Queensland Fishing Monthly September 2018 by Fishing Monthly

BEST OF SHOW AWARDS • BARRA TOURNAMENT GUIDE INSIDE

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Features Flathead estuary tactics • Tricks to fishing the Flathead Classic • Yakking for chrome glory • Mundi magnets: essential barra lures • AFTA Best of Show •

Tried & Tested Sunline Siglon PE braid • Clark 520 Legend SC • Barcrusher 575C vs 615C •

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September 2018, Vol. 30 No. 11

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES Yamba 18 Ballina 20 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed 22 Southern Gold Coast 23 Jumpinpin 24 Gold Coast Canals 25 Gold Coast 28 Southern Bay 30 Brisbane 32 Brisbane Offshore 34 Northern Bay 36 Noosa 40 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay 44 Rainbow Beach 46 Bundaberg 46 Lake Monduran 46 Gladstone 47 Rockhampton 48 Yeppoon 49 Mackay 50 TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 52 Ayr 51 Townsville 54 Hinchinbrook 53 Cairns 55 Cairns NFZ 55 Port Douglas 56 Lucinda 56 Cape York 58 Cooktown 57 BOATING AND KAYAK

From the Editor’s Desk... ALL THE AFTA TRADE SHOW NEWS Each year the fishing tackle trade conducts a businessto-business show on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter, and it’s always an event to remember. Distributors and fishing tackle stores from all over Australia gather to show off new products and do deals. This show is not open to the public, so we at Fishing Monthly and www. tacklejunkie.fish are bringing you the latest and greatest tackle via social media, YouTube and print. To those of you who missed our videos broadcast straight from the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where we interviewed wholesalers showing off their latest gear, you can check them out on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. One of the most exciting things about the AFTA Show is the Best In Show awards. It starts with retailers voting

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on what they judge to be the best new gear, the votes are tallied, and the awards are presented at the formal Gala Dinner. We have compiled the winners and runners-up for you in this issue, and some of them are particularly innovative and exciting. And just quietly, we hear that there’s a good chance there will be a public (non-buying, look and see only) day next year. It’s not confirmed yet but we’ll bring you news of this as it comes to hand! FLATHEAD, FLATHEAD, FLATHEAD We all know that it’s

flathead time of year – we have a real focus on this popular fish at this time of year. There are plenty around, and don’t forget the Flathead Classic. Who doesn’t want to tangle with one? We even have an office flathead comp at this time of the year. $10 in. Usually Peter Jung takes home the cash. Whether you’re a bait or lure angler or a caster or troller or a soft plastic or hardbody fisho, there’s something inside for you. Just remember to release the ones you catch over 75cm. BARRA TOUR INFO INSIDE You’ll also notice a 16-page guide inside inviting you to

the Zerek BARRA Tour. The BARRA Tour is in its teenage years now, after starting in 2005. It boasts a friendly group of competitive barra anglers that have a brilliant week fishing and touring together through the hottest Queensland barra lakes at the time. Be aware that we screwed up a little (there are a couple of incorrect dates in the Guide, which was printed earlier than this magazine) and that the correct BARRA Tour Dates are in the Tournament Calendar, on the entry forms and on the website (www.abt.org.au) – just not in the introduction. The Zerek BARRA Tour runs from the 19th to the 25th November, 2018. Just to be clear. There are articles about getting started, getting better and getting involved. Find a mate, find a boat and we will see you there.

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Flathead estuary tactics 10 Trick to fishing the Flathead Classic 14 Yakking for chrome glory 76 Mundi magnets: essential barra lures 80 AFTA Best in Show 84

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Flathead

Flathead tactics: trolling, casting and baiting BRISBANE

Sean Thompson

What a great winter season it was in South East Queensland. Now we can look forward to the best time of the year for flatties. This article is focused on flathead and on the techniques to target them according to your location and the stage of the tide. In particular, we will focus on trolling, casting lures and bait fishing methods for flathead. TIME OF YEAR Before we go into flathead techniques and methods, the time of year is an important consideration for where you should be targeting fish. Over winter, flathead head upstream in rivers and creeks. The cooler waters mean that good results can be achieved during the middle of the day in such locations when the sun warms the shallows and upper

Keep your rods tucked in close to the boat when trolling up narrow tributaries. the water temperature on your sounder pays off. Spring (in South East Queensland) or late spring and summer in Southern NSW are spawning times for flathead, so they will head to the mouths of rivers, creeks and bays and gather to spawn.

Even drops of 0.5m will hold flathead as they prey on baitfish as the tide rises over the flats into small gutters. surface layers of the water. Likewise, darker sandy/silt bays can be very productive, as can areas close to exposed rocks as such locations absorb the heat and provide slightly warmer waters for the flathead to lie and feed in. This is where an eye on

In summer, the fish will disperse to cooler waters and are best targeted early in the morning or in cooler, deeper waters. TROLLING FOR FLATHEAD Trolling for flathead is one of my favourite fishing

techniques. I have read and heard some people suggest that this technique is boring and lacks skill and while it is a case of each to their own, for my it is both an enjoyable and very successful style of fishing. Why would you not want to try it when the fish are hard to find? Trolling is very successful, as you cover a whole lot of ground searching for fish. When you find a patch, you can then turn around and troll over that spot again (and again) or you can change over to casting lures in the vicinity. So, what is trolling? In very basic terms, trolling can be described as towing a lure or lures behind your boat while it is underway, but it is much more than that. The most successful trolling anglers are alert skippers who watch their sounder or sounders like a hawk and keep a close eye on the water colour, depth, temperature, current, wind direction and wind strength. They also change their lures and vary the distance and spread of the lures behind the boat according to water conditions, boat traffic and the ‘width’ of the target water they

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are trolling over. They will also watch their rod tips to ensure they are continually nodding and not fouled by weed. Successful flathead skippers will also hold a rod when they can and impart extra action by way of a number of rips to the rod, retrieving or releasing more line or varying the speed and direction of the boat trolling line. Tackle and equipment While trolling with an ultra-quiet electric motor is ideal, today’s modern fourstroke motors are incredibly quiet and don’t seem to spook the fish much at all, even in relatively shallow water.

also a critical factor to trolling success. You want to ensure your lure is hitting the bottom regularly to stir up the sand and so the flathead doesn’t have to rise up too much off the bottom to grab it. That is, you want to match your lure to the depth you are trolling. In ultra-shallow water (less than 1m) I like either soft plastics or small crankbaits are a good choice. I am not on my own with my appreciation for the Lively Lures Micro Mullet, with pink or pink/purple being my favourite lure in water under 2.5m. But a very close second that I will fish side by side with these are the wooden

A nice flathead picked up on a ZMan MinnowZ from the smaller gutter shown above. Trolling rods are ideally light-medium graphite (2-4kg), as their sensitivity imparts not only extra action to the lure from their ‘nodding’ action, but they also clearly show any fouling on the lure behind the boat by stopping their action abruptly. These rods are best combined with braided line, which keeps a tight line to the lure and very quickly shows any hits or fouling of weed or sticks on the lure. I only use 5-6lb braid in the shallows, but might go up to 8-10lb at the absolute most in deeper water over 6m. At the business end of the line, I like to add about 2.5-3m of fluorocarbon leader down to the lure. You want fluorocarbon leader near your lure for a couple of reasons. First, it is virtually invisible under water and second, it also gives you the stretch you want when the flathead hooks up and makes lunges near the boat. To ensure the hardbodies you are trolling are delivering their best action, I also like to tie a loop knot to them. Your choice of lure is

Tilsan Minnow 55 lures. These lures have a natural baitfish profile and very lifelike decoration. Furthermore, it dives slightly deeper, up to 3m. So if I am working sand flats with a slight gradient to the channel I will fish the Micro Mullets on the shallower side and the Tilsan Minnows on the slightly deeper sides. For a bit of variety, I will also use a Zerek Tango Shad 50 in water under 2m, with some of the natural colours a brilliant option in very clear

water. For slightly deeper water again, I will change over to the Tilsan Bass 55 which dives to 4.5m or the Lively Lures Mad Mullet 4” Deep. For deeper water again, I will use the Tilsan Big Barra lure (which dives to 5m), the Zerek Ripper Diver (5m) and Lively Lives Mad Mullet 6”, amongst others. Finally, I will also apply scent, such as Pro-Cure Inshore Saltwater to the lure and hooks to mask any unnatural human smells such as sunscreen or fuel. If a fish hits the lure with the scent but doesn’t hook up, I find if I drop the rod back quickly or let it some line the fish will occasionally come back for a second bite. I also use the scent on my soft plastics for the same reasons. Trolling distance and locations Watching the sounder regularly to check depth is critical while you are trolling. You want to ensure you are in the right zone for your lure’s diving depth. To ensure that your lure is diving to its maximum depth, you should keep your rod, whether in a rod holder or your hand, low and parallel to the boat or water. If the water is very clear or there is a lot of boat traffic, I will set my rods back further from the boat (up to about 30m or so if I am trolling in a relatively straight line). Otherwise, in creeks with tight turns or discoloured water you can set your rods much closer to the boat, say 10-12m or so. Either way, if you find fish, be sure to troll back over those areas or pull up and cast lures, as flathead will be found in small schools, particularly smaller males around a bigger female. Top flathead trolling locations include, the edge of channels, around creek and river deltas, and in front of creek entrances and drains on the falling tide, past the tips of rocky outcrops or rocky points on the shore, around current disrupting structure (such as bridge pylons or fallen trees), deep holes and channels at low tide, in close proximity to oyster leases and posts, parallel to breakwalls, over the sandflats and in shallow bays at and around high tide,

A brace of flathead caught in a double hook up by the author and his friend after spotting flathead lies in the area on low tide.

Flathead and up narrow creeks and tributaries in and around the high tide. All these locations have one thing in common – they attract baitfish. Most of the above areas require the same sort of trolling techniques, although trolling up small creeks and tributaries requires some

out very fast, so it can pay to cut your motor every now and then to slow your troll down to the usual walking pace, which delivers best results on species like flathead, bream and the occasional mangrove jack. In a recent exploratory trip up a small tributary, I was surprised to come across a hole

A perfect trolling target area. It’s always worth trolling just past the entrances to small drains and creeks. slight variations. One trick to be aware of when trolling in very narrow systems is to keep your rods tucked in close to the boat so they don’t stick too far out and catch on trees, but are still wide enough apart to ensure the lines and lures avoid tangling. Furthermore, when the tide starts to run out, the narrow waterways can run

while trolling well upstream where I caught and released four flathead from 41-67cm, in an area no bigger than an average bedroom! Trolling soft plastics A surprisingly under-used yet successful technique is trolling soft plastics or soft vibes behind the boat in ultrashallow water. This method is

best employed in water less than 1m deep when using jighead weight of around 3/8oz so that it bounces along the bottom stirring sand or mud. The best type of soft plastics for this technique are curl-tails or paddle-tails, as they swim enticingly behind the boat under motor. This is one technique where I have found that if your prop is just off the bottom and stirring up the sand and mud, it can pay to have the soft plastic very close to the boat. This can be as close as 5m or so behind the boat, particularly if the water is a little discoloured and thus the fish have some cover. Otherwise, in clear water conditions, I will run the plastics as far as 20-25m behind the boat. Another trick with this technique is to really rip your plastic behind your boat to maximise its action. By this I mean holding your rod over your shoulder parallel to the water and giving the rod 4-5 rips or jerks to raise the rod from parallel to the boat (or 90°) to directly over your head (180°) and then slowly dropping the rod back behind your shoulder to 90°, keeping the line taunt the whole time. CASTING LURES Probably the most popular technique for targeting flathead on lures is throwing or casting soft plastics. This is for good reason, as it is fairly simple

and it works! Anglers have a couple of options when luring for flathead, that is either fishing them from a boat or wading the flats. In a boat, anglers can drift likely areas casting soft plastics or vibes and either set the rods in a holder and let the plastics do the work themselves (curl-tails are good for this set and forget technique) or for better success rates, you can drift and casting at likely looking areas. If you find fish, or your target area is quite small, it is worth pulling up and anchoring or employing ‘spot lock’ if you have an electric motor. Wading the flats of an estuary is without a doubt my favourite lure casting technique for flathead. While you can’t access as much ground as you could in a boat, it is the greatest challenge in my view, pitting you the angler against the fish without access to your boat technology or comforts. Locations All of the locations mentioned under trolling techniques are also good spots to target flathead by casting lures like soft plastics. There are a few additional areas you can cast lures however, or indeed have a better chance of success in some areas where fish might be concentrated. Examples of spots you can cast lures into that you can’t troll is in and under structure

such as fallen trees, very shallow waters a boat can’t get into, or under man-made structures like oyster leases, pontoons, moored boats. Throwing hardbody lures or soft plastics into such spots on very light jigheads of 1/201/6oz can be deadly in such spots. Another advantage of being out of the boat and wading is you might spot things you can’t see from a boat. A good tip is to look for flathead lies at low tide, where

they’ve buried in the sand on the higher tide. Anglers can come back and fish that same area when the water covers it again. Another advantage of casting lures is the ability to pepper the same area again if you find fish, or your want to cast to areas very close by. Similarly, ‘tea-bagging’, which is described below, will keep your lure in and around the same spot in deep To page 12

One of many decent flathead caught in an area where a number of drains emptied from the flats into deeper water.

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Flathead From page 11

holes and along the edge of breakwalls where the fish might be lurking. Techniques Probably the most critical technique to remember for beginners to flathead lure casting is to use your wrist and not your shoulder when working the soft plastic or vibe. If you use your shoulder to make a few hundred casts a day, you will soon tire and end up with a very sore shoulder. So use your wrist and let the rod create the action. While every flathead angler has their own technique, the casting and lure retrieval technique that work best for me are very simple ones. Firstly, to cast as far as you can you want to point your rod tip in the direction of the lure as it flies through the air to allow the line to flow freely off the reel and encounter minimal resistance from the rod runners. You also want to ensure your reel is spooled with line to within a couple of millimetres of the lip of the reel in order to reduce the drag or resistance on the line as it peels off the reel. Long casts can be the difference between a great day and a very ordinary day on the water. In terms of retrieval technique, I have three main actions, although I varying their speed and the height of the lift depending on water

SEPTEMBER 2018

colour and if I have got a hit but not hooked up. The first action is my standard approach when the current is not running too fast and in shallow to mid-water depths. This simply involves casting the lure out and making sure it is on the bottom by watching the braided line go slack. I then lift the rod from about 90° to 180° in three short, sharp flicks of the wrist. I then drop the tip slowly and watch the line closely until the braid goes slack again, indicating the lure is back on the bottom. I then repeat the process. If the water temperature is low or the action is slow, I will slow this same action right down. If the water is very shallow, or I get a hit and miss, I will use much smaller but quicker flicks of the wrist so the lure doesn’t lift up off the bottom and move far at all. A second method I employ when the current is running fast, is using a jighead of about 1/6-1/4oz and cast it up-current. Once it sinks, gently lift the rod tip up from 90-180° in one slow motion, then slowly drop the tip down again. Then if drifting from a boat, I cast up-current again, or if walking the bank, I will walk further along the bank or flats and repeat the process. This is allowing the lure to flutter naturally along in the current. A third technique is what is commonly called

‘tea-bagging’, and this is a good technique along breakwalls or in deep water. This very simply involves slowly lifting the tip and thus the lure off the bottom and dropping it again, a bit like a gentle jig that you might use using metals on an offshore reef. Tackle Graphite rods, if not a necessity, are close to it to achieve best success in casting soft plastics and vibes. Rods of around 6’6”-7’6” are ideal from the boat or shore. To achieve the correct sort of action mentioned above in shallow water, you want light weight, more sensitive tips on your graphite rods (2-4kg). This means you can work the lure subtly but not too aggressively, so as not to pull it away from the strike zone. Again, we use bright coloured braid in 5-6lb with fluorocarbon leaders of about 10-14lb, with the lighter leader used in the shallowest water. Working soft plastics in deeper water requires a change of action and tackle. Aggressive, short sharper jabbing style movements with bigger plastics or vibe lures are required in deep water and that becomes harder on lighter rods (2-3kg) with softer tips, due to the action of loading the rod up as you jig your lure, which would lift it too far off the bottom and out of the strike zone. Deeper

Casting lures from the bank into deeper water can be very rewarding. water therefore requires heavier, stiffer rods, around 7’ and 3-6kg. It also means an increase in line strength of around 8-10lb braid, with 16-20lb fluorocarbon leader. In terms of reels, light reels in the 1000-2500 size bracket are perfect for the lighter braid, while we don’t go any heavier than 3000 in the deeper water with heavier braid. There is a plethora of soft plastic lure types on the market but unfortunately we don’t have space in this article to go

through them all and how they work. But if you get a mix of curl-tails, fish, minnows, grubs and jerk shads in a variety of different colours you will have your bases covered. In terms of lure colour, try and match the colour of the water with the lure. Clear water, clear lures. Dark water, dark or bright fluorescent lures. One final consideration in lure type is the type of soft plastic material. Both ZMans and the new Squidgy Bio-tough range have a natural

buoyancy, which means the lure will sit tail-up on the bottom. This means when you are working your lure along and pause it on the bottom, if there is any current the plastic will wiggle enticingly and appeal to the fish. This is not critical, but a nice added advantage if you ask me. BAIT FISHING While I haven’t bait fished for flathead for about 15 years (mainly due to the sheer success of plastics and hardbodies), it has its time and place. Bait fishing is a good way to introduce children to flathead fishing, particularly as kids get impatient leaving a bait sit and want to retrieve it. A moving bait is perfect for flathead, especially if you can teach the kids (particularly from about 10-11 years onwards) to throw in a few lifts and drops of the rod tip while retrieving. What this does is make the bait look like a fleeing and struggling baitfish and if you use a heavy enough sinker (4 ball or more) the lifts and drops will cause the sinker to lift and drop as well, causing puffs in the sand or mud, which in turn attracts flathead. Whitebait on a two-gang hook rig of 1/0 hooks, or pilchards on a three set of 4/0 gang hook rig is perfect for this technique. Yabbies and worms will work as well, but these also attract whiting and

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Flathead bream, so if you want flathead, try these more specialised baits. Bait fishing for flathead, whether from the shore or a boat, certainly increases the chances of the kids catching a big fish, provided you fish in the right locations. Bait fishing for flathead is also a favoured technique for the elderly who just want to sit and relax off the shore or in a boat with the chance of catching a nice size fish, but without exerting too much energy. It is hard to argue with that as a relaxing strategy! But this style of fishing isn’t just for the young and the elderly. In times of heavy rain (and thus discoloured water), oily baits can bring more success than lures, as they are easier for the fish to smell. Finally, live bait, in the form of a live herring or mullet has, over the years, led to the capture of many very big XOS flathead. If you particularly want to target these monster fish, then this is a great technique to do so, but I mention this on the proviso and hope that anglers release these big fish, whether it is legal to keep them in a particular state or not. In Queensland, live bait

will fill over the shallows and drop into slightly deeper water. Fish well back from the edge of these drops and cast and retrieve your baits over these edges. Once again, a lift and drop technique with pilchards or whitebait can be deadly. From a boat, target the same areas, but you can do so from the deeper channels casting towards the shore. It can often pay to hold yourself in position targeting areas like creek entrances and drop offs from a boat by anchoring or using spot lock on an electric motor. Drifting is also a very successful technique from the boat, with either these same baits, or live poddy mullet or herring. The secret when you are fishing these bigger baits, or the live baits, is to be patient. This means if you feel a bite, give the fish line and let the fish have time to swallow the bait and run before you strike. Bait-runner reels are perfect for this technique as you can set them in free-spool mode and when you are ready to strike. Just turn the handle to click the drag on and lift the rod and strike at the same time.

Fishing at night you can afford to go up a little in line strength. This can come in handy, especially around the oyster encrusted bridge pylons or if you hook another big ooglie in the dark such as a big mulloway. Throw casts (baits or lures) right in close to the bridge pylons. However, if fishing the demarcation line of the light on the water further from the bridge, it is important you take your bait or lure to the fish. Cast your bait of ganged pilchard or whitebait out and work it back in a lift and drop pattern to imitate a dying baitfish. Do the same with your lure, working it back as slow as possible. In terms of tackle, once again braid can be very handy when bait or lure fishing at night, to feel those subtle taps on the line. You can still use 5-6lb braid away from bridge encrusted pylons, but a safer bet at night due to the chance of tackling bigger predators is about 8-10lb braid under bridges with fluorocarbon leaders of 14-20lb, depending on the location as a start. If you choose to use lures at night, lure colour is critical. The best colours are either

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A flathead lie at low tide on the flats. Cast in front of these spots into deeper water or return to this spot at high tide and you will find flathead. can be caught using a cast net, TARGETING FLATHEAD AFTER DARK while in other states, such as NSW, you need to use a poddy It is a long-held myth that you can’t catch flathead after mullet trap. These live baits are dark. One of the key reasons best fished with a circle or fewer flathead are caught suicide hook of about 1/0-2/0 at night is simply that less depending on the size of your people chase them at night! poddy mullet. Small poddy Flathead simply do not shut mullet (up to 4-5 inches) are down completely after dark. RELEASE flathead can be great best pinned just above NEW the In fact, tail to keep them alive and targets at night, as they move castable. Bigger poddies are around more freely since they feel less vulnerable due to best pinned through the nose. less boat traffic and because Target areas Many or all of the target their predators (such as osprey areas for bait fishing for and pelicans) do not actively flathead are the same as those hunt at night. areas where you should chase One area I have had success targeting flathead at flathead on lures. From the shore, these night is around permanent areas include the entrances to light sources, such as artificial small creeks, drains or river bridge lighting, particularly entrances in the last couple of if the bridge is low to the hours of the falling tide, as well water. I’ve found fish laying as drop offs from estuary flats at the boundary of where the into channel areas, especially light reaches on the water, VELOCITY SPORTS the edge of the flats into the beyond which it is much channel lined with weedbeds. darker. Likewise, flathead On the rising tide, try wading will be lying around the the sand flats using polaroid pylons underneath the bridge. sunglasses and targeting It is here that they can sit pockets of sand amongst the and prey on baitfish (which weedbeds. Other good spots to are attracted to the lights) in try are where the rising waters relative obscurity.

dark lures, such as black, brown or purple (to create a silhouette effect against the moonlight) or bright glow in the dark fluorescent colours that you can charge up with your headlamp, like whites, greens or pinks. VARIATION While each technique can be successful on any given day, often the best anglers will mix and match flathead techniques according to the conditions and what and how the fish are biting. The next Gold Coast Flathead Classic that is won by a team mixing up trolling with casting soft plastics, metal and soft vibes, won’t be the last. So there you go. Make sure you get out this spring and give flathead fishing a go, whether you are fishing in a competition, for fun, or even a feed. CRUSADER Until next time, if you want some more reports, videos and information on all types of fishing, particularly beach, estuary and bay fishing, jump on and ‘Like’ and follow my Facebook page, Ontour Fishing Australia.

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Flathead

The trick to fishing the classic SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

The 2018 Gold Coast Sportfishing Club’s Flathead Classic is being held in the Broadwater Parklands near the clubhouse from 25-28 September. Registration and briefing is on the evening of 25 September with fishing on Wednesday to Friday.

a number of techniques during the three days and it’s anyone’s guess as to what will take it out this year! WHERE TO FISH? You would be excused for thinking that you would have to fish up around Jumpinpin if you have any hope of winning the classic, as the last few years have seen the classic dominated by the Whyte boys who fish very deep water around the ‘Pin. However, Chris Metcalf scored a win closer to the

The Whyte boys have the art of jigging the deep perfected and romped home last year with record scores. This year Quintrex and Surf Coast Marine are back on board as major sponsors and another awesome prize boat will be up for grabs. The best part is, if you’re like me and not a great flathead angler, you can still win the boat just by being entered in the tournament! This year marks the 25th year of the Flathead Classic. This tournament has grown over the years and after being a competitor in the early days of the classic, I have enjoyed watching it blossom. From being easily contained under a single marquee at the back of Runaway Bay Marina, to nowadays massive area is testament to the popularity of the event. As with all fishing tournaments, the classic attracts some extremely talented anglers and those anglers invent techniques and bring skills that teach all us other anglers a few things about the art of fishing. For the first few years almost everyone was trolling small hardbodies through the shallows until Greenie (David Green) started a winning streak by ripping Ronoski Shads off the bottom, and this became the norm. A couple of years ago, Chris Metcalf started dancing massive 9” Slug Go lures in the shallows for massive flathead. We now see teams capable of fishing 14

SEPTEMBER 2018

Gold Coast Seaway with his shallow water technique just last year. And who can forget the win a couple of years ago by the now Club President, Danny Sands, who fished drains up and down the length of the Broadwater? Keeping the trollers spirit alive is Paul Neilson, who is yet to crack the top spot but is a regular runner-up. So where are the fish? The ‘Pin, Seaway or in the middle? The fact is that no one knows yet. Flathead spawn at different times depending on the estuary system, location, water temperature and so on. On the Gold Coast, it is usually towards the end of September. September sees a water temperature of around 20°C on the Gold Coast, but Sydney Harbour won’t start to approach this temperature until November, which may be why a 2008 study funded by NSW Department of Primary industries listed flathead as actively spawning from November. Perhaps it is the water temperature that triggers the spawn, but either way, it’s either September or October here in South East Queensland. SPAWNING FISH While we are getting into the details of when fish spawn, it may be a good time to refresh our minds on exactly what we mean by spawning. Spawning

is the release or depositing of eggs by female fish as well as the action of the male in an attempt to fertilise the eggs or ova (the correct term for the unfertilised eggs). The female flathead releases ova and the males work quickly to fertilise them. Often where you catch a big female during spawning, there will often be a number of smaller males close by. Many anglers believe that flathead start life as males and transform to females as they mature. Many fish species do this, but when it comes to flathead, they do not change sex. The males are usually a lot smaller, but the females grow a lot quicker and can get bigger. Having said that, studies into the reproduction of flathead indicated that males are able to spawn at less than two years of age and often at less than 30cm, however the females need to be much older at around 4.5 years. A big male fish may reach 55cm, but females can grow up to over a metre long. With the dusky flathead, spawning always takes part in the mouth or near the mouth of the estuary. A NSW study that sampled thousands of dusky flathead from various river systems and from various sections of the river found that no females taken upstream were in a spawning

males upstream and for some reason, just the odd big female in spring, but usually by the time September arrives, the females are ready to lay their eggs in or near the estuary mouths. I am not sure how quickly the females drop their eggs and even after a very thorough search through many databases, I am unable to find any research to shine some light on this matter, but I do believe from experience that it may be as little as a couple of days before they slowly start to spread out again. Whatever it is that flicks the trigger in a particular estuary to convince the fish that it’s time to lay the eggs, it puts the flathead on the move. Evidence suggests that most of this movement happens under the cover of darkness. Either way, the flathead make a final dash towards the mouth of the estuary, drop their eggs and move on just as quickly. This is where the veteran classic competitor can become very frustrated. Pre-fishing the classic often reveals good numbers of fish around the middle parts of the Broadwater, up the Nerang River and around Cabbage Tree Point, but by the day of the comp the fish have moved. This does not happen every year, and many times the classic has

The author with a big lizard caught at Jumpinpin prior to the 2017 classic. find that the fish have thinned out drastically. Other times my fishing spots work well and I don’t do too bad. I just take the good years with the not so good years, because I just love to fish the comp and my three boys have all fished with me as they’ve grown up. Family time on the water is worth more than slogging it when you’re not comfortable. But if you’re in it to win it, you have to chase the fish, and possibly suffer some discomfort. WRAPPING UP So if you are thinking of registering for the first time or have been wondering why you’re pre-fishing has been very different to your tournament, I hope this helps. Spawning flathead are on the move. It is why we make this comp strictly catch and release. It’s lure only so that the fish are hooked in the mouth and can be released unharmed. Personally, I’d

much prefer this comp to be held in the winter school holidays when the winds are lighter and the fish are all spread out, but the comp is held during the spawning time so the positives are that there are lots and lots of big fish, usually concentrated within a few kilometres from the mouths of the estuary. My advice is fish the way you prefer, and have fun. Whether that be jigging, trolling or flicking the shallows, you will have your good years. To even break the top 20 anglers in the Flathead Classic means you have done extremely well. If you have been thinking of doing it but just haven’t signed up yet, than give it a go! You’ll learn a heap, have a lot of fun and might even win a boat! It’s such a massive project that has a very dedicated committee that makes it all happen. I hope to see you there!

The author and son fishing another Flathead Classic. condition. All spawning fish or fish getting ready to spawn were near the mouth of the river system. FLATHEAD MOVEMENTS With all that said, what the hell has this got to do with fishing the classic? I would have to say that after this year’s classic, I will have fished close to 20 of them. Only moving away for a number of years kept me from fishing this fantastic competition. After all those years, I’ve worked out that flathead do not move very much during the year. They are well spread out through the estuary. As winter approaches, they tend to slowly move towards the mouth of the estuaries and concentrate in this area. You may catch plenty of small

been won in the central parts of the Broadwater. Some good past locations include Brown’s Island and The Aldershots. My guess is that either they have spawned and have started to spread back out or are waiting to spawn and haven’t moved to the river mouth yet. I always choose to fish locations away from Jumpinpin and the Seaway because this suits my technique, and I love to jig. Jigging plastics in windy areas like Jumpinpin is hard and often uncomfortable, not to mention very crowded. Therefore, I prefer my yearround flathead locations that always get me a few fish. I would say about 50% of the time, I am belting flathead in my pre-fishing only to arrive on the morning of day one to

School holidays and the classic go hand-inhand. Kids can even win their own prize boat!

Tech Tricks

Flyfishing – a little about lines BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

For anglers wanting to get into flyfishing, choosing a fly line can be a relatively daunting task. There are a lot of fly line styles, brands and tapers available and the variation is immense. I have been in the retail sector selling lines for over two decades and while I definitely don’t know everything, I have learnt a bit during this time. WHAT BRAND IS BEST? There are many good brands of fly lines. A good quality fly line these days will be around $120, possibly more, depending on style. Price is a fairly good indicator as to quality with these products. Cheaper lines wear quicker and the coating may crack or peel off. Many cheap floating lines can become waterlogged and sink after being in the water for a period. Buying the best quality line you can afford is going to have the best results. WHAT TYPE OF LINE? If you want to present your flies on, or close to, the surface then a floating line will work well for you. However, if you want to fish deeper than say a meter or so then a slow sinking (intermediate) line would be a better choice. As you go down through the depths the sink rate of the required line will need to be faster. You’ll need the same sort of line when encountering stronger currents. Determining

taper, belly and rear taper. The head of the fly line makes up majority of the weight needed to load the rod and cast. The shape (taper) of the head will dictate the casting effectiveness and control of the fly line and will alter in taper depending on the fly line’s chosen purpose. HOW FAST DO SINKING LINES DESCEND? Full sink fly lines can sink at an array of different speeds. They commonly vary between a 1 rate (generally referred to as I or intermediate) and VII (7) rate. These number ratings refer to the sink rate of inches per second. This can vary slightly between brands but is fairly similar. For example an intermediate line will often be between 1.25-1.75 inches per second, a III (3) is commonly 2.75-4 IPS and a VII (7) will be around 5.5-6.75 IPS. These sink rates will vary slightly depending on whether the water is salt or fresh. WHAT IS A SINK-TIP? Full sink fly lines will descend fairly evenly along their entire length. Therefore they need to be stripped (retrieved) most of the way in before they can be re-cast. A sink tip fly line only has the front portion sinking and the rest of the line floating. This sinking portion can vary from around 5ft-20ft and the rate of sink differs as it does with full sinking lines. Sink tip lines are great for presenting flies along vertical structure such as rock walls and mangrove snags and can be re-cast without the entirety of the line needing to be retrieved.

Fly lines often have names assigned to the line by the manufacturer to help describe their designated purpose or target species. how deep you want to present the fly is the first step in deciding the type of line you need – floating, intermediate or a faster sink. WHAT IS THE HEAD? The head of a fly line is the entire front portion of the fly line (excluding the tip) encompassing the front 16

SEPTEMBER 2018

WHAT IS A PROGRESSIVE SINK LINE? Fly line manufacturers have seen the need for anglers to probe deeper waters with a fly and have made specific lines for this purpose. For standard sinking lines the whole line has the same sink rate, which

means the entire belly of the line will sink horizontally, although the thicker head will sink fractionally faster. This generally creates a belly of line between the angler and the fly and that isn’t ideal. To make the fly line sink head first and stay fairly direct to the angler (which decreases drag and increases hook setting and bite detection) manufacturers are now producing lines with progressive sink rates along the line. For example, the front half of the head might be a VII sink, the back half of the head a V sink and the rear taper and running line all III sink. This means that the head will sink fastest and drag the rest of the line downwards while keeping it fairly straight. HOW DO I READ A FLY LINE CODE On the box of the fly line (and sometimes stamped on the line) will be a coding system to tell you what type of line it is. A common code will appear like WF-9-S that means it is a Weight Forward-#9 weight-Sinking line. The first initials refer to the type of line, the number refers to line weight and the last initial indicates whether the line will float or sink. Some line branding systems may even have the sink rate of the line in this coding system after the S for Sink (example, S111 or S3). There are other various types of lines other than weight forward with ST (shooting taper), DT (double taper) etc. WHY ARE THERE DIFFERENT LINE WEIGHTS? Fly rods commonly vary between #1 and #15 weight (although some manufacturers make ultra-light 0, 00 and 000 rods and heavy #17 rods). Fly rods are built to an AFTMA (American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association) rating (hence the reason why everything to do with fly lines is in imperial measurements). This basically works around a grain weighting system as to what physical weight will load the rod most accurately and produce the best cast. A #9 rod is a much heavier (stiffer) rod than a #5, so will therefore require a heavier line to load it. Rods are built and rated to this AFTMA rating and so are lines therefore you are advised to buy a #7 line for a #7 rod and a #10 line for a #10 rod, as this is what should produce the best performance. WHAT IS GRAIN WEIGHTING? Grain weighting is an industry standard used to rate fly rods and lines so that a particular rod will match the designated line. With lines the grain weighting refers to the weight in the first 30ft of the head. It has nothing to do with the sinking rate, just the weight needed to load the rod sufficiently. A rough conversion is that 10 grains is

around 0.65g. For example, a #9 weight rod needs around 240 grains (15.6g) to load it. Therefore the first 30ft of a #9 line weighs around 15.6g, regardless of whether it is a floating or sinking line. This grain weighting system is only a recommendation. WHAT IS A TAPER? The taper of a fly line refers to how the weight is distributed along the line, especially the head. A weight forward (WF) taper means that the majority of the weight required to load the rod (the grain weighting) is at the front of the line. Only this section of the line (commonly 30-40ft) needs to be aerialised to fully load the rod. A double taper (DT) means that the line is the same at both ends. The weighting gradually increases as you go up from each end to about 15ft in and then levels out before tapering off at the other end of the line in the same graduation. Due to the gradually decreasing taper at the end, a DT fly line will roll out and land more softly on the water than any other line. It can also be used from either end. FRESH OR SALTWATER – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? The basic difference between most saltwater and freshwater lines is simply the taper of the head. The actual compounds used to make up each line are the same and the lines will behave roughly the same in each environment. Many freshwater lines simply have a shorter, less aggressive head taper than saltwater lines, although there are exceptions. Using a freshwater line in saltwater will not drastically affect your fishing. DOES TEMPERATURE MATTER? Most fly lines designed for trout fishing will be cold weather lines and perform best in this environment, as this is when trout are commonly encountered. If you were to use this line in the tropics then you would find it limp and almost sticky. Conversely, extremely warm climates such as the tropics require a tropical or tropic-core line. These are commonly made of a slightly stiffer line compound that isn’t as affected by heat. WHY DO SOME LINES SINK AND OTHERS FLOAT? Floating lines are generally the thickest and will float because the PVC coating (or sometimes polyurethane in the case of Airflo lines) has glass spheres or microscopic bubbles (often called microballoons) in them. For sinking lines, this coating is thinner and impregnated with other additives to make the line sink (such as tungsten powder and granules). The more of this that is put into the line the faster it will sink. For this

Many lines are different colours with the front section a neutral colour to blend in with the environment and the rear section a brighter colour to help locate the line. reason most sinking lines get darker as the sink rate increases due to the presence of extra tungsten. This process of making different rate sinking lines is called multiple density production. HOW STRONG IS A FLY LINE? Inside the coating of a fly line there is a core of Dacron or braided nylon to give it strength. Generally this will have a minimum breaking strain of 25-30lb. In the last decade or so, due to hard-core fly anglers wanting to target XOS gamefish, many fly line manufacturers have increased the core breaking strain of particular fly lines and it is now possible to get fly lines with cores as heavy as 100lb. As such, anglers can now use much heavier leaders and pull on fish hard to deter them from reaching sanctuary without risk of breaking the fly line. DIFFERENT COLOURS? The colour of a fly line is generally related to the purpose it was designed for. A trout line is often an olive or tan colour that isn’t obtrusive in the environment. The olive would have minimum silhouette against the backdrop of overhanging foliage. Some fly lines may consist of two or even three colours. Often the forward section may be a neutral colour to decrease obtrusiveness in the aquatic environment and the rear portion is a brighter colour so that when a fish bolts and the line is ripped off the spool it is easier to follow and see what direction it is headed. Often lines designed for beginners (you are best to always learn casting with a floating line) are a fairly bright or fluorescent colour. This is so the beginner can easily see their line, which helps determine any casting faults such as trailing loops. As aforementioned, most sinking lines are a darker colour such as grey, dark grey or black, due to the amount of tungsten impregnation. WHAT’S A SHOOTING HEAD? To many, these lines are referred to as chucking lines, not casting lines. Classically, shooting heads were around 30ft of level sinking (or occasionally floating) line with some sort of running

line attached. During the cast, the head section acts like an elongated weight, the line is thrown and the running line (often braided nylon or monofilament line like Amnesia) plays out. These are good for windy conditions and quick casting yet will land heavily and awkwardly on the water. A better option these days is a streamer-express style line where a heavy head section has a rear taper with an integrated running line attached. These cast without hinging between the head and running line, and are much easier to control for a better presentation. WHY THE DIFFERENT FLY LINE NAMES? If you visit a decent fly shop and inspect the lines of offer, you will see line names such as Bonefish, Grand Slam, Leviathan, Trout, Boost, Big Nasty, Outbound Short and many more. Basically these names are given to a particular fly line to help describe its characteristics or the designated species or scenario it was designed for. For example, a ‘Bonefish’ line would suit shallow presentations, would excel in warmer (tropical) climates and would be a good line for presenting relatively small flies with minimal water disturbance from the line upon landing, even in relatively windy conditions. Commonly it would by a sky blue or other light colour to blend in with the environment. CONCLUSION There are obviously exceptions to all this, with fly line companies constantly breaking new ground and getting more specific with their line technology to satisfy angler requirements. If you visit a quality flyfishing store, someone should be able to assist you further if you have a specific requirement or fishing situation in mind that you wish to discuss. SINK RATES FOR FLY LINES Fly line Sink rate (IPS) Int.

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The offshore season takes a bit longer to change fair way out the back, one baited with a prawn and one with a white pilly. Just keep the boat as close as you can to the rocks (without ending up on them) and let the tide do the rest. Make a note of the position on the wall where you catch your fish and you will generally find as you revisit that spot you hook up again. My theory is that when you take one flatty, two come to its funeral, so don’t be in a hurry to leave a spot that produced a couple of drifts before. The back channel running behind Goodwood Island on the Iluka side around the entrance to the Esk is

YAMBA

Dave Gaden

It’s spring, so let the warmer weather start. September in this part of the world should mean good flathead. The Clarence River is one of the largest and healthiest estuaries in the country; with a hundred islands on the river, and tributaries running in every direction, it can be a bit daunting for newcomers. However this month the flathead always seem to make themselves readily available. I like to drift on the incoming tide on the Iluka side of our Middle Wall in the river with a couple of lines a

another great spot worth your time to explore. Whiting will be around this month as the season changes quickly with warmer and longer days. For those who have never tried to catch these tasty little fish on poppers just head down to Whiting Beach on the river side of the southern breakwall late in the afternoon and have a go. I use a fairly heavy 15lb fluorocarbon leader of about 75cm long to try and keep the popper straight and imitate a prawn showering across the surface. Your first fish will blow you away with their speed and ferocity when they hit the lure; they are great fun.

The Beetson family from Dalby Qld with a bag limit of nice mulloway. After 1 September the bag limit for mulloway will be one per person.

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Dave from Yamba with a lovely pearly.

You should dust off the crab pots and dillies as well this month. My old Dad used to tell me that you catch crabs in months with ‘R’ in them, and he seemed to have that pretty right. This year we have had blue swimmer crabs caught up around Browns Rocks right into July, and I’m still catching muddies at the back of the house now, so it might be the summer we’ve been waiting for with good catches of crabs. Offshore the season changes a bit slower; the snapper have finished their spawn and should hang around and feed aggressively this month. September in past years was the month I would take people out to teach them about snapper on plastics. The bommie (Freeburn Rock) south of Angourie near Shelly Headland is one of the hotspots this month.

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Try and get there an hour before sunup and you will catch fish as soon as there’s enough light to see where your cast ends. Now the bommie can break with a big swell or super low tide, so be very careful. I like the inside (western side) and south over the top of the kelp beds. Just cast the direction you are drifting and work the lure back to the boat with an erratic action. Some of the best fish are less than 3m from the surface with an almost instant hook-up. Pearl perch and Venus

tuskfish will be all over the reef between Red Cliff and Brooms Head in the south. Stick around the 40m deep mark and drift if the weather lets you. A standard paternoster rig with just as much weight as you need to feel the bottom will bring them unstuck. Have a floater or slow sinking line out with the reel just free spooling while you are chasing the bottom fish; this will bring a big snapper unstuck and pick up the odd cobia as well. Mulloway (jewfish)

and big trag will be on the northern grounds from Black Rock to South Evans Reef. Unlike the southern grounds I don’t catch as many of these fish on the drift as I do by anchoring on them. They are a lot easier to find which helps as they hang with the large bait shoals. You can go and fill the live bait tank up as many do before you head to the grounds, but I always find plenty of bait right where the fish are. Also I believe that the commotion of a fully loaded bait jig

Don Causley and the author with Don’s big mulloway.

Happy charter customers with snapper, cobia and mulloway.

will sometimes stir up a hot bite. Catch the yakkas and slimies and send them straight back to the bottom. Trag will shock you with how big a live bait they can get inside themselves, and the by-catches of big snapper and mulloway are okay too. The wide grounds around the 50-fathom mark should be good to fish this

month. Two things to keep in mind are: September can be a bit windy some years and having to travel 40km back into a southwesterly is pretty ordinary, and my yellow mates the Chinaman leatherjackets might still be around (most years they have gone by this time). All that considered, with good weather and no jackets the reef should

have pearl perch, snapper, blue morwong and pigfish all over it. That makes the effort well worth it. If you are heading this way for the school holidays and need any advice or would like to join me on either a fishing charter or whale watch, call into my shop at Yamba Marina and we will do all we can to make your stay memorable.

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Mulloway abundant in reefs off South Ballina BALLINA

Joe Allan

There have been some nice catches of jewfish, both offshore and in the river, in recent weeks with the best coming from the night time expeditions. Live bait has been by far the stand out. There have also been

snapper in good numbers and quality size around the reefs off South Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range with the odd bigger fish around the 70-80cm mark. If you’re after a feed, then there are plenty around. Best bait for snapper would be cut bonito or squid however, the bigger ones will come

for the soft plastics like the Atomic Jerk Minnow 6” in ghost pearl, white or radioactive rooster. Don’t get caught up chasing the snapper in close on good days, if the weather allows, get out to the 100 fathoms and try for some blue eye trevela and bar cod. Good baits for these guys are fresh squid

Christian Booker with this quality snapper caught close to Evans Head on an Atomic 6” Jerk Minnow.

Grant Clements with a big night time mulloway from the Richmond.

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and cuttlefish. It can be hard work using traditional tackle fishing this deep, so electric reels are essential for this style of fishing. On the 32’s there are good numbers of pearl perch and trag jew and if you don’t mind having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some amberjack around the 48’s. Off the beaches and headlands some quality tailor are showing up. Get out your spinning gear and throw metal slugs for these fish. It can be a great way to spend a morning and catch some fresh fish for breaky. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on gang hooks. There are some good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters

of South Ballina and this bait and hook combo works well for them. You’ll come across some pretty nice snowy bream too. Towards the end of September when the westerlies start to blow the swell flat, it’s definitely worth throwing some soft plastics into the gutter. You’ll get everything: flathead, whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids. The black fish numbers will start to dwindle around the end of August and start of September although there’ll still be a few good fish around. The bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around Broadwater and Wardel. Fresh prawns and

yabbies are always the best baits this time of year – the fresher the better. If you’re into throwing lures, best to start by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work your way up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop your line size to a 4-6lb leader (6-7ft). This should bring on a few more bites. Keep your crank baits handy as well as the fish should start to hold on the rock walls rather than the deeper holes. Towards the end of September we should see some mud crabs show up. Best baits for these this time of year are your left over black fish skeletons. Until next month tight lines.

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Late season change keeps the winter species close THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

A late season change and frosty nights have seen the water temperature stay low. Winter species are hanging around longer

natural colour plastics such as pumkinseed, pilchard and bloodworm are working well once the sun is penetrating the water column. Some 4-9” plastics on a 1/4-2oz should see you get down on most reefs off of Tweed and out to 36

them then let them come to you. Pegging 20-60g metals, poppers and stickbaits is working best for a little light gear line burn. ESTUARY The flatties are hungry at the moment and have been fishing really well over the

Troy Pinkstone caught this snapper in perfect conditions on the 36-fathom reef. and anglers are loving the conditions, taking advantage of the fish that are hanging around longer on close reefs. Fishing light gear on close reef has seen some great catches over the last month. Some isolated wrecks and bommies are holding great schools of kings, cobia and mulloway. The cold, clear water has seen the flathead really fire up over the last month. It’s so good to see the amount caught in the Tweed region over the last month, as this means we have really healthy systems. It’s good to see almost all anglers releasing the big girls too. Lots of bream and luderick are still schooling up around the rock walls and bridges. The odd mulloway is still haunting the various holes in the rivers. Bass are just starting to come back on the bite again now, and some anglers would say they never went off. They are biting hard down in the brackish water this month. OFFSHORE With the water temperatures staying low, the bigger snaps are still hanging on close reefs. Plenty of smaller pan-sized mixed reefies are on close reefs and have kept anglers entertained, but the bigger ones have really started to come on the bite over the past month. Plastics and drift baits are working best out to 36 fathoms. Look for heavy concentrations off the bottom on your sounder. This indicates they are up feeding. Bright coloured plastics such as nuclear chicken and pearl are working well around dusk and dawn, and 22

SEPTEMBER 2018

fathoms. Work out what size jigs to use depending on the plastic size, shape, line class, wind, current and depth you are fishing in. Some real monster kings and amberjacks are out wide at the moment. Live baits and jigs are working best in 200-400m of water. Good cobia, metre kings and mulloway are on the close reefs, bommies and around isolated wrecks at the moment. Live baits, jigs and large plastics work best. Finding bait with arches sitting around or a large school of pike will definitely see your arm get stretched. Running a stinger hook on your live baits will double your hook-up rate. Live pike work for mulloway, yakkas for kings and both for cobia. It pays to have a few different species of live baits in your tanks. Different close reefs are holding different live baits at the moment. You just have to sound around and drop a bait jig down. Smaller sized bait jigs are working better at the moment. Try size 6-10 for the best results with bait. Trolling live baits around and downrigging baits on the back of Nine-Mile, FiveMile and South Reef has been catching quite a few at sunrise. Look for arches around bait or on the back side of rocks and ledges. Go to neutral, let the baits sink and slowly idle away from them. The kings normally can’t resist this. The packs of tuna shouldn’t be too far away now with the odd pack here and there. Looks for the birds working and position your boat on the windward side of

last month. You could pretty much drag a piece of alfoil past them and they would eat it at the moment. The 2.5-5” plastics in natural

Bream are still very thick in most Tweed river systems. Look for submerged structure. Targeting them on artificials on 6lb can be real fun, and drifting baits around the rock walls is a another great way to target these silver dinner plates. Also, you never know what you might catch as by-catch. Getting weight size to bait size is critical. I like to start with a size 1 or 2 and a 4x2cm stripbait and go up from there, depending on the current. There are lots of trevally around the rock wall of the river mouth on the run-in tide and around the bridges that hold herring at night, such as Boyds, Barneys, Highway and Cobaki. These bridges always hold good numbers of herring under the lights, which in turn keeps the trevally and mulloway there. Metals, micro-jigs, poppers, stickbaits and plastics worked around the rock walls on the run-in tides have been working well on some quality trevally over the last month. If you score the start of a run-in tide at sunrise, even better! A few luderick are starting to school up around

Dave McIntosh caught this esky lidsized spangled emperor. colours are fishing really well in the skinny water. Trolling hardbodies in channels and working vibes and blades off the bottom in the deeper holes are catching some great fish. Yabbies and worms are also working well up in the skinny water. For the best results, target a drain or draining creek around the mouth where it drops off with plastics on the last two hours of the run-out. Look for the big female and you will pull a feed of smaller males off her. Mulloway are still on the chew. Live baits work at night and artificials work better during the day. Live baits such as pike, mullet, yakkas and tailor around the deep holes and around the bridges at night have been catching some good fish around 1m. Working lures such as blades, vibes, plastics and hardbodies in these same spots during the day is catching a few soapies.

the bridges and rock walls right throughout the Tweed region. Stringy weed and cabbage weed fishing around Boyds Rock Wall, Barneys Point rocks, Dry Dock, Balaclava Park, South Wall Kingy, Kingy Bridge, Hastings Bridge, Hastings Rocks, Brunswick rock walls and bridge. Fresh cabbage weed

Mathew Kelly with a rare Tweed bonefish. can be found on the rocks on most beaches at low tide, you just have to look around. BEACHES We’ve had really great conditions on the beaches over the last month. Perfection can make for hard times for anglers. It’s a catch 22, because too much swell is dangerous and hard to fish while no swell is easy to fish, but the fish don’t have cover and can have a smaller bite period. In saying that there have still been tailor taken on most of the beaches and headlands from Tweed to Byron. Metals, poppers, shallow divers, stickbaits and ganged-up pilchards are all catching great numbers of tailor. The odd mulloway and flathead are also being caught as by-catch while fishing with ganged pilchards. A few juvenile snapper, bream, trevally and rat kings are hanging around Tweed’s back beach headlands. Strip baits are good around dusk and dawn and live baits work at night, especially for the juvenile snapper or rat kings. A float can help for this style of fishing. The best time to fish is at high tide with no swell. FRESH It’s open season again.

Yay! The bass are still down in the salt at the moment. Get down into the brackish water and target submerged structure with artificials and you could score your PB, but you’d better be quick before they push back upstream. Fishing lock walls, weirs and dam walls with small hardbodies and jig spins should see you getting boofed. NEXT MONTH We should start to see blending of the seasons with mixed reefies on close reefs. Mulloway, cobia and kings should hang around on those bommies over the next month. Mulloway, bream, flathead, the odd tailor, trevally and luderick will still dominate the estuaries. Some summer species will also start to wake up. The odd jack can be found around the bridges, and a few whiting will push up into the skinny water during the day on the high tides to be caught on worms and yabbies. Bass should really start to come on the bite next month. Fishing around weirs, dam walls, locks and drains with hardbodies, jig spins and plastics should see you getting some good bass. Look for submerged structure.

Adam Clarke with a couple of winter red dogs.

Winter is finally leaving SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

September is another great month for fishing on the Gold Coast. Beach fishing is in a transition phase with plenty of winter and summer species available. In the estuaries the flathead are at their peak as are the snapper for the offshore anglers.

Mile have been the pick of the spots. Land-based and boaties alike have been landing a few from the rocks around Fingal Head and Hastings Point. Local knowledge and excellent weather is an absolute must in these areas, so not for the novice. There have been quiet a few trag jew around as well. Live baits have been working well for the mulloway with strip baits and

Fishing the canals and river mouths will see some of these blokes turn up. Tailor are also keeping beach fishers very happy. OFFSHORE Last month I mentioned that the snapper have been a little patchy – you had to go looking but there were some about. This month they have arrived in numbers. The past few weeks has seen some of the best snapper fishing we’ve seen in years on the southern Gold Coast and Tweed. Fish have been landed from 20m of water all the way out to the 50 fathom line. Paternoster rigs and float lining have both produced some big fish but don’t forget that the shallow reefs can be fished with soft plastics. Some guys have had success dropping a plastic down near the bottom and putting the rod in the rod holder. The swell lifts the plastic up and down putting the action into the lure. I prefer to hold it as the hit and run mentality of the snapper is something I don’t wasn’t to miss. The current has been slow out there so now is the best time to land a snapper on a plastic. Big mulloway have been caught after dark from the close reefs and rocks. Cook Island, the Mud Hole and the eastern edge of the Nine

fresh squid being the pick of the baits for the trag. Out wide there have been some great snapper and pearl perch for the bottom bashers but kingfish have also been smashing jigs and livies on the 50 fathom line. There should even be a few amberjack amongst them. Definitely worth the effort if the weather allows. For something a little sporty, there have been good numbers of school mackerel caught in close to the beach. Fishing around the bait grounds or locating moving schools of bait is your best bet. There was even a confirmed capture of a Spanish mackerel landed by a good mate just recently, so the mackies are still in good form. There have also been reports of long tail tuna being landed further north with some big fish being landed east of the Gold Coast Seaway and Jumpinpin. ESTUARIES It’s all about the flathead at the moment. Bream are also at their best this month as they complete their winter spawn. There is plenty to fish for while the water is cool. The clear cool bait-filled

water of the incoming tides have been working best for flathead and this month will see a lot of bog fish coming towards the entrances of the rivers and creeks to spawn. It’s a great idea to let the big girls go and handle them very carefully at this time of year as they carry anywhere from 294,000-3,948,000 eggs* per fish. That is a lot of fish to place on the BBQ, so keep the smaller males and release the bigger females. Working soft plastics and trolling hardbody lures works well but over the past couple of years vibration baits like metal vibes and the soft Zerek fish traps have also accounted for plenty of fish. The boys that won last year’s Flathead Classic caught most of their fish in deep water working Zerek fish traps, so it may be worth learning how to use them. Good old strip and live baits work very well but once again, the conservationist is coming out in me as I strongly recommend drifting with baits. Majority of the fish will be hooked in the mouth but when fishing from anchor the flathead tend to swallow the hook, and with so many big girls about this time of year we not only have to release them by law but it would be great if they survived as well. Big bream have been landed from the shallows after dark. They can be found around the rocks in Currumbin and Tallebudgera creeks as well as the Tweed River. Most of these fish have finished the annual spawning run but are hungry and chasing prawns, crabs and baitfish around the rocks at night. Fish with some finesse. Light line and light or even no sinker if the current permits. Finesse fishing for bream is light, quiet and gentle right up to the bite and take in the shallows. It is then that all hell breaks loose. The rocky headlands of the southern Gold Coast and Tweed region are also producing some mulloway. Long cold nights can be very rewarding for those patient enough to hang in there. Tweed is also in the middle of a luderick run. Boyds Bay has always been the spot for chasing luderick but any area that has rock or artificial structure with weed growing on it will produce. A good berley trail will get them biting and the greener the weed the better. BEACHES Tailor have been keeping many beach anglers happy and the size has been impressive this year. We had a big run of little choppers early in the season and now the bigger fish are coming through. Spinning with metal lures or using pilchards for

It’s flathead time. Fish such as this will be common during September. bait have always been the best techniques. I have had a lot of anglers talk to me about working gutters that look great but don’t hold any fish. It’s hard when you are on foot to keep moving but fact is they are where they are. They migrate up and down

various gutters until you find one that’s full of fish. As soon as your rod bends it will attract anglers like seagulls to a chip because all the tailor anglers know that these fish move and finding a gutter that is working at the time is the secret to success. It can also be the hard part.

Snapper are about in good numbers at the moment. The slower current makes it ideal for jigging plastics on the shallow reefs. the coast and sometimes the gutter will be loaded with fish and other times it can be frustratingly bare. When fishing from a 4WD on beaches like Moreton and Fraser islands, it’s easy to continually move up and down the beach working

But if you are not mobile, my advice is to keep trying. I can guarantee that if you have a nice gutter on your favourite stretch of beach and you’re persistent, you are going to have some good sessions during the season. A lot of fish usually mean

a big school of choppers or small tailor but catching the odd one here and there will often mean big greenbacks. I do wish I could be more comprehensive than that but after 40 years of tailor fishing, that is all that I have learned. Find the fish and they are the easiest thing in the ocean to catch. Mulloway have been landed along the beaches south of the Tweed. Beaches from Kingscliff, Pottsville and Hastings Point have all been productive but I am told that the bigger fish have been landed around the rocks. Beach worms are fantastic bait for the big mulloway, but unless you have plenty of money you’ll need to learn how to catch them yourself. It can take one big worm or two to three smaller ones to bait up a big hook for a mulloway. Fresh strip baits and fresh squid also work well. I like to cut the bloody strip of flesh that makes up the lateral line of mackerel after I fillet them. This is good bait for mulloway and snapper. During the school holidays, families can get down the beach and enjoy plenty of whiting, bream, dart and the odd flathead from the gutters. Worms and pipis make great all round bait but if it’s dart you are after, the secret is yabbies. Even though you never see a yabby swimming around in the surf the dart go crazy over them. Plenty of options this month and the colder mornings should be behind us.

*Sourced from NSW DPI research. Reference – Gray, C. A., & Barnes, L. M. (2008). Reproduction and growth of dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus) in NSW estuaries. NSW Department of Primary Industries. SEPTEMBER 2018

Pin offering some flatty JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

It’s all about flathead at Jumpinpin this time of year as the season is in full swing and the lizards are scattered right throughout the Pin waterways. Just remember all large flathead 75cm+ have to be released, so if you do catch one try to handle her with care and release her

safely back to the water. The pick spots will be from the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie all the way to Kalinga Bank, along that steep drop off and the main channels leading to the bar. Use big vibes or plastics along these drop-offs for best results, making sure your lure gets to the bottom every time. They can be caught on any part of the tide. You’ll find that they feed more on the first of the run-out or from half

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tide out to the bottom of the tide. As the water comes off the banks it brings the bait off the shallows into the deeper water where the flathead lie in wait. So, try and aim for banks that will be exposed at low tide and hit the edges. These will be the best spots to try your craft and chase this great fish. They can be caught in as little as 6” of water so don’t be afraid to get right up on the bank and slowly move your bait or lure into the deeper water. Big bait for a big fish is the way to go. Live mullet, herring, gar or pike are awesome baits for the real big fish. Some other good spots to try for lizards are the Stockyards, Flatrock, the point of Short Island, Gold Bank, Cabbage Tree and Little Rocky points and the mouth of the Logan.

Mark Hill scored this quality school flatty flicking the shallows near Tipplers.

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Mitch Eley with a 7kg snapper caught from Sullys Reef, not far from Jumpinpin.

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A few good snapper are coming off the close reefs off the Pin, with the odd tuna on the surface if you like to troll. Bream should still be around in good numbers along the deep water off the bottom of North Straddie, the bottom of Short Island, Cobby Rocks and Rocky Point. Prawn, squid, whitebait, yabbies and worms are the pick of the baits. 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 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. Tailor can be caught all

year round at the Pin but are particularly prevalent this time of year and you will start to notice the size and the quality of the fish increase. Most of the time they travel in small schools so where you find one there should be more about. Floating pillies, whitebait or herring around the Bar to Kalinga Bank should get you a few tailor. You could also try using small metal lures if you see birds working or fish chopping up. Recently mulloway have been on the bite and caught out from Swan Bay in the deep water, and there are some huge fish that can be caught in our waters. If you’d like to target big

mulloway then live mullet, pike or herring are the way to go. Using 6-9” plastics and jigging them up and down will work, but they are very cunning fish and hard to catch at the best of times so persistence counts. Try to target the turn of the tide as the current slows down. The crabs have gone quiet at this time of year but there are still some about at the mouth of the Logan, Long Island, Powerlines and Fishermans Channel. • 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.

Ryan Spann with a thumping 14.5kg mulloway caught on a livie in the deep off Swan Bay.

Heating up in the canals GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn

485

Instagram: @josh__dunn__

With spring upon us and the weather starting to warm, it is no doubt that fishing is firing up in the canals. Plenty of baitfish are schooling up given the change in weather, and numerous species are already showing great signs of life. Solid bream are still being caught, especially in the deeper parts of the estuary. Although they may be hard to get onto at times, remember to keep your lure scented and use fresh bait. I find an hour before the high tide and an hour after tends to fish best, especially in the mornings. Good tailor also still getting around in decent numbers. Trolling hardbodies and casting soft plastics or spoons has been working best. Fishing the deeper parts of the Broadwater seems to produce the most fish. If you are struggling to find them, try the Seaway north wall for a second option. The very end of the wall will produce most fish, especially when there is a white wash. Cast slugs and poppers in and around the area. Whiting this month will be a great pick. Most sand flats are producing quality fish – Wave Break Island, Tipplers Channel, the sand flats opposite Sovereign Island and basically any sand flat on your way up to Jumpinpin. Poppers are

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Kento Kishida with a couple of great squid. As much as you think they’re a nighttime-only catch, dawn and dusk can be the best times to catch these guys. a perfect option, although nothing can beat live bloodworms. These are an absolute weapon when targeting whiting, but can be hard to catch. Once you’ve found a couple of fish, persist in the area. When you’re catching the smaller fish, the larger models shouldn’t be too far away.

Flathead should be starting to come on the bite as the weather warms.

Squid have also shown up in good numbers. Good mate Kento, as pictured, has been telling me that a few are getting around. Colours can play a huge factor when fishing for squid; try either white, pink, orange or UV glow jigs. A UV torch is good at lighting up the jobs for extra attraction, especially at night. Tides also play a role. Slack high tide seems to produce most squid. More specifically, an hour either side of high tide. You may think that squid are a night catch sitting around lights, but you’ll be surprised how many you’ll catch during the day. The best time of day consists of light changes (ie. dawn and dusk). Squid tend to get active when the sky turns orange and that’s when you’ll catch most of them. As mentioned earlier, within the next month we will see no shortage of warmer weather. This will be great for fishing and we might even see a bit more rain. In my opinion, the canals are in need of rain, this will stir up the water and get some run going. Baitfish tend to school up more in the dirtier water, resulting in pelagics tracking them down! In conclusion, persisting this month will show good results. With the change in weather fish will either be red-hot straight away, or come out with some patience! See you on the water.

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Flats feeding frenzy MORETON BAY

Ryan Smith

MAKE YOUR DREA A REALITY

A form of fishing that is accessible for everyone is wading the flats. Wandering the flats with a rod in hand is a very peaceful way to fish but can also be very successful. Recently, I have been specifically targeting flats that have a drop near on a low tide. The main thing I find helpful when walking the flats is knowing the area you are fishing. Knowing where the weed beds, yabbie beds and different changes in depth are. Also, on a low tide when you are walking around and marking these types of structure in your mind, it is also good to look out for marks of flathead lays. Take note of where these lays are

On a recent trip to Bribie Island, the author located weed beds to fish and picked up this nice flathead. different that some anglers prefer is straight through fluorocarbon around the 3lb size and also a longer rod around the 7’6” mark.

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bibbed hardbodies or a monofilament leader for when surface lures are going to be used. A lure that has been working wonders for me lately has been the Atomic Bream Shad 40 in the deep model. There are thousands of lures on the market that will all work but anything around 40-50mm is a good starting point. I personally prefer a lure that will bump and puff up sand when being retrieved. However, when fishing across weed beds this can get snagged up in the weed. I find raising your rod tip so that the lure is swimming up and above the weed bed is a good technique. I encourage you to try this form of fishing out over the next couple of months as the weather gets warmer. When fishing the flats always cast with the wind not against it because casting a little light lure into the wind is quite difficult. That is all from me this month, I hope you all are able to get out on the water and enjoy the beautiful part of the world we live in, tight lines and screaming drags!

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This flathead was caught slow rolling a deep diving hardbody across the top of weed. sitting and what direction they are facing – generally the direction they face is the direction the tide is coming from. This means that on the next tide flathead may be sitting nearby, therefore peppering the area with casts is a successful tactic. I have been specifically targeting flats that have a drop off to a nearby channel, this is because on low tide fish retreat and sit in the deeper water. I personally enjoy and have success fishing the first few hours of the run in tide when all the fish in the deeper water are coming up on top of the flats and begin to search for food. Another tide I like to fish is the beginning of the run out, I find that the predatory fish are up feeding and searching for food on the slack tide then as it starts to run out they tend to go into a feeding frenzy to find that last piece of their meal before they retreat to deeper waters. Tackle wise with this sort of fishing is generally pretty basic; a light 7ft graphite rod and a small spinning reel loaded with around 6lb braid is perfect. Something

This is not needed but is something different that can also work. The leader material that you should use is all dependent on what lures you are intending to throw for the session. Your best option is a long fluorocarbon leader for soft plastics and

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Walking the flats can produce multiple fish such as this flathead.

Yamaha DealerSEPTEMBER 2018

Stock your bait for the coming season GOLD COAST

David Green

September can be a tricky month to fish the offshore grounds. The

Michael Green unhooks a flathead.

water temperature on the wider grounds drops to around 21Â°C and fishing for pelagics can be slow. Despite this it can be a good month to target striped marlin and yellowfin tuna. For striped marlin, work the area between 80-200m. It pays to down size your lures a bit from the usual fare for blue marlin, and stay in a bit closer to shore. There are often schools of saury around at this time of year, and if you find good bait stay in the vicinity. Trolled skirted lures are the most common method used, switch baiting using hookless lures with a belly strip from a tuna sewn in generally gives a much better percentage of bites with successful hook ups. Striped marlin can be notoriously hard to hook on lures as they tend to swipe the lure with their bill a lot. Out wider, there can be some good yellowfin tuna action beyond the 1000m line, roughly 80km east of the Gold Coast Seaway. Most of these fish fall to trolled lures but cubing with pilchards can also be effective. Most

Ross McCubbin leaders a striped marlin. of these yellowfin are between 35-60kg and it is quite common to have multiple hook ups. For those interested in chasing broadbill swordfish, September is a good month to try as the current is fairly minimal. In closer to shore the 50-fathom line should produce snapper, pearl perch, kings, amberjack and samsonfish. Deep paternoster rigs, jigs, soft plastics and deep-fished

live baits are all effective. The 36-fathom reef, particularly at the northern end, should fish well for snapper this month. A lot of the fish have spawned by this time and feed aggressively as they try to put on condition. Pilchards, tuna strips, soft plastics and jigs are all effective. The new large 160mm Zerek Fish Trap in the heavier sizes is proving to be a great deep-water snapper lure. The rattle can be

removed and filled with scent and this may be the go for snapper. On the inshore grounds the westerly winds make for good fishing conditions. It has been an excellent season for mulloway this year, and the inshore reefs should produce plenty in the 90-120cm range this month. Live baits such as pike and slimy mackerel are generally the most effective option. There have been plenty of mulloway around

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the artificial reefs just to the north of the seaway. Fish are generally at their most active in the hour after dark and it is usually not too hard to catch your two mulloway quickly when conditions are good. Closer to shore there are often good schools of tailer, mac tuna and bonito from the back of the surf line out to the 20m line. Spinning with metal lures and soft plastics is generally very effective – it is a good time to stock up on bait for the coming season. ESTUARIES AND RIVERS This month is prime time for flathead fishing and there will be plenty of anglers out chasing them in preparation for the upcoming Flathead Classic hosted by the Gold Coast Sportfishing Club. The flathead generally begin spawning in late August through to October, so this month should see plenty of large female fish move into the deeper water around Jumpinpin and the Gold Coast Seaway. These big fish are generally surrounded by large numbers of smaller males that often follow a hooked female right to the boat. Fishing large soft vibes, big soft plastics and live baits are usually very effective in the deep water. The last half of the run-in tide typically has the best fishing and is more productive if the water is clean. On the flats trolling small hardbodied lures like the famous Lively Lures Micro Mullet, the Zerek Tango Shad and small Strads and Pig lures is a reliable way to catch a feed of flathead. Work weed edges, mangrove fringes and mud beds for best results. When you find a productive area stop and cast. This season we have had excellent results on soft vibes: Gulp Swimming

Mullets and Berkley Powerbaits on 1/4 or 3/8oz jigheads. Use brown, black or white when the water is clean and brighter colours when it is turbid or muddy. Water quality is the key to flathead fishing in September. When the wind blows hard from the northwest it tends to shut the fishing down and creates blooms of mid water weed that can make trolling almost impossible. In these conditions look for low flow areas and cleaner patches with greater underwater visibility.

September but it can be a long while between bites. I tend to find that when the flathead are in good numbers in the deep water there are few mulloway, but when the flathead are slow a mulloway often turns up. As conditions warm up the mangrove jack make an appearance. September is the first good month after winter to deliberately target mangrove jack around the floating pontoons and canals using soft plastics and hardbodied lures. There seem to be more and more jacks every season, and with

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A nice yellowfin caught by Mark Frendin. September sees the mulloway numbers drop off as the run of mullet comes to a close. There should still be a few fish in the deep water on a change of tide and deep live baits and soft plastics can be effective. Some really big mulloway do turn up in

most anglers practicing catch and release it is a fishery with a good future. Overall, September is a good month to fish the Gold Coast. With the Flathead Classic being held at the end of the month it is a good time to get out and practice.

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This beautiful coral trout was caught by Krystle Daly on a half pilchard just off Gladstone. SEPTEMBER 2018

Plenty on offer in the south SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

Flathead are everywhere at the moment. Lures, plastics or baits it doesn’t matter, as long as you have one in the water you should see some activity. There are plenty of fish around the mouth of the Logan River, Jacobs Well Channel, Pandanas Island, along the eastern side of Garden Island and the weedy edges along the Rainbow

There are plenty of choppers around at the moment. Channel. The fish are all on the move for their annual spawning run. Fish will move into the deeper water around the river mouths and bar entrances sometime during the next month. It’s the time of year

when a lot of oversized fish are caught and these fish are our breeders so please take care when handling. Use fish friendly nets, keep them off hot dry carpet and support their body weight when taking photos. These tips should be followed with all species looking to be released. There have been a few mangrove jack caught of late and this time of year they are usually hitting lures meant for other species. We’ve had a few good roastings around some bridges while targeting flathead that were too powerful for 14lb leader. There has been enough action to warrant targeting them and they aren’t getting too much pressure as of yet. There are still plenty of tailor getting around with

Glen Kampe with a little Moreton Bay nanny. their share of big fish. Mulloway will be prevalent again this month. With September being one of my favourite months to chase them in the bay and Jumpinpin areas. Work the bigger tides around the moons – more water flow will get the fish hungrier around the tide changes. Try and work the current lines down the pin and find those

on plastics. There are still plenty of winter whiting around at the moment. The best reports have been from the flats in the Rous Channel, and there are still a lot of fish on the Pelican banks as well. Fresh worms will make a massive difference to your catch rate so go to the effort to dig your own or make sure you’re buying fresh.

A nice Jumpinpin thready. truckloads of choppers inside the Pin bar, especially on the top of the tide. There has been some better quality around the central Bay islands and they are a great target for larger topwater poppers. I find 100mm cup-faced poppers will attract the larger fish. Working the edges and flats of the shallow reefs is the best starting point. South West Rocks, hole in the wall and the spit beacon at Peel are all worth a look, as well as Green and Mud islands. Snapper have been in great numbers the last couple of months and this should continue. The deeper water in the bay around Harrys and the Peel artificial reef balls have been producing the better quality, with the reef edges around Peel, Mud, Green and Macleay islands producing the numbers. Just remember, you don’t have to run big lures to catch big fish when it comes to snapper in the bay. I think matching the bait size to what they are feeding on is important, 3” lures account for more than 30

SEPTEMBER 2018

This small mulloway was caught on a Zerek Fish Trap. isolated structures or reef points in the bay. Live baits have been accounting for the larger models and some good fish around the 110cm bracket have been reported

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 tech-it-easy.

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September offers plenty of transitional species BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

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out and do what they love so much. Go get amongst a few of these beauties. MANGROVE JACK The prize capture for many estuarine anglers is the mangrove jack. These fish have the nickname ‘Red Dog’ due to their aggressive nature, serious dentures and crimson to deep red colouration. They begin to show up towards the end of winter and their aggressiveness and numbers increase as the weather warms. They are ambush predators and will reside and hunt adjacent to structures such as bridge pylons, jetties, rock walls, mangrove snags and pontoons. Due to their aggressiveness and close proximity to these structures, they are often hard to pry from their aquatic environment. Your lure or bait can get bit and the jack will be back in its

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Justin Harding with a quality SEQ flathead. They should be prevalent throughout the estuaries during September. structure before you get a chance to react. This has given them a reputation as a tough adversary and put them at the top of the wish list for many anglers. A jack will rarely ignore live baits, such as herring, mullet, large prawns and pike. These are best fished lightly weighted and close to the structure. Holding the rod is the best option as it will give you the best chance of turning them before they bury you. Heavy drags and aggressive rod work will help in your quest. Changes of the tide are prime periods to soak a few baits. The deeper holes, scoured out around the bases of bridge pylons and eddies on the corners of rock walls, are prime spots to try your luck, especially during the darker hours. Lure fishers will also do best during the night and the extremities of the day – dawn and dusk. Jacks will respond to a broad array of artificial presentations, providing they are fished well. Deep diving minnow lures can be cranked down

and slowly rolled past structure. Suspending models will work best with a few seconds of pause. Soft plastics, especially shads and prawn profiles, are best fished with the minimum jighead weight and worked slowly with occasional pauses to have them gliding downwards. Vibes, especially soft models like Samaki Thumpertail and Vibelicious, Transam and

for a few months now, but September is one of the prime months for these estuarine bottom dwellers. Flathead also hunt by ambush and will lie motionless on the bottom awaiting any tasty morsel to pass by. They will erupt upwards to engulf the hapless offering. They will change their position during the tidal phase to put themselves in the best position to ambush prey.

tide will see flathead in the gutters and main channels, especially areas with cover like a discoloured bottom or weed bed. Flathead can be caught in only a few centimetres of water and the largest specimen will generally take up the best ambush location in a given area. During September, large female flathead will often be accompanied by several smaller males. If you catch one flathead from an area then it is a safe bet that several more will be caught in successive casts. For those with a decent knowledge of flathead movement in the area they are fishing, casting lures like vibes, soft plastics, minnow lures and others are a good way to score your target. Trolling minnow lures that bang and rattle close to the bottom is a sure fire method to cover a broad area of water. If you are unfamiliar with your waterway or fishing with less experienced anglers, drifting baits across the bottom is a great way to get results. Whitebait, hardiheads, frogmouth pilchards and herring can be rigged on an appropriately sized snelled hook or ganged hook rig with some 20-30lb fluorocarbon leader and a small running ball sinker. These baits are

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Threadybuster can be hopped or worked with a rolling retrieve and occasional twitch. Many strikes will come when the lure is paused or sinking, so be ready to strike aggressively to get the upper hand. Good numbers of jacks will be on offer over the next few months, however these early season fish can often be easier to tempt. FLATHEAD There have been good numbers of flatties around

High tide promotes small fish, crabs, prawns, yabbies, worms and the like into the shallows. This is where the flathead are most likely to be. As the tide turns and begins to run out, these species will be forced from the shallows. The flathead will take up new ambush spots along the edge of the banks and in the small gutters that lead off them as this is where these prey species must pass as the tide falls. Lower stages of the

deployed aft and the boat is allowed to drift across the flats and up the channels and gutters. Bream, tailor, mulloway, trevally and large whiting are usually welcome by-catch. COBIA Once a fairly common capture in the bay and offshore reefs, cobia have been a little sporadic in recent years. To increase your chances of tangling with one of these amazing sportfish anglers are best to

fish large live baits. These can include fusiliers, squid, sand crabs, yakkas, pike, slimy mackerel and even demersals such as sweetlip and tuskfish (adhere to size limits of course). Unfortunately in many areas sharks are a serious problem and will quickly pounce on these baits. Hooked cobia can also be attacked by sharks. Within the Moreton Bay area, good spots to try for cobia include the Curtin Artificial (along western ledge), around the beacons in the northern bay, the western rocks area (Kianga Channel) and around any of the more prominent wrecks. These areas can produce a broad array of species with longtails, trevally (both GTs and goldens), yellowtail kingfish and occasionally large snapper. Most spots are best fished from anchor however around the beacons you are best to drift. Drive up to the beacon on the down current side, deploy the bait to the bottom and then drift away. Once a strike is achieved, set the hook and then motor towards the beacon. The cobia will generally pull against you and go away from the beacon instead of wrapping you around it. Occasionally cobia can be found swimming on the surface and I have witnessed this spectacle a couple of times at the Tangalooma Banks and around baitfish conglomerations. Casting lures like large plastics, stickbaits and even swimbaits is going to produce the goods. The strikes can be very aggressive and visual. The next four to five months should be good for targeting cobia within the Moreton Bay region. THREADFIN SALMON One of the most heavily targeted species in the Brisbane River is the threadie. Other systems

throughout the area have also produced the goods including the Logan, Pine and Caboolture. The Logan has really fired over the last two seasons with threadies taken in the hole at the mouth to well into the upper reaches. Many are taken by anglers live baiting with herring, mullet and prawns from the bank, especially at night. Unfortunately, bull sharks will also latch onto your baits. Lures can be fished from land-based positions however this pursuit is a lot easier when done from a boat or kayak. Vibration baits, soft plastic shads, prawn profiles and even deep diving minnow lures will work. The deeper holes and scoured out banks are the best places to try. A good side imaging sounder will soon locate any fish lurking in these zones. The same can be said for the Brisbane River. Plenty of fish are taken by those fishing baits from the shore and there are a myriad of locations to fish along the banks of the brown snake that meanders through Brisbane and up towards Ipswich. During the night fishing around lit up areas can be successful as the theadies are high in the water column, enticed here by the baitfish and prawns attracted to the light. The lower reaches of the river are definitely best during the warmer months. The various jetties, holes, ledges and steep drop-offs into the main river basin are all good spots to try for threadies. Again, a decent sounder will help you locate fish holding in these zones. Many will probe these depths with blades, soft vibration baits, soft plastics, micro jigs and other artificial offerings. Often threadies will school in large numbers and numerous specimens can be taken in a session. To offer them the best chance at

survival, unhook them while still in the water and release quickly after capture. Fish that are bloated should be vented and then returned back to the bottom with the assistance of a release weight.

#3 and #4 spoons down deep. These chromed offerings are commonly dragged at speeds of 4-6knots and fished on 40-50lb handlines. This is not the most fun form of fishing but a highly successful way to ensure a

the beacons, including the Measured Mile, will reward during September. Australian bonito can also be rather common captures in these spots. Trolling minnow lures up on the flats out from Tangalooma

When you see the dentures and colouration then experience their aggressiveness, it is easy to see why mangrove jack gets the moniker of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Red Dogâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. SCHOOL MACKEREL Hopefully the school mackerel will stick around after being a common capture in the bay for the last few months. Their winter prominence is very unusual and many anglers had no trouble bagging out on almost every visit to areas such as the Small Ships, Rous, Harry Atkinson or Rainbow channels. Historically during August school mackerel show up in the Kianga and Rous channels, the Caloundra Four Mile and around the beacons of the NW Channel. The pro fishers from Straddie will generally be trolling in the upper Rous Channel if mackerel are in residence. If you see them there then you know the macks are almost a sure thing. The commercials commonly use trolling boards and paravanes to get

few fillets for the table. Another method used to target school mackerel is drifting pillies. In the channels this is fairly easy and due to the current the pilchard can be drifted behind the boat unweighted. As the current slows you may need to add a float to stop the pilchard going all the way to the bottom where it will be taken by toadfish, grinners and other undesirables. The reels are best fished in gear and the rod hand-held as you will need to strike quickly and wind to keep the pressure on and the hooks set. Berleying with cut pieces of pilchard can also increase the likelihood of a bite. Often once you catch one mackerel you will get several more. Sometimes anchoring and berleying with pilchards around

and middle-bank will also reward, mainly from around two hours into the making tide. OTHER OPTIONS Setting a few crab pots in the rivers and bay is likely to reward with sand and mud crabs. Muddies are best to chase after any serious rain that flushes them from deep in the mangrove environment into the main system. Safety pots set with fish frames, chicken carcasses, mullet and other oily baits will produce. Longtail tuna numbers can be decent during September and the main channels, Rainbow, Pearl, Kianga, NW and NE channels, are worth checking out. Often the longtails are fairly scattered and feeding irregularly so a degree of stalking is often required to get within casting range.

Lures like pencil poppers, stickbaits, jerkshad plastics and weighted casting minnows can all be used successfully to blind cast in the general area where you see the occasional fish feeding. Live baits fished around the beacons, western edge of the Curtin and in the aforementioned channels can also work well. Snapper will still be about in reasonable numbers and often some of the better quality specimens can be taken at this time of the year. The usual bay spots (the artificial reefs, fringes of the bay islands and the numerous wrecks) will produce on both quality baits and lures. Sweetlip, tuskfish, morwong, cod and others can also be taken. Estuary cod are often a by-catch for those chasing mangrove jack, however, specific targeting can increase results. Fishing around rock walls and other heavy structure is a good ploy as estuary cod love the crabs that reside in these zones. Any lure that bangs and rattles through this structure is likely to get bit. Live baits are ideal with mullet and herring a solid choice. Be ready to strike and go hard on the fish immediately as they have a habit of heading back into the structure. CONCLUSION September can be a varied month for those hitting Moreton Bay and the waterways filtering into it. There can be plenty of variety, and the more prominent species, dependent on what the weather brings forth. After a cold winter anglers will relish in these hotter days, although nights can still be quite cool. September can be a mixed month in relation to weather and species on offer but if you get out and have a crack I am sure you will be rewarded.

SEPTEMBER 2018

I see red, I see red, I see red! BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

Winter has definitely turned on the snapper, and we’ve been getting plenty of late. The temperature has been around the 20°C mark and with plenty of southerly flow in the water, the snapper have been caught in good numbers on most of the reefs off Moreton and North Stradbroke islands. On board Outlaw, we’ve had some red-hot sessions on the 29 and 33 fathom lines and even out to the 90 fathom line. The quality has been pleasing, with plenty in that 2-3kg range, with a few pushing 5-6kg. The cooler water temperature is definitely a key factor to the amount of snapper around at the

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moment, but good current flow pushing in close to the islands has definitely fired them up. I often hear anglers complaining about too much run, but clued up snapper fishers prefer it, and use it to their advantage! Recently on charter, the only slower days we’ve had are when the current has dropped off. As I’ve said many times before, use your sea anchor and if your line is not getting away from the bait at around 45°, most times your fishing too heavy. Very importantly, you want a quality overhead reel with a light freespool for getting those lighter leads down easy and a quality

mono line (not braid) for floatlining. The majority of our fish have been caught on pillies, but we have caught some on tuna and tailor strips. The spring months should see snapper continue to be caught in good numbers on most lines of reef, but Shallow Tempest can be worth a look at this time of year, as there’s normally a lot of bait in the

This nice snapper nailed a freespooled pilly. area to feed on after their spawning run. Later in the year, I usually find more consistent numbers of fish out on the wider grounds. Additionally, most of our lines of reef are quite extensive and run for kilometres, so spread out and don’t fish on top of other anglers. You’ll find the fish will stay on the chew longer and not spook as easy.

Overall, it’s been a very solid snapper season to date, and there’s no reason it won’t continue over the next couple of months. • 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.

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A welcome arrival for the warmer weather NORTHERN BAY

Grayson Fong graysonfong@bigpond.com

It has certainly been great to see the end of another winter, with many anglers including myself welcoming any bit of warm weather we can get. Waiting out the last of the August westerlies should start to see the customary warmer southerly and northerly winds pushing into the northern bay, bringing with it warmer currents, increased baitfish presence and a rise in water temperatures, all pointing towards better fishing. Last month proved to be slow on the fishing front. The lack of rains at the beginning of the month, kept waters clean and clear making fishing a test in the near-perfect boating conditions. But this time also proved fruitful for the estuarine-minded anglers, as predators had made the most of the cleaner waters to venture upstream in search of food. Flathead numbers have been steady over the last month, with better numbers being caught in Pumicestone Passage, the Pine River and Cabbage Tree Creek, especially the around the mouths where baitfish are more abundant. Hotspots at Bribie include White Patch, Donnybrook and Poverty Creek, with some fishers having success along the drop-offs near Toorbul. Drifting with the tide has been a successful technique, as has been anchoring up on the corner of river and creek mouths, which is commonly a noted ambush spot for flatties. At the mouth of the Pine, under the Houghton Highway Bridge and Hays Inlet on the run-out tide have been popular for flathead. Anglers have had mixed success with lures, soft

SEPTEMBER 2018

plastics and bait, with all three having wins in this area. The mouth of the Cabbage Tree Creek has also shown good form on the flathead front, with anglers drawing better luck by anchoring up on the run-out tide. Bream numbers are starting to rise, along with the water temperature after a sluggish back end of the winter season. After finishing their annual spawn, the bigger bream are slowly appearing in the usual spots in Pumicestone Passage around Mission Point,

anglers throwing shallow running hardbody lures to great success. Atomic Crank 38s, Pontoon CrackJacks, Ecogear SX40s and slowrolled ZMan GrubZ have been working well with light leaders combating the clearer waters to bring increased success. Cabbage Tree Creek has been a surprise lately, with anglers working around the trawler moorings for bream with fresh baits like cooked prawns and mullet strips around the either side of the top of the tide to great avail.

Brisbane River mulloway madness is a feature of late winter and early spring.

Sand whiting are so much fun. Their numbers will increase during spring. Ningi Flats and Cooks Rocks, with fuller tides being the pick of the times. Redcliffe Peninsula has also started to fire, with

Diver whiting have also hit the headlines of late with the Cockle Banks and Bramble Bay providing results. Bloodworms have always

paid off for their expense, with many anglers often filling their bag limit in quick time. The Cockle Banks have always been a stalwart of the northern bay when it comes to winter whiting, with many local anglers tuning into the fish’s patterns throughout the year. The Brisbane River continues to produce good numbers of mulloway over the cooler months, with this trend set to continue into spring. As the water temperature increases we should also start to see more threadfin salmon

activity accompany the mulloway numbers in areas of deeper holding bait. Lately the Pine River has had sound reports of smaller school mulloway being caught, with anglers also snagging the odd threadfin when chasing these deep water dwellers. Areas throughout the Brisbane River have also produced the same results, with bigger specimens populating areas around the mouth of the river. Heavier weighted soft plastics, soft vibes and sinking stickbaits

have been the pick of the lures this spring and anglers are having success both at night and during the day. TIP OF THE MONTH Reel care importance is such a contentious issue amongst anglers with ‘money spent’ usually being the difference between some care and none at all. Protect your investment, whether big or small, by starting with even a light freshwater rinse after each use… Whether you spent $50 or $500, this simple exercise can go a long way.

A D V E RT O R I A L

SCAN THE QR CODE FO R F UL L WAL KAROUN DS O F T H E C ATA M A R A N S Hiring a yacht for a holiday on the water can be an expensive affair. Add to this the travel usually involved to get to the places where these services are available, and you’ve spent a lot of extra money, and lost many hours as well. With Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat, you’ll be able to tailor your own holiday on the water! Whether it be kayaking the magnificent Boondall Wetlands or sailing a 12.6m yacht in Moreton Bay’s outer islands, the team will be able to get you started – and all from Brisbane! With a huge range of options available at the marina on the banks of Cabbage Tree Creek in Deagon, there’s something to suit all budgets. Why not get two families together and share the cost? Being based in Deagon in Brisbane’s northeast, Brisbane holidaymakers won’t lose any time traveling. Let’s take a look at what’s available! C ATA M A R A N S Starting with the biggest and grandest, there are three catamarans – a 12.6m and an 11.6m sail, which each sleep 10, and a 12m powered, which sleeps eight. All three cats have a full galley, and can be taken out independently, following a briefing and practise run (a boating licence is preferred, but not required). Alternatively, the team can provide skippered charters! Skippered charters are popular for work trips and other functions. There’s also free parking at the marina – one of the many ways in which you’ll save money!

FIBREGLASS HALF CABS In the marina, you’ll also see two marvellous 17ft fibreglass half cabs, which are also available for hire. These shaded boats are particularly good for self-drive day trips fishing in fishing areas or exploring the Boondall Wetlands. B B Q P O N T O O N B OAT Just looking for a lazy day trip out on sheltered calm waters with some good friends? If so, you’ll be pleased to know that a 6m BBQ pontoon boat is another option! Again, a licence is not required to operate this vessel. K AYA K S Just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, there’s 14 kayaks available for hire! Whether you want paddle through calm sheltered waters, or take them out with one of the catamarans – the choice is yours! The kayaks are very easy to use, with some kitted out for fishing! H20 MARINE SERVICES On site and managed by the same people at the marina in Deagon is H2O Marine Services! There’s a slipway that can retrieve boats up to 16m, with dry-docking an option. There you can do work on your boat yourself, or pay for one of the team to complete any work you have in mind. H20 marine Services do engines, electrical work, general repairs, and much more. G E T A Q U O T E T O D AY ! If you’re looking for an affordable holiday on the water, get in touch with Craig, Bazza and Kerry at Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat and get a quote today! Call (07) 3269 3487 or 0418 988 394. You can also email them, at kerry@moretonbayholidaysafloat. com, or visit their website, at www.moretonbayholidaysafloat.com. - Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat

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With Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat, you’ll be able to tailor your own holiday on the water! Whether it be kayaking in creeks and wetlands, or sailing a 12.6m yacht in Moreton Bay’s outer islands, the team will be able to get you started – and all from Brisbane!

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• Free parking available at the marina • Two 17ft fibreglass half cabs also available – Self-drive daytrips, go fishing, or explore the wetlands • A 6m BBQ pontoon boat is another option • There are 14 kayaks available for hire!

If you’re looking for an affordable holiday on the water, get in touch with Craig, Barry and Kerry at Moreton Bay Holidays Afloat and GET A QUOTE TODAY!

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You can also email them, at kerry@moretonbayholidaysafloat.com, or visit their website at www.moretonbayholidaysafloat.com. SEPTEMBER 2018

News

Moreton Bay Shellfish Reef Restoration Project Want a chance to win a new boat as well as help to improve fish numbers in Moreton Bay? Then this event is for you! The inaugural OzFish Unlimited Wynnum Fishing Classic has been announced for 12-14 October 2018, with all proceeds going towards restoring shellfish reef levels in Moreton Bay. With current shellfish reef numbers in Moreton Bay at an alarming 2% of historical levels, a local group of environmentally conscious anglers have decided that now is the time to act. Rob Porter, President of the OzFish Unlimited Central Moreton Bay Chapter, says “We are excited at the prospect of making a dramatic

Anyone interested in supporting the Oyster Reef Restoration Project is encouraged to visit www. ozfishmoretonbay.org where you can learn more and find out how you can help.

Those that want to help straight away can go to www. ozfish.org.au/membership and sign up to become a member, which includes a free hat, key ring and sticker. For more information

Store in a store? The Wynnum Fishing Classic will run over 3 days with the final weigh-in day on Sunday 14 October at George Clayton Park. improvement to the fish diversity and biomass in Moreton Bay.” The fishing classic has attracted a large list

Volunteers aim to restore shellfish reef levels in Moreton Bay.

of supporters including major sponsors BCF and Bluefin Boats. All entrants stand the chance to win a fantastic array of prizes with a combined value of at least two boat packages as the lucky door prizes. The Sunday of the event is set to create a family-friendly festival style environment with raffles, casting competitions and food being served. With both Open and Junior categories, this is a family-friendly event not to be missed. For more information or to register for the fishing classic, please visit the website www.ozfishmoretonbay.org and click the tab for Wynnum Fishing Classic 2018.

Davo’s Tackle World Noosa has served its customers well for many years, providing a huge range of quality products to people who are serious about fishing. Now this famous establishment is stepping it up a gear – they’re opening a store within a store! A Costa Del Mar sunglasses store to be precise. This idea has already been praised down in Victoria, and now it’s made its way up to Queensland! Davo’s has stocked Costas for around two years now, but they felt the timing was right to open up a specialised and focused display cabinet that will allow potential buyers to cruise through, try them on, and have a chat to someone who can help.

Davo’s Tackle World at Noosa has plenty of parking and the entire range of Costa frames for you to try on. their range that will suit fresh and saltwater anglers, and they pride themselves on being able to provide a lens and a frame for any fishing situation, and any head shape. Costa lenses are available in glass and polycarbonate, and there’s 7 different finishes, including blue mirror, green mirror,

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about the Wynnum Fishing Classic, or the oyster reef project please feel free to contact us on ozfishmoretonbay@gmail. com. – OzFish Unlimited Wynnum Fishing Classic

You’ll need to choose if you want a glass or polycarbonate lens. Glass lenses are more expensive but also more durable. Costa has undergone several big updates and improvements over the last few years, including a frame that is made from recycled fishing nets that looks as stylish as the rest of the range! Costa have lenses in

Scan the QR code to see the Davo’s Costa store in a store experience.

grey silver mirror, copper silver, grey, copper and sunrise silver. In the cabinet there’s currently 106 pairs of Costas, and this is Queensland’s biggest display of Costa sunglasses! Because of this, the store

in a store will allow buyers to find a frame and lens to suit their fishing needs. In the cabinet is just about every frame and lens, and here customers can decide which combination they want, and if they don’t have it, they can order it in. Davo’s has stocked all the most popular combinations, so most anglers will be catered for immediately. Additionally, there’s also a full range of Costa accessories available, including hats, clothing, sunny savers, cleaning products, and more! So next time you’re in the market for a new set of sunglasses, be sure to head to the only place in South East Queensland that stocks all the Costa frames and lenses, Davo’s Tackle World Noosa! And if you head into Davo’s this September you’ll be in with a chance to win a Costa prize pack, consisting of Costa 580G glasses, fishing shirt, hat, face mask, decal pack, all valued at over $500! Davo’s Tackle World is at Shop 6 Noosa

Homemaker Centre, Mary St, Noosaville, and you can call them up at (07) 5449 8099 if you have any further questions.

Once you match your lens preference and your frame, Davo’s can sort you out with your ideal pair of Costa sunglasses.

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Spring has finally arrived NOOSA

Peter Wells

With spring upon us and the temperature finally warming up the fishing is looking outstanding for the season ahead! Local rivers, beaches, offshore and even the freshwater all seem to produce around this time of year. Rivers of the Sunshine Coast are alive with activity and plenty of species to choose from. In the Noosa River the flathead catches have been amazing with plenty of fish taken on the run-out tide. Concentrate your efforts around the mud and sand banks with the water flowing off them, as these fish will sit and feed on the food that is being washed off these banks. Another important fact to know is that flathead tend to nest up at this time of year so it is not unusual to pick up two or three smaller males before coming into contact with the bigger female. Prawn profile soft plastics have to be one of the all-time favourites with the ZMan ShrimpZ and the River2Sea Flick Prawn both outstanding examples that

have the perfect colours for flathead. Fishing these lures with either a slow retrieve or the double hop method has proven fantastic on the flathead. For the bait anglers fishing whole small pilchards, whitebait and hardiheads on small ganged hooks with a running sinker heavy enough to get you to the bottom should also see you hook-up. It’s never too early to start talking about jacks and as the water

warms and we see the odd storm coming through, jack anglers will become very excited. Even though we see fish taken through the cooler months, spring is prime time to start targeting them. Live bait, as always, is the best producer with poddy mullet, live herring and live prawns all dynamite baits. If you don’t have a cast net cut baits of mullet or salted bonito have worked well. For the lure anglers fishing larger plastics with

Zane Anderson with a tarwine that he landed all by himself at the Twin Waters canals.

good paddle tails has been the go with the red colours producing the better fish. Try ZMan SwimmerZ in the calico candy or red shad. Swimbaits have also been great with the Zerek Live Mullet in red devil or olive guppy very popular. Elsewhere in the river tailor have been in great form and there have been some quality fish taken. Try fast-moving slugs or surface lures in the mornings and remember to upsize that leader as those tailor have sharp teeth. Whiting numbers are good, with plenty of fish taken around the Frying Pan, Dog Beach and along the Gympie Terrace stretch. The best baits have been beach worms, yabbies and peeled prawns. The late part of winter and early spring is the time of year when we experience those great weather days, with a coolish start and beautiful warm sunshine all day. With this in mind, many boats head for the outer reefs such as the Barwon Banks, The Hards and the reefs off Double Island. Anglers have been well rewarded with some quality snapper, pearlies, amberjack, tuskies, cobia, mulloway and Moses

Ben Forgan with a couple of the many snapper taken off the reef. Ben was fishing pilchard floaters in a good berley trail. Micro jigs around 40-60g have been claiming their fair share of fish on the closer reefs. Get these jigs to the bottom, wind up about 5m and then open the bail arm and let the jig flutter to the bottom again.

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Craig Mullet with a couple of big eye trevally taken off the rocks. perch. North Reef was another that anglers headed for and pearlies, Moses, snapper and tuskies all came over the side. Sunshine Reef has been the most popular for the smaller craft with some good snapper, trout, tuskies and sweetlip all boated. A way to get all these reefs fishing well is to add berley into the equation. Cut pilchards, frozen berley logs or even berley pellets will get the fish moving up the trail to your baits.

Pay close attention to your line, as most of these jigs are designed to look like a dying baitfish making its way to the bottom, so the fish will mainly take them on the drop. For the plastics anglers the Ultimate Squid from River2sea has been very successful. Rig it on a 4/0jighead with the appropriate weight to get to the bottom, or add it to a paternoster rig to keep you in the game if you lose your

bait. They look sensational in the water, with an ultrarealistic swimming action. To the south out of Mooloolaba the Caloundra Nine and Twelve Mile reefs have been firing for snapper, amberjack, pearl perch and cobia. Fishing live baits through a berley trail or hard to the bottom has been productive. The Gneerings, Old Woman Island and Hancock Shoals have been great for squire, sweetlip and tuskies. On the beaches at this time of year it is all about tailor and the things that love to eat them. Mulloway and mackerel love to feed on tailor and will quite often be taken right behind the breakers; this is why slide baiting has become so popular. Live small legal tailor pinned through the back of the shoulder and near the anal vent using a snelled rig has been very popular. Casting a big sinker to the back of the breaker then clipping on the slider has seen some monster fish taken at the top end of the Noosa North Shore and on Fraser Island. For those of us looking for a decent feed of tailor, pilchards, mullet strips or bonito strips have been the best baits. The schools are really starting to improve as we move into prime time for tailor, so fishing fastmoving slugs like the ever popular Halco Twisty through these schools should also see you hook-up. • 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!

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Here’s to warm conditions and great fishing HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

Adios winter! Here’s to warmer conditions and some exceptional fishing that is set to heat up over the coming months on the Fraser Coast. Prep the four-wheel drive and service the faithful Alvey as beach season is upon us! It is arguable that there is no greater location than the eastern beaches of Fraser Island to do a spot of beach fishing, whether it’s soaking bait or casting a slug. This being said, crews have started to head over to Fraser for the annual tailor run and there have been some exceptional results, with fish being reported to 3kg. Majority of the bags of chopper tailer ranged between 40-50cm. The gutters north of the Maheno have been producing the better quality fish. Dart and big summer whiting have also been prolific around the edges of the gutters and taking a liking to freshly dug pipis or sand worm. Slide baiting and drone fishing will again be a very popular and successful method for targeting your bigger pelagic species like Spanish mackerel and GT. Fish have been sighted from the beach cruising the

This happy customer scored this stonking cod while fishing the bay. edges of the gutters and have readily been taking slugs or live baits. By now I am sure many keen anglers have honed their skills on this relatively new technique. Start digging your worms and pumping for yabbies as the elbow slappers are on the chew! It’s around August each year that we start to see the summer whiting schooling across the flats on the western side of Fraser Island, south of Moon Point and along our town beaches. They aggregate to

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spawn during this period and throughout September they are quite an easy target and make for great sport on light spin tackle. The lead up to the peak of the building tides sees the largest aggregations of fish and really stimulates them to feed quite hard around the turn of the tide. Best efforts should be focused around the last two hours of the incoming and first hour of the outgoing tide, and when this tide change coincides with early morning or late evening you can count on a few elbow slappers. The finesse tackle enthusiasts have been loving the colder temperatures and gin clear waters as it has spurred a fantastic bream bite across the flats and around the rocky outcrops, especially those encrusted in oysters. These fish should hang around for a while before water temperatures start to heat up, so get stuck in while they are still around.

Small topwater presentations are a great option to have in the arsenal and make for exciting visual action over the flats on a glassy calm day; it’s a hard technique to beat. Smaller crankbaits and soft plastics such as the ZMan 2.5” GrubZ in bloodworm have been working a treat. If you want to learn

how to use soft plastics then this is the month to do so! The humble flathead would have to be one of the easiest targets on soft plastics, especially as they prepare to spawn. It is common to see half a dozen smaller males hanging around one larger female, making them quite territorial and in turn drawing a reactive strike. Key areas to target will be the creek mouths on the western side of Fraser Island, the rocky outcrops around River Heads and any of the coffee rock ledges spread throughout the straits. Locating the bait is another important factor and if you can find hardiheads or herring schooling in these areas, then you can almost bet there will be a few hungry flathead lurking in the area. A great starter pack is the ZMan 3” MinnowZ or Slim SwimZ in opening night or pearl rigged on a 1/4oz 3/0 jighead, retrieved with a basic double hop and pause technique. The saying goes, ‘a drought on land is a drought at sea’ and the local river systems have been feeling the pressure, with many anglers having to work quite

Hopping soft plastics down deep has been accounting for some longtail tuna while working bait balls throughout Platypus Bay.

hard to produce results. The River Heads headland has produced some quality sportfishing over the larger tides with school, broad-bar and smaller model Spanish mackerel being a regular capture off the barge ramp. The best method has been casting metal slugs or drifting an unweighted pilchard on a set of gangs. Brush up on your size and bag limit regulations, as there are a lot of small fish amongst them. We should expect to see our annual run of chopper tailor that will haunt similar areas in weeks to come and can often be found harassing the hardiheads and herring schools. Showering baitfish is a tell tale sign of predatory fish lurking around. The rivers themselves have been quite a slog, with varying reports and results from anglers. Bait fishos, especially those live baiting, have produced the best results on threadfin salmon, mulloway and grunter from the mid to lower reaches. The new addition of the pontoon to the River Heads boat ramp has been popular among locals with squid, mulloway and large flathead being regular captures particularly during the night. This has become quite a nuisance for boaties trying to use the facility for its main purpose of loading and unloading. As temperatures start to rise, different species will become more active in our systems such as the elusive barra, which will be a likely target for the avid lure fishos. Working the tides and timing it accordingly with what section of the river to fish will be key early on in the season, however this drought may have an impact on the fish’s movements. The Burrum locals have been entertained

with an incredible run of school mackerel that have plagued the river mouth taking a variety of offerings including metal lures, trolled hardbodies and baits. This bite is often short and sweet as they migrate through the area. Flathead numbers have been improving throughout these lower reaches and around the islands with anglers working soft plastics,

GTs schooling in the deeper sections of the river. As the water temperatures start to increase the barra and jacks will become more active and the Gregory and Isis tributaries will be worth a prospect on the neap tides. Due to the incredibly clear waters at present the spear fishos have been giving the inshore waters a bit of a flogging with coral

and explore that anglers have been able to find some quality fish for a feed. Snapper have still been present on the arti and Moon Ledge with best results coming from early morning and evening sessions with a variety of soft plastics and baits doing the trick. Bait fishos have been scoring some stonker blackall, sweetlip, cod and the odd trout when working

Snapper cannot refuse the go-to soft plastic – the ZMan 5” Jerk Shad in electric chicken. vibes and shallow running hardbodies and getting results. The mid to upper reaches can provide some great sport on the flood tide with tarpon, queenfish and

trout, cod, blue parrot and barra being targeted. This has been putting a little more pressure on areas shared with line fishos. Fortunately, there is plenty of country to fish

live baits or bouncing a prawn imitation soft plastic off the bottom. The larger tides have a big influence on the bite. This year’s snapper

season has been a vast improvement on last season, with most crews scoring some great fish for their efforts and better than average size fish showing up. The better quality fish have come from the 25 Fathom Hole, grounds off Wathumba and wide of Roonies. Live yakka are often too hard to refuse by a hungry roaming snapper, however, if yakka are scarce a well-presented pencil squid or pilchard on a lightly weighted snelled rig will do the trick. Soft plastic fishos have been experiencing great results on larger model fish with the ZMan 5” Jerk Shad in electric chicken being the stand out colour for anglers and the go to for the local guides. It has also been very effective on the mixed trevally species that have been socialising in with the snapper schools and feeding on the masses of bait. Golden and tea-leaf trevally have been the main suspects with the odd pennant and diamond coming aboard. It has been an amazing season for cobia with some exceptional fish being caught over similar grounds as the snapper on both soft plastic presentations and live baits. The glorious spell of good weather that we were finally blessed with over the

past month saw many anglers venture wide in search of a feed of quality reef fish and although a little patchy, most were rewarded for their efforts. The Gutters have been copping a flogging that has impacted on its success rate; however, a flavoursome box of trout, sweetlip, parrot, hussar, cod and cobia has been achievable. From across the Breaksea there have been some better quality reds taken from the shallower 50m country along with a mixed bag of red throat, parrot, gold spot wrasse, sweetlip, snapper

and maori cod making up the box. The deeper water towards the shelf has been producing some good hauls of pearlies and snapper, with AJs and kingies often joining in on the action. This is where electric reels come into their own with just the press of a button. It shouldn’t be long now before we see a few larger vessels trolling heavy tackle along the shelf wide off Fraser as the blue marlin bite heats up again. Last year it drew a lot of attention due to the numbers and species of quality billfish being caught.

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Best month for reef fishing RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

Finally some very stable weather and many offshore trips. A long run of perfect ocean conditions has seen us do many offshore fishing trips with outstanding results. We have had great pearl perch catches off Fraser Island with many bag out days. All types of bait have been working but soft plastics are picking up the best quality fish. We have also had a good snapper run. This happens

Plenty of pearl perch have been on offer at Rainbow Beach.

particularly in close, first up in the early mornings. Again, soft plastics are doing majority of the damage. Out a little wider quality red emperor are on the chew, but live bait is needed to produce the best results. Other species being caught include tuskfish, cod, amberjack and cobia. On the beach there have been good tailor caught all the way from Inskip Point to Double Island Point. Dusk has proven the best time to fish this area. Quality flathead are very active in the deeper gutters and if you can get hold

A great haul of red emperor on-board the Keely Rose. of some live poddy mullet – these guys are the bomb bait, flathead cannot resist them. September is the most consistent and reliable reef fishing month of the year and is usually red hot for snapper.

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

Wind is the key to success at Monduran LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

Looking back through the years I can’t remember an August that has had so many different light wind directions. For most of the month the wind has been variable, but every

now and then the weather gods would string together a few days of constant wind direction for us resulting in great bite sessions. Monduran can be particularly sensitive when it comes to finding feeding areas and bite times for barra. When variable winds are upon us barra seem to lose their way.

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

These types of days you can be sitting in your boat scanning points and bays for hours only to find a handful of barra here and there. On the other hand, when the wind picks up and the wind blows from the one direction for a day or two or even better for consecutive days, these barra school up in big numbers and are normally ready to feed. GAME ON WITH NORTHERLIES September and October are two of my favourite months to target barra. Prominent northerly winds through these months are like

waving a red flag at a bull. As a result Mondy barra get active after the winter spell and feed up as the warmth comes around. Areas to find feeding fish when these winds occur are SDA, Bird and Rainforest bays and the south arm of B just to name a few. LURES While there are plenty of barra lures on the Australian market I have found a range of 80-100mm hardbody suspending minnows have been one of the most successful lures getting around the Queensland barra scene over the last few years. Here

at Monduran they have been a stand out performer. Lures such as the Hank Tune Jackall Smash Minnow and Squirrel, Rapala XRD-10 Slashbaits and Lucky Craft pointers have all been the go-to weapons of choice. OCTOBER FISHING COMP The annual MASA fishing comp will be held over the 19, 20 and 21 October. This will be the 20th year this stocking group has been operating and it should be, as always, a great family fishing competition and fun weekend. Major prizes consist

of $1000 for biggest barra, $500 for biggest bass and heaps of lucky draw prizes including a boat, motor and trailer package up for grabs. There will also be breakfast, lunch and dinner available on the weekend. • 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 0410599147.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

What a year of weather it has already been. Our region has had a very cold and dry winter with long spells of fantastic fishing days. This winter has been one where those big boat owners are getting their money’s worth. Now we hit spring and all bets are off, as the more unstable warm air masses shake the patterns up. FLATHEAD LURE TIP September is usually flathead month around our parts, because as the water starts warming up they will be on the move once again. I recently attended the Australian Fishing Tackle Associations trade show and saw a plethora of new and exciting lures that these spring flathead will love. My advice for the budding lure buyer that has flathead on the target list is to look at the optimum depth of the lures you’re buying. So, if for instance your favourite spot to troll for flathead is the north channel at the mouth of Baffle Creek, which has an average depth at low tide of around 1.5m, look for lures that operate at that depth. The

reason being is that if you fish deeper divers that dive to 3m, they will be pretty much head down and bashing constantly into the bottom. This isn’t always a bad thing, and in fact it can be a good thing at times, but if your lure is just hitting the bottom it will maintain more of its designed action that will attract the fussier predators. This is not a hard and fast rule, but with so many lures having optimum depth actions it will pay to have a few on hand. The more lures you have the better equipped you’ll be. With the warming water temperatures comes different scenarios across our systems. Firstly, what usually happens is some of our systems start getting the algal weed washing around and making it painful to troll for said flathead. This happens around the mouth of Baffle, Middle and Pancake creeks and several other systems that have large sand flat areas where the algae grows. The warmer water displaces it and it floats around until the tides eventually wash it out of the systems. The algae doesn’t seem to bother the fish, just the anglers. Another change with the warming water at this time

of year is the northerlies that start to stir the water up, decreasing the water clarity. This will start to bring more predators into the rivers and creeks, as it gives them a bit of cover to hunt with while also helping them hide from their predators. Of course, one of my favourite estuarine hunters is the mangrove jack and with even the slightest of temperature rise, and these fish will be on the move. Jacks will be using the dirtier

water to hunt, so don’t be afraid to fish the dirty stuff. With winter at an end and those crystal clear upper reaches being hard to hunt in for an ambush feeder, the stirring up of the water clarity just rings the dinner bell. So it’s time to be on the hunt for that warmer not so crystal clear water, and with minimum algae it’s also not a bad time to have a troll for some flathead. It’s also time to start thinking about the red boys offshore!

This flathead took a liking to a slowrolled soft plastic in Baffle Creek.

There are some cracking options this spring GLADSTONE

Liam Jones

August gave us some amazing weather, glassed out weekends and plenty of fish to go with them! Most of Gladstone would have managed to get offshore at some stage and most managed good feeds.

fish have once again been falling to jigs and plastics. Spotted and school mackerel are still terrorizing all the normal inshore spots like north entrance, Seal Rocks, the shipping channel markers and Cape Capricorn. Trolling smaller profile Halcos and Rapala X-Raps to find the fish then spinning them up on metal slugs has

Brodie Hunt with another cracking winter flathead. Red emperor have certainly been on the chew with reports of bag outs from the wider grounds around Innaminkca and Guthrie shoals. Whole fresh squid and the trusty whole cuttlefish head doing the damage. Nannygai are still chewing on the closer fern and northern wrecks. Live baits like herring and yakka, if you can find them, have been accounting for the larger fish and keeping the vermin away. Slow pitch jigs are bringing plenty of numbers aboard and are certainly a more entertaining way to fish! Red-throat sweetlip have been showing up in good numbers and just like last month they are bigger in size to what we are used to for this time of year. The bigger

been doing the damage. Spanish are still out and about with some cracker fish falling to slow trolled Wolf Herring. Rundle Island has been the pick for the

bigger fish over August and I don’t expect much to change as we move into September. In the creeks mangrove jack and barra are still going hard despite the cooler weather we have had. Water temps as low as 15°C were encountered on a recent trip with plenty of jack and barra still hitting the deck. Some big barra are turning up in the harbour recently with reports of a few fish over the 120cm mark. Big Happy Rock Softies doing the damage on these larger fish, while the smaller fish have been falling to smaller suspending hardbodies and 90mm soft vibes. The hot water outlet has not been holding the fish it has in previous years. This little winter gem has always been a go to for local anglers chasing XOS barra in the cooler months. Smaller school sized fish have been hanging around the edges and current lines but certainly not the class of fish we are used to. Whether this is just a seasonal thing or it is now becoming too pressured from commercial nets, I don’t know. One thing I do know is we have more non-local commercial fishers netting the area than ever before. This might be due to the fact that a lot of these guys come from areas that have now been closed to netting and are left with no choice but to venture to nearby towns to make their living. Not only does this make things harder for the local commercial fishers, it

we will all be eating imported seafood that is more likely to spread disease through our oceans. I can tell you that most of the local commercial fishers want to protect and sustain this area just as much as we do. Does this mean zoning areas so that only a certain few can work? Does it mean closing the Boyne and Calliope rivers to netting? I can’t give you the answer, however I do believe it’s something we need to look into in the near future before every commercial fisher from Mackay to the Sunshine Coast is working the Gladstone harbour. Back to the fishing! Flathead have well and truly moved in and some monsters have been landed throughout August. The trusty 3” Gulp Shrimp did the damage for us on a recent trip exploring a new waterway. With nowhere near as much water as we had expected we beached the boat and waded a shallow creek on foot. A heap of small flathead landed with a couple around the 500mm mark. The water has been crystal clear in most of the creeks this month so it’s easy to find the fishy looking country and at times even sight cast flathead, if you don’t spook them before hand. Crabs have once again been slow but for those willing to put the effort in a feed is certainly achievable. September is an exciting time of year for me. The water begins to warm up and the summer species begin to fire back up. The last of the winter species are still hanging around and the nights are still cool enough to sit around a fire while camping at one of the many beautiful spots we have in central Queensland. One thing I am really excited for

Les Jones with one of the many flathead that fell to a 3” Gulp Shrimp. this year, and touch wood they turn up, is the small black marlin run we have on the central Queensland coast. From now through until late November the little blacks should be terrorizing the baitfish all the way along the coast. Hopefully this time next month I can be talking about how many billfish have been caught.

Until then tight lines! • For more information on what’s biting, or to stock up with all the tackle and bait you need, drop into LJ’s Compleat Angler Gladstone at the Gladstone Marina on Bryan Jordan Drive. You can also check out the latest news, photos and specials at Facebook Compleat Angler Gladstone.

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Cameron Gillett landed this trout on a Yakamito slow fall jig.

makes life harder for those trying to get a feed or get their kids onto some fish. Is this the commercials fault? No. Is the net free zone in Rocky wrecking the Gladstone fishery? No. Is this something local council, government and fisheries need to look at? Yes. I do believe more needs to be done in fishery management. The local guys that have been commercial fishing here forever need to be looked after and have their industry protected. Otherwise one day

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Quality threadfin from the town reaches ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The fishing this month has been great, both in the estuaries and inshore island regions. The river has been holding great stocks of fish, which is a welcome result from being a Net Free Zone for a few years now, and it will only get better. LAGOONS AND FRESHWATER Many of the normal areas for freshwater fishing around the region are running pretty dry due to lack of serious rainfall, however there are still areas that are fishable. With a bit of walking the lagoons around Woolwash you can still get the odd cold weather tarpon and barra. Hedlow Creek and Ramsay Creek are some other good options. ESTUARIES Threadies, grunter and golden snapper (fingermark) have all been pretty active in the estuaries. Around beach headlands and pressure points there have been many queenfish, salmon, dart and trevally. Bait holding at the mouth of the estuaries has been attracting smaller pelagics like school mackerel and mac tuna. Targeting the headlands and the smaller

pelagics is quite easy using metals like 15-30g Halco Twisties. Whiting have been found just along the drop-off line around the estuaries coming off the flats. Fresh yabbies and worms will see you catch a great number of these fish in no time. Flathead have been a great

species this year, showing up in good numbers. Live prawns are working a treat for these fish, with live herring coming a close second. Lures are more productive for these species though, as they enable you to cover a lot of ground, and flathead are not very picky. They will eat anything that has a good action.

The author with a decent threadfin caught in town.

Ellie with a handful of dart caught while beach fishing.

FITZROY Some great threadfin have been coming from the town reaches of the Fitzroy recently. Over the past month they have been schooling up in many small groups of four to six fish. Compared to the previous months, where it was one big school of 60-70 fish, they are a little harder to fish but are definitely still there and catchable. The lures of choice lately have been soft vibes like Fish Candys, Shimma Shads and Transams. These work better on the smaller schools, as you can fish them fast and move on to another school. INSHORE REGIONS The Keppel group has been fishing really

well lately. Many of the surrounding islands and rock bars have been great

for the ever-increasing mackerel numbers as we move into what could be called the Spanish mackerel season. The shallow reef and rubble areas have been producing great reef species like nannygai, trout and snapper. There has also been an increasing amount of whale activity at the islands lately, so keep your eyes peeled for them. 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.

Some good squid are still at Keppel at the moment, providing tubes for dinner and heads for bait.

The calm after the storm STANAGE BAY

PeeWee Wiltshire

Hope you’ve all had happy and safe fishing trips and the ocean was kind to you all. The road has taken a beating with the holiday traffic, so if you’re bringing the boat, drive to conditions and please take it steady. The

weather has been a bit hit and miss and some anglers have hit the jackpot while others not so much. The muddies are feeling the cold so you’ll need to go further up the creeks. The crabs that are about are of an impressive size. For those lucky enough to get the good weather, you don’t need to go far to catch our beautiful array of reef fish.

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Marble Island has come alive with red emperor, sweetlip and cod. Further out, Percy Island has the red emperor, nannygai and blubberlip, which, given the right handling, is still an excellent tasting fish. If you’ve just got a runabout dinghy the local jew can provide a bit of entertainment and you can find bream around the rocks of Quail Island. Whiting are being caught off Flat Rock. Flat Rock is accessible at low tide by 4WD, but be mindful it’s a bit of a hike back to the car so take along your tackle bag/box. The rocks at Alligator Bay are good feeding grounds at present for huge bream and tuskfish. Porters Creek is also showing good numbers of bream. Whale sightings are increasing in the area so be aware they are about and try to avoid a collision. September is generally the busiest time for them hugging the coastline heading back south. Now that holidays are over the township has gone back to a bit of normality and calm. The peace and quiet has returned and is ideal for those who come to chill out and relax.

Nooney and Lamby with a cracking Spanish mackerel. It’s time to start planning the next trip. Make sure the boats are maintained, safety equipment is up to date and onboard and all rods are at the ready. Stanage Bay

Marine and Accommodation are only too happy to help with all your fishing needs. • Book into your Stanage Bay rental – all the rentals are set up for fishers and

Amanda with an armful of black jew.

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, fish-cleaning 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.

The trout are definitely about YEPPOON

Scott Lynch ifishcq2@bigpond.com

Coral trout are really stealing the show at the moment. It has been years now since the green zones were introduced to our local area and the benefits just keep coming. Trout have increased in quantity right through our area, so now most people can catch coral trout regularly.

direction as opposed to bait where the trout is heading for home as soon as it is in its mouth. I have more fun using lures on light gear but the hand lines will always have a place working baits in shallow water. The last month has produced as many large Chinaman as I have ever seen. These guys live in the same area as coral trout and are caught in the same ways. We usually get them in the deeper locations past the islands in 20-50m. They are one of

Wade scored this horse Chinaman while fishing offshore Yeppoon. The most common trout here are the bar-cheek. They live in country as shallow as one metre to right out offshore. After fishing with one of the local trout men last year I have decided to go again this year. We bait fished very shallow water over rock shelves and in the middle of coral bombies. I lost a fair number of fish before landing any big trout on my 30lb braid and 50lb leader set up. My mate on the other hand had several in the boat without dropping one on his handline. The old hand reel with 70lb mono has instant feel, touch and pull that you can’t get from our light gear. I had no trouble getting the bites, and may have got a few more bites than the heavy mono, but turning the fish and getting it out of a coral hole was another story. I used a handline for a while and remembered how we used to do it before the modern gear came along. Lures are my favourite method and once I switched back over to vibes and paddle tails, my conversion rate increased significantly. Trout will usually grab the lure while it is moving away and you already have the weight heading in the right

the hardest fighters you will come across in reefy country. Many times while targeting trout we have hooked up large Chinaman. They feel like a hard fighting trout and even that first colour show says ‘big trout’. You manage to get them in just that bit further before you realize you’ve been conned. They give you a solid work out on decent red emperor gear and make you regret not using a heavy stick sometimes. They seem to

release pretty well and the only downside is that they are a ‘no take species’. They, along with red bass, are considered to be the highest carriers of ciguatera. Nearly all our regular pelagics are turning up in quantity in Keppel Bay. Doggies, spotted, greys, shark and the big Spanish mackerel, all come to play as the good weather conditions and shelter bring the endless bait schools right in close. The many vantage points along the shore allow you to see the bait schools or the numerous boats targeting the mackerel. Spots like Bangalee, Farnborough, Ritamada, The Septic Tank, Claytons, Ironpot, Forty Acre Paddock, Pelican, Wedge, Divided and Quartz are visible from shore and are easily accessible with tinnies. There are several beaches including Farnborough, Mulambin, Fishermans and Kennedy St where you can put in small boats to avoid the long run and crowded conditions at our only all tide ramp at Rosslyn Bay. There are a number of other close spots just out of view that work very well including all of the local islands, Findlays, Liza Jane, The Pinnacles and Manifold Island, just up the coast. The bait schools expected this month are yorkies, greenback herrings, rainbow runners, ribbonfish, Watson’s bonito and gar. We often spend a day chasing bait for future expeditions, to ensure we have the best bait available at any time. This really does make a difference when things are slow. Cobia can be found at

The author landed this fine coral trout at the Keppels.

virtually any of the offshore reef patches or wrecks at the moment. The bigger schools have dispersed down to smaller schools of same-sized medium fish and big loners. Cobia are a pretty good tackle tester for light gear and will take lures, livies or bait. They can be annoying when the big schools pass as they take all the baits presented for the more favoured reefies and mackerel. If you really want to target black king then a lightlyweighted flesh strip or whole king prawn floated down with the current around the higher structures will do the trick. Largemouth nannygai, grunter, black jew and cod are in good number this month. September for me is one of the most exciting months of the year for inshore and offshore anglers. We do, however, get the odd westerly wind to make it interesting and force us to search for alternatives. There is no doubt that the westerly does affect the fishing in certain areas. We are lucky enough to have a few quality spots under the wind curtain behind the islands or close into the mainland where the pressure doesn’t slow the bite. Inside the area before the wind touches down on the water it is often a glassoutwhere the reefies and mackerel can chew their heads off. We have tried a number of locations along the Cap Coast and heading north. Stanage Bay is one of the spots where the reef comes right into the coast under the wind curtain. We work the headlands and rubble patches until we find fish. Golden snapper, bar-cheek trout, grassy sweetlip and parrot all inhabit this zone. The westerlies have little effect on the deeper offshore waters and once you are out past the wind’s influence the fishing is as good as ever. Big flathead have started moving towards the bays and estuary mouths. Corio Bay, Coorooman Creek and The Fitzroy Delta are the standouts. They line the deeper channel edges and banks moving in and out with the tide. The best results for flatties always come when the lure is worked back towards you with the tide. Vibes, plastics, hardbodies and chromies all work for flatties, the location will affect which one works best on the day.

Rod Harrison with a healthy Keppel Coast red emperor. Live baits are the next best option, especially as it is very easy to come by at present. Poddy mullet, greenback herring, hardihead and prawns seem to be in most of the local systems this month. Steelbacks, or flat salmon, are almost in plague proportions at Coorooman Creek right now. These little fellers are grabbing any small shiny lure or bait meant for other fish. They love anything that glitters from little Flashas to small feather jigs. Steelies are a great little fun sportfish on ultra-light gear. They even

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put on an aerial display at times. This week I went for a troll to get a few ribbonfish as Spaniard baits and I was flat out getting past the steelies. In previous years we have eaten them and they do cook up okay. They do however make reasonable troll and reef baits. Though they aren’t as good as ribbons, they still work pretty well. King salmon, barramundi, blue salmon, bream, whiting, grunter and queenfish are the other main captures over the transition from winter to summer.

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It’s prime time to take a day off MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

September and spring are here and that means magic weather and fishing for Mackay. I predict there will be a few ‘sickies’ taken during the month by workers and bosses alike. Pelagics and reef fishing will be the main attractions during the month for the offshore anglers. The creek and dam fishos will welcome the warmer weather and the barra waking up and becoming more active. Not bad prospects for the month at all.

some top sport and eating fish. The main target will be the smaller mackerel and tuna, which aren’t hard to find out in the boat. The birds working are a dead giveaway, as are the slashing runs through the bait schools. When close to the boat, the noise from tuna and macks smashing bait is awesome. They can get so fixated they will sometimes run into the side of the boat. For the shore based angler the best place to get among this action is from the harbour walls but unfortunately the breakwalls are closed to vehicle traffic. But anglers can still cycle out or hoof it to the end of the southwall, where

Find some bait and drop a jig in Mackay waters and you never know what comes up. Jake McGowan with a superb diamond trevally on a magic flat day. Light northerly winds will have the bait schools moving right inshore with bait balls even found inside the harbour and along the beaches throughout the district. These bait schools feature herring and small hardiheads. Of course, where there is bait the predators follow, so it is possible to hook decent Spanish mackerel from the beach as they harass the bait. These small baitfish are fairly easy to replicate with shinies, small hardbodies and soft plastics. For the fly fishers, Clousers and similar patterns will work well. Make sure you cast to the edges of the bait schools. The beach anglers will most likely catch the smaller mackerel, mac tuna, queenfish, trevally and of late there has been a run of smaller swallowtail dart along the beach between the harbour and the river mouth. Small plastics and shinies will be the best bet for lures. Tinnie anglers just love September as the calm weather lets them get out and among

there is good current flow and plenty of bait and predators. The favoured rig off the walls is a fairly long rod, eggbeater reel and pilchards on ganged rigs, but lures can work just as well, so the choice is yours. If you choose to walk out be satisfied with one or two fish as it’s a long walk back. Small boat anglers will catch plenty of macs and tuna around the harbour and out to Slade Island. Work the run throughs on the seaward side of Slade Island and hang on as plenty of solid Spaniards and big golden trevally haunting this area, not to mention longtail tuna. Out from the river mouth those two great little islands, Flat and Round Top, will see plenty of action. Big queenies can be found patrolling along the inside of Flat Top and the rock bar on the southern end is a good spot to pick up small macks as the tide floods over it. There will be plenty of action between the two islands and all around Round Top there will be plenty of bait and small macks. On the

SEASON

inside of Round Top in the calm water it is worthwhile tossing a squid jig into the shallows as there are usually a few around. They are not huge squid but three or four will get a couple of good feeds. Bait anglers will get plenty of fish on the traditional pilchard rig on ganged hooks either drifting the bait or slow trolling with a plastic squid over the head of the bait or one of the commercial rigs available at the local tackle stores. If trolling lures to locate fish, have a few different types and mix up the trolling depths. Medium diving hardbodies and shinies all troll well and will work at various speeds and depths. For hardbodies, generally speaking, any barra lure around 100-150mm long will catch mackerel. The trade off is to use either mono leader or wire – more strikes will come on the mono but lure losses can mount up quickly. Around the islands, the last of the snapper run will taper off during September although a few stragglers will hang about until October. By mid-month most locals turn their attentions elsewhere and start looking for reef fish up around the Seaforth area around the islands out from the NFZ. Larger boats will head for the Goldsmiths or keep motoring to the reef proper. There will still be plenty of Spanish mackerel found around the Overfalls near Prudhoe Island and during September the odd black jew will also feature in anglers catches. Both spaniards and black jew show up well on modern sounders and

Golden trevally are a great sportfish. Tiana Allen reckons ones like this Mackay beauty pull like freight trains.

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 4.30pm on 50

SEPTEMBER 2018

individual fish can be targeted. For the big boat fishers, the reef will prove a great attraction during September as those light winds will let the boats range far and wide. Stevens Reef, which is the nearest proper reef to Mackay, will cop plenty of attention and trout from the shallows will be prolific here and at all other reefs further out. The big red fish will be in the deep water. Well-known spots in the shipping channel will produce good numbers of emperor, sweetlip and nannygai. Back onshore the barra have woken up and are on the move and on the chew in the creeks, freshwater dams and rivers. Warmer water temps and prolific bait will see plenty of anglers getting their first barras for the season. A side benefit of the warm weather is the chance to tangle with a jack or two, but most will be chasing a barra fix. With all the bait in the Pioneer River, after dark fishing for barra will be centred around the road bridges and the ‘V’ down near the mouth. The beacon rock on the south side of the river mouth is a pretty reliable spot on the top and turn of the tide. Live baits are the best bet here and there are plenty of herring, mullet and whiting, which can be caught in a cast net. The mangrove creeks are all starting to fire as I put this article together and the last of the cold weather seems to be behind us, with daytime temps well into the 20s. Barra will be on the chew in Reliance, Constant, and Murray creeks as well as the smaller systems to the north of the city.

Pelagics galore! Justin Locher picked up this decent Spanish mackerel in the deeper water at Round Top Island, a couple of kilometres from the river mouth. Heading south, Bakers, Sandy and Alligator creeks will fire up and around Sarina inlet will see plenty of action. Kinchant and Teemburra dams will turn out plenty of barra action. The great news on Kinchant is the Fisheries are planning to install a fish habitat in the dam. This is a joint project between Fisheries and Mackay Regional Council and volunteers are assisting with the construction under Fisheries’ supervision. Once built the artificial trees, brush piles and reefs will be deployed throughout the dam and the GPS coordinates will be published. The idea is to create a better fishery by installing habitat that will attract bait species and barra, which will enable the less competent angler to experience the thrill of catching a barra – with the chance of scoring one well over a metre on the cards. A great project but unfortunately due to changes in the SIP funds distribution, MAFSA will receive about 30% less funding from that source, which is ironic given the improved habitat that will result from this project. If chasing the barra in

the dams try to find areas with warmer water or concentration of bony bream. Check any projecting point around the main dam bodies and if there is lay down timber, weeds and lilies you will likely hit the jackpot. Use big paddle-tail plastics, hardbodies and surface lures. My preference is a big walkthe-dog style lure like the Tango Dancers. Plastic frogs like the ZMan range also work well rigged weedless on a 7/0oz worm hook. The heart stopping action of a big barra smashing a surface lure is very addictive. So, while September is mainly a pelagic and barra month there are plenty of other options to choose from. In the creeks threadies, grunter and flathead will be on the move along with whiting, bream and jacks. Around the islands, close inshore there will be blueys, golden snapper and cod aplenty. The freshwater reaches will yield barra and, my favourite, the sooty grunter. September sees plenty of options and fishy action, so why not come to paradise and join in the fun. See you at the ramp.

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Big Spaniard blessed new boat AYR

Steve Farmer

Col Casalegno and Kristie Moore, along with their one-year-old crew member, Kelsie, ‘blooded’ their new fishing machine in more ways than one when they headed for Cape Upstart on the revamped 565L Haines Hunter’s maiden voyage. With the 175hp Yamaha humming sweetly they sped across Upstart Bay on a calm sea at up to 75km/h, before dropping off the plane and setting a rigged wolf herring astern for a slow troll around The Bun. Col said the fishing was quiet and when it was obvious other boats working the same area weren’t doing any better, they swung the bow southwards for a troll along the rocky headlands on the weather side of the cape. They first spotted the

was a team effort, with Kristie on the rod and Col skippering the boat and standing by with the gaff. Eventually Kristie exhausted the big pelagic and brought it alongside for Col to gaff. With the Spaniard safely onboard the tape measure confirmed it to be an impressive 1.33m and a memorable way to ‘blood’ their rig. The Spaniard helped with the ‘blooding’ as well. A final, quick flick of its head saw the razor-sharp dentures seriously slash Col’s finger and thumb. With the blood flowing freely the rest of the day’s fishing was cancelled and they sped back to the ramp at Molongle Creek and sought medical help. Col’s plight was yet another example of why Burdekin boaties need all-tide access at Molongle. A few hours later and they wouldn’t have been able to get up the creek to the ramp and Col would have had a long, possibly painful wait for the tide to drop.

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Col Casalegno with the 1.33m Spanish mackerel that ‘blooded’ their new fishing boat.

Kristie Moore locked in battle with a big Spaniard. big mack on the sounder and moments after the Spanish dropped off the edge of the screen the wolfie was nailed. The resultant battle

Kristie and Col made the most of a brief weather window to score their big mackerel, but, overall, winter has again been disappointing weather wise

for NQ bluewater anglers. Most of the calmer weather has only lasted a day or two and some of the forecasts were well wide of the mark. Consequently most of the migrating mackerel schools didn’t have to run the gauntlet of skilled Burdekin anglers and catch reports have been few and far between. The schools are probably thinning out by now, but I’m sure anglers will be making the most of any light-wind opportunities as we head into September. Bottom bouncing fishers were scattered far and wide during the short bouts of calm weather, from the inshore shoals to the outer edge. Results were mixed with some having to work hard to put even a modest feed in the icebox while others did well on trout and red throat. The creeks have been fishing fairly well and should continue to heat up as the spring temperatures climb. The clearer waters of the past few cooler months have seen small queenfish following the big tides into a number of local estuaries to feed. Anglers fishing Ocean and Phillips Camp creeks and the Burdekin River have reported having a bit of fun when the highflying queenies snapped up baits and lures generally intended for other species. Mangrove jack have also been fishing better than they usually do at this time

of year, and even during the later months of winter were pretty active in many estuaries – and the month ahead is full of promise. Over the years I can remember quite a few productive jack trips with regular fishing mates Steve Theofanes and John O’Sullivan during September. It was a time when lure fishing was a bit of a novelty in North Queensland and tackle was rudimentary and limited at best. Most fish were taken on homemade hardbodies and many anglers were reluctant to believe we could produce the fish we did on bits of painted timber. Attitudes, tactics and fishing tackle have certainly changed in the last three to four decades. The jacks’ usual running mate, the barra, hasn’t been fishing so well, but anglers still have a couple months of rapidly warming weather to notch up a fish or two before the season closes for three months. One tip when hunting barra is to look for warmer water where they are more likely to be hanging out. In freshwater that might be where the flow of the river is running across a shallow section (where it heats up) before spilling into a deep hole. Target the drop-off, especially if it is lined with structure. In the estuaries channels or small creeks draining sandflats or saltpans on the falling tide is worth a shot.

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Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com SEPTEMBER 2018

Make the most of the mackerel on offer WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

The last month has seen long runs of calm days and balmy seas. There has been plenty of bait around and the water has been ridiculously clean. Sometimes we do get lucky and all the moons do align. It’s been good to see plenty of people getting out and taking advantage of it.

little intermittent and hard to read. The main catches coming off the deeper reef and rubble patches have been grunter and jewfish. There have been a lot of large mouth nannygai around but the average size has been well down and I have struggled to find a lot of big ones. On some of the sessions where we have been chasing jewfish the average size has been down with a lot of fish coming in just shy of legal.

next few weeks, although this will be the tail end of them as the water temps are beginning to climb and the fish will start to migrate south for the summer. As the mackerel start to get thinner hopefully the billfish will start to get thicker and the signs are there that it could be a good billfish season as well. There have been a few early fish getting caught in the main Whitsunday group of islands just to the south of me, which is good to see.

Tony Crihiola with a decent inshore coral trout.

Super keen young angler Sean McAllister with his first ever Spanish mackerel. The last few weeks on Reel Addiction the mighty Spanish mackerel has reigned supreme with plenty of clients breaking their macky virginity. The outer edge of the islands has been the place to find these fish and the age-old favourite ploy of slow trolling wolf herring has been bringing most fish unstuck. I know that in a previous report I said that I was planning to hit these fish with herring and school mackerel rigged as swim baits but these fish have disappeared recently, but there has still been plenty of wolf herring around. As always we have to ‘match the hatch’ so it’s been wolf herring that we’ve had to feed the mackerel. If you haven’t tried trolling wolf herring before the trick is to keep them long and tow them as slow as you can. The bites have been very light so a constant watch on the rod tips is essential to ensuring a good hook up to bite ratio. As soon as you see a little nod from your rod tip, that’s your bite, immediately push your throttle down to make the line come hard and set the hooks. Then it’s game on – hang on and enjoy the ride. Among other fish on the chew, the deeper reef fishing hasn’t been too bad, although the bite has been a 52

SEPTEMBER 2018

of days sight fishing with fly rod wielding clients from New Zealand last week, and the amount of fish that we sighted in two days was staggering and very promising for this early in the sight casting season. It’s hard to stop your heart from jumping out of your chest when you lay that perfect cast out and watch a black spot tuskfish (bluey) or a permit turn on your fly and charge it

Tuna have been a bit thin on the ground but we’ve still been getting a few. This is Franka with a nice longtail that fell for a sinking stickbait. It’s a well-known fact that jewfish suffer badly from barotrauma and don’t release well. So, if you get onto a school of mediocre sized fish, don’t persist with it trying to get that big one, move to another location and try again. These guys aren’t a limitless resource and it’s pointless killing them for nothing. Over the next few weeks I’m hoping for more calm and clean water so that I can keep pushing ahead targeting the pelagics. It’s been a good Spanish mackerel season to date and I see no reason why that shouldn’t continue over the

Locally here at Hydeaway Bay I’ve managed to tease one up to the side of the boat but it was a fussy little bugger and I couldn’t get it to eat anything. I’ve sighted a couple more free swimmers while targeting Spanish mackerel. The teasers, pusher lures and some pre-rigged garfish will be on Reel Addiction on a daily basis from now on. The blue water isn’t the only place to be in spring as this is when our flats come to life and we are truly blessed here at Hydeaway bay to have such an array of quality flats to go sight fishing on. I did a couple

down. Personally, this is one of my favourite forms of fishing and I simply can’t get enough of it. The shallower reef fishing has been pretty hard recently but that is to be expected with the water temps being down. September will see the water temperature start to climb a little more steeply and as it does the inshore reef fishing will start to improve. I’ve noticed locally over the last couple of years that 26°C seems to be the magic mark for the bigger coral trout to start biting and we should hopefully see that happen soon. September is normally the last month for shore based anglers to enjoy some prime flathead and whiting fishing. The beaches around the Cape Gloucester region are well known for holding good numbers of whiting and the local beaches of Dingo Beach and Nelly Bay are two of my favourites to go for a stroll to catch a flatty or two. The flathead love to hang around in little colonies so once you find one or two pepper the hell out of it and normally a few

more will come to hand. In conclusion the beginning of spring is an awesome time to be on the water. The winter chill has departed us, we normally get long runs of nice calm sunny days and there are multitudes of species on offer for all anglers. So get on out there, have a go and I’ll see you out there somewhere. • 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.

It’s been good to see plenty of parents bringing their kids out for a fish. Geoff Carey holding up his son Josh’s big gold spot cod, they had a ball fighting it together.

Good offshore opportunities are available HINCHINBROOK

Ryan Moody info@ryanmoodyfishing.com

There has still been a fair bit of strong southeasterly wind activity over the past month, but certainly not as bad as when I wrote my last report. Some reasonable gaps have opened up good offshore opportunities, and locals have been making the most of it. Some friends of mine have done well out in the deeper waters fishing the 60m mark, catching a number of different species of solid reef fish. There’s no shortage of spots out this far, as our seabed opens up to a lot of old hilltops which are now deep shoals. Learning how to read a chart from a bathometric point of view can help with finding some new good ground like this. Just to our north lies Mission Beach, and it has become a great departing point for smaller boats to access Great Barrier Reef waters. I have made the most of it in the past as the close proximity allows us to take the barra boat out during good weather. Some of the fishing out there is fantastic,

and also the near shelf waters are only 34 miles out. Armistice Reef and Sharon Shoal provide good quality gamefishing opportunities on the making tides, and there’s miles of bottom fishing area out there too.

all we needed. The sounder reading below us was very impressive, and it was awfully tempting to drop again, but I know when to stop these days. Mission Beach is ideal for the travelling angler,

Anglers enjoyed some really good trout sessions again this winter. We recently fished the area on our return from Cairns, and after dropping anchor late one afternoon the trout certainly had their last-minute bite before they retired for the night. We managed a quick four and called it quits as that’s

with some estuary action available in the Hull River near south Mission. It’s a great area for grunter and also mangrove jack. It’s also only 40-minute drive down to Cardwell with access to the Hinchinbrook Channel. Billfish reports have

been sketchy, with varying results but no great action just yet. We still have one good month to go so hopefully they will pick up a bit before the season ends. Barra have also been sporadic, according to those who have been targeting them. I’ve had a break from the barra since retiring from charters a few months back, but I’m looking forward to the warmer weather to stretch my legs on them again. The barra should improve around mid-September, which will give us about six weeks of better results before the season closes. Barra fishers should definitely make the most of this period. Other estuary species will also improve during September with the change of seasons. Both golden snapper (fingermark) and big grunter will become a bit more widespread in the channel and Missionary Bay. This is also the time of year when we often see a few big black jew getting caught. The channel was prolific once upon a time, but nowadays this species evades many anglers and has only short appearances inshore. A big black jew is actually a bucket list fish for

The author’s brother Ian has been finding good fish for clients inshore, like this solid nannygai. many fishos in North Qld, as we lack the abundance of numbers when compared to NT and Central Qld. On the pelagic scene, the Spaniards will be going off inshore around isolated structure and headlands. September is the last month in these waters that they stay inshore before moving out to the reefs to spawn in October. If you are coming up to have a go for them, aim for the tides coming up to the dark moon as this is a particularly active period of the month for them.

Keep an eye out also for our September launch of our online barra fishing course ‘Barra Basics’. We are getting more southern students now making the most of it for when they travel north each year. See you on the water. • 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.

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There’s hot fishing from the creeks to the reefs TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

Depending on who you talk to, the fishing has been pretty damn good. Almost everywhere – from the reef to the little creeks that wind their way out of the mountains – there have been hungry fish eating lures and baits enthusiastically.

so wire hasn’t been spooking them, which saves on lure losses. It’s pretty funny when you’re casting 6lb braid at doggies to try and get the most from the fight, and a big Spanish grabs your little lure. It’s about the quickest way I can think of to lose a hundred meters of line in a few seconds. It’s happened to us a couple of times now and all you can do is laugh.

It’s not very often you can catch a mackerel and a barra in the same session. Spanish, doggy and spotty mackerel have been around in great numbers... if you can find the schools. Apart from the channel markers, they’re not really holding in one area for too long, so a bit of searching is required to find them. However, once that part of the puzzle has been put in place, the rest is easy. Quite a few Spanish have been caught from tiny tinnies in the channel, and big GTs and queenfish have also been mixed in with them. I’m not a huge mackerel fan but I did stop in for a flick at the markers the other day and it only took a few minutes to get a few fish on board. They’re in full-on feed mode

SEPTEMBER 2018

Thanks to the water clarity you can easily sight cast to the barra.

Grunter have pushed way up in the systems lately.

The deeper holes in the river systems are holding schools of golden snapper, which are just smashing lures.

This barra engulfed a lure worked just under the surface in 30cm of water. 54

For the first time in many years the Fishing Warehouse has run out of wolf herring! Luckily we have just got a fresh batch now, but it’s amazing how many we sell when the mackerel are about and the weathers good. Lures have also been producing very well, and one of the top performers is the Halco Max 130. It trolls quicker than a diving lure, and can be sunk down and trolled back to the surface to get to deeper fish if necessary. Another tactic that’s worth remembering is to have a big slice ready to feed down to the bottom and then crank back at warp speed to get a reaction bite. This was my preferred method to use when I used to spend more time offshore, as I loved that hit on the wind rather than just putting the rod in the holder. The 80g Outcast and Twisties are great for this. Bottom species such as trout and nannygai are bringing smiles to every offshore angler, and plenty of fishos have bagged out in just a couple of hours. We’ve seen heaps of photos of fish laid out on boat decks and back yards that show the sheer numbers of fish that have been on the chew. Some Facebook warriors have unloaded on those anglers who have put up kill shots, but you have to remember

that there are several people on board the bigger boats, and each angler has been within their bag limit. Yes, a kill shot isn’t pretty, and it may well give Green extremists ammunition to say, ‘look at how much damage fishermen are doing’. However, there aren’t that many days when the weather is good enough to get out there and catch decent numbers, and for people who eat quite a bit of fish it may be months before they get the opportunity to get back out there again. RIVERS AND CREEKS Grunter have pushed a long way up the systems and

are being taken on mullet fillets and peeled prawns, and the rig is quite simple. A running ball sinker that’s big enough to hold in the chosen location needs to slide down on top of a swivel, and from swivel to hook should be a mono trace of around 20-30lb. The best all round hook I’ve found is a 3/0 Gamakatsu suicide. There will be plenty of pikey bream getting involved, so action will be consistent. While casting for barra right up in the top end of a system the other day we had a grunter of around 65cm cruise up and check out the lure before sitting back under the log again. Now aware of our presence, it wouldn’t come back out for anything. The barra that we didn’t see sitting further back did come out though, shooting out from the log and engulfing the 4” Halco Paddle Prawn like it was his last meal. Almost all of the fish we have caught lately could be been seen eating the lure in the clear conditions,

and that’s just added to the excitement factor. Jacks, barra and everything else in the

rivers are feeding, and even mackerel have been eating our lures in the rivers. It’s quite an amazing thing to cast into the snags at a barra you can see, and have a doggie charge out of nowhere and eat your lure. We took some GoPro footage the other day of three separate schools of barra sitting in the snags. We put lures on their noses to tempt them out and eat them. It’s really quite amazing to see the numbers of small fish that are schooling up, but there are quite a few with net marks on them, so it’s not hard to figure out what happened to the bigger specimens. I’ll leave that to your imagination. All in all, it’s been a fantastic few weeks. The water in the rivers is up to 24°C now, so I don’t think you’ll have too much trouble hooking a fish, that’s for sure. Cheers and good luck.

While chasing barra, flathead are a common by-catch. This one ate a 4” Paddle Prawn cast along a deep sunken snag.

The best fishing month of the year around Cairns CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

September has to be the best month to be on the water in the Cairns area and if last year is anything to go by, we are in for a cracker. Last year we had weeks of flat seas and cooperative fish and anglers are even more upbeat this year after a great wet season. Fishing, from the estuaries to the reef, has been good and the warming of the water should see things fire up even more this month. Coral trout and largemouth nannygai have been the most common and desired catch at the reef but have been well supported by red emperor, spangled emperor, smallmouth nannygai and a large array of less common species like reef mangrove jack, gold band snapper, long-nosed emperor and Robinson’s sea bream. Inshore, golden snapper have been plentiful along the headlands, along with barramundi, for those that have been looking. Most people have been chasing mackerel when the winds have allowed with mixed results. Some anglers have returned all smiles, while others have been left scratching their heads. This is a great time of year to be heading to the reef, as the days are not too hot and the winds generally cooperative. For those wishing to overnight at the reef, the storms usually haven’t starting brewing on the Tablelands just yet, which makes for a more relaxed night. Sitting 40-60km offshore and watching a light show fire up on the Tablelands can make boaties pretty nervous, even with the aid of the BOM radar on

Legendary reef charter skipper Peter Todd is enjoying retirement by staying closer to shore chasing golden snapper. their mobile phone! Another device that makes for more relaxed boating at night is an automatically inflating life jacket. For $120-$150 they are the best investment you can make to help ensure you come home safely when travelling/fishing at night. Over the past few years I have taken to wearing one whenever I am out fishing alone or travelling at night and it has a significant impact on my level of relaxation. They are pretty comfortable to wear and after a while you forget you are wearing one. Mackerel have been around in good numbers with Spaniards being the main players in the Cairns area. Doggies, spotties and a few greys have also been taken but they have been in better numbers to the north and south of Cairns, on the Cassowary Coast and Douglas areas, rather than straight off Cairns. Off

Cairns the best areas to try will be around the wrecks off Double Island, High Island to the south, the Trinity Inlet leads, especially out towards the Fairway Leads and Cape Grafton. Cobia should be around the same areas as the mackerel, while those chasing billies will do best to focus on the wide grounds, if they can locate good bait schools. If the forecast winds are up to 20 knots, then you can chase mackerel in most of these locations, as long as you get out there early, before the winds pick up. The window usually lasts until 7:00am. This means you need to have lines in at the first sign of light to have an hour or so before you need to start working your way back to calmer waters. The lower the forecast wind strength, usually the longer you have until the wind picks up to the forecast strength. With 10-15 knots forecast, the window

usually lasts until mid to late morning and 10 knots can last all day but at least until lunchtime. Inshore will see the barra start to liven up with the increasing water temperature, while golden snapper will be around throughout. Both fish have been on the headlands throughout winter, with golden snapper more plentiful and active. Fishing live bait, on a dropper rig, is definitely the most productive method for golden snapper but soft plastics like jerk shads, paddle tails, squid and prawns certainly account for plenty of fish and are much more fun. Live baiting with 50lb braid and 40-50lb leader will handle most fish, with 30lb braid and leader a bit more fun and sporting. Live baits of sardines, mud herring, mullet, gar, prawns and squid are top of the pile but when they are feeding they will take most things live. Any form of small trevally, sprat or shad are also top bait when you can find them. Luring with 30lb braid and 40lb leader will see you land most fish, while the more sporting will go down to 20lb braid and 30lb leader. You need to fish early and late for the best results when chasing golden snapper. If you are not fishing through either a dawn or dusk you are not giving yourself the best chance of tangling with this brute of a fish! You will still catch them in broad daylight but they are far more active at dawn and dusk than any other period of the day. Many Cairns and Tablelands anglers head for the sweetwater as the weather warms in September. Families often take advantage of the school holidays to chase barra in the western rivers and the eastern Cape. The countryside is drying

Ben Dickinson was stoked with this 90cm barra he caught at Karumba recently, casting a Barra Classic lure. up, making getting there and back a lot easier, though the roads can be getting pretty rough by this time of year. Reduced water levels concentrate fish better in the freshwater and increasing temperature will make them more active in fresh and salt water. Trolling deep diving minnows is certainly the most popular approach but flicking is also very productive and a lot of fun. The chances of landing a prized metrey are considered far better trolling than flicking under most circumstances.

Closer to home the sweetwater is also worth a look as stream levels drop, concentrating fish in the larger holes. Mangrove jack will be pushed down into the salt and they are a good fish to target in the upper tidal reaches, along with barra who are heading to the sea ready for spawning. Sooty grunter and jungle perch are also on the prowl with warming waters, making September one of the best and certainly my favourite month of the year to be fishing around Cairns.

Mackerel have been around in good numbers.

It’s starting to warm up in the Trinity Inlet NFZ CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

With the spring months upon us water temps are on their way up and with it brings a resurgence in appetite for our muchloved NFZ barramundi. I have been cruising a few of the NFZ waterways of late including the Barron River, Half Moon Bay and Trinity Inlet with my head in the sounder and the signs are more than promising after our big wet this year. The sizes of the schools of barramundi congregating are some of the best I’ve seen for the area and while many have been sulking and hard to get to bite,

when they do become active it’s a lot of fun. At the moment the best results have been coming from finding these schools of fish and spending the time to work them over thoroughly with vibes and prawn style soft plastics worked closely to the bottom. It is just a matter of putting in the time, effort and casts to get that lure to swim right past their noses and get the bite. Often, it’s a case of one or two fish here and there but when you consider the quality of barra coming out of the Cairns Inlet it’s worth the effort. Many of the fish are well above ‘rat’ size with 80-90cm the most common size. These fish are fat and healthy and are enjoying the NFZ. In the Barron River numbers seem

David Taylor, the Cairns Inlet NFZ guru, has been snaring some top barra lately. to be smaller with smaller congregations, but there are also some cracking fish in there. Several fish have been taken off the bridges, using live baits and vibes, that are over the metre mark.

In the smaller systems like Half Moon Bay the jacks have been coming on the bite and September would have to be my favourite time to fish this system. With the clear water from lack of rain

and smaller early spring tides lure fishing is the best way to go. The down side of this is you will need to downgrade your leaders to keep up the stealth approach. I recommend a high quality fluorocarbon leader like Sunline FC100 for this tight snag bashing work. ZMan 3” minnow and prawn style plastics hopped through the timber is a good option. I have been fishing Eastfield Perch Curly Tails in this system lately and they have been a real go to lure when the bite has been tough. In other news, the Cairns Recreational Fishing Strategy has been endorsed by Council and I was proud as punch to be part of the team that has put this together. You can have a read

over the strategy at http:// www.cairns.qld.gov.au/ council/have-say/closed/ rec-fishing. One of the best things about this strategy is that it is fully funded and key infrastructure like CCTV and boat ramp upgrades have already been complete within the NFZ areas. There are also some exciting developments in the pipeline including some real innovative ideas like artificial reefs in the NFZ. The team is also looking forward to putting together a Recreational Code of Conduct for the NFZ to ensure best practice. All in all the future is looking bright for the NFZ so make sure you get in there and enjoy what it has to offer. SEPTEMBER 2018

Warmer waters here we come LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

Excitement is building, as the start of September means it will start to warm up here in the tropics. Not that it really gets cold here,

and humid nights. I can already imagine those active barra on the prowl searching for food. In saying that it has been a great year so far. The last few months have seen consistent fishing up the channel and we have even got lucky with the odd window of light winds

This angler has been doing well on the barra all winter. but I don’t enjoy winter fishing as much as summer. Yes, I might be spoilt but there is something magical about warmer waters

that always brings chaos at the ramp and in the car park. I still remember one particular weekend where they were lined up for over 200m and

two deep just to launch, and cars were parked all the way back to the pub (about 1km away). People were hitchhiking and running back to the ramp and the waiting boats. It’s no secret that the fishing out of Lucinda can be great. Anyway, let’s get into what should be happening in September. HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL This would have to be one of the most consistent winters I can remember in terms of fishing the channel for the sought after barra. Many of those 60-70cm fish have been pushed out into the salt due to the great wet season we’ve just had. These fish are normally found schooled together and can provide great fun and entertainment. Casting small plastics into drains and around snags should see you get connected to some Hinchy chrome. My go-to always is the ZMan 3” MinnowZ. It’s a versatile plastic that can be rigged in many ways and will

entice bites from pretty much all species big or small. They are also tough and I’ve caught over 20 fish on the one plastic over many trips. The mangrove jack fishing has been slower the last month, but this is normal with the clear cold water. Hopefully, with the temps starting to rise they should start sharpening their teeth and terrorising the local bait schools again. Some great captures of silver grunter have been reported from anglers fishing baits in the evenings over deeper water. These are great fish and not only fight well but are amazing table fish with pearly white fillets. The one fish I haven’t seen as much as previous winters is the blue salmon. There have been some caught but compared to previous years it seems slower. I was encountering massive schools hunting over flats up the creeks on the incoming tide and the same creeks would

The reefs are offering up plenty PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

It seemed like the windy winter would never end but the shackles were released from the start of August and the weather pattern has settled nicely in the tropics. It has opened up a lot more opportunity and choice for anglers whether it is fishing out of a tinny or cruising around in a luxury boat. After a tedious run of cool, windy months, all anglers are ready to take to the blue highway and hit the coastal and offshore reefs. With the sun on your back and nice smooth seas there’s no better way to spend a day. Reef fishing has been red-hot at times with all the prized reef species chomping away down below with the added bonus of Spanish mackerel concentrating in the same areas on the surface. There have been some incredible pay days coming back into the docks in recent weeks with recreational charter boats registering up to 40 large and small-mouth nannygai, multiple big red emperor, accompanied by others including lots of coral trout, gold spot trevally and other bits and pieces. The good weather has allowed them to hit the deeper marks in open waters that haven’t been 56

SEPTEMBER 2018

There has been a great run of Spanish mackerel. Photo courtesy of Saltaire Charters. accessed for a while due to the adverse conditions. The only quiet patch of fishing coincided with the full moon period (blood moon) and was assisted by a run of sharks, but once this passed it was straight back into the thick of things. The bite has been concentrated and the turn of the tide seems to be

the main trigger. That’s when you should be at your favourite location for the day. There has been a decent run of Spanish mackerel on the outer reef with the major river’s pressure points providing the best action. Closer to home inshore reefs and wrecks are holding some Spanish mackerel along

with school and spotted mackerel. The wrecks are also holding a wide range of trevally species, some of which you’ll need to look up in the fishing guidebook to identify. Just south of Port Douglas the wide grounds are paying dividends on the small black marlin and catches have really picked up in the last couple of weeks. The bait is there and so are the billfish. A run of better weather has meant far better access to this area. Within our coastal rivers and creeks we have seen the water temperature creep up to 24°C and that is a calling card for the likes of barra, mangrove jack and golden snapper to start getting active. In the coming month we should see these summer species combine with the winter fish, offering a bit more variety in the calmer waters. With better conditions on offer the tides should provide superior water clarity and those that like their soft plastic and lure fishing should be in for a treat. Barra, jacks, golden snapper, queenfish and trevally are all possibilities at the moment. With a new season comes new offerings – you won’t find a more varied fishery anywhere with a multitude of fish for the taking. Tropical Far North Queensland is the place to fish this season.

Solid golden snapper caught on a ZMan Jerk ShadZ. have schooling fish every year. This year I have only came across small groups of fish. The other fish that everyone should be targeting in the next few months is the golden snapper. They can be found up creeks, the channel and out wider on shoals and wrecks. They respond well to baits and plastics and also jigs, they fight hard and are superb eating. JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF When the weather allows there is plenty of fun to be had out on that blue water. There has been some terrific fishing out on the reef with coral trout and nannygai being the stand out captures. The coral trout have been

plastics with speed are proven methods to get hooked up and lose plenty of line. Mackerel sure know how to make sure your drag works, so use a reel with a pretty good capacity and a smooth drag system. The jetty has been going off with the usual run of big winter queenfish. These fish are so much fun and I still don’t understand how boats can sit there soaking baits for not even a bite when they could be hooked up to these great sportfish. Working anything fast and erratically should tempt them to bite and fishing morning or afternoon when there is good current flow will turn them on. The fishing will always get tougher in the middle of

Toni’s first longtail after 40 minutes on light gear. biting well, especially in the afternoon when there are some strong currents causing bait to be pushed into the bommies. The deeper spots between reefs are home to nannygai and red emperor. If you keep a careful eye on the sounder as you move around you could be surprised by a great spot that will bring bent rods for all those aboard. There is something very satisfying about finding your own great fishing spots. Around this time of year there are plenty of reports of Spanish mackerel hanging around wrecks and reef passes. These fish will be anywhere there are strong currents and plenty of bait. Using your sounder to locate bait schools and trolling or working metal slices or

the day, especially when it’s flat. You will probably be able to sound up fish in big schools but they are normally not interested in feeding no matter what you throw at them. Keep an eye out for baitfish getting chased on the surface away from the jetty as this will mean longtail tuna are in action. These fish are crazy fun and lead to long runs and dog fights around and around the boat. It’s whale season so please take care travelling in the dark, as these big animals can sometimes be resting on the surface. I have heard of the odd close call, so it pays to be careful. If you’re lucky enough to have them come say hello get the camera out and enjoy one of the best experiences you can have on water.

Nannygai are cooking up a storm in Cooktown COOKTOWN

Paul Prokopuk

As spring approaches in Cooktown the notorious ‘Cooktown wind’ will begin to ease off. Anglers will be presented with more and more opportunities to head out to the reef this time of year, which usually makes for a great day out. The weather still has a cooler edge about it that makes it all the more comfortable when spending a day on the boat.

ramp, so if the wind springs up you are not getting bashed around for hours. Over the past month we have seen some cooler weather compared to what Cooktown is used to. These slightly cooler waters have ensured a vast improvement on the reef fishing scene with quality fish coming aboard thick and fast on recent trips. Rubble patches, gutters and larger wonky holes have been firing with fantastic catches of large mouth nannygai, spangled emperor, reef jacks and red emperor.

have also been biting really well, with big hauls coming in. Squid and pilchards have been productive baits for trout but anglers using big soft plastics are doing just as well with these top quality table fish. The months of winter saw plenty of bait moving through the creeks, and with that came plenty of queenfish. Small poppers and metal slices worked quickly are sure to get a reaction out of a feeding school of queenfish. The cooler water hasn’t slowed the river fishing too

Rocco, Lucas and Sienna enjoyed a triple hook-up on Spanish mackerel.

Sienna Thomason outdoing her dad with a cracking nannygai. Lighter winds have been infrequent over the past month but it hasn’t stopped the keen Cooktown anglers from producing some nice catches when those short windows of opportunity have arisen. The change in weather has given smaller boats the opportunity to get out to the closer reefs where there are still some great fishing opportunities. With the added bonus of being only a short trip from the boat

Over the past month Spanish mackerel have been a staple in most eskies with high numbers being caught. On a recent trip Spanish were smashing lures and baits before drags could be set. On the troll the Lively Lure Mack Bait was the pick of the spread for these sportfish. Those anglers bottom bashing, putting a balloon float with a big live bait, such as a fusilier, has produced some big macks. The trout

much, with barramundi and mangrove jack still being caught for those putting in the time and effort. Some quality catches have been from the wharf in Cooktown. Simply send down a live bait around the pylons and wait. Landing them can be an issue because there are many obstacles. If you have a boat, then head up to the upper sections of the river. With the big tides around the full moon, fish the first

Cal Wilkins and Mitchell Johnson with a feed of mackerel and trout.

Scott Thomason with a solid large-mouth nannygai. of the run-out tide. As the bait starts to come out of the mangroves the predators will be waiting for a feed, a well presented live bait should see

some action. If you wanted to bait fish for jacks, choose an oily bait like pilchards, mullet or herring and they won’t be able to refuse.

While fishing the rivers it would be silly not to rake the pots out with you as mud crabs are still being caught in good numbers.

Cooktown kids putting the adults to shame with a nice haul. SEPTEMBER 2018

Estuary species start feeding in full force subdued winter fishing. Anglers in the know will have used all the tricks in their arsenal to track down barramundi over the traditionally tough months of July and August. Some of these guys get good results by finding congregating fish with a high-tech sounder, and dropping down vibes or weighted plastics amongst them to trigger a reaction bite. September should be a catalyst for estuarine species such as barramundi to begin feeding in full force. Fish will often spread throughout the systems before male fish in the 50-70cm range start to push

CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

Now that we have escaped the ‘chill’ period in the tropical far north, it’s time to look at the types of fisheries which thrive with the return of warm weather in September. Multiple fisheries in Cape York come to life in spring with the onset of warmer water temperatures. Each year the currents converge on various parts of the Great Barrier Reef, bringing with them nutrients which feed food webs. The shoals of baitfish attract smaller predatory fish such as mackerel, queenfish, tuna and rainbow runners, which in turn become the favourite prey of billfish such as black marlin and queenfish. The run of smaller black marlin, which are prevalent in September in the southern parts of Cape York’s east and west coasts, will push further south as the season progresses. Already some great captures of sailfish

A small barra lured from a Cape York bay. and small black marlin have shown up in the central eastern Gulf of Carpentaria. Similar success will be played out on the eastern Cape adjacent to shoals and throughout the ‘paddocks’

which make up the vast areas between the inshore and outer reef. Mackerel fishers chasing mainly Spanish and grey mackerel up and down both coasts will be

A shallow East Coast Cape York creek showing gutters and sand bars.

in full swing throughout September. These fish will start to congregate around well-known marks that culminate up towards the far northern sector of the Great Barrier Reef. Spring is a natural time in terrestrial, aquatic and marine environments for spawning to take place. The Indigenous residents of Cape York often draw a direct parallel between a particular flower in bloom and the abundance of a marine resource. Plenty of coral reef fish will be starting to move into spawning mode. Shallow reef areas and shoals will play host to many a passing school of fish, especially while water temperatures remain cool. It takes time and usually a monsoonal shift for water temperatures to rise sharply, which means that September, October and November are perfect for spawning fish in relatively shallow water. In the Cape York estuaries and rivers, September will represent a turnaround in conditions and a shift away from

A nice little GT caught from a creek mouth.

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downstream into the lower reaches, bays and coastal areas. This leads to some great fishing before the barramundi season closes on the both the east and west coasts of Cape York. All up, September is a fantastic fishing month. Pockets of calm weather will emerge with a break in the pattern of high pressures systems off the East Coast. There is a great chance that angers of all persuasions, from big game enthusiasts right the way through to sweetwater explorers, will be taking brilliant spring snaps and releasing their quarry to fight another day.

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abt

BARRA TOURTournament

FREE GUIDEBOOK

Guide

Australian Bass Tournaments A Peter Jung cover image

ABT.ORG.AU

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

2018 zerek barra tour calendar Welcome to the 2018 version of the BARRA Tournament Angler Guide or TAG as we like to call it in the office. For the third straight year Zerek is the naming sponsor and for the third straight year it looks like they’ll have a range of baits that both the barra and the barra anglers will love. Whether you’re throwing their Flat Shads, Fish Traps (in the small or new larger sizes) or the new Zerek large hard swimbaits, you will be covered in each of the lakes the BARRA Tour visits. One of the highlights of last year’s BARRA Tour was watching tour newbie Dean Jackson tie on the Zerek Fish Trap he received

in his tour sample bag and land the biggest barra recorded at the Kinchant event. It was a great reward for a team who decided to give the BARRA Tour a go and tasted success in their very first event. Each year the Zerek BARRA Tour is a mix

of seasoned veterans and aspiring newcomers. It doesn’t take the newbies long to get into the swing of things, the routine of fishing, driving, having a few refreshing ales and doing it all again not only accelerates your barra learning curve but also

forges great friendships. The fact that Camp Kanga at Peter Faust Dam will be open again for this year’s tour only adds to the excitement and the social atmosphere. We definitely missed this social gathering point in the 2017 tour. Once again, we will be using the TrackMyFish powered ABT Tournament Series App to record catches. On lakes likes Kinchant, it allows ABT to deliver live scoreboards to those keen on following the results. Inside this guide you will find calendars, how-to articles and stories from teams who have given it a go for the first time. You’re all welcome! Just

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

SPONSOR

SESSION TIMES

19 November

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event)

Hobie Polarized

4pm - 12am

20 November

Teemburra Dam

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

Wilson Fishing

4pm - 12am

21 November

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Night Championship)

Westin

4pm - 8am

23/24 November

Peter Faust

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Evening Event)

Lucky Craft

4pm - 12am

fill out the entries, make your travel plans and we will see you on the 2018 Zerek BARRA Tour.

You can download the entry forms, rules and event information at www. abt.org.au

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Finding the ‘perfect funnel’ TNQ

Karim DeRidder

For the average angler, stepping into the tournament scene for the first time is a massive leap out of the comfort zone. For most, there is a high level of anticipation for that first dabble into competition, and every

current tournament angler has felt this at some stage. Tackle preparation, boat organisation and research into their likely destinations builds a solid level of excitement. Anglers traveling to the Mackay area and sampling the delights of fishing talk around the Camp Kanga Dongas near Lake Proserpine will most likely hear plenty

of chatter about certain productive spots, key areas of the lake, and when the conditions are perfect, hordes of barramundi on their side imaging units each session. While some anglers may pass on valuable information to help find those sweet spots, these areas are generally fairly close kept secrets for each angler, especially for the tournament angler

who will generally work extremely hard to find the ultimate spots, which may lead to tournament success. The questions will develop in new anglers trying to take in all that key information that may lead to success on their part; a 1m+ barra hitting the deck. What do these areas generally look like? What characteristics do they share? What separates poor locations from good locations, and what makes great ones? The following explanation will hopefully enlighten the average barra angler and turn them on the right path towards finding their own ‘perfect funnel.’ The perfect barra funnel is a concept discussed to some extent in most victory speeches after an ABT BARRA round every year. The talk will cover techniques and tackle used and briefly describe a location on the lake where its physical characteristics and environmental conditions have ensured a consistent confluence of barramundi directed past the victorious angler’s boat. This is essential to any success during the barra tour and

Craig Griffiths with a solid deepwater daytime capture. Large schools of barra can be targeted successfully in lakes when knowing where to look and what to throw. generally requires a level of understanding of what to look for, ensuring that you are maximising your time spent on the lake. During pre-fish prior to the start of a tournament, it’s important to spend a significant amount of time sitting in front of the sounder to identify areas that are most likely to see movements of fish during critical times in a tournament session. A good starting point is to identify river beds and creek channels – areas of deep water that are the arteries of the lakes. Their role in directing fish movements around the lakes is essential to

understand. The perfect funnels will generally be fed from these deep water areas, transferring fish to ideal feeding zones via these pathways and hopefully right to your interception point – an area where each cast has the highest probability of interacting with moving, feeding fish. Structure such as tree lines and weed beds will determine these fish movements and act as physical steering mechanisms to direct them to feeding zones. Both Faust and Teemburra have vast amounts of standing timber including vivid

TOURNAMENT RODS FOR ALL ANGLERS TOURNAMENT TOURNAMENT RODS RODS FOR FOR ALL ALL ANGLERS ANGLERS The ideal location for the perfect barra funnel.

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TAG 2018 abt

The ABT Faust round in 2015 required very specific boat positioning and identifying fish movements through vast, open water weed beds. When the perfect funnel was identified, this was the result: a 110cm class fish.

lines along creek channels and sparse flooded forests; both influence the barra movements in their own way. It can be quite interesting to compare fish movement and behaviour in these structure-rich locations to the more open water areas; this movement and behaviour changes by the hour and it’s important to keep in touch to ensure you are casting to the most viable locations. As Kinchant is mostly void of timber, the weed edges influence their movements in similar ways. Being a smaller lake, Kinchant is easier to work out than Faust and Teemburra. Both weed and timber are key structures in their own right, and both work together as perfect ingredients in

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au the development of the ultimate funnel. As most ABT rounds are afternoon/evening sessions, it’s important to understand the movement of the barra as they relate to these particular times of the day, and generally their movement to feeding zones. Gradual sloping ridges that enter the lake (commonly referred to as ‘points’) and wide extended flats are well known as reliable feeding zones, by identifying a close relationship to the deep waters as discussed previously, more knowledge is built towards identifying funnels to these areas. The perfect shallow areas will have significant ambush zones and, as discussed earlier, structure such as a

LURES TO USE Deep water creek channel to flat Transam 95, Madness Vibe Tree line of creek and at end of point Lucky Craft 100XD Pointer, Madness Vibe, Transam 95 Weed edge to boat position Lucky Craft 100 pointer (shallow), Rapala X-Rap XR14 or 12, any 130-250mm paddletail plastic such as Slick Rigs, Castaic Jerky J 5/7”, Berkley Hollow Belly Weed-edge and lantana towards water edge Same plastics as above, suspending hardbodies such as Lucky Craft 100 Pointer, X-Rap, glide baits.

weed bed, weed channels, significant snags or tree lines. On most occasions the barra will feed close to these structures. The cover presents as the perfect ambush spot for an unsuspecting bony bream. Faust has been well known to produce insane sessions when the lake was at capacity; places where masses of old lantana had long died off were ideal areas for barra to hunt and the no-holds-barred, hand-to-hand combat is still discussed by many barra anglers who experienced this type of fishing. For relating those areas to specific bite times, the old saying, ‘make hay while the sun shines’ relates well to barra fishing. Interchange the sun with moon and you have a winner. The standard bite time that all lakes exhibit right on dark generally starts and fades quite quickly, however a gradual build of action usually progresses with the moonrise towards its upward extremity during most ABT events. The last important aspect discussed here is the geographical location of the area and environmental factors, as these directly influence the amount of fish that will travel through these areas. As most successful tournament anglers are well aware, the weather patterns

The author with a dark coloured weed-dweller. A perfect funnel was identified on the point of a vast weedbed with high activity of moving barra observed. This fish bit as the lure broke free of the weed into clear water right on the point. and prevailing wind that drives the current in the lakes must be studied and adapted in the plan of attack. Bulk barra movements will locate themselves in areas of the dam in significant numbers; a steady single or minimal variant direction of wind can develop these quickly. At the same time, the presence of a drastic change of stability influenced by wind direction

change and velocity can disperse them as quickly as they arrived. During your pre-fish, keep track of areas where a majority of barra are identified on your SI, where the winds have been pushing current and nutrients to certain areas of the lake. Keep narrowing your focus until you are seeing mass movements of the fish into small specific areas. These areas will be like a

convergence of footpaths to a multidirectional crossing, waiting for the green ‘walk’ light to illuminate. Identify your deep water/shallow relationships, locate your structure, pre-empt your bite time and stay flexible to your environmental factors; the lights will turn green and the restaurant doors will open. Now you may read this and wonder what my To page 6

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ultimate funnel looks like – close your eyes and visualize the following: a gentle slopping ridge of land enters the lake, escaping from the hills behind. Sparse natural grasses meets a bare red soil shoreline influenced by the eroding rippling waves. A cluster of stumpy lantana bushes protrude from the lake not 6ft from the shoreline with approximately 2ft of water covering their roots. A narrow creek’s lily-

ridge. From underneath the cluster of lantana is a thin weed line, which builds as it approaches deeper water, presenting as a thick lush texture, dark blotches on the surface the only giveaway. From the sheer wall of weed at approximately 5ft deep, a large clear gap is present in front of the lantana, allowing a clear movement of bait and fish into just 2ft of water. To the right of the point, a large fallen snag

A metre class fish landed after targeting the perfect funnel. lined channel turns its way into the lake, nearly touching the lantana bushes. A clearing of approximately 40m meets sparse standing timber, illuminating the edge of the

lies perpendicular to the shoreline. From the 5ft front of the weed edge, a steady decline towards the end of the point makes way to approximately 15ft and thick trees dead ahead; these

are located a cast length off the edge of the weed. Remnant waves continue from the consistent easterly winds that once hit square on, but has sheared slightly as an afternoon northeasterly builds its pressure and moves an earthy colour change past the lantana trunks. The light changes from yellow to orange as the sun wanes. Minimal barra are seen on the SI where the boat is positioned at the treeline in front of the point. A boat movement towards the creek channel verifies a solid stream of barra straight onto the weed edge. A steady flow of bites progress the afternoon to night and as the moon rises a steadily increasing number of barra are seen moving past the boat’s position inside the tree line. A change of boat position out into the open water towards the point sees the Humminbird’s screen fill with barra shadows moving onto the point. My casts are pinpointed towards the little V in the weed between the lantana bushes. As the lure drops, I lift the rod and hop through the thick stuff, allowing it to contact clean bottom. A slow roll then bang! Another fish on. The perfect barra funnel has been found!

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A large amount of fish moving past the right side of the stationary boat. This is positioned inside the treeline facing the point, just like the ‘Perfect Funnel’ illustration hereabouts.

A perfect point illustrated with help of AutoChart, showing deep water access on all sides, weed on top with scattered brush, and five fish positioned amongst the structure.

M A P I T. O W N I T. S H A R E I T. I can’t believe how good this map is I just downloaded free off the Quickdraw™ Community. Look at this structure, those drop offs. Never would have known about this lake without the community. It’s fun fishing new water. I’ve already caught two nice keepers. Of course, I’ve uploaded some pretty nice maps, too. Glad someone decided to share this one.

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The keys to Kinchant Dam TNQ

Peter Price

Kinchant Dam is so different to all the other barra impoundments on the ABT Tour, because it’s a small, shallow dam at approximately 920ha with an average depth of only 6.8m when full. Kinchant Dam requires filling by an inlet water channel from the nearby Pioneer River, due to the dam’s limited

like a salad bowl – the only fishable structures in the dam are weed beds and the lily-lined banks. There is a lack of standing timber and submerged structure. The most daunting thing about Kinchant Dam is getting your head around fishing weed. Weed is no different to fishing any other structure. This structure provides the barra with protection, comfort, security, and a place to hunt and ambush food. It’s a home

This is how I go about finding fish-catching spots in all that weed. The most important fishing tool in your boat is your sounder. I will,

always about energy used for energy gained. I prefer to use different icons on my sounder to mark different parts of the weed

The point near the ramp is worth a look.

The dam doesn’t have many points, but the ones it does have usually hold fish.

Wind blown points are excellent places to start looking. water catchment. It has a ‘No-Fishing Exclusion Zone’ area of 100m all along the dam wall, spillway and pump station. Kinchant Dam is more

to most of the bait in the dam. At first the weed all looks the same, but like any structure some parts will hold fish and be better than other sections.

for example, sound for five hours and only fish when I can see barra on my sounder. You are only wasting your time if you stay fishing these no-fish areas. I start by sounding the lilies, weed edges, and points that have wind blowing over them. This wind makes current and the current concentrates the bait in certain parts of the weed, making it easier for the barra to feed. Just remember with barra, it’s

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structure. I use one to mark along the weed edge every 10-15m. Then I will use the fish icon to mark a position where I want to cast to, and place a boat icon to mark where to anchor my boat. I will place a GPS icon in other locations such as single clumps of weed, out from a point, holes or divots in the weed edges, and any gully in the weed that may allow the barra to move in and out freely. Once I have identified and marked all these possible fish-holding locations, I will start my fishing session. These are locations that I will investigate throughout the fishing session. I will give each spot a period of time to settle down and if no fish are present on the sounder after 20 minutes, I will move on to the next spot. I will frequent these locations at different times to check if and when fish are staging and feeding there. When having to relocate at night, it’s a bonus having these areas marked on your sounder. It makes navigation so much quicker and easier and reduces wasted time by knowing where you are and where the structure is at all times. Kinchant Dam

barra are already pressured enough without you driving your boat over a location you may wish to fish. Possible bite windows are moonrise and moonset times, an hour either side of high tide and two hours either side of low tide times. I look for areas in the bays that have water covering the weed beds. I will place my boat up on top of this weed and go prospecting using surface stickbaits, weedless soft plastics or even crankbaits, so long as I’m not getting weed-fouled trebles. You have to be able

to fish the weed with different lures and different techniques, however it’s no good getting weed fouling on your line every cast – it’s just a waste of your cast and your fishing time. I have three different lures set up on my rods ready to go. If the weed is patchy, I will cast a crankbait, or weedless soft plastic or a Reidy’s Weedies. If the weed has 10cm or more of water over it I will change to surface stickbaits or frogs. All these types of lures are great search lures and the old saying is true, ‘you don’t leave fish to catch fish,’ so

Above: A good selection of vibes for Kinchant. Below: Surface lures will work, particularly around the weed.

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abt.org.au once I find fish I sit on them. In saying that, one tip I will share with you is this; I have found if a barra you catch is really dark in colour, it’s a loner fish and not a

One tip with surface lure fishing is not to strike until you feel the weight of the barra on your line. I know it’s not easy to tell yourself not to react with your rod when

Quarry Bay can hold barra at times. schooling fish, so move on. If that barra is a real silvercoloured fish, more like a saltwater coloured fish, stay. That fish is a schooling fish

that barra has just missed the lure and left a great hole in the water where your lure was. However, by keeping

your lure stationary, it will remain in the strike zone and after the ripple settles, start your retrieve again and sometimes that fish will return and engulf your lure on its second attempt. While there is still some daylight left before evening falls, I will position my boat in the deeper water on the edge of the weed or weed point, ready for the night fishing session. I always keep an eye on my sounder screen, set on side and down scan. What I am looking for is to see if the barra are just passing through on the outside of my boat, or up against the weed edge – basically where the barra are positioned in relationship to my boat. If you are going to have a cast, it’s better to cast to

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COMPASS

KINCHANT DAM Locations to try • Ramp Bay • Camp Bay • Feeder Gully • Quarry Bay • South African Point (‘Safa Point’) • Rocks • Drain • Weed Bed • One Post Bay • Inlet

Above: South African Point is the most prominent point. Below: Isolated weed islands litter the dam.

and there will be more fish there to catch. When on top of the weed, these fish will spook easily. Keep any unnatural noise to a minimum. I like to use the wind to move my boat where possible and keep my Minn Kota electric motor usage to a minimum. Be sure to cast with the wind to maximise cast distance.

Above: Crankbaits are worth having onboard. Below: Weedless paddle-tail soft plastics are a must.

fish, not just cast for casting sake. The barra will push the bait up against the face of the weed and feed on it. Therefore, this is where you will need to cast towards the weed edge. At this location I will cast soft plastic paddle-tail lures like Squidgy Slick Rigs, Reidy’s Rubbers, Castaic Jerky J Swims, ZMan SwimmerZ and Zerek Flat Shads in the 5-7” size range. Cast right up on the weed then start your retrieve by rolling the lure back over the weed edge. Dead stick the lure at the weed edge and let it fall down that front weed face to the bottom. Most of the bites will happen as it is falling, so be ready to strike. If there’s no strike, hop the plastic all the way back to the boat. Always pause at the boat before lifting the lure out of the water, because sometimes the barra will follow the lure all the way to the boat. I believe they think their food is getting away, so they will engulf To page 10

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your lure right at the boat. Basically, it’s a good habit to pause before lifting your lure out of the water every time and after a while it becomes second nature.

Tournament Angler Guide multiple sharp lifts and then hopping the vibe all the way back to the boat. With vibes you also need a fast retrieve reel, due to the fact that most of the barra bites will occur on the drop

and strength to allow you to cast further and have the ability to control and steer a large fish. I believe the longer you can have your lure in the water, the better, and the greater the chance of catching your barra. If I hook a fish in the weed and feel that it is going to snag me up, I will drive the boat straight towards the fish and try to pull the barra straight up. If the barra get too much line out, there is

them, so it pays to have a swimbait rod rigged and ready to cast. I use a Venom 7.6ft swimbait 30-50lb bait caster rod. Like I said at the start of this article, use your sounder. I have that much confidence in my new Lowrance HDS Carbon 16” sounder that if I don’t see any fish on the sounder, I move on. Barramundi are one of Australia’s most fickle native fish species and I think we

Camp Bay should never be overlooked, particularly if there’s wind blowing into it. Also at this location, if I notice that the barra are feeding on the bottom, I will change to a vibe. With vibes you may need to change retrieve techniques to encourage the barra. The hard part is working out what that retrieve is. I always start by casting long to the weed, allowing the vibe to sink to the bottom before starting my retrieve. I always mix my retrieves up, with slow single short lifts, right through to

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as the vibe is falling back to the bottom. Once the barra inhales the vibe it will swim towards the surface to remove the lure from its mouth. A reel that can pick up slack line quickly is essential. I like to use a 7ft 6kg Venom baitcaster rod and 7ft Venom 40-50lb spin rod. Both spooled with 30-50lb Sunline Braid and I use a 55lb Schneider leader and 60lb FC Rock Sunline fluorocarbon leader. These rods have the length

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Top: Paddle-tail soft plastics are another must have. Above: Deep diving hardbodies can have their day. Below: Swimbaits are a growing craze in Kinchant.

Lily and weed point are dynamite places for barra. a greater chance of getting your line tangled in the weed structure. Drive up on them and hold their head up. If I view free-swimming barra on my sounder, I will throw a swimbait lure at

will never completely work them out. That’s why the reward of landing a barra after all the effort is special and keeps us coming back. Enjoy our dam; it’s one of Australia’s best.

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Zerek Fish Trap scores TNQ

Nick Wells

When the Fish Trap touched down a few years back, it hit the ground running. Anglers were wanting something different, something innovative and cost effective – not just another generic vibe. The Fish Trap ticked all the boxes. In an era where soft vibes have evolved as the go-to lure for targeting impoundment barra, the Zerek Fish Trap has cemented itself as a household name amongst impoundment barra anglers, racking up plenty of good bags across the field in recent ABT BARRA tours. The Fish Trap boasts many key characteristics that all come together to make this one of the most successful vibes on the market. From its notorious patented curl tail right through to its attractive vibe factor, the Fish Trap is constructed from extra tough TPE and has through-wire connections between all tow points, which makes this lure virtually bulletproof. SIZE AND WEIGHTS The Fish Trap is available

in 65mm/10g, 95mm/23g, 110mm/34g sizes in 15 colours, and Wilsons will soon be releasing a 160mm/58g and 78g size, with 10 colours in the range. The all-new 160mm vibe

is the big brother of this great range and was recently released at the AFTA Tackle Trade Show. It’s going to be a massive hit. For now, however, we prefer to use the

The ‘rip ‘n’ roll’ technique that we use has seen plenty of fish hit the deck on the Fish Traps. Night jigging the main basin is something that everyone needs to experience at least once.

When the Faust barra are on the chew you can expect to see plenty of lures getting completely inhaled. Another victim of the notorious FAB 110mm Fish Trap.

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110mm/34g size for chasing impoundment barra. COLOUR SELECTION Every angler has that favourite colour that they can always throw with confidence, but to maximise your catch rates there are several factors to consider when deciding which colour to tie on. Water clarity, moon phases and the time of day or night are just a few of the things to take into account. For example, on the build-up to the full moon we like to throw the white coloured Fish Traps. If the water is dirty we prefer to throw a brighter colour, such as FAB. At different times we’ve caught barra on pretty much every colour in the range, which can certainly make it hard to decide which one to tie on. Statistically speaking, when it comes to the numbers of barra caught the frontrunner is the FB (flying bear) colour in the 110mm model. It’s closely followed by FAB (fat Betty), BB (baby barra) and BG (barred grunter). The fact that the flying bear colour catches plenty of fish isn’t the only reason it’s our favourite colour. FB has also been the saving grace when the fish just didn’t want to play the game. RIGGING There are a few mods that we do to the Fish Traps just for that extra peace of mind. Impoundment barra can be brutally unforgiving and they do a pretty good job at finding any weak points in your gear. If you give them an inch they will take a mile. For our beloved 110mm Fish Traps, we retrofit them with either size 2 Mustad Saltisms or Decoy YW-77s. We’ve also been trialling the new Mustad TG-77 Jaw Lock Triple Grip trebles with great results. People often ask us the reason for running the different treble arrangements. Our answer is that barra don’t always strike in the same way. They either hit hard, engulfing the

whole lure, or they swipe the lure fast during the retrieve. When they engulf it you know they’re hungry, and feeding hard and fast. When the barra are hungry like this, the strong Mustad Saltisms come into their own. During a hard strike, quite often the lure

don’t let go. This can be the difference between success and failure when the fish aren’t fully playing the game. We generally run two of the same Fish Traps in our box, each rigged with the different trebles for the differing situations. It’s all these one percenters that add

Those frustrating taps and strikes can soon be turned into a fish in the net with the assistance of Decoy YW-77s. The Mustad TG-77s are also proving to be a big hit in tough situations. will get caught in both the bottom and top lips. The amount of pressure applied when a barra opens its mouth while hooked is massive. Unlike a crocodile, which has the power advantage in closing its jaw, barra have the advantage when they’re opening their mouth. We’ve seen some brands of trebles completely straightened when fish became hooked like this. On the other end of the scale, when barra head slap the lure you can barely feel the strike. This is where the YW-77 Decoys are great. The short, curled, ultrasharp tips stick well and they

up in end. When tying the lures to our leader we always use a loop knot. This allows the lure to perform to its maximum potential. We also remove the split ring on top and tie the loop knot straight to the tow point. By removing the split ring on top of the lure, you are eliminating another weak point. TECHNIQUES With a lure as versatile as the Fish Trap, it can be as easy as tying one on and going your hardest. Still, there are a few techniques that we’ve had most of our success on. They’re location specific, and they aren’t

rocket science. The first technique is one that we call ‘burn and pause’. Although the 110mm Fish Traps weigh 33g, you shouldn’t be afraid to throw them in the shallows. We love fishing them around shallow or weeded points in 3-4ft of water. As soon as the lure hits the water we crank them fast for a few metres, pause for a few seconds, then repeat. When a strike occurs it’s usually just after the pause. Another technique of ours is the ‘rip and roll’. This can be used as a deep jigging technique or on a straight retrieve. It involves a sharp rip of the rod tip followed by a steady retrieve, either hopping off the bottom or

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Matt with a Faust midnight metery taken on the BB 110mm Fish Trap. The white colours are great for fishing on the build-up to the full moon.

The authors’ favourite colours: BB (baby barra), BG (barred grunter), FAB (fat Betty) and FB (flying bear).

working down the face of a point or weed edge. Having your drag set right for these techniques is paramount. Your lure being retrieved at a rate of knots and a barra swimming a hundred miles an hour can only end one way – pulled hooks. A heavy drag is not needed. You can always increase drag pressure after the hooks are set. A popular technique in Peter Faust (Lake Proserpine) is deep jigging the main basin. Fish Traps have proven to be deadly using this technique. The most productive areas are

from the boat ramp along to the toilet block, and across the rope near the wall. A quality sounder is vital with this technique as you want to make sure every drop counts. We like use our ‘rip and roll’ technique when deep jigging the Fish Traps. Heavily timbered impoundments like Peter Faust are super productive. The majority of the best timber-laden points in Faust are on the western side. We like to sit 20-30m out off a point in around 10-12ft of water in areas that look like

“

the timber has been cleared. We refer to these as ‘arenas’. We position the boat in the middle of the arena, turn on the side scan and wait for the fish to swim through. These arenas give us a 360° angle to rotate our casts around the boat. It doesn’t take long to figure out which side they’re feeding on. Sometimes we hop our Fish Traps back along the bottom, and at other times (depending on where they’re sitting in the water column) a straight retrieve is all that’s needed to get the bite. The barra generally chill out in the deeper water through the day, and roll in with the help of the current in the afternoons, bashing up baitfish which they herd onto the points and into the bays. Generally you will intercept them on their way in, but sometimes

you will have to move in or out to catch their bite period. That’s pretty straightforward with the assistance of a good quality sounder. Kinchant is another highly productive dam with the Fish Traps, but it’s very different from Peter Faust. It’s like one big weed bowl. We like to find the edge of the weed (curtain), sit out a good casting distance in the clear open water, set the finder to 80-100ft and wait for the barra to swim through. Sometimes they will come out of the weed and go back in, while at other times they follow the weed edge back and forth, herding the bait. Spin gear is good in Kinchant as you can achieve those longer casts, and hop them back all the way to the boat. The longer the lure is in the water, the better.

Top: 100mm Fish Trap rigged with Mustad TG-77s. Middle: Rigged with Mustad Saltism size 2s. Bottom: Rigged with Decoy YW-77s.

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The North Queensland dam barra experience TNQ

Jacko Davis

Queensland is littered with many freshwater impoundments that are regularly stocked with the iconic barramundi. For many years I had read, watched and dreamt of these North Queensland barra. On one wet winter day last year, yet another article published about the consistent 1m+ barra in these impoundments had me on the phone to my fishing partner and cousin, Mark Donnelly. We agreed that we’d both procrastinated too long about making the trip, and proceeded to pencil in some dates in November that we believed we could sneak past our bosses. Two weeks in early November was the goal, and after some last-minute hurdles, we set sail from Bathurst in Central West NSW on route to Mackay in Central QLD. The 22-hour haul in our LandCruiser with Skeeter in tow went smoothly as we

that Peter Faust would provide the best opportunity to connect with quality fish. Bullish about our chances, we jetted off into the unknown of the lake as an afternoon storm approached. Scoping the layout of the dam and the structure options, we were soon concerned about the darkness of the clouds getting near. Without a cast thrown we were meet with a violent electrical storm with heavy rain. Bobbing around in the middle of the dam with waves coming over the front of the boat, it would have been evident to the local bystander that we were a couple of firsttime southerners that were still pondering the main use of sugar cane. With most smart fishos retreating home, we endured mother nature’s first crack at us and pushed through into the night. As base camp was 20km away, we decided it would be a better option to have a little nap on the boat and wake up for another attempt early the following morning. With a saturated deck from the night before and only one towel

over the top of us and hit ‘spot lock’ on the electric motor. Again, we rose early in the dark and began firing casts out into the unknown for nothing. Then, at around 7am in some dense timber, still half asleep, I received our first hit which resulted in a solid hook-up. I was still in shock as the fish came straight at the boat, almost jumping in. I had a clear view – this fish was big! It took off again and snapped the petty 50lb leader I was running, and it was like a dagger in the heart. After many long hours of casting we finally got an opportunity, and blew it. I may have let a little rod rage out on my way to the back of the boat where I sat down and questioned if that was going to be the only chance we would have. We headed back to camp deflated. That midday was spent preparing lures again, and doing some solid Google Earthing. Peter Faust offers a range of structure. The western bank is littered with trees, thousands of them,

This was the best fish of the trip. Although not a monster for Peter Faust standards, it was a very respectable 105cm. travelled through the centre of NSW and QLD, popping out in Rockhampton. The last few hours of the drive were hampered however, as Mark insisted on buying shares in every tackle shop between Rockhampton and Airlie Beach. He seemed to think that if we filled the craft with enough tackle the fish would magically jump in the boat, but we were soon short of space, having soft plastics stuffed in every nook and cranny. Still, all this new tackle provided us with plenty of entertainment as we sat around the boat and ‘pimped’ our lures in an array of configurations. A caravan park in Prosperpine was our base camp, and with rods rigged and the boat packed we were ready for our first afternoon on Peter Faust Dam (Lake Proserpine). PETER FAUST DAM Our prior research into the area gave us the impression 14

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on board, Mark slept across the bench seat of the Skeeter whilst I was relegated into the rod locker. The next morning, we rose at 4am wet, cold and I was stiff from a night in the rod locker. Fishing to no avail until mid-morning, the harsh North QLD sun had us packing back to base camp. Without a touch from the previous night session or the morning, we were a little baffled but still confident we could succeed the following session. After spending the middle of the day resting and tweaking more lures, we were eager for the afternoon and night ahead. However, with a similar storm front smashing us again right on dark, the wind was taken out of our sails. We fished through until 11:30pm without even a sniff, and it was becoming clear this impoundment barra fishing isn’t a walk in the park. Being a little more prepared we rolled out a fresh tarp over the wet carpet, threw a blanket

which can make navigating tough at night. Faust Point is a well-known shallow point that spans out to the middle of the main basin. We’d fished both these areas relentlessly and it was time for a new plan. With a few extra pointers from a couple of fellow fishos at the caravan park, we had a plot to target two prominent points on the north side of the dam. As sun set that afternoon we had a distinctive hit, followed by a fish. A lovely mid 70cm barra was netted, and what a relief that was. After a few celebratory cold ones, we headed back to base camp as a proper night’s sleep was well overdue. With renewed confidence due to cracking a small pattern, we took the morning off and focused on the afternoon/night session. The two points we fished were shallow and thick with weed, however there were channels throughout that were clear. Using structure scan on our sounder, we were

A lovely high 90s chrome barra caught just as the last light was disappearing. able to see the barra travelling through these channels, which really boosted our confidence. That afternoon we went out early and spent some time sounding and scoping the points. We found a prominent channel on one point, which ran parallel to the bank only a few metres off it. This channel was about 10m wide and around 2m deep. With sunset approaching, we positioned the boat at one end of the channel, securing the vessel by using both spot-lock on the electric and deploying dual power poles at the rear. As it was quite windy, this technique allowed us to maintain a side-on position with the parallel channel. It didn’t take long to witness the barra start rolling through the channel on the sounder. In groups of around 3-6 fish, it was like witnessing a car load roll through a McDonalds drive-thru as they picked off bait on the way through. The sounder would light up every 10-15 minutes, and each time we would squeal like kids with excitement as a hit was almost always expected. Over that night and the following night, we managed to land 17 barra to 105cm, all from that one channel. We couldn’t believe it – after such a brutal first few days we managed to find the fish and put them in the boat. With success ticked off at Peter Faust, the monkey was off our back and the swagger back in our step. We were no longer the lads at the boat ramp each morning looking like we’d been at the pub all night without sleep and no fish to boot. With limited time left, we made the call to pack up base camp and head south to check out another dam on our radar: Kinchant. KINCHANT DAM After another re-stocking of lures at the tackle shops around Mackay, we made the 50km drive inland to Kinchant Dam or, as the locals may know it, ‘the bath tub’. Unlike Faust, we were able to set up camp right on the banks of the dam, which made things a lot easier. The Kinchant caravan park was clean, had good

amenities, green grass and most importantly, a pub. We had only two days left before we had to begin the voyage home, so we eased into a few schooners and rigged some tackle ready for the afternoon. Starting at a prominent point with a solid weed edge, it didn’t take long for the sounder to begin lighting up. After the learning curve at Faust, we were able to pick up where we left off, and fishing a very similar style we began catching fish. For the two nights we fished Kinchant, it went off. With barra consistently rolling through the one point, we managed to land 15 fish and lose countless others due to jump-offs. This didn’t really matter however, as it was an amazing couple of sessions on the water, with constant strikes on a range of lures including big swimbaits and surface lures. The Kinchant barra we caught were all between 80-99cm and would have pulled Floyd Mayweather backwards. Kinchant, being a much smaller dam than Faust, seemed less daunting and a lot easier to navigate. Our prior research as well as talking with local tackle staff made Kinchant stand out as the easiest location to catch an impoundment barra. However, we made an effort to learn our craft on Peter Faust and I believe if we didn’t have the lows and highs there, then we never would have achieved the instant success at Kinchant.

WHAT WE LEARNT The whole trip was a learning curve for both of us. Coming from a southern freshwater background, we really didn’t know what to expect. I’d heard many rumours amongst the fishing community that these impoundment barra don’t fight as hard as their saltwater counterparts. I can safely dismiss this from our experience, as well from talking to fellow fishos at the boat ramp. There was plenty of ‘geez they go hard’ chat getting thrown around. So, in saying this you’ll need the right gear. We threw almost exclusively baitcast tackle and would definitely recommend using these. They allow you to fight the fish more aggressively, which is paramount in tight country. You can be far more accurate with a baitcaster and they are more comfortable for casting over long hours. The baitcast outfits we opted for were Daiwa Tatula HD reels and Tatula heavy rods, which performed faultlessly. Line selection is a page we completely missed in our preparation, and in turn cost us dearly as our first fish (which probably would have been the biggest of the trip) snapped my 50lb leader like a toothpick. After some sharp re-adjustments, we fished 50lb Daiwa J-Braid mainline and 80lb extra abrasion resistant fluorocarbon leaders of around

Mark made a serious investment at the local tackle shops. It paid dividends in the end.

a rod length. Although you can land barra on much lighter lines, I recommend a leader of at least 60lb for these impoundment beasts. Barra have crazy sharp gill rakers, and when a fish inhales your lure (which happens most of the time) they will shear through light leaders with ease. Therefore, having a heavy leader with added abrasion resistance is key to consistently landing these fish. When it comes to lure selection, like any species there’s a million and one different ‘lollies’ to choose from. Mark dropped a small fortune in the local tackle shops and although you don’t need to spend an excessive amount, I’d definitely recommend purchasing your tackle from the locals. Barra Jacks in Rockhampton and Tackle World in Mackay were both stores that had all the gear we needed and helped steer us in the right direction with some generous local knowledge. Keeping it simple was what payed dividends for us in the end. We fished an array of baits but the Squidgy Slick Rigs were the stand out lure. We added an upgraded main hook and treble underneath to increase hook-ups. These barra are pros at throwing a hook,

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au so having a treble for extra insurance was definitely necessary. There are plenty of videos on YouTube on how to rig these, and it’s quite enjoyable sitting down ‘tricking’ your lures ready for the next session. Although the Slick Rigs were our confidence bait and caught the majority of fish at Faust, we played around with others at Kinchant. Swimbaits like the Westin Barry the Bass and the Jackall Gantia worked well and were a lot of fun. We also caught fish on surface fizzers, DUO Realis hardbodies and a range of other soft plastic shads. Choosing your time on the water wisely was also important. North Queensland’s temperatures were a definite shock to the system, and fishing through the middle of the day was out of the question. Guys trolling the deeper banks will have success as the barra school at suitable depths, but for us, taking refugee during the heat of day and then hitting the water late in the afternoon was the key. As the last of the sun went out of view each day was when the fish started rolling into the shallower margins to feed. We found a consistent bite window between 7-11pm each day, and when there

was a tide change in this period it was chaotic. The first time I heard of these freshwater barramundi feeding on a tide change I honestly thought the bloke was taking me for a fool, but he was far from lying. Although these fish may be landlocked from the sea, they are still programmed to feed on these changes, therefore fishing hard around a tide change is vital. PLANNING Giving yourself time would be the most important tip I could give. Heading north we were well aware of the challenges that lay ahead: a species we had little experience with, in an

environment we had never been before. If we had have planned a rushed trip and fished Peter Faust for just three days and then moved on, we would have caught nothing. So, when planning a trip, give yourself as much time as possible. With travel included you realistically need the best part of two weeks to give yourself the full experience these impoundment barra have to offer. In terms of picking the right time of year, the warmer months are considered the best. From talking with a few notable fishos, November would have to be the pick of the months. However,

All systems go as the sun sets in the background! This proved to be the most productive period of the day.

October right through to April is considered prime fishing. Barra can still be caught throughout winter, but you’ll need to change your tactics, as they can be extra temperamental when the water is cooler. If you can factor in the moon phase when planning a trip, definitely do. The week leading up to the full moon in considered the prime time. We fished the week leading up and found the closer it got to the full moon, the better the fishing. It also makes it a little easier to navigate in the dark when a full moon is glowing down on the water. Choosing your location is another obstacle. North Queensland has plenty of notable impoundment barramundi fisheries. Peter Faust, Kinchant, Teemburra, Monduran, Tinaroo and Awoonga are some of the more well known locations. As we speak, Peter Faust appears to be the premier impoundment for catching metre barra. Kinchant is very consistent, with an abundance of quality fish, Tinaroo is further north but holds some crackers, while Monduran and Awoonga are both on the recovery after losing many big fish to floods in the past decade. We only had the time to fish Faust and Kinchant, and

I recommend both highly. We called to Teemburra to have a look on the trip home, but unfortunately had no time for a few casts. It looked unreal nonetheless. GET IT DONE A trip like this takes a lot of planning and preparation, so there’s no better time to start than now. In this day and age most people are more concerned about making money than making life experiences, and that’s not sustainable. I can honestly say that spending that quality time on the water, catching the iconic barramundi and exploring new places, made this my most memorable fishing trip to date. It was far from smooth sailing, and sleeping in a wet rod locker and going fishless for the best part of three days will test any keen fisher, but it’s these moments that make a trip. If we had gone and smacked a bucket load of barra from the start, the whole thing wouldn’t have been as rewarding. The fact we went through the failures, put the work in and finished with jubilant success was priceless. For those readers who follow suit and make the trip north, I wish you the best of luck. I can guarantee you’ll learn a lot and bring home some great stories.

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PRODUCT GUIDE

WHAT’S NEW FISHING

New Siglon PE braid from Sunline great for no-fuss luring The purchase of braided line should be seen as an investment. It might not be quite as long-term as a rod and reel setup, but usually longer than a many lures, and certainly any terminal tackle. It’s for this reason that, despite my not being particularly moneyed at this stage in my life, I always look for the best quality braid I can get my hands on. Lesser braids, while cheap and affordable after a standard tertiary study-laden week, won’t give the same mileage, often rubbing through and breaking only weeks after installation. As a result, an angler will often end up spending more in the long-term if they want to keep fishing, but there are steps available to minimise unnecessary spending and maximise catching!

TESTED

8-carrier braid, and the PEx4 a 4-carrier. From experimentation in the past, I’ve learned that braids with less strands tend to operate better on a baitcasting set up, because they flatten much easier and often end up slightly stiffer. This stiffness helps line to run off the spool during a cast, where softer braids often can’t keep up with the rotation and end up overrunning. Braids with more strands on the other hand, usually end up being rounder in profile but softer and more flexible, and definitely better suited to a spinning set-up. With no risk of overrunning, spinning set-ups can get away with using comparatively soft braids. With this in mind, I decided that the PEx8 would go onto my Daiwa BG 2500 spin reel, and the PEx4 onto my 13 Fishing

Techniques like jerkbaiting can be a nightmare when using substandard braids, with the potential for looping and uneven wrapping on the spool between jerks. There’s none of that with Siglon PE!

EJ Todd Fishing Solutions have a history of bringing in high-quality fishing products from all over the world. Basically, if you take fishing more seriously than just about anything else in life, you’ll have brought EJ Todd products. Everything under the Todd’s banner comes with unmistakable quality identified by Australian anglers for Australian anglers, and the new Siglon PE from Sunline is no exception! SPOOLING UP Having been sent two spools for testing, the PEx4 and PEx8 (both in 16lb), I decided I would do a comparison of the two. The two 150m (165yds) spools were in the ‘light green’ colour, perfect for my planned testing site that features a lot of aquatic weed. The PEx8 is available in light green, orange and multi colour, and the PEx4 just in light green. As the name suggests, the PEx8 is an

Concept A baitcaster. As with all re-spooling of braid on my reels, I made sure to pack it down as tightly as I could onto about 20-30m of squishy monofilament, which I use as backing. ON THE WATER Soon enough I was on the water, and the end of autumn saw me getting stuck into one of my favourite forms of fishing – jerkbaiting for impoundment bass! With the constant jerking of the rod and

As for the comparison of the two models, I found that my decision to put the braids on their respective reels was a good choice, and feel that anyone interested in using this line should follow the same principal – PEx4 for baitcasters and PEx8 for spin reels. QUALITY THE BEST SOLUTION Some of us might not think too hard about what braid we use, but we should – it’s what keeps us connected to the fish!

potential for uneven wrapping on the spool, I thought this was a perfect test for the braid. For a bit of fun, I decided to fish jerkbaits on both the spinning and baitcasting setups loaded up with the Siglon PE. Like with all braids, it took a few casts for it to warm up and cast properly, but within 2 minutes I was belting out long casts with a 4.5g jerkbait, and within 5 minutes, I was hooked up on the spin gear! This fish started a fantastic few months of top-class jerkbaiting in South East Queensland for me, and I got plenty of use out of the PEx4 and the PEx8. On the 8 I was able to deliver good casts comfortably with jerkbaits as light at 3.5g, while with the 4 on the baitcast set-up, I used baits as light at 4.9g without any trouble at all. I also got some use out of the braids fishing for flathead, bream and squid without any loops, wind knots or troubles associated with lesser braids. They’ve even retained their original colour better than other braids I’ve used! As a bonus, I found it to be extremely thin for its poundage, which aided in casting distance and overall stealth.

If you want a braid that will last more than a few months, retaining its strength and abrasion-resistance, Siglon PE is a great choice. Being as trouble-free as it is, you’ll be able to spend more time fishing and less time stressing about retying, untangling wind knots and re-packing the spool. Siglon PEx8 comes in poundages from 5-130, while the PEx4 in 3-50, so there’s a PE for literally every fishing scenario. Coming in at a pretty incredible price for a high-quality braid, this is the perfect option for anyone looking for peace of mind with braids, where you can spool it up and not worry about it for over a year. At around $24.95 for 150m spools of PEx4 and around $40 for 150m spools of PEx8 (more for 300m spools), it’s a product that marries up supreme quality and affordability. Choosing a braid when spooling up new reels and re-spooling old ones can require a bit of thought. EJ Todd have made that decision much easier for me! For more information, and to find an outlet near you that stocks Sunline Siglon PE Braided Fishing Line, visit www.ejtodd.com.au. - Bob Thorton

The author was just happy to be out bass fishing after a period of little to no linewetting. A trouble-free braid made those first few trips out to the dam pure joy.

Even the baitcaster got a run with the jerkbaits! The 16lb PEx4 had no trouble delivering a 4.9g bait into the nooks and crannies where the bass were.

SEPTEMBER 2018

Barra

Paddling and pedalling for chrome glory BRISBANE

Kaspar Lenigas

T h e re ’s certainly something special about kayak fishing. It’s all about getting back to

stocked impoundments in the region have spilled over, sending plenty of barramundi over their walls and populating the creeks and rivers downstream, giving kayak anglers a great opportunity to access

incredibly powerful and acrobatic, making them extremely good at getting away once hooked. First off, you’ll need a decent kayak or canoe – something you can comfortably fish out

A solid fish caught out of the kayak while fishing in wet conditions during a run-off.

Exploring the places where these fish live is half the fun. nature and the basics of fishing, no sounders, no technology, just you, your paddle, a rod, some lures and a keen sense of adventure. When weather doesn’t permit me to fish offshore, especially in the warmer months, there’s nothing I love to do more than hooking up the kayak on the roof of my car, chucking in my swag and heading off the beaten track in search of new waterways for new and exciting species of fish. This year in summer I tried my luck at barramundi, a fish I had very little experience with, but heard all about, with the explosive strike, aerial acrobatics and power. I just had to give it a shot. A 3-5 hour drive north of Brisbane, I headed to the Hervey Bay and Central Queensland regiions, as the impoundments in these areas are stocked with barramundi. I have always been an enthusiast of fishing rivers and creeks out of my kayak and love actively fishing snags for fish. I have confidence that after many casts eventually a fish will come out and smash my lure. I find impoundments can be hard to fish out of a kayak. You often need a sounder to give you an upper hand, as it’s such a vast body of water – the fish can literally be anywhere. Luckily, in the last couple of years the 76

SEPTEMBER 2018

can cast heavier braided line easier and you’re able to use your thumb to apply more drag if needed during a fight. As mentioned heavier braided lines are important when chasing barra around timber snags, and this is because they can wrap you

find a 6-7ft long 20-25lb baitcast rod to be ideal for kayak fishing. Some people like shorter rods and some prefer longer – jut make sure you use whatever you are comfortable using. If you want to use spinning gear, it is perfectly fine to do so just use at least a 4000 size reel with 20-30lb braid over a 20lb rod. Because you are in a kayak, you can’t put a lot of hurt and pressure on fish during a fight, and will get dragged around most of the time, which also makes this form of fishing so much fun, as you can experience the true power of the fish. ALLURE OF CHOICE There are a lot of lures out on the market to catch barra, and they all work, but they need to be used in the right situation to catch fish. When fishing snags for barra, I find 1/4-1/2oz weedless/snagless soft plastics to be the most affective, as you can really punch your lures tight into the snags where the fish are and draw them out without

snagging up every cast. I generally like paddle-tail and prawn imitation soft plastics in the 4-6” range rigged on 4/0-7/0 weighted weedless hooks. Deep and shallowdiving hardbodies from 80-120mm are also fantastic when fishing slightly less snaggy areas, used with a twitch and pause or slow roll retrieve. Surface lures are also a great option when used in the right situation or areas, as barra really know how to smash a surface lure. Poppers and walk-the-dog style surface lures are great in low light conditions and weedless frogs are dynamite when fished though snags or over lilypads and can be used any time of the day as the barra will shelter under lilypads on a hot sunny day. Repeated casts with a frog can trigger a reaction bite. As far as lure colours go, anything can work, but I like white, yellow, gold, black and other natural patterns, but you can use what every you have

It’s always a good idea to fish with someone else when exploring new places. Not just for safety, but because you can fish more of the area. sections of water where boats can’t get to. BASIC PREP To access some of these sections of water you need to do your research and Google Earth is a great tool for finding these spots and accessing them. The other beauty of kayak fishing is you don’t need to take much gear with you. The simpler the better, but to target barra you definitely need to be equipped with the right tackle, as these fish are

of. Other essentials are sunscreen and general sun safe gear, because you will be exposed to the sun a lot. A good amount of drinking water is essential, a good set of pliers, lip grips and a dry bag for other electronics devices is a must as well. FISHING KIT As far as fishing gear goes when chasing barra, I prefer to use a baitcast set up. The reason for this is that it allows you to cast and work snags a lot faster than spinning gear, plus it

in structure. With a coarser, heavier braid you can back your drag off and ease them out without the braid breaking that easily. As far as leader goes, I like to use fluorocarbon, as it’s a lot hardier then monofilament and can stand up to the chafe from the barramundi’s raspy mouth. I prefer to use 40-50lb fluro, as I find its strong enough to handle most fish you’ll hook. When it comes to a rod for your baitcaster, I

Fish over a metre are definitely seen as the ultimate prize when chasing barramundi, and they sure know how to put up a good fight. This fish was hooked near the kayak on a weedless soft plastic and swam out into open water, dragging the kayak with it.

Barra confidence with. FINDING AND CATCHING Once you’re equipped and have found a location, the fun part of finding and catching them begins. Barramundi can be a temperamental fish at times,

with storms building in the afternoon have always been my favourite. Nevertheless, if you put in enough casts and effort you’ll get the results a lot of the time. If there isn’t something triggering a hot bite, you literally just need to put

lure past the fish is key to success, but after thousands of casts you’ll gradually understand how each snag should be approached. When casting around snags like fallen trees and timer hard up on a bank, I will place multiple casts at the

Barramundi can be temperamental at times, feeding when and how they like, which is usually influenced by the conditions.

Surface frogs fished around lily islands can produce some great fish if you can extract them. feeding when and how they like, but a huge driving force in how and when they feed is dependent on the conditions. Cold wet conditions are certainly less than ideal when targeting these fish, as it can seriously shut them down. Hot sunny days

your lure in front of a hungry fish. Casting at the snags and approaching them the right way with your lure is key to getting a strike. Really trying to visualise the underwater structure and placing the right cast to bring your

base of the structure near the bank and slowly bring my lure off it, hitting it from different angles. In a lot of snag-casting situations I find weighted weedless soft plastics to be the best, as you can really put that lure deep into the snag and work it fast without snagging up

ruining your chances of catching the fish. When you snag, you need to paddle over an retrieve your lure, which will likely spook the fish. If the area isn’t too snaggy, surface lures and diving hardbodies can be deadly, thrown into the structure and bounced off timber, twitched and paused right in the strike zone, and this can really trigger an aggressive response and strike. A lot of the time the barra won’t always be in tight and hiding inside the structure and you’ll find

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you’ll draw fish out and have strikes as the lure is coming off the structure. When they are active, they will be slightly elevated in the water column, waiting for food to come past. One thing to remember is a barramundi’s head and eyes are designed so they can look up for ambushing prey from underneath, so your lure doesn’t need to be worked that deep to be in the strike zone most of the time. One thing I have found with bigger barramundi is they will generally be

sitting off the structure and will hit the lure metres off the snag or follow the lure to the kayak before committing. When fishing standing timber and timber islands or forests, I find making multiple casts in between the timbers and bringing the lure past them under the surface to be the best approach. In low light conditions surface lures and frogs can work well in these same areas. Additionally, don’t be afraid to put a cast deep into the structure, as these To page 78

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Barra From page 77

fish tow you around and you generally get pulled into structure, so once the fish is hooked, back off your drag and let the fun of untangling and easing the fish out of a snag begin. When fishing lily pads and grass, weedless surface frogs are the best lures, especially when cast right into the thick of it and hopped and worked slowly over the lilies or through grass or burnt fast past them. It makes for some very visual and explosive

strikes. You can fish lily pads and grass during any time of the day, as barramundi love to shelter in or under them, especially when the sun is high on a stinking hot day. I find repeated casts over lilies can annoy the fish into a strike some days. I have had sessions where I will cast at one section of lilies half a dozen times and after the 6th cast, I’ve see the lilies move, and by the 7th or 8th cast, the fish smashes the frog out of aggression. Frog fishing is some of

the most exciting fishing, as these fish really smash the lure off the surface and you will generally see the fish move the grass or lily pads before they come and explode on your lure. I have seen fish bow wave from metres away some days and explode on a frog, then tear off through the lilies and start jumping out in open water while your line is tangled in a big messy salad of weed, lily pads and grass. If there has been a lot of rain and run-off and there

These fish live in some pretty cool places. This fish was extracted from some standing timber.

All you need when chasing this chrome monsters is your fishing gear, a small esky for food and tackle storage, and a dry bag . Keep it simple.

is a bit of water flow in the creek or river, barramundi can be quite easy to target, because like most fish they dislike sitting in fast flowing water, and this concentrates them around structure where the water flow eddies. This allows the fish to sit out of the main flow of water, where they can wait for food to come past. I find throwing weighted weedless soft plastics and shallow diving hardbodies to be deadly

when cast around structure where the water eddies, as you can find multiple fish sitting off one bit of structure, making for some very fun fishing. THROW THE YAK ON THE ROOF! The beauty of owning a kayak is you don’t have to fish out of it, as you can paddle to and access areas on foot where you can’t generally get to on foot alone, exploring those less fished areas where fish see

very little fishing pressure. Doing this can make for some incredible fishing sessions. I hope this gives you the confidence and know how to get out there this season and get amongst one of Australia’s premier sport fish without breaking the bank. You should have a lot of fun exploring and trying something new in the process. Until next time, stay safe and good luck!

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Rupe @rupeisfishing

Rupe Is Fishing

Statistics from the new Fishing Monthly website (wp.fishingmonthly.com.au) have told us that you guys are lapping up every feature we’ve run over the past year about must-have lures for certain species like bass, cod or trout. Steve Morgan’s piece about crab lures was also a huge hit. Now, with so many people hitting the QLD impoundments and rivers since barra open season kicked off in February, I decided the time was right to start on a new article: ‘mundi magnets. In this feature I’ll go through most of the bigger categories, and why and when you should use them. I’ll also cover the techniques for each, and offer up a 6-pack of my personal favourites. Just beware though, if you go and catch a mega mundi on something from my one of my 6-packs, you in turn owe me a 6-pack of Great Northern Original – it’s the lure law, and it must be respected. THE HARD STUFF I reckon hardbodied lures for barra is one of the only lure categories in Australia that would actually be dominated by homegrown designs. Perhaps that’s because we’re an innovative lot, and our relaxed Aussie lifestyle has given us plenty of time to tinker with things and make the lures that our fishing forefathers needed. Or maybe these lures were born out of necessity, with early international offerings being too flimsy for the rigours of the mighty ‘mundi. Either way, Australians have made some really great lures for one of our most iconic sportfish and we should celebrate those guys who inhaled all those paint fumes in the quest for better lures.

Trolling lures Lots of people like to beat down trolling, but the numbers speak for themselves. So many fish have been accounted using this method, and it’s not as easy as you may have been lead to believe, particularly in flowing water. Many of the rivers that hold 80

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barra have raging flows and ever-changing underwater landscapes. It’s no mean feat for the captain to steer not only his boat but also any number of rods with lures in the water that might be 40ft behind the boat in and out of snags, rock bars or man-made structures. The ideal barra trolling lure is anywhere from 100-180mm long with a bib to suit the depth of water you’re likely to be fishing. If you were to gauge popularity by just the numbers that appear on tackle shop walls, you’d find that 120mm long and diving to 10ft deep is what they sell the most of, which of course translates to that combo also catching the most fish. Narrow, pointed bibbed options will give you a very high cycle rate while shorter, rounded front bibs give the lure a slower cycle rate, with more of a roll at the top of its action. Because of the typical length of the lure, you’ll usually find they have three sets of trebles. However many trebles they have though, always either choose a lure with the appropriate level of strength in its hooks and rings, or retro-fit your own before you hit the water. Don’t allow yourself to be let down by cheap terminal tackle. While you’ll find them in thousands of weird and wonderful colour combinations, if I had to survive using only three I’d pick Guns N Roses, chrome gold and bleeding mullet to put food on the table. Technique When trolling, set your lures anywhere from 15-40ft behind your boat and slow your motor down as much as you can. Plot your course along the outside of weed beds or standing groves of timber, or weave your way in and out of other structure as best you can. Don’t be afraid to hit the bottom every now and then, but adjust your course and depth by feel and using your sounder. It’s not a bad idea to ask the kids for a lure retriever for Fathers Day either. You’re going to need it if you want to keep your lures where the big bruisers live!

Casting Lures While all lures can be either cast or trolled, there are certainly preferred applications for individual types or styles. This means that while you don’t need to buy both casting and trolling hardbodies, it’s a good excuse to do so. The casting lures aimed at the barra market have so much variation to them. There’s quite a bit of crossover from both international markets and also from designs aimed at other Aussie natives, such as bass, cod or mangrove jacks. Generally these lures will be shorter than their trolled counterparts, and manufacturers can get creative by making floating, sinking, suspending, rattling and silent versions of

the same lure. More lures for the tackle box – yay! Start with lures from around 70-110mm long and, if you can afford to by a few, mix it up with colours, float types and sounds. You just don’t know what will turn the fish on. Typically the bibs on these lures are a bit longer, to provide instant resistance in the water so they can dive to the desired depth quickly. You want them to get down low and go-go-go, twitching their way through the branches of submerged timber or bouncing between rocks and logs. There have been quality Aussie-made lures for throwing at creek mouths and the like since the Godfather of lure making down under, Eric Moller, carved and modelled his own take on the famous Heddon Tiger. This kind of Aussie innovation won’t be slowing down any time soon, but there’s also a range of quality imported jobs that have been beefed up to include ‘Heavy Duty’

RUPE’S BARRA TROLLING 6-PACK • Classic Barra 120 10+ • Bomber Long 15A HD • Rapala X-Rap SXR10 • RMG Scorpion 150 • Storm Thunder Barra • Zerek Tango Shad 120

Main Photo: The early autumn rains meant Sam Gilchrist from bythegills.com had to push up into swollen feeder creeks to find this healthy specimen. Above: Michael Fox caught this escapee impoundment barra on a Reidy’s B-52. The key was working it tight to weed and structure around the edges of the river.

Barra options. Lucky Craft and Jackall have done it better than most, with their Pointer AU and Squirrel Hank Tune series respectively. The level of engineering from these Japanese manufacturers is breathtaking if you’re a lure tragic like me. Technique Techniques for this style of lure vary quite a bit, and can be unique to different locations. For suspending lures in particular I’d suggest a jerk-jerk-pause action, and the longer you can pause, the better. I’m an impatient angler so it’s always a struggle for me to let the lure sit there but trust me, the longer it sits the closer you are to hook-up. Too often we can get caught up travelling a bank, casting directly into snags that look ‘fishy’. However, I can offer one piece of advice that I’ve ignored far too often while watching my deckies slay fish after fish: don’t get caught up in what’s next to the boat. Instead, cast forward of the bow as much as you can. The element of surprise is your friend, and even if your boat is a stealthy one it can still count against you. RUPE’S BARRA CASTING 6-PACK • Lucky Craft Pointer AU Series 78XD • Jackall Squirell 79 Hank Tune • Barra Trooper 90 • Atomic Hardz Shiner 85 • Rapala Shadow Rap • DUO Realis Jerkbait 100SP • Zerek Tango Shad 120

THE SOFT STUFF I can remember walking into the tiny old version of Fishing & Outdoor World in Darwin one otherwise ordinary day when I lived in the NT, and seeing owners George and Ronald clearing space for tubs upon tubs of soft plastic lures that had just arrived. There were some cool lures from US makers like Renosky and Manns, as well as an Australian model called a ‘Squidgy’. “What the *bleep* is a Squidgy?” I asked. It was explained to me that these were the next best thing in barra fishing. Stupidly I dismissed it as being a flash in the pan, and something that would come and go quicker than the bottle of 15-year-old scotch I’d bought the old man for his birthday. Looking back on that day 16 years ago, I couldn’t have been more wrong. Nowadays there are just as many quality soft plastics available as there are hardbodies, possibly even more. The amount of places you can throw them and the ability

happily donate any lure I own to hold a metre of ‘mundi. Technique When using vibes for any species I like to vary my method. You shouldn’t change it up too often, but rather employ a ‘search and destroy’ tactic, particularly when you can see fish schooled up or huddled around structure on a sounder. At times like this, vibes really come into their own. Most vibes are aerodynamically built so you can cast them a mile, and then just present the lure to the fish in different ways until you work out what they’re craving that day. Sometimes low and slow will do the trick, while at other times you’ll need to almost violently hop them through the water column to trigger the strike.

Soft plastics like this Samaki Boom Bait 5” Bomb Shad with Owner Flashy Swimmer jighead can be fished in heavy cover without fear of losing your lure, and still achieve great hook-up rates. to customise colours, weights and impart actions means if you haven’t got soft plastics in the boat you’re really limiting your ability to land a barra. Because plastics are relatively cheap you might be able to afford more variety in your soft plastic box than you can with hardbodies, vibes or topwaters. Depending on the waterway you’re fishing, the typical food source size and also the size of barra you think you’re likely to encounter, I recommend starting with 4” models and work up from there. In saying that though, a 50cm barra will try to eat a 9” plastic, and a 120cm fish will happily eat a 4” bait if you put it in the right spot. Technique Paddle-tail models dominate the barra offerings, and with good reason. They provide constant flash and movement during the retrieve, and the resistance from the tail slows the plastic down too. Just like a scene out of a crappy teenage movie where the insanely hot chick slowly walks away from the loser kid pining, that’s how it works for barra chasing soft plastics. Keep it nice and slow and let the fish enjoy that shake until they can’t bear it anymore and steal a kiss.

VIBES This is a style of barra fishing that I personally haven’t had a lot of success with, but I have seen it bring so many big chromies over the rails I’ve lost count. Vibes are very effective in deep, saltwater situations, and the approach is simple: long casts, slow retrieve, hang on and try not to get dusted. Through a combination of weight and clever design, vibes offer the angler at the other end of the line the opportunity to keep their lure in the strike zone for a long period of time, and also maintain consistent action

RUPE’S BARRA VIBES 6-PACK • Samaki Vibelicious 100 Fork Tail • Madness Shiriten • Samaki Vibelicious 125 Thumper Tail • Jackall Transam 95 • Zerek Fish Trap 110 • Mazzy Vib Forte

TOPWATER Catching barra of any size in any way is a joy. They’re fast, explosive and often acrobatic during the fight, but if you can get them to eat a lure off the roof then the excitement increases dramatically. Just looking at the basic anatomy of a barra you can see they’re almost built for stalking from below, and exploding on prey that sits just below or even above the waterline. Can you imagine just how nervous a frog must get in the time it takes to kick its legs three times getting from one lily pad to the next? It must be

RUPE’S BARRA SOFT PLASTIC 6-PACK • Castaic Jerky J Swims 7” • Samaki Boom Baits Bomb Shad 5” • ZMan SwimmerZ 7” • Holt Productions Swim Prawn 4” • Keitech Swing Impact Fat 6.8” • Squidgies Slick Rig 130mm

Normally saving his angling talents for giant Murray cod, Adam Townsend ventured north and landed this hulking barra on a paddle-tailed soft plastic.

A barra virgin before this trip, Tweed young gun James Thurley has found himself a new addiction after dragging several wild ‘mundis from tight cover on a combo he has ‘permanently borrowed’ from his boss.

with very little input from the rod. Don’t get me wrong, you can work the lure by hopping, jigging or burning and killing as much as you want, but it’s not necessary for them to be effective. You can get vibes in either soft or hard forms, and they come in every colour of the rainbow with different sound types and sink rates. Some of the translucent fish patterns available now look as close to a real baitfish as you’re going to get. Whichever model you chose, try to get one with a through wire from tow-point to hook hangers. That way, even if everything goes wrong and a lure hits the self-destruct button, you’ll still get the fish. I would

exhausting, but that’s precisely where the fun starts for the angler! We’ve now had enough mad scientist lure makers around the globe to make a huge assortment of topwater lures, many of them closely mimicking actual food sources, that we can pick and choose from. Looking at that long list of lures is like selecting from the menu at KFC – you know EVERYTHING is delicious but what do you feel like today? Do you want something that crawls like a wounded bird or rodent, spits and splutters like a busted baitfish, or hops through the lilies like a frog? More to the point, what does Mr Barry Mundi want to eat today? To page 82

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Barra From page 81

Technique Fizzers and frogs are my favourite when it comes to surface fishing, and I make my choice between those dependent on where I’m casting. If it’s a creek mouth or standing timber with little chance for obstruction I’ll throw a fizzer and go for a burn-and-kill style retrieve. Fizzers throw plenty of water and usually have at least a couple of trebles depending on body length, which helps with hook-up rates. If I get the opportunity to throw directly over a weed bed or grove of lilies I’ll opt for the frog every time. Most are built on upward facing double hooks, and are

a few pauses thrown in for good measure. When throwing glidebaits I’ll use them in the same areas but with a much longer pause and a big sweeping rod action to let them dart and dive as they sink. Give the lure some slack line when you can, it will give it more freedom and it will dive through the water with an even more lifelike action. If you’ve ever seen a video of a school of sardines being swiped at by angry billfish, you’ll know that there are always a few that get stunned in the rush, and they sort of float and tumble away from the school. That’s the action I’m looking for in my glidebait, hopefully offering a nice easy meal for big bad Barry and his mates.

Even hulking barra like this one taken by Greg Livingstone will eat small, well-presented soft plastics.

Brisbane angler Gavin Springate spends just about every waking moment of every day thinking about fish, and when the air heats up in early spring he heads north in search of brackish water bullies. weighted to skip and skim over the surface of the lilies and drop into the space between, giving fish the opportunity to eat them. This design means they are very much a weedless lure most of the time, but you can suffer from poor hook-up rates, especially with the smaller class fish you find in some of the freshwater below the Queensland impoundments.

RUPE’S BARRA SWIMBAIT/GLIDEBAIT 6-PACK • Zerek Live Mullet 5.5” • Evergreen ES Flats • Chilton Tackle Co RAY 145 • Swimbaits Australia 150mm Glidebait • Lucky Craft Real BG 150SS • Castaic BD Shad

ON THE FLUFF Having never actually attempted to catch a barra on fly, I had to do a bit of ringing around in order to make sure I didn’t miss out on the vital info for this article. Speaking to a few good mates, they all had many hints, tips and tricks to share, but one thing rang true across all conversations: don’t arrive undergunned. As the saying goes, you should never take a knife to a gun fight, and your gear had better be up to task or you may as well leave it at home. Flyfishing itself is one of the purest ways someone can enjoy this great sport, but there is so much to do before you find, hook or even think about landing a fish. Start with a fly rod in the 9wt, 10wt or 12wt bracket and an intermediate line. A shorter rod can help when trying to cast in tight situations, and will also help you steer a fish once connected. You’ll need a mix of flies, from poppers and gurglers through to sinking flies like Clousers and legendary flyfisherman Lefty Kreh’s all time favourite – the Deceiver. Like any lure presentation you’ll need practice, patience and a variety of

RUPE’S BARRA TOPWATER 6-PACK • Bill’s Bugs Fuzz Bugs 100mm • OSP Bent Minnow 106 • Teckel Sprinker Frog • Rapala Skitter Pop • Lunkerhunt Popping Frog • Owner Tango Dancer 95

SWIMBAITS AND GLIDEBAITS No tackle box is complete these days without the addition of swimbaits and/or glidebaits. These versatile offerings can present lures in such a realistic fashion that you could be forgiven for mistaking your own lure for a baitfish. Just like vibes, there are hard and soft options on the market, and both will do the job for you if used in the right spot in the right way. Technique I like to cast swimbaits out along edges, let them sink to around the mid-water mark and slowly retrieve from there, with 82

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Tempting a barra on fly is one of the most rewarding captures an angler can enjoy. Roderick Walmsley did exactly that on his trusty EDGE wand. This is a priority on my 2018 fishing bucket list and will be attended too once the water heats up!

presentations to crack the pattern on that particular trip, and it all may change before you go again. Whether you’re fishing for barra or any other species, don’t be afraid to pick a fly rod up and have a go. It’s frustrating at first but it really is rewarding when you get it right. RUPE’S PHONE-A-FRIEND BARRA FLY 6-PACK • Lefty’s Deceiver • Gold Bomber Fly • Pink Thing • Dahlberg Diver • Clouser Minnow • Ammo Flies Game Changer

Jerkbaiting is a must-know technique when fishing weed edges, heavy timber and the edges of lily banks. The lure should be able to get to the desired depth quickly, then suspend until the barra just can’t stand it anymore and has to inhale! NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT DO IT If you haven’t caught a barramundi before, I hope this has given you a helping hand when considering what to throw, and encouraged you to venture out in search of them. And if you’ve already popped that cherry, hopefully this feature has given you a couple of options you haven’t considered before. There’s a reason people travel from all over Australia and from all corners of the globe in search of barramundi. They’re an impressive fish and can create memories to hold on to forever. Just do me one favour – the next time you’re out on the water, remember that nobody wins a prize for owning the most lures, so take a risk and make that cast into the impossibly thick snag. The fish of a lifetime could be eagerly awaiting the arrival of your sacrifice to the fish gods. If the worst thing that happens is that you lose a lure and have to go into the tackle store to buy more, you’re still winning at life!

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AFTA FISHING TACKLE, MARINE AND OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW

BEST OF SHOW AWARDS

2018 AFTA Tackle Trade Show Each year the fishing tackle trade conducts a business-to-business show on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter, and it’s always an event to remember. Distributors and fishing tackle stores from all over Australia gather to show off new products and do deals. This show is not open to the public, so we at Fishing Monthly and www.tacklejunkie.fish are bringing you the latest and greatest tackle via social media, YouTube and print. To those of you who missed our videos broadcast straight from the Gold Coast Convention Centre, where we interviewed wholesalers showing off their latest gear, you can check

them out on the Fishing Monthly YouTube channel. One of the most exciting things about the AFTA Show is the Best In Show awards. It starts with retailers voting on what they judge to be the best new gear, the votes are tallied, and the awards are presented at the formal Gala Dinner. We have compiled the winners and runners-up for you in this issue, and some of them are particularly innovative and exciting. And just quietly, we hear that there’s a good chance there will be a public (non-buying, look and see only) day next year. It’s not confirmed yet but we’ll bring you news of this as it comes to hand!

JOHN DUNPHY MEMORIAL FISHING TOURNAMENT Every second year the John Dunphy Memorial Fishing Tournament is run in conjunction with the AFTA Trade Show. John Dunphy was one of Australia’s greatest tackle innovators, and Australian Bass Tournaments (ABT) uses the event to help debut new technology and improvements to fishing tournament data capture. This year was no exception. Seven tournament pros took out 14 industry identities with the aim of catching their biggest bag of five bream. However, they didn’t bring and fish back to the weigh-in. Instead, all of the captures were recorded on the ABT Tournament Series App (powered by TrackMyFish). At the same time, the majority of the field were live streaming their fishing day via a collection of Garmin action cameras. This live stream was curated and presented on at the Trade Show on two massive screens. “ABT’s aim is to make fishing a real spectator sport,” said ABT founder

Steve Morgan, “and with live streaming technology getting smaller, cheaper and easier to manipulate we are enjoying taking the lead in this area.” The live stream is managed by InfoFish, and it’s a great partnership. Not only does the company (which administers Queensland’s tagging program) run the back end of this system, but the data gets used meaningfully after the tournament. With over a million fish recorded in the InfoFish database, the company believes that monitoring the top 20% of anglers gives a great snapshot into the structure of a waterway’s fish stocks. This means that catch and release fishing can become an important part of community monitoring of the resource. That’s a great position for catch and release fishing. For the record, team Costa won the day with a cracking Gold Coast bag with over 4kg for five bream. Well done to Jamie Mckeown (ABT); Jenny Gordillo (Costa) and Tanya Konsul (Costa).

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION AWARD In an age when everything has a use-by date and companies and brands come and go, longevity is rare. J.M. Gillies has written its story into history and has significantly helped shape the fishing industry in Australia. For J.M. Gillies this story now spans 90 years. Over the years J.M. Gillies has been responsible for the distribution of brands such as Plano, Rapala, Maxima, Berkley, Redington, Sage, Arbogast, Classic, Bomber, Killalure, Warlock, Tassie Devil and SeaDog. J.M. Gillies was established in 1928 by John Malcolm Gillies in West Melbourne, and his vision was to service the fly industry. Fly tying was the core business, and this built a foundation and a name for the brand in Australia. The start of 1987 saw Pat Levy, who at the time was a young storeman and packer, risk everything to buy the business. Gillies had a number of warehouse moves in a short period of time due to the expansion of the business, before

finding a base in Port Melbourne in 2000. The business continued to expand, and a number of neighbouring warehouses were taken over before finally running out of space, and the company moved to a purpose-built warehouse in 2009 that is still home today. During the company’s 90 years, J.M. Gillies has distributed and manufactured more than 70 brands of fishing products and other sporting goods. For Pat, it’s always been about providing the best service and brands. The service side has been a foundation for the business, with a core sales team and internal staff that’s being largely unchanged for the past three decades. Although brands and products come and go, the team at J.M. Gillies have become a family with a common goal, and have established great relationships with tackle stores all around the country and also other countries around the world. Pat Levy was inducted to the AFTA Hall of Fame at the 2018 AFTA Gala Dinner and Awards Night, in recognition of his services to the fishing tackle industry.

WOMEN IN RECREATIONAL FISHING Also represented at the show were members of the WIRF leadership program (Women in Recreational Fishing). Focused on unearthing tomorrow’s female fishing leaders, this scholarship program gave 10 women the chance to attend the AFTA Gala Awards and contribute their voices to the future of the industry. The network has been created by the VFA (Victorian Fisheries Authority) as part of the Target One Million program to encourage females to participate in the fishing activity with the family, rather than just watch. It is linked to the Target One Million drive to increase participation to get one million Victorians fishing by 2020. Some of the goals of the program

include how to better share knowledge about the skills and equipment need to fish, to empower women with the right info; how to get more women on boards and in leadership roles within the fishing industry; and how to advertise women in fishing in a more positive way. An interactive Facebook group has been created for women to enable them to talk, gain and share knowledge to engage in recreational fishing activities in a comfortable manner. Female anglers of all levels are encouraged to join, post and learn from one another. Interested parties can check it out at www.facebook.com/ groups/womeninrecfishing. And that’s all the news from the AFTA Show. Read on to check out all the product winners!

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AFTA FISHING TACKLE, MARINE AND OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW

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BEST ROD CATEGORY WINNER Abu Garcia Real Finesse Abu Garcia Real Finesse

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BEST REEL

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Abu Garcia is ushering in the next generation of sleek design and high performance rods with the Real Finesse range. Featuring 100% carbon blanks with Abu’s Triarchy Force production methods, finesse rods deliver sensitive, ultra-light blanks with higher break strengths and improved impact and fracture resistance. Features include: nano carbon (super high modulus Nano Carbon 55t material); 4 Axis Cross (carbon tapes are wrapped around the blanks in an X shape, both from 45° and

135°, enhancing torque and preventing twist); equipped with Advanced Fuju Torzite Micro Guide System; Triarchy Force (100% carbon material arranged in both length and width directions with unique multilayer construction and finishing techniques, increasing hoop and overall rod strength). There are five models in the range, all 2-piece: 51OULS (EXF action, 5’10”, 0.14g rig weight, 0.1-0.3 PE line), 67SULT (F action, 6’7”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 610LS (EXF action, 6’10”, 0.1-5.5g, 0.1-0.3 PE), 76LT (F action, 7’6”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.5 PE), 79ULS (EXF action, 7’9”, 0.1-7.0g, 0.1-0.3 PE). www.abugarcia-fishing.com.au

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BEST REEL CATEGORY WINNER Shimano Curado DC

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For smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of circumstances, the new Curado DC changes the game and represents the latest in Shimano Technology development. Shimano’s Digital Control (DC) braking system is the star element of this reel and gives you the ability to make every cast count. The Curado DC offers four adjustable settings that enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures of different shapes and sizes, in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings. It can also accommodate different casting techniques and even line type. Housed within the aluminium Hagane Body, Micromodule gearing provides seamless gear

BEST REEL RUNNER UP

Shimano Curado DC

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Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC

meshing for smoother winding performance, whether on the retrieve or when hooked up. There are four reels in the Curado 150 DC stable, including a choice of a medium (6.2:1) to an extra fast (8.5:1) gearing ratio, and a lefthand wind option is also available. www.shimanofish.com.au

RUNNER UP Daiwa Exist LT 3000 DC Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 DC that was recognised in particular at the AFTA show. Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity. You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels. The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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BEST COMBO CATEGORY

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Abu Garcia MGXtreme Finesse

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Daiwa TD Black Combo

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Abu MGXtreme and Real Finesse

Daiwa TD Black combo

The clear winner in the Best Combo category was the Abu Garcia MGXtreme spin reel matched with a Real Finesse rod. The Abu Real Finesse also won the Best Rod category. MGXtreme spin reels are Abu Garcia’s lightest and most compact spinning reels. These brand new reels feature the CMg carbon rotor and one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box to reduce weight to 5.6oz (159g). The high performance, durable AMGearing system is combined with HPCR and Salt Shield bearings for both freshwater and saltwater use. This extremely lightweight, versatile reel is also equipped with an innovative removable sinker keeper that eliminates tangling when using a drop shot. Features include: 11 stainless steel HPCR bearings (Salt Shield ball bearings for pinion gear and line roller) + 1 roller bearing; CMg rotor; AAMGearing system; Carbon Matrix drag system; one-piece X-Mag alloy gear box; C6 carbon body; Rocket line management system; compact bent carbon handle arm with cork knob; always on, instant anti reverse; and attached sinker keeper. abugarcia-fishing.com.au

An evolution of the popular Generation Black rod series (HVF blanks), the new TD Black series of rods has taken a leap forward in blank design and now features HVF (High Volume Fibre) Nanoplus blanks. With higher graphite density able to be achieved through Nanoplus technology, the result is a lighter, crisper, more powerful rod, while the addition of Braiding X technology further enhances rod performance by increasing wall strength and reducing blank twist. This allows a lighter, more dynamic rod to be created. For the perfect reel to match the new TD Black Rod, you can’t go past the new TD Black LT reel. Bearing the famous Black name that has been featuring so strongly in the Daiwa line-up over the last few years, the TD Black LT features the LT’s Light Tough Concept to deliver anglers a reel that impresses in looks and wows in performance. Both these great innovations from Daiwa combine to create one deadly combo. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Chasebaits 200mm Ultimate Squid

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The Zerek Live Swimbait takes the famous Live Mullet body profile to the next level. It uses the same concept as the widely acclaimed Live Shrimp – to emulate natural prey movements to trigger strikes. The segmented TPE (thermoplastic) body is held together with a Kevlar webbing, providing superior strength and freedom of movement. The main body section hides an ingeniously designed one-piece wire frame that connects the tow point to the hook hanger, giving even more strength. The wire frame also has additional hangers – two on top for attaching a spinnerbait arm or extra hooks, and a hanger underneath for chin weights such as the Mustad Fastach Football Weights and the traditional hook hanger. Easily workable with a straight retrieve, the lifelike 3D eyes and detailed finishes (natural and attractor patterns) make the 8” Zerek Live Swimbait very effective on barra, Murray cod, mulloway and more apex predators. Available in 12 proven colours, the new Zerek Live Swimbait is designed to sink in freshwater at the rate of 1ft per second, allowing anglers to effectively target suspending fish, thermoclines or bait schools easily. www.wilsonfishing.com

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The original Chasebaits Ultimate Squid has taken Australia by storm, catching a huge range of species in both fresh and salt since its 2017 release. Now, in response to angler demand, the Chasebaits team has released a 200mm version for anglers targeting larger offshore species. The larger model has all the same features that made the original such a smash hit – those trademark rippling wings, extended candles that flutter with any movement, contracting tentacles, custom 3D squid eyes, and custom scent. Designer Grainger Mayfield said the new model has been performing very well in field testing. “Naturally it has been catching a variety of pelagics and reef fish,” he said, “but anglers may be surprised to know that it’s also effective on cod and barramundi in the fresh. The Squid may not represent a specific freshwater prey item, but neither do spinnerbaits and it doesn’t deter the fish. As more anglers start changing their mindset, we’ll see a lot more freshwater catches on the Ultimate Squid.” Another new release is a custom jighead called the Ultimate Squid rig, made from ultra high tensile steel. It comes in 21g and 42g versions, has twin 4/0 assist hooks, and makes the Squid falls at a natural 45° angle for the most natural presentation possible. Keep an eye out for both the Ultimate Squid and Ultimate Rig from October. Price: approx. SRP $13 www.chasebaits.com.au

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Chasebaits 200mm Ultimate Squid

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Jackall Mega Pompadour

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The Sayori-S mimics one of the world’s most common baitfish – the garfish. Not only is the Sayori-S the perfect shape, but it also swims with the perfect, natural ‘S-type’ motion, just like the gar that it’s imitating so well. This sinking lure can be used for shore casting or for casting and trolling from a boat. At low speed, it swims under the surface with a tight, snaking action, while at higher speeds it will skip and splash across the surface like fleeing prey. You can also add a trolling weight or use a downrigger without affecting the lure’s action. If you remove the hooks, Sayori-S also makes a great teaser. The Sayori-S HD-Saltwater edition is fitted with premium quality 6X strong saltwater-grade ODZ Trinity SX hooks by Maruto Japan. Matched with HD stainless steel split rings, this lure is ready to tackle the biggest and strongest fighters in the sea. No aftermarket terminal upgrades are required. The Sayori-S 235 measures 235mm and weighs 58g, and will be available from October. Price: SRP $34.95 www.unitedtackle.com.au

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Building on the success of the original Pompadour, Jackall has released the much-anticipated 120mm Mega Pompadour. The Mega Pompadour is aimed squarely XOS freshwater fish such as Murray cod and big impoundment barramundi, and in a short time it has already gotten a number of 1m+ cod captures under its belt. This top-of-the-line crawler bait has been built to demanding specifications for Australian conditions, so there’s no need

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Jackall Mega Pompadour

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The new Frill Seeker is one of the latest lifelike creations from Chasebaits, and when you watch a video of it swimming you’ll know why it caused such a stir at the AFTA Trade Show. The Frill Seeker can be used as a surface wakebait or subsurface, diving to 1ft. Its fluid, lifelike movement comes from its segmented body, soft segmented tail and supple frill that shakes when the lure swims. When paused, the frill flares out, adding an extra dimension to the lure’s realistic appeal. As well as imitating a lizard, its profile also mimics a swimming mouse or rat. This durable lure features an ultra strong 10X soft tail attached securely with a corkscrew wire, and is fitted with ultra sharp and sticky BKK trebles. It measures 175mm (95mm body and 80mm tail), which is an ideal size for bass, small cod, small barra, jacks and any other fish that feeds on terrestrial animals like lizards or mice. Frill Seeker comes with a spare tail, and will be available from December. A larger model is in the pipeline, so watch this space! Price: SRP $24.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

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to upgrade hooks or rings – it's ready to go straight out of the pack. The Mega Pompadour’s wings close on the cast, and its magnetic weight movement allows the lure to be cast long distances while keeping its flight attitude. It also has a unique noisy rattle system, comprised of a glass rattle and brass ball. The Mega Pompadour has a strong crawling action made by metal wings, two types of loud rattles, and additional water disturbance made by the rear prop. It creates a massive noise and commotion on the surface, which large predators can’t resist. Price: SRP $59.95 www.jackall.com.au

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Bluewater HC Stickbait

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Bluewater HC Stickbait

Rapala Xtreme 160 HDFFU

The new HC Stickbait from the JM Gillies Bluewater stable is built tough to take on the most ferocious predators in the sea. The HC Stickbait is handcrafted, and both the insert and body are made with polyurethane material. The lure also features a heavy-duty wire through construction. This new lure measures 175mm long, weighs 120g and is initially available in five reactive UV colours with internal shell. It is set to be a smash hit with anglers targeting the likes of tuna, mackerel, wahoo and giant trevally. It won’t be available in stores until October, but in the meantime you can find more news and photos at the JM Gillies website, on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jm.gillies) or Instagram (@jm.gillies). www.jmgillies.com.au

When fishing offshore, anglers often like to troll between spots to maximise their chances of catching a feed, and now Rapala has come up with the perfect bait for this application. As we know, Rapala makes lures that perform well, and look absolutely fantastic, and the Xtreme 160 is no exception to that, and with the new High Definition colours, they’re sure to see hungry fish launching themselves at it coming over the side. With the ability to handle trolling speeds of 15-20 knots, you can rest assured that this bait will stay in the water, and won’t come to the surface. This bait is perfect for tuna, mackerel wahoo, mahimahi and many, many more. Fitted with quality VMC trebles and built tough to handle the riggers of pelagic teeth, this is an absolute winner for anyone wanting to troll at high speeds offshore. www.rapala.com.au

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Rapala Xtreme 160 HDFFU

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Viva Entice Bench Crimper

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AFN Complete Book of Fishing Knots

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Viva Entice Bench Crimper

Complete Book of Knots

The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper from Viva won the AFTA Best Game Fishing Accessory Award by a large margin. This reliable bench crimper can be used with nylon, wire, brass, copper, aluminium – any kind of crimp and any leader material. Owning a bench crimper is ideal if you want the power to do the biggest crimps, and the Entice does crimps up to 400lb. And if you’re making a lot of crimps, it makes the job much easier. Viva director Ran Feng said the Entice had gotten a great response in the short time it’s been available. “We gave it to a number of gamefishermen to try out, and they loved it,” he said. “It’s just so easy to crimp, thanks to the leverage from that long handle. Everyone wants to be sure that their crimps are 100%, and with the Entice you can achieve this with very little energy.” The Entice Gamefishing Bench Crimper has interchangeable dies, and is excellent value for money. Price: SRP $249 www.vivafishing.com.au

Learning how to tie the correct knot is one of the fundamental necessities of this great sport, because the knot is a critical connecting point between you and the fish. If your badly-tied knot fails, your fish is gone! This latest book from AFN will set you on the right path. The Complete Book of Knots has been put together by Bill Classon and Nigel Webster, hosts of the popular TV show The Fishing Show. . In this fully illustrated publication the pair outline all the knots anglers will ever need. This book caters for everyone, from the beginner to an expert, and has everything in it – from the basic knots through to some of the more advanced. Whether you are a first timer or a seasoned angler, there is something in it for you. Superbly illustrated by Trevor Hawkins, the steps are easy to follow, making it easy to master the process, and to tie dependable knots. Price: SRP $16.99 www.afn.com.au

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series, which feature Fuji Guides on the runner models, Pacific Bay rollers, Pacific Bay bent butt, and a carbon butt on nonbent butt models. All Ocean Assassins are built using SLS3 construction, which uses inner and outer spiral wrap layers of carbon fibre to sandwich middle layers of alternating longitudinal carbon and glass. The spiral wraps maintain a round cross-section in the blank when under load, which helps the blank handle higher loads. The middle layers of unidirectional carbon and glass create the backbone of the rod by utilizing the strength of glass combined with the light weight of the carbon fibre to deliver a strong, balanced and thin rod blank. www.pennfishing.com.au

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Daiwa’s J-Braid goes to another level with the release of the premium braid in the line-up, the new J-Braid Grand. A premium 8-strand PE, J-Braid Grand is made from an advanced new raw material (IZANAS) and is J-Braid’s strongest, most abrasion-resistant line ever. Four times more abrasion resistant than other lines, J-Braid Grand has a short pitch fibre construction that significantly reduces line damage and failure to dramatically increase line abrasion resistance and line strength consistency. Like all true premium Japanese 8-strand PE lines, the new J-Braid Grand maintains a true round profile for optimum line performance through the guides and on and off the reel. Made in Japan and available in sizes ranging from 6lb (0.6PE) to 150lb (PE16) and in multi and island blue colours, J-Braid Grand is the smoothest and best performing J-Braid they have ever made. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Utilizing the latest 9-carrier technology, the award-winning Berkley X9 Braided Line Crystal is an extremely smooth and strong line that has been designed for optimal strength and casting distance. Featuring a 9-carrier construction with a PE core, Berkley X9 braided line is extremely round and smoothly flows through guides for increased casting distance. Its high strand construction also enhances wear resistance for fishing over rugged structure, and provides higher knot strength. It is finished in Berkley’s highly visible crystal and flame green colours for easy strike detection. Berkley XP Braided Line Crystal is currently available in 150m, 300m, 2000m spools in crystal and flame green, and Berkley has also released a 5-carrier version (X5). For more information on these and more new releases from Berkley, visit their website or check them out on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BerkleyFishingANZ) or Instagram (@berkleyfishing). Price: SRP from $34.99 www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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Berkley X9 braid

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Berkley X9 Braid 300m

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Penn Ocean Assassin Game Rod

When it comes to quality and value for money, Penn’s Ocean Assassin range of offshore rods are a definite winner. Since their launch, they have accounted for a wide range of bluewater species. For 2018, Penn has added a series of Game models to the Ocean Assassin range. There are eight models in the new Game

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Wilson Fishing Live Fibre RLF46FRD

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The Live Fibre RLF46FRD from Wilson Fishing brings together years of development in a package that has been designed to be more affordable yet retain all the qualities Live Fibre rods are known for. Rated at 37kg, this fully rollered bent butt game rod features premium quality, big foot roller guides, a deluxe leather foregrip and a detachable butt. The blank features a composite build with world leading Toray carbon cloth that places the pressure on the fish, not the angler leading to shorter fight times and less angler fatigue. Built to Australia’s exacting demands, loaded with features to put the fight in your favour and now awarded the AFTA Best Game Fishing Rod for 2018, the Live Fibre RLF46FRD will be available in December. www.wilsonfishing.com

Wilson Live Fibre RLF46FRD

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BEST GAMEFISHING ROD

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Much of the best fly fishing in our amazing country exists in the tropical regions of the north, and now Rio have provided the perfect fly line for tropical climates. Rio’s Jungle Series of fly lines are designed to withstand the heat of tropical jungle destinations. Each line is built on Rio’s low-memory DirectCore that is extremely easy to anneal (stretch) and lies perfectly straight on the water, yet retains the stiffness

needed to cast on hot conditions. Each line has a short, quick-loading head that will easily cast and turnover typical large flies used in the tropics, and a range of density options ensures anglers are covered for all species, conditions and waters. So next time you’re headed north in search of a tropical fly fishing fix, or even overseas to a typically humid fly fishing Mecca, be sure to load up your reels with something that’s up for the job – Rio’s got your back! www.jmgillies.com.au

RUNNER UP Primal fly rod series Primal Fly Rods are the newest brand from Manic Tackle. They deliver a high premium performance and finish quality at an affordable price. They’re ideal for anglers looking to upgrade from an entry level package. At the heart of all Primal rods is a helical core of Nano matrix prepreg. As well as making the rods strong, it means they cast a very smooth, tight loop with very little tip bounce and exceptional tracking. Casting is smoother and more accurate. The award-winning RAW freshwater series of rods are lightweight and fitted with customised machine cut skeletal reel seats with double locking rings and stabilised timber inserts. The stripping guide is a titaniumframed SIC and the guides are custom light wire single foot guides. The rod actions are fast while still maintaining enough feel to drop a tiny dry at close range off the rod tip. The RAW freshwater rod range includes an 8’6” 4wt, with 9’ 5wt, 6wt, 7wt and 8wt, all 4-piece. Price: SRP $499 www.manictackleproject.com

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The most demanding conditions require a different kind of tool, whether it’s a strong head wind, a fish at a distance, bulky rigs, or a heavy sink tip. The new Igniter from Sage is tuned to handle the most technical of conditions. This is not a rod for the everyday angler, the Igniter is equipped with a high line speed taper to carry large amounts of line at distance with wind cutting performance. This rod is absolutely perfect for streamer fishing with heavy sink tips or covering big water when conditions turn south. Made form quality materials, like Fuji ceramic stripper guides, hard chromed snake guides, KonneticHD technology, laser etched line weight on slide band, Sage retains its reputation for being some of the best fly gear available anywhere. The rod also comes with a black powder coated aluminium rod tube with a Sage medallion. If you bring the will, the Igniter will supply the way. www.jmgillies.com.au

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Sage Igniter

Manic Tackle Primal Raw Fly Rod

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Tackle Tactics TT Lures Swimlockz Jigheads

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TT Lures SwimlockZ

Berkley Snap Jigs

TT Lures SwimlockZ jigheads have been designed for fishing large soft plastic paddle tail swimbaits, with a tapered head design that shifts the bulk of the head weight below the hook to control the torque of the tail, and reduce the tendency of big plastics to roll onto their side. Built on heavy-duty, black nickel Mustad chemically-sharpened hooks to handle big fish, SwimlockZ also feature TT Lures’ ‘head lock’ grub keeper to secure your soft plastic in place, and a stainless steel connection point moulded into the underside of the head to secure stingers or a blade for added flash and vibration. Lock it on! SwimlockZ are initially available in three hook sizes (8/0, 9/0 and 10/0), and four weights: 1/2oz (14g), 3/4oz (21g), 1oz (28g) and 1.5oz (42g). Keep an eye out for them in tackle stores from September. Price: SRP $15.95 www.ttlures.com.au

An innovative take on a time-tested technique, the Berkley Snap Jigs deliver all of the fish-catching performance of an ice-jig, but with the ability to attach your favourite soft plastic. The Snap Jig can be fished both vertically over structure and for suspended fish in open water, or cast and retrieve for side-toside and backward-and-forward dynamic darting action. This versatile jighead naturally glides on the fall, and can be worked over points, open water, and on a straight retrieve for an enticing side-to-side action. Along the underside, the Berkley Snap Jigs feature a hook hanger that allows anglers to increase attraction with the addition of a blade, and improve hookup rates with a stinger hook. Offered in a number of lifelike colours, the Berkley Snap Jigs provide a unique take on a lure that has been putting fish in the boat for years. www.berkley-fishing.com.au

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When relentless heat threatens to cut short a pleasant afternoon tossing carefree casts, arm yourself with cool comfort and keep chasing those elusive fish. Simms’ SolarFlex Armor Shirt features hard-working COR3 technology, with all-day oudor-fighting and moisturewicking protection. The shirt shields against the sun’s harmful rays with a UPF 50 rating. The Coolcore fabric chills down as it gets wet, giving you natural relief from the heat. Mesh panels on the sides and arms add breezy ventilation that will keep you feeling fresh on the water from dawn until dusk. It is finished with a full-coverage built-in gaiter for all over protection. Features include: COR3 technologoy (quick‐drying, wicking and UPF 50), Coolcore fabric technology (up to 30% lower surface temperature when wet), Polygiene fabric treatment (natural and permanent odour‐ control), patent‐pending full coverage gaiter design, and mesh inner side and arm panels for ventilation. Price: SRP $199 www.manictackleproject.com

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Wilson Fishing has just released the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf, which takes a well-accepted product and improves it to make the headscarf much more user friendly. For starters, the material is much softer, being constructed from 95% polyester and 5% spandex. This makes the user far more comfortable during the day’s fishing. The design is also tapered to provide vital protection in two areas. Firstly there is a hump designed into the top of the front that more effectively covers the nose of the wearer. A similar, but slightly larger hump is also designed into the bottom to cover up that annoying spot

Venom Deluxe Headscarf

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Getting plenty of looks, feels and votes at the AFTA show this year was the Black Marlin Sublimation shirt from Samaki. Samaki have a history of providing anglers with good quality, reasonably priced and sun protective fishing apparel, and this fantastic design will fit in nicely with the rest of the range. Just like the rest of the range, the eyepopping images on the material will let other anglers know you mean business. As usual, Samaki have used their UPF 50+ Fish Dry fabric, which is a lightweight 100% polyester material, and will keep you incredibly cool, will dry quickly, yet still breathes. All of Samaki’s fishing shirts are available in adult, youth and kid sizes, allowing the whole family to get in on the action and out on the water, and still say sun safe. www.samaki.com.au

Samaki Black Marlin shirt

at the base of the neck that is left exposed by zippered or buttoned fishing shirts. Rated by ARPANSA at 15+, the material is also moisture wicking, making it perfect for anglers fishing in hot weather. Comfortable and cool to wear, ideal for all outdoor activities and machine washable, the Venom Deluxe Multifunctional Headscarf is a brilliant clothing accessory to keep you on the water longer. www.wilsonfishing.com

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Venom Deluxe Neckscarf

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Mako Edge

BEST SUNGLASSES CATEGORY WINNER TIED Mako Edge All anglers are looking for that extra edge when out on the water, and Mako Eyewear have delivered with their aptly named, Edge frames. Designed for style, flexibility and comfort, these lightweight warp resistant nylon frames have an 8-base wrap to reduce side light entry. The TR90 frame material has rubber grommets in all the essential places, the tapered arms and bridge, to make sure they stay put all day. The polarised lenses are available in polycarbonate and glass and in all Mako’s popular colours. makoeyewear.com.au

WINNER TIED Spotters Fusion Spotters have done it again with their new Fusion frames. It combines style and functionality with a matt black frame contrasting with an ice mirror lens. The modern wrap frames are comfortable and light enough to wear all day. Cleverly designed with ergonomic

non-slip grips on the arms, they’ll securely stay in place when you need it most. The Fusion comes in a wide choice of lens material and colour tints to suit your fishing style. The grey-based lens give incredible colour definition, glare reduction and superior depth perception delivering 100% UV protection and perfect visual clarity. spotters.com.au

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RUNNER UP Tonic Tango Tonic Eyewear know good design, so it is no surprise that this year’s newest offering, Tango, has balanced sleek style with supreme comfort. The Tonic Tango is incredibly lightweight with a mere 1.7mm lens, and a streamlined arm that doesn’t rely on rubber grips to stay on your head. The cleverly designed fit holds smoothly and securely to ensure you won’t be constantly pushing them up the bridge of your nose. An update to the lenses haven’t been forgotten. Keeping anglers in mind, extra yellow has been added to perfect fishing tactics for flats fishers. www.toniceyewear.com.au

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Yeti LoadOut Bucket

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The YETI LoadOut Bucket is no ordinary bucket. It’s well-nigh indestructible, and is built to last a lifetime. Essentially, it’s the last bucket you’ll ever buy. This 5 gallon (19L), super-tough bucket can handle any tough job on the boat or out camping. It features a HeftyHauler Handle for a comfortable, secure grip, as well as a LipGrip Handle, making it easy to carry when full. It’s food safe and has a BearFoot Non-Slip Ring, so the bucket will stay where you put it, and not leave scuff marks on the deck. The LoadOut Bucket is made from high-impact-resistant, high density polyethylene construction, and has AnchorPoint Tie-Down Slots for securing to your boat or vehicle. It measures 10.25” x 12.875” x 15.875” ( Weight: 5.8 lbs. If you want to cover the contents of the Bucket, you can purchase a Loadout Lid separately. The Loadout Lid keeps contents safe from salt spray and contained when conditions get rough. It’s transparent, easy to remove and water-tight. It’s also super strong; the HeftHex Construction makes for a durable framework that resists cracking, even in extreme temperatures, with over 130kg of pressure. If you didn’t think lid technology

was a thing before, this might get your attention. And thanks to the Four-Finger Release Tab, it takes just four fingers to get the lid off. Price: SRP $69.95 (lid not included) au.yeti.com

RUNNER UP Hook’em Teaser Bar The new Teaser Bar is another quality Australian-made product from Melbourne-based company Hook’em. This new dredge boom allows anglers to run dredge teasers further behind the boat, eliminating the problem of dredges going into the prop wash on turns. It’s an effective and affordable option for smaller boats which don’t have outriggers. The Teaser Bar goes in both straight and 30° rod holders. The drag of the dredge puts a lot of pressure on rod holders, so Hook-em have added an extra support hole at the top of the Bar. This hole, which sits above the dredge connection, has been added to take a retainer, to greatly reduce the weight and pressure imparted to the rod holder. As you’d expect from a Hook’em Product, the Teaser Bar is made from all stainless steel and is over-engineered for superior strength. It’s also great value for money. Price: approx. SRP $275 www.hookem.com.au

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Wilson Platinum Tournament Bag Daiwa Tactical Tackle Box

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Wilson Platinum Tournament Bag

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The Wilson Fishing Platinum Tournament Bag is a large hold-all tackle bag supplied with eight waterproof tackle trays, to fit enough tackle for any trip. There are three outer pockets, two of which are constructed with open mesh to allow the stored product to breathe and dry out, making them perfect for things such as fishing gloves, packets of plastics and more. The front pocket is fully enclosed and will suit lure sleeves and the like, and on the front of this pocket is a tool holder that can accommodate any tool you’re likely to need, and may even be used to dry lures on! Up top there is clip-attached cover that houses a carry handle and a mobile phone and wallet compartment. Underneath this cover is the zippered top that gives access to the eight waterproof trays. On the sides are two sturdy, plastic sleeve covered carry handles and a padded shoulder strap. The bottom of the bag is constructed from waterproof, formed and condensed plastic foam, giving your tackle protection from water ingress from below and creating a solid base that will never collapse. www.wilsonfishing.com

Daiwa have come up with a tackle storage solution to allow you to keep all of your different accessories in one place. Daiwa’s series of Tactical Tackle Boxes have tons of storage, and the large top pocket will hold five 3600-sized trays (medium) or five 3700 sized trays (large). Tactical Tackle Boxes also feature a moulded sunglasses holder, two zippered side pockets on the back, a mobile phone/ GPS holder on the front, and a pliers holder on both of the side pockets. All of this clever, space-optimising placement means you don’t have to leave anything behind to save on space. Large carry handles, padded shoulder strap and great tackle organization will allow the angler to take the Tactical Tackle Boxes everywhere. Each box comes with five Modular Storage Trays, which are perfect for lures, jigs, terminal tackle, sunblock and tools. The DTTB-60 model (medium) is 9” x 13” x 14”, while the DTTB-70 (large) is 12” x 14” x 12”. www.daiwafishing.com.au

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Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 Fog Gray

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The Zexus ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp can be used in traditional on/off mode, or you can put it in motion sensor mode, and trip the sensor by waving your hand in front of it. This feature is very useful when you have wet or dirty hands, and is designed to not get tripped accidentally by other moving objects. This bright LED light (550 lumens) runs on 3 x AAA batteries, and when left on it will shine for around nine hours. During normal use, however, when it is being switched on and off, it lasts for weeks. The ZX720 Motion Sensor Headlamp features a very wide band to provide the most comfortable fit possible, and it’s fully adjustable to fit a wide range of head sizes. It’s also splashproof, rainproof and corrosion resistant, which makes it the perfect choice for fishing, hunting and camping. Price: SRP $199 www.vivafishing.com.au

Zexus Motion Sensor Headlamp S

The Hopper BackFlip 24 fuses the durability of the Hopper Flip with a new, convenient-to-carry design. It is Yeti’s first cooler engineered to double as a backpack, using the best tech of both worlds. Built taller and wider than its Hopper Flip counterparts, the Hopper BackFlip is designed to efficiently distribute the weight of your goods. Yeti designers have added supportive, ergonomic shoulder straps to help lighten the load, and a removable chest strap and waist belt are included for added stability and security. And like the rest of the Hopper family, it promises superior cold-holding, a 100% leakproof zipper, and a tough DryHide Shell. The Hopper’s high-density fabric is waterproof and resistant to mildew, punctures, and UV rays. The liner is made from an FDA-approved food-grade material. Closed-cell rubber foam offers far superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers. With a DoubleBarrel frame and Diehard joint construction, the Hopper BackFlip 24 is strong enough to support up to 227kg

Yeti Hopper BackFlip 24

without losing its shape. Price: SRP $449.96 au.yeti.com

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Zexus ZX720 Motor Sensor Headlamp

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Watersnake Prowler Kayak PFD

AFN Kool Bag

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The new Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest combines the storage capacity of a traditional fishing vest with the essential safety requirements of a PFD. The clever design is ideal for kayak fishing, canoeing, or any lightwatercraft activities. The Watersnake Prowler includes multiple zip pockets on the front and back for storing fishing tackle, tools, and personal items. It also features easy-to-adjust straps, durable buckles, tough zippers, and a camo print design that enhances the stealth factor by blending into the surroundings. The Prowler’s PFD 50S rating provides adequate buoyancy for swimmers in sheltered waters, while the streamlined construction also allows plenty of freedom for paddling and casting. In fact, it’s so comfortable you’ll forget it’s even on! The Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest is available in four sizes (small, medium, large and extra-large) to suit a range of body weights, from 40kg to in excess of 70kg. www.watersnake.com.au

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The AFN Fish Kool Bag is a new fish chiller bag that has been designed to store your catch in a hygienic environment, ensuring fresher, longer lasting fish. This durable insulated bag holds ice for days. It’s portable, ideal for boats, and has a flared bottom to ensure it doesn’t tip over. The Kool Bag is insulated with 1/2” dense foam, and is UV and mildew resistant. Other features include comfortable and strong carry handles, a waterproof zip and fish ruler. The bag includes wheels for easy transport of heavy loads, and has a drain plug so it’s easy to empty out at the end of a trip. This fully sealed bag comes in four sizes: Small (750mm x 400mm x 200mm), Medium (1000mm x 400mm x 200m), Large (1400mm x 400mm x 300mm) and X-Large (2000mm x 600mm x 400mm). Price: SRP $99-$300 www.afn.com.au

Watersnake Prowler Kayak Vest

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AFTA FISHING TACKLE, MARINE AND OUTDOOR TRADE SHOW

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Penn Spinfisher VI Liveliner

Chasebaits Rip Snorter Vibe

Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH

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Costa Untangled Pescador

Chasebaits Rip Snorter

Costa have absolutely pushed the envelope this year at the AFTA show, with a completely new concept to the world of fishing accessories. Introducing the Untangled range, which has taken a positive step towards cleaning up our environment. What makes the Untangled series so unique, is that the frames are actually made from discarded fishing nets! Every year, thousands of tonnes of fishing nets are left in the ocean to rot and be hazardous to marine life. Taking out the prestigious John Dunphy Award for Innovation this year is a member of the Untangled family, the Pescador, which is available in for lens colours. On top of all this, the cases are made from recycled material as well, and in this case, they are made from old Patagonia clothing. They look as good as the other frames in the Costa range, and by wearing them you’ll be saving the environment as the same time! www.costadelmar.com.au

With so many vibes on the market, the creative team at Chasebaits set out to provide something truly different. After many months in R&D, they have achieved their goal with the world’s first truly weedless vibe. It’s great news for anyone who’s lost a lot of expensive vibes, or who is too afraid to fish them in snaggy country. Designer Grainger Mayfield said it took a long time to get the design exactly right. “The hook design in particular was very complicated,” he explained. “Even when we had finished the design, it took another eight months to find the right factory to combine the quality, strength and shape that we wanted. It was a great feeling when we finally achieved our goal of creating a fantastic hook that works seamlessly in the lure to make it a true weedless vibe.” An obvious concern with any weedless lure is the hook-up rate, but that’s not an issue with the Rip Snorter. Field testers have been using it deep into snags and rock beds to great effect, catching bass, cod, mangrove jack and more. Its ease of use means that even novice anglers can catch fish. The Rip Snorter is 90mm long, weighs 16g and will be available from October. Keep an eye out for a 12mm version in the coming months. Price: SRP $17.95 www.chasebaits.com.au

The new Penn Spinfisher VI features IPX5 sealing so whether it gets hit with a wave, or you let it ride in the spray all the way home, you don’t have to worry about saltwater getting into the gearbox or drag system. The HT-100 drag washers are housed in a fully-sealed spool to give the stopping power needed for big saltwater fish. A Full Metal Body and sideplate keep the CNC Gear System in precise alignment under heavy loads. Durability, Smoothness, and Precision is what CNCGear Technology delivers. By using state of the art software and CNC machinery brass drive, pinion and oscillation gears are cut to exact tolerances. The new Spinfisher VI live liner system has four ‘on’ positions which progressively increase the rear drag when needed. Factory matched settings have been applied for each size reel, and can be user adjusted to the angler’s preference with the included tool. With the turn of the handle, the live liner is automatically disengaged and back in fighting mode. The Spinfisher VI is available in standard, Live Liner and Long Cast models. Price: from SRP $199.99 pennfishing.com.au

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RUNNER UP TIED Daiwa Exist LT 3000 CXH Celebrating 60 years of innovation isn’t easy, and that’s why Daiwa held nothing back in creating the new 18Exist LT. The flagship model, the Exist, has personified excellence throughout Daiwa’s history, and now the new 18Exist LT, which stands for Light and Tough, introduces even more ground-breaking technology, and it was the 3000 CXH that was recognised for innovation at the AFTA show. Monocoque body also debuts in the 18Exist LT for the first time through the entire size range. Monocoque body is a truly one-piece frame with no side plate. Instead, the side plate is replaced by the main drive gear housing, which screws into the body allowing for maximum gear diameter and ultimate rigidity. You will find the brand-new Machine Cut Tough Digigear inside the new 18Exist LT is up to 109% larger than non-monocoque reels. The 18Exist LT’s monocoque body is Daiwa’s most advanced body they’ve ever developed, and they’re available from 1000 to 4000 sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

Developing your own friendly fishing network NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

We all need a ‘network,’ right? But in this modern age of social media and increasingly impersonal online interactions, how do you build a reliable

Traditionally, at least in my day, a lot of us learnt how to fish from our parents, grandparents or other family members. However, as life became busier and fishing less ingrained in the matrix of our culture, that knowledge and know-how skipped entire generations. Today

melded families. Budding anglers in this brave new world often don’t have an obvious Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda to turn to for wisdom and instruction. For a big chunk of my own development as an angler, books, magazines, videos and television shows filled this mentoring void.

Fishotopia.com produces a free monthly newsletter, with lots of great info and links. brains trust that can help you grow your fishing and enhance your on-water experiences? No matter what hobby, sport, craft or passion you’re into – from football to gardening to motor racing – you really need a strong support group or network to nurture your development and offer a helping hand when the learning curve gets steep and slippery. Typically, this network is a loose collection of friends, family, fellow fans, mentors and even total strangers who share your love for that particular pursuit, and who are willing to offer advice, or act as sounding boards for your ideas. Without such a network of supportive peers, it’s very easy to lose your way, and with it your love of the hobby in question. Fishing is certainly no exception.

we live in a time-poor, information-overloaded world of single parents and

I owe those instruments of ‘old media’ an immense debt of gratitude, as I do

the various fishing clubs and associations I’ve been a part of over the years. None can replace a sage old grandpa or a sharp-tongued relative standing by your shoulder and pointing out – gently or otherwise – the errors of your way, but they do guide you in the right direction. For better or worse, the hard copy pages of old media are gradually vanishing (with rare and welcome exceptions like the wonderful publication you’re holding in your hands), and less than %5 of fishers choose to join clubs these days, while most TV shows and DVDs have been forced to become blatant marketing vehicles in order to survive. It’s increasingly hard to get the good oil from a trustworthy source. Many of us have turned to social media to replace traditional support networks, and that’s understandable. But Facebook and Snapchat and Instagram and YouTube are indiscriminate platforms, with little in the way of inherent quality control, which is my polite way of saying that there’s an awful lot of rubbish out there! You need to have your BS filter cranked to max and your scepticism drive firmly engaged when

Fishing is a wonderful pursuit for the whole family, and you’ll be hardpressed to find a better support group than your nearest and dearest.

We all need to start somewhere, and then learn more. But who should we rely on for getting good advice? diving into the crowded pool of social media. It also seems that much of what goes on in the realm of social media involves the dynamics of envy. The underlying message is: ‘I have a better life than you, with a betterlooking partner, brighter kids and a much funnier cat than yours… and I catch huge fish that look like this… and this… and this.’ The way things have been heading over recent years was making me sad. Fortunately, I’m married to a marketing guru 10 years my junior who has a wealth of ideas about ways to improve things. It was Jo who cooked up the concept of Fishotopia. com, which is our latest attempt to provide a safe, reliable platform for fellow fishers seeking to grow their support networks. I’m not going to do a hard sell on Fishotopia here, and I know it’s not going to appeal to everyone. But if

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it tickles your interest, scan the QR code here or go to www.fishotopia.com and have a look. Meanwhile, if you already have a reliable fishing network, I suggest that you value it, nurture it and never, ever take it for granted. In closing I’ll give you the most important tip I’ve learnt about networks in my six decades on this planet: you will get out of them exactly as much as you’re willing to put in. Tight lines! VIDEO

Scan this QR code to go directly to Fishotopia.com and sign up for the free newsletter.

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BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

/ W I T H PA U L L E N N O N

Using Black Magic hooks for mulloway Hook choice for mulloway can be a very contentious issue amongst anglers. While some swear by circles others strongly argue over a single or double snelled J hook and that’s before we even get into hook sizes. A good reason for the number of mulloway hook opinions is that these fish are caught in a range of habitats and vastly different conditions. The

for another. Things like swell, current, water depth, the size and type of bait as well as the target size of the fish all play a part in determining which hook you should be using. CIRCLES When circle hooks are used incorrectly they provide a woeful hook-up rate, however when used in the right situation by someone who understands how they work they become lethal. The first thing to get right

mouth. Instead of striking, slowly lift up your rod tip until you have weight. This allows the circle hook the time it needs to set into the corner of jaw and then once the fish starts pulling a bit of string you can begin a normal a fight sequence. A softer tip rod that locks up with plenty of grunt in the middle section is also beneficial for circle hooks as it aids the gradual increase in pressure, helping the hook to roll into place. With the

C Points work best from the beaches.

Hook placement and choice for mulloway are the keys to high hook-up rates. truth is there are a range of different factors that influence what hook will work best on mulloway and one that works great for one situation will often perform poorly

reefs are good examples of this as is fishing in strong currents around bridges and rockwalls. Hook placement is also very important when using circles. When fishing under the boat it’s best to lightly pin the live bait just behind the shoulder and when using them in strong current situations place the hook through the cartilage in front of the eyes. By far the best circle hook I’ve used for mulloway is the Black

and these are going to be deadly. I haven’t dropped a fish on one yet! J HOOKS J hooks work best on mulloway in situations where there is often slack in

mulloway you target. For smaller baits starting with large beach worms I prefer a 5/0 Black Magic DX hook. When rigging these, thread the worm over your hook and continue to push

with circle hooks regardless of what you fish for is to resist the natural reaction to strike when your bait is taken. Striking a fish with circle hooks will usually pull the bait straight out of their

A single J hook for smaller live baits works best.

The size of the fish you’re targeting can be factored in when choosing the right hook.

Top: This is always a dissappointing sight – the tell tail signs of a mulloway bite. Above: Just how sharp BM C Points are – These C Points missed the mouth on strike but still penetrated through the scales resulting in one very unlucky 22kg beach mulloway.

right rod many anglers also swear by letting the fish hook themselves when using circles and simply leave it in the holder and wait for the rod to buckle over. Circles work best when using live baits in scenarios where the line is always taut. Fishing straight under the boat in areas like deep water estuary drop-offs and holes or on the offshore

Magic KL pattern in an 8/0. The best thing about these is it doesn’t matter if it’s a soapy or a 50lb fish; they always seem to find that corner of the jaw regardless of bait size too. Black Magic are also releasing a new circle to the market modelled off the KL design, but with a Teflon coating. I managed to get my hands on a few to test

the line like surf fishing and casting out weighted baits where there isn’t too much current flow. Fish in these parts will often fumble around with the bait or take the bait and move towards you, creating slack line. In these situations you may need to wind up slack line before striking or time your strike for when a fish is playing with the bait. For this reason circles can often result in missed bites and J hooks are far more effective. One major difference between circles and Js on mulloway is with circles a single Black Magic KL hook in size 8/0 will cover all sizes of live baits big or small as well as all sizes of mulloway. With Js the hook selection needs to match the type and size of bait you’re using and to a lesser extent the size of the

the worm over the eye of the hook and up your leader about 6”. For small yellowtail mullet, herring and arrow squid I still prefer a single hook around a 7/0 in the Black Magic DX pattern. For anything larger than this I go to snelling two hooks together using the Black Magic C Point hook suicide pattern. The 7/0 size will cover your medium-sized live baits like whiting, mullet and yellowtail and the 8/0 size will do tailor, pike, big mullet, large squid and slabs of tailor or mullet. Mulloway have a mighty big mouth, so don’t be afraid to put out jumbo-sized baits for them; a 1kg tailor or mullet isn’t too big. For these bigger baits step up to the 10/0 C Points. SEPTEMBER 2018

We’ve been waiting! TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

September is often the month freshwater anglers long for. The cold winter’s months can be a bit of a drag, as the fishing often slows down. This hasn’t really been the case this year. Winter produced some exceptional fishing right across the lakes, but there were still those times when the fish refused to play the game. The onset of spring should see a significant change, with even better results with more consistent bite patterns and results. It is this time of year I go a little bass crazy. The thought of catching fish over 3kg with the chance of one around 4kg is enough to get me motivated. Somerset and Wivenhoe dams will produce some of the biggest fish, but don’t be surprised

if you see fish around the 3kg mark from North Pine or Boondooma. Plenty of the other lakes will have 2kg models. Spring sees the bass full of roe and in their peak condition. A 50cm bass can pack on an extra kilogram in weight and when one bites, you’ll know all about it. Barra will step it up a notch as water temperatures steadily rise too. They should be easier to find as the cooler water should have concentrated them in warmer patches. Stick to the warmer, sunny bays and the fish shouldn’t be too far away. Don’t expect them to be explosive when darting off the mark to eat your lure. They are still warming up, so fish to suit their mood with a slow to medium-paced presentation. Murray cod closed season kicks off from the start of September. They are off target lists for all the rivers and creeks. You can still target cod in the lakes

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST When the big bass fire, they have been a lot of fun. Only a month ago these fish were being caught further up the lake but it seems a lot of the big fish are now relocating to the points out from the camp ground. These schools should only grow this month and the action will be hot for the first boats on the scene. The fish tend to move off and scatter after they have been pressured but should return the following day. Tail spinners and spoons will be perfect for the spring bite. The bass feed up on bony bream and the flash in these lures really gets them excited. Try

casting over the fish where possible rather than sitting on top of them. If you keep the boat in deeper water, the fish will often move out and school up underneath you. In this situation the bites can come when lures are worked vertically under the boat. Smaller fish tend to bite better under the boat, so mix it up and keep casting out wide into the shallower water to see if a bigger fish is out there and willing. 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 boys can sort you out with the right gear and give you some tips on where to find them.

Gympie

in Queensland through the three-month closed season. Lake Coolmunda tends to fire up, but at some stage over this period the fish will be hard to tempt as they go through their breeding cycle. Hopefully the falling water levels don’t disrupt their breeding time and they can find suitable breeding locations. Golden perch will also start to make their presence more frequent. These fish are harder to fool on lures over winter, but by the end of the month they will be happily chasing down trolled lures on a regular basis. Bait fishing or jigging vibes and blades may still be the better option at the start of the month until they really start to wake up. As you can see, there is plenty to get eager about this month. Make sure you get out there and enjoy the action during my favourite fishing month of the year. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel! Just remember there is a speed limit of 8knots 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 This is definitely the month to be at Somerset Dam for supercharged monster bass. Already dozens over 50cm long have been caught and by this month, fish of this size will be around 3kg in weight. Over the last month, the fish have been quite mobile. They tend to turn up in the same areas but are very hard to find when they are not there. A lot break up and hug To page 97

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Toowoomba

BRISBANE 21

23 IMPOUNDMENT DAM

Gold Coast

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

Cairns 1

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 5

Mackay

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

Maryborough

Roma BRISBANE

Here’s what we all love to chase at this time of year! Nigel Middleton nailed this ripper 3kg+ bass on a Gang Banger G2 Spoon at Somerset Dam.

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

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

JUNE JULY AUG 8 5 5 93 92 89 20 19 18 36 34 33 100 100 99 97 92 88 70 71 69 95 94 92 2 1 1 44 0 42 41 40 39

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

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

27 26 25 53 53 52 5 4 4 99 98 97 24 23 21 49 49 48 98 96 94 93 90 88 100 98 91 71 61 50 9 8 8 103 102 99

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

Maroon 97 96 95 Monduran/Fred Haigh 98 98 96 Moogerah 84 82 79 North Pine/Samsonvale 87 85 83 Peter Faust/Proserpine 70 69 68 Pindari 59 59 58 Somerset 77 78 78 Teemburra 99 97 96 Tinaroo 96 91 87 Toonumbar 101 100 96 Wivenhoe 75 74 72 Wuruma 97 96 95

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 16/08/18

(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.) 96

SEPTEMBER 2018

From page 96

the bottom, making them harder to see on the sounder. With the onset of spring, the fish should become a little more predictable. The schools will hold together longer, but don’t be surprised if fishing pressure makes them move around or become harder to fool. The top half of the dam seems to be where the best fishing will take place. The flats at Pelican Point, Bay 13, Queen Street and up past the island at Kirkleigh can all hold fish. It takes time on the sounder to pinpoint the best concentrations of fish. It can seem silly driving around looking at the screen when you could be casting, but this is the best way to attack this dam. An hour or two spent looking can reward you with fish after fish once they are found. It will be hard to beat 20g spoons and jigs when the fish are on. Hopping these across the bottom or slow winding them 10-15 turns before dropping the back will see aggressive strikes. These lures do a great job of imitating the bony bream, which are a major food source at this time of year. Other lures worth trying will be jighead rigged soft plastics, lipless crankbaits, blade baits and tail spinners. Parking on top of the schooling fish is likely to shut the bite down quickly. Usually you can nail one or two before they stop biting and just frustrate you. You can combat this by placing very long casts over the fish so they aren’t aware of the boat. Another method is to wind drift over them. Ideally the boat should be moving at more than 1km/h. When wind drifting, fish straight back into the wind as fish that follow the boat will drop off and be left in a concentrated line for lures to come through. The other way to keep the bites going a lot longer is to troll. One of my favourite methods is to tow a tail spinner behind the boat. Chuck it out 50m behind and vary the speed between 1.8-2.2km/h to keep the lure just off the bottom. Trolling hardbodies has been quite effective as well. Some monster fish over 50cm have been fooled by deep diving lures. Choose the lure depending on the depth of the water and fish. It pays to have lures capable of reaching between 7-10m deep. To give these deep hardbodies the best action, fish them on light braided line of 4-8lb and run a short 14lb leader. Somerset Tackle can be found 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 We should start to see a change at Wivenhoe. The bass schools have been holding around the lake’s edges where they have frequented points and weedy edges. A migration to the deep water flats is likely over the next month and the fish should then stay out in the middle for several months. Based on the current level, this movement could occur anywhere between Logans Inlet and the buoy line past Billies Bay. Somewhere in the middle of this region or even out from Billies Bay boat ramp is my guess. Last year this was the case, and you could see the fish slowly moving closer to the wall month by month until they disappeared. Trolling extra deep lures is a great way to explore the flats and search for schools of fish. Mixed in with the bass will be golden perch and massive fork tailed catfish schools. If trolling start in 8-12m of water and stay close to the edges of the old river bed, paying particular attention to any gullies that run off of it. This is near impossible to do without the use of C-Map Genesis social maps. Loading the maps onto your Simrad or Lowrance unit is a must, as it is amazing how quickly you can search

Sean Haynes whacked a bunch of quality bass at Somerset Dam last month. There will be plenty more days to enjoy with bass like this on offer. in the same schools and are a frequent capture. They are coming from deep water, so if you plan to release them, do it quickly so they are strong enough to power back down and beat the effects of a swollen air bladder. Wivenhoe is a massive lake and you can use 4 stroke outboards or low-emission (direct injection) 2-strokes. Despite the huge amount of water, the speed limit is 6knots. Stick to the rules to keep everybody happy and fishing. It has taken a long

some of these fish are also being spotted on the point near the dam wall below the picnic area. The other prime spot will be the flats out from The Palms just before the timber. Spend time on the sounder to locate the fish. The schools should be thick with fish over a smaller stretch of water making them harder to find, but easier to catch. Gang Banger G2 spoons and tail spinners were catching plenty last month and should continue to produce. Blade baits are another great option,

Golden perch are fond of jigged lures at this time of year. They love blade baits, but you’ll be surprised at how many eat spoons intended for bass. the most productive water. It is also interesting to see how fish stack up on the smallest of features like gullies on flats or a small rise of less than a metre high off the bottom. When fish are found, spoons should dominate catches. Spoons dominated a lot of catches last year. Of course, it’s the fish that make the rules, so take the whole tackle box and be prepared to mix it up if one thing isn’t working. Halco Spoons, lipless crankbaits, soft plastics, blade baits and tail spinners are all worthy of a run. I find the bass seem to respond better to faster presentations, and it lowers the rate of catfish caught. Golden perch will hold

time to be allowed to even use an outboard on the lake, so don’t ruin it for everyone by speeding. The two spots for boat launching in the lower end of the lake are Billies Bay and Logans Inlet. MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: RATHDOWNEY, BOONAH The dam has been a little hit and miss over the last month. When the bass have been on, they have certainly been on fire. When they spread out it is very frustrating. I think this month the schools should hold tighter for a lot longer. Numbers of fish have been holding around the spit at the northern boat ramp. At times,

and if the fish are fairly close to the bottom, hopping a soft vibe through them could tempt some of the larger models. DYER CLOSEST TOWNS: GATTON, LAIDLEY Kayakers and land-based anglers will be able to score a few bass and golden perch from the deeper stretch to the left of the high and dry boat ramp. These fish are already thick due to the low lake level. They receive a bit of fishing pressure as they have nowhere to hide. The spring period with warming water temperatures may see them drop their guard a little. Casting spoons has been a good way to weed out some of

the better quality fish. The bass have been skinny, but some of the better models are well over 40cm long. Expect the golden perch numbers to pick up as the water begins to warm up. Trolling a lipless crankbait behind the kayak is a great way to target both bass and golden perch. There have been a few monster eels caught on lures as well, so if you hook a freight train, that could be what’s emptying your spool. NORTH PINE (LAKE SAMSONVALE) CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE Exciting times are just around the corner. Work is well underway improving the recreational facilities at Forgans Cove. A new paddle craft launch area, wash down, carpark and toilets are due to be finished around October. In the meantime, shorebased fishing is still permitted. Casting heavier lures well out into the middle is the key to catching bass. Spoons are effective in this situation. Success is dependent upon if the fish are schooling out in

front of your chosen location. The major points at the bottom end of the dam are prime spots. Bullocky Rest and Forgans Park give access to some of the best water if you are keen. North Pine has plenty of big bass and hooking a giant isn’t out of the question. Bass to over 50cm are not uncommon, and in the past this lake has produced fish around 60cm long. You can stock up with all the right gear for the job just down the road at Tackle World Lawnton. They have all the right gear for nailing some of North Pine’s monster bass. KURWONGBAH CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE The bass fishing at Lake Kurwongbah has picked up over the last month. Kayak access has allowed anglers to go on the hunt to find the best fish holding spots. A sounder is definitely a big advantage to locate bass holding outside the weed edges. The middle reaches of the lake seem to be fishing the best. Later in the day, the fish tend to move away from the weedy margins and school up on the deeper flats in the main arm just before the dam narrows. Fish are pretty mobile, so spend the time sounding around to locate them and you will reap the rewards. Access to the lake is off Torrens Road at Mick Hanfling Park. Please note there are designated areas, as the lake has a rowing course and ski areas. You can track down all your fishing supplies and a bit of inside information at Tackle World Lawnton. The store has a huge range of gear with plenty catering to the needs of freshwater fishers. To page 98

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SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA Bass have been schooling up around the deeper holes and weed bed edges. Blades, 1/4oz spinnerbaits and spoons work in these areas, especially in the early morning and late afternoon. Trolling the Bubble Trail and sounding and casting around the 3-Ways area should also work well for schooled bass using a variety of different depth diving hardbodied lures. BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Saratoga and bass are being caught in the shallow weed bed and lilypad areas on surface

walkers and spinnerbaits. Some good topwater lures to try are the Lucky Craft

Borumba Dam has seen good size bass schooling around the points in the main basin.

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION GLENLYON CLOSEST TOWNS: TEXAS, STANTHORPE The cod are taking up breeding sites around the dam wall. Visitors can see the fish early in the morning from the high vantage point. These fish guard their nesting sites in less than 2m of water. The biggest fish spotted last month was around 110cm in length and enough to make any

65mm Sammy, Bassday 70mm Sugapen and Halco Mini Roosta Poppers. Smaller spinnerbaits cast into weed edges rigged with small paddle-tail plastics

angler drool. Unfortunately the cod fishing will be tough while the cod carry on with their breeding rituals. The fish refuse to eat with other things on their minds. This means when the fish come out of this stage around the end of September, they are ready and willing to pounce on anything resembling food. This will be the ideal time to try your luck. Working the shallows early

Adam Krautz has been getting into the Coolmunda Murray cod again. Here’s one fish from a five fish session tossing spinnerbaits.

with topwater lures and then switching to deeper offerings as the day goes on should see a few cod encounters. Golden perch will be on the chew, with some of the best action coming from The Tank Stand area about a third of the way up the dam. These fish may still be reluctant to chase trolled lures, but jigging small blades will pull plenty. Tying up to a tree in up to 8m of water and vertically hopping blades is a good approach. You can also try your luck with bait at the same time. The lake level has dropped a lot, but releases shouldn’t be as frequent leading into this month. This should make the fishing a lot better. 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 selfcontained), power or an unpowered site. There are BBQ’s, playground, two boat ramps (depending on level) and ice, fuel, bait, and lunchtime food like wraps, pies, hotdogs and tea and

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SEPTEMBER 2018

and worked back slowly can also work very well. The main basin will have plenty of schooling bass. Look for these fish off the major points and flats up the back of the open part of the dam before the timber. Once found, these fish will take spoons. They also responded very well to tail spinners and heavier jighead rigged soft plastics last month. If the fish are thick but not biting well, try jigging ice jigs in them. I have had some insane sessions on ice jigs at the start of September in this lake. Davos Tackle World 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. 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 Despite just coming out of winter, the golden perch have been playing the game for the few anglers that have been trying their luck. Trolling lipless crankbaits along the weed edges in front of the sailing club has accounted for a few fish. Better results have come when jigging blades. These lures produce very well through the colder months, as they just stay in front of the fish for so long giving them ample time to eat them. The assist style hooks are perfect, as sometimes the bites are more of a pick and the hooks still find a place to bury in the fishes’ mouth. You can pick up all 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 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 Leslie Dam will produce plenty of fish for those willing to spend some time searching and then use vertical jigging blades and soft vibes. Local angler Jake Schwerin is a gun at this method and regularly catches cod and

Mitchell Bright has been scoring some quality bass at Borumba Dam on spoons. Try the flats in the main basin for schooling fish this month if heading up this way. golden perch on big soft vibes. These soft vibe lures have a bigger profile than the small blades a lot of anglers use, but I think it is the reason he catches so many Murray cod. When jigging vertically, sound around and look for structure to fish on top of. Leslie has plenty of submerged granite rock outcrops and a few old trees as well. 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 ten-minute drive from the dam and you can pick up any supplies you might need. COOLMUNDA CLOSEST TOWN: INGLEWOOD Coolmunda will be worth a shot this month for

ideal. Rig these up with a 5” soft plastic trailer as well to give them even more action. The rock wall from the boat ramp to the dam wall is well worth a cast. The dam is low so the standing timber areas might not be productive. Look at the flats either side of the main creek and river. Along these areas are plenty of old cut off trees, which will hold plenty of cod. The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only 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 an extra two new wheelchair friendly cabins to add to

Jake Schwerin landed this 102cm cod after a long fight on 6lb braid. He was hopping a Jackall Mask Vibe at Leslie Dam. Not a bad surprise between yellowbelly! Murray cod. The fish will soon be breeding and the action could slow down a bit, but you can normally tempt a few right through spring. Casting spinnerbaits is the best way to lure these fish. Bigger cod-sized baits weighing around 1oz are

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.

WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY The bass at Boondooma should be fired up this month. There have been a few fish up in the Boyne timber taken on blades jigged around the trees, but look in the basin for the best action. Most of the schooling fish should be found from the middle section of the lake down towards Pelican Point. Spend time on the sounder to find the bass schools and you will be rewarded. These fish love spoons, tail spinners, soft plastics and ice jigs.

Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. You could also stay in more style and comfort by booking into one of the cabins overlooking the dam. The kiosk at the main office does hot food and other basic items 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 Not much has changed at Bjelke. The water is still low so the fish are down the lower part of the lake between the boat ramps. Once found they will eat small blade baits and ice jigs. Bait fishing with live shrimp will also be productive. The lower lake level has seen the fishing a bit on the slow side over winter. The switch could flick as these fish feel spring temperatures warming the water and the breeding and schooling urges kick in. Such good numbers of fish in a small section of water will provide plenty of thrills if this does occur, so

James Reid with a typical school bass from Cania Dam.

keep a close eye on this lake. 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 Cania is set to go off this month. The action has been good leading up to September, so things should only get better. Look for schooling bass around the islands before the timber. Sound the deeper flats in around 10m of water.

Another spot worth a look is the second bend going into the timber. Search the flats here as well to locate the schools of bass. Ice jigs and soft plastics were the standout lures over the last couple of months especially when the fish were found hugging the bottom. The warming weather should see a change with the fish more responsive to faster presentations like tail spinners and spoons. These lures excel when the fish are off the bottom.

The fish tend to drop back out of the shallows and find comfortable areas to hold up during the day. Modern sounders are ideal for locating these fish. Usually schooling fish can be found in 3-6m of water. Often they will rest on top of small humps and flats near to the creeks, which run through the timber. Once found, these barra can be targeted with soft or hard vibes. The Zerek Fish Trap is ideal and they are soon to release the new 160mm version. This bigger offering might be just what the barra need. Smaller 90mm and 110mm vibes seem to produce best when

the fish are feeding on smaller baitfish. Slow rolling big soft plastics has been the answer when they are feeding on large bait. This new big vibe will be another offering to use when the barra are eating bigger bait. 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 September is the perfect time to get up in the shallows and stealthily chase some early morning barra. The low light periods on calm mornings are perfect for chasing Faust’s barramundi with surface lures. Stickbait style walk-the-dog lures used with a steady retrieve are ideal. Personally I am a big fan of the Cultiva Tango Dancer. Target fish on the big long points inside the timber. If you can work areas with laydown timber close to deep water you are in a prime area.

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.

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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.

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www.jurofishing.com SEPTEMBER 2018

6/21/2017 1:35:57 PM

Spring tips for Tinaroo LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

September is here and that means exciting times for Tinaroo anglers! This is for several reasons – number one, the water temperature is increasing and therefore the barra are becoming easier to tempt. Number two, the biggest fishing tournament held on the lake, the annual Tinaroo Barra Bash, occurs this month. Number three, anglers can start to fish the lake in a more comfortable state as it wont be as chilly at night or during those early morning missions. With the weather becoming warmer the barramundi begin to eat more often and are starting to become more aggressive in the way they feed. This means you can once again upsize your offerings and target barra in slightly deeper water on more aggressive techniques. September, particularly around the full moon period, should see some good catches of barra occur. Popular spots to target barra in spring as they emerge from their slightly more sedate winter

state are Fong On Bay, Mazlin and Pieterson creeks, Lavender Hill, DPI Bay and the Barron arm. This month sees the annual Tinaroo Barra Bash occur on the lake over the weekend of 21-23 September. As mentioned last month there are a range of categories in which

anglers can win prizes, and competitors will be fishing for everything from red claw through to catfish, tilapia, sooty grunter, mangrove jack and barra. The two main techniques usually employed by anglers fishing for the mighty barramundi during the Barra Bash are trolling and casting

The Barra Bash is a great opportunity to get kids into fishing. (flickin’ to the locals). Trolling is a great way to cover ground and there is a great range of lures that will catch Tinaroo barra. The key is to match the running depth of the lure with the depth of the structures, bait or marked

places to explore. This also means that the lake is no longer speed restricted – so please take care when navigating at this busy time, particularly at night. If your intention for the Barra Bash is to help rid the lake of tilapia and

This is a great way for families to get involved in the competition and also enhances the health of the lake and associated local waterways at the same time. It’s not too late to register for the event so remember to check out

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Dee Masters with a world record barra caught during last year’s Barra Bash. fish you are targeting. Speed is also important – impoundment barra are notoriously lazy and many people simply troll too fast. Kicking the outboard in and out of gear or using an electric motor are two ways you can achieve a slow trolling speed. Casting can be done with a range of different lures. The most popular lures on Tinaroo are paddle-tail soft plastics ranging in size from quite small to extremely large, diving hardbodied jerkbaits, medium sized swimbaits and the everfaithful soft vibes. All have their place and the most important factor is to match your lure to the size and type of bait that the barra are feeding on. Unlike last year’s event, the dam is full and there are many more

catfish by competing in these categories, the best way to target them is to look for areas containing the honeycomb shaped nests on the bottom, berley the area with dry dog pellets or similar and then fish with garden worms on a small hook and light line.

tinaroobarrabash.com. au for event details, entry information and event sponsors. 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.

Are you good enough to compete against 2017 Barra Bash champion angler Ben Tunsted?

Big bass and lots of them! SOMERSET DAM

Matthew Taylor

In last month’s edition I predicted that the fishing at Lake Somerset was about to fire. This could not have been more accurate, as anglers have been absolutely smashing them. Don’t fear, this fantastic fishing should continue for the best part of this month, so you still have a chance to experience it for yourself. While stories of success have come from many areas of the dam, there are a few key locations that have been the most consistent. These main areas are, the northern side of Pelican Point, the Happy Clappers, bottom end of Queen Street and Kirkleigh Flats, at the Dogleg and in front of the

Katarina Thompson, 12yo, with her first ever bass.

Dave Eklic with a cracker bass from a sensational session. island. Reports also suggest that there have been fish on the southern side of Pelican Point and bottom end of Bay 13. When searching for a school, these are the locations that I would advise. With that being said, the end of winter and start of spring brings with it a few changes. When bass head

deep at this time of year areas like Red Rock rarely disappoint. Mid-September also traditionally marks when bass start to congregate and school around the Spit. These fish should hold there until mid-October. So, keep these things in your head, as it could make the difference between a successful and unsuccessful

day on the water. There are a few main lures for bass that have been working very well. The key factor to catching these fish is using each lure at the right time. When you first come onto a school of bass spoons will be your best bet. Normal chrome coloured and custom painted Pimp My Lure Halco Twisties have accounted for many fish recently, with some measuring up to 55cm. The gold and black striped version has been going particularly well. The Pimp My Lure Diamond Back Spoon has also been red-hot, particularly in the green joker colour. The other spoon that has been the most successful and reliable in recent months is the Hot Bite Gangbanger G2. It is one you simply must have in your tackle box if you are heading to the lake. As fish have been caught on most colours, with the ayu and barred up colours proving successful countless times, I think that your lure presentation is more important than the actual colour.

When the spoon bite shuts down, or it fails to reward at all, ice-jigs and soft plastics will be your best bet. Numerous 50-70 fish sessions have occurred on these lures recently, with some measuring up to 57cm, so you would be silly not to give it a go. Like I say whenever I am talking about ice-jigs, the SMAK version is my favourite, and for good reason. I have probably caught as many fish on it as I have on every other lure combined. When the fish want it, they really want it. Again, I do not think that colour is particularly important, but if you are after a few key colours to get started off with blue ice, whitereuse and polar bear have been going very well. Soft plastics can be a game-changer at Lake Somerset. When the bite shuts down there are few lures that will continue to tempt a bite, and they are one of them. Try using makes like the Pro Lure Paddle Grub and Grub Tail, along with Charlie Brewer Sliders. At this time of year, you will want a 1/2 or 5/8oz jighead to keep your lure in the zone. Ensure to match your jighead colour to your lure. Somerset bass can be fussy at times, so you need everything in your favour.

Paul Schuit with a bass over 50cm that could not resist a Halco Twisty. • 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).

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Chris Whitesides with a 43cm bass caught on a slow rolled Jackall TN60 off the bank. This is a good way to catch fish when the bite shuts down.

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SEPTEMBER 2018

101

Nissan Pathfinder is packed with features BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

At more than 5m long and almost 2m wide, the latest iteration of the popular Pathfinder is one very large SUV. It has been given some minor styling revisions, new safety systems plus an engine upgrade. The powerful and smooth V6 petrol engine creates a very impressive road presence, yet can purr around town and sneak into parking spaces with ease. It has a plethora of cameras – including a 360° surround view unit – that keep you informed of activity around the car at all times. In essence, it’s larger, heavier and more powerful than its box-like predecessor, and comes in both 2x2 and 4x4 versions. The overall impression, however, is that it’s more suited to on-road than

The author’s boat is on a braked trailer so there’s a bit of work involved in towing it, but the Pathfinder took it all in its stride. seats as well as adjustment of the steering wheel, the rear moon roof and front sun roof, and keyless entry. The wide tailgate

headphones. The second row passengers also enjoy their own air conditioning, with HDMI and AUX inputs plus 12V power

The controls on the dash are pretty easy to work out. There’s a big reversing camera, surround camera, dual zone air, and underscreen nav button for various driver aids and features. off-road work. Rugged practicality has been replaced by super smooth transportation for up to seven people, with a major emphasis on luxurious travel over low range adventure work. Still, there’s no taking away the fact that it’s large and likeable, can tow 2700kg braked trailers and 750kg units without brakes, and is a pleasure to drive. PATHFINDER TI Nissan lent me an all bells and whistles Ti for this review. As you might expect from a top-of-therange car, the list of features was extensive, with an emphasis on convenience and luxury. There was a focus on electric powered features; electric power governed the positioning of the heated and cooled front 102

SEPTEMBER 2018

also sported hands-free operation; you just place your foot gently under the rear bumper and it lifts upwards to allow access to the spacious rear cargo area. It’s a great feature when your hands are full of groceries or fishing tackle. Leather upholstery was also standard fare throughout, adding to the luxurious feel of the car. The wide dash features a centre 8” touch screen, user-friendly sat nav, and an infotainment system that offered Bluetooth music, podcasts, YouTube audio and phone calls. A 13 speaker Bose stereo system with a whopper of a sub woofer under the rear floor complements the twin screens in the back of the front seats for passengers to enjoy with their wireless

outlet at their disposal. There’s also an overall feeling of sheer spaciousness, which will certainly appeal to

buyers. For instance, with both second row seating down and forward and the third row in a horizontal position, there’s 2m space available behind the front seating. You could have a snooze in there! As a seven seater the Pathfinder allows free and easy access to the third row seating via a slide-on-rails set-up, which kicks the second row forward and up out of the way. The three zone climate control system allow those passengers in the third row to dial in their own temperature! The Pathfinder also offered four top tether and two ISOFIX child seat anchor points, which is another of those family influences that set it apart from dedicated go-bush vehicles. AN ENJOYABLE DRIVE Powered by Nissan’s acclaimed 3.5L V6 petrol engine – 202kW:340Nm – the Pathfinder feels both refined and responsive. This year the V6 has

actually been revised and upgraded, and there’s now direct fuel injection and redesigned combustion chambers, pistons and intake manifold, all aimed at improving performance and economy. A CVT (constantly variable transmission) system is linked to all four wheels, and it was refreshing to note the Pathfinder’s CVT didn’t flare or over-rev like some of its counterparts when hard power was applied. Instead, it interfaced smoothly with the engine’s willing power, and made easy work of launching the big unit smartly off the mark. Overtaking on the highway was just as easy and, provided you’re not driving aggressively, it will turn out some fairly respectable fuel consumption figures. On an extended trip with four people and some luggage aboard I calculated an average of 12.8 l/100km, which is reasonable for a car

The modern Pathfinder differs greatly from its predecessor – check out the modern styling.

Wide, comfortable, electrically-adjusted front seats are a Ti Pathfinder feature.

of this size. A 73L fuel tank should provide a cruising range somewhere around the 600km mark. Highway work was a breeze thanks to the 3.5L engine’s easy power and the CVT’s immediate response to throttle application. Mind you, that same engine/ gearing system will see the Pathfinder purring gently around suburban schools, supermarket car parks or bayside boat ramps just as efficiently. Safety is an important selling point in modern vehicles, and the Pathfinder’s on-board camera system keeps the driver appraised at all times of what’s approaching or trying to remain in blind spots, as smaller cars can do. The radar operated cruise control system was a joy

to use, always keeping the big wagon a safe distance behind other vehicles, and the autonomous emergency braking system was equally reassuring. Other safety features include dual frontal, side chest and side head (curtain) air bags which contribute to the Pathfinder’s 5-star ANCAP rating. There’s also brake force distribution, hill

descent and start system, Tow Mode, and the Vehicle Dynamic Control system, which transfers power from a wheel losing traction to one that is on more sure footing. THE OVERALL VIEW The diesel-powered Pathfinder of yesteryear was a ‘knock ‘em down, drag ‘em out’ bush and beach ranger that did pretty

much anything asked of it without much trouble at all. In contrast, today’s Pathfinder seems more like a luxury SUV than off-road warrior, yet it’s just as good to drive on dirt roads as on the bitumen from my experience. Off-road work will involve the 4x4 Auto Lock mode, which distributes power equally across front and

The Pathfinder’s third row seats are large enough for adults, but kids will probably enjoy them more.

There’s 453L of cargo capacity even with the third row seating in use.

rear axles to optimize off-road capability, which is only limited by a ground clearance of 181mm. The modern Pathfinder is big, spacious and very easy to drive. Road imperfections, pot holes and even speed bumps couldn’t upset the smooth

ambience of the drive. At around the $66,000 mark (without on-road costs) the Ti Pathfinder is a true luxury vehicle with features to match. The 2x2 version (St) model comes home for around $40,000 without on-roads. It’s just as large, just as good

riding, but down specced with regards to features. It’s backed by a 3-year, 100,000km warranty. For better or worse, the Nissan Pathfinder has morphed from a rough and tumble off-roader to a smooth and pliable people mover.

THE SHEIK OF THE CREEK

The commitment of not being a boat owner BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

It’s amazing how much better mates I am with the other Dudds when I am boatless and pining for a fishing trip. Obviously, that doesn’t translate into being besties with all the Dudds, because obviously not all the Dudds own boats. While Skipper and Stuffer also own watercraft, Manboobs lives the closest to me and has the best boat so over the last few months I’ve put a lot of work into making sure our relationship is the best it can possibly be. Don’t think this is the easy way out of all the financial pressures involved in owning a boat either, because in place of forking out my hard earned cash, I have to make sure Boobies still wants to talk to me at the end of each trip. That can mean significant effort on my part to keep the man happy. So not only do I have to bring along the food for each trip (BBQ Shapes, salted peanuts, chips), I have to also make sure I don’t eat all that food on the trip in the car up to Boobies’ place. It can also mean being the anchor bitch on each of the 30 anchor pull-ups Boobies makes every reef trip all the while not complaining about moving every time we drift more than 10mm off our mark. This has yet to mean the difference between catching and not

catching, but I’m forced to keep this bleeding obvious fact to myself, which is against all former Dudd rules. Also involved is listening to his choice of music, even if that involves greatest hits of various 90s’ boy bands. It’s not so bad when it’s sloppy offshore, as I can generally lurch against the dash and hit

the power button with my big fat arse, but I can only do that 10-15 times a trip before he starts to get suspicious. I have to also carefully release fish boat side if I start to sneak a few too many ahead, a pretty common occurrence. That’s fine when it’s only grassies but dropping that trout last trip hurt more than a

giant hurting thing. Of course, Boobies has to be treated like a queen at the ramp too. He gets in the boat while I undo the straps, put the bungs in, release the chain, reverse the trailer down, jump on board, reverse the boat off, start the motor, swim to shore, park the truck and trailer, swim back out holding the keys above

the water, bait his hooks and then talk to him. The trip back to the ramp is done in reverse order, except the reversing, which would be forward if I reversed it. I sometimes wonder if it’s worth the drama in order to keep Boobies and the other Dudds content as it can cause a lot of stress with other less

significant people in my life, like my wife. And she can argue all she wants, if she wants to improve our relationship there are ways to do that. Buying a good offshore boat is the most obvious solution, and if she doesn’t want to try that then she’s obviously not committed to the relationship. SEPTEMBER 2018

103

News

A closer look at Townsville’s interesting fishery SUNTAG

Stefan Sawynok

During the month Suntag had a rather interesting barramundi recapture. Barramundi are the most tagged fish in the state, with around 4000 tagged by fishers, and then that figure is doubled by stocked fish released with tags in, so recaptures are a regular thing, but not quite like this one. In this case, a fish stocked in 2013 in Alligator Creek above the Barrage on the Fitzroy River has made its way to the Brisbane River – the first to do so. As per figure 1, this batch was 829 fish in total of which 27 (3.3%) have been recaptured. Almost all have been recaptured in the Fitzroy River, but this is the first to have been recorded taking a wander, which is interesting. Looking at figure 2, the fish have made their way out during smaller flooding events in 2015 and 2016, though some may also have escaped during the 2017 floods. The minimum time the barra

spent in the fresh would be around two years, which gave them plenty of time to grow up before heading into the salt. That means that the stocking is working as intended, as the purpose of putting fish above the barrage is to provide them with a more sheltered environment to grow in, with less competition. This fish may have had an assist from the 2017 floods, but that is still a long way to travel. Barramundi are being more regularly caught in the Brisbane area over time. Despite the fact they are considered a pest fish, milder climate conditions may well be making life a lot easier. As a side note, there was a barra caught in the Parramatta River during the Berkley Super Series Grand Final. That would be a tank fish but who knows, climate change might see barramundi up and down the eastern seaboard one day. Then again, I prefer the idea of the southerners having to make their way to Queensland for a taste of the barra life.

FIG.1

Figure 1 – Stocking in the Fitzroy River. FIG.3

TOURISM TRAFFIC Townsville does not appear to be a fishing Mecca. Visitor traffic to the region makes up around 20% of the general fishing traffic, but only 12% of that traffic is from southern destinations (SEQ,

SPOTLIGHT ON TOWNSVILLE Townsville is home to the most prolific tagger in the current Suntag group, Steve Salmond. Steve alone has tagged 5324 fish and reported a total of 7339 fish since 2015. Present theory suggests Steve has named every fish that lives in the regions he has been fishing in and that would be close to correct. The record for the number of recaptures of a single fish stands at 13, a mangrove jack which I believe is a Salmond family pet. Townsville has two very interesting stats from the

Queensland Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys, the highest rate of zero trips reported (48.7%) as well as the highest rate of releasing fish for all species (82.8%). This stands at odds with discussions locally where the biggest concern was over fishing in Green Zones. This is complicated more by the reported levels of visitor traffic in 2017 at 20%, meaning the majority of fishing is by locals who at least in theory should know something of local conditions. The high rate of release can be at least in part explained by the presence of GBRMPA

Figure 3 – Traffic to Townsville is mostly from Northern Queensland. and other marine institutions like JCU and AIMS, but the high zero trip rate provides an alternative possibility. There is a theory that if a resource is scarce, people put more pressure on that scarce resource to secure their share. I think that there is some truth to this, but it depends

on the circumstances around that resource. Fishers who are engaged in the long term future of the fishery will go the other way and preserve stocks by releasing more fish even if they keep fishing. What exactly is happening in Townsville isn’t clear, but on balance of

available evidence I would suggest fishers have a strong conservation ethic. o why the concerns over Green Zones? There are more than likely many factors, but I think that perceived limited access to the resource is the biggest cause. Fishers in the region certainly hold strong views and don’t feel as though government’s have listened in the past and do feel changes were forced upon them. This is exacerbated by the belief that these changes were forced by external politics, not on local conditions.

NSW, VIC). That is a little surprising to me, as having visited the area a number of times it’s visually stunning, it’s a great community and there is some great fishing on offer if you know where to go. While I think it’s a little late for governments to build trust in the community, changing the status quo to enable the community to be custodians not spectators on the fishery would be a huge start. While there are a lot of issues at play, including international requirements, I don’t think there is any part of the world that enjoys being dictated to from afar. Fisherman on the GBR are the same and I think a little more trust that the community can deliver on the international and national concerns would go a long way. FIG.2

Figure 2 – Fish exits from the upper Fitzroy during flooding. 104

SEPTEMBER 2018

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 in good if not spectacular condition, and there’s good news

on the future there. The bread and butter fishery is excellent and while like most areas mud crabs are harder work, there are some good offshore options. 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, click the QR code hereby.

We don’t get a lot of wild barramundi reported through Suntag, which is something we would like to change, but there is data from Queensland Fisheries that sheds some light. The commercial catch for barramundi stands at 22.5T in 2017, which constitutes around 2.5% of the overall commercial catch. Recreational fishers reported 221 barramundi, making it the 11th most reported species, 75% of which are released. It has to be noted that the commercial market for wild caught barramundi has been getting thinner over recent years with farming producing better results in terms of consistency of product and timeliness. Wild barramundi are a boom/bust species, so the success of farming with

its consistency of supply is not totally unexpected. Expect this trend to continue. Interestingly, mangrove jack come in around the same place in the species mix, with 223 fish reported making them the 10th most reported species with 70% released. These results suggest there are fish for those who put in the effort. One last observation. The high release rates further support my view that the sportfishing community has already taken a conservative approach to harvest focusing much more on catch and release. Combined with the efforts of the local stocking group – the fishers in this fishery are already invested in the future and focused on ensuring that the fishery is in good condition.

FIG.4

SPORT FISH Barramundi is an important target for sportfishers, but unlike the Fitzroy, which is a large system that provides ideal conditions for recruitment, Townsville’s rivers are less ideal. As a result, barramundi stocks are dependent on top up stocking. The extension of the SIPS program to Alpin, Gleeson and Black weirs has the potential to extend the fishing options and with stocking in Ross Dam underway the barramundi options are looking good for the coming years. It has to be said that the Townsville Barramundi Stocking Society have done a great job in expanding the fishing options for the locals. For now, those new stocking options are going to deliver in a future sense. What is happening in the now?

Figure 4 – Summary of barramundi in Townsville. FIG.5

BREAD AND BUTTER FISHING The bread and butter fishery is one area where Suntag does get a lot of data out of Townsville. Catch rates for pikey bream have come in between 3.8-4.8 fish/fisher/day, which is the best rate we have for pikey bream in Suntag up and down the coast. Barred javelin have also had good catch rates between 1.9-4.1 fish/fisher/ day. You can add in a healthy by-catch of gold spotted and black spotted rockcod to round out the fishing options. This is backed up by Queensland Fisheries Data

where 1068 barred javelin were reported for the 2017 period and 1001 pikey bream making them numbers two and three of most reported species after mud crabs. Interestingly again, release rates come in at 82% and 86% respectively for these species. Black spotted rockcod and gold spotted rockcod come in at four and six on that list, so both sets of data confirm these species are the heart of the general estuary fishing action. These may not be tourism draw, but if you are

in Townsville you could do worse than break out the Cranka Crabs and have a bit of fun. I would like to see the ABT BREAM tour take on some of these northern destinations – I can see some good ABT results. The high release rates again indicate fishers are highly conscious about their fishery. Bread and butter fishing is a larger fishery, indicating the seeds for local stewardship have already taken root in the wider community.

(87% release rate). As with most areas there is a significant commercial mud crab fishery, with 43.2T in 2017, which is around 5% of the states catch. Without additional data it’s hard to know if and why

fishers are releasing crabs. Are they too small, all female or is this a conscious choice? Nonetheless, it’s interesting to see the same trends in crabs that are appearing for other species.

researchers to achieve their aims. The Townsville game fishing scene is strong and this is a group of passionate people. While up north, I noticed a pattern where clubs were divided and weakened by the discussions on Green Zones, more so than in CQ where more community input was

incorporated into the final decisions on Green Zones. I don’t believe this was the outcome that was intended, but sometimes the loss of important community leaders is what you get with divisive debates. I don’t think that has helped at all when it comes to community attitudes to the green zones.

CRABS Crabs are another story in Townsville. Crabs are the most reported species, with 4657 through Fisheries Surveys. Catch rates are reported at around one crab/pot, but only one in eight are taken home

Figure 5 – Summary of pikey bream Suntag data.

WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY ABOUT THE FISHING? My normal go-to species for looking at offshore is coral trout, but coral trout is down lower on the list with 236 reported, just higher than mangrove jack. Again, this refers to fish reported through Fisheries Boat Ramp Surveys. The two most reported offshore species are the nannygais, with crimson snapper the 5th most reported at 414 fish, and saddletail snapper the 7th most reported at 353. Both had pretty good catch rates of 1.3-1.1 fish/ fisher/day respectively.

The most interesting stat is the release rates are 89% and 80% respectively – very high numbers for an offshore species. These numbers create some interesting questions – are fishers limited to inshore shallower waters, is there misreporting or are there a group of fishers being missed? Either way, the release rates are very high and if correct they show a real disconnect between the reported issues and the attitudes of general fishers. On balance, I am siding

with the fishers. I do think that the vast majority are doing what they can to look after the resource. These numbers are some of the best in the state – in terms of evidence of fishers taking direct action regardless of what is driving those actions. That doesn’t mean the issues aren’t real, but it does suggest that the answer to looking after the resource lies in providing the fishers with more say in their fishery, not in compliance or regulation alone.

OFFSHORE Offshore is where most of the local concerns seem to come into play, and there is evidence to show that compliance with regulations particularly on Green Zones is a problem. First up, the Townsville Game Fishing Club has long been part of the Game Species Tagging Program and worked with

While not reputed as a top-class fishery, Townsville actually has a lo to offer the travelling angler!

Have a look at the Crytal Bowl analysis of Townsville’s fishery. SEPTEMBER 2018

105

Baffle Creek Festival

TroutFest celebration

The Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival is just around the corner. And this event is for everyone! The fishers amongst us fish their hardest from noon Thursday 4th to noon Saturday 6th October. The competition is purely a ‘Catch, Snap and Release’ event. Catch a legal-size fish in the five species categories, take a photo

Anglers will be lining up at this year’s TroutFest because the exciting Fishing Simulator is in town. Courtesy of the Guyra Hotel Anglers Club, young and old can try their skills on the realistic Simulator, where you battle a virtual fish while watching your fight play out on the screen. Just choose your level of difficulty and your favourite fish species, and be prepared to be challenged. Any age or level of expertise is catered for. All reports say you are guaranteed to get a workout as you try to beat the machine! Troutfest starts on 29 September (the opening of the NSW trout season) with a Children’s Fishing Clinic at the Mother of Ducks Lagoon in the heart of Guyra (ages 8-14). Ebor’s Dutton Trout Hatchery supply huge brood trout to give the children a chance to catch a good fish, and they can take a mighty fish home from the dam at the Guyra Golf Course.

on your phone and enter via our own phone app. You will be able to see the running tally of the fish caught throughout the competition. This year the children aren’t limited to the five fish species, they can enter any legal-sized species of fish and the child that catches the longest fish total will be awarded.

Entrants sign in at Baffle Creek Rural & Fishing Supplies from Thursday morning to collect their entrant card and brag mat. Saturday afternoon the Baffle Creek Community sport grounds will come to life for the Festival. There will be rides and activities for the whole family and live entertainment by Shoestring band as well as a variety of market stalls and food vendors. There are stacks of prizes up for grabs for all entrants as well as raffles that anyone can purchase tickets for. This year will be the first year a boat is up for grabs. As the competition grows, the prizes will become bigger and better. There are a number of local accommodation providers to choose from and also free bush style camping is available on the community grounds (couple showers and toilets). What a great way to end the school holidays – fishing with the family at Baffle Creek! - Baffle Creek Festival

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR

The excitement and fun generated for the kids has to be seen to be believed. The kids get their own tackle and other goodies as part of the lessons. A fishing competition runs over Saturday and Sunday for trout and native fish from local streams and dams, with over $1000 of prizes and giveaways for juniors and seniors. As well as trout there are categories for redfin, catfish and yellowbelly. A map of all the local public venues will be provided. Photo proof entries close at 5:30pm Sunday in time for presentations before the footy grand final. Guyra caters well for dedicated trout fishers, with several local fishing establishments providing accommodation right next to the well-stocked trout streams or private fishing dams. Opportunities for fishing should be exciting with streams and lakes returning to normal levels after recent rainfall. Malpas Dam and the mighty Copeton dam are both in

easy driving distance of Guyra. There is also the obligatory fishing raffle. For non-fishers Saturday is Market Day (29 September) with the Main Street closed between 9am-3.00pm for Guyra producers to highlight their products with tastings including smoked trout, trout pâté, egg products, international food, stalls of every kind and a musical program to suit all tastes. Guyra’s retailers, cafes and pubs will be open too. Troutfest provides plenty of other activities including art and photography shows (find the tagged fish), antique machinery, museums, open gardens, golf and bowls. Join in Guyra’s TroutFest on the September/October long weekend. For more information or registration forms email guyratroutfest@gmail. com or phone 0488 755 736. - GTF

Brought to you by

2018

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

1-2 Sep

Tim the Bream Competition Yamba

Gayle Doe 0417 002 682

8-9 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Round 6 Clarence River

abt.org.au

22-23 Sep

ABT BASS Pro Grand Final Lake Somerset

abt.org.au

21-23 Sep

Tinaroo Barra Bash Tinaroo Foreshore Park

tinaroobarrabash.com.au

22-23 Sep

Bowen Family Fishing Classic Bowen 0428 776 653

Russ McCabbin

25-28 Sep

Gold Coast Flathead Classic Gold Coast

flatheadclassic.com.au

6-7 Oct

Bjelke Petersen Public Fishing Competition Bjelke Petersen Dam

Matthew Langford 0408 658 592

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

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

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. 106

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Tim the Bream shows bass class

STORM

After a 5-year absence from ABT Qualifier fishing, former #1 ranked ABT BASS angler, Tim Morgan, returned to the bass tournament scene with a bang, winning the second event of the Rapala BASS Pro Series Queensland road trip at Cania Dam, presented by Lew’s. He’d dusted the cobwebs off the previous year at the Storm Australian Open on the same lake, and the knowledge gained at that event provided the foundations for the win this year. “I don’t know what it is about everyone chucking tailor lures out in the middle, but I fished lower lake points that I’d identified in the Australian Open last year with a technique that (my brother) Steve and I used here 20 years ago - twitching Rapala jerkbaits,” Tim said. Back then it was Rapala Husky Jerks in bright colours, but this time it was

A five-year absence from ABT BASS Qualifiers did nothing to stop Tim Morgan charging to the win at the Cania event of the Rapala BASS Pro Series, presented by Lew’s. John Francis won the non-boater division. a pair of baits that landed the fish needed to win. “Early on I’d throw a 9cm Rapala Shadow Rap Shad (clown colour) right up amongst the structure and

work it down into the strike zone, pausing for 3-5 seconds between rips. Later on I’d switch to a pre-production Rapala Jack Deep (5cm) that I’d wind down to 10ft and

Tim’s a great believer in the naming sponsor products. The Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep 9cm in clown colour did the damage for him early each day.

twitch at that depth,” Tim continued. Tim fished the jerkbaits on a Rapala Koivu 652 rod (6-12lb) with an Okuma 3000 Ceymar reel loaded with 8lb Sufix Nano braid and 8lb Sufix Invisi-line leader. In the afternoon session he committed to schooled fish and landed two on a pearl Slider Grub fished on a 1/2oz Impact Tackle jighead. “There were plenty of schooled fish, so we just sat on them until they bit. Luckily we got three decent ones in the afternoon,” he concluded. A popular winner, who knows how many other retired bassers saw the win and are thinking of dusting off the rods? Scott Towner also made a successful re-appearance at a BREAM event last month. Now, the upcoming Storm Australian Open is well within his sights on Glenbawn Dam in mid-October.

Tim’s Cania Jerkbait Pattern

Rapala Shadow Rap Shad Deep

Rapala Jack Deep

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 108

SEPTEMBER 2018

Allwood rues slow second session Allwood has all but locked up the 2018 BASS Pro Angler of the Year title, but he was unable to run down a slow finishing Morgan on one of his favourite lakes. Finding a motherlode of bass in the lead up to the pre-fish ban, Terry was surprised that the fish had all but disappeared come tournament time. Allwood said, “Often the bass head to the edges after a strong southwesterly, like we had in the days leading up to the tournament, but I was too slow in working that out to win the event.” Allwood’s first session

fish came from the deeper waters. Fishing a Majorcraft 20g Jig Parra spoon (slow version), he’d sink the lure to the bottom and retrieve with a six-turnand-drop retrieve. That yielded Allwood four bites and four fish in the first stanza, which gave him the confidence to continue with the technique. “I went shallow for a little in the second session and lost three fish, but for some reason I went back deep and suffered the consequences,” Terry continued. When he did commit to the edges in session three,

not only did he box a limit in the first 90 minutes, he had the luxury of upgrading for the rest of the session, ultimately dropping 4.31kg on the scales – the 4th heaviest bag of the event. His baits for the edges included a Jackall Squirrel 79 and a Bassday 90B jerkbait – both in bright colours. The key was to get the baits down to the 8-10ft range and twitch them there. All of Allwood’s presentations were on a Samurai Reaction 302 rod with a Daiwa Luvias reel loaded with 10lb Unitika Light Jigging Deluxe line and 10lb FC Rock leader.

BASS PR O

Terry Allwood rode a jerkbait bite to a solid last session and a nearunbeatable position in the BASS Angler of the Year race.

Francis bags out to bring non-boater win home Reflecting John Francis full bag was a variety of techniques that he used

to help catch it. His 12/12, 10.23kg total was a kilo and a half bigger than

Tim Morgan’s. Kingaroy’s Francis fished with Casino’s Joey

John Francis was the only competitor at the event to weigh-in a full bag of 12/12 bass and thoroughly earned the trophy.

Urquhart on day one, jerkbaiting the edges early and then dropping back to deeper water with ice jigs and spoons later in the day. On Sunday, he snapped Dave Young out of his rut and proceeded to rack up the event’s biggest bag off the edges on jerkbaits at first, and then with spoons out deeper. A Jackall 67 Squirrel and Halco Twisty 20g both got a bit of a workout. Francis fished these baits on a Westin Twitching Jerkbait rod, Daiwa Freams Z reel spooled with Sunline Siglon 8-strand, 10lb braid and a 10lb Sunline Shooter leader.

Tim Steenhuis took the Garmin $500 for Big Bass.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Rapala Koivu 652 (6-12lb) Reel: Okuma 3000 Ceymar Line: 8lb Sufix Nano braid Leader: 8lb Sufix Invisi-line Lure 1: 9cm Rapala Shadow Rap Shad (clown colour) Lure 2: Rapala Jack Deep (5cm) Lure 3: pearl Slider grub fished on a 1/2oz Impact Tackle jighead

Tim also won the $250 Evinrude Bonus for running a 200hp H.O. E-Tec on his boat.

Watch the day two Highlights by scanning this QR Code or visiting the ABT Tournaments YouTube Channel.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Fish

Weight (kg)

After a very slow day-one donut, Dave Young came back strongly on Sunday to weigh the Duffrods Big Bag of 4.53kg. He caught the limit on jerkbaits fished around the edges.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS Place Angler

DUFFRODS BIG BAG

Payout

Tim Morgan 9/12 8.75kg $2,000 + $250 Evinrude Bonus Terry Allwood 9/12 8.38kg $1,100 Keeghan Painter 9/12 7.56kg $800 Mick Thompson 10/12 7.53kg $600 Jono Bale 7/12 7.06kg Lew’s reel Craig Simmons 7/10 6.67kg Braden Schuch 7/12 6.45kg Bill Schloss 8/10 6.32kg Matt Johnson 7/12 6.22kg Shaun Falkenhagen 6/12 6.18kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Place 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

Payout

John Francis 12/12 10.23kg Prize Pack Mark Parriott 9/12 9.40kg Liam Dutton 10/12 8.76kg Brett Hyde 9/12 8.18kg Mitchell Rose 8/12 7.15kg Tim Steenhuis 7/12 7.12kg $500 Big Bass + Pack Dylan Byron 7/12 6.87kg Warren Howe 7/12 6.23kg Mark Lawson 6/12 6.17kg Angus Meyndershagen 6/12 6.14kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au SEPTEMBER 2018

109

Lennox blades Boondooma BASS

STORM

Armidale builder Mark Lennox added to his list of Rapala BASS Pro wins in a tough bite at Lake Boondooma. He won the JML sponsored qualifier with a 10/12, 11.33kg bag that was nearly 2kg clear of the rest of his competition. A seasoned blade fisherman, Lennox has won both bream and bass events on blades and used his skills amassed over the years to perfection on the winter bass bite at the South Burnett lake. Each session, Lennox started at the dam wall to box a small limit of fish before heading up the Boyne arm to upgrade these to much bigger specimens. His choice bait for the bottom end of the lake was a cream coloured Keitech Swing Impact on a 1/4oz N itro jighead with a #1 hook. Fishing it in 20ft of water, it was a natural choice for the schooled fish. “I’d sound the creek bed

Mark Lennox reinforced that he is a competitor to be feared when there’s a blade bite going on in fresh- or saltwater. and look for rock between 12-22ft down. That’s where the bass were sitting,” he said. After pulling up on his sounded bass, Lennox used a Duffrods 3-5kg rod with a

Daiwa Battler 2500 reel, 8lb Unitika line and 8lb FC Rock leader to deliver a Yamba Pro blade to the depths, where he would fish it vertically. After that, it was just

Lennox targeted the better class of bass with blades around boulders and rock in the Boyne arm on Yamba Pro Prawn blades.

Lennox’s Boondooma Boulder Technique

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 110

SEPTEMBER 2018

a matter of enticing them to bite. Lennox used small hops, leaving the lure close to the bottom until the bass ate it. Mark said, “Sometimes the bass would come up and eat it off the top of the boulders, and other times you’d need to drop it down beside the rocks to get a bite.” Adding to complexity of the presentation was that strong winds would blow Mark around and he was using a standard, cable steer electric motor with no spot lock function. You really have to know how to position a boat to get results on days like those. “Lots of fish were sitting in the little secondary channels beside the main river bed over gravel, but those fish were the hardest to catch - you needed to find the isolated fish relating to rock to get the bites,” Mark concluded.

Ben Biggs best in back of the boat The Gold Coast’s Ben Biggs proved that versatility in the back of the boat is the key to increasing bags and ascending the scoreboard. He used a variety of techniques to contribute to limits and take home the ultimate non-boater prize.

Paired with Paul Aldous on day one and Bass Cat’s Craig Simmons on day 2, Ben’s successful bait collection included Evergreen Little Max blades, Imakatsu IK 800 crankbaits and OSP Blitz extra deep running crankbait. On day one, Biggs

hopped the blades early to put together a limit and then used the crankbaits to upgrade later in the sessions. Ben fished the blades on an Edge Black Widow 6101 dropshot rod with a Daiwa Certate 2004 spooled with 10lb Toray Jigging PE braid, while

the crankbaits were cast on a 704 Black Widow with Daiwa Steez 100H spooled with the same line. Day two with Simmons was spent fishing blades and spoons down deeper. Interestingly, Ben fished the big Imakatsu at Pelican Point in 20-30ft of water, throwing long casts and banging the lure into the bottom. He also caught a couple on a weighted Blitz (with a bullet weight straight in front of the lure on the line). “It pays to fish differently from the boater and to really listen to

BASS PR O

Ben’s big tip for non-boaters? Fish differently from your boater. what they are saying,” Ben advised aspiring non-boaters. Sometimes the techniques you bring along

Matt Johnson presented the Duffrods Big Bag to the weighmaster in session two – a cracking 6.23kg limit.

will make the difference in this shared-weight format. It’s sage advice for no-boaters in any event.

Scan this QR Code to watch the highlights from the final day of fishing in Mark and Paul’s boats.

Paul Aldous two short of a limit

Kilcoy’s Paul Aldous admitted to being quite surprised that his 2-fish bag in the last session actually elevated him into second place. He committed to Pelican Point for the entire event and based his fishing on a two-lure approach – a 20g Halco Twisty and 1/4ox Little Max blade in brown/red. Paul would make long casts with the Halco and let it sink to the bottom. After it touched down, it was a six-winds and let it sink back to the bottom retrieve. The bass would usually bite the lure as it fluttered back to the bottom. Paul modified the lure by replacing the treble with a pair of assist hooks, fished off the rear split ring. His tackle included a

Duffrods 7’6” 4-7kg rod with a Shimano Stella 3000 reel spooled with 10lb Sunline PE and an 8lb Sunline FC Rock leader.

His Little Max rig was lighter, consisting of a 7’, 2-5kg rod and Daiwa Certate reel spooled with 6lb Sunline Braid and 6lb leader.

“I’d cast the blade as far as I could and hop it back to the boat – it’s a pretty standard retrieve for blades,” Paul reported.

Craig Simmons took home the $250 Evinrude Bonus for running his Bass Cat/G2 rig and finishing 6th.

WINNING TACKLE Rod: Duffrods 3-5kg rod Reel: Daiwa Battler 2500 reel Line: Unitika 8lb braid Leader: FC Rock 8lb leader Lure: Yamba Pro Prawn blade

DUFFRODS BIG BAG Matt Johnson boxed a spectacular 4-fish, 6.23kg limit in the second session to take the Duffrods Big Bag. Struggling in the Kilcoy’s Paul Aldous teamed up with non-boater champion Ben Biggs to bag bass that won them both plenty.

Weight (kg)

bite to a 5th place finish for the event.

TOP 10 NON BOATERS

TOP 10 BOATERS Fish

morning sessions, Matt rode the afternoon

Place

Angler

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Mark Lennox 10/12 11.33kg $2,250 Paul Aldous 10/12 9.59kg $1,150 Graham Ford 11/12 8.74kg $800 Shaun Falkenhagen 7/12 8.73kg $700 Matt Johnson 8/12 8.67kg $600 Craig Simmons 11/12 8.40kg $250 Evinrude Bonus Terry Allwood 10/12 7.95kg Simon Marchant 11/12 7.94kg Steve Kanowski 8/12 7.86kg Keeghan Painter 12/12 7.50kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight (kg)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Ben Biggs 11/12 10.18kg Bill Rose 10/12 9.96kg Nick Price 8/12 9.16kg Trent Blake 9/12 9.16kg John Francis 9/12 8.90kg Adrian Wilson 9/12 8.88kg Mathew Flynn 10/12 7.81kg Shaun Beckman 12/12 7.65kg Jim Hickson 10/12 7.07kg Mitchell Petty 8/10 6.8kg For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Payout Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

SEPTEMBER 2018

111

Last BASS Electric Qualifier The last qualifying round for the 2018 Casino Outdoor and Disposal Bass Electric Series was held at the beautiful Lake McDonald. The 40 competitors were keen to get underway on what was a glorious glassed-out morning on the lake. The fishing was great with only one angler not coming to the scales and 31 anglers weighing their full limit of fish. Taking out first place was Daniel Patton compiling 2/2 for 2.49kg and claiming the Casino Outdoors Big Bass with an impressive fish weighing 1.445kg. Daniel used his local knowledge to his advantaged and headed to a weeded flat at the back of the lake, which he knew

Daniel Patton took out the win and the event’s Big Bass at 1.445kg. casting bloodworm ZMan Trick SwimZ rigged on a 1/6oz jighead. A slow roll with the occasional hop was the retrieve that brought these fish undone. Hansen opted to throw this presentation on an Abu KRX rod matched with a Daiwa Gen Black 2000 spooled with 9lb line. The next stop on the 2018 Bass Electric Grand Final at Wivenhoe Dam where one lucky angler will win the trip to Japan to check out the 2019 Osaka Tackle Show. I would like to thank all the anglers on a fantastic series that has been one of the biggest in years. – Joey Urquhar

STORM

Here’s your top 10 from the penultimate Casino Outdoors and Disposals BASS Electric Series.

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 112

SEPTEMBER 2018

held good fish. On arrival Patton went to work and capitalised on a small bite window, landing around 12 fish for the session. Patton opted for an aggressive approach to catch his fish by Casting White Slider Grubs rigged on 1/2oz Smak jigheads across a weeded flat and ripping it out of the weed. He would then let it sink back down to the bottom and commence a slow roll back to the boat. Patton chose to throw this presentation on a 7ft Shimano Zodias rod matched with a 2500 Stradic spooled with 6lb braid and 8lb leader. For his efforts he took home $380 and $150 for big bass. Claiming second place was Stewart Hansen compiling his 2/2 limit for 2.41kg. Hansen fished at an area called Three Ways fishing for the larger scattered fish, which he saw coming through on the sounder in waves over a weeded flat. Hansen would pick one off at time as the fish passed through. He opted for a finesse approach

Fishing in the same boat, Daniel and Stewart came first and second.

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

Angler Daniel Patton Stewart Hanson Scott Bryant Adrian Wilson Tom Reynolds Chesley Lennon Thomas Patton Nathan Swanson Paul McHugh Aaron Kemp

Daniel Patton

Fish 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2

Weight 2.490kg 2.410kg 2.295kg 2.285kg 2.090kg 2.025kg 1.985kg 1.980kg 1.915kg 1.780kg

Prize Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack Prize Pack

1.445kg Big Bass For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

Cooking

A non traditional ebi nigiri BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

This presentation of sushi isn’t 100% traditional ebi nigiri. Ebi refers to a style of presenting prawns by ‘butterflying’, where the prawns are sliced open from the underside and laid out flat. Typical/traditional ebi (prawn) nigiri uses prawns that are cooked so that they remain straight and then the prawns are butterflied out/opened. To cook the prawns so they stay straight, start with raw prawns and skewer them through the body before cooking so that that they ‘set’ straight when cooked. In this article’s variation, we use prawns that have retained their normal curvature. The curve in the prawn adds a slightly different shape to the finished nigiri. The tail of the prawn will extend down the side of the rice at one end rather than just sitting on top.

Cooked and peeled prawns Ingredients •• Prepared sushi rice hand-pressed into oblong mounds

Carefully scrape the vein out of prawn (using a small spoon) and discard. Open out the prawn carefully, without breaking the prawn flesh, and flatten with the blade of a chef’s knife. Rinse the prawns in lightly salted water and then lay the prawns on paper towel to drain.

Nigiri is traditionally served in pairs, they have been topped with thinly sliced salmon, tuna and butterflied prawns.

• Wasabi paste • Soy sauce

Place the opened butterflied prawn in one hand and the prepared sushi log in the other hand.

The dipping sauce is a mixture of soy sauce and a little wasabi paste. The technique is to roll the sushi nigiri over (upside down) so that you dip with the prawn on the underside of the sushi rice.

Cut the underside (inside of the curve) of the prawn from head to tail along the belly of the prawn with the knife blade only going halfway into the body. Cut on the belly side until you feel a pop.

Place the prawn on top of the sushi rice and press down gently upon it, ensuring that the edges of the sushi log stay intact. You may need to ensure that this happens by pressing in the sides of the sushi log with your fingers.

Be careful dipping the rice too deeply into the soy sauce mixture as this may cause the rice log to start to fall apart. The strip of fish flesh helps support the rice as you eat it.

SEPTEMBER 2018

113

Learn more about a fishery with mapping Mapping via echosounder has become hugely popular with fishers as a tool for deriving insights for future fishing plans. Mapping has become critical to us in working out habitat, fish stocks and habits and one particular technology has become both essential – sidescan. As we learned, getting the sidescan images is simple enough – managing them is another matter.

Here are a bunch of learnings that I can share on the software, hardware, and methodology you need to get as much out of your data off the water as you can from your unit. In this first part I aim to explore the mapping process, then in the second I will dive into how fishers can get more insights from analysis. AN IMPROMPTU PRODUCT REVIEW Over the years I have reviewed numerous products in different forums in the IT Industry. As an observation most trade magazines

of our learnings might help others that want to go deeper into mapping. WHY HUMMINBIRD SOLIX? Starting at the beginning, we had a specific problem that we needed to solve in our choice of units. The Biosonics echosounder does an amazing job at finding and tagging fish. We are at the point where we can GPS mark every fish we detect using the Biosonics software, then pump that out as raw data for analysis. Better still, we can do that process in around an hour regardless of

Figure 1 – High-resolution scan fish hotels. It’s worth noting that for us, a small survey is a 1km stretch of water 100% coverage. We are aiming for minimum 5km per day in the next couple of months and 10km by the end of the year. That’s a massive amount of data in a single run, and there is no way we can manage that amount of data on the unit alone. So, how hard could it be to get data from the sounder to the PC? The answer, it turns out, is a lot harder than you might imagine.

provide favourable coverage, which means you need to go to another source such as Youtube if you want to know the downsides of a product. Unless a reviewer is genuinely independent, social media reviews can have the same problems as industry reviews. It’s little wonder then that referrals from Facebook friends have become the most trusted source of product data for most people. I hadn’t planned on a review, but after our experiences, I thought some

how many fish we detect, so in terms of working out how many fish there and where they are at it’s perfect. The one challenge with the Biosonics comes in identifying what we are looking at. There are a number of traditional ground truthing techniques we can use – cast nets being one of the best, but when you are doing intensive mapping over km of water in a day, you can’t be stopping to throw the cast net too often. There are some useful machine learning techniques

and mathematical models we can use to ID fish, but that requires a training dataset of known positive identifications. The better approach the problem is to have a second system that gives us a running picture of what the Biosonics is looking at as a second observer – which of course makes sidescan the perfect tool for the job. With this in mind, we evaluated a number of options before settling on the Humminbird Solix unit because price/performance wise – the Solix 1.2MHz imaging is near photo quality in shallow waters with a 20m range. Given many of our fish surveys happen in shallow water, it’s the right tool for the job. Right off the bat, I want to be clear that the choice was based on conditions and need, not out of some tribal loyalty to one technology or another. I am sure there will be Lowrance users that will disagree with our choice. I am not aiming to enter that debate, but instead will focus on the practical elements of mapping and data management. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY First up, one of our team members Aaron Dunlop took on the job of installing the unit and transducer. This part was

Figure 3 – The team tried a worm pattern and found out the editing time to get clean data wasn’t worth it. the data off. Something we weren’t told up front was Humminbird allows you to map, but if you want to get the data stored a zero line card is required. A zero line card so far as I can make out is a set of maps that outline the boundaries of most of our water bodies. Treat that as code for “we found a way to lock down our system”. A z-line card will set you back a couple of hundred dollars, which after stumping up for a 12” Solix

laptop space. Let’s say there should be a lesson in that for Humminbird. The ugly came when we tried to get the data off the device. Our survey team had stored two heavy days of mapping on the unit as we didn’t have a z-line card. This proved to be the first of our challenges as once we obtained a card (a $200 extra) and inserted the card the unit began downloading the data. Around five hours later, the unit was reporting that

Figure 4 – A bathymetry map based on cross transects.

Figure 2 – A feature blur caused by the turning vessel. 114

SEPTEMBER 2018

pretty smooth running, and we had the unit installed in under four hours. As soon as the unit was fired upon the water, we were receiving sound signal, and our initial testing demonstrated the unit could deliver 100% on our needs. SO FAR SO GOOD The bad started around the time we needed to get

unit was a real slap in the face. I would observe that Apple has been criticized heavily for reducing the ports on their laptops and tablets and forcing people to stump up for a device that allowed them to do what used to come standard. As a result, Microsoft is making a comeback in the tablet and

it had another nine hours to download the data. My father, unsure of if the thing was working stopped the process and provided the data for review. Here we discovered we needed to purchase more software to be able to access the data. At this point, I cancelled the survey work and ordered

the software, another $500. When the software arrived, we couldn’t read the data. Later, we would discover that the data was corrupted and we had lost the data and we later discovered the card well – a $200 lesson. Unfazed, we cleaned off the unit and took the new card that comes with the software and went out again. This time the unit was recording to the card and all seemed to be going to plan. Enter the next challenge. We had to turn off the 200KHz beam as the Biosonics uses that part of the spectrum. The 83KHz beam does an excellent job of bathymetry, and that’s all we needed. However, the switching off of the 200KHz beam rendered the Autochart Pro software inert, as it needed that beam to be able to operate. We had some back and forth with BLA support who were good about helping out and ended up getting the latest version of Autochart from the US. Here we faced the last disappointment. We

a tool for use in real-world mapping and learning a lot more about the habits of fish, it’s the real deal. The Humminbird ecosystem is another matter. Humminbird is the Apple of the sounder market, and I don’t mean that kindly. Mapping is one of the most fundamental components of using an echosounder – dating back to the days of paper sounders. To not only charge clients extra to access the data they collect, but worse, charge for software to read that data that is so limited is the sort of practice that attracts heavy criticism in the tech industry. That sort of practice was the reason the Open Source Software movement started in the first place; it was a rebellion against proprietary systems that treated the people that supported them by shelling out money badly. Honestly, when it comes to mapping, the unit does not meet its hype unless you use the unit standalone, and I think that is what Humminbird bank

Sonar Wiz offer a professional level of data management, mapping, and analysis but at a hefty price. Right now, we are somewhere in between, most of our requirement is to review scanning sessions especially cross-matching between the two systems. I can see a time ahead where we will need to go next level with our use of the sidescan, but right now we are dealing with the same sort of problems fishers deal with. Around two years ago I bought a system called Reefmaster to solve a very different sort of problem. I was working with scan data from both Humminbird and Lowrance systems and needed to generate a map from both datasets. Reefmaster handled this task well, even though it was buggy and crashed often. I tried to load the data in Reefmaster, but my software was not recent enough, but a $50 upgrade and I was able to load the data and finally get going reviewing the data. I was surprised by how much better the software is.

Figure 6 – Bathymetry map based on combined transects.

Figure 5 – A Bathymetry map based on full length. expected something like the functionality you get on the sounder; this was far from the case. Autochart Pro has no useful data management; you end up with a scan on a white background that you can manipulate. The mosaic capability is nothing like the sounders, and the only useful feature was its ability to render a pretty good 3D vision of the scan. By this stage, we were weeks into the project and in desperate need of being able to make use of the data we were gathering. The solution came in another piece of software that I had tried a couple of years earlier. THE FINAL VERDICT Let me be clear – the Humminbird unit has exceeded our expectations. As

on. That’s fine, but promoting yourself as a mapping system when you make it hard for people to use your data for mapping is at best disingenuous. I have seen many software companies rightly crucified for less. There are some open source mapping tools for Oceanography that I am looking at. However, unless you are skilled in Linux, I would avoid them. Fortunately, there is an affordable alternative that does make the Humminbird a world-class mapping system. THE REEFMASTER SAVED US There are many options for mapping ranging from off the shelf to professional. Systems like ArcGIS and Chesapeake Technologies

Less one feature it’s a handy professional level tool that has most tasks automated to a level where a novice user can quickly become a mapping pro. LESSONS LEARNED ON MAPPING Before I jump into Reefmaster, I want to share some lessons. There is a big difference between using the data on your PC and on the unit, because the unit comes with a bunch of smart tech that is designed to make life easier and in my view, keep you addicted to the unit. However, unless you enjoy spending hours in your boat while it’s in the shed, there is a lot fishers can learn from scans in postsession research, so there are some things that will make your life easier.

Here are some things that will make post mapping survey review a simple process. Speed matters We all want to get back more time in our life right? Well, sometimes you need to slow down to make time. The speed of the vessel during surveys directly affects the ability for the sounder to get return data, so the faster the vessel, the more data is lost. During surveys using the 1.2MHz mega scan, we found a big difference in even small speed changes, and I think that is entirely down to data loss. We found speeds around 2km/h give excellent results, but image quality degrades as you go past 4km/h. In general, we survey at 4km/h for the Biosonics unit, so we don’t have optimal quality, none the less the quality is more than good enough to determine what we are looking at. As a rule, our survey teams go back and scan essential objects at 2km/h so we can review at a higher resolution. One observation on data we have reviewed, the first thing to disappear from the sidescan based on speed is smaller fish. That can be a good thing. In some of our images, there are large schools of bony bream that disappear from the scan as the boat speeds up. As we were looking at the bottom features, that is what we wanted. Fishers might want to know where the bait is sitting as well as larger fish. My recommendation? Detail matters. Partition off time to focus on mapping and go slow, as this will give the best possible picture of what

is happening down below. Figure 1 is a 2km/h scan of fish hotels. Stick to the straight One way to save time in mapping is to switch on the unit and drive around. We learned early on using the Biosonics that this is a terrible idea. While it makes data collection more straightforward, it makes data management much harder. When retrieving sidescan data off the unit, it won’t come out in the mosaic form available on the unit; each scan will come out separately and combining them will be a task for the software. Turns are another problem, because even slow turns cause image distortion. Unless editing sidescan images is your jam, I recommend an alternative approach. If parallel transects are required, start and stop the recording at the beginning and end of each run even if it’s a shorter run, don’t keep the sounder running. Knowing the range of the scan also matters. We have found that the 1.2MHz scan starts to cap out at 20m, but the 800kHz scan has a much bigger range. That range will change depending on water temperature, the hardness of the water and salinity and so on. I would recommend always doing a short and straight run before mapping to work out the best configuration and range in the on-the-water conditions. That will provide an on optimal separation for transects, and one thing the Humminbird excels at is the live mapping that makes it easy to work out the best transect patterns.

Decide in advance what quality bathymetry you need This is a lesson we came across when trying to solve an analysis problem. We had an early set of transects about 5m apart and needed to analyse them using statistical tools. Freeform data points are fine in pure mapping terms, but if you are trying to do analysis, a more standardised sample is essential. We solved this problem by creating a virtual mesh, essentially an evenly spaced grid of GPS points, which we then sampled the live data from and plotted onto the mesh based on nearest proximity. This highlighted that when you take data in a line and extrapolate onto an area, you get errors. Most of the time that isn’t much of a problem if you are mapping areas where the change is limited. In areas where there is a lot of change a crosshatched pattern delivers better results as there is more data available on the changes between transects. Even on relatively flat terrain, there is a difference between using parallel scans and a crossmatching pattern. Figure 4-6 shows a comparison of the three maps. GOING NEXT LEVEL Now that you have some high quality data – the next step is to do something with it. In part two of this article I am going examine mapping data in detail. In order to make that exercise relevant, I will use some real life questions and work through the process of answering them using Reefmaster. SEPTEMBER 2018

115

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SALES • REPAIRS • INSTALLATIONS

ONSITE AND MOBILE INSTALLATIONS

Unit 4/1440 New Cleveland Road Capalaba

$449 USD

Boab Boat Hire - 1300 002 622

Wondall Rd Marine (07) 3396 5633

• Sounders • GPS • Electric Motors • Marine Radios and accessories • Stereos • Televisions • Radar Units • Autopilots

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

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

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Hooked On Hinchinbrook www.hookedonhinchinbrook.com

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. 116

SEPTEMBER 2018

Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory 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

NORTHERN NSW

N O W AVA IL A B L E

Evans Head Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0428 828 835 Reel Time Fishing Charters Yamba 0428 231 962 Wooli Fishing Charter (02) 6649 7100

Dave Gaden’s Yamba • Deep Sea

REEL TIME

ALL YOUR FISHING MONTHLY GEAR From

T-Shirts

FISHING CHARTERS

22 85

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

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND

• 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

Phone Dave today: www.fishingyamba.com.au 0428 231 962 OPEN 7 DAYS

EASY PARKING

Phone Cases From

29 45

Mugs

Baffle Creek Holiday House 0419 624 833

From

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

CHARTER BOATS 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

BRISBANE 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

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 Keely Rose Deep Sea Fishing Charters 0407 146 151 Noosa Fishing Charters (07) 5665 8170 Odyssey Charters Deep Sea Fishing (07) 5478 1109 Offshore Reef and Game Fishing 0413 485 402 Rainbow Beach Fishing Charters 0439 775 070 Smithy’s Fishing Charters Sunshine Coast 0407 574 868 Sunshine Coast Fishing Charters (07) 5500 0671 Top Catch Charters Sunshine Coast 0429 013 012

1 7 27

MARINA BOAT & TACKLE, YAMBA MARINA

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 Now Agents For

Clocks $

HERVEY BAY

42 7 0

Carry Bags

Fully Guided Lure & Fly Fishing •

BORN AND BRED LOCAL GUIDE

• Custom Sportsfishing Vessels • Quality Fishing Gear Supplied

From

20 3 3 Throw Pillows

From

25 4 2

and lots more... www.herveybaysportfishing.com.au

Andrew Chorley

0407 627 852

CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Ultimate Sportfishing Charters 0450 753 726 MV Capricorn Star 0408 755 201

MANY DESIGNS TO CHOOSE FROM ON A WIDE VARIETY OF PRODUCTS ALL MADE TO ORDER

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

TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Action Charters Mackay 0417 452 346 Cairns Charter Boat 0427 533 081 Cairns Fishing Charters 0427 400 027 Cairns Reef Charter Services 1800 119 044 Eclipse FNQ Weipa Charters 0488 058 668 Fairdinkum Fishing Charters Townsville (07) 4751 5324 Fish’s Fly & Sportsfishing Weipa (07) 4069 9957 Fishing Charters Townsville 0403 386 722 JC’s Fishing Charters 0438 753 382

fishingmonthly.redbubble.com

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

117

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS SEA CREATURES THAT USE CAMOUFLAGE

STONEFISH PYGMY SEAHORSE RIBBON EEL LIONFISH FLATFISH MIMIC OCTOPUS COLEMAN SHRIMP TAPE TAIL REEF SQUID MAHI MAHI

ANGLERFISH TRUMPETFISH LEAFY SEADRAGON REDDEVIL TOADFISH ROCK POOL GOBY DOTTY BACKFISH PYGMY LEATHER JACKETS CUTTLEFISH SCORPION FISH

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 SEPTEMBER 2018

Phone (day):

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

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

SPOT THE

10 DIFFERENCES

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

ORIGINAL

FIND-A-WORD

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

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winners for July are: B Meth of Varsity Lakes, N Barker of Manly, J Hammond, T Donohue, who each won a OtterBox Defender Series phone cases valued at $74.95. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

of Emu Park, A Needham of Blackbutt, A Stoffels of Yarrabilba, P Cox of Edmonton, A Scott of Proserpine, C Thorne of Roma, W Farlow of Angourie, A Hall of Lucinda, J Ryan of Yeppoon, B Freier of Ningi, D Dunk of Proserpine, S Whitfield of Broadbeach, P Cauchi of Kepnock, G Walker of Warwick, D Hope of Kingaroy, J Weier of Burrum Heads, M Chadwick of Burrum Heads, R Maynard of Nundah, J

Conte of Tullera, J Lowik of Churchill, P Fill of Turkey Beach, J Rogers of Tambo, T Gradischkie of Maryborough, T Davidson of Guyra, S Dawson of Gympie, J Dawson of Cordalba, B Harkness of Coolum, G Mason of Kalkie, R Dowden of Bundaberg, R Ramsay of Taylors Beach. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

GUESS THE FISH?

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 10, 14, 24, 29, 32, 46, 51, 56, 61, 68, 73, 82, 91, 96, 101. – QFM

118

SEPTEMBER 2018

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Flathead

The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: D Culshaw of Banyo, J Varley of River Heads, R Schefe of Point Vernon, P Carrington of Deception Bay, C Renz of Crestmead, J Dodd of Bongaree, M Sterling of Waterloo, D Gibson of Bongaree, G Walsh of Bongaree, B McGarry of Mount Pleasant, G Anderson

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat 120 Kayak Kurwongbah Inside story...

Troy Brown explores this beautiful lake, which is tantalisingly close to Brisbane.

Something of an Aussie icon, Clark Aluminium Boats has earned this enviable status by serving generations of commercial and recreational boaters. In the boating world, Clark Aluminium Boats is a name synonymous with strength, durability and safety. Combine these features with class, leading levels of performance, a quality finish and modern fit-outs and it’s easy to see why for nearly four decades, Clark have been the first choice of many boaters.

123 New Bass Hunter

Made for...

Seating options in boats can be confusing, so let Wayne Kampe help you through the process!

Clark Aluminium Boats will provide you with many years of safe, trouble free boating enjoyment!

This month...

Peter Jung has a run with the Clark 520 Legend SC with Suzuki 4-stroke. Check it out on page 128.

With the release of Stessco’s newest bass Hunter, there’s a lot to be excited about!

124 Family kayak fun

Justin Willmer looks at kayaking as a means of spending time with the family, and why it’s important.

126 Take a seat!

130 Bar Crusher 575C vs 615C – which is best? Fishing Monthly put two very formidable rigs head-to-head. See which one is best for you!

SEPTEMBER 2018

119

Lake Kurwongbah has plenty of bass on offer BRISBANE

Troy Brown

Situated 40km north of Brisbane CBD, Lake Kurwongbah promises an entertaining day for kayak fishing enthusiasts. Easily reached from metro areas, the lake also known as Sideling Creek Dam offers

for different categories of watercraft. To improve safety, there are now individual zones for skiing, rowing and paddling. This restriction allows each type of recreation to enjoy their sport without impediment. While some may believe the restrictions are unnecessary, these rules guarantee all users may enjoy the excellent

amenities provide just enough facilities for a family affair. Fishing on Lake Kurwongbah requires fishers to possess a current Stocked Impoundment Permit (SIPS), as it is controlled by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Not only does this scheme protect our precious dams from over-fishing, but also assists in restocking to

Yak Hunters staff Jenara Clogg proudly displays a healthy bass captured while casting the Hellyeah Chatterbait. Photo by Jenara Clogg.

Charles Duffield targets Saratoga and bass with Ecogear SX40 lures. Photo by Charles Duffield. a safe and well-stocked fishing location. Kurwongbah is a small lake, but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let the size deter you. In fact, the limited size is one of its more appealing features, as even smaller kayaks will be able to access the entire waterway with ease. Previously closed to paddlers except on specified days, following changes in 2017 the dam is now open to kayakers every day of the week. Due to the limited size of Lake Kurwongbah, SEQ Water has intelligently specified recreation zones

facilities on offer. Kayakers have access to the dam via Mick Hanfling Park at Petrie. On arrival at the dam you will find there are two dedicated launch points for kayaks. These are simple affairs, with some gravel areas leading into the water at either end of the car park. Due to the limited parking on offer, kayakers with larger hulls should avoid bringing a trailer and opt for car-topping instead. Family day trips are well serviced with a wide grassed area adjoining the waterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge. Plenty of shade, limited barbecue and

Lee Major proves bass are active in the shallow areas during the early hours of the day. 120

SEPTEMBER 2018

ensure sustainable fishing for the future. Permits are inexpensive, with a full year costing only $50 and allowing access to a large range of SIPS controlled impoundments. Given the quality of stocking in dams around South East Queensland, these permits are a bargain for responsible fishers. Combined with the efforts of local fishing enthusiasts such as the Pine Rivers Fish Management Association, the future of fishing in South East Queensland looks like it is in good hands. The recent release of 20,000 fingerlings by the not-forprofit PRFMA will support fishing in Kurwongbah over coming years. Assist these organisations when the opportunity arises, as they help guarantee the future of your favourite local fishing spots. The primary target on Kurwongbah is Australian bass, one of the best pound-forpound fighters in freshwater. While some monster saratoga patrol the lake, bass are most prolific and are an entertaining objective for anglers. Fishing for these well-conditioned fish on light gear makes the catch more sporting, but is also more likely to ensure released fish are kept in pristine condition. Heavier braided lines up to 10lb will make line breakages less frequent, but lighter main lines and leaders of around 4-6lb will produce more hook-ups. Bass can be notoriously fickle fish to catch, with bite windows very narrow

and large schools regularly ignoring the temptation of a well-presented lure or bait. Kurwongbah bass uphold this reputation, occasionally resulting in many hours of casting before successfully enticing a strike. The bite window in mornings at this location seem limited, with schools switching off within minutes of striking your lure for the first time. Afternoons seem to fare better, with the period just after midday often producing the most catches. While these trends can reverse from day to day, cold weather seems to have a reasonably predictable pattern in terms of extended intervals of shut-down, followed by short periods of frantic bass action. People believe that

edge structure, colder periods mean many bass are found in mid-water, or in deeper sections of lakes. You may have a favourite area to fish, but be aware these schools move frequently and can be difficult to locate. Quality sounders, especially those with side or structure scan, can be very beneficial in locating large schools of bass. Slow trolling deep diving lures in 8m+ of water, bouncing micro-jigs in 2-5m and casting surface lures across lily pads will all attract aggressive bass. Fishing the edge of weed beds, either by slow trolling or casting, is particularly effective during early hours of the day. When trolling deep areas, lures with a subtle action only

away before release, thereby extending the aggressive bite period. To ensure captured fish do not affect the school, consider using a live well to keep fish healthy until you release them later. While fishing Kurwongbah, be mindful that most areas around the dam are privately owned. Trespassing on private land is not the best means of ensuring the area will be preserved for future fishing. Ensure you make use of the dedicated kayak wash-down facilities at Mick Hanfling Park, as this will prevent the spread of destructive weed into your other favourite fishing spots. Most importantly, learn to exercise a level of patience

Pedal or paddle? Kurwongbah is compact enough for all kayaks to easily explore all areas. because the dam only recently opened to comprehensive fishing the bass in the dam are not as aware of lures and are easier to catch. The fish certainly seem more prolific in numbers, but there is little to suggest these fish are any less wary than other impoundments. Strength of numbers seems to be a more logical conclusion. While bass are known to engulf surface lures and big bass are often found around

need to be propelled at 1-2 knots to encourage a strike. Rig a few rods with different presentations and weights, so that you can take advantage of the situation that is working at that particular moment. When you catch a fish, be aware of how you release your capture. Schools shut down quickly when disturbed, so releasing your catch near the school seems to shut down bites rapidly. When a fish is caught, paddle a short distance

that you may not require when fishing salt water, as bass fishing can be a frustrating exercise. If your approach is not working, work through every lure in your arsenal until you find a combination that works. Shutdown bass can be disheartening, but with persistence and practice the results will come. While waiting for the strike to come, enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of a suburban fishing oasis.

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

PAGE NO: 1

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 30th SEPTEMBER Entries must be received by 30TH DATE 2018 2018 Original entries only. No photocopies.

SUBURB

P/CODE

PHONE EMAIL I want to receive updates from Daiwa Australia on news & special offers (please tick)

QFM SEPTEMBER2018

NAME

WHAT’S NEW BOATING M.A.P PRO REMOTE 1 STEERING

MERCURY 3.0L 1504 270HP DIESELS

M.A.P Technology’s state-of-the-art autonomous boat control device, M.A.P Pro, allows you to remotely steer your vessel on a pre-routed course, via an app on your handheld device. The mobile app interfaces with a compact, marine-proofed unit, housing a GPS, Wi-Fi, INS and solid state compass. This unit connects via Wi-Fi to a handheld android or iOS app device that facilitates rudder control, battery monitor and other steering commands, allowing the vessel to travel along a pre-selected route to its destination, and at any time the skipper can take control with optional remote steering. M.A.P Pro is suitable for any boat, and can be used with outboard, inboard, sterndrive and electric motors. It comes pre-loaded with navigational charts, and allows the user to manage unlimited waypoints and routes. Highly precise, the GPS horizontal accuracy of the system is within 2.5m. www.amisales.com.au

Mercury has released a new line of 3.0L diesel engines for sterndrive, inboard and water-jet applications. Available in 150hp, 230hp and 270hp, these engines have been engineered to lead their class in several key attributes: acceleration; reliability; ease of installation and maintenance; and reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). “Mercury already has a class-leading diesel portfolio, and these engines add to that with their impressive low-end torque and exceptional durability,” said Reinhard Burk, Mercury’s Senior Director, Global Inboard and Sterndrive Categories. Features include: a new water-cooled, variable-geometry turbocharger and commonrail fuel delivery to provide exceptional performance and substantial improvements in acceleration and top speeds; compliance with tougher diesel emission standards; compatibility with Mercury SmartCraft technologies, and Mercury’s Joystick Piloting for Inboards (JPI) and Sterndrives (JPS); and a new factory-backed limited 3-year Recreational Warranty with an additional 2 years on selected major components. A Light Duty Commercial Warranty provides protection for 1 Year or 1500 hours. www.mercurymarine.com.au

PRICE DROP ON LOWRANCE ELITE-TI 2 Lowrance has dropped prices by 20% across its EliteTi range of MFDs, delivering savings of up to AUD$700. This all-in-one fishfinder/chartplotter series offers great value at an affordable price, with displays available in 5”, 7”, 9”, and 12” sizes. Features include an easy-to-use touchscreen interface, wireless connectivity, proven Lowrance navigation technology, and highperformance sonar. Paired with a compatible transducer, Elite Ti can deliver CHIRP, Broadband Sounder and StructureScan HD imaging sonar with SideScan, DownScan Imaging and new FishReveal views. FishReveal allows anglers to quickly and easily discover how fish orient themselves in and around cover and structure, with clearly defined fish arches. The highly accurate built-in GPS antenna displays position on a detailed C-MAP or Navionics+ chart. Bluetooth and wireless connectivity also provide control of single or dual Power-Pole shallow water anchors, and enable remote access to the display via phones or tablets. www.lowrance.com

WATER-ACTIVATED GME EPIRBS

GME’s MT603 Series of water-activated, GPS-equipped EPIRBs are the most advanced MEOSAR-ready 406 MHz digital EPIRBs on the market. Designed, engineered and manufactured in Australia, the MT603 series has obtained international Cospas-Sarsat approval. These EPIRBs have an integrated 66 channel GPS receiver, delivering greater position accuracy and faster location fix than previous models. Boasting zero warmup digital technology, MT603s acquire and transmit accurate latitude/longitude and personal ID info to rescue authorities as soon as possible. It also has a high-intensity, solid state strobe light and auxiliary 121.5 MHz VHF homing transmitter. These EPIRBs can be activated both manually and automatically upon contact with water. The Category 2 model (MT603G) will automatically activate when the unit is removed from the mounting bracket and is deployed in water. The Category 1 model (MT603FG) will automatically deploy from the ‘Float-Free’ housing via a hydrostatic release unit at a depth of 1.5-4m, with the beacon activating upon contact with water. www.gme.net.au www.lorem.com.au 122

SEPTEMBER 2018

RAYMARINE OS UPGRADE

Raymarine’s Axiom and Axiom Pro MFDs feature the fast and fluid LightHouse 3 operating system, along with powerful CHIRP DownVision, CHIRP SideVision, High CHIRP, RealVision 3D and 1kW CHIRP sonar capabilities. Now, owners of Raymarine’s popular eS and gS Series multifunction displays can unlock these high-performance tools. Owners of Raymarine’s eS and gS Series MFDs running LightHouse 2 can upgrade to LightHouse 3 for free. Simply download the update from Raymarine.com.au to any microSD memory card and insert it into your display. LightHouse 3 is easy to learn. It brings your most commonly used features forward with an intuitive menu system, and its simple home screen icons are easily customised. Anglers who upgrade to LightHouse 3 can also unlock the power of Raymarine’s latest sonar technology using the new RVX1000 3D CHIRP Sonar Module. www.raymarine.com.au

CHARGE MATE PRO 90

PRODUCT GUIDE

The Charge Mate Pro 90 is an electronic relay that allows a second battery to receive up to 90A of charge current from a single alternator. Suitable for all battery types, it is ideal for recharging lithium ion cells and has built-in safety features. When a boat has two batteries on board, typically an engine start battery and a service battery, the second battery usually requires its own charging solution. A mechanical relay will charge the flattest battery first, and then switch to the other, but this isn’t always ideal, as it could leave the engine starter battery discharged. The Charge Mate Pro 90 works differently, by always prioritising the primary battery while still charging the secondary. The relay is housed in a corrosion-resistant housing flanked by two heat sinks, and its operation can be monitored via built-in LED indicators. The unit includes automatic battery detection, so it can work seamlessly with either 12V or 24V systems. Price: SRP $578 www.bla.com.au

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

SCAN THE QR CODE!

New Stessco Advertorial

Bass Hunter

Stessco aluminium boats continue to make their mark in the Australian boat manufacturing industry, this time expanding their Bass Hunter series of boats to include a new 4.8m model. Introducing the new Stessco Bass Hunter 480, a premium v-nose punt, which projects strength, offers a smooth riding hull and which is packed full of impressive features at a very competitive price point. I was lucky enough to experience this wonderful new offering from Stessco during a cool winter day at Lake Borumba in Queensland’s South East, and while the fish did not want to play the game, the conditions were perfect to put the Bass Hunter 480 through its paces, whether it be in the deep water, in the shallows, amongst the timber, at speed and at rest. What I found was a boat that offers rock solid stability, and which has plenty of room to store all your gear. Some of the standard features of the Bass Hunter 480 include front and rear casting decks, a huge 90L plumbed keeper tank in the front deck, a plumbed live bait well in the rear casting deck, electric motor bracket, enclosed transom and rod locker. However, what instantly struck me, and is sure to demand the attention of many anglers throughout Australia is the new Stessco factory-fitted freshwater wrap. Featuring some of Australia’s most iconic freshwater species, the colour scheme alone is sure to appeal to a huge audience. Our test boat for the day came with several Stessco factory-fitted options, including a shiny new 55lb Minnkota electric motor, a Humminbird Helix 7 sounder and a huge premium lockable rod locker. Meaning, if you are simply chasing a fishing ready platform, with all the nice-to-have extras already fitted, then Stessco have the perfect package for you. What makes this boating package even more appealing is the fact that if you purchase your Stessco Bass Hunter 480 on a Stessco trailer from Dunbier, your Huge casting deck

investment is secured with a 5-year structural warranty. The Stessco Bass Hunter 480 has 3mm pressed aluminium sides and bottom and is rated to a maximum of 90hp or 180kg transom weight. Fitted to our test boat was a Yamaha F75 16 Valve In-line 4-cylinder outboard, which had more than enough power to lift the Bass Hunter 480 out of the hole, onto the plane and well past 50km/h in no time. In fact, I would be hesitant to fit the maximum rated horsepower to this boat, not for any real performance-based reasoning, but purely from the point of view that I didn’t feel that the boat needed the extra power. However, for the

I think you will be hard pressed to find a more reasonably-priced, complete boating package designed for navigating our Australian freshwater and impoundment waterways. tournament fishers out there, I am sure that with a 90hp motor pushing this boat, it would go like a rocket ship. Launching the Bass Hunter 480 is very simple and manageable on your own. Once on the water the two key ingredients for a suitable fishing platform become obvious. Stability and room to move are key features of the Bass Hunter 480, with the boat offering enough room for all your gear under the deck, which can be accessed through hatches in both the front and rear casting decks. The configuration of the hatches in the front cast deck could be reconfigured into a slightly different layout to really maximise underfloor accessibility, but I don’t see this being a huge problem.

Side console with plenty of room

Lockable rod locker

480

The V-nose punt designed hull is very stable at rest with two anglers on board and moving from side to side; we only noticed a slight amount of movement in the boat. On the move at speed the V-nose punthull can not help drifting slightly when conducting tight cornering, but I was very surprised at how smooth the overall ride was. While conditions on the testing day did not provide any chop, we did manage to zig-zag across the boats own wash multiple times, even managing the get the entire hull airborne briefly. In saying all of this however, I don’t believe people will be considering purchasing the Stessco Bass Hunter 480 based on its performance in a rolling swell. More to the point, it is a boat that is easy to handle on your own while launching and retrieving, and powered by the Yamaha F75 it will get you from point A to B in next to no time. At rest or while trolling at low speed, it offers great stability and with 3mm sides and bottom it is more than tough enough to get into those tight spaces amongst the timber and up into the shallows. If trolling Australia’s freshwater waterways or stocked impoundments is more your style of fishing, and the Australian sun has a habit of frying your skin, then you can relax, as Stessco also offer an optional gunwale mounted bimini top for the Bass Hunter 480. FINAL THOUGHTS I think you will be hard pressed to find a more reasonablypriced, complete boating package designed for navigating our Australian freshwater and impoundment waterways. Offering great stability and room to move and with factory-fitted options, which now include a Minnkota electric motor and a Humminbird sounder, plus the 5-year structural warranty offered with the Stessco trailer as part of the package, it really looks to me that Stessco Aluminium Boats are pushing hard to make choosing and purchasing your boat a very simple and stress-free experience. – Luke Fitzpatrick Huge livewell

All the family fishing fun BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Recently my wife’s sister and her young family picked up some secondhand kayaks, keen to spend some family time paddling, adventuring and as the kids get older, fishing. Their first adventure was planned, paddling a local freshwater lake, where

freaking out a little and yelling, before his parents told him to relax and float in his PFD. The PFD was well fitted and floated him perfectly. Once Will realised he was safely floating he relaxed and they assisted him back on board. Kait’s recap of their adventure reinforced to me the importance of visiting a reputable dealer and having your children fitted with quality PFDs. It’s pretty

newbies to kayak fishing, or kayak fish yourself, make sure your PFD is suited to your location, application, build and of course meets any legal requirements. During the chat about their adventure we discovered that Kait had never caught a fish… never… ever… in her entire life! Being an angler my whole life I decided that this horrific situation needed to be rectified. When an opportunity became available

Smiles all around.

A handful of flathead from a fun family session. tide and current wouldn’t impact their experience. Safety first, and it was off to get everyone fitted with PFDs for their first session on the water. Kait, Wade and the three kids had a great day on the lake! They became familiar with their watercraft and how to effectively propel and manoeuvre them, enjoyed the outdoors, explored the lake and shared a few laughs. At one point five year old Will fell from his kayak and ended up in the water,

cheap insurance and peace of mind. I know that back in the day I would have been guilty of grabbing any available PFD to fit on people when we were boating, paddling, tobogganing and undertaking other aquatic activities. Decent quality, modern PFDs are much more comfortable than the old ‘brick’ style PFDs. They allow for more freedom of movement, airflow and also support the wearer much more effectively when in the water. If you are introducing

we would take her out for a paddle and get her onto her first fish. When introducing newbies to kayak fishing, there are a few things that I normally do to maximise both their enjoyment and also their chances of successfully catching a fish. You can’t make the fish bite, but you can ensure other variables are in your favour. WEATHER Poor weather can make fishing trickier for even the most experienced kayak angler, so keeping an eye on

sites such as Seabreeze and BOM can assist in choosing a weather window that is more conducive to kayaking and fishing. We had our window, a perfect Sunday morning that would make for a beautiful day on the water… even if the fish didn’t bite. TIDES When starting out in kayak fishing, or getting others into kayak fishing, it’s a good idea to take the tidal flow out of the equation or utilise it to your advantage. Spend more time fishing and less time paddling, especially when it comes to working hard against the current to hold position or fish effectively. We selected a couple of hours of run-out and an hour of run-in to bring us back home. The old saying is no run, no fun and some of the best fishing I have experienced has been when there is plenty of flow from big high-tides and lower low-tides. On this occasion a low high-tide and high

Kait makes a cast toward the weed edge. to kayak fishing I also like the term short and sweet. I would rather they finish the session wanting more than finish with fatigue, a sore butt or worse, never wanting to fish from a kayak again. I find

or exotic adventure. Keep it local, keep it easily accessible and keep it simple. We selected an easy access point for launching, a simple edge bite for flathead and the tested and proven soft plastic

It didn’t take long to get the first flathead on board and fire everyone up.

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low-tide would allow us to slowly meander along with the current. This helped us stay together as a group and assist Kait with where to cast and retrieve techniques, and be close enough to hopefully net her first fish. DURATION When introducing people

2-4 hours is a good starting point, and it’s important to look for signs that they have had enough. Better yet, add a swim, morning tea or lunch to the adventure to break up the session. KISS Keep it super simple. It doesn’t need to be a crazy

and jighead combination. Kait used one of our kayaks and we made sure there was minimal clutter. I carried the tackle, lip grips, landing net, fish measure and so forth in my kayak. There was no need for her to be distracted or hindered by additional items and I

would be close by to land the fish, should she manage to convince one to bite. A single rigged rod, scent, water bottle and snacks were all she required, keeping the cockpit uncluttered and tangle free. MAKE IT ABOUT THEM I will generally stay close to assist with kayak positioning, casting, retrieves, fighting fish and

day we want to see them hooked up to a fish. ON THE WATER Kait, my wife Sheri (Kait’s sister) and I sat down to a cooked breakfast, chatted about the day ahead and then it was time to launch. A few tips on boarding the kayak and launching is always a good idea, as entering one side of the kayak and exiting the other into the water will

catch a flathead. Mixing up the retrieve between a couple of hops and a pause, or a wind, wind, wind and pause to allow the plastic to sink back to the bottom, I was confident that Kait was in with a good shot. It was time to catch a couple. A few minutes later I was sliding the net under a nice flathead and this lifted everyone’s level of enthusiasm, also taking the heat off a bit as we had one in the icebox for Kait’s family for dinner. It wasn’t long before I found myself hooked up again, landing another legal flathead. I then took the time to ensure Kait was on track, before threatening to tie my lure onto her rod if I landed

Success! Kait was pretty stoked with her first ever fish, a legal flathead.

It doesn’t take kids long to get their balance and confidence. Remember PFD and safety first. so forth, demonstrating, observing and offering advice. Once they have the basics down, I will then fish hard in the hope of landing a fish or two. A couple of reasons why it’s important for me to catch a couple is firstly, to give them confidence that there are fish in the area and secondly, to crack a pattern in terms of what’s working on the day, such as a particular colour, retrieve, water depth or structure type. From here I

put a dampener on the day from the outset. We launched without issue and began our drift. It didn’t take long for Kait to get the positioning side of things under control, positioning the kayak a cast distance from the weed edge. A nice slow drift along the edge, with no wind to contend with and the casts were landing in the general area of where they needed to be. A 3/8oz jighead ensured the plastic was finding

When it’s your second fish ever it doesn’t matter whether it’s a yellowtail pike or a marlin, it’s still awesome! another one. It was a magic day on the water and we all enjoyed the serenity, chatted, laughed and cast lures. After landing my third flathead I paddled over and tied the lucky lure onto Kait’s rod, before Sheri was yelling

back and forward beside her kayak. Instead of taking my time to position the kayak alongside her and allow her to steer the flathead into the net, I rushed a little, grabbed the leader, the flathead shook its head aggressively and threw the lure. I apologised, tucked my tail between my legs and paddled back over to where Kait was positioned in the mouth of a drain. Then it happened and Kait was yelling and woohooing, while Sheri shouted advice and I dug the paddle in to get over to her quickly. The smile on her face is what it’s all about. I love seeing people catch their first fish, first of a species, a new PB… hey, I just love seeing people

catch fish! I was relieved when it was in the net, on the lip grips and I had the first photo taken. We snapped a few photos, even a selfie or two, and with the fish a couple of centimetres over legal Kait opted to take her first fish home to feed the family. Mission successful! It was then Sheri’s turn and I made no mistake this time, allowing her to steer the flathead into the waiting net and we had all successfully landed a fish for the day, making it even better. The tide turned and we began our drift back to the launch site. It definitely wasn’t a hot bite but I added another to Sheri’s icebox. While stowing the flathead the

lure, which had been dropped back in the water, was nailed by a yellowtail pike, giving us all some entertainment and a few laughs. As we approached the launch point Kait wanted one more cast and was on again, and pretty happy with her yellowtail pike, as was the little kid standing on the beach celebrating the catch with her. A quick photo again, then a group selfie to record our adventure and the day of Kait’s first fish. I can still hear her correcting me, “hey, my first two fish!” I often fish with some pretty hard core fishos and it was refreshing to get back to basics and see someone that was just as pumped with a yellowtail pike as a flathead. I don’t think it will take Kait as many years to catch her third fish as it did to catch her first or second, in fact she has already thrown her name in the hat for the next session. I often reflect on my childhood fishing with my grandad, uncle, dad and other family members. Plus, learning to catch different species or use different techniques, taught to me by fishing buddies and more experienced anglers. I think we all have a responsibility to give back to the fishing community, to help educate and inspire others, and assist a newcomer to the sport to catch a fish or two. That smile, fist-pump, celebration and future fishing yarn that you’ve helped create is also pretty rewarding. It’s time to take someone fishing. See you on the water.

This yellowtail pike nailed a lure left hanging in the water while stowing a flathead in the icebox. can offer assistance in terms of refining their technique, explaining the nuts and bolts as we fish. At the end of the

the bottom regularly and combined with a 3” paddle tail soft plastic we had a dynamite presentation to

that she was hooked up. The fish was taking solid runs and as I reached her I saw a quality flathead running

Sheri and Kait in action hopping and rolling Z-Man 3” MinnowZ. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Sort out that boat seating and reap the rewards BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Seating in fishingorientated trailer boats is a complex business. You might think that

for our boats. A larger craft that’s intended for long hauls and the rods being removed from the racks virtually demands installation of the best quality supportive seating for all occupants while travelling. This can take the form of a well-

storage box, with a hand rail or other item close by as a brace point when travelling in the rough stuff. Centre console craft on the other hand might have pedestal seats for the skipper and mate, perhaps a seat up front of the console as

Sea Jay have set up a smart ice box seating arrangement here, ideal for two folk to sit at the helm area. Check out the bracing afforded by the framework for the T top.

A pair of high-backed bucket seats on short pedestals will provide plenty of support when the 150 on the transom’s opened up. seating in any boat has been arranged carefully for optimum comfort and easy use by the driver and other occupants. While this is certainly the hoped for outcome, it’s not a hard and fast rule. Generally, manufacturers try to get things right but seating options are so diverse these days that there can be a lot of daylight between really useful seating and what’s been provided. Just for the record, I’ve been in centre console craft with no seating but without exception, always wished there was some before long! Standing for extended times takes a big toll on the vertebrae when on the water. SEATING WILL ALWAYS VARY Boat seating varies greatly in accordance with the varied uses we anticipate

mate. As a handy back rest you’ll often see a flexible fore/aft sliding bolster rail for the one or two people seated there, but without an additional handhold or grab rail close by things can by

A padded storage box or ice box makes a reasonable seat but it needs a handhold of some description if you’re heading for rough water. the unit, plus the restricted access to any shelves in the console. On the other end of the scale is the small tinny, car topper or other lightweight rig where cross seating is integral to the structural strength of the craft. These

Flexible seating takes on a new meaning here – the lounge seat in this boat can be left out altogether. padded bucket or dedicated pre-formed seat on rigid framework or perhaps the latter items being set up on a

thwart is fair enough but there must be some depth for the legs or you’ll likely feel some discomfort. If you’re intending to buy a light little car topper or similar, take a look at the depth between floor and seat and assess how some time spent there

well. It’s common to see a padded ice box or other storage arrangement aft of the console for skipper and

This well-padded pedestal seat is handy to the helm area and it’s a strong-looking one at that.

Variations on a theme – high backed bucket seats on a storage box for the skipper with a padded ice box for the mate. 126

SEPTEMBER 2018

tricky when the boat starts to bounce. For mine, the only downside of an ice box or storage box aft of the console is the room taken up by

cross-seats are often no more than a bench for the backside with cushions and other items to provide comfort underway. Sitting on a hard

will work for you. The floor depth is handy in a small boat and this factor should be a serious consideration for an owner.

Midway between these extreme seating examples are the one-size-fits-all seat set up where a supportive

strategy as selecting the right outboard engine will pay off many times when the craft’s in the water.

There’s a perfect mix of seating here with a strong bucket seat on a pedestal (with plenty of back support) to set up the skipper with a pair of back-to-back seats on a storage box to port. Note the depth of the padding.

BEST TO MATCH SEATING WITH BOAT USE In short, seating should compliment the proposed use of the boat. As mentioned, long hauls on the water demand the best seating – end of story. Seating needs to cater for all intended crew and should be strong for the entire life of boat while providing optimum support at all times. Smaller craft to be used in bay/estuary or other similar localities also require robust seating, as these craft won’t always be used in quiet water. In selecting the correct seat the idea is to work out what will have the longest life, be value for money and remain trouble-free. Pedestal seating is useful in smaller craft; pedestals offer the ability to be customized to fit a particular craft. The actual seating section can be padded to a greater or lesser degree and be mounted on a suitable stem of just the right length to provide plenty of comfort and floor depth within reach of a tiller handle or wheel. With today’s trend towards flexible seating arrangements where a pedestal seat can move from one floor spigot to another, it’s essential

to keep things in perspective and not overdo the size of the seats. If the seats are too bulky, moving them about might be awkward. It’s also wise to keep stems and bases well

seating at length. First, it was a given that it would be a two-person fishing team, so we only required seating for two. As the Galey was to be helmed from the

we simply remove one seat – stem and all – and sit it down beside the console to port. In practice we have one fishing up front where a lean post provides excellent

High backed seats on rigid frames are mounted on storage boxes in this craft and it’s a win-win all round. Note the room between the seats to allow easy access to the cabin.

The flexible pedestal seating in the author’s boat is meant to be moved in many fishing situations, hence the specially selected lightweight seats.

A pedestal seat of this kind offers good support, but if you intend to move it, sometimes that floor spigot will need lubrication to keep it freed up. seat of some form or other is placed at a strategic distance from the tiller handle or steering wheel, or perhaps near a small console where instruments might be set up. Bucket seats – with varying degrees of padding – are usually installed for this purpose and if things aren’t quite perfect, the buyer makes the best of it anyway and reflects, perhaps, on how good it might be to actually plan and organize seating for another boat in the future. Purchasing a turnkey package can see you in the situation I’ve just mentioned. If there’s an opportunity to arrange seating prior to taking the craft, put some serious thought into the best seating arrangement; putting as much thought into this

lubricated to prevent binding from salt corrosion. A CASE STUDY For the construction of our Galeforce 4.5 centre console, we considered the

Whittley don’t ever do things by halves. Massive seats with lots of support and inherent strength are custom made for serious sea travel. There’s storage and other useful features under those seats as well.

console it was obvious we’d need seating at that point, but selection of just the right seats took some thought. The storage/ice box bench was tempting, but ruled out; there’d be far too much restriction of available work area aft and access to the storage shelf, so pedestals topped the short list. Moreover we’d opted for a big centre console – this we’ve never regretted, as we love the handy storage capacity, which meant that two pedestals aft of the console could take up a fair amount of room. This would be no issue when travelling, but when fishing things could be a bit tight, especially if flyfishing – careful storage of the fly line between casts is essential. The solution was easy. We selected light but strong pedestal seats that sit on spigots at just the right distance from the console for comfort and when fishing requirements dictate terms

support while the other person fishes from aft of the console and I must say, this system has been near perfect. A look at the seats we selected reveals they are not the most thickly padded around the boat yards, but for us they are part of a system that works well. IN A NUTSHELL Seating is just one of the many issues that can involve compromises in the world of boating. Sometimes seating’s perfect. Other times it’s not so good. If you’re lucky enough to have the opportunity to arrange your own seating, go for it! When buying a turnkey package just give some extra thought as to how the seating in that particular boat is going to affect your personal requirements for on-water travel as well as fishing. Don’t be afraid to ask for changes when necessary either. Boat layouts are pretty flexible in my experience. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Clark 520 Legend SC with 115 Suzuki 4-stroke - SC

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SPECIFICATIONS Overall Length... 5.38m Beam.................. 1.35m Depth................. 1.06m Hull weight........ 560kg Min hp.................. 70hp Max hp................115hp Bottom and sides.3mm Max people............. Six FIRST IMPRESSION The 520 Legend really gives the feeling of being bigger than it is. The cockpit area is wide and open, with high gunwales and grab rails. The skipper’s seat and console are roomy, with the console providing a reasonable amount of space for gauges and switches as well as room to mount a good-sized sounder. The forward casting deck is 128

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The Clarke 520 Legend was launched at the 2017 Melbourne Boat Show and has proven to be a very popular addition to their range. We have wanted to test one for a while, but sales have been so strong that it has taken us up until now to find one available to review. The range of Clark Boats available on this year’s boat show circuit will have the 520 Legend the headline act. This is the largest of the Clark boats we have tested for the magazines, as the majority of boats tested in the past have been focused on fishing in our estuaries, lakes and rivers. The 520 Legend offers a greater range of opportunities for fishing and recreational boating.

pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

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nearly 400km out of the boat’s 110L fuel tank and plenty for any day’s fishing! At the end of the test, Mark Frost volunteered to have a ski behind the boat (the outside temperature was nice, but the water temperature had a little chill to it). Within five

FMG

package is likely to be doing a fair bit of travelling – the dual axle trailer provides better highway towing. It was also set up to be launched and retrieved by one person if necessary, and on the day we drove the boat on and off the trailer with ease.

PERFORMANCE

Main: The Clark 520 Legend SC was a pleasure to drive. It really shows what a well-matched hull and outboard can offer. Above: Aimed first and foremost at the sportfishing market, Mark Frost shows here how stable a platform the boat is for casting lures. also a good size and has a huge amount of storage beneath it. If there were a single word to describe it, that word would be ‘uncluttered.’ This space and a solid hull design are the base of what proved to be a very nice boat to test. VERSATILITY EQUALS OPTIONS The Legend is definitely targeted at the sportfishing market. The large forward casting deck, option to put an electric motor on the bow and excellent stability at rest all make it a great platform to cast lures from. Add to that a livewell and plenty of storage for your gear, and you have a boat where 2-3 anglers can comfortably terrorise all the fish in a location like Lake Mulwala, where we did this test. From a fishing perspective, the additional option with the higher gunwales and width of the hull mean fishing bays and even open waters is possible in the right weather. The bait board, rod holders, cockpit space and live bait tank at the stern of the boat make soaking a bait or swimming a livey feasible. From a family perspective,

fishing is not the only option. The bait board is removable and can be replaced with a ski pole, so you can spend a few hours fishing and then tow the kids around on a tube or water ski, depending on their age. To swap the board and pole is simple and takes less than a couple of minutes. Towing an adult is also no issue, depending on the motor you match with the hull. RIDE AND PERFORMANCE The test boat had a Suzuki 115hp 4-stroke outboard on the back of it, which is the maximum horsepower for the 520. Simon from Boats and More explained to me that they had sold a number of packages with a 90hp and they had performed well, but running the maximum horsepower opens up the full range of options of the hull. He also mentioned that you could upgrade the 3mm bottom sheet to 4mm plate and increase the rating to 150hp. Driving this boat is an absolute pleasure. The transition from at rest to on the plane and full power was smooth and effortless.

Minimal trim was required to get to the sweet spot for maximum output and steering. Sharp cornering and turning at speed were done easily. It really shows what a wellmatched hull and outboard offer. The maximum speed achieved during testing was 66km/h, with the most economical cruising range at 3500 revs. At this rpm the package achieved 37km/h at 3.6km/L of fuel burned – that’s

RPM......Speed (km/h)............Economy (km/L) Idle (850)...................3.................................. 3.4 1000..........................7.................................. 4.5 2000........................ 11.................................. 2.6 3000........................ 16.................................. 1.7 4000........................ 42.................................. 2.8 5000........................ 54.................................. 2.0 WOT (6000)............. 66.................................. 1.7 minutes we went from fishing to skiing, and again the motor and hull did this easily. LAUNCH AND RETRIEVE Boats and More had the 520 Legend set up on a dual axle Alloy Series Dunbier trailer. A dual axle trailer is not a necessity for this hull, however – keeping in mind that a person buying this

The versatility of the 520 means you can fish in the morning and ski in the afternoon.

Always tell your dealer what your needs will be when it comes to towing, launching and retrieving. They will know the best option, like in this case; a slightly upgraded trailer provides hassle-free travel and makes it easy to get your boat on and off the water. CHECK IT OUT YOURSELF It’s hard not to be impressed by the Clark 520 Legend SC. It’s a combination of multiple use options: it’s family-friendly, fishing-friendly, ski-friendly, tows well and is a fabulous boat to drive with good economy. If I was going to ask anything, I would like to see some fishing rod storage, as most anglers tend to have multiple rods. Some storage out of the way would make the Legend even better than it already is. As tested, the 520 came in at $52,490. The starting price is $36,990 with a smaller outboard. You can find and contact your local dealer by visiting www.clarkboats.com. au. Ask them for a test drive – you will enjoy the experience.

The Clark package was on a Dunbier Alloy Series trailer. This trailer upgrade offers great towing and an easy launch and retrieve.

The transition of power of the 115hp Suzuki was smooth and effortless.

The forward casting deck has a huge amount of storage, as well as a large livewell.

There are two side pockets to store all those things you need to get your hands on quickly.

A great feature of the Clark 520 Legend is that the bait board can be removed if not in use, or replaced with a ski pole for a bit of family fun. The nose of the 520 has a self-draining anchor well and a plate to install an electric motor.

The cockpit of the 520 has plenty of space and multiple seating positions.

There is a live bait tank in the transom if live bait fishing is something you enjoy.

The console is large enough to hold all your switches and gauges, and to mount a reasonably sized sounder. SEPTEMBER 2018

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Bar Crusher 575C vs 615C, which is best for you? *Manipulated image

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615C

Main: Definitely not the natural environment for a pair of tough-as-nails Bar Crushers, but even a thoroughbred needs a little bit of quiet paddock time, right? Above: All Bar Crusher hulls feature their unique water ballast system that fills while the craft is at rest and empties quickly as the boat takes off, giving the best of both worlds – stability and performance with minimal beam. through its water ballast system. Both of these boats feature Bar Crusher’s Gen 2 hull design with incorporated water ballast system. Overall, the Bar Crusher hulls are a little narrower than most hulls for their length, which explains their sea legs. At rest, the water ballast fills up and sinks the

chines deeper in the water, giving the hull greater stability. When you take off, the water virtually instantly runs out the back of the cavity, vented through the anchor well. It’s a neat system that’s stood the test of time. “The length beam equation in a bit of a dark

Feature Length: Beam: Material: Trailer: BMT weight: Internal gunwale height: Height on trailer: Horsepower: Price: Top Speed: Best economy: Theoretical range: Price: that are options on most other brands. “These boats come with a bait board, boarding ladder, through transom door, bilge pump, twin batteries, live bait tank, hard top roof,

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one to two anglers, locally, and want a cheaper (by around $10K) rig that’s a little easier to launch, store and handle by yourself, then the 575 may be the rig for you. If you like to travel more to fish and do it with a couple of mates and want a bigger tank that translates to more range, then the

DIFFERENCE TABLE

The 615 is 10cm wider than the 575 and offers an extra 5cm of internal gunwale height. Doesn’t sound like much but it makes a difference, especially offshore. 130

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We recently had the opportunity to test a couple of Bar Crushers out on Port Phillip Bay in Melbourne; the 5.75m and 6.15m Cabin versions that are incredibly popular rigs in the Bar Crusher range. Instead of presenting a couple of very similar boat tests, we thought it’d be a great opportunity to look at the similarities and differences in these two rigs to help you make the decision about which one is the best for your fishing and boating needs. And although there’s only a legal snapper-anda-half difference in length between these boats, it equates to a lot more than you’d think by the time the boats are on a trailer and ready to fish. BAR CRUSHER 101 Bar Crusher is a Melbourne-made boat that’s famous for its build quality, finish and stability at rest

s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

clears and a rocket launcher,” said Matt, “You only need to choose your electronics like sounder, radio and maybe an anchor winch to complete the package.” WHAT DO WE RECKON? After looking at the differences between these two rigs, there’s a couple of conclusions that

Steve Morgan

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art that I think we’ve got pretty much right for both these hulls,” said Bar Crusher’s Sales Manager, Matt Urzia, who is much more comfortable 10ft above the water off the back of a wave than he is in front of a camera. Matt also outlines the standard feature list in these boats, which includes many

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575C 5.75m 2.15m 4mm bottom/3mm sides Single axle for local trips 1360kg 730mm 2.15m 115hp from mid-$50K 62km/h@6,000rpm 2.6km/L@4,400rpm 280km from mid-$50K we’ve come to. Firstly, these rigs’ standard inclusions are, indeed, very generous and the fact that they’re matched with locally made Easytow trailers means that Bar Crusher will ensure that the cradle is suitable for the hull. Urzia also says that if you want a single axle or twin axle on either rig, that’s legal and achievable. So, you’d opt for a twin axle if you’re doing a lot of highway miles; or, a single if you need manoeuvrability or use your boat locally most of the time. We’re particularly impressed with the cleverness of the fold-down hard top and windscreen that allows you to fit these boats in most garages. If you usually fish with

615C 6.15m 2.25m 4mm bottom/4mm sides twin axle for longer trips 1500kg 780mm 2.20m 140hp (max. 150hp) from mid-$60K 60km/h@6,000rpm 2.7km/L@3800rpm 370km from mid-$60K 615 will offer all of these benefits, and it’s price tag justifies the extra abilities. It’s a simple conclusion and definitely stands up to the ‘boat ramp test’, which is the nautical version of the ‘pub test’. Whichever you choose, you’ll enjoy the features and never break these Aussie-built tanks of boats. Make sure that you watch the video review of this comparison on the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel - you can do it on your smartphone by scanning the QR code hereby. For more information, visit www.barcrusher. com.au They’ll have everything you need to help decide which is the best Bar Crusher for you in their range.

615C

575C

You’d think that the 140hp was faster than the 115hp? Wrong. The 575 was a little bit faster than the 615 at WOT, even if slightly less economical.

Although both models can be fitted on single or twin-axle Easytow trailers, there’s a good case for twin axle for long trips and a single axle for local journeys. Single axles can also be manoeuvred around easily in a tight garage.

Interestingly the 140hp Suzuki delivered marginally better fuel economy than the 115hp on the 575.

Erected, the folding hard roof/top offers rod storage and shade. The 575 folds down to 2.15m while the 615 is 2.20m high when folded down.

Both the windscreen and folding hard roof/top folds down on both models and there’s ample space to flush mount electronics of your choice.

Both models feature an enclosed cabin with bunks for overnight comfort. The 615’s wider beam gives it a little more space.

Bait boards are options on most boats on the market. On the Bar Crushers in this size range, they are standard.

Plumbed livewells and transom doors are also Bar Crusher Standard. Take this into account when comparing boats of different brands. SEPTEMBER 2018

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UNBEATABLE 40–60hp FourStroke

Mercury’s unbeatable 40–60hp FourStroke range. With class leading speed and fuel economy you won’t find a better all round performer.

50HP FOURSTROKE SPEED

50HP FOURSTROKE ECONOMY

HIGHEST

Mercury Honda

Mercury

56.33

Honda

53.27

Suzuki

*Based on Mercury’s 50hp model. Information based on manufacturers’ claimed horsepower.

mercurymarine.com.au SEPTEMBER 2018

KM/L

BEST

4.51 3.87 3.7

Yamaha

THE MERCURY 50HP WILL GET YOU THERE SOONER, ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST TOP SPEED IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

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4.55

Suzuki

50.21

Yamaha KM/H

56.33

3.5

4.5

5.5

MERCURY’S ADVANCED ENGINEERING MEANS THE 50HP DELIVERS PLENTY OF PUNCH, BUT USES THE LEAST AMOUNT OF FUEL COMPARED TO THE COMPETITION.