Queensland Fishing Monthly October 2018

TIPS FOR THE TROPICS • OCTOBER FISHING FEST

Boating & Kayaking Coomera River kayaking • Stand up paddleboard progression • Live bait tank options for small boats •

NEW FIND THE

Features

LOGO COMPETITION SEE INSIDE

Exploring the northern Whitsundays • Cape York fishing guide • NSW trout tips •

Tried & Tested Daiwa Hyper rod range • Stessco Bowrider 520 • Haines Hunter 585R •

October, 2018 Fishing Monthly G R O U P

Registered by Australian Post Publication No: 100003847

$6.95 (GST inc.)

issuu.com/fishingmonthly

fishingmonthly

Fishing Monthly Magazines

www wp.fishingmonthly.com.au FishingMonthly

LENS TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS

580G

LIGHTWAVEÂŽ GLASS Benefits of our most high-tech lenses: + 20% thinner and 22% lighter than average polarized glass + Encapsulated mirrors + 100% polarized to kill glare and reduce eye strain + 100% UV protected for maximum protection

580P POLYCARBONATE

Benefits of 580 plastic lenses with C-WALLÂŽ: + Lightweight and durable + Impact- and scratch-resistant + Outperform every other lens in the class + Available in mirrors + 100% polarized + 100% UV protected

costadelmar.com.au

COMING COMING SOON SOON

TATULA 100H TATULA 100H

T-WING T-WING daiwafishing.com.au daiwafishing.com.au

TATULA 150H TATULA 150H

NEW Rapala Shadow Rap Jack Deep 05

Southside’s ONLY Quintrex Dealer!

OUTBOARDS OF THE FUTURE

Brisbane Quintrex is part of the largest Marine Dealership Group in Australia.

! d in m of e ac pe deal with the BIGGEST! CALL NOW

CASH FOR LATE MODEL BOATS! (HULL YEAR 2000 AND ONWARDS ONLY) BOAT VALUATIONS - CALL PAUL: 0422 391 822

31 333 468 PACIFIC HWY, LOGANHOLME 3775 Pacific Hwy

BRISBANEQUINTREX.com.au

It’s fast food for fish.

In today’s world everybody wants things to happen FAST. Fish are no different – they want it and they want it now. The Halco Max 190 gives them exactly that – a lure that can be cast or trolled at better than 15 knots – now that’s FAST! Combining outstanding speed capability, double thickness sidewalls for ultimate strength, Mustad 7/0 inline singles for superior hook setting and Halco’s ultra strong fish rings, the fish will find it impossible not to take a bite.

Pick up a Max 190 FAST. You’ll be glad you did.

www.halcotackle.com.au

$6.95

RRP (GST inc.)

October 2018, Vol. 30 No. 12

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 20 Ballina 22

Business Office: Unit 1, 11 Knobel Court, Shailer Park, Qld, 4128 Phone: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Managing Editor: Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au Editorial Manager: Jacqui Thomas Sub-Editors: Bob Thornton Nicole Penfold Annie March Field Editors: Jason Ehrlich Wayne Kampe Publishers: Steve Morgan Matthew Drinkall

Come and visit Fishing Monthly Group’s official Facebook page for all your monthly fishing information. Download QR Reader to access.

Sales Enquiries: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au Advertising Enquiries: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Nicole Kelly nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au Printing: APN – News Corp Australia Production: Karen Millward Keith Hawley Website: www.fishingmonthly.com.au Distribution: Gordon & Gotch Pty Ltd Subscriptions: Kym Rowbotham Office Manager: Marie Dykstra

TO SUBSCRIBE SEE PAGE 76 FIND THE DAIWA LOGO COMPETITION PAGE 73 Queensland Fishing Monthly magazine goes on sale the first week of each month (latest sale date 7th of the month).

Published by:

Qld Fishing Monthly Pty Ltd ABN 72-010-542-195 IN

G

FISH

IN

G

’

RE

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.

TU

SUBSCRIPTION HOTLINE FREECALL 1800 228 244

A Mick Underwood image.

FU

Annual Subscriptions: $65 for twelve issues (GST inc.)

Make cheques payable to Queensland Fishing Monthly PO Box 3172 LOGANHOLME QLD 4129

OUR COVER Not all the tasty critters in the ocean have to have scales, there are plenty of other options, such as this beautiful painted cray!

S

Advertising: Ph: (07) 3387 0800 Fax: (07) 3387 0801 Copy and materials should be sent direct to: ads@fishingmonthly.com.au

SINCE 1987

96

ION

QUEENSLAND FISHING MONTHLY

82

A

LI

OCTOBER 2018

39

currently pushing for a ‘Net Free North’ after buying one of the last licences on the east coast of Cape York, this potentially will free another area from commercial netting the size of Tasmania.

Being good custodians of the resource will allow us continued usage and access to these areas.

What’s the best way to celebrate these steps in the right direction?

Display a show of strength on our national fishing day.

Gone Fishing Day is the 14th October. Check out the website and find an event near you (www. gonefishingday.org). But don’t be put off if there’s nothing near you – go fishing, take a pic, post it with #GFD2018 and tell the world about your day fishing. That’s the best way to celebrate our right to fish.

RA

8

10 14 58 72

35

plans developed to take advantage of increasing fish stocks, investing in new boat ramps, precincts and tourism opportunities.

• Local anglers have signed on to a Code of Practice that sets higher standards than Fisheries legislation.

• Four new fishing guides have set up shop in the area as a result of the improving opportunities.

• Sizes of both barra and threadfin are on the increase in the zone, and numbers of threadies are also up.

Barra recruitment has been limited through suboptimal breeding seasons. In short, it’s never been easier to catch a legal barra or threadfin in the zone.

• More people are visiting the area and this shows in the number of tagged fish recaptures coming from non-locals.

With conservation bodies such as WWF

AUST

SPECIAL FEATURES Exploring the northern Whitsundays Cape York hotting up this month NSW trout waters are open again Lucrative luderick

implementation of the three NFZs, the goal was to have better fishing experiences, more business based on recreational fishing, better and more robust fish stocks and the nurturing of the attitudes that the fish in the river are a community resource and the community should take an interest in how they are managed and used.

This becomes manifest in council policy and investment in recreational fishing infrastructure over and above what the state government contributes.

And I’m happy to say that the recreational fishing community, in partnership with local council in particular, are kicking goals on all fronts.

The Fitzroy River is the biggest NFZ and there’s some great stories coming from the area.

• Council has detailed

AT

REGULAR FEATURES Back to Basics 16 Camping and 4WD 66 Cooking 74 Dam Levels 60 Freshwater 60 Fun Page 94 Sheik of the Creek 77 Suntag 84 Tech Tricks 18 Tournament News 78 Track my fish 86 Trades and Services 92 What’s New Boating 98 What’s New Fishing 88

NET FREE ZONES A SHINING LIGHT During September the third Recreational Fishing Forum (I call it a Net Free Zone workshop) happened in Rockhampton.

I’ve been to previous workshops but couldn’t make this year’s. The Workshop is an annual get-together of around 40 government representatives (state and local), anglers, scientists and community monitors to get up to speed on how the recreational fishing community is progressing in being the custodians of the gift of some waterways without nets.

Increasingly, the story of the Net Free Zones is a very positive one for recreational fishing and our abilities to do the right thing with the resource.

At the time of the

CI

95

From the Editor’s Desk...

N

O

BOATING AND KAYAK

31

CT

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 50 Ayr 51 Townsville 53 Hinchinbrook 52 Cairns 54 Cairns NFZ 54 Port Douglas 55 Lucinda 55 Cape York 56 Cooktown 56 Weipa 57

22

TE

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 42 Rainbow Beach 44 Bundaberg 44 Lake Monduran 44 Gladstone 45 Rockhampton 46 Stanage Bay 46 Yeppoon 48 Mackay 49

20

PRO

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 24 Southern Gold Coast 26 Jumpinpin 28 Gold Coast Canals 27 Gold Coast 30 Southern Bay 32 Brisbane 34 Brisbane Offshore 36 Northern Bay 38 Noosa 39

10

FI

SH

ING TRADE

AS

S

QUALITY LEADER QUALITY FISH!

Paul Lennon, 12lb Tough Fluorocarbon

Lee Rayner, 300lb Tough Trace

Adam Cavanagh (Cavy), 80lb Tough Trace

NEW PINK LEADER “Disappearing” pink leaders are popular with many anglers.

Our Pink Shock & Pink Deception leaders provide the same high quality perfomance seen in our Tough and Supple trace, while offering a great alternative to pink fluorocarbon.

Low Visibility - pink is considered less visible in certain water conditions e.g. murky or deeper water High Abrasion Resistance, Shock Absorption & Knot Strength Low Diameter More Metres Per Spool (than most brands) PINK SHOCK LEADER: 20lb, 40lb, 60lb, 80lb & 100lb PINK DECEPTION: 4lb, 6lb, 8lb, 10lb & 12lb

Follow @blackmagictackle on Facebook and Instagram to see the latest catches and enter in our competitions.

Cowan Wise, 80lb Supple Trace

the best by test...

www.blackmagictackle.com

Exploring the northern Whitsundays region WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

Nestled away, a little over 40km north of Airlie Beach and out on the end of Cape Gloucester, is a little piece of unpressured angling and holidaying paradise that up until recently had only been discovered and used by the more astute travellers.

across a little biased here, but I believe that our local beaches are truly stunning and you don’t have to look real hard to find one to yourself.

These two little towns are also the primary access points to the fish rich waters of the Gloucester Islands National Park, which is within the boundaries of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Hydeaway Bay hosts

Land-based fishing is a popular pastime locally, and why wouldn’t it be with back drops like this.

I am talking about the beautiful sheltered little seaside hamlets of Dingo Beach, Hydeaway Bay and the surrounding area.

These two little townships have been established on the shores of some of the most picturesque and accessible beaches in North Queensland. I might come

a permanent population of just under 400 residents and Dingo Beach has about 600 permanent residents, so when you get here you won’t have to worry about any form of hustle and bustle in the form of traffic lights, traffic jams, hawkers peddling souvenirs, or any other form of tourism hype. You’ll find the locals

friendly, hospitable, down to earth and happy to provide visitors with any kind of information or assistance.

GETTING HERE Although our little pocket of paradise is small and tucked away, access is easy. If travelling by road up and down this great state of ours there is a well signed turn off on the Bruce Highway approximately 12km north of Proserpine.

From there it’s only a 28km drive on a fully sealed road.

For those who don’t have the time or the inclination to drive here, the Whitsunday Coast airport receives flights from all major east coast cities on a daily basis. Once on the ground at the Whitsunday Coast airport there are plenty of rental car options available. Once in your car, travel about 10 mins north to the pretty little rural support town of Proserpine, pick up any necessary supplies, and get back on the road again.

From there it’s only 45 mins travelling time before you are here in paradise central.

ACCOMMODATION AND SERVICES For such a small and unpopulated area you’ll be surprised at how many accommodation options we have to cater for visiting anglers. From renting beachfront mansions to simply throwing your swag on the ground at the Hydeaway Bay caravan park, there is something here for everyone’s style, taste and budget.

CAPE GLOUCESTER BEACH RESORT Located 5 minutes through Hydeaway Bay and out on the end of Cape Gloucester is one of the prettiest resorts that you’ll ever visit. The resort is located on the northern

Late afternoon on the beach. side of the headland and as such is sheltered from the prevailing southeast trade winds. This provides a great anchorage for visiting anglers to leave their boats safely while on shore in the evenings. There is also a private beach ramp reserved for houseguests to use.

In the resort there is a choice of ten different accommodation units varying from basic motel style units through to fully equipped beachfront bungalows. The resort is also home to the popular Oar Bar and Restaurant. The meals here are reasonably priced and delicious, the cocktails flow freely and the outlook is to die for. This is also (as

this cool little pub is the region’s primary watering hole for visitors and locals alike. Attached to the pub there are 10 reasonably priced accommodation units and a bistro, which is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

If you want to know what’s biting and where, make sure you drop in for a beer in the afternoons and say g’day to the locals. A lot of us like to gather together there in the arvo, enjoy a coldy and have a chat. The afternoon conversations are normally centred on who’s been fishing where today, what was caught and who’s going where tomorrow. The food is not bad either. I

park with plenty of powered and unpowered sites. The laundry and amenity blocks are clean, well-presented and serviced regularly. There is also a well-stocked kiosk at the entrance to the park that is open to the public. It’s only a five minute drive to the boat ramp, or if going for a stroll along the beach is your thing, it’s only 150m up the road.

DINGO BEACH STORE Positioned right next to the pub and setup in true small town style, the Dingo Beach Store is one of the central hubs of the community. Not only can you get basic grocery supplies, you can fuel your boat, it’s the post office,

The inshore grounds are so user-friendly that even the kids can get out and smack a couple of nice fish.

HALF MOON

You’ll look like a Maverick in Costa’s Half Moon sunglasses, a West Coast inspired beach style that rides the mystique of epic ocean swells.

BLUE MIRROR: Best for bright, full-sun situations on the open water and offshore.

• Gray Base • 10% light transmission

10

OCTOBER 2018

OPTIMAL USE: • Boating and fishing in deep water • Open reflective water • Harsh sun

far as I am aware) one of the only three places on the east coast where you can relax and enjoy while watching a sunset over the water. Even if you choose not to stay here, make sure you stop in for a visit.

DINGO BEACH HOTEL AND UNITS Located right on the foreshore at Dingo Beach, and only 100m from the local public boat ramp,

would recommend you try wrapping your fangs around a Dingo Burger.

HYDEAWAY BAY CARAVAN PARK This neat park is positioned on the right hand side of the road just as you enter the town limits of Hydeaway Bay. This park is void of any water parks and associated amusement rides.

What you get here is a quiet, simple, clean and neat van

tackle shop, bait supplier, newsagent and it’s also got a good café and coffee shop.

Make sure you drop in and say g’day to the proprietors Murray and Linda and enjoy some good old-fashioned country hospitality. They make a great coffee and the all-day breakfast isn’t too shabby either.

AIR BNB Something that has become extremely popular

out here in recent years is the amount of local properties that are listed on stayz. com and homeandaway. com. There are properties listed on these sites to suit everyone’s taste and budget.

BOAT RAMPS, ANCHORAGES AND MOORINGS Some of the private holiday rentals have private boat ramps or beach access areas for visitors to utilise

When you’ve got inshore grounds that consistently produce fish like this, it is no wonder I spend so much time hunting close to home.

From well-presented and maintained fibro fishing huts at Dingo beach and Sunset Beach to some more luxurious family homes at Hydeaway Bay and the pinnacle of them all is Heavens Gate located on the northern shores of Cape Gloucester. You can get yourself a property right on the beach or up on the hillside with a fantastic view. From small cabins to mansions, there is something for everyone here.

and Cape Gloucester Beach Resort has a private boat ramp for houseguests. In general though the only public ramp is located at Dingo Beach. There is ample parking, an amenity block, kid’s playground and free gas powered BBQ areas as well.

The ramp is sheltered from the prevailing southeast trade winds and is usable in most weather conditions with the exception of northerlies, which thankfully

we don’t see a lot of. This is a tide affected ramp, so be prepared to work around the tides when launching and retrieving your boat.

For those who wish to travel here in larger non-trailerable vessels there are plenty of options for you.

As previously stated this region is largely sheltered from the prevailing winds, so there are safe havens everywhere. There are also deep water moorings available for use off Cape Gloucester Resort. Please contact Cape Gloucester Resort on arrival for the use of these moorings.

THE FISHING Right, I know this is the bit that you all really want to know about, so let’s get into it. I’ll break this portion of the article down into the

various regions that we have available for you to enjoy a fish in.

Inshore reefs and inner islands I spend so much time on this country, as there is barely a tropical sports or table fish that can’t be found in these areas. I’ve even cast lures at big bull mahimahi patrolling 20m off mainland beaches. That’s not something that you can do everywhere!

Passage Islet, the inner end of Gloucester Island, Manta Ray Island, Saddleback Island and all the various mainland headlands and bays are all within easy reach for small boat anglers and are in sheltered waters.

The fringing reefs, which encase all these areas, are plentiful with coral trout,

When the bait moves inshore so do the pelagics and when they do, it’s light tackle paradise.

Local guru Grant Spees with a typical Miralda Creek barramundi. sweetlip, black spot tuskfish and plenty of other yummy shallow water reef dwellers.

In particular around the change of seasons, we can get vast bait schools move in onto this country and in with them come the pelagics.

XOS golden trevally, giant trevally, various species of mackerel, queenfish and tunas are all the norm when these bait schools are around. Most of this fishing can be enjoyed in relatively shallow water, with little current to deal with and no swell trying to throw you out of the boat. When it blows 25+ knots I’m still out on the water in these areas with boatloads of passengers. No one is scared, uncomfortable or wet and they still catch plenty of fish.

Outer Islands Middle Island, the outer end of Gloucester Island and Rattray Island are all within 30 mins boat ride from the mainland. As they are a little more exposed to the elements reasonable weather is required before venturing out there. I do fish out in these areas all year round, but winter is definitely the time of year that I spend most of my time in this region. If the Spanish mackerel are going to be around, this is where they’ll be and in amongst them there can be some cracking giant trevally as well. As the Spanish mackerel depart our backyard at the end of winter we can get lucky To page 12

BOAT HIRE HOLIDAYS AFLOAT

• SELF DRIVE/ SKIPPERED • HOLIDAYS • FISHING • SCENIC DAY TRIPS • KAYAKS PHONE

0417 717 781

www.moretonbayholidaysafloat.com OCTOBER 2018

11

From page 11

and see a few billfish turn up. If they do, this is where they will be.

coral reef so all the usual reef inhabitants can be found out there as well. Out around the outer edges of

the culprits that can be found. I love tangling with big reefies hooked down deep; it’s a slug fest.

Micro jigging is such a successful ploy when hunting for deep reefies.

The tide generally runs a lot harder at the outer edges of the islands, which creates good pressure lines running off the points. Right on these pressure lines or somewhere just adjacent to them is where the big pelagics can normally be found.

The pelagics aren’t the only critters to be found out here: these islands are all surrounded by fringing

NEW

WEBSITE 12

OCTOBER 2018

the islands, in particular Rattray and Gloucester Islands, there are some really nice patches of deep reef, rubble and fern. Most of these patches are in the 30-40m mark. You’ll catch fish on this country all year round, but I have more regular success in the cooler months. Big black jew, grunter, nannygai and golden snapper are among

For more information please visit

The shoals and the outer reef Unless the weather is absolutely perfect this is not the domain for small inshore boats. Mid to largesized boats are ideal, but weather conditions need to be assessed first and vessels need to be in good sea-worthy condition, as it is a long way out to the shoals and even further to

the reef. If you get into strife out there be prepared to wait a while for assistance.

Both Bowen and Airlie Beach do have VMR and it would be prudent to check in with them first before venturing out.

Another safety concern to be aware of out there is that a lot of the juiciest country is slap bang in the middle of the shipping channel, so keep a vigilant eye out for big chunks of steel belting along at a great rate.

The outer reef needs no introduction from me, as it’s well known what can be found out there. I will however rattle on quickly about a vast amount of area that extends from just outside the outer edges of the islands, across the shipping channel and all the way out to the inner edge of the Great Barrier Reef. This region we refer to locally as The Shoals.

The fishing out on the shoals can be sensational and I often hear stories of anglers getting their bag limits in an hour or so. If you desire to catch a couple of huge red emperor or largemouth nannygai than this is the place to be. The average depth of water out on the shoals is around 50-55m and the current can be fierce.

Drift fishing is normally the go, unless you’ve got a lot of

ground tackle and conditions are absolutely perfect, otherwise trying to anchor will only do your head in.

A lot of the locals prefer to fish this country in the evening but I’ve had some ripper sessions out there during the day as well. A little personal tip from me – the last couple of trips that I’ve had out there micro jigs have out-fished bait two to one no worries at all.

Estuaries Along the backside of Edgecumbe Bay stretching from Sinclair Bay in the south all the way up to the southern shores of Bowen in the north there are multiple systems

to go exploring in. The three closest systems to Hydeaway Bay are the ones that locals use the most. The first is Miralda Creek, the entrance is located at the rear of Sinclair Bay. The second is the Gregory River of which the mouth is just a couple nautical miles to the north and Billys Creek that can be found on the northern side of the Gregory.

They are all productive systems and all produce good barramundi, mangrove jack, grunter salmon and flathead plus crabs and prawns. Although they are all basically right next to each other they are quite different.

The only thing that they have

When the big pelagics get up into the shallows, there is plenty of fun for all. This is Jake after he hooked, fought and boated this beast of a Spanish mackerel in just 3m of water.

WWW.WILSONFISHING.COM

in common is that they all spill out at the mouths onto massive flats systems. These flats systems can be highly productive as well but they do put tidal restrictions on when you can get in and out of the creeks.

Miralda Creek is a very small system with only short navigable waterways, but it is not to be underestimated as the fishing in there can be intense. If the prawns are running then Miralda Creek or in the back of Sinclair Bay are the places to be.

Gregory River is a long winding river with only limited side tributaries running into it and winds its way all the way back into the ranges just to the north of Airlie Beach. Billys Creek is different again. Once inside the mouth of Billys it’s like being in an endless labyrinth of islands, channels and side creeks. You’ll need more than one holiday to have a good explore around in there, that’s for sure.

Land-based If you like to go for long strolls along an endless array of beautiful sandy beaches and bays, poking your nose into rock pools, casting around mangroves, collecting shells or eating fresh oysters than our backyard is the place for you.

During the cooler

Redfisher Price from

18

$49,950 plus engine.

Winter is the time to get out on the deep rubble patches when good black jew are commonplace. months is when the fishing is usually the most consistently productive. Nelly Bay, Dingo Beach and Hydeaway Bay are all well known flathead haunts. Hydeaway Bay and the beaches along the northern shores of Cape Gloucester hold scores of whiting and the same beaches in the Cape Gloucester area can put on some great daytime squid fishing as well. If you’re going to have a crack at catching some squid, once you’ve caught one don’t depart that area until you’ve investigated it thoroughly as they are very rarely alone.

The warmer months can produce some good shorebased fishing as well, but you’ll have to hunt a little harder. I prefer to go on the top of the tide and target the

points or areas where there are a few mangroves. Time it right and you might come up with a nice spangled emperor, some sweetlip, or if you’re really lucky you might get a nice land-based coral trout. I like to use small soft plastics for a lot of this style of fishing so that I can keep moving around looking for the best concentrations of fish.

Dingo Beach, Hydeaway Bay and the whole Cape Gloucester region is a family friendly area with something for everybody to enjoy.

It’s safe, user friendly and affordable for all. It is simply one of the most stunning places you’ll ever visit and/or wet a line and as I tell clients on Reel Addiction every day, our backyard is the shiniest jewel in the Whitsunday crown.

A D V E R T O R I A L

“If you are a tournament fly angler then you already know about

the legendry Bob Hewes and his invention called the “flats boat”.

Stop reading! This ad is not for you!”

If you are a tournament lure caster making your living on the pro circuit you

too will know Hewes Boats have been top dog in your game for six decades.

Stop reading. Not for you either!

If

you

were

raised

in

South

East

Queensland or NSW and fished the Pin,

The Hewes Redfisher 16 and 18 are

the Northern Rivers with live worms,

both perfection when it comes to bait, lure

yabbies, prawns, soldier crabs and poddy

and flyfishing in Australian estuarys, bays,

mullet with Alvey reels keep reading.

impoundments and nearshore grounds

These words are for you! You may not

for

have heard about Hewes Boats. If you

jewfish, bass, barra, spotties, snapper,

have, you could be forgiven for believing

trout etc. Hewes’ 60 years of obsession

they are boats used only by flyfishing

in deleloping a shallow water stealth

guides and elite tournament types.

weapon called “Redfisher” will give you

Nothing could be further from the truth.

a huge advantage; if you own one. “Why

The Hewes flats boats are mostly

buy someone else’s experiment when you

bream,

flathead,

tailor,

can invest in a Hewes”

Redfisher 16 from $39,950, plus engine.

Log on to skiffsaustralia.com or hewes.com for the full story.

SKIFFS AUSTRALIA 0420 494 047 7days, 7am-7pm

BREAM to BILLFISH - ESTUARY TO OFFSHORE!

2005 Redfishers and Bonefishers – we were blown away by the performance of these boats!

These boats performed brilliantly in local conditions, so the only thing left to do was test them on Aussie waters. We embarked on an adventure safari to Hervey Bay, the Great Barrier Reef and Arnhem Land. The boats were brilliant, and we haven’t looked back since!

Over the years, they have never failed to impress. Unlike other imported boat brands, Hewes Boats don’t need to be ‘modified’ for Aussie conditions. They have it all. – Naish, Skiffs Australia.

whiting,

16

Hewes are ready-made

The name Hewes is an icon among sportsfishing boat brands. This highly soughtafter brand comes from a long pedigree of quality and manufacturing confidence in the USA, but how are they suited to our Australian waters?

I had read about legendary boat builder Bob Hewes but had not seen any of his boats. While visiting the US in the mid-1980s, I was keen to test drive this boat to see if it matched up with its Australian counterparts.

We headed to Key Largo to fish for permit and bonefish with guides in their Hewes

bait wells.

Caloundra, Harvey Bay, The Goldie and

owned by anglers who fish with bait.

for Aussie waters

That’s why all models have abundant live

An affordable boat that does it all without compromise. Economical with an F115, it’s perfection on water chasing barra up a sandy creek or targeting billfish in bluewater.

WELCOME TO 20.5 FEET OF GREAT POSSIBILITIES

Price from

$59,800 plus engine.

Designed in every way to maximize opportunity and minimize hassle, the new Pathfinder 2005 fits big bay boat performance in a manageable package. A higher exterior freeboard, a roomy cockpit, and 16 degrees of deadrise make running and fishing in big water safe and comfortable.

For more information visit: pathfinderboats.com OCTOBER 2018

13

Cape York hotting up this month BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Cape York is Queensland’s premier fishing destination, and October is a time of transition up there. The barra season closes early in the month, but that’s okay because it means fewer

subside. It’s a big relief for the guides this year, who have been hammered with sometimes disheartening weather conditions for the past five months.

The best thing about October though is that as the water warms, the fishing hots up as well.

PREPARATION PAYS I visit the Cape in late

Crabs are on the menu at the Cape, of course! people in the camping areas, and there are still plenty of other fish to catch.

This is the time of year when daytime temperatures start to rise, and the strong southeasterlies finally

winter or spring each year, and it always takes some planning. The same is true for any angler visiting the area, whether you’re driving there or flying into Weipa and using a hire vehicle.

This year’s fishing was particularly good, and definitely made all the preparation worth the effort.

“What kind of preparation?” I hear you ask.

First of all, you need to understand that in places with the best fishing, there’s often no local infrastructure.

That means if you discover you don’t have a necessary item, too bad, so sad.

Granted, on the west side of the Cape (where I mainly fish) Weipa is a very useful hub, and has most of what you might need. Just remember that on Sunday a lot of doors are closed, with only a service station and baker open for business.

With that in mind, the first step before your trip is to ensure that all spares are packed and contingencies considered. If you’re towing a boat to the Cape, pack a pair of spare tyres plus a spare hub and bearings, even a spring set for the trailer, as many people do.

Guarding an outboard engine against dust intrusion might require a bit of cling wrap under the cowling, but that’s pretty easy.

Finally, remember that phone coverage is poor or non-existent.

UPGRADE TACKLE Tackle should be based around strong gear that can handle a hiding. The next metal slice that winds up in a shark that has eaten your hooked fish won’t be the last. You’ll want to bring plenty of lures and plastics with jigheads to cover a range of options, along with lots of leader, and a spare spool or two of top-up braid.

Fishing from the shore can involve working along sandy beaches, creek mouths or rocks, so you’ll need a robust reel that can handle rough times. I used a 4500 Daiwa Saltist last trip and loved the line capacity and the really quick retrieve.

Fly anglers could rely on a strong 8wt outfit set up for beach fishing with an intermediate sink rate line, able to take care of virtually anything that likes a fly. Fly choices are best kept plain and simple, with white Clousers for fast moving fish, and crab imitations are perfect for fish that search deeper for their tucker, such as trevally and grunter. The interesting Toad fly (originally conceived for tarpon) is another excellent bottom bouncing fly.

How sweet it is: late afternoon, calm water, and a fish on. but the great advantage of driving is that you can bring all the gear (or just about all) that’s needed to make a trip successful. That said, if you don’t have the time to drive, it’s possible to trim things to the bone, fly into Weipa and use it as a handy base. My wife and I get by with a bag (each) holding our clothing, a small tent, air mats, rod tubes, and an icebox stuffed

Quality Aluminium Boats for Every Lifestyle

30 plus Years Experience with Boat Building, Fabrication & Repairs Quality, Fully Welded Alloy Boats from 2.4m - 6m

www.aquamaster.com.au

Contact your Local Aquamaster dealer Australian Marine Centre 3491 Pacific Highway, Slacks Creek 3808 7333 www.amcboats.com.au 14

OCTOBER 2018

When the water is discoloured it pays to move after each cast.

CAMPING IS A TREAT Camping on the Cape is a highlight in my life, and it will be yours too once you have experienced it. There’s always a bit of shade to enjoy during the day, and at night there will be a sky full of stars, a cooling breeze and the sound of water lapping the shore. It’s best to forget the swag as it’s just too hot to sleep in, and takes up a lot of room. You’re better off bringing a small tent that lets plenty of air through the mesh, but keeps the buzzing biters on the outside where they belong.

There’s a fair amount of freshwater on the Cape, but bringing good reserves of water with you makes sense when you’re camping off the beaten track.

DRIVE OR FLY? Weipa is a fair drive from Southern Queensland,

with breakables and cooking utensils. Anything extra we simply buy in town.

Weipa’s camping ground is right next to the main shopping mall, and you can catch fish right at the back of the camp grounds. On

our first fly-in trip, my wife caught an 82cm barra at the small rock area visible to the east of the camping ground at low tide. Fish for tea on the first night – how good is that! It was particularly good because we had arrived on a Sunday afternoon and the shops were closed! Tandaco fish coating goes everywhere we fish, and I had some in the ice box with the reels.

On the southern outskirts of town, and out Evans Landing way, the boat ramp and nearby beach areas are also handy places to fish.

The boat ramps at Weipa are special, because as boats launch and engines kick into gear the small baitfish are pushed away from cover and the queenfish hammer them.

Great sportfishing fun right at your feet.

SHORE-BASED FISHING Shore-based fishing is our thing these days, and when you’re fishing around the town proper you can haunt three boat ramps – Andoom Creek, Rocky Point and aforementioned Evans Landing. All of them allow easy and safe fishing for species such as grunter, queenies, and trevally.

Plastics are a good option in these easily-managed sessions where long casts are not required. All you need is the ability to hang on to

The author’s wife Denise with a great tarpon for Australian waters.

the rod when a fish hits.

One Saturday morning as I arrived at the ramp at Rocky Point I saw two primary school aged lads pushing a baby pram along with two fishing rods, plus a metre barra flapping in it! That’s

were so many great places to fish that the effort involved in getting to them was soon forgotten. Just remember that permits are required to fish certain areas, as many of these locations are under the jurisdiction of traditional

location is, you need to be aware of crocs. Wading deep and remaining in the one spot for a while is foolish, as is camping too close to the water at night. That said, if an area of beach has clear enough water to see out at least 30m or so – and this will be the case in many areas – some wading about is fine as long as you keep your eyes peeled. Obviously if you spot a croc watching you, even if it’s some distance out, it’s time to move right away from the area.

From the beaches you can lighten up your tackle somewhat and have some real fun with grunter, queenfish, tarpon, giant herring, golden trevally and other trevally

species. All of these fish are tremendous fun on light spin or fly tackle.

If there are rocks in the area you should never overlook the chance to jag a jack or bump into a barra.

Naturally, this means your terminal tippets must be strong enough to withstand teeth and sharp gill rakers. In rocky areas plastics are hard to beat for barra, especially the snag-free Zereks and the like.

All in all, the thing I really love about fishing the Cape is that there are so many opportunities to take a decent fish that it’s hard to go fishless. That said, ample preparation will make a good trip much better.

Denise Kampe gives a queenie the butt. one memory that will stay with me forever.

On our last trip we moved afield to more distant destinations, which involved several days camping which added to the excitement. Mosquitos at night were as atrocious as ever, so mosquito coils and DEET-based repellent were essential.

On the upside, there

owners. We are privileged to be able to fish many such areas, and a permit is a small price to pay for such an amazing experience. The visitor’s centre in town can provide information on both access and permits for a lot of great destinations. Goodwill costs little, in my view.

STAY ON THE BALL Just remember that no matter how tempting a

Steve Shephard with a fabulous shore-caught barra.

A neat mackerel taken from the shore by Adam James.

OCTOBER 2018

15

Starlo’s five-step plan to catch more fish NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

We’d all love to be able to catch more fish, so here’s a very simple recipe intended to help you do exactly that!

During the hectic ‘show season’ this past winter I made public presentations on various fishing-related topics at a range of boat and 4WD expos in the eastern states.

One of the subjects I covered was simply entitled “How To Catch More Fish”, and it seemed to strike a chord with a lot of people.

As part of this presentation, I introduced my ‘Five-Step Plan’, a bit of a tongue-in-cheek reference to the famous 12-step plan advocated by Alcoholics’ Anonymous. No, I didn’t kick off by having people stand up and say “Hi, my name is Steve

sinkers, jigheads or lures.

There’s a lot more to the essence of finesse fishing than just those three basic aspects, but they make a great starting point. Try it. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

USE THE BEST BAITS Whether you’re fishing in salt or freshwater, going to the trouble of sourcing the very best baits available (or closely imitating those natural baits with your lures or flies) invariably improves catch rates. Typically, those best baits are locally-sourced and either fresh or (better still) alive. Often, this means you’ll have to catch or gather your own bait rather than relying on buying it, but trust me, the extra effort pays off in spades.

GAIN KNOWLEDGE There’s an old saying that you never stop learning, and this is especially true in fishing. I’ve been doing it for more than half a century and

about identifying ‘edges’ and then presenting your baits, lures or flies along them.

These edges take a multitude of forms, from obvious ones like the shoreline, the surface and the seabed to the interface between the water and solid

You really can’t beat local bait presented alive and kicking — in fresh or saltwater!

I still learn something new every single time I spend a day on the water! When I was a younger bloke, a lot of this knowledge came from books, magazines, videos and later DVDs. Today, more and more of it is sourced online, via the Internet. From studying aerial imagery of locations on Google Earth to following weather and ocean currents, reading forums and blogs or watching YouTube clips, there is a wealth of knowledge out there. Social media also

You’re never too old, nor too young, to learn new tricks in fishing. Knowledge is power!

Gathering your own bait from local waterways and using it fresh or alive is one way to ensure better fishing results. and I haven’t caught a fish in my last four trips” or anything like that (although, come to think of it, that’s not a bad idea!). Instead, I attempted to distil what I see as the absolute core ingredients of consistent angling success down to just five key points. Here they are.

GO LIGHT Most people know I’m a huge fan of ‘finesse’ fishing.

No matter where you wet a line or what species of fish you chase, you can almost always improve your hook-up rate by dropping the diameter of your main line and leader, and choosing smaller, lighter

Going even a little lighter in your line, leader and sinker will generally produce more bites and hook ups.

Having a game plan and keeping a cool head are vital keys to landing fish.

plays its part, although you do need to be a little choosy about which bits you pay attention to!

FISH THE EDGES Finding fish within specific scenarios is very often

structural elements such as snags, rocks and pylons, on to more subtle edges such as colour changes, current breaks, shadows, temperature demarcations and bubble lines. Edges are almost always

CHECK THE HOME PAGE FOR WEEKLY SPECIALS

FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING *For orders over $125.00 (conditions apply)

ALL THE BEST BRANDS & PRICES AUSTRALIA WIDE!!

Visit www.anglerswarehouse.com.au 16

OCTOBER 2018

where the action is. Work them thoroughly and you’ll hook more fish!

LAND THEM! Hooking more fish is one thing, but to actually increase catch rates, you also need to land more and lose less.

That involves being prepared, setting your drag, tying strong knots and having a game plan nutted out in your head for dealing with that whopper when it comes along. Keeping your cool and not panicking when you hook a monster is absolutely critical. So is having the right ‘landing gear’ on hand in the way of nets, gaffs, lip grippers, gloves, long-nosed pliers and so on, and knowing how to use them.

This aspect of fishing success is far too often overlooked.

IT’S SIMPLE So there you go, five relatively simple, straightforward steps that I guarantee will result in you landing more fish. Are you going to join with me in pledging to apply them every time you go fishing this season?

GIFT

CARDS vailable A

Phone orders welcome: (07)

5536 3822

OCTOBER 2018

17

Tech Tricks

Quickie wind-on leader BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

For anglers into game fishing and sport fishing, wind-on leaders are a very handy piece of terminal tackle. As the name suggests, a windon-leader can be wound through the guides and onto the reel because the join between the double of your main line and the heavy leader material is low profile.

A loop is spliced onto the leader material using Dacron or hollow core braid.

This loop is then attached to the main line double with a loop-to-loop connection. If you don’t wish to purchase pre-made wind-on leaders they can be made using one of several methods, the best being the double-wall method. However a quicker, less-complicated method exists that is ideal for lighter leaders up to 200lb.

This method is as strong as the more complicated double-wall method, but

2

the uni knot can get a little bulky when using Dacron larger than 80lb, therefore we mainly use it for lighter leaders. For heavier leaders you are best using the double-wall method, which is lower profiled and will track through the guides or rollers better. Hollowcore braid can also be used instead of Dacron, although this is rather expensive and harder to acquire. For leaders up to 60lb you are best to use 30lb Dacron, for 80-120lb leaders try 50lb Dacron and for 150-200lb wind-ons use 80lb Dacron.

However, diameters between different brands of Dacron and monofilament lines can vary so you may need to experiment to get the best splicing combination. Let’s see how the quickie wind-on leader is made.

1

STEP 1 To make a quickie wind-on leader you will need a few specific items. At least 70cm of Dacron (using 50lb for this one), some 80lb monofilament (I make my leaders around 3m in length), light high-tensile wire, a piece of 40-80 grit sandpaper, a fly tying bobbin, flat-waxed nylon thread, light flexible glue, pliobond, headset, vinyl cement soft dip and a Dacron (pipe) needle. These needles come in an array of sizes and the one I use is an 80-100lb model. The needle is not a necessity to make this leader but will more than half the time it takes to thread the monofilament up the Dacron.

Specialist tackle stores should have the needle and all other equipment for this project.

3

STEP 2 Fold the sandpaper over the end of the leader between thumb and forefinger and pull the leader in short jerky movements to lightly roughen areas of the leader surface of the last 10-15cm. Cut the end on an angle and insert into the end of your needle.

If it is slightly loose then pinch the leader lightly between your teeth a few millimetres in from the end until the leader will hold firmly into the needle.

STEP 3 Insert the pointed end of the needle into the end of the Dacron and insert it 12-15cm through the middle. Push the needle point out the side of the Dacron as shown.

6

5

STEP 5 Cut off approximately 8cm of thread and set aside for later. Next we need to bind over the end of the Dacron to prevent it from fraying further. Knot the thread around the Dacron and then secure the tag end against it with your finger. Spin the bobbin around the Dacron/mono, wrapping thread over the last centimetre (approximately) of the Dacron.

18

OCTOBER 2018

4

STEP 4 Drag the needle through the Dacron while gripping lightly up towards the exit point. The Dacron will bunch up slightly (which increases the diameter) and allow the roughened monofilament to pass through. Once the mono is dragged all the way through (as shown), pull the needle off the end of the leader. If you don’t have a needle then you will need to gradually work the monofilament up through the Dacron by hand.

7

STEP 6 Lay the loop of thread you cut off earlier against the thread wraps. Wrap over it 8-10 times and then cut away the thread, only leaving a few centimetres of tag end.

STEP 7 Pass the tag end through the loop and pull the two ends of the loop so that you drag the tag end of the thread under the wraps to secure it. Trim the tag end and then apply a little glue over the thread to prevent it from all unravelling if one strand were to become severed.

Tech Tricks

8

9

STEP 9 Push the tip of the wire tool through the sidewall of the Dacron about 1cm above the point where the end of the monofilament is inside the Dacron. Continue pushing it up through the centre of the Dacron to a distance of around 10-12cm.

STEP 8 Cut a 40cm length of your light, high-tensile wire. Fold it over in the middle and pinch with pliers so that it is a tight crease as shown. This will create a wire tool to make the Dacron attachment loop for the wind-on.

11 10

STEP 10 Poke the tip of the wire tool out the side of the Dacron and then pass the tag end of the Dacron through the loop in the wire tool.

12

STEP 12 Wrap the tag end of the Dacron around the main portion and tag end. Loop the Dacron approximately 5-6 times to make a sliding uni knot onto the main portion of Dacron.

STEP 11 Reverse the wire tool back out, dragging the tag end of the Dacron back through with it. Pull the tool and Dacron back out the entrance hole where we initially inserted the wire tool. Remove the tool. Loop over the Dacron as shown in preparation for making a uni knot.

13

STEP 13 Pull the tag end very tight to create as small a knot as possible. You can bind over this with some thread to lessen the bump of the knot through the guides and then glue, although this will not add any strength to your wind-on leader.

14

STEP 14 Add a quality ball-bearing snap swivel to the other end and your wind-on leader is complete.

The Dacron loop is then attached to the double of your main line with a simple loop-to-loop connection or cat’s paw connection. This quickie wind-on leader is fast to make, strong and functional for all your lighter tackle needs.

OCTOBER 2018

19

The FAD is starting to heat up YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Regular readers would have heard me say that October is my least favourite month of the year for offshore fishing.

But for the past two years I’ve been proven wrong.

So being the optimist that I am, I’m thinking that this October is going to be great.

Last season the first couple of weeks of October had some really nice snapper close to home. The closest reef from the river mouth is the North East Corner. This spot is about 6km east of Angourie and only about 8km from the bar. There is a fair bit of reef here, it’s around 50m deep on average and is the first bit of rock in that line south of Evans Head reef (some 30km to the north). I believe the reason

Russel and Garry with a snapper each. it fishes well this time of year is that it’s where the first of the northern current hit any substantial structure giving fish travelling with it a chance to stop off and feed. With the current

being pretty good most days I like to anchor on the fish and the old reliable paternoster rig is the preferred method for these reef fish. Regardless you should always run a

Craig with a beautiful Venus tuskfish.

very lightly-weighted float line out to pick up that big rogue snapper sitting 10m off the bottom.

Peter with a pearly.

Katrina from Grafton with a Maori cod.

The FAD should be starting to produce this month. We had the FAD moved out into 70m of water further south, almost between Sandon and Broom Head. Last year we had some really big mahimahi taken from the FAD in the first two weeks of October.

I know it can be daunting for some to have to travel 12nm out to the FAD with only the possibility that mahimahi are there or as with a lot of times, they are just too small, but the reef the FAD is on is very productive in October and November. You will find amazing plate-sized snapper and some huge blue spot flathead all around the FAD area.

From 500m to the north and 1km to the south is a good piece of reef made up of mostly broken rock and gravel that makes it hard to anchor, but easy to see the

All the best Yamba has to offer in the one place...

Dave Gaden’s Yamba Deep Sea

REEL TIME

WHALE

EASY PARKING

WatchinG

FISHING CHARTERS

OPEN 7 DAYS • 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req.

• Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings

Ph: (02) 6646 1994

Now Agents For

♦ In season June to October ♦ $80pp approximately 3hrs

Discounts for family or group bookings

Get up close and personal with one of the most amazing mammals in the world with

YAMBA WHALE WATCH

Phone: 0428 231 962 – Email: dave@gaden.com.au – www.fishingyamba.com.au 20

OCTOBER 2018

fish and easy to drift with next to no snags. There are times when this ground is absolutely covered in big trag, but you can bag out in an hour one day and not get anything the next.

The reef out in front of Broom Head in 40-50m should hold some nice pearl perch and venus tuskfish this month. I much prefer to drift when chasing pearlies, as they rarely shoal up enough to get good numbers on anchor, but instead seem to be spread out along the reef. Once you find your first fish you have it worked out, as they all seem to be in that depth and in the current line that you will drift over. Once again, the old Paternoster rig with a big sinker to keep you close to the bottom and the preferred bait would be squid or mullet fillet.

For those wanting to go wide the Nursery Ground about 19nm east-northeast in 50 fathoms will be the best ground this month.

A couple of the local professionals trap this ground, finding the traps doesn’t just tell you that you have found the reef but will give you a couple of big mahi mahi to add to your catch. You can drift for 2km at a time out here and catch just about everything that swims: snapper, pearlies,

morwong, pigfish, kingfish amberjack and more. They all live out here.

In the estuary with the lack of rain, as with most parts of the east coast, the water is very clear. This has pushed the fish all the way upstream to Grafton.

That top part of the river has been producing some nice fish. The deep holes around Brushgrove and Ulmarra are holding some really good dusky flathead.

Bobbing for them with a big ball sinker, about 500mm of trace and a well-presented white bait will have you bagging out in no time.

The bottom end of the river is very clearly holding some nice flounder and blue swimmer crabs. The crabs will only get better as the weather warms up so as always I’m very optimistic this will be a big year for the blue swimmers.

Best places to chase these tasty crustaceans are the sandbanks from Rabbit Island past the tavern and around the bend heading towards Oyster Channel bridge.

The Oyster Channel itself all the way to Lake Woolawayah will hold crabs as they head up into the lake as well as the northern side of Palmers Island opposite the Goodwood Island Wharf.

Dakoda with a mangrove jack that reached 37cm. It was caught on prawn at Benaraby near Gladstone.

Travis with a whopping mulloway.

EPIXOR XT

MORE BANG FOR

YOUR BUCK! Performance plus, stylish design, quality build and loaded with features, including 7BB+1RB stainless steel bearings. » TCA: TORSION CONTROL ARMOR REDUCES TWISTING

» CFR: CYCLONIC FLOW ROTOR TECHNOLOGY

» 7BB+1RB STAINLESS STEEL BEARINGS

» MACHINED ALUMINIUM, 2-TONE ANODISED SPOOL WITH LCS LIP

» MULTI-DISC, JAPANESE OILED FELT DRAG WASHERS » QUICK-SET ANTI-REVERSE BEARING

» PRECISION MACHINE CUT BRASS PINION GEAR

» SLOW OSCILLATION SYSTEM FOR IMPROVED LINE LAY » CORROSION RESISTANT GRAPHITE BODY AND ROTOR

» RIGID METAL HANDLE DESIGN FOR STRENGTH

» HEAVY DUTY SOLID ALUMINIUM BAIL WIRE » RESII: COMPUTER BALANCED ROTOR EQUALIZING SYSTEM

Check out the full product range at okuma.com.au OCTOBER 2018

21

Richmond River heating up this October BALLINA

Joe Allan

The lower reaches of the Richmond River should see some mud crabs fire up as the warmer weather brings them in. Emigrant and North creeks are the spots to start looking for these tasty guys. Best baits are blackfish frames and any mullet frames left over from your bait fishing trips.

Burns Point Ferry are some good places to start looking.

Big bright soft plastics with tails that disperse a good amount of water are key.

Over the flats around the town stretch of the river the whiting should start to come on the bite for those using surface lures.

Try targeting the shallow flats as the water moves up with the incoming tide.

The best lure to try is the Sugapen from Bassday, it’s my personal favourite.

Bassday Mogul Minnow is dynamite on sluggish flathead when up in the shallows. to become scarcer as the season progresses. You will pick up the odd big sea-run bream and flathead in the gutters as by-catch, and the big bream can really give you some stick on light gear.

The Aussie bass season is now open and in full swing. This is my favourite time to get out and chase these feisty fish. They will

won’t be that great for a little while yet.

On the offshore front, try getting far out to the edge of the shelf to chase some blue eye trevalla and bar cod. The best bait is cuttlefish. Cut the backbone out of the cuttlefish and use big strong circle hooks.

Electric reels are a must.

Close in reefs will still produce good snapper, although towards the end of the month they will start to move out to the 32 Fathom mark. This is where to look when you can get there

and when the tide allows you to fish it. The northeast winds that will start over the next few months will make it harder to fish the deeper reefs. As the water does warm the cobia and mahimahi should start to move to the close reefs.

Getting some live bait such as yakka and slimy mackerel and throwing these around the FAD is always a good start. Gamakatsu live bait hooks are the best to give these fish some curry.

Until next month, tight lines.

be on the move to the upper reaches of the creeks and river arms, however don’t overlook the main river stretches. The fish are always hungry this time of year after doing their business, so try big spinnerbaits and vibes. As the weather warms up and the bugs start to come out, the surface action will heat up, but probably

Liam Afflick with a snapper caught offshore from Byron Bay.

Topwater fishing will only improve over the coming months.

If you’re after a feed of flathead now is a great time to get out and get among them. The deep water right in front of the Porpoise Walls, the channel in front of the RSL Club and the deep hole upriver from the

22

OCTOBER 2018

Beaches are fishing well and the dart have started to come on nicely. The Gorilla Big Eye slugs are a great profile to use for these guys. You may still get the odd tailor off the beach but these will still start

The Atomic Shiner 60 is the perfect snack size crankbait for river dwelling bass.

A healthy Richmond River bass caught on an Atomic Metalz Blade.

AUSSIE FLW TOUR ANGLER CARL JOCUMSEN CHOOSES TO USE MOLIX LURES.

BIG GAME SHOCK LEADER

SIGLON PE offers a tightly woven braid with a very thin diameter for its breaking strain and minimal stretch. It is very easy to manage with a stiff yet ultrasmooth and round profile. PEx4 is made from 4 EX-PE fibers and is available in bright green.

FC SNIPER INVISIBLE

Available in 150m PE0.2 (3lb) to PE3 (50lb) 300m PE1 (16lb) to PE3 (50lb)

THE CONCEPT IS ZERO PRESENCE! Minimizes pressure on line-shy fish! Designed with colors that exist in the natural environment (e.g. weeds, rocks, trees).

High straight strength with good elongation (energy) at breaking point which gives the leader more shock resistance and less breakages.

100% Fluorocarbon line with double resin processing (DRP) it has outstanding performance in both straight and knot strength.

BIG GAME SHOCK LEADER is easy to manage and knot with triple resin processing (TRP) to improve slickness and abrasion resistance.

Available in 50m spools from 40lb to 330lb

SIGLON PEx4

Available in 75m spools from 2lb to 20lb with a colour rotation every 15m of: Natural Clear, Moss Green, Gray, Green, & Brown.

For the full Molix Lures and Sunline ranges please visit www.ejtodd.com.au

Summer species are now starting to wake up THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

This is the best time of year to fish the Tweed. A late winter and cold nights have seen winter species such as snapper, tuskfish, pearlies and spangled emperor hanging around longer this season on close reefs and has extended flathead season in the estuaries.

Warm days have raised the water temps and it seems to have brought out a few summer species and they are hungry after their little slumber. Mangrove jack and whiting are starting to wake and take advantage of fish fry

and bait schools, which are dominating the system. There are still plenty of winter species in the system at the moment and we have a nice overlap of seasonal species. Trevally, tailor, luderick and mulloway are still being caught.

OFFSHORE With the late winter the current slowly starting to pick up on wider reefs, anglers have to adjust. Still, some goodsized snapper, tuskies, pearlies and larger kings are out on the 24s to 50s. Anglers are now using heavier methods of fishing, such as jigs from 80-300g, octa jigs around 80-160g, double paternoster rigs and down-rigged live baits to find deeper fish. The odd

Andrew Strong with a nice cobia from the 36s.

The author with a 15kg mulloway caught off a close reef on a plastic. cobia, kings, snapper, spangled emperor and mulloway are up on closest reefs.

The isolated wrecks are fishing better for king cobia and mulloway with livies.

Dusk and dawn are still fishing best for these species.

Drift baits, plastics, micro jigs and stickbaits around the various bommies have been producing. Most anglers are going with 3-9” plastics rigged on a 1/4-2oz jigheads.

Bright plastics like pearl, nuclear chicken, lime tiger and chartreuse colour work best at dusk and dawn. Most anglers are quick to change to natural colours once the sun is up with colours like bloodworm, pumpkinseed, pilchard, red bone and pink working well.

KingFisher

If you think pink isn’t a natural colour, it actually becomes nearly transparent under UV light under water at depth. It’s a great colour to have in your kit at all times.

Some pelagic are starting to show up this month, but are still few and far between. The FAD, backside of 9 Mile, has produced the odd mahimahi, but of no real size yet. The odd marlin can be found out on the 24s and 36s. These species will thicken up with the current and the water temperature. You can also find the odd pack of tuna

Bridges are still fishing well at night for trevally, with live herring and artificials fishing well in this area. Try Boyds, Barneys, Cobaki, and highway bridges for best results. A few of these speedsters are working the rock walls in the river mouths on artificials of a morning during the run-in tide.

Flathead are still dominating the skinny water this month, with 2.5-5” plastics, vibes and blades fishing well.

Trolling hardbodies between spots will help you catch some larger models and increase your catch rate. Using 8-12lb leaders makes most battles with these flat fish very fun.

Baits, like yabbies and worms, are still catching some good flat fish and is a great way for the kids to get a good feed in the skinny water.

Luderick are still schooling up around most rock walls, bridges and pillars. With the lack of rain, cabbage weed is fishing better this month.

You can find cabbage weed on most rocks and rock walls on the beaches at low tide.

M AU AD ST E I RA N LIA

CANOPY

kingfishercanopy.com.au

♦ Independently collapsible front & back ♦ No Straps or struts front or back ♦ Top quality frame & materials ♦ Large coverage area

Lifetime Manufacturers

WARRANTY 02

6686 5116

www.kingfishercanopy.com.au 24

OCTOBER 2018

Luke Tapfer with a snapper that was just shy of the metre mark from the 50s. hanging between reef patches.

Look for birds working and pegging metals, poppers and plastics at the boiling water with light gear. This should see you onto some speedster fun.

ESTUARY The water is slowly starting to warm up and it’s bringing the summer species out of their slumber. They are starting to feed up on fish fry and bait schools in the estuary systems. Look for warmer shallow water around structure for the red dogs. Live baits and artificials fished during the day on the run-out tide and when water temps are at their highest seems to be catching the first of the season jacks.

Soaking small live bait, like 15cm poddies, while casting and slow rolling plastics over and around heavy structure will double your chances of an early season jack.

There have been a few mulloway and soapies in the systems over the last month.

Live baits at night and artificals during the day has been working best. Vibes, blades, hardbodies, plastics and even micro jigs are fishing well in the deeper holes and around the bridges that hold bait.

Bream are still schooling up. Looks for structure with current for the bigger ones.

Bait is the go if you’re after a feed, and artificials are the go for a bit of fun.

Whiting are starting to move back in to the skinny water.

Yabbies and worms are catching a good feed this month. Look for shallow rough bottom for best results.

BEACHES With westerly winds still dominating and the tailor starting to run back south, the southern beaches are still fishing well. Headlands and rock walls are fishing well with metals, popper and hardz

at dusk and dawn. However, the larger and deeper gutters are fishing well with whole pilchards of a night. Using berley, cubing and crushing pilchards at your feet will hold fish in the gutter in front of you and get the fussiest fish to bite. Try Fingal and Kingy beach, Caba, Hastings and around Black Rock for a good gutter of a night.

Some good smaller species are being taken on light gear in the skinny beach gutters on most beaches with plastics, small metals and baits, especially white bait, half pillies, small strip baits, worms, pipis and yabbies.

Casting into the washing waves and letting it fall into these skinny gutters is catching the better fish. Cast beach worms on Fingal, South Caba, and New Brighton beaches to see results.

FRESHWATER The fish kill a few months back at Clarrie Hall dam hasn’t affected the bass too much.

They are starting to wake up again now. Surface lures work at sunrise, but switching to vibes, crankbaits, hardbodies, spinner and jig spins once the sun is established works well.

The bass in the Uki stretch of Tweed are starting to wake up this month as well same surface lures at sunrise and mixed artificials are working better once the sun is up.

NEXT MONTH Summer species will come on the bite more over the next month. Wahoo, mahimahi and marlin will slowly start to visit our reefs.

The big snapper will move onto close reefs to feed up before they move on. Jacks will start to dominate the estuaries and mulloway will still haunt deeper holes in the systems. Flathead will still bite consistently through out the next month. Plastics and hardbodies will be the go. Whiting will start to push up in the skinny water on the making tides and sit in the channels on the eb tide more this month. Yabbies and worms will be the go.

Bass will start to turn on more as the month goes on. Look for shallow pools, drains and overhangs with surface lures at dusk and dawn. Then change to hardbodies in the deeper shaded pools once the sun is up.

Jake Lord with a solid longtail.

t a re

ll u H

G

A TOP PERFORMING SIDE CONSOLE

ta

a

p t a

e r g

The 5m Lotus hull can really move!

Even though the hull is rated to a maximum 115hp, the 70hp 4-stroke Suzuki enabled the hull to jump out of the water and on to the plane in under 2.5 seconds. Combine this with smooth acceleration to speeds of 50km/h and its ability to turn on a dime, and you have the ideal ride for a day out on the water.

The 5m Lotus provides great stability, no doubt thanks to the superb performance from its reverse chines. The sharp hull performs exceptionally well in local conditions and takes you anywhere you want to go quick.

LOTUS BOATS DELIVERS Lotus Boats specialises in 5m hulls, so they know how to do it well! Their experience of hull engineering and fabrication by highspecification low-cost manufacturing explains their well-earned reputation. They use first class materials and modern technology, and are able to get the boat to the customer direct, with no extra links in the supply chain. All this gives Lotus Boats the confidence to offer the best boat at the best price!

All hulls are fitted out at the Lotus Warehouse at Rivergate Centre, Murarrie, to customer specification. From wiring, to flooring, to seats, to carpet, to deck grips, etc… the end product is always of a very high quality and to specifications that is suited to the customer’s needs.

COSTS ARE KEPT LOW Customers can reach Lotus Boats online.

All boats are made available for test drive in Brisbane through the one location – the warehouse at the Rivergate Centre in Murarrie Brisbane.

A number of boats are on the floor at the warehouse at any one time, for immediate sale.

Or the Lotus team will assist in the building a boat from the base hull up.

Build you own boat from one of the off the shelf hulls for as little as $14,500. The buyer

! e ric SIDE CENTRE CONSOLE 500 Suzuki 70 HP - 4 stroke Length: 5.2 Beam: 2.25m Fuel Capacity: 80 litres • Solid, reinforced, deep V hull with reverse chine. • Full transom walk around with walk through door.

$27,850 Normal warehouse price: $29,850 Boat shown is a demo model for immediate sale.

GREAT PERFORMING HULL

CENTRE CONSOLE 500 has the freedom of ‘speccing up’ the hulls to their liking with the choice of size, colour, outboard, and some many other options. The Lotus 5m hull holds all Australian and CE compliances.

HULL MATERIALS The Lotus 5m hull has solid and strong specifications with press marine grade 5083 Alloy. The hull and transom are reinforced with longitudinal bracing the length of the hull and multiple cross bracing, which ensures a very strong hull. Floatation material is EPE, providing a ‘Basic Flotation’ classification, and peace of mind on the water.

The guys at Lotus Boats are passionate about boats and offer a superior finished product. Their philosophy: “It’s our belief that we can supply a good boat at the right price so more people can go boating”.

The only way to really know how good these boats are is to take one for a test drive – you will not be disappointed!

SPECIFICATIONS 500 Series of 5m base hulls Overall length: Beam: Hull Weight: Weight on trailer: Bottom: Sides: Transom: Max HP: Fuel Capacity: Capacity: Up to plane:

5.20m 2.15m 350kg 880kg 3mm 3mm 4mm 115hp 80L 5 persons 2.5 seconds

Suzuki 70 HP - 4 stroke Length: 5.2 Beam: 2.15m Fuel Capacity: 80 litres • Casting deck with storage • 3m deck grips • Carpet floor • Galvanised trailer with hydraulic brakes

$27,850 Normal warehouse price: $29,850 Boat shown is a demo model for immediate sale.

FANTASTIC FAMILY FISHING BOAT

CUDDY CABIN 500 Suzuki 70 HP - 4 stroke Length: 5.2 Beam: 2.25m Fuel Capacity: 80 litres • Solid, reinforced deep v hull with reverse chine • Metalic paint • Bait Board • Hydralic steeing • Internal storage • Carpeted floors • Galvanised trailer with hydraulic brakes

$36,850 Normal warehouse price: $38,850 Boat shown is a demo model for immediate sale.

A FISHING BOAT THAT MEETS ALL YOUR NEEDS

It’s simple - BOAT v BOAT comparison - it’s a no brainer - the price is exceptional and is so much lower than its competition - by a long, long way.

CENTRE CONSOLE 500 X

$36,850

Suzuki 100 HP - 4 stroke Length: 5.2 Beam: 2.15m Fuel Capacity: 80 litres • Solid, reinforced deep V hull with reverse chine • Metalic paint • Bait board • Hydraulic Normal warehouse price: $38,850 steering • Live Bait tank • Casting deck with storage • Hard TTop with rocket launchers Boat shown is a demo model for immediate sale.

All prices above include GST and are “sail away” prices and includes all on water and off water registration for 1 year.

0421 388 999 sales@lotusboats.com.au Test Drive Location: River Gate, Murarrie - Near Gateway Bridge

www.lotusboats.com.au

facebook: Lotus Boats

Instagram: #lotusalloyboats OCTOBER 2018

25

The mulloway are this-a-way SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

It has to be the best time of year to be on the water. I think I say that most months but for different reasons. But in October, that winter chill that Queenslanders don’t like is gone and the fishing is at its best for deep water fishing and surf beaches.

My tip for flathead fishing in spring and summer is to target the fish in the cool water. This can be done on an incoming tide or early morning run-out tide. During the warm days the water in the shallows warms by a degree or two and this is enough to put the flathead off the bite. This is why I wait for the cooler water from the ocean to enter the system on the incoming tide and that gets the flathead biting

them very slowly has been the best method.

Mulloway are always a good option in October for anglers fishing the deep water in the Tweed. Holes around the bar, Boyds Bay and close to the numerous rock walls are all great options. Changing tides and after dark will increase your chances, but so many get caught during the day on lures that I may have to reconsider my old methods and start doing a little daytime jigging myself. The gun lure in the Tweed seems to be the big Zerek Fish Trap but big soft plastics will also work well. Finding deep water that is around 6m or more is a good start but I also look for signs of scattered fish and bait.

I use my side scan to have a good look at what is in the hole before I decide where to fish. If there are pike, tailor or patches of mullet in the hole, the mulloway will be close by.

I usually chase them at night when they will come off the bottom to feed as it seems that they stick close to the bottom during the day.

For anglers new to the Tweed River, the deep holes are few and far between. My spots for fishing the deeper

sections of the Tweed are in front of Jack Evans Boat Harbour, the rock wall near the hospital, the southern entrance of Terranora Inlet, the eastern side of Ukerebagh Island and the downstream side of Barneys Point Bridge. All these locations are great holes for mulloway and good fishing locations in general. Fish the changing tide, especially near the mouth of the Tweed as the current there can be nasty.

Whiting, garfish, trevally and tailor are also all good options at the moment, so it’s a fantastic time of year to be fishing the estuary. Mangrove jack will also start to be more common as the water warms up as will crabs, so it’s a great time of year to get out and enjoy those warm mornings.

BEACHES The big tailor will begin to head south this month and that means lots of fish moving through Tweed and southern Gold Coast beaches.

Spinning metal slugs at first and last light as well as baits in the gutters at night is a great way to target them.

Bream move into the beaches in October with the flathead. It seems to be after these fish spawn in winter

Vass Georgiou landed this flathead by working the deep drop-off beside a weed bed.

RIVERS AND CREEKS The flathead numbers will be down for most anglers due to the fish moving throughout the estuaries instead of being concentrated as they are in September. They should have all spawned by now and are spreading back out through the rivers, creeks and canals.

Trolling lures and casting soft plastics is still a great way to target these fish as is live baits and drifting from a boat.

26

OCTOBER 2018

again. Another option on the outgoing tide is to look for deeper water that is often a lot cooler.

Bream seem to be a little irregular on the southern Gold Coast ,but there has been a late run of fish and still a lot of big winter bream being caught in the Tweed River and in the canals. I have a friend who has been catching them in the canals at high tide on Cranka Crabs. Casting the crabs up into the shallows and working

A lot of bait schools means plenty of tuna and mackerel in close, ideal for small boats and light tackle.

Cody Ward with a typical spring flathead. some head to the surf beaches while the rest move into the estuary. Catching a 1kg bream or a 70cm flathead from a gutter is amazing. The bream are as silver as chrome and the flathead as yellow as sand, and I think they taste better.

Dart are always on the chew, especially as the water starts to warm up. This month dart will be in all the gutters and rocky headlands where there is little white water to keep them protected from the birds. Best baits are worms and pipis. They aren’t a great table fish but are heaps of fun to catch and especially good for the kids.

OFFSHORE The reefs have still been producing good numbers of snapper. This has been a great year for snapper anglers and should be set to continue into October.

Additionally, the close reefs have also seen a few mulloway, trag jew, tuskfish and the odd mackerel about.

Spinning bait balls will see various mackerel and small tuna such as mac tuna and bonito. These fish are good

fun on light gear and ideal for anglers with small boats like myself.

Kevin from Gold Coast Fishing Tackle reports that the wider grounds have good numbers of yellowfin tuna and blue marlin. Kevin mentioned that the water temperature of 21-22°C in perfect for the yellowfin and marlin, so this month is usually the best to be out targeting these fish.

There are also stripped and black marlin in a little closer. Water between 70-100m has been producing stripies and blacks.

On the reefs out from the Tweed there are still some good kingfish and amberjack being caught. The kingies will slow up as the water warms but the mahimahi will take their place. I hear some mahimahi have been caught and I suspect this is a little early for them but by the end of the month the fish should be on. Expect to also see cobia in good numbers this month and out wide, bottom bashing for pearl perch and snapper will also be productive.

With persistence comes fish GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn Instagram: @josh__dunn__

As the weather finally starts to warm, the jacks will start to fire. Last month the weather was very chilly in the mornings, in fact it was the coldest start to spring we’ve had in a long time.

Mangrove jack aren’t the only things that are biting.

Flathead are on the chew, bream are in bulk numbers and the odd mulloway and pan-sized snapper is getting around in the Broadwater.

While the weather hasn’t really been on our sides of late, we may just see better days on the way. Last month was full of wet weather that stirred up the canals, which can be good, as it gets the fish and baitfish moving. I find after rainfalls when the canals start to dirty up is perfect for throwing around poppers and walkers.

This time of year is when the jacks are just starting to fire. This time last year I was whacking a few good-sized fish. Jack fishing isn’t the easiest style of fishing, but with persistence comes fish.

Spending endless hours on the water, casting at every

jetty, using every lure and trying every technique, it may seem hopeless, but don’t quit. I remember my first ever jack season was the same, although I quickly learnt from my mistakes and was open to learning

new techniques. I came to the conclusion that natural works best. The only two jighead sizes I use are 1/4oz and 3/8oz. The lighter for a slower, more natural retrieve and the heavier for a faster, reaction bite technique. Keep

Trevally have been thick in numbers lately.

This one was taken from a bridge pylon.

in mind that mangrove jack are territorial fish, so red colours work a treat. I’ve heard some crazy stories from mates who have caught small jacks but then a much larger jack came along and ate the smaller one before they could get it to the boat!

So, don’t hesitate to throw decent size lures around, although I wouldn’t go any larger than 6-7” in the estuaries.

Good numbers of flathead are getting around.

Any area where you would expect the larger models to be – they’re there. Like with jacks, with persistence comes fish, although I will say this style of fishing is completely different to jack fishing, in the sense of that there are more flathead in one section than there would be jacks under a jetty. So if a colour isn’t working, change it up; if a spot isn’t producing, move. I find with flathead fishing it is best if you use the ‘KISS’ analogy – Keep It Simple Stupid.

Meaning, fish simple.

Flathead can be easy to catch once you’ve mastered it.

Within the next month or two the weather should start to clear up. Last month we saw a lot of rain that meant

Kyle Walsh with a solid flathead. Kyle said persistence was the key as the wind made it tough! most offshore fishers chose to stay in close. This month we should see more boaties get offshore, making more fishing for us in the canals!

In saying that, I will still

pop outside and see what’s happening offshore!

October is a great month to start getting on the water fishing for flathead and jacks.

Since 1973 Strike Pro have been producing high quality lures that have earnt a proud reputation all over the World.

Available in over 90 countries, Strike Pro has designed and developed lures that have won many fishing tournaments & hold records around the globe including here in Australia such as ‘ABT’ Grand Finals and record breaking ‘Big Bream’ and ‘Biggest Bream Bags’.

Give yourself that winning edge and use Strike Pro.

Strike Pro has a lure for any situation!

Armour Braid, IGFA Pro Tournament Mono ‘SFC’ Fluorocarbon Visit & Subscribe to JuroOzPro for all our videos

Strike Pro Lures 35 models available in Australia at Strike Pro Australasia

www.jurofishing.com OCTOBER 2018

Adverts 2018.indd 5

18/06/2018 10:35:02 AM

27

Flathead number one at the ‘Pin JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

What a cracking time of year to fish the ‘Pin. As the water temp heats up, so will the fishing.

Flathead should be continuing to make up the bulk of the catches as they will still be around in large numbers after their breeding season, so if you’re after a feed of flathead then now is the time to get out there and hit the water.

Flathead are everywhere at the moment. Try around Pandanus Island, Giants Grave, Slipping Sands, the bottom of Kangaroo Island, and in the deep of the ‘Pin bar from the dead trees at the bottom of North Stradbroke to Kalinga Bank.

If you are going to fish the deep make sure you’ve got enough weight to get to the bottom as it runs hard through there. Big soft vibes and plastics have been scoring the best fish along this stretch.

There are plenty of school flathead up in the shallows as well. The best time to try is

when the tide is dropping and you can hit the edges of the shallows either trolling, flicking plastics or with bait. Pillies and whitebait

the reefs out from the bar.

Quite a few squire are being caught inside the bar on soft plastics and pillies. They are great fun on light gear,

Mark Hill with a famous Pin flatty. on small ganged hooks with a lightly-weighted sinker have been working the best for bait fishers. Try casting upstream and letting your bait sweep around with the tide; it’s a good way to cover a wide area and hopefully find the fish.

If you are thinking of heading offshore the snapper have been biting on

pulling hard all the way to the boat. For squire it would be best to try up at the rocky areas around Karragarra, the Saltworks, Kalinga Bank, Rocky Point and Steiglitz.

There’ll be great catches of bream throughout the ‘Pin in October from the usual hotspots. A lot of pickers about as usual, but some quality 30cm+ bream

will definitely be available, so keep persisting until they come on the bite near the top of the tide. Try around the Five Ways, Short Island, Tabby Tabby, Fishermans Channel, the Powerlines and of course Kalinga Bank.

The whiting have been picking up in size and in numbers from the Broadwater, Wave Break Island, Couran Cove, the Green Bank, Slipping Sands and the western side of the Never Fail Islands. A few good fish have come from the Pimpama and Logan rivers in the deeper holes and also from the sand flats between Kalinga Bank to the Pig Styes and the top of Crusoe Island. Sticking with either sand or bloodworms and using red tube and beads will increase your chances of a feed.

Dust off the crab pots, as the muddies usually fire

Sam Hill shows off his plastics finesse with this healthy Pin juvenile snapper.

Live baits are a must and a large mulloway will take a 30cm+ mullet and larger.

CUSTOM MARINE WELDING n Aluminium

Boat Repairs and Modifications and Fuel Tanks for Boats n Campers n Caravans n 4X4 Vehicles n Trucks VehicleTool Boxes k Body Repairs n Aluminium and Steel Truc Canopies n T Tops n Water

Marine and Auto Electricial n All types of Welding n Stainless Steel n Aluminium n Mild Steel n Boats Repaired n Fuel & Water Tanks n Canopies n Bow and Stern Rails n Custom Vehicle Tool Boxes n

Shed 1 281 Jacobs Well Road Behind Freedom Service Station, Alberton 4207

Phone 3807 7846

Mob 0427 142 201 Fax 3807 2468 Email: Remoplains2@bigpond.com

www.custommarinewelding.com.au SEASON 5 IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on 28

OCTOBER 2018

A monster 94cm snapper caught by Shaun Woolcock. up about now. If you love a feed of crab start at the lower reaches of the Logan River and head out towards Long Island, Redland Bay Channel and further to Cobby Passage and out from Jacobs Well sticking along the mangrove covered shoreline and holes.

There are some really big mulloway in these waters up to and over 30kg, which means they are about 1.4m long and are very hard to land. Targeting fish like these is a very specialized form of fishing and not for the fainthearted. Patience is the key, as you can sit out in the boat all night and possibly not even get a hit.

Flesh baits are second best, be it either mullet, bonito or tailor flesh. A reel with free spool is helpful as they can run up to a 100m before actually eating the bait, so be patient before striking, which is hard to do when you’re onto a big fish. Most of the really big mulloway come from the deep water near the ‘Pin Bar, but it is also worth trying the point of Short Island, Fishermans Channel, Giants Grave or Marks Rocks and the Gazebo in the Logan River.

• Thanks for all your reports and keep those fish coming in. If you’d like any advice or up to date fishing information drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on (07) 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

The ‘Flathead Slayer’ strikes again in the shallows near Fishermans Channel.

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

Listen on 5am-6am Every Saturday

5 YEAR STRUCTURAL WARRANTY If purchased on a Stessco Trailer

Conditions Apply

D

ED

A premium side consoled boat that gets you into the tricky spots, that also offers stability, speed and room to move. Comprising of front and rear casting platforms, deluxe upholstered seats, premium graphics and paint comes ready for your next fishing expedition.

E

N

“Premium boating at an affodable price!”

MA

ON PREMIUM HULLS

Bass Hunter 480

TRALI

•

WARRANTY

US

AN

5 YEAR

•A

PREMIUM BOATING AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE

AND OW

GOLD COAST GOLD COAST BOATING CENTRE 64 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads 07 5576 7388 goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE CENTRE 45 Huxham Street, Raceview 07 3294 3944 ipswichmarine.com.au

BRISBANE KAREE MARINE 1776 Ipswich Road, Rocklea 07 3875 1600 kareemarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH SOUTHERN FISH MARINE 9/11 Spinnaker Dr, Sandstone Point 07 5497 6733 southernfishmarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST SUNSHINE COAST YAMAHA 14 Machinery Avenue, Warana (07) 5346 9981 www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au

WHITSUNDAYS WHITSUNDAY MARINE 4/11 Shute Harbour Rd, Cannonvale 07 4948 3298 whitsundaymarine.com.au

HOME HILL PETO MARINE 15 7th Avenue, Home Hill 07 4782 1182

CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE 5 Hannam St, Bungalow 07 4033 8800 aussiemarine.com.au

For more information or to find your nearest Stessco dealer visit www.stessco.com.au

October will have something for everyone GOLD COAST

David Green

Gold Coast fishing really heats up in October. From offshore to the estuaries, there is something for every type of angler.

OFFSHORE It took a long time for the water on the offshore grounds to cool down this year, and in October the water temperature is

generally between 21-23°C out on the continental shelf, and a degree or two colder on the inshore grounds.

The snapper season this year on the 24 and 36 fathom reefs has been reasonable most of the time, with quite a lot of big fish being caught on a regular basis. Fish over 80cm have been a feature this season.

Deeply fished soft plastics, slow micro jigging and the ever-reliable bait have

A sizeable pearl perch.

30

OCTOBER 2018

unlocked most of the bigger fish, but there has also been a lot of small snapper a few centimetres under the minimum size limit.

This month the snapper slow down a bit as most of the fish have finished spawning. There should still be reasonable catches when the current is slow. Some of the biggest fish of the season have been caught in October. By the end of the month the snapper fishing

gets a lot tougher, but there are teraglin, pearl perch and Venus tuskfish to boost the bag, and these species are excellent eating.

Out on the 50 fathom line this month there should still be quite a few pearl perch, snapper, amberjack, samson and kingfish around. The current tends to pick up towards the end of the month as the East Australian Current starts to flow south. Deep live baits, metal jigs and paternoster rigs all work well. The high pinnacles southeast of the seaway in 85m fish well in October.

In closer to shore there should be a few mulloway around on the inshore pinnacles and on the artificial reefs this month.

Most of the action is just on dark, and deep live baits are the best option.

Since the new bag and size limits were brought in a few years ago the number of mulloway on the inshore reefs has greatly increased and mulloway seem to be a lot more common now than they were about five years ago. Our usual tactic is to head out and catch live bait before dark, then anchor up on a suitable spot and start

A flathead caught in the shallows on a Silstar Slapstix.

berleying with chopped pilchards and tuna. The first bites often come as the sun dips below the horizon.

Game fishing this month is quite erratic.

There are often a few striped marlin around when the schools of saury and pilchard start to show, and out wide on the thousandmetre line there can be big schools of yellowfin tuna from 30-80kg present.

If the weather is good a troll on the wide grounds is a good option. Free running bullet pattern lures are the preferred option for tuna.

There is still a chance of encountering a blue marlin if the water holds above 22°C. October is a very underestimated month out past the continental shelf.

Considering the number of boats out wide chasing gamefish, the results are surprisingly good.

RIVERS AND ESTUARIES Flathead are the main target species this month.

By October the fish have begun to spawn, and a lot of the big females remain in the deep water of the estuary mouths this month. Fish over 65cm are common in these areas and can be caught on deep fished soft vibes, big soft plastics and micro jigs. A

lot of smaller male fish are still accompanying the females on the spawning beds and will often follow a hooked female to the boat, sometimes even following the big fish into the net.

Up on the many flats and weed beds from the Seaway to Jumpinpin there are still plenty of flathead. The key is to have nice cool clean water and plenty of baitfish around. The single factor that shuts down Gold Coast flathead is northwesterly winds. These bring warm dirty water that has lower oxygen content. Algal blooms and mid-water weed are other factors that can greatly affect the flathead bite.

Trolling and casting are both effective methods and if the bite is very slow trolling is often the best way to find an active fish.

The inshore netters have been extremely active on the flats around Tipplers Passage in late August and early September using chain nets in the shallows and this may well be the reason that the fishing in this area has slowed down a lot in recent weeks. I think it is about time all netting was removed from this estuary. These fish are a much more important recreational resource than a commercial species.

This flathead was pulled up from the deep.

Mangrove jack start to show up in numbers this month around the marinas and pontoons in the Nerang and Coomera rivers.

Fast wound soft plastics, hardbodies and live baits should all be effective.

While a lot of mangrove jack are now caught in the daylight hours alongside floating pontoons, most of the best fishing takes place at night. At this time the fish stray further from structure and often feed more aggressively and in more open water they are easier to land. Plenty of these nocturnal jacks are over 50cm in length.

As the days warm up and become longer whiting start to show in numbers in the Nerang River, the Broadwater and the Pimpama River.

Yabbies, worms, soldier crabs and shrimp all work well as bait this month. Fish up to 40cm will start to show up, particularly in the Nerang River at night. Sight casting yabbies to visible whiting on the start of a rising tide is another good method to try out on the flats. Light line and leader is required and don’t be surprised if a big flathead gets involved either by eating your whiting, or swallowing the yabby.

Overall, October is a quite productive month to fish the Gold Coast.

The Axiom MFD from Raymarine is reinventing navigation.

With faster performance, intuitive operation, and leading-edge technology, Axiom delivers unmatched awareness, above and below the water line.

• Powered by the all new, fast and fluid LightHouse™ 3 OS • Available with built-in RealVision™ 3D Sonar • Blazing-fast quad core performance • 4-in-1 wide spectrum CHIRP sonar transducers • Rugged and sleek, all-glass construction for any helm For more information, go to raymarine.com OCTOBER 2018

31

The thready are at the ready SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

As the weather warms up so will the fishing. This month, expect to see good numbers of large flathead from around Seaway, Jumpinpin, south passage

bar and adjacent river mouths. Mangrove jack will fire up and there should be a few good estuary cod on the cards.

There have been quite a few reports of some nice jacks caught on lures in the canals at Raby Bay, Eprapah Creek and the Logan River.

In Raby Bay the go to lure has been has been the ZMan SwimmerZ in the 4-6” size.

Slow roll these lures around the boat holes, pontoons and parallel to the rock walls.

The Logan River has had most fish being pulled off the deep rock bars using Zerek Fish Traps. Try to

Ben Richardson with an armful of Brissy thready.

MARINE

WINDOWS

& DOORS

We make windows and windscreens for everything including: Runabouts Half cabins Walk-arounds Cruisers Trawlers all over Australia.

finish these around the turn of the tide as it starts to slow. Look for deep ledges and bait on the sounder.

There has been plenty of decent size fish around, so make sure you use sufficient leader strength around

structure. There has also been plenty of good cod as by-catch, especially in the Raby Bay canals.

There has been a good run of mulloway close to the Jumpinpin Bar over the last month. Usually, fishing the hour each side of the tide change will see the best results. There have been some big fish reported up to 130cm. Live baits have been the undoing of most of the bigger fish, but plastics or vibes are still working.

There have been some good fish throughout Moreton Bay, with fish to 110cm not being uncommon. Putting the effort in to sound out the schooled fish around the western side of Peel will see some fun fishing with a lot of fish to around 90cm.

The threadfin salmon in the Brisbane River should start making their migration towards the port section of the river over the coming months. These fish can be found in massive schools at times. If you’re thinking about targeting these fish you should always have a release weight with you. The threadies will suffer from barotrauma when pulled from deep water, so this is a must for anglers wanting to release them in good condition. Don’t destroy what you came to enjoy.

Summer whiting are in great numbers throughout the Nerang, Coomera,

A nice surprise from Jumpinpin, a 5” ZMan PaddlerZ did the damage.

Pimpama and Logan rivers.

Plenty of 40cm+ fish have been reported. Fresh worms have been the best bait; if you can dig your own you will have a lot better results.

Up in the super shallow water you can target these big fish using long skinny poppers. This is an awesome visual technique that really

for good vibration will see you with the best results.

Look for clean water and heaps of bait – big flatties won’t be too far away.

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

Free quotes from your templates. Acrylic or glass.

In or out of survey.

Quality guaranteed, very competitive rates, and an excellent freight service.

A decent MB mulloway on a 160mm Zerek Fish Trap.

9 Cameron Street, Clontarf QLD 4019 Phone 07 3284 5088 Fax 07 3284 5089 email amw@myaccess.com.au Visit our website: www.austmarinewindows.com.au

Richie Lucker with a beautiful Pin flatty.

gets the heart pumping and these little guys punch above their weight.

October is the best month to target large flathead. The large fish will be in big numbers towards all the bar entrances and river mouths. Large soft plastics and big paddle-tails

CHECK THE HOME PAGE FOR WEEKLY SPECIALS

FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING *For orders over $125.00 (conditions apply)

ALL THE BEST BRANDS & PRICES AUSTRALIA WIDE!!

Visit www.anglerswarehouse.com.au 32

OCTOBER 2018

tech-it-easy!

If you would like some on water sounder or fishing tuition please call Nick on 0422 213 669 to customise a session to suit your needs or check out the Tech Fishing Facebook page.

Your Boat-My Knowledge-More Fish!

GIFT

CARDS vailable A

Phone orders welcome: (07) 5536 3822

YOUR ONE STOP BOATING EXPERIENCE

!

T U O R A E L C SPRING

ON S L A E D T A E GR OCK T S R O O L F CURRENT

A New Era in FourStroke The all new 175hp – 225hp Mercury FourStroke V6 Outboard Range Taking performance, efficiency and reliability to a level you have only dreamed about.

Contact or visit us for more information.

Pictures for illustration purposes only. May include optional extras.

& 07 3889 3033

Brisbane Marine WWW.BRISMARINE.COM.AU 306 Duffield Road, Clontarf

Pelagic activity heating up in Moreton Bay BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With warming water and air temperatures, anglers will notice an increase in the aggressiveness and prominence of species such as mangrove jack, estuary cod, mackerel, tuna, threadfin salmon and numerous others during October. Baitfish activity increases as waters warm, promoting pelagic activity throughout Moreton Bay and further offshore. With more hours of daylight and the chill disappearing rapidly during early morning and night sessions, anglers should be keen to get out on the water among the action.

THREADFIN SALMON A popular target in systems such as the Brisbane, Logan, Caboolture and Pine rivers is the threadfin salmon, who have become a very common capture in recent years. The Brisbane and Logan are probably the two best systems to chase them, however they are sometimes even caught well into the bay around islands such as Lamb, Karragarra

and Macleay.

Those with quality sounders are generally able to locate threadfin easily as they show prominently. Threadies will accept a broad array of offerings including live and dead bait plus lures such as vibration baits, minnow lures, micro jigs and most soft plastics. The takes can vary from delicate pickups to aggressive strikes with the first run fast and powerful.

Threadfin don’t usually take well to handling, therefore releasing them while they’re still in the water is advisable if you aren’t keeping them for the table.

During the cooler months threadies seem to be more common further up the Brisbane River. However as water temperatures drop they tend to make their way down towards the mouth, commonly being caught in the lower reaches from the Gateway Bridge to the beacons out from the mouth plus the shallow flats either side of the Brisbane River.

This said, you can still catch threadfin right along the length of the Brisbane River and other systems at any time of the year.

Live bait including mullet, prawns, herring, gar

and pike work well when fished lightly-weighted close to the bottom. Areas where threadfin travel or congregate such as deep holes, ledges and the decline into the main river basin are all worth targeting. I have seen threadfin taken on dead baits such as pilchards, large prawns and even mullet fillet, however a live offering is a much better option. The deeper holes in the Logan are good places to soak live baits, however you will also hook plenty of catfish and bull sharks. As the water temperatures rise threadfin will become more plentiful and aggressive in most of the larger systems.

ESTUARINE BRAWLERS Warmer temperatures result in more jack and cod action for estuarine anglers. The red dogs get more aggressive during the warmer months, they start smashing lures and baits in their precinct. They will commonly hang close to prominent structures where baitfish and other morsels are likely to pass.

Delivering offerings close to this structure increases your chances of hook up but will also put the odds in the favour of jack.

A pair of average Moreton Bay school mackerel that Mark took recently from the Rous Channel on chromed slices.

34

OCTOBER 2018

Quality estuarine flathead are great sport and delicious table fare. This one was taken from a shallow estuarine channel during the falling tide.

Once hooked, jacks will power into the closest structure, often busting you off. Quick reflexes, a sturdy drag setting and a degree of luck will hopefully be enough to pry the jack from its habitat. Live baits and numerous lures can be put to good use on jacks. Hooks on lures and jigheads need to be relatively sturdy for cod and jacks. Both will take an array of soft plastics, vibration baits, minnow lures and flies. Work the lure well, close to structure and your chance of a strike is heightened. Slow rolling or hopping plastics and vibration baits will generally get the strikes. Minnow lures can also work well with a slow roll, however adding a few pauses will often be worthwhile.

Suspending lures allowed to sit for a few seconds during the retrieve will often get smashed. Crab lures work well on jacks and cod, especially when worked slowly past structure. The strikes are usually aggressive because the jack or cod knows they have to crush and kill the crab as they strike it.

Prawn profiled lures such as the relatively new Chasebait Flick Prawn, Atomic Prong and Ecooda Live Shrimp are also excellent offerings for jacks, cod and most other estuarine inhabitants.

FLATHEAD One of the more heavilytargeted species at this time of year is the humble flathead. The estuaries provide heightened numbers during late winter and spring and anglers target them for sport and table fare. Trolling is an especially popular way to locate and catch flathead and anglers trolling the edges of prominent banks on the falling tide are almost

guaranteed success.

Small minnow lures (generally brightly coloured) are commonly trolled in 1-3m of water. Using a lure that runs close to the bottom, preferably banging and rattling across it on occasion, will put you in good stead.

Micro Mullets have been one of the most popular estuarine flathead lures for over two decades, however there are numerous others that are also worth trying. During the higher stages of the tide, flathead tend to spread throughout the estuary often being located in quite shallow water up on the tops of the banks. Drifting across these banks and casting lures or dragging small whole fish baits such as whitebait, herring, frogmouth pilchards and hardiheads is a good way to score results.

Checking out the estuary at low tide will often reveal the telltale lies (flathead shaped indentations in the sand) where the flathead were resting in ambush mode on the last high tide. Returning on the next high tide is a good ploy, as there is a good chance that the flathead will return again. This will give you a great idea of where flathead commonly like to hunt and you can look for similar areas that may also hold flatties. Remember that dusky flathead have a slot limit between 40-75cm and a bag limit of five per person.

BAY PELAGICS Warming water temperatures promote an increase in baitfish numbers and activity, which in turn results in more pelagic species throughout the bay.

October can be a good month for species such as school mackerel, bonito, mac tuna, longtail tuna and

cobia. School mackerel are often located in the major channels (Rainbow, Rous, Kianga, Pearl, NE and NW) where they can be tempted with a variety of methods.

Trolling spoon lures (Halco Barra Drones and Makkas have proven the most effective) behind paravanes and trolling boards is a good way to cover a decent area of water and score a few mackerel. There was an article on these boards in the September 2016 issue of QFM that you should be able to find online for those interested.

Around the changes of the tide is often a good time to try for a few schoolies, however they will come on in certain areas at various stages. The upper end of the Rous will often hold good numbers and the commercial line fishers from North Stradbroke will generally be there trolling spoons if the mackerel are on. The area around Middle Bank and the Measured Mile can also produce well at this time of year. You may even find a few school mackerel around the shipping channel beacons in the northern bay. These can be tempted by jigging chrome slugs and slices or dropping down pilchards around the tide change.

The channels can also hold bonito (both Australian and Watson) at this time of year. They will often be noticed darting around close to the surface and will take the same lures and baits as the school mackerel. Some eat these bonito but most use them for bait. They can be rigged and used whole as troll baits for Spanish mackerel or the fillets can be salted and used for species as diverse as bream, snapper,

tailor and reef dwellers.

Mac tuna can be found throughout all areas of Moreton Bay during October, although you may need to do a little hunting to locate where they are on any given day. These can be tempted with small chrome slugs and slices retrieved flat out. They can be very profile orientated at times and will only eat exact replicas of the baitfish they are feeding on. When a 5-10g chrome slice is being refused, some anglers will bring out the fly rod and use a tiny Eyes Fly to achieve results.

Longtail tuna numbers can be very sporadic during October. Some years we experience good numbers and during others they are extremely hard to come by. Live baiting around the beacons and other areas such as the Benowa Track grounds, the Comboyuro Ledge and Shark Spit will often reward.

Live yakkas, slimy mackerel, pike and squid can all work well when fished close to the surface to mid-water. Obviously if you see some longtail surface feeding, you can try casting lures such as stickbaits, jighead rigged jerkshad plastics, pencil poppers and chromed slugs or slices.

With the baitfish often fairly small at this time of year, the flyfishers often have

usually show up around October, however in recent years numbers have been a bit light. Areas along prominent ledges, around beacons in the northern bay, adjacent ledges and other prominent structure, such as wrecks, are good places to look. Large live baits including fusiliers, bonito, pike, and legal-sized demersals like sweetlip, snapper and tuskfish can all be used.

Crabs are another great cobia bait and a live (legalsized) sand crab is the prime offering. A large hook can either be glued to the top of the shell or attached to the carapace with rubber bands. Half crabs can also be used and the hook is punched through the side of the bait ensuring that the point is proud of the shell. The Kianga Channel, Curtin Artificial, Comboyuro Ledge and wrecks such as the Kaptajn Nelson are worth a try.

OTHER BAY OPTIONS Snapper numbers will still be good throughout the usual spots in Moreton Bay during October. The bay island surrounds, artificial reefs (Curtin, Harry Atkinson, Peel, Coochiemudlo etc.) and numerous bay wrecks are all worth trying. Quality baits including squid, banana prawns, pilchards, fillet strips, whiting heads and

YUM YUMS To complete a Moreton Bay feast, anglers will be able to score a few crabs and squid during October.

The bay island shallows, edges of the main channels and weed beds along the edges of the Stradbroke and Moreton islands should all hold a few tiger or arrow squid while casting and retrieving egi (squid jigs). A baited skewer drifted behind the boat around the edges of the bay islands while chasing snapper, or the sand banks and gutters while targeting whiting is also likely to score a few cephalopods.

Sand crabs will be on offer throughout the bay, in the mouths of the rivers and well into the estuaries.

Setting a few safety pots along the edges of gutters, banks and ledges in the bay is likely to reward with sand and blue-swimmer crabs.

Pots set in the estuaries and rivers can produce mud crabs as well, especially in the upper reaches. Squid numbers will start to taper off however crab numbers will get better over the coming months.

CONCLUSION Anglers will relish in the warmer conditions during October, which will make those early morning and night sessions a lot more comfortable. There are plenty of prime angling

CREATE YOUR ADVENTURES

515 Northerner Scan the QR Code to view the complete boat test

For more information visit

www.horizonboats.com.au or call your nearest dealer

Barney’s Marine Shed 3A, Nissan Street Pialba QLD 4655 Phone 07 4124 3170

Neptune Marine Unit 1, 3361 Pacific Hwy Slacks Creek QLD 4127 Phone 07 3290 6370

Bluefin Sports 57-59 Musgrave Street North Rockhampton QLD 4701 Phone 07 4922 2211

Townsville Marine 943 Ingham Road Bohle QLD 4818 Phone 07 4774 3777

Gold Coast Boating Centre 64 Kortum Drive Burleigh Heads QLD 4220 Phone 07 5576 7388

Whitsunday Outboard Centre 1 William Murray Drive Cannonvale QLD 4802 Phone 07 4946 7286

realservice@barneysmarine.com.au

bluefinsports@bluefinsports.com.au While casting a Samaki Thumpertail over shallow grounds for snapper recently the author hooked this 103cm longtail tuna, which took him quite a while to subdue. the upper hand as they are able to deliver quite small, realistic offerings that can be worked at a range of speeds from a flat-stick, rod under the arm, double-handed strip to a slow dredging retrieval.

An intermediate line is often a good choice, however some will use Streamer Express style lines, which are similar to the old-school shooting head.

Another awesome Moreton Bay pelagic is the cobia. These large predators

frames can work a treat.

Taking time to secure live offerings such as yakkas, herring, prawns, slimy mackerel and pike will often result in better quality snapper. Lures including vibration baits, soft plastics, micro jigs and even minnow lures can tempt snapper and several other species in these areas. By-catch can often include sweetlip, cod, morwong, mackerel, tuskfish and mulloway when targeting snapper.

targets on offer during the month and a day on the water can result in a rather mixed bag. Additionally there will be several species of crabs and squid available. If we have any decent rain then we may also have a run of small prawns in some systems, however this will be more likely during the coming months. Get out and get among some of Moreton Bay’s finest aquatic offerings.

sales@goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

sales@neptunemarine.com.au

sales@townsvillemarine.com.au

woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

OCTOBER 2018

35

VELOCITY SPORTS

CRUSADER

DISCOVERY SPORTS

NAVIGATO

Red-hot sessions

For further information visit www.seajayboats.com BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

FROM ROOF TOPPERS TO HARD TOPPERS - WE HAVE YOU COVERED

3.2 NOMAD · Better Stability · V Nose

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

Spring is normally associated with good consistent fishing off the south passage bar.

Snapper can be found in good numbers and amberjack, yellowtail, kingfish, and teraglin are all starting to fire up.

the boat positioned to drop the livies and making sure you don’t miss the school.

Work out how fast and what direction the wind and current is pushing you and position the boat accordingly before you deploy the sea anchor. When I’m snapper fishing I will keep the sea anchor right in close to the stern of the boat and the mono

on capture and, once filleted and skinned, all the blood lines removed so you are only left with white flesh. I then cut the fillets into smaller pieces ensuring they’re not too thick, so the fish cooks evenly.

As mentioned in my previous report, Shallow Tempest can fish well this time of year for good quality fish. However, out wider in

· High Side Option · Roof Topper or Trailer Option · Available in Various Sizes from 3.2m to 4.38m

Another bag out of amberjack with a couple of solid yellowtail kingfish.

On charter of late we’ve still been getting good numbers of solid squire in the 1-2kg range. Midway through last month, on request from clients, we started live baiting for amberjack and have had some red-hot sessions. It has been pretty hard to switch back to snapper. Most of the amberjack were in the 3-6kg range with the odd fish around 8kg. Mixed in with them we’ve boated a few solid yellowtail kingfish to around 10kg.

Solid trag also played the game for us for a couple of sessions. It never ceases to amaze me how they come on the chew when the wind swings in a certain direction, but I’ll leave you to work that one out.

When we’re chasing the ambos, kings, and trag, the mono snapper outfits get shelved and we switch to branded outfits with single hook droppers. Then it’s just a matter of locating where the fish are sitting and getting

BOATING IN A SEA JAY Full Range on Offer

EA JAY 630 VISION

· Samurai Hull · 5mm Plate Bottom (8083) · 5mm Transom

· 2480mm Beam · 210L Fuel Capacity · 3mm Checker Plate Self Draining Deck · Self Flooding Kill Tank

· Live Bait Tank · Capped Keel · Also available in 460, 490, 520, 550 & 590 Sizes

NEW RELEASE

4.88 AVENGER SPORTS

S 670 TROJAN HT · Samurai Hull

· 5mmSPORTS Plate Bottom (5083) VELOCITY · 5mm Transom

· 2480mm Beam · Capped Keel · 270L Fuel Capacity · Self Flooding Kill Tank · 3mm Checker Plate · Live Bait Tank Self Draining Deck · Trojan also available in CRUSADER · Max 225hp 550 & 630 Sizes

DISCOVERY SPORTS

A bag out of school sized ambo. lines will get out away from it on an angle. But, when live baiting with the braided outfits I will set the sea anchor out to maximum rope length, approximately 10m, as the braid goes down straighter closer to the boat.

Amberjack of these sizes and to around 10kg are good eating, as long as they are bled

NAVIGATOR

For further information visit www.seajayboats.com.au

R

DISCOVERY SPORTS NAVIGATOR DESIGN STRENGTH PERFORMANCE

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

For further information visit www.seajayboats.com.au To like us on Facebook visit www.facebook.com/SeaJayBoats

36

OCTOBER 2018

A solid catch of snapper.

80-90m will normally see better numbers of school-sized 1-2kg fish.

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

IN STOCK NOW!!!

Come in and see us...

460

575C

RANGER • Yamaha F70XA • Sea Jay Sports C-section Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F115XB • Easy Tow Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

IN STOCK NOW!!

IN STOCK NOW!!

490

615C

RANGER SPORT • Yamaha F90XB • Redco Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F130XA • Easy Tow Trailer • Trim Tabs • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

IN STOCK NOW!!

IN STOCK NOW!!

630

670HT

VISION • Yamaha F150XB • Redco Trailer • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

• Yamaha F200XCA • Easy Tow Tandem Trailer • Trim Tabs • 12 Months Boat and Trailer Registration • Safety Kit

IN STOCK NOW!!

IN STOCK NOW!!

615 BR 615 WR 780 HT

ALSO AVAILABLE IN STOCK

• 428 Magnum 2 468 Avenger Sports 550 Velocity Sports TD • 630 Trojan HT •

•

* Boat images for illustrative purpose - models may vary slightly

117 Old Cleveland Road, Stones Corner

ph

07 3397 9766

www.stonescornermarine.com.au

Summer whiting warming up NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

As we charge towards another summer, it is easy to ask yourself where did spring go? Warm humid days and afternoon storms have already graced us with their presence, which has been a blessing in disguise on the fishing front. Summer species like mangrove jack and summer whiting have started to appear in many estuaries flanking the northern bay.

The Pine and Caboolture rivers have seen early mangrove jack action, with good-sized estuary cod providing exciting by-catch for many jack fishers. Many anglers have had their patience rewarded with multiple fish hitting the decks in some sessions. ZMan SwimmerZ and Luckycraft G-Splashes have been the pick of lures with body hooked live prawns working for

A solid land-based bream off Bribie’s Red Beach. the bait fishers. Summer whiting have been the other hot species this month, with Bribie’s southern

beaches and Margate Beach showing the way with good numbers. Bloodworms and squid have been key, with

CRAB POTS FROM $25 7a

m

- 4p

mM

ON - FRI / 8am - 2

pm

T SA

CHEAP BAIT On the Northside!!!

Now Carrying: • Pilchards • Squid • Whole Mullet • Mullet Heads • Chicken Frames FOR OUR FULL RANGE

Adults & Children’s Sun Shirts

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!

Cnr Huntington St & Burwood Tce, Clontarf

Phone: 07 3284 0228 – www.crabngear.com.au

38

OCTOBER 2018

long traces of lighter line helping with bite rates.

Juvenile snapper numbers have been stable on the peninsula, with warmer water temperatures keeping bait close to inshore waters, condensing feeding activity for these delectable table fish. THe southern end of Scotts Point and Shields Street have produced the odd fish, but nowhere near its northern counterpart.

Soft plastics have been the wiser choice, with aggressive twitching retrieves creating good interest. The peninsula has also shown good numbers on the bream front, with an abundance of bait helping the cause. Cranks and lightly-weighted soft plastics have been working rather well with the application of scents like ProCure in Mullet and S-Factor increasing catch rates.

Flathead have been a reliable catch in many of the estuaries this spring with Pumicestone leading the way, especially at the top of the tide in areas like Bongaree (outside the IGA supermarket), Mission Point and Turners Camp Road. ZMan Curly Tail StreakZ and Zerek Flash Minnows have been working well in Pumicestone and have been a common choice in the northern bay.

Commonly a winter fish, diver whiting are still being caught through Bramble Bay and the Cockle Banks with numbers being sporadic but satisfying at times. Ecogear Isome Worms have been a successful alternative to live baits, with natural colours working well on clear sunny days. These

Henry Hopper showing the adults how it’s done. areas, along with Redcliffe, have also been fruitful for sand crabs over the last month, which is providing a great platform for the coming months as the weather gets warmer.

TIP OF THE MONTH Regular respooling of new line onto your reels is less common, but a very

important practice. Not only does it help during the crucial times of fighting fish but it will also assist in tying stronger more reliable knots. Whether it’s monofilament or braided line be sure to respool the line under tension to prevent line slip on the spool.

Looking forward to the rains NOOSA

Peter Wells

It’s that time of the year when we start to pray for rains to put a little colour in our pristine waterways.

The creeks and rivers of the Sunshine Coast have been very clear after a long dry spell.

The spring storms are what we need and with the rapid changes in barometric pressure this would get the jacks firing.

Plenty of jacks have been taken over the cooler months but the change in the weather really gets them hunting. Jacks love to live around heavy structure so casting live baits or large flesh bait close to the many pylons and pontoons that line the Noosa River should see you with a red dog. Of course the best time to pick one up is in the low light hours or at night.

Now is the time to make sure your gear is up to the task, because nothing hits like a jack. Good quality graphite rods in the 3-6kg range are a good start and teamed up with a quality spin reel with drag pressures around 8kg will see you ready for battle.

I always change my braid at the start of every jack season as it can wear a bit thin after a hard year fishing. As far as lures go I am a great fan of paddle-tail soft plastics with

the SwimmerZ from ZMan one of my favourites. These plastics have a large paddletail and come in some great colours with calico candy a real winner.

Flathead have been in great numbers in all the Sunshine Coast systems. In the Noosa River large flathead are taking soft plastics like the River2Sea Chase Baits worked slowly across the bottom. Try areas like the river mouth sand

banks, the Tewantin Ski Run and Weyba Creek, all of which have been producing some outstanding fish.

Whiting have been in good numbers with live worms and live yabbies producing some quality fish in the lower reaches. Try fishing long lengths of fluorocarbon leaders and little or no lead as the bigger fish are very wary and if it is pinned to the bottom they won’t touch it. Bream

have also been a favourite with families chasing them in the rivers. Prawns and mullet flesh have claimed some nice fish.

Crabbing season is also just around the corner and anglers are hard at it getting their pots ready for the season.

Crabs are around, but they will really get walking as soon as we see the start of the spring rains. The deeper sections of the river near mangroves is the best place to put your pots

Melanie Jade Ottaway with a very decent mulloway from the Maroochy River. The fish was returned after a quick picture.

Ben Forgan with a beautiful 49cm bass caught at Borumba dam on soft plastic.

Eric Frei with a good tusky from the Gneerings.

baited with fresh mullet or fish frames.

Heading offshore anglers have had some great opportunities to get out in some very favourable conditions. A lot of larger craft made the run out to the Hards and Barwon Banks. Pearlies, monster snapper, mulloway and cobia have all been landed. North Reef is another great area that is getting plenty of attention with lots of quality fish hitting the decks.

North Reef is perfect for those anglers that love micro jigging with those lighter flat fall jigs. Soft plastics are also perfect with plenty of bottom to work them over. Working plastics and jigs among the bommies and rubble you will come across everything from pearlies, snapper, mulloway, spangled emperor, sweetlip, Maori cod and more.

Sunshine Reef is very

popular for those of us with smaller crafts. Fishing a lightly weighted floater out the back through a good berley trail will see quality snapper, sweetlip and possibly pelagics hitting the deck. Another popular spot for anglers in larger craft is to do the run up to the reefs east of Double Island Point. Red emperor, pearl perch, large snapper and pelagics have all been accounted for with plenty of anglers filling their kill tanks with quality fish.

For those anglers who head out of Mooloolaba Currimundi Reef it has been fishing well for squire, sweetlip, cobia and mulloway.

Fishing with berley is key in these areas as they see a bit of fishing pressure. Don’t overdo the berley, as we don’t want to see the taxman in the grey suit. Sharks have been plentiful over the last few years and are a bit of a pain when it comes to getting those great reef fish off the bottom. Pelagics will also start to show up with school mackerel and spotties, the first to appear depends on water temperatures.

Fishing the beaches has seen some great-sized tailor along the Noosa North Shore.

These fish will be starting to make their way south after spawning up at Fraser Island.

Pilchards, mullet and bonito baits have claimed some quality fish. Good-sized mulloway are also on the

CHECK THE HOME PAGE FOR WEEKLY SPECIALS

FREE EXPRESS SHIPPING *For orders over $125.00 (conditions apply)

ALL THE BEST BRANDS & PRICES AUSTRALIA WIDE!!

Visit www.anglerswarehouse.com.au

chew and with a favourable new moon they tend to move into the shallow gutters under the cover of darkness to feed on smaller baitfish and tailor.

Fishing live baits on a slider rig has been very successful.

This is where only the sinker is cast out giving anglers better cast distance then the live bait is clipped onto the line and encouraged to swim down the line. Mullet or chopper tailor make the ideal live bait for slide baiting.

Whiting, bream and dart have been plentiful in the closer gutters, which is great for kids just getting into surf fishing. Worms, prawns, pipis and yabbies have been the baits of choice.

In the freshwater, Lake Macdonald is still showing good schools of bass in the deeper sections down towards the dam wall. Vibes like the Jackall TN60 and paddle-tail soft plastics have claimed some good fish. In Lake Borumba the bass are also schooled in the deeper parts of the dam and responding well to Instinct Red Eyes as well as ice jigs and deep plastic presentations.

• For all the latest information log onto www.fishingnoosa. com.au for up to date bar and fishing reports. Drop into Davo’s Tackle world Noosa or Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola to find out where the fish are biting, and remember tight lines and bent spines!

GIFT

CARDS vailable A

Phone orders welcome: (07)

5536 3822

OCTOBER 2018

39

DROP INTO YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY BOWEN REIBEL MARINE

34 Don Street, Bowen P: (07) 4786 2944 www.reibelmarineyamaha.com.au

BRISBANE (BAYSIDE) WYNNUM MARINE 31 Fox Street, Wynnum P: (07) 3396 9777 www.wynnummarineyamaha.com.au

BRISBANE (NORTH) NORTHSIDE MARINE 2294 Sandgate Road, Boondall P: (07) 3265 8000 www.northsidemarineyamaha.com.au

BRISBANE (SOUTH) STONES CORNER MARINE

Weather offshore galore RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

The great weather continues, allowing plenty of trips offshore.

OFFSHORE Snapper and pearl perch continue to be the main catch, with soft plastics getting the bigger fish, especially the 5 and 7” jerk shads. Live bait has been plentiful and big cod, amberjack, cobia and scarlet perch have all been tricked with this

temptation. The wider reefs have been producing plenty of tuskfish, hussar and even a few good red emperor.

GREAT SANDY STRAITS Diver whiting are still being caught around Pelican Bay and all the way to the Bluff on Fraser Island. There are also good flathead on the bottom end of the island. The mouth of Kauri Creek is another good place to flick plastics.

BEACH There has been great conditions for beach fishing:

no swell and clear of weed.

A few chopper tailor are being caught at night on unweighted pilchards and using the same rig in the day is producing quality flathead. October is a nice spring month for fishing, as we should see another run of snapper and it’s been a great red emperor month in past years.

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

117 Old Cleveland Road, Stones Corner P: (07) 3397 9766 www.stonescornermarine.com.au

BUNDABERG BUNDABERG MARINELAND 95 Targo Street, Bundaberg P: (07) 4130 0500 www.bundabergmarineland.com.au

CAIRNS BILLS MARINE 136-138 Lyons Street, Cairns P: (07) 4051 6733 www.billsmarine.com.au

GLADSTONE CURTIS COAST MARINE 40 Chapple St, Gladstone P: (07) 4972 0135 www.curtiscoastmarine.com.au

GOLD COAST (NORTH) STEFAN BOATING WORLD 27 Waterway Drive, Coomera P: (07) 5665 8400 www.stefanboatingworld.com.au

GOLD COAST (SOUTH) GOLD COAST BOATING CENTRE

Andy with a 13kg scarlet perch caught on a live yakka.

64 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads P: (07) 5576 7388 www.goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

HERVEY BAY BUCCANEERS 19 Islander Road, Pialba, Hervey Bay P: (07) 4124 6988 www.buccaneers.com.au

KARUMBA JONES MARINE 30 Yappar Street, Karumba P: (07) 4745 9159 www.jonesmarine.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST RAY SCHOLES MARINE 146 Eumundi Road, Noosaville P: (07) 5449 7633 www.rayscholesmarinenoosa.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST SUNSHINE COAST YAMAHA PTY LTD 14 Machinery Avenue, Warana P: (07) 5346 9981 www.sunshinecoastyamaha.com.au

WHITSUNDAYS WHITSUNDAY MARINE 4/11 Shute Harbour Road, Cannonvale P: (07) 4948 3298 www.whitsundaymarine.com.au

There have been some big snapper not far offshore.

OCTOBER 2018

41

The Fraser Coast is firing up HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

With winter now a fading memory and the woollies packed away for another year, anglers are starting to get excited about one of the best times of year to be hitting the water on the Fraser Coast.

Lures of choice when targeting barramundi will vary depending on where you are fishing. Soft vibes are a great prospecting tool, as you can cover a lot of area and they have the ability to get down quicker in areas with higher current flow. Suspending hardbody lures have definitely been a go to choice for a lot of anglers as you can keep

Ben Byrne with a solid Spanish mackerel that he caught while live baiting off the Urangan Pier.

Those hitting the rivers will be dusting off the barra gear as water temperatures continue to rise, eager to catch their first salty before the closed season on 1 November.

The Mary and Susan rivers both hold healthy populations of barramundi with plenty of fishy looking structures to target, with everything from rock bars and snake drains to flats and timber available.

Don’t just limit yourself to the Mary and Susan though, as you can find barra right throughout the Sandy Straits and in most of our local creeks as well. The Burrum River also saw a great run of barramundi last season with fish from 50cm right up to 1m+ in the mix. There’s been a fair bit of commercial pressure in this area because of this, so hopefully a few missed the nets and we can look forward to another good run this year.

The use of a modern sounder is a huge advantage when looking for schools of fish in the river, in particular the side scan function. Learning to use your electronics correctly and accurately will increase your catch rate immensely and will give you a better understanding of where fish like sitting at certain stages of the tide.

them in the face of the fish for a longer period trying to trigger a bite. Lures like the Jackall Squirrel 79sp and Lucky Craft Pointer 78XD and 100XD have proved popular in the past. You can even try tweaking some of your floating hardbodies to get them to suspend. By upgrading your split rings and trebles to heavier gauges or even a slightly bigger hook size you can sometimes get the lure to slow float or suspend, allowing it to stay in the strike zone for longer. If

Young Kallum Nitschinsk with his first saltwater barra.

59 Torquay Rd, Hervey Bay QLD 4655 Ph: (07) 4128 1022

www.fishostackleworld.com.au info@fishostackleworld.com.au 42

OCTOBER 2018

the fish are proving to be a bit finicky, prawn imitation lures like the Ecooda Live Shrimp, Chasebaits Flick Prawn and Gulp Shrimp can be good options as well. They can also be rigged weedless to be sunk down into a snag pile or rigged on a conventional jighead to fish open water and allow for an easier bite conversion. If targeting the drain mouths, shallow diving lures like the Bomber and Reidy’s B52 are proven fish catchers along with paddle-tail soft plastics like the ZMan 4” Diezel MinnowZ and SwimmerZ. Threadfin salmon will also be on the minds of many fishos as they begin to school up and become an easier target. After a very dry winter the water is extremely clear so targeting fish in deeper water will be an easier option until we receive some rain and in turn a bit of colour in the water. Over the neap tides the salmon will be more active in the deeper water with the shallows seeing more action over the spring tides.

You can find threadfin salmon all throughout the Sandy Straits, the Mary and Susan rivers and even the Burrum River and its tributaries. Soft vibes are fast becoming one of the go to lures for threadies as they can be worked over the flats, around the drains and in the deeper fast flowing water.

Small blades, hard vibes and prawn imitations are a great option when the threadies are hunting jelly prawn and small bait in the shallows as they can be extremely hard to tempt on bigger offerings.

The waters of the Fraser Coast boasts an excellent mangrove jack fishery with jacks to be found in most of our local creeks as well as some of the bigger river systems. The creeks on the western side of Fraser Island are a great starting point if you want to dance with the red devil. Just keep an eye on the tide as it can be quite easy to get stranded until the next incoming tide if you’re not paying attention. A variety

of hardbody lures and soft plastics will work, but if that’s not your cup of tea a live bait or fresh strip of mullet will suffice. The Burrum River and its three tributaries (Cherwell, Isis and Gregory rivers) also hold healthy populations of mangrove jack. You’ll also come across plenty of by-catch including tarpon, river GTs, queenfish and cod. Just keep an eye out for the rock bars if venturing into these waters.

If you want to have a bit of fun on the lighter spin tackle, October is a great time to target dusky flathead. You don’t necessarily need a boat to get into the action either as there are plenty of good flats accessible by foot along with likely areas such as the local creek mouths and even the first channel of the Urangan Pier. If you do have the luxury of being able to get out on the water, the flats on the western side of Fraser Island are a great place to start looking for a few lizards. Bouncing soft plastics along the bottom is a deadly method with the ZMan 3” MinnowZ and 4” StreakZ Cury Tailz being a couple of standout lures for the author.

Hardbody lures also account for plenty of fish, one of which is the Daiwa Double Clutch, which is highly regarded as one of the best lures for twitching over the flats.

Trolling deep diving lures is another good way to cover ground and locate patches of fish, the Zerek Tango Shad in ayu and pink bits has been popular amongst locals.

October is not just about the estuaries, as there are plenty of pelagics on offer.

School mackerel can be found in abundance around the local beacons, inshore reefs and the end of the Urangan Pier.

Spinning with metal spoons is a sure way of bagging a few schoolies along with fishing live herring or floating a pilly.

Good numbers of Spanish mackerel can be found this time of year and respond well to bigger baits such as whole bonito and garfish. Just remember to be cautious of keeping the bigger specimens, as the chance of ciguatera poisoning is just too high.

Spanish mackerel will also be high on the list for those heading over to Fraser Island fishing the eastern beaches.

The past few years has seen the popularity of slidebait and drone fishing grow immensely, and for good reason too with some exceptional catches of Spanish, GTs and sharks coming off the beach. This season has been excellent due to the lack of weed on the beach compared to previous seasons. Tailor numbers have been good and we generally see the bigger greenbacks hanging around later in the season.

With warmer water temperatures we should also

Tommo Dale about to release a juvenile billfish off Fraser Island. start to see a few more tuna arriving throughout the Central Bay and Platypus Bay. The ZMan 5” StreakZ in bubblegum colour is regarded as one of the must have tuna lures here in the bay, however a swag of other lures will work including metal slugs (typically the 20-40g sizes) and stickbaits such as the Rapala Long Cast and the Nashy Custom Lures stickbait.

October is also typically the start of our run of juvenile black marlin on the flats at Ronnies and throughout Platypus Bay. This annual event sees anglers from all over the county and even some international visitors arriving to try their luck at sight casting one of these majestic fish in the gin clear waters off Fraser Island. This form of fishing gets the heart pumping as it’s extremely visual – keeping your eyes peeled for any signs of movement before presenting a cast and waiting for the eat.

Because of the smaller size of these fish you can also downsize your gear significantly with a lot of anglers opting for a 4000 size spin reel and 20/30lb braid on a 7ft spin rod. With this sort of outfit you can cast a rigged gar, stickbait or soft plastic that these fiery little blacks are quite willing to have a crack at. This type of fishing is also very appealing for fly anglers running a 9-10wt outfit. There are not too many places in the world where you can sight cast to a marlin in such shallow water. You can also apply your conventional trolling tactics running a spread of lures behind a teaser using 8kg tackle or lighter. This seems to produce more numbers and covers a greater area.

Some of the popular lures in seasons gone by have been the Pakula Micro Sprocket and Micro Cockroach in various colours with the Squid Nation Flippy Floppy teaser proving popular among many light tackle fishers.

A juvenile black marlin getting some air time!

Bundaberg Toyota

Golden

BARRA

T hanks to

Barra are back on the bite LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

If last October was anything to go by then this year should a cracker.

At the start of the month we had a forecast for three weeks of northerly wind, which is a perfect way to start the season. As a result we were seeing big numbers of barra schooling up on most northerly facing points and bays from Bird Bay, SDA Bay and all the way down to the boat ramp area near the dam wall. It was motivating to say the least, especially when plenty of 1m+ barra were moving through on our sidescan sounders. These barra were playing hard to get for the first week but persistence paid off and they began to bite. As a trend these northerlies are common for this time of year, so it’s well worth keeping an eye on the up and coming wind predictions for Monduran to maximise your chances for finding feeding barra.

Suspending hardbody minnows in the size range of 80-100mm have been the standout lure. The Jackall Squirrel and Rapala XRD-10 is best used for casting to and along defined weed edges

weed beds where fish lanes have been created. Its shallow diving bib allows you to cast right up in the shallows without fouling your hooks on the under lying weed.

Barra at Monduran provide fishing the whole family can enjoy, father Craig and his son Oscar with his PB. then retrieved by slow rolling or with short sharp twitches with pauses in between.

The new Rapala RipStop is best used in the shallows and over the top of broken

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

With soft plastics the 4 and 6” ZMan SwimmerZ has been one of the standout. It is best rigged with Tackle Tactics Chinlock hooks and retrieved by slow rolling back to your boat.

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

A! BARNDRUR + E R T E M A H AN C T A C ON LAKE MO FISHING CHARTERS

GUIDELINES

E MONDURAN HING INFO VISIT LAK FOR UP TO DATE FIS TERS ON FACEBOOK AR CH G HIN FIS ES GUIEDLIN

NO

LICENCE REQUIRED

AWESOME HOUSEBOAT LUXURY 13.6M LONG

• Hot water • Sleeps 8, licensed for 10 • Self contained • DVD player • BBQ • Fridge/freezer 07 4157 3881 or email info@lakem.com.au

44

OCTOBER 2018

A typical big October barra. applies to all recreational and commercial fishers and anglers caught targeting barramundi face heavy penalties. However, through this closed period recreational anglers are legally allowed to target barra at Lake Monduran and other stocked impoundments inland from the Queensland coastal areas.

Size and possession limits still apply to these exempted waterways, so be sure to check up on the latest rules and regulations at fisheries. qld.gov.au. Being able to legally fish here through the closed season is a huge bonus to barra enthusiasts in the southeastern pocket of Queensland as Lake Monduran is only five hours

drive from the Gold Coast, four hours from Brisbane and three hours from the Sunshine Coast.

Whether you’re into fishing, bird watching, kayaking, skiing, photography, sight seeing or you just simply love camping in the great outdoors beside an open fireplace or relaxing in water-view cabins, Lake Monduran has you covered.

• We look forward to seeing all you keen anglers and holidaymakers for the start of barra season. For camping, accommodation, fishing charters and info please don’t hesitate to call us on (07) 4157 3881 or email info@ lakem.com.au or on my mobile 0410 599 147.

Baitfish bring barra and jacks BUNDABERG

BA RR A PA RK

Jackall Rythym Waves has been the other highly productive soft plastic.

Similar to the ZMan, it is best rigged with Tackle Tactics Chinlock or Headhunter Extreme hooks and retrieved by slow rolling them back to your boat.

MASA FAMILY FISHING COMP It’s that time of year again when the Monduran Stocking Group holds its annual family fishing comp.

This year will be the comps 20th anniversary and it’s a great weekend to get away with the family and enjoy all that the competition has to offer. There will be food and bar facilities available all weekend and there will be some great prizes up for grabs: $1000 for the biggest barra, $500 for the biggest bass and boat motor and trailer package as a lucky draw prize available to all entrants.

The annual barramundi closed season along Queensland’s east coast starts from midday 1 November 2018 and is affective through to midday 1 February 2019. The closure

The hardest thing about living in the Wide Bay Burnett region is choosing what species of fish to target. September saw me in the Baffle chasing flathead and mangrove jack, I headed down to Maryborough to target some bass and barra and I even snuck offshore in search of a red emperor. October should be even better with the water temperature rising and the fish moving; it’s game on.

THE BAFFLE Usually the talk of the Baffle this time of year is flathead and even though they are around in good numbers, it’s the mangrove jack arrival that is turning heads. On a recent outing to the Baffle the mouth had quite a few small to medium size flathead moving around the shallows. I found schools of flathead sitting on points up in the mangroves at high tide and as the tide dropped they moved into the deepest holes in the area.

The water is still very clear and my go to lure was a 3” Berkley Gulp Shrimp on the high water cast around mangroves and hopped out slowly. As the tide dropped

small vibes were the go.

I headed upstream on another visit putting in at the ferry crossing upstream. The water is very clear up there and we found we spooked a lot of fish in the shallows.

There are hundreds of bream cruising across most of the sand flats and if you want to target them a small lightly-weighted 2-3” soft plastic would work a treat.

We were targeting mangrove jack, so my go-to lures are a 4” plastic, a Tilsan Barra hardbodied lure and stickbait surface lure. The bream did chase down and hit our lures regularly but the 30lb leader and larger lures in the clear water meant they weren’t that committed.

What was promising was the amount of baitfish showing up that far upstream at this time of the year and with prawns also having a show, the jacks and barramundi will be full on very soon. I did put a nice jack of around 45cm in the boat on a weedless rigged plastic rolled through a nasty looking fallen tree. We had a few other sightings of jacks and caught a few by-catch species like trevally and queenfish. My tip would be to get up there this month, it’s going to fish very well.

You will need a small boat as the river has silted right up in sections and is very difficult, if not impossible, to navigate on the low tide.

Finding new ground and using live baits will bring the rewards.

OFFSHORE I have been lucky enough to sneak offshore in some of the good weather lately and the fishing has been hit and miss. The pelagics weren’t anywhere to be seen but the whales certainly were everywhere. We did manage a nice feed of mixed reef species with my favourite eating fish, the parrot, being abundant. We also picked up some frying pan snapper

and a cracking nannygai.

Other reports have had some decent coral trout and some sizeable 5-6kg snapper being caught off some of the local wrecks.

October should see the start of the baitfish moving, then the big schools of tuna and all the species of mackerel turning up to chase them.

A tip for those trying to get the better quality reef fish: live bait.

Rising water temperatures fire up barramundi GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

Inshore the jacks have started firing up, which is great to see. There’s plenty of clean water due to the lack of fresh flow, so all systems pretty much have been yielding good jacks. The Boyne, the Calliope, the Narrows, Turkey Beach – they’ve all been producing good fish.

who fished the shallows didn’t do quite as well, but that’s probably because the warmer water hasn’t really pushed in yet. That warmer water shouldn’t be too far away though, and then the fishing in the shallows should pick up.

The guys who have been venturing further north to the fern country, in around 30m of water, have been getting good numbers of nannygai. Most of them

through until November or December.

Spanish are still around in good numbers, and we should be starting to see the end of the school-size fish and more larger fish now. If you can get hold of big wolf herring, now is the time to get out and slow troll those big baits for the big fish!

AWOONGA DAM The dam has started to really fire, which is

You couldn’t wipe the smile from Milton Peter’s face after landing this cracking saltwater barra.

Jarrod Day with a solid estuary grunter taken on a Yakamito Viper Vibe.

Additionally, because the water temperatures have risen a couple of degrees, even the barra have started to become a little more active. Once again, the Happy Rock Softies and Castaic Jerky J shads have been doing the damage in the salt.

There are still plenty of grunter in the harbour and down at Turkey Beach. It shouldn’t be long before we see the big schools of spawning fish turn up at the usual offshore places and we can really start having some fun using light jigging gear.

We are still getting black jew in the harbour.

Fresh bait makes all the difference with jewfish.

Those anglers who don’t have fresh bait aren’t getting anywhere, but the guys who have put in the effort to get quality bait have been getting results.

The best baits are fresh local squid and fresh cuttlefish heads.

Crabs are really quiet, which is to be expected. I can’t see catches improving until we get rain.

OFFSHORE Offshore we had some good weather at the start of September, and pretty much everyone who got out caught fish. Some quality reds were caught by anglers fishing the deeper water, around 40m+. Those

are caught on either live baits or jigs. The new Nomad Buffalo jigs are working well, along with Yakamito Rager jigs.

We’ve had our first signs of some little black marlin showing up inshore; a couple of anglers chasing Spanish mackerel have had them chasing their lures. Some blacks were landed around the 15kg mark around the 12 Mile area throughout September. Marlin catches should pick up from now

awesome. The average water temperature has gone from 20°C up to 23°C, which normally triggers the first real bite.

Although the likes of Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing have been catching fish throughout winter, the dam should really start to fire from now on.

Shallow running hardbodies like the Imakatsu Gekiasa Alive Rollers, Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnows and Yakamito

Nic Cowan christened his new rod and reel combo with this cracking red in the recent good weather.

A fat Awoonga barra taken on a Yakamito Hyper Jerk.

BK125s have been doing the damage around the shallow bays and weed beds. In the timber, deeper running suspending hardbodies like Jackall Squirrels and 4” and 5” plastics like Castaics, Lunker Citys and Happy Rocks have been accounting for most fish.

There are so many fish in this dam that I expect it to be a really good year for us. The amount of fish the Gladstone Area Water Board has released into it over the past few years is an absolute credit to all involved, and with the average growth rate at 1mm per day I expect to see some much bigger fish being landed this season.

• For more information on what’s biting, or to stock up with all the tackle and bait you need, drop into LJ’s Compleat Angler Gladstone

at the Gladstone Marina on Bryan Jordan Drive.

You can also check out

the latest news, photos and specials at Facebook Compleat Angler Gladstone.

Cracked ya tinny?

Or maybe you need a casting deck, console, rails, motor bracket, fuel tanks or a bait tank.

At Iconic Boats we can fix or customise your rig. We cater for all budgets from basic alterations to full tournament boat modifictions.

ICONIC BOATS 102 HOSKINS ST, SANDGATE QLD 4017

0475 311 447

OCTOBER 2018

45

Estuaries turn it on in October ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The fishing over the last month has been pretty solid and we have enjoyed mostly good weather. The Fitzroy River is holding a great number of threadies and barra, and all the estuaries are holding a great amount of bait especially prawns.

With the days getting longer and warmer it won’t be long until we see the freshwater firing up.

fish if you want to get a late afternoon surface fishing fix.

During the day big plastics or large deep divers are still the go for many of the areas.

There are plenty of freshwater creeks and lagoons just south of Rockhampton that are worth exploring and hold good fish, Blacks Hole near Raglan is a great example. The barra are taking slower action lures with long pauses whereas the tarpon are hitting the lure when it’s moved over them with a bit of pace.

ESTUARIES Flathead have been a very

Matt Hildebrandt with a good threadfin from up in town.

LAGOONS The freshwater lagoons and creeks around the region are pretty empty at the moment, but there are still pockets of water in walking distance that are holding good

easy capture recently and have been sitting at the bottom of drop offs and pockets of water. There have been plenty of grunter, Moses perch and mangrove jack around the rocky points and mangrove

FRASER ISLAND FISHING UNITS Indian Head I Fraser Island

A FISHO’S DREAM For bookings or enquiries contact: Cliff Andreassen 0428 712 283 or 07 5449 9346 bearfish@bigpond.com • www.fraserislandfishingunits.com.au

edges. The 60-70mm soft vibes and 10cm shallow divers have been doing the trick, the X-Rap10 is a great example and has worked well. The smaller pelagic species and salmon have been caught closer to the mouth of these areas. Queenfish have been pretty dominant and are always a fun bit of action on light gear.

There is a huge amount of bait in the estuaries at the moment with plenty of herring and mullet in the Causeway, Coorooman and Corio Bay. There has also been great amounts of prawns in the Causeway and Fitzroy.

FITZROY The river has been fishing very well for quite some time now. Plenty of big fish are getting caught, including a fish of a lifetime, a 138cm barramundi. The threadies are still grouped small but have been easier to target than the previous month. The trick is to mix up the lures and try what others aren’t using. They have seen every size shape brand and colour of vibe at this point. The bait supply in the river has been excellent

with plenty of prawns being caught. Some key spots are the old warf, the run-off from the mud flats across from Gavial Creek, the water pipe up from the new northside ramp and the Nerimbera boat ramp. If you are lucky enough to be in a boat, you can also find the prawns on the sounder – having a chirp function definitely helps.

INSHORE REGIONS This region has been fishing great for the last month.

Many people have been getting some great results throwing Halco Twistys

Holt Swim Prawns did the damage on this barra in Ross Creek. and various other lures off the rocky headlands. Other anglers with the chance to

The Corio Bay sand flats still prove to be a great place to escape the wind. Matt got this nice barra on a Holt Swim Prawn.

Waiting for the warmer weather STANAGE BAY

Pee Wee

This time of year slows down a little for Stanage in regards to fish and crabs. So if you’ve been there recently and found it harder than normal to land your favourite catch, please don’t be discouraged. They will be back.

Crabbers have had to go further up the creeks to be able to get their fill and even then sizing is slightly under

Absolute beachfront Campground situated at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef

the usual giant muddies known to the area.

Fishing the Shoalwater area should get you among some great grunter and queenfish spots at the moment.

Sail Rock is showing good potential for mackerel, with a few good ones being brought in for show and tell. Steep also has a few mackerel, although they’re not going crazy out there.

The Percy may be a bit quiet, but when on the bite has definitely delivered some awesome sized red emperor and parrotfish. One lucky fisher hooked a beautiful snapper, which aren’t that common for the bay.

Marble Island has coral trout being caught on lure and

squid bait. Other fish species caught includes red emperor, stripey, cod and sweet lip, all enjoying cuttlefish.

The Jew Hole is yet to fully come alive but this shouldn’t be too far off.

Bream can be caught around Quail Island and in Porters Creek off the bank using prawn.

Even though finding the fish has been a bit more challenging, it’s been great seeing some anglers branch out to test new rigs and methods to better their chances. Who knows what something different could bring.

The road crew have begun dropping off maintenance machinery, so it won’t be too long and the road condition

Safe swimming with our own white sandy beach Excellent small boat mooring in front of the Campground Catch Coral Trout, Red Emperor, Sweetlip etc within an hours boat trip from the Campground

Easy access to great Reef & Estuary Fishing and Mud Crabbing 100 powered sites with 27 absolute beachfront sites with fireplaces

Bookings please phone 0749 749286 Website: 1770campingground.com.au Email: camping1770@tpg.com.au Bookings essential weekends and school holidays 46

OCTOBER 2018

take the boat out have been doing well on heavier Halco Twistys, Gulp jigging grubs and Molix gigs. Some great pelagic species have been captured recently using jigs and plastics. The trick is to bring them up quickly off the bottom 4-7m of the water column and then letting them sink back down before bringing them up quickly again while drifting a section of reef.

If you have any fishing photos of the Rockhampton/ Gladstone region, feel free to send them through to me at clay94_fishing@live.com. au with a brief description of where you caught the fish and how you caught it.

Dakota Young with her red emperor caught at the Marbles.

should start to improve, as it’s a bit rugged of late.

Fisheries have been for a couple of visits so make sure you have all the correct safety gear on board. If crabbing, ensure your pots are set up correct and don’t forget your bag limits. It all saves the hassles of an unwanted fine and a dampener on your trip.

The township has been reasonably quiet but holidays are almost here, so get to Stanage early to secure your prime camp spot or accommodation and top fishing ground.

I wish you all good weather and hungry fish for the month ahead.

• Book into your Stanage Bay rental – all the rentals are set up for fishers and are budget priced – bring some camping gear with you and spend a night or two on the islands.

Many fisher rentals are continually improving. Once it used to be simply the basics, however now it’s about the amount of toilets, fishcleaning areas and parking, not to mention the closeness to the boat ramp, pub, fuel and tackle shop. Call Pee Wee on (07) 4937 3145 or email stanagebaymarine@ bigpond.com for any further queries on Stanage Bay.Until next time, enjoy the photos.

For more pics, find them on the Stanage Bay Marine & Accommodation Facebook or anywhere on the web.

AUSTRALIA’S NUMBER ONE FISHFINDER.

NOW AVAILABLE ON

WWW.LOWRANCE.COM OCTOBER 2018

47

Try different tactics YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

The incredible run of large threadfin seems to keep coming, but there are a couple of patterns forming.

In recent weeks it has been more important to try different tactics and lures to get them to bite. Early in the year they would take almost any lure or plastic thrown at them and were only fussy with live baits. As the year progressed and they were hammered they went

off certain lures for short periods and only took small live prawns. They then went back to the vibes and started taking small mullet and crab style lures. Right now they are taking very small live mullet, prawns, paddletail plastics and vibes. You can bet that will change after they get used to each style again.

This time last year many threadfin were taken while trolling the channel drop off downstream from Gavial Creek. We found that the lures needed to be fluoro when the water was dirty and more

Robert Kann landed a blue Maori on a recent trip to the fern country.

natural looking when the water was clearer. The average depth where the schools were hanging was around 5-6m.

The lures that worked the best were lures that ran in the same range. Use the same trolling methods as you would for flathead where the lure will bump bottom occasionally and kick up small clouds of mud without dredging the bottom.

Go as slow as you can when the water is dirty and just a little quicker when the water is clear. Each time you go for threadfin it pays to have a range of options ,and be prepared to try them all before finding the right method on the day.

Barramundi are picking up every day and have started to come back on up in the town reaches of Rockhampton. The lack of rain and fresh flowing down the river has spread them over a large area of the river.

Things have been quieter in town than usual, while the delta and Port Alma areas have produced many quality fish.

There is a lot of bait moving right through all of the systems and that is a good reason to take the cast net if things are quiet on lures.

A recent run up to Corio with Rod Harrison has changed a few of my ideas on different stages of the tide. Some of the

Bonito FACTORY DIRECT

Sportsfishing Boats AUSTRALIA

The ultimate in fishing and design

• Tiller Series 5.0m and 5.6m • Centre, Side Console Series 5.0m and 5.6m

ER NO TIMB NO ROT

Suzi Kaboozie with a nice Spanish mackerel she landed just up the coast. old faithful ideas I had needed to be modified to entice a bite.

There are definite bite periods and being in the right spot for those periods can make all the difference to your day. Look for spots that are heavy enough with structure to slow or divert the run at particular stages of the tide. Barra will use cover to save energy. I have now expanded the styles of lures I use and brought in a few of the larger bass type lures that work better on sharper jerks and twitches.

The different systems we have here each require something a little different to get fish regularly. The one common theme is there are plenty of barra around in all of them. The barra season closes at 12:00pm 1 November and reopens 12:00pm 1 February.

It is illegal to target them for that period except in the freshwater impoundments.

Mangrove jack have been showing up in better numbers than we normally get. As it gets warmer they will start feeding even more aggressively. The Causeway Lake is our local hotspot but there are populations in every system in the area: the Fitzroy River, the Narrows, Corio Bay and the little creeks on Curtis Island: Coorooman, Pumpkin, Kinka, Ross, Barwells, Waterpark, Deep and Fishing creeks. Look for snags and structures that have water around them at all stages of the tide. Under mangrove branches and fallen trees or along rock bars and holes are generally the places to try.

In recent weeks flathead have been in fine form right around the local estuaries.

They gathered for spawning and will soon start to spread back along the systems. The bays and broader estuary mouths are the starting point.

They line the channel edges and eddies taking just about everything from small live baits, flesh baits, prawns, pillies, plastics and hardbodies.

One of our best inshore sportsfish has lifted to another level in recent weeks. Most of our headlands and even the outer harbour wall can hold queenfish. There are a few methods that work for queenies but my favourite is casting poppers. We use 100mm poppers in blue or pink on as light gear as you are game enough to use. They prefer the whitewater edges of headlands, rock walls or bommies. Everyone has a different style, but for me, I like to drift past the chosen area as wide from the structure as I can get and still place a cast right into the turbulence.

I use a high-speed reel as fast as I can wind. Although they are fairly clean fighters, queenies often run between the bommies causing havoc.

Queenfish are often found along the Corio headlands and the beaches over at Keppel, getting amongst the herring and hardihead schools.

Most of the regular mackerel species have arrived in some quantity and from now until after Christmas the run shouldn’t stop. Doggies, spotties and Spanish follow the schools of baitfish and they usually hang around the bay long enough to fatten up before travelling back up or down the coast. Over the smaller tides spots like Barren, Outer,

Man and Wife, and Conical can work well for Spanish mackerel. When the tides are up, Manifold, Flat, Perforated, the Pinnacles and Liza Jane are hard to go past. Spotties and doggies congregate at nearly all the inshore reefs or headlands from army country down to Cape Capricorn. The rock walls around Rosslyn Bay Harbour are special on those quiet glassy days.

The offshore fishing has again been a highlight this month and the wider reefs from the islands to the wide grounds have produced.

Squid, pillies and flesh strips are the popular baits. I like to use live yakka or scad if I can get them. My other favourite is half iodines or hussar. I cut them straight down the line and put half on at a time.

I find that the pickers and smaller stuff can’t wreck it before the big fish move in.

Slow jigging reefies has really taken off and plenty of the local young fellas don’t even take bait anymore.

Tides are important for how you fish offshore and by varying the tactics you can increase your chance of a feed. On the slower tides the fish spread out over the rubble areas of the reef. When the tides are bigger and faster the fish tend to bunch up closer to the structures using the eddies and pressure waves to save their energy for the slack periods around the change.

The guys fishing the deeper water have started catching quality snapper again. The grounds in the 50-65m range are turning out a few of them in between the reds and big nannies.

Bonito Boats Steiglitz Qld  Roger 0438 886 813  Martin 0416 099 908



 STABLE AT REST  NO TIMBER SELF DRAINING DECK  SOFT DRY RIDE

www.bonitoboats.com.au 48

OCTOBER 2018

Craig Robertson aboard a local charter with a fine Keppel Bay cobia.

Bag barra before it closes MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

What a start we have had to the barra season in Mackay waters, with barra currently on the chew in all our creeks and river systems. The hot September days have certainly stirred up some barra action in the salt and freshwater and anglers have been having a ball on these great sportfish. October will see anglers making a great effort to get among the barra before the closed season starts on 1 November.

you fish too close. Big plastics and soft vibes seem to be the favoured lure here.

For the boat angler, good launching facilities are available in River Street in the city and that gives access through the system. Local anglers fish towards the mouth at night with live baits and lures. Again the large paddletails like Castaic and similar score well along with Fuze, Threadybusters and similar soft vibes. Don’t be afraid to use big lures in the river with 150-200mm paddle-tails readily scoffed by barra.

To the north of the city all the systems hold barra

with Reliance, Constant and Murray creeks probably the most popular. Of late there has been plenty of fish caught in all of them, with many anglers targeting the upper reaches working vibes in and around the deeper holes.

Murray Creek is in the NFZ and all the smaller creeks in the Zone will continue to improve without having to run the gauntlet of nets.

South of the city, Bakers, Sandy, Plane and Rocky Dam creeks all offer shorebased and boat fishing. Be extra careful in Rocky Dam Creek as it is home to some very sizeable mud geckos.

Lachlan Ferguson took advantage of a cool calm morning to score this great Spanish mackerel. It was taken near Round Top Island just off Mackay.

So if you are a visitor to paradise, where to start chasing barra is always a problem, as we have so many options available. The best bet is to buy some gear from the local tackle shops and have a yarn to their staff as they know what’s on the bite and where. They can also give advice on boat ramps, tides etc. The locals are always a great resource so make use of their knowledge.

Starting right in the heart of Mackay, the Pioneer River offers clean clear water with barra being a regular catch from the upper tidal reaches right to the mouth. The landbased angler gets plenty of opportunities to tangle with a barra or two in this area.

The rocks either side of the highway bridge allow anglers to access the run-through areas. Live baits and lures will score plenty of barra. Paddletail plastics, hardbodies and soft vibes will all work but the rocks take their toll on lures.

Further upstream the fishing platform is a good place to start and anglers can also walk the sand banks in this general area, but watch the incoming tide doesn’t strand you. Even further up towards the Dumbleton Weir, there are many walking tracks on the north side leading down to the river and plenty of barra are caught here around the top of the tide. Make sure you stay the required 200m from the weir wall, as the patrol field staff keep a close eye on this area and you will be fined if

So don’t wade in dirty waters and don’t clean fish anywhere near a ramp. Basic common sense and not putting yourself in risky situations will see that you don’t become a croc victim.

In addition to the upper reaches of the creeks, look for barra around any gully mouth, no matter how small. Any rocks or mangroves out from the main banks will always be worth a thorough work over before moving on. My preference is to work lures or flies and each snag should get at least three casts, in front, along the side and into the back of the snag is pretty standard practice. Floating hardbodies, vibes and big plastics all work well and the plastics can be rigged weedless in an effort to prevent snagging as much as possible. For flies I use Deceivers, mullet styles, DK Dancers, articulated streamers and Clousers all of which will score fish. All lure fishos should have a selection of poppers and walk-the-dog style lures in their selections as barra just smash these and that really gets the angler and any other nearby barra hyped up.

Mackay is very lucky that its barra fishing is not restricted to mangrove creeks, as we have good numbers in the Pioneer River freshwater and Kinchant, Eungella and Teemburra dams. The Council are doing road works on the Teemburra access road and it is going to be closed during October and possibly into

anglers a real challenge. Big plastics are the most common lure used and any of the super large paddle-tails or curlytails will work, but I suggest rigging weedless, as apart from barra Kinchant is renowned for weed. Surface lures like Tango Dancers and plastic frogs work well at Kinchant too. For the flyfishers, use offerings with plenty of flash with either gold or chrome highlights and I suggest a minimum of an 8WT outfit.

Eungella is a predominately sooty grunter fishery and is home to some absolute monsters, but it is stocked each year with barra

by MAFSA and during the hotter months it is well worth a trip chasing barra. The weed bed edges in the open dam and in the timber are good starters, and lay down timbers are also worth hammering.

Remember all three dams need a SIPS permit and are regularly checked by the patrol.

As the weather heats up even more, not only will barra be on the bite, but there will also be plenty of grunter, flathead, jacks, and cod in the creeks. The grunter and flatties will be in more open water while the cod and jacks will be in the snags. Live baits will score plenty of fish as will strip baits of gar and mullet. Prawns

Brothers Jai and Sam Chetham with a double header of Spanish mackerel trolled up on squid and gar combinations. open estuaries. Yabbies are the number one bait for these delicious little battlers. Have a chat to the guys in the tackle shops for tips on where to pump yabbies and up to date info on where the whiting are biting. For a change try walkthe-dog style small lures on the sand flats and you may score some really nice whiting as well as flatties. I have tied up some modified carp worm style flies that I am keen to give a swim where the whiting hang out and hopefully can crack some on my 6WT fly outfit.

Offshore there will be plenty of action as well, with the calm northerlies allowing bigger boats to access the far wide reefs while the small tinnie anglers will have pelagics close inshore all over the place. During September the bait schools started to

show up inshore and the tuna, macks and trevally all turned up on cue and spots like the Harbour, Flat, and Round Top islands and the NFZ islands will all produce plenty of pelagics over the next couple of months. Watch the green zones in the NFZ as it has lately been reported that many recreaational anglers are being fined for not sticking to the rules. This may be a case of them not knowing where the green zones are, but there are plenty of maps available at tackle shops showing the no fish areas.

The biggest headache for Mackay anglers during October will be deciding whether to chase barra, jacks, mackerel, reefies, or head to the dams and what a great headache to have. October will be a great month so come and join us in paradise.

FISHING EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME! Jake McGowan was pleasantly surprised to jig up this good black jew while working some bait found on the sounder.

November. Check with the Council or local tackle shops for the latest updates.

Kinchant is home to monster barra, and working the points, weed islands and channels will turn up fish from 500-1500mm, offering

will be very much dependant on rain and creeks getting a good flush out, as our winter has been very dry this year, so live prawn baits are a bit scarce at the moment.

Whiting anglers will find plenty along our beaches and

• Reef, Deep Sea and Sport Fishing • Swains, Samurez, Cap Bunker Group • Dories available • LUXURY 20m Cat. New V8 Scanias. Large comfortable and stable.

• Air conditioned and fast (cruise up to 16 knots) • Professional crew (over 22 years experience) • Cater for groups up to 12 people from 3 to 10 days • BYO or fully licenced bar • Desalinate unit • Trips designed to suit your requirements

SATELLITE TV INSTALLED

Phone: 0427 125 727 I Fax: (07) 4972 1759 michael@mikat.com.au

www.mikat.com.au OCTOBER 2018

49

Be on your guard for Spaniards WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

How nice is spring? Long runs of calm balmy days, bait schools are beginning to flicker everywhere, the water is nice and clean and we don’t have to put on three layers of clothes in the morning before venturing out onto the ocean.

The winter fishing here in the Whitsundays has been a mixed bag this year, with some species firing really well and others being hard to find.

The deeper reef fishing, which

Terry Carman has been catching some crackers.

Young Reef Underwood with his best stripey to date, a nice chunky 38cm model that he caught on a hardbody. is normally one of my staple cooler month tactics, has been a patchy affair this winter. I have managed to get a few good sessions hunting grunter and jewfish but that’s it, only a few good bites.

Jewfish have been around and in good numbers. During most of my sessions chasing these big silver speedsters I have only encountered those on the small side. It has been the same story with the largemouth nannygai. There have been plenty of fish around but the big ones have been scarce.

They are one species that has been adversely affected since tropical cyclone Debbie came to pay us a visit.

On a positive note the Spanish mackerel season has been a cracker and with the winds settled we are able to get at them almost on a daily basis. The fish have been concentrated mostly around the outer edges of the islands in particular Rattray Island, which has turned on some really nice fish this year. On

Reel Addiction we’ve been catching them by all sorts of ploys but the most successful ploy has been the age-old favourite of slow trolling ribbonfish. On some days we’ve been feeding them to the macks like they’re lollies.

This is one of my favourite times of year to get out and enjoy a fish anywhere in our wonderful state. The bite from the winter fish is still lingering and onset of the summer bite is just beginning. There will still be a few Spanish mackerel to be caught before they all head south for the summer.

Out on the same grounds, as the mackerel are departing the billfish are arriving.

One thing that I have noticed here at Hydeaway Bay is that we don’t seem to get the same numbers of sailfish that the main Whitsunday group gets. When we get a billfish bite here it is usually just from small black marlin. This doesn’t really worry me too much, as I’m happy to have a go at any type of billfish

The macks just kept rolling in this month with this nice one caught by Matt.

50

OCTOBER 2018

– they’re a blast. Last year the mackerel and the billfish travelled up and down the coast out wide of us and didn’t come inshore to the islands and as a consequence we largely dipped out on both species.

This year we’ve enjoyed a good mackerel season so I hold high hopes that w,e’ll be able to get into some good stick face action.

Reef anglers will be happy now as well. The water temps are increasing at a rapid rate and as this happens the coral trout and other reef dwellers will come to life from their slumber and begin to snap their heads

fishing. A simple light spin rod rigged with a long and light fluorocarbon leader and a handful of small lures and you’re in the game. As far as lures go all you really need is a small popper, stickbait and a few small lightly-weighted soft plastics and you’re away.

You don’t even need a boat as the flats straight out in front of Dingo Beach and Hydeaway Bay are great places to start your sight fishing hunt.

The lower portions of the tide are the best times to go for a wander on the flats. If you’re going to be wading and not fishing from a boat

Geoff Gibbs is just one of many anglers this month who were happy to catch their first Spanish mackerel. foreign noise or disturbance in the water will see your intended quarry bolt for the horizon before you can blink.

Move slowly, take your time and when you do sight that big fish try and keep your heart in your chest so you

catch huge numbers of fish but it is highly addictive and when successful it’s the most self-rewarding form of fishing that I have experienced. So if you haven’t tried it yet, get on out there and have a go.

Remember it doesn’t have

Bernie Dendle with yet another good Spaniard.

It’s been awesome to go out and tangle with fish of this calibre on a daily basis. off. A lot of this action will happen close inshore around the inner islands and mainland reefs, which is great news for the small tinny brigade.

On the mainland beaches the fishing will begin to get a bit tougher the more the water temperatures climb. The whiting will become more scarce and the flathead bite will subside as well. Prudent anglers hunting around with small lures will still be able to have some fun chasing schools of small trevally, giant herring and more.

One of my favourites when it comes to sportfishing is to hit the flats and indulge in some sight fishing and now is the time to get into it. Here at Hydeaway Bay we are truly blessed to have such an array of first class flats with deluxe species on offer.

Sight fishing the flats is traditionally the domain of fly anglers, but you don’t have to be an avid fluff chucker to enjoy this style of

the water obviously needs to be shallow enough to walk in and to be able to sight the fish. If you select a time when the tide is too high then it won’t be flats fishing, you’ll be beach fishing. Be aware that this is stealth fishing and quietness is of the utmost importance. Any

Doug with a nice barramundi cod, they are a sensational looking fish. This fish was of course released promptly and in good health after a couple of quick snaps. can make that nice neat cast.

Once hooked up, hold on and enjoy the ride.

This isn’t the style of fishing where you’ll normally

John Martinali with a stomper of a giant trevally.

This fish successfully wore out two anglers before coming to the side of the boat.

to be about the quantity of fish that you catch, it’s all about the hunt.

• Reel Addiction Sport Fishing Charters specialises in light tackle fishing for all tropical sportfishing species on fly, lures and bait. Reel Addiction operates from the beautiful Cape Gloucester Beach Resort, 40 minutes’ drive north of Airlie Beach.

Combined fishing charter and accommodation packages are available. For more information, contact Mick Underwood on 0413 882 153 or email mick@reeladdiction. com.au. Resort enquiries can be directed to Julie Houston on (07) 4945 7242 or at info@capeg.com.au. To stay in touch with what’s biting, check out the Reel Addiction Sport Fishing Whitsundays page on Facebook.

Calm weather rewards Burdekin boaties AYR

Steve Farmer

After a windy winter that kept bluewater anglers land-bound for much of this prime fishing time, Burdekin fishers could hardly believe their luck when the persistent 20 knots gave way to light winds and flat seas as the rising temperatures signalled the end of the cooler months.

This happened not just once, but a number of times and to top things off, these much longed for weather windows even came through on the weekends!

That meant keen boaties not working the weekends were able to make a number of runs to the shoals and reefs, catching up on fishing and boating they had missed out on last season.

Russell and Brad Sutcliffe, and Jack Hawkins were one crew that made the most of the calm weather, slipping the Haines 21 from the trailer into Ocean Creek at around 1:00am Saturday morning for a full day of bottom bouncing on the outer reefs. They arrived

back at the boat ramp at 5:30 that afternoon with a reasonable catch of red throat, large-mouth nannygai, coral trout and one large goldspot cod. The trio tried to release the cod, but it came from deep water and didn’t look like it was going to recover very well.

Russell said they took it relatively slow on the night trip out for fear of tangling with one of the many whales cruising up the Queensland coast at the time. While they didn’t encounter any on the way out, they could hear the whales breaching just before dawn when they were anchored up and fishing.

The only disappointing part of the trip was that the sharks gave them a hard time, a common complaint from bluewater fishers these days.

Despite the calm weather other bluewater reports have been scarce.

Spanish mackerel catches especially have been quiet and by October most of the migrating Spaniards will be through coastal waters and more likely to be taken around the reefs further offshore. Of course, inshore waters always hold a Spaniard or two throughout

the year and even during the warmer months anglers who drift a pilly or troll a lure could get lucky.

For squid lovers, whether it is on the plate or the bait board, Cape Upstart has been yielding a few for anglers prepared to work a prawn lure through the Cape’s clear, shoreline waters. It’s a relaxing way to spend an hour or two early in the morning.

In the estuaries, catches have been a mixture of summer and winter species.

Whiting (especially quality specimens) are tapering off as the mercury climbs, but bream are still fishing well. Most creeks and beaches across the district are producing reasonable numbers, with Morris Creek a winner in both numbers and size.

It will be worth targeting bream for another month or so, best baits being slabbed mullet or peeled prawns.

The other popular species is the flathead and the old lizard often stays in our estuaries and along our beaches in varying numbers throughout spring. They are often easily tempted with either a bait or lure, but can also be frustratingly

disinterested in whatever you throw at them. The trick with baits and lures is to keep them moving slowly across the bottom, stirring up a trail of sand – the classic wounded baitfish imitation.

Grunter is the other estuary species that often seems to be on the chew for much of the year. However, I haven’t heard much from Bowling Green Bay, the Burdekin home of the big grunter. Fresh squid, small livies or a juicy slab are all effective baits for the big grunter. Most estuaries are producing smaller fish with many that are barely legal size and hardly worth putting in the icebox.

Summer species that should be moving into local estuaries around now are the barramundi and mangrove jack.

Jacks are a favourite, with many anglers. They’re hard hitting, hard-fighting and they’re top tucker.

They also respond well to a variety of techniques so whether you’re a bait fisher or lure tosser you’re in with a good chance of tangling with this bronzed battler.

With the closed season just weeks away, barra

Brad Sutcliffe tried to revive this cod after landing it in deep water, but it didn’t respond well enough to be released. will be on the top of many anglers’ wish lists. Midday on 1 November marks the start of the closed season, which doesn’t open again until midday on 1

February 2019.

Barra catches haven’t been prominent in the Burdekin this year, hopefully rising temperatures should get them far more active.

DROP IN TO YOUR LOCAL QUINTREX DEALER! BUNDABERG

BOATS GALORE

142 Enterprise St, Bundaberg

PHONE 07 4152 6744 SUNSHINE COAST RAY SCHOLES MARINE 146 Eumundi Rd, Noosaville

PHONE 07 5449 7633 SUNSHINE COAST

CALOUNDRA MARINE

8 Baldwin St, Caloundra

PHONE 07 5491 1944 TOOWOOMBA WATER SKIERS WAREHOUSE 91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba

PHONE 07 4637 9511 GOLD COAST

SURF COAST MARINE

50-54 Brisbane Rd, Labrador

PHONE 07 5563 7733 TWEED COAST

TWEED COAST MARINE

32 Machinery Drive, Tweed Heads

PHONE 07 5524 8877 OCTOBER 2018

51

A great time to get into the jigging craze HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

Previous weeks have turned on some great weather and it is good to see the ramps full of boats again.

Offshore the reef is fishing well and plenty of anglers are taking these opportunities, as things don’t always go to plan throughout the year as far as weather is concerned.

Numerous reports indicate that it’s all firing out there.

I recently took ET out for a few days filming and the Hinchinbrook region really turned on some great fishing. Big goldspot cod, large scarlets and cobia on the jigs made for some fun fishing. Those who have not yet got into the jigging craze should have a think about it, as it’s great fun and means no more dirty bait stains on your shirts.

There are a number of jig sizes to take into account to suit the application and species you are after. Your local tackle shop will be able to show you the various jigs and outfits used in jigging.

It doesn’t really matter if

you are using jigs or bait, this is a very good time of year offshore and the building tides are the times you really need to be there. Reef pelagics such as Spaniards have finally showed up. The next two months should still be good for them before they disappear until next year. The juvenile marlin have been very quiet this year, which has been disappointing.

Further north around Cairns had better results.

Inshore anglers have had one of the best seasons on spotted mackerel for some time. They are quite easy to catch and very tasty. They

have also been caught in amongst schools of northern bluefin tuna, as both species feed on juvenile herring at the same time of year, so sometimes you don’t know what you have on the line.

The barra fishing has been touch and go from what I hear and that can happen this time of year as the waters slowly start to warm. Some anglers have been finding the fish but getting them on is difficult and other days they are more than willing to feed, but hopefully we get some more consistency in the next month.

Trout have been off tap – everyone is catching them.

A lot of school size barra are on the menu this month.

These waters have been fishing well for golden snapper. Night has been undoubtedly the best and some catches as high as 30 fish in a session. Daylight hours have been a bit more difficult and resorting back to livies is best during the day.

The channel has so many areas to look for golden snapper and it’s really not as hard as it looks. The outside of the island has a couple of good areas to target them.

Eva Island and Hillock Point

have been well known for their fishing for a very long time and are good places to try for those getting started.

October will mean the start of all things barra.

Anglers would have dusted off their gear by now as the boat ramp queues start to grow. There are a number of fishing comps during October and a busy time on the water can be expected.

Hinchinbrook is well known for its extensive gutter and drain fishing and its only

natural when you take a look from the air, as the extensive mud flats that line the shores of the island seem endless.

Hinchinbrook is best known for its numbers of schoolsized fish and the gutters where most are caught.

• If you would like to book a charter or join our fishing community for some great fishing competitions etc, head on over to www. ryanmoodyfishing.com. And you could also win a free charter drawn twice a year.

The Superb range of XP Bait Butterfly Ice Jigs are going to be a must have lure in 2017!

These Baits feature many unique attributes and have many various Patents.

The XP Bait Butterfly Ice Jigs feature butterfly wings that open up on the drop to slow the glide down and makes the Jig flutter through the water column.

This keeps the Jig in the strike zone for longer so it allows for more strikes.

It also features a holographic foil on the body under the wings to emit light and attract the fish to the bait. Another key feature is the ‘TFLF’ Line System that allows you to drop your jig to a desired depth without fluttering to save time and get your lure to the strike zone quicker.

The new XP Bait Butterfly Jigs are going to be a huge hit with Bass & Redfin anglers across Australia.

BUTTERFLY ICE JIGS 50mm 5.5grams & 60mm 10grams

FOLDING WINGS

The main design feature of the bait lies in its ability

to open its wings. The construction is designed in a way that while lowering into the water, the wings are unfolded up to a certain angle, allowing the bait to glide, keeping it in the strike zone longer.

While lifting up, the wings are folded and that leads to a decrease in water resistance and the ice jig moving aside. It also features a Holographic foil on the body that emits a flash when the wings open up to attract fish and trigger a response.

Visit & Subscribe to JuroOzPro for all our videos 52

OCTOBER 2018

Adverts.indd 1

at JuroOzProTackle

www.jurofishing.com 6/21/2017 1:35:57 PM

Warp speed casting is the key to catching TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Who would have thought that for five weekends in a row the weather could be so good and the fish so cooperative!

The jigging and soft plastics trends have seen a huge resurgence. Some of the new tackle released at the latest trade show on the Gold Coast is now available. The deep luring has been extraordinary of late with new age metal jigs and big soft plastics. Everything from dogtooth tuna to trout have been getting caught in recent weeks.

Many have set their traditional 80lb gear aside for the bottom fishing and opting for GTs. The drop in line class from 80-50lb, and sometimes even 30lb, is allowing for much more precise presentations with smaller jigs and plastics.

Brad Young landed this beaut barra on his lightest outfit casting a 3” Atomic Prong.

Some reasonable fish can be taken fishing from the shoreline with the right approach. pinpointing them, and then delivering the right item to get the bite. Lures that have the ability to gain a bit of depth and work at slower speeds are getting quite a bit of attention

It shouldn’t be too long until the bigger lures start to draw more attention as the water warms.

I’m a firm believer in dropping lure sizes when the action is a bit slow. This goes for many scenarios: from deep water right through to barra and jacks when the conditions require it. Some of the jigs that are now available are more compact and the assist hooks that are fitted are capable of handling more punishment than previous models.

A combination of precision built rods; bullet proof, smooth and fast reels; well-rigged, longer, reputable fluorocarbon leader and quality jigheads and jigs is proving to new comers and experienced participants of the sport that it’s all the little things that you do that combine and make a massive difference to your results.

The billfish just haven’t shown up, with very few reports coming in about them. The recent Billfish Tournament that was held out from Townsville was quite uneventful. Some are thinking that they just aren’t going to show up this year, while others think it’s just going to be a later season. There are typical stories of marlin and sails smacking a trolled gar and even hardbodies while chasing other species.

For those chasing Spanish, they’re out there and feeding well. It’s just a matter of

and the Red Laser Pro Crazy Deep 190 Laser Pro has been the one mentioned the most.

One of the new and exciting tools of the trade that I recently got my hands on is the new ABU Revo Rocket.

our current fishing situation I would recommend doing the opposite.

In this situation we keep up a constant momentum and fire accurate casts repeatedly into every nook and cranny that may potentially hold a fish. Instead of the long pauses and an almost stationary boat position, the average retrieve is only brief and is worked for the first meter or two and then cranked out at warp speed to either redeliver the lure to the same spot, or fire it into the next spot. Having the 10.1-1 retrieve means that many more casts can be made over a days fishing. With 18lb of smooth drag pressure a fish head can be kept pointing in your direction much easier as a short pump and wind stops them from being able to turn their head too early in the sticks and bury you. A light spool allows smaller lures to be cast with ease. I’ve mounted it up on the Samurai Infinite 8-16lb, 6’6” and it is an absolute weapon of an outfit.

The freshwater reaches of some of our systems have been producing reasonable fish, and with the water temperatures about to start warming they should only get better.

It is a low profile bait casting reel with an incredible 10.1-1 retrieve ratio, which is perfect for covering water quickly.

Anglers often talk about hovering and suspending lures for as long as possible next to a chosen piece of structure, which is often the most effective technique to get a bite from wary or less than aggressive fish. In

We’re quite spoilt here in Townsville to have the stocked weirs at our disposal. I went for a troll here recently. As I neared the water edge I saw a bit of movement in the weeds on the opposite bank and fired a lure at it. After the third cast I sped the lure up and intercepted a 120cm fish that engulfed a 4” Atomic Prong.

On a very bright note,

Ross Dam has had its first batch of fingerlings released and it looks like this will be a huge success. It was well overdue and it shouldn’t be too long before the local council sees first hand the benefits of having these stocked fish available to the general public.

It is all thanks to a handful of dedicated volunteers from the Townsville Fish Stocking Group.

We’ve actually been looking for something a bit different to the barra and jacks of late, so I decided to go for a quick stint in the bay and see what was poking around the reefs and shoals. It was a full moon on this weekend and we’ve never done particularly well on the full, so our expectations weren’t too high.

We managed to find some broken bottom in around 6m of water and it wasn’t long until the lure, got slammed. It was a fight, but I managed to land a decent trout.

Some decent fish showed on the side scan and they looked very much like what I was hoping for, grunter.

I could tell that they were fish of a decent size, but the identity was yet to be confirmed. After a brief struggle a nice grunter soon slid into the net.

BUNDABERG CAIRNS BURPENGARY GLADSTONE TOWNSVILLE SOUTHPORT CANNONVALE NOOSAVILLE -

Brad Young with an 82cm barra caught on 15lb line. A gentle fight technique is needed when fighting decent fish on light leaders, Brad did well to land his biggest barra to date.

Everyone has their own theories on colour perceptions with lures and what is the best for a species. I’m a colour and contrast advocate, but here’s where it gets a bit pedantic.

For around two years now I have fallen back on a colour that seems to produce bigger grunter in the deeper locations.

Head weight is dictated by water depth and flow, but is a very important part of the combination to get right.

On this day it was a 1/2oz jighead, with 5/0 hook size,

but it was the chartreuse head, white Atomic 4” Prong with pink dipped tail that got the action out of the three different colours that we sent sailing.

The forecast for the coming few weeks is for the daytime temps to get to around the 31°C mark and the minimums around the 17°C, so water temperatures should increase in the creeks, and the lead up to the warmer months will see creek and bay residents more active.

Cheers and good luck.

Adrian’s Marine Centre Aussie Marine Brisbane Yamaha Curtis Coast Marine Rising Sun Honda Marine Nitro Marine Whitsunday Marine Laguna Boating

07 4153 1819 07 4033 8800 07 3888 1727 07 4972 0135 07 4759 3218 07 5532 5812 07 4948 3298 07 5442 4872

Check out the full range of Polycraft Boats at

www.polycraft.com.au

or contact us on 1800 336 603

OCTOBER 2018

53

Northeasterly winds blowing in great catches CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

The much-anticipated run of light winds arrived in early September and will hopefully continue through October. It’s been a long wait after the first three quarters of the year was dominated by strong winds.

This month will also see the temperatures continue to climb, with the water temperature following suit.

The more still hot days we have the faster the water temperature will rise. Coral trout will be waiting for the sudden spike in temperature to coincide with a new moon so they can spawn, which did not occur on the September new moon, as temperatures were still

relatively low. The sea surface temperature off Cairns didn’t hit 23°C until the first week in September, which is relatively late.

This will hopefully mean that the mackerel will still be around this month.

The reef has been running hot and cold, with some boats returning with their bag limit but the majority have struggled, especially against the sharks. I have only spoken to one bottom basher in recent months who had a completely shark free trip.

The only shark avoidance scheme that seems to work is to pack up and move at least a kilometre away, at speed. This technique isn’t fool proof by any means but it at least gives you a fighting chance.

When you can beat the sharks, coral trout are

Large-mouth nannygai usually outnumber red emperor in the icebox and they are just as good to eat, if not better.

biting up in the shallows, while l a rg e - m o u t h nannygai and red emperor have been the main players in the deep water. Largemouth nannygai usually outnumber red emperor in the icebox and they are just as good to eat, if not better. Trout should continue to bite up shallow this month and the best bet for red fishing will be overnighters in the deep (40m+) water. The storms could start rolling down off the Tablelands this month, so be on the lookout on the BOM radar and the western sky.

Don’t forget there is the first of two coral reef fin fish closures from 6-10 October, which means you cannot target, catch or keep any fish listed as coral reef fin fish. It pays to carry a list printed off the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website with you, especially if you are fishing inshore, as many coral reef fin fish species inhabit waters right to the shore line along our coast.

The billfish season had a slow start, with small blacks and sails down in numbers, compared to last year. Here is hoping it picks up for the heavy tackle season, when a grander will be on every gamefisher’s wish list. Mackerel have been a bit hit and miss, as well.

They may have been around when it was too rough for most boats to venture out but now the winds have eased, so have the mackerel. A lack of bait schools seems to be the common denominator,

with most anglers reporting a scarcity of bait and birds working them. Everything on the piscatorial front seems to be getting later each year, so there is still time and let’s hope things pick up before it gets too hot.

The headlands, inshore reefs, wrecks and islands have been holding quite a few golden snapper but they went a bit quiet in early September after a good run through winter. Vibes are proving very popular for lure fishers targeting golden snapper, especially on the inshore wrecks. Braid is a near necessity when fishing vibes, as mono lacks feel through line stretch and belly in the line because of the larger line diameter causing more drag from the current. Live baits of sardines, mud herring, mullet, prawns and squid will out-fish pretty well any lure on most occasions.

Barra are on the headlands but require a lot of patience to get results. Hopefully the warming water will bring them on the bite before the season closes on the east coast from noon 1 November for three months. Many anglers from Cairns and the Tablelands head to the Gulf chasing barra but there are only a matter of days before the season closes over there. The Gulf closed season starts at noon 7 October and goes until noon 1 February 2019. Remember, “It is also prohibited to deliberately target barramundi for catch and release during these closed seasons, as the stress of capture may prevent

Rob Cannon from Cairns with a 103cm barra he caught on a recent trip to Kowanyama. a fish from spawning.” – Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website.

When the northeasterly winds arrive, blue and threadfin salmon should become more plentiful and active. There have been plenty of small blue salmon along the headlands over the last month but they have been hard to hook on lures. Grunter will start to appear on the hospital flats on the big tides around the full and new moons. Fish until after the top of the tide

with the freshest baits of prawns, mullet, gar, sardines, mud herring and squid you can get. Use them whole if they are small or fillets if larger baits. Fish light and have a sinker small enough that it will drift with the tide when cast at an angle to the current.

October is up there for the top few fishing months of the year, so get out there and take advantage of the great weather that normally graces the north at this time of year.

Now is the time to strike before barra closure CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

There is no better time to be fishing the Trinity Net Free Zone.

Water temperatures have really heated up, the barramundi are schooling and feeding hard and with only a month left to target them now is the time to strike.

Reports have been flooding in of plenty of good captures and those hotter days have seen them really firing up, especially in the Trinity Inlet. These fish have finally woken from their winter slumber and begun actively moving and feeding and if you can find a school on your sounder your chances are looking good.

The areas around the front of the leads on the flats and around the mouth of Hills Creek have been producing some XOS 54

OCTOBER 2018

fish right on dark on the first push of the tide. These fish have also been feeding off the surface as well, so don’t forget to take your poppers and fizzers. I have also heard some very good reports around the top of Redbank Creek and around

Swallows Landing where the fish are congregating well. Vibe lures have been a good option as well as prawn imitations fished slowly along the bottom.

Snag bashers in the Inlet have also seen good success on the jacks when throwing

Snag bashers are having success on jacks.

Barra are schooling and feeding hard. There is only a month left to target them before the closed season.

smaller plastics like 3/4” ZMan paddle-tails and Castaic Jerky J Swims.

These red brutes have been loving that first push of the run-in tide especially deep in structure. Cairns Spear and Tackle have started stocking a wide range of the harder to get plastics, vibes and hardbody lures and these are really working a treat on the local fish.

I haven’t heard too many reports from north of the Inlet .except that a few threadfin have been snared by landbased anglers off Machans Beach of late. These fish will be worth targeting especially if we can get a bit of calmer weather that allows boaties to get out amongst the rubble and gutters in this area. It really does pay to stay out of the reef on these calm days

and scout around this area as the fish are there and are not heavily pressured.

The smaller Half Moon system at Trinity Beach and Yorkies rock wall is still producing some very nice mangrove jacks in the creeks while the headlands are seeing plenty of action from those fishing large live baits for big barra.

There are some absolute horses in this area, so if you catch a big one don’t forget to take care and let it go. Live baits floated or suspended around the rocks and headlands is the best bet especially at night around the change in the run-out tide. In other news the Cairns Recreational Fishing Strategy has been adopted and funded and now we are in discussions about how we are going to use the remaining funding after lighting and CCTV have been installed across all ramps. Stay tuned as there are some exciting things in the pipeline for the NFZ.

Finfish spawning season came early this time PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

With a click of the fingers conditions in the tropics turned overnight.

Temperatures climbed rapidly in the air and in the water. The days and sea conditions are just lovely albeit a little warmer.

The biggest development on the local scene is that the finfish on the reef spawned a month earlier than predicted on the new moon. This became very evident by the middle of last month when the male coral trout started congregating in big numbers to the ledges of the reef in 30m of water, awaiting for the females to arrive up in the shallows. Other species such as Moses perch and stripeys were well and truly riled up during the same period.

For several weeks leading into the new moon not a single female could be caught, suggesting they were in preparation to spawn. This changed quickly following the moon as those that had spawned ate aggressively up in the shallows and then gradually dispersed back out to deeper water. On the Great Barrier Reef we have two sets of reef closures for five days leading into the new moon in October and November.

It is anticipated that another spawn will happen again in October and the November closure will be a waste of time because of this early spawn.

From memory the same pattern happened last year.

The reef fishing has been nothing short of exceptional with some big fish landed across the board. Fish caught on the regular between the 6-10kg range have included red emperor, large-mouth

Big reef fish have been on the go, including this reef mangrove jack. nannygai, bar-cheek trout, reef mangrove jack, goldspot trevally and cod species.

Fish in the 3-5kg range have included spangled emperor, coral trout and small-mouth

nannygai and there has been ample of these species.

There has been enough activity on the surface with good numbers of Spanish mackerel around and also the occasional cobia taking a floating pilchard. As water temperatures rise the reef fishing will lose a bit of momentum during the day but will go up a notch during the night. Night fishing is a viable option at this time of year before the evening storms start to form in a month or two.

For offshore fishing the small black marlin season is coming to a close and was considered to be an average year. However focus now changes to the edges of the shelf with the big black marlin due to arrive any day for their spawning season, which will last for a couple of months.

A lot of game boats have already converged on the area

right up to the top of Ribbon Reefs and reports will soon filter through.

Closer to home the small boat brigade has enjoyed some good fishing on the coastal reefs picking up bar-cheek trout, large-mouth nannygai and good numbers of school mackerel. Night efforts have produced some monster golden snapper and giant trevally. Along the beaches for the landbased fishers the fishing has improved with the calmer weather and blue salmon, barramundi and queenfish have been making a dash on the incoming tide. Live mullet or garfish has been the best bait.

As we move into October the main focus will remain offshore with the arrival of the big black marlin and other great sporting fish such as wahoo, sailfish, yellowfin tuna and mahimahi as well.

The warmer weather is firing up the fish LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

It should be all systems go here in Lucinda. October brings warmth and water temperatures will be on the rise, which in turn should fire the fish up big time. This is probably my favourite month for chasing those red devils, the mighty mangrove jack, deep in those small snag-ridden creeks.

hungry and aggressive. Those late afternoon sessions with a tide change corresponding is exciting stuff. The jacks are normally snapping away and pushing along creek edges using electric power lobbing lures and throwing plastics around should see some rods getting bent.

For those wanting to start chasing these fish on soft plastics then getting a couple of rod and reel combos is the place to start.

I see plenty of people trying to use heavy spin

It is your last month to catch barra before the closed season.

The crowds from down south will start to disperse as the days warm up and the locals will be hitting the water at every opportunity. Fishing is a very popular past time up here and for good reason as we have amazing waterways and a diverse range of hard-fighting and tasty fish species.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL I love this time of year, as all species should be

and baitcasting gear. This isn’t necessary and will make using smaller profile soft plastics and lures a lot harder. Jacks are powerful fish and are one of the toughest dirtiest fighters you will come across, so it is important to choose light to mid combos that have good stopping power to allow a finger on the spool if needed to lock up drags.

When choosing braid sizes it is important to remember braided lines

break a lot higher than what is stated on the box. I use 15-20lb on all my estuary combos and it is still thin and allows for long accurate casts, has good knot strength and also means I can flatten a rod out and thumb the spool hard in a bad situation.

It is the last month to target barra so there will be plenty of anglers out there trying to get their tally for the year and a few fillets in the freezer. Barra are great eating, but only in the 60-70cm bracket and you want silver fish with yellow tails. The darker fish have spent some time in the drains, which normally means a slightly muddier taste. Barra should be firing in the snags and drains for lure and bait fishers. Head up into the Benjamin Flats area and locate some mud banks with big drains and the odd snag – plenty of bait fish such as mullet and prawns means you have the perfect location for barra to feed.

Tide changes are critical and the first few hours of the run-in tide when the water starts pushing up drains and onto the flats is when they will feed. A lightly-weighted soft plastic slowly rolled mid water is all that’s needed to provoke strikes if hardbodied lures are more your style then a shallow diver slowly paused and twitched should see rods getting bent.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK For those with a sense of adventure and are not fussed by tough walks in the heat and humidity then getting the map out and heading to the bush can be epic. We have plenty of streams and creeks

that provide breathtaking scenery and sometimes mind blowing fishing. Species that may be encountered are jungle perch, sooty grunter, barra and jacks.

Care must be taken as there are many things up here that can make a walk dangerous with crocodiles, snakes and cassowary as the main concerns, but there are also wild dogs and packs of pigs. I’m not listing these to scare people off, just giving everyone fair warning that these dangers are out there, so be cautious and prepared.

On top of this slips and falls can happen easily, so always travel with a mate that way if someone gets into trouble the other is there to assist.

It’s simple fishing, so a small backpack for your gear and a few water bottles are all that’s needed.

Fishing tackle is as simple as some small soft plastics and a few surface lures. My go to plastic is a ZMan 3” MinnowZ rigged weedless on a TT ChinlockZ. This combo can be cast a long distance and also offers great snag resistance when you are in tight country. Google maps is the best tool to scope out potential spots, be wary that plenty of these creeks are only accessible through private property and it is best to ask permission before entering. Otherwise try and find some places to enter off public areas such as bridges or causeways.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF The last month had some hot days and the lack of rain means it is dry and can be tough out on the ocean when there is no breeze. We

have been lucky recently and there have been several good windows of weather allowing everyone to get out and into some prime reef fishing. The coral trout have been biting their heads off.

These fish have been in the shallower water hanging off big bommies but now with the water temperatures increasing dramatically they will move off into the deeper stuff.

Last month also saw some of the best Spanish mackerel fishing I’ve witnessed in years. We encountered big schools on top of reefs when chasing GT and they provided loads of fun as they smashed our poppers and stickbaits while getting airborne at

the same time.

Consistent results in the deep on nannygai has also been a highlight with most people catching their fair share of these delicious table fish.

On another note I must remind everyone about general common sense when on the waterways at night. A recent trip saw us nearly collide with a small tinny with no navigation lights at all. If all your electronics have failed, this is where a hand held torch or headlamp can be used. It was only luck that stopped us running straight over them. Check all your lights before every trip and pack a torch for emergencies.

OCEAN CRAFT Extreme Reef Fisher CARTOPPA CRUISER CABIN

Choice of 2.6m, 2.9m, 3.3m, 3.8m, 4.3m, 4.6m, 5.2,m, 6m, 6.7m, 7.2m, 7.6m

Inflatable style all aluminium plate alloy, lightweight, airtight and watertight.

Own a CLUB OCEANCRAFT From $192 per month TIME SHARE Today

QUADRUPLE WARRANTY:

1. Value Trade-in 2. Overtake any boat 3. Five-year warranty 4. Safest boat on the water

07 5499 6937 E: sales@oceancraft.com.au

Ph: 0416 293 686

www.oceancraft.com.au OCTOBER 2018

55

A perfect time to get stuck into Cooktown’s fish COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

The spring months are a perfect time to be in Cooktown.

The day temperatures are bearable, there are consistent blue skies and sunshine and light breezes make for some fantastic fishing and

emperor have been common catches with some quality fish going to the icebox. When working the rubble patches good numbers of red emperor have been caught as well. As for pelagics there have been good numbers of mackerel around and you don’t have to go far to find them. With the bait still congregating around the

river mouths there has been plenty of mackerel caught around the headlands and inshore reefs. Trolling shallow

Coral trout have been caught in good numbers.

Working soft plastics or vibe style lures around the reef

Jimmy Mann with a PB jack caught while fishing rubble.

Jen Young with a Spanish mackerel caught on an unweighted pilly. camping adventures. It is a great time of year to get out and enjoy what the Cape has to offer before the heat becomes intolerable, the national parks close and the wet weather starts moving in. Over the past month the wind has dipped below 10 knots many times providing boats of all sizes an opportunity to head out to the reef.

With the water warming there has been no shortage of reef species being caught.

Large and small-mouth nannygai and spangled

and deep diver lures and a Wog Head rigs with garfish dead bait are an offering that is difficult for the mackerel to resist.

Sarah Williams with her first rat barra caught on an Lively Lure Assassin.

edges or over patches of reef has been working well on these species. The tried and tested method of floating a pilly down beside a bommie is almost a sure thing but if you want to mix it up try your hand at micro jigging around structure or bouncing soft plastics over reef edges for a bit of light gear fun. The fight from even relatively small fish when fishing light will bring excitement though be prepared to spend some money as bust-ups are inevitable when marauding mackerel are around.

Steady catches are still coming from the local creeks and rivers. The wharf as usual has been producing and the new water front area at the mouth of the

Jamin Cherry with a couple of nice bucks. endeavour has added an extra fishing option for locals and those visiting Cooktown.

Already mackerel are being caught from the new fishing platforms as the bait starts moving in and you can expect those numbers to increase over the coming month. If you have a boat, then head up any of the rivers and work the snags with lures, soft plastics or live baits for a chance at barramundi and jacks. We are now in our last month of catching barramundi before the season closes midday on 1 November – so get amongst it while you can. Chasing mangrove jack, mud crabs

and other estuary species up the rivers or around the wharf is still well worth it after the barra closed season starts. The creeks have been producing good mangrove jacks on lures and bait and there are still some nice grunter around either side of high tide.

Also make sure you adhere to the current reef and fish management strategies put in place by the Great Barrier Reef Management Park Area (GBRMPA).

Zoning map 4 is Cooktown’s region. Coral reef fin closures also apply 6-10 October and again 5-9 November.

Mid-spring missions produce mixed bags CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

Spring in Cape York provides the greatest access to all locations by sea, road and air. Anyone with a sense of adventure can be fishing isolated locations away from the crowds without too much imagination.

So let’s look at the kind of things travelling anglers to the Cape might want to consider when planning a trip in October. Firstly, a couple of important considerations will greatly enhance your fishing experience at this time of year. Knowledge of weather patterns, a very clear picture of tides and an idea of what moon phases coincide with your trip are a good place to start.

A Cape York barra caught on a popper right on dusk.

56

OCTOBER 2018

Generally October will be a bit of a mixed bag and Cape York is large enough to have its own weather patterns on either side of the Peninsula.

Afternoons over in the Gulf might start to blow up a bit with a northwesterly in the afternoons. Those persistently large high pressure systems off Australia’s east coast might see southeasterly trade winds buffering the east coast of the Cape.

Getting the majority of your fishing done in the early hours of the day will usually result in the best fishing and the most enjoyable experience between October and December. A rest up in the afternoon is usually warranted to escape the oppressive late dry season heat. Casting lures throughout the hottest part of the day when the fish are usually at their least active can be a hard slog.

The afternoons this time of year are often spectacular.

Sunsets in the Cape are a very special thing. The build up clouds and numerous dry season fires up in the Cape produce sunsets of orange,

Crocs will be active in Cape York during spring. pink and fiery golden cumulus clouds. Afternoons are a pleasant time to be back out fishing and an afternoon run-in tide is always a Cape York special. Being croc-wise is mandatory. Suffice to say, always do research first.

Nearly anyone venturing up the Cape, even a first-timer, will have the opportunity to visit a river or creek mouth somewhere on their travels.

Try and coincide your arrival with the start of the incoming tide and fish with either lures, live or dead bait. Besides large queenfish, which might show up in all the mouths, most waterways will also hold some kind of trevally species.

Blue salmon, threadfin

salmon, barramundi, grunter and on the west coast black jewfish will all feed around a creek mouth as the tides come flushing back in. Usually the bite will be more prolific if it coincides with early morning or early evening.

Some of those harder-toreach billabongs and lagoons from earlier in the year are now reachable by off-road track and those with a car topper or off-road trailer might be able to reach these spots and fish them with an electric motor. Most of the water in pools and shallow streams flowing west will have sooty grunter, barramundi and saratoga in them. Happy days can be spent chasing these fish amongst snag piles, lilypads

and all manner of bank side vegetation.

Come October, most of the fish contained to their chosen pool or lagoon will be getting pretty hungry.

Everything starts to build up and try to rejuvenate itself before the next wet season onslaught commences.

Feed the ambush nature of the fish and always try surface presentations in low light conditions, you might be surprised what wallops your lure.

• For information on remote charter operations for tailored fishing adventures, please email Tim on wildrivercompany @gmail.com

Everything is on offer this October in Weipa WEIPA

Jackson Bargenquast

Finally the cooler winter months are over and the warmth and life of spring is well underway. With the increase in water temperature the fish life has also erupted. Many species, such as the iconic barramundi, are back on the chew hard and therefore it is time to hit the snags before the closed season in early October.

In the estuaries there are many more species of

fish than just barramundi and they are not the only fish back on the bite.

Shadowing amongst them in the snags and drains is the scarlet glow of hungry mangrove jack, the whiskery haunt of the threadfin salmon as well as a massive array of other marine predators. Flicking shallow-diving minnows along drains, sand bars and lone timber on mud flats can be an assured way of picking up a good number of barra. Threadfin usually inhabit similar areas so there is a good chance of

The reefies are always on the chew!

picking one up as by-catch.

Flicking the snags and rock bars further upstream will produce the toothy jacks, juvenile groupers with glowing colours and plenty more barramundi.

The reefs as usual are firing, alive with a massive array of species such as the black-spot tuskfish, red emperor, golden snapper, overgrown cod and hordes of aggressive trevally.

The good old short stiff pumping rod, a heavy duty reel with at least 50lb braid and a simple bait of prawns is as good as anything when fishing this kind of country. Getting smoked happens and it happens a lot, especially when a tusky weighing more than 4kg is snagged in the jaw just meters away from coral ledges. Therefore bringing a few extra hooks and sinkers can save a lot of hassle.

The pelagic action is insane. Huge fields of baitfish being carved into from all angles all day by a massive host of predators is a sight that never gets old.

There has been massive schools of longtail tuna, monster cobia, trevally of all kinds, savage

Young Doug Sea Wright with a cracker black jewfish. queenfish, 10ft sharks, dolphins, frigate birds and even Brydes whales – the scene is straight out of a David Attenborough documentary.

The Spanish mackerel have also joined the feast and in lead up to spawning season they are extra thick and aggressive.

These toothy bandits have jaws like saw blades and therefore a short but sturdy

wire trace is a great idea to prevent a loss of lures from being a regular occurrence.

It is the time of year for sailfish again and these beautiful billfish, along with their close cousins the marlin, will frequent the gulf for the next few months. Trolling Wog Heads, stickbaits and gar can produce some good numbers of these awesome sportfish. Hopefully with

their arrival another species of pelagics isn’t far behind.

These suckers will frequent under floating debris and are great sport and table fare. Alongside them will be the dark and secretive triple tail, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled when travelling out wide.

Good luck to all anglers over the upcoming months and don’t forget to think like a fish.

Sportsman Open 252 • Sportsman boats are an intelligent design series of centre consoles with a reputation for the best ride on the water and the most yacht-calibre features in its class.

21 Models available from 5.2 – 9.4 metres

Sportsman Boats @sportsmanboatsaustralia

Queensland Dealer:

2294 SANDGATE ROAD, BOONDALL, QLD 4034 PHONE:

3265 8000 OCTOBER 2018

57

Trout

Fish-rich NSW trout waters are open again grins on their faces. Those stalwarts just love to stalk the high altitude streams and try to trick those tricky little trout.

TOUGH GOING? MAYBE In the New England region, anglers might find it a bit tough this season

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

After a four-month fishing prohibition, giving the trout the opportunity to spawn, NSW trout waters are open again from

throughout the late winter months, some of the more western streams (and perhaps the lower ones) will still hold numbers of trout, but these fish will be very shy if the streams are overly reduced in level and flow rates. The slightest movement from the angler,

Small water and nice fish are some of the joys of fishing around Ebor.

Moreover, the reduced steam flows can cause feeding to become sporadic.

Basically, unless conditions are just right, the trout won’t bother feeding. Fish don’t need to eat regularly like a warm-blooded animal does;

Back in the day New England waters were rainbow territory, but these days browns are caught in many streams.

Saturday 29 September.

It’s a time of year that sees excited anglers moving quietly about the stream banks with fishing tackle in hand and big

when it comes to finding good trout water to the west of the main Guyra/ Ebor/Dorrigo plateau and range system. With the onset of drought conditions

and seldom venture out.

OK, that’s enough of the doom and gloom! It’s time to look at the positives.

TROUT WILL BE THERE Trout, being cold water fish, will have endured

trout waters. Hopefully the fish will have spawned successfully and not wasted that closed season.

As I write this article the drought hasn’t yet broken, but that may have changed by the time this magazine

whether it’s a clumsy footfall or bump, will cause a trout to tuck up under the bank and remain there until all signs of potential danger have passed.

Decisions, decisions. That last fly was rejected, so which one to try next?

The author’s wife Denise surveys one of the best browns she’s taken from the Ebor area.

they can fast for a long period without much worry.

Stress is another influence on trout behaviour, as when trout are stressed they tuck away in their hidey holes

the winter with ease, and despite any low water levels will have come through with flying colours. There should be no shortage of fish in the established

BOATS FOR SALE on BASSCAT COUGAR Location: QLD

$75,000 58

OCTOBER 2018

hits the shelves. All it takes is a couple of storms – which are par for the course in spring – and suddenly everything has changed.

With some decent rainfall

Like us on facebook for automatic updates STESSCO MIRAGE SC 475

SKEETER ZX250

Location: VIC

Location: QLD

Location: NSW

$27,000

$17,000

HAINES HUNTER 445 CUSTOM

$53,000

SKEETER ZX180 Location: NSW

$40,000

Trout there’s increased depth and water flow, while lots of interesting insects and other bits of tucker such as beetles, blowflies, spiders, yabbies, cicadas, mice (yes, trout eat mice) are suddenly about in the water and the dinner bells are ringing.

It’s game on for both fish and angler.

Rainfall will occur, and you can bet that if I go down for a few days that will bring about some serious rain for sure! However, with such a good number of streams up on the top plateau area, anglers will find some trout water without much effort, whether the streams are just rolling along or raging with a fresh. Either scenario sees us enjoying the sport we have come to regard so highly.

HEDGING YOUR BETS Looking firstly at a high and possibly discoloured stream, we can take heart

A U S T R A L I A

Margay 2017

$49,990

That stream looks deceptively small, but with undercut banks it holds a very good number of trout. or any fly with some brightness about it would be ideal. An old favourite

Cicadas will be on the menu this month. that this situation won’t last long after the rain stops, and that’s when some of the best fishing occurs. As streams clear, trout are suddenly out and about. Still, even while there’s a bit of colour in the water, fish will be feeding for certain. All you need is a lure or fly that stands out against the discolouration.

Lure or plastic anglers should rely on offerings that contrast against the surroundings, so that fish can notice them more easily. Fly anglers should delve into the wet fly boxes to select those wet flies most suitable for flooded or discoloured streams, again with an emphasis upon some contrast. Red and black Matukas, black or olive Woolly Buggers

of mine is the Alexandra.

It’s not seen much these days but it’s deadly in discoloured water for both rainbow and brown trout.

Ideal wet fly sizes are in the size 6-8 hook range.

If you’re fishing wet flies, don’t be afraid to upgrade the tippet (3kg may not be too heavy) because discoloured water seems to encourage the largest trout in any pool to get into the action. New England streams were primarily rainbow waters back in the day, but it’s common to lead either a rainbow or a brown trout into the net these days.

LIGHT TACKLE DOES THE JOB When it comes to tackle, lighter is better, especially if the water is clear enough to require a very stealthy approach. New England waters can clear within a couple of days after rain, and while fish will be feeding they will also be very alert. Fine braid linked to fine but strong leaders will best suit the spin angler, while fly rodders can easily get by with either a 5wt or 6wt outfit in those high country creeks. I see

it as 5wt water but others might think differently.

Trout are accustomed to eating very small morsels, so setting up trout spin gear with bass lures will be overdoing it. Tiny plastics on very light jigheads or tiny lures on well balanced spin tackle can avoid snagging, while a slow but quite erratic retrieve is the best one to induce a bite.

When conditions are right, fly anglers lucky enough to try their hand at dry fly fishing can rely on old faithfuls such as the Royal Wulff, Geehi Special, Adams or Red Tag, all in sizes 14-10, depending upon how fussy the fish are on the day.

So there you have it – an overview to help you on your next excursion. Stream conditions are something we have no control of, but nothing can beat the feeling of being on a small, high country water at daylight on an opening morning. The capture of a fish is just the icing on the cake.

A fishing licence is required for fishing in NSW. You can apply for a licence at www.dpi.nsw.gov. au/fishing.

• 17’7” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Pantera II 2017

$74,990

• 19’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 200 hp Mercury Optimax • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

Yar-Craft 1785BT 2017

$59,990

• 17’5” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 75 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 597cxi HD Di or Lowrance HDS 5)

Sabre FTD 2017

$59,990

• 18’1” • Single axle Basscat trailer • 115 hp Mercury 4 stroke • 24v electric motor (Minn Kota or Motor Guide) • 2 x sounders (Humminbird 698cxi HD Si or Lowrance HDS 7 GEN2)

We Build Dreams...

It’s a Family Tradition

Enjoying the ambience of trout water, Denise Kampe takes a break from fishing.

A U S T R A L I A

Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com OCTOBER 2018

59

Rain has saved the dams TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

The effects of the dry weather are starting to show on some of the dams.

As the water is consumed by irrigators and town water supplies the levels continue to slowly fall.

This is often detrimental to fishing conditions but the previous years of rain that filled the lakes has kept most in good health.

Masses of baitfish have established strong populations evident with the flocks of black cormorants. These tiny fish provide the predators with plenty of fodder to get them through the dry times and while the lakes have plenty of food we will continue to see big fat fish with faster growth rates.

Barramundi closed season is almost upon us but we can still try to tackle these fish in the dams. We have the Mackay lakes Teemburra and Kinchant, Peter Faust at Proserpine and Tinaroo in the Atherton Tablelands. Further south is

Monduran near Gin Gin and Awoonga just to the north, which is making a very fast comeback. Then, there are the ones that receive less attention – Lenthalls and Callide are worth a visit and are producing trophy-sized fish over one metre long.

October is the month that the fish really step up their feeding a notch. The warmer water sees them more active and willing to chase lures. While they are fired up, we can fish a bit faster with vibes and soft plastics. These lures allow us to cover more water in search of hungry fish.

The full moon periods will receive plenty of attention as anglers line up to wrestle in big fish as the moon rises.

Don’t think that night is the only time the fish will fire up. They can be stubborn but will bite in windows where the action can be fast and furious. Keeping a lure in the water is the best way to avoid missing these bite times.

Murray cod will be coming back on the bite in the lakes after carrying on with their breeding.

Breeding and nest guarding

will start to taper off after the start of spring and the cod will be super hungry.

These fish starve themselves over the breeding period and go on the prowl for food as soon as it is all over.

Please remember we are only allowed to target cod in the stocked lakes during the cod closed season.

Golden perch will also step things up a notch this month and captures on lures will increase dramatically. The fish will be less lethargic and willing to chase after their food.

Trolling becomes a good option. The big bass, which have been on the scene for the past two months, will begin to lose their fat condition. As the roe they carry starts to reabsorb itself the fatties quickly drop the grams and a monster may shed a kilogram by summer. So if you are chasing a unicorn, now is the time to do it. Daniel McCoy bagged himself such a fish at a Basstastic competition at Somerset Dam on 18 August. The beast weighed 4.45kg.

Until next month, buckled rods.

past the Eagles Nest rock wall and the main point that continues out into the dam from the bank below the camp ground.

Early morning or late afternoon will be the best times to hit these spots.

Being one of the first boats to whack casts into them is very important. Cressbrook fish haven’t changed over the years and seem to hate boats and fishing pressure. Tail spinners, blades and soft plastics will all get bites, but it is hard to beat spoons. The 20g Gang Banger G2 has been

13

15

16

14 31

Weipa

17

28

34

18

Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

The big bass will start to lose their bulk this month. If you want big fat ones, like this G2 spoon cruncher from Somerset, get out there now.

Gold Coast

22

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

27

21

23

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST Cressbrook bass should become a little more predictable this month. They have been hard work for the last few months but then occasionally throw a curve ball and bite their heads off. The schools have been hard to find when the fish aren’t biting but hopefully that will change this month.

Try searching the points up the back of Beams Creek arm, the banks just

Gympie

12

25

Cairns 1

26

19

33

20

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

5

32

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

10

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

11

Maryborough

Roma

a standout. A few anglers have a lot of success on the Jets tail spinner in the maggot colour. Trolling this lure along the straighter banks leading out onto points is a good way to locate feeding bass.

Golden perch numbers will increase this month.

We saw a notable return of their capture over the winter months so things should only improve now it is warmer. They will take spoons and tail spinners but are suckers for smaller blade baits.

On the bait fishing scene, live shrimp will be the best offering. Try

BRISBANE

fishing in 7-10m of water on the same spots recommended for luring.

If the fish are there, they will usually find you and come and school up directly below the boat.

For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on Cressbrook and the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits on Alderly Street. They have a great range of lures and fishing gear. The guys can sort you out with the right gear and give you some tips on where to find them.

Just remember there To page 61

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

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

JULY AUG SEPT 5 5 5 92 89 88 19 18 17 34 33 31 100 99 97 92 88 82 71 69 66 94 92 90 1 1 0 0 42 0 40 39 36

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

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

26 25 23 53 52 49 4 4 4 98 97 96 23 21 20 49 48 46 96 94 92 90 88 84 98 91 82 61 50 34 8 8 8 102 99 98

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

Maroon 96 95 93 Monduran/Fred Haigh 98 96 94 Moogerah 82 79 77 North Pine/Samsonvale 85 83 80 Peter Faust/Proserpine 69 68 65 Pindari 59 58 55 Somerset 78 78 77 Teemburra 97 96 92 Tinaroo 91 87 82 Toonumbar 100 96 91 Wivenhoe 74 72 70 Wuruma 96 95 94

For fortnightly updates on Sunwater dams visit www.sunwater.com.au This symbol indicates that a Stocked Impoundment Permit is required to fish these dams.

All figures are % readings Current as of 19/09/18

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

60

OCTOBER 2018

or hopped along. It is not uncommon to have all three hooks buried into the face of the fish. When you are dealing with monsters, you want to turn the odds in your favour and I feel this hook setup helps.

Golden perch numbers will rise this month. The timber north of Kirkleigh is the ideal place to explore with small blade baits hopped on the flats and against the trees. Trolling medium diving lures will also start to produce golden perch.

Somerset Tackle has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is

open over holidays and otherwise from Friday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online. They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK This is the month to be at Wivenhoe flats. The bass have held around the edges of the lake for the past few months. More of these fish were caught deeper last month but there still hasn’t been the annual migration out onto the deep flats in the middle of the lake. When the fish move to this area you can have

some incredible catches with 40 fish days a normal occurrence.

The best place to look for the deep schools will be out on the flats in front of Billies Bay. Try searching 10m deep flats that drop into the old river bed.

The humps down towards the buoy line are also worth a look. With such a vast expanse of water, it certainly helps to run Social Maps on a Simrad or Lowrance sounder. The dam is fully mapped with contour lines showing an accurate representation of what lies below.

Tr o l l i n g 10m+ hardbodies is a great way to locate fish. Bass, golden perch and fork-tailed catfish will all pounce on trolled lures and some of the catties are huge. Once a good patch of fish is located, try jigging and winding spoons through them. Keep in mind the slower you fish and the more you hop the lure slowly along the bottom, the more catfish you will encounter.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: RATHDOWNEY, BOONAH Moogerah’s bass population should fire up a little more this month. They have been a bit stubborn and hard to find. Small schools have been holding around The Spit and below the picnic area near the dam wall. It will also be worth checking the eastern banks in this area. Search in 7-11m of water for any

worth a try early and late in the day but plenty of fish will come from deeper water throughout the day.

Trolling is a great way to cover plenty of area and keep the lures in the zone.

Mix it up a bit and try

fishing in 4-6m of water.

The golden perch will fire up as well this month.

Numbers will increase on trolled lure but the best way to chase them will be hopping small blades around the trees or using live shrimp and saltwater yabbies.

The kiosk at the lake has a great range of cod lures.

They pride themselves in stocking quality Australian made lures that work. If staying at the lake, you can book a cabin (not self-

contained), powered or an unpowered site. There are BBQs, a playground, two boat ramps (depending on level) and ice, fuel, bait, and lunchtime food like wraps, pies, hotdogs and tea and coffee. No domestic pets are allowed at Glenlyon Tourist Park and Brian and Debbie can be contacted on (02) 6737 5266.

COOBY CLOSET TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Trolling lipless

From page 60

is a speed limit of 8 knots and a restricted area at Cressbrook Dam. Check out the signage to ensure you stay out of trouble and abide by the rules.

The gate hours for the boat ramps and day use area will be extended this month to 6am-8pm.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY Somerset is still my favourite lake to tangle with big bass this month.

Some 2kg fish will be common, 3kg ones a good chance and the possibility of one over 4kg is still there. There has been a bit of movement in the schools over the last month. Bulk fish were holding up around Kirkleigh but there has been a notable increase in numbers around Bay 13 and Pelican Point.

Some years, the bigger models seem to come from particular areas but bass over 50cm have been reported from all aver the lake in different schools.

I cannot stress enough just how important it is to search for schooling fish rather than just pulling up where you caught them last trip or where you heard your mates got them. The fish move about and finding active, schooling fish is the key.

I sometimes only give a new school, two or three casts before moving on if they don’t respond.

The same goes for when a school shuts down.

Ian Ryan landed his heaviest bass last month at Somerset Dam. In a short bite period 6 fish of similar size were boated one after the other.

If the bite doesn’t keep coming after five minute of working the fish, it is time to move on and find a new spot. Sometimes you only need to move 60m to find bass that will chew again.

Spoons and metal jigs have been the most effective lure. Dressing them up with assist hooks will help draw the strikes. I like to run them how I have set up the Gang Banger G2. The trebles on the rear takes most strikes when the lure is being slowly wound and does a good job of securing a solid hook up.

The assist come into play more when the lure is being dropped back to the bottom

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION GLENLYON CLOSEST TOWNS: TEXAS, STANTHORPE The Murray cod breeding season started

a little earlier this year.

This means it should be all over by now with the fish hungry and searching for food. The shallows will be

signs of bass. The flats out in front of the palm trees just before the timber can also produce well at this time of year but I haven’t heard of too many fish being caught here yet.

Once the fish are found, tail spinners, spoons, blades, soft vibes and soft plastics will all catch. When the bite slows and fish are below the boat, jigging an ice jig is a good option.

Some of the lake’s locals have been having more success on tail spinners than spoons, which is interesting as the reverse is happening on many other lakes.

DYER CLOSEST TOWNS: GATTON, LAIDLEY This little puddle is still holding some good fish. You can see the effects of low water on the quality though, as they are much thinner and in a poorer condition than other lakes. While the water is still low, kayaks and bank fishing are the only options.

All fish should be back in the deeper water of the bay to the left of the boat ramp. Trolling and casting lipless crankbaits will account for a mixed bag of golden perch and bass. Spoon casting has also been working well. Fish will eat just about anything when in the mood but they are usually pretty fussy due to the low water level and amount of fishing pressure they receive. crankbaits along the weed edge seems to be a reliable way to target golden perch.

If a certain area keeps producing, try casting the same lures as well.

Out deeper, goldens will take jigged ZX blades and saltwater yabbies.

The occasional cod will probably turn up this month. Most of these are smaller models, but you never know, there are some monsters in this lake.

You can pick up all To page 62

Gary’s Marine Centre

Trolling hardbodies will be a good way to tangle with impoundment cod during the closed season in the rivers. The author loves 90mm Halco Scorpions for this type of fishing.

3201 6232

217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL OCTOBER 2018

61

From page 61

your bait fishing supplies and some quality locally made and designed lures at Craig’s Home Hardware in Highfields. Cooby is an

electric motor dam only and ideal for kayaks. Take extra care in the winter months and wear a lifejacket. In the freezing water is the last place you would want

Golden perch fire up this month and will be a common catch on trolled hardbody lures. This 54cm fish weighed 6lb.

to be if you happen to fall out. The gate hours are 7am-6pm so if you were to stay until the last minute, you would have a chance to work some shallow water swimbaits or even topwater lures in the twilight hours.

LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK The fishing will pick up quite a bit this month. Lure trollers were reporting quite a few Murray cod over the last couple of months with very few goldens. The cod were taking spinnerbaits trolled all over the dam.

Most of these cod are small to medium-sized fish but there were some big fish encounters. With more goldens willing to take trolled lures, it would pay to run a medium diving hardbody or lipless crankbaits in the spread of trolled lures.

Bait fishers and blade hoppers will be able to tangle with an increase in goldens too. These fish like to sit in 4-7m of water around structure. Find the rocky outcrops on your sounder and try fishing around them. If the bites doesn’t come be prepared to move often until they do. The spot lock electric motor has made this job so

NORTH SIDE’S

LARGEST

TRIM SHOP 4-BOW BIMINI

CANOPY

BIMINI ON RUNABOUT

PRIVACY CURTAIN

STORM COVER

FRONT & SIDE CLEARS

ROD RACK

FULL CAMPER

CALL FOR A QUOTE: NOW 3888 1727 62

OCTOBER 2018

much easier than dropping an anchor and risking spooking the fish.

Along with getting a fishing report, stock up on all your gear while at Warwick Outdoor and Sports at 115 Palmerin Street Warwick. For a small store, it carries a great range at a very competitive price. Warwick is only a 10 minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need.

COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD The cod seemed to go quiet last month which may have had something to do with the breeding season.

Prior to that, reasonable numbers were taken along the rock wall between the boat ramp and dam wall and also up in the southern timber.

Spinnerbaits are likely to be the most productive offering but some bigger fish were missed on the surface early in the morning.

The fishing should pick up again between now and December. An increase in golden perch will also be noted. Trolling the drop offs to the old creek bed will be a good way to lure cod and goldens. Don’t expect huge numbers, it is pretty hard work.

Coolmunda rewards those who put in the time to learn to fish it. What appears like a fairly barren lake above the surface hides plenty of fishy spots. I plan to do a reconnaissance mission while the levels are lower to mark some of the laydowns and spots I usually fish up in the timbered arms.

Just take care when

SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA Bass have been schooling up around the deeper areas like Bass Bay and the Botanical Gardens.

The Chasebaits 2.25” Curly Bait rigged on a 1/8oz jighead has been the go to plastic for many anglers and Hot Bite Gang Banger G2 the standout spoon. Try working these areas early morning and late afternoon.

Trolling along the deep drop offs has been working well for schooled bass using a variety of different depth diving hardbodied lures.

Davos in Noosaville is

just a short drive away and they carry all the right lures to use on the toga and bass.

BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Saratoga and smaller bass are being caught on spinnerbaits, surface lures and hardbodied diving lures.

Some good performers are the Jackall Mask Vibe, Atomic 60 Shiner, Megabass Dog-X JR and River2Sea Chasebaits Bobbin Frog.

The main basin has been producing large numbers of schooled bass on the troll. Smaller Bassman spinnerbaits rigged with small curly tail plastics and

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

The fishing at Boondooma has been great.

Golden perch and bass are getting into the action.

Early in the mornings, fish can be caught up in the timbered arms. Here the fish like spinnerbaits, lipless crankbaits and blade baits.

Bigger numbers of fish will be found in the dam’s middle reaches. Areas like Pelican Point, the Junction and the Barbers Pole are worth searching. I said searching not fishing. Spend time to find the schools of fish on the sounder and you will have much better results.

Lures like soft vibes, blade baits, tail spinners and spoons will do the damage.

Trolling will start to produce more fish this month as the schools begin to break up a bit and scatter. Deep diving lures are definitely the go.

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 style and comfort by booking into one of the

cabins overlooking the dam.

The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items including an excellent range of proven fishing tackle. For campsites, cabins and bunkhouse rooms call (07) 4168 9694.

For the latest information jump onto Facebook and check out Matthew Mott Sport Fishing for Motty’s latest fishing reports.

BJELKE CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI The fish at Bjelke picked up a lot last month. Nothing has changed with the fish still holding in the lower part of the lake with a lot of schools between the boat ramps.

Blade baits are a great option on these fish but plastics, spoons and tail spinners will also be worth a try. Usually there are one or two lure styles that outperform the others and the fish will dictate which ones.

Trolling should start to become a better option for bass and golden perch. Try using 4-6m divers and run the lure close to the bottom in the area you are fishing.

navigating through the shallows by boat.

The Coolmunda Caravan Park is around one kilometre away from the lake. The park is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep. It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. The park now has two new wheelchair friendly cabins to add to their older ones. Camping is also available near the boat ramp with toilets and hot showers to make your stay more comfortable.

To take advantage of this and the great fishing opportunities in the lake, give the park a call on (07) 4652 4171. cast into weed edges then worked back slowly has been working very well.

Small plastics in the 2.5-3” size work well in both areas (ZMan 3” Slim SwimZ and Keitech 3” Easy Shiner).

Try the Hot Bite Gang Banger G2 spoons as well, these lures have been the go to for bass fishers since being released.

Davos at Noosaville has all the gear you’ll need to tackle the fish at Borumba and Lake MacDonald. The store caters well for fresh and saltwater anglers. They can be found in the Homemaker Centre on the corner of Mary and Thomas Streets.

Trolled spinnerbaits can also perform well as things start to warm up. It may be another month until they are a standout but I would consider giving one a run just to check its effectiveness.

For help catching Bjelke and Boondooma fish, call into Bass 2 Barra. The store stocks an awesome range of gear suited to chasing our freshwater fish and the boys have all the knowledge to guide you on how to use it. You’ll find the stores at 119 Youngman Street Kingaroy. Matthew Mott also runs fishing charters on the dams and you can reach him through the store for bookings and enquiries on (07) 4162 7555.

The Yallakool kiosk is all set up with a great range of tackle if you don’t happen to have the right lure or lose one. Be sure to call in and check it out. Give them a call for accommodation and camping bookings on (07) 4168 4746.

CANIA CLOSEST TOWNS: MONTO, BILOELA Bass are still chewing at Cania and it is a good lake to mix it up and try honing all To page 63

From page 62

your different bass fishing skills. You can give most of the lures in your tackle box a run in this lake.

Early in the mornings, try fishing around the edges of the dam with lipless crankbaits, blades and spinnerbaits. As the day wears on, the fish will drop back into deeper waters and school up. These fish can be tempted with soft plastics, spoons and tail spinners.

There really are no rules in this lake and when the fish are chewing you can really experiment and catch them on all sorts of offerings.

Saratoga should be common for those fishing structure around the lake’s

edges. Lipless crankbaits and spinnerbaits seem to produce a lot of fish and I guess this is because they are capable of covering so much water.

AWOONGA CLOSEST TOWNS; BENARABY, GLADSTONE Awoonga Dam hasn’t been in the spotlight much recently but surprisingly has fished very well through winter. The results were dictated by the weather, but when the days were warmer and calm arvo sessions of 5-15 barra were not uncommon for those in the know.

The fishing may start to change a little this month as things warm up more and

transition to slightly deeper water. Therefore it will pay to explore and have a few rods rigged and ready to go until you crack the best pattern.

Plenty of fish will remain deep in the weed and lilies. Weedless soft plastics are the best way to explore these spots. Topwater or lightly-weighted rigs will receive attention. In winter, the fish were very deep in the backs of bays and needed to be extracted from thick-weeded areas.

With warmer water now here, they may also be found on the edges of the weed beds where they can drop into deeper water for comfort. If this is the case, suspending hardbodies will

soft plastic. Healthy weed beds and points up in the timber with deeper water nearby will be the go. As the sun gets brighter, drop back into deeper water and search for fish in the tree tops marking the creek channels or up on the edges of the creeks. These fish can be enticed with deeper diving hardbodies, soft plastics and lipless crankbaits.

Plucking fish out of healthy weed beds throughout the day may also be an option. Weedless rigged soft plastics flicked into weed pockets or over the

top of partially submerged or broken weed can be a lot of fun. The trick is to use stealth and cover the water until you find fish. Healthy weed is also important.

For all your fishing supplies or a guided trip on the lake call Lindsay at Barra World on (07) 4945 4641. Lindsay’s barra tours can be busy in peak times so book ahead. You won’t be disappointed as he often delivers the goods and always shares a wealth of knowledge The store is right on the highway in Proserpine and specializes in barra fishing tackle. You can also keep up to date by visiting their Barra World Facebook page.

WHITSUNDAY REGION PROSERPINE CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSERPINE, AIRLIE BEACH The barra should really be starting to wake up this month. It takes a little while for the spring weather to kick them into gear especially when there are a lot of changing wind directions and cooler days.

Start the sessions off early up in the shallows.

Topwater lures are great on the still, glassy mornings but if there is too much ripple on top, opt for a suspending hardbody or

A foggy start always means a great morning of fishing on a bass lake. Krautzy and Rooster have great success with the fog. also come into play. Work these on the weed fringe and around vertical and horizontal timber.

Last year, there was a great topwater bite. Walkthe-dog style surface lures are very effective when the barra are tuned in to the surface. These are usually best early and late in the day but sometimes will even work through the brighter parts. This surface bite should kick off this month.

When the fish are found, fish nice and slow with plenty of pauses. I don’t think they will be too willing to swim a hundred miles an hour to chase lures just yet. That will be next month.

Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake. He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi.

Justin reports the size of the fish is increasing with the average fish now around 78cm with plenty of bigger 80-90cm models to boost the average. He has successfully guided clients onto fish through the winter months so will have a good understanding of their movements throughout spring. You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflya ndsportfishing.com.au.

ackle t h c u m Is too gh? u o n e y l r s on not nea aily update

for d g tackle, junkie.fish Visit tackle t and greatest fishin ories. s e te c la c ss the ear and a boating g

for • Sign up s! te upda

Ultralight Outboard Motors For kayaks, canoes and very light boats • New products • Reviews • Videos

With a total weight of 8.9kg including battery, the Torqeedo Ultralight won’t limit your paddling performance, but when called on it can give you the right push against the current, against the wind, or be called on to save your tired arms.

Technology that is clean and state-of-the-art

www.tacklejunkie.fish Find your closest dealer: Fishing Monthly Magazines

email: web: phone:

torqeedo@powerequipment.com.au www.powerequipment.com.au 1800 069 469

OCTOBER 2018

63

Burly bass biting big at Somerset SOMERSET DAM

Matthew Taylor

Another month has passed since I penned my last report. It was a month full of red-hot fishing action, to say the least. This should continue for the best part of October, so it’s time to get your fishing gear ready for a trip to Somerset Dam! Readers familiar with Lake Somerset will know that it is one of the premier bass fisheries in Australia.

There are very few places that have such trophy-sized

fish on offer, . In a recent fishing competition Daniel McCoy landed the pending world record Australian bass, which weighed 4.455kg and measured an overall length of 59cm.

While the previous record stood for over 13 years, who knows how long this new record will stand? The bass are only growing larger, so perhaps it is just a matter of time before we see a bass over 5kg caught.

Over the next few months, you will notice that the schooling bass will undergo several major transitions. The onset of

Daniel McCoy with the pending world record Australian bass that weighed a whopping 4.455kg!

spring marks the beginning of change in the location of schooling fish. Bass in impoundments cannot complete the spawning process as they are unable to reach brackish water, though they still try to. To better understand where they are going to be located, let me briefly explain the changes that will occur.

The beginning of September traditionally marks when the bass begin transitioning to lower areas of the lake By mid-September, schools can only be found at the bottom of Queen Street and lower. The prime areas to target and focus your attention on will be from this location to the Spit. The reason not all fish transition to the Spit (near the dam wall) is because not all fish try to carry out the full spawning pattern.

Around mid-October, the fish will begin transitioning to areas higher in the lake.

The schools will disperse from areas surrounding the Spit and will reappear in spots such as Bay of Plenty, Poly Pipe Point and Beams Creek. By the end of November, schools will no longer be found at the bottom of the lake, rather they will be found at areas such as Pelican Point, Brads Bank

and other areas higher in the lake, including Kirkleigh. Fish will remain in these locations until the spawning patterns occur again next year. Please note that these transition times only describe Lake Somerset.

Fish in different dams and waterways will undertake their spawning patterns at different times of the year, mainly due to climate and location.

If you are unfamiliar with the names of any of these fishing areas, there are plenty of maps online to help you.

Spoons have been the go-to lure recently. In particular, the original Hot Bite Gangbanger and the new G2 version have been extremely productive for anglers. Using it some anglers have had sessions of up to 70 fish and landed bass up to 59cm. There has been no real pattern in regard to lure colour. However, lighter colours like holo bony and gremlin have been extremely productive.

While tail spinners generally aren’t very productive over the cooler months, through spring they come into their own. There are a number of different tail spinners on the market, but it all depends on what

A ‘donkey’ bass caught by Chris Achilles. fish are after on any given day. You’ll struggle to find me without one tied on this month, as it has become one of my go-to bass lure for this time of year.

Soft plastics will also be highly productive this month. As the fish are sitting in deeper water, you will need to use either a 1/2oz or 5/8oz jighead to keep your lure in the zone.

Ice jigs are the last lure you will need in your arsenal this month. They will continue to produce good numbers of fish until the middle of October. A cracker session using ice-jigs is not unusual, so before the fish stop biting on them make sure to give them a go.

• When heading to the lake,

make sure to set aside some time to drop in and have a look at Somerset Fishing Tackle’s wide range of gear.

They are located next to the amenities block in the day use area, so you can’t miss it. For those of you have been waiting for the return of Pimp My Lure, Somerset Fishing Tackle stocks all their new products, along with many other new innovations.

Also offering boat hire, it’s a shop you can’t go past.

Alternatively, if you can’t make it to the lake, check them out on Facebook and Instagram, along with their website at www.somersetfishing.com.au.

To see more from Matt, you can find him on Instagram (@matthew____ taylor) and Facebook (@ matthewtaylorfishing).

Tinaroo continuing to heat up LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

We are well into spring here on the Tablelands and the water temperatures in Tinaroo are continuing to rise. Towards the end of last month the water had reached approximately 25° in several areas of the lake. This means that most of the fish are becoming more active and feeding more aggressively.

It is usually at this time of year that the fishing for

trophy-sized barramundi can become red-hot during peak bite windows, and many magnificent specimens should be encountered over the coming months.

Everyone has their own theories about when these peak bite times occur, but usually any period around a full moon should see your chances increase. My advice to local and visiting anglers is that Tinaroo can be a fickle place and life is busy, so fish when time allows and when you do get out on the water, fish hard with persistence. It

should come as no surprise that those who put in the effort on the ‘lake of a thousand casts’ are usually

caught recently have been in amazing condition and are remarkably thick for their size. Lures that have

A great spring barra snared by Daniel Giblin.

Fork-tailed catfish are abundant throughout the lake.

There have been some cracking sooties around recently.

64

OCTOBER 2018

the ones who get rewarded with trophy fish.

Sooties tend to be less dependent on water temperature, and are quite aggressive throughout the year. All of the sooties

enabled anglers to snare sooty grunter recently have included paddle-tail soft plastics, vibes, medium -sized hardbody lures and the ever-faithful spinnerbait.

Although sooties can be

subdued on relatively light gear, barramundi sometimes crash the party, so it is a good idea to fish a leader heavy enough to cope with this welcome predicament.

For this reason I suggest using a decent leader of around 30-50lb, with FC100 being my personal go to. The sooties in Tinaroo tend to attack first and think later, so don’t go too light thinking that they are leader shy.

Unfortunately while fishing for sooty grunter and barramundi in the lake you are more than likely to encounter blue (fork-tailed) catfish. These things seem to be everywhere and are so aggressive that you will catch them on absolutely anything. Some of these catfish are becoming quite

large and many anglers become disappointed after the school of barra that they have located on their sounder turns out to be whiskered pests.

Make sure you are careful when handling these slimy things as they can inflict excruciating pain if you get spiked by one.

Unlike tilapia, catfish are not considered a noxious species and do not have to be killed and removed from the water, although many locals believe that they are introduced and should be culled.

If you want to keep up with more of my FNQ adventures, you can like Wazza’s Fishing Page on Facebook or Wazza’s Fishing on YouTube.

WHO CARES ABOUT LIVE SCANNING SONAR? ANYONE WHO FISHES.

PANOPTIX ™ LIVESCOPE SYSTEM LIVE, REAL-TIME

SCANNING SONAR

2 MODES IN

SEE AROUND YOUR BOAT

RANGE UP

TRANSDUCER SEE BELOW YOUR BOAT TO 200’

WORKS EVEN WHEN

AHRS STABILIZES

BOAT IS STATIONARY SONAR VIEW

© 2018 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries.

EASY TO INSTALL

INTEGRATES SEAMLESSLY

Cania Gorge’s Big 4 Holiday Park fishing haven BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Most of us have our favourite holiday destinations.

Not surprisingly, many of these places are close to fishing areas, and that’s one of the reasons why the Cania Gorge Big 4 Tourist Park right is on the top of the list of my favourite camping/fishing destinations. It’s 5km from the ramp on Lake Cania, making it ideally placed for access to this impoundment.

The park is 35km north of the town of Monto and is situated virtually on the boundary of the 3000 hectare Cania Gorge

noise. This quiet ambience is one of the things that draws us back each year.

The park is a no-fuss, quiet place to stay without any of the off-putting afterdark revelry (if an awful din can be called that) that has ruined a good night’s sleep at some of the other fishing/camping locations we’ve stayed at.

NO TENT OR CARAVAN; NO WORRIES The Cania Gorge Holiday Park is big on available accommodation.

There are 27 units, consisting of luxury Hillside Villas, 1 and 2 bedroom Villas, en suite cabins and units (some with air con), and studio and standard cabins for visitors who require on-site

Cania Gorge’s sandstone cliffs, reflected in the water, are a fabulous sight.

The Kampe’s camp – modest but very enjoyable.

One of the most impressive features about this unique tourist park is the sense of freedom and friendliness that makes it so attractive to families as well as those of us that value relaxation as much as our fishing. The sound of youngsters laughing the jumping pillow or in one of the three swimming pools is limited to daylight hours, while at night you can just relax by the camp fire. There’s also live entertainment and outdoor movie nights (on the house) on selected nights, as well as every night in school holidays.

BIRD LOVER’S PARADISE The resident wildlife is one of the big drawcards at this 4-star holiday park.

Where else would you find a friendly whiptail wallaby

sitting happily at the camp site, or a few little bettongs (small, wallaby-like creatures) turning up after dark to say hello. Birds abound as well, with doves, pigeons, apostle birds, grey-crowned babblers, currawongs, and assorted kookaburras all trying to cadge a few crumbs at lunch time. At virtually

any given time there are colourful lorikeets and king parrots also moving around camp sites through the day, and they form big flocks to be hand fed in at 4.30pm.

CULINARY DELIGHTS For the enjoyment of visitors, the friendly staff provide free billy tea and damper at 10am. On Friday nights there’s fish and chips on the menu from the main kitchen, and on Saturday nights there’s pizza and wine tasting. The woodfired pizzas are turned out from a big baker’s oven set into the camp fire area at the rear of what’s quaintly known as the ‘Big Shed’.

It can seat up to 80 people in its dining area, making it ideal for weddings.

There’s also a conference room catering for up to 70 people. Surround sound and an overhead projector are provided, along with an electronic white board and laptop connections. At the main office there’s an expertly used cappuccino machine for tired travellers to revive themselves.

Campers can avail themselves of the extensive facilities at the two very well set up camp kitchens

One of the park’s two well-kept camp kitchens.

Water slides and pools, just the place for everyone to have fun.

National Park with its legendary buff-coloured sandstone cliffs. The overall size of the Park is 9 hectares (23 acres for us old timers), and it’s set in a rural yet tidy bush setting far from any traffic or other 66

OCTOBER 2018

accommodation. There are also numerous caravan sites and general camping areas, with ample shade for the warmer months.

150 powered sites are available – many catering for caravans with concrete

pads – and there are 100 unpowered sites as well spread over a large flat area interspersed with trees and neat roads. Throughout the park there’s also Telstra phone service and an internet booth.

One for the author from the main basin, note the sandstone cliffs in the background.

for both bass and toga as well as silver perch. Even anglers fishing from small tinnies have ample areas to fish in safety due to the sheltered water.

In many instances schooling bass can be found right in the main basin, virtually within sight of the ramp, which is handy. There was a massive toga feeding on bony bream right at the ramp when we launched last month, but we just could not tempt the rascal.

Doubtless many others have tried as well.

Because of the large population of bony bream, Cania bass are fat and strong. A 50cm fish is not uncommon, and when the fish are on the job you can often get double hook-ups – something Denise and I experienced on our trip there recently.

A Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIP) is required to fish the lake, and there are no restrictions on engines,

starting times or other impediments to a fun day on the water. The ramp is a beauty, with plenty of parking. In all, it’s a great place to fish.

At the time of our visit the entire Monto Shire was in dire need of rain, so things were a bit parched. However, by the time of publication there will doubtlessly have been storms, and the area will return to its usual emerald green state.

Bird feeding time at the Park is a great draw card for visitors and birds alike. with their gas BBQs (TVs are also handy) for users to enjoy at their convenience.

At the big shed there are also camp oven cuisine demonstrations where you can watch the experts going about their business.

Pizza cooking is also a big attraction, with wine tasting nearby of course.

Some of the other interesting features of the Cania Gorge Holiday Park are the tennis courts, par 3 golf course, walking

tracks and 4WD tracks nearby within the National Park proper.

WHAT ABOUT THE FISHING? You knew I’d come to this – I have saved the best for last! Lake Cania is one of really great places to fish for bass, saratoga and red claw. And because it’s some distance away from the main southern population centres, the fish don’t get such a hiding that they disperse and head for

cover as soon as a sounder turns on over them.

Cania is an interesting lake, with quite a few bays off a main arm that stretches west, then north, then meanders like a giant snake as it shallows into heavily timbered areas. It isn’t one of those sprawling lakes where you can become confused or lost, but it’s blessed with sufficient standing timber in most of the bays and smaller side arms to provide ideal habitat

Cabins come in all sizes at this holiday park, with or without en suites and air conditioning.

Cania4 Gorge

LAKE CANIA - ONE OF THE TOP

STOCKED DAMS IN

QUEENSLAND!

www.caniagorge.com.au

n park Creek 5 kms from our carava Situated on the Three Moon ts. ris raction to our tou Lake Cania is a very big att n stocked d dams in Qld, and has bee It is one of the top 4 stocke ow Belly and Saratoga. with fish including Bass, Yell iation holds its...

Cania Fish Stocking Assoc ition Major Annual Fishing Compet ber on the 2nd weekend in Novem

WOOD FIRED PIZZA SATURDAY NIGHTS

Bush Walks

Boating

l Events Room l Bird Feeding l Jumping Pillows l Pools & Water Park Complex l Outdoor Movies

07 4167 8188

Fishing l Bettongs l Wine Tasting l Tennis Court l Open Fires l Self Drive 4WD Trips

Kayaking l Camp Oven Dinner l Morning Tea l Challenging nine hole

Big 4 Holiday Park

golf course l Plenty of Red Claw

Cania Dam Rd, Cania Gorge, QLD

info@caniagorge.com.au OCTOBER 2018

67

Multi-role Volkswagen High Line Multi Van BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

It’s been a while since a car I have reviewed has surprised and impressed me, but the Volkswagen

inside. ARB had also set up a Rhino Rack up top, complete with shovel, Max Trax and an ARB awning.

There was a 25-30mm ARB lift kit installed as well.

The reviewed Highline was equipped with optional AWD to complement

standard features, such as hill descent control, traction control systems plus a mechanical diff lock. It was obvious that the additional features of this generously proportioned long wheel base van, complete with

The powerful multivan made easy work of towing the author’s boat.

Multivan did just that.

It impressed me with its practicality and versatility, and surprised with its performance and road manners.

NOT A STANDARD MULTIVAN On the exterior, the unit is a plain Volkswagen Multivan, much the same as we see around the suburbs with ladders on racks, conduit pipe or other tradie gear up top.

However, there’s a big difference between a standard work van and the 4 Motion AWD Multivan with its luxury trimmings. I tested the Highline (one rung down from the Executive model), which comes equipped with Volkswagen’s Good Night camping package

The Highline’s Multiflex extension assists in converting the Multivan into an overnight sleeper, as well as providing an extra cargo area with two levels.

The Multivan’s air conditioning is controlled from the well-organised dashboard.

68

OCTOBER 2018

Packed and ready to roll. The Highline Multivan’s two levels of storage was very handy.

tow bar, would make it perfect for a run up to one of my favourite fishing destinations, Cania Dam. First, however, I would need to familiarise myself with all its features.

FEATURES, FEATURES, FEATURES The long wheelbase Highline had many interesting features, all designed to make driving a pleasure. A wellplaced grab handle helps you climb in, and I was impressed with the sheer comfort of the driver’s seat with its huge degree of lumbar support and electric adjustment for both height and angle of the left side

arm rest. Seat heating was standard, and I warmed to this feature (pun intended) when we went fishing one morning with an air temp of 2°C. In short, everything about that front seating seemed just right, and when I adjusted the height and reach of the steering wheel to suit my own requirements, it got even better. Visibility was perfect; blind spots just don’t exist in the front of the Multivan. As I eased into busy traffic, the smooth shifting 7-speed gearbox mated to a bi-turbo 2L diesel engine impressed me with its willing performance, and surprising me with just how nifty the big van was, given its workhorse heritage.

At home, I had the opportunity to delve into

what this 2 + 2 + 3 seater offered. The first surprise was that the pair of seats behind the driver and front passenger (referred to as Captains Chairs) could be swivelled entirely around to face the rear. These seats were complete with seat belts, Isofix and top tether child seat mounting points, as well as handy storage drawers under each seat.

T h e r e ’s even a movable, height adjustable, table snugged between these seats that can be slid rearwards to offer further options for those travellers bored with watching the scenery.

Next surprise came with the sheer functionality of the table as it combined a size adjustable top with 4 cup holders and 2 bottle holders, as well as a decent-sized drawer –

Everything in the Multivan was well thought out, including two rows of lighting.

such a smart design!

This car aims to pamper. The Highline even has sunshade blinds that pull up from a housing in the side windows. Opening a side door on the van was just a matter of gently pulling on a handle and the door powered back on a track. The high lift tailgate was operated similarly with one touch power assistance.

DIGITAL DASH The Volkswagen’s dash layout was very modern, with an all digital dash layout. The easy-to-use multi-colour multi-function central display was a joy to drive.

All controls were easy to learn and manage. Air

the Multivan Highline 4 Motion’s optional Good Night package. Useful for an overnight stay, this handy bit of kit used a padded multiflex board extension (a moveable table-like extension) at the rear of the third row seat assembly. This extends the area behind the back seats when the tall backrests are lowered forward and down.

The third row of seats is set onto a sliding rail on the floor so it could be moved back or forwards as required, providing a lot of flexibility in overall use. Isofix points were also provided.

With the backrest upright, three adults can sit in perfect

Plush ultra comfortable front seating was a notable feature.

nominate following distance behind another vehicle, a very important safety feature.

Fuel consumption was 11.2L per 100km in towing mode which, given the ease of cruising speed, seemed fairly reasonable. The towbar specifications are 2500kg braked, and 500kg unbraked, with a 80L fuel tank.

SUMMING UP The Volkswagen Highline Multivan is a large, practical, people mover for up to seven people to enjoy in luxurious and abundant comfort.

The overall comfort and flexibility in seating is a huge step forward in travel design.

The Highline’s extensive list of features does raise its

A great Multivan Highline feature is the ability to change the second and third row seats to face each other. It even has a handy table in place. conditioning was provided within the unit for an overall 3 zone coverage.

The Composition Media radio system with USB/ AUX/SD input and App-Connect all linked to 6 very clear speakers with Bluetooth phone and audio streaming also came standard.

EXTRA GOOD, GOOD NIGHT PACKAGE I was intrigued with

comfort. When the backrest was folded down and the entire seat slid forward, the large platform formed (in conjunction with the padded multiflex extension) a quite large bed.

Volkswagen thoughtfully provided a fabric curtain package for windows, a reading lamp, washable bed cover and there were drawers under the main seat squab for storage of smaller items. In

all, a good, practical, Good Night package!

THE ROAD TO CANIA DAM All the gear needed for a 4-day stay at the Big 4 Caravan Park was packed into the massive boot area (I folded down the back rest of the third row to provide two handy levels of storage). Even with the boat on the tow ball, the versatility of the 2L four-

The Highline Multivan might look standard but the extras ensure that it delivers high quality comfort and convenience. If this boat ramp was slippery, the AWD and diff lock would easily assist with the retrieve.

The optional Rhino Rack and ARB awning fitted to the Multivan was a very useful bit of kit, taking around half a minute to set up.

cylinder 150kW, 450Nm twin turbo Euro 6 engine came to the forefront as we travelled north.

The bi-turbo diesel engine was surprisingly powerful and, even when towing, it lifted the vehicle off the mark rapidly to build up travel speed quickly.

Overtaking on highways was a breeze, and on the back roads the van rode very well, soaking up

bumps with ease. The userfriendly steering inspired confidence, even on some of the more narrow and winding roads.

Night driving was easy as the van had great LED headlights that illuminated the many kangaroos on the roadside between Monto and Gayndah. I found the Volkswagen’s Adaptive Cruise Control, which allows a driver to

drive-away price, but their useful practicality certainly seems to justify it.

As a basic unit, the standard Multivan with 2.0L engine would be a very comfortable work unit and a great drive whether in the city or travelling. Stepping up to the Highline series with its AWD system and Diff Lock plus ARB and Good Night packages simply added a lot of icing to the cake.

OCTOBER 2018

69

Contact or visit us for more information.

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today.

NORTHERN NSW/GOLD COAST TWEED COAST MARINE

IPSWICH IPSWICH MARINE

32 Machinery Drive Tweed Heads South 2485 Phone: (07) 5524 8877 Email: admin@tweedcoastmarine.com.au Website: www.tweedcoastmarine.com.au

45 Huxham Street Raceview 4305 Phone: (07) 3294 3944 | Fax: (07) 3294 5320 Email: enquiries@ipswichmarine.com.au Website: www.ipswichmarine.com.au

GOLD COAST ONSHORE MARINE

BRISBANE WEST KAREE MARINE

Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba 4207 Phone: (07) 5546 2480 | Fax: (07) 5546 1362 Email: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au Website: www.onshoremarine.com.au

1776 Ipswich Road Rocklea 4106 Phone: (07) 3875 1600 | Fax: (07) 3875 1622 Email: sales@kareemarine.com.au Website: www.kareemarine.com.au

TOOWOOMBA WATERSKIERS WAREHOUSE

BRISBANE SOUTH MANLY HARBOUR MARINE

91-93 Neil Street Toowoomba 4350 Phone: 0400 379 514 | Fax: (07) 4637 9513 Email: rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au Website: www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au 70

OCTOBER 2018

570 Royal Esplanade Manly 4179 Phone: (07) 3893 2199 | Fax: (07) 3893 2188 Email: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au Website: www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

BRISBANE HOLT MARINE

25 Queens Road Everton Hills 4053 Phone: (07) 3353 1928 | Fax: (07) 3353 4548 Email: info@holtmarine.com.au Website: www.holtmarine.com.au

BRISBANE BAYSIDE MIKES MARINE

9 Smith Street Capalaba 4157 Phone: (07) 3390 3418 | Fax: (07) 3823 5856 Email: sales@mikesmarine.com.au Website: www.mikesmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH SOUTHERN FISH MARINE

9/11 Spinnaker drive Sandstone Point 4511 Phone: (07) 5497 6733 Email: info@southernfishmarine.com.au Website: www.southernfishmarine.com.au

NEW EXCLUSIVE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL TILLER

The game has changed…

The ALL NEW Mercury 15-20hp FourStroke battery-free EFI range changes the way you will think about portable outboards.

A New Era in FourStroke

Intuitive Shift Lever Ambidextrous Adjustable Tiller

Bi-Directional Throttle Control

Lighter, more powerful, more efficient, more durable, more intuitive… unlike any other portable fourstroke.

• Our lightest 15 & 20hp FourStroke ever

The all new 175hp – 225hp • Best in class performance Mercury FourStroke V6 • Battery Free EFI for fast, reliable starting Outboard Range

Tilt Lock Lever

Throttle Friction Knob

• New exclusive multiTaking performance, efficiency and reliability functional tiller handle, to a level you have only dreamed about. adjustable for left or right handed operation Power Tilt Switch (selected models only)

Adjustable Tiller Height Lanyard Stop Switch with Spare Clip

BRISBANE NORTH BRISBANE MARINE

ROCKHAMPTON RIFEN BOATS

CAIRNS AUSSIE MARINE

BRISBANE NORTH CUNNINGHAM MARINE CENTRE

BOWEN REIBEL MARINE

KARUMBA JONES MARINE

SUNSHINE COAST RAY SCHOLES MARINE

AIRLIE BEACH WHITSUNDAY OUTBOARD CENTRE

BUNDABERG ADRIANS MARINE CENTRE

INNISFAIL COASTAL MARINE & OUTDOORS

306 Duffield Road Clontarf 4019 Phone: (07) 3889 3033 | Fax: (07) 3889 5390 Email: info@brismarine.com.au Website: www.brismarine.com.au

23-25 Snook Street Clontarf 4019 Phone: (07) 3284 8805 | Fax: (07) 3284 8813 Email: sales@cunninghammarinecentre.com.au Website: www.cunninghammarinecentre.com.au

146 Eumundi Road Noosaville 4566 Phone: (07) 5449 7633 | Fax: (07) 5449 9830 Email: reception@rayscholesmarine.com.au Website: www.rayscholesmarinenoosa.com.au

28 Ritchie Street Norville Phone: (07) 4153 1819 | Fax: (07) 4154 4808 Email: adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com Website: www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au

6 Dooley Street North Rockhampton 4701 Phone: (07) 4927 9150 | Fax: (07) 4921 3502 Email: rifen.boats@bigpond.com Website: www.rifenboats.com.au

34 Don Street Bowen 4805 Phone: (07) 4786 2944 Fax: (07) 4786 6606 Email: remarine@bigpond.net.au

5 Hannam Street Bungalow 4870 Phone: (07) 4033 8800 Email: sales@aussiemarine.com.au Website: www. aussiemarine.com.au

38 Yappar Street Karumba 4891 Phone: (07) 4745 9159 Email: jonglo@bigpond.com Website: www.jonesmarine.com.au

17 William Murray Drive Cannonvale 4802 Phone: (07) 4946 7286 Fax: (07) 4946 7848 Email: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au Website: www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

178 Edith Street Innisfail 4860 Phone: (07) 4061 8272 | Fax: (07) 4061 7718 Email: joel@coastalmarine.com.au Website: www.coastalmarine.com.au OCTOBER 2018

71

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

/

W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

The lucrative luderick The humble luderick is a fantastic fish to target, especially during the cooler months when they are at their most prevalent.

This time of year they can be found schooling up in protected bays along the ocean rocks or inside the estuaries along rock

rocks, a big part of how a luderick gets its food is by catching bits of weed flowing past in the tide. For this reason slack water is generally a slow bite period for luderick with the prime time being either side of a tide change when there is good water movement but not too much. Many areas

or at the base of fresh water run-off points.

Imitation weed flies are also growing in popularity and really do work, especially when the luderick are biting well. Weed flies can either be fished traditionally under a float or in the shallow water using a 6w fly rod and

The author with a pair of quality luderick.

This luderick was taken on a traditional float rig. walls, over weed beds and around jetties.

Their abundance makes them a very popular species amongst anglers young and old, and fish-a-cast sessions are not out of the question even during the middle of the day. On top of that they put up a great fight on light gear and aren’t bad on the plate.

Despite all their attributes many anglers shy away from chasing luderick, because the way in which they’re targeted is

perfect bait presentations, cabbage or weed. They also are the perfect hooks for tying your own weed flies on.

I use the G10S inside the estuary and G8s for off the rocks, as fish are typically lifted out of the water rather than netted like inside the estuary. The larger size also has the benefits of being strong enough to not straighten out if you hook onto a drummer,

which are a regular by-catch when fishing for luderick.

From the hook I run a short length of around 60cm of Black Magic fluorocarbon leader, using 6lb for estuary work and 10lb off the ocean rocks. This leader runs to a swivel with a short 20cm length of 20lb line attached to another swivel. The short length of line between these two swivels is where you want

less than a couple of metres deep will be too shallow to fish at low tide, but come to life around the top of the tide.

Once you have an idea of where you’re going to fish it’s time to source some bait and prepare a bit of berley.

Luderick are predominately herbivores, however they will at times eat a yabby, peeled prawn or even attack a big plastic or hardbodied lure. For consistent results, however, there are only two baits to use – green weed and sea lettuce.

Fly fishing can be a very effective technique if the fly is presented naturally.

The secret to finding luderick is finding a good source of bait. a little unique compared to other styles of fishing.

The truth is that the art of catching these fish doesn’t take a long time to master, and as long as you’re set up right in the first place you should be able to get stuck into them right away. The first thing you need to work out is when you should be fishing for them.

While they love to graze on algae-covered 72

OCTOBER 2018

Neither of these can be found in the bait freezer of your local tackle store. They need to be gathered. Both are fairly abundant, and on any given day one can work better than the other, so it pays to have both at your disposal. Sea lettuce can be gathered from the ocean rocks on a low tide when there is little swell and are also often found growing on mooring ropes and around wharfs. Green weed can be sourced around creeks, drains

strike indicator.

A berley mixture consisting of either weed or cabbage mixed with sand can often help turn fish on the bite; throw a scoopful around your float every five minutes.

A good little trick to prepare rather than sitting there with scissors and cutting up your weed or cabbage into small pieces is to leave it out in the sun so it gets get dry and crispy, then just crush it over your sand and mix it in.

While there is nothing complicated about rigging up for luderick it’s very important to have everything right. By far the best hooks I’ve used for luderick are the Black Magic G10 and G8s. These Japanesemade hooks are super sharp and are the ideal pattern for

to add a barrel sinker, and the size of it will depend on how big the float is.

The aim is to weight the float just enough so just the stem is sticking above the water line and the luderick feels little to no resistance when it takes the bait.

The best mainline to use is a 12-20lb floating line, which won’t sink like normal mono line. This allows any slack in the line to be removed quickly when striking a fish as it’s coming off the surface.

Attached to the mainline is a float stopper to adjust your depth. It pays to play around with it when things are quiet, as you may find them feeding better hard on the bottom or higher up in the water column.

Centre pin reels still remain popular for chasing luderick, but threadlines, especially small Baitrunner styles, will also do the trick just fine. Your rods should be around the 10ft mark for the estuary and 12ft for rock work, and need to be quite soft in the tip as luderick only have small mouths, and the shock absorption of a soft rod helps keep the hooks in there.

The essentials for chasing luderick.

FIND THE

LOGO COMPETITION

There are 15 Logos hidden throughout the pages of Fishing Monthly.

The first 40 correct entries drawn at the end of each month will win a Neck Scarf

Fill in the entry form below with the page number of each logo location and go in the draw to win!

All entries will then go into the Major Prize draw to win 1 of 3 prize packs to be drawn on [DATE].

31st October, 2018.

MAJOR $ $ $ PRIZES 1000 500 200 1st PLACE

2nd PLACE

3rd PLACE

RRP worth of DAIWA Products

RRP worth of DAIWA products

RRP worth of DAIWA products

PAGE NO: 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

ADDRESS

MAILENTRIES ENTRIESTO: TO: MAIL QFM Find NSWFM Find the the DAIWA DAIWA Logo LogoCompetition, Competition, PO 3172, Loganholme 4129 PO BOX 3172, LoganholmeQLD QLD 4129 Entries must be received by 31st OCTOBER Entries must be received by 30TH DATE 20182018 Original entries only. No photocopies.

SUBURB

P/CODE

PHONE

QFM OCTOBER2018

NAME

EMAIL I want to receive updates from Daiwa Australia on news & special offers (please tick) OCTOBER 2018

73

Cooking

Wow your friends with seafood wontons BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

This recipe uses a mixture of seafood, and the ingredients can be substituted with whatever you have on hand. The seafood could be well kept leftovers. I’ve even used squid (calamari) that we’ve caught for bait.

Handy Hint One: Tying the seafood wonton with a strand of chives is optional.

Handy Hint Two: Kecap manis is an Indonesian sweet soy sauce; therefore soy sauce is an alternative.

Handy Hint Three: you can use any seafood ingredients that you desire; crab meat is a fantastic substitution.

Handy Hint Four: Use as many green chillies as you like; half a chilli is a good starting point. The amount is up to your heat tolerance.

3

1

Add all of the ingredients (except for the wonton wrappers and the kecap manis sauce) to the bowl of your food processor. Pulse until the mixture is the consistency of a small rough chop.

You want a dry mixture not a puree or paste.

Ingredients • Green chilli with the stems removed • 200g pieces of white fleshed fish • 100g calamari rings • 1/2 tin water chestnuts • 250g prawns • 100g of salmon • 1cm piece ginger

Spoon a little of the mixture into the middle of a square wonton wrapper.

Hold the wonton wrapper in your hand and cup it with your palm, this cupping will keep the ingredients in the centre when you spoon them in.

4

• 2 cloves garlic • 1 golden shallot • 1 tablespoon kecap manis sauce • Wonton wrappers • Chives for tying • Chilli sauce for dipping

Pinch the sides of the wontons together (into the middle). A little water on your fingertips may help this process.

2

5

Spoon the seafood mixture into a glass bowl and then pour the kecap manis sauce into the mixture. Mix the seafood and sauce together well.

Pinch the top together and then give the base a little twist to secure the package a little more.

7 6 74

OCTOBER 2018

As an option, tie the neck of the ‘money-bag’ with a single strand of chive.

Set the wontons into the trays of the bamboo steamer. It is important that you line the steamer tray with some baking paper. The baking paper should be smaller than the size of the steamer tray so the steam can still rise above the baking paper and into each compartment. Place the lid onto the stack of steamer trays. Now place the stack of bamboo steamer trays into a wok that has three cups of water in the base.

Heat the water until it boils. Steam the wontons for approximately 5 minutes.

8

Serve as finger food with a side of chilli sauce to dip the wontons into.

Built to perform.

Built to last.

More Power, Performance and Reliability – Insist on Mercury MerCruiser.

See your authorised Mercury MerCruiser Dealer today.

GOLD COAST ONSHORE MARINE

BRISBANE NORTH SOUTHERN FISH MARINE

AIRLIE BEACH WHITSUNDAY OUTBOARD CENTRE

Horizon Shores Marina, Woongoolba 4207

9/11 Spinnaker Drive, Sandstone Point 4511

17 William Murray Drive, Cannonvale 4802

Phone: (07) 5546 2480

Phone: (07) 5497 6733

Phone: (07) 4946 7286

Email: onshoremarine@ozemail.com.au

Email: info@southernfishmarine.com.au

Email: woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

Website: www.onshoremarine.com.au

Website: www.southernfishmarine.com.au

Website: www.whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

BRISBANE HOLT MARINE

BRISBANE SOUTH MANLY HARBOUR MARINE

25 Queens Road, Everton Park 4053

570 Royal Esplanade Manly 4179

Phone: (07) 3353 1928

Phone: (07) 3893 2199

Email: info@holtmarine.com.au

Email: info@manlyharbourmarine.com.au

Website: www.holtmarine.com.au

Website: www.manlyharbourmarine.com.au

BRISBANE NORTH BRISBANE MARINE

BRISBANE SOUTH COORPAROO MARINE

306 Duffield Road, Clontarf 4019

57 Cavendish Road, Coorparoo 4151

Phone: (07) 3889 3033

Phone: (07) 3397 4141

Email: info@brismarine.com.au

Email: info@coorparoomarine.com.au

Website: www.brismarine.com.au

Website: www.coorparoomarine.com.au

OCTOBER 2018

75

Subscribe & Win!

4

LUCKY SUBSCRIBERS HAVE THE CHANCE TO

WIN!

A Wilson Fishing Pack Valued at over $300 TO SEE THE FULL RANGE OF WILSON PRODUCTS, VISIT...

www.wilsonfishing.com

*Images for Illustration Purposes Only

YOUR SUBSCRIPTION WILL START WITH THE NEXT PUBLISHED ISSUE

QLD FISHING MONTHLY VIC/TAS FISHING MONTHLY

12

issues

$65

inc. gst

24

or

Name: Address: Suburb:

P/Code:

Daytime Contact No: Email:

PAYMENT DETAILS Cheque

$115

issues

BUYERS DETAILS

SUBSCRIPTION FOR

for

NSW FISHING MONTHLY WA FISHING MONTHLY

If you wish to purchase any other combination of magazines please phone FREE CALL 1800 228 244 for a special price.

inc. gst

Name: Address: Suburb:

P/Code:

Daytime Contact No: Email:

As the buyer, do you wish to receive annual subscription renewal notifications?

Money order

Mastercard/Visa

Yes

No

Signature:

Credit Card No:

Credit Card Expiry Date:

Card Holder’s Name:

Daytime Contact No:

CCV:

IF THIS IS A GIFT - PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING AND A GIFT CARD WILL BE MAILED TO THE LUCKY ANGLER OR THE GIFT BUYER! Mail voucher to:

Subscriber

Buyer or Email blank voucher to:

To: Happy Birthday!

From or Happy ____ Birthday!

SUBSCRIBER

ADVANTAGES Free Delivery Entry into the monthly draws Save $$$ 76

OCTOBER 2018

Other

(20 characters max)

Love From:

Happy Fishing!

Merry Christmas!

OUR GUARANTEE Every now and again, a copy may not arrive through the Australia Post System. If this happens to you, a quick call to us and we will post out another FREE OF CHARGE

Happy Fathers Day!

1800 228 244 or

07·3387 0800

Fax coupon to:

07·3387 0801

Email details to: subscribe@fishingmonthly.com.au

OR visit www.fishingmonthly.com.au and follow the links to isubscribe

Mail Coupon to:

FM Subscriptions PO Box 3172 Loganholme Q 4129

Online - ANYTIME

The unavoidable perils of planning a fishing trip BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

I’ve been accused of being organised, too organised.

Amongst the Dudds, being organised enough to know what you’re going to be doing with respect to fishing, prawning and crabbing trips is a definite no-no. In most cases, decisions on when, where and how we are going out are made some twenty to thirty seconds before the time. We are basically the JT’s of fishing trip organising. We play what’s in front of us.

In most cases, this is done because it’s the only way fishing works. If, for example, you spend any amount of time or effort planning a trip, something will intervene to prevent it from happening. Most fishos will know what I’m talking about. The chances of an interruption occurring are directly related to how much time and effort has gone into the planning. And in the case of the Dudds, this effect is multiplied about a thousand times, given that I am in the party and that I’m generally about as lucky as a giant

unlucky thing. We’ve learnt it’s sillier than a stubby cooler in Hobart to go into any sort of locked-in situation with respect to planning a trip. We have to have an exit prepared because sure as sugar something will come up. This something could range from car breakdowns to cyclones.

This can, of course, cause exasperation with Her Onshore, mainly because along with the smaller halves of Skipper and Boobies, she organises scrapbooking weekends far into the future.

In fact, so far into the future even Nostradamus would have developed a sit down migraine trying to predict what day it was, because the calendar doesn’t actually go that far. And there’s no guarantee we’ll still be a functioning democracy at that point. But that doesn’t stop her. She had one set up at Noosa for the later half of this century. That meant the accommodation was booked, food packed and linen washed in preparation. Along with who was bringing the peppered water crackers and whose turn it was to supply the decaffeinated tea bags, despite not knowing whether Noosa would still be above

sea level at that point in time.

So she doesn’t understand the speedbumps that sit in the way of organising a Dudd’s trip. Partners don’t realise the

possible parlous pitfalls that collapse in front of a smooth trip, and that attempting to plan is bending over and picking up the soap in front of the gods of

coincidence. This is why ‘sort it out later’ is our method of planning preference even if it does mean we land in Turkey Beach for a week of fishing

without any bait, ice, fishing gear or accommodation. But at least we have beer and jack.

Always. Some things just aren’t negotiable.

One Revolutionary Ride!

The Crossfire range is the most versatile boat yet.

Designed for 80% fishing and 20% fun meaning the entire family will be happy out on the water.

The Crossfire comes in multiple configurations with a side console as standard but can be fitted with a second twin console.

GOLD COAST

BRISBANE

BRISBANE

SUNSHINE COAST

SUNSHINE COAST

10 Hinde St, ASHMORE Ph 07 5532 4402 sales@whitewatermarine.com.au

31 Fox St WYNNUM Ph 07 3396 9777 info@wynnummarine.com.au

2294 Sandgate Rd BOONDALL Ph 07 3265 8028 info@nsmarine.com.au

264 Nicklin Way WARANA Ph 07 5493 9376 mail@northcoastboating.com.au

16 Project Avenue NOOSAVILLE Ph 07 5442 4872 info@lagunaboating.com.au

WHITE WATER MARINE

www.whitewatermarine.com.au

WYNNUM MARINE

www.wynnummarine.com.au

NORTHSIDE MARINE

www.northsidemarine.com.au

NORTH COAST BOATING

www.northcoastboating.com.au

LAGUNA BOATING CENTRE

www.lagunaboating.com.au

HERVEY BAY

BUNDABERG

GLADSTONE

ROCKHAMPTON

MACKAY

19 Islander Rd PIALBA Ph 07 4124 6988 enquiries@buccaneers.com.au

28 Ritchie St, BUNDABERG Ph 07 4153 1819 adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com

40 Chapple St GLADSTONE Ph 07 4972 0135 sales@curtiscoastmarine.com.au

6 Dooley St NORTH ROCKHAMPTON Ph 07 4927 9150 rifen.boats@bigpond.com

165 Paradise St SOUTH MACKAY Ph: 07 4952 2436 admin@phoenixpowersports.com.au

BUCCANEERS

www.buccaneers.com.au

ADRIANS MARINE CENTRE

www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au

CURTIS COAST MARINE

www.curtiscoastmarine.com.au

RIFEN BOATS

www.rifenboats.com.au

PHOENIX POWERSPORTS

www.phoenixpowersports.com.au OCTOBER 2018

77

Hickson takes Lake Macquarie win

STORM

Kris Hickson re-affirmed his position as Australia’s number-one ranked bream angler. It seemed like deja vu for the second last round of the Costa BREAM Series, the Daiwa Lake Macquarie qualifier.

Kris Hickson weighed two magnificent limits to take first prize and a hefty winners’ cheque.

Hickson admitted that he ‘junk fished’ all weekend.

Junk fishing is about having a dozen rods on your deck with a dozen different baits and picking up the one that you reckon will get the bite on any particular cast.

Illustrating this perfectly was in the post-winning interview, where Kris was asked to grab his winning bait – he picked up five…

Hickson rotated between a 1/6oz Tackle Tactics blade, an HWS rigged Ecogearaqua (in white), a small, black Smith Camion shallow crankbait, a clear Stick Minnow and the ubiquitous Cranka Crab.

With 11 different rods on the deck, Hickson had

Plenty of cash, bonuses and kudos comes the way of an ABT event winner.

Here Kris Hickson tastes the spoils for the second event in a row. trouble picking out his favourite, however he settled on a 7’ Daiwa rod

fitted with the Daiwa Sol LT, 8lb Daiwa J-Braid Grand and 4lb Daiwa J-Thread leader.

“The Sol LT’s have the best drag I’ve used in a Daiwa reel – I can’t recommend them highly enough for the sort of fishing we do,” Hickson said, “and the J-Braid is super thin and

a great braid, especially for the price, I’ve been using the test product for the last 12 months between 6 and 50lb and it’s just getting better and better.”

He only landed five legal fish on the second day, but two of them were real quality and the 4.02kg limit easily propelled him to the win.

Above: Each day Kris Hickson landed a couple of quality kicker fish to distance himself from the rest of the field.

Below: To the victor goes the spoils.

Here’s the Daiwa J-Braid Big Bream winner, Michal Colotourous’ 1.52kg kicker.

DAIWA J-BRAID BIG BREAM It’s rare when a Lake Macquarie Big Bream doesn’t top 1.5kg and Michael Colotourous’ 1.52kg monster fit the pattern nicely. It ate an Ecogear blade in open water and earned him an extra $500.

TOP 10 BOATERS

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

78

OCTOBER 2018

Scan the QR codes to hear the winners’ interviews and watch the highlights packages from each day.

Place Angler

Fish (kg) Weight Payout

1 2

10/10 10/10

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Kris Hickson Steve Morgan

7.94kg 7.45kg

$3500 + $250 Mercury $1500 + $150 Mercury + $200 Pro Russell Babekuhl 10/10 7.07kg $1250 + $100 Mercury Cam Whittam 8/10 6.19kg $1000 Jason Mayberry 10/10 5.96kg $900 Brad Hodges 8/10 4.44kg $800 Todd Riches 7/10 4.41kg $700 Scott Towner 7/10 4.13kg $600 Michael Colotourous 5/10 4.09kg $500 + $500 Big Bream Tim Vickers 7/10 4.03kg $500 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Morgan sought shallow bream for second Brisbane’s Steve Morgan took the lead in the BASS Cat BREAM Angler of the Year race with a second place finish. Catching most of his fish on Cranka Crabs on shallow boats and adding a few key fish on

Scan the QR codes to hear the winners’ interviews and watch the highlights packages from each day.

shallow, black crankbaits on the flats, Morgan revelled in the gusty conditions and credited the performance to the nasty weather.

“At the start of this event, I’d have bet that this tournament was going to be won deep, but as it happened, the wind blew hard and the fish bit shallow.

All three of my kilo-plus kicker fish came in less than 5ft of water,” Morgan said.

Morgan relied on two baits for his bag, a heavy, olive Cranka Crab and a shallow, black Jackall Chubby. He fished the crankbait on 2lb Yamatoyo Spinning Fluoro and the Crab on 3lb Toray Bawo fluorocarbon spooled on a Daiwa Mebaru ‘crab rod’ and an old Gekkabijin reel.

“The more I fish the Daiwa crab rods, the more I like them,” Morgan explained,

“they’re long and soft enough to really cushion the line and those small, #14 hooks that the crabs use, and I’ve found that my accuracy casting isn’t affected at all.”

“When it’s your time to do well in events, the big fish stick. I landed the three big ones that I hooked and Kris landed four of them. Lake Macquarie is increasingly a wonderful venue to catch big yellowfin bream and a favourite stop of the Costa BREAM Tour,” he said.

There’s only two anglers left that can win the Bass Cat BREAM Angler of the Year race and that’s Morgan and Victorian Cam Whittam, and only four points separates the two. It will come down to how they finish at South West Rocks to decide the final placing.

BREAM SERIES

Steve Morgan live streamed his big fish catches – this one went 1.37kg on day 2 and shot him up into second place and into the AOY lead.

Cam Whittam’s Duffrods Big Bag was the basis for an epic day 2 comeback. He came from nowhere into 4th with a 4.63kg limit.

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Victorian Cam Whittam took the Duffrods Big Bag with a cracking 4.63kg bag of Lake Macquarie yellowfin on the second day of competition. He caught them cranking deep, brown Suji Chubbies on shallow weed and rock using a Duffrod Bream Multi Broken Bones (7’1”) with 16lb Sunline PE8 and a 3lb Bream Special FC Rock leader.

Simon Johnson claims maiden ABT BREAM win Simon Johnson was stoked to take his maiden ABT BREAM win at this event after a string of second and third places recently. It was particularly satisfying after only having fished at the venue once before.

“We fished big, open flats both days, so it was a non-boater friendly place,”

Johnson said. “With the different winds blowing over the two days, I used plastics both days, but changed between 1/16oz, 1/12oz, 1/8oz and 1/8oz depending on the conditions.”

On them he rigged an unnamed 2.5” motor oil coloured grub.

Simon fished the bait on a 7’ Kistler KLX Lite 4-10lb

rod and a Daiwa Luvias 2004 reel spooled with 10lb Daiwa Tournament Evo 8 braid and a 4lb Sunline v-Hard leader and made long casts with the wind to cover ground.

When asked what his tips were to budding non-boaters, he offered this sage advice.

“Make every cast count.

You only have a limited time to fish in these events

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

Fish(kg) Weight Payout

Simon Johnson 7/10 4.07kg Costas + prize pack Lindsay Pryke 7/10 5.96kg Prize Pack Stuart Walker 6/10 3.93kg Prize Pack Jeffrey Esperitu 6/10 3.7kg Prize Pack Richard Potter 7/10 3.51kg Prize Pack Mark Young 5/10 3.37kg Prize Pack Colin Wilson 5/10 3.06kg Prize Pack Grant Oliver 5/10 3.03kg Prize Pack Paul Langley 5/10 2.99kg Prize Pack Thomas McIntosh 5/10 2.76kg Prize Pack For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Simon Johnson was stoked to get his first ABT BREAM win at Lake Macquarie. and more time you spend sitting down and rigging rods, the less chance you have of catching fish.

Time is precious and the more casts you make the better chance you have of catching. And if you be good to your boater, they will be good to you,” he concluded.

Scan the QR codes to hear the winners’ interviews and watch the highlights packages from each day.

OCTOBER 2018

79

West wipes floor at Lake Wivenhoe

STORM

Charles West, a 36yo tradesman from Ipswich, has taken out the 2018 Casino Outdoor and Disposal Bass Electric Grand Final held at Lake Wivenhoe.

West won with 4/4 and a total weight of 7.55kg, making a great come back from 9th place. He took an indisputable win, with 1.45kg over his nearest competitor and he was the only angler to weigh a 5kg+ bag for the weekend. He completed his Bass Electric trifecta by adding this Grand Final win to his AOY title from 2017 and notching up Bass Electric win number 10. West will be packing his bags, as the top prize was a trip to Osaka Japan to attend the Osaka tackle show in 2019.

During the pre-fish for the event West chose to split up from his boating partner to search for those deeper schooling fish that unfortunately just weren’t there. After many discussions they chose to fish some of the shallower, more weeded bays about a 45 minute run from the start line.

Charles West with one of the bass that made up his winning bag.

Sitting in 9th place heading into the final day, West knew he had to capitalize on the wet and windy conditions that had rolled in over night, and with his knowledge of the lake he knew that he was only two bites away from a win. With these weather conditions, West tried the jerkbait he threw the day before, and

Lake Wivenhoe before the tournament began.

Day one saw them start in one of these bays, where he chose to throw a jerkbait through the weed.

After fishing the bay and not getting a bite, West chose to mix it up by slow rolling a Valleyhill Terri bull blade over the tops of the weed and soon after he had his first fish in the well. The second fish in his bag came on a vertically worked lure.

what a move that was as he bagged his first one in just 20 minutes. With the bay coming to an end, West decided to tie on a lipless crankbait and cast it across the approaching point where he picked up his second fish and the winning bag.

West’s tackle consisted of quite a mix but the first of his two favourite combos was a Raison Jaburo RJS70ML

matched with a Daiwa Steez Exist 2508 spooled with 16lb Sunline and 12lb fluorocarbon leader. On this combination he chose to cast a Valleyhill Terribull 3/8oz in colour 05.

His next go-to was a Raison Jaburo RJB70H matched up with a Steez T.Namiki ltd 103 spooled with 16lb Sunline and a 20lb fluorocarbon leader to muscle those bigger fish from the weed. On this combo, he threw his larger baits, including the lipless crankbait that landed him one of his big fish.

West also said that a huge part of his success was due to his good mate Adrian finding a good patch of fish during the pre-fish. “If Adrian hadn’t found this more consistent patch of fish it would have been hard resorting to the deeper, more scattered fish.”

SECOND PLACE Jesper Noiesen secured 2nd place at the 2018 Casino Outdoor and Disposal Bass Electric Grand Final. After sitting in 6th after the first session he made a charge for the top on the last day finishing with 4/4 and a total weight of 6.10kg.

Noiesen went in the opposite direction to West, heading toward the buoy line down the dam. He fished the same stretch of bank the entire weekend working it back and forward. Noiesen’s

lure of choice on day one was a 3/8oz Little Max. He worked this over the weed that came out from the edge in around 10-20ft using a slow roll retrieve. He opted to throw this lure on spinning tackle as it improved his casting distance and allowed him to cover more water.

Heading in to day two with some ground to make up, Noiesen decided to throw a Slider Grub rigged on a 3/8oz TT jighead. He slow rolled this through the fish just above the weed in around 10-20ft. With the changed weather conditions the lure change proved key to his success and this helped him jump up into 2nd place.

Noiesen had one go-to combo for the weekend. He chose a Wilson Live Fibre 2-4kg rod matched up with a Daiwa spin reel spooled with 10lb Power Pro and 12lb Sunline leader, which he threw with his blade of choice and soft plastic.

Noiesen took home a Raison Jaburo 69H casting rod for his efforts.

A massive thanks goes to all the competitors on such a fantastic grand final and series. We would like to thank our naming sponsor Casino Outdoor and Disposal for all their support. Stay tuned for the 2019 calendar release as it’s going to be another big year on the tour.

WIVENHOE GRAND FINAL RESULTS Place Fisher

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

80

OCTOBER 2018

Scan the QR codes to see an interview with Charles West and to see him in action during the competition.

Total Fish Total Weight (kg)

1 Charles West 4/4 7.55 2 Jesper Noiesen 4/4 6.10 3 Chesley Lennon 4/4 5.74 4 Adrian Wilson 4/4 5.46 5 Aaron Kemp 4/4 4.99 6 Nick Nutley 3/4 4.85 7 Nathan Swanson 2/4 4.65 8 Michael Rowswell 4/4 4.29 9 Mathew Flynn 3/4 3.97 10 Drew Sharpe 2/4 3.55 For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

X

ELIMINATOR Durability meets functionality

www.daiwafishing.com.au

OCTOBER 2018

81

Variety Toga on Fly Competition Where does time go? It seems like the celebration of the 14th Annual Variety Toga on Fly Competition has not long past. This event is held annually at Borumba Dam and has a reputation for being friendly in camp but

competitive when the fly hits the water. Landing the prized and often elusive saratoga is always exciting, challenging at times, but very rewarding. The three main trophies are awarded for Top Angler, Top Team and Biggest Saratoga.

Each year competitors arrive at the Borumba Deer Park where the event is headquartered. The deer park has accommodation to suit all budgets including cabins, on-site vans, and powered and non-powered camp sites. A camp kitchen and a number of barbecues are also available. Early bookings are important as the deer farm can be popular on weekends

run’ freshly-cooked bacon egg muffin for the anglers, raffles and a very reasonable entrance fee. Dinner is provided Saturday night as part of the entry fee.

Sponsors play an integral part in raising money for this event. Without them there would be no raffles and no ‘goodie’ bag for all the competitors. The Variety Toga on Fly is held

EVENT DETAILS Event Date Location Registration Fee Accommadation

Email Mobile Number Facebook

Variety Toga on Fly Competition celebrates 14 years.

Variety Toga on Fly Competition 12-14 October 2018 Lake Borumba Imbil $60/person, Junior $30 Borumba Deer Park (07 5484 5196) redlaughter@optusnet.com.au Jeremy Wakelin 0447 741 709 Variety Fly Fishing Competition

with families coming to enjoy the water sports and see the deer being fed.

The preparation for this year’s event and the submitting of applications for the successful running of the 14th Annual Toga on Fly Competition are well underway. The founders of this charity event, Jeremy and Judy Wakelin, have worked tirelessly for many years to raise money for the Variety Children’s Charity.

The money is raised through an early morning ‘on the

in such high regard that many companies have been supporting Jeremy and Judy since the event’s inception.

As with any charity events, you can never get too many sponsors and Jeremy and Judy are diligent throughout the year in their efforts to gain extra sponsors and improve the benefits and enjoyment for all competitors. The more entrants to this competition, the more money is raised to help children in need. Each year thousands of children who are sick, disadvantaged

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

This event promotes family fun and raises money for children in need. or have special needs get support from the Variety Children’s Charity.

To aid in the smooth running of this event it is important to have your entry forms submitted as soon as possible. The Variety Toga on Fly competition is loads of fun and has the added benefit of supporting children in need. Entrants can register and attend a briefing Friday night before the competition.

This competition was started by the Borumba fishing club in the early ‘90s, but by the late ‘90s the cost of public liability insurance spelled the end to this exciting and fun event.

In 2003/2004 the Brisbane Flyfishers got together to revive this exciting competition and put it back on the calendar for those who enjoyed flyfishing To page 83

Brought to you by

2018

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Oct-Feb 19

Golden Barra Comp Lake Monduran

6-7 Oct

Bjelke Petersen Public Fishing Competition Bjelke Petersen Dam

Matthew Langford 0408 658 592

12-14 Oct

Variety Tog on Fly Competition Lake Borumba

Jeremy Wakelin 0447 741 709 redlaughter@optusnet.com.au

12-14 Oct

Wynnum Fishing Classic Moreton Bay

www.ozfishmoretonbay.org ozfishmoretonbay@gmail.com

13-14 Oct

ABT BREAM Series Round 9 South West Rocks

abt.org.au

20-21 Oct

ABT BASS Australian Open Lake Glenbawn

abt.org.au

9-11 Nov

Berkley Urunga Sport Fishing Flathead Urunga Sailing Club

www.urungasportfishing.com.au

19 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 1 Kinchant Dam (evening event)

abt.org.au

20 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 2 Teemburra Dam (evening event)

abt.org.au

21 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 3 Peter Faust (Night Championship)

abt.org.au

23-24 Nov

ABT BARRA Tour Round 4 Peter Faust (evening event)

abt.org.au

30 Nov-2 Dec

ABT BREAM Series Grand Final Marlo

abt.org.au

Add your tournament or competition to this list by emailing jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au or calling 07 3387 0800 in office hours.

Just supply a date, venue, tournament name and a telephone number and contact name.

82

OCTOBER 2018

Family fun flathead fishing tournament The 2018 Berkley Urunga Sport Fishing Flathead Tournament is once again fast approaching. This is their fifth year; the Tournament has officially earned a permanent

The coastal country town of Urunga, located where the Bellinger and Kalang rivers meet the sea, provides a quiet and relaxed atmosphere in an area that is known for great

all year round climate, beaches and tranquil rivers.

Not to mention some of the best fishing the NSW north coast has on offer. And only a short 15min drive south of Coffs Harbour.

Their goal is to provide you with the best value for money fun fishing competition you can participate in. So together with their sponsors they have put together some mind blowing gift packs for the first 300 competitors to register. Your entry automatically puts you in the entrant only random draw.

They really strive for this to be more than just a fishing competition, and are building on an already great reputation amongst the fishing community with their major prizes awarded via an entrant only random draw.

The success of their previous competitions is allowing them to raise the stakes every year and provide better and bigger prizes. They have collaborated with their sponsors to put together a massive prize pool including an awesome Clarke boat/ Suzuki outboard motor and trailer package valued at around $9,000 supplied by North Coast Boating Centre for the last ticket drawn out of the barrel.

This year we have organized a flathead info talk night on Thursday 8 November to be held at the largest tackle store in the world, MOTackle & Outdoors in Coffs Harbour.

This will kick off after 5pm; there will be a BBQ on the night, with guest speakers from the Berkley Australia pro team and plenty of information to help you catch more fish.

As for the fishing side of the tournament, they have a

This competition continues to lure flyfishers with the opportunity to experience this exciting pastime, while enjoying the camaraderie, fun, and competitive edge and at the same time supporting this wonderful charity.

The event now also raises funds for a wonderful cause, that being the Variety Children’s Charity QLD. The lovely Borumba Dam is the fishery for this exciting competition, with the Borumba Deer Park

Ross had a great time trying to land this flathead during the 2017 tournament. annual place on the calendar. Anglers from far and wide are eager to come back to the picture perfect coastal town of Urunga to participate in this fun well-run event.

From page 82

for saratoga as well as the fun and competitive side of this comp.

The following year, 2005, saw the first Variety Children’s Toga on Fly Competition.

Winning fish are caught at this event every year.

The opportunity to compete in teams means you can have fun with the family or a group of mates.

Brett with a winning fish at last year’s tournament.

‘teams’ category, making this event even more fun for the whole family or you and your mates. This is in addition to the opportunity to compete as individuals in your respective categories.

All fish are to be caught on lure and fly, either by casting or trolling, measured on your supplied Softgaff Accumat, photographed, recorded and then released. The primary target species is flathead, although they do offer four awards for by-catch species randomly picked over the weekend.

For more information including signing up and registering for the event check out their website www.urungasportfishing. com.au or jump onto their Facebook page, Berkley Urunga Estuary Sport Fishing Flathead Tournament.

providing the majestic surrounding for this weekend of toga on fly.

The Variety Children’s Bass on Fly Competition is another wonderful event held by this group.

It takes place over the first weekend of March.

In 2005 the Bass on Fly Competition was placed on the Variety fishing calendar.

They had the support and confidence of every flyfisher that this would become an annual event for years to follow.

Maroon Dam is nestled in the heart of the scenic rim and provides the location for an event that offers so much for everybody. Here you find Camp Lake Fire, which is the venue for this event.

The location overlooks this beautiful Dam. The venue has a great conference room and a large kitchen where Judy and Kelly cook up a storm for Saturday night’s meal and also provide homemade hamburgers, chips and more during the day. – VTFC OCTOBER 2018

83

News

30 years of tagging SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Back in 1988 a new fishing club was formed in Rockhampton, the first to focus specifically on tagging fish and you can tell that by the name, Captag. Of the original members only Bill Sawynok remains an active member, though Kim Martin joined early on and has been there pretty close

to the full life of the club.

Anyone that knows Kim will know he has collected a lot of tales in that time, many that club members might want forgotten.

What does 30 years of tagging look like? Captag members have reported 146,192 fish with 127,514 tagged, at the crazy average of 4,873 fish per year. That is 12,972 individual trips.

When you think about it, most fishing clubs have

captured a crazy amount of fish in their time but the lack of active recording of the catches means the real story is left untold.

In terms of makeup, over the 30 years 349 species have been reported with 1,136 fishers contributing data.

Just to underline the value of recording fish, Figure 1 is a 30 year timeline of barramundi catches that provides a pretty good view of fishing conditions over that time.

SPOTLIGHT ON MACKAY Mackay was once a serious tourist destination as a stopover on the way to Whitsundays. In an age old boom bust story comes the mining boom, every room that could be booked was taken up by workers for the mine locking out tourists from even getting a room, let alone an affordable one. You can guess what happened once the mining boom ended.

A lot of hard work and planning has gone into reversing that state of affairs and initially fishing wasn’t even on the radar when it came to local thoughts. All that changed once the Net Free Zone was introduced.

That is not to say things changed overnight.

Rockhampton was really fast out of the blocks, with

the local council beginning work on how to approach their Net Free Zone before the legislation even passed. After a slow start and changes in council in Mackay they have been really proactive and things are turning around, and not just because of the Net Free Zone. The funny thing about focusing on something like a Net Free Zone is it begs the question, what else do we have to offer. In the case of Mackay, the answer is a lot.

As well as the Net Free Zone, Mackay has three very different but equally special barra impoundment experiences.

Lake Kinchant is the closest and as a smaller, round impoundment it is not too hard to work out for visitors

especially if you don’t mind fishing at night. Teemburra Dam is up in the hills and is one of the most picturesque fishing sessions to be had in all of Queensland. North of Mackay is Lake Proserpine, where the big beasties live.

Lake Proserpine is the biggest of the three and can be hard work but the rewards are there for those that put in the time.

Then there is Lake Eungella, home of the World Sooty Championship (they think big in Mackay) and the sooty fishing delivers some top results with big numbers each year. Bass fishers in particular should give Engella a go because a lot of the gear that works for bass works for sooty, and pound for pound the sooty grunter will provide a much

Figure 1 – Barramundi tagged over 30 years. better fight.

Oh and there are some jungle perch streams in the area, but I believe the locals keep quiet about them.

I can think of no other locations that offer such a diverse impoundment experience while also offering a local wild fishery.

It is little wonder why Mackay has latched onto fishing as one of the biggest reasons to visit the region.

TOURISM TRAFFIC Visitor traffic to the area is slowly on the increase, with 33.2% of trips reported through Fisheries Surveys (2017) being for recreational purposes. Of that traffic 18.6% were from southern destinations, with the bulk from regions

nearby to Mackay. Northern visitors come to target mud crabs and offshore species, southern fishers target less mud crabs and more food species like pikey bream and barred javelin. This suggests that most of the southern traffic are grey nomads.

FIG.2

Figure 2 – Barra catches reported in MRFA surveys.

FIG.3

Figure 7 – Summary of grass emperor from Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys.

84

OCTOBER 2018

Figure 3 – Sizes of catches reported in MRFA surveys.

News HOW GOOD IS THE FISHERY? Infofish Australia has assessed four key fisheries, sports fishing, bread and butter, crabs and offshore.

The sport fishery is excellent to spectacular, the bread and butter fishery is good while

like most areas mud crabs are harder work but the diverse offshore fishing is a winner for those that like to fish further from home.

More fishers reporting data directly in the area

will help us flesh out the picture locally.

To view a detailed analysis of the 13 species reviewed go to http://crystalbowl.com.au/mackayfishery-summary/.

habits of the better fishers and provides an insight into the best of times.

Figure 2 shows the overall improvement of catches in the Mackay Net while figure 3 shows average size of catches.

While catches are lower than the Rockhampton Net Free Zone, the quality of fish is there.

Looking to the barramundi fishing, the ABT Barra Tour encompasses all three of the local impoundments and one

chart will show you why Proserpine is the fishery of kings. Figure 4 shows the proportion of trophy fish in the catch (red) from fishers that know their stuff or ought to in the ABT Barra Tour.

Lake Proserpine (figure 4c) managed the best proportion with 47% of fish breaking the metre.

Figure 5 shows the comparative catch rates with Lake Proserpine also coming in first with 2.2 fish/fisher/ day on the best night, with Teemburra following at 1.98 and Kinchant at 1.84. There is a spoiling of riches on offer. For comparison, the Rocky Barra Bounty, held in the Fitzroy Net Free Zone managed 0.93 fish/ fisher/day.

SPORT FISH Sportfishers are spoiled for choices in Mackay, with a Net Free Zone and impoundments to choose from. I would love to have some data on sooty grunter catches but we have local data on barramundi from the Mackay Recreational Fishing Alliance (MRFA) and the ABT Barra Tour, which paints a pretty good picture. Where possible I prefer local data as while fisheries have an excellent survey methodology, local data is reflective of fishing

CRABS Crab fishing in Mackay is a similar story up and down the coast with a lot of fishing pressure commercially and recreationally. The commercial catch was 50.6T,

which represented 5.8% of the annual catch. Mackay ranks 6th in the state for mud crab catch rates based on Queensland Fisheries boat ramp surveys.

Figure 6 – Summary of recreational crab catches reported through Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys.

BREAD AND BUTTER FISHING The MRFA surveys provide a good indicator to the key target species with barred javelin, bream and whiting the most popular in the Net Free Zones after barramundi. This is backed up by the Queensland Fisheries boat ramp surveys that list barred javelin, pikey bream and goldspotted rockcod (a regular by-catch) as the 3rd-5th most reported species and goldline whiting coming in at 10th.

Catch rates have been

steadily improving in the Net Free Zone for expert fishers, with the catch rate in the 2017 survey up to 5.1 fish/fisher/day, up from 2.5 in 2015 based on the MRFA surveys. The time taken to catch a legal fish has also dropped, from 7.6 hours in 2015 to 2.6 hours in 2018. Based on Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp surveys, catch rates for barred javelin are the 3rd best in the state (2017) and 6th for pikey bream.

FIG.4b FIG.4a Figure 4a – Comparison of trophy fish catches in Kinchant.

Figure 4b – Comparison of trophy fish catches in Teemburra.

Figure 4c – Comparison of trophy fish catches in Proserpine.

FIG.4c

OFFSHORE

Figure 5 – The comparative catch rates of barra.

Mackay has a good offshore fishery, which probably explains why most northern visitors head offshore. Mackay ranks 2nd in the state for grass emperor catch rates at 2.2 fish/fish/day and an average

size of 355mm based on Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp surveys. Black-spot tuskfish, redthroat emperor, bar-cheek coral trout, common coral trout and saddle-tail snapper make up the 6th-10th most reported

species in Mackay, showing that the region is anything but a one trick pony. As far as offshore fishing goes, Mackay offers one of the most diverse fisheries – a status clearly understood throughout the North.

OCTOBER 2018

85

Making the most of sounder data SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

Mapping data collected via echosounders comes in volume and comes in ugly. Automation and the emphasis on end-user experience on the echo sounder mean that things such as friendly file systems and easy

into the data collected by sounders is where the real power lies.

I have explored the wiles of the fishing brain more than anyone I am aware of, and there is no doubt in my mind a data-driven fisher is very different from traditional angler in how they structure their fishing. Post fishing review is where the datadriven angler has a real edge as they can be far

out essential elements of large datasets and automate tasks like data sorting and cleaning. Be in no doubt that AI will play a huge role in the future of fishing.

Echosounders will only get smarter, and those that learn how to use them to their full potential will have a severe advantage on the water.

REVIEWING DATA The best way to approach reviewing

Figure 1 – Artificial Intelligence learning how to identify tilapia nests. around the newly installed fish hotels, and to identify the species of large schools of fish found with another echosounder, our Biosonics unit.

What is a fish hotel? In crude terms, it’s a wooden structure put in to provide shelter for fish. In practical

Figure 2 – Biosonics unit detecting a school of tilapia. to identify filenames don’t happen.

To a large degree, I can understand that – the battle on the water for the best electronics is now fierce and a constant source of innovation. I had the opportunity to see the new Garmin live viewing system at the Sydney Boat Show; it’s awe-inspiring technology. Fish will only find it harder to hide as time goes on.

That said, I think that in their rush to capture the attention of fishers on the water, the sounder companies are missing the point of what makes their

more efficient, maximising the benefits of time on the water.

My view is that data-driven fishers will dominate in the years to come, provided they have the tools to take advantage of their new skills.

I can say that post review we have adjusted our survey methods a lot and improved success accordingly. Post review the picture of the fishery becomes clearer, and the next round of data collection can be used to fill in more detail.

Artificial Intelligence also has a role to play.

the bottom. That might be something to consider in managing their numbers – reducing nesting area is more likely to be effective than catching them because they breed like crazy.

The Biosonics sounder can mark and count fish in an area. As it turns out, the

Figure 4 – Reefmaster import options cover most units and activities. sounder data is with a question. not to say that exploration of

to start That is random sidescan

terms in this instance, it’s a cubic metre of various bits of wood anchored on a concrete base. One exciting thing we discovered about the fish hotels is that tilapia don’t like them. It looks like tilapia don’t like much in the way of structure at all, they seem to prefer shallow water and soft material on

species we identified were tilapia, a pest species in Queensland.

The Biosonics is proving to be a compelling piece of technology. We get regular requests from fishers to ‘borrow’ the unit. The image in Figure 2 might not look like much, but when you get a map

with GPS marks for every fish, things seem a little different.

REEFMASTER I will focus on Reefmaster in this article, because so far it’s the best tool I have found that combines the three core needs of a data-driven fisher – data management, review, and mapping.

Reefmaster is very affordable at the $250-350 mark. There are other tools out there to do the job, and all the skills I will feature here will translate.

Nonetheless, I recommend Reefmaster as it has the complete package and is ridiculously easy to use.

For the record, I have never talked to anyone at Reefmaster, so my views on the product are based solely on real-world use.

One other thing I will note – this is a beautiful piece of software visually.

That may not seem an important detail, but as a long-term software designer and programmer, I appreciate software that feels like the people behind the software have a passion for the product they have created.

Figure 3 – Solix side scan view of the school of tilapia. systems so valuable. The real power of these devices is in the review, not on the water. On the water, there is only so much detail you can absorb in real time. No matter how good you are, there will be things missed.

Being able to dive 86

OCTOBER 2018

At Infofish, we are already using different machine learning approaches to interpret echosounder data out of necessity. If you can record tens of thousands of fish a day, making sense of that data is a gigantic task. AI can help to tease

data doesn’t have value, but in my experience, the best approach to understanding data to is to focus on a real problem.

In this survey we had two key questions – we wanted to know what types of fish are hanging

Figure 5 – Tracks named and organised.

DATA MANAGEMENT Echosounder files come in with really unhelpful names like ‘Rec00001’.

Even better, when we clear off our Solix data files from the Z-Line card, they reset the number portion of the filename, which makes working out which file goes with where a nightmare.

The second challenge after file names is to group the files from a day’s scanning into a single unit. It only takes a few days on the water before you have a mess of data files.

Reefmaster takes all the hard work out of handling all this data.

First, there is no need to worry whether you have a Humminbird, Garmin or Lowrance sounder because Reefmaster handles all of them. This feature was my initial attraction to Reefmaster as we had to combine scans from different devices into a single map – a task it handled with ease. I hate the incompatibility hijinks that go on in the tech industry, so I wasn’t keen on being tied to a specific echosounder vendor.

Fortunately, Reefmaster takes care of all that.

Copy the scan files onto the hard drive, point Reefmaster at them and it takes care of the rest.

The only option that is a little tricky is the tide

transects from different survey days together.

Now that the data is in Reefmaster, the fun begins.

REVIEWING LOGS Every survey session we record a list of objects and fish that we need to go back and have a look at post review. Reefmaster makes this process a piece of cake. Just switch on the sonar viewer and either play back like a movie or find a point in the track and zoom in.

One of the neat things that come with playback is we have solved one of the more annoying problems I have with sidescan – how

waypoints between units, especially between brands can be a real pain.

When first surveying Yeppen Lagoon, we asked for locations of the fish hotels and were given the roughest of directions that indicated where they should be. Even knowing where they should be, it took some time to locate them.

As soon as we had our first scan done we reviewed and added on waypoints and exported them for all sounder formats so that anyone else who to find the hotels can load them into their sounder.

One of the nice things

Figure 7 – Waypoints set on the fish hotels. to record a section of a survey to video. To do this, I just set up a video capture session, start the playback

about the way Reefmaster manages waypoints is the ability to group them and colour code each group.

Figure 8 – Reefmaster makes it easy to combine different tracks to create a map or mosaic. adjustment, which I won’t cover here, but requires additional data from the nearest tide station. Tidal data files are available on the BOM site.

Once the sounder transects are in Reefmaster, there is a handy edit feature that allows for changing names of tracks as well as drag and drop for organising them into folders. This data is stored within the Reefmaster data structures, so nothing is changed in the original data, which can be put back onto the sounder at any time safely. Once tracks are named, there is an option to group them in folders, which we use to keep

Figure 6 – Just press rewind to replay your scanning session.

for sidescan only and kick back and relax. On the main map, you can either show the track or the sidescan mosaic, giving you an extra view of the track.

As a good example, we had a screencap from the survey session that looked for all the world like it had recorded a snake.

The only problem I have found so far with the ability to review a session is that you can end up burning up the hours finding things missed the first time around.

WAYPOINTS Adding waypoints is pretty much a standard part of the software for sounders, but interchanging

This makes for easy switching on and off blocks of waypoints and, given we often need to mark different habitat features, it saves a lot of time locating essential details. I am also a big fan of the folder options, which allow us to group waypoints specific to a survey.

SIDESCAN MOSAIC AND BATHYMETRY MAPPING In my last article, I discussed the importance of breaking up transects by stopping and restarting the recording at the end of a run. Mapping is where that policy pays off. Reefmaster can select the different combinations

of tracks to use when creating maps. This feature enables us to use different combinations of tracks for Bathymetry maps versus Sidescan mosaics.

When creating a Bathymetry map, I combine transects that make up a hatching pattern, which significantly improves the accuracy of the contour lines. Sidescan mosaics, on the other hand, need good parallel transects, which is where the review tools come into their own. Post survey, it’s easy to compare transects and pick the best of the bunch then combine, producing the highest quality sidescan views.

Reefmaster also provides a bunch of tools to get the most out of mosaics, including a range of blending options to address conflicts where layers

overlap, noise reduction and a heap of colour and brightness controls. I tend to take the default options and tweak the blending, but there is plenty of support for the perfectionists to fine-tune the output until it’s just right.

EXPORTING DATA Would you like a super high detailed copy of your sidescan printed and used for wallpaper on your bedroom? Once you have generated a 100MB graphic of 3km of river, at the very least, you can make an excellent decal for the boat.

That is if you want to display your secret fishing spots for all the world to see.

Exchange of data is Reefmaster’s best feature.

This build adds even higher quality ouput. KML output is pretty much standard nowadays, but Google Earth tends to get in the way of the detail. The export to PNG option provides the kind of mouth-watering detail and zoom capabilities on a Mac that will make you wish you had a 4K monitor.

One of the things we wanted out of the Solix was the opportunity to train up image recognition – something you can’t do from screenshots as you need hundreds of images of the same thing. Reefmaster made this possible through the ability to save mosaic files as tiles, providing 40-50 high-resolution pictures per transect.

All up, no matter if you want to move data between units, export to mapping or just drool over gorgeous sidescan images – this is the only package you will ever need.

MAPPING IS A WINDOW INTO ANOTHER WORLD Our approach to sidescan has been to put it to use in solving realworld data problems. For example, sidescan has helped us to understand new ways we might better combat tilapia without the need for poisons or biological warfare. We have the advantage of having a high-powered sonar to flesh out the picture but nonetheless, without sidescan and bathymetric data we would be flying blind.

Recently we took the sidescan out into the saltwater. Using the combination of the Biosonics and Solix, we located over a thousand king threadfin in a couple of kilometres of water five minutes from the centre of Rockhampton that nobody fishes.

All fishers can benefit from learning more about the environment that fish use.

Every time you switch on the sounder, a massive amount of data is captured. Why not put that to good use?

Besides, watching the playback of a sounder session is way better than ‘Netflix and chill.’

How about trying out Reefmaster and chill instead.

Figure 9 – All of the mapping options in Reefmaster come with a complete set of export options.

OCTOBER 2018

87

WHAT’S NEW FISHING BLACK MAGIC KLT HOOK

1

ZMAN MIDNIGHT OIL COLOUR

4

Black Magic’s new KLT hook has further strengthened their premium hook range.

Like the DX Point before it, the KLT is made in Japan from high carbon steel, and is coated with a super slip, non-stick PTFE coating, just like the coating used on nonstick frying pans).

This hook adds another option to their most popular hook pattern – the KL hook. It features the classic Black Magic KL circle hook pattern but with a non-offset point, meaning it meets IGFA recommendations, particularly for use in tournaments.

The PTFE coating means less resistance which assists penetration and prolongs the life of the hook. It also ensures they are highly corrosion resistant.

Black Magic KLT hooks are manufactured in Japan from high carbon steel ensuring superb strength. They’re available in sizes 1/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, 6/0, 7/0 and 8/0, and in two pack sizes – small and economy. www.blackmagic.com

Following a heap of angler feedback and suggestions, comes one of the most exciting new colours in Z-Man’s range of plastics.

There are two colours that consistently win bream tournaments, bloodworm and motor oil, and these colours appeal to different patterns in fish behaviour.

These two colours have been combined to give that attractive and subtle translucency that shut down fish just love, and the reflective sheen that causes fish to react.

With midnight oil, an angler can give the fish the flash of the bloodworm colour, combined with the high UV of motoroil, and this colour is now available across the entire of the Z-Man soft plastics range!

If you want to get that extra edge on the fish on a tough day, make sure you stock up on this exciting new colour, and be amazed at the results. www.tackletactics.com.au

HALCO SLIDOG 150

YAMASHITA EGI OH K

2

If you’re into launching a lure over the horizon and looking for that bonejarring, nerve-rattling strike as you rip it back, the all-new Halco Slidog is just the ticket.

Halco has developed an ultra tough, sinking, sliding stickbait that is sure to give you a workout from all the GTs, XOS mackerel, large tuna and many others that try to take it home to their trophy cabinet.

Featuring heavily reinforced side walls, Halco’s legendary ultra tough 7xx fish rings and Mustad 7/0 inline singles for great holding potential, the Slidog 150 comes with a bite that matches its bark.

The lure is 150mm long and weighs 85g, allowing long casts on medium/heavy weight casting outfits, avoiding the need to take a boat into areas that might have you risking life and limb.

Look for the all-new Slidog 150 at all good tackle outlets. www.halcotackle.com.au

HOBIE MANUAL INFLATABLE VEST

3

The new 2019 Hobie Manual Inflatable 150 Vest (Yoke) is rated for offshore use while wearing foul weather clothing. The design is very lightweight and extremely cool. The newly designed collar folds down the back of your neck and shoulders, eliminating pressure on the neck and lower head.

The yoke is manually inflated by pulling a small cord that activates the replaceable CO2 cylinder in the side of the vest. The Velcrosecured receptacle allows for easy access to the cylinder for replacement and for servicing, or for additional manual inflation of the PFD after the manual cord has been activated.

Features include: 150 rated (40kg plus); comfortable slim multi fit (up to 5XL); mesh yoke back strap (helps prevent the collar riding up the back of your neck); easy access storage pocket (great for keys, phone etc.); whistle; water resistant headphone rubber port hole; 25mm D-ring for switch killer tether; accessory attachment straps; interior pocket; UML Pro Sensor (includes armed status indicator); self service; cylinder re-arm kit; and fishing comp key tag/key tag clip. www.hobie.com.au 88

OCTOBER 2018

1

2

5

Yamashita have released a new colour range in their top-of-the-line K series of squid jigs. The K body is tuned to have the best stable sinking posture, and it excels in rough conditions where other jigs struggle to maintain a stable fall.

Features of the Egi Oh Q K include the Hydro Fin (attached at the rear of the jig for improved stability when sinking); Hydro Eyes (flat eyes with Keimura pupil and glow edge); Hydro Sinker and TIN sinker (tin sinker with tuning holes for adding or reducing weight); Warm Jacket (thermo storage cloth that transfers light into heat); Hydro Body (pentagon design for increased stability when sinking); tuned double crown hooks (the back crown of stainless steel hooks are opened wider for improved hook-ups); and G-Flash lateral line (strong tape running down each side for increased flash and appeal).

Egi Oh Q K jigs are available in 10 colours in sizes 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5, with shallow and super shallow options available in size 3.5. www.ejtodd.com.au

SUFIX X8 BRAID

PRODUCT GUIDE

3

4 5

6

The new X8 braid from Sufix is an 8-carrier braid constructed of thin HMPE Japanese fibres. It’s a super strong, thin braided line that has high abrasion resistance and superb knot and shock strength.

This soft and silky smooth line has low friction through the rod guides, resulting in silent performance and long, accurate casts. R8 precision braiding technology with a high tension weaving process results in a round, supple and smooth braided line with consistent diameter and quality. Easy handling, X8 is designed for both casting and spinning reels. Currently available in an eye-catching hot yellow, it comes in breaking strains from 6lb to 50lb in 150yd spools and 10lb to 65lb in 300yd lengths.

Sufix X8 braid will be on sale in all leading tackle stores from September 2018. www.rapala.com.au

6

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING DUO HYDRA 220

7

8

Long and lean and designed as the ultimate sinking stickbait for large predators, the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to pack for your next offshore adventure.

Slim-profiled and with a fixed weight in the tail to maximise casting performance and enhance its action, the Hydra 220 features a dynamic skipping action when worked across the surface, while a twitch and jerk retrieve will see it move from side to side to enhance strikes.

A hyper realistic garfish imitation when worked across the surface, the Hydra is ultra long (220mm) in length to reduce fishing swallowing and biting off the lure, while its tailheavy 58.2g body weight allows it for long, tangle free casting on the water.

If you’re looking to call up the predators to the surface, the new Duo Rough Trail Hydra 220 is the lure to reach for. www.daiwafishing.com.au

SHIMANO OCEA JIGGER REELS

9

10

11

12

7

8

MCLAUGHLIN’S ADVANCED BERLEYS 10 McLaughlin’s have 77 years of bait experience, and this has been used to produce an impressive range of berleys in the newly developed Advanced Formula range.

All Advanced Formula berleys are scented with secret formula flavours before being impregnated with colour formulas, which dye the pellets in selected colours. This combination means that when you put the berley into the water it not only attracts the fish, but the colour creates a trail in the water.

This trail allows you to easily see where your berley is and the direction it’s going in, so you can fish directly in the berley trail. This then allows you to make full use of the berley and not have to guess what the tide and wind influences are doing to the berley.

The Advanced Formula range comes in a range of flavours and pellet configurations, for maximum effectiveness on different target species and locations. www.jurofishing.com

SUGARDEEP 90 FLOATING BOOST

11

The new Ocea Jigger from Shimano has made an extreme make-over compared to the beloved ’11 Ocea Jigger.

This flagship of jigging reels comes with a host of exciting features such as the Infinity Drive and Micro Module gear, which results in 60% reduction of the reeling resistance compared to the old model, and a very smooth retrieve.

The newly designed handle is specially engineered to provide a firm grip, and to provide the ability to give extra power without losing grip. The combination of the Hagane body and S-Compact body results in an immensely strong and lightweight (595g) jigging reel. And due to the eight shielded A-RB ball bearings and X-Protect it is highly salt water resistant and durable. With a drag of 10kg, fighting the biggest fish is not a problem anymore.

For more information on this and other new releases from Shimano, visit their website or look them up on Facebook (facebook.com/ Shimano.Fish) or Instagram (@shimano.fish). www.shimanofish.com.au

The Sugarpen Deep 90 has the same profile as the Sugar Deep 90 Barra Tuned, but incorporates an innovative slide system to cast further and more accurately. Unlike the SugarDeep 70 and 90, it is also a floating rather than a suspending lure.

The unique weight system uses a sliding tungsten weight on a rod assembly moulded into the body of the lure. When casting, the weight moves to the back of the lure, delivering greater distance. When the lure is retrieved, the weight moves forward along the rod to weight the lure level when paused.

Like the SugarDeep 90 Barra Tuned, the SugarDeep 90 Floating Boost Shaft Glide has a tight wobble that will dive to 2.5m, making it ideal for impoundment and estuary fishing for a variety of species.

For more information on this and other new releases, visit the Bassday Australia website, or check them out on Facebook at facebook. com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

DEPS NZ CRAWLER

DAIWA BEEFSTICK

9

The 134mm DEPS NZ Crawler is one of the largest Japanese surface crawlers on the market.

The lure’s jointed movement draws big predators from afar, and the distinctive sound can be adjusted via the two screws within the wings or by adjusting the wings themselves.

The NZ Crawler can paddle back on a fast retrieve, which gives an almost vertical action on the wings as it goes through its arch, or the retrieve can be slowed right down for greater time within a strike area without compromising the action. The thick resin walls can take a lot of punishment, and DEPS have upgraded the NZ Crawler – along with all models coming into Australia – with larger, sturdier hooks and rings.

This lure has been specially designed to entice predators that eat a diverse range of prey such as bats, rats, frogs, birds and lizards. The flash blade not only provides an attractant but also adds to the length of the lure. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

12

Tradition meets contemporary looks and styling with the release of the new Daiwa Beefstick. With homage to the traditional solid tip fiberglass rods of the past, Daiwa gives the much-loved workhorse a makeover.

Featuring a matt black finish, the Beefstick has a graphite/glass butt, a carbon-wrap lower section, and a solid integrated tip, this is a series that will handle the rigors of angling, yet has the sensitive in design to deliver anglers unmatched feel for a rod of its price.

Shaped, ultra sensitive custom EVA grips blend perfectly with the Beefstick’s reel seats, while a composite cork butt cap contrasts perfectly in looks with the matt black blank, for a modern touch of class.

With 26 models available, there is a model available for nearly every conceivable scenario.

If you’re looking for a modern twist on the rod that your grandfather had when you’re a child, the new Daiwa Beefstick is the range for you. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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

89

WHAT’S NEW FISHING ZEREK STREAM X

BASSDAY 13 SUGAPEN 58F

The Zerek Stream X is a beautifully crafted minnow lure that swims with an exaggerated beat to attract predators.

At 6.5cm long, the Stream X is an easy casting 8g and sinks at rest, allowing anglers to work this minnow in tight country where trout, redfin and bass reside.

But don’t think this lure is only suitable the freshwater rivers and lakes; the Stream X is built with high impact resistant ABS plastic and componentry that make it more than suitable for saltwater fishing. Species such as flathead, bream, tailor and salmon will find the small baitfish profile an easy to swallow meal.

There are 13 proven colours in the range, from bright attractor patterns to the most realistic minnow colours you could ever want, giving this little gem of a lure a place in any smallwater tackle kit. www.wilsonfishing.com

SUFIX X8 BRAID

14

The new X8 braid from Sufix is an 8-carrier braid constructed of thin HMPE Japanese fibres. It’s a super strong, thin braided line that has high abrasion resistance and superb knot and shock strength.

This soft and silky smooth line has low friction through the rod guides, resulting in silent performance and long, accurate casts. R8 precision braiding technology with a high tension weaving process results in a round, supple and smooth braided line with consistent diameter and quality. Easy handling, X8 is designed for both casting and spinning reels. Currently available in an eye-catching hot yellow, it comes in breaking strains from 6lb to 50lb in 150yd spools and 10lb to 65lb in 300yd lengths.

Sufix X8 braid will be on sale in all leading tackle stores from September 2018. www.rapala.com.au

90

OCTOBER 2018

16

The Sugapen is synonymous with topwater fishing, with its iconic forward-facing cup and slender profile that perfectly mimics a fleeing prawn. Bassday has now increased the Sugapen range to include a 58mm length model. This new smaller size brings the range to a total of four lengths, all the way up to 120mm.

The 58 casts perfectly due to its slimline profile which produces little wind resistance. The action is the same as the larger sizes but this has a more subtle presence. The lure can be wound flat out or with a pause and wind technique.

The new model comes in all the current Sugapen colours and two completely new ones. A red tiger-striped clear and gold tiger-striped clear with a pink head.

Check out the Bassday Facebook page (www.facebook.com/BassdayAus) for more information on new releases, catch photos and prize giveaways. www.bassday.com.au

13 14

WILSON GRAPHWRAP RODS 17 The Wilson Graphwrap is a series of rods designed to be durable and go the distance.

Designed on a graphite composite core with a solid glass tip, the Graphwrap series leaps beyond normal expectations with its custom designed, power-giving graphite outer spiral wrap. This unique spiral wrap gives these rods incredible strength, which adds to the durability of these tough, ocean thug busting rods.

Designed in Australia to meet the demands of our harsh fishing environment, the Wilson Graphwrap series brings toughness, durability and user friendliness together in the one package.

For more information on this and other new releases from Wilson Fishing, head to their website or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LWilsonAndCo. www.wilsonfishing.com

WORK SHARP KNIFE 15 SHIMANO SHARPENERS How do you get the sharpest tool in the SLX

shed, to stay sharp when out fishing on your boat? Easy, just team up the Electric Knife and Tool Sharpener from Work Sharp with their Guided Field Sharpener and you have the perfect solution anywhere you go.

The Electric Sharpener is a 240V powered sharpener that uses flexible abrasive belts just like the professionals.

The easily replaceable grit belts give a perfect convex edge to any knife blade. Designed to cope with a heavyduty workload while delivering precision sharpening that won’t burn or damage blade steel.

But how do you transfer that precision sharpening when out on the water or on a camping trip? The Guided Field Sharpener has two diamond plates, two ceramic rods, a leather strap, and the all-important sharpening guides for fast, easy and consistent sharpening. The fixed guides create a constant repetitive angle to ensure the smoothest, sharpest blade possible.

Price: SRP $199 (electric), $67 (field sharpener) www.worksharptools.com.au

PRODUCT GUIDE

15

16

18

New for 2018, the SLX series is the latest addition to the ever-growing Shimano baitcaster range.

This is a compact and highly versatile reel, suited to catching anything from bass through to barra. It features an aluminium Hagane Body, the same body size as the Curado 70, but offering the line capacity of a conventional 150 sized reel.

Inside the SLX’s Hagane Body, durable brass gearing delivers reliable cranking power and three SUS bearings and one roller bearing means everything turns smoothly. Casting is made effortless with the adjustable 6-pin VBS brake system, making it ideal for a range of different fishing styles and casting preferences.

A longer 45mm Throw Handle working in conjunction with two model options featuring gear ratios of 6.3:1 and 7.2:1 means that the slow and methodical lure worker and the angler who likes a bit of speed are well covered by the new SLX series. On top of this, max drag settings of between 5-5.5kg provides plenty of stopping power should it be needed. www.shimanofish.com.au

17

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

All hyped up by the Team Daiwa Hyper rod range Although I simply love fishing, I have to admit that I have become a little obsessed by the humble flathead.

I blame the team here at Fishing Monthly when I arrived. They caught a lot of them and it was pretty tough not to get involved when most trips involved being connected to lots of fish in the 50cm+ category. My arsenal of rods to target them has gone from a single outfit to at least six, with a few failed outfits in between.

I have been striving to find what I consider to be the perfect flathead outfit.

The key features being: it must be a minimum of 7” long, have a rating in the 2-4kg or 2-5kg range and be a fast or medium fast taper (at worst it must be powerful enough to get that hook through the top jaw of a flathead).

Cost in many ways is also a factor.

There are plenty of top end rods that would be amazing to use, but flathead are a bread and butter species, and I don’t believe a $1000 outfit is required.

Additionally, money saved on a rod means more can be put into a reel, which makes more sense to me. I have come close on several occasions, rods have been 85% there, but in the end the taper or power to bend ratio for me has not been right.

Too stiff and the hook set is great, but the finesse at the end of the fight is lacking and fish are lost. Too slow a taper and

TESTED Final thoughts Have I found the perfect flathead rod?

I am not prepared to say that as yet, but I am happy to say that I am closer than ever. It will definitely get plenty of use over the next few months, as it is prime flathead time here in South East Queensland.

Aside from what I have already said, the one thing that the TD Hyper rod has changed my thinking on is Nano Technology based rods. You cannot question the additional strength, power and resilience Nano resins add to any blank, however in most cases this is at the expense of the taper of a rod.

Certainly not the case with the TD Hyper rods and definitely something I prefer and look for in rods.

Too see the full range of TD Hyper rods go to www.daiwafishing.com.au and check them out in your local Daiwa retailer. – Peter Jung

The author chose the TD Hyper 701LXS rod when looking for a rod to target flathead.

He matched it with a Daiwa TD Sol III LT reel and is very happy with it so far.

This also translates into the casting ability of the rod. Size 3.0 squid jigs and 3/8oz jigheads have been cast easily.

One tip however is to ensure the hook keeper is kept facing downwards when you are casting. I have had the line loop and catch onto it when I haven’t, which can result in lost tackle. I love the fact that the keeper is there, but just have it facing down when you’re not using it.

Value for money If how light the TD Hyper rods are is impressive then their value for money is exceptional. In my travels and during the obligatory visit to the local tackle store, I have consistently seen the TD Hyper rods selling for $129.99. This is not the price point I would expect to see the quality of this rod in.

There is also a reasonable range of options within the TD Hyper range. There are 11 spin and 3 baitcast options covering the majority of your fishing needs.

The combination of HVF Nanoplus graphite and X45 blank technology create a dynamic blank with a taper that the author prefers.

Although purchased to target flathead, the TD Hyper’s first outing was out chasing squid. the hook set power diminishes and fish are lost (on larger fish) with the hooks not finding enough purchase.

This is where the Team Daiwa Hyper rods come in. I am always on the look out for a distinctive looking rod with the above attributes and the TD Hyper series of rods caught my eye. A quick call to Grayson Fong (a Daiwa pro angler who is using them) to get the good oil on them convinced me that they were worth looking at. I decided on the 701LXS model and matched it with one of the new Daiwa Sol III LT reels.

The first time I used the outfit wasn’t chasing flathead. I teamed up with Grayson and headed to the islands in southern Moreton Bay chasing tiger squid. Far from what I had purchased the outfit for, but the beauty of a 2-4kg outfit is that it translates to throwing lures for bass or jigs for squid. The rod

was christened on a stonker squid and has since done battle on a number of flathead.

First impressions The TD Hyper rods seriously feel as light as a feather. I don’t have another rod in my gaggle of rods that gets close to the weight of the TD Hyper. Matched with the Sol III LT reel (also a lightweight design) and you have something that is pleasure to use all day every day.

Power so far has not been an issue, with several solid flathead putting it through its paces. I am not quite so sure how to express this into words, but the power seems almost effortless.

Much of the marketing around this rod range has been about the HVF Nanoplus graphite and X45 blank technology. The combination of the two technologies creating a lighter and more dynamic blank for the rods to be built from.

The castability of the 701LXS is exceptional. It comfortably casts a 3.0 squid jig or a 3/8oz jighead.

OCTOBER 2018

91

Trades, Services, Charter BOAT MODIFICATIONS & REPAIRS

BAIT & TACKLE

Lazer Lures Catch Fish

New Lazer 60g with premium VMC hooks, a must-have lure in every serious tailor fisherman’s tackle box.

CUSTOM ALLOY FABRICATION OVER 20 YEARS FABRICATING AND WELDING ALUMINIUM

PROFISH BOATS – Phone Peter 0417 782 114 Email: peter@profishboats.com www.profishboats.com

Salt-Away www.salt-away.com.au

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

Reef Marine Mackay (07) 4957 3521

• Boat repairs & fitouts • Bait tanks • Transom rebuilds • Fuel tanks • Consoles

CUSTOM TRANSOMS 20-75hp $750 75-150hp $890 150-225hp $980 Freight can be arranged Australia wide www.lazerlures.com

NORTH QUEENSLAND

BCF www.bcf.com.au Davo’s Tackleworld Noosaville (07) 5449 8099 Davo’s Tackleworld Marcoola (07) 5448 8244

MINN REPAIRS & SERVICING • All electric motor brands • Australia wide freight • Quick turn around • Authorised Minn Kota/Watersnake repairer Minn Repairs & Servicing Call Troy 0412 605 080 – W: minnrepairs.com minnrepairsservicing E: minnrepairs@gmail.com

Lazer Lures – www.lazerlures.com.au Tackle Warehouse Brisbane (07) 3398 6500

MARINE MECHANICS // MOBILE

BOAT HIRE // HOUSE

Boat Wrap Specialist

GOLD COAST

Great family and fishing boats! + 50km of sheltered waterways on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater + No Licence required CALL FOR A + Boats from $995 DEAL + 2-12 berth

www.xfactorsigns.com SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND

+ 07 5502 6200 + www.coomerahouseboats.com.au

NEW

TINNIE HIRE AVAILABLE

ASM Mobile Welding Brisbane 0409 624 402 Bluewater Windscreens Brisbane (07) 3382 7883 Boat Collar (07) 5441 3636 CMC Marine Sales 0409 910 808 Iconic Boats Brisbane 0475 311 447 Marine Windows and Doors Brisbane (07) 3284 5088 Small Craft Electrics (mobile) 0408 063 064

MARINE MECHANICS

FRASER COAST

$449 USD

Brisbane Boat Painting 0433 356 620

FIBREGLASS Repairs

(includes shipping)

www.hydrowaveaustralia.com

BRISBANE

Brisbane South and Gold Coas t

• Modifications • Detailing • Repairs JOE BONNICI

0410 480 203

Oceanic Boat Trailers (07) 5597 0577 Sea-Link Special Trailers (07) 3881 3568 Spitfire Trailers (07) 0400 866 323 Tinnie Tosser (07) 5498 7339

MARINE ELECTRONICS

MARINE ELECTRONICS

• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots

BOAT HIRE // TRAILER

BOAT PAINTING

MARINE TRAILERS

ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

Rainbow Beach Houseboats (07) 5486 3146

Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

Lake Monduran House Boat www.lakemonduranhouseboathire.com.au

GOLD COAST

WYNUMM MANLY-BAYSIDE

GOLD COAST T&S Marine (07) 5546 2599 Whitewater Marine (07) 5532 4402

SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Caloundra Marine (07) 5491 1944 Capalaba Boat Centre 04011 728 379 Coorparoo Marine (07) 3397 4141 Cunningham Marine Centre (07) 3284 8805 Holt Marine (07) 3353 1928 Northside Marine (07) 3265 8029 Stones Corner Marine (07) 3397 9766

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba www.trymax.com.au PHONE: 07 3245 3633

MARINE OUTBOARD WRECKERS TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND North Queensland Outboard Wreckers Townsville 1800 812 748

FISH TAXIDERMY Fish Taxidermist www.fishtaxidermy.net.au or 0428 544 841

FISHING GUIDES CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Lake Monduran Barra Charters 0407 434 446

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.

92

OCTOBER 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

MARINE TRIMMERS SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND Affordable Boat Covers Gold Coast 0419 424 587 Brisbane Yamaha (07) 3888 1727 Rays Canvas & Marine Caboolture (07) 5499 4911 Rowland Street Boat Trimmers Springwood (07) 3208 9511

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Islander Retreat, South Stradbroke Island 0420 967 557

HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION FRASER ISLAND Apurla Island Retreat 0437 739 121 Cathedrals on Fraser (07) 4127 9177 Eurong Beach Resort 1800 111 808 Fraser Island Beach Houses 1800 626 230 Waddy Lodge on Fraser 0414 516 364 Yidney Rocks (07) 4127 9167

Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND

Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170

Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346

Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109

Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081

Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402

Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027

Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070

Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044

Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868

Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668

Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671

Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324

Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957

NORTHERN NSW

Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962

ONLINE TACKLE PRODUCTS

Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

FG Wizz www.fgwizz.com.au

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME FISHING CHARTERS

NOW YOU CAN TIE THE PERFECT FG KNOT EVERY TIME

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

COOKTOWN River of Gold Motel 4069 5222

MACKAY BEL AIR MOTEL, MACKAY - PLENTY OF ROOM FOR BOATS AND TRAILERS.............PH: 07 4957 3658 FRESHWATER Lake Boondooma Caravan Park (07) 4168 9694 Lake Cressbrook Regional Council 131 872 Yallakool Caravan Park on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746 Yallakool Park and Kiosk on Bjelke-Petersen Dam (07) 4168 4746

• 6am to 2pm $150pp • 3 boats – holds up to 30+ people • All fishing gear and bait is supplied • No fishing licence req.

• Pickup from Yamba Marina or Iluka ferry wharf

NO MORE bulky braid/leader joins

SEE IT! .. BUY IT! ..

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

N O W AVA IL A B L E

CHARTER BOATS

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

GOLD COAST BK’s Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0414 293 034 Coastal Sports Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0412 691 929 Discovery Fishing Charters Gold Coast 0427 026 519 Fish The Deep Charters 0416 224 412 Gold Coast Fishing Charters 0411 605 090 Gone Fishing Charters Gold Coast (07) 5529 7833 Hooker 1 Charters Gold Coast (07) 5528 6469 My Charter Boat Tweed Heads 0407 347 446 Paradise Fishing Charters 0403 531 428 RU4 Reel Tweed Heads 0449 903 366 Sea Probe Fishing Charters 0400 312 330 True Blue Fishing Gold Coast (07) 5510 9622

SAMPLE AD - BUSINESS NAME

YAMBA’S LARGEST TACKLE STORE • Chandlery • Boat Sales • Ice & Gas • Bait & Tackle • Trailers Sales & Parts • Charter Bookings Ph: 6646 1994 or 0428 231 962 Email: dave@gaden.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST Fish n Crab Charters Mooloolaba 0412 155 814 Fishing Offshore Noosa 0418 889 956 Hervey Bay Fishing Charters (07) 4125 3958 Incredible Charters 1300 655 818

From

T-Shirts

$

22 85

HERVEY BAY

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

Phone Cases From

$

www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Big Cat Charters and Tom Cat Charters 0433 430 248 Brisbane Fishing Charters 0427 026 510 Bucket List Fishing Charters 0428 368 316 Frenzy Charters Brisbane (07) 3209 4576 John Gooding Outlaw Charters 0418 738 750 Moreton Island Fishing Charters 0413 128 056

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR

Now Agents For

This is where your copy will appear. You will have approximately 50 words within a 5x2 ad size. $320 + GST for 6 months Email nkelly@fishingmonthly.com.au

BRISBANE

www.fgwizz.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

29 45

Mugs From

$

1 7 27

and lots more...

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS

ALL MADE TO ORDER

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201 Mikat Cruises Fishing Charters 0427 125 727 Bundaberg Fishing Charters 0429 017 217 Sport Fish 1770 (07) 4974 9686 Coral Coast Game Fishing 0447 347 437 Norval Reef Charters 1800 771 234 Iluka Fishing Charters Gladstone 0414 940 911 Kanimbla Charters Gladstone1800 677 202

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

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

93

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS SCARY SEA CREATURES

DRAGONFISH FRILLED SHARK VAMPIRE SQUID BOX JELLYFISH GREAT WHITE COFFIN FISH GIANT SQUID STARGAZER CROCODILE AMPHIPOD

STONEFISH ANGLERFISH GULPER EEL FANGTOOTH STINGRAYS GRENADIER OCTOPUS VIPERFISH GOBLIN SHARK

Valley Hill Rocketeer Slicer

Name: Address:

P/Code:

The first correct entry at the end of each month will win the prize pack.

SEND ENTRIES TO: QLD Find-a-word Competition, PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129

QLD OCTOBER 2018

Phone (day):

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

The Rocketeer Slicer from Japanese tackle giant Valley Hill is a real feat of Japanese design and engineering.

The Rocketeer Slicer has a unique metal plate at the nose of the jig, which lets you secure line in two places, and ensures a superior swimming action even through debris. In addition, its tail system lets you cast more effectively into the wind.

The Rocketeer Slicer is available in two sizes (3.0 and 3.5) and 13 different colour combinations. It has proven to be highly effective on Australian squid. www.dogtoothdistribution.com.au

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Charlie Beacham from Harlin, who was last month’s winner of the Find-a-Word Competition!

Monthly winners receive a sponsor prize. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for August is R Collins of Helidon Spa, who won a Platypus pack valued at over $300.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

R Gilbert of River Heads, J Rogers of Tambo, L MacNellie of Springfield Lakes, E Lezuchowski of Darra, W Geaney of Beecher, C Renz of Crestmead, P Carrington of Deception Bay, S Williams of Aspley, A Muir of Norman Gardens, E & V Jackson of Long Flat, S Dawson of Gympie, W Robinson of Raceview, D Hutchins of Bundaberg, M Baker of Gorokan, B Freier of Ningi, K Martin of

Dalby, P Cox of Edmonton, N Humble of Rockhampton, R Kunde of Beerwah, B Barratt of Bucca, E Stevenson of Redbank Plains, J Conte of Tullera, G Walker of Warner, G Poor of Taromeo, B Frankel of Torquay, B Adams of Bongaree, D Deppeler of Burpengary East, T Grice of Caboolture.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.

– QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

© A Cordelia Adams original artwork.

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for August were: 16, 20, 26, 30, 36, 38, 40, 51, 56, 65, 66, 74, 88, 93, 102. – QFM

94

OCTOBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Murray Cod

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for August were: R Forse of Proserpine, P Cauchi of Kepnock, T Hubner of Taunton, B Schmidt of Dalby, J Rasmussen of Frazerview, R Chown of Bracken Ridge, I Wogandt of River Heads, K Dalton of Blackwater, M Roots of Cowley Beach, A Pease of Tweed Heads West, J Wilson of Nanango, K Edwards of East Innisfail,

GUESS THE FISH?

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

96 Coomera kayaking Inside story...

Stessco is an Australian owned and operated family business. With a love of fishing and boating, Stessco has built a wide-ranging network of dealerships, with the goal of providing customers with dependable, value-for-money aluminium boats. Stessco prides itself on the wide variety of options available which can be added to the already wide range of different vessels.

Made for...

Anglers who are after a reliable tinny that can be customised to suit their individual requirements and fishing style.

This month...

Editor Steve Morgan climbs into the Stessco Bowrider 520 with Yamaha F90hp.

Check it out on page 104!

Troy Brown gives a rundown of the Coomera River, and some tips to enjoy this versatile kayak fishery.

100 SUP progression

Jutin Willmer shares what he’s learnt with his 9 months of owning a stand up paddle board.

102 Staying alive!

Wayne Kampe discusses live bait tank options in small boats – something often forgotten about in the buying process!

106 Haines Hunter 585R Editor Steve Morgan has a run in this gutsy rig out on a windy Port Phillip Bay!

OCTOBER 2018

95

Hard work reaps rewards in the Coomera River BRISBANE

Troy Brown

The Coomera River, or more specifically the length extending from the M1 Motorway to John Siganto Park, is the worst kept secret in kayak fishing. Situated on the Gold Coast, it is easily accessed from the southern suburbs of Brisbane and is a worthwhile day trip from further afield. The weir and lake overlooked by the park has spawned some

positioned on a substantial slope, so be prepared to relocate your car for loading and unloading of your kayak.

These spaces also fill rapidly on weekends, as the park is a popular picnic spot and attracts other watersport enthusiasts.

The Coomera boat ramp is a more viable launch point. Situated at the popular watersport facility near Damien Leeding Memorial Park, it is convenientlyaccessed from the nearby Pacific Motorway. More known for the superb lake,

along the pontoon edges, with subtle jerks and pauses helping to entice a strike.

Erratic retrieves, heavily weighted plastics splashing loudly into the surface and a noisy approach will often leave you without a fish. Soft plastics need to be very light, faithfully imitating the action of a gently diving baitfish.

Unless the current is strong, jigheads in the vicinity of 1/28oz are a good starting point, allowing your lure to flutter naturally into the strike zone. Cast tightly into rock walls, as fish will often hold

Trevally patrol the creek mouths and drop-offs.

Matt Graham with a healthy trevally. Trevally are plentiful and best enjoyed on light gear. local legends, but does this area live up to its rather lofty reputation?

Like all fishing locations, many factors will determine if you have a successful day on the water. Tides, wind, moon phases, water clarity and the angler’s own skill combine to affect catch rate.

While some spots seem to be active under adverse conditions, this stretch of the Coomera is known to be particularly prone to changes in fortune. On certain days, despite all factors seeming to combine for ideal catch rates, the fish will shut down for extended periods.

Regardless, good days seem to be abundant, ensuring the patient angler will discover why this is such a popular fishing location.

Your first decision when fishing the area is selecting the most appropriate launch point. The small ramp at John Siganto Park is popular, as it provides direct access to the lake and weir.

Launching from a small gravel beach is relatively trouble-free, although kayakers with trailers need to be aware that trailer parking is limited. If you are towing your kayak, an early start is recommended to ensure a trailer bay is available. Standard carparks are plentiful, but are mostly 96

OCTOBER 2018

which is home to sailing events and recreation. There is also a well-maintained parking area and boat ramp for recreational fishing. For kayakers hauling trailered rigs, this is the launch site of choice. Apart from ample parking, the ramp also features finely gravelled fringes, this makes launching and beaching a simple task.

From this location, the more energetic can explore deeper into the river, or simply investigate nearby canals and creek entrances.

Turning right from the Coomera ramp, you are a short paddle into nearby residential canals. The pontoons and large boat hulls are home to some solid fish, with bream being the main target species. These fish pose a challenge for anglers – they use the structure effectively, ambushing prey and racing for cover at the slightest hint of danger.

Kayaks are the ideal fishing platform for chasing these fish, as the stealth of these small hulls is impossible to replicate in a larger boat.

Float a few metres behind pontoons, then cast forward and retrieve your lure as close as possible to the structure. Lightly weighted soft plastics and shallow diving hardbodies can be worked slowly

mere centimetres away from the edge of the waterway.

Fishing the periphery of these canals is possibly one of the hardest skills to master, but perseverance and experimentation will produce results. If you are new to canal fishing, expect numerous fruitless trips, as it can take hours of practice to discover the techniques that will attract these cunning predators.

When you finally land your first trophy fish from these waters, the hours of effort

will be well rewarded.

If canal fishing does not interest you, venturing to the left of the main Coomera boat ramp provides a myriad of fishing opportunities.

Shortly after departing, you will find a wide section of river with a rocky base. The rubble strewn area is well designated by two floating yellow markers, around which there are a multitude of fishing opportunities for the smart fisher.

To the left side of the underwater obstruction, the water depth is consistently low. This is an ideal spot for targeting small to medium flathead, while bottom bouncing a soft plastic or trolling a shallow diving hardbody lure. It is worth drifting this area multiple times before moving closer to the weir area, as this will often yield multiple fish in a short period of time. Expect to get some exercise as you drift and paddle back, as this area can be addictive. To increase the odds of a double hook up, consider dead sticking a soft plastic from a rod holder while casting shallow diving lures towards the rocks.

Looking to the opposite

side of this rubble patch, the opportunities become a little more exciting. Deep drop-offs, hidden structure and a creek mouth increase the list of species on offer.

Trevally, mulloway, flathead, bream and the possibility of a mangrove jack start to become a reality. If you are prepared for some broken leaders, this is a very productive patch of water.

Fish this area when there is a reasonable amount of water flow, working over the drop-offs and targeting various depths for best results. Carefully watching your sounder for schools of fish and dropping 1/8-1/2oz blades into these patches will be deadly, but only if you are committed to losing some tackle on the ever-present snags below.

Working further towards the weir, you will encounter pylons on the left side of the river. Working slowly outside the edges of these pylons, troll a shallow diving hardbody lure just outside the heavy structure.

For some additional action, consider bottom bouncing a soft plastic to the opposite side of the kayak, keeping it well away from the heavy

Tarpon are a frequent catch near John Siganto ramp.

timber that is found in this length of river. If you are accurate, cast small lures such as the Atomic Hardz Crank 38 between the pylons and expect some aggressive bream. As the water starts to warm, this area will likely be home to rampaging mangrove jack.

All of the banks between the Coomera ramp and John Siganto Park should be targeted, rather than merely passed during your voyage.

Watch your sounder for underwater obstructions, as you can often avoid losing tackle to submerged trees by remaining vigilant. High quality electronics with downscan as a minimum are not expensive, but can save you a fortune in tackle that would otherwise be lost to the dreaded ‘stick fish’.

If you lack this technology, consider using soft plastics rather than hardbody lures, as the cost of losing these can be less painful on your wallet. Floating hardbodies are also useful, as these can often be encouraged to float off a snag. While working plastic lures along the edges, very subtle lifts and drops will encourage a strike.

Aggressive fish such as mangrove jack will require a more active retrieve, but the bulk of species will be won with a more measured approach.

Once you enter the lake area near John Siganto Park, your fishing opportunities will increase exponentially.

Diagonally opposite from the park is the weir, separating the salt and freshwater sections of the river. Call them legends, myths or merely fishing tales; there are many stories of monster fish being captured in this body of water. There is some evidence that large fish are caught here, but on most days you can expect a more modestly-sized catch, possibly in prolific numbers.

Queensland Hobie Crew founder Tim Donselaar is a regular at Coomera. As

someone who professes the area is like a second home, he is well acquainted with the potential of the area.

“My knowledge upstream is limited, as my focus has been on the body of water surrounding the weir. I like to fish the weir and surrounding areas using ZMan Slim SwimZ and Trick SwimZ on lightlyweighted jigheads. Common catches are small mangrove jack, trevally, flathead and occasionally a grunter bream. Some mornings, there are huge schools of tarpon chasing schools of tiny baitfish. When they are feeding, they can’t resist a Slim SwimZ retrieved across the surface. When fish activity is high, it is not uncommon to repeatedly pull in fish after fish. I have seen quite a few giant herring smashing baitfish also, but I am yet to catch one. If you are extremely lucky, you might even catch one of the elusive Coomera Weir barra.”

Greg Matthews is another Coomera regular with an enviable catch rate.

To achieve this, Greg has invested many hours trying to find the most effective formula for success in the area. Greg is predominately a mangrove jack chaser, so with water temperatures starting to rise, he will be

much busier over coming months. Greg targets the area between the M1 bridge and the weir, aware the entire stretch can be very productive for the kayak fisher.

“I have some secret spots, but basically I target every rock wall. Pontoons can be productive, but only when water clarity is low, as the fish tend to be easily spooked when the water is too clear. For mangrove jack, I use a slow to medium constant wind, with 3-4” paddle-tail plastics. Keeping the lure at a constant depth allows for the best catches of mangrove jack. I use 1/6oz jigheads for slim profile plastics, which I upgrade to 3/8oz for thicker profiles and faster retrieves. The incoming tide seems to work best. I sometimes throw bait out for a shark, but they are not my main target. I use a bait suspended 1.5-2m under a balloon, using a baitrunner reel spooled with 30lb main line. The rig is finished with a 100lb wire trace and a 10/0 circle hook.” Greg’s exploits are well known to local kayak fishers.

The weir area can be extremely productive, but can also shut down rapidly.

Copious amounts of rain will push freshwater over the weir, reducing water clarity and pushing fish towards the mouth of the river. When this

happens, it seems the bull sharks come alive, as they are best able to cope with the difficult conditions. It is not uncommon for them to school around the weir area, accepting an easy feed and disturbing any opportunities of catching more prized species. When these weather events occur, it is best to seek cleaner water towards the river mouth.

Casting poppers for trevally and working lures near rocks for mangrove jack will see results. Take care around the weir area, as there are many hidden obstructions ready to snag your favourite lure, or scrape the hull of your kayak. Kayaks with pedal drives need to be particularly vigilant, as there is potential for your fins or propeller to become a victim of this infamously rocky zone. However, it is these underwater hazards that make this a wonderful fishing environment, with fish-holding structure in abundance. Boat fishers cannot access some of these areas, so the kayak fisher has a significant advantage that needs to be exploited.

While the mangrove jack are not yet around in great numbers, warmer weather means they will soon be making an appearance.

The Coomera area is not known for producing the

Dean Richards with a small mulloway. Larger specimens are frequently encountered in the Coomera system. monsters found elsewhere, but it is a solid performer for mid-size specimens. Take the time now to research techniques for these fish, as they are aggressive and dirty fighters. Unwary anglers will lose tackle in the blink of an eye, so you need to be aware of how to boat these prized fish.

Regardless of which ramp you launch from, safety is paramount. Wear a PFD and be aware of other vessels on the river. The Coomera River has a reputation for irresponsible watercraft users, so remain aware of your surroundings at all times. Never assume that a boat or jet ski operator will see you and take evasive

action if necessary. Equip your kayak with a high visibility flag and ensure you have suitable lighting if fishing at night. Most importantly, fish with friends, as there is no substitute for a helping hand if necessary. Stay prepared, remain patient and get ready to discover the delight of fishing Coomera River.

#GFD2018

Go fishing on your own or take part in one of the many events happening around Australia - head to the Gone Fishing Day website to find an event near you.

Share your photos across social media with #GFD2018 and join Australia in celebrating Gone Fishing Day 2018!

GRAB YOUR FISHING ROD AND CELEBRATE RECREATIONAL FISHING IN AUSTRALIA

www.gonefishingday.org OCTOBER 2018

97

WHAT’S NEW BOATING RAYMARINE AXIOM UAV APP

1

Raymarine Axiom users can take to the skies with the LightHouse 3.6 OS update.

The new Axiom UAV app combines the power of Raymarine navigation with advanced aerial imaging. Compatible with the DJI Mavic Pro drone, the Axiom UAV app automates many tasks.

The Virtual Tuna Tower feature lets the Mavic scout for fish ahead of the boat. With the optional polarised lens, the 4K UHD camera can see gamefish, baitfish and structure.

The Fish-On feature launches the UAV, starts video recording, and flies the camera in an orbit around the boat. On-screen controls let you fine-tune the altitude, radius, speed and camera angle.

With the Goto command, the Mavic flies to the GPS location you selected and hovers.

You can see it on your navigation chart along with its course, altitude and more.

Axiom UAV is a free update for Axiom, Axiom Pro and Axiom XL MFDs. www.raymarine.com.au

NEW MERCURY V-8 SEAPROS

2

Mercury is now offering 225hp, 250hp and 300hp V-8 SeaPro commercial outboards, expanding the commercial FourStroke range from 15-300hp.

The 225-300hp models offer higher displacement and horsepower at a lighter weight than their competitors. The new models produce plenty of torque at lower rpm levels, while the compact, lightweight design and Advanced Range Optimisation maximises fuel economy at cruise. The heavy-duty components are built to cope with the demands of commercial operation, and are validated at three times the lifespan of a recreational engines.

Also available is the new Verado V-8 300hp SeaPro equipped with Advanced MidSection (AMS) which moves the engine mounts aft and outward. It virtually eliminates all vibration from being transmitted to the boat. Models equipped with the AMS also feature electrohydraulic power steering and are compatible with Mercury’s Joystick Piloting system.

The new models are backed by a 3 Year (2+1) warranty for commercial users, which includes protection against corrosion. www.mercurymarine.com.au

HOBIE FOLD AND STOW CART

3

Hobie’s Fold and Stow Cart weighs in at just over 2.5kg and is designed to make transporting your kayak easy.

The Cart functions well on a variety of solid surfaces, and breaks down to stow inside Hobie kayaks equipped with a large front cargo hatch. You simply wheel your kayak down to the water, break the cart down and stow it away, eliminating trips back and forth to the vehicle. At the end of the day, the cart reassembles in seconds.

Features include: collapsible frame with removable wheels for easy stowage; lightweight frame (complete cart assembly weighs in at just over 2.5kg); a quick release cart keeper which holds the cart into the scuppers of your kayak; retaining bungee that keeps the cart frame in the collapsed position; load rating of 80kg (suits most models’ fully rigged weight); carrying bag with shoulder strap for easy transport; and post collar clamps to help reduce direct hull load on the cart by displacing load at scuppers.

Price: SRP $250 www.hobie.com 98

OCTOBER 2018

PRODUCT GUIDE

MASTERVOLT MLI-E 4 BATTERY The new Mastervolt MLI-E 12/1200 is a fast-charging, mid-size lithium ion battery offering long life and deep-cycle discharge in a compact waterproof case.

This 12V battery offers 1200 Watt-hours of energy (90 amp-hours). By using the very safe lithium ion phosphate chemistry, the MLI-E saves up to 70% in space and weight, recharges in less than an hour and can discharge 80% of its capacity up to 5,000 times without damage – a lifespan that is ten times longer than an equivalent lead acid battery. This makes it ideal for mobile applications, and for powering small electric motors for propulsion.

Features include: integrated monitoring for reliable battery status information; quick installation and commissioning with no maintenance needed; monitoring via a Bluetooth app; and CANbus communication for automated and intelligent energy system integration.

Price: SRP $3650 www.bla.com.au

MOTORGUIDE LINKS TO MFDS

2

5

MotorGuide’s Xi5 and Xi3 trolling motors can now be operated through selected Mercury VesselView and Simrad multifunction displays.

The improvement, driven by upgraded system software, means MotorGuide will be even more popular as the trolling motors can now connect with all of the ‘big three’ – VesselView, Simrad and Lowrance screens.

However, boaters with VesselView displays will benefit particularly as VesselView screens now allow drivers to monitor and control both their main engine and their trolling motor through the one multifunction display.

The software upgrade is suitable for VesselView 502/702/703/903 screens. Owners just need to download the data from the Mercury Marine website to a micro SD card, which is then used to transfer the update to the VesselView or Simrad unit. www.mercurymarine.com

RAYMARINE WIRELESS RADIOS

1

3

4

6

Raymarine’s new Ray90 and Ray91 modular VHF radios offer the convenience of two wired handsets and three optional wireless handset stations.

Both models feature a commercial-grade marine VHF radio transceiver with the latest Class-D Digital Selective Calling, as well as a built-in loudhailer and fog-signal generator with an optional hailing horn.

The 91 model also has a built-in Class B AIS receiver. Connect the 91 to your MFD and instrument network to see the position and identity of nearby AIS-equipped vessels.

The basic system comes with a blackbox transceiver module and a wired handset/ speaker kit. The transceiver hides out of sight and offers connections for an optional second wired station or wireless hub.

Wireless handsets have built-in lithium ion rechargeable batteries. To recharge, just place the handset back in its supplied dock. Each wireless handset even has a locator alarm in case you misplace it.

Both models have an onboard GPS receiver and a connection for an external GPS antenna.

The radios communicate with your other MFDs and instruments via NMEA2000 or NMEA0183. www.raymarine.com.au

5

6

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

THE outboard of the FUTURE

Evinrude E-TEC G2 The outboard of the future. AVAILABLE TODAY Introducing a revolutionary concept in outboards – a choice.

Now, choose cutting-edge over commonplace. Choose more torque over more talk. Choose more time on the water over more time in the shop. Choose the outboard that performs, and looks like no other outboard in the world.

Contact your local dealer today GOLD COAST

White Water Marine

SUNSHINE COAST

BRISBANE SOUTH

Springwood Marine

BUNDABERG

Waterskiers Warehouse

91-93 Neil St, Toowoomba 0400 379 514 www.waterskierswarehouse.com.au • rod@waterskierswarehouse.com.au

Adrians Marine Centre

28 Ritchie St, Bundaberg 07 4153 1819 www.adriansmarinecentre.com.au • adriansmarinecentre@bigpond.com.au

3 Carlyle Street, Slacks Creek, 4127 07 3297 8200 www.springwoodmarine.com.au • sales@springwoodmarine.com.au

TOOWOOMBA

Caloundra Marine

8 Baldwin St, Caloundra 07 5491 1944 www.caloundramarine.com.au • sales@caloundramarine.com.au

10 Hinde St, Ashmore 07 5532 4402 www.whitewatermarine.com.au • sales@whitewatermarine.com.au

GLADSTONE

Steve Fleetwood Marine

10 Morgan St, Gladstone 07 4972 9463 sfmarine@tpg.com.au

OCTOBER 2018

99

Stand up paddleboard fishing BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

It’s coming up to about nine months now that I have been fishing from my stand up paddleboard

from an elevated position, operate with stealth and also have minimal impact on the environment around you. Time on the water has allowed me to refine my SUP setup and kit, while also learning more about the craft,

C-TUG TROLLEY The C-Tug Trolley is constructed from corrosion resistant materials, making it low maintenance. It pulls apart so that you can store it easily, even in the hatch of some kayaks. It can be used effectively on SUPs,

A net and lip grips make fish handling much simpler and safer.

(SUP) and I’ve found it to be an enjoyable, simple and effective way to fish. It’s perfect for the

so here’s a breakdown of my SUP setup and some tips I have picked up along the way.

A fish measure secured inside the raised deck. You can leash the ruler if you don’t have a raised deck. shallow waters that I fish, and by working the tides and picking your weather windows you can cover reasonable distances, fish

From tail to tip, here’s a look at what I carry on my SUP and why, then we’ll look at a few tips to make your experience more enjoyable.

kayaks and canoes, and it is awesome quality. I live a short walk from the water, so the SUP can be on the trolley the night before and ready for action. It’s also handy for setting your SUP up in the car park and then rolling it to the water, rather than doing multiple trips to and from the water.

ICEBOX The icebox on my SUP doubles as a seat, and to be honest I spend a fair bit of time sitting and relaxing while I drift with the tide.

Even when seated on the icebox I am still elevated and have a great view of the structure, bait, fish and other points of interest around me. I selected a 35L Yeti Tundra cooler because it marries up perfectly with the recessed attachment points on my SUP. It features built-in slots for

Fishing plastics along the edge on a well-organised SUP. 100

OCTOBER 2018

tying down, allowing me to leash it down with the straps from the Yeti Tie Down Kit, and the rubber feet on the icebox ensure that it doesn’t budge. This was not the cheapest option out there and you can work out what works for your SUP, however I was impressed with the quality and also a few other cool features I’ll discuss in more detail.

ROD HOLDERS The first few trips out I simply laid a couple of rods on the deck and they stayed pretty dry thanks to the raised area around the deck of my SUP. Most SUPs lack this and I could see rods and reels getting pretty damp. One option would be a couple of Railblaza rod holders attached to your icebox, however I am lucky enough that Yeti have rod holders available that slot into the same slots that are used for leashing it down, secured 100% by the closed lid of the icebox. These rod holders are rock solid and allow quick and easy access to either rod as required, allowing me to have two different lures rigged so I can switch to suit the depth, environment, target species or wind.

The C-Tug trolley is ideal for transporting your rigged SUP to and from the water. leashed on and I found that the more items I used during the session, the more times my leashes crossed over and made a tangled mess.

I no longer leash my dry bag of tackle onto the SUP,

holding on longer, allowing me to set the hook. The first time I took the SUP out I stowed the scent within easy reach in the centre recessed carry handle, and this is still my preferred

A landing net with an accessory float, just in case it is lost over the side.

WATER BOTTLE It’s important to stay hydrated, and after trialling a few options I have settled on a double walled, stainless steel water bottle that is rugged, functional and, due to the double wall, stays cool even when in the sun.

Plastic bottles are definitely an issue in the sun and with the amount of plastic in our oceans, single-use plastic bottles are definitely off the list. This water bottle is stowed between my feet, within easy reach and on the centre line of the SUP for balance.

DRY BAG OF TACKLE When I first started SUP fishing I had everything

I have simply increased the size of the dry bag slightly and I roll it up with enough air sealed inside to float the bag, should it find its way into the water. This dry bag contains a small tackle tray loaded with jigheads and blades, a handful of soft plastics, leader, Boomerang Tool line snip, sunscreen and a snack.

SCENT I am a big believer in scent as a means of masking foreign odours, like fuel and sunscreen, while also attracting fish and triggering strikes. Time and time again I have added scent and found the bite more aggressive and the fish

location. I prefer to apply a small amount of scent more frequently, every 30 or so casts, rather than one large coating every couple of hours, and this home location keeps the scent handy and also reminds me to apply it regularly.

FISH RULER A fish ruler makes it quick and easy to measure your catch, whether keeping a feed, tagging and releasing fish or keeping track of PBs. I have again done away with the leash and simply position the ruler inside the raised area of the deck to keep it secure.

You may opt to leash your ruler or alternatively attach

an accessory float that will float the ruler should it be knocked or dropped into the water. Measure mats are ideal for boat and landbased fishing, however I

icebox for easy release from either side of the SUP. Once setup with landing net, ruler and lip grips within easy reach it’s simple to land, control, handle and

I was hoping to sneak out for a couple of hours on a recent Sunday afternoon, so the SUP was setup and on the trolley. I kept an eye on the weather; with wind forecast, and rain falling, I knew it could go either way, as we often get a glass-out

to drift right in along the edge of the drop off and cast ahead of the drift, changing to a small soft plastic craw and reducing the jighead weight. Fishing the plastic with slow hops and shakes it didn’t take long until I had a solid take

A quality paddle makes paddling and controlling the SUP much easier.

When fighting a fish, point the rod tip toward the front of the SUP and enjoy the ride. find them cumbersome on the SUP and difficult to handle in windy conditions.

LANDING NET A small landing net is handy and I carry mine on the deck in front of me, with an accessory float attached in case it is lost overboard.

You may wish to store your net in a rod holder on the icebox if you have a smaller SUP with less deck area. It’s important that you select a net that has mesh that doesn’t tangle with hooks as the last thing you need is your lure stuck in the net and a fish thrashing around, knocking items into the water and putting yourself and the fish at risk of injury.

measure fish within a short window of time and with minimum fuss, ensuring the quick release of a wellconditioned fish, should you choose to release that fish.

PADDLE Make sure you select a decent quality paddle to go with your SUP as it makes paddling easier and more efficient. There is a paddle stow point in the front deck of my SUP, along with some bungee that I could slide the paddle under, however as I often sit and fish I prefer to rest the paddle across the deck or across my lap. This allows me to make a few paddle strokes as required

This solid whiting nailed a slow rolled ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ in midnight oil colour. after rain. The rain stopped, sun came out and I couldn’t believe how good the afternoon was becoming.

To make it even better it was a dropping tide, with an hour and a half of run-out to fish, before drifting back with more current as the tide was then rising to a high tide.

I launched, moved the SUP into enough water to float it and then stepped

and the drag screamed.

A quality flathead had grabbed the little craw and screamed off in the shallows. I swung the rod tip toward the nose of the SUP to ensure that it tracked after the fish and stayed stable, rather than turning sideways and becoming unbalanced. Take your time when you’re fighting fish from a SUP as rushing things can see fish lost. As a quality flatty came into view, I made note that it was hooked securely, taking time to use the rod angle to steer it into the net. Once in the net, the rod can be stowed in the holder, lip grips attached to the fish and then it’s easy

to measure, photograph and then stow or release.

I stood up as I drifted the edge, making the most of the elevated position and making note of the structure that I was fishing. There was a defined weed edge, dropping away to a mud, sand and rubble bottom, so I switched to my go-to 2.5” paddle tail plastic. I opted to roll the plastic along the weed edge as experience has shown me that fish love to patrol the weed edge and pounce on anything that ventures outside of this weedy curtain. This produced a couple more flathead and a solid whiting.

The tide turned and I began my quicker drift back home. With the water rising rapidly it’s even more important to pay attention to bait flicking, fleeing and moving in the water. Fish make the most of the rising water to push up into the shallows and hunt, before there is too much water and the bait has escaped into the mangroves and other

structure. The next two fish fell to casts made to bait flicking on the edge, firstly a bream and then another quality flathead. I made the call to put that fish in the icebox and head for home, leaving time to clean up and fillet the fish before gearing up for another week of work.

It had been another fun and productive SUP fishing session. I had again heard a few comments from passing boats and people on the shore about fishing from the SUP: “why”, “how”, “is that a surfboard”, “that’s strange” and so on. Pretty much the same conversations I had heard 20-plus years ago when launching and fishing from my fitted out kayak. The SUP is definitely a viable option as a fishing craft and there are plenty of places that hire them out, should you want to give them a try yourself.

All the best with the fishing. See you on the water.

This bream was stirring up prawns in the shallows and couldn’t resist a plastic cast into the strike zone.

LIP GRIPS One item that remains on a leash is my lip grips, as they are too heavy for an accessory float. A long leash is handy as it allows you to transfer a fish from the net onto the grips for a photo and dispatch into the

to adjust my position and distance from the bank or drift angle.

ON THE WATER Here’s how a typical session unfolds for me, including a few tips for fishing from the SUP. Let’s hit the water.

aboard, took a seat and paddled a short distance to start my drift. I was casting plastics toward the bank and hopping them down the channel edge and back out toward the SUP. Conditions were too good and the fishing was slow, so I opted

An icebox makes an excellent seat, attachment point for accessories and storage for a feed or your catch.

OCTOBER 2018

101

Small boat live bait tank options BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

We rarely see much fishing media coverage of live bait usage. There’s the odd

account and the tank might be a beauty, likely having a clear top or front, and maybe even an LED light. There’s nothing like some mood lighting for your livies!

When we survey rigs between $15,000 and

aren’t made from glass) to a small icebox with a 12V portable aerator rigged up to keep the bubbles coming.

Even a bucket with an aerator in it will work as long as you follow a few simple rules.

from collapsible metal mesh that was fine enough to keep really small baitfish in check.

The floating push-down style lid was big enough to accommodate a big, fat luderick, and to allow me to extract livies when required.

Collapsible wire fish keepers of this style are a bit hard to come by, but they are still being made by Sure Catch (Wilson Fishing), Seahorse and Jarvis Walker, so it just comes down to finding a tackle outlet that stocks them. Wire keepers aren’t expensive, and if you wash them after each use they will give you years of handy service.

Rough but ready While on the subject of external livey tanks, there’s nothing wrong with

Young Amelia McEntee having fun. One of the great things about bait tanks is that they entertain kids, who love to watch the activity. take out a livey whenever you need one.

I’ve seen a couple of really good DIY units made

The trick is to construct a squarish tank using stainless screws and waterproof glue, and drill as many small holes

Now that’s a live well! With a clear lid and plumbing, this tank is the bee’s knees. mention of ‘livies’ here and there, but any mention of that essential item – a bait tank that actually works – is as scarce as scales on a squid.

$25,000, however, there’s no guarantee of a bait tank – and for boats under $15,000 the only tank fitted is probably one the owner has installed.

The good news is that

This bait well is on a $35,000 boat. It comes with plumbing, as you’d expect for a boat of that price.

Spend upwards of $25,000 on a boat and there might be a bait tank of some form or other. Over $40,000 from the

a DIY bait tank set-up is actually not that hard; there are many small boat owners using live bait to very good effect, and who have all sorts of interesting methods of keeping everything from yabbies to yakkas alive.

I’ve seen livies in everything from an adapted aquarium (the best ones

A collapsible wire fish keeper, like this one from Jarvis Walker, is a cheap and easy way to store livies.

102

OCTOBER 2018

CLEAN WATER IS THE KEY Whether you’re using live worms, yabbies, prawns or small fish, you need to provide a flow of clean water and keep it oxygenated to keep your livies in good condition.

A flow of water doesn’t necessarily mean that a hose has to be running, but it’s vital that the water is kept clean. I’ve kept fish going strongly for hours in livewells in various boats – even really big livies with a high demand for clean oxygenated water – simply by using a bucket to take water out and pour fresh water in. The splashing from the incoming water traps a lot of oxygen.

Another thing to consider is to not overcrowd your livebaits if you want to keep them in good condition. You don’t want too many small fish competing for limited space and oxygen.

EXTERNAL TANKS Small boat owners have the choice of an internal livey tank or an external one.

That’s right, an external unit.

They certainly do work as they keep the bait totally immersed within its own environment, and they need next to no cleaning out to prevent pong, unlike other styles of tanks.

Collapsible fish keepers A few years ago I bought several external live fish keepers that were quite suited to storing and keeping alive anything from bream or luderick right down to hardiheads, gar or herring.

Tethered alongside the boat and totally immersed except for the lid, these ball-shaped keepers were constructed

There’s scope for some DIY installation here with this comprehensive set-up. constructing a DIY unit. The main requirements are that it should have a really free water flow, plus a lid that floats to keep the tank on the surface. The lid should also be large enough to let you

from marine ply. It sounds primitive, but they work just fine. The idea is to make the tank large enough to hold a few fish at a time. Pike, gar, yakkas – the system is ideal for all of these fish.

This system is a little rough around the edges, but it works well simply because the water is bucketed in and out. It’s enough to keep the water fresh and aerated.

in the sides, top and bottom as possible. These holes will keep the water flowing while the keeper is tied up and floating beside the boat.

The lid should have some floatant material (such as closed cell foam attached with Sikaflex) to keep it on the surface. As far as hinges for the lid go, a strip of heavy truck inner tube works a treat. It’s smart to make the lid large enough for you to use a little mesh net to extract the livies.

I have used one of these wooden wonders which was 450mm long and 400 deep.

It kept small fish alive for hours, simply because water could flow freely from start to finish. At the end of the day it could be washed out and left to dry until the next use.

The baitfish seemed to settle down within it very quickly, and sat quietly swimming into the current coming through the holes.

When moving to another location, I simply lifted the keeper out and put it in a plastic box with water in it to keep them going.

You do the same thing with the collapsible wire mesh keepers.

STOREBOUGHT OPTIONS Internal bait tanks can take many forms. Most can be snugged into a suitable spot without too much trouble, but you need to be careful about overdoing things. An overly large tank brings issues, mostly weight. Remember, 1L of water weighs 1kg.

Your tank will need

fitting into a small boat, and it would be ideal for manual filling, given the size of its lid. As a bucket fill unit, I’d also set up an outflow pipe to handle any excess water, and have an aerator close by to keep the air flow going.

That aside, anglers who enjoy DIY projects could just as easily set it up with a pump as well as the outflow

remember when keeping livies for bait.

Firstly, it’s important that only the best bait items should go in the tank. If you’re catching small fish with a bait jig, hold the jig over the tank inlet and try to flick or wriggle the fish off without touching them.

If you’re catching small fish or prawns with a cast net, try not to handle them

485 Scan the QR Code to view the complete boat test

APACHE PRO

SPECIFICATIONS BEAM – 2200MM DEPTH – 1200MM LENGTH OVERALL – 4950MM FREEBOARD – 610MM WEIGHT KG BOAT ONLY – 370KG BOTTOM – 3.0MM SIDES – 3.0MM PEOPLE – 5 MAX HP – 80 SHAFT – LONG

There’s something for everyone in this selection from a marine chandlery outlet. a lid to stop both water slopping out and the livies jumping out. Also, the lid must be large enough to accommodate a small dip net when it’s time to grab a fresh livey, to make life easier. The funny thing about live baits is that none of them want to be next!

Whitworths, Boating and RV plus many other boat accessory outlets usually offer several bait tanks of different sizes. These units come complete with a lid, and have plumbing as well, if required.

I found a 30L Florite unit at Boating and RV which looks to be ideal for

and aerator.

And if there’s a need to attach any gear to the outside of the bait tank or close by, simply use Sikaflex.

This marine sealant sets like rubbery concrete. From my experience, anything glued in place with Sikaflex usually stays there. If you accidentally get some in the wrong spot, use metho while the Sikaflex is still nice and fluid.

KEEP THOSE LIVEYS ALIVE! Whether your chosen bait tank is a store-bought item or a DIY Sunday morning masterpiece, there are just a few things to

excessively; just shake them gently into the tank without excessive trauma.

As soon as one critter throws in the towel the whole lot are likely to do so, which means it’s important to quickly remove any that are dying or dead. Changing the water and keeping plenty of air in the system is also vital for their performance.

Finally, remember that while a bait tank is pretty important, spending lots of money on one is not always necessary. Besides, there’s a lot of satisfaction in DIY projects!

CALL YOUR LOCAL DEALER TODAY Rising Sun Townsville

Holt Marine

35 Bowen Road, Rosslea, QLD, 4812 Phone: (07) 4779 0211 marine@risingsuntownsville.com.au

25 Queens Rd, Everton Hills, Brisbane, QLD, 4053 Phone: (07) 3353 1928 info@holtmarine.com.au

Whitsunday Outboard Centre

Gold Coast Boating Centre

1 William Murray Drive, Cannovale, QLD, 4802 Phone: (07) 4946 7286 woc@whitsundayoutboardcentre.com.au

BlueFin Sports

57-59 Musgrave Street, Rockhampton Nth, QLD, 4701 Phone: (07) 4922 2211 sales@bluefinsports.com.au

External aeration for a live well can be as simple as slipping a Rapala aerator into the mix. If the aerator can keep bass alive it will certainly do an excellent job with live bait.

64 Kortum Drive, Burleigh Heads, Gold Coast, QLD, 4220 Phone: (07) 5576 7388 sales@goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au

Precision Marine NT

30 Deviney Road, Pinelands, Darwin, NT, 0829 Phone: (08) 8931 1140 precisionmarine@outlook.com.au

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

103

Stessco Bowrider 520 with Yamaha F90HP - SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

DE FOR EX

T

Length..........................................................5.1m Beam..........................................................2.29m Bottom.sheet ..............................................3mm Side.sheet....................................................3mm Hull.weight ................................................500kg Max.HP .......................................................... 115 Fuel .............................................................. 110L Capacity .............................................. 6 persons Main: Chasing a locally made aluminium plate boat that will keep the whole family happy and not break the bank? You need to check out the Stessco Bowrider 520.

Above: The bowrider was right at home in the Noosa River on the test day. means that it’s affordable for plenty of families. It also means that you probably won’t have to upgrade the family car to tow it.

S e c o n d l y, the configuration is pretty easily interchangeable between ‘fishing mode’ and ‘fun mode’. Drop in a few cushions up the front and add the removable ski pole and

RPM................... km/h.................... km/L 1000 ...................... 6.5 ....................... 3.4 2000.................... 10.7 ....................... 2.3 3000.....................27.9 ....................... 3.4 3500 .................... 35.6 ....................... 3.4 4000.................... 42.2 ....................... 3.3 5000.................... 54.8 ....................... 2.7 6000.....................67.2 ....................... 1.7 * fitted with SDS alloy 13 1/4 x 16” propeller OCTOBER 2018

easily interchangeable,” Biel continued.

And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Tweaked a great seller to make it just that little bit better.

For more information on the 520 Bowrider, or any of the 2018 Stessco range, visit their website on www. stessco.com.au, make sure

SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE

104

CO

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Stessco’s Adrian Biel reckons that when your hull is a good thing, you don’t change it. And that’s exactly what Stessco has done with their 520 Bowrider hull. They’ve kept the popular shape and improved the layout.

But let’s backtrack a few steps before we dig into the details. Where does the Bowrider sit in the Stessco range and why would you buy one?

Well, it’s definitely a more comfortable boat for the less hardcore anglers in the family. Especially compared to something like the Gulf Runner. And sometimes, the fishing alone isn’t the reason you buy a boat.

Yes, I know. It’s a strange concept, but shade, comfort and the ability to use a boat for a variety of activities ticks a lot of boxes with modern outdoor families and this Stessco fits right into the hitting zone.

Firstly, it weighs in around the high $30K mark (and at around 1,000kg on the weighbridge), which

R

formula from the Brisbane based company.

There aren’t many drawbacks of this rig, however the fact that most of your underfloor storage will still let water dribble through in the rain is a problem for local manufacturers.

“Look, from the gunwales down, there’s

Steve Morgan

Q

RA

CON

AN THE

FMG

you’re ready to go tubing.

If you’re really clever, you’ll even have an electric motor on a bracket that takes a few seconds to pop off and on, which will really turn this into a fishing machine.

Thirdly, this boat is cheap to run. A boat over 5m in length with this level of fitout and that delivers well over 3km/L at cruising speeds really is giving you great value for money. The 110L tank fitted in this boat will get you over 300km of range at cruising speeds. The best we saw was at 3,5004,000 RPM where it nearly reached 3.5km/L. And finally, it’ll definitely turn heads at the ramp. The smooth plate aluminium sides look great with Stessco’s standard

colours, or alternatively take a vinyl wrap if you really want to make a statement.

Other improvements like the new, smoother windscreen just add to an already winning

nothing much we wanted to change in this boat,” said Adrian on the 2018 Media Day at Noosa, “so it’s just the small things that we’ve made better.”

“Things like the removable ski-pole and bait board, these needed to be

you Like their Facebook page (Stessco Boats) for social media updates and definitely scan the QR Code hereby to watch the video review of this rig on your smartphone.

It’s also available direct on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel.

Everything is economical in the rig – from the mid-to-high $30K purchase price (depending on options) to the best fuel economy of 3.3km/L at 4,000rpm.

Driven at the best economy, the 110L fuel tank will give over 300km of theoretical range.

Back in the cockpit you can sit in the shade and swivel the seats around to watch a skiier or talk with your passengers on the bench seat. The ski-pole is removable.

Obviously, there’s a mountain of storage space under the front seats, although it’s not totally waterproof.

Drop some batteries in here if you choose to add an electric motor to the front of the rig.

Stessco’s Bowriders are a fun and good-looking rigs that really hit the spot with family boaters.

Here’s what the front deck looks like with the foam cushions on top of the infill.

You can remove the centre cushion and the deck section to allow for comfortable seating forward.

You can shut the split windscreen and the bulkhead door to keep the breeze and spray out.

The rear bench sits starboard while the transom door allows easy loading and is on the port transom side.

The helm is simple and can hold smaller electronics flush-mounted.

Here’s how you transform the bow into its various forms. First remove the cushions and stow under the decks. Next remove the floor infill. It provides everything from lounging to fishing in a bit of a swell.

OCTOBER 2018

105

Haines Hunter 585R with Yamaha F200 4-stroke

- SC

TENT -

RE ONLINE MO

Q

R

RA

CON

AN THE

CO

DE FOR EX

T FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

We hope for windy days while boat testing, but not at the speed that Port Phillip Bay dished out while testing this Haines Hunter 585R (runabout),

fitted with a Yamaha F200

by Chelsea Yamaha. As one of the rigs that Rob Neely and his team set up for their stand at the Boat Show, I was keen on testing its Port Phillip Bay abilities in some breeze.

The 30+ knots and washing-machine-like conditions put a pretty rapid

halt to that. Nonetheless, we were able to get the rig out on the water and eventually find a location where we could do some economy figures.

To put the hull into perspective, I asked Rob why Haines Hunters were such a popular boat.

“Lots of people buy a Haines Hunter and then never buy anything else,” Rob said. “It’s a combination of comfort, stability, economy and resale value.”

Indeed, Rob had plenty of Haines Hunters in the showroom when we turned up at the dealership to pick up the test boats.

SPECIFICATIONS Length Overall..... 6.0m Beam.................. 2.40m Hull Weight........ 950kg Transom..................25” Fuel...................... 230L Max hp................... 200

From above you can get a good idea of the amount of room in the sub 6m craft. There’s plenty of space there to get some serious fishing done.

106

OCTOBER 2018

By nature, the runabout design is pretty simple.

Runabouts are made with less cabin space and more cockpit to offer serious anglers plenty of fishing room down the back. The 585 definitely has plenty of space, with a 2.4m beam adding to the work area.

The test boat was set up for fishing, with rocketlauncher style rod holders in the targa top, a large bait station and plenty of room in the side pockets.

It was also fitted with the removable side door to

Top: As tested, this is the boat that you get for $113,900 – nearly 6m of Australianbuilt Haines Hunter 585R. With custom canopy and clears from Chelsea Yamaha, it’s well decked out for snapper fishing in the bay and beyond.

Above: Both the hull and trailer are Melbourne-built. The tandem, galvanised Easytow features plenty of rollers to make drive on and off launching easy – even on windy days like the test day. help in loading the boat on the trailer and getting swimmers and divers out of the water when afloat.

Often the importance of a good trailer under a hull is overlooked. The Aussie-made Easytow trailers work well under these hulls and the combination of wobble and keel rollers make it a pleasure to drive on and off, even in windy conditions like on the test day. Dual axles are a must for any rig around 2000kg and this rig will tow easily behind nearly all twin-cab 4WDs.

As expected, Yamaha’s F200 delivered exceptional economy, squeezing just under 2km/L burned at 4000rpm and 39km/h.

Combine this with the 230L underfloor fuel tank and there’s a theoretical range of nearly 450km on a single fill. If that’s not enough for you, you’re going to need a bigger boat.

At the helm, Yamaha’s new fly-by-wire digital throttle and shift impressed.

It takes a little to get used to the sensitivity and smoothness of this new system, but once you do, you’ll never want to go

back to mechanical throttle cables again.

Overall, you should look at the 585R if you’re more of a fisher than a family weekend kind of person. It’s designed with plenty of room and storage for all things piscatorial.

But the significant other and kids will be comfortable nonetheless if they want to tag along.

Haines Hunters aren’t cheap – the test rig weighed in at $113,900, however basic packages for this hull start at around $90,000.

For more information visit www.haineshunter.com.au.

The 2.4m of beam combined with a deep vee make this a stable hull that rides well in the rough.

The R in the model name means ‘runabout,’ which translates to plenty of deck space and a smaller cabin. You can see the lid to the massive underfloor kill box between the helm and passenger seats.

The helm includes the Yamaha digital throttle and shift, which is very smooth and impressive. We’d like to be able to mount larger sounders flush into the dash, though.

Lenco trim tabs help you adjust the attitude when running heavy or uneven loads. With the lightly loaded boat we didn’t need them on the test day.

There’s enough cabin room to get out of the weather and it’s no problem to fit an optional portable toilet in there to keep the family happy.

The fold-out rear lounge isn’t full width, but can hold a couple of passengers. The rear bait station slides in and out.

There’s an optional, removable gunwale door and tons of room in the side pockets. The door slides out rather than being hinged.

A clear anchor well door lets in a lot of natural light to the cabin.

Rob Neely reckons that the Yamaha F200s are ‘bulletproof’. We didn’t shoot it to find out, but they are definitely economical, giving a theoretical range of around 450km.

Talk to Chelsea Yamaha about custom stainless targa and canopy/clears combinations.

They have a full trim shop in-house.

Call it a kill box or a wet storage area for your snorkeling gear. Whatever your bent, it’s a handy addition to the 585.

OCTOBER 2018

107

- JOIN THE FOURSTROKE –

REVOLUTION

UNBEATABLE SAVINGS UP TO $1150 ON SELECTED 2.5–115HP FOURSTROKE It’s time to join the Mercury Revolution and get out on the water this Summer.

With UNBEATABLE savings across a range of 2.5 – 115 horsepower FourStroke models and great Mercury Finance offers also available…Why Wait?

So, go online to find your nearest participating Mercury Dealer and join the Mercury FourStroke Revolution today.

HURRY OFFER ENDS NOVEMBER 23RD 2018. mercurymarine.com.au