Queensland Fishing Monthly - November 2014

8-PAGE GUIDE TO FISHING TOWNSVILLE

Tried and Tested

How-To

Savage revamps for 2015 • Whittley’s Clearwater 1750 • Bluefin’s Tournament Drifter Pro 455 • Maverick Hammock Swag • Sterndrive advantages •

The right brakes for your trailer • Making sense of sounder frequencies • Improved Albright knots •

Features

Townsville treasures revealed • The light line progression • Crustaceans: food for all • Christmas wish list •

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A Black Magic 5/0 Snapper Snatcher ‘original’ was used

by Rob Carmichael to catch this 9.6kg snapper while fishing out from Lakes Enterance, VIC.

Mark Cummings landed this 12kg cobia off the Gold Coast on a Black Magic KS 4/0 hook and Black Magic 80lb Tough Trace.

Kevin Elferink used Black Magic 30lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader to catch this 13kg tuna off Hervey Bay.

Black Magic 60lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader was used by Tom Lewis to catch this 9kg nannygai out from Yeppoon, QLD.

Diego Gadea caught this chinook salmon while fishing at Lake Bullen Merri, VIC on a NEW Black Magic Jellybean ‘baby brown’.

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November 2014, Vol. 29 No. 1

Contents 18

NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

REGULAR FEATURES

63

Boating 120 Back to Basics 54 Camping and 4WD 90 Cooking 114 Dam Levels 84 Flyfishing 89 Freshwater 84 Fun Page 117 Sheik 115 Sunfish 121 Suntag 99 Tournament News 100 Tech Tricks 92 What’s New in Boating 119 What’s New in Fishing 56 SPECIAL FEATURES

Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Stephen Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Nicole Penfold, Bob Thornton Field Editors: Garry Smith, Jason Ehrlich, Wayne Kampe, Stephen Booth Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Production: Melissa Carroll, Karen Millward, Jenna Moir Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham

Kasper Lenigas seems to be a permanent fixture in Straddie’s bluewater. Here’s a mahi mahi he caught there.

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 123 Queensland Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the first week of each month (latest sale date 7th of the month).

Office Manager: Marie Dykstra

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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The light line progression Crustaceans: food for all Townsville treasures revealed Christmas wish list Improved Albright knots The right brakes for your trailer Making sense of sounder frequencies

92

‘FIND-THE’ BACK NEXT MONTH Thank you to all readers who entered the last run of the ‘Find-The’ Competition. I know that thousands of you love finding the icons in the magazine – the sacks full of entries prove it.

Don’t panic – there’s only a one month break between the end of the last competition and the start of the next one. You’ll see the next one starting up in the December issue.

WE LOVE YOUR PICS Thanks also to those anglers sending in their photos – either via post, email or the Fishing Monthly Magazines Facebook page. We try to give them all a run, but please be patient. In big issues like these sometimes we find it hard to get them all in immediately.

Until next month, tight lines.

ION

Ayr 72 Bowen 73 Townsville 74 Lucinda 76 Hinchinbrook 78 Cairns 80 Cooktown 80 Port Douglas 81 Weipa 82 Karumba 83 The Cape 83

if the thousand lures you’ve packed are enough.

You need to do it at least once in your fishing lifetime. Catch a hard pulling fish in waters that are full of things that can kill you.

It’s awesome.

SURPRISE BARRA The other school of thought is to wait for the tropics to come to you. It happened to me last month with a big barramundi jumping on my lure in the Port of Brisbane for a ride. Is it just me or does it seem like the incidental captures of northern species are happening more and more in the south?

If that’s indeed the case, there’s plenty of anglers on the Cape that are waiting for Papuan black bass to pack their bags and head on south. Now THAT would be an experience – getting your favourite barra lure demolished by an eye-popping visitor.

Bring it on.

AT

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

that’ll prepare you (or the tackle shed) for a little retail therapy.

Is too much new product not nearly enough? You need to check out the FM Blog at www.tacklejunkie.fish to get a daily fix of all the new stuff as soon as it’s released to the market.

TOWNSVILLE FEATURE The FM team snuck up to Townsville last month to remind ourselves about how different and wonderful the fishing is in the northern part of the state compared with the south.

There’s a lift-out feature inside with plenty of tips for southern anglers travelling north.

In my early twenties my summer breaks used to be an annual trip to the waters from Townsville and north. There’s nothing like that sense of anticipation as you travel towards the Equator with your boat in tow and wondering

CI

Rainbow Beach 40 Hervey Bay 40 Fraser Coast 42 Bundaberg 44 Lake Monduran 48 Gladstone 49 Rockhampton 50 Mackay 52

They say that life is like a roll of toilet paper – the closer to the end you get the faster it seems to go.

I’m sure that you’ll all agree that 2014 sped on by.

We start working on the December issue next week!

It’s a fantastic time of year for us at FM – we love putting together the biggest issues of the year. The November and December QFMs are usually pushing the capacity of the printer. 132 pages is as large as we can make the magazine in its current format.

And at a time of year when the summer species are really ramping up, Christmas is sneaking up and we’re all planning our summer breaks, we’re sure that there’s something inside to help you along.

Between the Christmas buying feature, the What’s New Fishing and What’s New Boating, you’d be hard pressed to not find something

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From the Editor’s Desk...

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The light line progression BOWEN

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

There are plenty of ‘hard and fast’ rules when it comes to improving your fishing success. While many of these rules will bring results, fishing light to get the bite is one rule that stands above the rest.

It’s no secret that downsizing both line and leader size can bring amazing results and it’s not

hard to understand why, as lighter gauges enhance both presentation and stealth especially when fishing with lures in- and offshore. Fishing light is a progression many anglers work towards as most beginning anglers will fish heavier to compensate for lack of technique and finesse, not to mention that buffer in case you hook that ‘dream fish’.

What many don’t realise is that this progression can be a steep learning curve as the realm of ‘the 4lb’ can bring new challenges and different

Queenfish are also a top light line target, they are clean fighters and pull like trains.

approaches to everything from knot selection, lure and jighead selection and even something as simple as casting. While the learning curve can be a steep one, it is certainly worth the results in terms of your capacity as an angler, improved catch rates and, most importantly, that feeling of exhilaration when you snare a big fish on light gear.

When first making the progression to the very low ends of the line strength spectrum, it is important to realise that small steps are the way to go. Instead of just diving straight into the 2 and 4lb domain, it’s a much better option to halve the strength of what you are already fishing.

This way you can adjust your fishing slowly to compensate for these changes. This will better prepare you for the lighter drags you employ to suit the breaking strain and more importantly you’re fighting style. If you tend to bully fish to the boat and don’t mind a bit of high sticking and rod manipulation you will soon find these techniques will not be possible when fishing with lighter gear. Light line fishing is all about ‘sharing’ the fight and there will be times when the fish will have the upper hand. However,

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When making the progression to light line think about moving away from braid and using a light high quality fluorocarbon right through. remember it’s not who wins the fight but who wins the war and wars are always won over a slow battle of attrition. It is exactly this ‘back-to-the-wall, high risk fishing that makes fishing light so addictive.

I can remember my first metre barra on 10lb. The whole time I was thinking to myself, ‘I’m so under gunned here and why the bloody hell did I even consider fishing so light against such a power adversary?’ After landing this fish, the elation of being pushed to the limit on both gear and ability proved to be a satisfaction on par with my first ever metre barra. The next one on 4lb was even better, although I lost many fish before reaching success. On a side note, when progressing to light gear you need to accept the fact that losses of big fish are part of the game, but you also need to consider whether you would have hooked it in the first place. As with most things ‘no risk equals no reward’. Fishing light is about hanging in there for the full twelve rounds and it’s certainly not a heavy weight battle. This is why small changes are a necessity to move your current style from heavy weight or middle weight to bantam or fly weight technique.

Small downgrades will also help adjust to the other painful factors, which people tend to never mention when moving into the super light weights of line. The first is tying knots, especially leader to braid. While most leader to braid knots will work, on the extreme lower poundages they can be increasingly difficult to work with. I’m a huge fan of the FG knot, however when I’m fishing 10lb or lower it becomes far too intricate

and therefore I’ll switch to an easier knot to tie. Lower poundages can also mean less friction, which means more twists and hitches. The other factor to consider is taking care when checking knot strength after tying. If you’re used to heavy line strength you will probably be used to giving your knots a good

My favourite light jigging outfit: PE 1-3 NS Black Hole Explorer, Daiwa 3000 Certate with 1030lb Sunline. This outfit has been a weapon on fish like Spanish mackerel up to 35kg. testing after tying. Trying this with lower poundages is not an option, as you will pop the line, so it’s important to build confidence in your knot ability through this slow progression.

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line choice is also integral to your success. One of the keys to fishing light is to have confidence in your gear, especially your line and leader as this will build confidence in all facets of your fishing.

Many anglers are guilty of forking out big dollars for rods and reels but for some reason skimp on line quality. It’s like

Big barra on gear under 10lb are a real achievement. They will test your limits as an angler in every facet but when you land them it’s like catching your first fish all over again.

buying a top model sports car and throwing re-treads on it! Do yourself a favour and spend that little extra and get a decent brand of line that has invested the research and development to design a low poundage line with strong abrasion and one that will last.

It will stand up to the torture bestowed upon it during those early rounds of battle, and it will also be more abrasive, knot better and last a lot longer on your spool. Many top end brands, have put huge dollars into developing extremely low poundage lines to specifically target timid species such as squid, bass and bream. Light offshore lines for those that love a challenge on the blue water are exceptionally strong and abrasive due to their weave construction and it is

this knowledge and reputation that brings confidence during those moments when the fish has you on the ropes.

If you fish tight cover and are of the opinion that fishing light is gear suicide, than consider that braid is not your only option when fishing light. While the vast majority of lure fishes use braid due to its many attractive features, the use of straight through fluorocarbon is a very good alternative when fishing light.

When I target jacks deep in cover on light gear, this is a preferable option as it provides more abrasiveness than braid and therefore is a little more forgiving when the fish are burying me in structure.

The other benefit of using straight fluorocarbon is the elimination of having to tie braid to leader knots. It takes a little getting used to, but I would definitely recommend trying a 4lb fluorocarbon option and a 4lb braid option when starting out to find what you like the best.

Another option when fishing light is to compensate with a heavier leader. If you are chasing fish like barramundi and flathead, which have very abrasive mouths and gill rakers, it’s essential to have a leader that is quite heavy.

While this eliminates some of the purpose of fishing light, you need to be realistic about staying connected

Introducing

at the business end of the action. Once again, a good quality fluorocarbon leader is essential. With fishing you get what you pay for and cheaper usually means fatter, less abrasive and less effective.

The next closet fact most anglers don’t hear about when fishing ultra light is the effect on casting. Due to its extremely thin diameter, these lighter gauge cotton-like lines are highly susceptible to the dreaded wind knot. This can be extremely painful when fishing in windy conditions and often sees the braid knotting on itself and on occasion wrapping around a guide or rod tip. This can be

frustrating to overcome, as light lines require a subtler and less assertive casting approach. When you’re fishing 25lb braid and then switch to 8lb or less this becomes very obvious. Firstly, the lighter line tends to unwrap much quicker off the spool, which tends to throw the lure further.

This is one of the advantages of lighter line. However, if thrown with too much force this can cause a range of issues including the ones discussed above, especially when throwing into the wind. Like all things, light line fishing is about finding that happy medium between passive and assertive approaches and

Tuna are one of the better species to hone your light line skills on. Found in open water, they allow you to test your line limits and casting skills in exposed elements.

The author pulled tight to a 20kg Spanish mackerel on PE 2 gear. Under-gunned but having plenty of fun! finding what works the best for what you are fishing. This can take some adjustment and switching to lighter line will affect your lure placement and judgement ability as well.

On a side note, it’s also important to remember that if you do put one in the trees on light gear, don’t rely on trying to pull it free, as you will simply pop the line.

Next comes tackle selection and for this part I will particularly focus on lure and jighead weights. It’s important to remember that when scaling back on line strength you also need to consider scaling back on lure and jighead weights.

Put simply, if you try to power throw a large heavy lure on 4lb line there is a good chance

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that the inertia force will snap the main line pretty quickly.

This is the same for jighead weights and if you are used to fishing 20lb on a 1/4oz head, then when scaling back to 10lb, scale your jighead weight back accordingly. The benefit of lighter line is the added finesse so it’s important to match this finesse right across your fishing gear.

When matching with a rod and reel selection, it’s important to think about the species you are targeting in relation to the line weight you are fishing. This is where slow progression is also vital as it allows you to get a feel for what type of rod and reel suits your fishing as you move lighter. The level of

rod technology advancement has really been the kicker to light line fishing and this means every angler is now catered for from the estuary right through to offshore grounds.

Advancements in jigging rods in particular make it very possible to target big fish offshore on PE 1-3.

Coupled with the development of smaller reels with smoother drags and the ability to target heavy tackle offshore species on light gear is very real.

Like all things fishing, time on the water is always the best way to progress and this certainly the case when making that progression towards the very light end of the fishing spectrum. One thing is for sure; making that progression to fishing super light can be a re-energizing experience, especially for those anglers who are looking for new challenges. Alternatively, it’s also a great learning experience for beginning anglers as there is no better way to enhance your angling ability than to fight a big fish on light gear.

The bottom line benefit is that going light will always get the bite in any fishing scenario and that is ultimately what we all want.

So next time you’re up for a new spool of line, consider making that first step to the light line progression as it can only be the start of good fishing times ahead.

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Ripper sessions in the river ILUKA

Ben Pilch bjpcdh@gmail.com

November usually sees the warm currents pushing down the coast in the Clarence valley, and that means we should start seeing our pelagics start to run.

Every man and his dog will be out chasing spotty mackerel in the usual places like Shark Bay, Angourie and Sandon.

HOLIDAY RAGE With the influx of people trying to get out on the weekend and chase these fish, the boat

ramps can become a little congested. However, if we all use our common sense at these times we can make everyone’s weekend a lot more enjoyable.

For instance, have your boat completely ready to launch for when it’s your turn – have all your straps undone, bungs in the esky and rods on the boat so you can just reverse down, drop the boat in and drive off. Also, when you’re reversing on a multi-lane ramp, please don’t take up the whole ramp just to launch your tinnie.

Obviously it can get a bit crowded at popular fishing spots as well.

If you’re on the water and everyone is trolling, you’ll notice they’re usually all going in one particular direction.

Please travel in the same direction as everybody else, rather than driving in another boat’s spread of lures, and leave a good distance in between you and the boat in front of you. Finally, if you see someone hooked up don’t go charging over there – give them plenty of room to fight their fish. I’m sure you wouldn’t like it if someone cut off your hooked fish!

Generally speaking, when there are quite a

TIDE WATCH

few boats on the water just be alert and keep an eye out for what’s going on around you, and you should have a good day getting into a few fish.

THE RIVER

In the river when the water starts warming up we see the flathead begin to move down towards the mouth of the river to breed. This time of year is when you start to see a lot of big flathead around, and although they are a fun sportfish to catch these big flathead are our female breeders and deserve to be put back in the water.

Take a few brag pics to send to your mates who are working at the time to help make their day, and pop these big girls back in the drink.

If a feed of flathead is what you’re after, places like the north arm, oyster channel and Browns Rocks should all be holding nice eating quality flathead from legal to 50cm. Soft plastics and blades are the

Upriver plenty of bass are being caught on small divers and blades. last one for crabs. Places like the north and south arms or Lake Wooloweyah

our best producers. There are good school mulloway getting about into the

November is a good month for chasing bigger mulloway on large hardbodies. best way to round up a feed of flathead. Just hop them along the bottom on sandy drop-offs near weed beds re rock bars.

Hopefully this season will be as good as the

or the broadwater were good producers for crabs last year.

Upriver has seen plenty of bass action of late as well, with small divers and blades being

prawns, as well as some nice trevally. However, if a decent mulloway is what you’re chasing, this month is good for chasing them off the stones on big hardbody lures.

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15

Warm water surprises he disappeared before we could present a bait to him, but with the water temperature sitting at 22°C I wasn’t too surprised to see him.

According to reports from the Sunshine Coast they are already starting to see a few small black marlin appear, and hopefully in the next month or so they will trickle down our way. Traditionally

BALLINA

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This time of year is always a bit of a mixed bag. The other day I was doing some bottom bouncing out wide for pearl perch when I saw a mahi mahi well over a metre long cruising past the boat. Unfortunately

Sharni Allen with the type of bass you can expect to catch in November.

December has always been the prime month for these feisty little gamefish but I’ll be keeping a close eye on the water temperature. I have a feeling they will be coming early this year and the season will be a cracker!

In September the annual North Coast Fishing Bonanza was run, and from all accounts it was a resounding success. While the wind played havoc with the boats heading offshore, everybody seemed to do very well in the river with an enormous 99.5cm flathead caught by one lucky angler. It’s hard to believe it was only 5mm off the magical 1m mark!

To give you a rundown of what you can expect this month, the offshore grounds are continuing to produce with the 32 and 48 fathoms being the most consistent currently. There haven’t been many big fish lately, with a smattering of small kingfish, pearl perch and snapper, but a few bigger kingfish have been taken on knife jigs.

I have also been experimenting a bit with

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We will see a few red devils this month. octo jigs. When I say experimenting, I mean simply lowering the jig to the bottom and putting the rod in the holder. This has worked surprisingly well, with the rod holder often hooking more fish than I do!

I have a feeling the warmer water we have coming should bring a bit more bait and the bigger predators too. If the current is raging out wide, focus your efforts around the top or bottom of the tide. Not only are these peak bite times but often the current slackens momentarily, allowing you to get your baits close to the bottom during this small window.

The bigger snapper should be heading back from their spawning on the inshore reefs as well. These fish have been

months and are a great target on lures or live bait.

While I enjoy catching them on lures, it can be quite expensive if you lose half a dozen in a session. Live baits are cheaper and will produce fish consistently. Mullet and herring are the go-to live baits although jacks will also take bony bream at a pinch, and if you can find some live rock shrimp you are almost guaranteed a fish. These little critters are best gathered at the top of the tide with a torch and a small bait net around rocky foreshores. The problem with these juicy little critters is that big bream and school mulloway love them too, and you can rapidly run out of bait.

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There are still a few solid mulloway poking around the lower river.

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hard to target this year for two main reasons: firstly the lack of the normally numerous bait schools, and secondly the many boats that rev their engines and zoom all over the shallow reefs trying to jig up a few live baits early in the morning. For anybody trying to stealthily throw some soft plastics for inshore snapper this is guaranteed to make the blood boil. For this reason I normally fish inshore only for the first bit of light after sunrise before I head out wide to avoid the crowds.

MANGROVE JACK When not offshore I have spent the last few precious weekends targeting some early season mangrove jacks.

The red devils will really kick into gear over the next few

produce jacks, and the boat harbour and the porpoise wall immediately spring to mind. The key is to target obvious structure with a back current or eddy which will provide a refuge for baitfish, and somewhere the jacks can pounce out of the current.

Similar to fishing for mulloway, the key is to present a live bait around the slack of the tide as close to structure as possible. The basic running sinker rig is very simple: a 2/0 to 4/0 hook with 40cm of 30-40lb hard mono trace down to a swivel, and a ball sinker big enough to keep the bait on the bottom and close to structure. I prefer using 30lb braid on a stiff 6-8kg threadline outfit with a very strong drag setting.

This setup will account for many fish, however be prepared to lose every second jack and donate plenty of tackle to snags.

TREVALLY We should also expect quite a few juvenile big-eye and giant trevally to turn up this month. These fish average 2-3kg, and while they will eat the same live baits as used for jacks they are far less fussy and can be caught on lighter gear during daylight hours. They are also a fantastic target on lures and are most active in strong tidal flow at dawn and dusk.

Small minnows, metals, popper, fizzers and saltwater flies all work.

OTHER SPECIES As the water heats up this month all the popular summer species should really start fire up in the estuaries. Most importantly the prawns should become more active, prompting flathead to be more active after their spring spawning in the lower reaches.

Additionally, the whiting will finally start to be a reasonable proposition on surface lures. Those anglers able to collect beach worms will start to pull some thumpers from South Ballina Beach this month as well.

This is easily the best beach for worming locally, however if you’re like me and are all fingers when it comes to worming, some live yabbies will put you in with a fighting chance with the added bonus of some great bycatch in the form of dart and bream.

We should also see an increase in chopper tailor this month. These fish rarely come in over 1kg but make great live bait for mulloway off the beach. Concentrate your efforts on the bigger tides early in the morning before dawn. It’s a pain waking up early but it’s definitely not as cold as winter and a few chopper tailor for breakfast with the chance to convert one into a mulloway is a fantastic way to start the day.

Take care until next month and I hope to see you on the water.

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The best laid plans THE TWEED

David Solano

You start to notice it gradually. It’s getting lighter earlier, it’s slowly getting warmer and that lovely sound of the birds chirping at daybreak just seems to be that much louder. Bugs start appearing on the surface of the river, the bat colonies seem to be on the move… everything is coming to life after the winter hiatus.

It’s not just the wildlife either. Last Friday arvo I was at work plodding away when I noticed that the temperature started to change rapidly from rather cool to hot and humid. And I’m talking hot. Straight

away I thought, “This is it!

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Here’s my dilemma though. My fishing buddy Ric Creighton recently went on a barra safari up north and bought an overhead combo (I’ve had little experience in using them). Even more recently he upgraded to an Omen 13 rod and

overhead reel, awesome piece of equipment. I was very jealous because I had noticed that all the serious jack hunters use this kind of rig, so I asked Ric for a loan of his older one and he said yes.

I had a few casts. The first few landed near my feet (luckily there was no one around to watch) but eventually I was getting in a good metre cast.

Obviously it was going to take some practice.

The next time Ric fished with me he showed me all the different elements to the Shimano Curado that you could customise to suit your casting skills. It helped a lot, so now with the tax return in sight I’ll be looking for an Omen

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Richard Creighton with a quality mangrove jack.

with the lucky number 13 written on it.

Back to the jack fishing.

I had the alarm set for midnight and when it went off I jumped out of bed all ready with my FishWreck mangrove jack shirt on, champing at the bit! Then I opened my veranda door and it wasn’t good. The cold had returned with wind and rain.

What! I sat there scratching my head, thinking this wasn’t supposed to happen. What can you do? I flicked on Rage, cooked an early brekkie and waited to see what would happen with the weather. Come daylight the storms departed and the cold and mist set in. Oh well, grab the light gear, turn it all around and go chase some bream. Tthat’s fishing and that’s fun.

THE BITE • Bream - big ones off either rock wall out the front and off Fingal Beach.

• Trevally - Late night/early morning around the bridges and rock walls.

• Flathead - starting to move into the river entrance, try around the golf club.

• Whiting - I’m struggling to get these puppies on lures but live worms should see you get a nice feed, again around the golf club is a good spot to try.

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and it’ll be time to dust off that pelagic gear because things will start hotting up!

OFFSHORE November is the start of our annual juvenile black marlin season and although numbers may not be as plentiful as later on in the season, there will still be a few to tangle with. Along with mahi mahi, wahoo and various tuna species ,the small blacks will be available consistently on most local reefs in the Gold Coast and Tweed areas.

Kirra Reef, the Gravel Patch and Nine Mile reefs will always hold a few early season pelagics.

Trolling lures such as locally made Black Snacks, Pakulas and one of Hawaii’s top lures Pula Kai is a good way to cover ground and work areas thoroughly to try and entice these warm water speedsters. Keep an eye out for birds, current lines and of course bait fish.

These can be very reliable fish beacons in what can be a very barren ocean.

If you come across a nice

school of bait, try trolling or drifting a few livies down into the school. For best results, try using a few of your baits with a heavy sinker attached to get them down deep, as this may entice a shy fish.

Mackerel will also be showing their faces this month with Mermaid and Palm Beach reefs always being a good start, but get out on the water early to beat the crowds.

I always like to try and sound around for a few minutes to try and find some bait to anchor on.

Once anchored, use a light nylon coated multistrand trace of about 8” with a 2/0-4/0 suicide hook. Try both half and whole pillies with no weight to give those finicky mackerel plenty to choose from. It’s also a good idea to use plenty of berley, so keep those old pillies because they make fantastic berley.

Snapper should still be around and can be caught with great success on lightly weighted pilchard baits, live baits and soft plastics. The

Mackerel will be a viable option in November, but anglers will have to get an early start and beat the crowds to tangle with these toothy speeders.

INSHORE There should be plenty of jacks showing their faces in November, as those hot sticky afternoons are prime jack time. All creeks and rivers are great for chasing jacks with the Nerang and Tweed being two of my favourites.

For best results, really target those rock walls and outcrops, as the jacks like to position themselves hard in on the rocks. These

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November marks the start of the annual juvenile black marlin run on the Gold Coast. There’ll be plenty of little billed steam trains like this swimming round our offshore grounds.

18 and 24 fathom lines and the mud hole are all places that will produce good numbers.

Cobia will still be about right through November. Cobia can be taken on most live and dead baits and soft plastics. I try to fish live baits in varying depths, one on the bottom, one in mid water and one on the surface under a balloon.

The rig I have found to be the best for fishing live baits is a large barrel sinker around 8oz sinker, which I run between a solid ring and a swivel, then to about 1m of 80lb onto a large hook in about size 10/0.

20

NOVEMBER 2014

fish can be targeted using a wide variety of lures, live and flesh baits. I find bouncing plastics such as Atomic Shads and deep diving minnows such as the Ecogear SX60, Lively Lures Mad Mullet and Bomber lures a very effective way of targeting these hard-hitting fish.

There will be a few decent flathead around still and those cooler days that aren’t much good for jacks are primetime for flathead. Although they may have already spawned, there will still be a few good lizards to be had. Try slowly hopping plastics around drop offs and weed edges

in the main body of the rivers. When the fish are shut down, I’m a big fan of using blades. The Ecogear VX50 blades are about the best of them for flathead fishing.

Whiting will be in full swing this month and as they are a great table fish they are always a very popular option.

These fish are great fun to catch and around the mouth of Currumbin and Tallebudgera creeks there should be plenty of these tasty fish to be caught. When fishing the mouth of creeks and rivers, it’s pretty hard to beat a few live yabbies or beach worms as bait.

The mid reaches of the Nerang River will hold a few more of those larger whiting with fish around the 40cm mark not being as uncommon as you may think. When fishing more up the river, baits like soldier crabs, jelly prawns and bloodworms are a better bait of choice. In all applications of whiting fishing, a running sinker, a long trace and a size 6 chemically sharpened hook is usually the best way to target them.

If you’re keen to try something different, try casting small poppers over the sand flats with a nice light fluorocarbon leader to allow your popper to work most effectively.

The Hinze Dam will start to fire this month with plenty of bass and a few saratoga being caught in the early morning and late afternoons on surface lures. As it gets later in the day, try casting 1/2 and 5/8oz spinnerbaits around the points and weed beds. Spinnerbaits are best fished with a slow rolling action and to get the best out of your spinnerbait, add a 1/0 Gamakatsu Si Wash hook with a small piece of rubber tube to turn those bites into hook ups.

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Make way for summer species GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn www.tackletactics.com.au

Well, that’s my first Flathead Classic done and dusted. Although the fishing was extremely tough, we managed to have a great time, meet some great people and catch a few fish!

Our team’s (TT Lures) biggest flathead was 54cm caught by Keith Dunn and biggest fish was a 69cm mulloway! We can’t wait to get back there next year!

The fishing has been tough, but in saying that, we are getting a great number of some species with some very big fish!

Mulloway, mangrove jack, bream, giant herring, flathead and trevally are the main fish on the bite at the moment in the Gold Coast canals.

Mulloway take a range of lures and most baits.

Catching them isn’t as easy as it seems, though once you’ve found the school you’re a chance!

Live baits work a treat at night and anything from 10-15cm including mullet, squid or herring is worth a go. Lures of choice

would be something around 2.5-5”, but anything up to even up to 7” with a big curly tail and reasonable size jighead in size 1/6oz,

action on the sounder, again you’re in with a chance! A few good places include The Coomera, Tweed and Nerang rivers, Tipplers

A solid mulloway taken on a Z-Man 2.5” GrubZ while fishing in the Gold Coast Flathead Classic.

1/4oz or 3/8oz will get a look in. Mulloway will at times come into our canal systems to feed up, so if you can find a nice depth around 4m with some

Channel, Jumpinpin, Seaway and Jacobs Well.

Mulloway can be found when fishing for flathead, so if you persist with your flatty fishing, you might

just see some silver prior to netting!

Jacks are on the move in pretty good numbers, so keep your lures and baits close to the structure and seriously, hold on! Bright and natural coloured of all sorts have been working a treat with around 80-120mm the optimal size. Dean Thomson from Tide Apparel caught a solid 51cm jack along with 5 others in the same session just recently in the Goldy canals.

Big bream have been caught in most canals. A good tip is to go deep into a canal system where there’s some still water and cast to the very end of the canal where big bream will sit.

Lightly weighted jigheads are recommended, as they won’t scare as many fish. As well as plastics, try small shallow-diving hardbodies, which are working a treat at the moment.

Whiting have shown up in reasonable numbers throughout the Tweed, Coomera and Nerang rivers, Coombabah Creek, Jacobs Well and the Broadwater flats. One of the best baits you will get is bloodworm, but easier

Dean Thomson from Tide Apparel with a horse 51cm jack taken on the drop in one of the many Gold Coast canals. to gather baits include pumped yabbies or any other sort of worm. They aren’t afraid to hit plastics and hardbodies either, and anything from 2-4”. If you fish something small and slow across a sand or mud flat you should see results.

Try fishing the last hour of the run-out tide.

If you live down in The Tweed there has been quite a few giant herring showing up. They’re hard to hook and a frustrating species to land though.

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In the next month we could see some more rain and hot weather which, will bring bass, bream, flathead, trevally and jacks on the bite!

Overall, November is a great month for producing a range of estuarine species. So don’t hold back because there’s plenty on offer!

That’s it for me, but make sure you jump onto my Instagram and check out my latest pics at ‘_joshdunnsfishing_’!

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Early season mangrove jack and marlin madness GOLD COAST

David Green

November is a fantastic month for fishing on the Gold Coast and along with beautiful weather and warm days, we also get to tangle with some pretty awesome species!

OFFSHORE Out wide there has been a big congregation of bait on the area around Jims Mountain out in around 600-800m of water. This has attracted large schools of yellowfin tuna, big mahi mahi and quite a few large blue marlin. The largest yellowfin caught so far went 85kg and was caught on a trolled skirted lure. Some of the blue marlin have been big fish over 300kg and there have also been massive striped tuna over 10kg in the same are.

The water temperature has increased to over 23°C and this month it should warm up even further. Normally October is a fairly quiet month out wide but the fishing for the past few weeks has been excellent and this should continue into November.

In closer to shore November often sees a few cobia turn up around Palm Beach and Mermaid Reef and

Danny Sands shows us one of the pugnacious ‘red devils’ that call the Gold Coast canals home. This aggressive species becomes more available to lure throwers in November.

Julia Crilly holds up one of the beautifully marked mahi mahi that invade our offshore grounds at this time of year.

these respond to live bait, soft plastics and a bit of berley.

Later in the month there is also the chance of early season spotted mackerel as the water warms. There are often large schools of bonito and small mackerel and it is a good time to stock up on bait for the season ahead.

The East Australian Current starts to move south off the Gold Coast in November and it is a good

time to start trolling the inshore grounds if the current is warm and the water temperature is over 24°C. Usually, mahi mahi precede the inshore run of juvenile small black marlin and November is a good month to target this species on trolled live baits and lures.

Big schools of pilchards and slimy mackerel start to congregate on the Cottons Reef, Sullies and on the 20 fathom line north of the

Jumpinpin Bar and if these schools stay in the area, the run of small black marlin shouldn’t be far away. Last month, quite a few small black marlin were starting to turn up off 1770 and this is a good sign for the season ahead.

For the bottom fishers, November’s activity will be dictated by the prevailing current. When the current flow is slow, the 36 and 50 fathom line will produce pearl

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perch, rosy job fish, kingies, Samson fish and a few juvenile snapper. This year’s snapper season was a very poor one and the inshore grounds tended to fish better than the wider areas. The water temperature never really dropped that much this winter, which is probably why the fishing was poor.

Jigging is another good option this month and the 50 fathom line often fishes well for kingies on metal lures throughout November.

At night there should be teraglin, tailor and a few mulloway on the pinnacles close to the Seaway. Deep fished live baits are generally the most effective method and most of the action tends to take place between sunset and full darkness. The mulloway on these pinnacles are generally good fish over a metre in length.

RIVERS AND ESTUARIES The Gold Coast Sportfishing Club’s Flathead Classic is over with 210 teams catching over 5500 flathead.

Congratulations to the Whyte brothers on an outstanding win targeting deep fish on jigged plastics and vibes.

The flathead action should continue this month with most of the fish being concentrated around the entrances and there should still be a lot of 60-90cm fish in the deep water areas. In general most of the spawning activity is finished by the end

we move into the humidity of storm season, the jack action picks up. Most mangrove jacks are caught by casting soft plastics to the leading edge of floating pontoons and ripping the lure back quickly across the face so it travels about 15cm below the pontoon line.

This has been a very effective tactic in the Coomera River and in the marinas where the jack populations are thriving.

I recommend using a 4” white Z-Mann SwimmerZ as they are extremely popular for the local jacks and fish well with a 3/8-1/2oz 4/0 jig hook on 10-15kg leader. A lot of the bigger jacks tend to bury

into the pylons but plenty over 50cm will be caught this month.

Whiting move upstream as the water warms and the Coombabah Creek and the Pimpama and Nerang rivers should all fish well for whiting on wrigglers, bloodworms and yabbies. As the fish move onto the flats it is worth trying poppers and small stick baits.

Last year I caught some great fish on poppers in Coombabah Creek. Occasionally in November around the mouth of Wasp Creek there is a run of decent javelin fish or grunter bream and some of these are over 3kg and put up an

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Trolling the flats on high tide using small hardbodied lures such as Lively Lures Micro Mullets should still be very effective this month as the fish feed hard after completing spawning. Trolling was the most consistent method for many teams in the recent

flathead classic. Blades, soft plastics, soft vibes and cast hardbodies and rattling baits are useful alternatives. It pays to mix up your methods. As the water warms up towards the end of the month the flathead fishing slows down.

November is a great month to target mangrove jacks and as

excellent fight on light tackle.

Fishing soft plastics for mulloway in the Seaway and Jumpinpin Bar is another option this month. The best time to fish is the first hour of the run-in and the top of the tide. Deep jigged 7” white Gulp Jerk Shads are as effective as most lures and this style of fishing also produces plenty of big flathead. As things warm up it is important to remember to pack your crab pots as the muddies and sandies will be active.

Overall, November is a great month on the Gold Coast waterways and this year should have some great fishing.

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Never fail November produces JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

November is a great time to fish the Pin as there are so many different species available.

There are always the usual suspects like bream, whiting, flathead with the odd mulloway, juvenile snapper and tailor thrown in. But as the water temperature increases we can expect to see a few mangrove jacks, estuary cod and trevally showing up.

Flathead should be prevalent as usual and with over 5000 lizards being caught and released in just 3 days in the recent Flathead Classic, you can see that there is no shortage in the flathead stocks.

All these fish were caught on lures so if you have never used lures in the past, give it a go, because they really do work.

The top of Crusoe Island, Pandannus weed banks, Kalinga Bank, around Tipplers Island, along the Never Fails and the Aldershots were all productive haunts during the competition and with all those fish being released, they should still be in those spots during November. Try trolling shallow diving lures in 4-6ft around the weedbanks and

drop offs in these areas with popular colours like white, pink, green, black and red.

Flathead love live mullet, herring, hardies, pillies and white bait, so drifting with these in those areas just

and better Lizards.

Bream are the bread and butter of the Pin and available all year round.

Just look for structure and you’ll find bream. They will eat practically anything and

Rhiley and Piepa Griffiths proudly show their 60cm flatty caught around the Pin area. mentioned during the run-out tide and it should put you on the right track to catch bigger

always put up a good fight, which makes them one of the best and easiest fish to catch.

Hot spots to try if you are just starting out are the Pig Sties, the dead trees off the bottom of North Straddie, Never Fail Islands, the southern side of Short Island, the Stockyards and Flat Rock.

The tailor have finally shown up, albeit in small schools and mainly only choppers available. The odd greenback has been caught among them to about 2kg on 10-40g slugs or whole pillies around the Pin Bar before the breakers, Kalinga Bank, NE tip of Crusoe Island and Slipping Sands.

Whiting will be one the main species that will be targeted this month and there should be plenty around too.

The Logan River always produces some real quality fish with plenty over 40cm to be expected. The pick of the spots are Ageston Sands, Marks Rocks, the Junction and the mud flats at the mouth of the Logan. Other spots to try out of the river are Fishermans Channel, Cobby Passage, Slipping Sands, the Gold Bank and from Tipplers to the Never Fail Islands. Bloodworms are the by far the best bait for catching whiting, however they are very expensive and not always in abundant supply, so be sure to order them a few days in advance to avoid

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sandies between Long Island and Cabbage Tree Point, Canaipa Passage and Tiger Mullet Channel. Muddies have been also going strong and we’re finding that they are mostly being caught out of the rivers and more along the mangrove-lined banks of Eden Island, Tabby Tabby and Mosquito and Long island.

• Thanks for all reports and if you have any questions on conditions or what’s biting, drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

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disappointment. Other baits to try are beachworms, pipis, prawns and squid.

Mangrove jacks and estuary cod will become more active and be on the chew with the warmer waters in any spot with a decent snag, fallen tree or rock wall. Trolling rattling lures by the snags or presenting a small live mullet or herring will always tempt these great fighting fish to strike.

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Kingies and amberjack are quality distractions OFFSHORE

John Gooding

From June through to December, we mainly focus on floating for snapper, but it’s been a different year so far.

It’s been hard to drive past the amberjacks and kingfish; we’ve been live baiting on the 42 fathom line and deeper. Mixed in with the kings and AJ’s have been some quality snapper also keen to hit the livies but they slowed toward the end of September.

The last couple of charters I did before heading to Fraser Island during the school holidays, we gave the live baiting the flick and switched back to floating and we’ve had no problem getting our bag limits of juvenile snapper, with most fish from about just legal to about 50cm.

With the season starting a bit later than last year’s, we should see more quality fish showing right through until Christmas, especially on the shallow reefs.

Just briefly on my Fraser Island trip, we were up there for the first week of the school holidays.

For the first few days we had strong southerlies, which made the fishing tough, but when the wind dropped, the tailor were red hot and we landed plenty of fish between 50-60cm on lures and bait.

There were also plenty of

East of the South Passage Bar this month should see the continuing snapper run out in the deeper water and in the shallower reefs. Areas such as Shallow Tempest have been turning up some real quality fish.

While the focus has been on snapper, the kingfish and amberjack have been far too entertaining to drive past.

Amberjack like this and kingfish have been smashing livies off the 42 fathom line, giving clients smiles and sore arms! good whiting and dart in the gutters and as usual I had a great time on the island.

With the water temperature increasing we should see some early season pelagic action such

as wahoo and mahi mahi out around the Wave Rider had off Point Lookout with the chance of a few Spanish mackerel. Quite often we see a small run of Spaniards around Shag Rock towards the end of November. My guess is that this year won’t be so good on the

Spaniards just because we a cracker mackerel season earlier in the year, but you never know!

The law of averages says we should have as good a season as last but with so many small fish caught last season we should see some larger models turning up.

• Until next months, enjoy your fishing, take care on the coastal bars and if you’d like to join me on a charter (maximum 8 persons) give me a call on (07) 3522 9527 or 0418 738 750. You can also visit my website at www. outlawcharters.com.au.

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Heat creates an itch BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With some very hot days forecast for the coming weeks, anglers will be itching to get out onto the water to get among the action.

Warm weather and rising barometers can really fire up the piscatorial action in the rivers, bays and estuaries. Whether it is mackerel, mangrove jack or threadfin on your wish list, you should have plenty of options throughout November. With knowledge of the awesome species available, anglers should be itching to get out onto the water. Check out a few of these November options.

ESTUARINE OPTIONS Jacks With longer days and more light at each end of the working day, plenty of anglers will be getting out for an early morning or late afternoon session on their favourite patch of water. One species that is heavily targeted during the extremities of the day is the mangrove jack. Rising barometers and low light, either just as the sun is appearing in the east or as the last rays disappear into the west, are prime times to be targeting jacks.

Additionally there are many urban and suburban waters where they can be caught, making them

a good target for those with only a few hours of opportunity. Most creeks, rivers, estuaries, canals and harbours will hold a few quality jacks, as well as plenty of junior models.

Kayaking anglers can access some of the tight waters where jacks like to reside a little easier and can generally launch their craft close to prominent spots away from boat ramps. Mangrove jack can be targeted on a broad array of lures and quality baits, especially live offerings.

Hardbodied minnows, poppers, soft plastics and numerous other offerings can be put to good use.

As jacks hold close to prominent structure while ambushing prey, you will need to have fast reflexes, a smooth drag and a good degree of luck to turn the fight in your favour.

Many good jack haunts are areas with prominent artificial structure such as rock walls, bridge pylons, pontoons, jetties and moorings. Slow-rolling plastics or minnow lures around these structures is a good ploy. Topwater offerings such as poppers can also work when jacks are especially active. It often pays to work over prominent spots for several casts, often with different offerings, as jacks will not always strike on the first cast. It is often a case of almost annoying them into striking your lure. Lures

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will work both day and night as the jacks will hunt continuously and will have no trouble locating your offering, even on the darkest night.

After dark (and even during daylight hours) live baits are a relaxing way to fish, however you definitely do not cover as much water as you do with lures. Live prawns, herring, mullet, pike and the like make prime offerings for jacks, estuary cod, flathead and various other estuarine predators. Fish these on a quality live-bait hook (generally 3/0-5/0) and minimum lead. Holding the rod will definitely decrease your chance of getting busted off. Jacks are a valuable resource so limit your catch with this iconic Aussie sportfish.

Flathead Flathead numbers will still be fairly good right throughout the warmer months. While they can often be found well up in the estuaries and in heavily structured areas, they are more commonly taken on the shallow estuarine flats, mud banks and the channels separating these.

The flat areas at the mouths of creeks and rivers are prime locations.

Trolling diving minnow lures or casting plastics along the edges of these banks is a very good way to find a few, however learning their habits and preferences will allow you to locate a few quality specimens during any stage of the tide in your chosen area.

Estuary cod Estuary cod are commonly found in the same or similar areas as mangrove jack. They will respond to the same techniques and offerings as jacks, however slightly changing your approach will help you if you want to specifically target cod.

Estuary cod really love crabs and will commonly be found in areas with good numbers of these.

Rock walls are especially good places to find them.

Working offerings close to these rocks will greatly increase your strike rate. I like to use shadstyle plastics, which are slowly rolled so that they frequently crawl across the rocks. Weedless rigging styles, such as the TT Snakeheads, offer the best hook-up potential while limiting the regularity of fouling on the rocks. Deepdiving minnow lures (both floating and suspending) can also be cranked down deep and rolled so that they frequently bang and rattle across the submerged

Mangrove jack are a valuable sports fish and should be treated carefully when destined for release. structure. This really gets the cod fired up and they will hone in and smash the offering.

They may look slow but this is a deceiving look, as they will head to the nearest structure or crevice in the rocks and can bust you off easily if you don’t apply the utmost pressure from the onset. Blistered thumbs and broken lines are commonplace for anglers targeting jacks and estuary cod on 15-30lb baitcasting or spin gear.

However, the excitement and adrenalin charge that these species offer is what keeps most heading back for another chance.

Threadfin salmon The numbers of these guys will be good throughout November in numerous systems, especially the Brisbane, Logan and Caboolutre rivers as well as several other creeks and drains.

Some anglers, especially those with sideimaging sounders, are becoming especially good at locating the threadies by scanning banks and deeper holes in these systems.

Threadfin show up very prominently on quality marine electronics and are easily distinguishable for anglers who know how to use their sounders well.

Soft plastics, vibration baits, minnow lures and many other lures can work well. An array of live offerings will also tempt threadfin with many anglers successfully presenting these offerings close to mud ledges and contours, and sometimes in deeper holes.

River sharks In the rivers the main two sharks caught are bull sharks (carcharinus leucas) and spinner sharks (carcharinus obscurus) although several others can be encountered. Live mullet and small catfish make prime offerings

especially when suspended below a float so that they struggle and send out some sonic berley.

Sharks will commonly cruise close to the banks in the slower current flow so there is no need to get your baits right out in the middle. Fishing around lighted areas at night, which attract baitfish species, can be a success for those with nocturnal angling tendencies. I am told that the smaller whaler sharks are fairly palatable when killed and filleted quickly after capture. Those left to lie for periods after death will often attract an ammonia taste to the flesh.

Both sharks and rays have maximum size limits and some species have a no take limit so check the regulations before heading out to target them.

BAY TARGETS Although there will still be healthy numbers of snapper, sweetlip, tuskfish and other demersals to be caught around the bay islands, many anglers will switch their efforts to pelagics such as mackerel, tuna and cobia during the warmer months. Any surface busting action is worth investigation as mackerel and tuna species can show up in any area of the bay at any time.

Mackerel For most anglers looking for a tasty treat, mackerel are the favoured species. Schoolies have been caught in numerous areas of the bay in limited numbers for several months now, however their numbers should increase during November.

Spotties may also be around but generally these are more common from late December. If surface bust-ups are noted then approaching these carefully and casting lures to the edges of the fray will generally be rewarding.

Good offerings for both species can include chromed slugs and slices, jerk-shad plastics, blades, baitfish-profiled flies, sub-surface stick baits and occasionally poppers.

These are generally best worked as briskly as possibly to excite the mackerel and solicit strikes.

Beacons can also hold good numbers of schoolies and the occasionally spotties. Dropping chromed slugs and slices around the bases of these beacons (on the down-current side to avoid fouling) and then cranking them flatstick back to the surface is a highly successful technique.

Pilchards fished on ganged hooks and sunk into the depths around these structures will also produce, especially around the tidal changes. Trolling minnow lures along the edges of prominent bank systems, such as Tangalooma and Middle banks during the making tide is also likely to produce a few mackerel. The upper end of the Rous Channel and Brown’s Gutter can also be worth prospecting and the mackerel can feed at any stage of the tide in this area. Trolling minnow lures straight off the rod tip or behind a downrigger and spoons behind a paravane, or drifting through the area on the making tide with pilchards are all techniques which have worked for me and many others.

Longtail tuna Longtails are also high on the wish list for sport fishers frequenting Moreton Bay. These sashimi submarines can reach weights in excess of 25kg but are more common around a respectable 9-11kg. While they will respond to quality live baits fished along prominent ledges, current lines and around the beacons,

they are more commonly targeted on lures.

Their habit for marauding baitfish on the surface is often their undoing as these eruptions can be seen from quite some distance away, which alerts anglers to their presence. From here it is generally a case of casting your offering into the melee, often towards an individual fish wheeling hapless baitfish just under the surface.

Chromed slugs and slices, stick baits such as the Yozuri Adagio, Bungy Cast or Maria Blues Code and Loaded, baitfish profiled flies, pencil poppers, blades and a host of other artificials can all produce.

Hooked fish often require a good degree of time to land and during the warmer months many are eaten by sharks before they can be landed. For this reason it is often better to fish heavier line in an attempt to get the longtail to the boat quickly before the sharks hone in and attack. This will also increase the chances of fish being released in a healthy condition.

Cobia Cobia can often be located around the beacons in the northern bay, the Curtain Artificial, Bulwer

Ledge, Cowan Ledge, Pearl and Kianga channels and numerous other areas.

These can generally be tempted with large live baits but will also eat minnow lures, large plastics and metal jigs and blades.

Many are opportunistically hooked on live baits or lures targeted at other species.

Bay sharks These toothy critters are commonly hooked on baits meant for other species; however specific targeting will greatly increase your chances. They are a lot of fun and are definitely a good way to teach anglers the techniques of fighting a stubborn target. Most anglers over-gun their tackle to target sharks however as long as you are in a boat, the average shark can be landed on relatively light tackle with a bit of time. I regularly fish 4-6kg monofilament in the bay as the average shark encountered is generally less than 15kg and can often be subdued in less than 20 minutes on this tackle.

Drifting prominent areas, such as the fringes of the bay islands, the spoil grounds and major channels while deploying a slow constant stream of berley or tuna oil, is a great way to

get their interest. Trailing a bait behind the boat, either under a balloon or float, or unweighted, is my chosen approach. Large gar, pike, small bonito, large slimy mackerel and numerous fillet baits can all work a treat. These are generally fished on a 1m snelledhook rig on nylon-coated wire, which is attached to a longer monofilament wind-on leader.

Sharks brought to the boat can be lifted aboard in a large landing net and unhooked or carefully released boat-side. Even small sharks can inflict life-threatening wounds so be over cautious when handling them. Numerous species of whalers (mainly spinners, pig-eye, sand-bar, bull, inky-tail, spot-tail and cautious whalers) and occasionally hammerheads are the main ones caught, however tigers and whites are also possibilities.

CRABS Crab numbers should be good throughout November with sand and mud crabs on the menu for those setting a few pots in the bay, rivers and creeks.

Muddies are most common in the creeks and rivers with sand and blue swimmers in the bay and river mouths. Safety pots are the best way to catch

Nikki managed this quality mackerel recently. We should see increased numbers of schoolies and a few spotties appearing throughout November. them however pick-up dillies can also be used (witch’s hat pots are now banned).

Bait these with chicken

carcasses, fish frames, whole mullet and other similar baits and set them in prominent locations. For sand and blue swimmers,

try the fringes of the bay islands, prominent ledges, gutters and channels. For muddies, good locations include collapsed mangrove banks, deep holes and the upper reaches on mangrove creeks and gutters.

Both have differing size limits, ways of measuring and bag limits so you are best to become familiar with these and to learn how to identify the males and females before heading out.

CONCLUSION Anglers have plenty of piscatorial options throughout November.

With the heat of the Queensland sun beating down, anglers will need to lather in sunscreen, wear protective clothing and consume plenty of rehydrating liquids when venturing out to avoid sunburn and dehydration, which can really spoil a day on the water. However, this heat has a positive effect on most fish stocks, increasing their metabolism and aggressiveness. For anglers, this means better opportunities and some pretty exciting fishing to be experienced throughout November. The warm conditions will really give anglers the piscatorial itch. Good luck with scratching it.

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Never get too busy NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

As we draw closer towards the final months of the year, the back end can start to be quite a hectic time for most of us.

The list of endless ‘chores’ seems to set upon us at a rapid rate towards every year end. But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel and it starts with the passion… the passion that drives us to spend countless hours tinkering with our gear, sifting through our tackle box, rearranging or soft plastics collection or even practicing a new knot.

I’ll be the first to admit my life gets busy, but I can always say one thing, my boat is always ready to go fishing! Batteries charged, oil filled, and rods ready, just waiting for that little gap in my week to sneak out for a few hours to cure my piscatorial itch and for me, I know it’s like life’s big Panadol. A few hours of thinking about nothing but fishing is enough to reset my life, to mentally put me back on the straight and narrow and give me the drive to

tackle the rest of the day, week or year.

So with that thought, let’s get into what’s been going on in the northern bay. With constant south-

southeasterly winds as we expect in the warmer months, the northern bay has started to hold more bait that had seemed to elude us over the past few months, bringing

Kerry Cullen with her first ever summer whiting, which will be thickening in numbers this November.

Tommy Slater produced this solid peninsula bream on a well-worked topwater lure.

us a nice change to the feeding habits of the bread and butter species. Increased water temperatures have been another positive factor making fish a little more active on the feeding front.

Be on the lookout for the calm day that follows a few blowy days as this is the ideal time to chase some fish as the water will be stirred up and the fish will be less spooky.

Flathead have been biting well of late as they have been making their way out of the estuaries and roaming the more open waters looking for a feed.

Recent rains assist in this migration, so target run offs into main channels when chasing lizards. Areas on fire at the moment in the Pumicestone Passage include Mission Point, the mouth of Glasshouse Creek,

Tonys Gutter and the dropoffs along Sylvan Beach.

Working south, good reports have come from Cooks Rocks, the mouth of Newport waterways, the Wells and Hays Inlet and the mouth of the Pine River under the Ted Smout Bridge, especially on the ebb tide. Soft plastics around 4-6” have been the favourites with anglers, having success with minnow and grub style plastics.

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After an average winter on the bream front, the warmer months have started to see a resurgence of the humble bream giving anglers a more steady flow of catches. Hardbodied lures and small soft plastics have been working a treat with the diehard bait anglers finding success using wares at night when fishing bridges and rocky points.

Up the Bribie end of the bay, bream are being picked

up on the flats near Ningi and Donnybrook, especially on the bigger tides giving the bream more water to cruise right up to the mangroves. Also worth a try is the Pacific Harbour canals and Tiger Rock with the mouth of the Caboolture River fishing well in the afternoons. The Peninsula has been the stalwart of bream fishers for years with its many bommies and rubble flats. With the rise in

water temperature, topwater has been working well, especially on the flooding tides. Luckycraft Sammys, Megabass Dog X Jrs and Zipbait Fakie Dogs worked across shallow bommies have been gathering good attention with a slow swooping twitch being the best retrieve. Other areas of interest on the incoming tide include the mouth of Bald Hills Creek, Dohles Rocks and upriver of the highway

Chasing flathead under the Ted Smout Bridge. Flathead will still be active and available for dedicated anglers in November.

bridge towards the mouth of the South Pine. Baits have also been working well with mullet strips, hardiheads, pilchard cubes and chicken being the pick.

With the weather warming, reports have been flooding in about good catches of summer whiting.

Fresh baits like yabbies and bloodworms have been the go with anglers finding an inch of red tubing (available from most tackle stores) and long traces helping increase their catch rate. The southern beaches of Bribie are starting to fire with anglers also getting good whiting at the mouth of the Caboolture River, Burpengary, Hussey and Coochin creeks. The mouth of the South Pine and Margate Foreshore along Suttons Beach has also been worth a look for summer whiting lately.

Anglers have also been rewarded by dropping some crab pots while having a fish with good sand crabs being caught in the main channel of the Pumicestone.

This has also lead to sandies being caught through Deception Bay and feeding further south to Bramble Bay outside of Clontarf. So if you are heading out, be sure to throw a couple of pots in as you may get a pleasant surprise.

Happy fishing!

Alicia Carroll, 12 yrs old caught this impressive whiting on a yabby while fishing with her Dad at Donnybrook.

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Warm weather, hot bites and great memories STH PUMICESTONE

Jason Wallis

With the transition period behind us we can target our preferred species with more accuracy and we have had a very productive time of late.

It’s now time to click it up a gear. The warm water will bring with it some hot bite periods and great memories.

The summer whiting are now in full swing, although we’ve seen some great winter halls coming from the middle reaches of the passage. We will now see great numbers of elbowbangers coming from all parts of the passage from Red Beach on the southern end of Bribie right up to the banks around Golden Beach at Caloundra. Keep your eyes on the older land-based anglers, they know where and when to hit the slappers.

As they wade out up to their knees with a rod in hand and bag over their shoulder they will be on the hunt and pulling results. What these

fishers don’t know about chasing whiting isn’t worth knowing – old anglers rock.

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a nice relief when their nose enters the net and the battle has been won. The fish we have encountered have ranged in size from 60-100cm. Keep in mind

This mulloway was hooked deep and was bleeding once netted, after many attempts to revive and release, it was instead taken for a feed. The fish took a large live bait and measured in at 98cm.

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having a good session or a session you will never forget.

The flathead are still being pulled from most parts of the passage. Numbers are down but the size will make

up for that, with some real croc-sized fish being landed.

I was told about a large flathead chasing an angler’s legal size bream to the boat and trying to attack it like a shark and another big fish eating a small estuary cod on the way into the boat only to have it regurgitate boat side. Both of these fish were estimated to be very close to 1m in length and both are still out there to be wrangled.

I guess the moral of the story is if you want to catch big fish, you should think about using big baits. These big fish have been mainly found in the deeper sections of the passage hanging around bait schools. Plastics have been doing a lot of damage as well with 3” models right through to the big 7” Gulps.

Don’t forget Lively Lures, these guys can troll up some great results providing you can stay away from the floating weed, which fouls them up deeming your efforts useless, but in the right conditions they can be dynamite.

The boys and I have been tangling with a few mulloway of late, with every session we see a couple hit the net. They are a great fish to see boat side. The first big silver flash you see as they near the boat is awesome as they take a big lunge for freedom leaving you with a large tail boil beside your boat as you cross your fingers and hope like crazy they don’t dislodge the hook with their next direction change, which can often happen as they change direction multiple times during the fight. It’s

With the warm water upon us we will some ripper jacks taken. I have seen a few poking their nose out and getting wrangled. The hotter it gets the hotter the sessions will become and this is what all jack anglers long for all winter. They get bigger and angrier with every warm day. We will be throwing everything at them, as they love a variety of lures from surface lures, blades, hardbodies and plastics. Most of the gear on the market works well, all I can suggest is find one that you have a lot of confidence in because without confidence you may as well stay in bed or mow the lawn. Confidence is the only thing that will keep you plugging and staying on top of your game. You need this when wanting to target jacks. They can leave you fruitless on more than one occasion, but when you beat them your hair on the back of the neck will stand up giving you goose bumps and leaving you on a natural high for hours. The

Chris ‘Big Red’, another jack addict, is up to his tricks again taking down the Holy Grail of estuary fish, the mighty mangrove jack. It went 50cm and was released. the minimum legal length of 75cm and a bag limit of 2 per person. Often when you do find one mulloway you will encounter a few more, even several, as they love to hang around in numbers and stay schooled up tight. Another thing I have noticed is they hang in size groups, if you manage a fish of 70cm, his friends will be a similar size.

They have been eating baits and plastics and the gun bait has been live mullet or gar and the gun plastic has been a 7” Gulp.

hit, the fight, the colours, the dentures, the photo and the release; in my book they are the ultimate estuarine species, the best you will encounter, hands down. Make sure you take your brag mat, as you want to measure that trophy jack. Any fish over 55cm is classed as a beast and rarely landed. Keep a close eye on your gear and keep it maintained as they can find weak points easily. So for all the jack junkies out there, lets hit them!

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Smashing summer speedsters CALOUNDRA

Brad McKendrick fishingcaloundra@yahoo.com.au

Summer is in full swing on the Sunshine Coast and with it all the species we enjoy chasing are moving in to make it an exciting time.

My favourite summer species are definitely the pelagics, which includes cobia, kingfish, amberjack, tuna, mackerel, mahi mahi and wahoo. I guess that is a fairly big list but that gives us plenty of options during the season, so there is never a dull moment.

Trolling is one option we use to catch pelagics, but live baiting is by far the best method. Taking the time to look for live baits

around the inner reef systems like the Gneering, Murphys and Currimundi reefs will give you rewards beyond expectations. Cobia and other pelagics just love a nice piece of live candy at the end of the line.

The summer months also bring a good run of tuna and when the different varieties arrive it’s all systems go.

Small chrome metal slugs usually around the 20-30g will do the trick. Some slugs should be rigged with wire because the mackerel schools that feed with the tuna can quickly bust you up but normally a simple 60cm trace of mono or fluorocarbon will do the trick. I get a lot of questions on whether or not to tie the line right up on the slug

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by using a blood knot or to use a loop knot. Either will work, but I like the more natural look that a loop knot provides. Obviously you can’t tie a loop knot with wire so you will need to get a hold of some Graphite Metal knotable leader. This is simply knotable wire, which allows you to tie most knots, but it is expensive.

Prior to the season, you will need to ensure you do some maintenance by checking your knots on the lures, sharpening hooks and replacing parts that are rusty.

Wide Caloundra is one of the better spots to chase the bigger wahoo, mackerel, cobia and a number of reef species including pearl perch, snapper and parrot.

There is deeper water areas including the Barwon Banks, which is situated 35km east-northeast of Mooloolaba. This is an extensive reef system that runs for kilometres both north and south, offering many different areas that can hold target species and plenty of surprises.

For those who don’t want to travel so far you have plenty of options within the closer systems including the Caloundra 7 and 12 Mile reefs, Currimundi, Murphys and other smaller reefs.

They offer much better night fishing but hold pelagics and live bait schools so they are worth a look throughout the days.

Land-based anglers can still get amongst the fun from vantage points like the Mooloolaba rock walls or along the many beaches and estuary landmarks that the Sunshine Coast has to offer.

Other anglers choose to use kayaks to troll around Point Cartwright and the Gneering Shoals, which are very close to Mooloolaba Harbour.

Flathead are now around in good numbers throughout the estuary systems and when your lures or bait are not enticing them you can always fish for a few summer whiting topping off your day with some of the best eating fish around.

Mangrove jack are another fantastic hardfighting species that can be targeted around bridge pylons, jetties, mangroves and rocky areas. Live poddy mullet or prawns make a top bait for these brutes but if all else fails, a strip of fish will do the trick.

Currimundi Lake has plenty of undersized bream around and up near the mouth of the lake the whiting can be caught using yabbies, worms or prawns. Structure is the best place to search for fish when things go a little quiet throughout the day. Other top spots include Kawana Island, McKenzie’s Bridge and Pelican Waters Canals.

Cobia will be providing plenty of excitement this summer. like 2.5” grubs or vibes around this area but others fish successfully with bait.

Military Jetty is adjacent to the entrance of Pelican Waters and remains a very popular spot to take the kids or enjoy an evening fishing the deeper channel areas for whatever may be around at the time.

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The photochromic lenses will vary the amount of light coming in depending on the available sunlight conditions making them useful for mixed light scenarios. This ability means they are often able to allow an extra hour or two of wearing polarised glasses and reducing glare.

Pelican Waters offers a great variety of fishing options but generally lure fishing for bream around and under the many pontoons, structures and rock walls is the safest bet. Mulloway, flathead, trevally, queenfish and a stack of other species can be taken and are easily reached by boat or land. I prefer smaller soft plastics

Normally areas like these give up live bait like herring and these make excellent bait for large flathead and other big predators.

The Pumicestone Passage has many spots that allow you to gather bait and catch plenty of different fish species.

Happy Valley and the Caloundra Bar area is a deep water and very strong tidal

spot and usually can only be fished successfully in the brief period when the change of the tide takes place. Large trevally and big pelagic species frequent this area but they are well fed and it can be difficult to get them to bite. Fishing is supposed to be about patience and this is a spot where you will need it.

Tarwhine and bream are always around the leading edges of the Boardwalk area and under it there seems to be a good number of estuary cod that use the sheltered rocky area to call home on the higher tides. It is a perfect spot to ambush bait so it makes sense for them to be there.

Beach fishers can target bread and butter species from Kings Beach right through to Noosa North Shore with pipis, prawns and fish fillets making great baits.

Offshore this month, keep a rig set up to cast at tuna when they surface to feed and remember that live bait will catch you plenty of pelagics when they are around. Look for feeding schools and remember the key to pelagic fishing, always look for the birds. Have Fun!

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Still seeing red in November NOOSA

Peter Wells

As we come into the summer months the Sunshine Coast is one of the most exciting places to wet a line, with a range of options for rivers and estuaries, offshore and beach fishing.

OFFSHORE As the water temperature rises with the warmer weather, this will see the arrival of the pelagic species like mackerel, spotted and Spanish, large school of mac tuna and longtail tuna. These speedy fish are often seen crashing through schools of baitfish on the surface and are great fun

on light gear! Keep a look out for bird activity, as this is a sure sign that pelagics are feeding on bait schools from underneath and forcing the bait to the surface, which excites the birds. One handy tool to really help you find these fish is a pair of binoculars; scanning the horizon for flocks of birds gives good perspective

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of what is going on under the surface. Once you stumble upon a school of bait, slugs are the way to go. A long cast and fast retrieve will work well with the key to success being to match the bait size. It’s a good idea to have a good array of slugs in a range of colours and sizes when chasing the pelagics. Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa carries a great range of the Arma slugs, which are equipped with good hooks and are perfect for the job. To check out the range call in and see the crew and they will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

Often accompanying the tuna are spotted and Spanish mackerel and it pays to troll a few lures around in between spots as these speedy fish love nothing more than a shiny, flashy trolled hardbodied lure.

One little trick to make finding these mackerel easier is to troll a spread of lures at various depths, as it covers more of the water column, which will cover more ground.

For the bottom bouncers, coral trout have already started to come on the chew and the good news is that the hotter it gets, the more common these tasty table fish become! Sunshine, North, Murphys and both the inner and outer Gneerings reefs are all possible places to snag a trout. Coral trout are extremely aggressive feeders, and will tend to ambush their prey so they hit hard and fast, quickly returning to their reefy homes, often snagging unwary anglers. Make sure

Jack Beeson caught and released this 75cm flathead at the river mouth.

The low light periods are by far the most productive when it comes to targeting jack.

The upper Maroochy River and the area between the lakes in the upper reaches of the Noosa River are already producing some nice red devils. The hotter inclement weather really fires these fish up and the fish feed harder and more aggressively. Trolling hardbodied lures around the entrance to creeks is a very popular way to target these fish; we’ve found that the River2Sea Live Minnow is one of the most productive lures when trolling.

Whiting are also really active this time of the year.

This sort-after table fish have been thick around Frying Pan in the Noosa River, and the Black Banks in the Maroochy

around the Sunshine Coast is always popular with the family.

As the long Christmas break approaches, why not plan a trip with the family? Noosa’s North Shore is one of the most popular beach destinations out there and getting there only requires a short barge ride across the Noosa River!

If you have a 4x4, the stretch of beach from the Red Dunes to Double Island Point is an excellent destination and is very productive for whiting, flathead, tailor and of course the one everybody wants, mulloway! Probably the most productive time for mulloway is the wee small hours of the morning. A high or incoming tide is perfect, large bait like sides of mullet and whole squid and good strong leaders, these will help with the fight.

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Craig Hackett won this week’s $50 Davo’s Fish of the Week prize with this 7.5kg knobby from North Reef. your drag is tight and you are using good strong leader. Give the Galas FC a go, this is a fluorocarbon leader and offers more abrasion resistance.

For all things offshore come in and see our resident offshore expert ‘Chicko’ he will be more than happy to point you in right direction on all things trout!

RIVERS Mangrove jack are now in good numbers, with some nice fish being caught in the evenings and early morning.

River. Live yabbies and cured worms are a couple of the popular baits, and surface lures have taken their fair share of fish. Some great lures for fishing the sand flats are the River2Sea Skinny Dogs, these lures are a great match for the prawns that the whiting love to snack on. They come in a good range of colours and sizes and their shape allows for long casts, which can be used to cover lots of water.

BEACHES Fishing the beaches

• Next time you decide to venture to the Sunshine Coast or you’re a local and you want to learn more, be sure to come into either Davo’s Tackle World in Noosa or Davo’s Marcoola and we’ll help you out with all the local knowledge you will need! If you’re after up to date fishing and bar reports along with plenty of pictures and videos, www.fishingnoosa.com.au is the ultimate website devoted to the Sunshine Coast! Tight lines and bent spines!

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If history repeats itself RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

We’ve been lucky enough to get a solid break in the weather, which in turn allowed for a good run of charters.

OFFSHORE We have enjoyed some beautiful glass-out conditions on several of our trips offshore.

Most days we have started off fishing in close where we have gotten onto some great runs of pearl perch and snapper with a couple of bag-outs of pearlies early. Both the pearlies and snapper

have been excited by an assortment of Z-Man soft plastics, which we are having great success on.

A lot of quality tusk fish have been on the chew, particularly on our eastern grounds and lots of hussar and Moses perch have also been a welcome addition to the esky and are plentiful in the wider country at this time of year.

Red emperor have been a little slow, but have been of great quality.

It’s been great to see quite a few girls come aboard for a day of reef fishing. They have been well and truly keeping

up with the boys and having a blast.

Last November was, quite amazingly, the best I’ve ever experienced.

Big red emperor and snapper were landed throughout the month and the weather was pretty good too.

Fingers-crossed for a repeat of last November, which should really be something to look forward to.

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

Tom with a top quality red emperor caught aboard the Keely Rose.

All set for a cracking Hervey Bay tournament HERVEY BAY

Scott Bradley marlin81@bigpond.com

What a cracker year for weather we are having here in the bay with so many weekends of 5-10 variables and the Labour day long weekend a glass-out! Let’s hope it continues!

Our estuaries have been a popular option with heaps of boats out chasing bread and butter species. Bream are still taking baits and smashing lures, summer whiting numbers are improving and our flathead fisheries just keep getting better. The numbers of bigger fish over 60cm around at the moment is amazing, so keep your trace on the heavier side (15lb+) to stay connected.

Les Dudley with a good cod caught on a top day of fishing.

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Threadfin are really starting to fire with good fish being caught in the Burrum, Mary and Susan rivers In the Sandy Straits a few jack have also been on the chew.

ON THE REEF Locally, the usual mixed bags of coral bream, blackall, parrot, juvenile snapper and cod have been common catches. Blue parrot are a prime target over the summer and crabs are the number one bait so if you get hold of some, you’re giving yourself the best chance to catch one.

Out wider, the gutters and coral patch have copped a flogging on some weekends and even with so many boats around, a few good fish have been caught.

Red emperor, trout, coral bream, cod and parrot have been among the better catches and

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masses of rosy job fish have kept the kids busy and the bait supply down.

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41

Fraser Coast Picnics FRASER COAST

Phil James p_j_james@bigpond.com

Two small rocky islands just south of Woody Island and 11km from the Urangan boat harbour, The Picnics, offer a very wide selection of fishing experiences.

If you are looking for them on a map or chart you might see them labelled the Duck Islets, or Duck and Picnic islands. Both are lined by rocky ledges and are connected by a shallow ridge.

If launching at Urangan, the most reliable route is around the northern and eastern shores of Woody Island taking particular care at its southern end. Alternatively, a fairly direct route across the shallows on the western side of Woody Island is possible at the higher stages of the tide. You need to keep to the eastern side of a line between the harbour and The Picnics as it is a slow zone to its west. Experience is the key to knowing when the tide is high enough to go this way. It’s easy to become stranded in there on a fast falling tide. Launching at River Heads is another alternative. The islands can be reached by following the standard navigation marks, or by taking a more direct route through narrow gutters in the shallows.

The position and shape of the islands produces a natural barrier to the march of both

incoming and outgoing tides.

The rush of water as it climbs over the ridge between the islands on big tides is quite spectacular. The ends of both islands experience strong rips, eddies and backwaters. The northernmost island (Little Picnic) is separated from vast shallow banks by a narrow channel. Its eastern shore drops into shallows of rock and living

some of the most productive spots are very close to the green zone boundary, I have included the GPS marks for them here. I understand there are no ‘grey’ areas around zone boundaries as far as marine park rangers are concerned.

Baitfish are usually in abundance around The Picnics and if live baiting is the go, then jigging up a few herring,

GREEN ZONE BOUNDARIES (Clockwise from northern end of island) 25° 21.100min S; 153° 00.200min E 25° 21.400min S; 153° 00.400min E 25° 21.600min S; 152° 59.800min E reef. The southern end of this narrow island, complete with stunted mangroves, covers on the higher tides.

Big Picnic is high enough to support mainland trees and other vegetation. An unoccupied dwelling can still be seen here, oyster farmers tending leases on both islands originally used it. The eastern side of this island drops through a series of ledges into up to 7m of water. The western side of Big Picnic borders large sand flats extending towards River Heads. A small triangular green zone covering the western side of the island extends towards River Heads (see map). It just so happens that what used to be one of the best spots in the bay to catch large sand whiting, is now well within the green zone. As

scad or yellowtail pike is seldom a problem. Herring and hardiheads are also there for the cast netter. We could once pump yabbies in the now green zone, but banks a little further afield hold plenty. Bait fishing certainly maintains its place for many of the species but artificial offerings are proving more than equal to the task.

Tidal ranges are significant, more for some species than others. Spring tides produce stronger currents around the island corners with distinct current lines and eddies. Neap tides make for much quieter conditions.

For most of the species I prefer a spring tide or one a few days off. A very high spring or king tide can be almost impossible to fish, particularly using sight

Here we can see the northern end of Big Picnic and its strong tidal rips. dependent lures as the extreme currents stir up surrounding shallows and make the water very dirty. Some of the species I am interested in are still worth chasing on neap tides but these are the exception.

The of the target species found around the picnics can include golden trevally, GT and a number of smaller relatives.

As the predators are on the lookout for baitfish coming across the ridge, they are easy

Urangan Boat Harbour

line forms on the southern end of the small island on the flood tide. Soft plastics work well in these situations, but bait continues to be the most productive.

Hardiheads, herring, cut baits, half pilchards and large yabbies all see plenty of use.

Of the reef species, grassy sweetlip is most frequently taken, but Moses perch, cod and the occasional trout are also available. The Picnics are

is a reasonable run in the tide.

From the northern end of the big island for about 200m is my second pick for bream. My first is along the western side of the small island, particularly for night fishing.

With the green zone in place, access to one of the bay’s best whiting spots is no longer. It is still possible to pick up some good fish in the channel on the western side if the small island, fishing

Round Island

WOODY ISLAND Scale 500 metres

Little Picnic

SHALLOWS

Shallows The Rip

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Deep Hole

Big Picnic

Green Zone Boundaries

Shallows and Dry Banks

The northwest corner of Big Picnic Island is a very fishy looking spot. All manor of reef and pelagic species can be taken here.

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pickings for poppers and other surface lures. Most are taken over the deep hole or along the edges if the eddies. As well as the trevally, queenfish and giant herring often produce some excitement. Golden trevally are also taken on bait, with large yabbies at the top of the list.

School mackerel are often taken in and around the deep hole while Spaniards are often targeted in the hole and in the deep water north of the small island using live yellowtail pike, while metals and WA pilchards account for the spotties and school mackerel.

Most of the common shallow reef species are also available. The eastern sides of both islands fish well, particularly in early mornings.

A flood tide works best with reasonable currents. On an ebb tide, particularly an energetic one, the eddies along the line separating the fast water and the backwater produce some excellent fishing for reef species. A similar current

The PICNICS (see enlargement)

not known for too many large snapper, in fact the smaller and undersized juvenile snapper can be a nuisance!

During the cooler months it isn’t too difficult to pick up a bag limit of fish in the 40-45 cm range. Blackall are not as common here as they are in most of the bay’s other shallow reefs. Unfortunately, greasiest (purple tusk fish) can be in plague proportions here and most do not make the 30cm limit. The closely related bluey (black spot tusk fish) is a likely catch in the shallows but by far the best tactic is to fish into the ridge between the islands on a fairly lazy ebb tide. Of course, rock crabs are almost mandatory for success.

During the winter months, The Picnics provide suitable feeding and spawning grounds for bream. Not surprisingly, best catches are made at night but they are still well worth the effort during daylight hours. It is most important to anchor up as close to the shore as possible where there

towards the shallow banks.

Diver whiting are also taken here but there are much more reliable grounds on the way down from the harbour.

Flathead are in fairly good numbers around the islands.

The best spots, inside the points on the big island, are out of bounds but they are worth targeting among the rocks on the western side of the small island. Tailor used to be very plentiful around the islands, but these days we see a few working along the eastern side of the small island during the winter months.

The ideas I have put forward here are based on the experiences of fishing The Picnics regularly for many years. I have to admit that in all the grounds that I fish in Hervey Bay, this is my easily my favourite. I hope it helps you to find a few fish there.

• Apologies to our readers but last month we made an error by publishing the Picnics map a month early. Sorry for the confusion. – Ed

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Big jack month is finally here!

BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

It’s finally here, my favourite month of the year.

I’ve been calling November ‘brown jocks month’ for over a decade now in these hallowed pages of the QFM and although Mr Booth no longer edits the mag he certainly has in the past and will in the future experience a brown jock month in Bundaberg.

For those who are scratching their head wondering what I am talking about, I am talking mangrove jack, big mangrove jack. Yes, November has produced more big jacks for me than any other month of the year and fishing for them can be very scary, hence, you wear your brown jocks.

To me there is nothing better than being on the water as the sun rises. The water is like a mirror only disturbed by the movement of panicked baitfish and flighty mullet.

A Halco Roosta Popper saw the undoing of this red devil from the Baffle. Long casts into faster running water around snags will surely get you tight with one of these toothy critters!

Sending a cast along a rock ledge or tight into the back of a snag then working your lure back with spits and pauses just waiting in anticipation for that instant mayhem when a big jack intercepts your lure.

In an instant, the red devil has turned and is heading at warp speed back to the structure you teased him out of – things of dreams and nightmares. Sometimes you loose, embarrassingly, but sometimes you win and when you get to see the flanks of a magnificent big red beast come alongside the boat, all the early mornings and countless casts disappear and are replaced with an overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. And even before you have taken a photo and released it, your one focus, your one goal is to do it again and if this is you then you really are a jack addict like me.

THE MIGHTY BAFFLE The Baffle is where I will be heading predominantly this month in search of the big jacks, they have started moving around the system and will be spread out harassing the schools of mullet and other baitfish. Although the bigger jacks are generally caught around the rock bars in the Baffle, the sharp rise in water temperature sees them show up

in all sorts of places. Last year, I caught a few 50cm models on surface lures hunting in the back sand islands in only a foot or so of water, which is very exciting stuff.

My tips are to look for moving water. It sounds so basic and the Baffles tide can just meander in or out but if you look on bends or around the points of islands for faster water, that’s where they will be hunting, even in the middle of the day. November will see jacks station themselves in very shallow water on the smallest of snags, so I find long casts with either a Cultiva Zipping Ziggy or a Berkley Frenzy Popper will draw them out.

Mangrove jack are my number one species to target and I’ve been fishing for them around Bundaberg for over 20 years. I have found that every creek in our area has jacks in it, bar none. The only thing that has to be worked out is where in the system they are at the time you are fishing and what are they going to bite on while you’re there.

Firstly, I am a firm believer that you can’t make a lure that won’t catch a fish, but there are lures that will be more consistent, be better quality and retain their original

Getting the kids addicted is a sure fire way to get more fishing time with the family. action. I am a bit old school when it comes to jack fishing, but I do try to learn new techniques when I need to and I am always testing new lures for different actions. But as with most anglers my time, on the water is precious and I don’t want to waste it, so I arm myself with a range of lures that will cover me from top to bottom. I always have up to 5 rods rigged in the boat that will cover all my immediate needs; a surface

lure, soft plastic, shallow diving hardbodied lure, deep diving hardbodied lure and a sinking vibe or blade. With these rigged, I get to select instantly what I want to use as I cruise along a bank not having to waste time.

I hope this gets you inspired to get out this month and tangle with a big red devil, but be careful, it is very addictive and, of course, don’t forget to wear your brown jocks.

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Brisbane River barra FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We love publishing stories about weird and wonderful catches that happen across the state, and very rarely, someone on Fishing Monthly staff participates in these events.

So it was on an early morning in October when Shane Wolhuter and I fished the Port of Brisbane to tag a threadfin salmon or two. I’d met Shane when I drew him as a non-boater at an ABT BREAM event on the Tweed River a few years ago and we’d done a few trips over the years for snapper on the river.

Shane’s done a lot of time at the Port and knows the place like the back of his hand.

And since I’ve been in between cars and boats for a while now, I always jump at the opportunity to be taken fishing by someone who really knows his stuff.

In fact, Shane markets his own brand of ‘Shads Lures’ that are tailored to this exact fishery (www.shadslures.com).

As such, for me, each trip is a tutorial about how to get the most out of these baits in 40 and 50 feet of water. I’m no expert at it and am all ears when Shane tells me how to do it.

Anyway, after tagging a couple of sub-metre threadfin, we moved to a community-hole at the mouth of Boggy Creek.

In quick time, Shane hooked a sizeable fish, which ran him into a nearby set of poles and shredded the light leader he was using.

Soon after, I lobbed a long cast at some pylons and lay the line of the water to help the lure

Here’s the 110cm Port of Brisbane barra.

GEAR Lure:....................... Shads 30g Jew Candy in red gill Rod:............................................Daiwa Steez Harrier Reel:....................... 13 Fishing Concept A baitcaster Line:.......................................................... 20lb Braid Leader:.................................................60lb Penn10X As I tightened the drag (which was loosened at the end of the battle with the previous threadfin), the fish jumped. So I didn’t see it. Shane did.

“That’s a bloody big threadfin,” he said, after watching the fish come half out of the water.

It was lucky I was using 60lb leader, as the fish fought long and hard with the bait lodged in the corner of

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Steve Rigg landed this 92cm fish in the Brisbane River in early 2014. sink. It was a 30g Shads Jew Candy – quite a heavy bait.

After several seconds, I noticed the lure wasn’t sinking.

Assuming it had snagged on the pylon, I reeled in the slack and tried to free it with a flick of the rod.

That’s when things started getting serious.

Obviously, the barra had sucked the bait in on the drop and sat there chewing on it until my incredible reflexes kicked in 10 seconds later.

his mouth.

Close to the boat, the fish flashed silver, at which point we thought ‘big mulloway’.

Wrong.

As the fish slid into the net we both yelled ‘barra’ and after cradling it into the boat, wrapped into the net, gave the obligatory high-five.

From there on, Shane filmed some footage on using an iPhone and a head-torch, for it’s not every day you catch a barra in SEQ – let alone

a big girl. The QR code to link to the YouTube video is scannable hereby.

Tag V55208 now sits in her shoulder – so if you catch her again, record the details and call the 1800 number!

SEQ BARRA EXIST SEQ barramundi are more common than you think. There probably aren’t too many anglers that would succeed when you challenged them to produce one on demand, but the Coomera, Logan, Brisbane and Caboolture Rivers as well as the Pumicestone Passage yield barra by-catch every year.

Brisbane River angler, Steve Rigg landed one in the Brisbane River earlier in 2014 – with the fish measuring in the early 90s.

Trawling through the Fishing Monthly Bulletin Boards there’s images posted of Port of Brisbane barra in 2009 – that fish was also in the 90s.

And, of course, as soon as we publish this, the captures will come out of the woodwork.

Let us know about them!

QR CODE

Scan this QR Code to see the video.

NOVEMBER 2014

47

Barra available on the paddle LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

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

Over the last month, the fishing has been tough but still encouraging. Due to unseasonal weather patterns, with wind directions shifting on a frequent basis, it has been a later start to the season than anticipated.

There have still been small windows of opportunity where the wind has stabilised to a constant and the bites have come thick and fast resulting in many barra being boated.

As the weather warms up, November traditionally offers good trolling and casting opportunities in the main basin and its adjoining bays and points. This month is the official start of the barramundi breeding season, therefore we should see big females making their way down from the upper reaches to feed at the dam wall end off the lake. When trolling or casting

around the edges of the main basin, concentrate your efforts around SDA and Bird bays and Bass Strait while keeping a sharp eye on your sounder to determine where the barra may be holding up. Normally, significant underwater ridges, drop-offs and shallow bays will produce the majority of feeding barra. Once they are found, it’s then just a matter of encouraging these fish to bite by repeating your troll course or casting over the desired area.

In deep water, for best trolling results use hardbodied lures in the 4-5m depth range like the RMG Scorpions, Predatek Vipers and Barra Classics. In the shallow bays and points I recommend using 1m diving lures like the Predatek Sand Viper, B52s, Jackall Squirrels and Smash Minnows.

EASY PADDLING This time of year presents itself with great opportunities for kayak anglers to take

Holly from Brisbane with her first barra that measured 82cm. advantage of a short paddle to good fishing areas within the basin. The stealth-like approach of a kayak can prove to be very successful.

This has been the case in the past with Monduran’s own world record barra landed from a kayak no more than 200m from the parks boat ramp. Slow trolled soft

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Rod from Tweed Heads was very pleased with his 95cm barra taken casting lures.

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pastics that work well are the Pro Range Slik Rigs 110 and 130 and Z-Man SwimmerZ in the 4-6” range.

Kayaking is also a great way to explore Lake Monaduran’s beauty and its local wildlife.

Please take note that the closed season for barramundi starts from 1 November for all coastal rivers and estuaries.

For all stocked impoundments throughout Queensland the bag limit is dropped to one barra in possession per person (we encourage catch and release).

Stocked impoundment permits are also required and are available for purchase from Lake Monduran Holiday Park Reception.

• Guidelines Fishing Charters operates from Lake Monduran Holiday Park, which makes us very up to date when it comes to where the barra are biting. You can book by calling (07) 4157 3881 or 0410 599 147. Accommodation can also be booked using the above contact phone numbers or by emailing info@lakem.com.au

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Richard Ramm with his first saratoga from Borumba Dam on a recent camping trip.

The weather warms up for springtime jack GLADSTONE

Craige Floyd

Two months of spring has now past and it’s really starting to heat up, with the days getting longer and water temperatures rising.

Add the humidity and the barra closed season and it’s jack time!

Around the region the weather and sea conditions have not been too bad with a lot of people making it to the reefs out wide with captures

of 10kg+ red emperor, pearl perch, red-throat emperor, tusk fish and hussar all making it to the boat.

In closer to shore, juvenile marlin have showed up with a couple being bagged throughout the month. There have been plenty of Spanish mackerel and mac tuna being caught, trolling lures between the fairway markers to the shipping pilot area seems to be the method of choice.

In the harbour, Manning Reef has been producing bream, grunter and cod.

All have been taking fresh flesh baits.

Heading up towards the narrows, Ramsay Crossing has produced a few good catches of bream and mangrove jack.

The Boyne River has turned out the odd mangrove jack and some sizable bream up to 35cm.

Heading further south to Turkey Beach, reports have come in of numerous flathead up to 65cm and good numbers of salmon have also been caught, some of which

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were unstoppable on the flathead gear. Soft plastics were the lure of choice with the Squidgy Slick Rig accounting for much of the action.

Closed seasons are upon us once again, as per DPI fisheries it states, “Throughout the Queensland east coast, a closed season applies to barramundi from midday 1 November 2014 to midday 1 February 2015.

This includes the fresh water reaches of the Boyne River below the dam wall and up the Calliope River. You’re not allowed to be in possession of them or target them as this can interrupt their spawning period.” Fisheries patrols are conducted up around Pikes Crossing so it’s best to do the right thing and leave the barra alone.

If you’ve got the itch to chase a barra over the closed season you can hit Lake Awoonga. Although the dam has received little attention since the floods resulting in barely any reports, the local stocking group has released over 1 million barra fingerlings back into the lake within the last 2 years and over 4 million barra since stocking begun back in 1981. For more

information regarding fish stocking in Lake Awoonga, visit www.gawb.qld.gov.au/ fish-hatchery.

If you’re a freshwater river fishing fanatic like myself who likes to get up in the skinny snag-riddled water, there are options available to you. Just because it’s barra closed season, doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy fishing these surroundings. There are other species you can

target such as mangrove jack, bream and someone recently landed a 52cm sooty grunter, which is unheard of in this part of the world.

Another option is to downsize to lighter gear and bust out the small 50mm surface lures to chase the tarpon. They are one entertaining and challenging little fish to pursue, as you tend to lose more than what you land.

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49

Fun on the light tackle ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

Large tides have made for some great fishing along with the warmer days recently. The cooler nights have still kept some of the larger winter species around and the temperature in the water is still fairly chilled.

Congratulations to Craig Griffiths and Daniel Powell for 1st and 2nd place

champion anglers in the recent Rockhampton Barra Bounty. Craig led with 26, 160 points while Dan held close with 19, 290.

FITZROY AND THE NARROWS With 1 November upon us, closed season now applies to barra, however, it doesn’t mean you still can’t get out for a lure fishing session to target the many jacks, blue salmon and threadfin salmon in the river, not to mention the large bream and grunter up in the narrows.

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The river temperature is still fairly cool, great for blue and king salmon and the recent doses of freshwater into the system have really got the prawns up and going!

Typical estuary lures selling in high demand in stores are all pulling fish, especially the blade market with hardbody and soft body blades, but the hundreds of new prawn imitation lures are also working just as well. The recent barra competition in the Fitzroy saw many large species caught but an overall average length of 70-80cm.

Some absolute ripper fish were caught in the bounty with 1.25m topping the board and a 96cm threadfin salmon topping the king threadfin board.

RIVER MOUTHS, CREEKS AND THE BEACHES The estuaries are always loaded with fish this time of year during the transition of winter to summer, especially with the cool nights upon us.

Many people are catching a lot of bream among the snags, flathead along the drop-offs and a lot of tarpon and cod around the systems lately. Like the Fitzroy, the creeks around the area have a decent amount of prawns

A nice bream taken by Connor on a Z-Man GrubZ 2.5”. moving around the area making the prawn imitation plastics the way to go.

In the channels through the estuaries and beach gutters there have been a lot of activity from blue salmon and trevally, which are very fun sports fish that can be targeted by using lures or baits. With the price on graphite rod and reel combos, especially sale prices leading into Christmas, it is highly recommended to grab a nice 2-4kg combo for some estuary luring using soft plastics and hardbodied lures. A decent 7ft 2-4kg combo will let you target the majority of estuary species from bream and whiting through to large salmon and grunter. The sensitivity that is gained from using a graphite rod, especially when coupled with braid, can give you the edge you

freshwater areas around the Rockhampton region hold some of Queensland’s most iconic species.

Glenn with a nice grunter from Corio Bay. This species will thicken in numbers in the Narrows and in our creeks.

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need when using lures of bait. Even the smallest of bites from a whiting will be transmitted through the braid and rod. Connor from CQ Fishing and Boating has certainly been putting a similar combo to the test, catching a variety of species on light gear, mainly around Corio Bay, but this type of gear can be used anywhere!

FRESHWATER LAGOONS The freshwater lagoons around the area have plenty of activity this time of year and many of the accessible

small tight action out of them requires a nice light graphite combo.

Tarpon are a species you

Surface and sub-surface lures that mimic insects are a go-to this time of year, as the sheer amount of moths around at the moment is amazing. A nice walkthe-dog action on a small popper mimics an action of a moth that has landed on the water pretty well and will attract just about every species. That with the perfectly balanced but not overly pricey 2-4kg graphite combo recommended for the estuaries is exactly what you want for this area. Casting light lures and getting the

will come to grips with when fishing in the freshwater lagoons around the area, there are hundreds of them in our lagoons. They hit pretty hard, jump a lot and just make surface fishing that much more enjoyable.

They don’t fight as hard as a barramundi, but the sheer number you can catch per session makes up for that!

CRABBING If you’re wanting to catch a crab or two, the best bait lately is mullet head with catfish coming a close second. Fortunately, mullet head can be bought from anywhere and take no time at all to rig a pot up with them. A simple bait clip between the eyes and the mullet head is good to go.

The rules still apply with a maximum of 4 pots per person with the pots and floats needing to be labelled. Label kits can be picked up for next to nothing and come with a waterproof marker, labels and zip ties. Do the right thing when out crabbing to preserve this fishery for future generations.

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Dam good fishing in CQ! MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

The saltwater barra are now off limits until 1 February next year and if the barra bite up to now is anything to go by, then after the opening things should really kick off.

Of course for the barra addicts, we are fortunate to have 3 very healthy dams stocked with metre-plus barra in our area, Eungella, Kinchant and Teemburra and they all produce class fishing.

For those addicts who are yet to try the dams, I can only recommend you do so asap, as the barra are on the

chew and fit and feisty with the warm weather we have had. There’s nothing like 26°C+ water temperatures to get them moving big time.

For the lure or fly angler, the same lures, flies and tactics work just as well in the dams as in the saltwater, as barra are creatures of habit and can be found in very similar areas in both habitats. For the bait angler, I suggest this is a good period to hone your skills on lure fishing, as the dam barra are very cooperative.

A chat to the staff in the local tackle shops will set you on the right path and with the right lures.

Plastics are the go at present, with large Squidgies, Hollow Bellies

and Ripple Shads all accounting for good fish.

Others to have in your kit include Reidy’s, Tsunami Lures, Rapalas, Z-Mans and Tropic Angler lures in the paddle-tail range and with a variety of colours. Again, tackle shop staff will show you ‘the lures’ and how to rig them. Don’t forget to get some frogs, both hard and soft legs. My favourite frog is the Z-Man Popzfrog in any colour as they are very versatile and can be worked in an around some pretty thick weeds and lilies.

Go looking for the dam barra around prominent points and all the dams are full or near full. Find a good point with some weedbeds, lay down logs or

Geoff Newby from Mackay Tournament Anglers had to work hard to horse this 1m barra from around the timber in the background. Geoff used a black and gold Squidgy Slick Rig slow rolled among the trees to get the hook up.

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X-Raps, Gold Bombers, C-lures, Koolabungs and Gaden Classics. Most of these lures are up around $15 or more each, and so a pig-tail style retriever is invaluable and will save you many times its buying price, so another must have! Don’t forget a landing net with a big mouth and preferably no knots in the mesh.

is overkill on even big barra.

Mainlines around 25-30lb will confidently handle any barra in the dams and a good quality fluorocarbon leader of 30-40lb will stand the treatment dished out. Always check the leader after each fish or snag for damage.

With the focus on barra in the dams, the sooties will also get in on the act and are

So if you feel like a change from the fresh stuff, what can be expected on the briny? First and perhaps the easiest to access are the small macks. Our waters are loaded with them but many are undersized and must be returned. Fortunately the southern break wall is open on weekends for shorebased anglers and it is a

good spot to soak a pilly or hurl out a shiney.

Boaties have almost unlimited choices to chase these fish and places like the Seaforth Islands, Slade, Flat and Round Top islands will all produce as will the areas around the coal loaders. Once again, talk to the tackle shop guys for the best info. I have covered chasing these fish in recent issues so check them out for more info on spots, lures and techniques.

For the creek angler, November has plenty of warm water action with jacks, golden snapper, threadies and cod being the main targets. Flathead bream, whiting, blue salmon, steel backs, juvenile queenies and trevally will also appear regularly as by-catch and all will give a good account on reasonably light gear.

Keep an eye out for crocs as it is the breeding season. The box jellyfish poses the other very real danger. Don’t put yourself at risk, and carry some white vinegar for the jelly stings. Remember they are often fatal.

Some good spots during November include the harbour walls, beaches near creek or river mouths, the creeks themselves or the dams. My picks for November are around the harbour for macks the mouth of the river for some dart, and queenies and Murray and Constant creeks for creek action. For the dams I can’t go past Teemburra for its peace and beauty but Kinchant is home to our biggest barra.

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Sooties are also getting in on the madness and this chunky specimen fell to a seductively worked fly.

Don’t forget to have a good selection of surface lures as well. Barra respond to fizzers, blooping style poppers, walk-the-dog style lures and surface fished plastics. Take your time on the retrieve and work the lure creatively.

Many anglers load up reels with 50lb braid, but this

happy to smash big barra lures if they come close enough. The sooties will respond to all types of lures above as well as spinnerbaits, which at times are the most reliable fish catchers. Look for sooties in the heaviest, gnarliest timbers you can find and get your lure right in there and hang on!

QX064

old stumps and you are in the right areas.

STOP and work an area really well as barra that are hanging deeper will eventually come up into the shallower points to feed and that is when you want to be there. Daylight, sundown and a few hours either side are the best times, but a check of one of the lunar-based tables that give peak times will also help out taking localised conditions into account first. For example, if the peak time coincides with a howling 25 knot wind, rain and inflowing cold water, don’t expect the fish to know it is supposed to be a peak period.

Barra will range through the timbers too, but getting them out is the problem, for me it’s part of the fun. Keep on the move in water up to about 5m deep and you will come across them sooner or later. I spend a fair amount of time in and around the little bays in Teemburra and find barra in most of them.

In Kinchant, look for the boats and you will see most are working around weed edges or islands and prominent weed points or arms are good spots to target.

At night, barra roam all over Kinchant Dam once the ski boats and jet skis go home.

I have caught them out in over 10m of water, more by accident than intentional tactics though.

There is a large variety of hardbodied lures that work well in this situation, but again I like to stick to the well-known and reputable brands. Must-haves for the tackle box include Reidy’s B52s and smaller brothers, Lucky Craft, Rapala

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New app helps fishers The Fisheries Queensland smart phone app has proved a hit with recreational fishers with more than 5000 downloads recorded since its launch last month.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh said the initial uptake of the app was great news and would lead to reduced confusion over fishing rules and improved fisheries compliance.

“The ‘Qld Fishing’ app was developed to provide fishers in Queensland with easy to access and up-to-date information on recreational fishing rules and regulations,” Mr McVeigh said.

“It’s like an encyclopaedia of fishing rules in your pocket – the app is available anytime and anywhere.

“The app features

images of approximately 400 fish species with their description and details of the size and possession limits and closed seasons that apply.

“Other functionality includes access to weather and tide information, a personal Angler Diary where you can take a photo of your catch and upload it to Facebook, an illegal fishing activities report form, maps showing stocked impoundments and closure areas, plus much more.”

Mr McVeigh the plan is for this app to be a one-stop-shop for all fishing and boating rules that apply throughout Queensland.

“We want to make things as simple as possible to help fishing and boating enthusiasts to comply with the rules and thereby protect Queensland’s valuable

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fishing resources for future generations,” he said.

The ‘Qld Fishing’ app is available for free download from Apple and Google app stores. A Windows version will be available soon.

For more information on Queensland’s 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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53

Beginners guide to depth sounders PART 1 NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

These days, very few boat fishers venture out in search of angling action without a depth sounder, sonar unit or fish finder fitted to their vessels. Even kayak and canoe enthusiasts are increasingly relying on sonar technology to help find fish. But if you’re one of those people still struggling to interpret what you’re seeing on your sounder’s screen, then read on.

Modern recreational depth sounders evolved from the SONAR (Sound Navigation and Ranging) equipment developed during the First and Second World Wars to help surface ships detect and locate enemy submarines. These technologies have come a long way in a century, and the calibre of entry level sounder available to recreational anglers nowadays would’ve completely amazed those wartime destroyer captains!

Today, very few boat fishers head offshore, or even onto our estuaries,

In this screen image we can see that the bottom is slowly rising as the boat travels along (the freshest part of the scrolling image is at the right). The water is currently around 12m deep under the boat.

There are also half a dozen or more ‘things’ in midwater and they may well be fish. As a bonus, the sounder is telling us that the water is 15.7ºC.

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lakes and rivers, without having some sort of sounder unit on board. These tools are now viewed as an almost essential piece of kit, with base units priced keenly enough to fit almost any budget. Yet I constantly encounter anglers who struggle to make sense of what their sounders are telling them. Hopefully, this series of entry-level columns will help those people.

Without going into all the technical details, sonar works by transmitting sound pulses into the water, then listening for their return as they bounce off objects such as the sea bed, rocks or fish. By measuring the elapsed time between the transmission of the sound pulse and the return of any reflected echoes, a depth sounder can very precisely measure how far away those objects are. Most modern sounders then use this information to illuminate pixels on a screen, providing a graphic interpretation of what lies below.

Modern sounders are incredibly sophisticated and well-developed pieces of equipment. Rather like state-of-the-art cameras and computers, most casual users will only ever explore (or need) about a quarter of the potential power, functions and capabilities of their sounders! In fact, just as with modern pointand-shoot cameras, in the vast majority of cases, these casual users are best served by simply turning the sounder unit on, setting it to auto and letting it do its own thing!

Here’s a very basic, un-tweaked sonar image. It shows the bottom, a little less than 6m below the boat, and a blob of ‘something’ in mid-water, plus some smaller possible scattered targets. The messy blue stuff near the top is just clutter and interference. All we can know for sure from this image is that the water is just under 6m deep, the bottom is pretty flat and that the boat has passed over something reasonably solid in mid-water… but that is actually a lot of information!

So long as it has been installed correctly in the first place and you’ve remembered to switch off the showroom ‘simulator’ mode (a trap for young players!), the sounder should do a perfectly adequate job of telling you how deep the water is under your hull, showing you the basic contour of the bottom, and alerting you to any significant objects in the water column under the boat, all without you ever needing to push another button (except the ‘off’ switch when you get back to the boat ramp).

At the most basic level, which is what most

of us want our sounders to do most of the time: tell us the depth, show us the bottom and give some kind of indication of the presence of any ‘targets’ (which may or may not be fish) between our boat and the seabed.

That’s really about it! So, don’t get carried away or confused by all of the other stuff you read about and see on TV or in DVDs. Start with those basics, study the images (carefully read the captions) and you’ll already be well on the road to better understanding your sonar or depth sounder! Next time we’ll move on to some slightly more advanced stuff.

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Now things are getting interesting… The water here is 5.6m deep (we can see that from the large, numeric readout at top left of screen, and also the hard line separating the yellow section at the bottom of the screen, which is the lake bed, from the rest of the image). But there’s a stack of ‘something’ between the boat and the bottom too, some of it extending up to 2m into the water column. This might be weed, timber, small organisms such as baitfish, or larger fish.

Try to mount your sounder where it’s reasonably easy to see, both while you’re travelling and also while you’re fishing. If you spend a lot of time standing up in the front of the boat while fishing, consider placing the unit there instead of on the console or at the helm — or fit two units if you can afford to.

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BUSHNELL BINOCULARS

Bushnell’s range of optics and gadgets encompasses a vast range of outdoor activities, and the Marine is the latest set of binoculars tailored specifically for boating. Fully fog-proof and waterproof to stand up to the changing conditions on the water, the Marine Binoculars are covered with a durable, non-slip rubber armouring perfect for wet conditions.

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An illuminated compass has been built into the viewing optics and bearings are read out in precise one degree increments, making the Marine the ideal set of binoculars for navigation and locating objects accurately.

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PFLUEGER PATRIARCH XT

Bream and bass anglers take note, Pflueger’s all new 172g Patriarch XT is here and it’s the lightest reel in its class.

The body, rotor and sideplate are constructed from a magnesium alloy to keep the reel ultra light. The skeletonized, braidready spool is a bold approach for improved skirt design and reduces spool weight. The carbon handle with its lightweight EVA knob and carbon fibre core is 21% lighter than other handles. The stem is ported and the spool drag is inlayed with carbon fibre.

Nine shielded, stainless-steel bearings plus an anti-reverse bearing ensure a smooth performance day after day in the salt. Line retrieval is enhanced with the antitwist titanium line roller and solid aluminium wire Sure-Click bail. For added strength the reel features a solid titanium main shaft. The gear ratio is 5.2:1.

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MIMIX POPPERSAURUS

Beautifully designed both in look and action, the Poppersaurus is definitely the ultimate lifelike popper that produces a loud popping sound on the water surface.

The Poppersaurus lure was designed and 100% hand-painted with great details to imitate a T-rex dinosaur. It’s equipped with two sharp and strong treble hooks that make every single Poppersaurus the perfect lure to attract and drive fish into a frenzied feeding mood. It weighs 23.5g and measures 9cm long.

Besides its popping action, the Poppersaurus is also able to produce a ‘pop-walk’ action, so you can easily make small twitches to work it like any other walkthe-dog style surface lure.

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Osprey are luggage experts, and their Transporter Series makes the oncefeared job of hauling luggage incredibly easy.

The Transporter’s sleek, compact design makes it the perfect choice when you need to fit in more than you think. It’s as easy as throwing your gear in the bag, slinging it over your shoulder and chucking it in the boot of your car.

There’s a large U-zip for the main compartment and zippered front and side pockets, allowing for easy access, and the large handle converts to a shoulder harness.

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NOVEMBER 2014

1

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TTS FROGGERZ JNR SPINNERBAIT

The FroggerZ Jnr is the latest spinnerbait release from TT Lures. These frog profile spinnerbaits are built from quality components, loaded with features and are already proving effective on Murray cod, bass, golden perch and saratoga.

Features include a hand sculptured, realistic frog profile with 3D frog eyes and lively, 10X tough Z-Man web-foot frog leg trailer. A HeadlockZ grub keeper ensures your Z-Man, or other soft plastic, trailer stays locked in place and the included stinger hook turns short strikes into hook-ups.

Other quality components include a silicone skirt, matched to the head and trailer colour, chemically sharpened black nickel hook and nickel and 24K gold plated Colorado blades for plenty of flash, vibration and a frog leg thump under the water.

FroggerZ Jnr are available in two weights, 3/8oz and 1/2oz, and nine colours.

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UGLY FISH KRYPTON

Aussie eyewear label Ugly Fish have released the new Krypton range, which combines protection, functionality and comfort.

With maximum UV protection (category 3) and polarised lenses, this range is perfect for anglers. Offering superior optical clarity and extremely high polarising efficiency, the Krypton cuts out glare off the water and helps you make out the light and dark shapes lurking under the surface more clearly.

The lenses are polycarbonate plastic, making them super lightweight and impact resistant, so next time you drop your pair in the tinnie they won’t fall to bits. Combine that with the anti-scratch, anti-reflective and hydrophobic lens coatings, you’ve got yourself a damn good pair of sunnies that won’t leave your head.

Available in smoke, brown or red revo lenses, Kryptons are perfect for those who live hard, play hard and are always out and about.

Price: RRP $149.95 uglyfisheyewear.com/krypton

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FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

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STRIKE PRO CYBER BAIT

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SONY ACTION CAM AS20

Juro Oz Pro Tackle has released a much anticipated new model from Strike Pro, the Cyber Bait.

The Cyber Bait is a floating lure that’s 8.5cm long, weighs 9.8g and dives to approx. 12ft. This new lure has an irresistible swaying action and features a Weight Transfer System to eliminate tumbling during casting and increase casting distance. It’s fitted with quality Owner hooks and has loud in-built rattles for added attraction. It comes in eight colours and is deadly on barramundi, mangrove jack, flathead, salmon, tailor and large trout.

Price: RRP $16.99 www.jurofishing.com

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Sony, manufacturers of the hugely popular Action Cam, have now added a new model to the range: the AS20.

This camera captures clear, noise-free images even in dimly lit environments with the powerful Exmor R CMOS Sensor. You can turn your fast-action adventures into smooth and sharp motion with Full HD recording at 60p/50p and 28Mbps.

You’ll also enjoy clearer images with Steadyshot Image Stabilisation that compensates for any vibrations in motion, enabling smooth blur-free shooting. Scan the QR code on this page to see a video comparison of the Action Cam’s stability vs that of its competitors, or search for ‘stability comparison Action Cam’ on YouTube.

Other features include: capture breathtaking panoramic scenes such as winding trails with the 170° wide angle lens; control up to 5 Action Cams simultaneously with Multi Camera Control, with optional Live-View Remote (this feature enables you to capture scenes from multiple angles); and enjoy up to 150 minutes of recording time with a longer battery life, ensuring more shooting opportunities wherever you go.

Price: $279 www.lustyindustries.com

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ZMAN 5” POP SHADZ

The 5” Pop ShadZ popper is constructed from Z-Man’s buoyant, 10X Tough, supersoft and flexible, ElaZtech material.

With a baitfish profile and cupped face designed to pop and spit water, the Pop ShadZ appeals to barra, cod, jacks, trevally, tuna, mackerel and more. Unlike hard-bodied poppers, Pop ShadZ feel real so the fish continue to strike, even after making contact with the lure.

Rigged weedless on a worm hook or unweighted TTs 6/0 ChinlockZ jighead, the Pop ShadZ will float, allowing you to work the lure quickly across the surface or pause it and pop it. The ability to weedless rig the Pop ShadZ allows you to target the nastiest of timber, weed, lilies and other structure that would be difficult with traditional poppers.

Once a fish strikes, the hook point emerges and hooks the fish.

Pop ShadZ come in eight colours with three per pack.

Price: RRP $11.95 www.z-man.com.au

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VIVA UV TORCH

UV torches can dramatically improve your rate of catch by supercharging your lures. The use of UV when fishing for squid is well known, but there are many other marine dwellers that respond to UV, ranging from smaller fish up to and including the marlin family. It seems that if it swims it loves UV! To a human’s eye UV light is invisible, but to fish UV really stands out. Most lure paint coatings hold material that will be activated by your UV torch. Just turn in on and scan over your lure, giving your lures an extra edge in the water.

At just $14.95 this neat little single battery UV torch will bust open your tackle box in a brilliant display of UV fluorescence. It’s available now from leading tackle retailers.

Price: RRP $14.95 www.vivafishing.com

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FISH ARROW BABY CICADA

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ABU GARCIA REVO 3 BEAST

Last year the 45mm Cover Cicada from Fish Arrow became a favourite with many bass fisherman, and now building on that success comes the release of a small version.

The Fish Arrow Baby Cover Cicada is 35mm in length and weighs 3.5g. This soft bodied cicada imitation is completely weedless, soft and supple, yet tough as well.

It’s perfect for throwing right into thick weeds, lily pads and snags and it’s extremely easy to work. Simply hold the rod at a 45° angle and retrieve the lure. Its soft wings do all the work for you and work the lure in a way that bass and bream just cannot refuse! When not being used in weedy areas, a stinger hook can easily be added to maximise your hookup rate.

The Baby Cover Cicada is available in eight colours. For more information visit the distributor website at www.searingtackle. com.au or call 0404 719 944.

Price: RRP of $19.99 www.searingtackle.com.au

Armed with a 22lb max drag and deeper spool for extra line capacity, the new Abu Garcia Revo Beast will change the way anglers fish.

The reel weighs 266g and is equipped with oversized, ergonomic handles and EVA power knobs to harness the muscle of this powerful reel. Titanium-coated sideplates provide increased scratch resistance.

An X-Cräftic alloy body gives the Beast a durable corrosion-resistant framework to complement the lightweight, well balanced platform. The Carbon Matrix drag system delivers smooth, consistent drag pressure at any drag setting. The Duragear brass main gear and D2 Gear Design extend gear life and maximize performance. The line guide is titanium coated to reduce friction, and the Infini II spool design is super smooth.

There are seven stainless-steel High Performance Corrosion Resistant (HPCR) bearings plus one roller bearing and 7.1-to-1 gear ratio, while the Infini brake adjusts for a variety of lures or wind conditions.

Price: RRP $599 www.purefishing.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

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SLINKY MINNOW 75

Juro Oz Pro Tackle has released the new Strike Pro Slinky Minnow 75, a fantastic new surface slide bait that darts and swims like an injured or fleeing baitfish or prawn.

It floats at rest with its tail underwater at 45° and can be worked with an erratic swimming action, skipped like a fleeing garfish or prawn or can be worked like a traditional diving minnow and even trolled (it runs at around 1m with a superb rolling action). This lure is 75mm long, weighs 4.6g, has Owner ST36BC trebles and comes in seven colours. It’s deadly on bream, estuary perch and bass.

Price: RRP $16.99 www.jurofishing.com

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NEW BIGFISH RANGE

Bigfish has just released their latest prints in time for summer fishing. Muddie is the latest creation, an incredibly detailed illustration that’s a must for every serious crabber. The new snapper design and the camo styled water of the flathead look awesome, and topping off the summer collection is ‘razor gang’ – a Spanish mackerel and wahoo image of these speedsters chasing down a lure.

Keep a lookout for the new speciesspecific Skelefish shirts that will also be released before Christmas: Skelefish snapper and barra.

Every shirt in the Bigfish range is printed, cut and sewn in Australia. They are incredibly soft, cool, lightweight, UPF 50 and made from the highest quality Australian knitted polyester. These shirts are not only stunning to look at, they’re extremely comfortable, stylish and provide superior sun protection.

See the Bigfish website for their entire range of shirts, hats, fish heads, jumpers and package deals.

Price: RRP $89.95 www.bigfishgraphics.com.au

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DAIWA BLACK LABEL

The foundation for the impressive Black Label range is Daiwa’s HVF graphite.

Light, responsive and crisp in action, Black Label blank performance is further enhanced courtesy of X45, 3DX and Bias Wrap Construction blank technologies, delivering a lighter and small diameter blank with enhanced strength. The blank maintains its form when loaded, allowing the rod’s power to be located at the lower section of the blank for maximum power and reduced angler fatigue.

Other key features include Daiwa’s Surround Reel Seats, cork and Air Foam fore and rear grips, and ultra-light Fuji SIC guides.

The current models are: 601HFB BC (183cm, heavy action, fast taper, 10-28g cast weight, 6-10kg line rating); 641MLFB BC (195cm, medium light, fast, 4-12g, 2-5kg); 641MHFB BC (198cm, medium heavy, fast, 7-21g, 4-8kg); and 681MHFB BC (204cm, medium heavy, fast, 7-21g, 5-8kg).

For more detailed information and specs visit the Daiwa Australia website.

Price: N/A www.daiwafishing.com.au

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SHIMANO SUNGLASSES

NOVEMBER 2014

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Shimano have released 13 new pairs of sunglasses in time for the summer season. Naturally they’re polarised, Australian standards-compliant, light to wear thanks to the use of polycarbonate lenses in black and amber tints, and this makes them ideal for everything from freshwater to offshore fishing.

There’s one metal-framed pair and 12 fashionable wrap-around models in black, blue-grey, turtle shell, white and burgundy frames. The wrap-around style cuts out peripheral glare, and to maintain optical clarity the lens is decentred (the optical centre is offset from the actual centre) to align properly with your eyes.

These sunglasses are also very affordable, with the new models priced at RRP $69.99, and the existing classics in the range just $39.99. At those prices you could afford to have a spare pair in the tackle box, the boat, the car or at home.

Price: from $39.99 www.shimanofish.com.au

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The Zest Micro Leaf Jigs and Juro Twisty Lazer are two of the latest micro jigs from Juro.

Zest Micro Leaf Jigs have been designed and are made to the highest quality featuring a wire through body. They sink effectively in the current and are scalloped out on the reverse side to increase the fluttering action on the drop. These jigs come in 40g and 60g weights and five colours. Each lure has a holographic finish and is pre-rigged with quality twin assist hooks.

The Juro Twisty Lazer is a new take on the popular Lazer lure, a stalwart of the Aussie metal lure market. This new lure has an increased body twist to increase the flutter on the drop, and comes pre-rigged with a high quality Gamakatsu G-Stinger assist hook.

Like the rest of the Aussie-made Lazer range it has a wire through body. It comes in 20g, 30g and 45g sizes and six colours.

Price: from $14.99 (Lazer), $19.99 (Micro) www.jurofishing.com

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MICRO JIGS FROM JURO

Spiderwire Stealth features Tefloncoated microfibers for smooth casting.

Made from 100% Dyneema fibers, Stealth is smooth and round to resist digging in on spools, is whisper quiet and shoots through rod guides with less friction – adding distance and accuracy to casts.

The new Stealth will maintain all these properties, with improved strength – up to 25% stronger! All of this, plus Colourlock technology that locks in colour for long lasting colour retention. Stealth braid is available in two colour variations: Stealth Code Red and new Glow Vis. Stealth Glow Vis features a unique UV reflective coating that appears to ‘glow’ in sunlight for better visibility, allowing you to track your line like never before. High visibility for the angler and low visibility to line shy fish. Stealth braid is available in 6, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, 65 and 80lb tests and 150m and 300m lengths.

Price: from $34.95 www.purefishing.com.au

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SPIDERWIRE STEALTH BRAID

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What’s New FISHING TESTED:

Senshi Hooks

Senshi fishing products offer premium quality terminal tackle. ‘Senshi’ means ‘warrior’ in Japanese, and all Senshi products are manufactured using the finest quality Japanese raw materials, made to the highest standards in a state-ofthe-art facility in Korea. The manufacturing facility has ISO 9001 Certification and has also been awarded many government awards and achievements, so anglers can rest assured that the build standard and quality control is up to scratch.

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The initial Senshi Hook range available in Australia includes the models Live Bait, Octopus Beak, Mutsu Circle, Long Shank, O’Shaughnessy, Bait Holder, Wide Gape and Finesse and offer a vast array of sizes so they have most angling situations and species covered.

All Senshi hooks are produced on high-grade carbon steel, feature superior chemically sharpened needle points and have a high quality black nickel finish.

All Senshi hooks are available in a Pre-Pack format with 10 hooks in each pack. The only exception is the Live Bait series, which comes with five hooks in each pack.

The Senshi hook range delivers exceptional quality and pricing and give anglers superior fishing hooks at the most important connection to the fish. Prices vary across the range but start from as little as RRP $2.99.

This brand is distributed in Australia

by Juro Oz Pro Tackle, and you can find out more information by visiting their website at www.jurofishing. com. Juro’s brand stable also includes such well-known brands as Strike Pro, TiCA, Relix, Daiichi, Kilwell and many more. - FMG

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE TESTED:

Samaki Vibelicious

I’ve never really been a fan of soft lipless baits. Not because they’re not any good – the genre catches loads of big fish all over Australia – but just because I wasn’t any good at fishing them. And nearly every river system on the east coast now has a posse of anglers that excel in slinging these baits.

They catch anything from barra in the north to mulloway and snapper in the south – with a host of freshwater species in between.

When a couple of review samples came across my desk I knew I had to learn. So I did. I tied a loop knot in the end of some 60lb leader and attached a clear/pink, 20g model (20 and 30g versions are available).

Dropping it into the current and twitching the rod tip, I could see the appeal of these baits. Shake the line and the dance in the water like a dying baitfish. Let them sink and they drop rapidly to the bottom. Rip them hard and they swim true.

They’re a great tool for probing the depths and using them with braided line will let you know if the lure is wobbling or fouled up. You can feel the

The in-your-face nature of these baits means that often the predators swallow them. action through the no-stretch connection.

I used mine to probe depths in fast flowing water that I can’t sink a stickbait into. And the results were pretty much instantaneous.

A couple of mulloway and threadfin salmon fell victim before the baits found a permanent home on the bottom of the Brisbane River.

Important safety tip: when the bait hits the bottom in current, don’t let it drag along.

Pop it up straight away. Otherwise it’ll snag.

These baits retail around the $20 mark.

Although the supplied hooks look a tad too small, I couldn’t bend them out in some fairly full-on situations. More information from www.samaki.com.au – Steve Morgan.

Maverick Hammock Swag does it all

A swag that doesn’t sit on the ground, a hammock that looks like a swag, a mozzie dome that floats in mid-air, have I got your attention? Well let me elaborate.

It’s the Maverick Hammock Swag, a hybrid hammock that will change the way you go camping.

It’s a versatile lightweight new product designed by a very clever Queenslander Jeff Mee, having a motorcycle background and sick of the size and weight of his old swags.

Jeff set out to revolutionise personal camping gear, and he has certainly kicked some goals.

The hammock is made from Dyneema reinforced nylon material and is tear-proof.

Support comes from an alloy frame with fibre cross braces that keep the hammock rigid and yet still very comfortable. You can set the hammock up in a few different ways.

The original design is to hang the hammock as you would a normal hammock (between two trees). The hammock’s ratchet cinch buckle are adjustable, which offers a wide range of flexibility in location when setting up.

But now you’re thinking, what if there are no

trees around? Well don’t worry, this hammock can be attached between anything – vehicles (roof rack, bull bar, etc), boats, or any stable structure. And if you’re out on your own, then one end can be attached to a pole.

The hammock can also be setup on the ground using the frame pole inserts as uprights. This allows the hammock to assume its correct profile and attachment of the bug netting and tarp.

Another major benefit is that you can use this hammock in any type of terrain, be it on a hill, over sand, over rock, mud, the list goes

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on. It’s the easiest and most versatile personal sleeping product on the market.

My first trip was on South Stradbroke Island, not far from home but still a night away from the TV and the usual. I found a position close to the bank where I could keep an eye on the boat.

Set up was very simple: I wrapped the straps around the tree twice, threaded the cinch buckle through the ratchet and pulled tight, repeated the other side, clipped the hammock to the straps at both ends, turned over the hammock, inserted the base alloy frame with the cross braces, turned back over, zipped on the mozzie screen, tighten both ends to make the hammock taut and I was done.

That easy! It takes about 15 minutes to set up but I’m sure you could trim this down with practise.

It also comes with a fly, to keep you dry.

Again, it was easy to install: run a small cord from strap to strap, spread fly over, tighten and peg out the four corners and you’re ready for a shower or morning dew. Head and foot partitions also provide storage for your gear.

The best thing I liked about its design is that you don’t need to use a mattress, just throw in your sleeping bag and a pillow and the calm rocking motion is enough to send an insomniac to sleep quickly. However, Jeff explained in cold climates a self-inflating mattress will prevent cold air rising and keep you warm.

It is surprisingly very stable. When you are lying in the hammock you can’t make it tip if

you try. It is also very steady if you’re a side sleeper like me (I hate sleeping on my back).

The hammock packs down to roughly 700x200mm travel size. It is the perfect for boats and kayaks where space is limited.

I was lucky to test the hammock where midges were not a major problem, but there were enough around and the fine mesh keeps them at bay.

I look forward to continue testing this product and have it pencilled in for an extended trip to Fraser Island this summer, which will really give it a run for its money.

Keep an eye out on our Facebook page for the results closer to Christmas.

This would be a fantastic gift idea for the camper that has it all.

The Maverick Hammock Swag is available from most camping outlets or you can visit www.maverickgear.com.au or give Jeff a call on 0400 902 624. – Greg Livingstone

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Everything eats crustaceans!

HERVEY BAY

Mark Bargenquast

Almost all fish all around the world eat or will eat crabs, prawns and shrimps at some stage in their life cycle and if this is understood properly by anglers, we can use it to our advantage to catch more fish!

I remember years ago I had (still have) a big craze on keeping native fish in aquariums. It started when I was about 6 years old with empire gudgeons, crimson rainbow fish and tiny freshwater shrimps all kept in a 2ft tank. I still remember when my shrimps ended up as just tiny shells on the tank floor, having being eaten by the predating gudgeons and rainbows. In later years, gudgeons were replaced

by barramundi, mangrove jacks, sooty grunter, tarpon and saratoga. If any shrimps or freshwater crabs were introduced into the tank, their fate was the same as the tiny shrimps years before. Obviously, crustaceans are as tasty to fish as they are to us!

Nowadays, after having spent years on the water fishing I have seen everything eat a crab or shrimp imitation. Flats fishing is an area where crabs, prawns and shrimp imitations shine, I’m guessing that’s because they are a such a common food source there. Species like permit (snub-nosed dart) golden, giant, brassy and diamond trevally, barramundi, salmon and even the traditional bread and butter species like bream, whiting, snapper and flathead are all suckers

EVANS HEAD

for a realistic soft plastic or fly variant of a crab or shrimp.

It doesn’t end there either; offshore predators at some stage of their life cycle eat crustaceans.

Marlin and sailfish predate on them during their juvenile life and longtail tuna often school deep and feed exclusively on banana prawns at certain times of the year.

I remember fishing with Shane Griffiths from the CSIRO who I was helping catch longtails to satellite tag in Hervey Bay, all the fish had to be over 1m long and he was telling me how longtails in the Gulf of Carpentaria at times can have stomach contents

variety of soft plastics available on the market today that resemble prawns, shrimps and crabs is unbelievable and they are very lifelike. Z-Man scented shrimps, Zerek and Prawn Star are just some of the imitations that work well and get the bites.

I have found that you need fish them slow, like the real thing. Prawns and shrimps spend a lot of time hovering or slowly crawling across the bottom but when startled they flick backwards, often to the surface to escape predators.

Most of my prawn plastics I use I’ll rig backwards so when the rod tip is flicked the prawn flicks backwards, like the real

This big diamond trevally was following a big stingray but couldn’t resist a shrimp fly! lure without hindering its free fall and strike at any hesitation or bump! It can pay to experiment with different head weights.

I use 1/8-1/2oz heads

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Jackson Bargenquast with a broad-barred mackerel that ate a Z-Man 3” scented shrimp.

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in excess of 75% full of prawns. Food for thought.

So how does this relate to angling? Simply, it’s good news for us. The

thing. Employing three or four hops then letting the lure slowly glide back towards the bottom is a deadly technique. This is often when the bite will come, so try to keep contact with the sinking

depending on current and water depth.

A few crab plastics are available and these need to be fished similar to prawn imitations.

Saltwater fly fishing is where crab patterns are

readily available, mainly due to fly fishers targeting harder fish to catch on these patterns.

Bonefish, permit, tarpon are the big 3 in the US and they all love crab flies. The variety of lifelike crab and shrimp flies available is unbelievable; some would almost swim in a bucket of water!

Here in Australia, permit, golden trevally, blackspot tuskfish and painted sweetlip are regular targets for crab patterns. We have also caught queenfish, longtail tuna, pikey bream, flathead, snapper and even the odd mackerel on crabs.

If fished correctly they are extremely effective on nearly everything.

I have even used live crabs to catch big whiting at night along the mangrove edges, and grunter bream and tarwhine were also regular catches. Live crabs have even been used to catch big cobia with some old timers using legal sized sand crabs on 12/0 hooks to catch them! Big estuary cod, tuskfish and coral trout love them as well.

One tip worth remembering when using imitation crabs is to match the lure colour with the bottom you are fishing.

Sandy beaches and flats

WATSON MARINE

HOME OF THE VINDICATOR BOAT

From 5.5 -7.2m Custom Built Plate

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The author with a lumpy permit taken on a crab fly.

Remember fish them slow, like the real thing!

are best fished with tan or light colours where fishing around rock, timber and mud would require a dark colour. We often fish the sea grass flats on the inside of Fraser Island with olive or dark green shrimp or crab imitations and do extremely well. I remember fishing the deep weedy gutters on a Central Queensland flat after we had been catching some big goldies on the sand bars at high tide. We were using tan patterns and plastics but over the weed

gutters fish would rush at the offering only to turn off at the last moment.

After switching to olive/ green colours, we began catching fish again; it was an interesting lesson and showed how colour does matter at times!

Have a look at a banana prawn in a bucket - if it’s been startled and has exerted plenty of energy it will turn a pale, light colour. This is a good indication to buy white or pearl colours, as they resemble a prawn under

Jacko with a 76cm flathead on a shrimp plastic.

attack. Other good colours are the darker honey or root beer colours for deeper water, however pink, chartruse and blue get the bites as well. Exactly what they resemble to a fish is anyone’s guess!

The tackle I use for fishing prawn and crab plastics around mangroves and other structure is generally on the heavier side, as fish like jacks, cod, golden snapper (fingermark) barra and mulloway around structure can really take some stopping. Quite often, a slight tap is all you will feel for the bite then they bolt for cover. On open water flats and sand banks you can get away with lighter tackle. Fish like flathead, bream and trevally are usually less structure orientated and fight clean.

Fly tackle for throwing crabs is also on the heavier size, mainly due to the fact that a big crab or prawn imitation is generally tough to throw in the wind (which is usually encountered while out on flats and beaches). I prefer a good 9 or 10wt outfit with a sink tip fly line.

Here in Queensland we are blessed with an annual run of banana prawns around February

A good flats crab pattern made by Jon Makim flies. to May, this is a good time to fish prawn imitations as most of the predatory fish in the system are keyed onto prawns as their main food source. Find prawns in a hole or gutter and there will be predators not far away! It’s also a good idea to match your lure size with the bait size on the day. If you have found prawns, don’t be afraid to try different techniques, as this just might get the bite.

In mangrove systems in Queensland’s southern half from late September to May the small mangrove crabs appear. They seem to disappear during winter when water temperatures drop below 19°C. When they are about, it’s time to fish crab patterns along mangrove, pylons or oyster edges slow and deep. Big bream, jacks and grunter all love these mangrove crabs, so go for a look and

you will see these crabs scooting around these areas. Catch one and have a look and get yourself something of similar size and colours and fish them in the same areas, you will be surprised.

So there you go, crabs and prawn imitations should definitely be in everyone’s tackle box. Go get some and give them a try, the results will speak for themselves.

ROCKET & ROLL 2014 WINNER

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ORRA ORRA INSHORE INSHORE™

ORRA ORRA SX SX™

ORRA S™ S

THE NEW ORRA SERIES HAS ARRIVED. FEATuRINg THE ROCKET LINE mANAgEmENT SySTEm.

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Introducing the upgraded line of Orra spinning reels. Engineered to be lightweight with a more compact design, the expanded Orra family combines precision engineering with next generation technology. The new Rocket line management system provides better casting control of all types of fishing lines. Working in tandem with the Rocket spool lip design, this system actively controls the line coming off the spool during a cast for improved control and accuracy. An aluminum reinforced C6 carbon body design seamlessly combines the X-craftic gearbox with a C6 carbon body. The result is a lightweight body that houses gears in perfect alignment.

Orra spin reels combine next generation technologies with features such as High Performance Corrosion Resistant (HPCR) bearings and the smooth and reliable Carbon Matrix™ hybrid drag system. That equates to effortless and hassle free fishing. Match them up with a Veritas rod featuring Nano technology blanks and Fuji K guides for the Next Generation in fishing outfits.

for life™

CHECK OUT THE FULL RANGE OF NEW ORRA SPIN REELS AND VERITAS RODS AT YOUR NEAREST ABU GARCIA STOCKIST TODAY!

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NEW

WILD PRAWN

120mm, 30g 90mm,15g The WILD PRAWN was created to not only be the most life like prawn possible but to be a lure that works!! Rigged with an Ultra Strong body hook and linked with 22kg Dyneema to another smaller 1/0 stinger hook. With hair like feelers and soft legs its movement is ultra life like. With segmented tail and ultra strong cloth we believe the Wild Prawn is the Ultimate. Slow roll or twitch, the choice is yours.

Target species: Anything that swims in saltwater and freshwater.

Banana

Tiger Prawn

Green Prawn

Native Prawn

Brown Tiger

Marron

65mm Vibe Series

N0W

COMES WIT

H

WHIFF S

CENT & F

Jelly Prawn

Forkvibe and Paddlevibe 65mm- 7 grams

OIL FLA

Made from Super Stretchy and Tough 10X material the 65 Forkvibe is durable and ultra life like. Rigged with ultra sharp and strong Decoy YS-25 size #12 hooks and Hand Crimped 60lb Stainless steel wire you can depend on this lure. Use the NEW WHIFF SCENT with the Foil Flash for added attraction and get that extra edge.

SH

IN EACH P

ACK!

Target species: Bass, flathead, tailor, trevally, yellowbelly, perch, trout, whiting and any species that love to feed on small fish.

Also available in 98mm and 120mm

Herring

Smoke

Gold Rush

Jelly Prawn

Phantom

Beetroot

Pink Candy

Silver Glow

SKINNY DOG

Trout

Perch

2 sizes - 65mm, 4 grams - 95mm, 6 grams

Fitted with Decoy hooks

With unique Feather Feelers the Skinny Dog has an ultra realistic action no matter how you fish - Walk the Dog, Slow roll or Twitch and Spit. Fitted with ultra sharp Decoy hooks and select from either the silent models or use those fitted with Glass Caviar rattles to find the perfect lure for your environment.

Caviar rattles inside

Starburst

Bubble Gum

Olive Gar

Blue Gar

Dark Knight

Tiger Prawn

Green Prawn

Mullet

Target species: Bass, Cod, yellowbelly, trout, whiting, bream, tailor, trevally, barramundi, mangrove jack and loads more.

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YOUR GATEWAY TO FISHING NORTH QUEENSLAND

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63

Townsville

Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD

Townsville treasures revealed TOWNSVILLE

David Hodge

While having the luxury of a boat is ideal for North Queensland, it’s not a necessity to be able to catch good fish.

Townsville has many places that can be accessed by vehicle, even by 2WD vehicles in some circumstances, that hold quality fish for bait fishers and lure casters alike.

Working your tides properly and timing your efforts around peak bite times will give you the best chance of success, and the list of target species isn’t bad either.

BAIT FISHING AND CAST NETS While lure casting is my preferred way to fish when ever possible, there is no doubt that at times a live bait will out fish lures consistently, and fish such as barra, mangrove jack, salmon, golden snapper (fingermark), gold and black-spot cod, flathead and whiting are regular captures for switched on bait fishers.

A cast net will not only be your best bet of securing a bucket of livies,

Sooty grunter are a hard-fighting freshwater fish that will take a liking to any bass anglers’ lures. but will also end up saving you plenty of cash after the initial purchase is made.

Becoming competent with a cast net isn’t that hard; I’ve often taken customers onto the grass outside the shop to teach them the correct way to throw a net. It only takes minutes to learn but is a life skill that stays with you forever.

A decent-sized mullet or herring rigged correctly is hard for a barra to swim past. Everything in an estuary system eats prawns,

and these can be gathered with the net casting around drains and mud flats as the tide recedes. Keeping them alive is the key and a live bait bucket with vented sides that is left to wash around by the shore keeps livies healthy.

Matching the hook to the size of the bait is extremely important. All sorts of things will eat prawns, but smaller hooks are sometimes important to get the best presentation. A 1/0-2/0 Gamakatsu Shiner

Casting soft plastics around artificial rock walls is a good way to target barra and jacks right in the middle of town.

at e r es G 2 tor Local S Knowledge

pattern on a light mono or fluorocarbon leader of around 3kg is a great way to target big whiting in winter on the flats and at the river mouths. They are strong enough to handle the by-catch like the highly sort-after grunter, flathead and jacks that often get in on the act.

If targeting slightly larger adversaries, like grunter, flathead and jacks, a 2/0-4/0 size hook is more suitable with a leader of around 10-12kg is a little safer depending on the size of the prawns.

Using live mullet and herring is an approach that tends to target bigger fish and gear needs to be up to scratch to handle some of the fish you can encounter.

Main lines of around 10-20kg are accepted as the norm and around rocks and timber; I’d be leaning towards the heavier side.

Leaders of between 20-30kg are necessary to not only combat the effects of the rough jaw structure of barra, but also to be able to handle the harsh environments of rock and timber as you battle to stop a rampaging barra. Size 6/0-8/0 hooks are

Jungle perch present a real challenge to keen lure casters and are always worth the effort. about right for most baits, and with a bigger mullet, a snelled 2-hook rig needs to be employed to get he hook up in those cavernous mouths. Particularly with

the barra, the old adage of ‘big bait, big fish’ rings true.

HEADLANDS The artificial rock walls are fish attractants, and the barramundi and jacks can be

Tannhym Hodge and his mate kicking back on the banks of the Ross.

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Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD caught right in the middle of town regularly if you approach them in the right way. Apart from chucking a livey under a float and allowing it to swim the edge of the rocks, carefully walking along the rocks and flicking lures like the Halco Hamma or Laser Pro 120 should get you giggling.

This can be a very visual technique as the fish can often be seen before the cast is made.

Soft or rubber lures are a handy one to have in the kit and the Atomic Prong are a proven fish catcher around the rocks, especially when rigged on a weedless set up.

GEARING UP For southern fishos who already have tackle for casting lures at bass, Murray cod and snapper, you already have gear suitable for much of the northern trip. An average of a 4-6kg baitcaster or spin rod of about 1.8-2m in length is going to be your most versatile outfit, but if you have a lighter spin outfit suitable for flatties and bass it would be a great option to have on hand also for casting smaller lures around river mouths and mud banks.

Bream and rainbow trout lure fishers should pack the light spin rods for sure, as while not a food gathering pursuit, the sooty grunter and jungle perch fishing is a great way to spend a bit of time in the wilderness. For the sooties, the bass sized lures such as the spinner arms rigged on a jighead and tricked up with a 3” paddle-tail, 1/4oz Bassman

Townsville

yourself in an unfortunate situation, it’d be comforting to know that someone will send out the search party if need be. Even something as simple as getting bogged on some jungle track may need assistance to recover it.

While temperatures aren’t extreme up here, the humidity is at times.

The amount of body fluids you lose in a day walking the banks or shoreline will surprise you. In just an hour or two, you can sweat enough to begin to dehydrate. Remember to pack enough water to keep

yourself hydrated when you’re out fishing.

COME VISIT It truly is like a different country to those who have never been up north, so a little research before your trip will ensure you have the best time and will no doubt have memories for life.

Call into the Akwa Marine shop on Dean Street in South Townsville and myself or any of the staff will be happy to steer you in the right direction and be able to fill you in on what’s been working best at the time.

There’s big barra available in town for those willing to put in the effort. and respected of all northern lure fishing targets in the creeks, and the challenge is real. Clothing that blends in with the background and light footsteps on the rocks so as to not make any noise is extremely important and these gorgeous little buggers react instantly when a stealthy approach is made.

Little 35mm Scorpions and 45mm Rooster Poppers are a great choice. Hooks need to be ultra sharp, the lures action is realistic and casts accurate in the overgrown habitats they are found in.

SAFETY North Queensland is a mind-blowing place to visit and even better to live in if you love your fishing, but there is a serious side to wandering the north. Safety

banks potentially puts you directly in the firing line for an attack if you become complacent. Every move you make around the waters edge should be analysed as, ‘Am I within reach of a lunging croc?’ And if you aren’t sure, then you’re too close. Almost every trip we do in the boat we see them, and often while walking the banks. Dogs are a big no-no to have splashing around.

Crocs absolutely love dogs.

Put simply, if you give a croc an opportunity, they’ll take it. You see people walking out throwing cast nets in rivers quite often, but complacency breeds contempt, and unfortunately I believe it won’t be long before a local attack hits the news, as the crocs are getting cockier and more

tools need to be applied within a couple of minutes of a bite happening, so leaving it in the car won’t be much good to you if you get hit. Learn how to use one properly and have it on hand in case you do need to apply it as soon as possible.

Common sense should also see you letting someone know where you’re going and your estimated time of arrival home, so if you find yourself in trouble people know where to start looking.

It’s a big place and if you find

Always be on your game when walking creek banks, as there are dangers in and out of the water.

I

DOMAIN CENTRAL

Sunrise is the best time of the day to be walking the banks flicking a lure. It’s just therapeutic.

Tandem or Double Colorado can be cast easily around snags and in the current.

If you have never caught a decent-sized sooty before, you’re in for a treat, as they hit and fight harder than the bass of southern waters.

Jungle perch are one of the most highly regarded

is absolutely paramount, and keeping your eyes open is necessary to ensure you don’t hit any trouble.

Obviously, you’re going to be around the water and, as much as people who live in the north will often play down the croc threat, it is real. Walking the

plentiful all the time.

Crocs aren’t the only danger to fishers up this way. Just a couple of days ago, I had a very close call with a snake while walking a creek chasing junglies. If the worst happened, I had a pressure bandage in my pocket. These life saving

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65

Offshore: beginner’s guide FMG

Nicole Penfold nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

As an ex-Brisbanite, I can tell you that the fishing offshore from Townsville puts SEQ offshore fishing in the shade. Head out from Townsville and you can encounter emperor, coral trout, fingermark (golden snapper), grunter, gold-spot cod and a variety of sweetlips. You can also catch trevally, yellowfin tuna, mackerel, billfish and more. If you’re interested in sampling it for yourself, read on!

TACKLE When I lived in Brisbane I used a 15-24kg, 7’0” Live Fibre and an overhead spooled with 50lb braid.

Although this rig works fine up here as well, I prefer a 5’6”, 10-15kg short stroker with the same reel and braid.

I find I can pull the trout out of the coral better with this rig, and it’s ample for the red emperor and nannygai, too.

Both floating rigs (running ball sinker) and paternoster rigs work well, and 80lb leader should be ample. If you’re keen to try plastics, a strong baitcaster or spin rig is the go. I use baitcasters (6-8kg and a 50lb impoundment rod) loaded with 30-50lb braid.

With these rigs I have landed nannygai to 10kg and cobia and gold-spot cod to 17kg.

It’s hard going holding onto these smallish rods with such big fish and hard drags!

THE REEF On the reefs the prime target is trout. These fish are daytime feeders, and often the best bite period is early to mid morning, but the most important aspect is to fish the ‘pressure side’ of the reef (the reef area that faces into the tide/current). Sound around these areas and pinpoint the bait schools, as these are what the trout feed on. Once you’ve found the baitfish, anchor up in such a way that your bait wafts down into the school.

Like a jack in the snags, a trout will brick you in a flash so a hard drag on hook-up is a must. Once you’re off the bottom you can ease up on the drag to avoid pulling hooks. If you do get bricked, give the fish some slack before trying to get it back.

One thing to note is that the pros fishing for live trout don’t like deeper water because of the risk of barotrauma. To maximise your chances it’s best to fish in 30m+.

Red-throat emperor, spangled emperor and a stack of other reefies will also be caught close to the coral. They can be caught on the usual pillies, squid and flesh baits, as well as soft plastics, octopus imitations and vibes.

And if you like Spanish mackerel, put a bait out under a float while you fish for the reefies. A live fusilier is a great for Spaniards, and so is the humble pilly.

If you want some sport you can also chuck poppers around the pressure sides of the reef where the bait is schooling up for GT. THE PADDOCKS Sounding out the open expanses away from the main reef structures is

GREEN ZONES AND CLOSURES ZONING Out from Townsville there are certain areas designated as green zones (no fishing) and yellow zones (one rod per person, 1 hook per line). You can see detailed maps at www.gbrmpa.gov.au/zoningpermits-and-plans or click on the QR code on the map opposite.

CORAL REEF FINFISH CLOSURES The Coral Reef Finfish Closures change each year to coincide with the new moon in October and November, which is when key reef species tend to spawn. The closure applies to trout, emperors, nannygai, cod and other key reef fish. You can find out more at www.daff.qld.gov.au/fisheries.

There is one Coral Reef Finfish Closure left this year, and it runs from 19-23 November.

where you will find the rubble and isolated rocks that attract red emperor and nannygai. While I have

The open expanse between reefs, known as the Paddocks, are prime areas for nannygai.

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NOVEMBER 2014

caught good nannies in as little as 25m and reds as shallow as 35m, the ideal depth range is 50-70m. Set your sounder up to return a clear image of the bottom few metres or so while cruising to give yourself a good chance of the spotting isolated patches of bottom and fish. Amassing a number of good patches in the deeper water is wise as the fish like to move around, so one spot that’s firing on a particular day can be a desert the next. If you like you can troll some lures for mackerel while you’re watching the bottom.

Alongside the red emperor and nannygai you will find good-sized trout, sweetlip, jacks, jobfish, cod and more.

TIMING All of these fish can be caught year-round; the main limiting factor for anglers is wind. Autumn and winter are very pleasant but also very windy. Spring is possibly the best time of year to plan a trip. It’s not too hot, there’s less wind and there are lots of species willing to play the game.

Summer has lots of calm weather, aside from the odd cyclone, but you’ll have to put up with some

serious heat. The fish also feel the heat in the shallows in summer, so you might want to fish a bit deeper on hot days.

RAMP OPTIONS Townsville ramp The Coast Guard ramp on Ross Creek is the only all-tide ramp in the immediate Townsville area that caters for larger vessels.

There are two ramps, both with 4 lanes and one has a pontoon. There are public toilets but no cleaning tables.

Unfortunately parking is limited, so during good weather windows you really want to get there early. To ease congestion, the Council is constructing another facility at South Townsville, which should hopefully have some lanes open at the end of this year.

There may be a fee to use it.

Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD Lucinda If the weather is great and you don’t want to get up at sparrow’s to secure a park at the Townsville ramp, you can drive north and launch at the Dungeness ramp at Lucinda. The ramp has 4 long lanes with a central pontoon.

There’s a large parking area with wash-down bays, along with public toilets, a playground and BBQ area, and a general store with bait and ice. Although it’s a fair hike from Townsville – around 1.5 hours or so – you will have a shorter run to some productive reefs and shoals.

Morrisseys Creek If you’re happy to work around the tides you can launch at the Morrrisseys Creek ramp. It’s a concrete ramp with 2 fairly narrow lanes, and a pontoon. Be wary of the drop-off at the end. There are septic toilets available and covered table areas. This is a good place for smaller boats to launch to access the famous Cape Bowling Green billfish grounds.

LOCATIONS Before you set out, be sure to check the GBRMPA website for the location of green zones, as hefty fines apply if you stray into the wrong area. You have been warned!

There are plenty of

productive reefs and shoals to choose from. In close there’s Middle Reef near Magnetic Island, Paluma Shoals and Salamander Reef, but unless you’re restricted to a tinny you’ll want to go further afield. Good outer reefs include Lodestone, Keeper, Rib, Bramble, Trunk, Big and Little Broadhurst reefs and the Slashers. Just be prepared to travel a long way; the nearest outer reefs are roughly 70km from the Townsville ramp.

From Lucinda it’s not as far; you can almost halve the distance to the nearest reef.

FIND OUT MORE I would have loved to give you tons of in-depth info in this article, but there just wasn’t room – so it’s up to you to do some extra homework before you commit to a trip.

I recommend you check out the regular Townsville fishing reports at reports. fishingmonthly.com.au, and you can also look up past magazine articles at www. fishingmonthly.com.au. To pick locals’ brains you can suss out online forums, and local tackle store staff are very helpful as well.

Best of all, if you have the spare cash, do your first trip with a guide/charter to learn the ropes before you fish from your own boat.

Just be careful though, or you might find yourself moving up here like I did!

Townsville Pith Reef

Britomart Reef

Hinchinbrook Island

Bramble Reef

Trunk Reef Roxburgh Reef Rib Reef

Lucinda Taylors Beach

Orpheus Island

Lady Elliot Reef

SLASHERS GROUP Fore and Aft Reef John Brewer Reef

Curacoa Island Great Palm Island

Fantome Island

Backnumbers Reef French Reef Brags Reef Hopkinson Reef

Hall Reef

Lodestone Reef Keeper Reef

Havannah Island

Saunders Beach

Herald Island Magnetic Island

Middle Reef

Morinda Shoal

Cleveland Bay Scan and download the green zone information

Scale 25 KM

Big Broadhurst Reef

Little Broadhurst Reef

Halifax Bay Paluma Shoals

Chicken Reef

Centipede Reef Davies Reef

Rattlesnake Island Rollingstone

Cup Reef

Grub Reef

Townsville

Morrisseys Creek Ramp (near Giru)

Salamander Reef

Bowling Green Bay

Ayr

townsville marine centre 943 ingham rd. Bohile 4818

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67

Townsville

Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD

An unassuming freshwater Mecca TOWNSVILLE

Karim DeRidder

Townsville is a city that most would not associate with a thriving

freshwater fishery. Not so affectionately known as ‘Brownsville’ by those in

Fishing at night can produce some surprising results like this big barramundi taken from the Ross River.

greener centres, the area has a reputation for hot and dry summers with most serious rainfall only showing its face in the usual wet season months of January-March, averaging just over a metre of rain annually.

Well-known for nearby Bowling Green Bay and its annual run of juvenile black marlin, the Burdekin delta and Hinchinbrook region are also well represented with quality fishing, making the tropical city a Mecca for light game and sports fishers alike.

With this in mind, anglers visiting or residing in the city, do not realise the potential and incredible freshwater fishery available within a short drive from the city, making it one of the most diverse fishing bases available on the east coast.

The Herbert Gorge is easily one of the best freshwater fishing destinations on our east coast.

THE REGION The area newcomers should have their sights set on to gain the best freshwater options available should extend in a radius approaching a 90-minute drive from the city centre. The multitude of options available in this area would take decades to

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The lower freshwater section of the Herbert River can yield some fantastic fishing on jungle perch, sooties, mangrove jack and barramundi.

THE TARGETS Freshwater fishing in the Townsville region is focused mainly on the barramundi, sooty grunter, jungle perch and freshwater mangrove jack. Although there are a number of other worthy targets, these species seem to place high for most traveling anglers and will therefore gain the most attention.

THE GEAR Freshwater options can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. A travelling angler can sample most species with a good pair of shoes, access to Google maps and a vehicle.

A light spin outfit of at least a 2500 size reel with quality 4-10lb braid is a minimum requirement and a selection of soft plastics, hardbodies and topwater to cover all options. Spin, as opposed to casting set ups, will more adequately cover the weight range of lures you will be required to throw. A good pair of polarized sunglasses is also an essential bit of kit.

explore properly, however by focusing on some major systems, you can sample first class fishing in a relatively short amount of time.

South and west of the City The Burdekin River flows 700km+ from its source to release its waters just east of the township of Ayr. It is the 4th largest river in Australia by volume of flow and fills the largest dam in Australia.

In its estuarine waters it has been known to hold good numbers of large barramundi, however the river has copped massive amounts of commercial effort over time, reducing it immensely from the river it once was. The freshwater sections of the river are extensive and relatively remote, ensuring the fishery remains as one of the most spectacular barramundi and sooty grunter fishing locations south of the city.

Accessible from roadsides, bridges and 4x4 tracks, the identification of clear long pools of water, broken up with shallow

Sooties will always put up a spirited tussle, diving repeatedly for cover and putting a solid bend in your rod.

Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD

The streams between Townsville and Ingham can switch on some incredible fishing for jungle perch, with double ups like this a common occurrence. rapids and rocky outcrops give a good base to flick lures off. Barramundi upwards of a metre in length and sooty grunter readily approaching 50cm in length are often encountered.

Access options are best found scouting Google Earth for approaches close to the river, below the spill way of the dam or above the highway bridge approaching the historical township of Charters Towers. Be mindful that large estuarine crocodiles heavily populate most of these waters so swimming is out of the question. Private

properties are also strewn along its banks for most of its accessible parts, asking for permission goes a long way with landowners rather than trespassing. Upper tributaries of the Burdekin including Keelbottom, Clark, Star, and Running rivers have fantastic sooty grunter fishing however the barramundi are relatively uncommon in those upper limits.

Ross River The 3 weirs, namely Blacks, Gleeson and Aplins are located in the city centre and are incredible barramundi fisheries in their own right. Access and usually the best fishing can be found immediately

above and below the weirs especially after a rain event where torrents of water forcebait and barramundi together making them easy to target.

Access via small boats and kayaks are also popular in the weirs with sessions regularly accounting for multiple 1m+ fish.

The only reason this fishery remains in its healthy state is due to the tireless efforts of the Townsville Barramundi Stocking Society which has maintained the fishery for many years. Be aware the weirs do come under normal barramundi season closures and size limits.

Tackle for these brutes should be at least a 20lb baitcaster or spin set up on a 6-7ft rod. A selection of weedless plastics, hardbodies and surface lures will give most

Townsville

Jozef nailed this lump of a sooty in the Herbert Gorge casting lures. The Gorge houses immense numbers of these pugnacious little steam trains.

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Townsville

Your Gateway to Fishing North QLD

Fishing closer to in the brackish water puts you in a better position to catch other species like barramundi and mangrove jack, however, care must be taken when walking these banks as crocodiles do reside in these northern waterways. anglers the best chance of success in this amazing urban fishery.

North of the City The creeks stretching north of the city have some spectacular fishing, leading all the way to the Herbert River Gorge, which in my option is home to the most spectacular freshwater fishing in the region.

The small but relatively easy to access creeks such as Bluewater, Leichhardt, Rollingstone and Crystal are where the unique jungle

perch really kick off in healthy numbers. Although barramundi seem to be sparsely represented and the sooty grunter are out of their natural range, the spectacular surface sessions of mangrove jack and jungle perch to 45cm make up for their shortcomings.

The mangrove jack are more commonly found closer to the brackish sections of the creek, therefore attention should be focused east of the Bruce Highway bridges.

The jungle peach, or JP as they are commonly know, stretch from the brackish reaches to as far into the mountains as they are able to travel. A rule of thumb is a JP will be unable to travel further than a 2-3m waterfall, with any pool below these often housing the largest specimens of the system.

Tackle for these are based around light spin outfits on 6ft rods and leaders usually between 6-20lb. These fish in crystal

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clear streams do focus a lot on surface presentations so a good selection of poppers and stick-baits is essential.

A few medium divers up to 70mm, small curl-tail and boot-tail plastics of the same size should also be packed for days when surface presentations do not fire.

Although it is rare to see estuarine crocodiles in the country above the brackish reaches of these particular systems, there is always a possibility. Snakes such as eastern browns and red-bellied blacks are fairly common so watch your feet when trekking.

Northern gem The Herbert River and tributaries are a special freshwater fishery. Vic McCristal wrote fond words regarding the systems decades ago, and not much has changed since.

With its source high in the Tablelands, the river flows through light

While not always large, jungle perch are invariably beautiful and a very rewarding catch. the fishery; 1) Abergowrie to Hinchinbrook and 2) Abergowrie to the gorge (National Park).

Below the limits of the National Park, the river has long deep pools separated by shallow rapids. These stretches are best fished via large canoes or small tinnies with electric power a handy addition. Massive numbers of sooty grunter are usually encountered, along with good numbers

When you put in the miles and do some research in advance, you can truly end up in another world. pastoral leases and drops into the Herbert Gorge area approximately 80km inland from Ingham. With no dams or significant artificial features to alter its water-course, there is a pure, almost prehistoric feel when trekking along its banks, especially in the areas controlled under Girringun National Park.

By splitting the river in 2 parts, you can gain a better understanding of

of barramundi, jungle perch and mangrove jack in the mix. A drop off and pick up point around the many public road bridges is a good way to get involved in fishing this area.

The areas within the limits of the National Park are the most spectacular and also hardest to access.

Good fitness, shoes and supplies should get you into very lightly fished waters of the gorge and

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NOVEMBER 2014

tributaries where big sooty grunter, barramundi, more numerous jungle perch are plentiful. A couple of days should be the minimum taken to explore the area, details of the National Park and requirements are easy to find on the National Parks website.

For those wanting an extreme trip, expeditions from the Herbert Falls area to Abergowrie are mindboggling. This can be done

• Spin set up: 2500 reel with 10lb braid, leaders ranging from 6-20lb, some heavier shock tippet for barra (50lb).

• Good pair of aqua type shoes, Merrell are a good brand and have a decent range.

• Quality pair of polarized sunglasses.

• Small day or overnight rucksack.

• Various plastics, hardbodies, vibes and surface presentations to cover all species.

• A vehicle and access to Google Earth.

• An adventurous attitude!

in kayaks or canoes however the amount and size of the estuarine crocodiles in the area is enough to keep me bank bound!

FISHING MECCA TOWNSVILLE The freshwater options, relatively undiscovered other than by secretive locals, are endless. The area has a multitude of opportunities within a scenic and short drive from the tropical city. By using the professional guides in the area and sampling local reefs, bays and rivers, an addiction to the region will rapidly take hold.

Next time you are visiting Townsville and cursing the 20knot winds rolling white caps into the bay, look further than usual areas and sample the freshwater delights the region has to offer, these are only just around the corner.

Fishing Monthly Magazines Readers’ Pictures

Cameron Dodson landed this Spanish on a garfish – his first ever.

Holly Armstrong and a metre dollie landed on a livey.

Frankie Johnson caught this cracking little flathead.

Paul Healey caught this beaut Murray cod in Lake Mulwala, NSW.

Steven Arthur caught this hairtail in Baffle Creek!

A striped marlin from aboard Juggernaut out of Coffs Harbour.

How’s this for a quality red?

A whopper chopper caught by Rhys Nelson.

Cameron Gall caugh these bream to 42cm in Sydney Harbour.

Rhys Nelson caught this quality bass.

NOVEMBER 2014

71

Trolling up trophies AYR

Steve Farmer

As always happens in the last few weeks of the barramundi open season, many Burdekin anglers made a final effort to nail a barra before they were off the menu for 3 months.

Despite the long hours and impeccably presented live baits and lures, many fishers missed out on the hoped-for trophy fish.

There were good numbers of rats and legal specimens to around 75cm, but trophysized fish, the ‘magical metreys’, were few and far between.

However, one local angler who finished the season on a high note was Steve McAuliffe. Over the final weeks in October, Mac managed to land 2 metre-plus fish from a ‘secret spot’ in Bowling Green Bay. This secret spot includes some serious structure in the form of big, old snags, which attract the baitfish and the big barra.

The first metrey came on the second troll past the snag cluster, slamming the single RMG lure swimming astern. The fight was long

and tough with a minimum of acrobatic displays, but eventually Steve was able to get a gill grip and haul 107cm of barra aboard. The second metrey came a few weeks later from the same snag pile, but Steve said that this time they dropped a number of smaller fish before finally hooking the big one. Again it was an RMG lure that did the trick.

While the first metrey put on a tough but relatively sedated fight, the second took to the air as soon as it felt the hooks, tail walking across the water’s surface, much to the excitement of a group of yachties on the beach nearby.

This sort of fishing action was also a first for one of Steve’s crew.

Jack, a Welsh backpacker, had never seen fish like the monster at the end of Steve’s line and his eyes were like saucers when Mac lifted the 103cm barra into the boat.

Mac said he, Jack and third crewmember, Greg ‘Robbo’ Robins also targeted grunter, but success was elusive at first.

The grunter were off their tucker – or at least they were off squid, which is

their usual favourite bait.

The trio went ashore and cast-netted a couple of dozen garfish, butterflying each bait and removing the backbone before feeding the tempting morsel onto the hook. The change of tactics worked and they ended the session with 20 grunter to 65cm.

Mac isn’t the only one who has been scoring well on the grunter.

Every weekend Bowling Green Bay is dotted with boats, their crews intent on landing a tasty feed of these succulent, silvery fish, which can range up to 70cm in length. Upstart Bay and other Burdekin estuaries are also fishing well for this species at the moment, although none are as productive as Bowling Green.

Other species reacting well to the rising temperatures are mangrove jack and golden snapper.

Both of these species can be taken on lures, live and slab baits. If you would like to tangle with jacks, cast your baits or lures around the snags and mangrove roots, which line the Burdekin’s many estuaries.

While golden snapper do

This is Mac’s second 1m+ barra in a couple of weeks that measured 103cm and was nailed on the troll in Mac’s secret spot. inhabit similar country, you’re more likely to have success targeting them in deep holes with submerged snags in both the estuaries and inshore waters. Rocky headlands, such as those around Cape Upstart are also prime snapper territory.

The other regular of the estuaries, flathead, have been patchy over the past month. Some weekends they’re numerous and hungry, but at other times it’s like they’ve vacated the estuaries en masse. You can’t spot a flurry of sand as they rocket away after being disturbed, let alone raise a strike from a decent fish.

THE MONTH AHEAD Basically, Burdekin anglers can expect more of the same throughout November, although barramundi will be off the menu. Remember that you shouldn’t deliberately target barra during the closed season, even for catch-andrelease fishing, and any accidentally caught must be immediately released.

Golden snapper often peak during the last couple of months of the year, especially in waters around Cape Upstart. This is the time of year when fresh or live squid baits

fished at night around The Bun at the tip of the cape, often produce some quality fish.

In the creeks jacks should be as hungry as ever and anglers can still expect good numbers of grunter and blue salmon.

If you’re fishing overnight, remember that we’re moving into storm season, so check the weather forecast before hitting the water. Every year, anglers get caught offshore or boats drag anchor and are wrecked at Cape Upstart by storms. If in doubt, play it safe and leave the boat in the shed.

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NOVEMBER 2014

Cracking a Bowen jack BOWEN

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

Heat, humidity, and jacks smoking drags is what November is all about in Bowen.

The presence of summer and its accompanying afternoon storms are the perfect ingredients to fire up the Bowen jack population and get them hammering lures. With the barramundi off enjoying their well-deserved break to breed, creek anglers will be revelling in these jack attacks, and who wouldn’t? There is little better experience to feel a big angry jack crash tackle a lure before stripping metres of braid in a matter of seconds.

The good news is that all creeks systems north and south will be prime for jack fishing, however they do require a bit of a different approach at times.

The systems to the south of Bowen are quite deep and muddy and resemble more of your northern creek system with deep green waters. These southern systems are also quite large compared to the northern systems and because of all these variables they need to be approached differently, especially when fishing with lures. The southern systems tend to have more featureless banks and snags with much of the fish holding structure being off the bank and submerged under the water. This is where a side scanning sounder is a vital tool, as being able to locate these structures will play a big part to your fishing success.

In conjunction with this, you will need to fish deeper diving hardbodied lures to get down into the structure and into the fish’s face. Suspending lures like the Lucky Craft Pointer are absolutely ideal for this fishing as they get down deep quickly but also suspend in the zone for a very long time. This means the lure can get down into the snag and stay there, giving it plenty of time in the strike zone.

If you would rather fish soft plastics, then vibes are an excellent idea for this deep snag work. There are a billion

vibes on the market today and it’s more about finding the right size than what brand you choose. If you go too large your lures will find other fish like barra or big cod, however too small and you may miss out on the bigger jacks. It’s all about experimenting to get the right combination. For me, a paddle-tail vibe is always a top option as this seems to bring a lot more action to the challenge. The trick is to mix up the action to get a feel of how the fish are feeding. If strong rips are not working then try a slow action as this can sometimes draw fish out, especially if the water is dirty or flowing hard.

fished for success.

Firstly, deep diving lures are not an integral part to your arsenal as the water rarely is deeper than 6ft. Also, the snags are more bank-based and semi submerged, which means the fish sit rather high in the water column so you will only need to use lures, which work in the top 3ft of the water column.

Shallow running lures like the Gold Bomber are an excellent option, as they have plenty of wobble at slow speed and stay relatively high near the surface. Popper fishing is also very much on the cards in these northern systems as some snags literally sit in as little as 1ft of water. Blooping

Jacks love a paddle-tail plastic slowly rolled.

Heavy leader is a must and while you can get away with some lighter braid there should be no compromise on leader. I only ever fish Sunline FC100 or FC Rock as my leader as it is super tough and is perfect for going toe-to-toe with big jacks. I have been fishing this leader for over 10 years and I am amazed at how tough it is and how much punishment it can take through the snags. Having a bit of extra length in your leader is always a good idea, because if you do find yourself in the situation where you are buried deep in structure, then this will allow for a hand extraction.

If you choose to fish

spin then don’t be afraid to grab that spool on the initial strike, especially if it’s a big fish with the ability to pull a solid set drag. Spin is best suited for fishing softies and vibes, especially down in the southern systems where you tend to fight the fish more vertically due to the deeper structure.

If you aren’t a lure fisher and prefer your bait fishing, then fresh is best for mangrove jack. Fresh dead bait is a preferred offering for jacks over live bait. I’m not sure why this is the case but from all accounts from those in the know around Bowen, dead herring or mullet tends

to catch more fish than one swimming around.

Next month the fishing will remain much the same as November, however the offshore conditions will become more conducive to some excellent bottom fishing particularly in the deep water.

Fish like nannygai will begin to move into inshore waters while wrecks, isolated shoals and bommies will see some top golden snapper fishing.

The other fish that will be on the chew will be the ever-tasty coral trout. The warm water really gets these fish on the chew over summer and will be a number one target for many fishers.

Don’t be afraid to throw lures under the cover of darkness for jacks in November. They become much more aggressive during the evening and will come away from cover to feed.

If vibes aren’t your thing, then big paddle-tail soft plastics are also a top idea.

The Berkley Hollow Belly is a favourite for this time of year and a slow roll retrieve is all that is needed. Most jacks will hammer a lure head on, so stinger hooks aren’t required.

The northern creeks of Bowen are strikingly different to the southern systems of Bowen as they are very shallow, have very little mud and mostly consist of sand, which makes them very clean running. This contrast sees a very different approach to the way these systems need to be

You don’t have to go far for a big trout in November as the warmer water brings them up into the shallows.

a big Lucky Craft G Splash over these shallow structures can bring big results, as even big jacks love to hang in these shallow locations. This is by far my favourite way of fishing as it is extremely challenging and very visual. Not surprisingly, it also tends to bring out the bigger fish as the smaller jacks tend to be a little hesitant to feed off the surface.

Having a cracker sounder is not really that vital in the northern systems as the clear water and the dominance of semi submerged snags means it’s pretty easy to see where you need to fish. The deeper areas tend to be more dominated by the barra so they are best to stay away from with the closed season regulations.

Gear of choice for both northern and southern creek systems would have to be a rather short baitcaster rod and reel as the casting is usually very tight, especially in the northern systems and you will also need that ability to dominate the fight early on to get the fish out of structure.

If you go too long you will give away too much ground and will probably see yourself buried in the timber. This is a reality you must accept with jack fishing, however limiting this is possible.

NOVEMBER 2014

73

Jacks top target during barra closed season TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

This will be my first report taking over from the ‘big fella’ and they’re pretty big shoes to fill, so hopefully I can keep every one as up to date as Karim has done during his time.

You will probably see him pop into these pages a bit still, as we have been trying to line up a fish for ages now and hopefully that will come about shortly. I have been working at Townsville Akwa Marine Fishing Tackle, a Yachting and Chandlery Shop in south Townsville for a couple of years and have enjoyed getting to

Some decent barra are still about for lure casters, but remember the closed season starts at the beginning of November.

know and fish with some of the switched on locals that frequent the shop. I have done a lot of shows up here in the past and was very happy to be relocated to this area.

It’s great opportunity for me to say thanks for accepting me the way every one has in town, and we have made some terrific friends since our arrival. Anyway, here goes on my first report on the Townsville area.

OFFSHORE Up until very recently the mackerel have been on the bigger side and fish up to 20kg have been taken on floating pillies and gar while another rod is used to bounce the bottom for red fish.

Another speedster that’s been putting in a show are mahi mahi and they have been up to around the 10kg mark. If you do happen to hook into one of these acrobatic funsters, just be careful when they come on board, especially if you have hooked them and landed them fairly quickly on heavy gear, as they go ballistic when they hit the deck. They are a great table fish if you bleed them and ice them down as soon as possible and the first meal will be the best, as they don’t freeze as well as some fish.

Jacks are great fun and plentiful if you downsize your lures a little and cast the snags at low tide.

As this month heads towards the end, the big mackerel will be out near the reef doing the wild thing, but if you decide to head out there in search of a big girl, just keep in mind the threat of ciguatera in these bigger fish.

Big numbers of coral trout have been smashing barra type divers on the shallow reefs. While plastics such as the Atomics and

the bigger emperor, but still have a big enough bait left to make the effort worth while for these big fish.

Sharks are a problem sometimes, but if you can find a patch that isn’t getting your prize eaten, then make the best of it, because the bities will show not too long after the action starts.

Everyone’s different, but once I start loosing quality

The re-released 120 Laser Pros have been pulling some really nice fish lately.

Jacks love these things as well.

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NOVEMBER 2014

Gulps are very handy tools for probing the depths, the shallow reef between 3-5m is going to be best targeted with floating divers. These can be paused and allowed to float back up towards the surface slowly, avoiding the snags and drawing fish out from their hides to have a go. I use a minimum of 30lb braid and 40lb leader for this stuff and a ‘come here’ fight tactic – the only option to keep lure losses to a minimum.

Some nice red emperor have been getting taken on squid baits and yakkas. We just recently got a load of cuttlefish in and the anglers using these big, tough baits have been able to let the pickers attract the attention of

fish to these mongrels, I move on. There’s nothing worse than having one of the best eating fish in the ocean turned into shark poo and even 80lb tackle won’t outpace a hungry shark.

HEADLANDS, RIVERS AND ROCK WALLS The barra have been playing the game nicely and the newly released Halco Laser Pro 120 has been doing the job very well since it’s recent re-release after a long stint out of production.

Its unique action is just what the doctor ordered for the submerged snags, mangroves and rocks in our area. Live baits are always going to be a very effective option, especially for rivers

and creeks.

Apart from the barra, which have their 3 month closed season starting at the end of October, jacks, salmon, grunter and many more species will still take live baits including prawns, herring and mullet. The law states that any out of season barra hooked during the closed season must not be lifted from the water for photographic purposes. I can understand the reasoning behind this regulation, but be very careful holding and unhooking a barra boat side, as there have been plenty of recent close calls with crocs trying to grab a hold of barra as they are being landed. I have just been informed recently that the government have pulled the funding for the control, response and removal of problem crocodiles in the area. It baffles me how the hell this decision could even be considered after the recent increase in sightings and close calls with aggressive croc that are showing up in so many areas around town.

I will keep you updated in the future. I suppose it would be hard to have a full understanding of the potential threat to human life when you are in suburbia with no experience on the rivers of the north and the increasing threat of human risks on our waterways.

Anyway, I am looking forward to keeping you all updated on the goings on in our area and I hope that it helps you bend a rod in the beautiful Townsville area.

• If you have any pictures relating to the area from a recent trip or if you’re a local who wants to put your catch on show, just call into the shop or email them to us at promotions@akwamarine. com.au.

Alternatively, you can post them on our Facebook page. See you next month!

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75

Getting heated up LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

Really? November already?

How time flies when you have a rod in your hand. I’ll cut straight to the point and say that I hope everybody got into a few barra before the closed season at midday November 1.

We hope that the wet comes early this year and allows the barra to do their thing and breed up for the coming years. The late wet we received last year played a big role in a tougher barra season.

Although it doesn’t matter, as now that barra are off limits, it is time to start brawling with plenty of other awesome fish we have swimming around in our tropical waters.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL At this time of year there are a few fish that spring to mind when heading up the channel, these being mangrove jack, golden grunter and golden snapper. They all fight well, taste great and if targeted correctly plenty of fish can be brought boat side for a feed or be released to fight another day.

Mangrove jack are the thugs of the creeks and most will agree that a ‘jack attack’

If only every morning started with massive golden snapper like this one caught by the author. as fresh cut baits will also get hammered. The secret to fishing baits is how to present them as you want them to appear natural and also not get snagged constantly, which is a concern as jack country is normally not very forgiving. Floating your baits in unweighted is a deadly technique, using the current to allow your bait to sit in the structure will see you get hammered. I just can’t promise you will pull the fish back out. When using livies, a small float keeps your live bait swimming freely above the structure and right in the strike zone. With both these techniques, have your drag set and be ready, as it can and will be over in a blink of an eye. As they say, ‘screw the drag up tight then use your thumbs!’

Anglers should go deeper for reds. Baits are not always needed as these fish are just as keen to smash a well-presented blade like this chunky model. can leave you feeling weak at the knees. How jacks can generate so much power still amazes me and their aggressiveness is plain scary.

To target jacks I find it best to head up the creeks when the tide is about half way down (low tides 1m or less are best) heading up into the top sections of the creeks puts you well and truly in jack territory. Those creeks that are a few boat lengths wide but still have some depth (3-6m) and have plenty of big scary looking structures in the water at low tide are the ones you want to find.

Techniques to get them biting are vast and live baits such as mullet and herring will get smashed (smaller model mullet are like lollies) but these baits filleted and used 76

NOVEMBER 2014

Grunter and golden snapper are both suckers for the same baits and the same rigs. The only variable to change really is the location.

You can catch both fish together but grunter will prefer feeding on gravelly, rubbly ground and snapper like some kind of submerged structure, usually rock. Live herring are dynamite baits for both species fished simply on a running sinker rig through to a trace.

If not live then fresh herring or fresh squid are great too.

Keep weight to a minimum, with only enough to keep your bait on the bottom but not too much to be unnatural.

Grunter can be difficult to hook, as they like to mouth the bait and slowly swim off with it, so if you strike too soon you will come up empty-handed.

Fish for grunter with a little slack line and when a bite is felt, drop the rod tip slightly, let the fish run off for a few metres and then set that hook.

Both fish will bite better on an incoming tide. Night sees better quality and quantity with both species.

ISLANDS AND REEF Warmer water temperatures means anglers should target fish in deeper water.

Trout will still be in good numbers, but it is important to find a location with good depth (25-32m) and plenty of bait such as fusilier in the area. Catches will slow down so get some of these delicious fish in the freezer. Trout are suckers for plastics worked along the bottom, the old Gulp 7” Jerkshad is an effective trout catching weapon but will also catch all manner of other species.

Nannygai and emperor are heading wider and after a cracker winter on these fish, we hope summer will continue with great numbers. Sourcing some good baits is the key to getting emperor to bite and collecting live baits or, at the very least, using some fresh fillets of hussar, stripey or fusilier push the odds more in your favour. Finding some good ground in 50m or more that has bait and structure and then fishing it at first or last light should have line ripping off your reels. Sharks have been a massive problem of late and the taxman has ruined plenty of trips.

The juvenile black marlin from reports have diminished in numbers inshore, but now is the time for the big girls to be hanging out wide on the shelf. I will be trolling some big skirts and baits when heading wide and moving from spot to spot just in case. I can only imagine the sight of a few hundred kilograms of marlin musclecarving up the ocean! But when one door closes another opens and it is time for the summer run of sailfish to hopefully turn up for fun and games.

Shoals and wrecks will have cobia taking up residence and berleying them to the boat and feeding an unweighted bait or plastic is great fun and visually amazing. A live bait swimming a few metres under the surface will have a limited lifespan, trust me!

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There are plenty of options while barra breed HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

It certainly has been an anticlimax to the barra season this year with the bigger fish leaving it later than usual to show up.

Early October saw our waterways inundated with super clear water and periods of dead still weather, not to mention lower than usual water temperatures.

All this makes for poor barra fishing.

In recent years our seasons seem to be getting later and later. Nowadays we seem to get our rains after the 1 February opening of the barra season. This allows them to be harassed by nets and also become Ian Gurle with his PB 103cm barra at Hinchinbrook recently. recreational fishing targets while still in full roe and Moving onto better and pinnacles and provide predatory feeding on baitfish this, to me, defeats the barra pastures, there is one thing perfect foraging areas for whereas the snappers’ teeth closure objectives. I would this clean water did bring these fish to graze around. are worn down, as they like like to see our closed barra with it and that was some Golden snapper are very to forage and feed on crabs season changed to the 1 awesome golden snapper similar to mangrove jack and baitfish. Jacks love the December to reopen on 1 fishing. Golden snapper are in appearance. Where the twisted mangrove shallows March. Perhaps these are mainly a deep water fish and snapper has a black spot and the snapper like deep old rules and need to move just love it when the water is on every scale the jacks , rocky and shoaly type with the times, but that’s clean. Soft plastics and live have a clear to white spot in ground. Both fish species just my opinion through herring have proven the best the same place. Their teeth have been firing well and observations made over the methods lately. The channel patterns are very similar; are always a bunch of fun at years into how the seasons and surrounding waterways the jacks have sharper and this time of year.

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NOVEMBER 2014

STACER’S EVO ADVANCE HULL. A DIVINE RIDE.

should start to ease off soon as they head well south. It won’t be until next June that we see next year’s juveniles come through.

Now is the time for the giant black marlin during their annual spawning aggregation on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef.

Most of the fishing is concentrated off Cairns and further north but there has been some good success in the areas wide of our region too with Myrmidon Reef being one of the most popular areas.

During November we hope to see threadfin salmon and golden snapper become regular occurrences on our charters. Live baiting with herring can account for both species when fishing on rubble and pinnacles in the bottom of deep holes. Both fish are stunning on the table but please take only enough for your immediate needs if you hit the mother load.

Both species make a great alternative to barra fishing when the closure is on.

Also remember that any accidental barra captures must be released as soon as practically possible. That means no holding it out of

the water for 50 photos!

Big golden grunter become a popular target around the islands and headlands during November. Fresh squid in the deeper holes on neap tides is the way to go if you wish to scrap with some of these good eating fish.

They’re great to fish for at night as well.

For those that fish the reef beware the northwesters and storms from here on in. Sometimes it pays to fish at night during summer as it’s cooler and the fish respond much better at night as the waters warm.

Our E-course Barra Basics was a huge success and enrolments are now closed until the February 2015 intake. If you’re interested you can take the whole product tour at www.barrabasics.com and get ready for the next enrolment.

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And you could also win a free charter drawn twice a year.

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NOVEMBER 2014

79

The heat switches on the fish CAIRNS

David Mayes

Gary Smith is away on leave so I’ll be covering the Cairns report for the next two editions. For those who recognise the last name, yes, my father Geoff Mayes wrote for QFM for well over a decade before taking a break from writing, but he still loves to bend a rod when given half a chance by the weather gods.

Lately he has been harassing the touring Spanish mackerel migration that has moved in over the cooler months with consistent success.

WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING? Over the last month the early morning trolling hasn’t always been the most productive for the mackerel, with the bulk of the fish coming on well after the sun has risen. On the reef edges these silver bullets have been responding to just about everything of late from trolled hardbodies in qantas colour, live fusiliers and the usual floated pilchards.

In closer around the islands, seeking out the cleaner water has often been the difference between bringing home quality fish and heading home for an early shower. Those anglers hunting early morning fish have had success on rigged skip baits such as sauries and slimies and garfish. The Gulp blue pepper soft plastics have been working for the lure fishers.

Locating bait balls and working them violently from the bottom with metal slices is also a tactic that pays dividends. Local angler Matt Coxon has proved this works as he has been slaying the Spaniards with this technique and also managed to record some fantastic footage on his GoPro! When the macks have moved down deeper by late morning, trolled wolf herring on downriggers or chin-

gards has been the answer and rewarding those anglers prepared to respond to the changing fish behaviour.

This season around High and Franklin islands it seems that the average size of the Spaniards have been around the 6-8kg mark. Over the past 10-15 years it seems the frequency of larger fish appears to be getting lower.

Fishers are wondering whether this has anything to do with the constant impact of commercial netting in this area during the mackerel season. What an incredible recreational fishery this used to be. Are the days of the regular 50lb Spaniards of High Island gone?

Other species that have also made a credible showing have been the trevally family with most common species running riot on coastal wrecks and outcrops. Big goldens and diamonds have been inhaling metal slices meant for Spaniards and giving a fair account of themselves in the process.

Calling the billfish scene electric at the moment would be an understatement. Small blacks and sailfish have been showing up in fantastic numbers and this year has been hailed by many as the best season in years!

Juvenile black marlin and sailfish have rudely interrupted locals targeting macks around the islands.

Brian Sheehan had a day to remember with his wife Vickie out behind Double Island where he successfully released a small black marlin.

Upon arrival he drifted out a floated pilchard before line started peeling off at a rate.

Organised chaos ensued after the fish danced across the surface and finally ended up boat side for a quick pic and release. High fives were had all round.

In the rivers and estuary systems small to mediumsized grunter have at times been in plague proportions.

Fishing at night around the dark moon with flesh bait has

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seen better quality fish taken.

The red fishing at night on the wide grounds has also been productive for the keen bottom basher with notable reports of quality nannygai and grassy sweetlip showing up in the esky. The deeper water around 60m with rubble bottom has provided plenty of action for those prepared to put the time in and knock off work a little earlier.

LOOKING AHEAD As the water continues to warm up the usual suspects will feature heavily in the upcoming month. Mackerel will start to taper off, however they will make a late last ditch run around the new moon before the touring fish move off to leave their brief romance with the local resident population.

With the change in temperature, estuary fish will be on the move around neap tides and can be found up over flats and in among the mangrove lines hunting for prey. Lure presentation and choice is again very important so keeping the bait in their face should be a main focus. Longer profile shallow minnows can also trigger reaction strikes and is a great option when targeting jacks, who can be very territorial towards a lure half their size. Mangrove jacks will be top of the list for many lure anglers and familiar techniques will again be main practise. Lures must be cast tight to mangrove roots and fallen timber, as jacks will be seeking cover from the hot conditions. Snags with slight

shade cover should always be worth a cast or two.

Late afternoon tide changes and run-out tides should be targeted for best results.

Mangrove jacks are suckers for half a pilchard, which should not be dismissed over livies for the bait fisher.

Golden snapper and black jew have already started to show up on the headlands and drop-offs and their presence will only improve towards the warmer months. Early starts and low light periods for snapper improve your chances of tangling with these tropical brutes. Look for rock ledge country and try soft plastics as they often bring on the best results. If the swell is causing your boat to rock slowly then flat sticking your rod in the rod holder is a firm favourite. Glassed out conditions requires a little twitch retrieval work from the angler. Remember, less is more and the occasional high-speed spin over 10-15m can persuade finicky feeders into becoming fearsome freight trains.

Double hook ups are not uncommon when targeting these schooling fish and it often pays to change to the lure or retrieval pattern that is working. Both golden snapper and mulloway do not release well and are vulnerable to barotrauma and over fishing, so please limit your catch.

Red fishing at night has been very productive and should continue for those finding a pattern, which

Vanessa Macleod displays a solid Spanish mackerel, which inhaled a skipped garfish.

This was her first ever Spanish mackerel. coincides with making tides and suitable weather conditions. Better quality fish have been caught using live bait and larger baits consisting of squid and strips of flesh.

TRY THIS It is important to note that the warming water doesn’t always mean improved fishing. A lot of the success falls back onto the angler and his or her approach to different water temperatures. Be prepared to mix up retrieves when lure fishing as some fish still might need a little excitment,

particularly jacks. I always have a switch bait ready to go if a decent fish is enticed out from the snags but doesn’t respond to the lure.

The bass anglers in the states have had this up their sleeves for years and are no doubt a game changer when the fish are not fully responding and wanting something else. A quick change with a different presentation can often do the trick and prawn imitations are my favourite for this.

All the best for the next month, the weather and fishing should really start to heat up. Never give up!

Plenty to keep you busy COOKTOWN

Nick Stock

With water temps around 28°C and ambient temperatures over the 30°C mark every day the barra are getting ready to start spawning.

The headlands and river mouths are where the spawning happens and the barra are best left alone to do their thing during the closure. The problem is that nearly every species in northern estuaries are targeted on the same few styles of fishing methods, so no doubt when chasing jacks and golden snapper (fingermark) around Walker Bay or Elim Beach you may hook a barra. Common sense should see anglers quickly release all barra as soon as possible.

The beauty of the Cooktown area is that there are countless other species to keep you busy and well fed. Drifting the river mouth and flats around the Annan

will see some great fishing.

Big schools of golden trevally, queenfish and giant trevally hunt hardiheads here during the run-in tide and isolated snags can hold good jacks, fingermark and black-spot cod. Lightly weighted live sardines or mud herring flicked into scattered snags is an easy way to get a feed.

Don’t be surprised if you see a few good grunter or big flathead come off the flats while you’re at it.

The jacks are another species that will be spawning over the coming few months and can be seen holding in schools on decent structure including the local Endeavour Wharf. There is no closure for these guys and they can be red-hot or totally switched off feeding. If you get them on a hot bite, just take enough for a feed and release what you don’t need.

Mixed in with these jacks swimming around the pylons will be some absolute horse sized barra. Seeing these 20kg+ barra sitting on every second pylon is a promising

sign of a recovering system since the banning of commercial netting in the Endeavour.

Both of the local guided trailer boat operations have been putting clients onto some trophy fish. Gone Fishing has been nailing metre-plus barra on a regular basis and Cooktown Barra charters have been smashing the jacks, grunter and fingermark.

Bookings are essential from

the warmer months the grey nomads thin out and space opens up. This coincides with the build up of the wet and is my favourite time of year to fish FNQ. Be sure to give either of the companies mentioned a call to get stuck into some great fishing action.

Once again, until next month stay safe on the water and be sure to jump onto Facebook and check out the

Just before the closed season, Gone Fishing Charters were putting clients onto plenty of horse 1m+ barra like this one.

May to November as tourists keep the guides on the water most days, however during

hand crafted timber Barra lures I make called Twin River Lures.

Month of the billed behemoths PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer

It’s that time of year when the game fishing scene takes centre stage in the far north as the hunt for the mighty big black marlin is top of the pecking order for many angling enthusiasts.

November is peak time to target, catch and release these behemoth creatures of the sea and our local fishing grounds are world famous.

Approximately 80% of the world’s 1000lb+ fish are registered along the outer fringes of the Great Barrier Reef and many of these are caught on our local turf, which includes Linden Bank, Opal Ridge, the Ribbon Reefs and Louise Shoals.

The big girls arrive from the extremities of the Coral Sea and Pacific Oceans to breed with our resident smaller marlin stallions and is one of the greatest migrations in the fishing world. This migration also attracts anglers from all over the globe to chance their arm at taming one of these grand specimens and is considered by many as the Holy Grail of fishing.

The big females arrived right on schedule this year and

some mighty catches were recorded in late September and early October. There have been higher numbers of smaller black marlin caught but the numbers of monster fish was healthy. From this point on, the fishing just got better and better and is now at fever pitch. This is perfect timing for the up and coming annual Port Douglas Marlin Challenge, which is

all there to win the coveted Leon Thomas Memorial Trophy for tagging the most marlin over the course of the tournament. We’ll update the outcome of the event in next month’s edition.

It’s not all about marlin on the edges of the continental shelf as the light tackle fishing is ticking along really nicely as well. There’s good number of wahoo,

Attention turns to the annual Port Douglas Marlin Challenge in early November. conducted over 4 days from 6-9 November. Many of Australia’s leading game boat operators are partaking in this event, which is growing in statue every year. It is a very social occasion but in the same token they are

mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, northern bluefin tuna, sailfish and Spanish mackerel to contend with. A lot of boat owners like to play around in the mornings on the stand up gear and then revert to the heavy tackle in the afternoon

for a shot at a big marlin.

When you combine these two styles of fishing into a day and produce positive results, there’s no better angling to be had, and I’m sure there’s plenty out there who would agree.

If you are contemplating partaking in a game fishing adventure you still have time to do so as this light tackle to heavy tackle fishing will fire into the early parts of December.

In other news we’ve had some very conducive weather in the past couple of months to complement the tremendous reef fishing, which has been on offer this year. All your trophy species including coral tout, red emperor and large mouth nannygai have been around in consistent numbers and this has been a bonus to add on top of the incredible mackerel season that was recorded this year.

It’s been a bumper season for gold-spot trevally so far and they have been around in prolific numbers.

They fight extremely hard and are very handy on the plate as a bonus.

There’s been a lot of variety on the reef with other species such as cobia,

Anglers from around the globe will be coming to Port Douglas in November looking to tangle with the top sports fish - a 1000lb black marlin.

Photo courtesy of Saltaire Charters.

red-throat emperor, spangled emperor, tea-leaf trevally, bludger trevally, Moses perch, sweetlip and baldy bream all making an impression at various times. Just be aware of our next reef closure over 5 days beginning on 19 November. Many believe that the coral trout have already completed most of their breeding during the first closure in October as they

were roed up nice and early and they were congregating into the shallows well before the set dates.

If the weather can continue to punch out glorious days as it has in recent times, we may be on the verge of one of the greatest all round fishing years we’ve seen up in the tropics for many years.

There’s no other place you’d rather be.

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81

Belter on the billfish WEIPA

Josh Lyons thesportfisher@gmail.com

Having finished last month’s article stating that I was going to give a full wrap of Weipa’s 2014 Billfish Tournament, I better get straight into it.

grounds west of Weipa in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Unfortunately, due to work commitments I was unable to fish in this year’s comp but here is how it all went down.

After a sail past the Evans Landing boat ramp at 7am on Saturday morning, the fleet charged out to

Weipa local Jacob Gigliotti with a lovely bar-cheeked trout taken in 15ft of water under a large bait school.

Held over the long weekend of 4-6 October, this year’s comp saw a total of 18 boats fish in beautiful conditions on the wider

82

NOVEMBER 2014

their chosen grounds about 30miles west of Weipa. A brilliant 3 full days light tackle billfishing then ensued and on Monday

afternoon when the scoresheets were handed in and tallied they revealed some awesome results. A total of 64 billfish were tagged and released, three black marlin made for some variety, but it was the 61 sailfish that made for world-class numbers in this year’s event.

Other by-catch during the comp included, Spanish mackerel, longtail tuna, mac tuna, trevally, cobia, barracuda and mahi mahi.

Reg Moore went for the ‘bigger is better’ approach and fishing out of his 50ft Riviera Duyfken, he and his team took out champion boat with 13 tags. Reg was also champion senior angler for the comp. The runner up champion boat was Wine Down Skippered by Darryl French, fishing with his family they managed 9 tags with young Lewis French catching 8 sailfish and taking out overall champion angler and the champion junior, what an awesome effort!

Billfishing has really taken off here in Weipa with plenty of anglers new to the sport getting out there and having a crack. If you are keen on giving this

Weipa regular Allan Herse trolled this golden snapper up off a rubble bottom in 30ft of water on a gold Halco Crazy Deep. exciting form of fishing a go, I would recommend joining a club like the Weipa Billfish Club as they are there to share knowledge and there is no doubt your learning curve will steepen drastically.

On other fishing fronts, Spaniards, longtails and queenfish have followed clear water and bait schools into the shallows of Albatross Bay with some of the best action to be had close to the coast between

Westminster all the way around to Duyfken Point.

In this clear water trolling 3-4m divers in natural colours is the way to go.

This good water and bait has also fired up the reef fish with coral trout and golden snapper feeding voraciously during different bite times throughout the day. Trolled lures have accounted for plenty of these tasty fish as well, just so long as you choose a lure that gets near

enough to the bottom in the depth you’re fishing.

The rivers really began to fire just as the barra season came to a close. Water temperatures cracked 30°C at times and with beautiful conditions, it’s not hard to work out why. The barra are now in for a well-earned rest, so do the right thing and return any you catch to the water unharmed, there are plenty of other fish to bend a rod on over the closed season.

Welcome to the swelter CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly aggott88@gmail.com

With the dry season at its most gripping, there is still another 2 months before we can expect any consistent rains or river rises.

November marks the closed season for barramundi on the east coast, following up on the west coast, which closed in October. A successful spawning season will see millions of tiny barra ready to travel up the flooded creeks and rivers of the Cape to find shelter during the wet season.

So what do we do up in the Cape when the barra season closes and things get sweaty up the rivers and estuaries? Let’s have a look at a handful of species that should be on the chew and keen to tussle in November.

Transitioning in and out of the larger river mouths of the west coast and onto the shallow offshore reefs, black jew require a bit of extra focus from anglers targeting them with success.

The turn of the tide is a major trigger for these fish and the first few hours of the run-in tide will often be the most productive time.

There is a whole range of techniques that will work

but basically, big live baits fished near the bottom will be best for the larger models.

Smaller soft plastics, vibes and deep diving hardbodies will account for most of the smaller fish. Looking to stop a large black jew on light gear is one thing, but when these fish have even the slightest piece of structure to brick you on, it’s usually game over within a minute.

I remember a session in November a few years back where big black jew were toying with the large mullet we had rigged up, swimming near the bottom on heavy leader. You had to let the fish run almost 20m before successfully setting

A nice grunter taken in the shallows on light threadline gear.

It’s black jew time!

KARUMBA

Alan Gurney awes0me@bigpond.net.au

This month is usually very hot with 98% humidity and this will continue through to the wet season. Please always take plenty of water and have some shade even if it is only an umbrella.

Last month saw the end of the barramundi season so please do not target them so they can breed.

You will find some work in progress at the town boat ramp as the Carpentaria Shire Council is doing a major upgrade to increase the ramps from 2 to 5 and placing a pontoon down the middle. The point ramps have already been completed so there are now 3 lanes and these will be open. I would like to thank the council for their efforts to promote our wonderful shire and their workers for always being polite when dealing with the public. The Normanton ramp is being extended from 1 to 2 lanes and a pontoon placed there to help anglers and also to support the barge in flood conditions.

It is black jew time in Karumba and the place to be is in the deep holes at the mouths of creeks in the river. You will need to fish the bottom of the tide for the best results, so be there 2 hours before and be patient - they should turn up at some stage and start feeding.

Normanton is a great place to catch king salmon at this time of year off the bridge at night. The fish will be around when the current slows down at the top of the tide. Soft plastics and live mullet will cover the bases.

Easy does it... hooked up to something large on the sand. the hook and it usually gave them enough room to use the current and find a single log buried in the sand about 30m from where the bait was taken in the first place. We landed a couple of beautiful purple-tinged fish at around 120cm but lost the majority of larger specimens.

In November, when things are really hot and muggy up the creeks, it pays to have a few options out around the mouth, especially in the afternoons when the onshore breeze is gathering traction. This time of year in the Gulf of Carpentaria, you will get some long, slow, all day run-in tides.

It doesn’t always lead to an easy day on the fishing front, but it does present an opportunity to really refine some techniques not required at other times of the year.

For example, casting smallish vibes and a variety of soft plastics, letting them sink before using a slow, steady twitch retrieve on an incoming tide. Smaller black jew are a real sucker for this technique. Casting lures long and ahead into the current, letting them sink down until the retrieve begins with a hint of slack line on touch down. With simple rod tip lifts followed by a sharp but steady retrieve, the plastics and

vibes shimmer up off the bottom and get plenty of attention from fish sitting low in the current. Spin gear is by far the best for this type of fishing, with long casts and a soft rod

sandy beaches littering Cape York are often at their best this time of year. With little significant rainfall and still, breezeless mornings, fish can be targeted right up in shallow back-country.

A beautifully marked small black jew caught on a slow-twitched plastic. tip showing off every bite and nudge at your offering. Other fish caught using these methods in November include grunter, bream, golden snapper, mangrove jack, blue salmon, queenfish, trevally, flathead, threadfin salmon and the ever-present catfish.

Moving out into the bays and coastal areas, this will be a month of glass-out mornings and potentially day upon day of calm weather. Sight fishing opportunities on the shallow

Just keep a good eye out for box jellyfish tentacles coming your way on hooked fish or lure trebles.

Also remember that coinciding with the new moon, this year’s coral fin fish closures apply from 19-23 November 2014 and will affect areas of Cape York south of the tip on the east coast only. This is not a long closure and good numbers of reef fish can be targeted in relatively shallow water right throughout November.

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Crabs are an excellent option if you’re chasing a feed this month; just remember to label your pots correctly.

They will then stop and move off so once they have gone quiet, pack up and head home.

I use a strip bait in the hole and a live mullet in the creek to give myself a chance of catching a king salmon as well.

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83

Anglers are spoilt for freshwater options TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

It seems that the freshwater scene has fired up just about everywhere. The bass have been biting, golden perch are going crazy, Murray cod are whacking lures and the barra are on the move.

That’s not to mention the other species like sooty grunter, saratoga and silver perch, which don’t always get the mention they deserve but are just as willing to get in on the action.

When the fishing improves like this, it is a great opportunity to target the fish on lures. Casting and trolling are both effective although one can outperform the other.

It all depends on the mood of the fish on the day. Fishing is so unpredictable and that is why we need to have a selection of lures to throw at them. Even the way in which a lure is worked has to be added into the equation when trying to get the fish to bite.

their popularity dwindled.

The introduction of fancy looking Japanese models along with their effectiveness has excited anglers enough to start filling their tackle trays with them again. They are working so well it is as if the fish have never seen them before.

Since the popularity of the tail-spinner has grown, I decided to make my own model. After 7 different shapes and weights I settled on the most effective one, which I called a JETS (Jason Ehrlich Tail-spinner). The lure is the perfect size to get the bass excited and has great hook exposure to give better hook ups when the fish nail it. They come with blades I have selected to give the best frequency of vibration and work at speeds slower than soft plastics. All are made in my shed using components purchased from Australian businesses and they have quality Owner trebles.

Last month we fished the Somerset Dam Basstastic round. My son Blake

There are some quality bass to be caught at Cressbrook.

The schools can be difficult to find but should bite as soon as you find them. Make the most of the action, as they don’t handle the pressure very well. John Bryant nailed 5 fish in 5 casts when we found this school.

TAIL-SPINNERS Bass fishers will have noted the rebirth of the tail-spinner over the past 6 months. These lures were used with great success on the early bass tournament scene but over the years

smashed it in the juniors’ section, catching all of his fish on JETS and I just managed to sneak into first place in the seniors to take out the competition using the same lure. It was satisfying to see quite a few anglers in

the top 10 places had used my tail-spinners to help put their bags of bass together.

Not only did the lures catch bass but heaps of golden perch as well. That’s not the thing you want in a bass competition but on any other day it is a lot of fun.

You can check JETS out on my FaceBook page or go to the Hot Bite Lures page. I’m selling direct to the public at this stage so if you’re interested I can be contacted via my email at fishability1@bigpond.com.

HOW-TO These lures are going to get a fair mention in the fishing media due to their popularity. They are a metal fish shaped lure with a treble underneath and a spinning blade on the rear. The weight of the metal makes the lure plummet to the bottom and as the blade is pulled along it spins. The blade doesn’t just spin when the lure is sinking but also when the lure is lifted or retrieved. If it’s moving, chances are it is attracting fish.

The most popular retrieve is to cast over fish and let the lure sink until it hits the bottom. The line goes slack or changes speed due to the weight of the lure as soon as it touches down.

From this position, I take up the slack in the line and draw the rod up from parallel to the water to a vertical position. Some anglers like to lift the lure even higher in the water column by raising their arm above their head as they draw the rod up. The height of the lift really should depend on how high the fish are sitting through the water column. We have had a lot of success on the big bass using a sideways draw to move the lure 1-2m keeping it closer to the bottom where the bigger bass often hang out. After the draw, let the lure fall or swing back down to the bottom and repeat the process all the way back to the boat.

Tail-spinners are as simple as that to use, but it doesn’t stop there. While the slow draw and drop technique does the job most of the

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84

NOVEMBER 2014

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

time, there are other ways to get the fish interested. They can be retrieved and dropped back to the bottom, trolled, wound fast through the fish and stopped (burn and kill) or even jigged. There have been quite a few times when we have managed to catch those fussy fish sitting below the boat on a vertical presentation. Winding up through them can work but they also seem to like the lure jigged and dead sticked (paused just above the bottom). Try working the tail-spinner just as you would an ice jig. You may be surprised at the response.

Until next month, buckled rods from the Colonel!

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

Maryborough

Roma

BRISBANE

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWNS: TOOWOOMBA, CROWS NEST Cressbrook bass went nuts last month. These fish have now dispersed but it goes to show that when you find a good school you can catch good quality and numbers.

We had a few sessions at Cressbrook on the way to Somerset. After fishing a couple of hours in the morning we were able to land between 20-30 fish to over 40cm. There has even been the occasional 50cm fish taken.

DAM LEVEL Report DAMS JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT Atkinson 65 60 56 55 48 Awoonga 96 94 93 92 91 Bjelke-Petersen 67 65 63 62 58 Boondooma 76 74 72 72 70 Borumba 100 99 98 99 98 Burdekin Falls 99 97 94 91 85 Callide 63 61 60 58 56 Cania 91 90 89 87 85 Clarendon 73 69 65 62 55 Clarrie Hall 99 n/a n/a 98 n/a Cooby 81 79 n/a 67 71 Coolmunda 50 49 48 47 44 Copeton 33 33 32 33 30 Cressbrook 97 97 n/a 92 90 Dyer/Bill Gunn 74 71 66 63 58 Eungella 99 99 99 99 98 Fairbairn 50 49 48 45 44 Glenlyon 37 37 37 37 34 Hinze 92 90 88 88 87

Gympie

12

The hot spot was the first point as you follow the bank out into the basin from the campground.

This spot will be worth a look this month but it is likely the fish will be holding elsewhere. There is a good chance the biggest concentrations of schooling bass will be within sight of the boat ramps. Look around the points and where the drop-off drops from 10m to deeper water.

Tail-spinners and soft plastics have been the best lures to use. If schools are found, try casting both to see

For fortnightly updates Julius 73 69 67 65 61  Kinchant 97 99 99 98 96 Koombooloomba 97 97 73 59 35  Leslie 37 36 36 37 33  Macdonald 100 97 95 97 75  Maroon 94 92 91 92 91  Monduran/Fred Haigh 86 85 84 84 82  Moogerah 90 89 91 87 89  North Pine/Samsonval 74 72 70 69 67  Peter Faust/Proserpine 95 94 93 93 91 Pindari 17 17 16 17 15  Somerset 99 98 97 99 98  Storm King n/a 62 59 n/a n/a  Teemburra 101 101 101 101 101  Tinaroo 91 89 85 83 77 Toonumbar 100 98 94 n/a 99  Wivenhoe 89 88 86 86 84  Wuruma 80 78 78 78 76

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 22/10/14

what the bass prefer. If you are struggling to find fish, try hopping lures down the bank.

Cast a blade or tail-spinner up into 5m of water and hop it back down the contour over 10m. This method has been picking up the scattered fish.

Due to the bass being more scattered, trolling lures out in the deep water should put quite a few in the boat.

Deep diving lures without rattles perform well.

The entry fee at the boom gate has been removed but the 8 knot speed limit is still in place. Hours for boating and day use of the recreation area are 6am-8pm.

For all your supplies, expert advice and to check on the boating restrictions, call in at Fish’n’Bits in Alderley Street, Toowoomba, or give them a ring on (07) 4636 6850. The boys at the store all compete in bass tournaments and really know their stuff.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The fishing has been great considering the amount of pressure the fish are getting. Big bass were the target last month. These fish will be starting to thin down as they reabsorb their roe but that doesn’t mean they won’t put on the same performance when hooked.

Schooling bass have been found all over the lake and

may tend to break up a little more next month. For now, try searching around The Spit, Red Rock, Pelican Point, Bay 13, wide of Queen Street, the flats south of Kirkleigh and the flats and drop-offs

they get harder to tempt. By continuously moving, the fish don’t have a chance to school up below you.

Bass fishers will do well casting lures like tail-spinners, blades, lipless crankbaits and

Hot Bite Lures JETS tail-spinners caught heaps of bass and golden perch at Somerset Dam to help us take out the junior and senior section of last month’s Basstastic round. between Kirkleigh and the timber. Most of these fish will be holding in around 10m of water and you need to spend the time locating them on the sounder to have a good chance of catching them.

Even when located they can be fussy buggers. Some days they will chew and others they can be near impossible to tempt. I have found the best way to keep them biting is to keep the boat moving. Bass tend to school up right below the boat and when they do this

soft plastics. Mix it up and try the different lures to see what the fish want.

Trolling will become more effective this month.

Deep diving lures able to reach 8-10m are ideal. A couple of my favourites are the Blitz Baga and 50mm Poltergeist Crazy Deep.

Trolled lures should be pulled around the flats and drop-offs and will produce both golden perch and bass. Further north up in the timber, golden perch will be the main target. Try

trolling the river channel and in between the deep trees.

Somerset now has a 6 knot zone marked by a buoy line at the start of the timber to the north of Kirkleigh. There is also a new boat ramp at the top end of the dam. The new ramp is part of the Queensland Government’s plan to grow tourism by providing recreational opportunities.

This area is well suited to kayaks and canoes, although boats can also be launched from the concrete ramp. The new access point is located off Westvale Road.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, ARATULA The bass fishing has continued to impress at Lake Moogerah. Some of the best action is coming from the back end of the dam in the timber. The bass here will take tail-spinners, blades and soft plastics. Gold colours have been working well for anglers over the past month.

It will also pay to have a look for fish around the spit area straight out from the boat ramp closest to the dam wall and also across the flats out from The Palms.

Moogerah now has a speed limit inside the timbered area, where the speed limit is now 6 knots. This will stop the skiers doing a slalom run through the trees right past us while we peacefully try

to catch a fish and hopefully prevent any serious accidents.

MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, BEAUDESERT Maroon fired up over the last couple of months. There were some cracking bass well over 40cm caught and even the occasional 50cm fish. These are quality fish for Maroon and hopefully we’ll see a lot more bass of this calibre.

Try fishing tight to the weed beds around the lake. Lures like deeper diving suspending jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, blades and plastics are all worth tossing.

One of my favourite lures for

1/4oz jighead with the blade frame attached is perfect for rolling through the holes and down the contours in the weed beds. If the lure gets fouled with weed, the blade stops working. A few sharp rips usually frees the lure and the vibration will let you know it is weed-free and working.

Surface fishing in the morning and afternoon will definitely be worth a shot.

The topwater action at this time of year can be very impressive. Surface lures can be worked over the tops of the weed beds. When the light level is low, the bass will hide in the weed and shoot to

The flats and drop-offs will be areas to look for bass schools this month. This Somerset fish was taken by Paul Vincent on a JETS tail-spinner. fishing close to weed is the beetle spin rigged soft plastic.

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DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA The golden perch activity at Cooby will start to pick up this month. The fish can be caught all over the dam but will tend to congregate in certain areas.

Boat fishers will do well straight out from the boat ramp in the middle of the dam and along the opposite bank heading back up Cooby Creek. The Middle of the Cooby Creek arm fishes well at times. The gullies running into the main creek form a high hump out in the middle of the dam. This is always worth sounding to see if there are fish holding on it. Another location worth a look is the steep rocky bank on the opposite side of the dam closer to the roped off area near the dam wall.

The golden perch usually cruise around in 6-10m of water and will favour a particular depth. A few will also be found in the shallows where they can be caught casting spinnerbaits around the edges. There is always a

chance of scoring a Murray cod when luring as well.

The deeper schooling goldens will be suckers for live shrimp and saltwater yabbies fished straight below the boat. Jigging lures also scores plenty of fish. Small blades like the Ecogear ZX range are perfect for jigging along the bottom. Ice jigs and even soft plastics will take fish at times. Lipless crankbaits score quite a few fish when worked very slowly in the deeper water. They are ideal when other lures fail to get a bite and should be wound off the bottom slowly for up to 8 winds and allowed to sink again. Slow is the key when the goldens are hard to entice. Some days the lure can be wound so slow that it doesn’t even vibrate.

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 electric powered boat can still be launched with care. Outboard motors can

WIDE BAY AND BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY As the fish start to scatter a little more this month, lure trollers will start to whack both bass and golden perch. Deep and medium diving lures will perform well when fished in the deep water close to the drop-offs in the first and second basin of the lake.

Schooling bass will still be found and will be keen to pounce on a tail-spinner, lipless crankbait or soft plastic.

In the timbered arms of

the Boyne and Stuart rivers, the bass will be keen to eat spinnerbaits cast around the edges in the morning.

As the day wears on, work the drop-offs and then the deeper trees.

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

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 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 Most of the golden perch and Murray cod have been coming from the deeper water. Try to target the dropoffs and the old creek beds and you’ll be in with a good shot. Excellent numbers of golden perch have been taken on trolled hardbodies, cast blades and lipless baits.

Bait fishers will do well on live or frozen shrimp and frozen saltwater yabbies.

Again, fishing the deeper water around the drop-off or over the top of submerged rocky structure will produce better numbers.

Early and late in the day it may be worth prospecting the edges by throwing some lipless crankbaits or spinnerbaits. You should focus on where the rocky formations run down into the

water. Golden perch will be first to jump on but don’t be surprised if you hook a Murray cod.

Cod can be targeted on the deeper structure by hopping lipless vibes. The bigger profiled lures are likely to attract the cod but you will have to sort through lots of golden perch between the cod bites.

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.

COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD Coolmunda is going off with heaps of golden perch and quite a few cod taking lures and baits. Lure fishers are picking up fish along the drop-off to the river and creek channel. Live shrimp are one of the best baits followed closely by saltwater yabbies.

Lure fishers can work the drop-offs by trolling hardbodies or casting sinking lipless vibes. Up in the

timbered areas, hardbodies, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits will all score fish when cast around the structure. Last month, my

brother Kerry had a great session up in the timber catching several cod to 20lb and heaps of golden perch all on his own Kezza Lures Mud Mouse. These lures are great for working the snags

lures are great on the cod due to the serious amount of vibration they put out. If you are keen to give one a try, head to Fish’n’Bits in Toowoomba or see Doug at Highfields Bait and Tackle.

on (07) 4168 9694.

BJELKE-PETERSEN CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI Bass and golden perch will both fire right up this month. Lure casters can whack the smaller bass around the steeper banks in the first and second basin of the lake. Casting 1/4oz blade baits, lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits to the edges and winding or hopping down the contour will get the bites. A few bass and golden perch will also be caught on lures cast in the timber. Take extra care when navigating in the timber as the level is falling and there are plenty of submerged hazards.

The golden perch trolling will be insane.

There are some huge 3kg plus goldens in Bjelke and plenty of smaller models around 1kg. These fish will line the drop-offs all the way up the dam. Trolling close to the drop in 6-9m of water will see your lures in the right zone. A couple of proven golden lures for this time of year are the Smak 16 and the Golden Child.

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.

ISIS BALANCING STORAGE CLOSEST TOWN: BUNDABERG There has been plenty of bass action close to the weed beds. The bass are chewing all day long provided you fish lures close to the weed.

Soft plastics have been effective but this month it is likely the reaction lures will out-perform them.

Spinnerbaits, beetle spin rigged plastics and blades will all be great options.

There will be fish all over but the middle and back arms usually fish better than the arm in front of the boat ramp.

Morning and afternoon are prime times. When the light is lower, the fish are prepared to roam more.

For this reason, the low light period is the time to try your luck with topwater lures. When fishing the surface at Isis, it is hard to beat the Cultiva Zip’n’Ziggy.

The boys at Bundaberg’s Saltys Tackleworld fish the dam on a regular basis. Being so passionate about their bass fishing, they are the

as they rarely get hung up.

The lures flip on their back with the hooks facing up just as the lure runs over the structure. Mud Mouse

Fishing the edges and structure inside the timber at Coolmunda will give you a good chance of scoring a cod. Kerry Ehrlich had a great session with numbers of cod and golden perch caught on his Mud Mouse hardbodied lures.

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ones to talk to if you are heading to the lake for a fish. Saltys stock a great range of lures for both fresh and saltwater fishing and the Bundaberg area has plenty to offer.

in the hard yards have been finding patches of active fish but they are few and far between. The action has been steady now for a while and must surely be due to fire up. As anglers we tend

Every dam goes through good and bad times and Monduran is overdue to fire up again.

Fishing the edges of the lake inside Bird Bay or upstream of White Rock

to blame the elements for the shut down nature of the barra but it’s not just the changing weather and conditions like water temperature that influence their feeding.

has been most productive.

The fish have been sitting together around the bushy trees and taking hardbodied lures. If you can see them on your sounder, give the area a

thorough working over or rest it and come back to see if they will fire up.

Monduran is a massive lake with so many potential barra looking haunts.

Unfortunately there is not enough barra in the lake for them to reside on every one. If you are planning on fishing the lake for the first time or after not having been there for a while, do your homework. Using a guide will give you the best start as these guys spend more time on the lake than anyone else. If you can’t afford that option, visit the tackle store at Gin Gin, Foxies, and get the latest report on where they have been coming from.

Foxies tackle store in Gin Gin, stocks a range of effective barra lures. The store will mail order and you can check it out online at www.barratackle.com. au. 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

fishing all it takes is the smallest thing to get them chewing their heads off again.

The Iveragh arm of the lake has been one of the better fish producing areas. Fish deep diving suspending lures around the standing trees and you will be in with a good chance of hooking a fish.

The Jackall Hank Tune Squirrel is one of the most popular lures for these fish but there are plenty of others which will do the job. Provided the lure dives to around 3m on a cast and is close to suspending, you are in with a chance. I love to use RMG Scorpion 90s weighed with stick on lead to give them the right amount of buoyancy.

These lures have a really strong action and I find

barra under 1m in length love this.

If you are keen to try and tackle some fish in the 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.

attracts the bait and predators.

Once the barra lift in the water column they can be caught on soft plastics, blades and lipless vibration baits.

the barra gear you could possibly need. The guys will be able to send you in the right direction and help with nailing

Golden perch numbers will increase dramatically when lure fishing this month. Trollers and casters will see more fish hitting their decks.

MONDURAN CLOSEST TOWN: GIN GIN The barra have been tough for some time at Monduran. Anglers putting CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS: BENARABY, GLADSTONE The action in the dam died down a bit last month after a really hot period last month. The barra are still there and showing on the sounder in good numbers but just aren’t fired up. As with all kinds of impoundment

feed and cold beer. To make a booking call (07) 4157 2106.

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 at www.lakemonduran barracharters.com.

GREAT FO R A DAY EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU STAY

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• Windsurfing, boating, beach volleyball, playground, BBQ’s.

• 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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WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH Since winter, the barra have been chewing well.

Big fish have been coming from the northwestern corner of the lake in good numbers. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon or even at night, barra can be caught around the shallows. Pay particular attention to the points and bays. Soft plastics, hardbodies and surface lures will all take fish.

During the day, the shallows have been going quiet and it is best to head out to the deep trees that line the creek channels. In this area, prepare to hook some monster barra and have your angling skills tested. There are plenty of 1m+ fish in the deep trees so hook upgrades and 50lb braid outfits are recommended.

As the northerly winds become more prominent this month, the fish may push further south through the timber. As they spread out,

Monduran Kiosk and Tackle Shop. They look after all the cabins, houses, powered and unpowered campsites, as well as 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

it may be harder to find them, but once located, they should still be prepared to chew.

Trolling in the basin has produced the occasional big barra well over a metre.

The area straight out from the dam wall buoy line will start to hold better numbers of big girls from this month on. Most anglers choose to troll for these big fish, which can be caught on both deep and shallow divers. Look for the bait schools out in the middle of the dam and the unmistakable arches of big barra shouldn’t be too far away. The barra spend a lot of their time holding deep and can be caught on deeper diving lures like the RMG Scoprion Crazy Deep. When they choose to feed, they rise in the water column. It is not uncommon to catch them closer to the surface at night.

Lure casters can have a crack at the deeper schooling barra. A Hydrowave is certainly a big asset and a proven device for getting the barra and baitfish more excited. The Hydrowave emits baitfish or fish feeding sounds under the water, which

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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

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With the trout season opening on Saturday 4 October, the New England plateau has seen quite a few visitors armed with a gleam in the eye, a fishing vest over a warm jacket and a fly rod in the hand.

The late winter rains have kick-started the resident trout and with a bit of green grass around the rivers and streams the area certainly looks good.

Trout fishing is undoubtedly subject to some mystique, but the reality is that New England waters, from around Glen Innes to Tamworth in the south and east to around Dorrigo are there for all-comers. After a foray to the area for the opening weekend, I can report there are some top fish in the streams. My best fish was a 50cm brownie; a very good fish for small waters, that’s for sure.

WHERE TO FISH? From around the high altitude town of Guyra, the angler is well and truly in trout territory. To find a trout stream, simply look for the small sign near areas of public access proclaiming the water as being designated for trout and subject to seasonal closure. A license is required for all New South Wales fishing and can be obtained online.

Once a likely stream is found – and I suggest a very good place is around Ebor, east of Guyra, where the New England trout hatchery is located – it’s a pretty sure bet that if the water is running and there are pools with at least a metre of water in them, there should be trout on tap.

My thoughts are that the Ebor area, with its dozen or more trout streams, is an excellent place to make a start on some fishing, but as always it’s wise to enquire at the nearest house for access as it is most probably private land.

Ebor, drop in and have a look at the Dutton trout hatchery just to see how really big trout (there are 3kg fish in some ponds) can become if the food is available for them and they get a chance to grow instead of

being caught and cooked. That aside, New England waters are put-and-take fisheries, so don’t feel bad about serving trout for dinner.

5-6WT OUTFIT IDEAL These high altitude waters usually offer fish up to 1kg in weight, so a 5-6wt trout outfit will handle them easily. As the streams are mainly on the small side, fish don’t have a lot of trouble finding either a dry or wet fly in more shallow waters, so a weight forward floating line is my preference.

With a 3m leader attached to the fly line, a 2kg tippet around 50cm long at the business end, anglers are ready to do battle.

It’s the angler’s choice for reels. Some anglers spend small fortunes on fly reels for

might be on the lookout for tucker and watch for a reaction.

It’s important to keep slack line gently stripped back as the fly floats downstream at this time to avoid missing the fish on the rod lift should the fly be taken.

Once hooked, the fun begins as the trout first leaps then tries to get into any cover handy.

Wet fly fishing is much the same except, it’s a bit more exciting in that there’s no precise way of knowing when a fish will take the fly but the system is similar to dry fly fishing in that the fly is cast upstream, naturally allowed to sink considerably (some mud rubbed on the leader really helps here) and then retrieved manually in little strips and twitches.

Not a large brown trout, by any means, but a very satisfying fish from such skinny New England water. trout but I don’t over do this outlay; it’s far better to keep the coin for a serious saltwater quality reel for big fat barra, tuna or mackerel.

Selecting the right fly is not all that difficult, despite the many articles written about the selectivity of these speckled sport fish. Yes, they can be selective in waters where specific insect hatches are prolific or prolonged but in the New England streams, trout will eat virtually anything coming their way. This gives a lot of latitude to the angler, as dry flies such as the Red Tag, Nobby Hopper, Royal Wulff, Adams and Black Spinner work quite well in sizes 12 down to 16.

Fished on a lightly greased fly line (I use Mucilin) and with the fly dressed with floatant such as Gink, the clue is to cast the fly upstream of a moving fish or a place where a fish

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Denise Kampe playing a fish at Ebor. Note the thigh waders, ideal for boggy terrain.

A trout take is very direct.

Trout take tucker on the turn and a sudden wrench is the usual thing. About the only difference in the tackle set up might be a longer leader tippet of 2kg line to ensure the fly does get down to where it can be seen.

Likely areas for wet fly fishing include edges of pool head runs or bubble trails, along grassy edges or any over hanging cover. A rising fish will, most times, take a wet fly as easily as a dry fly so a quick cast at a movement often bears fruit. Really good wet flies include the Woolly Bugger (black or olive with or without a bead head), any of the Rabbit or Leech patterns and the old faithful Matuka in size 6 or 8.

LAST THOUGHTS Trout feed best at times of low light, so it’s good to be on the water really early or late in the day. Remember that high altitude means low temperatures at night and even into the day if it’s a dull or windy forecast. Around Ebor in mid October there were mornings with 1-2°C temperatures at 6am. This sort of cold morning scenario will continue into this month and even into early summer, so don’t forget the warm clothing. Remaining kit might well include a set of thigh waders or gum boots for the feet, a vest to keep fly boxes and other small items in and don’t forget the net. A landing net makes landing jumpy, squirmy and wriggling fish so much easier.

NOVEMBER 2014

89

New 2015 Mitsubishi ASX petrol BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Around this time each year potential buyers become thoroughly spoilt for choice of a new car as 2015 models grace show rooms throughout the nation.

Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi is but one of the makers offering new models for the coming year with the ever-popular ASX sporting some easily noted changes.

The overall body shape remains much the same but there are sufficient changes to certainly identify the 2015 ASX as a new model.

Starting at the road surface there are now 17” alloy wheels for all models with even the base LS being dressed up with Dunlop sport rubber, which is a huge plus in the handling department.

A revised front bumper features daylight LED light, which in themselves are quite outstanding. There are also black roof rails, privacy glass plus some chrome interior and exterior

The 17” alloy wheels Dunlop Sport rubber are just part of the new 2015 ASX’s identity.

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The 2015 ASX offers some interior changes with a leather wrapped steering wheel and gear selector now part of the package, along with a quite prominent 18cm media touch screen in a piano black surround. The unit doubles as a well graduated reversing camera and is easily set up with a touch

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screen of favourite radio stations. There’s also USB input plus Bluetooth phone and audio with voice control.

Chrome highlights are now featured strategically around the dash area to

Compact, classy, and with features to add value, that’s the new ASX.

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highlights. The overall effect is that the ASX is still a handsome car, retaining its eye-catching and somewhat sporty appearance.

UPGRADED FEATURES There are two variants

provide a little extra bling as well. Both front and rear climate control air conditioning is standard and there’s power function for virtually everything. The steering wheel has controls for the audio system and an easily managed cruise control system.

Revised fabrics graced the LS model’s seats, which are both supportive and large enough to be comfortable for driver and front passenger.

At the rear of the 5-seater there’s a broad, fairly flat rear seat offering plenty of knee room and very good head room for rear passengers.

Buyers will find a fair number of storage pockets within the ASX’s interior although these tended to be somewhat slim up front and a bit scarce in the rear except for a central flip down armrest with pockets in it. Some of the rivals in this hotly contested market niche arguably offer more in this regard.

AN EASY DRIVE I found the petrol 2WD LS was a delight to drive in a mix of city and country work.

The 16-valve 4-cylinder 2.0 Mivec engine with its 110kw of power, 197Nm of torque linked to a stepless CVT unit was able to cut the mustard in stop-start suburban traffic, while making easy work of cruising at higher speed limits on the M1. The engine and CVT unit were a smooth combination and while the engine tended to be a little revvy off the mark, things changed for the better when cruising at speed with only a little wind noise plus some tyre hum intruded into the general interior ambience.

As a front wheel drive the ASX’s steering had a good feeling of balance and predictability while improvements to all round

ride and handling, strongly marketed by Mitsubishi in this new 2015 model, meant that the compact little SUV clung to road surfaces very well with only bad or continuous undulations causing any perceived intrusion into the interior of the vehicle.

The ride smoothness is also doubtlessly linked to the fact that the ASX is a relatively long vehicle at 2.67m with its underpinnings borrowed from the larger Outlander.

Mitsubishi are claiming fuel consumption of around the 7.0L/100km mark but

around 416L of storage is available. With these seats folded flat, storage goes up to a massive 1109L capacity, which is brilliant given the overall size of the ASX. Towing ratings are 1300kg braked and 750kg unbraked, which is also very handy.

Safety items for the 5-star rated ASX include Hill Start Control, Active Stability Control, Active Traction Control, ABS and RBD and 7 SRS air bags are standard.

Last but not least is the value-added package

Top: Chrome highlights are contrasted by piano black inserts in the dash layout. Bottom: Fill that lot with fishing gear! With rear seats down in a 60/40 fold there’s over 1100L capacity of storage area.

I managed 8.3L/100km on a mix of city and country work. Fuel tank size is 63L. One of the outstanding features of the ASX, along with its high driver and passenger seating arrangement, is rear storage.

With the rear seats – 60/40fold capability – upright

Mitsubishi offers for the ASX which sees a 5-year 100,000km warranty plus 4 years/60,000km capped servicing for the petrol models.

Prices start at $24,990 for the 2WD LS 2L petrol manual.

Visit www. mitsubishi-motors.com.au

Burnett Heads, one of Bundy’s best secrets BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Visitors to the city of Bundaberg are not going to be short of enjoyable places to spend a holiday and the small but very friendly Lighthouse Caravan Park at Burnett Heads is certainly one of the best-kept secrets within the region.

The township of Burnett Heads is 16km north of Bundaberg and there are ample signs to follow once on the eastern side of the main city area.

FOLLOW THE SIGNS Burnett Heads Road leads to the busy township of Burnett Heads. With plenty of signage to show the way. On the outskirts of the business area, which offers every service or facility you need, keep an eye open for Paul Mittelheuser Street in which this Council-owned caravan park is located.

The travel time from Bundaberg is around 15 minutes so there’s no need to pack a cut lunch!

If you arrive at the boat harbour and the associated launching ramp you have gone past the park entrance so a short back track should reveal it. A good landmark is the tennis court adjoining the caravan park out front. The court is council owned but a game is easily arranged

the Lighthouse Caravan Park is on the southern bank of the adjoining boat harbour in the Burnett River with an expanse of beach and sand flat between the harbour and park, which is water covered at high tide and exposed at low tide.

A SMALL BUT GOOD PARK This is a relatively small caravan park but it has a very laid back and informal atmosphere, which will endear it to travellers who like to set up camp

Shady camping areas are a feature of this neat park with its waterside aspect.

A game of tennis can be arranged through the park office. just a little off the beaten track. The Park’s location is virtually on the shore of the Burnett River and is super angler friendly. With a large river wall nearby it would not be hard to knock over a quick feed of fish towards the top of the tide. All the usual suspects are on hand, flathead, bream, whiting,

Top: A camp kitchen with barbecues is there for patrons’ enjoyment. Bottom: A couple of lads from Sea Jay boats enjoying some Burnett River fishing. through the caravan park’s office.

For general information

This caravan park is also pet friendly (always upon arrangement) so it would pay to enquire about the cat or dog going along for a trip to Burnett Heads prior to leaving home.

Within the park proper there are powered and unpowered sites with ample grassed areas as well as concrete slabs for caravans.

Amenities are very well kept and clean and there’s a camp kitchen and barbecue for visitors to enjoy. A laundry is also on hand.

with the odd exotic such as mangrove jacks thrown in for the live bait enthusiast.

THINGS TO DO Sporty types can enjoy the tennis court or go for a walk to the adjoining recreation area where the Old Lighthouse sits. This local landmark is actually responsible for the caravan park’s name. If you want some history, the original Burnett Heads Lighthouse was built in 1873 and served the maritime community well for 99 years before being replaced by a more modern one. It was then transported to the park in nearby Zunker Street as a tourist attraction. Tours of the old lighthouse are offered on a regular basis with open days for visitors on the fourth Sunday each month.

Other popular attractions include visits to Mon Repos Turtle Rookery with ranger guided tours available each night from 7pm from November to March.

Another couple of interesting landmarks for tourists are the Bundaberg rum distillery and the Bert Hinkler Hall of Aviation, a museum dedicated to the life of one of Bundaberg’s most famous sons.

Local infrastructure at Burnett Heads includes a good number of businesses that can make a holiday just that bit better. I can vouch for the crusty bread at the bakery, and the ease of shopping at the supermarket. There is also a hotel, hairdresser, pharmacy, service station plus other businesses.

ENJOY THE FISHING

Anglers of all persuasions are able to enjoy Burnett Head’s fishing areas. The Burnett River, as mentioned, is right on the park’s door step and both small and large boats are easily launched to fish the river or further afield.

Expected targets in the river, could well be estuary cod, grunter, trevally, queenfish with occasional visits to the lower reaches of the river by macks and tuna. Offshore, around artificial and longstanding natural reef areas

there is some good reef fishing to be had. While Burnett Heads and other areas east of Bundaberg are classified as open waters these areas are still offered some protection by Fraser Island off to the South East.

Shore-based anglers could do worse than take a look at nearby Oaks Beach or fish a section of the river walls not far from the Park.

In all, Burnett Heads does offer a lot and if there’s a need for tackle top ups several tackle stores are as close as the Bundaberg

CBD. Anglers wanting to experience a chartered trip could contact Bundaberg Fishing Charters, they can be contacted on (07) 4159 5507.

GETTING THERE Finally, to enjoy a holiday at the Lighthouse Caravan Park it’s only necessary to take the turn off to Bundaberg from the Bruce Highway and travel to the east side of town and simply follow the signs.

Contact details for the Park are (07) 4159 4313 or email burnettheads@bundaberg. qld.gov.au

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91

Tech Tricks

Top tricks for rigging Z-Man soft plastics BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Over the last decade or more, the variety of plastics on the Australian market has exploded to the point

where we are now spoilt with options.

One of the big players in recent years has been the Z-Man brand imported by Tackle Tactics. These are not just another plastic; they are made with a revolutionary type of plastic called Elaztech, which can stretch up to 10

times their own length. Z-Man plastics are soft, yet durable and can even withstand the onslaught of numerous toothy critters. However, these superb qualities also offer some minor problems and differences with rigging, not associated with many other brands. These glitches are

easily overcome with a few minor rigging adjustments offering superb action, durability and productivity.

Z-MAN LONGEVITY Elaztech, the material from which Z-Mans are made from, is somewhat different to many other soft plastic compounds. Apart from

being highly stretchy and durable, Elaztech is also very reactive with other plastic types. Z-Man plastics can interfere with most plastic types when stored with them, disintegrating into a solid, gluggy mess within a few days. They will also react with the plastic many tackle

boxes (even worm-proof plastics) are blow-moulded from, making the stowaway box lids warp slightly. For this reason, it is best to store your Z-Mans in the clip-seal plastic packets in which they are purchased. These packets can then be stored in one of the deeper stowaway boxes.

Rigging with jigheads

3

2 1 When initially trying to push the plastic over the moulded lead keeper, the head of the plastic will invert slightly, rolling up the keeper when pushed forward and then back off the keeper when you remove the pressure. To solve this problem you will need to apply pressure a little more directly.

Many Z-Man plastics have a slit in the bottom. By putting your hand inside this slit with your thumb and forefinger positioned around the hook shank and keeper, then pushing the plastic up onto the keeper, you will be able to get the plastic snug with the jighead. Plastics without the slit will need to be pushed extra firmly so the plastic initially bunches up against the head and then recoils as the pressure is decreased, leaving the plastic straight and even on the keeper. With shad styles, this will leave the hook protruding downwards out of the slit.

To finish the rigging, turn the plastic 180° so that the hook point is now facing upwards. The rear of the hook bend will give you an indication where the hook points needs to be penetrated up through the back.

4 Keeping a mental note of this penetration point, bend the back of the plastic and push the point through the back centrally at this mark.

5 The plastic should be presented on the jighead straight so that it will swim true.

Rigging durability Due to the nature of the Elaztech, Z-Man plastics are often easier to pull off the jighead than they are to put on. This means that a strike to the rear of the plastic may easily pull

the plastic back along the jighead where it will bunch up and will now not swim as intended. However, there are two solutions to this problem. Tackle Tactics have produced

a special jighead for Z-Man plastics called HeadlockZ. Before doing this, I will generally attach the jighead to the leader with a loop knot so that I do

not have to actually hold the plastic or jighead with my hands while the glue dries, because it is easy to stick these fast to your hands with these types of glues if you are not careful

or have applied a little too much adhesive in the first place.

These simple rigging options will guarantee that you get the best out of your Z-Man soft plastics when

rigging them on jigheads.

They will be functional, durable and productive for you. In a future issue we will look at some weedless rigging options for many of the shad.

7

6 The HeadlockZ has a slightly larger hook keeper, which is separated from the main head.

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NOVEMBER 2014

Because the HeadlockZ has a thicker hook keeper, they can make some of the Z-Man range a little puffy around the head, therefore some anglers still prefer to use conventional jigheads. If you choose to use a standard jighead, or don’t have HeadlockZ at your disposal then you can still solve the problem of the hook pulling back along the hook.

After inserting the hook and rigging your plastic in the aforementioned, conventional manner, pull the plastic back a little to expose the keeper.

Apply a small amount of super glue, Zap-a-Gap or Loctite to the moulded hook keeper and the flat rear part of the head. Push the plastic forward again and allow a few seconds for the glue to cure.

8 Using either of the aforementioned methods, now even when the plastic tail is stretched considerably, the body of the Z-Man will not slide back on the hook shank.

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Subscribe now to FM

You know Dad reads it. You might be reading his copy right now! How about organising home delivery so that he usually gets it before it comes out in the newsagency?

Subscribing to Fishing Monthly has plenty of advantages – apart from getting it early, he’s always in the draw for monthly subscriber prizes. It’s also cheaper to subscribe than it is to buy a copy each month. But best of all, if Dad gets a two year subscription now, we’ll throw in a free Wilson Blue Steel 4-piece travel rod – and it will arrive before Fathers’ Day. To find out how to take advantage of this special offer, see the ad on this page.

Price: $130 www.fishingmonthly.com.au

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Korr Zoom LED headlamp

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The newly released Korr 10 Watt Zoom LED headlamp is going to make a lot of friends with anglers and campers as it ticks every box as far as portability, convenience and power are concerned.

Aluminium alloy construction ensures the new Korr headlamps – with their 10W Cree XML2-U2 LEDs – are of a very robust construction and should give years of useful service.

There are 3 light output modes: high, low and strobe.

On the high setting there’s a range of 150m and the output is 840 Lumens. With four AA size batteries in the battery compartment (which is out of the way at the back of the head when the unit is in use) there’s up to 10 hours endurance depending upon the setting chosen and battery quality.

Another feature anglers will enjoy is the click adjustment for the beam angle, allowing the beam to be turned down to an angle of 90º and to stay right there until a job has been completed.

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Tonic's stylish new frames

Tonic Polarised Eyewear, the new leader in high quality fishing sunglasses, has added two new high-fashion frame styles to its range. The new Torquay and Cove styles are on sale now at Tonic’s 200-plus retailers throughout Australia and New Zealand.

Creator Doug Phillips said there were already thousands of people who loved their Tonics for fishing, but that the Cove and Torquay models brought Tonic’s 21st century optical technology to a more fashion-conscious customer.

“They are available with the same range of lens options as our other styles, including grey and photochromic copper in Tonic’s UltraOptic lightweight glass lenses,” Doug said.

“Our high-tech lenses are just as perfect for driving or sight-seeing as for fishing, because they give such a clear and glare-free view of the world.”

All Tonic models incorporate the latest Japanese optical technology, including unique de-centred VistaView lenses for distortion-free viewing at any angle. The scratch resistant UltraOptic glass lenses are just 1.8 mm thick, making them 30% lighter than regular glass, and have MultiCut fullspectrum anti-reflective coatings.

Tonic sunglasses come in eight wraparound styles with a ClikStrap removable safety strap. The RRP is $259 with UltraOptic glass lenses, and you can find your nearest retailer at www.toniceyewear.com.au.

Price: from $259 www.toniceyewear.com.au

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It’s made of high strength, 100% marine grade stainless steel and comes with a lifetime warranty.

Available in two sizes (Small for boats up to 6 metres long and large for boats over 6 metres) which include a universal mounting bracket to suit most boats (including Cats).

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JRoc LED Vibes

These water activated triple flashing LED 80mm vibes are irresistible to deep sea fish, eliminating the need for chemical lights to attract fish. The light spectrum produced is irresistible to finned predators, triggering a hunting instinct.

These lures automatically glow and flash when immersed in water, and a self-contained non-replaceable lithium battery provides over 200 hours of use. The indicator sensor ensures that the flashing LED will automatically stop glowing if the light loses full contact with the water – a great power saving feature.

These lures come pre-rigged with two hooks at the bottom and a clip on the top. The action can be adjusted by moving the clip to different holes.

On top of all this, they are strong, durable and made from high quality anodised alloy. The RRP for a twin pack is $35 from the JRoc website, with free shipping Australia wide.

Price: $35 (twin pack) www.jroctackle.com.au

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Ugly Fish Ultimate Clarity

Ugly Fish have combined sophistication, safety and style to create the Xenon range: the ultimate set of summer sunnies for both keen-sighted and long-sighted anglers.

Whether you’re down at the beach or in the tinnie throwing a line out, the Xenon range won’t let glare ruin your day. Made with an extremely tough and impactresistant polycarbonate lens, which is available in smoke or brown, these sunnies are strong enough to handle any situation.

The Xenon is also available with bifocal nylon lenses, which make tying knots and baiting hooks a breeze and will provide maximum UV protection from the harsh Aussie sun without sacrificing comfort and style. The bifocal reader lenses come in +1.50, +2.00 or +2.50 magnifications.

Both the Xenon and Xenon Bifocal range feature antiscratch, anti-reflective and water-resistant polarised lenses.

Price: Bifocals from $129.95, originals from $149.95 www.uglyfisheyewear.com

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Alvey Xmas Beach Fishing

3 Yes

New Tide Apparel Range

Tide is a brand that provides quality products to people who share the same passion for being on the water.

Now Tide has released a new range for the summer season. If you are looking to get that special someone a Christmas present, check out the online store at www. tideapparel.com.au. The range is diverse, with apparel for men, women and children plus accessories like waterproof slogan stickers, boat towels, Buffs and iPhone cases, all with attractive, edgy designs. The clothing range includes hats (both with and without extra neck protection), board shorts, T-shirts, singlets, spray jackets, hoodies, vented sun shirts and sublimated fishing jerseys.

Nick Richardson says getting your hands on some Tide apparel is quick and easy.

“All it takes is just a few clicks of the mouse and it will be delivered to your door step,” he said. “Have a happy and safe holidays from everyone at Tide Apparel!”

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Enjoy your beach fishing with the only reel that will withstand sand and saltwater while giving outstanding casting distance: the iconic Alvey.

You will also feel every fish bite because you are in touch with your rig through the line and handles on your reel. No other reel fishes this system or offers this sensitivity. Many top anglers use Alvey reels because of this feature.

After you have hooked a fish, even a large one, the Alvey 1:1 direct winding power will control your fish with ease. The smooth multi-plate clutch will also protect your line during the battle.

Match your Alvey reel with one of the quality range of Alvey rods, and make sure you get your distance when casting. Alvey’s rod range includes models to suit children right through to serious surf rods and deep sea rods for boat anglers. Buy a Christmas gift that will give years of pleasure to the angler in your life.

Price: $244.95 www.alvey.com.au

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When you purchase either 6500 BCVRRT or 6000BCVRRT Model

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Keep your keys, phone and wallet dry while fishing. Fits Alvey belt.

3 Yes

NEW RANGE

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Tide Apparel SRPF $35.00

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1

Shop online until midnight, December 24th to get a 15% discount on all full price products; checkout code: fish

P:02 9969 5053 E: helen@clicproducts.com.au

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Turn Your Wheels into Winches

Only $13in159digital gripper plus free bag - ADD converted to paths.pdf 1 www.bogout.com Call Paul: 0418 772

CliC Eyewear Discount

CliC’s clever magnetic connection makes it the perfect eyewear choice for fishing and boating. The sliding connectors adjust for optimum fit and the neck-band secures the frame and prevents them from ‘bouncing’ around or dropping off.

If you struggle to see up close or you just need a pair of reliable and robust sunglasses, check out the range online at www.clicproducts.com.au. Reading glasses, sunglasses, bifocal sunnies – whatever your needs are, CliC eyewear will endure most rugged activities. CliCs are brilliant for baiting your hook, reading the instruments, tying a knot or reading the trail map. For maximum convenience, store them around your neck out of harm’s way!

Australian shoppers can shop online until midnight, December 24th to get a 15% discount on all full price products. To secure your discount, use the checkout code: ‘fish’ Price: Sunglasses from $139.95, readers from $79.95 www.clicproducts.com.au

2

NEW AUSTRALIAN INVENTION • 4 Tonne Tuff • Forward or Reverse • Reliable and Economical • Sand, Mud, Snow

Xmas e d i u G t f Gi

Bog Out Recovery System

Bog Out, created by Cairns angler Paul Aubin, is the most reliable and economical vehicle recovery system globally.

It’s easy to use, compact and likened to a ‘continuous snow chain for the tropics’.

This super-strong harness can be tied to EITHER the front or rear wheels. It then takes the rotational capability of any vehicle’s wheel and turns it into a strong winch.

Vehicles already have massive winch capability by way of their driven wheels; Bog Out captures that force and turns it into movement – exactly what you want when you’re stuck.

10/10/2014 10:11:18 AM Bog Out works equally well for forward or reverse, by 751 using the front or rear wheels. Mud, sand or snow makes no difference – simply attach one end to a wheel that’s lost traction, the other to an anchor point, and drive out of trouble. It’s economical, can double as a tow rope and can fit in your glove box.

Price: $159 www.bogout.com

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JRoc 3-in-1 Lip Grips

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Tacklesafari.com.au

96

NOVEMBER 2014

Xplorer Classic 2 Fly Rod

Award winning Xplorer fly rods offer various options for the novice, intermediate or advanced fly angler with the Classic 2, Guide 2 or the ultra fast actioned Xplorer T-50.

The popular Classic 2 delivers a great balance between performance, durability and price. It’s a real workhorse, with a rod model for most applications. The fast action blank makes it a great rod to grow with as you improve your casting skills.

It features fast action deep blue blanks, compact fourpiece construction, alignment dots and model coded sections for easy set-up and identification, Pac Bay Hard Chrome snake guides and Pac Bay stripping guides with hard alloy ring inserts, uplocking anodized aluminium machine cut reel seats with carbon weaved inserts, A grade cork handles in full and reverse half wells, Cordura rod tubes and an Xplorer No Fuss Lifetime Warranty.

The Classic 2 starts at models and.

Price: $200 for 2/3wt, $245 for 8/9wt www.tacklesafari.com.au

I would love this for Christmas!

Bog Out System SRP

$159.00

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JRoc 3-in-1 Lip Grips SRP $34.95 3

The 3-in-1 25kg lip gripper from JRoc Tackle combines a lip grip, digital scales and measuring tape. It’s an ideal multipurpose tool and it’s also easy to use.

Stainless steel jaw construction and tough ABS/TRP plastic handle ensure the gripper is water and corrosion resistant. The non-slip rubber handle provides extra gripping power and control even when wet. Also included is an adjustable nylon wrist cord and a protective draw cord bag.

The grip jaws swivel independently of the handle for safe and secure handling of the fish.

With the battery operated, integrated 25kg/55lb scale that measures in lb/oz/kg, you can quickly weigh fish by holding the fish in the gripper’s jaws. The scale also includes ‘hold’ and ‘temperature’ functions. The display is back lit and shuts off automatically when not in use.

Finally, at the end of the gripper you’ll find a handy 1m (cm/ feet) retractable measuring tape. The 3-in-1 gripper is available from the JRoc website with free shipping Australia-wide.

Price: $34.95 www.jroctackle.com.au

M

I would love this for Christmas!

3 Yes

I would love this for Christmas!

Xplorer 2/3wt Rod SRPF $200.00

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Great [ Great gifts for dads! ] s a e d I t Gif

Spanyid Sniper Vibe

Soft vibes have become a lure of choice for many anglers, so when it comes to buying a gift for a fisho this Christmas it’s hard to go past a Spanyid Sniper vibe.

This new, soft plastic UV-enhanced hybrid lure has a cutting-edge, effective design allows the angler to work every depth of the water column for almost any species.

Robustly built with durable through-wire construction tested to 26kg and fitted with ultra-sharp VMC trebles, the Spanyid Sniper Vibe is available in eight proven fishcatching colours and four sizes ranging from 60-120mm, making them the most versatile vibe range on the market.

These great lures are available from all good tackle shops and are great value for money. They are currently available in 6-30g weights.

Price: from $14.99 www.shimanofish.com.au

6

Shimano Rarenium C14

The use of CI4+ (carbon interfused with polyamide) in the rotor and body of the new generation Rarenium CI4+FB spin reel series cuts down on weight without compromising strength, delivering better performance and greater comfort.

Features include X-Ship (a double bearing supported pinion gear and a larger cold-forged drive gear), and Floating Shaft II for reduced friction where the spool drive shaft meets the pinion. Six shielded SA-RB bearings and one roller bearing ensure every turn of the machined aluminium handle is as effortless as it can be.

CF (Cold Forged) gears deliver a great all-round retrieve speed of 5:1 across the range. Line capacities are generous given the size of the reels, and Aero Wrap II (a worm gear oscillation system) provides uniform line lay.

The Rapid Fire Drags are all totally waterproof, and stopping power ranges from 3kg in the 1000FB, 9kg in the 2500 and 3000, and up to 11kg in the 4000FB. Price: from RRP $279 www.shimanofish.com.au

7

PowerAll Portable Charging

Powerful, convenient and ultra-portable, the PowerAll not only keeps all your portable smart devices charged on-the-go, but also has the power to jump start your car, outboard motor and multiple other vehicles.

With an amazing 400amp max output, the Powerall can jump start up to a 4L petrol or 3L diesel engine. So whether you are hitting the road this summer, on a weekend boating adventure, or off to explore remote locations camping, the PowerAll is a must-have device for the entire family.

All this, and its compact design means it can fit inside your pocket, bag or glove box, and it has a standby battery life of up to six months. Over current and over voltage protection are built-in to ensure the safety of your valuable devices and vehicles.

Available at leading retailers nationwide, including Repco, Anaconda and Lawrence & Hanson.

Price: $179.99 www.thepowerall.com

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Glorify Unbreakable Gift

What do you get when you put innovative engineers, designers and extreme sports people in the one room?

You get Glorify unbreakable sunglasses!

Gloryfy sunglasses are based on maximum protection of the eyes, highest functionality, and minimized risk of injuries. This is all possible thanks to the intelligent materials and innovative technologies from this Austrian eyewear company. The patented technology used to make the frames and lenses (G-flex and I - Flex) make the lenses and frames extremely flexible so they always return to their original shape. Check out the YouTube clip showing how unbreakable this product is!

Gloryfy lenses have the highest quality ratings and come in standard and polarised versions. You also have the option of getting them in prescription. If you’ve had problems with breaking sunglasses in the past, Gloryfy sunglasses are for you.

Price: from RRP $250 to $279 (polarised). www.gloryfy.com

3 Yes

Sniper Vibe

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Not only will you feel the difference in the way you catch fish using the Sniper Vibes, you will also feel that energised vibe you only get when you find a lure that actually works.

Hero Green

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NOVEMBER 2014

97

Improved Albright knots BRISBANE

Kim Bain

Last edition of QFM we looked at the standard Albright knot.

This month we look at a couple of variations.

ALBRIGHT ALTERNATE KNOT

failure of the common variety of Albright knot.

Typically, the knot either slips when wet (a random occurrence), or the outside gets damaged because the knot gets bumped or rubs as it passes through the guides on your rod.

ALBRIGHT SPECIAL KNOT leader fold

to lock-off the knot and smooth the transitions at both ends.

A careful application of knot goo (glue) can achieve the two desirable end results of securing the knot and smoothing the transition points at each

braided main line (underneath the loop)

6 loops over leader

fluorocarbon or mono leader fold

Skip looping over main line bottom

braided main line (underneath the loop)

tag end loop formed in main line snug the bind and pull tight to finish, then glue and trim

There might be more variations of the Albright than any other knot that I know of. The proliferation of variations stands as testament to the occasional

Because it is a bind, the smallest realignment of the binds can cause it to move within itself and slip. Accordingly, the improvements often aim

end of the knot. However, you may not always have glue, or the correct glue, and there are plenty of knot aficionados who maintain that to use glue is the sign

pull tight to finish, then glue and trim

of a poor knot. Keep in mind that some tests have shown that some glue can weaken a knot and cause it to break at a strain less than the same knot without glue. This is most likely because some of the compounds used in various lines and some glue types may react with each other.

My position on the use of specific purpose manufactured goo is that I’ll use it if I have it and 90% of the outfits that I pre-tie before a fishing trip will get their knots ‘improved’ with a wee dab of goo on the tag end. Doing so helps me sleep better.

Another trick that I’ll use is the use of goo to burn and melt a bulb of nylon on the tag end to give an increased diameter and therefore and increase in resistance should any slippage occur.

The following are some variations of the Albright that you may consider: ALBRIGHT SPECIAL The Albright Special is the standard Albright with a ‘whip’ finish of about half a dozen turns around both the main line and one leg of the heavier leader. These whips are said to reduce the risk that the main knot will slip off the end of the folded leader loop.

LOCKED ALBRIGHT A Locked Albright, which is the variation that we showed last month, finishes with the last bind of the tag end coming out on the opposite side of the leader to the main line that enters the knot, rather than being just bound around the main line. There are a couple of variations in the methodology; in my opinion, the easiest way to tie this lock is to push the main line towards the Albright’s binds – this creates a half-loop in the mainline. The tag end is then run through the loop and over the leader before the knot is snugged down.

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Hooker Boats new dealer Hooker Boats has welcomed Noosa Marine and Mechanical to The Hooker Boats dealer network.

Noosa Marine’s mission is to provide you with complete 100% customer satisfaction, guaranteed!

From a new battery to complete boating packages and services. Noosa Marine pride themselves in meeting your boating needs.

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Hooker Boats have established a solid reputation throughout

Australia and some offshore parts of the world with their robust commercial fishing dories to their high class recreation vessels over the past 16 years and endeavour to strive for excellence in the Marine industry. Visit www. noosamarinemechanical. com.au or www. hookerboats.com or call 0448126619.

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News Spawning blues Talk to the old-timers fishers in Central Queensland and they will tell you stories of blue threadfin congregating at the mouth of the Fitzroy River in September to spawn. One story was of schools of fish moving south along Yeppoon beaches for weeks on end, something that is not seen these days.

Gradually over the years recaptures of tagged fish are adding to the story. What was a little surprising was that fish were moving down the river, from north (Corio Bay) and south (Kolan River) along the coast to the mouth of the river. Is this the main (only) spawning site for Central Queensland? An intriguing question.

Shocking journey Back in 2011 fishing was front page in the Gladstone media for months on end due to fish health issues and dying fish. As part of monitoring fish there, Fisheries Qld electrofished and tagged almost 500 barramundi in the Boyne River.

Since then these fish have been regularly recaptured.

One has been recaptured 2.75 years later and 270km south along the coast in the Burrum River. This fish would have left the river on a flood

event (probably 2013). As the fish was 975mm when

tagged, it was most likely a stocked fish that spilled

from Awoonga. What a shocking journey!

Barra closed season

This fish has travelled 42km in 15 days (2.8km a day) from Gladstone to the mouth of the Fitzroy River.

The humble prawn If there is one bait pretty much all anglers in Queensland have resorted to when all else fails, it’s the prawn.

Suntag has records of 214 species caught on prawns.

Not surprisingly bream comes in at number one, but grass emperor was not one I would have picked for a top five entry.

For the record, the second most successful bait we have on record for yellowfin bream is chicken.

You can view the full list at http://suntag.org.au/ the-humble-prawn/.

Top ten species caught on prawns Species

Number caught % caught

on prawn

Yellowfin bream

6737

36.9

Speckled javelin

2431

13.3

Snapper

979

5.4

Grass emperor

968

5.3

Pikey bream

877

4.8

Barred javelin

729

4.0

Dusky flathead

639

3.5

Barramundi

576

3.2

Goldspotted rock cod

423

2.3

Tarwhine

340

1.9

Here is some roe from a 107cm barra recently caught in the Fitzroy River that was kept. It was in the early stages of development and the fish would have spawned in October or November.

The barramundi spawning season is rapidly approaching and will be in place by the time you read this. The fish are currently getting into spawning condition.

So what will the 2014 spawning season bring?

Barramundi spawning and recruitment is strongly influenced by rainfall and flooding. We use met bureau forecasts that provide a 9 month forecast to predict conditions for recruitment in Central Queensland.

The prediction suggests a trend towards El Nino but maybe not a strong one. If that holds and the wet season is later or less than average rainfall recruitment is likely to be poor or moderate at best.

Following poor recruitment in 2011 and 2012, moderate/strong in 2013 and moderate in 2014 the rate of recruitment has not kept up with rate of fish being taken so catch rates are down this year and will be down even further next year.

Tackle Land taggers Suntag recently visited the Tackle Land store in Sandgate to chat to the locals. The session was well attended with the locals keeping the questions coming for a couple of hours. The range of species they wanted information on was surprising. Tackle Land does some great work in the local community, so with the help of Bribie Island Sportsfishing Club, we have helped them to form their

own tagging group the ‘Tackle Land Taggers’.

This is the kind of partnerships we want to see more of, business and community working together to understand how they can improve the local fishery.

If you are ever in the area, stop in and have a chat to Mark and the boys.

Get there at the right time and you might score an amazing snag.

Tackle Land does some great work in the local community. They have recently formed their own tagging group called the ‘Tackle Land Taggers’ with the help of Bribie Island Sportsfishing Club.

NOVEMBER 2014

99

Gold Coast Flathead Classic 2014 The Gold Coast Flathead Classic was a roaring success with 5,566 flathead caught and released over three days with 2,678 of them measuring over 40cm. From deep water through to shallow water, big fish and small fish alike were hitting the measuring tapes and being counted toward the team scores.

The weather as always is a key factor and a southeast wind on the

first day sent a few teams into a bit of a spin looking for cover. Friday was a spectacular day with only slight northerlies for most of the day that picked up in the afternoon. Saturday saw more northeasterlies but the sun was out for most of it and all 3 days were t-shirt and shorts fishing weather.

The longest flathead for 2014 was caught by first time competitor Joe Bonnici. His 94cm fish was caught early on day

one. The longest mulloway was caught by Brendon Knight and measured a very nice 106cm.

The Overall Champion team for 2014 was longterm team competitors Lowrance Whyte Boyz, who scored a massive 4,895 points by being very careful in their preparation and fishing throughout the competition. David, Nick and Brendan reported that everything went their way from start to finish always

RESULTS Totals Total flathead caught: 5,566 Total flathead over 40cm caught: 2,678 Category....................................................................................................... Angler Longest Flathead Overall and Casting...................................................Joe Bonnici Longest Flathead Trolling......................................................................John Rafton Longest Flathead Caught by a Junior....................................................Aidan Scott Longest Mulloway.............................................................. Brendon Knight, 106cm Longest Trevally...................................................... Shaun Hazza Harrington, 51cm Longest Tailor................................................................................ Matt Long, 43cm Longest Mangrove Jack.......................................................... Trent Hopkins, 50cm Longest Estuary Cod................................................................. Josh Pagura, 41cm Longest Whiting......................................................................... Nick Milford, 40cm Longest Bream.......................................................................... Dean Dibeler, 32cm Random Junior Boat Winner............................................................ Timothy Angus Random Senior Boat Winner.................................................................. Richard Fry

being able to find the fish.

Their preferred technique is fishing the deep and they have spent many years searching out deep-water banks where the fish gather and can be targeted with lures. It was in this deep water that Lowrance Whyte Boyz made their mark on the competition.

The runners up were Team Hi-Seas/AFW Ross McCubbin, Ben Job and Brad Job with 4,049. This team are very familiar with big numbers in the Classic and this year was no exception. All three are considered gun anglers by themselves and to have them as a team is a frightening prospect for all other teams in the Classic.

The overall Champion Angler was Robbie Payne with 2,135 points. Robbie was fishing with Wilson Fishing (Rob Payne and Scott Flemming) who were also the Champion 2 Person Team. Robbie and Scott fished a number of areas very carefully and precisely trolling and casting lures to amass their points.

TOP 20 TEAMS

TOP 20 SENIOR ANGLERS

Place........... Team...........................................Points 1.................. Lowrance Whyte Boyz...................4895 2.................. HiSeas/AFW...................................4049 3.................. Wilson Fishing................................3905 4.................. Dead Fishy.....................................3334 5.................. The Flatliners..................................3065 6.................. Team Sands...................................2665 7.................. Pig Lures........................................2609 8.................. Brumbs Marine..............................2554 9.................. Team Next Year..............................2546 10................ Doug Burt’s Tackleworld................2529 11................ Team BCF 1...................................2480 12................ Team On Strike...............................2462 13................ The Mad Hueys..............................2439 14................ Live Fibre/Zerek Lures...................2433 15................ The Reel Teasers............................2375 16................ Victoria Point Bait & Tackle............2370 17................ Cabbage Tree Point Bait................2344 18................ STS Marine....................................2207 19................ Team ZMan....................................2183 20................ Keep It Cool...................................2121

Place.................Angler...................................Points 1........................Robbie Payne...........................2135 2........................Paul Neilsen..............................1893 3........................Nick Whyte...............................1812 4........................Scott Fleming...........................1770 5........................Jason Heller..............................1769 6........................Brad Job...................................1625 7........................Brenden Whyte.........................1577 8........................Shane (Piggy) Gartner..............1565 9........................Luke Rafton..............................1558 10......................Mark Grice................................1536 11......................David Whyte.............................1506 12......................Alex Hallam..............................1447 13......................Matt Bryson..............................1344 14......................David Cooke.............................1335 15......................Glen Jackson............................1295 16......................Mick Horn.................................1267 17......................Brett Rayner.............................1264 18......................Danny Sands............................1241 19......................Richard Morris..........................1229 20......................Ben Job....................................1222

The Lowarance Whyte Boyz up on stage accepting the spoils of a great win.

100

NOVEMBER 2014

Runner Up Champion Senior was Paul Neilsen with 1,893 points and he was also awarded the Champion Club Member trophy.

It was a tough three days fishing for all of us but for the Juniors are even tougher! The Austackle Champion Junior award went to a Bribie angler Aidan Scott with 1,116 points, while Runner up Junior was Cooper Sands with 1,111 points Cooper.

Champion female angler was Fay Rohweder who scored 524 points for the competition.

A highlight for this tournament is the random major prize draw and thanks to fabulous sponsors the GCSFC were able to put together a Junior Draw and Senior Draw this year along with all the giveaways each night and the tournament

Joe Bonnicci’s sensational 94cm flathead was caught on day one and held on to be the biggest fish for the competition.

Scott Flemming with a 91cm honker taken trolling a Zerek Tango Shad in 1.2m of water.

JUNIOR ANGLER RESULTS Place.................... Angler................................Points 1........................... Aidan Scott...........................1116 2........................... Cooper Sands.......................1111 3........................... Rebecca Hay..........................905 4........................... Jaimee Horner........................799 5........................... Joseph Sangster.....................753 6........................... Jacob Mibus...........................670 7........................... Kyle Paterson..........................488 8........................... Nicole Sands...........................423 9........................... Emily Backus..........................303 10......................... Harry Leonard.........................300 11......................... Isaac Mibus.............................281 12......................... Timothy Angus........................235 13......................... Logan Calnan..........................234 14......................... Brandon Leonard....................225 15......................... Madeline McKenzie................210 16......................... Lucy Macdonald.....................205 17......................... Dylan Steffensen.....................196 18......................... Salli Seebach..........................190 19......................... Elise Ballantine........................165 20......................... Harry Morgan..........................161 21......................... Liam McMahon (Jnr)...............125 22......................... Mariah Neilsen........................119 22......................... Jett Fraser...............................119 24......................... Brayden Kliendienst................103 25......................... Gilbert Huggard........................93 26......................... Tiana Pelman............................79 27......................... Tony Pring.................................75 28......................... Tommy Coyle jnr.......................64 29......................... Poppy Macdonald....................55 30......................... Zac Marshall.............................35 31......................... Emily Templar............................20 32......................... Flynn Jekyll...............................10 33......................... Brandan Aubrey..........................5 34......................... Hamish Munro............................0 34......................... Blade Payne................................0 34......................... William Murphy...........................0 34......................... Elliot Clark...................................0 34......................... Shannon Souter..........................0 34......................... Tom Davies.................................0 34......................... Logan Munro...............................0

bags and shorts the total prize pool amounted to over $200,000 worth of goodies.

This year’s boat winner was Richard Fry who was lucky enough to take away a brand new Bluefin Wildcat Pro. The boat is the first off the production line for Bluefin and judging by the

looks of it and its water test, it is going to be a real winner for them. The package included a Mercury 4-stroke 60hp thanks to Nitro Marine and Mercury and a Dunbier Trailer. The boat was finished off with a Bonza wrap and the package was worth over $30,000.

JO BONNICCI BIGGEST FLATHEAD AT 94CM Caught on day one at just after 10am, Jo Bonnicci’s first Flathead Classic will certainly remain a memorable one for him.

His 94cm lunker was taken casting to 12’ of water and fishing back into really deep water with lots of pauses on a McCarthy 5” paddle-tail plastic in cherry ice colour rigged on a 1/2oz McCubbin painted jighead. Caught on the first hop, the fish took a bit of coaxing to get to the boat, but when it arrived, everyone on board was stoked.

Not a bad effort for your first Flathead Classic and a cracking fish to boot. Joe said, “It was the best feeling catching such a big fish and to win the biggest flathead in the competition was a great surprise and an awesome honour”.

Richard was deep in shock at learning of his win, he had not fished the comp in 7 years as he didn’t have a boat. This year, not wanting to miss out again, he borrowed a boat from a mate and we are sure we will see Richard back in his brand new Bluefin in 2015.

Tom Ryan made it down to the final two, but missed out on the boat package. He didn’t go away too disappointed though winning a fantastic holiday to the Papatura Holiday Resort in the Solomon Islands thanks to Papatura Resorts, Go Tours and Solomon Airlines. The rest of the 28 lucky draw members took home a great assortment of prizes including Lowrance electronics thanks to Navico and Marinonics, Hobie Fishing Kayak

Champion Overall Angler Robbie Payne with the type of flathead Team Wilson caught in the shallows trolling lures.

TEAM WILSON TAKE TWO PERSON TEAM TITLE Team Wilson had a great run at this year’s Flathead Classic with their Two Person Team win being complemented with Robbie Payne taking out Champion Angler and Scott Flemming coming in fourth place overall.

Their technique revolved around simplicity and trolling in the shallows was the most productive method for the boys, especially depths between 1.2 and 1.8m. They both used Live Fibre Ultralight Blade n Tails rods for the trolling and these were loaded up with 4lb main line and an 8lb or 10lb leader.

Scott said, “The catalyst for our success was the use of the 50mm Zerek Tango Shad with double hook-ups quite common once fish were located.

This lure also accounted for my best fish of the comp and our team’s best, a 91cm monster”.

Team Wilson also used the 4” Live Shrimp Hot Legs to good effect in deeper water, but Scott stressed the key was to find concentrations of fish and stick to them as they would turn on at different stages of the tide.

LOWRANCE WHYTE BOYZ BLITZ FIELD Stringing together an almost flawless tournament, the Lowrance Whyte Boyz (David Whyte, Nick Whyte and Brendan Whyte) landed fish in every single hour of the tournament to record a very impressive team score of 4,895 points, over 800 points clear of the next best team.

A long time coming win for the Flathead Classic veterans who started fishing the event in 1999, it was a mix of technology, good decision-making and years of experience coming together in a magic moment.

Fishing no further south than the Jumpinpin, Lowrance Whyte Boyz targeted water that was 20-50’ deep fishing a variety of plastics and vibes (both metal and soft) to amass their fish.

David Whyte said, “We got all the little things right. We moved at the right time, we fished the right lures and we all caught fish. We didn’t have a standout angler on board, rather it was a great team effort where everyone contributed”.

Catching 85 during the competition, Lowrance Whyte Boyz landed to fish over 80cm, half a dozen over 70cm and a dozen over 60cm in a blistering display of deep-water fishing skill.

Their keys were to find good water with bait in it that had low fishing pressure and to do this they relied on four immense sounders, three 12” Lowrance HDS units and a brand new 12” Simrad that allowed them to virtually see everything they needed to. The energy drain from these four units actually meant the team had to jump start their outboard 8 times during the tournament!

David also mentioned the use of his favourite Loomis NRX rods allowing the team to feel the bottom and know what they were fishing over.

It’s that attention to detail that shone through in everything the team did and ultimately allowed them to take out the competition.

Junior boat winner Timothy Angus looks set to hit the water again after winning this great Bluefin package. thanks to Sunstate Hobie, Humminbird and Minn Kota boat electronics as well as a bounty of fishing and boating gear.

The Junior Boat winner was Timothy Angus who won a Bluefin Scallywag and a Watersnake electric motor. The rest of the Juniors took away an assortment of Wilson Fishing gear, Shimano rods and reels and Abu Garcia rod packages along with tackle from Doug Burt’s Tackle World. Thanks to Pig Lures all Junior competitors received a Pig Lure, one of the best trolling lures on the market for flathead.

This year for the first time a longer final fishing day was trialled with a

night presentation on the Saturday. From all the feedback so far this proved to be a popular option with the punters and the organisers giving everyone a bit of breathing space to ensure the presentations and paying credit to our sponsors went smoothly.

This event would not happen without the hard work of the Committee and Club members who roll up their sleeves. Led this year by GCSFC President Bruce Anderson who really stepped up to the plate, the team worked tirelessly to ensure 2014 was another successful event.

This is not an easy event to pull together and it doesn’t happen overnight. A big thanks must be given to all who assisted, from raffle sales to setting up, pulling down and running around, it’s a mighty effort.

Lastly I would like to acknowledge and thank the event’s sponsors. Bluefin Boats announced they were recommitting their support for a further 3 year and on top of this commitment, in partnership with Nitro

Marine, they are offering a 5% manufacturer’s rebate on any Bluefin purchased by a FHC competitor for the next 3 years! Now that’s support!

Great Northern Breweries have also recommitted to the event and they provide invaluable support that without it, the competition really would not be the major event that it is. So get into some of their great product when you get the chance.

Event and festival tourism is one of the fastest growing forms of tourism.

This event provides revenue generation for local economy and the boating and fishing industry something the committee is very proud of. Without the support of the council and sponsors this event would not be possible and the value to the local area would not be so grand.

Check out all the results by clicking http:// goo.gl/EXMWzV to see how well everyone went during the Gold Coast Flathead Classic.

– S. Booth and C. Hunt

Richard Fry was lucky enough to take away a brand new Bluefin Wildcat Pro package as the senior random boat draw winner. The package included a Mercury 4-stroke 60hp thanks to Nitro Marine and Mercury and a Dunbier Trailer.

NOVEMBER 2014

101

2014 Bowen Fishing Classic The Bowen Family Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend is over again for another year but all visiting and local anglers had a blast.

Apart from some wind gusts out on the water Sunday, Bowen once again welcomed everyone to town with its beautiful North Queensland weather. Mackerel as big as 29.1kg were weighed in, along with an unusual catch of 22.2kg barracuda in the Other Species Category.

The junior’s highest weighing fish was a Spanish mackerel that weighed in at 22kg – a grand achievement for any young anlger! Spectators and anglers of the weigh in were kept entertained by the effervescent Spida Everett – former AFL great for St Kilda turned keen fisherman – he kept the crowd happy with his witty commentary.

The crowd was out in force Saturday for the fantastic line up of entertainment at the open-air stage at Bowen Soundshell.

Local Gospel band started off the on-stage entertainment by blessing our fishermen just before the Cake Crunching competition got underway.

The kids Crawchie racing

was popular again and the kids cheered on their crawchie loud and proud (much to the surprise of the cruising crawchies)! New event to the fishing classic was the yabby pumping, which saw the yabby pumps

with renditions of Michael Buble and his own blend of pop music. Lance Friend then took the stage with his Murky River band with their newly discovered country rock sound. Record crowd numbers came along to

JUNIOR WEIGH IN Species......................... Highest weight.......... Total (kg)............... Secret Weight Spanish mackerel.......... Brodyn Casalengo...... 22.00....................... Aiden Roberts Mackerel (other)............. Bradley Jones............. 3.350........................ Hayden Byng Coral trout (all)............... Stehen Macdonald...... 4.050......................Shanagad Otto Mangrove jack............... Aiden Armstrong......... 4.275........................ Dekin Bradon Flathead (all).................. John Labinskey........... 2.394..........................Chloe Tawse Cod (all)......................... Zac Bridson................. 17.25..........................Reelah Ross Whiting (all).................... Bailey Miller................. 0.286................. Amelia Armstrong Trevally (all).................... Maddison Saron.......... 6.770...................... Braydon Jarvis Bream............................ Kelsie Sullivan............. 0.723.................... Maddison Miller Sweetlip . ...................... Shae Scalia................. 2.872........................ Tait Campbell Barramundi.................... Jet Santanaterina........ 4.261......................Jasmine Fisher Javelin fish or grunter.... Aiden Barnes............... 2.307........................... Luke Fisher Red emperor, scarlet .... Brandi Maltby.............. 9.250...................Ethan Mackenzie Blue tusk fish................. Lachlan Thomas.......... 1.389.........................Harley Jewell Other species................ Joshua Fellows........... 12.675 (cobia).....Declan Robinson out on the sand flats racing against time to win $200 in prizes. Marsupial Madness Children’s Show from Brisbane had the littlies giggling and bopping out to great original bush songs and slapstick comedy. The soulful sounds of charismatic Rhys Tollhurst from Cairns set the scene for a great night

watch Iconic band, Dragon, who had the audience singing along to the all-time favourites – April sun in Cuba and Are you old enough to name a few. Rock Band Razor from Mackay took the revellers to closing time with great classics from ACDC, Black Sabbath, Inxs and U2. What a night to

SENIOR WEIGH IN Species......................... Highest weight.......... Total (kg)............... Secret Weight Spanish mackerel.......... Russell Lahiff............... 29.10........................ Wesley Stone Mackerel (other)............. Mitch Deas.................. 7.240......................... Ryan Pardon Coral trout (all)............... Aaron Roberts............. 4.460..................... Darryl Wagstaff Mangrove jack............... Earl Steinhour.............. 6.130............................. Bree Ross Flathead (all).................. Aaron Stapleton.......... 2.916....................... Leanne Teakel Cod (all)......................... Shane Spann............... 18.40.............. Jaiden Chamberlain Whiting (all).................... Steve Holditch............. 0.268....................... Allan Richards Trevally (all).................... Aaron Roberts............. 20.30..................... Alyssa Williams Bream............................ Kerri Rhodes............... 1.000........................ Mark O’keefe Sweetlip......................... Phil Randal.................. 4.051................. Andrew Boettcher Barramundi.................... Shane Spann............... 13.60.............................Paul Zonta Javelin fish or grunter......Samantha O’Connor..... 3.558.........................Wayne Sullivan Red emperor, scarlet .... Jim Stark..................... 11.15..................... Patrina Warring Blue tusk fish................. Peter Barker................ 5.799.......................... Scott Foster Other species................ Russell Lahiff............... 22.20 (barracuda)....... Fiona Foster Crab............................... Justin Hinschen.......... 2.140.................. Michael Callagan

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NOVEMBER 2014

remember and all for just a gold coin entry – can’t get it any better than that!

Brekkie with the stars beachfront was a great way to start a Sunday morning!

Those who ventured out were rewarded with a hot breakfast

and were accompanied by Dragon members – Todd Hunter, Mark Williams, Rhys Tollhurst (Australia’s Got Talent 2012 finalist) and a visit from Dame Edna who made for a light hearted start to a fun filled day.

The kids were the stars on Sunday. The day started off with crafts by making sailboats and snakes from recycled materials and funky monkeys, then down on to the beach for sand sculpting

Now in its 23rd year, the Bowen Fishing Classic gets more popular with each event. with Blazer the fire bear and the Eagle Boy’s eagle and the Broken Hill Life Savers comedy trio who kept us all safe with light-hearted water safety demonstrations! The much-anticipated classic lolly drop then saw thousands of tailed lollies fall from the sky, much to the delight of kids of all ages.

Sophie Phillis from Central Queensland, a finalist from The Voice 2013 entertained the Sunday crowd with her beautiful vocals and harmonies providing a ‘little bit of something’ for everyone. Passionate band, Sun Salute, took the crowd into the afternoon with their wholesome blend of R&B, reggae and funk.

As the presentations got underway Keiran McCarthy from Airlie Beach kept everyone entertained before

the 62 Category Prizes, and Fishing Holiday packages where drawn. The crowd held their breath for the much-anticipated draw of the $35,600 Senior Boating Package and the $6,400 Junior Boat. These fabulous prizes both stayed in our region; one going to Proserpine to Malcolm Exelby the other to lucky Bowen girl Kya Brown.

So with the tents all packed up for the 23rd Annual Bowen Fishing Classic and Wet Weekend we are grateful of the support of the sponsors and the many volunteers who help keep the Classic alive.

The Classic crew thanks each and every one of you for your dedication and assistance and hope to see you all in 2015!

– Sharon Bradford

Rapala BARRA Tour The 2014 Rapala BARRA Tour provides the opportunity for anglers to fish with a partner against the best anglers from around Australia.

Since 2005 the BARRA Tour has attracted anglers, including international competitors from Japan and the USA, to contest catch and release lure fishing tournaments at Queensland’s premier dams and impoundments. The target species for these events is the iconic Australian barramundi, a spectacular fish that tests anglers’ skill and tackle to its extreme limits.

Since its inception the BARRA Tour has seen anglers catch and release over 3000 barramundi during its tournaments. This is testament not only to the anglers’ skill but also the rich, well-managed waterways used for the tournament venues.

2014 is no different as the Rapala BARRA Tour will visit North Queensland’s premier barramundi destinations. The battlegrounds to determine the 2014 Champion Team of the Year include Teemburra Dam, Kinchant Dam and Peter Faust Dam. Each of these locations is a proven, quality fishery with the opportunity of catching, and releasing, the fish of a lifetime.

Teams can enter each or every event by filling out an entry form (available via www.abt.org.au) and returning it to Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) via post or fax (details are on the entry form). The tournament entry is $220 per team, per event. Anglers are also required to read the event rules, provide boat insurance details with event entry and be current financial members of ABT. Being a member of ABT provides a host of benefits through ABT Member Retailer Stores and provides members with the latest DVD series of the Australian Fishing Championships (AFC).

ABT is the only pathway to AFC representation, where Australia’s best anglers compete against each other for the right to be crowned AFC Champion Team.

Rapala, a world-wide recognised tackle industry brand, is the naming sponsor for the 2014 BARRA Tour.

Rapala lures are synonymous with anglers worldwide for quality and fish catching ability and the BARRA Tour is proud to be associated with this company. Whether it is the ever-popular X-Rap range of hardbody lures or the Storm soft plastic and hard lure

ranges, Rapala has the lure to convert bites into fish. And for the photo of a lifetime, safely securing a barramundi with the AFTA award winning Rapala Aluma-Pro Gripper ensures a quick, safe release each time. Check out www. rapala.com.au for more information on the complete Rapala range.

The Rapala BARRA Tour will see the best local anglers go up against all-comers.

Past BARRA Tours have unearthed incredible local talent and showcased the high skill levels of the anglers who attend these events. Whether you are a local guide, past or present AFC representative or even a first time barramundi angler, the Rapala BARRA Tour provides an even playing field for all anglers to display their skills and versatility. Are you up for the challenge?

In 2014 it all kicks off at Teemburra Dam and finishes at Peter Faust Dam, a reversal of past year’s formats and a change that will take full advantage of the full moon for the Faust event and fit in with accommodation availability at Camp Kanga.

So start planning, start booking holidays and get set for the 2014 Rapala BARRA Tour! For more information go to www.abt.org.au. – ABT

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

JANUARY

Nov 1-2

Lions Mary Valley Family Fishing Classic Borumba Dam

Glenn Williams 0427 276 933

Nov 1-2

Round 2: Freshwater Fishing Series Mary River

CFC www.countryfc.com.au

Nov 8-9

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Rd 3 Borumba Dam

Russell Nowland 07 4167 8183

Nov 7-9

Cania Family Fishing Comp Cania

John Cania maca1@nitro.net.au

Nov 14-16

Bluefin Lake Maroon Fishing Classic Lake Maroon

Steve Wilkes www.sportstuition.com.au.

Nov 15-16

Mackay Tournament Angers Round 3 Barra Peter Faust

Geoff Newby 0419 183 188

Nov 22-23

ABBT Basstasstic Bass Grand Final TBA

Russell Nowland 07 4167 8183

Dec 1-2

Rapala BARRA Tour Teemburra Dam

ABT 07 3387 0888

Dec 4-5

Rapala BARRA Tour (Night Championship) Kinchant Dam

ABT 07 3387 0888

Dec 6-7

Rapala BARRA Tour Peter Faust Dam

ABT 07 3387 0888

Dec 6-7

ABBT X-Factor Australian Teams Championship TBA

Russell Nowland 07 4167 8183

Jan 10-11

Mackay Tournament Angers Round 4 Barra Teemburra

Geoff Newby 0419 183 188

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

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SERIES BREAM 3 Fishing

d by 1 Presente

Scott Butler, a 30 year old boat salesman from Nitro Marine on the Gold Coast, has gone back-

Butler serves up win at Gold Coast to-back by winning the 13 Fishing Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier. The event-defending champion stamped his authority on the tournament early by weighing in the largest

tournament limit on day one of 2.39kg. Butler followed this effort up on day two with 5/5, 2.20kg to secure the event win by 460g.

Butler, who has secured multiple tournament victories on the Gold Coast, made the conscious decision not to prefish the event.

Confident that his locations would produce, the decision was made to rest the areas he intended to head to as much as possible.

Day one saw Butler head north to within sight of the northern boundary (Powerlines at Russell Island). It was at this location that Butler targeted a number of small, selected areas. Butler said, “I fished a combination of different structures in different areas,

Scott Butler has retained his champion title by winning the 13 Fishing Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier. Photo courtesy of lurenfly.com.

Zipbaits Khamsin Tiny in shad and mellow shad

Fast retrieve

Lure close to structure

pause

rocky areas, moored boats, pontoons. Most fish were caught in around 3-4’ of water. All areas were holding a huge amount of bait.”

Butler found the fish willing to bite and in good numbers in both sessions, “Both days I caught my limit within the first 30 mins, catching in total around 50-60

legal fish. 90% of them were around the 25-26cm fork length, but I had to work through the smaller ones to get the larger ones”.

Butler’s technique involved casting Zipbaits lures specifically the Khamsin Tiny in colours 021 clear ebi, 801 shad and 325 mellow shad close to structure and

bringing the lure back with a fast retrieve. The retrieve was occasionally punctuated with a quick pause. None of the lures were altered or retro-fitted.

The win caps a great season for Butler with victory delivering him his first overall Angler of the Year title. With the event trophy and Angler of the

Year title Butler looks forward to heading to the Hawkesbury River to contest the Grand Final.

“Given the size of the system I am looking forward to getting down to Sydney and giving the area a solid prefish prior to the event. I am looking forward to the challenge,” said Butler.

McKeown speeds into second CE 2ND PLA

ABT, PO Box 7196, LOGANHOLME, QLD 4129 Alternatively Alternativelyyou youcan candownload downloadan anentry entry form formfrom fromwww.abt.org.au www.abt.org.au At Atany anytime timeyou youcan cancall callABT ABTon on(07) (07)3387 33870888 0888 for forhelp helpwith withyour yourentry entryduring duringbusiness businesshours. hours.

104

NOVEMBER 2014

Jamie McKeown, a 35 year old plain clothes investigator for Queensland Police, finished runner up at the 13 Fishing Gold Coast BREAM Qualifier.

McKeown, who was in fifth place after day one, moved within striking distance of victory with a 5/5, 2.06kg tournament limit.

Jamie McKeown moved within striking distance of victory with a 5/5, 2.06kg tournament limit and taking out second place. Photo courtesy of lurenfly.com.

Unfortunately the late charge wasn’t enough to run down Butler’s combined total.

McKeown discusses his tournament preparation and approach during the event. “I worked hard leading into the pre fish ban. I soon realised it was going to be a very tough comp. There seemed to be a lack of baitfish around the Gold Coast. I didn’t pre fish any spots I knew I would fish during the comp on the official pre fish day. I did this knowing how hard it had been fishing and I didn’t want to add any pressure to the spots I wanted to

fish. I believed that two consecutive 2kg bags would easily see a top 10 finish, even possibly a top 5.

“My original plan was to fish around the Broadwater on day one and then head up to around Broadbeach canals on day two. But based on the catches in the Nerang and the adjoining canals I opted to stay in the Broadwater system on day two. I knew the bite on day two was going to be really tough.”

McKeown initially targeted locations that would supply legal fish in good numbers to fill his tournament limit. His first location, an edge near Seaworld, produced two fish in two casts giving McKeown all-important confidence at the start of the session. A move to the outside of Sovereign Island saw McKeown targeting fish in the current to fill

The Austackle Big Bream was caught by Victoria’s Cameron Whittam. Photo courtesy of lurenfly.com. his tournament limit. By 10.30am the tournament limit was filled and upgrading began.

Day two saw a slower start with McKeown only pulling one fish and losing another at his Seaworld

location. A move to Runaway Bay proved fruitless before he returned to Soverign Island. McKeown talks us

through day two and his lure selection, “It was 11.45am when I moved to Sovereign Island.

I was trying to wait as long as I could for the tide to start running out. I bagged two fish here, but it was 12.30pm and my options were running out along with the time. I moved to the trawlers thinking it was lunchtime and hopefully that someone might be feeding the bream.

Unfortunately there was no one feeding them, but I nailed a 33cm tip bream first cast. The bite soon dried up so I made a short run up the Nerang River and fished a set of canals close to the start line. There seemed to be fish everywhere, but they were all 25.5cm long. It all came down to my last cast at 1.49pm and I was lucky enough to pull a 26.5cm fish from the last pontoon. I was

-BOATER 1ST NON John Galea, a 39 year old machinist at Coastwide Engineering, took out the non-boater division. In doing so Galea, like Butler, secured his maiden Angler of the Year title.

and the walls in-between them. I used soft plastics rigged on a 1/32oz jighead, casting close to structure and watching for the bite on the drop. The plastics I used were a Berkley 2” Crabbie in camo colour and Berkley 2” Shrimp in camo colour. The rod I used was a Daiwa Black Label BL691 MLFS with a Daiwa Certate 2004 reel spooled with 10lb Daiwa Tournament 8 braid and 4lb Sunline V Hard leader”.

Like Butler, John Galea also took out the Angler of the Year title as well as the event winner. Photo courtesy of lurenfly.com.

Winning Tackle Rod: Lox Ambassador 610 Hybrid, Lox Yoshi LS7023.

Line: 4/5lb fluorocarbon fished straight through Lure: Zipbaits Khamsin Tiny in assorted colours

Heading out for day two, Galea knew what was at stake, “On Sunday I was teamed with Scott Butler.

We fished the northern boundary of the arena crankbaiting boat hulls.

I slow rolled an Ecogear SX40 in brown blue gill colour along the hulls waiting for the take. Once a fish was hooked we would use the electric to pull away from the structure and guide the fish away from the hull.

The rod I used was a Diawa Black Label BL SSS6011 ULXS with a Daiwa Certate 2004 reel spooled with 3lb Sunline sniper fished straight through.”

Finally Galea highlighted the key to securing the bites in the tough conditions, “Due to the fish’s unwillingness to leave the structure and chase the lure, casting accuracy turned out to be the difference”.

Galea, like Butler, was excited at the win and shared the fulfilment of a maiden AOY titles in the post tournament celebrations.

Galea also looks forward to the challenge of the final BREAM event of the season, The 13 Fishing BREAM Grand Final, at the Hawkesbury River, Nov 14-16.

TOP 10 BOATERS

absolutely stoked”.

“All my fish were caught on 40mm Ecogear Aqua Bream Prawn in salt ‘n pepper colour. I rigged these lures on a 1/50oz hidden weight jighead. I cast the lures on a 1-3kg Ecooda Black Hawke rod teamed with a Ecooda Black Hawke 2000 reel. Using 2lb Fammell spinning fluoro was the difference between getting bites and not. I was simply casting or skipping the lightly weighted Bream Prawn into the pontoon or boat or even just randomly along the canal walls and waiting for the rod to load up.”

WINNING NOTES

Galea secures victory and AOY It was quite fitting that both boater and non-boater AOY contenders fished together on the final day to determine the AOY result.

In session one Galea fished the canals of Runaway Bay with Chris Britton. Galea said of the approach, “I didn’t have a chance to prefish for the event so I was going into the event somewhat blind. On Saturday we fished the canals at Runaway Bay targeting wind affected pontoons

BREAM SE RIE

S Presented by 13 Fish ing

Winning Edge

“Experience on a local waterway and fishing a large number of events throughout the year made me capable and aware of needing to work through numbers of smaller fish to get the bigger ones to bite. Also getting away from the field and fishing a quieter area (I did not see a boat all weekend) meant the fish were fresh with no extra pressure on an already tough bite,” said Butler

BIG Bream The Austackle Big Bream was caught by Victoria’s Cameron Whittam during the first session on an olive coloured, heavy Cranka Crab. The location was a bridge near Chevron Island. The technique involved casting the Cranka Crab past the bridge pylons on the first cast and having it hit the bottom at the base of the most upstream pylon.

Whittam said, “ After the lure hit the bottom I would then ‘dribble’ the lure along the bases of each pylon on the bridge. I would subsequently cast the lure to the top pylon and then the middle pylon and see if it would get eaten on the drop. If not I moved to the next pylon. The fight was a typical solid yellowfin bream fight.

The fish was trying to get back home but I had him turned and coming my way fairly quickly.”

Whittam used Sunline products and the fish was caught using 10lb Castaway braid and 20’ of 6lb FC Rock leader.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Place Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 10/10 9/10 9/10 9/10 8/10 10/10

4.59 4.13 4.04 3.99 3.76 3.63 3.61 3.60 3.49 3.38

$2500 + Bonuses $1500 + Bonus $1200 + Bonus $1,000 $850 $850 + Bonus $600

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

John GALEA Callum DOWELL Alan LISTER Ben SHUEY Mark SHANNON Grayson FONG Brady WHITE James HICKSON Taigan HEATH Jesse GOUGH

9/10 6/10 5/10 6/10 5/10 5/10 5/10 4/10 4/10 4/10

2.75 2.52 2.18 2.17 1.95 1.56 1.54 1.48 1.41 1.36

Scott BUTLER Jamie MCKEOWN Ben RICHARDS Chris BRITTON Nabeel ISSA Kristoffer HICKSON Michael TORLEY Daniel BROWN Steve MORGAN Anthony WISHEY

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

Payout Prize pack Prize pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize pack Prize pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au NOVEMBER 2014

105

O SERIES BASS PR

Steve ‘Killer’ Kanowski claimed the biggest honour in Australian BASS fishing with the 50 year

Killer victory in Toray BASS Pro Final old tournament veteran shaking off the bridesmaid tag to secure victory in the 2014 Toray BASS Pro Grand Final on Queensland’s Lake Wivenhoe, 18-19 September.

ABT, PO Box 7196, LOGANHOLME, QLD 4129 Alternatively you can download an entry form from www.abt.org.au At any time you can call ABT on (07) 3387 0888 for help with your entry during business hours.

106

NOVEMBER 2014

Grabbing the lead on day one with a new ABT Big Bass bag of 5.91kg, Kanowski reined supreme in a talented field to claim his second win for the year and his maiden Grand Final win.

Finding the needle in the haystack in the lead-up to the tournament, Kanowski identified an area in the middle reaches of the lake as the area on fire and it was here that he headed to first on the Saturday morning.

“It was a 30-35ft flat that was adjacent to the river channel on the eastern side of the lake and it was here that I had a collection of GPS marks that had fish on them,” said Kanowski.

The first two marks produced nothing but the third was where everything fell into place.

“I spotted a fish on my sounder sitting mid water so I drop the lure down to it and the fish hit it. Initially I thought it’d missed the lure but when I went to wind up the slack he was already powering away with the ice jig,” said Kanowski.

A short fight followed and Kanowski soon had his first fish in the well. Where there’s one bass there’s often another so Kanowski once again fixed his eyes on his Lowrance and motored around in search of his second fish. He didn’t have to wait long and he soon found a cluster of fish sitting on the bottom.

“I free spooled the ice jig to the bottom and gave it a couple of sharp hops.”

A big fish bit and soon Kanowski had his second fish in the well.

“It was 9 o’clock and I had my two fish, and they were two good fish. Kris Hickson had a look at my limit and thought I had close to 6kg,” said Kanowski.

Resigned to the fact that he was unlikely to upgrade

what he had Kanowski searched around for the rest of the session looking for fish for day two.

Weighing in a 5.91kg limit Kanowski claimed the day one lead with ease, and heading into day two was in a comfortable position to claim his maiden Grand Final win.

“I’ve picked up every place in a grand final except first, so I was keen to make sure I finally got the one [1st] that always alluded me,” said Kanowski.

Straight back to his flat at the start of day two Kanowski, like all the anglers in the field, found that things had changed.

“I found a couple of fish on the sounder, but the majority of fish had simply vanished. The weather change had really shaken things up,” said Kanowski.

Searching hard and fishing hard Kanowski managed to catch two catfish, a yellowbelly, and most frustratingly lost four bass.

Steve Kanowski’s 3.47kg session two limit was the bag that anchored his win, and included the Austackle Big Bass for the event.

had already resigned himself to another missed grand final victory.

Winning Ways “I was busy thinking about The foundation of Kanowski’s win was thorough what prize they had for 4th prefishing. The 2014 champ identified a reliable place, I really thought I’d let it and productive area of the lake where he slip away,” said Kanowski. recorded multiple GPS that he called upon.

With a 1.37kg lead heading into day two and a shut down Winning Tackle final day bite plaguing the Rod: 6’4”, 2-4kg, Pflueger Trion (baitcaster), entire field, Kanowski’s lead

6’8”, 2-5kg, Pflueger Patriach (spin) in the end was too much for Reel: Pflueger Patriach (baitcaster), anyone to run down.

Pflueger Arbor (spin) “Those two big fish I Line: 12lb Berkley Fireline Exceed Crystal (baitcaster), got on day one proved to be

4lb Berkley Fireline Exceed Crystal (spin) enough. To finally claim the Leader: 8lb fluorocarbon (baitcaster and spin) title that has always alluded Lure: 11g Smak ice jig (colour purple nightmare), me is incredibly satisfying,”

fitted with Decoy Stinger hooks (small) said Kanowski.

WINNING NOTES

“I pulled the hooks on three fish, then had another one get away because my line broke mid fight,” said Kanowski.

With no bass in the well, and

time to think on the 30 minute drive back to the finish line Kanowski

Killer’s Ice JigTechnique

Glyn grubs into second place Anstead’s Glyn Barkhuizen stood up to be counted in the 2014 Grand Final, with

CE 2ND PLA

Glyn Barkhuizen secured his best result in a Grand Final, finishing 2nd at the Lake Wivenhoe final.

the 40 year old tournament angler weighing fish each session to come close to denying Kanowski his Grand Final win.

Fishing the 30ft depth zone in the middle reaches of the lake close to the old riverbed, Barkhuizen used a soft plastic approach to catch his fish.

“While there was fish holding in 30ft of water, it was the area with a layer of silt or vegetation on the bottom that held the best fish. You could pick this layer up on your sounder and the bigger fish would sit in it,” said Barkhuizen.

Using a watermelon/ chatreuse tailed 3” Charlie Brewer Slider rigged on a 3/8oz PML jighead, Barkhuizen would drop his offering directly below the boat until it hit the bottom then start a slow roll back.

“You’d occasionally get a hit on the sink, but

most of the bites came as you were rolling the plastic vertically back to

Shaun Falkenhagen claimed his biggest win to date in his bass career with the 30 year old Redland Bay angler compiling a 2/4, 5.69kg bag to secure the non boater title.

Fishing a flat with Warren Carter on day one, Falkenhagen threw a Maria Tailspinner working it with a lift and drop retrieve.

“The key was to lift the Maria a fair way off the bottom then let it sink back down on a semi slack line.

Most of the hits came as the lure was sinking back down,” said Falkenhagen.

While Shaun’s retrieve was standard fair for tail spinning, his lure was less straight out of the packet.

“I swapped out the rear blade and upsized it to a mag willow, a cross between a Colorado and a willow, for more vibration,” said Shaun.

The approach delivered Falkenhagen his limit in the first 10 minutes of fishing

Shaun Falkenhagen nailed the big bass to claim the non-boater title.

the boat. If you got a bite you’d just keep winding and waitingfor the rod to load up,” said Barkhuizen.

To enhance his contact with the lure and for maximum feel,

landing 6 fish for the session including 1 upgrade.

Weighing in 5.69kg limit for the session Shaun held a 2kg lead heading into day two. A lead that would seem insurmountable, but on a lake that holds 4kg fish, no lead is ever assured on Wivenhoe.

Back to the productive day one flat and fishing with Dave Young, Falkenhagen once again threw his tail spinner in search of fish.

“Search as we did we couldn’t sound up any fish,” said Falkenhagen.

Despite covering lots of water and throwing a host of different lures Falkenhagen headed back to the finish line fishless and with no addition to his day one bag.

“I really thought I’d blown my chance, but as it turned out everyone struggled and I held onto the lead to claim the win,” said Falkenhagen.

The tackle he used to claim the win included a Barrabass XP841 rod, Daiwa 1000 Luvias reel, 8lb SAS braid, and 8lb Sunline FC Rock fluorocarbon leader.

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

Fish

Stephen KANOWSKI Glyn BARKHUIZEN David YOUNG Warren CARTER David LANE Craig SIMMONS Mark LENNOX Mark REINBOTT Michael THOMPSON Dean SILVESTER

Weight

2/4 3/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 3/4 2/4 1/4 2/4 2/4

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

“The grip on the new Samurai allows you to feel more, while its greater sensitivity means you feel every hit and bump,” said Glyn.

Glyn’s deepwater plastic approach paid dividends, delivering him his limit in the first hour, and a 3.28kg bag that had him sitting in 5th place at the end of day one.

Heading back to his day one hot spot on the second day, Barkhuizen struggled to find fish like he did the day before.

“I scanned all the locations that had fish on the first day but struggled to find any so I moved to an nearby slope that in the past has held fish,” said Glyn.

Once again looking for the fish holding layer on the bottom, Barkhuizen dropped his plastic to the bottom and on the retrieve came up tight on a fish.

With one fish in the well, Glyn went searching for his second, and almost found it.

“I pulled the hooks on a fish not long after the first, but that was it,” said Glynn.

While he searched hard he was unable to catch his second and returned to the weigh-in with only one fish. One of only two boaters to weigh fish both days, Glyn’s 1.42kg bass was enough to elevate him to second place and a podium finish in the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final.

Steve Kanowski and Mark Lennox hold the Toray BASS Pro Grand Final and AOY shields aloft.

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS Payout

5.91 4.70 4.54 4.37 3.88 3.49 3.05 3.00 2.93 2.83

Barkhuizen used his newest go-to rod, a Samurai Reaction RE302-70.

The Toray Angler of the Year and Grand Final trophies were both up for grabs at the Wivenhoe final.

Shaun in a spin for win -BOATER 1ST NON

BASS PR O SERIE S

$5,750 $2,800 $1,750 $800 Prize Packw

Place Angler 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Shaun FALKENHAGEN Aaron WATSON Ben BIGGS Allan PRICE Samuel HOSKINS Brett HYDE Peter HOLMES Mike CONNOLLY Stephen MCLEAN Travis DOWLING

Weight

2/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 2/4 1/4 1/4

Payout 5.69 4.64 3.69 3.29 3.11 2.86 2.77 1.99 1.67 1.66

Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au NOVEMBER 2014

107

Anglers are pushed to the edge at Somerset Somerset Dam again had the opportunity to showcase its big bass credentials during the BASS Megabucks tournament presented by Edge Rods.

The BASS Megabucks tournament is a season highlight that provides anglers with the opportunity to team up and compete in a 3-session skins style event. The top 3 teams and ‘Big Bass’ for each session took away the great cash prizes on offer. In addition, the overall champion team received an advertisement for their sponsor in QFM and Edge rods to the value of $1500! With cash and prizes on offer this event was always going to draw a classy field. The only question was would the bass turn it on for the anglers shooting it out for team’s glory?

SESSION ONE 1st place Nexgen Lures The winner for the 1st session was Nexgen Lures, comprised of Matt Johnson and Shaun Falkenhagen, boasting 4 fish for 8.81kg. earning them

$1100 and $300 for the biggest bass at 3.87kg.

Team Nexgen Lures started the session on the flats at Kirkleigh, targeting schooled fish in 25-30ft of water. The team quickly filled their tournament limit inside 30 minutes using a dual approach of Jackal Mask Vibes on a BarraBass XSB822 rod and Maria tail spinners on a BarraBass XP841 rod.

With one hour left to go in the session, they decided to head to Bay 13 to try and upgrade their limit.

In Bay 13 the team fished

Left: Team Suzuki’s Barry Reynolds and James Reid took out the competition, showing consistency across 3 days of fishing.

Right: Team Nexgen Lures, made up of Matt Johnson and Shaun Falkenhagen, took out session one of the competition amassing a total of 8.81kg including an ABT record-breaking stonker, which weighed in at 3.87kg!

SESSION ONE PLACE TEAM WEIGHT PAYOUT 1................ Nexgen Lures..........................8.81kg ......................... $1100 2................ Suzuki .....................................7.90kg ......................... $800 3................ Humminbird/Smak Lures ........7.57kg ......................... $600 a flat in 35ft of water, where they used Slider and Keitech soft plastics cast on BarraBass IP841 rods. Soon enough, the fish lit up on their Lowrance sounder and they upgraded their entire bag within the last 25 minutes. The session Big

Bass of 3.87 kg, a new ABT tournament record, came in the last 5 minutes of the session.

2nd place Suzuki Team Suzuki was the runner-up. Barry Reynolds and James Reid filled their limit as

SESSION TWO PLACE TEAM WEIGHT PAYOUT 1................ AMVE ......................................8.47kg ......................... $1100 2................ Triple F Racing ........................8.38kg ......................... $800 3................ Suzuki .....................................8.35kg ......................... $600

well with 4 fish coming in at 7.90kg, earning them a cash prize of $800.

Team Suzuki found their bass in 3 key locations including The Spit, Red Rock and Kirkleigh flats. At The Spit it was a tandem approach that proved dividends, with Reynolds using a Smak ice jig in ayu colour rigged with Ecogear ZX assist hooks and Reid opting for a Nories In The Bait tail-spinner. Reid said they had a good system worked out between themselves.

“Barry would work the ice jig to get the school activated.

Once one fish was caught the school became active. In all, Barry landed 15-20 bass during the session,” Reid explained.

To keep the fish biting Reid

and David Green. Together, they filled their limit, which weighed in at 7.57kg, earning them a cash prize of $600.

Team Humminbird/Smak Lures found bass at Red Rock, Pelican Point and The Spit. The team quickly filled their tournament limit using a tandem presentation of plastics and ice jigs. Mott said the team used an unusual approach to fill their limit.

“The retrieve was quite quick with no pauses. The bass were following the lure and continuing to hit it on the way back to the boat. We tried a different approach to other teams by coming into shallower water, about 32ft, and casting into the deep. We looked to get fish from the edge of the school where they were less pressured”.

A move to the Pelican Point saw the team boat a few more bass with The Spit providing the final upgrades for the session.

The lures used were a 12gram

depths between 26-32ft. This location had provided quality fish for the team in the 1st session. The session started quite slow with only one bass being caught on a hopped Mask Vibe around 2:30pm. The team remained there until 3:30pm before heading back to The Spit, where they had located fish in the 1st session. They immediately located bass on the sounder in 38ft of water, with the school extending out to 50ft. Initially, the team cast plastic lures, but had no success.

Jayden Facer dropped an ice jig and within 2 minutes hooked a bass of around 1.6kg. A double hook up quickly followed this with one of the fish taking out Big Bass for the session. The team now had their bag and focussed on upgrading.

Over the next hour the team upgraded 4 times with their smallest fish weighing approximately 1.7kg. Facer said they were surprised when they saw the results at the end.

“We still didn’t have the confidence that this was a winning bag, but were very happy when we tipped the scales at 8.47 kg. The key lure we used was a Smak ice jig in ayu colour cast on a Dobyns rod and Daiwa Steez reel with 16lb Sunline Castaway braid and 12lb leader,” Facer said.

2nd place Team Triple F Racing The runner-up for the 2nd session was Team Triple F Racing, made up of David Reynolds and Sam Haig who filled their limit at 8.38kg, which earned them a cash

SESSION THREE PLACE TEAM WEIGHT PAYOUT 1................ Gamakastu .............................8.27kg ......................... $1100 2................ Suzuki .....................................7.91kg ......................... $800 3................ Humminbird/Smak Lures ........6.92kg ......................... $600

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108

NOVEMBER 2014

Suzuki on Sale_119x165mm.indd 1

22/10/2014 5:10 pm

opted to change to an Ecogear Powershad in eel colour rigged on a matching colour 1/4-5/8thoz PML jighead.

“I would make a long cast and let the lure sink to the bottom before using a slow, steady retrieve. The key was when the fish started to tap the lure to give the rod a sharp jerk and quickly wind the reel. This action resulted in numerous strong hits and quality fish”.

3rd place Humminbird/Smak Lures In 3rd place was Team Humminbird/Smak Lures, made up of Matthew Mott

Smak darter ice jig in dark green, Ecogear Powershads in rainbow trout colour and Sliders in Tennessee colour rigged on 1/2oz Smak jigheads.

SESSION TWO 1st place AMVE Jamie and Jayden Facer of Team AMVE took out the 2nd session, filing their limit at 8.47kg and catching the biggest bass at 2.87kg, for which they were awarded $1100 and $300 for their Big Bass.

Team AMVE started the session on the flats north of Kirkleigh, fishing in water

prize of $800.

Team Triple F Racing started their session at Kirkleigh, where they filled their 4 fish limit.

Knowing their 4kg total needed improving, the team made a move later in the session to the Red Rock flats, located across from Pelican Point. Fishing in water 27ft deep, the team used 5/8thoz jigheads painted in baby bass colour rigged with 80mm Squidgy Fish in silver fox colour and Sliders in baby bass colour. In total the team landed around 12 bass for the session. Reynolds said a more aggressive approach was the

Left: Session two was only narrowly won by Jamie and Jayden Facer of team AMVE, who put together a bag of 8.47kg. Right: Matt Johnson with the new ABT record bass, which weighed in at 3.87kg!

reason for their impressive bag.

“Once the lure hit the bottom we would hop it once or twice using aggressive lifts before rolling it back to the boat a short distance, around seven winds of the handle. If no bites came, the bail arm would be opened and the process was repeated. The bites came during the aggressive part of the retrieve,” Reynolds explained.

3rd place Suzuki Familiar faces Team Suzuki took out 3rd place in this session, filling their limit, which weight in at 8.35kg, earning

Bass plastics rigged on a 1/2oz jighead. Importantly, the team used 6lb leaders to present their lures. The technique with the tail-spinner was a slow lift and slow roll back to the boat.

When fishing plastic lures, the technique was to let the lure hit the bottom, shake it a few times and then employ a slow retrieve. The majority of the teams bites came straight away or not far from the boat.

The team’s mantra was to keep moving throughout the session to find active fish and not to sit around and wait for them to come on.

OVERALL RESULTS

PLACE

TEAM

FISH WEIGHT

1

Barry Reynolds, James Reid

12/12

24.16

2

Matthew Mott, David Green

12/12

22.22

Matt Johnson, Shaun Falkenhagen

12/12

20.19

4

Adrian Melchior, Steven Otto

12/12

19.69

5

Dean Silvester, Marnie Watson

12/12

18.54

6

Tony Thorley, Tom Deer

11/12

18.15

7

Glyn Barkhuizen, Simon Barkhuizen

12/12

18.01

Mark Lennox, Ian Wratten

9/12

16.75

3

NEXGEN LURES

/YAMBA PRAWN BLADES

8 9

AMVE

Jamie Facer, Jayden Facer

10/12

16.17

10

HYPER MARINE/LEGEND BOATS

David Lane, John Picton

10/12

15.42

Craig Simmons, Stephen Kanowski

9/12

14.77

Adrian Melchior and Steve Otto of team Gamakatsu won session three with their impressive bag of 8.72kg.

11

2nd place Suzuki Team Suzuki followed them closely in the 3rd session filling their limit to amass a total weight of 7.91kg, for which they were awarded $800.

Sticking with their winning ice jig and plastic presentation, Team Suzuki stamped their authority on the event in the 3rd and final session. With Reynolds hitting the ice jig, Reid went to work with his plastic lure presentation. Reid found it harder than the 1st and 2nd sessions to tempt fish.

“As to be expected it was a tougher session with the bites further apart. With the plastic I was finding the larger fish sitting on the bottom. Using the aggressive, jerky retrieve that had produced fish in the other 2 sessions we put together a decent tournament limit. The bites that came outside this area tended to be the smaller fish, so it was clear where we needed to concentrate our efforts,” Reid explained.

3rd place Humminbird/Smak Lures Team Humminbird/Smak Lures filled their limit to take out 3rd place in the 3rd session with a total of 6.92kg, giving them a cash prize of $600.

Team Humminbird/Smak Lures found bass at Red Rock, Queen St and Pelican Point. Two fish were caught quickly using Slider lures, the following 2 were caught on ice jigs. A move to Queen St saw

12

BALLINA BAIT, TACKLE

Michael Thompson, Brett Hyde

12/12

13.73

13

AUSSEA RESOURCES

Peter Leggett, Mike Connolly

10/12

13.30

Joe Allan, Steve Eldred

8/12

11.63

Wayne Gordon, Dan Ryan

10/12

10.92

Brad Clark, Tania Clark

8/12

10.41

Shane Anderson, Jack Gold

7/12

9.03

them a cash prize of $600.

Team Suzuki backed up their 1st session efforts again finding the bass for a top 3 finish. Team Suzuki focussed their efforts on schooling bass located at The Spit. In 30-40 feet of water, the team used only 2 lures during the session, a Smak ice jig in ayu colour rigged with Ecogear ZX assist hooks and an Ecogear Powershad in eel colour rigged on a matching colour 1/45/8thoz PML jighead. Reid said the bass proved to be a bit less cooperative than they were in the 1st session.

“Initially it was tougher during the 2nd session with the bass not willing to play the game. We both stuck at it, but it was only in the last hour that the fish began biting.

In saying that, the floodgates opened during this time with us landing approximately 30-40 fish each”.

SESSION THREE 1st place Gamakatsu The winner was Team Gamakatsu, consisting of Adrian Melchior and Steve Otto, who filled their limit to put together a commendable weight of 8.27kg, which earned them $1100.

Team Gamakatsu fished 3 key locations during the session. Initially they travelled to Kirkleigh, stopping before the timber. At this location, the team filled their tournament limit, but only 2 of the bass in the bag were stand out fish.

They then relocated to the other end of the dam and worked their way back to Red Rock.

The team finished their session on The Spit, where in the last 10 minutes they upgraded their 2 smallest fish.

The key lures used were Nories tail-spinner, GK Custom Spin Shiners and Atomic Big

14 15 TOOWOOMBA

16

BARRABASS RODS

17 BUNDABERG

18

TRIPLE F RACING

David Reynolds, Sam Haig

4/12

8.33

19

2 FISHIN’

Bob Schmahl, Steven Newman

4/12

7.27

20

BAG OUT

David Aseguinolaza, Alison Eslick

7/12

6.51

Dan Stead, Peter Morgan

4/12

4.87

21 the team upgrade using ice jigs and tail-spinners. A final move to Pelican Point saw the team upgrade 3 of their fish.

The key lure for the session was a Slider rigged on a 5/8thoz jighead. The technique saw the team sitting in 25ft of water casting into 50ft. The lure was wound quickly over a small ledge with the bass then aggressively taking the lure.

Big bass The Big Bass for the 3rd session came not from any

of the top 3, but from Team Bassday, made up of Tony Thorley and Tom Deer. The bass pulled the scales down to 2.88kg and won them $300.

The Big Bass for the session was caught by Tom Deer. Caught during the middle of the session, the bass came from The Spit in 35-42ft of water. The bass fell to a 1/4oz Atomic blade in ghost green shad colour. Deer was very happy to land the biggest bass for the session.

WINNING TACKLE Baitcast – Dobyns rod teamed with Daiwa reel spooled with Berkley Fireline Exceed and 10-12lb Sunline FC Rock leader Baitcast – Daiwa Commander Wildcat rod teamed with a Daiwa Alphas Ito 103 reel spooled with 10lb Toray braid and 12lb Toray leader Spin – Dobyns rod teamed with Daiwa Exist 2500 reel spooled with Berkley Fireline exceed and 10-12lb Sunline FC Rock leader Spin – Daiwa Steez thunderstorm rod teamed with a Daiwa Steez 2508 reel spooled with 10lb Toray braid and 12lb Toray leader

“I was casting to the edge of the school and hopping the lure off the bottom when the bass hit. At the weigh-in it was very close, but it was enough to take out the session Big Bass,” Deer said.

OVERALL CHAMPION TEAM Team Suzuki took out the champion team title with consistent performances across the 3 sessions. Team Suzuki was the only team to finish in the money each session and weighed in an impressive tournament total of 24.16kg. In total, the team took away $2200 in prize money and Edge rods to the value of $1500! On stage the team enjoyed the moment, explained the key techniques and shared the experience with their fellow competitors.

“One of the keys to our win was the retrieve; it was the aggressive retrieve that turned the fish on and kept them biting. Barry Reynolds is a standout angler, but with an ice jig tied on he is a freak. The ability to be able to pinpoint a single fish on the sounder and catch it was amazing to watch. To continually do this throughout the entire event is testament to his skill,” his teammate James Reid said.

“We both cottoned on to the pattern early during the pre-fish and during the event it really made the difference.

I would like to thank my team-mate, Barry, our team sponsor, Suzuki, the event sponsor, Edge Rods, ABT and all the competitors who make this event a highlight of each tournament season”.

NOVEMBER 2014

109

Aussie anglers dominate China kayak comp For the second year running, the Chinese Angling Association, along with their generous sponsors, have put together an international kayak fishing tournament.

This time round they increased the total prize money from $55,000 to $80,000 and total competitors from 30-57 from 9 countries, all fishing out of identical Hobie Pro Angler kayaks, fitted with Lowrance sounders, Hobie livewell and wide angle camera mounted at the front.

With Richard Somerton (last year’s Champion), Scott Lovig, Andrew Death and myself from the original 2013 Australian team available to return to defend our success from last year, selections were carefully made to complete the 11 man Australian team, including Chris Burbidge, Kris Hickson, Scott Baker, Carl Dubois, Jonathan Chen, Clark Wilson and Dave Hedge, all with a mixture of diversity and experience, working as a team, to give us the edge to again dominate the top end of the leader board.

This year the rules were changed to the traditional weigh-in with the total combined bag weight from both days. Targeting a variety of 5 different fish from the red-tail and top mouth culter, expected to be the predominant bread and butter bag filler, to the rarely caught, yet prized catfish that could weigh 3 times heavier than the culter.

PRE-FISH DAYS With only 3 weeks to prepare for this trip, all

DAY ONE RESULTS PLACE ANGLER WEIGHT (LB) 1..................... Richard Somerton........3.77 2..................... Scott Lovig...................3.36 3..................... Andrew Death..............2.69 4..................... Carl Dubois..................2.60 5..................... Chinese angler.............2.58 6..................... Kris Hickson.................2.51 7..................... Jonathan Chen.............2.48 8..................... Clark Wilson.................2.20 9..................... Chinese angler.............1.85 10.................... Chinese angler.............1.74 ___________________________________ 12.................... Chis Burbidge..............1.26 22................... Scott Baker..................0.40 25................... Matt Petrie...................0.35 26................... Dave Hedge.................0.32 An Aussie-filled podium! Matt Petrie, Scott Lovig and Carl Dubois with their winning cheques. to deeper water and were very productive last year and also on the pre-fish. We were prepared to fish these points all day if needed, with the occasional point swapping.

I could see Richard was having a ripper day watching as he bagged fish after fish while I was really struggling

Despite the torrential rain, over 10,000 locals came out to celebrate the opening ceremony. experimented with a variety of untried lures on this waterway.

After each pre-fish day, as a team, we sat down with a cold beer (yes cold) and shared our day’s experience and determined what lure worked and what didn’t.

These daily team meetings were an integral part to achieving our goal with all

FINAL RESULTS PLACE ANGLER WEIGHT WINNINGS

(LB) (USD) 1............ Matt Petrie................. 5.39.......... $30,000 2............ Scott Lovig................ 5.34.......... $15,000 3............ Carl Dubois .............. 5.03.......... $10,000 4............ Richard Somerton..... 4.62.......... $5,000 5............ Chris Burbidge.......... 4.51.......... $4,000 6............ Chinese angler.......... 4.39.......... $3,000 7............ Clark Wilson.............. 4.23.......... $2,500 8............ Kris Hickson.............. 3.88.......... $2,000 9............ Chinese angler.......... 3.34.......... $1,500 10........... Jonathan Chen.......... 2.96.......... $1,000 11........... Andrew Death........... 2.69.......... $500 members of the team, both past and present, put their heads together via a Facebook group and shared as much info we could to take this challenge head on. Starting with a plan on how to tackle the prefish days.

Due to half the kayaks not being completely fitted out and still in dry dock, it was decided by the officials that all international competitors would have 2.5 hours fishing in the morning and the Chinese would have the water in the afternoon, with the following day in reverse order.

With the knowledge of what lures smashed the fish last year, we first set out to confirm these lures and retrieval technique still worked, then 110

NOVEMBER 2014

back to the weigh-in waiting zone, disappointed to only have one fish to hit the scales.

There were only 27 competitors booking a date with the weigh master, so it was straight onto the bus back to the hotel where we awaited for day one results to be posted up on the wall. Anticipation was high, as we knew that a number of the Aussie members

team members ready with a plan in hand to tackle day one of competition.

OPENING CEREMONY With crowd numbers down from last year’s opening, possibly due to the morning’s torrential rainfall, the waterside outdoor auditorium still looked a picture with at least 10,000 locals turning up. Highlight of the event was seeing 4 new team members, Scott Baker, Clark Wilson, Dave Hedge and Carl Dubois representing the team as the Australian flag bearers.

DAY ONE We had 6 hours to find a bag of 5 fish, so we all raced off in all directions to our preferred areas of the lake.

Richard Somerton and myself headed straight to our favourite points on an island, roughly about 200m apart.

These points had shallow banks that gradually dropped

The Australian team took out $70,000 from a possible $80,000 winners’ pool. The team accredits this amazing finish to team work by all 11 members. to get a bite. After 4 hours of pure frustration and still no fish in the well, I decided to change location to another island with deeper edges. It wasn’t until the last hour of the day that I managed to land a legal sized redtail culter. With time running out, I starting my way

Team meetings were essential for planning the team’s strategies in preparation for challenges from the Chinese anglers.

had good bags, expecting the top 10 to be well represented with Australians. During our team meeting, the results were up with 7 Australians in the top 10.

DAY TWO After our team meeting we planned our strategies in preparation for a challenge from the Chinese anglers to try and pressure our fishing zones. With communication between anglers on the water prohibited, we all made sure we understood each other’s ‘body language’ when it came to how well we were doing.

Little things like livewell lid up meant ‘no fish in livewell’ and our Hobie cap worn backwards indicated you were bagging out and smashing the fish, etc. We knew, with our experience and fitness levels on the Hobie Pro Anglers, that we could race to our preferred fishing areas before any other competitors could get there.

Richard Somerton and myself raced back to the same points as day one, ready to

swap positions when a change was needed. I decided to change up my retrieve, as it was obvious it just didn’t work for me on day one. This change proved to be the ‘retrieval code cracker’, hooking up fish immediately, with fish coming in every second cast. Weeding through the undersized fish, I had a full bag within one and half hours had elapsed.

Upgrades were coming in regularly for me in a stark contrast to day one.

After 4 hours of fishing the points with Richard and with Scott Baker, Scott Lovig and Chris Burbidge now covering the area, I decided to make the move to another island, fishing deeper edges and finding more upgrades, before making my way back to the weigh-in zone.

At this stage I was just happy to have a bag to present to the weigh master and knew it was bigger than the average bag, to help bump my position up the leaderboard. Being one of the first to weigh-in, to my amazement, the bag pushed the scales over the 5lb mark, prompting me to think this could get me into the top ten.

With most of the Australians cementing their position in the top ten, with some good bags weighed in, we all climbed back on to the bus to race back for the closing ceremony, with the final results to be announced.

While on the bus, the numbers were crunched and estimations were concluded that we might even have 7 in the top 10 places with the Chinese team not breaking the scales with their weigh-ins.

It wasn’t until just prior to presentations that the top 20 placegetters were sat down in order of placing that we knew we had 9 Aussies in the top 11 and to my disbelief, I had taken out 1st place with Scott Lovig closely behind in 2nd and Carl Dubois filling the final spot on the podium.

With the Australian team splitting up $70,000, of a possible $80,000 guaranteed this trip was one to never be forgotten and was only achieved due to extraordinary team work by all 11 team members. – Matt Petrie

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NOVEMBER 2014

111

2014 Hobie World Championships The finest kayak anglers from around the world converged on the Vinkeveense Plassen, 20 minutes outside Amsterdam, during early October for the 4th Hobie Fishing World Championship presented

by Rhino-Rack. They came from four continents and 20

THE LAKE The competitors’ first taste of what was to come was on the ‘Lowrance Navigation Day’ when anglers hit the waters of Vinkeveense Plassen for the first time.

Fishing was prohibited but anglers used their time on the water to gather information

more than one angler landed a 90cm+ pike – a taste of what was to come over the next three days!

DAY 1 On the first day of competition at daybreak, anglers stood for the national anthem of the Netherlands and then with the cry of

Home base was a hive of activity, humming with a dozen different languages.

Steve Lessard from the USA with a hefty pike. nations to take part in the first Hobie Fishing Worlds to be held in Europe.

Hobie Cat Worldwide, its subsidiaries and partners have worked together for over a year to put together an event of this scale. The event, born out of Hobie Cat Australasia, was first held in Port Macquarie in 2011, then in Bastrop Texas in 2012 and again in Australia in 2013 at the Bemm River and Marlo in Victoria.

As with all Hobie Fishing World Championships, anglers compete from identically rigged Hobiesupplied kayaks. This year they were 2015 model Hobie Pro Angler 12s. Each kayak was rigged with Lowrance Elite-4 HDI sounders, PowerPole Micros and Ram mounts and accessories. The identical kayaks level the playing field.

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NOVEMBER 2014

about structure, locations, distances, water conditions and survey the arena with their Lowrance Elite-4 HDIs. Vinkeveense Plassen is a huge artificial lake created over centuries of peat harvesting. It has stretches of water that separate long, narrow strips of land. The deep cut-out canals offer protection from wind and related heavy chop and provide structural overhangs from which the predatory pike, zander and perch ambush their prey.

Anglers were able to put what they learned into practice during the Daiwa Pre Fish Day, taking on the perch, zander and massive pike. The day’s fishing was cut short by the Tournament Director Keeton Eoff for safety reasons, but not before

“Power-Poles up” the tournament director sounded the starter’s siren.

Winds of 35km/h+ tested the anglers’ patience, resulting in many heading for the protection of the canals away from the more open southern lake. The 2011 World Champion Scott Baker from Mornington in Victoria was upbeat about the first day of competition.

“I had a really good day today,” he said. “I fished with Richard Somerton [2013 World Champion from Melbourne] but I dropped a couple of perch early on and Richard caught a few.

Then we headed into a bay, came out and I got a 68cm pike, and my legs started to shake. I couldn’t even pedal I was that excited. I dropped a couple of other fish near the boat, but that’s fishing. I watched Richard land some absolute behemoths, so that was great fun.”

Steve Lessard from Louisiana, USA, enjoyed his first day in a Hobie Fishing World Championship. He was interviewed after coming straight off the water and unknown to him at the time had finished in second place on day one.

“I had an awesome day,” he said. “I got a pike and a perch: a very nice pike and my perch is a legal perch, it’s a 25cm which is good enough.

I’m very excited to try to duplicate that tomorrow.”

Richard Somerton came out of day one leading the tournament.

“It started off pretty slow,” he said. “I could find fish but getting them to bite

was hard. I ended up getting a couple of perch early. Then I gave Scottie (Baker) a bit of a hand with one of his fish and then I picked up a nice pike myself. I upgraded a cracking perch later on, while looking for zander.”

Pike and perch continued to be caught in good numbers throughout the competition and it was the anglers who landed more than one species who made it into the top of the Lowrance leaderboard.

A 26cm could be enough to push you into the top five when added to an 85-95cm pike. It was definitely a game of tactics when it came to targeting species. Many competitors hit the pike early, got one on film, then went for the perch and later (time permitting) tried to upgrade the pike and repeat.

The zander remained elusive. On the third day of competition, Richard Barth offered up a Hobie Revolution 11 as a prize for the largest zander caught over 53cm.

Many anglers tried, and it became quite crowded in the zander’s preferred murkier waters, but not a single one was caught.

DAY 2 There was a lot of movement on the scoreboard on the second day. Day one favourite Richard Somerton

The 2014 Hobie World Champion, Steve Lessard, was thrilled with his win.

(VIC) came back emptyhanded, making way for the USA’s Steve Lessard to jump into the top spot. Canada’s Kyle Moxon climbed seven places to move into second for the day while the UK’s Rob Appleby-Gouberg moved into third.

Somerton’s day one perch measuring 47cm was the largest of the species caught, with Jason Reid from Sydney giving chase and landing a 45cm specimen. Lessard’s (USA) day one 106cm pike remained the largest for the competition.

DAY 3 The third and final day of the competition saw things mix up again, with

Many anglers tried their luck at catching a zander during the comp, but none succeeded.

four Australians finishing in the top 10. Lessard (USA) and Moxon (CAN) held on to first and second, but third place was picked up

by NSW, South Coast Fisho Kevin Varty, landing a 95cm pike and a 35cm perch to move him 14 places up the leader board.

Varty’s tactic was to hop soft plastics across the bottom in 2m of water under the cover of trees. He soon got a couple of quality fish, again proving that catching two or more species was the key to getting ahead.

Having won the St Georges Basin NSW round of the Hobie Fishing Bream Series just two weeks prior to qualify, and with limited preparation time, Varty was amazed by his podium finish.

“On day one I didn’t catch any fish at all and I was pretty unhappy with that,” he confessed. “On day two I got a 76cm pike on 3lb braid and 3lb leader and that put my heart in my mouth for a few minutes. Just as I got him in the net the line broke, but I had him so that was all good!

“Today I wasn’t sure what to expect. Could I get another pike? I didn’t know, but I just went back to the same spot and did the same thing. Just casting under the trees and letting the lure sink

Competitors were supplied with 2015 model Hobie Pro Angler 12s with Lowrance Elite-4 HDI sounders, Power-Pole Micros and Ram mounts and accessories.

to the bottom, slowly hopping it back to the kayak. It paid off, I got my pike at 95cm.

“Then I went after the perch. I got one at 30cm and I was just about to take the photo when he flew off the measuring board and into the

drink. I was really panicking then! I quickly cast back into the same spot and fortunately pulled out one at 35cm.

“Seriously, this is a great place. I love being here and I’ve had a great time. Great sponsors, great

Australian competitors Scott Baker and Patrick McQuarrie get in on the action.

people, everybody’s been awesome. I couldn’t have imagined it could be so good and I’m stoked to be third in the world.”

Even happier was Steve Lessard from Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA, who was crowned Hobie Fishing World Champion after consistently landing two species on each day of competition. Lessard was ecstatic after finding out his day 3 score of 112cm from a pike measuring in at 83cm and a perch at 29cm was enough to win him the world championship.

“Wow! What a tournament! I am so excited to have won,” he said. “Thank you to all of the competitors for being so courteous, working together and for the tough competition. Anyone of us could have won, it’s just that it was my day and I want to once again thank everyone who has supported me.

“Today I struggled for the first two hours with the pattern that I was on yesterday. That pattern didn’t pan out so I had to make an adjustment and the power fishing that I had been doing was not working. The fish had moved and I went to finesse fishing.

“I switched to a small jig and I caught my first pike and was able to stay with that pattern and upgrade to another one. I went from a 65cm pike up to an 83cm with my second pike. Then I went perch fishing and immediately I got it in the area that I wanted to be in. It was the biggest perch that I caught in the tournament – a 28cm. So I’m just very, very excited.”

At the awards presentation dinner, anglers were asked to pick a fellow competitor who they thought best exemplified the spirit of the event. Each

One day you’re catching peacock bass in your home waters of sunny Singapore, the next you’re in freezing Amsterdam chasing fish you’ve never seen before! participant could vote for one angler that they thought best represented the highest level of sportsmanship, ethics, character, camaraderie and acts of selflessness in what was to become the

DAY 3 RESULTS

LENGTH LENGTH LENGTH LENGTH TOTAL PLACE ANGLER COUNTRY FISH PIKE PERCH ZANDER DAY 3 DAY 2 DAY 1 TOTAL FISH 1............. Steve Lessard ..................USA ...............2 .......83 ....... 29 ............. 0 ............. 112 ........... 120 ........... 132 ............. 364 .............6 2............. Kyle Moxon ......................CAN ...............2 .......66 ....... 28 ............. 0 .............. 94 ............. 96 ............. 84 .............. 274 .............5 3............. Kevin Varty .......................AUS ...............2 .......95 ....... 35 ............. 0 ............. 130 ............ 76 .............. 0 ............... 206 .............3 4............. Edi Brader ........................AUT ...............2 .......76 ....... 25 ............. 0 ............. 101 ............ 95 .............. 0 ............... 196 .............3 5............. Justin Ritchey ..................USA ...............2 .......58 ....... 28 ............. 0 .............. 86 ............. 29 ............. 70 .............. 185 .............4 6............. Scott Baker ......................AUS ...............2 .......52 ....... 30 ............. 0 .............. 82 ............. 29 ............. 68 .............. 179 .............4 7............. Rob Appleby Goudberg ...GBR ...............0 ........0 ......... 0 .............. 0 ............... 0 .............. 76 ............. 98 .............. 174 .............2 8............. Jonathon Chen ................AUS ...............2 .......70 ....... 29 ............. 0 .............. 99 ............. 29 ............. 37 .............. 165 .............4 9............. Patrick Mcquarrie.............AUS ...............1 .......76 ........ 0 .............. 0 .............. 76 .............. 0 .............. 85 .............. 161 .............2 10........... Lars Lundberg ..................SWE...............1 .......82 ........ 0 .............. 0 .............. 82 ............. 75 .............. 0 ............... 157 .............3

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The Australian team stayed on in Amsterdam for an extra day’s relaxation where Jonathan Chen (NSW) and Simon Morley (NSW) both managed to land the elusive zander while fishing in the built-up city canals of Amsterdam. – Peter Costello

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113

Cooking

Paella pick me up BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

INGREDIENTS 1 cup dry white wine 1 red onion, diced 100g mussels 2 tbsp veg oil 200g scallops (roe on) 2 cloves garlic, grated 1 small red capsicum, deseeded and chopped 1 rasher bacon, roughly chopped (optional)

3 5

1 small spicy chorizo, finely sliced Paprika (optional) 4 small tomatoes, chopped 2 cups stock (chicken or seafood) A good pinch of saffron threads 1 cup Arborio rice 100g calamari rings 100g shelled prawns 1 cup frozen peas Chopped Italian flat leaf parsley (for garnish)

1

Poach the mussels in the wine (or water) combined with a quarter of the chopped red onion in the paella pan for a couple of minutes. Then drain the contents of the pan through a strainer into a glass bowl – reserve the liquid and the mussels.

4

Cook the red capsicum, bacon, garlic and the rest of the chopped onion in the paella pan. Then add the chorizo and tomato (and optional paprika).

Pour the reserved liquid from the poached mussels back into the paella pan and mix it with the ingredients.

Add the seafood to the paella pan and poke the seafood down into the paella mixture. Continue to cook for another 10 minutes.

9 114

2

Sear the scallops on both sides with a little vegetable oil over a medium heat in the paella pan on the hotplate.

Remove and place to one side.

6 8

The ingredients: stock, peas, saffron, capsicum, tomato, onion, garlic, rice, spicy chorizo, Italian flat leaf parsley, mussels, scallops, calamari, prawns and oil.

NOVEMBER 2014

Add the peas and stir them into the paella. Continue to cook until there is very little moisture left (the moisture should be cooked out of the dish) and the rice crusts on the bottom.

7 Add the Arborio rice.

Add saffron to the chicken stock and pour the stock into the paella mixture.

Allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Do not stir the paella during this cooking time as leaving it to sit still allows a crust to form on the base of the paella.

10

Sprinkle the parsley across the top of the dish and it is ready to serve. There are approximately six portions in this 30cm diameter paella pan.

Cracking the code BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

There are days when catching fish seems the easiest thing to do in the world. There are other days when it seems like it’s not the easiest thing in the world.

I can’t say the hardest thing in the world, because that would mean it’s more difficult than finding an honest politician, or a ref that doesn’t dud the Cowboys. And it’s obviously easier to catch fish as a Dudd than find a decent ref who doesn’t make sure South Sydney wins. And now the Sydney press are happy their Sydney teams have won the Sydney comp, I mean the NRL… anyway, I’m going off the track.

The scene was set beautifully. Exactly the same conditions we’d hit nearly 12 months ago.

Run-in tide, shadows lengthening on the flat water as the sun dropped behind the scrubby headland, occasional flop of a baitfishTOH147 as it Fishing tried to avoid something hunting in the mangroves, the odd

turtle poking its head out... well, we’d eaten a heavy curry for lunch.

Tw e l v e months ago, there’d been fish everywhere – golden snapper (fingermark), jacks, a couple of barra over or around the 1m mark and a few bust-offs – nothing into our boat, of course, but into old mate’s next door. He hadn’t been all that happy when we’d pulled up right beside him, but then he’d started to pull in the fish big time and forgot about us. Too bad we didn’t get a scale. But we’d seen him in action, and although we’d caught not very much at all, we knew now that we’d cracked the code. And by that I mean old mate in the boat beside us had cracked the code, and if we came back we’d clean up big time. How hard could it be?

Turns out it was harder than a giant hard thing.

We’d schemed for almost a year to get back up to our Central Queensland spot.

I’d even sent my ‘worse’ half away on a cruise, knowing she’d be coming World Ad PR.pdf backHalf to a Page big surprise.

And some fish in the freezer too.

The tide was almost the

1

same, although last time it had been a good run, this time we needed a 12oz snapper sinker to keep a livey on a sandbank. The wind that we’d cursed months ago was now gone, and the sandies and mozzies moved in. Last time, they’d only been able to grab some flesh as they blew past at 30 knots; now they were able to settle, push the Off! aside, and get stuck right in. Skipper looked like a piebald horse as a mass of shifting insects moved across his face. Boobies hunkered down over his cigar, hoping the fumes would send the pesky little varmints away. It didn’t.

They seemed to like a bit of an extra challenge, like a lion keeps a zebra alive for a bit of fun.

Except a lion doesn’t take as much blood out of its prey as those beggars took out of us.

And all the while, those damn lines stayed slack, those ratchets kept silent, those drags refused to protest. All we could hear was a constant 28/02/14 12:28 PM into irritating whine, rising a bell ringing pitch as even more insects bore down on

us like a plague from an Old Testament judgement day. So Boobies and I told Skipper to shut up.

Unfortunately, we could then hear the insects, so we told him to start whining again, which he did.

Despite the horrendous conditions, we toughed it out. Other less dedicated anglers might have headed in to the safety of an air-conditioned rental, but not us. We had spent a

year planning this, not to mention some serious coin, so we were prepared to stick it out for as long as it took.

It took about 8 minutes by my watch, at which point Boobies made an executive decision to head back to the ramp.

Although I would have liked to stay longer, my skin didn’t, given it was now thicker than a rhino’s rear, and lumpier.

Our usual post mortems on the trip back were not up to their usual standard. The sound of scratching made it hard to hear each other.

But over the 8-hour trip we decided it wasn’t us or our methods that had failed. It was the fish. They clearly didn’t know what the hell they were supposed to be doing. Next time though, we knew they’d be doing the right thing, and we’d clean up, for sure...

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115

Choosing the right brakes for your trailer SYDNEY

Christian Bold

There is always confusion about what type of brakes are needed for what trailer. The majority of boaters will have a mechanical override system fitted to their trailer. This is the most commonly used braking

RATED BETWEEN 751-2000KG As I mentioned earlier, most boat trailers will have a mechanical over-ride braking system fitted to them, however, there are 2 types of over-ride braking systems: one is mechanical and the other is hydraulic.

Both types have a maximum rating of 2000kg with a hand brake attached to

If you have a straight electric brake system fitted with drum brakes then I strongly suggest you change immediately – electricity and water don’t mix!

There are a lot of braking actuators out there that are capable of pulling up your boat and trailer; depending on the make of trailer will depend on what system you have. All work

The majority of boaters will have a mechanical override system fitted to their trailer.

These brake pads are rusted out - they won’t stop you when you need them to. system. The problem is that the bigger and heavier the boat, the higher the rating your trailer needs to be.

There are a lot of factors that need to be considered when rating the capabilities of a trailer.

The brakes are only one factor, however if you know the rating capability of your braking system you are able to know straight away whether you have the right one or not.

NO BRAKES Not all trailers need brakes, if your trailer has an ATM of 750kg or less then by law you are not required to have a braking system on your trailer.

Just keep in mind that although your boat and trailer unloaded (no fuel, equipment, water, etc.) may weigh less than 750kg when you load it you may go over. Not a big deal right? WRONG. If you are involved in an accident and the trailer is taken away for weighing and comes in over its rating then you have a problem, not to mention the insurance company having an excuse not to pay up for repairs. And do we really need to give insurance companies another reason not to pay?

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NOVEMBER 2014

the coupling. They both also work on inertia, meaning that when you apply the brakes on your car, the force of the boat and trailer push on the coupling shaft, which applies pressure to the handbrake leaver that will either pull on the cable (mechanical) or pushing fluid in a cylinder (hydraulic).

These systems require brake callipers fitted to one axle and both need the callipers serviced (usually when you have your bearings changed).

There are positives and negatives for both systems, for example hydraulic callipers don’t need to be adjusted like mechanical callipers do, but the brake lines do get rusty and can create cracks and leaks that allow air into the system causing the brakes to fail.

Overall, it really comes down to preference and practicality when choosing the right over-ride brakes for your trailer.

RATED OVER 2000KG If you are lucky enough to have a boat that requires the trailer to have a rating of over 2000kg you have a lot more responsibility when it comes to the maintenance of your trailer. Your trailer will have a hydraulic over electric braking system fitted to it.

trailers brake actuator. The actuator then pushes brake fluid to the brake callipers.

The amount of pressure applied to the brakes depends on the settings on your brake control unit (refer to your owner’s manual when setting your brake control unit).

break away battery is charged or not.

The braking system is only one element when it comes to the rating of your trailer, you can’t change the rating of your trailer just by adding or removing a braking system, a lot more is involved, but at least you

of Bold Trailers he is a licensed motor mechanic, auto electrician and automotive body builder.

Christian is also an AUVIS and e-safety examiner for the RMS. You can contact Christian and the team at Bold Trailers for any information regarding

Overall, it really comes down to preference and practicality when choosing the right over-ride brakes for your trailer. the same way and require you to have a brake control unit fitted into your car.

Your brake control unit is connected to your brake light switch on your brake pedal, so when you apply pressure to your car brakes, a signal is fed to your brake control unit. From there a signal travels through wiring to your car trailer plug and when the trailer is connected through to the

You will also have fitted to the front of your trailer a ‘break away switch’ and ‘break away battery’. These are required by law and the battery needs to be always charged enough to apply the brakes for a 15 minute period if the switch is deployed. Your car is also required to have a ‘battery charge indicator’ fitted, to show you whether your

know the ins and outs of the different braking systems found on boat trailers. If you are unsure of whether your trailer needs brakes or if they are working, make sure you speak to an expert as safety is always number one!.

• Christian Bold, also known as ‘The Trailer Guy’, is one of Australia’s leading trailer and caravan repair specialists. As the Director

trailer and caravan repairs, maintenance, modifications, legal requirements, imported trailers, parts and accessories and new and used trailers for sale.

Their friendly technicians are always willing to help you to make your towing experience safe and enjoyable. For more great tips go to www.boldtrailers. com.au or Phone: (02) 8544-8114.

HAWK FISHING • FIND-A-WORD COMPETITION

All things beach fishing

ALVEY BEACH WORM BREAM BUCKET COCKLE DART EUGARIE GUTTER LINE TWIST METAL SLUG

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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 NOVEMBER 2014

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winners for September were R Kennedy of Minyama, J Nock of Kallangur, D Schroeter of Newcomb and A Clay of Mount Warren Park who each won a Ecogear lure and accessory pack valued at $125.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING FISH WINNERS

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The Find the specialtyfishing.com.au logo prize winners for September were: A Hewitt of Mirani, P Cox of Edmonton, M Wilson of Murgon, G Englart of Blackriver, B O’Connor of South Bingera, L Etter of Richlands, K Frankel of Pottsville, M Gillett of Boonah, B Adams of Bongaree, G Crossley of Wilsonton, N Kempthorne of Ripley, A Jorgensen of Kippa-Ring, C Couper of Chinchilla, G Poole of Tweed Heads South, A Walpole of Eight Mile Plains, R Brown of Edmonton, D Deppeler of Burpengary East, M Reynolds of Gladstone, G Green of Currumbin Waters, J Routledge of Bundaberg, G Yarrow of Miriam Vale, J Paul of Inverell, P Batchelor of Gladstone, E Lezuchowski of Darra, P Symonds of Kallangur, J Wogandt of Urangan, T Jamieson of Morayfield, B Dalgarno of Geebung, D Bishop of Gladstone, G McArdell of Point Vernon, A Bowyer of Blackall, N Mackellar of Maryborough, J Nock of Kallangur, R Taskis of Ashmore, P Thompson of Murwillumbah, J Cervenjak of Greenbank, B Botting of Nanango, P Fels of Cushnie, T Hodgson of Bli Bli, E Howarth of Cowra.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM FIND THE SPECIALTY FISHING SEPTEMBER LOCATIONS The answers to Find the specialtyfishing.com.au logo competition for September were: 14, 24, 32, 46, 50, 52, 57, 65, 76, 78, 81, 84, 91, 101, 114. – QFM

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

SEPTEMBER SAMAKI PRIZE PACK WINNER The Samaki prize winner for September was B Robertson of Redbank, who won a Samaki product prize pack valued at $300.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to Darren Culshaw of Banyo, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-aWord 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

NOVEMBER 2014

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Understanding the different sounder frequencies BRISBANE

Nabeel Issa

Understanding the different frequencies your sounder is capable of using can make a great deal of difference to what you see on your screen.

The frequency that I’m referring to is the number that is shown on your screen in kilohertz (kHz).

This is frequency of the sound pulses that are sent through the water from your transducer. When these sound pulses are sent and hit an object, they are returned to the transducer and an image is then displayed on the sounder screen.

There are a various frequencies out there that sounders can use. Generally most sounders with a basic off-the-shelf transducer will have two frequencies – 83kHz and 200kHz. For

are also high frequencies that are used in Lowrance Structure Scan for giving us picture-like images, these come in 455kHz and 800kHz. If you aren’t already confused, we also have CHIRP, which is basically a variable range of frequencies that are sent (as opposed to a single number). I won’t go into too much detail about CHIRP just yet, it’s quite a complex topic and I think it deserves a whole article for itself!

So what’s the point of different frequencies? The best way to explain the different sonar frequencies is in Fig.4. The lower frequencies such as 83kHz and 50kHz will have a wider cone angle, we can see from the image that the fish A, B and C are picked up with this beam (in the green cone). Compare that to the 200kHz (pink cone) and we are only picking up fish B.

This image compares the difference between 455kHz of Structure Scan and 83kHz of traditional sonar. Which one gives you more information?

Transducers come in many different shapes and sizes. It pays to make sure you have the right one to suit your fishing style. sounders that are designed for more offshore and deep water work, they have the option of the 50kHz and 200kHz transducer. There

Generally the narrow cone of the 200kHz will give us better detail and better target separation. It also shows us what is directly

Fig.5

Fig.4

Sound pulses are sent and when they hit an object they are returned to the transducer and an image is then displayed on the sounder screen.

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under due to the smaller cone. The lower frequencies and wider cone of the 50kHz or 83kHz will give us more information as it covers a greater area. The 83kHz is great for shallow to medium depths and the 50kHz is great for deep water, as it is able to see down in over 200m depths.

Fig. 5 shows a top view of the cones, with the Structure Scan frequencies of 455kHz and 800kHz added. The red being the Down Scan and the yellow the Side Scan.

The Side Scan will pick up fish that are wider than our conventional cones and the Down Scan will tell us what is directly beneath, but with much greater definition than the normal sonar cones.

These are very narrow beams but give us amazing quality images due to such a high frequency.

When selecting frequencies for Structure Scan, use 800kHz when in shallow water (less than 5m deep) and then switch to 455kHz for anything deeper.

When selecting between 83kHz and 200kHz go with the 200kHz in shallow water and move to the 83kHz when in water deeper than 30-40m.

If you have the option to use 50kHz, this is best for water depths around 100m and beyond.

It can all vary depending on your own set up so it pays to play around with it and see which one works better for you and gives you an image that you can understand.

As long as you understand the basics of how the sonar works and what the different frequencies are capable of, you will be able to correctly pick the right frequency for your fishing scenarios.

What’s new boating

1

GARMIN ECHOMAP DV COMBOS

Garmin’s new echoMAP dv combo units combine detailed mapping and powerful GPS performance with advanced highdefinition sonar and scanning sonar.

The echoMAP 70dv and 50dv come with BlueChart g2 coastal charts, and include an all-in-one transducer to deliver both Garmin HD-ID (77/200kHz) sonar and DownVü scanning sonar.

With the ability to display both sonar readings in split screen configuration, HD-ID tracking technology and DownVü scanning sonar deliver incredible underwater definition in shallow and deep water. You can see isolated targets and difficult-to-find secondary structure, plus variations in weed growth and bottom hardness.

The optional GCV 10 black box adds DownVü and SideVü scanning sonar with CHIRP to the echoMAP 70dv, and both echoMAP dv models have a built-in 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver.

Featuring a pinch-to-zoom 7” touchscreen, the 70dv outputs 4000W peak-to-peak power for sonar performance down to 700m (2300ft), as does the smaller 50dv 5” touchbutton model. RRPs start from $899, and there’s more info at sites.garmin.com/clearvuscanning. - Garmin

2

RAYGLASS USES MERCURY TDIS

NZ powerboat manufacturer Rayglass is installing Mercury DieselTDi diesels as its engine of choice in its Legend 2350, 2500 and 2800 models.

“They are a premium product and are simply better for us on a number of fronts,” said Scott Little, Sales Manager for Rayglass.

The TDi engines show their Volkswagen heritage by providing a diesel driving experience which is superior to any other.

Lightweight, quiet and fuel efficient, the TDi engines are exceptionally reliable and suitable for both sterndrive and inboard applications.

Rayglass are regularly using the 370hp TDi 4.2L V8 and the 260hp TDi 3.0L V6 in both new boats and repowers.

“Our Legend 2800 is 8.5m long and weighs 3.5 tonnes so we usually install the V8, but even when we use the V6 there’s still enough power to reach 64 km/h and you can cruise comfortably as well,” Scott said.

To find out more visit www.mercurymarine. com.au. - MM

3

LOWRANCE HDS PRICE DROP

Lowrance’s latest special deal will save you hundreds of dollars when you buy any fishfinder, chartplotter or combo unit from the HDS range.

Lowrance customers will continue to have access to the HDS Gen2 Touch combo bundles which include a free 83/200khz skimmer and StructureScan transducer. The HDS Gen2 (non-touch) bundles with a free 83/200khz skimmer and StructureScan kit with HDS-8 and HDS-10 Gen2 models will also remain available but with a further saving of up to $800 for the HDS10 and $550 for the HDS8. The HDS-7 bundle with a free 83/200khz skimmer will continue with a further saving of $400, reducing the RRP to $1099.

Pricing has also dropped by as much as $1000 on HDS-10 skus, $750 on HDS-8s, $500 on all HDS-7 skus and $300 on HDS-5s with and without transducers.

The HDS price drops are available now while stocks last. For more info visit www. lowrance.com. - Navico

4

QUINTREX 610 FREEDOM CRUISER

Quintrex’s Freedom Cruiser is built for comfort, fun and durability. It features Quintrex’s renowned Blade Hull and Flared Bow to glide through rough water, offering a smooth and reliable ride.

With new 5mm bottomsides and 3mm smooth topsides and a new raised aluminium top deck, the 610 Freedom Cruiser looks sportier than ever before. There’s a 120L underfloor fuel tank, room for up to eight people, and a stereo and speakers, cockpit lights and rod holders are all included as standard.

Quintrex National Account Manager Cameron Wood said the new top deck created a sleeker look and allowed for the new low profile windscreen.

“Powered by Mercruiser with a rating up to 220hp, you can’t go wrong with the Flared Bow and Blade Hull,” he added. “It’s a tried and tested formula.”

The Freedom Cruiser is available as an Instant Boating Package including a Quintrex trailer and Mercruiser engine. For more info head to www.quintrex.com.au. - Telwater

5

STACER 429 SEAWAY

The 429 Seaway, always been popular as an entry level runabout, has now been re-worked to keep up with customer demand. It’s now wider and deeper, with a 2.04m beam and more freeboard for superb stability. It has been upgraded from the flat back transom in favour of a new podded style, which aids stability and provides better flotation.

There’s a comfortable new dual position rear lounge, a lean-through windscreen hatch and new moulded anchor well. This craft can carry up to five people, and other changes include 3mm bottomsides and a rating of 50hp. Options include a live bait tank in the back deck, extra rod holders, radio, covers and canopies, a 50L underfloor fuel tank and a stereo.

The 429 Seaway is available as a Ready 2 Go boat-motor-trailer package with a threeyear limited warranty. For more info head to www.stacer.com.au. - Telwater

6

GARMIN CLEARVÜ WITH CHIRP

Combining advanced HD-ID sonar, ClearVü scanning sonar and CHIRP technology, Garmin’s fully-networkable GPSMAP 820xs/1020xs series offers a powerful sonar/chartplotter solution.

The GPSMAP 820xs (20.3cm/8”) and GPSMAP 1020xs (25.4cm/10”) come with an all-in-one 77/200kHz transducer to provide traditional sonar and DownVü scanning sonar with CHIRP. Adding a GCV 10 black box delivers both DownVü and SideVü scanning sonar with CHIRP (frequency bandwidth is 445-475kHz and 805-840kHz) for an ultraclear, near photographic picture of what’s beneath and to the sides. DownVü’s finer concentrated sonar signal helps anglers recognise variations in weed growth and bottom composition down to 800m+, while SideVü can scan the water up to 150m on either side.

As advanced combo units, the GPSMAP 820xs and 1020xs also incorporate a 10Hz GPS/GLONASS receiver and come preloaded with a worldwide base map. Upgrading to BlueChart g2 Vision charts adds hi-res satellite imagery, 3D FishEye and 3D Mariner views and more. - Garmin

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119

Savage revamps 2015 range FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

At the recent Dealer and Media Conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast, local manufacturer Savage unveiled a refined and upgraded range of 2015 hulls – based on feedback from customers and dealers alike. Of particular interest to FM readers will be the aggressive pricing that will be seen on all Savage models.

“Our motto is that we’re the ‘Oldest Brand with the Newest Boats’,” explained Telwater’s Marketing boss, Damien Duncan, and we’re sure that anyone looking in the marketplace for an aluminium Savage boat will be pleasantly surprised by the pricing.

The Savage 575 Bluewater holds a 150hp outboard.

Scorpions are available in a range of sizes and configurations – like this SC (side console).

The Savage 515 Beachcomber is an ideal family boat.

Indeed, the flotilla of new and refined models presented for viewing was impressive.

Well thought-out designs with impressive wraps powered by an assortment of Evinrude E-Tec outboards felt right at home in and around the

Gold Coast Seaway, but let’s break down exactly what’s happened to the range.

NEW SCORPIONS Savage’s older Piranha line of boats has been replaced with the new Scorpion models. These hulls

will be right up any angler’s alley, with full floors, casting decks, high sides and 3mm plate aluminium throughout the hull.

The smooth, non-clinkered sides hold a printed boat wrap well

Factory-installed boat wraps are available in a range of designs and colours.

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and there’s a variety of designs and colours available ex-factory for all of the new models.

Most of the hulls in the Scorpion range are available in a variety of combinations – tiller steer, side console or centre console – to help the buyer get the combination of layouts that they want.

And key features have been retailed – like the low transom on certain Scorpion Pro models that’s popular with anglers and divers who like getting into and out of the boat with ease.

575 BLUE WATER The new 575 Blue Water is a new model, specifically designed do carry 7 people and 150hp of outboard on the transom. This has been a gap in the Savage range that has been addressed, as most outboard manufacturers carry excellent motors in the 150HPO class.

NEW STRIPING AND WRAPS Although the Savage logo stays the same, the striping on Savage boats has all changed. Modern fonts for the models and a classy new combination of three stripes is distinctive on the water.

If you like your Savage to standout on the water, the Telwater factory offers several designs and colours of factory-applied wraps.

These protect the boat’s paint job.

BOTTOM LINE The take-away message from the Media Day was that Savage now has a more comprehensive range of boats available to their dealers and that the range had been rationalised where there were confusing or conflicting models.

The 150hp Powered BlueWater will be a popular addition, as will the Scorpion range of fishing boats. And the pricing will be compelling. Check them out at your local Savage dealer of visit www. savageboats.com.au.

INTERVIEW

Scan the QR code to watch the interview with Telwater’s Damien Duncan about the new releases.

Anglers will love the launch of the Scorpion line of Savages.

THE RECREATIONAL ANGLER’S LINK We have certainly had a warm start to spring. In Moreton Bay that means we are seeing catches of bream and whiting throughout the system.

For those who are able to fish areas that are not being netted in this peak time, there are good catches to be had.

Sunfish Queensland has

just received funding from Fisheries Queensland to run 30 Kid’s Fishing Days throughout Queensland.

Written expressions of interest have come in at a breakneck

speed showing just how popular and valuable these days are in our communities.

We certainly appreciate the opportunity to be able to conduct this program.

KIDS GETTING ONBOARD •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• On Saturday 11 October the Junior Anglers Association ran an event on Moreton Island that has been running since the early 1950s. The Junior Anglers Association was originally founded by Jack Alvey, Keith Peel and Ben Perkins. The association was formed in an effort to promote the benefits of fishing to students who may not previously have had the opportunity.

We had 80 gathered in anticipation at the departure

sponsors this event would not have lasted the 60 years that it has. So, if you are able to support these companies in return for their generous support of junior fishing it would be greatly appreciated: Alvey Reels Australia; The Tackle Warehouse; Tackleland Sandgate; Platypus Lines; Wilson & Co; Jones’s Tackle; Mossop’s Tackle; Water Tower Bait and Tackle; Bush and Beach Magazine; and Queensland Fishing Monthly.

The day on the beach certainly started well.

peak the fishing went quiet with just the odd whiting being caught along the beach. During this time an enterprising David Price from Grace Lutheran College was fishing closer to Tangalooma and managed to berley up a nice catch of 6 bream. In all 4 flathead, 17 whiting and 7 bream were caught.

Nick Zimmerman from Boonah State High was rewarded with two small flathead for his efforts.

David Price from Grace Lutheran College was fishing close to Tangalooma and managed to berley up a catch of 6 bream.

Brandon Dymock from Grace Lutheran College caught a 69cm 2.2kg flathead barely 50m from where the boat landed. terminal of the Micat by 8.30am. Many of the participants had travelled a considerable distance for this event. Organisers are extremely grateful to the teachers and volunteers who give freely on their Saturday to assist on this day each year.

In addition, without the support of generous

Brandon Dymock from Grace Lutheran College caught a 69cm 2.2kg flathead barely 50m from where the Micat landed. Not long after this, Nick Zimmerman from Boonah State High caught 2 smaller flathead a little further north. It was starting to look like it would be a very good fishing day.

As the tide reached its

As well as the impressive array of prizes these kids took home, they also had valuable one-on-one guidance all day from some of the best fishermen in the country. Thank you to SQAFCA fishermen Martin Cowling, Meade Murphy, John Longhurst and Barrie James. These guys came prepared with specialty rigs made up and some great fresh baits. Part of the angler education process for juniors is providing them not only with the mechanical skills but showing them the best baits for the right conditions. This includes how to look after their bait, the fish they release and those that they keep.

In preparation for this, just after daylight, Moreton Island fishermen, Clint Purvey and Isaac Noble, collected a bucket of fresh

www.sunfishqld.com.au

hardiheads for the kids’ fishing for flathead to use.

Thanks so much guys ,it was really appreciated.

The kids fishing for bream and whiting didn’t miss out though, Dr Paul Palmer provided some mangrove wrigglers that he is developing at the Bribie Island Aquaculture Research Centre.

The Bribie Island prawn farming project uses marine worms as ‘vacuum cleaners’. Waste nutrients discharged by the prawns are bound in small algae and plankton that lodge in the sand and are consumed by the worms. Junior Anglers Association and Sunfish Queensland appreciate your assistance Dr Palmer.

After a long day on the beach, most parents collected some very tired but happy kids, some with fish, but all went home with memories of a great day, some new skills learnt and everyone had prizes, gifts and information packs.

Next month I will provide maps and detailed information regarding the areas being proposed by the Moreton Island Recreational Fishing Haven and the particular reasoning behind the areas chosen. In general, they have been chosen for high recreational value and lesser impact on legitimate commercial fishing.

Champion Team from Grace Lutheran College hold up their trophy with pride.

Email: judylynne@sunfishqld.com.au

NOVEMBER 2014

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Sterndrive advantages With the rise in efficiency and reliability of modern outboards, you’d be forgiven for thinking that there was only one option for powering your trailerboat. But the outboard isn’t the solution for every single fishing or boating situation. Petrol and diesel sterndrive motors are available in plenty of configurations and ho rse po wer combinations in the smaller (<300hp) sizes.

And it’s not just about having a rear cockpit free of an outboard protruding several feet from the boat to work around – although anglers that enjoy setting a spread of baits for everything from snapper to whiting will appreciate the options that an outboard-free boat offers.

Whittley’s Angelo San Giorgio doesn’t beat around the bush when it comes to separating sterndrive fact from fiction.

“You’d be forgiven for thinking that marine diesels are heavy, noisy, unrefined lumps of iron that chug along at low revs belching smoke, and vibrating

“Mercury’s TDI sterndrives will use half the fuel of a comparable petrol powered V8 model, but that efficiency comes at a price – the TDI’s are more expensive to fit than both

transom to address this potential problem.

“We position the sterndrives so their weight never contributes to the ‘pendulum’ effect often exhibited by the installation

Transoms on sterndrive boats are remarkably clear of obstructions.

Sterndrives allow trimming the boat with a tilt-able leg.

The compact Volvo Penta D3 diesels might be light in weight but are no lightweight when it comes to performance. be dictated by budget and intended application,” he said. “The diesel alternative comes at a premium, but still represents remarkable value, particular considering they are freshwater cooled, and burn fuel at up to half the rate of petrol options. In the case of Volvo Penta’s D-3 series, they are also lighter than the petrol equivalents while

packing prodigious torque at all revs.”

SERVICE COSTS Both of our sterndrive experts agree that although the maintenance intervals are around the same, the service costs of a sterndrive are higher than an outboard.

“Stern drives traditionally are a bit more expensive to service than outboards. Allow for an

extra couple of hundred dollars per year, but bear in mind that you would’ve saved more than that on your annual fuel bill not to mention that low initial purchase price if you purchased a boat with Volvo Penta’s V-6 200,” Angleo says.

“Every year or 100 hours – the same as our outboards,” says Mercury’s Tony.

THE LAST WORD Both advocates of the inboard-option stated some compelling reasons to at least consider the possibility of buying a fishing trailerboat with an inboard motor, but we let Angelo have the last word.

“Since Volvo Penta’s V6-200 sterndrive is now the standard engine for every model in Whittley’s Cruiser (CR) and Sea Legend (SL) fleets, we can package this four-stroke 4.3L petrol engine for the equivalent price of a 70-80hp fourstroke outboard or less than half the price of a 200hp outboard,” he said.

“That’s right... improved performance and handling for half the money!”

Check ‘em out.

Clever sterndrive installations can enhance a boat’s rear end. more than a coin-operated washing machine down at the two dollar laundromat – hardly suitable attributes for compact trailerable craft,” Angelo said.

“You’d be wrong.

“Recently Volvo Penta released the second generation of its compact D3 diesel platform aimed squarely at the trailerboating fraternity. These lightweight, diesel sterndrives with Electronic Vessel Control (EVC) thumb their collective noses at conventional wisdom and are now offered across the entire Whittley Marine Group’s fishingoriented Sea Legend (SL) and Cruiser (CR) ranges.”

When it comes to diesel sterndrives, Mercury’s Tony Smith agrees.

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petrol inboard or outboard options,” he said at a recent boat test of their Rayglass TDI project boat.

That boat was fitted with the TDI 260HP and Tony continued about the advantages of the low centre-of gravity and different positioning of the engine.

“In rough water the ride is definitely different in a sterndrive powered craft,” he explained. “A big 400kg Verado on the transom when coming off a wave behaves very differently from an inboard, which, being centrally located, is much more stable.

Angelo said that Whittley sterndrives are buried low in the hull and forward of the

of heavy outboards on deep vee hulls,” Angelo said.

“All our sterndrive installations can be upgraded to Volvo’s Duoprop drive which features an enhanced gearbox running a pair of counter-rotating props on the one shaft. The net result is instant holeshot with minimal bow lift and better tracking at low speeds, all while burning less fuel than its outboard equivalent.”

In the coming months, you’ll read about a couple of Whittley Volvo-inboard powered boats that Wayne Kampe got to Melbourne to test. Whittley’s Angelo continues about whether petrol or diesel sterndrives are the best.

“Either option works well and the choice would

Convenient engine access is a Whittley trait.

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123

Bluefin Boats Tournament Drifter Pro 455 FMG

Simon Goldsmith simon@fishingmonthly.com.au

Bluefin Boats are synonymous with quality and attention to detail. The Tournament Drifter Pro 455 is a testament to their company motto of ‘Built with Pride’ and, as 4-5m sized aluminium lure fishing vessels go, it has few peers.

Designed with tournament and lure anglers in mind, the Tournament Drifter Pro 455 integrates Bluefin’s build quality with advanced design and forethought to actual on-water use and practicality to deliver anglers a boat that delivers when it comes to looks, function, and performance.

Partnered with a 60hp Mercury 4-stroke outboard, Power-Pole Micro Anchor, Bluefin trailer and Haswing Cayman bow-mount

electric motor the package is tailor-made for lure and tournament anglers.

A turn-key tournament rig at its very best, the package we tested and reviewed is to be presented to the champion team at the ABT BREAM Classic Open on Sydney Harbour, NSW, in November. Let’s see how the package stands up and how it performed when we put it through its paces.

LENGTH The Tournament Drifter Pro’s performance pedigree begins with its 3mm plate side and bottom pressed aluminium hull. Despite its 4.55m length and a 2.04m beam, the Drifter Pro drives and handles well beyond its length, thanks in large part to its rear pod. The rear pod enhances running speed and stability due to the extension of the hull-planning surface and combines with the Drifter Pro’s Ezi Ride hull design to allow it to cut effortlessly and quietly through

SPECIFICATIONS Hull length:..................................................... 4.55m Beam:.............................................................. 2.04m Max hp:................................................ 90hp (181kg) Capacity:........................................5 people (400kg) Motor:...................... 60hp 4-stroke Mercury (112kg, Trailer:......................................... Bluefin by Dunbier Shallow water anchor:..... Power-Pole Micro Anchor

Balance, power and comfort, the Bluefin Tournament Drifter Pro 455 is a cut above the rest. the water.

Bluefin’s Ezi Ride design features an increased deadrise that extends a long way forward towards the bow to create a sharper vee than traditional hull designs. This increased forward extending deadrise combines with a reverse chine to deflect water spray away from the hull to generate lift and achieve a smoother, faster planning hull.

On the water the combination of the hull length, hull pod, and Ezi Ride hull design enables the Drifter Pro to cut through the water

SEASON XI

11.30am Sunday Morning

V

smoothly, efficiently, and quietly. On the day of our test the Gold Coast Broadwater had its usually wind blown chop and the Drifter Pro powered through it without hull slap, banging and the reverberation that often occurs with this style of hull and in these conditions. The hull’s spray-chines further enhances its running performance and deflects spray outward from the hull for a drier and quieter ride.

As impressive as it is on a straight run, the Drifter Pro definitely takes it up a notch when you start to put it through its paces, with its Ezi Ride hull allowing you pull into the tightest turn with ultimate ease, stability and comfort. Smooth under steering and willing to go where you want it, when you want it, the Drifter Pro makes child’s work of cutting through boat washes and threading your way through sandbanks and tight corners.

At rest the Drifter Pro is equally impressive with its large beam extending well forward towards the bow of boat to maximise hull stability, particularly when fishing from the front casting deck. This stability is so good in fact that two large men can easily fish from the same side of the boat with minimal change to the boat’s position and balance in the water.

Equally stable and assured at speed and at rest the Drifter Pro has the hull design and performance that all flared

bowed aluminium boats strive to have but not all achieve to have.

DECKED OUT The Drifter Pro’s impressive hull design equals performance and design driven above the waterline. A large raised forward casting deck offers plenty of room, and will easily accommodate two anglers up front, while the rear casting deck offers ample space for a tournament non boater or someone wanting their own area away from all the angling action.

Both the front and rear decks, as is the floor, are fitted with a hookless carpet ensuring ultimate angling ease and comfort. Anglers who have had to pull trebles out of non-hookless carpeted or found themselves kneeling on rough and uncomfortable carpet when re-tying leaders or changing lures will appreciate the luxury of the Drifter Pro’s plush carpet.

Housed beneath the Drifter Pro’s carpeted floor is full underfloor fuel-resistant floatation, while a 60L underfloor fuel tank keeps fuel storage out of sight and out of mind and leaves above floor/ in-hatch storage space free for more important things, like fishing tackle.

Tournament anglers and lure casting anglers are fully catered for their electric needs, with a full length, rock solid electric motor bracket located on the portside bow of the boat.

A reinforced battery shelf is

located below deck at the bow of the boat and has space to accommodate two large deep cycle batteries meaning you’ll never get caught short when it comes to battery power.

LOCKED AWAY When it comes to keeping your tackle safe, secure, and stowed away the Drifter Pro has it covered. A 7’ long carpetlined rod locker runs alongside the port gunnel and joins flush with the front and rear casting desks, providing a full walkaround deck and flat level platform to lay your rods on.

Beneath the rod locker is a long lockable storage hatch that provides a great storage solution for items such as removable navigation lights, or your keys or wallet.

The front deck is loaded with storage options with the portside main hatch fitted with a storage bin that comes pre-loaded with six tackle trays. An additional hatch next to it provides full access to storage below deck while an anchor locker fitted with an internal tie off point is located in the hatch closer to the bow of the boat.

Located at the rear of the front casting deck is a 90L tournament ready livewell that’s fitted with a full Flowrite livewell system and divider for optimum fish welfare and management.

CREATURE COMFORTS The Tournament Drifter Pro delivers when it comes to life’s creature comforts with twin custom upholstered foldable pedestal seats providing ultimate seating comfort. With five seating positions throughout the boat, there’s a host of seating options available to make full use of available space and layout of the boat.

The primary seating position of course is behind the sports console, and it’s here that you’ll find a full screen, grab rail, sports steering wheel, and an assortment of modern conveniences. A multi-switch panel connects to the custom wiring harness throughout the boat and controls the LED navigation lights, bilge pump, livewell system, and LED under-gunnel cockpit lights.

The Tournament Drifter

V

Airs from October 12 Australian Fishing Championships 124

NOVEMBER 2014

Left: Shallow water anchoring made easy, the PowerPole Micro Anchor provides finger tip control.

Right: The Haswing Cayman bow mount provides the stealth and power out on true water.

The Drifter’s Ezi Ride hull eliminates spray and increases lift for improved hull performance.

Pro also delivers on the technological front with a Fusion radio and speaker system featuring an iPod dock and Bluetooth connectivity keeping you connector while on the water.

POWER UP Powering the Bluefin on-water and controlled by the factory supplied and installed Teleflex steering system is a 60hp 4-stroke Mercury outboard. While the Bluefin is rated up to a 90hp motor the 60hp Mercury was a powerhouse on the back of the 455 Drifter Pro and powered the hull with effortless ease.

Installed and water tested

by Mercury Australia the 60hp 4-stroke generating exceptional hole shot, even when loaded with two 80kg+ adults, and a livewell full of water.

Top end speed was equally impressive with the Mercury hitting maximum speed easily and without any hesitation.

Sharp, nimble, and aggressive through the power range, the Mercury works flawlessly with the Drifter hull for optimum speed, performance, and economy.

THE PRIZE The boat package tested and reviewed will be presented to the champion team at the Bluefin/Mercury BREAM Classic Open to be held on Sydney Harbour, 1112 November. To enter or find out more about the event visit www.abt. org.au.

FULL CONTROL A Haswing Cayman bow mount electric motor offers ultimate finesse control for the lure casting angler on the move. Its 80lb, 24-volt, cable steer set-up delivered plenty of thrust thanks in part to its large 12” diameter 3-blade prop; a 12-volt motor ensures optimum power longevity and thrust.

A large foot pedal featuring a momentary power button (located on the top), speed adjustment dial, and a constantoff-momentary power switch (located on the side of the pedal) provides full underfoot control. Being cable steer means directional adjustment is instant, rather than a lag that’s commonly found on non-cable steer, electric steering units.

Easily deployed and stowed with one hand the Cayman makes life for the casting angler effortless, efficient, and one that’s not short on power.

When it comes to effortless fishing the new Power-Pole Micro Anchor is equally giving, with the innovative shallow water anchor allowing you to stop on a dime with a simple click of a button.

Featuring a small (3kg) motor unit, and a 8’6” spike that extends and retracts through the unit and into the bottom, the Power-Pole Micro Anchor makes holding position simple and worry free. Perfect for keeping your boat in the one spot when releasing fish,

re-tying lures and leaders, or securing your boat on the shore while launching and retrieving, the Power-Pole Micro Anchor makes your time on water stress and trouble free.

LAID TO REST The package sits on a fully galvanized, tailor-made, Bluefin trailer. Featuring powder-coated galvanized wheels, LED lights, swing away jockey wheel, and 3 year warranty. There’s no trailer better suited or better built to get your Bluefin to and from the water.

As tournament-ready and lure fishing boat/motor packages go, the Bluefin Tournament Drifter Pro/ Mercury is hard to go past.

Performance inspired and designed-focused the hull and motor deliver power, stability, economy and comfort that you need. The Haswing electric motor and Power-Pole Micro Anchor delivers the level of control and precision you need to maximise angling success.

Performance meets power and price in the Tournament Drifter Pro/Mercury package.

• 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 Left: The Drifter’s sports console gives you protection from the elements and houses the majority of the boat’s controls.

Top Right: A port-side hatch in the front casting deck comes preloaded with tackle trays for ultimate tackle storage.

Above: A 90L Flow-rite controlled livewell has the Drifter pimped and ready for the tournament trail.

2 STROKE & 4 STROKE OUTBOARDS 2HP TO 90HP 2 STROKE AND 4 STROKE SHORT OR LONG SHAFT

FASTEST GROWING NAME ON THE MARKET FOR COMPETITIVELY PRICED QUALITY OUTBOARDS!

AVAILABLE AT BCF

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T.M.C. OUTBOARDS & SMALL ENGINES

94 Beveridge Rd, Thornlands Qld 4164

PH 07 3207 0697

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16 Paradies Pde, Paradise Point 4216

PH 07 5577 1011

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PARSUN OUTBOARDS BRING THE PRICE OF OUTBOARDS DOWN TO WHERE THEY SHOULD BE, AND WITH A 2 YEAR MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTY YOU CAN’T GO WRONG!

NOVEMBER 2014

125

Whittley Clearwater 1750 with 90hp Yamaha BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Whittley Marine Group of Melbourne have turned out some very desirable boats throughout the last couple of decades.

Curren t l y, the company’s range of fabulous Cruisers, the blue water based Sea Legends and value for money Clearwater Range are still turning heads wherever they appear whether that’s on the road, at the ramp or on the water.

Whittley always have that special something that creates pride of ownership.

Moreover, a casual glance at the Clearwater 1750 reveals an impeccable finish. Joins in fibreglass mouldings don’t exist, all corners and mouldings are neatly rounded. On the exterior we see the transom’s neatly swept back lines highlighting the attractive and contrasting toning on the side panels.

Let’s take a closer look at the CW 1750. At 5.2m long, 2.11m wide it’s small enough to be towed with the family sedan or wagon, yet large enough to take up to 4 anglers out for a day on the bay, work for a feed of fish within an estuary or head offshore for some reef fishing and light game work. It’s undeniably an ideal rig for a family group to enjoy as a day cruiser, thanks to the handy features and high comfort levels.

Stepping aboard the CW 1750, it’s obvious that attention to detail is evident from stem to stern and from the ease of access up front to the large storage areas there is little in the way of compromise;

126

NOVEMBER 2014

The Whittley under full throttle showed a very clean and unfussed passage through the water.

served as a footrest.

The bulkhead section ahead of the first mate was equipped with 3 levels of storage. Uppermost was a glove box with 2 other shelves below. There was a grab handle by the mate’s arm.

The bulkhead section to starboard was neatly fashioned as the craft’s dash. On the uppermost level paired Yamaha multi-functional gauges were joined by a compass.

The next level down was taken up with the craft’s Fusion radio, a Raymarine Dragonfly sounder plotter, while the wheel linked to non-feedback steering was a little lower again with a bank of switches nearby. Forward controls for the engine were handily side-mounted.

Seating for skipper and mate consisted of supportive, swivelling, pedestal-mounted buckets with the Clearwater logo on the rear. From the

always a factor with boat ownership. In the grand scale of things, the rig’s cuddy cab is not too large to inhibit fishing yet it’s great for a rest or stowing gear. The cockpit is not at all cluttered thanks to smartly designed side storage pockets and the work area also having a good share of the craft’s interior dimensions.

GENERAL LAYOUT VERY PLEASING With a sensible-sized bowsprit and a split bow rail up front of the cab, there’s easy access to the Whittley’s large anchor well. This is largely due to the screen and cabin hatch hinging to the side to create a wide foredeck companionway. A moulded step in the bow allows

The Clearwater’s well-designed hull; note the rounded bilge and prominent under hull strakes.

A 6 cylinder sedan will tow the Clearwater with safety.

a deckhand to safely stand braced against the companionway to work the pick while entry or exit could not be easier thanks to the split bow rail and inner cabin step.

The cuddy cab is equipped with a 5-piece windscreen and accompanying grab rail, neatly blending into the aft section in fine style.

The cuddy was set up with well-padded paired bunks each side of a deep foot well and a large storage box under each bunk. There was overhead shelving all round and, thanks to a cut out in the bulkhead moulding down low in front of both skipper and first mate, there’s sufficient room for a passenger to lie down and stretch their legs out. The well-designed cut out also

skipper’s seat, I noted virtually unlimited visibility and a high degree of comfort thanks to the handy footrest below.

COCKPIT The main cockpit with its clip-in carpet was surprisingly large. The first item of interest for the angler would be the under floor fish box located between the forward seating. The next would be the size of the inbuilt side pockets, which took up virtually all of each of the cockpit sides. These pockets were recessed into the 750mm high sidewalls and came equipped with paired rod racks, providing safe rod tip storage within the sides. Below these racks was quite wide and deep off floor shelves, with a toehold under them to assist an angler playing

a fish. Paired stainless rod holders were set into each gunwale as were cleats astern.

Aft seating consisted of a removable 3-piece folding lounge, which if fishing is designed to be easily removed. The backrest section, with the lounge removed, would make a great brace point for fishing astern.

The full height transom came set up with bait wells – or storage boxes for ice and drinks – within each neatly rounded corner while the craft’s battery and fuel filter were freely available below. Boarding platforms and handrails were featured each side of the 90hp Yamaha with a telescoping ladder linked to the port platform.

EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE FROM 90HP YAMAHA Engines ratings for the CW 1750 were 70-125 hp, which saw the 90hp Yamaha 2-stroke a fair distance from top power.

It did an excellent job of powering the craft’s 665kg hull with its 17° deadrise.

The engine started first turn of the key and was not too noisy or smokey, despite the fact it was ‘old’ technology. The truth is that these conventional 2-stroke motors still work well.

The craft easily planed with 2 aboard at 20.7km/h at 2600rpm quite smoothly.

Bumping up to 3000rpm saw 33.2km/h on the GPS, 4000rpm got us up to 43.7km/h, at 5000rpm we were 59.4km/h and an open throttle speed at 5300rpm of 64.6km/h. The feeling I had from the Yamaha’s response was that the engine would just as easily have powered the craft even with a couple more people aboard. It certainly did not require much throttle movement to quickly gain more speed, that’s for sure.

The hull’s ride impressed me. Even powering into 50cm chop at full throttle produced no pounding or bumps and with very little displaced water evident. I feel that the 1750 would make an excellent offshore or bay rig with little to worry about if things turned nasty.

The stability of the Whittley was also an important point. The hull featured a 17° ‘V’, a rounded central bilge section, with several strongly formed strakes moulded into the under water surface. The end result was excellent inherent stability with even both of us to one side causing little leaning to develop. Our turns were pin-sharp with some decent G-forces being produced

think

dies Left: Paired live wells are featured within the CW 1750’s transom corners, which are great for storing drinks on a hot day.

Right: The Clearwater’s cabin offered storage below bunks as well as within overhead shelving.

Bottom: Many of the Clearwater’s features can be easily seen in this shot. Note the removable lounge and those handy side rod racks.

think

in the sharper turns and without the slightest prop slip whatsoever.

FISHABILITY AND SUMMING UP I saw the CW 1750 as a great all rounder for either serious fishing or family boating pursuits. The level of features aboard and the sensible layout created a high level of creature comfort for virtually any manner of boating. A family of 4 would really enjoy time aboard, as would up to 4 anglers heading out for a day on the water. A bimini top is included within the package, as is safety gear for 5 persons. On a Mackay or Whittley trailer and with a Tonneau travel cover, Fusion RA 205 radio,

75 years of marine innovation thinking

diesel? think the

power

SPECIFICATIONS Length hull........................................................5.2m Beam................................................................ 2.11m Length on trailer...............................................6.4m Height on trailer..............................................2.18m Deadrise...............................................................17° Fuel capacity................................................ 90 litres Engine ratings........................................... 70-125hp Engine fitted......................... 90hp Yamaha 2-stroke Persons...................................................................5 Price..................................................... from $39,999

perform

of mercur

GME radio and aerial with front and side clears the rig would come home for around the mid forties, surely great value for money. Whittley Marine can be contacted by phone at (03) 8339 1800 or on the net at info@whittley.com. au to locate your nearest Whittley dealer.

75 years of marine innovation thinking

diesel? think the

power and performance

of mercury diesel

• 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.

BRISBANE MANLY HARBOUR MARINE 570 Royal Esplanade Manly Qld 4179 Phone (07) 3893 2199 Fax

(07) 3893 2188

Email info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au Web

www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

WHITSUNDAY WHITSUNDAY OUTBOARD CENTRE 1 William Murray Drive Cannonvale Qld 4802 Phone (07) 4946 7286 Fax

(07) 4946 7848

Email woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

power and performance

of mercury diesel EnginEs for stErndrivE, inboard & JEt applications

featuring: Excellent performance and acceleration SmartCraft compatibility Digital throttle & shift options Lightweight design

NOVEMBER 2014

127

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

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W h ui ttsbuOnadrady O entre C

We Service all Motor Brands!

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Marine Trailers Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Seatrail Trailers www.seatrailqld.com.au Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339

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Marine Electronics

MAIL ORDERS

WELCOME

32 Straithaid Rd BUNDALL 4217 QLD

MARINE ELECTRONICS

Marine Mechanics

SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

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• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots

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• Sales • Service • Spare Parts • Warranty and Insurance work * REPOWER SPECIALISTS *

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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Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727

CORROSION CONTROL SALT REMOVING TREATMENT

WARNING!

Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Coastal Powerboats (07) 5568 0904

+ 07 5502 6200 + houseboat.net.au

Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379 Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Cunninghams Marine (07) 3284 8805

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Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944

Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au

Bribie Boat Sales (07) 3408 0055

NORTH BRISBANE

Boat Hire – Trailer

Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

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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

9 out 10 engines fail from salt corrosion

Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141

BRISBANE

ACT NOW AND PROTECT YOUR VALUABLE BOAT, ENGINE, TRAILER, FISHING AND DIVE GEAR. SALT-AWAY IS A MUST FOR:

ENGINE FLUSHING JETSKIS TRAILERS

FREECALL For more info

WASHING BOATS FISHING & DIVE GEAR

1800 091 172

VISIT www.salt-away.com.au

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OVER 15 YEARS EXPERIENCE

FRASER ISLAND

Fraser Island Fishing Units INDIAN HEAD

Martin Costello 0434 615 936 www.mobilemarinecanopies.com

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Shed 3 Redland City Marina 100 Beveridge Road Thornlands 4146 Qld

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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

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Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833

Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081

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Neptune’s Treasures - Your Catch Reproduced 0405 226 282 www.neptunestreasures.com.au Fish Taxiderist www.fishtaxidery.net.au or 0428 544 841

Fishing on TV Ph: 4069 3372 Fax: 4069 3770 Patsy: (07) 4069 3808 fishcapeyork@bigpond.com • www.loyaltybeach.com P.O Box 49, Bamaga QLD 4876

FRESHWATER

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CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

Bite Me Fishing Charters Yeppoon 0419 029 397

Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694

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Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

Charter Boats NORTHERN NSW Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters 0428 231 962

GOLD COAST

Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727

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Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

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Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412

Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957

Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428

Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346

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WANT IN? EMAIL : ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

DVD’S -

Series 2 through 8

$19.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

1800 228 244

NOVEMBER 2014

131

UNBEATABLE

SAVINGS $3,500 ON THE 25-350HP

FOURSTROKE RANGE PLUS AN UNBELIEVABLE

MERCURY FINANCE

5.99% COMPARISON RATE

OFFER ENDS 15 NOV 2014

VISIT MERCURYMARINE.COM.AU FOR DETAILS *Terms & conditions apply. Savings are based on RRP and subject to change without notice. Prices exclude local freight charges, Fit up and local statutory charges. Offer available on selected new consumer outboards from 25 to 350hp purchased from participating dealers from Sept 12 to Nov 15, 2014. Offer is subject to availability and engines must be 2013 & 2014 build product and installed and registered by no later than Dec 31, 2014. Offer not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or rebates. **Terms, conditions and credit criteria apply, offer available over a maximum 36 month term. The comparison rate is based on a secured loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years at an annual percentage rate of 5.22%. The amount of credit provided to you and the term of the loan may be different to this.

WARNING: The comparison rate only applies to the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Finance is provided by Mercury Finance Pty Ltd ABN 28 156 248 092. Australian Credit Licence Number 421347

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NOVEMBER 2014