Queensland Fishing Monthly - Part 2 - October 2013 by Fishing Monthly

Huge Fraser Island Special • Brisbane Boat Show Preview

Tried and Tested: Crestliner Super Hawk 1600 • Tips and Techniques: Filleting pelagics • Gold Coast International Marine Expo •

PART 2 Pages 86 -120

4WD Camping Tournaments News

drop off ledge from the northern side right out to the point’s most eastern extremity. These fish are favouring 9-11m of water and the bulk of them can be quite mobile as they wander around the flats. If the sounder isn’t revealing much, be prepared to move around and find the bulk of the fish. Don’t drive past bottom hugging fish. While they may not look active on the sounder screen, they can be more responsive to slow rolled soft plastics and hopped blades. These bottom hugging bass are often the bigger models we all love to catch. When casting plastics, try using heavy jigheads to keep the lure down in the zone. Opt for a 1/2oz or 5/8oz and rig up with a paddle-tail plastic. I’ve found the 90mm Powerbait Ripple Shad to be a winner on the big bass. The larger tail must be sending out the right pulses to get them interested. Cut about 15mm off the head of the lure and trim the belly down so it fits nicely up against the jighead. The beauty of the Powerbait Ripple Shad is it can be loaded with scent. The plastic is already scented but the cavities between the ripples

on the underbelly are perfect for loading with paste and gel type catch scents. I have always loved the natural smell of Halco’s paste style scents and have been experimenting with great success with the new TT range of Pro-Cure Scents. A mouthful of flavour certainly can’t be a bad thing when fish are just tapping away at the plastic’s tail. Schooling bass have also been reported out from Queen Street, spread across the flats. These fish may be the first to disperse and head down towards Pelican Point but they also seem to be the most active. It will be worth a look to see if there are still some in the area this month. The schools of bass should be more willing to take lures fished up off the bottom. Slow rolling 1/2oz blades for 6-12 winds off the bottom will draw some smashing strikes. Vary the number of turns to suit the depth the fish are holding. Hopping smaller 3/8oz and 1/4oz blades will also get the strikes. The deeper fish tend to like the smaller blades and I have had a lot of success trialling the new 40mm Berkley PowerBlade. Hopping the lure only 50cm off the bottom and allowing it to pendulum back to the

Moogerah Dam has fished well over the last few months. The bass should continue to bite well on the flats inside the timber and on the submerged point, which runs over towards the dam wall. bottom on a tight line has hooked some real crackers. There will be plenty of other options for tangling with Somerset’s bass this month including jigging ice jigs, hopping vibrations and trolling deep diving lures. Regardless of technique, stick with using 4-8lb braided lines as the main line to ensure your lure is swimming deep enough. Golden perch numbers will be on the rise. Bass anglers will be encountering these fish across the flats and drop-off ledges. Lure trollers can try the steep rock banks towards the dam wall for a

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mixed bag of big goldens and smaller bass. Up to the north of Kirkleigh in the timber, the goldens will take trolled lures and live shrimp. Banded grunter can be annoying when bait fishing and once they find a school will soon decimate your shrimp supply. If this is what’s happening, it’s time to move on. As for lures, try deep divers like the Smak Golden Child and Blitz Baga. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, GYMPIE Not much has changed at Borumba. The bass have

fired up around the start of the timber at The Junction area. Rolling soft plastics and working blade baits through them are the most reliable methods. Other options can include ice jigging and hopping soft vibes. When the fish are found, the action has been furious. Callum Munroe was out at the dam last month and had a 50-60 fish day. Callum certainly knows how to catch them but with numbers like that the rest of us could surely expect to nail a fair few. Saratoga numbers will be on the rise. These fish can be caught by casting lures to the edges of the lake. Work around the bottlebrush trees, snags and lilies. Toga are fond of surface lures, especially the Megabass Anthrax and Cultiva Zip’n Ziggy. When surface presentations aren’t doing the trick switch to a spinnerbait or beetle spin. Being an ambush feeder, toga will pounce on many lure types; the trick is putting the lure in front of them. With this being the case, soft plastics and hardbody lures can also do the trick provided they are fished at the depth the fish are feeding. With toga this is usually pretty close to the surface.

MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: COOROY, NOOSA This will be a prime month for tossing surface lures to bass at Lake MacDonald. Poppers and walk-the-dog style stickbaits will both tempt bass to rise to the surface in a smashing strike. A couple worth trying are Halco’s new Roosta Popper 60 and the Cultiva Zip’n Ziggy. The Roosta Popper is ideal for a slow retrieve around weed pockets and spends a lot of time in the zone when lightly twitched. The Zip’n Ziggy is ideal for walking to cover more area and is great for big long exploratory casts. Some days you will find one style of popper works better than the other. A good starting place for poppers is up Borer Creek. Early and late in the day is when the bass will be most active. Up around Three Ways there will be bass to be caught around the weed edge. Working blades out of the weed and down the face of the weed is the way to fool these fish. With weed stands popping up all over the place, it can take a while to figure out where to cast Continued page 88

I caught this big bream off the rocks. It drilled me through kelp, dived into caves and generally went ballistic, but once again the FC Rock was what saved me. Time and time again I’m amazed at how good this stuff is.” - Jamie Robley

www.facebook.com/ej.todd.3 QFM

OCTOBER 2013

From page 87

and how to work the lure so expect to get fouled up until you work out the taper of the weed beds. MAROON CLOSEST TOWN: BOONAH Surface activity will be improving and bass will be nailing topwater lures early and late in the day this month. This action can last for only a short period and as soon as it slows down, switch to deeper lures. Suspending hardbodies around the weed has been quite effective throughout the day but with the warmer, brighter days, the fish will be sinking deeper into the weed as the day wears on. Suspending lures will still be worth a go but make the change to even deeper lures if they fail to produce. Soft plastics rolled down the weed and twitched out when they foul up are a proven winner. Blades are another option but are harder to fish. Trebles tend to bury into the weed more and the lure needs to be ripped out hard to free the lure up and get it working again. The trick is in fishing the lure within a whisker of the weed without it fouling. The reward will certainly be fish. Try 1/4oz blades and if you are having trouble with weed fouling on the hooks, consider removing the trebles and replacing them

Maroon, Hinze, MacDonald and Isis will be the dams to try your luck with a little surface fishing. You can’t go past the Halco Roosta Popper 60. with a set of Ecogear ZX style assist hooks. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWN: BOONAH Moogerah has really impressed bass anglers so far this spring. Bass have been schooling up in numbers in several locations around the dam and there are still a few stragglers left around the edges willing to ambush a stray lure. The submerged ridge which runs from the northern boat ramp almost all the way across to the dam wall has been holding its share of fish. At the end of winter the bigger bass seemed to move

on but there are still plenty of bass between 30-40cm to be caught across this sunken point. Soft plastics, blades and ice jigs have been the way to entice these fish. At times the bigger bass will suspend along the drop-off edge and a mid-water retrieve will produce the better quality fish but on most occasions, hopping and rolling lures across the bottom will suffice. Up at the start of the timber, the flats in the middle of the dam seem to be holding some of the better quality bass. These fish have been

responding best to soft plastics and at times will school up under the boat and wreak havoc on ice jigs. On the edges of the lake, there are some bass around the steeper timbered banks. The shoreline to the left of the dam wall, which runs back towards the gorge, has held quite a few of these fish. Working soft plastics out from the edge is one way of hooking these fish. Deep diving suspending hard bodies can also be effective. Don’t be afraid to get your lure right in amongst the structure along the bank. The fish here have been big and will often win the fight by burying you back into the timber. I’ve fished the dam several times over the last couple of months. My standout lure has been the 7cm Powerbait Ripple Shad in the lighter colours like cappuccino, copper minnow and ayu. I rig these lures on a 1/2oz Nitro Dam Deep Jighead, which easily gets down and stays near the bottom during the retrieve. I sound around until fish show on the sounder before placing a cast back over a nice show. The lure then sinks to the bottom before the retrieve commences. Usually we take 6-12 turns before dropping

the lure back to the bottom. When the bites come, just keep winding and allow the fish to hook up on their own. To strike at a bite will usually spook the fish away. We load our Ripple Shads with either Halco Freshwater Scent or the new Pro-Cure Gel and sometimes both. When fishing with my son Blake, he kicked my butt until I started copying his technique. The fish had stopped biting for me and he kept getting heaps of bites by slowing his retrieve right down. So slow in fact that I’m sure the paddle-tail of his plastic would hardly even be moving. The wake up call came when I realised I was doing around two casts to his one. The change soon paid off and we were both catching fish. HINZE CLOSEST TOWNS: NERANG, GOLD COAST The fishing at Hinze has started to fire up. While the schools around the dam wall points have started to break up, the action has fired and there are now more fish being caught throughout the dam. Most of the action has been from 35-40cm bass but there is the occasional big girl in the midst of them so stay prepared for a line burner. Soft vibes, have worked

well when hopped through the schooling bass. Soft plastics are also effective. Casting to the edges has nailed some of the better quality bass. You can start out with surface and shallow presentations early and probe deeper as the day wears on before going shallow again in the afternoon. Surface lures have been scoring fish around the flooded shrubs. Most of these have been in the mid 30cm but I have heard whispers of some crackers close to 50cm in length. As the fish move deeper, try beetle spin rigged soft plastics and spinnerbaits. John from Go Camping/Fishing at Nerang reports anglers doing well on the baby bass coloured Vortex spinnerbait in 3/8oz and 1/2oz. Another downsized spinnerbait, which is worth a try is the O.S.P. High Pitcher. Between using plastics, soft vibes, blades and ice jigs on schooling bass and exploring the edges with spinnerbaits and beetle spins, you should be able to produce some quality bass and there is always the chance of hooking a saratoga.

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COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Despite fishing so well prior to winter and continuing to produce through the cold months, the action has died off at Cooby Dam. Golden perch are still being caught but no longer in the double figure numbers experienced by most boats earlier in the year. Fishing live shrimp and saltwater yabbies has been the best approach. The late afternoon seems to be producing the best action and a few fish are still being boated. Try fishing in 5-8m of water out from the

sailing club, along the bank opposite the boat ramp and along the bank opposite the steep rock wall up towards the dam wall. Numbers may increase with the warming weather. As the dam is electric motor only, take advantage of moving slowly and keep a close eye on the sounder. Sometimes when the action dies off, the golden perch move out to deep water. Here they will hold in 10-15m in big numbers. When in this water, they can be caught on bait or slowly hopped blades and lipless crankbaits. Cooby is an electric motor only dam and is well

Murray cod numbers will increase in dams like Connelly, Leslie and Coolmunda. 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. A boom gate at the entrance requires $3 to open and the dam hours are 7am-8pm. Live shrimp

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In the South Burnett, it’s only 1 hour between Freshwater dams 88

OCTOBER 2013

QFM

From page 89

your back; and learn to read your sounder! Most of the action has been taking place up past White Rock. Barra have been caught from there right up to F and in both the north and south arm of B. Don’t forget to grab a Monduran map from Foxies in Gin Gin to be sure you know where all the hot spots are and can also find your way home. I haven’t fished Mondy a lot but on two separate occasions I have been asked the way back to the boat ramp. The Win Television Family Fishing Classic is being held at Monduran on 19, 20 October. With $1,000 up for grabs for the longest barramundi and $500 for the heaviest bass it will attract some serious competitors. Families can enjoy the fun too with a boat motor and trailer package up for grabs in a lucky draw for the seniors and a kayak for the kids, not to mention all the other prizes. The tackle store in Gin Gin, Foxies, stocks a range of effective barra lures. The store will mail order and you can check it out online at www.barratackle. com.au. Be sure to call in

In the past, the event has been held at Mingo Crossing but due to the flooding wiping this area out nine months ago the venue has changed. There will be prizes for heaviest

fork-tailed catfish, golden perch, bass, eel-tailed catfish, garfish, spangled perch and barramundi. Nomination fees are $15 Adults, $5 Juniors and $35 (2 Adults, 2 Juniors). With a crowd of anglers

WHITSUNDAY REGION

There have been quite a few barra between 6570cm caught from Lake Monduran. This fish caught by Grant ate a suspending hardbody. and get directions to some of the best barra fishing in the area or pick up one of the detailed maps. Accommodation can be booked through Lake Monduran Kiosk and Tackle Shop. They look after all the cabins, houses, powered and unpowered 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. 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 www.lakemonduranbarra charters.com. PARADISE DAM CLOSEST TOWN: BIGGENDEN The Paradise Stocking Association Catch a Catty Day Family Fishing Competition is being held on 5, 6 October at the Paradise Dam recreational area near the dam wall.

PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH The deep trees lining the old creek beds have remained one of the most reliable areas to target the barramundi. Despite being very deep in places, the barra will sit fairly high in the water column and can be tempted with 3-5m diving lures. The RMG Scorpion and Barra Bait ranges seem to work well and the lures are marked with the depth they dive to. Cast past the tree and crank the lure down into it before pausing and letting the lure slowly rise back to the surface. Once in the zone around the tree, adopt a stop-start retrieve to entice a strike. The average size of the barra has been around the magic 1m mark. This has left a few punters complaining as 1m long fish around the treetops can take a bit of

stopping and will quite often win the battle for freedom. Given the underwater structure these fish live around, it’s time to muscle up and fish 50lb braid and upgrade hooks on lures to the likes of the Owner ST66. Go hard on the fish but if they do manage to get you around a tree lighten up and follow the fish to try and untangle it. Going hard on barra will see them fighting close to the surface and spending quite a bit of time in the air. At least here they can be unwrapped from any branches but they do run the risk of throwing more hooks. The shallows will definitely be worth a shot this month. The action has been picking up with more fish being taken on plastics and surface lures. The weed died back this winter but will already be doing a good job of growing back. Look for the healthiest weed beds as these are more likely to

enjoying the camping, BBQ’s and fishing, it will be interesting to see what species make it to the weigh-in. To find out more details you can call Lefty on (07) 4127 1294. create oxygen and hold bait and barra. Barra have already been turning up in the deep water of the basin of the lake. At present, these fish are very scattered and can be found around the bait schools and creek bed drop-offs. Lure trollers can pick up a few of these fish if they can locate a concentration. Another alternative is to work soft and hard vibes through barra seen on the sounder. It will be another month or two before these fish congregate closer to the dam wall providing some great full moon action. If you are planning a Proserpine Dam assault call in and see the boys in town at Proserpine Bait and Tackle. Lindsay Dobe has spent years running charters on the lake and has a good idea where the barra will be and how best to catch them. If you are interested in a charter make sure you get in early with your booking. Lindsay can be reached through the store on (07) 4945 4641.

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Cooking with Jamo

Prawn Curry Puffs COOKING

Jamison Godfrey

When people think of curry puffs they tend to think of a filling wrapped in pastry and oven baked or fried which can be a lot of work rolling the dough. This is an easier way where you just add the ingredients to the choux paste and spoon them into hot oil, drain and serve.

They’re a great to hand around when people come over while entertaining; I think they’re best served with a sweet accompaniment like tomato relish to really set the flavours off! METHOD To make the choux paste, place the water, butter and sugar into a saucepan and bring up to the simmer slowly ensuring all the butter is melted.

INGREDIENTS

Choux paste 250ml water 100g butter 10g sugar 140g plain flour 4 eggs 200g cooked prawn meat chopped (keep some tails for garnish ) 1 long red chilli deseeded and chopped ½ red onion peeled and chopped 3 tablespoons chopped coriander 2 cloves garlic peeled and chopped Zest of 1 lemon 2 tablespoons curry powder Good homemade tomato relish to serve Vegetable oil for frying

Remove it from the heat and add the plain flour and combine well until lump free. Return it to a low heat and continue to stir well until it doesn’t stick to the side of the saucepan, then remove from the heat again to cool down slightly. Now add the eggs one at a time mixing in well to form a smooth paste. To the choux paste add the chilli, onion, coriander, garlic, lemon zest and curry powder and mix with a wooden spoon until all combined. Pre-heat vegetables to about 170°, (too hot and they will burn), and spoon in batches of 5-6 at a time. Once cooked, drain on paper towel and break one open to ensure they are cooked correctly, they will be dough -ike inside and slightly runny if under done. Place them onto serving dishes while hot and put the saved prawn tails in the end of each one, then serve with the tomato relish and go for it!

Mixing up the Choux paste.

Add the eggs.

And mix it all up.

Spoon the mix into the hot oil.

And serve up ready to eat – yum! QFM

OCTOBER 2013

Deepoxy Minnow BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

Once purely a fishing discipline where flies were predominately fished on or close to the surface, fly anglers are now pushing the boundaries to get patterns even deeper to probe zones not previously reached. This is mainly the case with saltwater anglers, especially those hardcore anglers targeting pelagics and demersal species in deep waters over reefs and wrecks. Even for estuarine anglers there are numerous situations where getting your fly down deep will greatly increase your results. This month’s pattern, the Deepoxy Minnow, is a great one for fishing the deeper zones and in faster currents. It will sink into zones not previously reachable with similar patterns of this size and will be desirable to a broad array of fish in both fresh and saltwater. GETTING DOWN Anglers putting flies into the depths can often produce results when other anglers fail. On many occasions fish are sitting much deeper in the water column, especially when current altering structure offers prime ambush sites. Some situations where this is the case can include around bridge pylons, over rock bars, submerged wrecks and deeper reefs. These zones hold fish

it into the depths is a fast sinking (IV-VII sink rate) line. These lines have a good degree of tungsten added and are thinner and denser than floating lines to get them to sink fast. They can come in a weight forward taper or a shooting head taper. Weight forward offers more casting control and better presentation while the shooting head offers easier casting and increased distance at the expense of presentation. There are numerous retrieves that can be employed with this pattern and the success of each will depend on the species, fishing situation and mood of the target species. I generally employ 3-5 short and sharp strips before again allowing the pattern to sink. MATERIALS This simple pattern comprises of only a few materials and naturally there are numerous substitutes allowing you to customise it for your fishing situation and species. The hook used today is the Gamakatsu SL12S, however the Mustad C70 SD or any O’Shaughnessy pattern would suffice. I like mono thread as it virtually disappears once epoxy is added. The body and tail are formed using olive Mylar tubing, however numerous other materials including Holographic Tubing or Sparkle Body Tube in a variety of colours could be used. The Brite Pupil Eyes could be substituted with I-Balz,

MATERIALS

HOOK: THREAD: EYE: RIBBING: BODY & TAIL: FINISH:

OCTOBER 2013

At this point (just behind the Mylar tubing and hook eye), attach your weighted eyes with series of figure-of-eight wraps until they are secure. Next, tie in the end of the lead wire with a series of wraps.

QFM

3 Wrap the lead wire around the hook and down to the end of the hook shank. The closer the wraps, the more lead you will be adding and the faster the sink rate. Wrap the thread over the lead and down to the same point at the end of the shank. Secure the end of the lead with your thread before whip finishing and cutting away the remaining lead wire.

Gamakatsu SL12S 1/0 Mono Fine Brite Pupil Eyes - large olive Lead wire - large .035 Mylar tubing - medium olive UV Epoxy

consistently and are well worth probing. Due to the thickness of fly lines, current can pose a problem at times as it slows down the sink rate and puts a belly in the line, which means you aren’t directly in contact with your fly for much of the retrieve. While heavier, faster sinking lines can help you probe these zones, there are still problems associated with fishing these zones. Working these areas during periods when current flow is lessened can be a successful ploy as there is less resistance on the fly line, which allows you to put your offering directly in front of the fish. The Deepoxy Minnow is a great pattern that will attract a broad array of fish and sinks like a stone to get you into the zone. It has taken a multitude of species including bream, flathead, bass, trevally, estuary cod, mulloway, golden perch, snapper, sweetlip and numerous others. The best fly line to deliver 92

Cut a 9cm length of Mylar tubing and pass the hook through it centrally about half way along. Push it around the bend, along the shaft and all the way up to the hook eye. Place the hook securely in the vice and attach your thread with a jamb knot just behind the Mylar tubing.

Pull the Mylar tubing tight against the belly of the fly to work out the point that coincides with the end of the lead wire. Using a bodkin or other pointed instrument, tease out the fibres of the Mylar tubing to this point. Pass half of these fibres along each side of the hook shank and secure the Mylar tubing with your thread.

5 Next pull the upper portion of Mylar tubing over the back of the fly and secure at the same point. Whip finish and cut away the remaining thread. Tease out the strands of the Mylar tubing up to the tie down point as shown.

Real Eyes, Real Eyes Plus, Dumbell Eyes, Painted Eyes, Hourglass Eyes or any other adequately weighted eye. For extra weight I have added .035 lead wire, however, lead strips would also provide sufficient weighting. If you wish, you could add another material over the lead wire, such as some flat Mylar tinsel, for good effect. The entire body cavity is filled with UV Epoxy to increase weight and increase durability, as this pattern is going to get eaten regularly. Fill each side of the fly with some UV Epoxy and work it into the recess with your bodkin or a toothpick until there are no air bubbles and the entire recess is filled. Once adequately even on both sides, shine the UV light on the epoxy to instantly harden it. Also apply a small amount over the thread at the tail and again harden to make the fly even more durable. Your Deepoxy Minnow is now complete and ready to be sent to the depths.

Check out the trout tackle BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s that time again. Trout season this year opens on Saturday October 5 so there’s just enough time to check out the tackle and make sure it’s all ready to go. The fly line can be treated to some proprietary dressing with last year’s leader tippet exchanged for a new one that won’t break as soon as a fish grabs the fly. The reel can be given some TLC via light oil or grease. Thigh waders should be checked for leaks by filling with water and then allowed to dry after repair or given the OK all round and with the vehicle packed with gear it’s time for a run up the range to the New England trout streams (being close to southern Queensland) or further south to the Snowy Mountains area if time permits. In the car should be a 5-6wt fly fishing outfit, a fishing vest or pack, a landing net, the good-to-go waders, with ready to carry tackle including spare spools of tippet plus a box of wet flies to compliment the box of dry flies. Don’t

forget the warm clothing; frosty nights are common in October throughout all NSW trout waters. A fishing license is available online from the State’s Department of Primary Industries web site. Ebor is the centre of the New England trout fishery, which is very highly regarded with the region being classified as having ‘fast growth’ waters. Around Ebor there are plenty of trout streams easily accessed by roads. Access to waters on private property always requires permission from the landowner which, from my experience, is usually freely given so long as things are left as they are found regarding gates and the like. THE DRY FLY There’s been a lot written about how difficult trout can be to catch at times. If brown trout are your target, they can be quite selective in what they eat and hard to tempt with alternatives. For instance, if black beetles are falling from the nearby trees onto the stream there’s not much point in offering a mayfly or grasshopper imitation to a brown trout. They’re keyed in on beetles and are actively looking for them. Yet overcoming this

selective feeding behaviour is as easy as carefully watching what is coming down the stream before putting on a fly to tempt a moving fish. Brown trout also have a frustrating trait of sitting exactly where the really shallow flow is exiting a pool and taking food off the surface in that area. The angler then has only one cast to that fish with the correct fly on the leader and it must be right on the money or the fish is gone in an upstream bow wave. Obviously, accuracy in casting will be a huge asset on trout water. Fortunately, most fish in New England waters are rainbows, far more forgiving of angler error and a lot less fussy in diet. There’s still a need to cast correctly as no trout will accept a fly landing on its head with a half metre of leader tippet looping all around it. A rapid exit from the area is assured. Above all, a quiet, stealthy, approach to the water with time taken to properly assess things before making the first cast will shorten the time to a hook up. When a fish is seen moving and taking food from the surface the idea is to check carefully to assess what seems to be on the menu and once identified, cast an imitation of

the insect fairly close to the fish and watch for its reaction. A bulge of water under the dry fly always means that the fish has had a look but not taken it. This suggests that you have presented the wrong fly. If the fly does disappear in a swirl the clue is to then watch for the leader to move before lifting the rod to gently set the hook. The selection of dry flies likely to succeed in this early part of the season can be narrowed down to mainly include mayfly imitations. Iron Blue dun, Adams, black spinner, Royal Wulff are all good starting flies, simply because the cooler weather at this time precludes grasshoppers, large brown caddis and large insects like them that will appear in warmer times. Beetles can be about though, and if noticed on the water an appropriate beetle imitation (black or brown) will be necessary. Whatever fly you choose, it should roughly match the size of the insects noticed. Most times size 16 or 14 will be ideal to imitate mayflies, 12 for beetles. Remember, always grease the leader and fly line with Mucilin dressing to ensure they will float before tying on a dry fly, and cast the fly very gently just above

489 & 539 NOMAD FISHER

New England’s small water will still hold some quality trout, especially where plenty of steam aeration is taking place. and to the side of the fish so it drifts naturally back to him. THE WET FLY While trout are quite likely to be noticed rising and feeding from the surface at times of lowest light, there’s a definite requirement for a wet fly on the leader when surface activity is shut down or when a stream is discoloured. This latter occurrence is highly possible as this time of year but rest assured that trout will still feed in dirty water so long as they notice the fly. Without doubt the Woolly Bugger in any of it’s forms (size 6 or 8) is the go-to wet fly these days the idea being to use an olive or brown Woolly Bugger in clearer water with the black version on the leader during spates or floods.

Wet fly fishing can still be undertaken with a floating line after removing line dressing with a rub of mud, the idea being to cast upstream and across and work the fly back after it sinks down somewhat in small strips. Keeping the fly rod tip in the water during the retrieve ensures there’s no slack to prevent a hook up when the fly is taken. Just being on a trout stream this month will be half the fun of it, catching fish is a bonus but still very likely to happen. Trout are reliable in many respects. If the early morning or evening is not too blustery or cold they are pretty sure to rise obligingly which is one of their great attractions. Don’t forget the warm clothes!

With 4mm bottomsides and 3mm topsides the 489 and 539 Nomad Fisher features a fully welded sub-frame rib structure and a self-draining checkerplate floor. Combine this with the EVO Advance Hull and a new transom, these are tough boats.

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OCTOBER 2013

Cardwell Barra Bonanza From 24-26 October 2013 the Cardwell Sportfishing Club will be staging the sixth much-anticipated Cardwell Barra Bonanza. The event is expected to attract more than 300 visitors to Cardwell, so the town’s economy will receive a much needed ‘shot in the arm’ after the prolonged and extensive cyclone recovery roadworks, which have crippled the town since Tropical Cyclone Yasi in early 2011. The Cardwell Barra Bonanza is a two-day sportfishing competition held annually at the end of October to coincide with the close of the barra season. Fishing the waters

off Hinchinbrook Island, captured barra will be measured and released; the other species, mangrove jack, javelin and king threadfin salmon, will only have a limit of one per day and will be weighed. The opportunity to visit picturesque Cardwell as well as great prizes and affordable nomination fees make this a competition that appeals to anglers from Cairns to the coalmines! The event welcomes Cairns Hardware as the 2013 naming-right sponsor. It is a partnership that is expected to bring great benefits to both parties. Cairns Hardware has long been a supporter of the Cardwell

Barra Bonanza and the committee is delighted that they have stepped up their involvement in 2013. This year’s event has also attracted some other great sponsors, including Teitzel’s IGA, MJM Constructions and Visy Board. The committee is delighted to have all on board, as well as some terrific prize sponsors including Tully Tackleworld. Anyone else wishing to be involved at sponsor level would be welcomed with enthusiasm by the committee and should contact Kirsty Densmore on 0413 010 625. This is a team event with a maximum of three members per team and an

ideal tournament for all the family. Juniors in particular are encouraged to take part and are eligible for prizes specifically for their age group.

Nominations are now being taken and nomination forms can be downloaded from the Barra Bonanza website: cardwellbarrabonanza. com, by emailing

cardwellsportfishingclub@ hotmail.com or by calling Chris Stoter on 0429 427 590 or Kirsty Densmore on 0413 010 625. – Kirsty Densmore

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

DATE

DETAILS

CONTACT

DATE

DETAILS

CONTACT

NOVEMBER

2013 SEPTEMBER Sep 27-29

Nov 2-3 Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival

Tracee Freebody

Baffle Creek

0421 598 911 Nov 5-6

Sep 28-29

Daiwa-Hobie BREAM Kayak Series Round 19

ABT

Ballina

www.fishingcomps.com.au

Nov 8-10

OCTOBER Oct 4-6

Oct 5-6

Toogoom Fishing Club Annual Comp

Roger Honeyman

Toogoom

toogoomfishingclubmedia@yahoo.com

Saratoga Spectacular

Steven Schuh

Bedford Weir Blackwater

0429 165 756

Nov 15-17

Nov 16-17

secretary@mrfsa.org.au. Oct 5-6

Oct 5-7

Oct 12-13

Bjelke Peterson Inland Family

Nov 23-24

Fishing Classic

Peter

Bjelke Peterson

4168 4746

Lake Coolmunda Fishing Competition

Amy Koina

Lake Coolmunda

0488 652 136

Golden Pro-Angler Basstasstic Series

Russel Nowland

Bjelke-Petersen Dam

07 4167 8183

Cardwell Barra Bonanza

Chris Stoter

Cardwell

0429 427 590

Mary Valley Family Fishing Classic

Glenn Williams

Lake Borumba via Imbil

0427 276 933

ABT BREAM Classic Championship

ABT

Mallacoota VIC

07 3387 0888

ABT BREAM Grand Final

ABT

Gippsland Lakes VIC

07 3387 0888

Bluefin Lake Maroon Fishing Classic

Steve Wilkes

Lake Maroon

0403 154 510

MTA Barra Summer League Rd 3

Geoff Newby

Peter Faust

0430 344 485

Golden Pro-Angler Basstasstic Series

Russel Nowland

TBA

07 4167 8183

Basstasstic X Factor Grand Final

Russel Nowland

Somerset Dam

07 4167 8183

MTA Barra Summer League Rd 4

Geoff Newby

Peter Faust

0430 344 485

MTA Barra Summer League Rd 5

Geoff Newby

Teemburra

0430 344 485

DECEMBER Dec 7-8

2014 JANUARY

Oct 24-26

Oct 25-27

Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic

Mount Isa Fish Stocking Group

Mount Isa

www.lakemoondarrafishingclassic.

Jan 18-19

FEBRUARY Feb 1-2

com.au Oct 26-27

Basstasstic X Factor Teams Event

Russel Nowland

Somerset Dam

07 4167 8183

MARCH Mar 1-2

Oct 26-27

Barra & Salmon Classic

Bert Flierman

River Heads

0428 405 406

MTA Barra Summer League Rd 6

Geoff Newby

Teemburra

0430 344 485

King of the Pin

Don Vogel

Gem Hotel, Alberton

0411 958 076

MAY Oct 26-27

MTA Barra Summer League Rd 2

Geoff Newby

Teemburra

0430 344 485

May 30-1 Jun

If you want your tournament listed please email sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au 94

OCTOBER 2013

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OCTOBER 2013

Dressed to thrill - How to butcher a large pelagic FMG

Tony Zann t.zann@fishingmonthly.com.au

Here’s the best way to dress down a large pelagic fish into meal-sized chunks you can then freeze or slice into fillets, steaks, medallions or sashimi for immediate fine dining.

For any fish, it’s essential to first kill it humanely. For mackerel, tailor, kingfish and tuna it’s best to stun the fish with a sharp blow or two to the top of the head and then cut the blood vessels in the fish’s throat latch and gills. Then let it bleed over the side of the boat or into a bucket. If your boat has a deck hose,

you may well need it for the clean up! Some anglers also make cuts in the tail wrist to speed up the bleeding process. Stunning is better than killing instantly ike jimistyle, because the heart continues to pump out blood until the unconscious fish expires. Bleeding helps to drain

Evans Head veterinarian Rod Blake is equally at home deconstructing a Spanish mackerel as he is reconstructing a labrador’s knee joint. It doesn’t matter whether you’re dealing with mackerel, tuna, cobia or kingfish, these butchering techniques apply.

important to get the fish’s body temp dropping straight after you catch it. A slurry of ice and seawater is the perfect way to do this but if your esky isn’t big enough for your catch, it’s worth getting hold of one of those insulated fish bags. It won’t take up much space until you need it and, unless it’s a super-hot day, add a

First cut is down and forward behind the head and up against the pectoral fin. Go down to the backbone and cut through any rib and pin bones. Rod is using a Victory 25cm curved fillet knife for this fish. For smaller fish, use a shorter knife.

Carefully make the first long cut. Insert the horizontal knife tip as close to the vertebral arch bones as possible and down as far as where they join the top part of the spinal column. The closer you go to the arches and the spine, the more meat you’ll get on the fillet and the less you leave on the fish. Make the cut slowly, feeling the tip of the blade bumping into each bone of the spine. The cleaner you make this cut, the neater your fillet will look.

Just forward of the tail, run the knife all the way through the fish and work back to the tail itself. In the case of mackerel, tuna and some other pelagics, cut past the caudal keel so you can use this s a handle for the fillet to come.

Slice through the ribcage and pin bones as you cut through the fillet. OCTOBER 2013

QFM

couple of bags of ice and a bucket of water and it will do the job OK. Don’t bend your catch if it doesn’t quite fit in the icebox; the hardened meat will tear itself apart when you straighten the carcass for filleting. Cut the fish into sections that do fit in the box; it’s illegal to fillet fish at sea in most states.

Make a similar cut or cuts on the bottom side. Do the cut from the fish’s vent back to its tail all the way to the spine, and forward of the vent, just cut through the abdominal wall.

100

the flesh of the blood enzymes that speed up the decomposition process or accumulate in the red meat of the ‘bloodline’ along the middle of the fish’s flank. Tailor, especially, need thorough bleeding and fast ice-down or they quickly turn into dog food. For best meat flavour and texture, it’s also vitally

One side of the fish, ready for the next part of the process. Keep the other side in the ice slurry until you’re ready for it; don’t let it warm up at all.

Separate any flesh left between the carcass and fillet as you lift and work the knife forward.

Dress out the ribcage and gut cavity, working the knife down towards the skin as the abdominal wall narrows.

Mitsubishi Asx Diesel Auto the power plant, drive train enhancement plus some very useful interior changes. Significantly, there have been improvements in feature levels (not they were really lacking at all) plus price reductions across both diesel models. ENGINE UPGRADE WELCOME There’s enough room under the shapely ASX bonnet (with its pocket-rocket Evo style grille) for the 2.2L four-

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It appears that if there’s one thing that’s better than a diesel SUV it’s an automatic diesel SUV! Upon its release last year the Mitsubishi ASX all wheel drive diesel was roundly applauded, despite the fact that it was only available in manual

A really intuitive Sat Nav system highlights the dash of the ASX Aspire. cylinder common rail turbo diesel engine, reportedly from the Outlander. Figures of 110KW of power, 360Nm of torque are encouraging, particularly its 60Nm in delivery. Moreover, the new ASX produces a very smooth and seamless six speed

mode. However, Mitsubishi has now tweaked things to offer more bang for the buck in their ASX diesel range, which means it’s undergone a few upgrades including an automatic transmission. There’s also been a substantial upgrading of

auto, taking the place of the previous 1.8L diesel engine’s CVT auto gearing. During the road test I found the new six-speed box to be a very competent unit. Left to its own designs, gear changes are virtually imperceptible. Moving the console-mounted selector to the right allows the driver to change up or down manually, but for the more sportsminded there’s also a columnmounted set of paddles to play with. Confesssion time: Being a closet petrol head on a trip over Cunninghams Gap I admit I used the paddle selector system to keep the very willing engine in its sweet spot. The ASX diesel, with a team of four aboard, hummed easily up and over the range. A central console switch can move the ASX diesel AWD from basic (front) 2WD to part time 4WD, which sees all four wheels providing traction if and when slippage is detected. Another engagement of the console switch brings in the LOCK mode, which simply locks all four wheels in 50/50 drive mode. This latter drive system is ideal for light beach work, bush trails and other uneven surfaces, which the ASX, given its

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quite reasonable ground clearance, can take in its stride with aplomb. Engaging 4WD is possible for normal speed limits, something not always the case with this style of SUV. ASPIRE DID Two auto diesels are available, the standard ASX Direct Injection Diesel and the more upmarket Aspire DiD. Both models now have their excellent reversing cameras

Sweet, eye catching lines are part of the ASX package. Excellent ground clearance and 4x4 on demand will see the ASX off the road in reasonable conditions.

While there’s a fair bit of plastic about the dash area of the ASX dials and gauges are easily identified. within the 15.5cm touch screen of the main function and radio module, which in the Aspire also incorporates a very easy to use and intuitive Sat/ Nav system. The Aspire’s interior styling is modern enough but seemed to have a fair bit of hard plastic about the dash and door linings. However, there’s leather on seats, steering wheel and other trim panels. Heated front seats are the norm, the driver’s having electric adjustment and a great lumbar support to boot. Dials and controls across the dash are simple to identify and use; leaning more towards practicality than luxury. The Aspire does come with a panoramic sunroof and 17” wheels, both features being a step up from the standard model. Bluetooth audio and phone integration is naturally standard as is iPod compatibility and push button start/stop. I liked the reach and rake adjustability of the leather trimmed steering wheel. Storage nooks within the ASX are mainly concentrated in the front seating area,

although there are a few available for rear seat travellers. You will be surprised by the AXS’s roominess. Even with a 180cm adult seated in the front seat, there’s still plenty of room for another adult to sit comfortably behind without feeling cramped. Rear cargo capacity stretches from 416L with rear seat up to 1158L with seats down. Rear seats offer a 60/40 split as well. THE DRIVE The ASX is a pleasure to drive, with its 2.2L diesel chattering away at idle, levelling out in noise as the vehicle moves off. Seating

There’s plenty of leather trim inside the ASX Aspire.

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is high with great all round visibility adding to the feeling of being in a much larger vehicle. There’s ample power to spare from the diesel engine and although just a tad bothered by turbo lag on take off, once the turbo kicks in the compact SUV can really cover some ground. Overtaking is easy, traffic is no problem even with four adults aboard and the ride is quiet enough on bitumen, a tad noisy on rough or gravel surfaces. Comfort levels are high. Mitsubishi has put a lot of work into suspension and wheel travel and it shows. Fuel consumption was brilliant with the ASX diesel returning 6.4L per 100km on highway runs, with 7.2L/100km around town. Braked trailers up to 1300kg may be towed, which will see quite a few alloy craft on the tow bar. Warranty and servicing is highly attractive too. Mitsubishi offer a fiveyear 130,000km warranty plus capped price servicing for three years or 60,000km as well as a five year roadside assist package. SUMMING UP Mitsubishi are right on the money with their auto diesel ASX. It drives easily, won’t run out of grunt with five

The ASX’s large cargo area can be enhanced via 60/40 split fold rear seats.

adults aboard and has a raft of really high value features to please the discerning owner. The Aspire model costs a little more but has the appointments to warrant the extra outlay. The ASX diesel offers stiff competition within its market segment. ASX diesel pricing is needle sharp these days too. The new 2.2 diesel base model auto can leave the showroom for a modest $31,990 while the all bells and whistles Aspire comes home for $36,490.

Hard Korr driving lights BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Korr Lighting, LED lighting specialists, are right on the money with their new line of Hard Korr driving lights. They tick all the boxes for output, compact size, rugged reliability and value for money.

With today’s current trend towards larger and ever bigger HID or halogen driving lights mounted on bumpers and bull bars of hard working vehicles, Korr has reversed the trend. Suddenly, less is more – much more. It’s time to forget the massive brackets and concern over air flow. In a refreshing step forward the Hard Korr

driving lights, designated as HK-90/8000 (as they have an LED power of 90W and luminous flux of 8000lm) will take up so little room on the front of a vehicle that air flow to the radiator will never be compromised. Nor will there be a need for massive brackets to maintain range and accurate focus, thanks to their compact size and 2.8kg weight per unit.

Compact and easy to install, the Hard Korr driving lights are sensational! Manufactured from high grade aircraft grade aluminium and mounted on a stainless steel powdercoated bracket, complete with rubber vibration and shock dampeners for safe and effective use; even on the worst of the goat tracks that pass as roads in our country. These extremely high output driving lights have a current draw of just 7.5 amps when operating. Their operating voltage is from 10-30 Volts DC. Each unit comes with Deutsch high

Long distance lighting is no longer a problem.

quality plug connectors for maximum working life. Hard Korrs achieve their remarkable 8000 Lumens output courtesy of rows of three (nine in total) of 10W CREE-XRE LEDs within each unit and will provide good driving light out to 400m. Built to last, these Hard Korr lights will take everything in their stride and come back for more. Protected by a rugged polycarbonate plastic front lens, and totally sealed against mud, water and dust,

the Hard Korr are rated as unbreakable, which is why Korr Lighting offer a 50,000 hour life time for each unit. Each Hard Korr driving light kit comes complete with mounting bolts, lock nuts and wiring harness for easy DIY installation. These incredible lights are a very reasonable $299. To secure your set of HK-90/8000 driving lights contact Korr Lighting on the net at www. korrlighting.com.au.

Barra Masta SSea ea Jay Jay has you covered

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Tuff-Mate For the fishing enthusiats 3mm plate sides & 4mm bottoms

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For the fisherman who work their boats. 3mm plate sides & 4mm bottoms

Visit Sea Jay web site for many more models. www.seajayboats.com.auu Scan the QR Code with your Smart Phone e

To like us on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/SeaJayBoats

Family time – what a great way to spend time on the water. QFM

OCTOBER 2013

103

2013 Gold Coast International Marine Expo Organisers of the third annual Gold Coast International Marine Expo have released an extra 20% of extension exhibition space to meet growing demand for this unique annual boating showcase held from November 1-3 at the Gold Coast Marine Precinct in Coomera, Queensland. The not-for-profit Expo has been described as ‘breathing life back into the marine industry’ and has now become one of the major boating attractions on the Australian boat show calendar and is expected to double in size over the next five years. Gold Coast International Marine Expo spokeswoman Emma Milne said 99% of the original extension space has already been sold to past and new exhibitors. “We will have a lot of new attractions and entertainment planned for 2013, such as the Expo high divers presented by JSW Powersports, so this year’s Gold Coast International Marine Expo is shaping up to be the biggest and the best yet,” said Ms Milne. The impressive line-up of entertainment and attractions this year will include the new Family Zone, which features 2000m2 of fun, entertainment and activities for children of all ages; the Coomera Cup paddle board race; the Flyboard X which is a water jet powered machine and is the most anticipated extreme water sport to hit Australian shores. Other attractions include the Yamaha Supertank Fishing Show, the Club Marine Cooking Show with popular chef Bart Beek, the

giant 50 Tonne Travel Lift Demonstration and a mock rescue in the Coomera River by the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service with so much more. “We are also pleased to host a Riviera display that will give Expo visitors an insight into how a Riviera boat is designed in 3D computer aided design systems as well as viewing the various stages of construction of a worldclass luxury powerboat,” Ms Milne said. “We will also host a fascinating seminar on the history of the wooden boat and its construction that will include a display of completed wooden boats and canoes.” In 2013 organisers expect to have more than 500 boats on display including over 100 boats in the on water display. The Expo is a partnership between Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Riviera, Quintrex, International Paints, and Clipper Motor Yachts who founded and helped stage this annual not-for-profit community and familyfocused event. Expo is so much more than a boat show as it takes visitors behind the scenes of the marine industry and does so surrounded by hundreds of exhibits from the world’s best boating brands displayed over an enlarged 3km display circuit. The third annual Gold Coast International Marine Expo is set to break its previous records, which attracts around 300 individual marine brands each year. Ms Milne said attendance at last year’s Expo defied industry trends with

DETAILS

When: 1-3 November 2013 Time: 9am to 5pm daily Location: Gold Coast Marine Precinct on Waterway Drive, Coomera, Queensland, Australia. The Marine Precinct is located within the Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard, Riviera and Quintrex factories. Cost: Free. Gold coin donation requested for community groups.

a 24% increase on the first year’s attendance. A gold coin donation is requested upon entry to the Gold Coast International Marine Expo, which will be given directly back to community groups including the Rotary Club of Coomera River, Paradise Kids, the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service and Sailability. Easy access including free on site parking is another major draw card for boating enthusiasts from across the nation. DEMONSTRATIONS 50 Tonne Travel Lift Demonstration The 50 tonne capacity Marine Travel Lift at the Gold Coast City Marina will be lifting a vessel out of the water, manoeuvring the vessel around on the hardstand and then returning the vessel safely back into the water. This Travel Lift Demonstration shows the versatility and power of this unique crane lifting equipment. Riviera seminar’s Gain a unique insight into how a Riviera boat is designed in 3D, computer aided design systems. See Riviera boats in varying stages of construction and hear from their worldleading engineers and electricians as they explain the latest in marine technology. Types of wooden boat construction There will be seminars on the various types of wooden boat construction, including completed wooden boats

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and canoes, to show the final product of these construction methods. This 15-20 minute seminar will also show photographs of antique wooden boats and touch on the history of the wooden boat. This seminar will take place daily on the Wooden Boat Association of Queensland’s stand #36. ATTRACTIONS Flyboard X Flyboard X is the most anticipated extreme water

sport to hit the shores of Australia. The Flyboard is a water jet powered machine which allows propulsion underwater and in the air. The position of two nozzles under your feet ensures 90% of the propulsion and allow for movement controlled by tilting one’s feet. The Flyboard X performance showcases the exclusive new attachment designed for any jetski, which allows for the freedom of flight, extreme freestyle stunts and the exciting dolphin dive. Yamaha Supertank Fishing Show The Yamaha Supertank Fishing Show gives the spectator a fish’s eye view. Brett Thompson and Michael Cooke demonstrate the many different types of fishing lures on today’s market and will show how the fish react to them and the different techniques used by many of today’s top anglers. Demonstrations are done from an aluminium boat with

The Expo has now become one of the major boating attractions on the Australian boat show calendar and is expected to double in size over the next five years.

a Yamaha outboard on the transom giving the illusion of fishing in the wild. All spectrums of the outdoors are covered in the talks from safety with eyewear to knife sharpening, and electronics to holiday spots. All shows are entertaining, exciting, informative and not to be missed! Club Marine Cooking Demo with Bart Beek One of the most dynamic personalities in the Australian culinary scene, Club Marine’s resident chef Bart Beek is an accomplished author, restaurateur and highly-sought after performer. As Club Marine’s resident chef, Bart Beek writes a series of articles that appear in the ‘Gourmet’ section of every issue of Club Marine Magazine. Each of Bart’s articles provide a fantastic array of recipes along with Bart’s tips and techniques that helps the magazine’s readers create the dishes themselves. Bart’s wealth of culinary knowledge, energy, humour and enthusiasm have made his live cooking demonstrations at the Club Marine stand a ‘must-see’ event for visitors to boat shows across Australia and New Zealand. Cooking demonstrations take place at Club Marine’s stand #77 on the hour between 10am and 4pm. Family Zone 2013 will see the Family Zone truly come to life with a massive 2,000 sqm space dedicated to family fun, entertainment and fantastic activities. The Family Zone will cater for children of all ages with a space for busy mums, dads and caregivers to relax and unwind. Centrally located within the Family Zone will be a cafe offering healthy eating options for children and adults and gourmet coffee with a comfortable seating area set amongst a park like setting. Parents and carers can keep watch over their children while taking a break from the

exciting hustle and bustle of the main Gold Coast International Marine Expo area. A kaleidoscope of activities that will engage children of all ages to get them moving will be available between 10am and 4pm daily. Further details will be available closer to the event but it surely will be a zone not to miss. The Coomera Cup 2013 marks the third annual Coomera Cup, which will be held on the Saturday of the Expo. The Coomera Cup is organised by Surf Life Saving Queensland and run by the Mermaid Surf Life Saving Club. The Coomera Cup is open to all kayakers form all ages and skill levels. The winner receives the large 2ft high Coomera Cup trophy, medals are available for all placing’s and there are other great prizes up for grabs on the day. The Coomera Cup will be held at the Gold Coast International Marine Expo on Saturday 2nd November. Registration is held in the Expo Main Stage, located on the waterfront adjacent the food court. The race is held on the Coomera River and encompasses a 12km course, which consists of three 4km laps of the course around Foxwell Island. The finish

line will be located right out the front of the Main Stage so all spectators can join in on the action. Presentations will also then be held in the Main Stage after the race. Registration opens at 7.00am and closes at 8.00am. The Cup race starts at 9.00am and is expected to finish around 10.10am – 10.30am. Presentations commence at 11.00am in the Main Stage Categories: U19 Male, Open Male, 35+ Male, 45+ Male, 55+ Male, U19 Female, Open Female, Open Unisex Double, Open Unisex OC1, Open Unisex SUP.

EXHIBITORS GME MARINE The Gold Coast Marine Expo is a great opportunity for boat fanatics to see new equipment and technology from GME. As a leader in Safety, Communication and Entertainment products, GME will use the 2013 event to showcase its new locally designed Multimedia Entertainment System and Marine Speaker designs. The NEW G.Dek, is an innovative system, designed by GME to suite the entertainment need on boats from small runabouts to large cabin cruisers. A first for marine entertainment systems will be the option of a DAB+ digital

The Flyboard X water jet powered machine is the most anticipated extreme water sport to hit Australian shores. receiver. With DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcasting) you will receive a broader range of stations in crystal clear, interference free digital sound. Digital radios automatically tune in to all receivable broadcasts and display the

™

station by name, the song being played and the artist. The G.Dek is a remote wired component system that encompasses a control head and a multimedia control unit. The head can easily be flush mounted on any flat surface

with no need to cut out the full aperture of the head profile. The head is completely sealed and IPX7 rated which means it can be exposed to the elements. The Multimedia hub is a neat slimline component that houses the amplifier and all of the source inputs. This can neatly be tucked away 5m from the control head. Inputs include an SD card reader, USB port, 3.5mm stereo jack and a 30pin iPhone, iTouch or iPod connector. Also supplied are ‘nests’ of varying size that cradle the mp3 device to securely hold and protect it in the hub. For larger installations, two control heads can be connected to the same hub enabling the user to control all functions from separate locations. With a powerful output of 4 x 45 watts, infrared remote control, video input and output and sub-woofer pre-out, the G.Dek is going to set a new benchmark for affordable feature rich performance Marine Entertainment. Come and visit GME at Stand #85 at the Show! For more information visit www. gme.net.au.

BOAB Is boat ownership leaving a hole in your pocket? Are you like the majority of people who only use their boat 10-15 days a year? Than Boab may

be the alternative you have been looking for. Boab will be attending the Gold Coast Marine Expo this November and showcasing the best alternative to boat ownership! Boab Boat Hire is a unique and exciting company that allows you to hire trailer-able high-powered vessels Australia wide. With 24 locations, 7 being in Queensland, there is no need to worry about towing your own boat thousands of kilometres away on holidays or hiring an undersized unsafe tinny! Boab provides locals and tourists with an affordable alternative to boat ownership. Hiring a boat through Boab is as easy as hiring a car – customers can tow boats away themselves, or Boab can even deliver a boat to a specified location and have it waiting on the water for you when you arrive! Boab offers the choice of several fully equipped, fuel efficient, offshore vessels suited for all on water activities! Boats are fitted with quality marine electronics, GPS, sounders, live bait tanks, all your safety equipment and other essential equipment to ensure a safe and exciting day out on the water. Whether you’re a keen angler, water sports enthusiast, interested in a day out sightseeing and cruising, a diving fanatic or anyone in Continued page 106

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GOLD COAST Nitro Marine LOGAN Australian Marine Centre BRISBANE SOUTH Coorparoo Marine BRISBANE NORTH Cunningham Marine Centre WARWICK Shanes Bikes & Boats GOONDIWINDI Gundy Guns & Outdoor Supplies SUNSHINE COAST Custom Craft Marine KINGAROY Kingaroy Great Outdoors & Marine HERVEY BAY Barney’s Auto Marine ROCKHAMPTON Rockhampton Marine MACKAY Reef Marine CANNONVALE Whitsunday Yamaha Marine BOWEN Tropical Trailer Boats TOWNSVILLE Honda Marine & Watercraft MT ISA Mt Isa Marine QFM

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between, Boab has got the boat for you! No boat licence? No worries! Boab are now offering boat license courses for all levels at some locations. Ask them at the stand for more information! Further more information call 1300 00 BOAB (1300 00 2622) or visit www.boabboathire.com.au and email Natasha Armstrong – enquiry@boabboathire. com.au.

C WORTHY MARINE C Worthy Marine will be proudly showcasing the Bayliner and Crestliner ranges at the Gold Coast Marine Expo. Bayliner is a highly respected name in boat building with a focus on catering to the whole family.

Their range of versatile yet affordable bowrider sports boats are perfect for cruising the water ways, exploring canal systems, water sports or quality family time, plus they are easy to handle and simple to drive. Crestliner say ‘Built Stronger, Rides Better’ and their range of boats feature aluminium construction with full seam welds and tongue and groove construction built on a sturdy super structure. The strength is built into the boat, not the skin so they are quiet, big water capable, easy to tow and easy to store. They are capable of going from fishing fanatic to family friendly in seconds with the innovative deck configurations. With class leading warranties on all brands we back our product 100%. We also have a great service team that can handle your complete vessel management including, anti fouling, general

This year’s Gold Coast International Marine Expo is shaping up to be the biggest and the best yet.

servicing, fault finding, pre-purchase inspections, re powering, detailing, electrical and anything else you may need. Contact the C Worthy Marine team on 0755 800 905, cworthymarine.com.au or come and visit us at stand 5 at the Gold Coast Marine Expo.

TAILORED FOR THE BIG CATCH The team at Gold Coastbased Tailored Marine are custom boat builders, and because they value quality over mass production they build custom fishing boat that can be tailored to each individual fisher’s needs. The new model 25’ TMA Fishing Boat will be exhibited for the first time at the Gold Coast Marine Expo boasting two Mercury 150hp engines and the new model also sees the introduction of timber-free construction, so dry rot won’t be a problem. Instead, Tailored Marine has used 80kg high-density foam and flotation foam in various parts of the hull to give it more buoyancy and to reduce vibration and water slap, keeping the boat quiet. This high-density foam can keep the boat afloat if it runs into difficulty on the water. A live bait tank has been moulded into the rear transom at waist height with a cutting

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$1395 PROFISH 45 1 x 6” Hatch & Hatch Bucket 4 x Rod holders Sounder Compartment & Clear Lid 2 x Burley Bin & Covers Centre Well, Cover and Cutting Board Foot Rests Paddle holder Front & Rear Cargo well straps Rudder & Motor options

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SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITIES

In 2012 through the gold coin donation at the entry gates and additonal fund’s raised from the Artist’s Quater art auction, a total of $16,900 was raised for the Expo charities and local organisations listed below. In 2013 the Expo endeavours to increase this level of support for our local community. Rotary Club of Coomera River Last year the Rotary Club of Coomera River provided 68 volunteers over the three days of the Expo who assisted with car parking, marshalling, security on entry points, tagging children, counting entrants and driving the courtesy buses. The funds raised from the Expo were utilised in various areas within the local Coomera community including upgrading and providing play equipment, fencing, shade sails and a garden shed to safely store equipment to avoid theft and vandalism at the Beattie Road Community House. Rotary also donated 50 Christmas food hampers that were distributed to needy families in Coomera. Paradise Kids Paradise Kids provides counseling services to young children and their families who are experiencing a traumatic situation. This Arundel based charity supports about 400 Gold Coast families every year who are experiencing grief or loss. Community relation’s manager, Mireille Allan, said that 2012 proceeds would help to support more Gold Coast families. “We had a kids club at the Expo with a jumping castle, face painting and games. It was a privilege to be included in the Expo and our presence there also helped raise awareness about what Paradise Kids offers the community”. Sailability Gold Coast Sailability is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organisation which, through the activity of sailing, enriches the lives of people with any type of disability, the elderly and the financially and socially disadvantaged. President, Peter Board, said the funds raised from the Expo would go a long way to help maintain the equipment they use every week. “The Expo was fantastic, not only did it help us to attract some new volunteers but the funds raised helped us buy much-needed new life jackets and will assist with funding general maintenance for our equipment. We feel extremely honoured and privileged to be one of the charities supported by the Expo”. Westpac Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Westpac Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service is one of the oldest community-based helicopter rescue services in the world, operating across South East Queensland for the past 35 years. The funds raised last year at the Expo would go towards upgrading the rescue equipment on the service’s state-of-the-art air craft. Peter Bird, Westpac Surf Life Saver Helicopter Rescue Service chief pilot said, “We are pleased and also extremely grateful for the support that the industry and the Expo have given us.”

board next to it, making it easy to prepare the bait and cast over the back. Or that area can easily be converted into storage or an esky. Tailored Marine has even extended the rear transom to accommodate a barbecue if required for days out with the family or mates. The spacious cabin and electric toilet equals on-board comfort, especially for overnight offshore fishing. Toe rails also feature on the new model so when you’re fishing and standing in the side rear deck cockpit you’ll have 4” of foot space in the toe rail, making it more comfortable and improving stability while reeling in a monster. For more information visit www.tailoredmarine.com.au.

RAYMARINE Raymarine will be showcasing its new range of products at the 2013 Gold Coast International Marine Expo at Stand 96 and 97. Following the success of the award-winning Dragonfly Sonar/GPS, Raymarine is announcing the all-new CP100 network sonar module with CHIRP DownVision™. The CHIRP powered CP100 ‘black box’ network sonar module brings photolike underwater vision to Raymarine’s latest generation MFDs (multifunction displays), including the

MARINE WAREHOUSE

The Expo has had an influx of new exhibitors securing their sites. HybridTouch™ eSeries and the all new gS Series glass bridge screens. Engineered to deliver stunning sonar imagery down to 600ft in both freshwater and coastal saltwater applications, the CP100 gives anglers the underwater intelligence they need for a winning day on the water. Photo-realistic imaging of CHIRP DownVision takes the guesswork out of understanding the sonar imagery, giving anglers a real competitive advantage when searching for fish and their habitat. The combination of CHIRP and Downvision sonar, first seen in Raymarine’s groundbreaking Dragonfly™, which launched earlier this year to great acclaim, is now available in aSeries too. The aSeries MFDs feature Raymarine’s LightHouse User Interface and offer advanced navigation, sonar, and network

capabilities in a compact, fullfeatured touchscreen display. An angler’s dream to use, the new a78 (7”) and a68 (5.7”) are engineered for freshwater and coastal fishing. The a68 and a78 use CHIRP and Downvision sonar technology to deliver realistic, photo-like images of the underwater world, seeing fish and structure with absolute clarity. All the a Series models, whether MFD, MFD with built-in sonar or MFD with CHIRP Downvision, are now available in a Wi-Fi version. Raymarine mobile apps can be downloaded to smartphones and tablets which can then be used to access Wi-Fiequipped a Series MFDs; giving boaters full access and control of charts, sonar, radar and more – from anywhere onboard. For more information visit www.raymarine.com.au.

The team at Marine Warehouse are busy preparing their displays for the upcoming Gold Coast International Marine Expo held at the Gold Coast City Marina. Visitors to the show will be able find the Marine Warehouse tent at site 82 along the front of the marina near the travelift. On display will be the range of Manson anchors including the new Boss anchor, the new anchoring authority. The interactive Flow-Rite tank will be pumping, showcasing the benefits of an oxygenated livewell to keep your catch healthy. The entire range of WaterScreen Marine Water Separating Fuel Filters will be showcased. Featuring high quality Germanmade filter media for superior protection and performance, WaterScreen has all the modern engine types protected. Vigil has been looking out for you and will have on display a range of electrical products that have been specifically designed for the harsh marine environment. For those sailors that get themselves into a sticky

situation, the range of PSP Sail Repair Tapes enable temporary or permanent repairs to be carried out while on that cruising voyage of a lifetime. For more information on the range of Marine Warehouse products head to www.marinewarehouse. com.au.

JSW POWERSPORTS JSW Powersports will be showing several boats from the Sea Fox sport fishing boats range, which includes centre consoles, walkarounds and bay boats. Sea Fox Boats is one of the largest saltwater boat manufacturers in the USA and they are well known for their fishing boats that

are loaded with features to impress any angler. These boats are designed by anglers and they have all the creature comforts for a successful day out fishing as well as catering for the family market. The brand new model 246 Commander is the latest addition to Sea Fox’s line up and there will be a fully optioned 246 on show as well as the ever popular 199, 209 and 226 in the centre console range. “We will also be showing our popular 256 Voyager, which was a real hit both at the Sanctuary Cove boat show and Mackay Marine Festival this year,” says Tim Stessl. “This 25’ walkaround boat proves that you can have the best of both worlds with a boat that is built as a fishing Continued page 108

The third annual Gold Coast International Marine Expo will definitely break its previous records, which attracts around 300 marine brands each year.

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From page 107

boat and family boat. It is the ultimate combination and the value you get for this size boat is second to none!” For the shallow water fishers, Sea Fox offers their bay boat range and the best seller 200 Viper will also be on display at the show to cater for this growing market. As Australia’s largest watercraft dealer, JSW Powersports will also have an extensive collection of Sea-Doo personal watercrafts to view. Sea-Doo is still the only PWC on the market that comes standard with brakes. The hottest show deal includes a Sea Doo GTS 130 on trailer complete with a handy fishing box with 80L esky, bait board and rod holders. Don’t miss it! Contact JSW Powersports on (07) 5529 2616 and have a look at their websites www. seafoxboats.net.au or www. jswpowersports.com.au.

JACKAROO BOATS This year at the Gold Coast Marine Expo, Jackaroo Boats are doing things at half measure, but in a big way! Come to the stand and see the amazing transformation of a 12ft fibreglass boat that has been carefully restored by the skilled team at Jackaroo Boats. And instead of seeing

the normal ‘before and after’ pictures of the product, you can compare and examine exactly what they did as they only restored half of the boat! Jackaroo will also have their usual array of high quality boats on display, including a 590 Centre Console. The 590 Centre Console takes the hard

work out of fishing. Designed to travel long distances in comfort, the 590 offers a super soft ride in adverse conditions. There will be plenty of offers and deals to be made with the guys at the stand, so don’t forget to swing by and pay them a visit. For more information visit www.jackarooboats. com.au.

KAPTEN BOATS & COLLARS If you want to transform your current tinny into a more stable, better performing boat, the Kapten Boat Collar will do the trick. Or if you’re after

a plated, offshore fishing vessel, check out their Waverider Boats! Kapten Boats & Collars will be launching the latest in their Waverider Series, the Waverider 600 CC-X. This serious 6.10m offshore fishing vessel is designed for deep sea fishing in rough conditions with plenty of room for the crew.

CONTACT YOUR NEAREST DEALER Bundaberg

Adrians Marine Centre

P 07 4153 1819 E adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com

Springwood Australian Marine Centre Gold Coast

Coastal Powerboats

Cairns

Aussie Marine

Mackay

Shane Morrison Marine

P 07 3808 7333 E sales@australianmarinecentre.com.au

P 07 5568 0904 E info@coastalpowerboats.com.au

P 07 4033 8800 E sales@aussiemarine.com.au P 07 4951 1991 E sales@shanemorrisonmarine.com.au

For more boats visit:

www.polycraft.com.au 108

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At their show stand, you’ll see some amazing sea trial footage of the Waverider 600 CC-X and how the large reverse chine design makes this boat incredibly stable with no tendency to broach. For dinghy owners, there will be a tinny with a Kapten Boat Collar so everyone can see how simple they are to fit, giving you a great opportunity to check this product out, available to buy online or from their Nambour factory. The team at Kapten Boats & Collars will be positioned at Site 48, near the middle of the show, opposite the food venues and Riviera Demonstration area. So feel free to call in and have a chat with Pat and his team. If you want to check out the Collar and Waverider series prior to the show, head to www.boatcollar.com.au or www.kaptenwaverider. com.au.

NORTHSIDE MARINE BOAT SHOW Once again Northside Marine will have some top end brands on display at this year’s Expo, which will include some of the biggest alloy and glass brands on the market. Precise fabrication techniques and innovative designs put Stabicraft and Surtees ahead of the rest, and cater for the most hardened of anglers. If you prefer sunset cruising, fine wine and nights away our Whittley Cruisers will be right up your alley. If watersports is your thing and only the best will do come and check out the #1 towboat in the world, Malibu boats. We will also have a fully stocked chandlery store with loads of boat show specials. Stabicraft, New Zealand’s premier boat manufacturer, has recently unveiled the new 1650 Fisher, 1850 Supercab, 2100 Supercab and 2600 Supercab models. These new models certainly tick all the boxes and offer design, quality craftsmanship, and safety like no other. Surtees is a multi-award winning product out of New Zealand. They are the brand that all other ballast boats have copied, and since they were created, Surtees has added many new features to ensure they remain the benchmark. The Surtees range is a must see at the show and we guarantee you will be impressed. Northside Marine will have a huge display of the best electronics brands including Lowrance, Humminbird, Garmin, Furuno, and Fusion. So whether you are kitting out a new boat or just freshening up your electronics in a pre-existing one, rest assured that Northside Marine have the quality brands at the best prices in town. For more information visit www.northsidemarine.com.au.

EXHIBITOR NAME

Abell Point Marina Alaska Motor Yachts Algae Free Anchor Right Australia Aquamare Marine Ausail Marine Group Aussie Soles Australian Boating Supplies Australian Davits & Cranes Australian Marine Wholesale Australian Superyachts Pty Ltd Australian Volunteer Coast Guard B&G Bainbridge Technologies Baldwin Filters Australia Belize Motor Yachts Benjamin Peters Enterprises - HiDow Distributor BOAB Boat Hire Brisbane Yamaha Broadwater Boating Centre Boatpoint.com.au Boatsales.com.au C Worthy Marine Cape Marine Chaparral Australia Classic Marine Trimming Clipper Motor Yachts Club Marine Insurance Cookout Davco Winch Systems Dazmac Marine Logistics Docherty Marine Dockpro Emerald Lady eYachts Game & Leisure Boats Geoff Lovett International Gineico GME Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard Gold Coast Institute of TAFE Gold Coast Isuzu Hampton Motor Yachts Harris Flotebote Havana Houseboats Hinterland Mowers Holmwood Highgate Engineers Honda Australia Hose King Identity Marine Interiors Imexus Yachts Australia Integrity Motor Yachts International Paint IXL Premium Lubricants Pty Ltd Jackaroo Boats JD’s Boatshed Gold Coast JSW Powersports Jet Ski World KLM Electrics Pty Ltd Leigh-Smith Cruiser Sales Lowrance Marine Safety Innovations M-Tech - Marine

Technologies Marine Control Systems Marine Diesel Pty Ltd Marine Publications Marine Warehouse Pty Ltd Marinonics Pty Ltd Maritimo Offshore Multihull Solutions Musto Australia Nautique Central Northside Marine Ocean Solutions Oceanic Design & Survey Outback Marine P.R Floors Pacific Trim Penrite Oil Company Ptd Ltd Prestige Luxury Motor Yachts Princess Power Equipment Pty Ltd R-Aftermarket R-Electronics R Marine Crawley R Marine Jones Raymarine River Links Marine Riviera Rod Twitchin Marine P/L Rotary Club of Coomera River Runaway Bay Marine Sailfish Catamarans Seabreeze Industries Sea Pen Sea Wasp Australia P/L Seatech Marine Shannon Boats Silentwind Wind Generators Simrad Sirocco Marine North South Pacific Marine Group Southern Cross Textiles Southern Stainless Sporty’s Warehouse Springwood Marine STS Marine & Industrial Products Stella Systems Superior Tailored Marine Telwater The Boat Works The Muir Group Thermal Cookware Trailer Boat Magazine TS Tyalgum Australian Navy Cadets Tweed Coast Marine Twin Disc Volunteer Marine Rescue Southport Watson Marine Engineering Wavejet Webbe Marine Whitewater Marine Wicked Fabrications Wooden Boat Association of Queensland White Silk Resort Wear Wyld About Boats

A new boat in the making FMG

Stephen Booth sbooth@fishingmonthly.com.au

With all of the wants, needs and desires sorted and a rough plan on what I wanted inside, I set off on a search for a custom boat builder who wouldn’t send me bankrupt! My first port of call was to drop in and see James Cullen, one of the owners at Stones Corner Marine. He pointed out a few facts about aluminium and fibreglass and he swayed my mind both ways, however I eventually settled on fibreglass as a hull material. This made perfect sense for a lot of reasons, most of all the ride as every time I fish the Flathead Classic the wind decides to blow the dog off the chain and a glass boat would help sort that out somewhat. From here I started to look at local glass boat builders and Shayne McKee and Wayne Kampe advised me to talk to the team at Galeforce Boats, so on a road trip we stopped in and saw Tony. Obviously Tony was pretty enthusiastic about his boats and after an hour or so of just messing about in the factory and getting some lessons in fibreglass, Tony had convinced me further that a glass boat just might be the best thing. So I sent Tony the rough plan I had and he got back to me with the good news that my ideas would be easy to incorporate with little change. So the hull was sorted – at last! THE HULL The chosen hull was the 4.8m Galeforce set up as a tiller steer. The boat was a bit bigger than I first wanted, but the advantages and the options it opened up were huge. This little boat could comfortably take on most days out on the bay and on a good day, head to the inshore grounds so I could tackle some mackerel, tuna and hopefully one day a little billfish. Being fibreglass the hull rides softer than I am used to and almost encourages you to go out on those days

where previously I might have just said no. But these extra options didn’t come with a reduction of the boat’s primary purpose, which was to hunt the flats in the estuaries and knock around the dams and rivers for cod and barra. In the water the 4.8 drew around a foot of water, a little more than what I was used to, but it would just take a little bit of time to get used to that. The stability was not as good as the vee-nose punts and tinnies I was used to fishing from, however it compared favourably with standard tinnies. This stability is a big factor for me as I lure cast a lot and often there are two or three people all on one side of the boat.

The Marine Warehouse team after market fitted the Flow Rite livewell system. Given the kit nature of the Flow Rite system, an aftermarket fit out is simple to do. Again measure twice, drill once. Other advantages were the sealed floor that allowed for a massive 80L underfloor fuel tank, a customised live well/ esky combination, storage for my Plano tackle trays, a mass of storage up front, a custom built rod locker, the ability to build a neat little sounder console and so much more. And the best part of all from my 6-year-old daughter’s point of view was that the sides were higher than my old tinnie. And that’s has to be a good thing when it comes to having a bit more fun out in the boat with the family.

GALEFORCE BOATS “These boats handle and ride like no other that’s why I own a GaleForce” Wayne Kampe

DEAL DIRECT PH 4123 2833 AND SAVE! 114

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THE MOTOR I had a few demands on the outboard I was going to buy and they all came together with the Honda BF60 4-stroke tiller steer. Firstly, this outboard is very user-friendly with electric start and power trim and tilt. Electric start was a given as was the need for the outboard to be 3 star rated from OEDA in regard to pollution. And the new tiller handle on the 60 Honda meant I did not have to install a trim tilt switch on the hull as it is placed perfectly where your thumb rests while operating the craft. In real use this trim and tilt switch was magic. But the best bit was the Trolling Control Switch. To be able to drop 50rpm or jump

up 50rpm is amazing. It makes about 0.1 knots of difference and with a range from about 750rpm through to 1000rpm, this little device is brilliant. If you do any amount of trolling, take a look at this outboard because it seriously rocks! I’ve already used it on a few flatty trolls and it controls the troll speed brilliantly. Other features that made the Honda a contender, included the BLAST technology, ECOmo (Economy Controlled Motor) technology and the overall output that was more than

adequate to push around the 4.8m Galeforce. I had also been lucky enough to test this exact outboard just over 2 years ago at Lake Natimuk in Victoria when the new 60 was released onto the Australian market. We had the chance to actually see the fuel figures in use, got to play with the BLAST feature and the Trolling Control setup and lastly we saw this outboard on several hulls. Apart from the major advantages of the BLAST, which improves hole shot markedly, the ECOmo was very appealing as this technology incorporates Lean Burn Control technology, which allows combustion to operate on a leaner air/fuel ratio. An O2 sensor, together with the ECM, precisely controls the air/fuel mixture for the best fuel economy at cruise setting. The BF60 also has a multipole AC generator (ACG) that provides 22amp of battery charging capacity! Ample power for onboard marine electronics, livebait tanks and other equipment, which is brilliant for longer trips where I don’t have access to power, forget my charger or bring the charger and don’t have my Engel generator! Yes I do all of these things regularly. So overall the Honda BF60 is a remarkable piece of engineering that ticked every box and best of all the team at Bay Marine rigged it all up with minimal fuss and no issues. I would recommend a qualified mechanic installs any tiller steer outboard that requires bolting on through the hull. It was a lot more complicated than I first thought and the Bay Honda team were efficient and explained it all clearly to me. THE TRAILER The trailer was always going to be an interesting project. I have yet to own a trailer that lasts. Why that is so is beyond me and I suppose it all comes down to keeping package prices as low as possible. But after a few repairs and a few dodgy

The team at Bay Honda putting the 60hp Honda 4-stroke on the back. This is a much more exacting task than I ever thought it would be and it is well worth your time getting it done correctly the first time by people who do it every day. trailers I’d had enough. It was time for me to get a trailer that had all that I wanted and was over-engineered to last. I chose an R and M Trailer from South East Queensland as they essentially custom build their trailer to suit the client’s needs. My list of options was thrown at them and to my relief they had no hesitation in confirming that everything I wanted could be done. So with that in mind I ordered a custom keel roller trailer. This trailer was built from alloy I-beam and came with a spare wheel kit, stainless steel brake components and I had the bolt package upgraded to stainless as well. The trailer would be capable of handling almost 1200kg and the 4.8m Galeforce was not going to come close to that, which meant I had the ability to use the boat a little bit like a trailer when on longer road trips. Things like swags, tents, tackle boxes and the like could all be towed to the destination in the boat leaving the car’s cabin with more room. Gold! The wheels were large and the spare wheel was attached to the trailer’s frame, making this the perfect trailer for me. Add in that the trailer was set up as a drive on and drive off trailer and this old boy was pretty stoked. THE ELECTRONICS I’ve already mentioned the fabulous i-Pilot and that

was the first electronics accessory as to me it’s the most important. After much discussion with Tim Morgan and Shaun Clancy, I was convinced to go for an 80lb i-Pilot. This meant 24V of battery were needed. In reality I can usually see the snags I am fishing for jacks and Murray cod and when I am flathead fishing I can usually see the sand and weed banks. This piece of equipment is far more important than the sounder, however… If I am impoundment fishing for native fish or barra, a sounder is an absolute must. It not only allows you to see the depth, bottom contours, weed beds and more, these days you can actually see the fish! To keep it simple I chose a Humminbird 898 after some great advice. This unit was small enough to fit on the console, yet had the screen size, power and ability to literally separate fish from water, and I generally need all the help I can get doing that! Although not new technology these days, the side imaging and screen resolution was phenomenal, plus all SI units from Humminbird come with down imaging, a great feature that shows you more clearly what the snag or rock bar actually looks like. But even better was that this unit linked in with the i-Pilot. This means that I can

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ENDS 15 NOVEMBER 2013

When it comes to power, reliability and performance, you can’t go past a Mercury FourStroke 2.5-115hp. Backed by the only 3 year corrosion warranty, their lightweight, durable design and enhanced fuel efﬁciency makes them perfect to power everything from small inﬂatables to large Cuddy Cabins. For one awesome FourStroke offer, go to your participating Mercury Marine dealer today.

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