We’ve been running

the details in the magazines for the past few months and have had plenty of great entries (see page 90).

Best of all, there’s still time to get your entries in.

Make sure that it’s portrait format, crisp and sent to us at the highest resolution you can (frontcovercomp@ fishingmonthly.com.au) and you’ll be in the running.

We send a block-mounted copy to each of the winners, so there’s a lasting souvenir of your superhuman fishing abilities!

TIME TO GO CAMPING The Easter long weekend is a traditional time to pack up the family or mates and head out into the wilderness – or at the very least the local campground. We do it, we love it and even when it’s nasty weather we wouldn’t miss it for quids.

So we’ve compiled some ideas about how you can

pimp your campsite a little and make it a little more comfortable. We hope that you find a few of the ideas and products interesting – from cool LED lighting systems to the luxury of hot showers while camping.

STAY TUNED FOR NEW PRODUCTS There’s a couple of product launches in the outboard motor world in late February – just after the deadlines for the March magazines – but make sure you stay tuned for news about the Yamaha F130 HP and something from Mercury Marine that we’re in the dark about at the time we went to print. # m e r c u r y u n l e a s h e d if you’re impatient and hashtag-savvy or follow the action daily on the Fishing Monthly Magazines Facebook page – with links to all releases and videos.

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SAYONARA, LIVO! After nearly 10 years selling ads into Queensland Fishing Monthly, our most experienced advertising rep, Greg Livingstone is off to try his hand at being a tackle sales representative with Rapala in the south east of the state.

Good luck with the new challenge, Mr Livingstone – all of us at Fishing Monthly wish you well. And of course, we expect lots of cheap Rapalas in the future!

Get some insider info into the new Verado 350/400hp outboards.

Whitsundays 66 Ayr 68 Townsville 69 Lucinda 70 Hinchinbrook 71 Cairns 72 Port Douglas 72 Karumba 73 Cape York 73

Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

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

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Qld Fishing Monthly Pty Ltd ABN 72-010-542-195 All material is © copyright, and cannot be reproduced in part or in full, by any means, without written permission of the Managing Editor. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher.

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Production: Melissa Carroll, Karen Millward, Jenna Moir

Lachlan Gutter landed this 57cm mangrove jack on 6lb braid and 6lb leader! Just over the border in the Richmond River.

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MARCH 2015

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SPECIAL FEATURES

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Boating 106 Back to Basics 20 Camping and 4WD 88 Cooking 100 Dam Levels 76 Flyfishing 80 Freshwater 76 Fun Page 101 Kayak 90 Sheik 74 Sunfish 81 Suntag 64 Tournament News 94 Tech Tricks 18 What’s New in Boating 104 What’s New in Fishing 96

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Beach fishing secrets: Going the extra mile BRISBANE

Sean Thompson

There is an old saying in business, professional sport or life generally, that those who go the extra mile are most likely to succeed.

Fishing is no different.

There is a long-held belief that 10% of the anglers catch 90% of the fish. The 10%, in my view, may have increased to 12-15%, with widespread access to online information, magazines such as Queensland Fishing Monthly, better GPS and sounder technology,

environment. This article shares some of the lesserknown secrets of beach fishing, many of which simply involve going the extra mile.

GUTTERS AND LANDSCAPE Much has been written on what to look for in terms of holes, channels, gutters and spits. This article aims to focus on some of the finer details around the gutters and associated beach and landscape.

Hint 1: Sand/beach formations Let’s say you arrive after dark at your beach fishing

on. It happens to us every year at Fraser; people see you fishing at night, so decide to shine their high beam on your gutter to check it out.

What, then, do you look for at night? There are a couple of giveaways regarding what is a good deep gutter that may contain mulloway, tailor, bream and the like. Firstly, on narrower beaches you will often come across a steep incline in the sand from the dune to the water. This is a telltale giveaway of deep water in front of you.

Another hint when arriving at night is to avoid

there is a good chance you have a hole or gutter in front of you.

to lower light from bright daylight a lot quicker than other fish that frequent the

Hint 3: Gutters for different species While deep, long

At night, look for steep shelving beaches like this, and broken waves.

Before: This low tide gutter gives an indication of where to cast as the tide rises, right onto the sandbar and retrieving back into deeper water.

After: The gutter turned on some hot action with 35-40cm whiting at high tide. improved lures, lighter lines, but whatever the number the fact is that certain people catch more fish. Why? Some fishos are prepared to go the extra mile by studying their targeted species, planning for trips, tying better knots, putting more effort into making rigs, or just taking more notice of their fishing 12

MARCH 2015

destination, either by 4WD along a beach such as Fraser or Double Island, or via foot from a nearby parked car.

How do you tell where the gutters are? Well firstly, don’t shine your 4WD lights or headlamp on the water. This will spook the fish instantly and you will have a long wait before they come back

use of light so your pupils adapt to the darkness. By doing that, you will soon be able to make out wave movement and whether they are breaking on a sandbar out wide, breaking continuously in shallow water, or passing over a deeper hole. If the waves are interrupted, forming but not breaking,

Third, the presence of ‘whooptie doos’ or large corrugations in the sand can also mean (though not always) that the beach will shelve away to deeper water.

Finally, the beach directly in front of a closed lake often has a good formation. This is due to water seeping under the sand from the water at the end of the lake weakening the sand formation out front.

The waves then carve out a consistent gutter. Coila Beach on the NSW south coast is the perfect example of this.

Remember too, that a great gutter on low tide might be too hard to reach on high tide. And vice versa — a good high tide gutter may be too drained of water at low tide. Look too, for entry and exit points to the gutter.

If there are both — perfect!

And most of all, don’t be afraid to move between gutters as the tide changes.

Hint 2: The shadow effect Those who live or have swum at Surfers Paradise would know about this. It gets to 4pm in winter and the shadows from the nearby high-rise apartments invade the beach, then the water.

You can use this to good effect when chasing tailor at places like Narrowneck on the Gold Coast.

But there is also a natural phenomenon that occurs at beaches with high sand dunes such as Fraser, Moreton and Stradbroke islands. If you look for a gutter with a high dune at the back, you can be pretty confident the fish, if around, will bite earlier in that gutter than those elsewhere without one. Why? Shadows on the gutter mean fish like tailor will start hunting earlier, as it is commonly believed that a tailor’s eyesight adapts

surf zone. Tailor use this to their advantage when feeding. Their big eyes catch a lot of light and they can see quite well just a short time after darkness has fallen. In addition, sunlit clear green water also leaves fish exposed to attack from seabirds and they will stay out in deeper water until they

gutters may be good for tailor, mulloway and bream, shallower, thinner gutters can be better for whiting. Also, if after whiting, look for those relatively shallow gutters with a shore beach break.

This will expose worms and pipis right near the shore.

The secret is to stand well back from the water, cast and

A Duel Adagio 125 heavy casting lure with 2 fish at once! feel conditions are safe. If you pick a shadowed gutter with a back bank within casting distance, then all the better as wave action on the outer bank will throw a nice foam cover over the deeper green water between you and the fish.

retrieve into the spot, or lob a slighter heavier sinker (4 ball) just behind the wash zone and let the fish find it.

TACKLE, ADD-ONS AND BERLEY Hint 4: Berley for better results Berley is often put into

the too hard basket for beach fishing, or considered ineffective given how much water there is. However, there are a couple of tricks you can use depending on the conditions.

Berley can be effective provided it is used in the right amounts and right gutters, sweep and swell. Too much and you will over-feed

A very effective berley from the beach with a small swell is a bucket of the following mix. Add a packet of unprocessed bran, some tuna oil, wet sand and stir.

This is best mixed with a large stick, unless you want to smell like tuna oil yourself!

You can also use a cup to disperse it. The advantage of this mix is it will leave a trail

sand and water in a bucket.

Allow the pellets to mash up first and not overfeed the fish.

The secret in both circumstances is to throw a few handfuls out to begin with, then another 2 handfuls every 5 minutes or so, making sure you keep up the flow, even if you are catching fish. Another effective berley technique is the use of

The third mulloway in 3 days at Fraser on a lumo bead rig. They’re worth a try. the fish; too much sweep or swell and the berley will take the fish elsewhere.

in the water, but will not fill the fish up. An alternative is pre-packaged aniseed pellets,

diced pilchards into a gutter aimed at tailor and bream.

When the fish aren’t thick,

this technique can actually draw fish into the gutter if you send a small but regular stream out into the rip.

A further berley technique less used in Queensland is use of a berley cage. This is quite a heavy contraption to carry, even in a 4WD. A less obtrusive technique is to peg a stink bag full of fish frames to the edge of the wash. The action of the waves will break off little pieces and attract the likes of whiting, bream and dart to the shore break.

Hint 5: Beach rig add-ons The addition of a small piece of red tubing or beads just above the hook is a widely known whiting attractant. Such tubing/beads can be purchased for about $2 at your local tackle shop.

A tip to refine this rig is actually to trim the tubing down to small pieces of about 1cm. Adding 3 or 4 of these and a red bead makes the bait stand out in the sand, but also when the whiting/bream/ flathead picks the bait up, they won’t feel the weight of a long single piece of tubing just above the hook, which might be enough to make them drop the bait.

Soft lumo beads are another useful rig add-on for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they can be used to help prevent rig breakage. Placed between the swivel and

the sinker, these soft beads cushion the impact of the sinker against the knot on the swivel with continuous casting. A second use is the lumo beads can be placed just above the bait and charged so that they glow by the use of a torch or headlamp at night (keeping the light off the water you are fishing of course). This seems to make a difference, as experienced at Fraser Island last year by our Ontour Fishing Club with mulloway captures.

Hint 6: Surf poppers and flies Another rig more common down south than Queensland are dropper rigs with surf poppers and flies attached. These can be added in a combination with a surf popper and fly on droppers, and a ganged pilchard either at the end of the rig, or on another dropper if using a paternoster rig and a star sinker. These rigs need a strong leader of about 50lb fluorocarbon to handle a couple of fish potentially fighting in different directions on the end of the line. These rigs are best ‘sit and wait’ rigs if using a star sinker, or simply to avoid tangles. They do work and can be a lot of fun if you catch 2 or 3 fish at once on them. The other advantage is if you feel a hit but miss it, keep the rig out there

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as tailor and salmon often come back and hit the fly or popper next if they hit the bait first. The addition of S-Factor or Pro-Cure mullet flavoured attractant seems to make them all the more alluring!

Hint 7: Go light for some fun with lures!

Beach fishing in Queensland has long been associated with cane rods, then fibreglass rods, and the tough as nails Alvey reels.

We still use them and love them, as they continue to serve us well. But in recent years the growth of graphite rods has seen a few of my mates and I use 11-12’ graphite sticks (such as the Lox 12’ Surf or Daiwa Lateo), 2000-2500 spinning reels, and some Duel Adagio lipless casting lures (in the 105 or 125 heavy) when the tailor action is good.

These rods are much lighter and easier on the back if you want to walk down from your beach house or camping spot and fish gutter-to-gutter.

They are perfectly suited to casting the brilliant new lures made by Duel or Duo. In fact, this combo is so effective that in our group of 10 (plus those who invite themselves into our gutters) at Fraser for the past 2 years, the Duel Adagio To page 14

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13

From page 13

lures have out-fished bait and metal lures in quite amazing fashion at times.

However, they are best used when there is not too much swell or chopped up water, otherwise we will revert to the fly/popper rig or just bait. We always carry both the graphite/spinning combo and the fibreglass rods and Alveys on our trips.

distance between gutters?

Want some good exercise while you’re at it? Then a beach bike might be the answer for you. Bikes such as the Surly Moonlander have wide, thick tyres that act like a deflated 4WD tyre in that the wider tread provides better traction in the sand. They are a breeze at low tide, but even at high tide you can get along quite

Throw a little basket on the back, the rod across the bars, and you are set!

They allow you to travel large distances between gutters, which you might not otherwise have done on foot. The downside is that they are expensive — 4 figures expensive — but a great investment if your favourite beach doesn’t allow 4WD access.

A couple of beach bikes in action at South Straddie.

BEACH FISHING EXTRAS Hint 8: Beach bike Don’t have a 4WD, but want to cover a lot of

easily if you can find some dry, crusty sand closer to the dune edge and the wind is not blowing a gale in your face.

Hint 9: Beach fishing accessories Being more mobile can mean more fish. Apart from your type of transport,

there is a range of beach fishing accessories that will make fishing both more enjoyable and productive.

These include shoulder bags (the Alvey Deluxe has everything you need), bait bucket, belt and rod holder, headlamp, ruler, knife, small tackle boxes, rigs, lures, and an Alvey dry pack for your phone/keys and so on. If you don’t have a bull bar, you can also use the New Alvey rod racks or magnetic Rodlok rod holders on your 4WD or car.

Hint 10: Photochromic sunglasses A set of good Polaroid sunglasses will help you spot beach gutter edges and sand patches amongst weed and melon holes in the estuaries.

I have been wearing a pair of photochromic Spotters sunglasses for 6 months now, and have been amazed by the difference in still being able to spot formations in very overcast or low light conditions. Under such conditions in the past, I could not make out the same formations at places like the western side of Fraser Island.

This means more fish such as whiting when wading the flats. Basically, photochromic eyewear is fitted with lenses that adjust — go lighter or darker — according to your environment and the conditions.

CONCLUSION Beach fishing is one of life’s simple pleasures; the sound of waves crashing on the sand, and feeling the

article will allow you to go the extra mile and get better beach fishing results.

• If you’d like to read more unique fishing tips

The shadow effect in action. Plenty of fish came out of the gutter just in front before dark, while other fishers remained fishless in their sun-drenched gutter nearby. sand and surf between your toes washing away your troubles. But, like anything, success on the beach comes with planning, preparation, and knowing a few secrets on how to put it all together.

Hopefully, the secrets in this

and reports from all around Queensland, check out my family-friendly virtual fishing club page w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m . a u / ontourfishingclub. Until next time, bag your mates – not your limit!

G N I H T Y EVERFOR THE BEACH

REmoQUreESinfTo

POST TO OR VISIT

LIA ALVEY REELS AUSTRA QLD 4300 P.O Box 105 GOODNA www.alvey.com.au

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Visit www.alvey.com.au - To view full range of rods, reels and beach accessories 14

MARCH 2015

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Is silence golden?

HERVEY BAY

Mark Bargenquast

How many times have you been told, “Be quiet, the fish will hear you.” Or,

give a few accounts of my experiences and ideas on the subject of noise on the water while fishing.

Certainly noise and vibration have a major role in a fish’s everyday

are a classic example of this, as they can hone in on a struggling fish from a great distance, and quite quickly I must add.

Right next to me here in the living room, I have a pet

This is definitely no place for noise — dead calm water and spooky fish like this nice bonefish caught by Murray Smith. pretty impressive. Along with barra, Australian bass and a few peacock bass, jacks are by far the most alert fish you can keep.

They soon learn when it’s feeding time. Seeing

me approach the tank with a handful of prawns or herring, he gets pretty active. I have, on a few occasions, crept up to the tank and dropped a couple of live herring in while

he was swimming on the other side of the main snag, but as soon as the baitfish began to rattle down in the water column, he was onto it, even though he couldn’t see them. There’s a lesson

Saratoga can hear a loud surface fly from quite a distance away.

“Don’t drop that in the boat.” Like me, probably quite a few times. In this article, I will try to

life. Predators can feel vibrations of prey and prey obviously feel predators coming their way. Sharks

30cm mangrove jack in a 2m tank. He’s the third jack I’ve kept as a pet; the largest grew to 54cm and was

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This snapper was caught in the middle of the day, after the stereo was cranked up to full noise. Was it the vibration that produced the bite?

8/01/2015 6:39 am

here; he could hear and feel them moving erratically.

The recent popularity in soft vibe lures is most certainly in the ‘vibe’ action. As you lift the lure, this certainly attracts fish, as they seem to hone in on this and bite ‘on the drop’ as the lure sinks back down.

Obviously these lures have no noise; the fish sense them and they work well in dirty and deep water.

Just like those live herrings in my tank!

We spend a lot of time fishing in the Mary River and the Great Sandy Straits for big threadfin salmon.

Finding them in shallow gutters and drains, they can be seen actively hunting bait and are easy to approach, sometimes as close as 5m.

I originally fished from a little 4.1 Polycraft, 4-stroke outboard and electric motor up front, as it was a super quiet vessel, but after upgrading to a small plate alloy boat, I was frustrated as I couldn’t get within 50m of these fish. You could actually see them slink off into deeper water as we approached!

It didn’t take long for

never spent enough time with it and sold the boat not long after. Now I have a big Fusion stereo mounted in my centre console, I plug in the iPod and really crank up some tunes, and anything with a hard beat to it seems to get fish active. On a dead still winter’s day, having the stereo cranking seems to bring snapper to the boat, but is this a coincidence or can they hear the vibrations?

I have caught too many fish using this tactic to write it off as a ‘maybe’. It works, especially with the barra in the river.

Pelagics such as tuna, queenfish, mackerel and trevally are other species that can be attracted to sound, as long as it’s the right one. How many times have you approached a school of feeding tuna, only to have them disappear just out of casting range — frustrating isn’t it? Try approaching from upwind of the school and not only does it improve your casting distance with the wind at your back, but a boat idling in with the waves is much quieter than one punching into them. Just come in

they? I wouldn’t have a boat without one, but they are noisy underwater. When guiding clients in shallow water on golden trevally with fly tackle where you must get close for a cast, we could actually see the fish holding at a distance from the boat. The harder you pushed the electric, the faster the fish would swim away. They can certainly hear it, so I’d stop the electric and the fish’s body language would change and they would happily start tailing on the yabby bank again.

Another classic example occurred recently.

I was sitting on a school

of 20 odd barra, anchored on the side of the hole, while a mate I called in was sitting out in the current with his electric motor holding him bow first into the tide. We were all casting deep divers and plastics over the fish, but watching them on the sounder they were hugging the bottom and very inactive. My mate dropped off with frustration and worked his way downstream, but almost instantly the fish rose off the bottom and we got bites.

Interestingly, as soon as the electric returned (after seeing us land fish!) the barra went back into stealth mode and hugged

the bottom, refusing to bite.

I’ve heard some old game boat skippers talk about ‘fishy’ boats that catch more than others, possibly due to different engine/propeller noise or vibrations. Most anglers trolling for billfish work a spread of lures and/ or teasers to create as much noise and splash as possible to attract fish from afar.

On the flip side of all this, certain species like mulloway and bream — species that can be easily spooked — certainly don’t need excess noise to create interest. Dead calm water is a very tough time to approach them. We used to catch a few nice mulloway

off a local boat ramp at night, but if a boat launched or returned, the fish would disappear for a good hour before they showed again.

Even when walking the bank, fish can feel hard footsteps. The humble freshwater mullet is a classic example. As a kid we used to stalk them along my grandfather’s property’s creek. Sneaking in close to the big mullet as they grazed on algae, we would stomp our feet and the fish would tear off like scalded cats. They could feel the vibration no worries at all.

So go play a few heavy songs and see if your catches improve!

Electric motors allow for a stealthy approach, but how quiet are they really? the penny to drop; they could hear the tiny wave slap against the hull. I took a mate’s Poly out and we were on them again. I’m not knocking alloy boats, but in this circumstance it was a case of quieter the better. Possibly my father’s lectures years before had some truth in them after all?

HydroWave is the latest electronic gadgetry designed to imitate the underwater sounds baitfish and predators make. I fitted one to my last boat and they attracted bull sharks right up close, so it can certainly be heard, I guess, but I

slow; there’s no need to roar straight in at 100km/h like some anglers do, as this only puts the school down.

Remember the second paragraph where I wrote predators could feel prey and prey can feel predators coming? Just think what the push of a boat hull would feel like to a tuna — possibly the world’s biggest shark! No wonder an aggressive approach spooks them.

Electric motors are a great invention, brilliant for positioning a boat, Spot Lock in the current and so on, but how quiet are

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17

Tech Tricks

Mackerel swim bait rig BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the next few months, anglers will notice an increase in the presence of Spanish mackerel throughout the waters of South East Queensland. From Hervey Bay to the Gold Coast, there are numerous renowned areas where Spanish mackerel are readily taken.

While trolling minnow lures and bibless offerings can be especially effective, there is no denying that a quality fresh rigged troll bait can produce a better quality Spaniard.

Additionally, it will often produce results when the bite is tough, especially in hard-fished areas. Many people shy away from this type bait presentation, as they believe it is difficult or time consuming to rig a swim bait. In fact, it is very easy once you know how and have the correct rig.

Over the years, I have rigged a lot of baits using different techniques. Some of these include skipping gar and slimies, swimming split-tail

mullet and numerous Aussie swim bait rigs. Additionally, I have tried a heap of variations on these basic rigging methods for numerous baits and also rigged tuna belly flap and flying fish teaser rigs. Some of these rigs are very simple and others a degree more difficult. However, putting that bait in the water and having it swim well, and then having a hungry predator annihilate it, is reward in itself.

Basic swim baits can utilise species such as gar, mullet, pike, longtom, wolf herring, barbwire queenfish, tarpon, small tunas, bonito, rainbow runners, finny scad, scaly mackerel, cowanyoung, slimey mackerel, yakkas and numerous others.

Basically, almost any species of fish can be made to swim enticingly providing it is rigged with a suitable placement of weight and hook combination.

Obviously, hook placement is especially important. Baits targeted at some species, such as billfish and large tunas, will only require a hook in the head as they will engulf and swallow the entire bait. However, species such as Spanish mackerel and wahoo will initially immobilised their prey by snipping off the tail

2

Lay the rig beside the bait to ascertain the penetration point for each hook. If you do not have good hook coverage you may need to add another hook to the rig. Often this rear hook is not inserted into the bait if it is just a fraction too long but as a minimum you will need to have a hook right near the tail of the bait.

section; therefore you will need to have hooks right along the length of the bait for maximum hook-up potential.

Larger baits will generally require more weight to keep them under the water and make them swim well and larger hooks to increase hook-up potential.

With many rigging methods (which we will explore more in later articles) the gill plates and mouth on most baits will need to be stitched shut and the eyes removed to stop the bait blowing apart with water pressure when trolled. However with the method we are using today this is not required.

This rig is commonly called a chin guard rig due to the first commercially made rig of this type being the Chinguard, which was produced by Tropical Lures. Similar rigs are these days distributed by Surecatch, Citer, Brad Job (Aussie Jigs), Headstart and Tackle Tactics as well as numerous other commercially made and cottage industry brands. Some of these come ready rigged with hooks and others are just a head, which naturally require you to add hooks.

1

Choosing which rig to use for your bait can be a personal choice but will generally depend on the size of the bait being used (number and size of hooks) and the amount of weight required to present your offering in the relevant depth and current.

I like my hooks to pivot individually (which decreases torn hooks and increases hooking potential) so I use my own hook rig using swivels between each hook, usually made with VMC 9255 and Shogun rolling swivels. The addition of a piano wire leader will decrease bite offs from large Spaniards and wahoo.

As previously mentioned, there are numerous baits

3

Making sure the chin weight is in line with the head as shown, insert the rear hook at the position that coincides with the rear of the hook bend. Do the same for the next hook in front of this (and so on if you have multiple hooks) until all hooks are set in the bait.

that can be rigged to swim, however the ones that best suit the chin weight style rigs for chasing mackerel will include garfish, pike, wolf herring, longtom, sauries and other long thin fish species. I have even successfully used large grinners to catch Spaniards on this rig.

You can stop over deep sounder showings and allow the bait to sink down, before

again motoring off. Generally you troll these baits between 3-5 knots, depending on current. Adjust the boat speed whilst initially trolling the bait boat-side to ascertain it swims well and also to work out a suitable troll speed to get the best action out of it. Today we will use a pike for our chin weight rig, which are relatively easy to catch locally and work well for Spanish mackerel.

4

Push the spikes of the chin weight into the chin area of the pike and centrally up through the head so the head of the bait sits in the recess of the chin weight.

7

5

It is fairly important that the spikes are centrally placed through the head to ensure the bait swims well. You can cut the spikes shorter if you want but when leaving them full length, make sure they are straight and in line with each other.

6

Using a standard thin rubber band, loop one end over the spike. The clear elastic hair bands that girls use for hair ties will work exceptionally well and I usually use these but they didn’t show up well enough in the images to use for this demonstration.

Wrap the band around the head multiple times until the head of the bait is secured to the chin weight before passing the loop back over the spike. Repeat with the second spike. This will ensure the mouth of the bait remains closed when the bait is trolled and decreases the chance of water pressure blowing apart the bait.

10

8

The completed bait should look something like this. Removal of the baits eyes can make it swim better at times but I usually don’t do this with pike. A piano wire (single strand hi-tensile wire) leader is generally added to the towing eyelet.

18

MARCH 2015

9

Press along the backbone area fairly firmly to break the meat away from the backbone and separate the vertebrae. You will often feel a little pop or crack as you do this with quality fresh baits. Pressing and bending the bait in a snake like fashion will make it more flexible and supple, which increases the action whilst swimming.

You can rig freshly caught baits before freezing them so they are ready to go when you are. If you cryovac the rigged bait it will increase freezer life and decrease the chance of freezer burn.

Some baits can be defrosted and refrozen but many will get to soft and not last long when trolled so try and keep them frozen until just before you need them.

Baits rigged in this fashion are dynamite on Spanish mackerel and several other species. As you can now determine, chin weight rigs are easy so give one a go next time you go after a Spaniard.

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Sticking it to whiting on top NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

In the concluding instalment of his two-part primer on the basics of topwater luring for yellowfin, sand or silver whiting, Starlo examines the rise of the stickbait, and also lifts the lid on some tricky twists for hooking more of these great fish.

Last month in this column, I outlined the basics of surface or topwater fishing for sand

action, with the lure bobbing, weaving and zig-zagging from side to side. Each brand and model of stick bait requires a slightly different retrieve to achieve its best action, but the basic method is to constantly crank the reel handle at a slow to medium pace while bouncing or flicking the rod tip with a regular, mechanical cadence, rather like one of those metronomes musicians use to maintain the beat.

You can either angle the rod down towards the water (best when standing on the

Assist hooks aren’t perfect. Here, the forces exerted during a torrid encounter with a stud whiting have pulled one hook free of its cord (the unconnected hook is just visible in the fish’s mouth). Luckily, the second hook held! and sucking noisily at a fleeing prawn, while stickbaits mimic the prawn itself. Poppers rely on an ‘uneducated’ or fired-up fish tracking the sound to its source and then not stopping to question why the phantom predator and its prey have suddenly

Starlo has taken to retrofitting most of his surface stickbaits with tiny, needle-sharp assist hooks when targeting whiting and bream.

This move definitely increases hook-ups!

The characteristic ‘zig-zag’ wake of a well-presented surface stickbait.

These lures do their best work in calmer conditions such as these. and yellowfin whiting, mainly using small, cup-faced poppers.

I explained that this was one of the deadliest and most exciting new forms of southern estuary fishing to come along in the last decade or so.

In that column, I also touched briefly on the use of ‘walk-the-dog’ style surface stickbaits, but promised to tell you more about them this month, as well as sharing some other advances in topwater whiting fishing.

So, here we go!

To be honest, these days I hardly ever use poppers for whiting unless the water is badly chopped up by wind. Today, I much prefer to throw floating stickbaits. In the places where I fish, bigger whiting (which are quite old fish) have now seen a lot of poppers, and I find they can be rather suspicious of them. Stickbaits are more subtle and sneaky and seem able to go on catching these more ‘educated’ whiting season after season.

The trick with surface stickbaits lies in achieving that deadly walk-the-dog 20

MARCH 2015

deck of a boat) or upwards at 45° (when wading or sitting in a kayak). You’ll need to experiment a little to get it right but when you

do, you’ll know!

My theory is that cup-faced poppers provide a sonic imitation of another whiting or bream slurping

The moment of truth as a stud whiting chases a topwater stickbait!

A typical assist hook-up. This tenuous (but successful) connection would most likely have been just another missed hit on a standard treble hook.

merged into one small dollop of plastic. However, as already mentioned, I’m increasingly finding that this particular deception is no longer as effective as it once was. By representing the prey item itself, 50-85mm stickbaits have given topwater whiting (and bream) fishing a whole new lease on life.

The other big breakthrough for me this past season has been the adoption of small, wickedly sharp ‘assist’ hooks, rigged to dangle from the tail of my stick bait. These little singles on their short droppers have significantly increased my hook-up rate, especially on more hesitant or uncommitted whiting (and bream) that might only make one quick nip at the back of the lure before fading from sight.

I began by using Ecogear’s replacement hook sets for their brilliant ZX series of metal blades.

These are superb bits of

kit, but a tad expensive, and also prone to an occasional failure when the non-eyed, flatted shank hooks pull free of their connection knot or snell.

So, I’ve begun making my own. I’m damned if I can find hooks quite as good as the ones Ecogear use in their ZX replacement kits, but I’m getting close, and definitely hooking more whiting than I did back in my treble-only days.

Like all forms of modern sport fishing, I’m sure that targeting topwater whiting will continue to evolve over coming seasons. But the one thing that won’t change is the incredible thrill of seeing a lit-up, elbow-slapper of a whiting streak up from the bottom to climb all over your dancing surface lure! If you haven’t tried it yet, you really need to, and the good news is that there’s still enough time (and warm water) left this year to have a crack!

The improved Bristol knot has added bonus BRISBANE

Kim Bain

The Improved Bristol knot, which is the subject of this month’s back-tobasics, provokes interesting discussion.

As mentioned last month, when tied correctly, the Bristol Knot out-tests all the various ‘improved’ Albright ‘specials’. As you would expect, the Improved Bristol Knot (IBK) out-tests the Bristol Knot, however, it also out-tests the mainline.

The IBK is arguably more reliable in out-testing its ‘teammate’ the Bimini knot (the Bimini knot constructs the double). Therefore the interesting debate is: do you really need the Improved Bristol Knot, especially if, all other things being equal, the line is always going to break somewhere along the mainline?

I always conclude that when using long doubles, the IBK can come in handy if you have a skilled angler and the appropriate tackle set (which includes an overbuilt rod).

In some tournaments, the fish can be released as soon as the swivel hits the rod tip and\or the wireman gets his hand on the leader.

Accordingly, if a long double is being used, then at that point the angler who is using the long double should have a few wraps of the double line on the reel. At this juncture the singular mainline is no longer in the fight and an increase in pressure can be applied to the fish through the doubled mainline i.e. the double. This can be used to help out in controlling the fish at the side of the boat for release. So there is a use, albeit limited and specific, for the IBK. One major advantage of the Bristol Knot and its improved version is that they can be tied very quickly even when at sea in rough highexcitement conditions.

A caveat: Some braids have a very slippery surface and the Bristol will need more wraps than normal in order for there to be enough surface area for your knot to grip. Hence it pays to tie a few ‘testers’ when matching braids and\or leaders of a combination that you have not used previously.

*

Start the Improved Bristol Knot as you would start the Bristol Knot (Refer to QFM February 2015 issue).

IMPROVED BRISTOL KNOT Bimini

Step 1

1

First, tie a Bimini in your main line to give yourself a long double loop. Note that the double loop at this to hook/lure point is at itsStep actual 1 finished length and it will Step 2 shorter when not get any the Bristol is tied.

IMPROVED BRISTOL KNOT twist

IMPROVED BRISTOL KNOT

leader

main Bimini line

er ead 1 lStep

twist

a double loople

der to hook/lure lea

Bimini Bimini twist twist double loop

Bimini twist

Step 2 end IMPROVED BRISTOL KNOT totag hook/lure

main line

der main line

double loop

Bimini leader a fingertip inside the double will keep the loop open twist Bimini Step 2 1 Step tag end twist main Step 3 r e line d a fingertip inside the double will keep the loop open lea leader leader pinch with fingertips to hook/ tag end tag end lure Step 3 double loop hook/lure a fingertip thefinger double will around keep theyou loop open Insert the leaderto(aka shock leader) helps to keep inside your index hooked start tyingwith this knot.

Then wrap the tag end pinch fingertips Bimini twist main line snug the knot and trim the tag end Bimini BRISTOL KNOT leader tag end Step 4throughIMPROVED the loop that has been formed the leader to maintain the loop (or pinch the 5-7 times up along and around the doubled line when twist (i.e. wrap it upwards towards the Bimini knot). by the Bimini to hook/ Step 2in tying the double. It leader and the end of the loop together) Bimini leader Step lure1 Bimini twist main line snug the knot and trim the tag end twist Step 4 main pinch with fingertips tag end leader line der leader lea tag end Bimini twist main line snug the knot and trim the tag end Step 4 3 a fingertipdouble insideloop the double will keep the loop open leader to hook/lure leader Bimini to hook/ twist Step lure2

Step 3 leader to hook/ lure

2 3

pinch with fingertips

tag end leader

tag Bimini Then twistpass the leader’s main line snug the and thewraps tag end Pinch theStep braided the end of knot wraps.

Fivetrim or six in each direction tag end back through\ 4 double line(s) and leader together Step 3at the top of the wraps is the gold-plated standard for this knot. In between the bottom loop (as held open by your a fingertip inside thematerials, double will loop finger) open – ensure that the leader’s tag end of leader.leader Then wrap the leader’s tag fact, sometimes in some tyingkeep moretheindex end backleader down around the previous wraps can make the knot too complex, which goes through the bottom loop in the opposite wraps\twists for the same number risks the outcome of the end product. direction to that which it entered. to hook/ lure pinch with fingertips

tag end Step 4

snug the knot and trim the tag end

Bimini twist

main line

leader

4

Snug the knot by moistening the lines with saliva and pulling on both the standing part of the leader and the double line to

tighten the knot. The tag end should be protruding at around about a 90º angle – trim the tag end and you’ve finished the Improved Bristol Knot.

Please note, it can take a lot of applied force to cinch down any of the Bristol knots, so it is advised you have gloves on both hands!

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My last cast from the Richmond River area BALLINA

Tristan Sloan tris.sloan@gmail.com

This month is the best time of year to hook a pelagic from the local rocks. If you have your sights set on catching a tuna or mackerel with your feet firmly anchored on solid ground, then you will be seeing a lot of sunrises.

If you put in enough effort though, you will be rewarded.

I know the local boaties will be haunting the shallow reefs this month with a single-minded focus on mackerel, but there is something very special about catching the same fish off the rocks.

Local hotspots include our north and south walls, Iron Peg, and the platforms

of Broken Head and Cape Byron. Goanna Headland at Evans Head is also a popular spot. Be warned though; many of these ledges are closely guarded secrets and you will need to do a bit of exploration — both on foot and with Google Earth — to find appropriate spots to fish.

The inshore garfish run is the catalyst for these pelagics coming within casting range, and by the

When the swell gets up, find a safe spot and spin the walls for mulloway. time you read this it should be in full swing. Depending on the amount of time I have up my sleeve, I prefer to live bait, but if I can only squeeze in a quick session I am happy to high-speed spin.

This isn’t complicated, and involves throwing a variety of stickbaits, poppers, metal lures and hardbodies about.

A spin outfit of around 10’ rated at 10-15kg, with

The offshore fishos’ prize this month; a thumping Spanish mackerel.

a suitable reel holding at least 300m of 15kg braid is perfect. Make sure your reel has a fast retrieve; 6:2:1 is standard. I rarely use wire as this can put the tuna off, and rely on the length of the lure to protect my 30kg mono trace from a mackerel’s sharp teeth.

Live baiting is by far the most effective technique. I prefer to fish a rising tide

up until a high early in the morning, and with enough trace. Garfish aren’t strong enough swimmers to be able to tow larger torpedo floats, but rigged this way with a 5/0 for tuna or twin 5/0s and 18kg wire for mackerel, they make an excellent bait.

If you’re not keen to chase a pelagic, there should be some bigger mulloway starting to poke around on

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proportions throughout summer and right through to June, but this year there is a distinct lack of small 2-4kg fish, with just bigger specimens of 8-15kg turning up for boats trolling for marlin with lures and live baits.

While the majority of boaties will be focusing on mackerel this month, there is still good pan-sized snapper on the 32 and 42 fathom lines, pearl perch

are also available if you can find those triangle-shaped schools on your sounder, and kingfish on the wider grounds when the current isn’t raging.

On a personal note, this will be my last monthly report for the Richmond River area. I have been lucky enough to land my dream job, working as the Executive Officer for the Amateur Fisherman’s Association of the Northern

Territory (AFANT). The organisation is the peak body representing the interests of recreational fishermen and maintaining the quality of the sport in the NT. It has been a pleasure writing this column and I would like to thank all the friends I have made and the fellow anglers who have gone out of their way to communicate with me during this time. May there be many tight lines for you in the future.

A blow-up pool full of live garfish. These are tuna lollies! the walls and headlands in anticipation of the start of the mullet run next month.

Obviously live mullet or tailor are great bait, but they will also be taking slabs of fresh fish, octopus and squid. Big hardbodies and soft plastics are also reliable producers. Just remember to take a long gaff (14’) and somebody to help you use it.

A local angler took a nasty fall on the north wall several months ago while trying to gaff a fish by himself, and had to be carried out on a stretcher by the ambulance service. Rock fishing is a

dangerous sport and a good pair of rock boots, a long gaff, and even a flotation device for your own safety is a wise investment.

In the river there has been good numbers of whiting taking live worms and nippers, with surface lures occasionally producing a few fish. If you’re looking for a feed, good numbers of bream and school mulloway have been taken up-river around Pimlico Island and right up to Rileys Hill. Live herring, mullet and small soft plastics have been doing the damage.

Flathead have been strangely quiet lately, with only whispers of the odd successful fishing trip, but the mangrove jack have certainly been playing.

A good mate and myself experienced multiple bustoffs in North Creek lately. The red devils are often super active this month, as they look to put on condition prior to the onset of winter.

On the offshore scene I’ve been surprised about the lack of small mahimahi around the FAD this year.

Last year they were in plague

Jack Campbell, Sam Clatworthy, Max Clatworthy and Lachie Campbell (left to right) caught a heap of yellowbelly while they were camping down at Glenlyon Dam over Christmas.

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Sweating on the pelagics arrival ILUKA

Ben Pilch bjpcdh@gmail.com

Dave McKenzie - Gamakatsu Pro Angler

Well it’s March and everyone is getting keen about our land based game season — keeping an eye on sea surface temperatures, wind direction, and rainfall in the catchment.

These are all factors that can play a big part in how the LBG action plays out, and how hard you may have to work for a fish.

Our two main target species are longtail tuna and Spanish mackerel, but whether you’re floating out a live bait or throwing lures, you never know what you might hook in the big blue.

By-catch can be anything from a mulloway to a marlin.

With live baiting being the most common way to chase pelagics in these parts, the most readily available bait at this time of year is garfish. You can catch them with a mixture of bread and tuna oil, lightly berley with it, and then I like to use a size 12 longshank hook with a small ball of the berley mixture kneaded onto the hook to catch the gars. To keep them alive, a small

inflatable kids’ pool with an aerator is all you need, but you will have to keep the water fresh throughout the day, so a bucket with a bit of rope attached is handy for this.

All these conditions make for great boat fishing as well. We should still be seeing a few spotted mackerel getting around at

favourite, a 6” pink squid, will still be accounting for some good quality fish this month. If chasing a bit more size, you can’t go past trolling a live bait. You can use any of the usual suspects like yellowtail, mullet and garfish, but by far the best is a slimy mackerel. Slow trolling them around any of the inshore reefs should

Kaleum Gannon and Steve Patti holding another solid Clarence Valley mulloway. the usual haunts like Shark Bay and Angourie, and mixed in with them should be better-sized Spanish.

The tuna will be making their way along the coast too, so if you see a bit of bird action, you might be in for some fun.

The good old Clarence

see you in with a good chance of connecting to something big.

In the river we will be seeing a good bit of action with the prawns running.

Any of the favourite flattie spots from the mouth to Maclean will be worth hitting, with North Arm,

Oyster Channel, Browns Rocks, Harwood and the Back Channel holding some quality eating size flathead from legal up to the 50cm mark. Soft plastics and blades are the way to go if chasing up a feed of lizards. Hopping them along the bottom on sandy drop-offs near weed beds that are holding prawns is a sure-fire way to rustle up a few.

The crabs are still running hot, with plenty of good muddies around.

Again, the usual spots like the North and South arms, Lake Woolawayer, or the Broadwater are all producing good numbers of crabs, but you do have to watch out for people who like to check your pots as well as their own. To try and keep crab theft down, stick around your pots and have a fish while keeping an eye on them.

The mighty Clarence and all her tributaries are firing on the bass front, with plenty of action still to be had. And for all you mulloway chasers, if you’re anything like me you’re counting off the days on the calendar until mullet season is here!

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David, the flathead jinx THE TWEED

David Solano

Just recently, I did something I’ve never done before; I bought a filleting knife. As I don’t keep any of the fish I catch, I’ve never needed one. After spending a good 5 hours on the water the other day, I went down to the local fish shop. I really

fish and chips and quite enjoyed it. I even asked the fishmonger to teach me how to fillet them. He gave me a go and after a couple of attempts I ended up with a nice fillet, so look out flathead!

At first light the next Saturday I headed out with 4 rods all loaded with various Z-Man lures covered in stinky scent. I gave my shiny new knife

It was really muddy, with floating logs everywhere, and I saw a dead chicken and a bloated roo floating downstream. I wondered if this would affect the bite? It did! Some 4 hours of trying everything and I only got one bite, but hey, looking back it was probably a rock.

Okay, so the next day I thought I’d give Terranora Broadwater a try. Same thing, probably a bit worse

Dave with a good whiting. No flathead though…

A cheeky blue swimmer that ate a lure. felt like a classic Aussie feed of flathead and chips.

Well I looked at the price, and it was a whopping $39.95 a kilo!

I stood there scratching my head, trying to figure out how much ‘money’ I’d let released earlier that morning, as I’d caught about six 50-70cm flathead.

Anyway, I paid for my

a wink and away we went.

I thought the first place I’d try was Cobaki Lakes, which is a renowned lizard hunting ground. I had one major problem though; storms had been smashing us down on the Tweed, so with a lot of run-off coming from Piggabeen Creek and Bilambil Heights, the river was not in a good state at all.

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actually, and again no flathead, but I did catch a nice bream on a hardbody right behind the tourist crab boat. I returned home, cleaned the ’yak, frowned at my shiny knife, and thought ah, next week.

A week later the water had cleared, but again two days and hundreds of casts for nothing. This has easily been the worst fishing of my life; it makes you lose confidence in your choices and ability, but fishing, like life, has its ups and downs, so it’s gotta get better.

So is there anything biting at all? There is, but in another part of the river — Oxley Cove to be exact.

There’s a couple of young guns, Josh Gurney and Codie Munro, who chase jacks and mulloway off the walls and jetties in the area,

and they are constantly posting photos of themselves with massive 65cm red devils. At nighttime it’s bull sharks, legal schoolies and all the rest!

These two are on fire. Josh has invited me up that way for a fish, so I’m keen to see how they target them, as they also post photos of some impressive leader bustups.

The water is clearing and the bite is back on.

There are a lot of little jacks hanging around most bridges, and in all the years I’ve fished the Tweed I’ve never caught so many. I don’t chase them, but I’ve noticed a lot of garfish, a nice size

too, swimming around in schools.

The big flathead should be out near the seaway, so try for them on the higher tide when the water is clearer. Big greenbacks and trevs will make an appearance soon, and I love chasing them also. Screaming a slug across the top of the water, a big splash and you’re on. Try Jack Evans Boat Harbour, both rock walls, and Fingal Headland.

The trawlers are always worth a go and you can walk them, but it’s always hard pulling something big out from under a crusty old hull.

Another thing I’ve noticed is the quality of the mud crabs

being caught in the river, so if you’re into crabbing they are in there.

I’ll finish on a funny note.

I was under Boyds Bay Bridge just as it was just starting to get light, when I noticed what looked like a body wrapped in sheet. I peddled over for a closer look and it was a body alright, a naked girl wrapped in a sheet. I couldn’t tell if she was breathing or not, so I got closer and poked her with my paddle. She screamed and I screamed! It transpired that she had a little too much to drink, had an argument with her boyfriend, and fled, but just hadn’t realised how close she was to the water — gotta love the Tweed.

PS: The knife is still shiny.

Dave with a couple of young fish groms — Codie Munro and Josh Gurney.

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Post rain, the fish fire up SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Danny Sands

After the big fresh in January and February, the fishing in March will be fantastic for both estuary and outside fishing.

Spanish and spotted mackerel have finally shown up in good numbers. Palm Beach and Mermaid Reef will be the prime places, as anglers seem to migrate

to the coast en-masse when the mackerel are on, so get out early and claim your piece of real estate.

Mackerel fishing is at its best after a southeasterly blow. The warm blue water is full of baitfish, which pushes close to inshore reefs. Anchoring up and setting a berley trail is still the best way to catch heaps of spotted mackerel and pilchards are the number one bait. I like to set two

Expect big numbers of Spanish mackerel off the Gold Coast in March.

baits a fair way back under floats, and with another rod I like to drift half pillies down the trail. Mackerel can be ridiculously fussy at times, so it pays to use light wire around the 25lb mark and about 20cm in length.

A small 3/0 Owner suicide hook and a small black swivel will do the trick.

Trolling hardbody lures is a perfect easy option.

Already this season the Rapala X-Raps and Halco Laser Pros have been the go-to lures. My trolling spread consists of 5 lures — a Rapala deep diving X-Rap and a Halco 160 deep diver in close, and two Laser Pro 190s a fair way back. My shotgun lure is a small pink Hex Head skirt.

Burleigh Gravel Patch, and the 18 fathom and 24 fathom areas off Southport have accounted for heaps of Spanish already. Always keep an eye on your sounder when trolling. I like to mark everything that catches my attention — it could be a reef that is holding schools of bait.

Another fun way to catch these speedsters is high speed spinning. I like to mark my fish on my Lowrance HDS-9 Touch first, and a good quality sounder makes all the difference. Then I drop a 65g metal lure all the way to the bottom floor, then crank as fast as possible with a slight pause. This is very taxing on the body and hip pocket, as some days you will go through metals like pillies!

INSHORE March should see most of the rivers and creeks running fairly clean again.

The Seaway will attract most of the action, as dirty water will meet clean water from offshore. In February,

Aiden Cross with a nice feed of mud crabs. the Seaway was holding big schools of white pillies and this will continue throughout March. Expect to see mac tuna, trevally and yellowtail kingfish gorging themselves silly.

Most of the action usually happens two hours either side of top of the tide. Casting 25g metal slugs and 3” white Gulp Minnows are my favourites when chasing surfacefeeding fish in the Seaway.

Have some fun on light gear too; a 3-6kg rod, 2500 spin reel, 6lb main line and 15lb fluorocarbon leader is all you need.

If the rain continues in March and the water turns dirty and fresh, get your crab pots out and grab a feed of mud crabs. Give deep water crabbing a try. I

like to put my crab pots in 20-25’ of water, usually the first deep hole out the front of any creek, canal or river.

I prefer an oily bait for my crab pots, from mackerel frames to mullet, or even chicken frames as a great alternative.

Also try slowly hopping soft imitation prawns like Savage Prawn and Zerek Cherabin down rock faces and the many bridge pylons in the Nerang, Currumbin and Tweed rivers this month. These plastics have accounted for a heap of mangrove jacks already.

This technique will become more effective in March as the prawns start to run. I like to beef up my line class to 20lb main line and 30-40lb leader when fishing around bridge pylons.

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Throwing surface lures is one of the most thrilling ways to target mangrove jack, as it is visual fishing with a spectacular surface strike. The Nerang River has extensive canal systems with retaining walls, which mangrove jack love to feed along during low light periods. My favourite poppers are the Yo-Zuri 3D Popper and the Lucky Craft G-Splash. Try long casts along the retaining walls and canal entrances and hold on.

The Gold Coast Sportsfishing Club is holding its second mangrove jack competition on March 22. It’s a great day with like-minded people, so for further information check out their website or their Facebook page.

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Top surface captures GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn www.tackletactics.com.au

The year is charging by and it’s hard to believe that it’s March already.

Unfortunately the fishing hasn’t been as active as the passing of time and has been up and down lately due to the dirty water. Just as the water has started to clear, another huge downpour and series of thunderstorms rip through the Gold Coast and the water dirties up again. As a result, finding clearer water with some nice flow and baitfish is the key to success,

with mangrove jack, bream, flathead and trevally all likely captures when you find such locations.

March is the perfect time for surface fishing, and the main species that comes to mind is mangrove jack.

Fishing the surface will produce in both dirty and clean water and on any tide, although the high tide seems best, with early morning and late afternoon producing most fish. A few successful lures on the market include Lucky Craft G-Splash, Bolt Poppers and River2Sea Bubble Pop, and the standard walk-the-dog style surface lures. Cast these around rock and retaining

This solid GT couldn’t resist a big surface popper worked aggressively across the surface at dusk.

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walls, floating pontoons and around mangrove - lined banks, and be prepared for aggressive bites as they’ll come hard and often without notice.

Bream will start to fire up with plenty of bait getting around the canals, especially on the surface, with small walk-the-dog surface lures fished around pontoon and sandbanks a fun and effective way to catch fish.

HITTING THE TWEED The Tweed has been going off at the moment with plenty of kingfish and trevally on the rock walls of the Tweed River bar. Fish incoming tides with soft plastics and you’ll be in with a chance to land some big fish. There have been plenty of reports of big mangrove jack being caught upriver of the Tweed Gold Club, with shallow diving hardbodies fitted with upgraded trebles and rings the key to landing big fish. Soft plastics have also accounted for some fish with large paddle-tails such as the new 4” Z-Man SwimmerZ accounting for some solid mangrove jack. Good numbers of flathead have been caught at the Terranora flats on the run-out tide, with shallow diving hardbodies, plastics and blades tempting a lot of

a few great techniques to use, with live bait, noisy surface lures, blades, hardbodies and paddle-tail soft plastics all gun options after dark. The 4” Z-Man DieZel MinnowZ in mood ring colour has dominated along rock walls and bridge pylons, especially for those targeting mangrove jack.

AFTER DARK There has been reports of plenty of trevally and tarpon working the Coombabah River rock walls at night, with spots with lights shinning on the water holding the best concentrations of bait, and as a result the best fish, with small surface lures fished in

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these locations producing some red hot action.

Hopefully the storms will decrease this month allowing the water to clear up and the fishing to become more consistent and predictable.

While we should still get a few afternoon storms their regularity and hopefully severity should wane making for better fishing. Overall March is a great month for surface fishing both throughout the day and also night, so make sure you get out there and do as much of it as you can. Well that’s it for me for this month, hope you get out there and smash the fish!

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fish. Daiwa Double Clutches in particular have accounted for a lot of quality fish!

PULLING A BLADE Blades have been performing well of late, and fishing them light and slowly across the bottom around bridges is one of the most effective ways to catch fish.

I have lost some insanely big fish and caught some superb flathead, bream and trevally doing exactly that. I have recently installed a sounder on my kayak, Lowrance 4 HDI, and I’m now able to sound up fish, read the depth and find the bait.

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Cracker black season continues GOLD COAST

David Green

This season has been a cracker for black marlin off the Gold Coast.

Some local charter boats have caught over 100 marlin since the start of December, and these fish

should still be on the bait schools on the 70-80m line this month.

There have been big schools of bait holding in areas such as Deep Trag and the back of the 36 fathom line, which have attracted the marlin. The number of blacks generally decreases in March as the fish move

south, but there are often quite a few bigger fish from 80-100kg late in the season. Live baiting using slimy mackerel and switch baiting are generally the most productive methods. It is a good idea to fish at least 15kg tackle this month due to the size of the fish.

Lure trolling can be

David Green with a soft plastic slammin’ mulloway.

a good alternative when the bait is scattered. The weather early in the season has been quite stable, but March often has bigger swells and a few more low pressure systems off the coast that can make it hard to get out to the wider grounds.

In March I generally change from light or medium tackle and head wider using 37kg gear to chase blue marlin on the continental shelf. Blues are a great challenge from a small boat and the slope where the depth drops from 150-300m is a good place to start chasing them. I like to use a mix of lures, but find my hookup rate to be slightly better when using medium sized ones, about 20-30cm long. Blue marlin are extremely aggressive on the strike and it is not uncommon to lose over 300m of line on the first run, and since we changed from 24kg to 37kg tackle our results have improved markedly.

There’s a lot of water out there and in March we average roughly 2-3 strikes per day, but when conditions are good and fish are active, there can be a lot more

Mahimahi by-catch has been welcome amongst marlin bites. bites. By-catch out wide at this time of year includes black marlin, a few striped marlin, mahimahi and wahoo. The good grounds start about 50km wide of the Seaway, so it requires good weather conditions.

In closer to shore, the

Spanish mackerel should start in numbers on the 18 and 24 fathom lines this month. Quite a few good sized Spaniards showed on the close reefs in February, and these should increase in numbers this month.

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trolling minnows or baits, or by spinning with metal lures. Berleying with chopped pilchards at anchor and fishing pilchards, live baits and metal lures in the berley trail can be very effective. In March, Palm Beach and Mermaid Reefs generally produce plenty of Spanish and spotted mackerel.

Wahoo are another good target species this month, and trolling high speed metal head lures such as Hex Heads can be very productive in areas such as the Tweed Nine Mile Reef, the Mud Hole and the Gravel Patch east of Burleigh Heads. At a speed of 12-15knots the strikes are spectacular. Live slow trolled small tuna are another great method and often catch the bigger fish.

For the bottom fisher, activity is dictated by current. The 36, 42 and 50 fathom line can produce good catches of trag, snapper and kingies at times, and pigfish and rosy jobfish are also common, but most activity this month is focused on game fish.

GOLD COAST ESTUARIES AND RIVERS The recent good rains have given all the local rivers a decent flush and this should see good

conditions for fishing both in the Seaway and Jumpinpin entrances over the next few weeks. There have been great catches of mulloway, with a lot of fish in the 80-100cm bracket.

There have also been a lot of bull sharks in the same areas and plenty of anglers have complained about getting their prized fish chopped in half. Live

baits, soft plastics and vibes have produced most of the mulloway and this should continue throughout March.

I find the run-in tide in the Seaway and the change of tide at Jumpinpin to be the most productive periods.

This area is also producing some big flathead, and a few small cobia have also been caught on live baits.

Mangrove jack have

been very active this year and plenty of great fish over 50cm long have been caught. The majority have fallen to soft plastic shad tails such as Z-Mans retrieved along the edges of floating pontoons. There is often a good surface bite on jacks early in the morning on poppers and fizzers during March. The Lucky Craft G Splash is one of the

best jack poppers in local waters. The bottom half of the tide cycle usually produces the best fishing, but floating pontoons can see bites at any part of the day or tide cycle.

Whiting are another major target this month, and after the recent good rain they should be feeding hard. Worms, baby soldier crabs and small shrimp are good baits. Small shrimp are quite an easy bait to catch and can also be obtained on any part of the tide. You need a large fine mesh net and look around sunken mangroves and rock

walls. They can be hard to spot, but are often in big schools and a dip net run along the edges usually produces enough bait for a session in less than 15 minutes. These tiny shrimp are best used alive, with 4 on a number 6 Aberdeen hook working well. Whiting love them. Since I started using shrimp, I rarely use any other bait for whiting.

Fishing small poppers is another good method.

Overall, March has plenty of exciting fishing for Gold Coast anglers and there are a lot of great options this month.

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35

Mixed bags in March JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

The fishing has been absolutely magnificent lately and should be set to continue as the weather and water temperatures cool down. Catches of bigger bream should be on the increase and there should be plenty of flathead and whiting available too.

I’ve managed to get out a bit lately and let me tell you, the system is alive and well. There’s heaps of live bait in the water flicking about and being chased by larger hungry predatory fish like mulloway, jacks, cod, flatties and anything else that can fit a livey in their mouth.

The banana prawns have arrived so make sure to pack the cast net as there is nothing better than a feed of fresh prawns.

They usually congregate amongst the boats at Rudy Mass, north from Jacobs Well ramp, the mouth of the Logan River and the deep water off Macleay Island. That being said, just keep an eye out for all the boats in one area casting for prawns and that’s where they’ll be.

WHERE ARE THEY BITING? If you like to chase whiting then try around the Gold and Green Banks, Slipping Sands, Flat Rock, Browns Bay and the Junction in the River.

Worms are the best baits to tempt these excellent table fish or you could try some yabbies squid, pipis or small peeled prawns. There have been some real big elbow slappers out there of late and the best I’ve seen

Young gun Rhiley Griffiths proudly shows off his beautifully marked cod.

Julian Morrow with a cracking 41cm Jumpinpin whiting, which took a well-presented bait. this was 46cm. Big whiting love fast moving water as the water drops off the bank and brings the food to them and it is always a great idea to use a berley trail to attract the fish in.

There have been plenty of good flathead around taking 3-7” soft plastics in whites, pinks and lime, trolled hardbodied lures in the sandy shallows and pilchards, white bait, prawns and live mullet the pick of the bait. The sandy flats at the top of South Straddie is always a great spot to start, or you could try Cobby Passage, Kalinga Bank, Tipplers Island, the stockyards or the mouth of the Logan. The best time is the first of the run-out tide as they sit in wait for food to wash past. They can be caught at any stage

of the tide but they seem to feed more aggressively as the tide turns and starts to

run. I recently got a 70cm lizard in 2ft of dirty water trolling a trout coloured Pig Lure just on the start of the incoming tide. So next time you’re on a shallow sandy or weed bank, throw a lure out because trolling for flatties in the shallows definitely works.

Bream too are going to be heavily targeted all month and there is a lot of fishos getting into luring these great fighting fish.

Using light 1-2kg braid on a matched flick stick of your choice around canal jetties, rocks and pylons is catching on and is an exciting way to target bream. Vibes, small poppers, hardbodies and small plastics are all working and be sure to put in a little extra effort as persistence pays and the rewards will speak for themselves. For the bait fishers, stick to all the usual bream haunts and fishing

Prawns will be running early this month so don’t forget the cast net!

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the last couple of hours of the run-in tide using a berley trail should produce some better quality fish.

There are plenty of mulloway about but mainly between the 60-70cm in length, which means they are undersized and need to be put back. They need to be over 75cm and have a bag limit of two. Live baits are working the best as usual but large banana prawns, pilchards or bonito fillets work well too. Try around the deep water off Swan Bay, Kalinga Bank, Short Island, Giants Grave and in the Logan near Marks or Pitts Rocks.

Some good muddies have been turning up from Redland Bay Channel, Lagoon Island and Mosquito Island. Sandies are being caught along the dropoffs of Main Channel, Canaipa Passage and Never Fail Islands.

• Thanks for all your reports and fish weighed in. Drop us a line at Gem Bait and Tackle if you’d like to order bait or get some up to date info on what’s biting on 07 3287 3868 or email gembait@ tpg.com.au.

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Bay fish will fire on the run up to autumn SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

The change of seasons has always been one of my favourite times to fish in Moreton Bay, and this month is shaping up to offer some great fishing. Coming off a lean month, things are looking to pick up on the pelagic front, which is news we have all been looking forward to!

Over the past few weeks, reports of sporadic schools of mackerel have been coming in, although here one day and gone the next has been the general story. Those that are putting in the time have been reaping the rewards though, and I have been hearing of

spotties showing up in the Southern Bay through February, so if all goes well we should see a good run of them through March. Finding schools of bait around Harry Atkinson Artificial Reef, Peel Island and the Sandhills at Moreton will put you in with a shot. Keep an eye on the sounder and be on the lookout for birds diving.

Bream fishing has been uncharacteristically slow for this time of year. A recent bream tournament yielded very small bags of fish, which can largely be attributed to the recent rain. The fish are still there, you may just need to put in a bit more effort to get the rewards. Spots worth trying are South West Rocks at Peel Island, Coochiemudlo Island

Bilal Sabdia with his first school mulloway, caught on a 3” Z-Man MinnowZ soft plastic.

shallows and the Cleveland Point foreshore. Raby Bay canals are also a good option and can usually produce some good sized bream, with the added by-catch of mangrove jack and trevally.

Snapper are still a worthwhile option. The size has been low, but numbers have made up for it, with plenty of pan sized squire around. In the past, this time of the year has been when I catch some of my biggest reds, so hopefully we will see some bigger fish in the next month.

Mulloway have really slowed, but there are still a few small schools around if you spend the time searching.

Peel Island Artificial Reef has been the pick, which in recent times has really become a great mulloway spot.

One thing I’m really excited about is longtail tuna finally making their way into Moreton Bay. I’m hearing about more and more captures of these speed machines in the Southern Bay area. There is a massive amount of bait around at the moment, so we can only hope that the tuna get stuck into them soon. Some of the better locations to look are around the eastern side of Peel Island as well as Goat Island. The tuna will often push bait up against

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Chris Cornell with a cracker longtail tuna he stickbaited in Moreton Bay. the sandbanks, so keep your eyes peeled for any surface activity and watch the birds.

Tuna fishing can be frustrating, and I have had many sessions where I have spent hours chasing them around in circles, throwing every lure in my boat at them for no luck. Patience is paramount and keeping calm when you start to see the big surface explosions is a must.

Always pull up a decent distance from the school

and drift or wait for them to come to you. Racing up to the schools with the motor running will scare them off 99% of the time. Watch the direction that they are moving in and position yourself ahead of them to give yourself a great shot at getting a cast in.

Ideal lures for these situations are ones that you can cast far and wind in with some speed. I like throwing 5” Z-Man StreakZ in the pink bubble gum colour, matched to

a 1/2oz jighead. Large surface stickbaits are also a great option and provide for some exciting visual fishing.

So in March look to the skies and keep an eye out for the birds. Surface activity should pick up, with some exciting times ahead.

Remember to be courteous to other anglers out chasing the same schools; there’s plenty to go around and keeping a safe distance away from other boats will keep everyone happy.

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4×4 Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo For more than 18 years, the National 4x4 Outdoors Show has been Brisbane’s leading event for the 4WD industry and fans of the great Australian outdoors.

This year, it returns, bringing with it the all-new Fishing and Boating Expo, a sister-brand already well-established in the southern states, making its Queensland debut in 2015.

Visitors to this year’s National 4x4 Outdoors Show, Fishing & Boating Expo will have the opportunity to see the star of the iFish television program, Paul Worsteling, in the flesh at his only Brisbane Show appearance from March 20-22 at the Brisbane Showgrounds.

Appearing on the dedicated Allround Angler Fishing Stage, Paul will be joined by an array of special guests across the three days at what is touted as the main

event for fishing, boating and outdoor enthusiasts.

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Big-name fishing and boating exhibitors will be in attendance at the show, including BCF, Allround Angler, Cunningham Marine, Neptune Marine, Whitewater Marine, Karee Marine, Bayside Suzuki, North Coast Boating, South Easterly Marine, Australian Marine Centre, R & M Marine, Motorsport Marine and Brisbane Marine.

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Extreme class • Luke McNicol won Ironman Driving Challenge Extreme class 2013 • Stuart Murchison competitor Ironman Driving Challenge • Dale Burns competitor Ironman Driving Challenge Locked Class Series Winner 2013 • Kym Wendt won Ironman Driving Challenge Extreme Class 2014 KIDS ZONE Situated in the Action Arena the kids wont need to move with the FMX Team signing autographs, Matt

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Stride into March to sample the seasonal offerings can vary depending on the temperature and the amount of rain we have received, but options within Moreton Bay and its filtering waterways and estuaries will leave you with the difficult decision as to what the next target will be. A few of these may be on your hit list as we stride into March.

BAY PELAGICS Moreton Bay offers some pretty awesome pelagic activity at times,

BRISBANE

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As conditions cool slightly during March, anglers will be more tempted to get out onto the water to savour the piscatorial offerings. The species on offer will be reason enough, although pleasant days are also a drawcard.

The variety on offer

and March is often one of the better months.

The variety on offer can be exceptional, with species such as longtail tuna, school and spotted mackerel, cobia, mac tuna and even the occasional Spaniard being caught.

Mackerel numbers have been fairly good at times over the last few months and although they haven’t been as consistent as we would like, those who were willing to do a bit of searching generally came up trumps.

The area between Wellington Point, Green Island and Harry Atkinson produced some decent numbers of spotties in the 70-90cm range, however, those who explored other areas such as the Measured Mile, Four Beacons, Middle Bank, Pearl Channel and along the major shipping channels were usually rewarded with either spotties or school mackerel. The same may be the case during March, but other areas worth checking out during the month are the historically proven grounds further south in the bay including the Naval Reserve Banks,

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March is a popular month for estuary cod in the rivers, canals and bay, where they can be caught on baits and lures. Fish of this size fight well and taste great.

Banana Banks, between the southern side of Peel and Dunwich, and throughout the Rainbow Channel.

Sometimes mackerel can be found surface feeding on conglomerations of baitfish, however, often they may be a little deeper.

Those with knowledge of these areas and quality side imaging sounders will be able to locate these fish.

From there it is a case of presenting a micro jig, blade or other offering to elicit a strike. Trolling spoons behind a paravane, which gets them down deep, is another successful ploy and is the chosen method of the commercial mackerel fishers.

Sometimes mackerel may be encountered by anglers soaking pilchards around the bay islands and artificial reefs, or even by those working plastics and other artificials. If you really want to increase your chances, try a small live bait such as a slimy mackerel, yakka or pike in these zones. In addition to a school or spotted mackerel, you are in with a great chance of encountering a longtail tuna, quality snapper, or perhaps a Spaniard. To increase your chances of tangling with the latter (which are increasing in prominence in the bay), use a larger live bait such as a big pike, just legal tailor, or a bonito.

Fish this bait on a piano wire snelled-hook rig or a set of gangs and suspend it a few metres under a float.

A dead offering such as a pilchard or other whole fish or slab bait may entice a Spanish strike, however, a large kicking live-bait is numero uno on their preference list.

The same can be said for longtail tuna, and while

a few of these are caught around the Harry Atkinson, better options exist around the Curtin Artificial and the beacons lining the shipping channels further north. Yakkas, slimy mackerel and the like make ideal offerings when presented anywhere from the surface to around half way to the bottom.

Having baits at different depths helps hedge your bets at also tempting a cobia, yellowtail kingfish or mackerel.

Schools of longtail tuna can enter the bay during March. Initially, they are often found in the Western Rocks area, along the front of Bribie Island (often extremely close to the beach) and in the North West and North East Channels. From here they will spread out during the coming month and can be located anywhere throughout the bay.

Surface feeding schools can be targeted with metal slugs and slices, pencil poppers and jerkshad plastics.

Other offerings that have become popular longtail lollies in recent years have been stickbaits and sliders such as Yo-Zuri Adagio, Bassday Bungy Cast, Maria Loaded, Daiwa Saltiga Dorado Slider, Daiwa Over-There Skipping and numerous others.

A few quality cobia will be encountered during March by those who target them with large live baits around the northern bay beacons, Curtin Artificial, Cowan Ledge and popular areas such as Yellowpatch and Western Rocks. Baits such as legal size sweetlip, bonito, school mackerel, snapper, whiptails and others will generally get their attention. Either

anchoring at a chosen spot and presenting a few baits fairly close to the bottom, or fishing on the drift around these areas generally works well and will quickly entice any predating cobia within a decent distance away.

BAY ISLANDS Forever a popular choice of bay fishers are the grounds surrounding the major bay islands (Peel, Green, Mud, Coochiemudlo) as they offer both quality and variety. Both demersal and pelagic species can be encountered and setting a few pots will generally be rewarded with sand crabs or blue swimmers.

Snapper are probably one of the most commonly targeted species, although anglers fishing with both baits and artificials can catch sweetlip, estuary cod, morwong, tuskfish, mulloway and numerous other fish.

Fresh baits are best, although frozen and salted offerings will also produce quality fish. Good choices can include squid, pilchards, mullet fillets, bonito strips, pike fillets, large green prawns and numerous others. While fishing your baits close to the bottom to target demersals, try floating out a bait like a pilchard under a balloon or float. This may entice a better quality snapper feeding higher in the water column, but it may also tempt a school or spotted mackerel or bonito. On occasion I have also caught large squid and cuttlefish using this rig.

Trolling minnow lures along the edges of prominent contours around the bay islands is a good way to entice a snapper or school mackerel and also

shads and prawn profiles) while targeting jacks, casting around heavy structure such as rock walls, bridge pylons, jetties, pontoons and the like. Live prawns, herring, mullet and pike offer a more relaxed way of fishing for jacks around bridge pylons, jetties and other prominent structure.

Estuary cod, flathead, trevally, tarpon and an array of undesirables will also attack such baits with vigour.

Flathead are always a favourite of anglers probing the estuaries, as their movements can be relatively easy to predict throughout the tidal phase. They are a great sportfishing target that will eat a variety of lures

School and spotted mackerel numbers have been patchy at times, but there has been some quality fish caught and they should continue to chew for a month or two yet. desperate to fit in as many trips as they can to target the mighty mangrove jack. When temperatures fall low, the majority of these crimson assailants will again head offshore, although there will always be the occasional one caught throughout the creeks and rivers, even during winter months.

The hotter months offer the best opportunity, with jacks getting especially aggressive when the barometer is rising or turbulent, such as when storms are building.

Many anglers use lures such as diving minnows, blades, poppers, stickbaits and an array of plastics (especially paddle tail

and numerous baits. As they will have a crack at just about anything that is put in front of them, flatties make an ideal target for those new to lure fishing. Trolling minnow lures along the edges of prominent flats and banks as the tide begins to recede is a relatively successful way to get connected.

Working these same zones by hopping plastics, blades and vibration baits from up on the flats and down into the deeper water will often produce those better quality flathead, especially if you can locate the drains and gutters through which the majority of the water drains off the flats. These spots will often hold the

better quality specimens, as they will generally take up the best ambush spots. Drifting baits in the channels at the lower stages of the tide will reward you with flatties, bream, whiting and numerous other species.

Mud crab numbers should be good during March, especially if we have had some substantial downpours to flush the better quality bucks out of the small drains and gutters deep within the mangrove forest. It is hard to get your pots to where these specimens reside, however, a good deluge will flush them into the open. Safety pots baited with fish frames, chicken carcasses or whole mullet will generally get the job done.

PRAWNS March is a great month to target these tasty crustaceans, as large numbers of bananas will generally enter the estuaries around or on the full moon. They can also be found on the flats in the bay, with the front of Cleveland, out from Nudgee and several other locations holding larger concentrations. Whether prawning in Moreton Bay or in the deeper holes in the rivers and creeks, a quality cast net is a must.

Nets between 9’ and 12’ drop are generally used.

The larger ones cover a bigger area and stay open longer as they sink, which is especially handy for deeper water prawning.

The more area the net covers when it finally settles, the better your chances are of securing a good haul of prawns.

Once the net is on the bottom, slowly jerk the rope to shuffle the net leads inwards and scare the prawns feeding in the bottom silt up into the net.

Top pocket cast nets will hold the prawns in the top of the net and allow you to open the net from the top to get them out.

In the estuaries, try cast-netting in the deeper holes around the change of tide. Those with an intimate knowledge of their sounders will be able to locate the prawns as they move up and down the systems with the tide.

There are a load of good land-based spots where you can secure a feed of banana prawns too. Some of the better-known ones include Deepwater Bend on the Pine River and the Colmslie Jetty, Colmslie Pontoon and Newstead Jetty in the Brisbane River, although anywhere you can get a cast into deeper water is worth a crack.

BRISBANE RIVER With an increase in the numbers of prawns in

the Brisbane River, the threadfin salmon presence will be more noticeable.

Threadies move up and down the river with the tide as they shadow and hunt the schools of prawns. Anglers fishing live baits from the bank will definitely notice an increase in their catch rate.

Banana prawns, mullet, herring, pike and the like are all good options. Some savvy anglers will hook them on lures from either a land-based position or boats. Good artificials can include small shallow diving minnow lures, soft plastic shad and prawn profiles, vibration baits and numerous others.

As threadies stress when handled and removed from the water (which often seas them dying), it is best to remove the hooks boatside when releasing them.

Areas such as Claras Rocks and around the jetties down near the mouth will still hold a few decent snapper during March.

The snapper activity is also heightened by the increased presence of prawns, and naturally these make great bait.

Many snapper are also taken on lures, with a wide array of plastics and vibration baits being accepted. Trolling the rock

wall upriver from Clara’s and the retaining wall at the mouth with deep diving minnow lures will often reward you with snapper and estuary cod.

Anglers may still encounter the occasional mulloway at this time of the year, as they seem to be an almost year-round capture in the Brisbane River. Bream, flathead, sharks and a host of other species will be caught.

You may even luck onto a barramundi as there has been several caught in the Brisbane River over the last few months.

CONCLUSION March is a great month to be out on the water getting amongst them. There is a good array of species on offer and the slightly cooler conditions make it a little more enjoyable than the sweltering days of the previous months. Whether you want a haul of tasty crustaceans, a feed of fresh fillets, or your casting arm is yearning for the jolt that transmits when a jack, threadie or other sportfish strikes, March has all the attributes to satisfy your cravings.

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The shallows around the numerous bay islands can be a good place to chase bream (generally on blades, small minnow lures and topwater offerings) and even squid, especially on the higher stages of the tide. An occasional quality pelagic may also venture up on these flats.

Casting plastics and minnow lures along the rock walls on the eastern side of Mud Island is a great way to entice a few estuary cod and occasional mangrove jack and snapper.

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Great action despite slow mackerel season OFFSHORE

John Gooding

This time last year, Spanish mackerel were chewing their heads off right along our part of the coast, but this year they have been a lot harder to find.

March, April and early May is still prime time to chase Spaniards, all we need is some half decent weather to get out and chase a few.

Normally we start seeing

a few fish and specimens in the 10-15kg bracket are commonly caught.

Although mackerel season hasn’t been as good as the previous two, there has still been some solid catches recorded by anglers prepared to put in the hard yards. As I mentioned earlier, it’s definitely worth targeting Spaniards in the next couple of months, they just won’t be jumping in the boat and you’ll have to work for them.

And before anybody starts

thinking doom and gloom because there’s not a many macks as last year, as far back as I can remember, we’ve always seemed to have a couple of very productive seasons followed by an average season or two.

A few of the older mackerel pros I know always talk in 7-year cycles and they’re probably not too far wrong!

If dragging high-speeds for wahoo is your calling, the next couple of months usually sees fish over 20kg

commonly landed in the Point Lookout area. Over the years on the charters we’ve landed several fish over 30kg and a couple over 40kg! These line-burners will definitely put your gear to the test, but they virtually burn out after their first couple of runs.

Wahoo are good tucker if bled and iced down immediately after capture, so if you are going to target them, make sure you have an icebox to put them in.

This month, east of the

A nice juvenile snapper caught on the wider grounds.

owrance Sounder A chunky Maori cod and spangled emperor taken at Shallow Tempest ready to be filleted. r from Berkley and

A couple of arm-stretching school ambos caught on the jig.

South Passage Bar, along with all the pelagics, there’s also enough to keep the bottom fishers interested.

With plenty of bait still hanging around Shallow Tempest, having a floatline around the area will be worth a go for a mixed bag.

Out in the wider grounds of Deep tempest and the 42-fathom line to the south should see good numbers of juvenile snapper, which aren’t too hard to find.

If we get some hot, steamy days through March,

it will be worth having a crack around the Wave Rider Buoy off Point Lookout for a bull mahimahi or a wahoo.

Further south on the bottom and off the Cathedrals we’ve caught some quality snapper, which aren’t in huge numbers, but most of what you catch will be quality.

• If you’d like to join me on charter (max 8 persons) give me a call on (07) 3822 9527 or 0418 738750. You can also visit my website at www. outlawcharters.com.au.

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Happy days on the northern bay NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

I said to my wife, as a New Year’s resolution I’m going to try to see the positive side of things more than focusing on the negative. With so many negative aspects of the world being broadcasted on the news and on social media, it’s very easy to be caught up in bad thoughts and views, leaving you nothing but a little miffed with the world.

So what’s this got to do

people not only off the water, but also on the water. Next time you are out fishing your favourite spot and someone rolls up next to you, don’t be angry that they are there, but use it as fuel to concentrate on your fishing to catch that next keeper before they do. A little friendly competition never hurt anyone, but don’t turn what is meant to be a relaxing day on the water into a day of high stress.

Now for what’s been going on in the northern bay over the last month. March has seen the prawns on their annual run through the Pine

Avoiding the bommies is the key to landing juvenile snapper like this. with fishing? Well, a lot in fact, as this favourite pastime or yours and mine can often be tarnished by angry or negative

River, Cabbage Tree Creek and Nudgee Beach, bringing their fair share of predators along with them. Anglers

chasing prawns can be seen casting their nets all through these areas, chasing the schools up and down the rivers and leaving no stone unturned.

This increase in prawn activity has fired up the fishing around the river and creek mouths, as predators have been moving with the tide as the schools of prawns do. Large banana prawns have been the main targets, with the smaller greasies filling majority of the quotas.

This has been great news for the Redcliffe Peninsula, with the presence of bait making the fishing quite good.

Juvenile snapper numbers are on the climb, with all things pointing towards a good snapper season like we had back in 2012. Patient anglers are pulling mid 40-50cm specimens from around the bommies of North Reef, with Woody Point also gaining popularity. Mullet and squid have been the pick of the baits, with the majority of the better sized fish coming off shad style soft plastics and larger slender hardbodies. Jackall Squirrels, Imakatsu Riprizers and Atomic Shiner 45s are a great choice for those hardbody fanatics out there, with Z-Man GrubZ, Keitech Easy Shiners and Shads Ribbed Candys doing the damage in the soft plastic field.

With the presence of bigger predators comes a good consistency in your bread-andbutter species, with bream, flathead and summer whiting all showing up in reports through the peninsula. Bream have been firing around the top of the tides, especially in mangrove-laden areas like Deception Bay and Hays Inlet.

The fuller tides of the full and new moons have been the pick.

Flathead numbers are steady, as the prawn run has kept these bottom dwellers closer to the higher current areas waiting in

ambush. Summer whiting are still coming from the shores of Margate, with the mouth of the Pine River being the pick of the areas, especially on the run-out tide. The warmer weather has brought the occasional mangrove jack out of the Pine, with some anglers also reporting the odd threadfin from there and the neighbouring Caboolture River.

Pumicestone Passage has been fishing reasonably well of late, with southeast winds working favourably for recreational anglers as it pushes and holds the bait high in the system. Areas like Glasshouse Creek, Gallagher’s Gutter, Donnybrook and Ningi Creek normally fare well when the winds are high.

Bream and flathead have been the pick of the species, with a

Ewan Bulger helped his dad get amongst some great prawns.

Peter Metzdorf with a cracker saratoga from Lake Kurwongbah. few juvenile snapper starting to show up in the usual spots.

The Ripples and the Bribie Bridge are the noted juvenile snapper spots, with night anglers being rewarded for their bravery against the wind and occasional showers. Mud

crabs have also continued their good form, with recent rain pushing these crustaceans out of the creeks and into the channels.

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Time for a change CALOUNDRA

Brad McKendrick fishingcaloundra@yahoo.com.au

We have enjoyed a long run of summer season pelagics along the Sunshine Coast, with mackerel dominating the fishing scene. The season started early, with a strong run of spotties leading as it does into the arrival of Spanish around the 8-10kg mark. As the season goes on, we’ll get a run of larger Spaniards, and some of these

always have success in one form or another. Bait schools have been concentrating around the Gneerings and Murphys, which means you don’t have to go out too far to get amongst them. If the birds are not working, then it may mean a change in tactics to get the bite going.

If you are planning on working a small area, it can’t hurt to begin dropping big cubes of pilchards or any other old bait as you troll around the mark. Eventually it will start the fish feeding process,

we try live or dead bait. If all else fails, we troll past the marker. It helps to have a plan before setting out for the day and to trust in your plan.

The estuaries have been very quiet of late and with the water temperature above 25 degrees, it’s no wonder the fish are looking for deeper holes.

The best option is to fish in the early parts of the morning and later into the evenings when everything is quiet and cooler.

Live baits are without doubt the best option, so look around for herring, mullet or prawns

Spanish mackerel are just about everywhere at the moment.

It’s been a top mackerel season on the Sunshine Coast, with more to come. hit the 20kg mark. While all this is going happening, we can target wahoo, mahimahi, cobia and a vast range of reef species, making the Sunshine Coast a great place to live and fish.

The bigger female Spanish will stay around for another month or so, as anglers begin to focus on the pending winter season. Pearl perch and juvenile snapper are certainly being taken on the inner reef systems at the moment, and larger specimens are out on the deeper areas like the Barwon Banks.

The 40m line is the most active, but quality fish can still be taken around the 80m plus dropoffs. Large schools of feeding pelagics always keep anglers entertained, and if you are spending your day working the bait schools, then you will

but be prepared to work hard, as it may take a few hours to get going. The biggest mistake fishermen make is working for an hour or so and moving to another spot to start the process again. Patience is the key!

It is also a great idea to mix up the rigs and lures you are using to get an idea of what is working on the day. For instance, try using a mixture of baits, both live and dead, or shallow and deep diving lures and troll at different speeds.

All these variables can put the odds in your favour.

The channel markers and wave buoys can hold cobia and mahimahi. We normally make a point of going past them on the way home in the hope of a last bit of fun. We start by casting small chrome slugs in the immediate area, and if there is no action then

for best results. The main channel around the Caloundra Bar entrance has opportunities for bigger flathead and trevally, and large herring have been good bait for both species. The boardwalk in Caloundra is busy with hopeful anglers, and a rare few have caught some quality estuary cod and cracker bream on the tide changes.

Whiting are taking small peeled prawns and yabbies at the moment and can be caught right along the Pumicestone Passage, particularly around the Golden Beach strip. Berley is so important to keep the fish interested, and fishing without it can make things really tough. Currimundi Lake has a few smaller bream and the occasional flathead, but overall it is slow. Mangrove jack have been nailing live herring, with the canal areas

proving to be the most fruitful.

The bream have been holding in under the pontoons around Pelican Waters and throughout the many canals around the Sunshine Coast, so be sure to get your lures or bait right up under them.

The beach scene has been far more productive, with quality bream, whiting and smaller dart working the wave breaks. Pipis, prawns or strips of fish are by far the best baits to use to catch the bread-andbutter varieties. Take your time and watch areas closely throughout tidal changes to identify the best fishing grounds for later.

So for this month organise your trips around the cooler parts of the day. Watch for key signs of fish activity to help improve your chances. The pelagics will remain around and you should look at targeting bigger Spanish mackerel right throughout March. Mahimahi and wahoo will be worth targeting out wide at Caloundra and the Barwon Banks, but you might struggle in closer.

Work the reefs on the evening tidal changes and always look around the channel markers and buoys for a cobia or mahimahi.

Check out the estuaries and beaches this month for the table varieties, and fish the deeper channel areas in the early mornings and late into the evenings for best results.

Shaylah Tighe-Holden caught her very first fish on a recent day cruise with Shayla Cruises Gold Coast. The bream was caught on a $10 rod with a scrap prawn head from lunch used as bait. Shaylah released her catch after snapping this pic.

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There’s no place better than Noosa in autumn!

NOOSA

Peter Wells

This time of the year is when the big boys come out to play. Big Spanish, big wahoo and big tuna, all of which can be a real handful.

Preparation is the key if you are planning a trip offshore chasing big pelagics. First and foremost is the weather; a light south easter is the best, with a good morning tide and moderate

swell. Next is the gear; where do you start? A favourite for me is the Halco Laser Pro they come in a great range of colours, will run at speed, and you can also get them in a good depth range. Next in the tackle box is a good range of slugs. In this case I look for the River2sea Ultra Flash, with a huge range of colours weights and sizes as well as being armed with good hooks, they are the business.

Soft plastics, skirted bait rigs, ganged hooks and a range

of rigs for floaters and we are almost there. Last but probably most important is a good set of binoculars, as these are essential for spotting bird activity on the surface. Some 15kg line on a Baitrunner and 24kg on the overhead with a good quality leader and we’re all set.

Plan to be up before dawn and have the boat on the water at first light. Crossing the bar in the dark rattles me a bit, so I always wait for first light. Depending on the day I

Abby and Pat Ryan from Sydney with a 53cm tea-leaf trevally, caught at the Sheraton Bridge on a live sand worm.

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Pitzy Folk won the $50 Davo’s Fish of the Week prize with this colourful coronation trout from The Barwon Banks. along the drop offs and rocky ledges, while in the deeper holes give paddle-tail vibes like River2Sea Fish Candy a go. The brighter colours have been getting the best results.

Further downriver, the Cod Hole has again come up with the goods, with some large flathead and trevally on the run-in tide. In the Noosa River, the mouth has again been one of the hotspots; this is an amazing land-based fishing spot and has a great variety of fish to catch. It boasts everything from tailor to flathead as well as mulloway, jacks, and a wide variety of trevally, then there is the bread-and butter species like whiting and bream available for the taking. The run-out tide is one of the best times to plan your attack and if you can time it with an early morning

lizards. The way the river runs down around the island in this area creates the perfect place for these ambush predators to lay in wait. A great way to target a nice flattie is to go upriver and drift back with the tide, making sure your lure, soft plastic or bait is fished hard to the bottom. A little bit of sand or mud disturbance seems to fire these fish up, as well as pulling the bait right past their noses.

Even further upriver, the jack specialists have been on fire. These anglers measure their whole year on that one great mangrove jack, and the Noosa River certainly comes up with the goods. The red devils have been in fine form, ambushing lures and live baits with gusto. The snaggy edges and rocky outcrops that these fish call home

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will head for Sunshine Reef, with the first mate keeping an eye out for bird activity and another eye on the sounder looking for bait.

If you spot a school of bait on the surface, don’t go roaring up and scare the living daylights out of it, or think you are doing the right thing by trolling your lures right through the middle. More often than not you will put the wind up them and they will be off. Just pull up and check which way they are moving; it may be tide-related or the feeding fish underneath pushing them along. Position the boat so they will slowly move towards you. Then it’s out with the slugs and cast into the school of bait.

A fast retrieve and with a bit of luck it will be on for young and old.

If things are a little quiet on the surface front and you are on your favourite reef working the drop offs with trolled lures or skirted baits, if all else fails the good old floater method has been working well. The pelagics at this time of the year can be amazing and well worth the effort.

There have been some great coral trout, along with sweetlip, cobia and the odd snapper on the bottom at Sunshine Reef. If you are heading for the northern reefs, Double Island has been really producing the goods; big knobby snapper and pearl perch have both been on the menu, along with a great

Tony Guilk picked up this 2.9kg tailor in the waters opposite the First Cutting on the Noosa North Shore. range of pelagics. Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa has some great anglers working there; these guys live and breathe the local scene, so have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to point you in the right direction.

In the rivers, the jacks are most definitely on the chew.

In the Maroochy River, the area up past Coolum Creek to the Cane Bridge has been the most productive. Try deep diving hardbodies trolled

or late afternoon, then all the better.

Slugs, soft plastics, dead and live baits have all been responsible for some great captures over the last month. Heading upriver, the area around Gympie Terrace is a favourite for families, and with a tub of worms or yabbies the kids will soon be catching a feed. Up the river further, the area known as The Ski Run has again produced some sensational

can also be the undoing of many an angler, To win the battle, braided lines, heaver leader, sharp hooks, and even sharper reactions are the key.

• Now for all the latest information, log onto www. fishingnoosa.com.au for up-to-date bar and fishing reports, and don’t forget to drop into Davo’s Tackle World Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait and Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting.

Bay bonanza expected RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

The weather along our stretch of coastline has been a bit hit and miss but the fishing has been great.

surface action with some big mahi mahi, and spotted and Spanish mackerel caught, making for great offshore action.

It has been a really good season for mangrove jack thanks in large part to the hot weather we have

in good numbers around Kauri Creek. March last year was on fire with very good reef fishing, plenty of mackerel, and quality weather rewarding anglers.

Let’s hope 2015 is as kind on all fronts.

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

Another quality mahimahi caught on the Keely Rose.

Action a plenty HERVEY BAY

Scott Bradley marlin81@bigpond.com

Plenty of pearl perch, including quality specimens like this one are on the cards for March.

Last month we didn’t manage many offshore trips due to the weather, but on the few occasions we did venture out the fishing was great and we were well rewarded. A good run of snapper kept us busy, as did quality pearl perch, big Moses perch and lot of tuskfish. We’ve also experienced plenty of

been having. Mangrove jack love hot weather, and while the hot conditions have made it uncomfortable for anglers the fish have revelled in it with plenty of fish caught in the creeks throughout the area.

A few golden trevally have been caught at Inskip Point on live bait, while whiting have been caught

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Hervey Bay is full of life at the moment with baitfish, crabs, prawns and squid all competing for food while at the same time trying not to become food themself.

Our local reefs have continued to fish well, so well in fact that if we haven’t come with a feed of coral bream, blackall, or cod, then the trip has been below par by current standards.

PLATYPUS BAY Platypus Bay has been a bit up and down for pelagic action, mac tuna however have been the exception and have delivered plenty of entertainment. My last trip was a couple of weeks ago and while we couldn’t find a longtail we couldn’t get away from the mac tuna. Spotted mackerel have been about and trolling has given us the most success due to scattered nature of the fish. We also recently managed to raise a marlin north of Wathumba Creek, but unfortunately pulled the hooks on it to miss our chance to capture one of these iconic fish. Sharks are still causing grief in the bay, with a 3m tiger shark hovering around our boat during breakfast during a recent overnight trip to Rooneys.

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While it’s exciting to see a predator like this up close they can have a tendency to shutdown the fishing.

UP THE CREEKS Threadfin salmon and barramundi are the main draw card with plenty of fish still being caught. Working the drains, rock bars, and banks looking for fleeing baitfish, or swirls of water from feeding fish is an effective way to locate, and catch fish. Catfish have been a prolific nuisance for bait anglers and are really

Shovel-nosed sharks are the perfect shallow water predator and put up a great fight in the shallows.

Bream can’t resist a small hardbody worked around the rocks. only good for crab bait if you can’t find anything else.

ON THE FLATS The variety and amount of bait around at the moment

is staggering. On the flats and beaches on the mainland and the many islands in the Sandy Straits mullet, hardiheads, herring and prawns are flicking

and breaking the surface in abundance as the move in and out with the tide. Be careful when walking the flats as stingrays, mud crabs, sharks, turtles and shovel nose sharks are there to look out for, and also get the heart racing. Fishing plastics and small hardbodies will attract a wide variety of species with flathead and bream the two most common species to catch. Trevally, grunter and cod are a regular catch when I chase flathead and bream on the flats, with whiting more common when throwing poppers in ultra shallow water. Walking the flats on low tide to identify structure and features such as rocks, oysters, gutters and weed beds will help you find the best areas to fish a high tide, and is a great approach to maximise angling success.

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The bay of plenty FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

Whether it is the beaches of Fraser Island, or the sheltered waters of Hervey Bay, March is a month that can produce plenty of variety.

While Fraser Island’s famous tailor season is still some time off, small choppers are likely to start appearing in small isolated schools, giving us a brief taste of what lies ahead for the coolers months.

As I mentioned last month, the quality and quantity of sand whiting caught during summer suggested a return to the bumper seasons of the past, and is welcome sight for the future.

small blue pilchards, or even halved WA pilchards are the gun baits for bream, while pipis and worms will suffice as a second best option. In good conditions with light winds and limited water movement allowing your bait to drift down through the washes around headlands and coffee rock will bring the best results and larger sized fish.

HOLIDAY MADNESS With Easter school holidays coming up early next month, the island is bracing for its busiest time of the year, with boatloads of visitors expected to visit. Many will be keen anglers and there is every reason to be optimistic about their catches, while others will visit inland attractions like Central Station, Lake

clearance vehicles, particularly if they wish to go inland. Last year’s many breakdowns and vehicle issues were generally associated with one of more of the following.

•Low clearance and/or underpowered vehicles •High tyre pressures •Towing heavily loaded trailers •No recovery helpers eg track mats and shovels •Inadequate 4WD driving skills/experience •Lack of awareness of conditions Hopefully next month we will see trouble free traffic on the island’s major east-west tracks and hassle free commuting to Fraser’s popular lakes.

While most capable long range vessels (and some not so), will head to the offshore

BAG AND SIZE LIMITS OF POPULAR REEF FISH SPECIES...........................................MIN SIZE.............................BAG LIMIT Nannygai (both species) #................... 40cm................................................. 9 Red emperor #..................................... 55cm................................................. 5 Hussar #.............................................. 25cm............................................... 10 Maori sea perch #................................ 25cm................................................. 5 Fingermark........................................... 35cm................................................. 5 Mangrove jack...................................... 35cm................................................. 5 Moses perch #..................................... 25cm................................................. 5 Stripey #.............................................. 25cm................................................. 5 # Coral Reef Fin Fish – combined bag limit 20

Dart equally have been thick in numbers right along the beaches, and is in keeping with their usual abundance, with best results coming from the disturbed water on the edges of deep gutters during the day, and the quiet inshore waters at night. Bream in comparison are thin on the ground, and have been for some time. While bream have been turning up in catches, they haven’t been in great numbers.

Having said that expect them to be active and hungry over the next few months as they build up condition for the winter spawn season.

Frogmouth, white and

McKenzie, Lake Birrabeen and Kingfisher Resort on the western side of the island.

Regretfully many visitors get into trouble on the island, with countless bogged and broken down vehicles a salient reminder of the potential risks when driving on the island.

Visitors need to realise that although a low clearance all-wheel drive will sufficient when driving along the ocean beach in good conditions, its limited ground clearance will make going difficult on the island’s inland tracks. When speaking with prospective visitors I always check that they have reliable, high

grounds north of Hervey Bay, most vessels will choose to fish closer to home, and target the areas within 30 minutes of the launching ramps. Admittedly the inshore fishing doesn’t quite compare to the offshore grounds but the excitement is still there with some excellent fishing to be had. While the inshore options are largely of the light tackle variety they happily offer less pain on the hip pocket when filling up at the fuel bowser.

IN SEARCH OF PERCH With inshore fishing at its best this month, it is time to look at another family of reef fish, this time the sea perches,

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Stripey have a size limit of 25cm, and has a bag limit of five. or more correctly the fish of the Lutjanus genus, a member of the Lutjanidae family. There are over 170 species of sea perch throughout tropical waters, many of which we have in Queensland. The name sea perch is misleading as most members of this group have common names that do not tie in with the sea perch name. Amongst their common characteristics are their well-developed canine teeth and aggressive predatory behaviour.

Many of the group can be found on the deep reefs north of Hervey Bay, and in oceanic water. These include scarlet sea perch (nannygai), red emperor and hussar.

Scarlets and hussar incidently are occasionally caught on our inshore reefs. Mangrove jack (L.argentimaculatus), the premier sport fish of the estuaries, don’t exhibit a preference for shallow inshore reefs, but the larger mature fish are regularly caught on offshore reefs and ledges. One other family member needs to be recognised, and that’s the golden snapper (fingermark).

Fingermark, or spotted scale sea perch, (L.johni) is a popular species in North Queensland, and in recent years has started to be caught in and on Wide Bay’s estuaries and reefs with more regularity. This would appear to be another example

of the changes in the range of fish species due to the increase in water temperature.

Other Lutjanus species that are plentiful on Hervey Bay’s shallow and offshore reefs include Moses perch (L.russelli), stripey (L.carponotatus), and occasionally maori sea-perch.

Moses perch can come in various guises, with colours ranging from dull olive through to light red, while some will have yellow bands, while others none. The common characteristic is the presence of a black spot close to the dorsal

flats. Anglers chasing grass sweetlip and blackall regularly catch Moses perch, an all too common, and generally unwanted by-catch. They are however fun and excellent sport on light tackle, and when hooked put on a brief and energetic fight. Both species have distinct feeding times, with the period just before and after dusk their peak time to feed.

When they are in the mood they will enthusiastically attack just about any bait presented but my preference is for whole hardiheads. I expect

A member of the lutjanid family moses perch have a size limit of 25cm, and a bag limit of five. fin. As its name suggests, the stripey is prominently marked but there is no black spot.

Both species are likely to be found on most coral reefs in Hervey Bay, but they appear to prefer the edges of the reefs rather than the reef

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Wet, windy and wild BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

Bundaberg has had a very windy and wet February with a very traditional wet season rolling through the region. March should see that wet season start to slow and we might actually get a chance to go out the front to do some offshore fishing.

The Burnett has still been fishing well and as long as it doesn’t get too much fresh through it, the river should remain an angler’s paradise.

The grunter have been big and have been found in numbers throughout the river. Bait fishers have had some great success using fresh yabbies and fresh prawns, the lure anglers have been getting their fair share on plastics and vibes.

The trick seems to be on the water without the crowds and fish deeper holes that have schools of bait in them.

I managed to pick up some grunter recently and the plastic I used was the new Gulp Nemesis it didn’t really matter too much what the colour was but I do like more natural colours

in deeper water. There isn’t really too much to think about when fishing deep for grunter, just make sure your offering is on the bottom. I don’t do too much with the plastic, in fact it really is just like bait fishing when using Gulp; just move it a

never now what you’re going to catch with most species happy to eat a well presented plastic. Golden snapper, mangrove jack, flathead and trevally all live and hunt in these holes so don’t be surprise if you come across any of these bad boys.

A decent golden snapper taken while fishing plastics in a deep hole.

Simon Collin with his first grunter caught on a vibe. little and wait for the weight of the fish then lift sharply and hang on.

When fishing plastics in these deeper holes you just

THE BAFFLE With a very big wet early in February the Baffle will run fresh in the upper reaches for months and this

does set itself up for some great fishing next summer.

I would probably not try to fish the upper reaches yet, as there will be jacks there but they will be spread far and wide.

Roger and Sally Ehrlich from Baffle Creek Caravan park reports the mouth has been starting to fish better with a surprising amount of mud crabs being hooked on bait while fishing for other species. The incoming tide with the influx of cleaner water has been the pick of the time to wet a line with a

mixed bag of bream, whiting and flathead being brought back to the park for dinner.

WOODGATE There has been some nice whiting around Woodgate and even a few flathead poking about. The Burrum system has been fishing well and should keep doing so during March.

Mangrove jack, salmon, grunter and barramundi all have been pretty regular captures. Theodolite Creek has been pricing a mixed bag with a few kayak anglers getting amongst jacks and

bream as they paddle around at low tide.

As I write, there is a forecast for a lot of rain for our region and the Sunshine Coast, if this is the case fishing will be postponed for a while. The benefit of a good wet though is the fish get to move around and the river and creeks get a good flush.

As the areas start to freshen up again try fishing the mouths of our systems as the fish will congregate there waiting to move up as the salt starts to move back in.

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53

Great outlook for fishing at Lake Monduran LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

Over the past couple of months this region has experienced a typical wet season with monsoonal troughs, wild storm cells, and heavy rain and humidity dominating the weather.

These conditions have been some of the most extreme that I have experience over the last nine years, and has seen the lake’s water level rise about 1.5m to now be sitting at about 91%. This has made the fishing tough

but the outlook is bright for the coming months. Over the previous few years the lake‘s edges have been fringed by weed beds and lily pads, and have stayed that way until the water dropped, which inturn kills most of the beds and lilies. Thankfully though the rise in water level has seen the aquatic vegetation return, and return in mass, with the spike in growth providing new cover, structure and accompanying fodder for barra.

Typically March, April and May are great months to target barra, with Mondy

Barra typically feeding more aggressively as the water temperature decreases nearing winter. They do this to stack on the body fat to ensure their survival through the colder months. The other great thing about this time of year is that you can spend more time on the water without having to escape the heat of the day.

Late summer and autumn last year produced some of the best fishing I’ve seen at Monduran, and I’m expecting this year to follow suit.

LURE SELECTION When casting to the weed edges, timbered areas and laydowns use a combination of soft plastics and hard body lures. In the soft plastic range the weedless 5” Zerek Flat Shads have been working really well along with the ever reliable Squidgy Pro Range 110 Slick Rig. In the hardbody range the suspending Jackall

Barra schooled up on a point are easy to identify and appear as a solid barra shadow on the sounder.

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Barra love laydowns and can be pinpointed sitting close to or in amongst the limbs of the tree.

Squirrel, floating Zerek Rippin Minnow 110, and Halco Scorpion 90, have all been working well. With the weed beds and lily pads on the return it is also well worth throwing surface lures such as the weedless 4” Z-Man Hard

Leg Frogs, 4” Pop Frogs and Halco Roosta Popper.

SIDE IMAGING SOUNDERS- A MUST HAVE BARRA TOOL Some anglers are somewhat apprehensive when it comes to purchasing

these sounders due to their price tag but the benefits of owning a side imaging sounder far outweigh their initial cost. These sounders allow you to cover a lot of ground searching for schooled barra, but enable

you to do it in a short amount of time. The best way of doing this is by cruising around bays and points at a distance of about 15m or so out from the shoreline or weed edge and at a speed of about 4-6 knots. Then it is just a matter of scanning until you find barra shapes on the sounder. Once found you can then pass again at a slower speed to determine the number of barra in that area and what size these fish are. The next step is to start casting.

Alternatively I like to look a bit further afield before I start casting, aiming to find any additional barra that may be nearby such as on the next point or in the next bay. It’s always a good idea to find the heaviest concentrations of fish first then alternate between these locations.

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Know your nets in tidal waters or get fined Fishers are reminded to use the right type of net when gathering bait in tidal waters or they could net themselves a fine.

Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol (QBFP) district officer Mathew Davidson said a number of fishers had been found to be using old fishing nets and warned fishers to check their nets comply with requirements.

“Old fishing nets found in your grandparents or relatives shed may or may not have been legal back

in the day, but using or possessing them today could end up netting you a large fine,” Mr Davidson said.

“Cast nets cannot have a drop of more than 3.7m and a mesh size of no greater than 28mm.

“Seine nets, commonly known as bait nets, cannot exceed 16m in length and the mesh cannot be greater than 28mm and must not contain a pocket.

“Bait nets can only be dragged through the water and must not be staked or set or joined together to

increase the overall length.

“A scoop or dip net cannot exceed 2m in any dimension and a mesh size at least 25mm. Its handle cannot be longer than 2.5m.”

Mr Davidson said breaching these laws is a serious offence and can attract an on-the-spot fine of $1100 and a maximum penalty of $33,000.

If you suspect illegal fishing, whether seen in person or online, report it to the Fishwatch hotline on 1800 017 116. Don’t

engage the person, as this can compromise an investigation. All information provided to the hotline will be prioritised based on potential fishery risks, accuracy and reliability with an appropriate response formulated.

For more information on Queensland fishing rules, visit www.fisheries. qld.gov.au, call 13 25 23 or download the free ‘Qld Fishing’ app from Apple and Google app stores.

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Getting fresh after rain GLADSTONE

Craige Floyd

One season ends and another now begins with the last half of summer bringing us our substantial rainfall.

Gladstone received plenty of rain and some pretty intense thunderstorms, which contributed to our January rainfall totalling 248.8mm. I’m sure Lake Awoonga catchment area received the same if not more rain than Gladstone, and experienced inflows that saw the lake jump from 97% capacity to an overflowing 106%. Flowing over the dam spillway at a depth of 650mm it led to a mass influx of freshwater in the Boyne River.

LAKE AWOONGA Prior to the rain Lake Awoonga played host to a Barrabasstassic tournament with competitors weighing in 15 barra from the 25 angler field, with the longest measuring 89cm. The catches go to show that there’s still plenty of fish to be caught in Awoonga.

Lake Awoonga now has boat hire right on its doorstep, with Lake Awoonga Boating & Leisure Hire (0457 929 889) hiring vessels of many different types, including 3.5m4.5m smart wave boats, a 21’ BBQ pontoon boat, plus the sale of kayaks. Prices are very affordable, so if you are coming to the Gladstone area and don’t have a boat these are the guys to talk to. They also have a tow-and-go option making for ultimate user friendliness and portability.

BOYNE RIVER The mass amount of water flowing into the upper Boyne River has affected the whole system right down to mouth and it has slowed down the fishing, specifically saltwater species. However fortunately for us we have out two prime river species, mangrove jack and barramundi, which don’t mind the fresh. As a result barra have been the number one target with mangrove jack thrown in as by-catch. This was

Jeff Crane with his Prawnstar winning jack. the plan for me when I fished the Upper Pikes Crossing a few weeks ago. The conditions were like those of the floods two years ago when there were hordes of barra being caught.

Despite many casts I failed to raise a fish. That’s not to say there aren’t any fish present though, reports have come though of the odd barra being caught from the Pikes Crossing causeway, along with some jacks, while hardbodied lures have been the method of choice.

The stretch of the river from the weir to Benaraby has seen some solid metre-plus barra caught, with the majority of them caught at night on live mullet. With the dam dropping back towards 100% capacity and the flow of freshwater in the river beginning to ease the tides will finally give saltwater a chance to push back up the river, which should see plenty of 450-550mm grunter and flathead come out to play.

SOUTH TREE INLET South Tree Inlet hasn’t been affect by the fresh as much as the Boyne with good captures of some stonka sized barra being caught on mullet at the Boyne end and at Toolooa Bends. Grunter and salmon have been in good numbers heading towards Lilleys, with plenty of reports of flathead being caught on soft plastics and live nippers.

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Liam ‘R.B’ Kendall’s 73cm flathead.

OFFSHORE I was able to make it out to Rock Cod Shoals on one of the few weekends that we had good weather and suitable conditions for my 4.55m Polycraft, and I found the fishing good on many levels.

I find drifting the area is the best way to fish the shoal, and caught plenty of legal sized red throat emperor, with a few tuskfish thrown in for good measure.

There were plenty of birds out and about, and being unable to resist a bit of pelagic action I headed off in pursuit and was rewarded with multiple mac tuna. While mac tuna aren’t much of a table fish they are great sport on light line. Masthead Island is fishing much the same way as Rock Cod Shoals with a few extra species such as coral trout, spanglies and grassies adding to the list of fish on offer.

TURKEY BEACH When the wind is up a great spot to check out is Turkey Beach. A location with plenty of sheltered creeks to explore, it offers a lot of angling options, from whiting to tuna on offer in Rodds Bay, snd barra, jack and salmon up the creeks.

While at Turkey Beach not that long ago a few mates and I decided to hold a small comp between us, dubbed, ‘The Prawnstar Classic’.

Basing our comp from our comfortable and affordable holiday rental the objective was to use either car or boat to reach to our fishing destination, and catch the target species, mangrove jack.

Google was used to garner important location information and, despite challenging fishing, it was Jeff Crane’s 42cm fish caught on a live mullet fished from the shore that claimed bragging rights and the winner’s trophy. Matt Prykes 87cm bluefin salmon caught on a Rapala X-Rap was another standout fish from the competition. Liam ‘R.B’ Kendall’s 73cm flathead caught on a Squidgy Slick Rig completed the line up.

MARCH 2015

57

Run off fun ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The rain of January and February has produced some amazing barra fishing and March is building to be red hot for those with barra fever.

The local freshwater barra hot spots in the area have

produced quality fish, while the brackish area continue sto be standout locations to target. The rain has flushed out the prawns and seen a real increase in their abundance, and the king salmon have keyed in on their abundance and are on fire for anglers keen for a salmon hit.

FITZROY AND THE NARROWS King salmon have been

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Another bream falls to a wellpresented Atomic Crank 38. active, especially on the mudflats where the prawns are at their thickest and most active, while barra are equally in numbers and willing to eat. This pattern should continue over the next few months with the river poised to fish well for most species.

The mouth of the Fitzroy has been fishing well despite all the rain and is expected to continue to do so through March. Port Alma has been consistent with anglers fishing the channels and creeks picking up a variety of species including grunter, salmon and barra.

RIVERS, CREEKS AND BEACHES The local creeks leading into the river are still trickling with freshwater run-off, and finding the areas where this inflow meets the saltwater is making for some brilliant fishing. A variety of species can be found in these areas but the most predominant fish is barramundi. Flicking around smaller 5-7cm hardbody lures and fishing live baits are proving the most effective way to catch fish. Many of the fish are smaller barra push up into the fresh to eat and grow big on the plentiful supply of baitfish, but there’s also plenty of bigger fish mixed in amongst them so it pays to be prepared and ready for a big fish to hit your lure.

Barra aren’t the only fish on the menu with saltwater species such as bream and flathead concentrated to the creeks that have the least amount of freshwater, and the most amount of saltwater.

CQ Fishing and Boating Facebook team member Connor with a freshly tagged barra. in pursuit. The Ropes Road crossing is a productive place to throw a lure, with the water flowing through the crossing’s culverts funnelling bait and current through the area. Barra have

Trent with an awesome Woolwash run-off barra.

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FRESHWATER LAGOONS The freshwater lagoons are fishing very well from the recent rain, with bait plentiful and fish actively

The crossing holds plenty of barra that have moved up from the salt, and many of these will get trapped here and in lagoons when the water recedes.

Along with barra there

been positioning themselves in the snags stacked up against the crossing waiting for food to come by, and it’s here that you want to concentrate your efforts.

are plenty of tarpon on offer, and they’re great fun to catch on surface lures due to their aerobatic nature. They’re also generally easy to find and catch making them a great species for those keen for a bit of surface action.

On a recent lure fishing trip with the CQ Fishing and Boating Facebook team, we matched the hatch perfectly in our lure selection using Atomic Hardz Bream Shad and Deep Crank twitched and rolled along the snag line to catch plenty of fish.

The trip illustrated the importance in choosing the correct sized lure and colour to maximise success.

CRABBING The crabbing is predicted to fire up once the flow of water has stopped and is expected to stay that way for the coming months. The crabs should be full to the brim with meat as the recent rain and run-off brought with it lots of nutrients and food.

A pack of mullet heads is hard to go past as crab bait, and is a well-known bait that is inexpensive and plentiful in supply.

Jigging for piscatorial joy YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

Once again this month I have to give Spanish mackerel a mention. Last month, I was concerned that the high level of fresh coming down the river would hold the macks out of the bay.

The combination of tides, current and good weather in between has allowed the bay to remain in pretty good shape. The fantastic run of previous months has continued with more and more Spaniards every time the conditions allow us to chase them. The guys who target mackerel

gets a fair usage. Over the last few weeks we have been giving the jigs a decent workout to compare them to other modes of fishing for the local species. As expected, stuff like cobia, queenies, trevally, all the mackerels and tuna jump all over them when you get the action they prefer.

We have nailed largemouth nannygai, red emperor, coral trout and salmon on jigs lately. The jigs being used aren’t exactly cheap and you can lose a few in a short time when the toothy critters are fighting over the one jig. I went home after losing a few on a good session and decided to look for an economical alternative that would still

Jack Sutton with nice trevally that took a jigged chromie. regularly tend to troll bonito, ribbonfish or gar more than anything else. When the mackerel are a little slow, out come the jigs to liven them up a bit. At present, it doesn’t appear to matter much, trolled lures or baits and floaters are all working.

Doggies or Queensland school mackerel have been available at many of the shallow rubble patches around the southern end of the bay, the main islands or closer offshore grounds at times. Just like the Spaniards, any time the weather is good they are definitely worth targeting for the time being. We have also had constant stream of bait schools that are lingering in the bay and the waters just out past the islands. This may have something to do with the mackerel numbers.

Usually towards the end of March and into April we get a spotted mackerel run. If the other mackerels are any indication then we could be in for a bumper year with them as well.

Micro jigging is becoming more popular all the time. Lots of the locals have at least one outfit that

have the same results.

I checked out and resurrected many of my old chromies and slugs that never really caught a lot as plain ‘off the shelf’ models.

I prettied them up a little by getting rid of the old trebles, hitting them with a splash of colour then putting on an assist hook and a curl-tail, squid or a skirt. The transformation has made a heck of a difference, especially when the fish weren’t actively feeding.

The bit of extra attractant

is doing the trick. Plastic skirts in various sizes are available online for less than 50c each, a new split ring, a hook or two for a dollar, coupled with a little paint or nail polish and you have a comparable jig for $2-3!

By the end of a session I’ll have probably replaced 2-3 jigs and several tails. After a bit of use the jig does look a bit ratty… but the savings of this method instead of buying new jigs more than pays for the fuel on an average day at The Keppels.

It is hard not to repeat myself when I get asked the same questions all the time and I really don’t mind, but the answer to most of the questions is the same. No matter where you fish, if you can find bait schools there is always something that wants to eat them nearby.

Lately we have been giving my little barra boat a caning around the islands or local headlands. The success rate is unbelievable, considering the proximity to Yeppoon and the amount of boats fishing local waters.

We have not fished the same spot twice for well over a year. The common denominator is bait; every spot we have fished has a bait school there.

Try picking an area and keep looking at your sounder until you find the bait schools before settling down to fish. This week we scored snapper and big nannies within a couple of hundred metres of islands.

Funnily enough, there was no real structure evident other than an undulating sandy bottom. The key was the bait school staying balled in the one location. We moved away a little bit and started sending down fresh flesh strips and the results came almost immediately.

Although structure is a very good starting point, the predators will find the baits every time, no matter where they are.

Barramundi have been in top form at many of the local areas from The Fitzroy River, Coorooman Creek,

The Causeway Lake and Corio Bay. The river town reaches are the hard one at the moment with the big brown flow coming from out west. The fish are still there but you have to change tactics to do any good. The guys who fish the city have switched to livies and are working the eddies around the rocks and the bridges adjacent to the fast water.

One or two barra were taken on very bright fluoro plastic vibes. The better part of the river has been down towards Port Alma through to Connor’s and into The Narrows.

Coorooman Creek seems to be going better up the back around the rock areas at low tide then along the mangrove edges as the tide is rising.

The Causeway is by far at its best when the run through is happening, although the deeper holes will hold fish most of the time.

Rosslyn Bay Harbour has plenty of barra in around the jetties and structures.

Lures are probably the better option because you can cover plenty of spots quickly. On saying that, live baits are always good for

A fun-sized queenie the author took casting a plastic barramundi. If you pick a good structure to set your livies there is a chance of a golden snapper (fingermark) and cod as by-catch.

Ross Creek has had a fine show of barra this month and the spots where the storm runoff water spills in are prime (not real safe during the storms).

Behind the Seagulls ground and back towards the old sugar wharf have had some quality barramundi and the odd mangrove jack.

Corio is running fairly fresh right out to the front.

This has never deterred the barra much and they are still showing right up as far as Stoney Creek and the rock down from the Waterpark crossing.

Structure is everything and wherever there is significant structure in any of our systems there is a good chance of a barra.

Bonito

There are loads of queenfish about at the moment. The islands, the headlands and Corio are the places to go if you want to have the best fun on light gear. Queenies are a very clean fighter, giving anyone a fighting chance on quite light gear. Queenfish will take either lures or live baits.

Over the years, poppers were the favourite and now a range of divers and plastics seem to be the best choice.

While the schools of white bait have moved in, try to match them with a white or natural coloured plastic with as light a head as you can cast and still get down a bit. Work the plastics in close to the headlands or around the baits. Often they are a dead giveaway as you can see them smashing bait along the heads or beaches.

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59

Rain glorious rain MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

The wet season has arrived with plenty of rain giving all our saltwater and freshwater systems a good flush out, scouring out new banks, covering some old sand banks, and importantly giving all the systems a new lease of life with plenty of bait and that is always good for the fishery.

The big news around Mackay, like it has been for many of the east coast locations, is the great barra fishing that’s been around since the season opened. Regardless of whether it’s live bait or lures anglers have been having a ball with good numbers and sizes of barra being caught in almost every saltwater creek in the district.

BARRA BOUNTY After the huge February tides, the estuaries and creeks will settle down and will alternate between clear and discoloured water, depending of course on the amount of rain and run-off. Where small gullies and drains run into the main creeks, having a cast in the discoloured water for barra is always worth a shot. For the

60

MARCH 2015

live bait anglers, this is the spot to lob a couple of live prawns up into the gully and slowly let the bait drift out into the main stream.

The rains have seen good numbers of prawns in the creeks and they are an excellent live or fresh bait for just about anything that swims.

One of the down sides of live prawns is that every undersize bream or grunter will snaffle them, which can get a bit frustrating at times. Other good live baits are small mullet and whiting which don’t attract the ‘pickers’ like prawns do.

Good barra have been showing up right in the centre of Mackay with some nice fish falling to live baits under the Forgan Bridge, but a better bet is the highway bridge further upstream. The rocks just near the bridge can be accessed on foot on the lower parts of the tide, but to fish the bridge itself a boat is needed.

Around the rocks is a top spot for lure fishing on a falling tide, and even more so at night with the bridge lights casting shadows on the water. Paddletails, plastic prawns and vibes will all score well here but many lures are lost on the rocks, Rigging weedless will reduce the losses though, and floating/diving hardbodies are

also popular.

Downstream at the vee has been surprisingly quieter than the bridges, with this usually reliable spot known for producing horse barra, with metre-plus fish a regular capture on the run-out.

Plenty of quality barra have been caught in the Cape Palmerston creeks and Sarina Inlet/Plane Creek has also been fishing well for barra. To the north, the usual spots of Reliance, Constant, and Murray creeks have all produced good numbers and sizes of barra on both live bait and lures. Constant Creek’s King Hole is once again proving to be a hot spot for barra and king salmon.

DAM IT! The dams have also been firing well with some absolute horses coming from Kinchant Dam while Teemburra Dam is fishing more reliably than during the later part of 2014 when it was a bit hit and miss.

Persistence definitely pays off when barra fishing the dams, and it pays putting in plenty of time on a prominent headland as the barra will be there or will move into these areas from deeper water nearby.

Those anglers who have side scan imaging sounders are amazed at the numbers

Vibes are really catching on and Aaron Sturdy used a slow lift and drop retrieve over some rubble in Constant Creek to tempt this 45cm grunter. and sizes of big fish in our dams and regular stockings by MAFSA are helping to keep it that way. MTA regular Phil Lyons has had a couple of ripper sessions at Teemburra lately boating 10-20 barra per session, and up to 110cm in size, which is pretty hot barra fishing anywhere. Phil’s tip is to use black and gold Squidgies slow rolled around the prominent points where there is good weed growth. It’s not all about the barra though with some monster sooties being caught on barra gear. It won’t be long before someone confirms a 60cm+ sooty, as mid 50s fish seem to be relatively commonplace (even though I still haven’t broken my personal 50cm barrier).

By the time this issue hits the stands, MAFSA should have the sooty breeding season underway, with hatchery director Kieron Galletly confident the upgraded and modernised equipment will see his target of 60,000 sooties achieved this summer. Thanks to great support from Wests Tigers Mackay RLFC, MAFSA now has state-of-art monitoring equipment that will give real time data on the hatchery environment and hopefully provide sufficent warning when things go awry to avert a disaster. Fingers-crossed for successful spawning.

IN THE CREEKS Down in the creeks the jacks have been going bananas with some nice fish coming from the bridges in the Pioneer River on live baits. Elsewhere the jacks are hammering livies and lures in the top reaches of Murray and St Helens area creeks, with good numbers also being reported around Seaforth. Many jacks can be found in the smaller creeks in the area, like McReadys and Bakers Creeks near Mackay, but these can be hard to fish as they tend to be almost dry on low tide.

Grunter have also been on fire in the estuaries and

creeks and I expect this will continue through March and April. They favour gravel beds

also known are the mouth of the Pioneer River, the harbour beaches and around the Eimeo/

Kelsey Hassan cradles a magnificent saltie that measured a whisker over 120cm, and after a quick photo the big girl was revived and she swam away strongly. and anywhere there is a bit of rubble on the bottom and they forage among the rocks/ rubble looking for small crabs and fish. They can also be taken on top of rock walls at high tide when they will move right up into shallow water to forage, but they are skittish and a quiet approach is needed when targeting them there.

March often sees the Mackay area deluged and that situation makes fishing difficult but not impossible.

The beaches can fish quite well during these periods of flooding and snub nose dart or permit are one fish that seems to thrive on this dirty weather. Hot spots for the dart or oyster crackers as they are

Shoal Point areas. I think with the rough weather they more easily get a feed of the small pipis (eugaries) we have in this region, but most of the catches seem to be on live whiting or a bunch of prawns or yabbies.

They are well worth checking out and a talk with the guys in the local tackle outlets will put you on the right track.

Offshore fishing is very weather dependant and there will be a lot of time during March when the big rigs are sitting on trailers instead of heading out to sea, but regardless of the weather Mackay always has angling opportunities and plenty of variety. See you at the ramp.

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Northern Territory… one word: WOW! COME VISIT

As for the accommodation, there is plenty in Stanage, from Plumtree to Alligator Bay and Alligator Point. There is accommodation for everyone, however Stanage is primarily a fishing and crabbing township, if you

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Cnr Cross & Wickham Street Gympie, QLD, 4570 Phone: (07) 5482 2135 Fax: (07) 5482 7920 www.watsonsmarine.com.au

REIBEL MARINE

The Stanage Road over the past month has been opening and closing just like that. With the blink of an eye and a storm in the right spot, the road can be flooded again in no time at all.

Rocky for a day trip, that have parked beside a creek on the side of the road and to see them pulling in barra.

ESTUARY Thirsty Sound running into Broad Sound has already been quite fruitful with barra. The golden snapper (fingermark) and mangrove jack are still hiding in the snags in

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Barramundi are on the chew at the moment, so if you’re coming to Stanage make sure you pack your barra tackle!

My suggestion to any adventures travelling to Stanage Bay would be to come prepared for the worst at this time of year.

Bring your light camping gear, repellent, food, drinks and, of course, your barra rod and reel with an assortment of lures. There

creeks that are blocked off by a bar at the mouth.

If you want fish, be prepared to do the hard yards and sit the low tide out up in the creeks. Berley is extremely helpful and it’s also helpful to have plenty of different sizes and shapes in the lure department.

are not interested in going in a boat, it’s likely you won’t have a happy holiday.

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The reefs and islands have been fairly quiet, but if you can sneak out there is plenty of line-burning action to be had. are plenty of creeks that run under the road as well as over the road, and yes, the barra travel both up and down them at this time of year. It’s nothing to drive passed anglers up from

REEFS AND ISLANDS The reefs and islands have been quiet once again, but with plenty of show in terms of storm action. The lightning shows and thunder was like that of the

monitor my Facebook, so it is crucial that any queries come direct to my email address, www. stanagebay.com and you can get some info at www. justfishingstanage.com.

MARCH 2015

63

News Do people release fish more nowadays?

Over the years the industry and fishers have pushed the catch and release message across the country. So the big question is, has that effort made a difference?

In order to begin to answer that question, we will look at one of the most popular recreation species

– barramundi. Records for barramundi go all the way back to the mid-1980s so they date back to the time when keeping barra was the way to go.

The magic number we are looking at is the percentage of legal barra that have been recaptured

by general public and released. Back in the 1980s that rate was around 10%, so that means 90% of legal barra were kept. Today that rate is around 50% so half the legal fish captured are returned to the system.

Can’t get away from the tagged fish If you are looking to catch a tagged fish there are parts of state where it’s more likely than not depending on the species. On numbers, barramundi, bass and dusky flathead are the most likely candidates.

One family managed to bag out on tagged fish for a species that are one of the least likely captured. Fishing in the Daintree River, they managed to recapture no less than 14 crimson snapper over two trips.

They must have been doing something right because five of those recaptured on the first trip decided to come back on the second.

There may be tag bias here. Fishers may be more likely to release a fish with a tag in it but it’s still a significant result. It is almost certain that barra are handled in a more sustainable way.

The rain is good for more than the grass If you are having trouble keeping up with the weekend mowing duties you aren’t alone. So has the rain been enough to help out the fish?

Many of our higher order predators such as bass, barra, mulloway and threadfin rely on summer rains as a part of the breeding cycle. The problem is, it’s the resulting river flows and changes in salinity that matter. With all of the impoundments and weirs we have added to

our river systems to trap rain it’s only when we get significant rains that river flows happen.

So how much river flow

is enough? That is one of the big questions the tagging program is trying to answer in Brisbane.

Looking at the flow

records from DNRM for the Brisbane River consistent rain has not affected the flows. That changed in the last weeks of January when the skies opened and dumped heavy rain over much of Brisbane.

Now it’s over to the fishers. There will be a lot of effort over the next couple of months to detect juvenile threadfin and mulloway and hopefully give us a better idea if the rainfall we have had is enough.

The winners are the mulloway Slow growth in Lake Somerset Recently a bass was recaptured that had been out for just under 18 years. In the 6176 days it was out it grew from 265mm to 410mm, a rate of around 10mm per year.

It has wandered around the lake all that time and survived the dry times when the dam got down to around 20% or less.

The bass was tagged by Gordon Macdonald and recaptured by Cristian Manolea. Photos are showing the size of the fish and are not of the actual fish.

64

MARCH 2015

Fishing tournaments are big part of the fishing year. These days there

is a lot of sponsorship and prizes to be won and with it the boats

and technology have improved out of sight.

Most who enter dream of winning the tournament but what if the winner was the fish, not the fisher?

A new tournament in Brisbane is taking that challenge head on.

Known as the Mulloway Marathon, the simple objective is to tag as many mulloway as possible in 39 hours. As simple as that sounds there has

been a ton of science going into the design to ensure the data collected is as robust as possible.

In years to come the data will be used to help track and predict their stocks.

There will still be awards for the fishers but it’s the mulloway that will be the real winners.

You can follow the Mulloway Marathon at www.mullowaymarathon. com.au.

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MARCH 2015

65

March madness kicks off fishing on the reefs WHITSUNDAYS

Luke Griffiths

Some serious wind and some rain with minor flooding kicked off February, making for a not so enjoyable start to the month.

After a lot of rain it is an issue we boaties often face. What is often not thought about is the

debris floating around that floodwaters carry out to the ocean. You should always keep a proper lookout while motoring around, but even more so after, or during large rainfall periods.

Hitting some of this debris could bring an ugly end to your trip.

With the small floods came the opening of the barra season. We have seen some nice fish being caught

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in the local estuaries and rivers. The most productive times for these fish is early morning or late afternoon, however you can still catch them during the day, but the numbers have been greater during the earlier and later periods.

The most common way the barramundi are targeted is casting lures and plastics at snags, and also the deep holes at the bottom of the tide. Although, the old fashioned live mullet is also very productive.

Quite often you can sight cast your artificials to these fish making for an exciting hunt. Barramundi are an excellent fighting fish and are great fun to target.

Another good option while targeting barra is to soak a few crab pots, especially as there are still good numbers of mud crabs around. At the end of the day it is a fantastic sight to have a few muddies on board for a tasty dinner that night. Love a good old North Queensland lollypop (crab nipper for all you southerners!)

Out wide the golden snapper (fingermark) have really been biting hard and should continue into March, which is very exciting for us as they are a beautiful fish and equally as beautiful on the dinner plate. They are a notoriously hard-fighting fish that can give you some serious curry! Be prepared for an awesome fight!

Fingermark to 75cm have been landed, but no matter the size they will give you some hurt.

We have been having great success fishing the incoming tide on the wide reefs and shoals. Fishing simple paternoster rigs, loaded with flesh baits are enticing these hard fighters to bite. Live baits have been working well also, but just require a little more patience.

You may not get as

Andrew holding a great golden snapper (fingermark) caught on live bait. many bites, but when you do you know it’s going to be cracking fish. A good idea to catch your live bait is to rig a rod with a small bait jig consisting of several hooks and a sinker on the bottom, and on your way out stop by some fringing reefs and shallow bommies and drop your bait jig in around them. It doesn’t take long to get a few live baits then you are on your way again.

As for rigging live baits for the bottom, a paternoster rig will suffice.

Position your hook just through the top of the back more towards the head, as a lot of the bottom dwelling species will eat a bait head first as opposed to a lot of the pelagic species.

Live hussar have been the go for us, and have been the downfall of a lot of nice reef fish, including nannygai, coral trout

especially the fingermark.

Some nice nannygai are still being caught and we should continue seeing these fish into March.

Fishing these styles will net you a good bag of fish, but only take what you need, which can be hard to get when the sharks are hungry too. It is a good idea to move if you start losing a lot of fish to sharks. This will be good for your fish tally and even better for

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MARCH 2015

Alvin holding one of the many largemouth nannygai fooled by live baits.

your hip pocket as they tend to take your rigs with the fish also.

Practice safe boating if you intend on heading out on the water this month.

Remember to keep an eye out for logs and other debris especially after plenty of

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Sharon Jordan caught this beautiful just-legal flathead casting soft plastics at Jumpinpin on the Gold Coast.

Pam with a delicious fingermark and black jew caught on her first ever fishing trip!

Renee with a solid fingermark that truly stretched her arms!

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MARCH 2015

67

Alva action as barra season opens for the new season. I live on the main route to a number of ramps in the district and vehicles towing boats were trundling past throughout the day. The only bright spot seems to have been the inlet at Alva Beach where anglers fishing throughout the day and into the night reportedly landed barra to 90cm. Isn’t it interesting that one of the most easily accessible spots has produced the best fishing

AYR

Steve Farmer

The Burdekin barra season started slowly this year with most anglers hitting the water for the midday opening failing to register a single fish.

From reports and from what I saw there were plenty of anglers out and about trying to open their barra account

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with the least amount of effort?

It just goes to show what a funny game fishing can be.

GOING LIVE The word is that the successful anglers at Alva targeted the deeper sections of this largely shallow inlet with live baits, with live mullet baits fished from the beach producing the best results.

The incredibly hot and humid weather might have fired up the barra, but the hard start to the season meant that anyone who did score a barra certainly earned their prize. The small amount of freshwater in the river a few weeks earlier may have seen the barra move position within the system before the season opened, but then again there’s a host of possible reasons why the fishing was hard.

While the rain was a good start we definitely need a lot more, because as they say ‘a drought on the land means drought in the water’ so more is required to set things in good stead for now and the future.

Up until the fresh hit (which muddied a number of the local estuaries) mangrove jack were fishing well in most creeks, with fish in the high 40cm range not uncommon.

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Fingermark were, and still are, high on the menu for anglers prepared to fish areas with bottom features such as rubble, mud ledges or snags, with most anglers who consistently catch fingermark targeting these areas at night.

Live or very fresh dead baits of herring, mullet and squid have been the most effective baits to use.

The good old flathead has been fishing well lately, especially on the larger tides, and I expect them to continue to do so for the first few months of the year. Fish the top of these big tides and you’ll find the lizards right up in the shallows, feeding over freshly flooded ground. I recently scored my biggest dusky to date in around 100mm of water at Phillips Camp. The lizard took a pink Micro Mullet and gave a slow solid fight that you would expect of a big flattie. With two smaller fish already in the esky I tried to revive the big girl, but by the time I got her unhooked and back in knee-deep water it was too late.

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This lizard measured 71cm and took a Micro Mullet at Phillips Camp. time in the great outdoors, often fishing and exploring spots which are a little further afield. The four-day break is the first weekend in April and is only a few weeks away so it’s time to start getting ready.

A little preparation can make a big difference to your long weekend and now’s the time to get cracking.

Begin with your vehicle.

Have it serviced if necessary or at least check the basics like oil and water. Check your tyre pressures and add a few extra PSI (as per your vehicle manual) to the rear tyres if you’re towing or carrying a big load. And don’t forget the spare.

If you’re planning a longer trip, or if you regularly submerge your trailer at the ramp, it’s worth checking and possibly re-greasing your trailer wheel bearings. Replace the bearings if they are at all rusty. Reliable tail lights are a must-have on your trailer, so check them well before Easter.

I would suggest ditching the old technology and fitting LED taillights for maximum reliability.

Also check the pressure and general condition of your trailer tyres and if they are more than six years old consider replacing them. Tyres deteriorate with age and while they may look like brand new they can be ready to fail, especially on a long trip. Having said that, make sure you have a jack,

wheel spanners and a good spare and that the trailer wheel nuts are not rusted solid.

You should also grease your winch and check your winch rope for damage. Ensure you have a safety chain connected to the boat with a shackle that is in good order and that can be easily connected and disconnected on the ramp.

BOAT READY When it comes to the boat, have the outboard serviced if it is due and at the very least test-run all motors in the backyard, checking that the water pump tell tale is clear and has good flow. Don’t be tempted to fuel up before leaving home as this just means you’re carrying extra weight for no gain. Carry whatever oil you use and fuel up at, or closer to your fishing destination. Check the water level in your battery and charge it, and make sure the terminals are clean, and that all the lights and electronics on the boat work.

Ensure you have whatever safety gear is legally required for the water (e.g. partiallysmooth, smooth, open) you plan to fish and make sure your flares and EPIRB are in date.

Don’t forget the marine park zoning maps for the area you plan to fish. Do your preparation early and you’ll be able to hitch up the boat and hit the road with confidence. Easter can be a great time to be on the water so get out there and explore and fish somewhere new.

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MARCH 2015

Barra start with a bang TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Barra season is now in full swing, and the rivers and headlands will be full of fishers soaking livies, trolling and casting lures around all the usual spots.

It has been great to see that the majority of people have been doing the right thing over the closure and not targeting them. Obviously, no one can help the by-cacth and we have incidentally hooked barra in some of the most unexpected areas on some of the most ridiculous sized lures imaginable over the last few months.

The opening was a ball when we did start to target them. All of the local rivers should be producing, and the only uncertainty at the moment is the rain and the amount of it we may get. So far, we have missed out on the cyclones, but that could happen any time, and as far as I’m concerned, bring it on! The barra need this influx of freshwater to help with spawning, but there are so many other species that rely on the floods to set up for a healthy season, namely prawns and crabs.

TROLLING Slow trolling steep timbered banks is just one technique for getting amongst some serious sized barra, and even though it’s not my preferred technique to catch a barra, there is no doubt it’s very effective.

Rock bars and undulating bottom contours are a prime spot for some big fish to hold during times of tide movement, and as they sit down below the main water flow, any food item that comes within striking distance and hangs around for a second too long will be pushing its luck.

Deeper water holds

bigger fish, but reaching them can be the challenge if your lures aren’t up to the task.

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the Halco 125 Scorpion 5m, and not far behind that is the Halco Poltergiest and 4m 90mm Scorpion, but the difference in where I prefer to use each one is quite contrasting. Scattered timber and snags, deep mud banks, rock bars and drop-offs, I use the 125 Scorpians, and troll them on a fairly stiff rod to allow a solid hook set on the strike. Bouncing the bib into the bottom structure every now and then means that you are in the right spot.

Constantly ploughing the bottom isn’t going to be ideal though, and if this happens just wind some line in until you only touch down every now and then.

With any trolling in rivers, a sounder is going to be a very important tool, and apart from finding fish to start with, it will also allow you to estimate the distance between your lure and your boat. The gives the angler the exact timing on when to slow the speed and start the twitching and tapping of the rod tip to walk the lure in an injured way as close to the snags as you can get. If you have side scan in your boat, you already have a head start on other anglers, and keeping an eye on your sounder will help you discover snags that would be otherwise undetectable.

CASTING The lone snags often hold the mother load, and the one old tree in the paddock theory once again rings true.

For those who haven’t heard of this analogy, it basically relates to cattle in open expanses of cleared paddocks, and the irresistible appeal one tree has to them in that area.

Being structure oriented, barra have the same compulsion, and a snag out

on its own will be a holding point for travelling fish during certain stages of the tide, and some will often hold fish at all stages of the tide if they’re deep enough.

Trolling at high tide is the best approach for the reachable snags, but as the water recedes, coming back, holding on the electric and casting the same snag may be the better approach. There are a couple of reasons for the change in tactic, and obviously with less water over the snags, the more inclined fish will spook more as the boat passes overhead.

I now have a Lowrance HDS 7 in the old Polycraft, and boy, hasn’t it opened up a whole new world for me.

If I am looking at a snag from 10-20m away I’m not spooking fish, but I can also split the screen to GPS to monitor both snag location and fish, so I can hold very precisely while I work the snag thoroughly. Add in the Minn Kota iPilot with Spot Lock ability, and all of a sudden it’s an effortless task to fish otherwise difficult structure.

CASTING THE SNAGS This is one technique that will always stay the same, and my preferred way to catch barra if conditions are right.

Putting a lure next to structure and waddling and twitching it out, and then getting it eaten right in front of your eyes before then trying like hell to get that thing out of there gets me so excited.

I like slowly floating or almost neutrally buoyant lures for casting and use the lure speed and water current to manoeuvre the lure to the best depth and position of a snag. I try to get as close as possible without the treble grabbing timber and hanging up.

The old and new Laser Pro 120 is ideal for this approach, as is the 105 and

This 125mm Scorpion was absolutely engulfed by this hungry barra on the troll.

123mm Halco Hammas, but when the snag is suspended over deeper water, the 90mm Scorpion with the 4m bib is just perfect for diving back up and underneath structure when the fish are holding down further.

GOOD LUCK So that’s it for the traditional type scenarios, next month I’ll cover soft

vibes and soft plastic rigs and styles for those who want to add another technique to their bag of tricks if they aren’t already doing it.

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69

Rain, rain come again LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

How much rain we get over February and into March will dictate terms in how many fishing options are at our disposal.

So far the wet season has not kicked in yet, and while the temperature has been excruciatingly hot and with humidity that you could cut with a knife the mass onslaught of rain is still yet to come. What rain we have had has been short and sweet.

In saying that the latest news and forecasts are looking like the wet season is about to kick into gear. Bring it on I say, as the bigger the wet, the better the fishing for the rest of the year.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL Myconfidence is up as I have landed some nice barra since the season opened, but I still remain concerned the closed season in QLD just doesn’t make sense. Our wettest months are always Feb and March meaning barra are not getting the best chance at a good breeding cycle. I have no idea why are our laws are seemingly out of step with the barra’s breeding cycle and the wet season, but I’m assuming Fisheries have some reasoning behind it. I personally believe the closed season should be December to March, with the extra month over the current closed season giving barra more time to spawn without being harassed by anglers. Anyway enough of my thoughts on fisheries management.

Lobbing lures into the drains flooding out of the mangroves is producing plenty of barra in the 50-65cm range with the odd 70cm+ model thrown in to keep you

on your toes. Gold Bombers are still the go-to lure in this situation, really all that needs to be done is to land the lure right in the middle of the drain and crank it back with the odd pause. Even landing the lure on the mud bank is fine.

GETTING STARTED For anglers wanting to get into chasing barra, and other species, on lures and fly then targeting the drains in the creeks is the easiest and most productive way of getting fish. Z-Man 4” Swimmerz or Berkley Powerbaits rigged on 1/4 ounce jigheads and slow rolled out of the drain will get eaten if you throw it enough.

Fishing drains located in small creek offshoot on the first couple of hours of the run out tide is a great place and time to begin.

Drag settings are very important in helping stay connected once you hook a

drag to set the hook, but if you have too much drag you run the risk of ripping the lure out of the fish’s mouth when they take the first couple of powerful runs. If possible just let the fish run and keep the rod tip low. The low rod tip will help minimise them jumping and reduces the likelihood of pulling hooks.

Barra are brilliant at throwing your lure straight back at you, especially when they take to the air with their head shaking, gill rattling jumps.

Barra really are a spectacular fish, so take care of them, respect them, and show plenty of care when you are releasing them. Always support their weight and never just hang them from the jaw. Barra 60-70cm in length have amazing white fillets, and when covered in golden batter and served with a cold beer is pure dinning

Nothing beats the polished chrome of barra. common. Night sessions up the channel fishing rubbly conglomerate bottom with fresh herring, squid and prawns should see plenty of fish caught. A really good tip for sinking the hook into a

Coral trout can’t resist Gulp…simply drop it to the bottom and hang on. fish. I like to use a mid-range setting and use my fingers on the spool to put more pressure if needed. You want enough

perfection.

Grunter captures have been getting better and fish in the 50-70cm range are quite

grunter is to give them a little line when they first bite. This allows them to take the bait all the way in their mouth

before you set the hook. Bait feeder style reels matched with light tipped rods are perfect when chasing grunter.

The same grounds may also offer fingermark and if you’re really lucky maybe a black jew or threadfin salmon. For visiting anglers looking for somewhere to start head over to The Bluff at the southern end of the channel, there is plenty of great ground there that holds plenty of great fish.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF The jetty has been dishing out its usual punishment for anglers, with GT angry, hungry, and willing to terrorise bait and lures without too much convincing. I, and many others have spent plenty of enjoyable afternoons and evenings ‘blooping’ poppers through the ‘pillars of pain’.

To give the arms a rest from the rampaging GT drifting and bouncing soft plastics and vibes on the bottom is a great way to hooked up to a fingermark. Gulp 7” Jerkshads are like lollies to fingermark, closely followed

by Squid Vicious. Rig them on strong jigheads and make sure they are getting to the bottom.

Reef reports have been pretty good, but as usual some reefs and areas are fishing better than others.

The water is warm at the moment so fishing deeper should push odds in your favour, especially in the middle of the day. While reds are firing at night for anglers keen to fish after dark with quality baits.

Take care with the unstable weather conditions that is all too regular this time of the year, and remember the weather predictions can be wrong.

We had another trip out wide last month and had fun with green jobfish, GT, dogtooth tuna, and trout caught on jigs. I have heard of a few boats getting some big blacks as well and I believe my next trip out will see me having a go even though I’m currently under gunned in the tackle department. But then again I’ve always liked an angling challenge. So with an eye on the weather and a hope for some serious rain let’s see what Mother Nature has in-store for us weatherwise in March. Fingers-crossed she brings rain, and plenty of it.

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HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

Last month there was still no monsoonal rain for North Queensland. I think we will get some rain but it will be late just like last year. It would certainly be nice if we went back into our proper wet seasons, but I’m not holding my breath.

Central Queensland’s

fishery should prosper with the Fitroy River flooding a couple of times already. The Fitzroy is basically a big run off catchment that drains all the rain from inland storms.

In cycles where the monsoon is slack, Central Queensland will benefit thanks to the heat lows and associated trough lines that come with this kind of weather pattern, not to mention the excessive heat this year helping the storms develop. It all comes

in cycles and depending on the annual weather patterns it will determine which part of the coast will flourish the best. Fingers-crossed we will get our rains soon too.

In saying this, our barra season did not go off with a bang accordingly, although further south is doing well thanks to the rivers getting a good flush in January. The large tides and northwest winds were not much help up here either, so I’m looking

Lex with his first metre barra caught at Hinchinbrook.

forward to it improving, as the tides get better shortly.

Another problem for live bait anglers has been the influx of sharks both big and small. It has been hard for many anglers to keep a livey in the water thanks to the sharks running riot at the moment.

But it’s not all doom and gloom as we will see the barra pick up very soon and we certainly can’t complain as other species have been fishing pretty well.

There has been some good reports of golden snapper on the deeper headlands out past Missionary Bay. The evening hours has been the best time and if you’re thinking about doing it then set yourself up a squid light so you can catch live squid and even jig for herring under the light as well. Both baits when live are exceptional.

You can also fish with soft vibes and plastics under the squid light too. Remember to drop your plastics right to the bottom, don’t just jig it under the light.

Some good reports of big grunter have come from the deeper waters around the islands. Search the deep water by day and the shallows at night is a little tip

Steve Clarke with a nice Hinchinbrook barra. worth remembering. Anglers who are night fishing for grunter and golden snapper can also run into the black jewfish at this time of year, especially if you’re fishing out around the headlands and islands. Either way whatever you catch at night you are always best to use live squid and herring. They are always number one choice for me and I’m sure number one for the fish too.

A warning to fishers that we are having a bad run with the box jellies again this year, so don’t wade in dirty coastal water as its not worth the pain. This is our second really bad year in a row for them as they are loving these hot northerly winds.

Fishing in March will be dependant on what happens.

This could be the month that we do see some rain with a

low or cyclone. If it rains, it will keep us off the water momentarily but will be a great benefit to the fishery at the same time.

Barra will be the most targeted fish during March as usual, with mangrove jack hot on their heels. Offshore fishing in March is never the best traditionally, but you could still get some reasonable sessions if you fish the making tides up to both moons.

A big thanks to all our new students joining our Barra Basics e-course and we will catch you all next month.

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MARCH 2015

71

March when you can CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

March is traditionally the wettest month of the year in Cairns and the late start to the wet season doesn’t look great for fishing this month, but, when the chances come to wet a line this month, make the most of them.

The skies finally opened up at the end of the first week in February with some serious rainfall totals, which is great for the overall fishery but frustrating in the short term. The fishing was pretty good up until the serious rain arrived, with plenty of golden snapper on the chew along the coast and surprisingly quite a few mackerel, both doggies and Spaniards being caught around the inshore wrecks.

The reef has been hot and cold, with some anglers returning to port empty handed, while others have done quite well. Trout, largemouth nannygai and the odd red emperor have been the best of the reef fish, with quality outstripping quantity by a fair margin.

The barra season opened with spectacular weather and plenty of anglers were out giving it a go. There were early reports of scattered success but no cricket scores have come to light so far.

Luring the headlands, up until the skies opened up, was very popular but not overly productive.

Live baiting for barra will be a more consistent plan of attack until the water

settles down again. Live mullet, sardines, mud herring and prawns are all proven barra baits and generally speaking big baits equate to big fish. Getting your hands on large livies can be a bit of a challenge at times, so a good fall-back position is to put a number of small baits on the same hook. Try and place them on the hook so they face different directions, as this causes them to be more vigorous as they fight against each other to stay upright. If you put them on the hook all facing the same direction they tend to be fairly passive and won’t attract a barra’s attention as readily. Generally, the bigger fish will be down around the

weather, so if the streams are running high and the water dirty then they are one fish that will still be feeding actively. The good old half a pilchard is one of the top baits for jacks in really dirty water, as it puts out a strong scent and jacks just love them. It is also worth having a small live bait out as well, as this will not only attract jacks but keep you in with a chance of nailing a barra.

Any areas of heavy cover, with rocks or timber, are a great place to find jacks. Just as the current eases off or starts up after a slack period of the tide are when they tend to go into overdrive, so plan your trip around a change of tide. If you are

Jasmin Bailey caught this trophy GT while out doing a bit of R&D with her father Kerry, owner of Blackout Sportsfishing. mouths of systems and along the headlands, with smaller barra way upstream.

Mangrove jack is one species that revels the dirty

struggling to latch onto a jack while bait fishing, then up anchor and go flicking the heavy county with small soft plastics, imitation prawns

There have been plenty of quality golden snapper on the chew along the coast. and hardbodied lures until you find a nest of them.

Jacks are seldom solo and tend to congregate in small schools, so one fish will often mean a few.

Bait soakers will also find the odd grunter, bream, trevally and estuary cod once the water starts to clean up again. They tend to disappear when the water is too fresh but once the clean water pushes back into the systems they will be on the bite. The best approach is to fish near the mouth in the last half of the rising tide, as the fish will come in with the clean water.

Cairns Inlet is a good place to fish when everywhere else is flooded, as it can take a lot more rain than the surrounding rivers.

One of the annoying aspects of wet season fishing is the dominance of vermin over quality fish. Small sharks, rays and catfish can be a pest at times but if you preserver the odd good table fish will be among the rubbish.

The beach creeks reopened in early February

and let’s hope they stay open a bit longer than they did over the festive season. Deep Creek at Kewarra Beach re-opened in spectacular fashion, cutting a new mouth well north of the old one and pushing a pile of trees and mangroves out to sea. The very deep entrance created should make for some top fishing, if it keeps its depth and so will the trees washed out from the mouth.

Crabs and prawns should be on the move with all the rain, so don’t forget to factor these delicious morsels into your plan of attack whenever there is a patch of fine weather.

Last March saw some impressive reef catches of trout, largemouth nannygai and red emperor but that is a bit outside the norm for this time of year. Reef fishing will be worth a go if the weather gods allow but be very careful when moving about, as there will be plenty of logs floating after the flush out. Usually this month sees quality fish ahead of

quantity but the big catches won’t be far off, as the waters begin to cool. Coral trout and largemouth nannygai will be the main players with a sprinkling of red emperor, spangled emperor, reef jacks and cod to colour up the esky.

Giant trevally have been around in large schools with some real monsters over the 50kg mark amongst the packs. Anglers looking for a serious workout should do well working the reef edges and wrecks with poppers and slices retrieved at high speed. Out further there should be a few monster yellowfin tuna on the rampage with northern blue fin tuna closer inshore.

The best plan of attack this month is to have the flexibility to take advantage of any patch of good weather, as they will be few and far between. Be prepared to get on the water at short notice but have a few other plans up your sleeve for your free time, as fishing will often have to play second fiddle to the weather.

Pressure cooker conditions PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer

We have just experienced the longest, calmest and warmest summer in the tropics that anyone can remember and to date the wet season has been very moderate.

We have seen more electrical storm activity thus far, mainly in the evening, but the rainfalls have been mediocre.

Long-term locals of 30 years have said they’ve never seen it so hot for so long. Combine soaring temperatures with high humidity with little breeze, and what we have is a pressure cooker scenario.

All in all though what rain we have received has stirred up the rivers and creeks to a certain point and on the other hand there has been plenty of opportunity to continue to hit the bluewater, which 72

MARCH 2015

is something we are not necessarily accustomed to at this time of year.

The barra season at the start of February got off to a reasonable start with most big barra caught down around the river mouths and local headlands. They’ve been caught in a variety of way including live bait, poppers and the amazing array of soft plastics on the market today. The incoming tide and the first of the outgoing tide has been productive.

Mangrove jack as they normally do have relished in the warmer months and they are prolific right through the river systems up to the brackish waters.

The golden snapper (fingermark) have been prevalent in the deeper holes with structure and live baits have produced best on the top or very bottom of the tide when the water movement slackens for a short period.

We’ve also seen masses of tarpon in our systems this

summer and they’ve been generally pooling on the deeper bends and are readily caught retrieving small presentations on or near the surface such as tiny poppers and soft plastics.

The tarpon have also ventured in vast numbers along our beaches and are very busy along the foreshore at very early morning light on an incoming tide.

It is difficult to say what the rains will do in the coming month but if things remain the same I’d expect the inshore action to trickle along nicely without breaking any records.

As mentioned, it is not often the weather allows to head offshore at this time of year but there has been ample opportunity. Inshore patches and wonky holes are producing healthy numbers of largemouth nannygai mainly around the 4-6kg range also with the odd monster gold spot cod to add a bit of gusto.

Further offshore the reef fishing has had some

really bright moments with good landings of coral trout and small and large mouth nannygai in reasonable numbers. In some areas the smallmouth are in solid numbers and sizes and is one fish which has fallen off the radar over the last couple of years. Local skippers can’t explain but the smallmouth seemed to disappear off the face of the earth but these recent catches have been very pleasing. Once upon a time the smallmouth were an absolute guaranteed catch and if nothing else was biting at least you could return back home with a feed of fish.

Other than this there has been significant hauls hard-fightingtea-leaf and gold-spot trevally and they have been the saviour fish of many occasions over the warmer months and have been a major presence at most of the deeper nannygai locations.

The Spanish mackerel on the outer reef have ticked over nicely so far

Gold-spot trevally have been providing anglers with the arm stretching fix they crave during these pressure cooker conditions. with consistent numbers caught on floating rigs and trolled garfish.

Other pelagics that have been thick in numbers have included skinny queenfish and mac tuna. They seem to be feeding on the tiny small fry bait and are interested in petite lure presentations.

There’s been a good run of pelagic activity running up the inside of the outer reef in recent times and the

Spanish mackerel have been amongst this activity so you don’t need to travel too far.

Will March bring with it a proper wet season drenching? That is the question that remains but to date it has been a pretty good wet season in relation to fishing results thus far with heaps of opportunity to wet a line wherever you can think of.

Another great day in barradise CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

March to May is my favourite time to fish the creeks, rivers and bays of Cape York. A thousand shades of green and grey is the best synopsis of these months and the fish just

affair and almost every living creature is on the potential dinner menu for another, more veracious critter.

This is a time to use colourful presentations, vibrating sensations and every fancy wiggling and jiggling creation you can muster to entice hungry fish to switch things up and hit your artificial!

The offshore brigade

having already prayed for early rains and been a touch disappointed. A worrying distraction for fisher in the far north and right around our tropical coastline is the fluctuating wet seasons being received in recent years.

Far from being a dooms day prophecy, it must be acknowledged that wet seasons have probably fluctuated year

Barramundi will hunt in locations where fresh meets salt. love it! All the contributing environmental factors will be coming to the forefront with extreme weather events, flooding and hot weather bolstering tropical food webs.

The larval stages of many crustaceans will mean a thick soup of life is being pushed out into the Gulf of Carpentaria and the east coast bays, ready to take a foothold in the ecosystem and do their thing as juniors wishing to become seniors. Life in the torrid waters of Cape York can be a very short-lived

will have a mixed time of it during March, with some gusty southeasterly blows, some northeasterly changes and some monsoonal trough activity producing rain and squalls at times. There will be some glamour weather mixed in there somewhere with a few days of doldrums providing a chance to get right out to outer reefs, shoals and wide patches to target the full range of reefdwelling bruisers.

With barrramundi season now well and truly underway, estuary and river bound fishers will be praying for late rains,

in year out for millennia and beyond. What does become a problem however, is when year upon year, rivers and creeks fail to reach capacity, to break their tipping point and to reach flood levels necessary to drive recruitment of fish up and downstream from landlocked reservoirs. We have had a few wet seasons which have failed to measure up in recent years and a trend has seen them commencing later and later.

Sparse wet seasons coupled with barramundi gill net fishing in most of the major

river systems on the west coast of Cape York can have a major impact on fish populations.

Especially when breeding fish fail to find their way back upstream to the protection of freshwater lagoons, billabongs and isolated stretches of rivers.

In seasons where this failure occurs, the tendency for gill nets to target a certain sizebracket of fish may have even further detrimental effects.

It’s a real problem when that size bracket is fish between 70-100cm in length, which is the bulk of the spawning female population of barramundi!

This is why seasonal closures are so important and further reason why legislation and fisheries regulations in Queensland need to better represent the fish populations their are entrusted to protect.

The fact Queensland still languishes so far behind the Northern Territory in regards to supporting the recreational

A truly huge barra caught by the author during the March run-off. of government and the willingness of the general public to share knowledge and engage in advocacy at the grass-roots level brings about changes that see the recreational fishing sector get a massive bump upwards in priority. Most modern day fishers by their very nature are also conservationists in a

fish imagery coupled with a catch and release mentality is pushing sustainability right down to grass roots levels.

Lets keep up the positive imagery surrounding recreational fishing, take only what we plan to consume in the vey near future and continue to share knowledge and tips on how to make our

Cape York’s crocs will be lively and spread out in March, so take care. fishing industry and buying back gill net licenses seems unthinkable when both environmental and economic considerations are weighed up.

Lets hope a change

sense. Most would love to see future generations enjoying the same opportunities they have had growing up with pristine fishing environments.

Positive reinforcement of live-

sport the best it can be.

• For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com

Great fishing during unseasonably small wet KARUMBA

fishing tackle in it so we were not able to do research but I was able to stand on the side and try all the seat positions to

Alan Gurney awes0me@bigpond.net.au

The wet season has not been as big as we hoped and this will affect where the fish are.

There were plenty of golden snapper around in February and they should still be about in March.

You will locate them on the rubble patches out the front.

The fun starts when you are set up for them and a school of giant trevally turn up. I would recommend you only use one rod each as when all rods go off together you can end up with a tangle that will not come undone. My effort was no fish and no rigging left on any line as I was only using 20lb mono. Don’t say you were not warned!

In the river you will find barramundi and king salmon about with live bait the way to go. Bait has been hard to get as well so please only take what you need and don’t freeze the rest for dead bait as the next time you want live bait there may be none.

confirm the fact that anyone going with him will get a great ride to go with all the fish they catch.

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Some cracking GT have been causing chaos for fishers targeting golden snapper, with broken tackle and tangled lines being common.

Any creek running into the river is prime and the place to put them is in the eddy created by this flow. Make sure you have enough weight on the sinker to hold the live bait in place, as they will end up snagging your line if you don’t.

Trolling will also work when the current is not strong.

You will need to work your

way up the system working over any good-looking structure for the best results.

A good sounder is very helpful for this and I use a Lowrance with structure scan for great images.

Please check the weather reports before venturing up to make sure we are not cut off by floodwater and always

bring water and shade, as it is warm and humid at this time of year.

Our local barramundi charter guide, Groover, who can be contacted on 0408 796 705, has a new 6m fibreglass boat and it is awesome. We took it out in less than friendly conditions and the ride was dry and soft. He had not put any

Contact Tim on 0437 218 511 to arrange your next fishing trip W: wildrivercompany.com.au E: wildrivercompany@gmail.com MARCH 2015

73

Perils of love BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

There’s a feeling every male gets when he walks into a shopping centre, and it’s not a good feeling. It’s maybe similar to the one you might get when you go walk through the dental surgery door to get a tooth pulled and catch a glimpse of your cross-eyed dentist picking his nose with one hand and scratching his junk with the other.

It’s just not an acceptable scenario for anyone to face.

We should start a movement to help those people who get caught up like this. I’m talking about the shopping centre, not the dentist. Gotta start small, but I reckon the UN would be interested in starting up some sort of pressure group to assist those of us who face this awful situation.

The first thing is you enter this place under pressure, because you’re there with someone, generally a ‘loved one’ – I use that phrase very loosely because a ‘loved one’ wouldn’t subject you to the type of torture that you find yourself in when you go through that door! Because

you are entering an area that is absolutely devoid of anything that could possibly be of any interest to anyone who ever had any interest in anything that had anything to do with boats, motors, fishing, hardware or tackle.

It is cruel to subject someone to hours of relentless walking up and down corridors full of bargy people without even the relief of seeing some baitcasters, soft plastics or boat bits through a plate glass window. Instead you are subjected to mile after mile of clothes shops and shoe shops. I cannot for the life of me describe how boring it is to walk past row after row of frocks, cardies, heels, coats, jumpers and knickers. OK, the bras can be interesting but the mannequins are plastic. I know, I’ve felt them.

And amongst these hundreds acres of shops and stalls and sometimes quite busty mannequins, there is not one single thing that you can find that has any relevance at all to anything that could remotely be termed hardware. If you’re really lucky, you can find a tobacconist that has an area about the size of a train toilet with a dusty assortment of

signed pictures or Brocky, jet flamed lighters and king sized pencils. Just go in there when you see it because you won’t find your way back without a GPS track.

And don’t think you’re going to nick into a shopping centre and zoom back out;

your supposed ‘loved one’ can spend at least the better part of a week wandering up and down these corridors of hell, stopping into one place after another to handle some fabric or salivate over some shoe that looks exactly like the last one she slobbered

over. It’s damn annoying.

I can’t remember the last time she looked at me with that sort of interest. But I guess if I stopped making loud honking sounds when I wander into Bras n Things and road test the mannequin’s chests I might

stand a better chance.

And being escorted out by security is one way to cut the visit short. Those female staff shouldn’t stand still in the middle of a lingerie shop. Especially if they’ve got smooth, plastic looking skin…

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MARCH 2015

Flowing streams brings life TNQ

Angus James

I love this time of year, the rainfall and stormy weather really gets the fish excited, especially the species that inhabit our freshwater rivers and streams!

The oxygenated water and nutrient rich foods it flushes down sends our favourite QLD species into overdrive, making it the perfect time to grab the rod, your favourite artificial presentations put on the trekking gear and start exploring those systems that are waiting to cater for your next land-based fishing adventure!

SOOTY GRUNTER

If you’re after some serious light gear entertainment then the sooty grunter will be ready and waiting! Solid fish and plenty of them have been providing loads of entertainment.

The sooties will hit just about anything you throw at them but a great way to target them is the good old spinnerbaits. These are great because they are basically snag resistant, giving you more time hooked onto the fish and not the snag they are hiding in. TT Lures make the Vortex range of spinnerbaits, these are the perfect medium sized presentations for those nice accurate land-based flicks.

MANGROVE JACK Now we all know what else this hot weather fires up, the mangrove jack! And they don’t have to be big ones to give you hours of fun!

Fishing the sweetwater in search of the smaller models is a great way to get the adrenaline pumping.

Anglers including myself have been racking up big numbers in the crystal clear streams, and my favourite way to target this tough

Jungle perch, or JPs, are one of the great icons of the state’s north, and now’s the best time of the year to target them!

costumer is any soft plastic that has a tail action. Most of the time the lure will get crunched as soon as it hits the water if a red devil is in the area!

JUNGLE PERCH As I sit here in front of the keyboard I must say I’m a little excited, this being because my gear is packed and I’m about to set off to target an Australian species that I feel very privileged to have close to home, the jungle perch! And this is by far my favourite time of the year to chase them!

In my opinion, JP fishing is one of the most amazing styles of sports fishing available to the land-based angler, from their aggressive surface strikes to there mini barra jumps!

If you want to get amongst some JP action do some research on Google Maps pick a system that has access to the salt. Much like Australian bass, they need

Sooty grunter are very common up north, and these aggressive, hard-fighting black bullets will eat anything that enters their domain. water, particularly for longer trips.

6.

PPE, i.e. hiking boots, sunglasses, hat.

7.

D on’t forget the fishing gear.

So fishos take advantage of this awesome time of year, get out there enjoy the magic and land some quality fish that are waiting to smack your lures!

Back Getting You r Fast!

On The Wate While not as chunky as the models of the saltwater, the freshwater jacks certainly provide entertainment in crystal-clear flowing freshwater!

A perfect spot: a small waterfall brings both food and oxygenated water. Lures should be cast where the water is flowing in.

the salt for their breeding cycle. JP will feed on just about anything that will fit in their mouth.

Remember, jungle perch fishing is all about being stealth. It’s a great way to enhance your skills as an angler!

SAFETY Now for the safety brief. As we all know, with anything there is risks involved when out enjoying this beautiful country. So I just want to remind everyone of a few key things we can do as individuals to make for a safer experience.

1. Fish with a mate.

2.

Always tell a few people what system you are fishing.

3.

B ring a compact first aid kit.

4 Phone and a personal EPIRB is a good idea.

5.

Remember food and

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75

Blessed for choices TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

This is a tough month for decision-making. Every freshwater fish can be successfully targeted so there are so many options and destinations to consider. A bit of rain at the start of the year has changed a few fisheries but most are still producing if you are prepared to put in the time.

I was all geared up for a barra session in the freshwater reaches of the Kolan River below Monduran Dam but the dirty flood waters were enough to put me off.

My freshwater gear has had quite a spell of late due to chasing fish out in the blue ocean at every chance I get. As I write this report, I am planning to change that on my next break off work. Some bass or other freshwater natives are going to have sore mouths after I’m finished with them. I’m keen

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWNS: TOOWOOMBA, CROWS NEST Cressbrook bass have stayed scattered all over the dam. Some of the better numbers can be found out in the deeper water between the boat ramps and the buoy line

ways to catch these fish.

Covering heaps of water with lures will ensure they are worked past more fish.

It’s the perfect approach for spread out fish. Lures like the Smak Brolga and Golden Child worked in over 20m of water seem to perform well. Some of the best action occurs through

to try a new lure, which has been in the back of my mind for months. It’s a different concept and one that I’m sure bass have never seen before. Hopefully it looks and performs as good in the water as it does in my head. All I have to do is whip one up in the workshop before my next session. Since that’s the case, I’d better get cracking.

I’ll keep you up to date on testing and reveal it if it is the success I imagine it will be.

Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel! tend to stop biting and disappear as they move to other areas.

There is no longer an entry fee at the boom gate but the 8 knot speed limit is still in place. Hours for boating and day use of the recreation area are 6am to 8pm. For all your supplies, expert advice and to check on the boating restrictions, call in at Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street,

This average sized bass came from the weed edges of Maroon Dam. Check out the southern banks concentrating on features like points and bays. that marks the no fishing area near the pump tower.

Trolling hardbody lures behind the boat is one of the most reliable

the morning and afternoon.

The middle of the day can be a tougher period to get a bite from these fish. Late in the afternoon, they also

Toowoomba, or give them a ring on (07) 4636 6850. The boys at the store are experts on the freshwater scene and really know their stuff.

            

76

MARCH 2015

13

15

16

14 31

Weipa

17

28

34

18

Toowoomba

BRISBANE 27

21

23 Impoundment Dams 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

MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, RATHDOWNEY Lure casters will be able to score quite a few bass from Maroon this month. The weed edges and banks on the southern side of the lake fished well last month. This section of the lake is usually reliable for most of the year.

Try casting spinnerbaits and sinking them down the face of the weed before retrieving. Soft plastics can also work well using a similar approach. One of my favourite lures for enticing bass from the weed is the beetle spin. These are a hybrid of a soft plastic and spinnerbait. A 3” paddletail can be rigged on a 1/4 or 3/8oz jighead and then

Gold Coast

22

24 25 Cairns 1

26

19 20

33

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

5

32

Rockhampton

Emerald 29

Gladstone

30

7

8

10

Bundaberg 9 11

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

fitted with a spinning blade on a wire frame. When the blade stops vibrating, you know the lure is fouled with weed.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: ARATULA, BOONAH The bass are still a little scattered through the lake.

Schools can be found one day but the same spot can be barren the following day. This indicates the fish are moving around. Most catches are coming from the timbered part of the lake.

Earlier in the morning, the bass can be caught on the edges using lipless crankbaits. This action tends to die off by 8am and it is then time to look in the deeper water. In the trees, scattered fish can be caught by working spinnerbaits

DAM LEVEL Report DAMS OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB Atkinson 48 41 36 33 30 Awoonga 91 89 96 96 96 Bjelke-Petersen 58 52 52 51 48 Boondooma 70 67 69 69 72 Borumba 98 94 94 96 100 Burdekin Falls 85 78 72 73 95 Callide 56 54 74 73 84 Cania 85 83 88 88 97 Clarendon 55 46 41 38 37 Clarrie Hall n/a n/a 92 n/a 100 Cooby 71 63 76 73 71 Coolmunda 44 39 36 39 65 Copeton 30 28 25 19 17 Cressbrook 90 88 92 89 89 Dyer/Bill Gunn 58 52 47 52 74 Eungella 98 95 90 88 90 Fairbairn 44 37 39 42 59 Glenlyon 34 32 26 26 27 Hinze 87 85 83 83 87

Gympie

12

Maryborough

Roma

BRISBANE

past the structure. Try for suspended fish by keeping the spinnerbait at 5-8m deep for most of the retrieve.

Schooling fish are likely to show up on the humps in and around the timber. Look for these schooling fish in 7-10m of water using a quality sounder. Once found, it is just a matter of testing which lures will work best. Spinnerbaits and tail spinners performed well last month indicating the fish were responding well to bigger baits. Other reaction style lures like Jackall Mask Vibes and blade baits would also be worth a try. If the fish fail to respond to these stronger vibrating lures, fall back to the subtle action of a soft plastic.

For fortnightly updates Julius 61 57 60 102 99  Kinchant 96 86 73 76 88 Koombooloomba 35 25 21 16 33  Leslie 33 31 25 28 26  Macdonald 75 62 61 57 68  Maroon 91 87 90 93 99  Monduran/Fred Haigh 82 80 80 81 91  Moogerah 89 81 80 81 91  North Pine/Samsonval 67 63 62 61 60  Peter Faust/Proserpine 91 87 86 84 86 Pindari 15 13 12 12 13  Somerset 98 97 97 98 100  Storm King n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a  Teemburra 101 96 91 91 93  Tinaroo 77 71 66 61 77 Toonumbar 99 92 88 88 97  Wivenhoe 84 81 80 78 77  Wuruma 76 75 81 81 81

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 17/02/15

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA The fishing at Cooby has changed a little over the last month. The golden perch have moved deeper where they are hugging the bottom for most of the day.

This makes lure trolling a lot slower. The best results while trolling will come on 10m divers. Lures like the Blitz Baga or 50mm Poltergeist Crazy Deep will scrape the bottom in this depth and get some bites.

Lure casting can actually produce better than trolling. Anglers should locate schools of golden perch and use sinking lures to reach the bottom and stay in the zone where the fish are positioned. Lipless crankbaits always seem

can be a good idea to try a jigged lure while you are fishing with bait.

Bait fishers should also target fish in the deeper water. Look for schooling fish on the sounder out in the middle of the dam on the humps, which rise to around 8-10m. These areas are located between the creek beds in the centre of the dam and in the start of the northern arm. Live shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies will get the bites.

Drop weighted baits straight over the side of the boat and keep the line tight or almost tight.

Cooby is an electric motor only dam and is well suited to kayaks and canoes.

The concrete boat ramp is on a shallow angle when the dam is full and can be slippery in places but a big

New England Highway in Highfields. Call in and see Doug and check out the great range of fishing gear, kayaks and accessories he has on display.

LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK Luring at Leslie slowed down last month. Bait fishers were still able to hammer the golden perch while casters and trollers struggled to boat good numbers. This month should produce similar action.

Bait fishing with live shrimp or frozen saltwater yabbies will produce good catches of golden perch.

A lot of the action comes from the back part of the dam where and the dam narrows up and the water is shallower. The section just before, and including, the Black Boy run is perfect for bait anglers.

Lure trollers will score

taken on Kezza Lures Mud Mouse. Warwick Outdoor and Sports has just started to stock these proven fish takers so make sure you check them out. The wide thumping action creates a vibration cod can’t resist.

If you prefer to cast lures, you will have

COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD The fishing at Coolmunda slowed right down after it had a rise after Christmas. Storm rain again last month made the dam rise and dirtied the water even more. This dirty water makes it too hard for

try fooling the fish with bait.

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

Murray cod are quite a common capture at Leslie Dam. Courtney Muller showed the boys how to do it with this fish.

Trolling deep diving lures like this Blitz Baga is the ideal way to target scattered bass. This will be a good approach in many of the bass lakes again this month. to score well. Blade baits up to 3/8oz can be very effective as well. Both lures can be hopped or wound slowly along the bottom.

When the fish are right below the boat, try vertical jigging the same lures. It

electric powered boat can still be launched with care.

Outboard motors can be left on the boat but must not be used. Live shrimp and saltwater yabbies can be purchased from Highfields Bait and Tackle on the

SUNSHINE COAST AREA MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: COOROY, NOOSA There should be some good bass action this month at Lake MacDonald.

The fish will vary in size and it may be necessary to spot hop to find the better quality ones. The Bubble Trail and Bass Bay have been productive for local angler Matt Williams.

Matt loves to use blades with two of his favourites for MacDonald being the Vault 42 in flash gill and ayu colours. Slow rolling the blades or hopping them along the bottom can

produce so mix it up to find what the fish are looking for.

Look for schools of fish as you move around the dam and pay particular attention to the deeper edges of the creek beds. Fish in these areas will respond to blades as well as soft plastics. Try rigging plastics on 1/4oz jigheads to suit the shallower water these bass tend to school in. A lot of fish life should show up in around 5-7m of water.

BAROON POCKET CLOSEST TOWNS: MONTVILLE, MALENY With the continual

fish on medium diving lures.

Trolling is also a great way to tempt Murray cod. These magic fish will continue to bite even when the golden perch action tapers off.

Last month there were good numbers of goldens influxes of rain within the catchment of Baroon Pocket Dam over the past couple of months, Dave Brace has been targeting bass in the changing fishery with good results.

The lake has produced some amazing sessions with quite a few bass measuring the milestone mark of 50cm, however the average size of the fish caught is around 40cm.

Trolling hardbody lures such as Rapala’s X-Rap and Max Rap Fat Shad along with TT 1/2oz Switchblades and Vortex Spinnerbaits in approximately 5m of water has proven to be the best method to catch

several options. Tossing spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits to the edges can produce both cod and golden perch. Try around the rocky banks and concentrate on fishing the shadows and crevices in the rocks. In deeper areas, locate the granite rock structure on the sounder and hop lures across the bottom. Golden perch and the occasional Murray cod can be caught like this.

Good hopping lures include the Jackall Mask Vibe 60 and Transam 95.

For any tips and gear for fishing Leslie Dam or the Warwick area, call in and see the guys at Warwick Outdoor and Sports in Palmerin Street Warwick. The store stocks a great range of bait and freshwater gear which is well suited to catching our Australian natives. these feisty fish from his kayak.

Expect more great action this month. Kayaks are the best option to take advantage of this awesome fishery, which is only a short drive from the Sunshine Coast. Some of the best action is only a short paddle from the launching area. Like all lakes, take caution and wear or have a life vest handy in case you need it.

The stocking within Baroon Pocket Dam is managed by Ewen Maddock Fish Management Inc. and this group released another 10,000 bass fingerlings into the fishery in January.

luring and even bait fishers are having trouble enticing a bite.

If you are able to gain access to the Macintyre Brook below the dam and around Inglewood, I would suggest trying your luck there. If the water is clean, lures like strong action hard bodies or spinnerbaits will catch both cod and golden perch. If the water has less than 40cm visibility it might be better to

pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has two new wheelchair friendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable. To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake and the river below, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171.

Ph: (02) 6258 7515 Mob: 0400 587 515

email: info@u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au Expressions of interest via email

To page 78

MARCH 2015

77

From page 77

EWEN MADDOCK CLOSEST TOWNS: LANDSBOROUGH, CALOUNDRA Earlier this year, the dam rose to 100%.

Even with the inflows, the water remained clear in the main body of the lake that meant fish were able to be successfully targeted.

Kayaks are great to access the water and chase Ewen Maddock’s bass population. Trolling

lures is a great way to cover water while having a chance of putting a fish in the yak. Lures which dive to 3m are ideal when trolled along the weed edge or creek bed drop-offs.

Lure casters will be able to get into the action once patches of fish are located. Both bass and golden perch will take spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits cast in and retrieved out from the weedy edges.

Josh Macey pulled this chunky bass using a locally made Weapons Custom Rod on a deep diving lure fished in Ewen Maddock Dam.

GREAT FO R A D AY EV E N B E T T E R W H E N Y O U S TAY

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• Level tent sites, showers, toilets, hot and cold water.

Only 50 kms from Toowoomba For more information on camping or fees: Call Toowoomba Regional Council on 131 872 during office hours or visit www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

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WIDE BAY AND BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY Bass and golden perch will be on the bite this month at Boondooma. The fishing has been fairly consistent over the past months and really only seems to drop off when the fish receive a lot of fishing pressure.

Fish numbers in the timbered arms have picked up. Quality bass and golden perch can be caught by casting 1/2oz and 5/8oz spinnerbaits in over 3m of water. The Stuart arm of the timber has fished quite well and there have been a few positive reports coming from the Boyne River timber as well.

Back in the main basin, tail spinners and soft plastics are taking bass from schools around the Junction and The Barbers Pole. Most of these fish have been sitting in deeper water over 6m.

Lure trollers will still pick up a mixed bag of golden perch and bass.

Deeper lures like Blitz Bagas and Brolgas should perform well. The Junction area will definitely be worth a troll with purple and green offerings although other colours will work too.

Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into one of the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items.

For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call Corey and Niki on (07) 4168 9694.

BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI The golden perch and bass continue to impress at Bjelke. Number of fish can be caught from schools around the dam. Bass numbers have increased dramatically with plenty of fish between 30 and 40cm being caught. Golden perch are still common with some absolute crackers over 3kg mixed in with the smaller ones.

Lure casters will be able to locate schooling fish in around 5m of water.

Good schools have been found around the dam wall points and flats and right up to Bass Point and Treasure Island. The smaller models are quick to pounce on blade baits cast and wound or hopped through the schools. I heard a rumour of heaps of fish falling for fluoro pink coloured blades last month.

Both Berkley and TT do blades in this colour which

are usually sold to catch flathead. It’s not normally something I would throw at bass but after hearing the stories it might be worth having at least one in your tackle box. Better quality bass have been falling for a cast or slow trolled lipless crankbaits in dark colours.

Lure trollers are making the most of the action scoring plenty of fish on medium diving lures. The Smak 12 and Smak 16 are ideal for working the

dirtied the water a little, but it is still clean enough for luring. After the fresh water ran in, the fish went into shut down mode but they should have fired up again by now as long as there has been no further flooding into the dam.

Once this lake gets dirty, it takes ages to clear up.

Surface luring is one of the best techniques to fool both bass and barramundi.

If you choose a lure suited to both species, you will be more likely to encounter both in the same session.

The ideal bass size is

edges concentrating on structure, points and shade lines. As weed and lilies develop in the lake make sure you fish the fringes of them.

There are entry gates in place at Lenthalls. These open and close to allow access with fishing times being from 6am to 8pm.

Only 4-stroke outboards or low emission 2-strokes up to 50hp are allowed on the lake. The speed limit is 6 knots.

For more information on fishing the lake, call in and see Dane or one of the

Golden perch are suckers for TN60 Jackalls. Try hopping them and slowly retrieving them near the bottom. depths the bass and goldens have been holding. Try working any schools of fish or venture out to the creek bed drop-off in the second basin and work lures along the edge of it.

For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into your local Bass 2 Barra store. You can see Matthew at Kingaroy or Dylan in Dalby and the boys will have you all geared up and ready for action in no time. Bass 2 Barra stores stock 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.

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.

LENTHALLS CLOSEST TOWNS: MARYBOROUGH, HERVEY BAY Last month, the dam had a slight fresh, which

around 70mm while barra often prefer a lure around 120mm. You could target one or the other with a specific lure or find a happy medium, which pleases both. I’d opt to use lures between the 70mm and 100mm size in the hope of tempting both fish. Surface walking stickbaits are a great choice. Their walkthe-dog action fires up both bass and barramundi. Don’t be too worried if you can’t get the side-to-side action perfect. As long as you are twitching and pausing between movements, you’ll attract a fish. One of my favourite mid-sized surface baits is the Cultiva Tango Dancer 95mm (TD95).

Surface fishing will be better in the morning and afternoon. During the day, probe deeper water with suspending jerkbaits and lipless crankbaits. If the water is still a bit stained these lure styles will create enough noise and vibration to attract a predator. Try casting around the lake’s

other guys at Fisherman’s Corner in Hervey Bay. The store is at 59 Torquay Road.

ISIS BALANCING STORAGE CLOSEST TOWN: BUNDABERG Over the last couple of months, there has been quite a bit of rain in the Bundaberg area. This has caused freshwater to fill Paradise Dam and continue down the Burnett River towards Bundy. As irrigation draws it out, the water in Isis is topped up from the freshwater reaches of the Burnett River. Hence the name, Isis Balancing Storage.

This fresh but dirtier water coming into the lake seems to be just what the bass needed to fire them up.

The dying weed had made the fishing quite tough but as the influx of coloured water entered, they started to bite again. Some of the best fishing has been in the morning and afternoons around the old weed edges.

Some of these edges are

in better condition than others so if you are hooking fresh, green weed, you are definitely fishing around a healthier weed bed.

Spinnerbaits cast to the edge of the weed and retrieved back to the boat have been scoring the strikes. Try using 1/4-1/2oz spinnerbaits and it can pay to run gold coloured blades while the water is dirty.

Spinnerbaits are perfect for fishing the unseen weed edges as they can be ripped out of the weed and kept clean much easier than other lures.

Lipless crankbaits will also be a good option while the water is coloured.

The fish will easily find these vibration making contraptions as they are buzzed around the weed edge. Lipless baits can be trickier to keep weed free.

Their trebles love to dig in and eat the weed but if you are more experienced at locating and fishing the

edge of the weed, they are definitely worth a go.

The boys at Saltys Tackleworld in Bundaberg are bass experts. They love to fish the dam on their days off so will be able to steer you in the right direction.

Saltys has an excellent layout and an awesome range of tackle suited to freshwater fishing as well as catering for the endless fishing opportunities in the surrounding area.

MONDURAN CLOSEST TOWN: GIN GIN The barra fishing in Monduran has been tough.

Rain at the start of the year has caused the dam to rise a little and the dirtier water can be found about half way up the lake. The basin is still clear but the action just doesn’t seem to be happening. Barra are being seen on the sounder and have even been seen happily cruising past anglers boats in Bird Bay.

The fish are still in there and should fire at some stage so it could be worth a visit.

The Kolan River below the dam had a fresh in January and water flowed over the weirs. There are still plenty of barra left in the freshwater stretches of the river. It’s a great system to explore from a kayak or boat if you can find suitable access. The dirty water should start to clear up this month and the fish will be able to actually see lures for the first time since the barra season reopened. If you strike dirty water on your visit, venture right up to Monduran Crossing where there was less run off from the rain and visibility should be much better.

The tackle store in Gin Gin, Foxies, stocks a range of effective barra lures. The store will mail order and you can check it out online at www.barratackle.com.au

well for barra. Smaller boats and kayaks can access the freshwater stretches of the river and target the barramundi above Pikes Crossing.

These barra become landlocked when the water level drops and it was surprising to see them stay once the overflowing freshwater rose and pushed right down into the salt. Some fish are likely to have followed the flow but catch rates in the area above Pikes Crossing indicate there are still plenty of fish left in there. Even with the dam running up to half a metre over the spillway, there were no reports of masses of barra leaving the dam.

In previous flood events there have been plenty of dead fish which haven’t survived the ride out of the dam and on this occasion there weren’t any reports of floating, dead ones.

If you are fishing Pikes Crossing, give other boats some room and exercise courtesy, as it is a small waterway once you jam a heap of boats on it. If the water is running hard, try shallow diving hardbodies like the Laser Pro 120 twitched right in the fast running water. If the flowing water slows down, fish the mornings and afternoons with soft plastics. The 4” Powerbait Split Belly and Powerbait 4.5” Rib Shad rigged on a heavy duty 3/8oz jig hooks will get the strikes.

If you are keen to try to tackle some fish in the river or dam, give Lyn and Mark from Awoonga Gateway a call on (07) 4975 0033. At Awoonga Gateway you’ll find clean, modern cabins and your hosts will be full of useful advice to help you try to land that barra of a lifetime. Make sure you tell Mark I sent you and pump him for the secret spot.

of fish. If fish are found in the deep water of the basin, jigging vibes can also produce. It’s important to drop lures right into the fish and keep them in the right zone. A quality sounder is the only way to do this successfully. Soft vibration lures will produce the hits but don’t discount heavier plastics like the 5” Berkley Mullet and full weight Slick Rig 130.

The fishing inside the dead timber at the back of the dam has been slow.

Up the river, smaller 80cm sized barra seem keener to play. Lure casters should try the southern banks of

the main basin. This area has well developed weed beds that hold plenty of bait and quality barra as well. When fishing the weed, try surface lures and soft plastics.

If you are heading out to the dam make sure you call in at Proserpine Bait and Tackle. The store is on the highway through Proserpine and stocks all the barra gear you could possibly need. The guys will be able to send you in the right direction and help with nailing the lake’s big fish. The store owner Lindsay Dobe runs charters on the lake and bookings can be made through the store on (07) 4945 4641.

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE Awoonga Dam is again 100% full. The rain at the beginning of the year saw the dam running over for weeks. The level seemed to fluctuate from 300-500mm for some time and varied as storms fed the already flowing rivers running into the lake.

The lake still looks very healthy as the level hasn’t raised much above where it was prior to the rain. Before the influx of water, the barra were chewing with quite a few fish around 80cm in length. The action will probably steady for a while in the lake but should be back into full swing as soon as the fish adjust to the conditions in the lake.

As a backup, the river below the dam will fish WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH The barra fishing has been tough but anglers putting in the time are being rewarded for their hours spent on the water.

Casting lures to hook barra has been the tougher approach with more fish falling to trolled lures.

Trolling around the main basin of the lake, especially the dam wall area can produce some monster fish.

Numbers have dropped off but anglers putting in the effort have been able to locate active patches

. Be sure to call in and get directions to some of the best barra fishing in the area or pick up one of the detailed maps.

Accommodation can be booked through Lake Monduran Kiosk and Tackle Shop. They look after all the cabins, houses, powered and unpowered camp sites, as well as

Jamie Bein runs Lake Monduran Barra Charters and fishes that dam more than anyone I know. His regular visits ensure he has a good understanding of what’s going on. Contact Jamie on his mobile, 0407 434 446 or through his website w w w. l a k e m o n d u r a n barracharters.com .

from shore-based anglers.

There are many edges, which can be accessed with a vehicle or by walking.

Soft plastics or shallow diving lures, which dive to around 1m are ideal for flicking from the bank.

Boat fishers can also catch barra by doing the reverse and casting back in towards the shore. Deeper

Smaller barra should be plentiful around the edges of Callide Dam. This place is perfect for land-based anglers. house boats and boat hire. You can also make bookings for Guide Lines fishing charters through the kiosk, on (07) 4157 3881. I usually stay at the Gin Gin Hotel, which is about 20 minutes from the boat ramp. The rooms are very affordable and pretty basic but you can get a great feed and cold beer. To make a booking call (07) 4157 2106.

CALLIDE CLOSEST TOWN: BILOELA The water level at Callide rose earlier this year. There was a brief period where the action slowed but already things have started to improve.

Barramundi are being caught in the timber and around the edges late in the afternoon. Some of the better reports are coming

holding fish can be caught around the timber or by trolling 5m divers in the basin of the lake. There are still some thumper golden perch, which will pounce on a barra lure over these warmer months. Saratoga were once a common catch but they have been more elusive over the last couple of years. It will be great to see numbers of these fish return.

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79

Autumn fun - the mighty mac tuna BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

As regular summer and autumn visitors to most offshore and bay waters long the Queensland coast, mac tuna are perfect for enjoying sport with the

fly rod. Offshore and bay waters means that a boat is a necessity to tangle with these fish.

While not the largest of the tuna family to grace out waters, macs will still grow to 1m in length – although a good one will be around the 80cm mark – and as solid torpedos of strength and power

are a true test of the fly anglers’ capability.

They take flies readily enough once a fly is cast into a feeding school but that’s not quite as easy as it sounds.

The truth is that these fish are not always easy to sidle up to within casting range and seem to have a great penchant for sounding just as the first back

In typical fashion, the author has cast his fly to the left, so the mac tuna are suddenly feeding to his right.

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cast is being made, only to come up again a short distance away when it suits them.

ERRATIC FEEDERS CAN BE FOOLED That aside, it’s my firm belief that mac tuna are truly erratic in their feeding habits.

Being frustrated, at times, with my best efforts to approach a school only to be casting to dead water at the last instant, I have purposely kept well away from the action for a spell to see if a pattern might emerge that I could use to advantage.

To my surprise, I found that the fish were feeding only in short bursts. A terrific patch of white water would erupt – birds diving, silvery backs in the sun – then… Nothing!

They would move on for 80m, sometimes even less, only to repeat the show.

I did note a general trait and that was these fish will feed into the breeze, or into a making tide, which can be their undoing if the angler sits back just a little to confirm that this is occurring.

Once a feeding pattern emerges the trick is to first approach slowly and carefully into the action. Beware of hull slap! Then, if they sound on the boat’s approach, moving away quietly and taking up a position some distance up current or up wind will often pay dividends. For me, there is hardly a more satisfying situation for the fly angler to firstly ambush a school of mac tuna and then feeling that hard smack of a take. It’s heartthumping stuff all the way.

BE PREPARED FOR THE HOOK UP From that instant onwards, things are going to happen

Denise Kampe with a fair mac tuna, which was great sport on her 9wt fly outfit. that the rod is tilted on its side while the reel is spinning and beware of loose clothing such as buttons and the like that might fall foul of fast moving backing. One thing that is standard fare with mac tuna is some impressive strength and speed when hooked.

PREVENT THAT CIRCLING Mac tuna will usually make a couple of hard initial runs, displaying a quite dogged refusal to come to the boat, which can often culminate in attempts to circle under the boat when the angler finally prevails with the ‘pump and wind’.

The trick when pumping a fish back is to keep the rod low, using it as a long lever, and not relying on tip action to pump the fish back. The tip’s action can be relied on to absorb any sudden shocks or jars from the fish but for the most part the rod is a long flexible lever, used with the

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A selection of the author’s rough and ready mac tuna flies – they work!

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quickly: fly line and then backing is going to disappear through the rod guides at a fast rate and should any obstruction occur to prevent said fly line and backing from running through the tip runner, a rapid break off is going to occur. On that note, ensure

butt and lower section really putting on the pressure. High sticking is definitely a no-no.

Now let’s talk about circling, which tuna are renowned for. In short, it’s not on! Once tuna of any persuasion start those circling tactics the fight is going to

be prolonged greatly. Put simply, the fish is having a rest. To end those circling tactics the clue is to loosen the drag somewhat and drive the boat off a little distance while keeping the line fairly tight but not so tight the reel cannot turn. This results in the tuna being totally disorientated and a resumption of the hard pump and wind tactics should start to see some splashes on the surface, which signifies that the angler is really starting to win. Be ready for one last run right at the boat, and don’t over do the drag setting at this point.

TACKLE Mac tuna often mix with northern blue tuna and sometimes mackerel, so the chosen outfit should be able to handle all three fish.

Accordingly, I recommend at least an 8wt outfit for the more expert angler, and a 9-10wt rig for anglers with not so much experience as hope.

The chosen reel is going to last best if it’s of a saltwater standard, with a backing capacity of at least 200m, and have a drag with a very smooth, low inertia start up.

A store bought or homemade leader of just a little less than rod’s length is handy, with a breaking strain from 6-10kg tip depending upon the angler’s skill.

Flies need to resemble baitfish with a selection of quite small ones from 1/0 through to 2/0 being suitable.

Ideal are Surf Candys, polar fibre flies and other small baitfish patterns. My own flies are of no particular pattern but are styled similarly to small baitfish. I like a selection of sizes on hand as sometimes the fish are on hardy heads, which are around 10-12cm long.

With these sorts of flies we are trying to imitate small fish so it’s wise not to overdo the flashy colours or the size. Making your own flies is half the fun when chasing any of the tuna family and most fly tyers agree that few hooks are better for this style of fly fishing than Gamakatsu SL12S models given their great shape, needle sharpness and overall strength.

THE RECREATIONAL ANGLER’S LINK The final state of play for electioneering was quite surprising in some ways but same old, same old in others.

Policies geared toward recreational fishing will have a huge acceptance in the community.

ELECTION WRAP UP •••••••••••••••••••• What was a surprise is that everyone except the LNP put out recreational fishing policies that were very supportive and demonstrated recognition of the value to the Queensland economy of recreational fishing. The one disappointment though is that around 30% of Queenslanders had already voted before the policies were made public.

If the LNP had retained power, I expect there would have been little change from the last 3 years until we got closer to the next election.

Then there may have bee be more promises, but we need to have long memories and rate them on what they may achieve in the coming three years.

However, the ALP have moved into government, and as a sector we may have a lot more to do. Purely, because they have indicated in their election promises that they are open to the promotion of recreational fishing. It will

Hopefully, under a new government, we’ll see more scenes like this. be important to provide both good advice on what we think a great recreational fishery is and positive feedback if they follow through with some positive improvements.

Everyone will need to do both of these, whether you are an avid club fisher or just like to wet a line at your convenience. Talk to your elected Member of Parliament whenever you get the opportunity.

Let them know you love to fish and you and your family live in their electorate. You don’t need to make an appointment to do this. Most of them will regularly be out and about in the community at forums and local sporting and community group functions. Just have a friendly chat and talk about your family fishing adventures.

REVIEW OF THE CORAL SEA MARINE RESERVE

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Just a reminder that the review is well underway.

The terms of reference for the review set out that there will be an Expert Scientific Panel to review the science supporting the new Commonwealth Marine Reserves and Bioregional Advisory Panels to facilitate enhanced consultation with stakeholders.

The panels will consider options for zoning, the zoning boundaries and allowed uses of the Commonwealth Marine Reserves in the southwest, northwest, north,

Coral Sea and Temperate East marine regions and make recommendations to the Government based on their findings.

The Australian Government anticipates that the panels’ recommendations will reflect a robust consideration of the scientific, economic and social evidence collected by the panels.

There will be a number of opportunities to participate in the review, including by completing an online survey and providing a written

Whether you’re an avid club fisher or just like wetting a line with the family, we encourage you to talk to your local MP and provide feedback about our fisheries.

The Coral Sea Marine Reserve Review will consider the zoning boundaries and allowed uses for the Commonwealth Marine Reserve.

www.sunfishqld.com.au

submission. The Bioregional Advisory Panels will also meet in regional locations and with peak organisations representing relevant business and not-for-profit sectors and with relevant government agencies.

More information on how to contribute your views to the Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review is available on the Join the Conversation page. The Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review website will be updated regularly during the review with information as soon as it becomes available. By subscribing to the latest updates, you will receive emails alerting you to new information about the review.

The online survey and written submissions to the review are now open and interested parties are invited

The Commonwealth Marine Reserves Review website will be updated regularly during the review with information as soon as it becomes available. By subscribing to the latest updates, you will receive emails alerting you to new information about the review. to provide the review with their ideas and suggestion on how marine reserves should be managed into the future.

The written submission period alongside the online survey will remain open until the end of March. Details about making a written submission to the review or completing the online survey are available on the Join the Conversation page Two separate reports will be produced at the conclusion

Email: judylynne@sunfishqld.com.au

of the review. One from the Chair of the Expert Scientific Panel and one from the co-Chairs of the Bioregional Advisory Panels. The reports will address the terms of reference for the Review.

– Judy Lynne

MARCH 2015

81

Camping Feature

Camp in comfort and style this Easter holiday With Easter just around the corner, we know that a lot of Fishing Monthly readers will be preparing to make the most of the long weekend. And based on history, Easter will either offer up sparkling Easter weather, or unleash more rain and wind than you’d had in the previous month combined. It could go either way.

As anglers, the campsite is often not the be-all and end-all of the experience.

Often it is a base from which you hub all of your fishing and boating activities. It’s undeniable, though, that a well set-up campsite can turn a good trip into a great trip and a horrible wet weekend into a pleasant experience with your family and your mates.

In that light, this piece takes a look at some of the ways you might want to pimp your campsite. Some of the products available are for safety, others are for convenience and some

YEAR

TARPAULINS

We’ve all done the basic ‘camp under a tarp’ setup and I daresay we’ve all had the ‘tarp blown away’ disaster at some stage in our camping travels, so it’s sound advice to have a quality tarp and know how to set it up.

There are products available from springloaded guide ropes through to custom-moulded tarp clamps that take the sting out of the gusts of wind when the going gets tough.

We’re sure you’ve seen the world’s flashest

10W

1 WARRANTY

just turn heads in the campground. How many times have you seen a set-up and thought, ‘I need one of those!’

And whether you’re a swag-and-esky person or you want your site to offer a WiFi network to you and your mates, there’s usually something available to make your camping dreams a reality.

WATERPROOF

IP66

• Lumens: 840LM • Power: 10W • Range 150mtrs • 4-10 hour endurance • 3 light settings high, low, strobe • Zoomable beam • Aluminium alloy construction • 4x AA batteries included • IP66 waterproof design • Anti-slip slots • Warranty: 1 Year

1 LUX @ 80m

840

LUMENS

tarp poles advertised in this magazine previously.

They hold up your tarp, but also have LED lighting and a USB charging socket to keep your smartphone charged. That would be useful when you’re out fishing the Pirtek fishing competition!

LIGHTING

The uptake of LED lighting means that you can now light your campsite for much less of a power load than you use to a decade ago. Of course, the best way to light a campsite is with a roaring campfire, but for various reasons, that’s not always legal/ possible or convenient.

Drawing a fraction of the current to run than the old incandescent bulbs (and a whole lot more durable) it seems like the LED technology was just made for camping.

POWER

There

are

camping

ZOOM LED HEADLAMP SUPER SPECIAL

$39.99

NEW AND IMPROVED

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Are you prepared for your Easter trip?

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82

MARCH 2015

applications that require more power than a battery and inverter can provide. In these cases, you’ll realise that modern generators can turn petrol into electricity fairly cheaply.

The cheaper the unit, though, the more chance it will annoy your camping neighbours, so a step up from the cheap, Chinese old-school generators may be wise.

Camping Feature Modern generators are like modern outboards – quiet, compact, frugal and

Use some of the hi-tech freezer blocks and wraps that are available and all of

ovens doesn’t ring your bell, there are plenty of options that bridge the gap between 2-minute noodles and a roast dinner.

Gourmet, just-addwater dehydrated meals are super convenient and often provide an excellent accompaniment to fresh fish. And we’re sure you’ve got that side covered.

cold. They fold up into a stowable size and ensure that you wane up full of beans and ready to tackle more fish.

to heat your cold shower into hot for ages and if you need that little bit of extra comfort as a carrot to get someone out under the stars

HOT SHOWERS?

for the Easter break, it’s $500 well spent.

of any of the pre-assembled bags that you can buy at most camping stores, it’s pretty sensible to have one stashed under the seat of the car.

TENTS AND SWAGS

You might have a killer tarp setup, but especially if it’s hot, you’ll want some sort of protection from the elements. And by elements, we mean biting insects.

There’s an infinite range of tents available – from 100% insect screen to models that can withstand a cyclone.

At the end of the day, your tent or swag becomes your little cocoon where you can get the rest you need to go out and catch them all again tomorrow.

It’s a place where if all gets cyclonic, you can curl up and resign yourself to dealing with the aftermath in the morning.

Not only is it possible to have a hot shower when you are – literally – away from it all, but the technology has been around for a couple of decades. Glinds

FIRST AID

You probably give less thought to a first aid kit than you do the tides or the weather, but when you need

NO BOAT? CAMPER TRAILER! If you’re not towing a boat to your Easter destination, then a super comfortable way to camp in style is with a camper trailer. With pop-up bedding, cooking facilities, on board water and often the kitchen sink, a top notch camper trailer can cost a pretty penny.

But you can also rent them for those couple of times a year you really want to get away.

Both your family or your mates will thank you for it.

THE ULTIMATE CAMPING CHAIR

low emission. They’re also multi purpose and some have a 12v battery charging outlet as well as 240v power available. Whack them behind a tree and you barely know that they’re running at all.

REFRIGERATION

If Aussies are good at anything, it’s keeping our beer (and food) cold. Most Aussie blokes have a spread of keeping-it-cool devices on hand at any one stage.

Apart from the mandatory stubby cooler, a fibreglass esky will be much better insulated and long lasting in the field than a plastic model that’s limits are getting to your mates’ BBQ in one piece and making your drinks slightly cooler than air temperature.

a sudden your refrigeration prowess will go to a whole new level.

If you want to up the ante, there’s a swag of electrical fridge/freezer boxes available that keep your important stuff cool for a minimum of power input. Plug these into a 12v (battery or solar) or 240v power source and the little compressors will hum away quietly and keep your food and drinks cold. With the availability of 12v DC in your vehicle, there’s no need for the milk to go sour.

And starting the day without your Weetbix just feels wrong.

DRIED MEALS

If construction of the ultimate evening camping meal in a nest of camp-

There’s nothing that says ‘I like fishing more than camping’ than a swag.

They’re compact, set up in 20 seconds and provide pretty good protection from the elements – especially in the cooler months.

If you’ve got plenty of room, a camp cot keeps you up off the ground and insulated from the heat or

GLIND CAPE YORKER ADD A GLIND SAND FILTER FOR THE ULTIMATE BEACH CAMPING SETUP

PORTABLE PRESSURISED WATER SYSTEM Perfect for showers, camp kitchens, water transfers, cleaning your fish, your boat and your kids!

N

EW

Just add water and power! www.glind.com.au

have been making top-ofthe-line hot water showers that use your 4x4’s engine

one, you’ll be glad you have it. Whether you make up your own kit or take advantage

KT6 300g

1 LUX @ 145m

WATERPROOF

IP65

520

LUMENS

And last, but definitely not least is man’s desire to design, find or buy the ultimate camping chair. We’ve all seen the BCF ads, but seriously, compared to the options we had when your dad was a kid, there’s a dizzying array of cooling, foldable, reclining, foot rest-supplied.

So enjoy your Easter break and make sure you get out into the wonderful Aussie outdoors. You’ll love it and your mates/kids/girlfriend/ spouse will also love it when you roll out the latest camping luxuries!

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LATEST USA T6 CREE chip

www.korrlighting.com.au Compatible with other Glind products.

For further product information and purchase details

MARCH 2015

83

Camping Feature

KORR 10w Headlamp

1

KORR 10w Headlanp SRP

$

49.99 1

200L Long Ice Boxes SRP

$

299

2

The Korr 10w Headlamp is turning heads as far as portability, convenience and power are concerned.

With its heavy-duty aluminium alloy construction, and use of the CREE XML2-US LED, this head-torch is leading the way with a distance of 150m at 1 lux.

Featuring an IP66 waterproof rating, making it perfect for use through rain, hail and shine.

The Korr 10w headlamp is powered by AA batteries.

The lamp allows owners to use high, low and strobe beams, boasting a massive 840 Lumens.

The anti-shattering ultra clear lens alongside the robust construction makes the KORR 10w Headlamp a necessity in any situation.

These torches are making friends with every angler and camper.

Price: $49.99 www.korrlighting.com.au

200L Long Classic Ice Boxes

2

LED Flexible Light Strip SRP

from

$

49.95 3

Techniice have really filled a void in the market with their 200L long box with external dimensions of 60.7x134x 44.6cm (WxLxH).

It is a perfect balance of size and capacity for those of us who catch some seriously big fish or want a box to remind them what they are there for!

The ability of these boxes to keep things cold for a very long time and great value for money is no surprise, given

the pedigree that comes with any of the products with the Techniice brand.

This company has extensive experience with making products for the Department of Defence, SES, CFA and many other demanding commercial users.

You don’t have to be Einstein to appreciate the build quality of this box with thick insulated walls and lid, tough, serious hinges and fittings, and 3 big full length skids welded to the bottom of the box to prevent scratching when storing in your boat or ute.

They can even be used to wash the dog or take a hot or cold bath at the campsite!

Price: $299 (delivered) www.techniice.com

LED Flexible Light Strip

3

A 1m long fully waterproof, IP67 rated, flexible LED light strip that is perfect for any application needing some bright, reliable lighting.

This flexible light strip uses 60 of the highest brightness LEDs that are fully sheathed in a protective plastic casing to protect from water, dust and damage.

Each strip features waterproof male/ female connections at each end to ensure that your power connection is protected from the elements.

At the same time it also allows multiple strips to be daisy-chained together to create a longer length (up to 5m maximum).

It is powered by 12VDC with 720 lumens. It comes in a cool white colour for added brightness.

Price: $49.95 www.roadtechmarine.com.au

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1300 964 264 www.roadtechmarine.com.au 84

MARCH 2015

E

D

G

Camping Feature RTM Fridge/ Freezer SRP

4

249

$

4

SRP

$

120

5

6

RTM Fridge/Freezer

Every outdoor lover knows the benefits of a compressor-type refrigerator/freezer, just like the one in the kitchen. Most of the popular units on the market, while being about quarter the size of a domestic unit, cost at least as much as a full size fridge, often far more.

However, along comes the Powertech range of portable fridge/freezers at a price breakthrough. The range covers the three most popular sizes: 30L, 40L and 50L. The Road Tech Marine units feature the same German Danfoss compressor and control module as used in the leading Eurostyle units on the market today.

The RTM units also feature: digital display control panels, 3-stage battery protection, a handy internal pull-out food basket, separate dairy section and tough carry handles that double as tie-down points. They can also operate on 12 or 24V DC (0.7A) and 240V AC (very handy). The units will pull-down to -18oC. They all carry a 5 year warranty (same as the Euro models) and feature a highimpact housing. These products are available from all Road Tech Marine & Jaycar outlets and dealers.

Price: 30L $695, 40L $749, 50L $825 www.roadtechmarine.com.au

5

695

Sand Spear Filter

KORR Camp Kit 4 SRP

$

Sand Spear Filter

Glind is now manufacturing a 316 stainless steel filter so you can pump water from the sandy bed rivers and never have sand enter your pump again! You can even bury it on the beaches like Double Island or Fraser and access freshwater from the water table that lay beneath the surface. You can also pump water for the van or camper trailer’s water tanks from the numerous waterways in Australia’s top end.

This amazing little sand filter fits neatly inside a 20L drum or can be fitted down a length of pipe to make your own Sand Spear.

Individually handcrafted in Queensland from the highest quality 316 stainless steel.

Virtually indestructible, you will never have to buy another one ever again. Travel anywhere with total peace of mind. Simply clamp one of these little beauties to the end of your 1/2” suction hose. Perfect travel size, it is only 115mm long and 37mm diameter.

Price: $120 www.glind.com.au

6

KORR Camp Kit 4

Over the past six years, Korr has constantly upgraded the popular Camp Kit range, by making the already impressive components stronger and brighter. Now featuring 3 different power source options, many extension leads, dimmers and high powered bars.

With a 5 year paperless warranty, the Camp Kit range can withstand even the most harshest of environments. The bars and extension leads have an IP68 Waterproof rating, making them fully submergible up to 3m. The LED bars included in the kit now have grommets on either end to reinforce the connections, and therefore preventing any fraying of the wires after years of use.

The Korr dimmers have also had magnets built in so that they are now able to be mounted to your tent poles. The entire kit comes in a sturdy, compact aluminium case, keeping everything in one place. The 4 Bar Camp Kit, Korr Lighting’s most popular product in the range, is high in demand. You really can’t afford not to make the KORR Lighting 4 Bar Camp Kit a part of your next adventure.

Price: $249 www.korrlighting.com.au MARCH 2015

85

Camping Feature

Stainless Steel Fridge

1

The recently released Techniice Stainless Steel Fridge is one of the most versatile units we have come across. They come in a dual zone version in 60L and 80L, and single zone in 80L. The dual zone model comes with dual lids and temperature controls that display both the fridge and freezer temperature at the same time on the fridge and the remote control. A unique feature of these dual zone fridge freezers is that either compartment can be operated as a fridge or a freezer. Both compartments have separate controls that take them from below -20ºC right up to fridge temperatures.

The 80L single zone model has one compartment and can be used as a fridge or freezer. It is particularly popular on boats that already have refrigeration but want to expand their capacity. They are ideal in a marine environment or off road. The case is stainless steel along with solid stainless steel handles and hinges. The whole range is powered by Danfoss Compressors. Techniice stainless steel fridge freezers come with a 6 year parts and labour warranty! Service is available through their large network of Techniice accredited service agents right across Australia.

Price: $859 (60L Dual Zone) www.techniice.com

Stainless Steel Fridge $

SRP

859

1

The Cape Yorker 250

$

SRP

2

2

Jungle Reef Swags SRP

from

169 3

$

Reversing Camera SRP

$

199

4

3

KT6 Torch $

SRP

79.99 5

6.5” LED Driving Light SRP

86

MARCH 2015

$

229

6

The Cape Yorker

Glind’s Cape Yorker is a truly portable, travel anywhere pressurised shower system that you can choose the flow and pressure. Pumps can be from 3.8L/min to a whopping 11L/min and the pressure can be from 35psi to a massive 50psi – you choose. This compact unit is built with top quality components including the super efficient and ultra reliable Flojet pressure pump, and it is all housed in a rugged tough case.

For general use, such as showering, Glind recommends the 3.8L/min model however if you intend on using a Glind Sand Spear Filter, you must order the 11L/min model. The 3.8L/ min model is perfectly suited to pumping from drums, buckets, jerry cans or on board water tanks, but the 11L/min model has the grunt you need if you intend on pumping from rivers or creeks or for accessing underground water or connecting the Cape Yorker to a garden hose and sprayer. With awesome flow and pressure, the Glind Cape Yorker is one of the most reliable, toughest camping, boating or 4WDing accessories you can buy.

Price: $250 www.glind.com.au

Jungle Reef Swags

When Jungle Reef Swags were first introduced to the American market last year, it really reinforced how Americans appreciate the sheer toughness and manufacturing quality that Aussies design into their outdoor products.

One of the unique features on the Jungle Reef Swags came from one of their staff of 30 years. After a lifetime of camping experience in remote regions here and abroad, he found that one of the big problems they had was that in wet humid conditions it was impossible to get a good flow of air for sleeping. So one of the first things added to the design was a foot window complete with insect mesh and handy roll up canvas cover. This enables users to adjust the air flow through the swag from zero to fully open without getting water in and ensuring a great night sleep. Jungle Reef Swags use 15oz rip stop canvas and big tooth heavy duty zips.

The Jungle Reef Swags are a 3 pole design with a thick PVC floor, which comes partially up the sides so you can even wake up in a puddle without getting wet! They have a thick mattress and a compartment in the floor to hold the poles.

Price: Single $169, XL Swag $189, Double Swag $209 www.techniice.com

Reversing your Caravan 4

Take the guesswork out of reversing your caravan or trailer with this wireless reversing camera and display. Installation is a cinch – simply mount the camera onto the rear number plate and wire to the reverse light.

Once you engage reverse gear the camera will wirelessly transmit the vision up to 50m to the 4.3” display that suction mounts to your windscreen and plugs into the cigarette lighter for power.

Main features include: 12 or 24V systems, 2.4GHz digital technology for clear transmission, screen resolution 640 x 480 pixels, camera dimensions 84(W) x 42(H) x 36(D)mm, monitor dimensions 140(W) x 87(H) x 21(D)mm.

Price: $199 www.roadtechmarine.com.au

5

KT6 Torch

The newest member to KORR lighting’s range, the KT6 Torch features versatility, intense light output and reaches distances only dreamt about. In the past, the capabilities of torches have been based on their power source requirements, with this one only using alkaline batteries, and that one depending on the availability of 12v. This is what sets the KT6 ahead of the rest. The KT6 is powered by a high-quality Samsung Lithium battery, which can be charged from both 12v and USB, enabling you to use your vehicle, laptop, jumper pack and generator. And if in the case where you can’t access 12v or USB outputs, there is an included AAA battery adaptor. The KT6 is sure to light up the night, no matter where you are.

Incorporating new designs and technologies, the KT6 uses the latest T6 CREE Chip to generate a pencil beam reaching distances as far as 200m. This torch also offers the ability to transform the pencil beam to flood, so that you can have a wider view of camp. The KT6 is built of tough aircraft aluminium, making it one of the strongest torches on the market today. This lightweight torch also offers a waterproof rating of IP65, and a lifespan of over 50,000 hours.

When you consider all of the high performance components included in the KT6, as well as the many charging options available, you’re left with a versatile, strong next-generation torch. This is a must-have any fisher, camper or outdoorsman.

Price: $79.99 www.korrlighting.com.au

6.5” LED Driving Light 6

Spotties, or driving lights, are often a necessity for the serious 4WD owner, offroad enthusiast and long haul trucker, and LEDs are ideal for these applications.

LEDs are almost completely resistant to shock and vibration and use far less power for the amount of light they produce. They are very compact and turn on instantly with no ‘warm up’, and they last for over 50,000 hours.

These driving lights use 7x 10W Cree XM-L LEDs to produce over 6,000 lumens of brilliant white light, which is equivalent to about a 500W halogen lamp. Combination spot/ flood reflectors will light up the road out to a distance of 523m.

The durable light is made of diecast aluminium alloy, the lens cover made with near-unbreakable Lexan polycarbonate, and assembled with 316 grade stainless bolts.

They are completely waterproof and dustproof.

Suitable for both 12V or 24V systems.

Available from Road Tech Marine stores nationwide or from their website.

Price: $229 www.roadtechmarine.com.au

NEW MERCRUISER 4.5L STERNDRIVE

Get the purpose-built powerhouse behind you.

The next generation 4.5L. A high-torque, lightweight V6 sterndrive that delivers V8 performance. Designed specifically for marine use – with innovations like a rear-facing throttle body that directs noise away from the helm for quieter cruising. Adaptive Speed Control maintains rpm regardless of load or condition.

It’s good to have Mercury behind you.

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today.

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BRISBANE SOUTH MANLY HARBOUR MARINE

25 Queens Rd Everton Park Phone: (07) 3353 1928 | Fax: (07) 3353 4548 Email: info@holtmarine.com.au Website: www.holtmarine.com.au

82 Dayman Street Urangan Hervey Bay Phone: (07) 4128 9944 Fax: (07) 4125 2350 Email: sales@baycitymarine.com.au Website: www.baycitymarine.com.au

570 Royal Esplanade Manly Phone: (07) 3893 2199 Fax: (07) 3893 2188 Email: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au Website: www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

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57 Cavendish Rd Coorparoo Phone: (07) 3397 4141 Fax: (07) 3397 6339 Email: info@coorparoomarine.com.au Website: www.coorparoomarine.com.au

1 William Murray Dr Cannonvale Phone: (07) 4946 7286 Fax: (07) 4946 7848 Email: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

34 Don St Bowen Phone: (07) 4786 2944 Fax: (07) 4786 6606 Email: remarine@bigpond.net.au

BRISBANE BRISBANE MARINE 306 Duffield Road Clontarf Phone: (07) 3889 3033 Fax: (07) 3889 5390 Email: info@brismarine.com.au Website: www.brismarine.com.au

MARCH 2015

87

Mitsubishi Pajero has been upgraded for 2015 BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Looking at some facts and figures, the Pajero wagon has been around for a long, long time. Initially hailed as a game changer back in the mid ‘90s thanks to a suspension set up that saw a car-like ride from a very capable 4WD. The Pajero was in many respects well ahead of competitors at that time.

Competitors could certainly go off road but were inclined to jar the fillings out of the back molars. Consensus among motoring journalists at the time was that the Pajero was so well received, simply because it combined a not overly large or small size with equally efficient on/off road performance, and high comfort levels.

As a ‘proper’ 4WD (low range capability has always been a significant feature of this iconic wagon) the Pajero surprised many with its capability.

Petrol engines were followed by diesel power plants, radical body shape changes also occurred over the years but the basic body shape of today has been around for several years now with nips and tucks designed to make what’s pretty good even better. Which is exactly what has occurred with the 2015 offering: enhancements, improvements, extra features and some significant price trimming. That’s what this year’s 7-seater, diesel powered Pajero is all about.

EXTERNAL FEATURES Looking externally and starting from the ground up, there’s 18” 12-spoke alloy wheels in the GLX, as reviewed while side steps are there to defend the lower body work against attacks from foreign objects when in serious off road mode.

Up front there’s a new grille and bumper design, while daylight LED running lights and fog lamps add some bling plus road presence up front. Not so evident during daylight hours but certain to be appreciated at night are new HID headlights (including washers) with auto levelling capability.

Chrome door handles plus door mirrors (with turn indicators) are also included as are a new rear dust deflector and a redesigned spare tyre cover.

A LOOK INSIDE The Pajero’s interior featured seats, wheel, and drive selector knob with leather trim and a subtle brushed metal/matte grey dash being quite easy on the eye. Highlighting the dash 88

MARCH 2015

Retaining the basic shape we are familiar with, the latest Pajero offers quite a few innovative features for the buyer.

the gear selector to the side and selecting gears manually with a bit of a fore/aft nudge on the selector.

In a mix of country and city driving, I scored a total fuel use of 10.2L/100km, not bad at all for a solid wagon with a kerb weight of 2.255 tonnes. The fuel tank capacity is 88L. On highway runs, the 3.2L diesel proved very capable with overtaking very swiftly achieved, the 4-wheel independent suspension easily taking undulations and other road imperfections within its stride for utmost passenger comfort.

OFF THE ROAD It’s in this latter mode that Pajero shines. Ample ground clearance along with excellent approach and departure angles ensure that

In all, the Pajero is, and has always been, a very competent off road traveller with the ability to keep occupants insulated from exterior bumps and thumps thanks to the great suspension system.

Of interest to boat and camper trailer owners is a 750kg unbraked trailer and 3000kg braked trailer capacity, so towing up or down a beach, or cross country into a favourite bit of fresh water should be pretty easy.

SAFETY AND SUMMING UP The Pajero comes with a raft of safety features such as driver and passenger front and curtain air bags, EBD, ABS, Active Stability Control, Active Traction Control, and a

area was the Pajero’s multiinformation display featuring everything from altitude to trip computers and fuel consumption.

In conjunction with the 6” colour touch screen was an easy to use Sat Nav package as well as a reversing camera. The large screen also provided access to the vehicle’s audio system with its 6 speakers.

Naturally, USB input plus iPod control was installed for user’s convenience along with Bluetooth phone

connectivity and audio streaming with voice control.

Climate air conditioning, electric functioning for windows and exterior mirrors were also part of the package. The majority of the more important vehicle controls such as the sound and phone systems as well as cruise control were located on the steering wheel in line with most of today’s vehicles.

Storage was in ample provision with plenty of nooks and crannies within the vehicle, plus an under floor tray right at the rear.

Seating was noteworthy.

The 7-seater offered 60/40 split fold tumble down capability for second row seating, with complete tumble below the rear floor (or easy total removal) for

the rear two person bench seat, which, along with other seating within the Pajero offered excellent head and leg room. I took the opportunity for a country run and by folding rear seating under the floor, tumbling down the second row of seating, I had a very useful load space of 1429mm by 1028mm at my disposal.

ON THE ROAD A 3.2L 16-valve common rail 4-cylinder intercooled turbo diesel moves the Pajero along with ease thanks to an output of 147kW of power and 441Nm of torque. Sound levels are greatly reduced within this year’s model thanks to extensive measures taken to reduce NVH levels.

Where once the Pajero’s diesel sounded very busy I noticed that it did not make

Split fold and tumble down second row seating is a Pajero feature. much sound at all with just a little at start up and then with noise levels dropping as revs increased. Linked to a 5-speed auto gearbox the Pajero wagon offered seamless gear changes with the option of a little sports mode driving by moving

the wagon can easily traverse many obstacles while both high and low range 4WD, along with a rear diff lock for the really tough going, ensure ample traction.

The 4WD can be selected on the fly, at speeds up to 100km/h.

Top left: This year the goodies start at ground level with new mag wheels adding bling.

Top right: Full head and legroom is a feature of the Pajero’s third row seating.

Far left: Wheel activated controls for major function is a great driver aid.

Middle: The console’s second gear lever depicts the Pajero as a 4WD with real off road cred as it activates the low range system.

Above: Owners will find the Pajero’s Sat Nav system and its big screen extremely user friendly. reinforced body for extra impact safety.

Warranty is a 5 year 100,000km warranty and each Pajero comes with 4 years, 60,000km capped price servicing. From Nundah Mitsubishi, the new GLX is priced at $53,990.

Glen Villa Resort BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

With its fabulous headland and iconic ocean views plus a remarkably laid-back atmosphere, the town of Byron Bay is a must see place that attracts visitors of all interests and some of the best entertainment events in our country.

In this month alone there are no less than 3 festivals occurring, namely the Film Fest, Spirit Fest plus Brunswick Kites and Bikes.

Then, in the first week of April, there’s one of Australia’s most famous music events – always attended by thousands – the Byron Bay Blues Festival.

Yet among all this festivity there’s no denying that the area with its great beaches, rocky headlands and other features offers some terrific fishing as well.

Researching the area recently, for readers that like to mix fishing with camping nearby I came across an absolute gem of a holiday park namely Glen Villa Resort in Butler Street Byron Bay. GLEN VILLA – A PEACEFUL PARK Glen Villa Resort is a wonderful mix of great camping sites for those with tents or camper trailers.

Dedicated caravan sites are there as well while cabins and lock up hire tents are offered. Being established on the virtual outskirts of Byron Bay’s main business centre, there’s only a 5-minute walk to shops and around a 10-minute walk to the beach just down from Cosy Corner on the southern tip of the mighty headland with its lighthouse and walking tracks.

Maintained as a great place for a holidaying couple

for shade in summer, plenty of sun in winter. Campsites are generally occupied on a first come basis (bookings are not taken) so first in is best dressed.

WELL SET UP CABINS For non-campers there are numbers of viable alternatives in the form of cabins, cottages and holiday huts. The fully self-contained Deluxe Cabins each feature double beds, en suite, air conditioning, as well as TV and cooking facilities.

Self-contained studio cabins and some being twin cabins are also on site. Spa Cabins are unique in that each is equipped with a 1.8m spa.

On site cottages come set up with either 1-2 bedrooms and feature lounge and dining areas, self-contained kitchen bathroom and air conditioning, TV, linen and towels.

The Resort’s Holiday huts are designed to provide an interesting balance between tent site camping and staying in a cabin and are conveniently located fairly close to the Resort’s main amenities block and camp kitchen. Each tentlike hut is on a concrete base, has a permanent fixed annexe, two vinyl mattresses, locking door, a light, and fly screening.

Linen is available for a small fee. Note that the Holiday huts are also managed on a first come basis.

EASY WALK INTO TOWN One aspect of a stay at this resort with its laid-back and very serene atmosphere is the easy walking distance (5-8 minutes) to the main town centre with its myriad restaurants, nightclubs, major retailers such as Wooworths, plus various other retail outlets and professional suites along with hotels and other points of interest.

Also in town there’s a

beaches are not overly busy with holiday-makers the beach angler can expect to tangle with fish such as dart, whiting and bream in the shallow shore break areas.

Beach worms are present and in my opinion it’s almost as much fun to catch them as the fish, which like worms for breakfast or lunch.

When gutters form, as they do around big headlands, there is always the chance of a tailor or mulloway as well.

One area renowned for tailor are the rocks at nearby Suffolk Park, a very short drive to the south of Byron Bay on the

main ocean road. Southerly weather usually sees a great section of lovely foamy water forming on the northern section of the rocks and that’s where tailor are likely to tucking into some hapless baitfish. Where there’s tailor, mulloway are also likely to be sneaking around looking for an easy feed, so be prepared.

GETTING THERE It’s probably not necessary to elaborate on finding the Byron Bay turn off. One would have to have tunnel vision to miss this very well signed exit on the M1 not far south of Brunswick Heads.

Once on the Ewingsdale Road leading into Byron Bay

Top: For guests wanting to try out tent camping while enjoying a touch of luxury the Resort’s Holiday Tents are available.

Middle left: There’s no need to go to the beach for a swim, there’s a pool on site.

Middle right: The camp kitchen is large, well set up, and deservedly popular as a meeting place.

Left: Barbeque facilities are available to cook up those fresh fish.

4 BAR 5 YEAR

WARRANTY

There are options for plenty of beach fishing around Byron Bay, with the rocks at Suffolk Park also very handy to the south. or family, Glen Villa Resort is very fortunate in having an entirely level area throughout with plenty of wide roads, well-grassed sites plus modern and well-appointed amenities.

Tent and camper trailer sites are very well set out, each easily delineated so there’s no confusion regarding chosen sites. One of the really great features of a stay here is that there are genuine options

hospital, RSL and bowls club, lighthouse and walking tracks around the main headland. An attraction not to be missed is the hang gliding ramp up on the headland. When there’s an on shore breeze blowing the hang gliding fraternity are out in some force enjoying some air time.

LOTS OF FISHING OPTIONS Fishing in this area is a diverse business. When

– and just as one enters the town’s main business area – the intersection of Lawson and Butler Street will see the vehicle turning right into Butler Street and following it for a couple of hundred metres until the entrance to Glen Villa Resort is noted on the left at 80-86 Butler Street.

Contact details are glenvilla@byronbayresorts. com or on the phone at (02) 266857382

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MARCH 2015

89

Lights, camera, action!

BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Kayak anglers are renowned for personalising and customising their craft to suit their individual needs and fishing style.

The purpose of this modification or fit-out is often to address a problem or need that the kayak angler has, be it making their vessel safer, faster, more stable, visible or comfortable, or creating more effective storage solutions.

NEED/PROBLEM It was a need that recently switched my brain into fit-out mode and that need was rear rod storage. There are many advantages to pedal kayaks, including hands free fishing and the ability to use larger muscle groups for propulsion and thus travel longer distances, however the downside is that you sacrifice cockpit space due to the pedal drive system. I often carry 3 rods, rigged with different lures, and find it easy to lay a single rod down in front of me, but as soon as I add a couple more to the equation, graphite rods and pedal drives can catastrophically collide.

The basis of the system, two StarPort mounts in place. Note the marker pen for positioning.

Without the inbuilt side rod storage found in the Hobie PAs, I needed to develop a storage solution behind my seat for a couple of rods, ensuring that they were secure and the reels were up away from the water.

SOLUTION Before mounting anything on your kayak it’s important to ensure that you can access and operate it from your usual seated or standing position, as you would while travelling and fishing. If my neighbour had looked over the fence and seen me sitting in my kayak on the grass, reaching behind me to grab an imaginary rod or open an invisible icebox to access a drink, he would probably have shaken his head. Better that than me out on the water shaking my head… and probably fists, when I can’t access what I need I have only myself to blame.

In the past I have used Railblaza mounts and accessories for varied fit out solutions. Their StarPort mounts are quick and easy to attach to the kayak; two holes drilled, two nuts and bolts tightened and you’re ready to attach any of their practical, quality accessories.

With this in mind I used a few

It’s a good feeling when a fit-out comes together.

Railblaza components that I already had and sought out a few others. My rear rod holder set up had evolved, as many projects do and it would now hold two rods, a Railblaza CameraBoom 600 for mounting my still camera or sports camera and a Railblaza TelePole 1000 to attach an LED Navilight for night fishing or hi-vis flag for daylight hours.

The basis of my rod holder would be a Railblaza TracPort Dash 500, mounted to two StarPort mounts.

The TracPort Dash comes fitted with four StarPorts, allowing the attachment of four accessories, and the

whole assembly can be removed quickly and easily by simply unlocking the two StarPort mounts that are fitted to the kayak. This leaves a minimum of exposed mounts and fittings when storing or transporting the kayak, or when using it for other applications such as camping or touring.

Attach the StarPort mounts to the TracPort Dash and position it where it is to be fitted, marking the position of the StarPort mounts with a marker pen. Remove the StarPort mounts from the TracPort Dash, position them, mark the bolt holes, remove the mounts, drill and then

you can go ahead and bolt the mounts into place. StarPort mounts really are a breeze to fit and in minutes I had the two mounts in place and the TracPort Dash inserted and locked into the two StarPort mounts. It’s important to remember that old catch phrase, ‘measure twice, cut or drill once’.

With the TracPort Dash mounted you now have 4 StarPort mounts to use as you wish. I opted for a Railblaza Rod Holder II in each of the outside mounts, as the rods would be accessed more frequently than either the light or camera. The Rod Holder II features a rotating

n o e b o t t Wan f o r e v o C the ? y l h t n o M Fishing

WIN A POWER-POLE MICRO ANCHOR FROM

24 PAGE Melbourne Boat Show feature

Do you love your monthly issue of Fishing Monthly?

Do you think it’s about time you were on the cover of it?

Well, we think that too and are offering readers the chance to do just that. The March, April and May 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...

Techniques Make mine a mullet Baiting river blackfish • Blue Rock bassin’ • DIY kayak wheels

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

• • • • • • •

Other parameters of which you need to take note: Portrait format (turn camera on its side).

Leave enough room for a magazine masthead at the top of the image.

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). iPhone pics aren’t going to cut it!

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

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 mounted copy of the winning covers to the entrant.

THAT will be going straight to the Pool Room, we bet.

(GST inc.)

90

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 Man committee (Steve Morgan) and then BOOM, you’re the latest cover model.

Fishing Monthly Group

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For full terms and conditions, please refer to www.fishingmonthly.com.au/frontcovercomp

collar that ensures that once the rod is locked in place, it cannot be removed without sliding the collar open. This avoids the problem of lost rods due to reels being lifted up while paddling or the rod catching on something and being pulled from the holder.

These are stories that are surprisingly common.

The two middle mounts are then free to add the CameraBoom and TelePole.

The CameraBoom 600 features a universal thread to attach a standard camera or sports camera and it has a wide degree of adjustments, allowing you to set it up to capture the angle you’re after.

By utilising this camera for a view from behind the angler and a camera toward the front of the kayak looking back at the angler, you can capture all of the action and create more exciting and interesting videos than those created from a single viewpoint.

A hi-vis flag is a great way of adding to the visibility of the kayak, especially when fishing offshore, where the kayak rises and falls with the swell, its low profile disappearing regularly from view. For night fishing, a light is an essential means of alerting boats and other vessels to your presence.

The TelePole 100 is ideal for attaching a light or flag and it extends from 0.6-1m as

Above left: Back home and it’s just a matter of unlocking two StarPort mounts and the whole assembly is removed. Above middle: The Rod Holder II allows you to lock additional rods securely in place. Top right: The TracPort Dash 500 allows you to attach and adjust the position of four accessories.

Right: The LED Navisafe Light ensures you are visible when travelling or fishing at night. required, locking into place with a simple twist of the pole. It is designed to lock into a StarPort at the base and accepts Railblaza accessories in the top, including the Navilight.

The Navisafe Navilight

is a brilliant light for kayak anglers for a number of reasons. The light is durable, bright – 2NM US Coast Guard approved (visible up to 5NM in the dark), floats the right way up, is waterproof up to 20m and it runs on 3 AAA

Profish Tackle Pod™

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batteries, making it easy to have spares in your kit. Run time is approximately 85 hours in flashing mode, with other modes available and it is available in a 360° white light or a Port/Starboard/ Stern light option.

It was then time to hit the water and put the new additions to the test. The whole setup was sturdy, the rods easy to access, lock and unlock, and by turning side on in the seat I could raise, lower and switch on the light

and adjust the CameraBoom or camera as required. I even managed to catch a few bream and through this fit-out had successfully added lights, camera and the rods were ready for action. See you on the water!

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Pirtek Challenge 2015 The Pirtek Challenge is on again and the team at Fishing Monthly thought we’d give you all a bit of a heads up on how to go about catching one of the species involved in the competition.

This competition donates a lot of money to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and that is worth getting behind.

You can win part of the $169,000 in prizes and even have the opportunity to fish with Guesty and ET. But apart from all of that, this competition gives you the opportunity to hit the water with friends and family and have a great day in the outdoors doing what we all love the best - fishing!

So let’s check out some tactics to help you win and get you organised to make the most of the 2015 Pirtek Challenge, Australia’s biggest fishing competition..

COMP TACTICS • Get to know your target species and make sure you have them worked out before the competition starts • Your angler number will be emailed to you after 6pm the night before the competition starts • Fish as early as you can to make the most of the limited fishing time (6am till 6pm) • Always look after yourself by wearing the right clothes, drinking and eating the right foods and being careful of the sun while fishing • You are only allowed to measure in one fish per angler so choose carefully. Most measure in the largest of a given species

• Remember there are mystery length prizes so even a relatively small fish can win you a great prize • Photograph your fish correctly after you have numbered your competition brag mat with your angler number. Make sure that your camera is charged!

GET OUT THERE So sign up, join in and have a great day on the water knowing you’re helping a great cause, all with the chance to win some great prizes.

Historical Winning Lengths Year

Species

Length cm

2014

Barra

123.8

2013

Whiting

43

2014

Flathead

86

2014

Carp

82.3

2014

Yellowbelly

63.6

2014

Redfin

47.2

Barramundi Flathead Whiting Murray Darling Basin

Fishing Pack Fishing Pack

To enter, log onto To enter, log onto To enter, log onto

pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au Proudly Supporting Prostate Cancer Foundation pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au of Australia and Peter Duncan Neuroscience Proudly Supporting Prostate Cancer Foundation Research UnitPeter of St Duncan Vincent’s Hospital. of Australia and Neuroscience Proudly Supporting Prostate Cancer Foundation Research Unit of St Vincent’s Hospital. of Australia and Peter Duncan Neuroscience Research Unit of St Vincent’s Hospital.

QLD This map gives you a rough guide on where you can find the target species. They are all abundant and found in many areas throughout the state.

For full terms, conditions and licensing log on to pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au. Permit Nos: ACT Permit Nos TP 14/04455; NSW Permit No LTPS/14/10073; SA Permit No T14/2381; VIC Permit No 14/6070.

For full terms, conditions and licensing log on to pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au. Permit Nos: ACT Permit Nos TP 14/04455; NSW Permit No LTPS/14/10073; SA Permit No T14/2381; VIC Permit No 14/6070.

For full terms, conditions and licensing log on to pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au. Permit Nos: ACT Permit Nos TP 14/04455; NSW Permit No LTPS/14/10073; SA Permit No T14/2381; VIC Permit No 14/6070.

92

MARCH 2015

To enter the Pirtek Challenge on 22 March 2015 visit pirtekfishingchallenge.com.au.

Cost is $20 and pre-entry is mandatory.

BARRAMUNDI

COASTAL Size range: Size range: up to 1.4m, commonly 50-80cm wild, 70-1.2m impoundment Tactics: River barra and lake barra behave differently. River fish are typically leaner and meaner and relate to structure. Casting lures and live baits at snags is a Queensland tradition in the tropics. Lake fish typically hold in deeper water during the day and roam freely at night and are often easier to catch after the sun goes down.

Rigs No matter if you’re bait or lure fishing, use a heavy monofilament trace for barra. They have no teeth but will rasp through your line with their rough jaws.

Bait: Use a 5/0 hook and weight it according to current. Add a live mullet or XOS live prawn and cast it close to structure. Hang on.

Lures: 4” to 6” long diving minnows get plenty of attention from barra - both in rivers and lakes.

Whether you’re using braided line or mono, make sure that the trace is firmly connected to your trace. Retrieve with a jerky, stop-start action. Barra will often blast the lure on the pause.

WHITING

FLATHEAD

Size range: up to 1.1m, commonly 30-65cm Tactics: Flathead are classic ambush predators that us camouflage to their advantage. Drop offs, weed edges, hard rock and mud edges are all favourites haunts of flathead. Lures, flies and baits all work equally well on flathead.

Lures such as soft plastics, vibes, lipless crankabits and hard bodies all take flathead and the variety of baits that work on the species is endless – they really will take most things.

Cast towards structure with baits and lures, drift over the same areas with bait or troll over these areas with lures to take advantage of these ambush predators.

Rigs Bait: Running sinker rig 6lb braided main line with 15lb leader Lures: 6lb braided main line with 15lb leader, attach lures with a loop knot where possible.

Size range: up to 50cm, commonly 15-40cm Tactics: Whiting love clear and shallow water where they grub around for worms and other tasty tidbits.

While lure fishing with surface offerings does catch plenty of whiting, your best bet is to get some live marine worms (squirt/pod/beach/mud) and fish them on light line over a sand flat as the tide rises, changing to the channel edges as the tide drops.

Rigs Bait: Running sinker rig with long light leader 4lb mono main line, 2-4lb leader

CARP

MURRAY DARLING BASIN Size range: up to 1m, commonly 30-60cm.

Tactics: Carp feed by smell and taste and are therefore attracted to smelly baits. This makes all sorts of baits and surprisingly, occasionally lures, very effective on carp.

Baits as varied as scrubworms, corn, bread, dough, shrimp and grubs are all attractive to carp and the use of berley will increase your success rate dramatically.

Look for slow flowing areas in rivers, such as back eddies and deeper bends and in lakes look to weedy shallows for the best results.

Rigs Running sinker rig, Paternoster rig, Float rig 6-20lb main line, 10-20lb leader, lighter in clear water free of snags.

REDFIN

GOLDEN PERCH

Size range: up to 75cm, commonly 25-50cm.

Tactics: Golden perch are predators that like a moving target. This makes lures and live baits popular, however they also love to hunt down worms and grubs set on the bottom. Lures like Australian-made hardbodies, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits cast around fallen timber in rivers and standing timber in lakes are all successful, especially around first and last light.

Bait fished on a running sinker rig or paternoster-style rig are favourites. If you can impart some movement to the bait, your success rate will increase. Cast baits towards and into structure for the best results.

Rigs Bait: Running sinker rig, Paternoster rig 20lb braided main line to 20lb leader Lures: 20lb braided main line to 20lb leader, attach lures with loop know where possible.

Size range: up to 60cm, commonly 10-40cm.

Tactics: Redfin are an aggressive predator that will attack anything alive that the fish thinks it will fit inside its mouth. They love to hang around structure such as timber and rocks, however schools of fish can also be found in relatively clear water, suspended mid-water with no structure nearby. Lures such as diving minnows, winged lures, soft plastics, ice jigs, lipless crankbaits and flies work very well on redfin. Cast towards located schools of fish, redfin will happily accept just about any lure offering you can think of.

Baits fished around structure like steep rock walls and standing timber are best. If you can move the bait, all the better as the inquisitive and aggressive redfin loves movement.

Rigs Bait: Running sinker rig, Paternoster rig, 10lb braided main line to 15lb leader Lures: 10lb braided main line to 15lb leader, attach lures with a loop knot where possible.

$169,000

in cash and prizes MARCH 2015

93

Gamakatsu Team Series The Gamakatsu Team Series Round 1 North sponsored by Unitika was run at the Gold Coast last month.

The conditions were very hot, quite and still for most of

bigger fish,” the boys said.

This technique paid off for the rest of the day, landing two big kicker fish around the 36cm mark.

“We used the Samurai

bag of 2.54kg for only 4 fish!

Ashley and Rob made the trip to the southern end of Moreton and fished any shallow reef, rocky points and flats they could find. In

Zac and Nigel Skyring took out first place with their impressive bag of 2.72kg!

Sadly, there was no prize for the best beard, however many other prizes were won, including one for the biggest bream. the day with a bit of breeze coming towards the afternoon.

Team Gamakatsu Atomic took out the event with a great bag of fish and also only just missed out on the big bream prize as well. With Unitika being the naming sponsor they sent down a box of braid to make sure that every angler got a spool of Unitika Aorika, which is the top of the line braid from the company.

Zac and Nigel Skyring from Team Gamakatsu/ Atomic came in with an awesome bag weight of 2.72kg to take first place. Fishing the outside of Soverign Island in the early hours of the day with Atomic Cranks and Semi-Hardz produced the duo with a small bag not yet big enough to take out the day.

They headed to the Coomera River as the tide slowed down to look for upgrading fish.

“Using the lack of run from the tide to drift SemiHardz Minnows under pontoons and boats, giving them a twitch-twitch pause action seemed to entice these

Reaction 302, most people use lighter rods around the Gold Coast but we have found that using heavier rods we are able to pull these solid fish away from their structure reducing the amount of bust offs we used to have. One of the keys to our success was using the right gear, Samurai rods, Unitka braid, leaders and fluorocarbon straight through allowed us to cast further and feel more. Coupled with Atomic lures, we had every box ticked to win the tournament”.

The Mako big bream prize was one by Ashley Bryant Kitchens, it was caught in the southern reaches of Moreton Bay. Using a slow roll technique with hardbodies was the key to catching this fish. The Mako big bream was an impressive 890g and scored the team a pair of market leading Mako sunglasses.

Finishing in second place was Team Ashley Bryant Kitchens consisting of anglers Ashley Bryant and Rob Booker. They weighed a good

the first hour they had a lot of trouble getting away from species like snapper, estuary cod and golden snapper. After the first hour they decided to keep plugging and stick to the game plan hitting the key areas as the tide dropped.

The stage of the tide on each particular location was the key to success, producing the fish in a small amount of time in each location before it shut down.

“With two hours to go we had our fifth fish in the net. It unhooked itself bounced twice on the deck before landing over the side of the boat,” Bryant explained. At this stage they knew the accident might be costly. Only under size bream where landed from then on until the 25-minute run back to the weigh in.

At the weigh in they unfortunately found out that the fifth fish would have placed them easily in first place.

Ashley and Rob mainly used Diawa tournament specialist bream 762ML coupled with Shimano stradic

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ci14 2500 and Sunline super braid 5. On these outfits they used what has fast become the number one estuary lure in Australia, the Atomic Hardz Crank 38 deep, in colour Ghost Green Shad.

Rounding out the top three was Luke Rogan and Peter Bostock from team Sniper.

They weighed in their 5 fish for 2.48kgs.

They too made the run up to the southern end of Moreton Bay and fished flats, rocky points and shallow reef. By 8:30am they only had a couple of fish and everything was quite. They made the decision to move spots, which ended up being one of the keys to their success. The move saw them start to catch fish again and fill their bag, plus add a couple of upgrades.

Like first and second place, they chose to use Atomic Hardz Crank 38s and also some Pontoon 21s. They threw these lures on Yoshi rods coupled with Daiwa Steez reels.

A huge thanks goes out to the series sponsor Gamakatsu and the naming round sponsor Unitika. For a full list of sponsors and any up and coming tournaments go to www.fishingcomps. com.au/gts and remember to “Support the sponsors that support your passion!”

– Frogleys Offshore

Zach Roulston, 8 years old, caught this 62cm giant trevally in the Wurtulla Canals in the Sunshine Coast after a fierce 30 minute battle, which nearly pulled him in a few times. He was very excited about his catch as he has fished the canals for years and has never caught anything of this size.

for sale on

2007 Nitro Z6 with 115 hp Mercury OptiMax. Twin livewells, 8 foot Sportsman PowerPole, Lowrance HDS 5/8, 80lb MinnKota Fortrex, travel cover, new tyres on trailer, 12 months rego and all standard Nitro features

BOAT FOR SALE

$26,5000 VIC

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Boondooma Dam yellowbelly competition There was a great turnout for the 25th Boondooma Dam Yellowbelly Fishing Competition that was held on 7-8 February 2014. A total of 649 competitors including 123 juniors weighed in 287 fish.

Another 135 Australian bass and golden perch were caught and released in the catch and release section.

Fishing conditions were perfect and anglers weighed in some quality fish. The biggest yellowbelly of the event was weighed in

at 2.89kg.

The water level in the lake was at 71%, which together with the good weather conditions set the scene for a great weekend of camping, fishing and family activities.

Hanwood Fish Hatchery champion junior anglers were Scott Johnson of Proston who weighed-in a 2.89kg yellowbelly and Stuart Kruatz of Darling Heights, Toowoomba who weighed in a 1.39kg Australian bass.

Adult angler Darryl

Rutch of Mooloolaba took out the heaviest yellowbelly with a fish for the event at 2.755kg. Darryl won a trophy and prize money with a value of $300 that was sponsored

by Corey and Nikki of the Lake Boondooma Kiosk.

Adult angler Bradley Cecil of Proston took out the ‘Wondai Accounting and Tax Services’ heaviest Australian bass at 1.185kg.

Bradley won a trophy and prize money with a value of $250 that was sponsored

by Neil and Elizabeth Smith

Darryl Rutch took out the heaviest yellowbelly prize with a whopper of 2.755kg. of Wondai Accounting and Tax Services.

Adult angler Dan Bauer of Pittsworth claimed the title of heaviest eel-tail catfish two years in a row weighing in at 1.450kg. Dan won a trophy for the heaviest adult eel-tail catfish of the weekend.

In the new catch and release section for Australian bass and yellowbelly, Stefan Pasco netted the trophy and $230 for the biggest native

There were plenty of prizes to be won over the 2 days of competition.

overall measuring 520mm.

Mark Bleys of Proston took home a trophy and $100 prize money for best bag overall. This section of the competition was well supported and sponsored

by Bass to Barra and Greg Mitchell Plumbing.

The 3.6m Blue Fin boat was won by Ken Osbourne.

Proudly sponsored by Lake Boondooma kiosk and Boondooma Dam Fish

Stocking And Management Association.

The Boondooma Dam Fish Stocking and Management Association Inc would like to thank our generous sponsors and committed anglers who continue to make this event an outstanding success.

For more information please contact Terry Allwood on 0400 860122.

– Terry Allwood

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

MAY

APRIL

MARCH

2015 DATE DETAILS

CONTACTS

Mar 1

Daiwa-Hobie Kayak Bass, QLD (kayak only) Blue Rock Lake

Hobiecat Australasia hobiefishing.com.au

Mar 5-8

VMR Hervey Bay Family Fishing Comp Hervey Bay www.fishingcompherveybay.org.au

George Duck 0407 663 578

Mar 6-8

QLD BREAM Open Moreton Bay

ABT abt.org.au

Mar 7-8

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Bjelke-Petersen

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Mar 29

Haswing BASS Electric Major (7am-1pm) Hinze Dam

ABT (07) 3387 0888

Apr 18-19

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Cania Dam

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

Apr 25-26

BASS Electric #2 (12pm-6pm, 6am-12pm) Cania Dam

Les Barber 0428 726 857

May 3

BASS Electric #3 (7am-1pm) Isis Balancing Storage

Tim Steenhui 0432 770 894

May 9-10

BASS Pro Qualifier #2 Lake Somerset

ABT abt.org.au

May 15-17 Mulloway Marathon

Moreton Bay Marine Park

Stefan Sawynok 1800 077 001 www.mullowaymarathon.com.au

May 23-24

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Fishing Qualifier Boondooma

Russel Nowlands www.barrabasstasstic.com

May 29-31

King of the Pin Jumpinpin

Don Vogel 0411 958 076

May 31

Daiwa-Hobie Kayak Bass R4 Mary River

Hobiecat Australasia www.hobiefishing.com.au

For listings please email jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au MARCH 2015

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What’s New FISHING

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DAMIKI SUPLEX 100G AND BACK DROP 80G

Since its release last year, the Damiki Suplex and Back Drop jigs have been making a big impact on the jigging scene.

These deep water jigs have a shaped head that allows for an erratic action when jigged through the water column, and when rigged with Damiki Trust Jigger hooks, they are an unbeatable combination.

Following calls from clients for smaller models to be made available, Searing Tackle, the exclusive agents for Damiki have released an 80g Back Drop jig and a 100g Suplex jig.

The Backdrop range is now made up of 80g, 100g, 130g, 160g and 200g models whilst the Suplex range now covers 100g, 130g, 160g, 200g and 250g sizes, meaning there is now jigs in both the Suplex and Back Drop range to cover any jigging situation.

Both the Suplex and Back Drop jigs come in 5 attractive colours.

Price: Too New www.searingtackle.com.au

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DAIWA SALTIGA 2015

Daiwa has continued their long tradition of innovation with the introduction of “Magsealed bearings” into the new Saltiga range.

Given the popularity of saltwater fishing, sealing a reel is a major goal. No leakage means no corrosion, longer life and better performance. If saltwater penetrates a reel and dries, it crystallizes, and then erodes gears and bearings.

Daiwa found the solution – a membrane of magnetic oil, which shuts out saltwater.

By using magnetized oil in conjunction with magnets, the oil attaches itself to the metal surfaces to form a seal.

Magseal technology was originally used in the rotor/anti-reverse system, to make water and dust intrusion a thing of the past.

However, not content with just Magsealing the rotor/anti-reverse system, the new 2015 series introduces an all-new revolution in ultra smooth rotation and water sealing.

The Saltiga has a near bulletproof gearbox and line roller system to complement the other design innovations making the best heavy-duty reel even better!

Price: Too new! www.daiwafishing.com.au

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THE ROD RULER

Never be caught out again when needing to measure your catch. Whether you’re fishing off the beach, rocks, tinny or kayak, The Rod Ruler will always be there!

This product is simple and easy to use – It’s perfect for a quick catch and release, bragging rights, or just to measure some catches for the dinner table. The Rod Ruler is 8mm wide and 1m long (you cut the sticker to suit your rod). Plus, it’s UV and water resistant, so it’s guaranteed to last.

Designed to fit on a variety of fishing rods from your small trout rods through to the longer and larger surf rig. It can also be fitted to your boat or kayak when space is tight.

The Rod Ruler was produced with tournament anglers and recreational anglers in mind. No more wasting time looking for a brag mat or ruler!

Price: RRP $6.95 www.therodruler.com.au

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EUMER SPINTUBE NATURAL

MARCH 2015

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Winner of Best New Terminal Tackle in Efttex 2013, SpinTube NATURAL is a newly launched product for trout, perch and bass.

The SpinTube NATURAL is named after the natural colours used in its construction.

This lure is particularly suitable for still and fast water fishing. In fast waters, you can fish it near the bottom matching the motion of a sunk fly. In still waters, it can be fished wish a jig fishing technique.

When using the NATURAL, the hook is turned pointing upwards and thus snagging the bottom can be avoided. The NATURAL is sinking, lead free design, the weight is achieved by using a brass body. The handmade NATURAL is finished with 3D eyes giving the product even a more lifelike and natural look.

Despite being made to mimic a fly, the NATURAL is easy to cast, is very lifelike and is fast sinking. It is currently available in 10cm/10g size.

Price: RRP $14.99 www.jml.net.au

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You couldn’t wish for more. Mustad’s new Wish Braid leaps into the top end of the braid market.

Its diameter for breaking strain is excellent giving users a number of benefits. Being a true 8-strand braid, Mustad Wish Braid is built with 100% Honeywell Spectra Fibre.

This makes Wish exceptionally durable under load and this is where thin braids can come undone.

The braiding process used by Mustad produces a rounder and smoother braid that handles exceptionally well and ties knots superbly completing the picture.

Mustad’s Wish 18lb 8-strand braid is as thin as most 6lb 4-strand braids giving users the benefit of fewer wind knots and an improved user experience. Abrasion resistance, thin and of the highest quality – that’s what Wish brings to the table. Available in 110 yard (18lb-36lb) and 250 yard (18lb70lb) spools, Mustad Wish Braid makes your dreams come true.

Price: RRP from $50 (110 yard), $100 (250 yard) www.wilsonfishing.com.au

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MUSTAD WISH BRAID

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FISH ARROW FLASH J 2 INCH

Following on from our successful introduction of the 3 inch Flash J Shad, Searing Tackle, the exclusive importers of Fish Arrow have now released a smaller 2 inch version to expand the range of realistic soft plastics lures.

Its major characteristic is the swimming shad tail, which when combined with the realistic looks and action of the J Shad, makes it irresistible to bass, bream, trout, redfin and other light-tackle predatory sportfish.

The aluminium foil insert acts as a backbone in the plastic and helps to produce baitfish-imitating flashes and attracts aggressive strikes.

It can be rigged either on a weedless hook or with a jighead, to ensure you’re ready for whatever conditions are thrown at you.

The Flash J Shad 2 inch model is available in 7 great colours, is 2 inches long and you get 8 in a pack.

Price: RRP $16 www.searingtackle.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 96

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MIMIX SHOCKWAVE

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DAIWA FREAMS 2015

The Mimix Shockwave buzzbait is the first product designed and produced under the ‘Pro Series’, designed and tested to suit the need for a big bait!

The Mimix Shockwave’s shape is uniquely designed to create maximum water splash and a loud buzzing sound. When it’s retrieved, the front part of the Shockwave will be slightly tilted up and the lower end of the body will be slightly lower, this design aims to maximize the water splash created from the front of the mouth and with the lower end of the body being lower, the idea is that this will increase the hooks up rate!

The Shockwave can be used with both lower and higher retrieve speeds. It’s the answer for big predatory native fish like the aggressive Murray cod.

The Mimix Shockwave comes in one size, 80mm in length and a weight of 32.5g with a size 2/0 hook.

Price: RRP $24.95 www.jml.net.au

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Steeped in a culture of technical innovation, 2015 sees Daiwa release one of its most value-packed light spin reels with Magseal Technology and the new, intelligent Automatic Tournament Drag (ATD).

Freams utilizes many Daiwa’s performancedelivering technology like Digigear II, Air Rotor, Air Bail and Twist Buster II. With all this technology packed in, Freams is as light as air, as strong as steel, delivering balance, weightlessness and strength like never seen before for ultimate reel performance.

New to Freams is ATD or Automatic Tournament Drag. This is a new introduction into Daiwa spinning reels. A major drawback with many drag systems is that they are not smooth at the beginning of the drag and do not adjust to suit line distance or a fish slowing down. ATD rectifies this issue.

Cutting edge design and performance is all part of the package with the all-new Daiwa Freams. We’ve delivered a great valued reel with enhanced looks, design and performance.

Price: Too new! www.daiwafish.com.au

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4 FLAVOURS OF TONIC YOURANIUM

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

Tonic Polarised Eyewear, the new leader in high quality fishing sunglasses, is proud to announce the new YouRanium style is now available in all 4 of Tonic Eyewear’s glass lens varieties: PhotoChromic Copper, Super Clear Grey, Low Light Neon and High Def Blue Mirror.

Developed with Brendan Wing of YouFishTV and named by the YouFishTV fan base, the YouRanium features Tonic Eyewear’s custom designed adjustable nose bridge that is fully integrated into the frame. While the frame is a standard fit, the adjustable nose bridge can be used to suit people with broken, low or wide nose bridges. No more slipping.

Tonic’s scratch resistant glass lenses are just 1.8 mm thick, making them 30% lighter than regular glass and feature boutique polarising filter systems and anti-reflective coatings.

Tonic Polarised Eyewear comes in eight wraparound styles and a variety of lens types to suit different situations.

Price: From $279.99 www.toniceyewear.com.au.

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ATOMIC HARDZ NEW COLOURS

Atomic have introduced a range of new colours across the estuary lure range including surface lures.

After extensive testing by the Atomic team, these new lures have been proven in the field and include Silver Wolf and Gold Wolf patterns, which are extremely lifelike.

The Silver Wolf gives off an impossibly true blue silver colour in the water while the Gold Wolf will be perfect for estuary anglers as well as bass fishers targeting dams where fish feed on goldfish.

Tournament angler and AFC competitor Tristan Taylor has designed the other two new colours, Tristos Ramjet and Tristos Eagles.

Field-testing has also been positive on these new colours and there are 4 new colours in total.

In the Shiner range, covering 45-100mm lures a new colour, Blood Red has also been developed featuring a greenish head and bright silver sides with a tantalising red running over the back of the lure, down its flanks.

Price: From $14.95 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

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SPIDERWIRE ULTRACAST

The most extreme SpiderWire performance will be found in Ultracast because it is the highest quality, best performing series in the SpiderWire brand.

Only the best technology and most advanced nylons, fluoropolymers and High Molecular Weight PE fibres qualify for an Ultracast fishing line. Ultimate fishing line, for ultimate performance!

An ultra smooth 8-carrier construction that outcasts and outlasts any other braid! Ultracast’s extreme strength per diameter ratio delivers an amazingly thin and sensitive line with a high pick count for roundness and extreme durability. But what does this mean for anglers? It means each line, from the smallest 10-pound test to the largest 80-pound test, is smoother, quieter and rounder, and this enables Ultracast to pack very well on reels without digging into itself while also slicing through wind, avoiding wind knots and tip wrapping. Ultracast maintains colour and the coating resists fraying even when fished over heavy structure. Available in 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 and 80lb tests and 150-300m lengths.

Price: From $39.95 www.spiderwire.com.au

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ZEREK CAVALLA

Casts like a metal, works like a minnow, the Zerek Cavalla is a truly innovative lure that allows anglers to cover every layer of the water column, whether they’re fishing from a boat or from the shore.

Super fast-sinking at 45g and designed to target predatory fish with an easy-chomping 115mm, the Cavalla is perfect for long distance casting and allowing you to reach fish other lures simply cannot get to.

With an unparalleled ability to hang in the water in rough conditions when targeting surface feeding fish, as well as the unheard of option to target those inaccessible deep fish, the Cavalla is truly a unique lure. Add to these features the 7 life-like colours that allow you to imitate the baitfish in your area and the Cavalla simply is the full package.

Indestructible, innovative and unique in a world of impersonators, Zerek Innovations’ Cavalla delivers where others fail.

Price: RRP $22 www.wilsonfishing.com.au

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS! MARCH 2015

97

What’s New FISHING

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NEW ZMAN 4” SWIMMERZ

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FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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2015 PFLUEGER SALT SPIN

The ZMan 4” SwimmerZ developed a passionate following among anglers chasing mangrove jack, barramundi, mulloway, flathead and more, thanks to its realistic mullet profile, 10X Tough ElaZtech construction and super-soft and flexible, realistic feel that creates an incredible life-like swimming action, even at dead slow retrieve speeds.

When ZMan US decided to discontinue their painted plastics the outcry from Australian anglers ensured that the 4” and 6” SwimmerZ would be reborn. New moulds were developed allowing the production of more realistic laminate colours, including ZMan favourites Opening Night, Houdini, Bad Shad and Sexy Mullet.

With the same great profile and action, and 13 new colours in the range, the ZMan 4” SwimmerZ look like continuing their reputation as the go-to plastic when nothing else is catching. Fish on!

The new ZMan SwimmerZ are available in 13 colours, with 4 per pack.

Price: RRP $15.95. www.ttlures.com.au

The Pflueger Salt is saltwater ready and is built from the ground up to handle Australian conditions.

The A360 full metal body, rotor and sideplate finished with corrosion resistant matt body paint eliminates body flex under load and provides a corrosion resistant housing for the Precision Cut Digital Gearing (PCDG) and stainless mainshaft, making this an incredibly tough piece of gear.

At the front end housed within the new-ported spool is the tried and tested Dynamic Carbon Drag (DCD), HD carbon washers are used for a powerful, smooth and reliable drag system. A 5 stainless steel ball bearing system with XCR sealed bearings in key locations and ‘always on’ anti reverse bearing make the Salt ready for sand, salt and big, hard-fighting fish.

Other performance features include a balanced rotor system, heavy duty bail and machined and anodized aluminium handle with soft touch knob.

Price: RRP from$159.95 www.pflueger.com.au

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COOL WATER CRUISE SUP

Australians love being on the water, and Stand Up Paddle Boarding is the most exciting way to do exactly that. Cool Water’s Cruise SUP is an inflatable vessel that gives you the ability to enjoy life on top, without dragging you down getting there.

This multi-purpose board offers enough stability and manoeuvrability for beginners to negotiate their way around lakes, rivers and the ocean. An elevated nose enables smooth travels across choppy water, and world-beating reinforced drop stitch technology helps stabilise and strengthen the body of the SUP. A high density reinforced PVC outer layer ensures your SUP is tough enough to handle a beating just in case you do get churned by a set, and a 10cm thick reinforced drop stitch inner chamber which makes it almost impossible for your SUP to crease.

An inflatable SUP is a fun way to experience the water. Pull it out of your backpack, unroll and inflate – you’ll be cruising in no time.

Price: RRP $1099, currently $799 from Kangaroo Tent City www.kangarootentcity.com.au

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WESTIN SWIM

The Swim is a very popular lure of many Scandinavian pro guides due to its castability and its easy use. It cuts through the strongest wind and as soon as the reel starts turning, the unique s-shaped swimming pattern of Westin Swim will trigger fish to strike.

When you twitch or jerk it gently, it will dart side to side just below the surface, which will drive fish crazy too! Anglers can use this lure in various depths depending on retrieve techniques.

With the 120mm and 100mm model, Australian freshwater trophy fish such as barra and Murray cod will go mad on this lure.

Also, because of the weight of the lure, you can make a very long cast to target saltwater species such as coral trout, GT, and tuna.

The smaller 65mm model is a perfect size to target fish such as mangrove jack, bass, tarpon, saratoga, sooty grunter, redfin and trout.

Price: NA www.jml.net.au

MARCH 2015

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REALIS G87 20A

DUO – The brand known for setting the standard amongst the Japanese lure companies is again raising the bar.

Realis G87 20A’s crank development was carefully put in motion by DUO’s R&D team.

The need for a crankbait that could truly dive beyond the 20ft mark and accurately reach its target has been deeply desired by professional and recreational anglers around the world.

This lure’s superior diving ability can be attributed to the most advanced weight transfer system in deep diving cranking soon to be used on the professional bass circuits.

G87’s enlarged magnetic ballast carriage hides the casting bearing outside the body cavity, where it’s held in place by a magnet made of Neodymium, a material considerably stronger than the usual Magnesium, necessary due to the size of the bearing.

The 20A’s body is 87mm in length, weighs 35 grams and has reached depths of almost 30ft on the cast and retrieve.

Price: Too new! www.swldistributions.com.au

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au 98

14

ZEREK CHILLI PADI

Micro jigging has been reinvigorated with the arrival of the Chilli Padi, a tungsten micro jig that gets down deep quick.

Ideal for those times when the bite slows or is shut down and a smaller profile baitfish pattern is required, the Chilli Padi from Zerek Innovations has a subtle and enticing action that fish cannot resist.

During testing fish have eaten this lure on the drop, on the jig and also when used as a cast and retrieve lure for tuna, tailor and salmon.

Tungsten is the ideal material to build a micro jigfrom as it is much heavier than lead for the same size. This means the Chilli Padi is a much smaller profile than other micro jigs made from lead, simply because tungsten is such a heavy material.

Coming unrigged to give the end user all the rigging options. Available in 3 weights, 18, 28 and 36g, and 8 colours.

Price: RRP approx. $20-25 www.wilsonfishing.com

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TESTED: MAKO G2H5 LENSES – GT FRAME face and also hold them firmly on the top of your head when you inevitably put them there.

A pet hate of mine is when the arms of the glasses hurt the top of your ears when you are wearing a cap and these didn’t do this, so that was a big tick.

On the water Fishing a small creek for bass in the Hunter Valley was my first opportunity to test the glasses in a fishing situation. It was here that I recognised what the team from Mako meant when they were talking about the clarity and contrast of vision the G2H5 lens provides. It was only a very shallow creek I was fishing and to be able to see the subtle depth changes and into the shadows under the trees made targeting the areas the bass

You can teach an old Fox new tricks As anglers we become very set in our ways and as we get older we are less open to change. I definitely sit in this category and sunglasses for me have sat in the “I like what I have” category. That was until recently when I tried the latest G2H5 lens in a GT frame from Mako eyewear.

Being set in your ways is one thing, but generally there are good reasons for it and with my sunglasses it has been the need for a quality lens, comfort/fit, style and durability.

After speaking to the team at Mako Eyewear they suggested the new G2H5 lens in their GT frame was the way to go. I got them just before our Christmas break and was looking forward to giving them a good test.

First Impressions Comfort and fit was the first thing I noticed.

They are lightweight lens and complimented with the GT frame, they are very comfortable to wear. The small rubber pads at the end of the arms ensure the glasses sit snugly on your

might be much easier.

In total contrast to the tiny creek in the Hunter was the blue water off Wooli in Northern NSW. I was impressed with how the lenses dramatically reduced the suns glare off the water. It really helped with spotting bait schools busting up in the distance and once you snuck up on them it made it very easy to see the direction the fish were going and place a cast in the right spot to entice a bite. The

kingies never had a chance.

My favourite form of fishing is targeting flathead in the estuaries around the Gold Coast. This can be either in the deeper water around the Jumpin Pin bar, Gold Coast Seaway or in the shallow water whether it’s the sand flats, mangroves and drains throughout the system. They all rely on you being able to see changes in depth and structure as the flathead love ambushing their pray in these areas. The glasses have proven to be fantastic for doing this.

The Technology Mako Eyewear has been around for decades now and their desire to stay at the forefront of lens technology has not diminished.

They are constantly striving to enhance the end users experience when it comes to everything outdoors. I am the first to admit that my knowledge about the ins and outs of the technology is limited, however after a bit of research I found out the following. The basis of the lenses high contrast capabilities is the introduction of a new Rose lens in combination with a Green Mirror and Mako’s high definition filter. The Rose colour was chosen due to its high contrast capabilities (meaning it enhances the differences in brightness and colour, making objects clearer to the human eye). Add the HD filter for improved clarity and the glare reduction of the Green Mirror and you have a superior lens for any fishing applications.

To find you nearest stockist or to get more information on the range of Mako Eyewear go to www.makoeyewear.com.au. A set of G2H5 lenses in a GT Frame will set you back $289.95 and from my experience they are worth every cent.

– Michael Fox

TESTED: ATC VALIANT SW SPINNING REELS The fishing reel market is a highly competitive one. I still remember what my first boss said to me about selling fishing reels.

“Explain to your customer it is better to spend a little more, as the benefits in longevity and function will always outweigh any dollars saved”, he explained. Those words or words to that effect have rung in my ears for more than 30 years and has proven to be correct time and time again.

So keeping this mind, I was given a 2000 size ATC Valiant SW spin reel to try out by the team at Wilson Fishing. Retailing from $160, the ATC Valiant SW reels fit in the medium price point bracket and offer features that someone purchasing a more expensive reel may be looking for. After the customary spin of the handle and the “that feels good”, I was looking forward to seeing what they had to offer.

My first task was to spool it with braid. I normally spool all of my reels with a spooling machine, but I decided for the sake of testing that I would use the hand spooler to see how it lay the line on the spool (I have had reels lay the line in big ridges in the past which is less than ideal). The end result was a spool that looked like it had been spooled on a machine.

Time to get out on the water To me, there is no better test of a spin reel than hopping plastics for flathead. I can hear a few sniggers out there, but a day on the water whipping a 1/2oz or 3/8oz jighead and plastic will soon sort out if a reel is going to last or not.

My local haunt is the Pine River in Brisbane. The main structure in the system

8+1 S/S corrosion resistant ball bearings (hence the smooth feel and excellent line return/layering to the spool).

If it is drag you want, then there is plenty to like about the ATC Valiant SW reels. The 2000 and 3000 size reels have 8kg maximum drag and the 4000 and 5000 have a massive 11kg maximum drag. To deal with this type of drag pressure the spool, body and rotor of the reels are made of aluminium. Add to this an ergonomic handle and you have a reel that is the real deal.

Conclusion I can see a lot of people enjoying the value for money and quality the ATC Valiant SW reels offer. I can also see my old boss looking down at me and thinking ‘maybe he did listen’…

For more information or to find your nearest stockist go to www.wilsonfishing. com.au - Peter Jung Whipping a 1/2oz jighead and plastic for flathead is a good test setting for any light reel, and the ATC Valiant SW stood up to it – no wind knots! is its two bridges followed by all the flats and run offs in between.

I matched the reel up to a 2-4kg spin rod, attached a 15lb leader to the 6lb Mustad Thor braid and headed to the largest of the two bridges, to hop plastics in and around the pylons. The fish have been kind over the three trips so far, with well over 30 fish hitting the net.

A few things that have immediately impressed me are that I have not had a wind knot (a big surprise to me as this is one of the biggest pains for any angler hopping

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

plastics), the drag is very smooth (although I haven’t really given it a solid workout) and the out of the box smooth feel remains, even after minimal maintenance post fishing with the reel.

Like most anglers I tend to have a favourite outfit and it’s usually the one you start any fishing session using. My outfit with the ATC Valiant SW reel is fast becoming that outfit.

Features The ATC Valiant SW series comes in four sizes , from SW2000-SW5000) They have

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS! MARCH 2015

99

Cooking

Whiting winner BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

BUTTERFLY FILLETING This article shows the butterfly filleting technique for small to mid-size whiting, in this case without

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the tailfin. By omitting the tailfin it will present on the plate similar to a bream fillet (or hussar fillet).

For really small whiting (winter whiting), the tail is often left connected to the fillets. It is usually used for finger food with the small fillet being picked up by the tail.

ASIAN STYLE BUTTERFLIED WHITING Ingredients 6 butterflied whiting fillets 3 finely chopped lemongrass stalks 3 finely chopped green shallots (green part only) 1 tbsp chopped coriander leaves 2 tsp Squid brand fish sauce 1 tbsp Lee Kum Kee soy sauce 2 tbsp butter Lime cheeks, for garnish

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Scale the whiting thoroughly.

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Once you get down past the ribs, push (poke) the knife point all the way through and out the other side of the tail section of the fillet; and then cut the end of the fillet away from the fish’s backbone and tail.

Repeat on the other side.

Peel the fillet back and shave, stroke-bystroke with the knife point, the fillet away from the rib cage. Once you get down past the ribs push (poke) the knife point all the way through and out the other side. Fillet the end of the fillet away from the fish’s backbone and tail. Repeat the other side.

Make a shallow cut along the top of the fillet for the full length of the backbone from the head to the tail. Continue all the way along to the tail with the shallow incision.

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Turn the fillet over (again), and carefully shave the flesh away from across the top of the bones of the rib cage as before.

When you get to the end of the rib bones you can stop the shaving process.

Cut behind the pectoral fin, through to the spine. Continue this cut around and across the ‘belly’ and behind the ventral fins.

Turn the fillet over and execute a similar cut along the spine adjacent to the dorsal fins as before.

MARCH 2015

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By cutting towards the head, separate the butterfly fillet from the frame by holding the fillet down with the flat of your knife as you lift the middle of the frame with your spare hand. Trim out the anal fins if necessary. You now have a butterflied whiting fillet.

Chop the lemongrass, green shallots and coriander. Add the fish sauce and soy sauce and mix well.

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Using your fingertips, apply some of the herb mixture to one side only of the butterflied whiting fillets. Don’t overload the fillets.

Melt the butter in the pan. When hot, add the fillets herb-side up and cook for approximately a minute.

Then carefully flip them over. Only cook them in small batches of a couple at a time. Whiting is a very delicate fleshed fish.

Serve the butterflied whiting fillets as a stack and squeeze the lime juice to taste.

HAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

Goodbye Summer

Name

HOLIDAYS

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BBQ

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YELLOWBELLY

SUN STROKE

MANGROVE JACK CRABS

CRICKET

STORMS

NO SCHOOL

CAMPING

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SWIMMING

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SNAPPER RUN

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Address

P/Code Phone (day):

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win a Hawk Fishing cap, Hawk Fishing line, Hawk HB Lure, assorted Panther Martin lures and 3 packets of Youvella chemically sharpened hooks.

SEND ENTRIES TO:

QLD Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 QLD MARCH 2015

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winner for January was S Rutledge of Gowrie Junction, who won a pair of Tonic YouRanium sunglasses.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO WINNERS

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The Find the VMC logo prize winners for January were: J Higgins of Wavell Heights, B Battaglene of Urangan, D Hall of Glenwood, J Rasmussen of Frazerview, B Herrmann of Churchill, J Laub of Cannon Hill, M Mason of Bongaree, B Adams of Bongaree, G Phillips of Cotswold Hills, C Hilas of Sunnybank Hills, J Nock of Kallangur, G Stewart of Palmwoods, G Poor of Taromeo, B Freier of Ningi, B Gant of Atherton, R Benson of Boondall, G Green of Currumbin Waters, R Cartwright of Maroochydore BC, J Lowik of Churchill, D Kennedy of Caboolture, D Deppeler of Burpengary East, R Schefe of Point Vernon, K Frankel of Pottsville, G McGrath of Avoca, G Watter of Ripley, K Cooney of Jimboomba, B Nelson of Edens Landing, N Martin of Bundaberg, R Brown of Edmonton, R Davis of Sarina, A Williamson of Strathpine, D Stewart of Hermit Park, D Male of Bongaree, C Rowe of Loganholme, R Maynard of Nundah, B Newton of Trinity Beach, B Anger of Kabra, B Rider of Brigalow, B Mackey of Parkwood, C Maxfield of Caboolture.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO JANUARY LOCATIONS GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

The Find the VMC logo prize winners for January for January were: 13, 16, 28, 34, 42, 50, 53, 59, 67,73, 76, 88, 92, 96, 114, 117. – QFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to Robert Ramsay of Taylors Beach, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM 3

• DECEMBER 2010

MARCH 2015

101

Sounder basics: what’s all that Chirp about?

SOUTHERN BAY

Nabeel Issa

So if you have been looking at or reading about sounders in the past year or so, there is no doubt you may have come across the word Chirp.

It’s been a bit of a buzzword lately and is becoming a mainstay feature in the marine electronics world. Initially only available expensive top end sounders and often needing a big add on box, Chirp is now readily available and built into affordable, entry-level units.

WHAT IS IT? It’s really quite simple. A normal transducer (the part that connects to your sounder and goes into the water) will send out waves in the water at a certain frequency, commonly these are 83kHz, 50kHz and 200kHz, depending on your sounder and the transducer you have.

These waves are sent into the water and then bounce back to the transducer, which is then translated as the image on our sounder screen.

Chirp works slightly different, it too sends out

Again, depending on the transducer you have, you will have different options, but generally chirp will give you the option of ‘High’, ‘Medium’ and ‘Low’.

In Lowrance sounders, High Chirp will send out frequency waves between 160-240kHz, Medium will send waves out at 60-100kHz and Low will send out waves at 40-60kHz. As a general rule of thumb, High Chirp is suited to shallower water that you would find in most estuaries, rivers, lakes and dams. It’s range is useful to about to about 70-80m.

In water around 100m, Medium Chirp is a better option and then in deeper water (150m+), Low Chirp is the best to use. Of course this a very general rule and it will vary with which transducer and settings you are using.

WHAT GOOD IS IT TO ME? Now you know how it works, what are the benefits of this technology? Thanks to the multiple frequencies being sent out, we are able to receive more information and in turn produce a better sonar image.

This diagram is an example of how Chirp sound waves work compared to traditional sonar. waves into the water, but instead of it being at just one set frequency it sends the waves out in various frequencies at the one time.

With Chirp you will instantly find that there is a reduction of clutter through the screen. The screen will appear much clearer. This is

a big help when moving at high speeds.

Another benefit with Chirp and in my opinion the most important is its target separation. This is, its ability to distinguish objects that are close together and not just show them as one big cloud of colour. With standard sonar set on a single frequency, if we go over a piece of structure that has fish holding tight in close to it, it can be hard to tell if the fish are actually there. Chirp will help in this situation by giving us better definition, which will help show us pick out what’s really down there.

Another cool feature with Chirp is its crisp fish arches.

Arches come out clean and clear and extremely easy to see. The multiple frequencies of Chirp really make things easy for anglers.

HOW DO I GET IT? As mentioned earlier, Chirp is becoming more and more available in entry level units. There was a time when Chirp was considered a top end feature and was very expensive. But as technology advances we are starting to see it move through the sounder ranges. The Lowrance Elite range offers Chirp in its sounders in 4, 5, 7 and 9” models. Chirp is also available as an add on ‘plug and play’ feature for Lowrance HDS Gen 2 through the Sonar Hub module. I have been using this for the past couple of months with my HDS Touch units.

Depending on your budget and what sort of set up you require there are plenty of options that can get you with a Chirp capable sounder.

TRANSDUCERS Transducers are an important part of getting great results from Chirp. In the Lowrance range, Chirp will work with the generic transducers that are supplied, (83/200kHz, 50/200kHz and HDI Transducer) and this is what I have been using on my setup. This will give a good quality Chirp image without breaking the bank.

Lee Parkhouse saved this image. This was taken with a dedicated Chirp Transducer and Sonar Hub. If you want to step it up and move onto something that will make the most of your Chirp sounder, there are aftermarket specific Chirp transducers available. Some of these will allow you to select the exact frequency range you would like to cover, this lets you fine-tune things exactly how you want and can give you outstanding results.

Have a look at the Airmar TM-150 Transducer, this is Chirp dedicated and from all reports produces some great readings.

Some Chirp transducers can also offer a higher power output (600w and 1kw), which can help penetrate the depths in deep water.

Chirp sounders are here to stay and with good reason.

Over the past couple of years I have mainly stuck with my favoured structure scan for my fish finding. But since using the Sonar Hub module and adding Chirp to my sounder I have found myself using it more and more to pick up on the finer details.

It’s a valuable tool to have at your disposal as anglers!

For more information on Chirp check out the Lowrance

website, there are a few videos that provide some more insight into how the sounders work, well worth a look.

Sonar Hub serves as a Chirp add on for Lowrance HDS Gen2 models. Most recently, Lowrance HDS Gen3 have been released and come built in with Chirp.

The Perfect Gift for the Fisherman This book will provide many new insights to even the most experienced fishers.

Purchase online at

www.howtouseafishfinder.com 102

MARCH 2015

This screen shot shows Chirp (top left) used alongside Structure Scan. Chirp shows some clear fish arches on the drop off.

FIND THE

VMC LOGO

COMPETITION There are 15 VMC Logos hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly.

Find the VMC logo and page number, fill in the entry form and go in the draw to win! The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of the month will win a packet of VMC hooks. All entries will go into the major prize draw.

(Drawn May 31st 2015)

MONTHLY PRIZE VMC Wide Gape Worm Hook Pack Made in France Value $7.95

MAJOR PRIZES PAGE NO: 1

600 2

1

$ ST PLACE

2

3

VALUE OF RAPALA VMC PRODUCTS

4

5

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400 3 200

$ ND PLACE

7

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$ RD PLACE

VALUE OF RAPALA VMC PRODUCTS

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VALUE OF RAPALA VMC PRODUCTS

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

MAIL ENTRIES TO:

QFM Find the VMC Logo Competition, PO BOX 3172, Loganholme QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 31 MARCH 2015 Original entries only. No photocopies. Images for illustration purposes only.

SUBURB .....................................................P/CODE .....................

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MARCH 2015

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103

What’s New BOATING

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VORTEX RELEASES NEW 18HP 2-STROKE

Vortex has released its brand new 2-stroke engine the 18hp, offering customers more variety in their budget friendly outboard range which now includes over 15 models.

Available as a long and short shaft, the new 18hp offers customers an upgrade from the 15hp when they need a little extra power but can’t add too much weight to their boating package.

The 18hp weighs in at only 40kg for the long shaft option making it only 4kg heavier than the 15hp model.

The 18hp offers a complete new engine design with a strong mounting system and a larger tiller handle making those tight turns easier.

The 18hp uses a standard CDI ignition system complete with charging circuit; a larger shift lever offers a maximum output of 13.2Kw at 5000Rpm. Featuring a larger sacrificial anode to help prevent corrosion on the engine and a sturdy structure through the mid-section of the engine Vortex’s 18hp is built to last. – Telwater Marine

2

LOWRANCE ELITE-9 CHIRP

Lowrance, a world-leading brand in fishing electronics since 1957 — has announced the release of the latest and largest in a series of awardwinning Elite fishfinder/chartplotter displays, the Elite-9 CHIRP. The Elite-9 CHIRP series features a 9-inch widescreen display for enhanced viewing ability especially in sunlight. The Elite CHIRP line-up now includes 4-, 5-, 7- and 9-inch fishfinder/chartplotter models, as well as standalone fishfinder displays, with all Elite CHIRP models producing and displaying multiple CHIRP sonar frequency settings from a single Lowrance Skimmer® transducer.

The Elite-9 CHIRP sonar provides improved target resolution and superior noise rejection for clearer, easy-to-see baitfish and game fish targets.

When combined with the Lowrance HDI Skimmer transducer, the Elite-9 CHIRP can also display a DownScan Imaging™ view of the area beneath the boat, for picture-like views of fish-holding structure.

With TrackBackTM, anglers are able to scroll back in recorded sonar history to review structure, transitions and fish targets and mark locations with a waypoint.

– Navico

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MARINE MAN WEBSITE NOW LIVE

The newly launched Marine Man website is not just another website, and is now live and off and running.

Marine Man is not just another site in china flogging all sorts of stuff, but rather is based in South East Queensland and with staff on hand with a combined 40 years boating industry experience.

You can actually get answers, advise and product support with just a click of the mouse.

Marine man has great brands on board and specials aplenty too! If you email marine man they will send you a 10% off code, just for saying Hi! From Suzuki genuine parts to sounders it is all there and if you don’t see it let them know, bet they will be sure to find it.

The staff haven’t stopped since going live so they must have something right. Check it out for yourself at www.marineman.com.au - Marine Man

4

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

POWERED BY

NEW SEAPRO OUTBOARD RANGE

Mercury’s new 75-150hp SeaPro FourStroke engines – designed specifically for commercial applications – will soon be available in Australia.

SeaPro engines with robust high displacement and low-weight design deliver the performance required by commercial users and provide increased durability. All SeaPro engines feature higher-durometer upper mounts that help decrease lifecycle costs. “With SeaPro we have taken our newest mid-range FourStroke outboards to the next level of engine durability and fuel efficiency, without sacrificing power, as well as included specific features for commercial users,” said Nicholas Webb, Mercury’s Director of Engine Products and Marketing. “For example, the new gearcases which let you drain the oil without having to remove the boat from the water so servicing costs are lower, and the upper mounts which are twice as stiff as those on recreational models and deliver greater durability.” All SeaPro models feature Mercury’s 2 year/1000 hours Commercial Warranty and are backed by the largest service network in the industry. – Mercury Marine

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GARMIN CLEARLY ON THE MAP

Aimed squarely at freshwater, estuary and inshore anglers, Garmin’s next-generation echoMAP™ dv/sv series combines ClearVü™ sonar technology, detailed cartography and the most accurate GPS in its class.

Comprising four models – echoMAP 45dv, echoMAP 55dv, echoMAP 75sv and echoMAP 95sv – the new sonar/chartplotter units feature bright, full-colour displays and an intuitive, keyed interface which makes them very simple to use. All 4 models feature advanced HDID™ sonar and DownVü™ scanning sonar to provide incredible underwater definition in shallow and deep water. Scanning the water column for bottom structure such as reef and drop-offs, as well as identifying thermoclines, baitfish and target fish, DownVü delivers a near photographic view of what’s below the boat.

The two larger models also have builtin SideVü™ scanning sonar, which scans the water up to 150m (500ft) either side of the boat. It’s ideal for anglers casting lures in creeks and rivers, as well as those trolling the headlands or searching for baitballs offshore.

– Garmin

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QUINTREX NEW TRIDENT HARD TOP

Quintrex’s new release, theTrident HardTop, is one seriously tough offshore weapon, constructed with a sturdy underfloor rib structure and 5mm bottomsides of marine grade aluminium.

Featuring the renowned Quintex Blade Hull and Flared Bow design, the sub-frame rib structure of the Trident is constructed with latitudinal ribs to reinforce strength and create a precise hull shape. Stability is un-matched as the Blade Hull cuts through swell and deflects spray for optimal performance. Available in 650 and 690 models, the design means you can enjoy your boat in all weather conditions, with a laminated hardened glass windscreen, sliding side windows and a standard windscreen wiper kit, your view is never interrupted. With the serious angler in mind, extra attention has been applied to find the ultimate offshore layout; the end result has created every angler’s dream boat. The Quintrex Trident is available as an Instant Boating Package complete with motor, Quintrex Trailer and a 3-year limited, factory warranty. – Telwater Marine

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

6

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

BEST IN THE INDUSTRY

NEW

N O I T A R E GEN ISHING F

✔ FULLY ENCLOSED HARD TOP OPTION 650F

✔ ROOM FOR 15” SCREEN ELECTRONICS ✔ EXTRA LARGE COCKPIT AREA

✔ WALK AROUND DECK FOR EASY BOW ACCESS ✔ SLEEPS TWO WITH OPTIONAL LOCKABLE DOOR

✔ OPTIONAL TWIN LIVE BAIT TANKS WITH VIEWING WINDOWS

650F A major Signature innovation, the 650F is a Module transom design which allows one of three or more different transom layouts in the same boat.

Talk to your Haines Signature dealer today!

signatureboats.com.au

BEST IN TH

Haines Signature 650F Hard Top BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

As the largest of the Haines Signature F series craft, the 650F Hard Top is regarded by many fishing and boating enthusiasts as arguably the ultimate trailerable fishing boat.

The point is that this craft just has so much going for it, from the beautifully proportioned lines of the sleek fibreglass hull, neat cuddy cab and high cockpit sides, all linked to enough standard fishing features to satisfy any angler wanting to have the lot at the finger tips. And there are a lot of options! In the reviewed craft alone they stretched from outrigger poles to an auto pilot, massive Garmin unit and other goodies. And let’s not overlook the ride from the variable deadrise hull. In all, the ride was very enjoyable whether just cruising or really punching along.

The 650F offers several transom options for the buyer; the reviewed craft being equipped with a full size engine well, clear sided recirculating live well plus a locking transom door.

POWER ANCHOR WINCH THE WAY TO GO The reviewed 650F was anchor winch equipped. I feel that most owners would opt for a power winch in lieu of accessing the anchor hatch via the cabin’s front hatch.

It’s possible to go forward to

the front of the 650’s cabin making use of various hard top hand holds (which I did on the beach) but I could not see this being viable at sea.

When leaving the craft from the front, the large bow rail offered excellent security.

Within the 650 F’s cabin, I noted ample headroom, soft lining, overhead pockets plus plenty of light from windows. Excellent cushions would allow a couple to sleep in comfort and there were generously large storage lockers under the 2m+ bunks.

Entry was via a locking sliding door.

Note that an under floor compartment was located just outside the cabin door and would be handy for the skipper and first mate’s tucker or cold drinks.

With a fully enclosed hardtop on a stainless steel

frame the 650F’s helm area and forward seating were thoroughly weather protected thanks to the shelter provided by the hard top and wiper equipped curved windscreen up front, paired sliding side windows. Note that cockpit lights were set into the rear of the targa framework with some 7 rod holders up top.

DUAL INSTRUMENT AREA The craft’s full width moulded dash area incorporated a locking glove box with a grab handle under it for the first mate; a side pocket with drink holder at the elbow. The 650F’s main dash area was a split system in that Garmin GMI 20 gauges monitoring the Suzuki 250 were set up above the windscreen, within the hard top’s return, along with a VHF marine radio

and compass. In this location it would only take a glance upwards for the skipper to keep in touch.

Directly ahead of the helm seating was a very neat moulded binnacle with a padded lip providing shade over the craft’s (optional) Garmin GPS Map 8015 unit.

The craft’s 3-spoke wheel was directly below with banks of rocker switches set each side, as well as under, the wheel. Controls for the craft’s GHP auto pilot (another option) were prominent while the Suzuki 250’s forward controls, featuring Suzuki’s ultra smooth Precision Control System, were side mounted along with an ignition key plus other controls, among them being trim tab activators.

In all it was a very

The 650F’s hull requires plenty of power with the 250 Suzuki filling the bill admirably. neat dash layout, definitely highlighted by the fact that the moulded binnacle could be unlocked from the adjacent moulding and tilted back to allow access to the extremely neat wiring tucked behind it.

Without doubt this was one of the best set ups I’ve seen; a marine mechanic’s dream come true.

Forward seating was of deluxe standard with slide adjustable bolster fronted buckets (featuring double stitched upholstery) mounted on rigid stainless frames and affording both skipper and first mate highest levels of visibility and comfort.

Interestingly, padded Waeco ice boxes were strapped into place under each seat allowing a further two anglers to stay up front enjoying both shelter from the elements and ease of conversation. On longer trips, both issues are quite important!

MASSIVE SIDE POCKETS IN COCKPIT What I noticed next was the 700mm deep cockpit

accessible while under way.

At the rear of the starboard pocket, a battery isolator and other switches were within easy reach while a deck wash was snugged into the aft section of the port pocket.

Additional features included paired rod holders plus large grab rails atop gunwales as well as 1m long under floor storage compartments each side of the cockpit work area. At the full height transom, a fully plumbed clear fronted live bait tank sat to starboard, battery compartment central, with a locking boarding gate to port, boarding ladder directly aft. A moulded bait station featured a cutting board and tackle tray plus drink holders. Completing stern features were teak inlaid boarding platforms each side of the Suzuki 250.

PERFORMANCE AND FISHABILITY The 650 F’s Standard Variable Deadrise Hull – featuring a fine entry

TECHNICAL INFORMATION. Length..............................................................6.50m Beam................................................................2.50m Length on trailer................................ approx. 7.60m Height on trailer................................ approx. 2.45m Hull weight.................................................... 1250kg Deadrise........................................................... 21.3° Fuel....................................................................270L Engine ratings......................................... 150-250hp Engine fitted..............................250 Suzuki 4-stroke Persons...................................................................7 Towing......................................................Larger 4x4

Top: With almost half of the craft devoted to fishing room the Haines Signature 650F offers a lot for the dedicated offshore angler. Above Left: Here’s a feature that really sets this craft into a class of its own: fully accessible and extremely neat helm wiring. Middle Right: Deep storage compartments under bunks were just one aspect of the 650F’s features that owners could enjoy.

Above Right: Big ice boxes with seat squabs on them will keep a couple of passengers in touch with skipper and mate, plus provide plenty of cold storage capability.

106

MARCH 2015

with it’s teak flooring, plus a welcome plethora of features for the angling team, 4 of whom could fish with complete ease in that big half-of-craft cockpit. Without doubt, the prominent cockpit feature was the sheer volume of the 650S’s off floor side pockets, which extended from the transom forward to the rear of the cuddy cab.

These were huge, providing plenty of room for tackle boxes, gaffs, tag poles and other large items as well as brace points for the feet under them. Each pocket also incorporated horizontal rod racks to keep rods readily

running back to a 21° ‘V’ section astern (and with some impressive under hull strakes in between) weighs in around 1250kg. The excellent design plus weight then combine to offer one of the best rides to be found in a modern fibreglass craft.

There’s no denying the fact that this 7-person rated rig needs to be well powered.

Accordingly, engine ratings are from 150-250hp, which saw the V6 250 Suzuki as top power.

Whisper quiet at idle, I noted that even at near full throttle the 3.6L V6 hardly intruded upon

cockpit conversation. The rig planed at 14.2km/h at a mere 2500rpm, 3000rpm saw 25.6km/h, 4000rpm saw 48.6km/h, 5000rpm to 62.8km/h and 6000rpm got us flying along at 75.5km/h.

Fuel consumption figures were interesting. At planing speed the big Signature was using 13.5L/h. At a fast plane of 25.6km/h, (3000rpm) fuel consumption was modest 24.3L/h but what really impressed me was fuel

Suzuki, in many respects I felt as though I was at the helm of a much smaller boat.

My review was carried out in Moreton Bay on a fairly unfriendly sort of morning with plenty of northerly pushing through yet the big hull handled things with such ease, so gentle through the chop and with a complete lack of fuss, that it was fun to execute sharp turns just to see how rapidly the hull recovered to a level attitude.

good that even 3 persons on one side could not upset the hull’s levelness at rest. This factor is important in the sorts of offshore fishing situations the 650 was designed for, as attested by the 370L fuel capacity.

SUMMING UP Given the deluxe standard of finish, that brilliant ride linked to an impressive sea keeping ability plus angling features galore, I believe the Haines Signature 650F Hard

Rod rack equipped side pockets within the 650F’s cockpit offer impressive storage capacity. consumption data at what I believe would be an ideal cruising speed in an offshore situation of around 40km/h: 28L/h at 3,500 rpm.

I found the big 21 footer was a pleasure to drive. It was so well balanced, so easily powered by the 250

Throughout it all the hull’s interior remained dry, all that nasty salt water kept well away from us.

Fishing boats need to be stable and thanks to the considerable mass of the craft plus the time proven hull design, stability was so

Suzuki carried on a dual axle Dunbier trailer would come home for a quite reasonable $78,491, including registration and safety equipment. Note that Haines Signature hulls come with a 10-year structural warranty.

To ascertain details of a local Haines Signature dealer, the Haines Group can be contacted on wwwsignatureboats.com.au or phone (07) 3271 4400.

• Quoted performance figures

Under floor compartments within the cockpit are large enough to accommodate some impressive fish.

Top: Smart design sees engine gauges and other items tucked up safely under the 650F’s hard top’s return. Above: The transom module shown here is but one of three offered to buyers of the Haines Signature 650F Hard Top.

Top is an exceptional fishing craft for the dedicated angler who is keen on all manner of bay or serious offshore work.

Common sense dictates that quality of this high standard does not come cheaply yet a basic package equipped with a 175hp

have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

(07) 3823 5055 MARCH 2015

107

Mojo 4m tiller steer BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

A few issues back I reviewed Mojo’s 4m twin console runabout. It’s an interesting craft, not merely because it was a smaller than usual plate alloy rig but also because the hull’s design features were different to what we usually see in a craft of this size.

Mojo boats are the brainchild of Brian Rutledge of Capalaba Boating Centre. Brian specialises in the manufacture of plate craft with a considerable difference. As he puts it, “Mojo boats are for people who seek extra comfort in a small boat”.

HULL DESIGN STICKING WITH A GOOD THING In most respects that original Mojo twin console craft, with its massive stepped chines along outer bottom sides, very deep

deep entry and to really stabilise the craft both at rest and under way Brian has crafted massive outer reversed chines along the hull’s extremity. Radical?

Certainly, but I found it worked very well with that original twin console runabout style of boat, which really impressed me with its standard of ride, stability and overall handling.

With his new craft, Brian has stayed with the concept. There’s a deep bow section on this new style Mojo, the very large outer chines (so much so the craft has a slight resemblance to a pontoon style rig in some respects) are still part of the hull’s design but the new now has a somewhat different stern treatment in that a 16° deadrise aft now incorporates a central planing plank.

Highly unusual 4mm plate alloy construction of this nature is no small matter in a boat of this size but the result is impressive.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION Length................................................................4.0m Beam..................................................................1.9m Length on trailer...............................................5.2m Height on trailer................................................1.2m Hull construction.....................................4mm plate Hull deadrise....................................................... 16° Engines..................................... 30hp recommended Engine fitted.......................... 30hp Tohatsu 2-stroke Persons...................................................................4 Towing....Family 6-cylinder or big 4-cylinder sedan/wagon

an upright situation should it somehow be flooded.

With its rather unique and very solid hull design, which sees the massive external under hull chines gripping the water both under way and at rest, the 4m rides like a much larger craft, is as stable as a small raft, and the open area within the hull with its tiller steer set up offers enough work area for up to 4 anglers to enjoy fishing time.

OPEN LAYOUT As a the Mojo offers all the best of the ride and handling traits this genre represents. Virtually every

A quick look reveals there’s a lot of fishing room in the all plate Mojo.

The Mojo’s forward bench seats up front also offer storage under them, side covers being an option.

A pair of seats on storage boxes were set up astern and while these seat boxes were totally sealed, Brian explained that the option certainly exists to have them hatch equipped for dry storage or for a battery for an electric start engine to be stored out of the way.

Likewise the longitudinal bench seats, with their open sides and

padded tops, could also be set up with hatches or press stud equipped fabric side covers.

Which brings us to a point with regards to customisation. This style of boat, like all Mojos, is what Brian refers to as a ‘bespoke’ boat. This means that it can be built to a customer’s requirements.

The basic hull can then be set up with whatever is

needed for a particular use.

In standard form, as reviewed, I noted a fairlead and cleat up front, side rails, and seating for 4. Basic but functional is how I saw it. Rod holders and the like could be easily set up on the rails, a live well incorporated aft, a bimini also easy enough fitted thanks to the solid side rails. In short, all the basics were there with the potential for extra fit-out easily noted.

PERFORMANCE AND HANDLING Equipped with an electric start Tohatsu 2-stroke 30hp, the recommended engine power, the Mojo performed quite satisfactorily. The engine was quite new, but planning with two aboard and 22L of fuel in the tote tank aft, occurred at 12km/h. An easy cruise noted at 27km/h and a brief burst of WOT saw 41km/h on the hand held GPS. With the engine out of its break in time, I’d easily see 44-45km/h from the rig, which is certainly fast enough for a small fishing boat, albeit a rigid and well performing plate one.

Performance was

Recommended power, the 30hp Tothatsu 2-stroke easily pushed the solid plate craft to over 40km/h with two aboard. but quite fine bow section, was a radical departure from the norm. Where most manufacturers of boats in the 4-4.5m range like to flare the bow section as close as possible to the point of water entry (to maximise room within the craft up front) Brian has taken another tack altogether. His craft have a flared bow, but just a little further back from the very 108

MARCH 2015

The hull is solid at 180kg, rigid, and with its neat paint job, quite easy on the eye.

The deep, carpeted floor aft shallows towards the bow, in no way detracting from the usefulness of the rig and yet seems to add to its attractiveness.

Flotation under the fully sealed floor section includes both trapped air and foam.

Brian advised me that the craft is designed to float in

bit of the interior of the craft, apart from seats, is workroom with ease of movement and access unhindered. Brian has incorporated welded side rails all round, there’s non-skid deck section up front with a handy storage area below for anchor and warp while longish bench style seats on storage boxes also grace the front section of the craft.

The Mojo’s under hull features of fine bow plus rail-like reversed outer chines are easily noted in this image.

matched by a surprisingly good ride. The Mojo’s hull design ensured that no bumps were felt when crossing wash or when moving along smartly in Moreton’s Bay closely spaced chop and I do believe that the ride of this boat is going to be a strong selling point, along with sheer practicality and total ease of ownership.

A glance at one of the photos of the rig underway gives an insight into the hull’s efficiency, which sees remarkably small amounts of water being displaced to either side of the bow’s entry point.

Handling is also a big positive. The manner in which the big outer under hull chines grip in a turn sees the craft able to execute amazingly tight turns, even at speed. Heading up a mangrove lined creek on the plane with a load of crab pots aboard or maybe a team of happy anglers armed to the teeth with lures for some quality snag fishing would be a lot of fun, with the Mojo’s sweet handling evoking a strong feeling of confidence for those aboard.

SUMMING UP In summing up, I rate this craft as right up with

The Mojo’s rail-like outer chines can be easily seen in this image.

the best handling, and better riding small boats I have had the pleasure of reviewing. The hull design is different, but achieves what the manufacturer had in mind with stability being a high value bonus.

The reviewed craft was pretty basic so far as accepted fishing features were concerned but the standard of finish was quite good and the paint job well executed.

My view is that the little Mojo had tremendous potential, with the options of moving to a larger model while incorporating all of the aforementioned features plus a few to customise it.

Don’t forget the ‘Bespoke’ concept; it’s the buyer’s call in final fit out.

Mojo boats can be contacted on 0411 728 379. The rig as reviewed would come home for $14,750. Brian also advises that a 4.4m craft with 40hp Tohatsu electric start and power trim and tilt would cost $17,480.

• Quoted performance figures have been supplied by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications.

Top: You are looking at a very efficient hull in operation here! Note the distinct lack of fuss from that bow entry section. Bottom: The Mojo’s seat boxes can be modified to handle storage duties should a customer wish.

E C I R P N O I T REDUC

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CAPALABA BOAT CENTRE BAYSIDE JETSKIS Shed 8/100 Beveridge Road, THORNLANDS PH 0411 728 379 Email sales@mojoboats.com.au

Your Outboard & Jetski Specialists MARCH 2015

109

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.

SUNSHINE COAST

MACKAY / WHITSUNDAYS

Promote your Sunny Coast boat hire business here! For as little as $15 per month.

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Boat Licencing GOLD COAST

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BEST LURE RANGE THE Fishing GOLDON COAST

Bundall Marine Centre

No.1 Ashmore Rd, Bundall

Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568

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Marine Electronics

MARINE ELECTRONICS

Marine Mechanics

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Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500 BCF www.bcf.com.au Victoria Point Bait and Tackle (07) 3820 9581 Spinnaker Sound Chandlery Ningi (07) 5497 6007 FTO Tackle Outlet Brisbane 0416 017 094

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

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Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141 Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379

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Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Cunninghams Marine (07) 3284 8805 Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Bribie Boat Sales (07) 3408 0055

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NORTH BRISBANE Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

Boat Hire – Trailer

Boat Mechanics – Mobile

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Walk on/off, or tow away Fish finder/gps, marine radio, all safety gear Half day, full day, and overnight rates True locals with great advice www.goldcoastboathire.com.au 20 Georgia St, Coombabah 0432 710 892 Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

BRISBANE

ACT NOW AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE BOAT, ENGINE, TRAILER, FISHING AND DIVE GEAR. SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

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FREECALL For more info

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1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au

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SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Rod and Reel Repair

Marine Outboard Wreckers

D&H REEL REPAIRS

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND

ce Reel Performan

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07 5529 2292

Servicin Phone/Fax: 07 3372 2740 or major b g all call Duncan on 0439 717 839 rands Email: dhreelrepairs@bigpond.com Drag upgrades available • Rod repairs • Mail orders welcome

20 Wrights Place Labrador Qld 4215 website www.brumbsmarine.com.au email brumbsmarine@bigpond.com Aluminium fabrication • Steel fabrication • Boat repairs Boat modifications • Aluminium sales

www.reelrepairs.com.au North Queensland 110 Sherbrooke Rd, Willawong Qld 4110 JT Reel Repairs, Mackay 0427 552 485 or (07) 4955 2485

CUSTOM MARINE WELDING & ELECTRICAL

Marine and Auto Electricial n All types of Welding n Stainless Steel n Aluminium n Mild Steel n Boats Repaired n Fuel & Water Tanks n Canopies n Bow and Stern Rails n Custom Vehicle Tool Boxes

Southeast Custom Rod Building and Repairs 0438 055 877

n

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

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North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

Shed 1 281 Jacobs Well Road Behind GEM Service Station, Alberton 4207

Advertise here - $90 + GST for 6 months Email: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Phone 3807 7846

Mob 0427 142 201 Fax 3807 2468

www.custommarinewelding.com.au Online Tackle Products

Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402

She Left Camera Sunglasses www.hdvcs.com.au

Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088

U-Make-Em Sort Plastics www.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064 Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636

Marine Transport

CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808

ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

Boat Painting

Holiday Accommodation

BRISBANE

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Spray painting Re-sprays Fairing Paint protection Touch ups Repairs New or old Anti-fouling Fiberglass repairs

BOAT TRANSPORT AUSTRALIA WIDE FROM A TINNY TO 50 FEET WEEKLY SERVICE BRISBANE TO CAIRNS

Professional paint jobs made to last.

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DJ Freight Marine Transport 0418 793 357 0427 341 076 contact@djfreight.com.au

Shed 3 Redland City Marina 100 Beveridge Road Thornlands 4146 Qld

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Hemingways at Tin Can Bay (07) 3219 9376 Bribie Island Real Estate (07) 3408 1006

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Marine Trimmers

WWW.BRISBANEBOATPAINTING.COM.AU

BRISBANE

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• • • • • • • • •

Spray painting Re-sprays Fairing Paint protection Touch ups Repairs New or old Anti-fouling Fiberglass repairs

Canopies Bimini tops Cockpit covers Front and side clears Full boat covers Upholstery Pontoon carpet ... and more!

OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE

FRASER ISLAND

Fraser Island Fishing Units INDIAN HEAD

Martin Costello 0434 615 936 www.mobilemarinecanopies.com

Professional paint jobs made to last.

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0433 356 620 ads@fishingmonthly.com. au

Shed 3 Redland City Marina 100 Beveridge Road Thornlands 4146 Qld

WWW.BRISBANEBOATPAINTING.COM.AU

For bookings or enquiries contact: Cliff Andreassen 07 5449 9346 or 0428 712 283

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

A FISHO’S DREAM

Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727

bearfish@bigpond.com

Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587

Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364

WANT IN? EMAIL : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

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Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668

RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Discovery Fishing Charters G old Coast 0427 026 519

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Looking to

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My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446

Holiday Accommodation ctd.

Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412

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JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090

Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324

Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469

Call Von 07 4937 3145

Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 BURDEKIN

Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428

Fully setup fishing accommodation

Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957

Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044

Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330

Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081

Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929

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Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833

Fishing Guides

Stanage Bay Marine and Accommodation w w w.stan a g eb ay. co m

Advertise here - $195 + GST for 6 months Email: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel Plenty of room for boats and trailers PH: 4069 5222

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BRISBANE

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Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576

Cardwell Beachfront Motel - www.cardwellbeachmotel.net (07) 4066 8776 or info.cbmotel@bigpond.com

Tom Cat Charters (07) 3820 8794 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510

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John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750

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Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012 Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814

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Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694

•

Fish Taxiderist www.fishtaxidery.net.au or 0428 544 841

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

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

Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

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Charter Boats NORTHERN NSW Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0428 231 962 www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

GOLD COAST

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

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Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727

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DVD’S -

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Black Pete Marine Pty Ltd PO Box 3094, Allambie, NSW 2100 blkpete@bigpond.net.au www.blackpete.com.au | 02 9905 7888

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MARINE Phone 07·3875 1600 Photos for illustration purpose only

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