Queensland Fishing Monthly September 2019

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September 2019, Vol. 31 No.11

Contents NORTHERN NEW SOUTH WALES

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Yamba 20 Ballina 22 SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND The Tweed

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Southern Gold Coast

26

Gold Coast Canals

28

Jumpinpin 29 Gold Coast

30

Southern Bay

31

Brisbane 34 Brisbane Offshore

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Noosa 37 CENTRAL QUEENSLAND Hervey Bay

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Rainbow Beach

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Gladstone 42 Monduran 43 Bundaberg 44 Rockhampton 44 Mackay 46 Stanage Bay

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TROPICAL NORTH QUEENSLAND Whitsundays 68

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From the Editor’s Desk...

AUSTRALIA HAS A NEW WORLD CHAMPION A shout out to Aussie angler, Andrew Death from NSW (pronounced DEETH, even though his nickname is ‘The Reaper’). He won the 8th iteration of the Hobie (kayak) Fishing Worlds on the Gold Coast.

Being the best in the world is no mean feat, even if it’s held in your own country on a species you have plenty of experience with. So congratulations Andrew, you were a great and humble winner and did your country proud.

After helping Hobie to cover this event, I can confidently say that this was the best organised fishing tournament I’ve ever been to – period. And remember, we’ve been running events through

FM’s sister company, ABT, for 20 years.

From qualifying events all around the world through to a superb five days of glorious winter weather on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the event was full of fish, fun, friendship, and maybe just a little bit of partying at either end of the stay. Full marks to Team Europe for winning the partying section of the event in quantity, quality and duration. Those guys have a stamina that’s hard to match!

Even though the starts were increasingly like a dodgem-car race as the days went on, there was a great feel on the water, both between competing anglers and between anglers and residents. More than a few times the homeowners were happy to point the visitors in the direction of the fish.

If you’ve never

witnessed a Hobie Australian Championship or Worlds event before, picture this: 45 identical top-of-the-line kayaks. All fitted with Power Poles, sounders, livewells and every accessory you’d need.

Anglers just turn up with their gear and fish. It levels the playing field for everything except local knowledge.

In that respect, the Aussies dominated, although several internationals gave them a great run for their money, especially Austria’s Edi Brader and the USA’s Nate Gloria. You just have to watch the final day’s weigh-in to see the passion that these guys have.

If you want to see the extensive coverage, Like the ‘International Hobie Fishing Worlds Association’ on Facebook or visit www. hobiefishingworlds.com.

Well done to Steve Fields and his hard working team.

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GOODIES FROM THE AFTA SHOW Next issue will include our comprehensive coverage from the AFTA Tackle Trade Show on the Gold Coast. I’m sure that plenty of you would have seen the daily coverage on our Fishing Monthly and Tackle Junkie channels.

That will be archived on the YouTube channel by the time you read this.

We’re looking forward to hearing the feedback from the Public Day on the final day of the show. Fishing Monthly has been pushing for this for years now, and we hope everyone enjoyed it!

Ayr 69 Townsville 70 Port Douglas

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Hinchinbrook 72 Cairns 71 Cairns NFZ

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Lucinda 73 Cooktown 74

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Freshwater 78

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Tournament News

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Track my fish

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Stephen Alessi wrangled this big golden trolling a RMG Scorpion around the Whitsunday region.

A Mick Underwood image.

AUST

Trolling for inshore pelagics

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Trolling for inshore pelagics with hardbodies get a big green fish playing up all merry hell next to the boat, it’s not always easy to remove the fish from the water as quickly as you would like.

Having a long leader gives you something to hang onto to be able to steer the fish towards the landing net, lip grippers or whatever you choose to use.

Unless we are getting pack attacked by school mackerel or some other toothy critter, I don’t like to use wire in my leader set-up as the bite rate noticeably drops off. Some days though it is necessary to

WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

Imagine this: it’s a stunning day. The sky is cloudless, the ocean is sparkling in the sun, and you’re hooked up to a monster fish. Your knees are pressed hard against the underside of the gunnels to stop you being pulled over the side, and the 12lb spinning outfit you’re grasping in your whiteknuckled hands is screaming in delight as line disappears at a breakneck pace. Then, a hundred metres out in front of you, a massive queenfish leaps well clear of the ocean’s surface, and every person on board hollers in delight. The fish then throws

It’s not often you come across turrum (gold-spot trevally), but when you do it’s always a beauty.

This sounder shot depicts a solid layer of bait, undisturbed by any predatory activity. Keep searching, especially around the ends of the school, and look for areas where the bait is more dispersed. in a somersault and a half pike before re-entering the water, and continues its seemingly unassailable quest for freedom.

This is light tackle sportfishing at it’s finest, and it’s something that occurs multiple times a day for the guys and gals that board my boat. And you know what, you can do it too, because it’s

dead easy. Over the following paragraphs I’ll explain to you the what, where, why and how of this style of fishing, so you can get out and indulge in some adrenaline-packed light tackle fun.

During the cooler months here on my home fishing grounds of the northern Whitsundays, we get to enjoy extended periods of cool and

clean water. This normally combines with vast shoals of baitfish moving inshore to inhabit our local grounds.

As the bait moves inshore, naturally the pelagic predators do as well. Typical combatants to be found are multiple species of tuna, mackerel, trevally and some XOS queenfish. These are all big, fast and shiny turbo-charged critters that have a never-say-die attitude, and will regularly tire out even the most seasoned of anglers.

With the exception of giant trevally, the majority of the abovementioned species are clean fighters, and as such they make perfect light tackle targets. Using light gear not only increases the fun factor but also allows a wider range of anglers to become involved, as you don’t have to be a weight lifter or footy player to be able to handle the tackle used (a bit of stamina can be handy though). And there’s the old adage ‘go light to get the bite’, which is often true.

LINE I use outfits rigged with either 12lb or 15lb braid for

TUNA ALLEY

Named after the legendary 15-mile stretch of sand cutting through the deep blue Bahamian waters where the Bluefin tuna migrate north.

GREEN MIRROR: Enhanced vision and contrast for fishing inshore and on flats.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

well as being frustrating, this can get expensive fast. Far better to double the wire back on itself and connect the leader with an Albright.

RODS AND REELS I use spin reels in the 4000-5000 size range for this kind of fishing. Smaller reels don’t hold the required line capacity, and larger reels won’t balance correctly with the light graphite rods used for this application.

All of the target species for this style of fishing are legitimate line burners, so

OPTIMAL USE: • Sight fishing in full sun • High contrast

this kind of fishing. You can go heavier, but the heavier you go, the fewer bites you will get. I find that the main reason for this is because it affects the action of the lures.

Most of the lures I use for this style of fishing were originally

These bread and butter lures get the job done every time.

It’s not hard to get someone to smile for a photo when they’re holding up fish of this calibre.

Monster queenies are a great sportfish. designed for barramundi fishing, and as such they are in the small to medium-sized bracket. When you tow these guys around on heavier line, say 30lb or more, they won’t swim as naturally as they do on lighter line, and a lot of brands won’t swim to their prescribed depth either. It’s only a small difference in the action of the lures, but it counts.

You can also go to the super light end of the scale and fish 10lb or less, and it will provide you with entertainment all day long. However, unless you intend to put the majority of your catch in the ice box or you’re specifically fishing for records, this can be an irresponsible tactic, as the mortality rate of your fish will climb through the roof.

Species such as queenfish, mac tuna and longtail tuna can be nearly impossible to revive if they have been on a hook for too long.

LEADER There’s nothing too complicated here; around 2m of either 30lb or 40lb mono or fluorocarbon is fine. I like to keep the leaders of a decent length because when you

use a bit of wire in order to save a fortune in lost lures. On such days I like to use a short piece of mono wire (around 25-30cm) connected to the lure with a haywire twist and then to the leader with a seven-turn Albright. Try to avoid using snap swivels here because they create a bubble trail which will attract the attention of every school mackerel in the vicinity.

The mackerel will attack the snap swivel instead of the lure, continually biting you off. As

the reels that you choose to use should have a solid, reliable drag system. Inferior equipment will not stand up to the punishment dished out by these fish.

I use spin reels as opposed to overheads, mainly because of the higher gear ratios found in most spin reels. It’s a common scenario for any of the above mentioned species to turn and swim at the boat mid-fight, and you need to have the ability to get line back on the reel quickly and maintain pressure on the fish.

The rods that I choose to match to the reels are of graphite construction, of medium to fast action and around 7ft in length. You can use shorter rods, but I find that in closing stages of a fight when the fish is getting closer to the boat, a shorter rod makes is harder to dictate angles to the fish, which prolongs the fight longer than necessary.

The same applies with soft actioned fibreglass rods.

LURES My prerequisites for a lure for this style of fishing are

Golden trevally are the perfect fish for introducing novice anglers to the sport. Once a hook penetrates those big blubbery lips, it rarely falls out. This allows anglers to make a mistake or two and not lose the fish.

pretty simple. The lure must be light and bright in colour, about 80-125mm in length and able to swim comfortably at up to 5 knots. I carry three trays of lures on my boat Reel Addiction. The first is full of 1-1.5m divers, the second

find in my lure trays. They all perform admirably and, as opposed to some imported brands, they all come straight out of the packet with good quality hardware, so no retrofitting of hooks and split rings is required.

shimmering or birds working will give the show away straight away.

Unfortunately, I’ve haven’t seen much surface activity recently and so have had to work harder and use a little more nous to find the

there is any form of structure on the bottom. The baitfish don’t like to hang on these areas as they know that they will be open to predation from any fish living in the reef or rubble. The poor little buggers have got enough to contend with trying to survive against the pelagics, let alone adding reef fish into the equation.

I instead search for the bait in open water where there is a featureless sea floor. Initially this process can take a bit of time, but once you know your own backyard and have an idea where the regular bait haunts are, it will become easier.

Once you have located a nice school of bait, the next

A bit of stamina can be handy when tackling fish like this. Poor old Chris was out of action for a whole hour after winning a monumental battle with this queenfish.

It’s well known that tuna ignore any lure that’s bigger than the bait they’re eating and, unfortunately on this day, the tuna were eating tiny whitebait.

However, a couple of juvenile longtom were spotted in the mix, so a large mackerel lure to imitate the longtom was deployed, and success was instant.

The lesson is to be aware of everything that’s going on, not just the obvious.

3-4m divers and the third, 5-8m divers.

I’m a fan of using lures produced by well-known Australian brands. Halco, Killalure, Classic Lures, Reidy’s and Lively Lures are the dominant brands that you’ll

FINDING THE FISH There’s no rocket science involved here – find the bait shoals first and the predators won’t be too far away. If the bait is sitting high in the water column then they’re fairly easy to find. Any flickering,

bait. Your sounder is your best friend here, and life is lot easier if you have the transducer set up correctly so that you can sound while you’re on the plane in order to save time.

I don’t waste time looking for the bait in areas where

Here you can see predators lurking beneath the bait. The author was running a 5m and 7m diver, and both got smashed every pass. You don’t have to put your lures right where the big fish are, just run them where they’re focusing their attention.

ACTIVE TRANSOM

step is to find out where the predatory action is. The pelagics typically don’t feed all over a school of bait, rather they work together and feed on just one small portion of it. Most of the bait shoals that I’ve been working lately are 1-2nm in length so they’re quite large, and the predatory activity is normally at only one tiny part of each shoal.

Areas where your sounder is showing a solid layer of densely-packed bait are generally not the go. Search around the fringes and on the ends of any school, and look for areas where the bait is more dispersed and spread right through the water column and To page 12

TRUE SELFDRAINING DECKS

SEPTEMBER 2019

11

From page 11

the big fish won’t be too far away. When the baitfish aren’t packed tightly together it’s because they either have been

depth of lures to put out the back, study your sounder screen first and look at what level of the water column the predatory fish are sitting at in

couple of seven to eight metre divers and they’ll get smashed all day long. The rule applies in reverse, if the predatory fish are sitting under the bait then select lures that will swim above them.

When selecting which colours to use don’t get too stressed. These fish are turned on, active and ready to eat, so long as you put the lure where they’re focusing their attention then it will get eaten. I don’t have any favourite colours, I simply select the lightest and brightest ones in the tray.

depths. I normally run two lures at a time and stagger the distances of the two lures to prevent them becoming fouled with each other when making tight turns. If I’m running lures that swim at different depths then I make the deeper of the two the close lure for the same reason, to prevent them becoming fouled when making turns.

Troll speed is not of major importance either (this really is simple fishing) as long as you’re going quick enough to get the lures down to their

There are times when you can’t catch a single queenie under 1m! attacked by the pelagic brigade, or are still being attacked.

Righto, the hard work is done: you’ve found where the big boys are and now it’s time to get them on a hook.

TECHNIQUE Lure selection and how to use them. Here at Hydeaway Bay on my local grounds I typically find all the bait action in 12m of water or less, which allows the effective use of hardbodied lures. If I happen to find the fish any deeper, I keep the hardbodies stowed away and bust out some jigs or use my downrigger.

When selecting which

relation to where the bait fish are sitting. It is not important to run your lures at the same depth that the bigger fish are sounding at. You have to set the lures at the depth where the fish are focusing their attention. If say the bigger fish are sounding at five metres and the bait is sounding huddled near the bottom at ten metres then the predatory fish will be looking downwards towards their prey. Putting out a couple of three metre divers will normally be out of the game as that is not where the fish are concentrating their attention.

In this situation put out a

Because of the size of the tackle used, anglers of all ages can get involved. Reef Underwood was stoked to hook and land this golden trevally all by himself.

Stephen Alessi getting it on with a big golden trevally that just didn’t want to come up. The smile says it all.

Lure distance from the boat is not critical either s long as you keep them far enough back so that they can swim correctly at their prescribed

appropriate depth. If I could point out a sweet spot, between 4-4.5 knots is ideal.

TRY IT YOURSELF There you go, that’s

the ins and outs of a simple and highly effective form of sportfishing. As long as you’re on the fish, it will provide hours of non-stop, action-packed fun for you and all your crew. Although I have discussed my experiences in the Whitsundays, what has been said applies to all of us who fish along the Queensland

coast. Wherever you are along this expansive coastline of ours, at some point you’ll get to enjoy fishing around shoals of bait, whatever they may be. And you can bet next week’s wages that if the bait is there, the pelagics will be too. Make the most of it and claim your fair share of the booty that’s on offer!

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Springtime prospects NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.fishotopia.com

Right across the country, but especially down south, anglers keenly await the better weather and improved fishing prospects that typically accompany springtime.

“Spring has sprung, the grass has ris’… I wonder

spring often took a little longer to really take hold than we might have hoped.

The lawn had indeed begun to grow once again, after lying dormant for several months, but very often those promising flower buds remained stubbornly closed for at least another week or two.

These days, most people in the southern hemisphere regard 1 September as

hours apiece).

The precise timing of the vernal equinox can vary by a day or two from year to year, typically falling somewhere between 19 and 23 September. In 2019, that all-important equinox doesn’t occur until 23 September. But personally, I’m more than happy to count 1 September as spring’s official kick-off…

After all, it already seems

Spring is a great time to get back to basics, chasing a few rock wall bream on bait. far more active and many rainbows are actively seeking gravel beds in an effort to spawn. The trout season in streams and rivers is already open in Tasmania and is about to reopen in Victoria, although those of us in NSW have to wait another month, which hardly seems fair! Meanwhile, over

to the Gippsland Lakes, dusky flathead are shaking off their winter lethargy and beginning to bite much more freely, as are yellowfin or sand whiting, while offshore it can be a great time for snapper and even an early run of kingfish in some areas.

Surveys and anecdotal

you have reels that need topping up or re-spooling with line? And what’s going on inside closed tackle boxes that might not have seen daylight since May? Are your hooks a corroded mess? Are you running short of sinkers in the sizes you most commonly use?

Do your lures need a sort

You’ve got to love a springtime mulloway, even the small ones!

You might still need to slip on the hoodie for an early or late session, but the fishing is definitely warming up. where the flowers is?” I can clearly remember my father reciting that quaint little ditty at this time of year. As a kid, I was never quite sure what it meant, but over the years I came to understand that it was a humorous acknowledgement that the lengthening days and gradually warming weather we typically associate with

signalling the official end of winter and the welcome beginning of spring.

However, some would argue that spring doesn’t actually start until what’s known as the ‘vernal equinox’: that moment when the sun crosses the earth’s celestial equator and our days and nights become roughly equal in length (at around 12

as if winter has hung around for far too long, and I’m just about ready to see the back end of it!

Overall, spring is a wonderful time for all sorts of fishing. In NSW and Victoria, the bass and estuary perch season reopens on 1 September, while in the cooler and higher country, trout are now becoming

Spring is a wonderful time of year to be on the water, regardless of where you choose to fish and what you chase.

The next few weeks can be a great time to begin seriously targeting snapper of all sizes in our offshore waters. Make sure your reels are well topped up with fresh line first!

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SEPTEMBER 2019

in WA, the South Western trout season is year ’round these days.

Of course, it’s not all about seasons opening.

This is also the time of year when the Murray cod season closes in all but a handful of impoundments, in order to help protect these highly-prized native fish during their spawning period. Anglers should leave river cod well alone to get on with that important job for the next three months.

Luckily, there are plenty of other options: in both the fresh and salt.

Right along the eastern seaboard, from Hervey Bay

observations consistently indicate that the number of anglers hitting our waterways ramps up dramatically from about early September onwards.

In particular, the two big footy grand finals (AFL and NRL) staged later in the month tend to mark a sort of unofficial kick-off for what many southerners regard as the serious fishing season.

Time to dust off dormant gear and get out there!

But before you hit the water, it can really pay to pause for a moment and give your gear the once over. In particular, how are those line loads? Do

out, a clean-up and quick re-sharpening of their treble hook points? If so, now is definitely the time to do it!

I actually find it quite therapeutic to pull all my gear out at the beginning of spring and check it over.

Go through it and see what needs servicing, upgrading or replacing. Jot down a list of the top-ups you might need and then hit the local tackle shop for a bit of retail therapy. Apart from anything else, it’ll really put you in the right frame of mind for some new season fishing action!

Anyway, happy spring and tight lines!

10 years in - Samaki has a very bright future The fishing tackle industry has changed significantly in the last 10 years, but one brand that has adapted and thrived in that time is Samaki, they are responsible for a fantastic range of high-quality gear covering everything from rods to clothing and an ever growing stable of reliable, affordable lures!

This year, Samaki celebrates 10 years in this very competitive industry, and Josh Lowry, the company owner, couldn’t be prouder. In 10 years Josh has started the company from ground zero, built a team, produced some fantastic Australian designed fishing gear, and rivalled some of the best-selling gear in the country and the world.

Josh used his experience in tackle retail to pick a good time to enter the fishing tackle market.

“I was working in retail at the time, and when I left there was a massive gap in the market for rods, with only a few rod brands dominating,” he said.

“I’d always been into my rod building and lure making, and had a crazy habit for lure collecting, so that’s basically how it begun.”

“

“

Our motto is Quality first

Australia has produced fishing gear locally for a long time, but when Samaki was starting out as a brand, much of the available Australian gear was low quality or for entrylevel users.

“We were trying to create a high quality brand made by an Aussie, and at the start it was also super affordable,” Lowry said.

“Our motto is ‘Quality first’, we don’t build it for the price, we build it for performance.”

Of course, growing the business hasn’t all been smooth sailing, and there have been a few hurdles and mistakes that the team have had to learn from.

“We brought out micro jigs in 2010, and we pushed them because it was a craze overseas, but we had to get rid of them because there was no call for it here yet,” Lowry said. “We ended up bringing them back a few years later when the craze

finally reached Australia.”

But outweighing these setbacks by a country mile are the achievements, and Josh is particularly proud of some of the products he and the team have managed to create.

The design, finish and fish-catching ability of many products under the Samaki banner is testament to the tireless hard work and determination that went into them.

“The most painful ones are probably the ones I’m most proud of,” Lowry said. “Making a product that works from scratch is definitely the winner for me.”

“A lot of people probably don’t realise how much effort goes into making a lure from start to finish. We have an extremely successful vibe range, and it took nearly three years to develop!”

Josh is always looking to the future, and has big plans for the business in the next few years. He sees Australia’s fishing tackle market as having huge potential still, and wants to be there to give the anglers what they want.

“We’re about to release a lot of fresh new products over the next 18 months, expanding into new territories with some exciting gear to come.”

Josh’s determination to deliver a quality product that is created by Australians for Australians is the reason they have become such a loved brand in Australia. The future clearly holds a lot for the dedicated team at Samaki, and we’re all very keen to see what’s next for this innovative Aussie favourite.

Some of their iconic high end graphite rods Zing, Zing Xtreme, Vamp, C-12, Vanquish and Jig Pro series sit at the forefront of the Samaki name. The world renowned Vibelicious and Pacemaker lures have already been impacting in Australian fishing history as well as on the global market.

Samaki are proud to be a part of the Australian fishing tackle industry, passionate about our products and their customers.

Bring on the next 10 years!!

Tech Tricks

Tooth-proof lure leaders for toothy predators BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With conditions warming up and pelagic activity on the increase over the coming months, it’s a good

time to look at wire leader options for your lures.

Using wire leaders for toothy critters like mackerel and wahoo will prevent biteoffs on the strike if the fish engulfs the entirety of your lure. This is also the case for rigged swimming baits, and

we will look at one of these next issue.

There are numerous types of wire available to the angler. Choosing the appropriate option can be especially important for maximising strikes and minimising bite-offs.

3

Pre-made leaders can be used for bite protection on your offshore lures but you need to choose the quality carefully. I wouldn’t recommend a leader that wasn’t crimped as I have found that leaders with bound connections tend to come apart after a while. They are OK for lighter fishing applications, but aren’t up to the rigours of serious gamefish. The Halco branded leaders (available in multistrand or piano wire) are one of the few readily available premade leaders that are up to the task. These can be used in the conventional way by attaching the snap to the lure, but I prefer to remove the snap and attach the lure’s split ring directly to the leader as shown.

1

While any wire can reduce lost fish, some are more suitable for various uses than others. Options include single-strand and multi-strand, and each has a couple of variations. Multi-strand wires are more readily available in the fishing arena as 7-strand (1x7) or 49-strand (7x7). The more strands in the wire, the more flexible it is. Single-strand wire is either soft, flexible wire or hi-tensile (commonly referred to as piano wire).

4

Piano wire is a great choice for lure leaders as it is a dark colour, single-strand and inexpensive. Additionally, it can be used without the need for a crimping tool and crimps. Due to its high tensile properties, piano wire is only recommended to be used in shorter lengths as it can snap if bent several times in one spot. It is easily twisted up by hand using a wire knot called a haywire twist. There are specially designed tools for this, but it’s not hard to do it by hand.

2

Uncoated multi-strand wire is better for lure leaders than nylon-coated wire. Seven-strand is slightly stiffer than 49-strand but it’s more reliable during prolonged fights. Most wire is shiny silver in appearance, but some brands are available in a lower-visibility brown which is a better option, especially in hardfished waters. You can turn any silver wire brown by heating it (tempering) to a temperature of up to around 390°C. This will not affect the strength at all, and the colour change comes about due to oxidization. I often do this to lower the reflective property of wire used on leaders for trolling.

16

SEPTEMBER 2019

5

To do the haywire twist, first pass the wire through the lure eyelet or split ring and bend it back on itself, leaving a least a 10cm tag end.

Tech Tricks

6

Use a pair of pliers to grip the wire close to the lure. Next, use your fingers and begin bending both strands of wire around themselves evenly to complete four or five twists (the haywire).

7

Bend the tag end out at 90° to the main wire and begin doing 6-8 wraps (barrel rolls) around the main section. These wraps need to be right next to each other to maximize strength.

9

Due to its hi-tensile properties, the wire will snap off cleanly. If you were to snip this wire off with a side-cutter you would be left with a razor sharp end that would probably cause injury at some stage.

10

Repeat in the other end to either form a plain loop or attach a swivel to the leader. The lower leader is a 7-strand, brown wire leader which has the loop formed using a dark copper crimp. You will notice that both loops are relatively low profile which reduces air bubbles when trolled.

11

8

Once you have completed these wraps, grip the tag end by hand or with your pliers and rock the entire tag end backwards and forwards in a big arc in line with the wire.

Attaching this loop to your leader can be done in a couple of ways.

The top one is the plain wire loop, and this can be attached to a ball-bearing snap swivel that is crimped to the end of a wind-on leader. The lower one is lower profile, and the leader is simply knotted (sliding uni) to the swivel that was put on the wire leader when it was made. These small rolling swivels are exceptionally strong and create a lot less disturbance in the water than the larger snap-swivel.

SEPTEMBER 2019

17

BLACK MAGIC

MASTER CLASS

/

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

Get a start on squid this season Squid are an extremely popular target all around the coast of Australia, and it’s easy to see why as they are great fun to catch, fantastic on the plate and a top bait.

Often referred to as ‘egiing’ by enthusiasts, fishing for squid has really boomed in Australia over the past decade. These days, entire walls of some tackle stores are filled to the brim with squid jigs of every size, shape and colour combination imaginable, as well as scents and special tools for killing and cleaning. There are also ranges of squid fishing rods and reels designed solely for targeting squid, and even braided lines just for squid.

Expanding even further, much of what we see on the walls here is still only a small portion of what’s actually out there and what’s coming, especially from the squid fanatical Japanese market, which is constantly coming up with new and exciting technology for the world of squidding.

With all this going on, it’s easy to get lost and confused in the squidding world and forgot the basics fundamentals that make up the bulk of squid fishing success.

Any squid around 30cm in the hood is a beauty.

Perhaps the most important choice to make is what size jig you be should using. The depth you’re

The author took these two monstrous squid fishing out of the boat.

18

SEPTEMBER 2019

fishing should determine this, and to a lesser extent, the size of the squid you’re targeting. The larger the jig will usually mean it’s heavier and sinks quicker.

Squid jigs come in a variety of sizes starting from around 1.5 up to a 6.0. Smaller jigs from 1.5-2.0 will sink pretty slow and work well in shallow water less then 1m in depth. I use this size jigs when fishing the shallows at nighttime under around areas that are illuminated by a nearby light. Baitfish are attracted to these sorts of places and squid will move right against the shoreline to feed on them. You can also use these smaller jigs on a paternoster rig when fishing deeper water to get them down. This is sometimes a good idea when there are smaller squid around that are reluctant to hit the bigger jigs, or when you’re in areas where arrow squid are the main target.

Size 2.5 jigs are my favourite size to use when casting in waters less than 5m over seagrass beds, which will typically be the best areas to find squid inside estuary.

For deeper environments you could again drift with a paternoster rig or up your jig size to a 3.0 The 3.0-4.0 jigs are best suited for those fishing ocean

rocks or boat fishing offshore around the protected bays and coves with kelpy bottoms where big squid like to hang.

The 4.5 and larger size jigs are good for getting down to deeper offshore reefs in less then 30m of water, where extra large calamari can sometimes congregate, and there is always the chance of picking up a monster cuttlefish when fishing theses parts too.

GEAR While you could go all out and use a dedicated squid outfit, you probably won’t see the benefits unless you are very serious about your squidding. A 2-5kg 7ft graphite rod and 2500 size reel spooled with 6lb braid will certainly still do the job and cover you for just about any form of squid fishing you do, with the exception of the big jigs over 4.0. Also, if you’re land-based fishing the ocean rocks, you should up your rod length to a stick around 8-9ft.

I like to use about 1m of 12lb Black Magic Pink Leader on my squid jigs. While some might call this overkill, it will save your jig if you get a tip wrap mid-cast, as it won’t bust off and fly into the drink.

BEST JIGS There are so many jigs on the market these days, and they range from dirt cheap to $40 a pop, but the best value for money quality jigs around that I’ve come

The author with a cracker squid that took a fancy to the Black Magic Squid Snatcher in ghost glow colour. natural baitfish patterns when the sun’s out and the waters clear. Pinks, oranges, greens, and whites that have a bit of lumo are better for late afternoon or early morning. The new colour ‘fire glow’ in the Black Magic Squid Snatchers has been my go-to of late and

you make sure you’re letting the lure sink and stay in this zone as long as possible. Once it’s in the zone, a double flick of the rod tip to give it some action on the retrieve will help attract squid to your jig. Try not to allow too much slack line in your

A good selection of jigs to cover all situations will pay off. across are the Black Magic Squid Snatcher range. They represent excellent value for money, with a great colour range for sizes 2.0-4.0, which virtually covers everything you’re ever going to need.

When it comes to colour choice, everyone has their favourites, but I like to use

out-fishing everything else.

Black also has its place and is an excellent choice when fishing on a moon lit night or around areas of water that are lit up in the evening.

TECHNIQUE Most of the time squid will be located in the bottom two thirds of the water column, so it’s important

retrieve, as squid jigs have no barbs, meaning unless there is resistance pulling the other way a squid can easily push forward and disconnect itself from the jig. Another tip is to have your drag set quite loose, as the heaver drag can often rip the tentacles of a squid clean off.

QUALITY TACKLE, QUALITY FISH!

Damian Paranihi, Black Magic 80lb Supple Trace, 11kg red emperor caught off the top of Fraser Is.

Patrick Pisani, Black Magic KS 6/0 hook, nannygai caught off Cairns.

“Best and most reliable hooks I have ever used.”

Alex Bolton, Squid Snatcher® ‘Copper Camo’, photo entered into the ‘Squid Addicts Australia’ Facebook photo comp: #2019squidaddictscomp1 Leigh Holtsbaum, Wire rigged Black Magic DX Point® 5/0 hook & 40lb Tough Fluorocarbon leader, wahoo caught off the Gold Coast.

GO TO Facebook Group Squid Addicts Australia to take part in the photo comp and BE IN TO WIN!

2 CASTS & 2 FISH ON THE NEW DARTSPIN!

Jessy Higgs, Black Magic KL 8/0 hook & 80lb Tough Trace, 6.3kg red emperor caught off Hervey Bay. Leigh Holtsbaum, Dartspin ‘Double Pepper’ & 40lb Tough Trace, 125cm cobia and 110cm jewfish caught off Stradbroke Is. in 25m of depth.

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

the best by test...

www.blackmagictackle.com

It’s time to snap up a pinkie YAMBA

Dave Gaden

Spring is here and so are snapper. I love fishing offshore this time of year, chasing the big pink fish. If you can’t catch a snapper this month, then maybe you should consider taking up a new hobby, like knitting or something.

I keep records of every trip to sea and every fish kept on those trips, and September always shines as the snapper month. You won’t have to travel far either, as they will be in good numbers right at the start of the reef at One Man to the south and in close off of Woody Head to the north. Have a float line or two out anywhere from 15-30m of water, but there will be a lot of nice fish

To kick off this month of snapper, John caught this solid model.

right on the bottom. Pillies, squid and mullet fillet will all bring them unstuck, ready to share a plate with hot chips and lemon.

This month brings the biggest variety of quality by-catch. Tuskfish have been good all winter and will remain red-hot this month.

The best grounds are from Plumbago to Sandon in the south in 30-42m of water.

Mixed with the tuskies are Maori cod and Moses perch – hard to take I know, but take them we will! Moses perch will actually shoal up this time of year more so than any other, and we have had days of catching double figures in a spot when most would be happy to see just one.

The prized pearl perch is always a welcome addition to the icebox and they will be around in good

Ben with a massive 68cm pearlie.

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Ray was overjoyed to land his first mulloway.

numbers and better sizes now. I like the ground right out the front of Red Cliff where you line the cliff up under Clarence Peak, in around 40m of water.

Drifting this ground with paternoster rigs and big flesh baits always produces the best fish. You don’t need to chase them early either; they bite well late morning and the middle of the day. This gives you plenty of time for that first light to 9am drift, chasing the snapper in the shallows before heading a little wider.

This month, mulloway are worth chasing up north. Black Rock and South Evans Reef are the preferred ground to fish them. You will still catch the odd good fish on the reef to the south but getting one on the north ground is four times easier.

As I’ve said in the past, I

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like to anchor on the edge of the bait shoals where the reef has a 2-3m drop, as there is a real chance of that structure having a cave or big rock ledge that mulloway like to hide in or under.

There are always nice trag in these areas and you don’t have to spend the first hour or so of your trip chasing livies, as they are on the spot. Jigging the livies can sometimes actually turn the table fish on, and you just have to take them off one line, put them on the heavier one and feed them back down.

It will shock you how big a live bait a trag can swallow, and how big of a trag a mulloway will take!

I know mackerel have long gone but you should still put some live bait out under a float this month and don’t take the wire off.

There is a good chance of a big cobia around but a better chance of a bright blue mako. The wire won’t worry the cobia too much if there is a big slimy on the end, but a nylon leader won’t boat many mako.

While on the subject of shark, numbers of gummy shark are at their peak this month. Quite often you will think you have a snapper of a lifetime on, only to find it’s a big gummy that fights exactly the same. It’s just as well they are good to eat!

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Don Causley with an impressive mulloway.

ESTUARY September is flathead month in the estuary. Dusky flathead will bunch up in the lower reaches of the river and be a bit easier to find.

As with everywhere else, we have had no substantial rainfall. When this happens, the river is salty all the way upstream past Grafton and fish spread throughout the system, giving you the hard task of finding them. As they run downstream this month, the task should get easier. The entrance to the lake, around Joss Island, Turkey Island west of Browns Rocks, and the back channel behind Goodwood Island will be the preferred hunting grounds.

As my dad always said, ‘you catch crabs in months with R in them’, and that means now. Dust off the traps and get them out there as soon as possible, because the first crabs of the season always seem to taste better.

Blue swimmers had a really good run early last year and I’m hoping that will happen again. I like a feed of muddy as much as anyone but I love the sweet CRUSADER meat of the swimmer more.

If you are heading to this part of the world and need to know what’s happening on the water or would like to join me on charter, call into Yamba Marina and say hi.

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Bream, bass and snapper abound BALLINA

Joe Allan

September marks the opening of the Australian Bass season in NSW. This time of year can bring with it some of the most aggressive strikes as well as good numbers of fish. Generally, fish are on the move in most tidal systems and looking to head back upriver after spawning earlier in winter.

Searching and fastmoving baits like spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits can be some of the most productive choices for this time of year. If you’re worried about the treble hooks of a lipless crankbait snagging up, try swapping out the trebles for either a size 1 Gamakatsu Single Lure hook on the belly or size 4s on the belly and rear hook points.

I like to go for the two size 4s. This way you can slowly retrieve your lures over timber without as many problems.

There have been some nice catches of mulloway offshore and in the river in recent weeks, with the best seeming to come from night expeditions. Live bait like mullet or slimies have been the standout by far. Snapper have been in good numbers

and sizes around the close reefs off South Ballina. Most of the fish are in the 35-50cm range, with the odd bigger fish of around 70-80cm thrown in there. If you’re after a feed, there is plenty

around. The best baits for snapper would be cut bonito or squid, however the bigger models will be coming on to soft plastics.

Don’t get caught up in chasing snapper in close on

good days. If the weather allows, get out to the 100 fathoms and try for some blue-eye trevalla and bar cod.

Good baits for these are fresh squid and cuttlefish. Fishing this deep on traditional tackle can be hard work so electric reels are essential. On the 32s there are good numbers of pearl perch and trag jew, and if you’re after having your arms pulled off, try jigging for some amberjack around the 48s.

Bream will be around in very good numbers through the middle reaches of the river around Broadwater and Wardell. Fresh prawns and yabbies are always the best baits this time of year – the fresher the better. If you’re into lures, start by throwing 1/4oz blades deep and work your way shallow up the rock walls until you find the active fish. If there has been some pressure on the fishery, drop

The author with a 40cm bass from a secondary drop-off around Lismore.

Tom Monti caught a thumper GT near Pimlico Island on light gear.

YOU CAN WIN THIS

Anthony Melchior caught this 65cm flathead on a Bassman spinnerbait while chasing bass. your line size to 6lb with 4lb leader. This should bring on a few more bites. Keep your crankbaits handy as well, as 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.

The most effective baits this time of year are your leftover blackfish skeletons.

Off the beaches and headlands, quality tailor have been 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 brekky. At night, try some cut bonito and blue pilchards on ganged hooks. There are some good numbers of dart and whiting along the gutters of South Ballina, and you should come across some nice snowy bream too. Towards the end of September when the westerlies start to blow the swell flat, it’s worth throwing soft plastics into these gutters.

You’ll get everything from flathead to whiting, tailor, bream and dart. It can be great fun with young kids.

Blackfish numbers start to dwindle around the end of August and start of September, although there should still be a few good fish around.

Until next month!

FIND OUT HOW AT

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SEPTEMBER 2019

Michael Starkey landed this Reardons Reef snapper on an Atomic Semi Hardz vibe.

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Breeding time begins THE TWEED

Anthony Coughran

With winter’s influence slowly moving away as the days get warmer, everything from birds to fish begins spawning.

Animals work as hard as they can to give their offspring the best start in life, and savvy anglers capitalise on it in September.

Once the spawn turns into fry they will travel along with the currents, wind and tides, moving into bays, shallow reefs,

you throw at them, as they are mainly focused on spawning. Once the snaps have spawned and the sun is up, they tend to drop off to deeper reefs to repeat the process later when the sun drops. The full moon normally sees them moving around a lot to find the best spawning packs, but good pan-sized snapper and mixed reefies have been on most reefs out to 50-fathoms. Drift baits, plastics, micro and octo jigs have all working well on mixed reefies, and most large snaps out wider have been caught on jigs.

best ways to get onto a barrel of fun. Look for the birds and you will find the tuna, with bait at all the usual haunts. If you’re struggling to get bait, try a small, unweighted hook with a piece of strip bait, as it usually works better than a bait jig. Try Kirra Point, Yellow Marker, the sand pumping jetty, 10-Minute Reef and the bait grounds off Kirra and Tweed.

ESTUARY With all the fry spilling into the river and creeks, coupled up with mullet and tailor still running, the predators are on the

This great mixed bag of reefies was landed off Tweed. mangroves, rivers, creeks and along the beaches. A lot of different species of fish and birds will feed up and gain body weight for the coming summer season.

OFFSHORE Around this time of year our close reefs turn into a colourful soup of fry, fish and coral spawn. Some fish use this to their advantage.

With snapper spawning season in full swing, they have pushed right in close and even around the headlands. Some schools have been so thick but still won’t touch anything

Mulloway and cobia have been haunting most close reefs out to 36 fathoms at dusk and dawn, taking live baits rigged on a snelled double hook rig to a light pea sinker. The pea sinker will keep the head of your live bait down and give it a more natural looking fall rate and drift. A downrigged live bait will keep the bait off the bottom and cover ground more easily while you troll.

There have been a few packs of tuna around.

Metals, stickbaits, poppers and trolled skirts are the

move and are feeding up. Mulloway and bigger predators like trevally have been feeding up on mullet and tailor, whereas bream, tailor, smaller trevally, tarpon, giant herring and flathead have been taking advantage of the abundance of fry, whitebait and bait in the systems.

Matching the hatch with artificial lures is a must.

Vertically working 10-40g micro jigs, 5–9” plastics, surface lures, 20-30g vibes and shrimp blades has been working very well on mulloway, flathead, trevally

The Hyde family scored a decent feed of snapper. and bigger tailor around the walls near the mouth.

Tailor have also been taken on metals in this area, with 15-30g metals being productive. Drift baits have been catching a few tailor, big bream and trevally.

Finding the right weight for the drift is crucial – too heavy and you’re in the rocks, too light and you’re not getting to the fish.

Bream are in good numbers in most systems.

Fishing structure like oyster racks, rock walls, pylons, pillars, boat hauls, filleting stations and mangrove lines with finesse gear has done the job. The best lure options have been 2” plastics rigged on 1/16oz jigheads, 35mm hardbodies, poppers, surface lures and blades, but sometimes bream still won’t eat your lure.

Having a variety of bait to offer will see the fussiest of fish onto your line. Mullet gut has to be one of the best for bream, but you can use strip baits, prawns (live, dead or cooked), beach and bloodworms, yabbies, crabs, bread, dough, steak, chicken, hot chips and even lollies!

Red snakes and aniseed cats are good. Basically, they eat just about anything.

Skinny water has been fishing well and big flatties have been running anglers all over the shallows.

Blades, 2.5” plastics, and vibes trolled hard in 1-3m of water have been effective,

producing some good trevally and bream as well.

Working blades in the deeper holes and shaly channels has produced a great mixed bag of flathead, tailor, trevally, bream, whiting, tarpon,

Glen Miles found flatties using yabbies.

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giant herring and the odd mulloway. Short sharp hops along the bottom will always result in a hook-up and a reaction bite. They have been fishing as good as yabbies on estuary species this month.

BEACHES The last lot of swell that hit the coast has opened up some great gutters right down the coast. Finding a good deep gutter and soaking a ganged pillie at the start of the run-out has been producing some nice tailor, dart and the odd soapy during the day. At night, soaking large dead baits, live baits, whole beachworms

The Tweed always produces good snapper on jigs.

Little Marley caught this solid 60cm flathead all by herself!

and ganged pilchards have been producing some good mulloway. Finding those deeper gutters is the key to finding quality fish. The headlands and rock walls are fishing well with metals at dusk and dawn, but as it’s only a small window, being set up and cast ready will ensure you hook up when they come on the bite.

Most beaches have beachworms and pipis on them if you need bait. To find the pipis, look on the water’s edge and in the receding waves for bubbles. Then, work your feet in a circular motion, digging down till you feel them under your feet, and grab them. It’s a similar method for worms.

Brad King with a solid flathead taken on an artificial lure in skinny water.

Working a bag of berley back and forward in the receding wave will bring the worms up and then you need to work them out with a pipi or bit of bait and use hands or pliers to pull them out of the sand. This can be tricky, so a slow and steady hand is crucial to getting them out without breaking them.

SWEETWATER The bass season is open.

It’s still a bit cold, which is making for a slow start to the season, but a few bass have been caught in the dam. Beetle spins, micro jigs, ice jigs, hardbodies, vibes, plastics and baits, such as worms, grubs, maggots and bugs, have all been effective.

NEXT MONTH Snapper, mixed reefies, mulloway and cobia should still be the top catches next month, as they will feed up on all the fry and bait before they move off to their summer homes. Soapies will continue to be on most anglers’ hit list while the mullet are still running. All the fry should start to wake the jacks up and flathead will continue their dominance of the skinny water. Tailor will be the target for most beach fishos and working deeper gutters should see you with a feed. Like the jacks, bass appetite will increase with the temperature.

SEPTEMBER 2019

25

Patience will see you prosper SOUTHERN GOLD COAST

Mark Ward markward222@bigpond.com

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September is one of the best months to be fishing on the Gold Coast. Bass start to get active and the surface bite can really fire up. Beach fishing is also at its best, with plenty of tailor and whiting in the gutters.

In the rivers and creeks, it’s all about flathead.

ESTUARY Flathead are at their best this month as they move towards the mouths of rivers and creeks to spawn. These spawning fish love a wellpresented soft plastic or hardbodied lure that can be bounced off the bottom right on their nose. Look for areas with a good run of current that will bring bait to waiting

jigging or trolling is still effective, and bigger fish respond well to big lures worked erratically covering a lot of water.

Whiting will start to show up in the shallows this month. Worm and yabby baits work best, with bloodworm and wriggler worms being the pick of the baits. They can be hard to get a hold of but are worth the effort, as the quality of catches is greatly improved. They can be found in similar locations to flathead, as well as over the top of yabbie banks.

The canals have seen good catches of trevally.

They have been smashing bait at first and last light but can be caught all throughout the day in deeper water. Live baits and soft plastics have been working well in areas that hold baitfish. A quality

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Flathead are in good numbers in September. Cody Ward jigged this one up in 1m of water with a 3” plastic. flathead. Add to this some weed beds, a drop-off or structure such as bridges or rock walls and the chances of a good flathead will improve.

Low tide is a good time to target flatties, especially when the shallows are dropping and baitfish are forced to move into the deeper water where flathead are waiting. High tide can be a little tougher, as fish will be spread out over the flats and more water needs to be covered in order to find them. Techniques that have worked to locate fish include using very large soft plastics, shallow running barramundi style lures and bent minnows.

All these lures work well when twitched and paused in water of around half a metre.

Still look for structure and weed edges, or even better, schools of baitfish that are moving through the shallows.

I also like to see the clean water from the rising tide pushing up on the shallows, as flathead definitely prefer the cleaner water. However, the standard technique of

sounder or local knowledge is good to have when fish aren’t on the surface. Herring and the odd grunter or javelin fish have been falling for a well-presented soft plastic as well as fresh or live bait.

Trevally can also be found amongst tailor on the rocks. The creek and river mouths have been fishing well for both species and metal slugs have been doing the damage. Pilchards or strip baits will do the trick as well.

BEACH Whiting have been biting all throughout winter and their numbers may even increase in September.

Beachworms are the pick of the baits and are fun to catch. Correction: they can be fun when you know how to catch them, but it’s frustrating until you learn the art.

Look for whiting in gutters that are hard up against the shoreline.

This causes the waves to crash down on bare sand or very shallow water, which exposes worms and

All the different trevally species can be found this month and some good tailor could be swimming amongst them.

pipis for whiting to feed on. Another trick is to keep away from the water’s edge.

Fish will be feeding on very close to the waterline and walking into the surf just scares the fish away. I’ve never been a fan of casting long distances into the back gutters, so a light surf rod with an Alvey or threadline reel does the job perfectly.

Shallow gutters have been holding whiting but for tailor, gutters with a deep channel or opening have been best. Tailor will often chase bait into the shallowest of gutters, but this season the bait has been holding out deep and I have yet to see a good tailor bite in the shallows.

BASS It was many years ago now, but I remember a warm September morning when I fished Hinze Dam and the surface was alive with bass. It was the first warm morning of spring and the air was thick with bugs of all sorts. This brought bass to the surface and dropping a surface lure off a point, near some standing timber or next to a lily pad saw them disappear. I even stopped working the lure. I just cast and brought in the slack line – no angling required.

There are not many mornings like this, but if it is going to happen it will be during September.

We have some of the best surface fishing for bass in the country so take advantage of this month’s surface bite. My preferred lures are black or dark coloured fizzers or bugs.

Work them with long pauses or cast and wait a good 20 seconds before you even start to work the lure.

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All smiles in sunny QLD GOLD COAST CANALS

Josh Dunn Instagram: @josh__dunn__

With the end of the year fast approaching, we have arrived at one of my favourite months, September, where winter and spring collide.

We are blessed to have such a variety of fishing on the Gold Coast around this time of year, with winter and summer species on the bite.

Tailor have started to slow down, although some fishers have still been getting them around the breakwalls. If you’re keen, the Seaway North Wall is a perfect place to start.

Throwing metal spoons into the white wash and burning

them back at a fast pace should see a hook up at the right time.

These fish will eat anything that flies past their face, but I love using spoons with an extra bit of glitter and detail for that fleck of silver through the water in the sunlight.

Quite a few bream are around at night, especially on the run-out after a big tide.

Baitfish seem to sit under the lights while bream hide in the dark, coming out to attack the bait at any given time. Bream, trevally, tailor and more will feed up all night long. If you can’t find many lights, try casting small weighted plastics around jetties. Scent up the plastics and work them slow along the bottom. In the last couple of years, spring has

proved to be an excellent time to fish big bream that have been spawning through winter and are now coming out to stock up once again.

I’ve been fishing the Broadwater a lot lately and found that there’s a lot of bait congregating throughout the run-in around structure, such as rock walls. The lower the low tide, the higher the high tide. Keep in mind that both tides are roughly six hours apart and the tide will be roaring in when it’s big.

Watch the birds, as they can be your fish finder when they dive for baitfish!

Within the next month we will definitely see the rise in temperature, especially in the water. This is a great

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Flathead season gets into full spring swing JUMPINPIN

Mick Morris gembait@tpg.com

We all love the time of year when we’re well into flathead season.

The lizards should be on the bite all month long, as most fish will be congregating to spawn and hungry for a feed.

Spots to try for flatties during September include

from the dead trees at the bottom of North Straddie in the deep water all the way to along Kalinga Bank and the main channels leading towards the bar, where they’ll be hiding among weed patches, under snags and along the drop-offs of banks that become exposed at low tide. They can be caught on any part of the tide, but you’ll find they feed more on the end of the run-out tide.

The author’s brother, Richie, caught this typical Jumpinpin lizard trolling in the shallows near Kangaroo Island.

As an ambush predator, flathead sit camouflaged facing into the tide, waiting for a meal to swim past.

Bounce your baits or soft plastics along the bottom and flatties will do the rest.

Be sure to present your baits well so that they look as natural as possible and are not spinning in the current, and you’ll improve your catch rate. The best baits are livies. Whether it’s mullet, hardiheads, herring etc. fresh is best.

I recommend using large banana prawns, pilchards, froggies or whitebait.

Trolling hardbodied diving lures in the shallows has been a great way to catch lizards and if you haven’t tried it before, it is well worth it as you cover heaps of ground and get to find the areas where fish are holding. If you catch one there is sure to be more, so keep trying in the same spot as a female can have 5-6 males hanging around trying to breed with her.

Tailor have been moving along the coast feeding on schools of bait so keep an eye out for them chopping up the surface.

Poppers, metal lures and soft plastics are all working well with a fast retrieve but these toothy critters are murder on plastics and will quite often take the plastic clean off the jighead, which can be an expensive way to fish. Hitting the gutters off the beach of South Straddie in the late afternoon should produce some tailor, dart and bream. The bigger fish will move in towards dark areas and there is always a chance of scoring a mulloway as well.

Bream are available right through the year and during September the mangrove-lined banks,

Big lizards will be on the bite, so be sure to release all oversized flatties. This one went straight back in the water. deep holes and rock walls are good for a few bream.

Hot spots to try are Little Rocky Point, Cobby Passage, the Five Ways, Kalinga Bank and the north wall of the Seaway. Flesh baits like bonito and mullet fillets are perfect because they hold the hook better than yabbies or prawns, which are great baits but are easily picked off.

Some good-sized whiting should be showing up from the Logan River near Ageston Sands, the Junction and Marks Rocks. Out of the river, the Never Fail Islands, Tipplers Island, Tiger Mullet Channel, Gold Bank and Flat Rock should all be firing so grab some bloodworms or yabbies and chase a feed of sweettasting whiting.

• Thanks for all your reports and please keep those fish coming in! If you’d like any advice or up-to-date info on what’s happening at the ‘Pin, drop us a line at Gem Bait & Tackle on 3287 3868 or email gembait@tpg.com.au.

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Following the GC flatties GOLD COAST

David Green

September is a good month to chase snapper off the Gold Coast. In the estuaries, flathead are constantly moving towards the river mouths and entrances and there will be plenty of boats out chasing them in preparation for the upcoming Flathead Classic held in the first week of October.

OFFSHORE GROUNDS The waters off the Gold Coast produced plenty of snapper and mulloway throughout winter. September usually sees the snapper run start to slow down a bit, but at the time of writing there have been plenty of great fish up to almost a metre in length. The best spots have been on the 36-fathom line from the Tweed right through to the reefs north of Jumpinpin. Float lining with cut fish strips and pilchards has been very effective and soft plastics have also caught some good fish. In addition to snapper, there have been reasonable numbers of Venus tuskfish, Moses perch and pearl perch. Out wider on the 50-fathom line and

There will be plenty of flathead around this month.

beyond there have been good catches of pearl perch and snapper, with quite a few big amberjacks as well.

The deeper reefs in around 120-150m have produced some monster pearl perch and bar cod.

In closer to shore, the blocks just north of the Seaway have been consistently producing good numbers of mulloway, with most fish between 100-120cm in length. A mate of mine, Glenn Crawford, recently caught a 104cm mulloway at this spot that had been tagged two years earlier in the Brisbane River by Lochie Reed. These fish certainly move around a lot!

There have been plenty of marlin around near the snapper schools. On a recent trip, I hooked two that ate snapper I was fighting. The first of these was a striped marlin that broke off almost immediately. The second fish was a solid black marlin around 120kg that ate a snapper right behind the boat. I fought that fish for 45 minutes before the leader frayed through. Marlin reports have been numerous and local charter boats have caught quite a few by deploying live baits while snapper fishing.

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Cobia are another fish to target this month. Big live baits and soft plastics are very effective and most of the close reefs on the 20-fathom line will hold cobia if there is plenty of bait around.

Cobia like bigger baits such as tailor, goatfish, big slimies and tarwhine. They are one of the toughest fighting fish in the ocean and a big one often takes more than an hour to land on light tackle.

With the water temperature around 22°C on the continental shelf, options include yellowfin tuna, blue marlin and striped marlin on the thousand-fathom line. Lure trolling can be very productive at times, particularly when sauries and other winter baitfish are in numbers. A jet head style lure trolled in the shotgun position is best, as it works well on tuna and marlin. Silver and blue or silver and black are good colours to imitate sauries, the main baitfish.

There are also good numbers of striped marlin on the 36 and 50-fathom lines.

ESTUARIES AND RIVERS September is the best month of the year to chase flathead in Gold Coast estuaries. So far this season has been quite patchy, and while the water has generally been quite clear, there are days when you can cast or troll for hours with little results. The bite windows have been quite short, but when you do find a good patch of fish it is possible to catch 10-20 fish in an hour.

This month, deep jigging using soft vibes, large soft plastics and blades comes into its own, and the deeper channels around Jumpinpin and the Gold Coast Seaway should produce plenty of big fish up to 90cm in length. Sometimes a jighead up to 90g is required when the current is strong. The fish feed voraciously in preparation for spawning, and it is important to

This nice 80cm fish was taken on a Lively Lures Micro Mullet. release the larger fish in good condition so they can reproduce. All the bigger flathead are females, and when spawning they are commonly surrounded by several smaller males that follow the hooked female fish. Some of these smaller males are so intent on chasing a big female that I’ve even had them follow the hooked fish into the net!

In recent seasons, flathead fishing with surface lures in shallow water has become increasingly popular. Bent minnow patterns, the Lucky Craft Sammy and cup-faced poppers can all be productive. The surface strikes from a big flathead are quite exciting and I recently saw a massive fish caught on a bent minnow that was 104cm long according to its captor on social media.

As the water warms up

whiting will become more active, particularly in the Nerang River, and mulloway will start to feed in the deeper sections of the estuary. They are a common by-catch when deep jigging for flathead and sometimes fish over 120cm turn up in September, feeding on bigger fish like pike, tailor and mullet. Big live baits can be very effective.

The Flathead Classic is one of the biggest events on the fishing calendar and in preparation for the event everyone will be looking for their own private honey hole. I think this year may be quite tough, as the winter fishing was a lot harder than usual. A few good lures that have been producing well in recent times include ZMan prawn patterns, the smallest Zerek Fish Trap in darker colours and the ever-faithful Micro Mullet.

Ben Capper was stoked with the mulloway he caught and released on the 24 fathom line SE off the GC Seaway. He was using live yakkas, and the fish was estimated at around 120cm.

SEPTEMBER 2019

31

Fishin’ round the bay SOUTHERN BAY

Nick Whyte

There were plenty of flathead around last month and this month shouldn’t be any different. Leading up to the Gold Coast Flathead Classic, there will be heaps of boats out on the water chasing them. Lures, plastics or baits – it doesn’t matter. As long as you have one in the water, you should see some activity.

and bar entrances sometime during the next month.

It’s the time of year when a lot of oversized fish are caught. 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 to be released.

Snapper have been in great numbers the last couple of months and should

edges around Peel, Mud, Green and Macleay islands holding decent numbers. Just remember you don’t have to run big lures to catch big snapper in the bay. Lures around 3” account for more than their share of large fish and I think that matching the bait size they are feeding is more important.

Not too many fishers usually encounter hairtail, as their teeth are super sharp and cut anglers off before they know what they have

Big flathead should be a regular capture this month. to chase them in the Bay and Jumpinpin areas. Work the bigger tides around the moons, as more water flow will get the fish hungrier around the tide changes.

Try and work the current

lines down the ’Pin and find isolated structures or reef points in the bay. Bait is a big bonus, with live baits accounting for the larger models. Some good fish around the 110cm

Hayden Maddaford caught this nice threadfin on a 95mm Zerek Fish Trap.

Fish have been abundant around the mouth of the Logan River, Jacobs Well Channel, Pandanus Island, along the eastern side of Garden Island and the weedy edges along the Rainbow Channel. These fish are all on the move for their annual spawning run. They will move into the deeper water around the river mouths

32

SEPTEMBER 2019

continue to be plentiful through spring. Trolling hardbodies is a good way to target these fish, with lures like the Zerek Tango Shad 89mm performing really well at the moment. The deeper water in the bay around the Harry Atkinson and Peel Artificial Reef balls have been producing the better quality fish, with the reef

hooked. There have been some decent numbers of these crazy fish down around the deeper water throughout the ’Pin area.

Steel trace is required to fish them, but they love to take a lure.

Once again mulloway will be prevalent, with September being one of my favourite months

Quality flathead have been taken on 95mm soft vibes.

bracket have been reported on plastics.

There have been plenty of tailor still getting around with truckloads of choppers inside the ’Pin Bar, especially on the top of the tide. Better quality tailor have been around the central Bay islands and are a great target on larger topwater poppers. Cup-faced poppers in the 100mm range will attract the larger fish. Working the edges and flats of the shallow reefs should be the best starting points. South West Rocks, Hole in the Wall and the Spit Beacon at Peel will all be worth a look, as well as Green and Mud islands.

There are still plenty of winter whiting around, with the best reports coming from the flats in the Rous Channel and a lot of fish on the Pelican Banks as well.

Fresh worms will make a massive difference to your catch rate, so make the effort to dig your own or ensure you’re buying fresh.

• If you have a great capture from the Southern Bay you would like to share, email them through to nick@ techfishing.com.au.

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September in the South East BRISBANE

Gordon Macdonald masterbaitertackle@hotmail.com

With conditions beginning to warm over the coming months, anglers will notice a progressive change in the prominent species encountered throughout the waters of SEQ. Although tailor, mulloway, snapper, bream, squid and other cool weather targets will still be on offer, species such as flathead,

underwater structure such as jetty pylons.

Further out into Moreton Bay, snapper can be found around a variety of terrains.

The surrounds of the bay islands, around the artificial reefs and near prominent structure such as wrecks and ledges are great places to try. Schools of snapper can often be sounded up on the artificial reefs and targeted with an array of different lures.

Mud Island has produced plenty of quality snapper

for everyone.

Anchoring and deploying baits can be worthwhile for some, however those who get the best results will generally have put considerable thought into their bait presentation and rigging.

Lightly-weighted baits will stay close to the seabed while still moving naturally instead of being anchored to the bottom. Rigging baits so that they waft in the current rather than spinning will also improve results dramatically.

Fluorocarbon leaders, super

James has really got the Brisbane River’s threadfin wired as he has been regularly scoring these golden beasts. mangrove jack, threadfin, crabs, school mackerel and tunas will increase in numbers. Warmer weather creates wonderful conditions for being in the great outdoors, especially out on the briny blue.

Let’s look at a few of the more serious targets you can expect in the coming weeks.

SNAPPER The last few months have produced some quality snapper for anglers fishing Moreton Bay and the Brisbane River. Quality specimens over 90cm have fallen to a variety of techniques with baits and lures. The Brisbane River is often productive, with snapper over 70cm at times.

Anglers fishing live baits to target mulloway will be pleasantly surprised to score a quality snapper. These fish will also take dead baits, however live offerings are definitely a better option.

Small mullet, herring and banana prawns are all worth using and are best fished in the deeper holes and along the edges of ledges and adjacent 34

SEPTEMBER 2019

over the last few months and anglers have taken them on lures and baits. The eastern and northern sides have been the most heavily targeted and those who travel with minimal noise, either by drifting or using an electric motor, have been scoring the best results. Early mornings and late afternoons, especially when there’s less boat traffic, are the better times to fish these grounds.

The artificial reefs (Curtin, Bill Turner, Harry Atkinson, Peel and East Coochie) are also best fished using stealth. Driving all over the ground to see if there are any fish there first is not a good idea, especially for those with two-stroke motors. Instead, stop upcurrent from the zone and drift down over it or use an electric motor. You can cast as you go and watch the sounder to see predators or baitfish that are dispersed through the area. This will increase your chances considerably. It only takes one inconsiderate boatie to shut down an entire area

sharp hooks well hidden in the bait with just the points out plus lighter line will all add to improving your bite rate. Snapper readily roam around the fringes of the bay islands and the artificial reefs and it is best to locate a spot away from the crowds.

FLATHEAD Numbers of these prime sport and table fish have been good in recent weeks.

Increased numbers of quality specimens have been found throughout the estuaries due to the flathead’s annual breeding run. During this time, larger females are often surrounded by numerous smaller males. If you catch one flathead, there is a decent chance that working the area will produce subsequent captures. Working the tops of the major banks on the higher stages of the tide, the edges of the banks and mouths of the gutters on the falling tide, and the deeper holes and channels on the lower stages of the tide will generally reap rewards.

Flathead will engulf virtually any morsel that happens by so a broad array of baits and lures will work.

Lures that tend to bump the bottom regularly are more likely to get noticed. Flathead will lie on the bottom, semisubmerged in sand, mud or silt, and detect the movement of morsels using their lateral line, which acts like an ear.

Ensuring your lures bang and rattle across the bottom will increase results. Diving minnow lures, jigheadrigged plastics, soft vibes, blades and numerous other lures will all work. Flathead are a great species for land-

Andrew Tennant caught this quality longtail while targeting snapper on plastics around the bay islands.

Chris Deeks with another solid bay snapper caught on soft plastics. based anglers as well as those fishing from kayaks and small boats. Anyone drifting throughout the estuary while dragging baits such as whitebait, hardiheads, small diver whiting, pilchards and flesh strips has a great chance of scoring a few flathead over the coming months.

MANGROVE JACK Most anglers only consider jacks a warm weather species, despite some fishers targeting jacks as early as July. They are definitely more active now as water temperatures warm, however plenty of quality mangrove jack have been caught already, as jacks moving into the river and estuarine systems during the cooler months can sometimes be a little easier to catch.

These fish are still moving throughout the systems and are unlikely to have taken up residence on an individual piece of structure yet. They can be found in a variety of areas, from the deep channels and rock walls leading into the estuaries to the docks and pylons along the watercourses, plus the canal developments and harbours. While there are fewer jacks in the systems currently than during the cooler months, they are generally larger specimens that are more likely to smash a lure presented to them.

Although the best is yet to come as far as numbers go, September can be a good month to try for a few jacks.

THREADFIN The Brisbane River is a great place to chase threadfin over the coming months.

Threadfin will commonly be moving around with the tidal influence as the water warms and baitfish and prawn activity increases. They can

be caught right along the length of the ‘brown snake’ on a variety of lures and baits. Anglers anchoring at prominent areas and fishing live baits such as herring, mullet, banana prawns, pike and gar are highly likely to score a few fish.

Many successful anglers have a productive ‘secret’ spot that is well guarded, however anchoring anywhere along the river, preferably on the edge of the decline into the main basin, should put you in good stead.

Other popular areas include the swing zone out from the docks, the lower end of the oil pipeline, the ledge just up from the sewerage chute and any deeper holes. Casting lures around lighted areas at night can be a little hit-andmiss but it is exceptionally exciting when you do hook a rampaging threadfin or mulloway.

Threadfin will accept a broad array of lures such as soft plastics (ideally paddletail shads and crustacean profiles), minnow lures, glidebaits, swimbaits and even topwater offerings.

Over the coming months, greater numbers of threadfin will be found in the lower reaches of the river but they will still be well distributed this month.

SCHOOL MACKEREL I have rarely had a trip any month this year without encountering a school mackerel, but greater numbers will be found during September and the coming months. The eastern end of the Rous Channel is historically a great place to find mackerel during September and the number of commercial boats trolling spoons in this zone often signals their presence. These

anglers commonly troll two lines, running spoons behind paravanes at speeds of 5-6 knots.

Recreational fishers can use this same approach and it is easy to set up a rig using a 45-60lb handline, a Yamashita #6 paravane, 50lb fluorocarbon leader, a small ball-bearing snap swivel and a No.3 or No.4 Halco Barra Drone or Makka Spoon.

Some choose to use a rod for this pursuit but I find the handline more productive.

A decent glove will be required to avoid line cuts to your fingers. This same area can be fished by drifting pilchards mid water and often the action is furious, with several rods loading up almost in unison under the efforts of rampant mackerel.

Other locales worth investigating with trolled lures or pilchard baits are Middle Bank, Measured Mile, around the beacons in the northern bay, the artificial reefs and the outer margins of the bay islands.

Jigging metal lures around the beacons can also be worthwhile. These weighty lures are cast out and allowed to sink close to the beacon before being retrieved with a flat stick wind or an erratic jigging action. Drifting a pilchard behind the boat while fishing around the bay islands or up on the flats

for whiting can also produce these silver speedsters.

CRABS

As the water temperatures rise, the activity of mud, sand and blue swimmer crabs will increase. Setting a few safety pots is a productive way to score a few of these tasty crustaceans. Good baits include fish frames, chicken carcasses, whole mullet or even a few pilchards in a mesh bag. When setting your pots for an extended period, it is a good idea to put your baits in a mesh envelope (commonly made from wire mesh or gutter guard) to slow down crabs decimating the bait. In the rivers and estuaries, pots are best set in deeper holes, at the entrances of creeks, mouths of gutters, drains leading out of the mangrove areas and along collapsed mangrove banks.

Out in the bay, sand and blue swimmer crabs are most likely caught along the edges of channels and ledges, the outskirts of the bay islands and edges of the major sand banks. I like to leave the pots set over a tidal change, however some will check them regularly and re-locate unsuccessful pots. Observing the types of areas where commercial pots are set will help you to find a successful area

Flathead are a great species that can be caught from a variety of estuarine and shallow bay locales.

This one ate the author’s small minnow lure while he was on a land-based session at King Island.

for yourself. This does not mean setting them in the same area as the commercial pots but at a similar depth or bottom contour. Remember to have a crab measuring device with you, have your apparatus labelled correctly and know the differing size and bag limits that exist for the various species of crabs.

TUNA AND BONITO September can be an unusual month for tuna, with good numbers around some years and almost nothing during others. Anglers will mostly encounter longtails, however mac tuna, bullet tuna and two species of bonito are also possible.

Longtails commonly come in through the northern end of the bay so along the front of Bribie Island and the Kianga and North East Channels are prime places to look at this time of year. However, surface-busting fish can be located almost anywhere throughout Moreton Bay. Bonito (Australian and Watson’s Leaping) as well as bullet tuna are often located in the channels and even up on top of the banks systems on the higher tidal stages.

These make great baits and Watson’s are decent eating.

All can be used whole as troll baits for Spanish mackerel or wahoo, or the fillets can be salted and used in strips for tailor, snapper and other

species or in smaller cubes for bream, sweetlip and a broad array of other species.

All tuna make great sport and are fun to catch and release. Longtails are often feeding on rather small bait at this time of year and a small profile such as a metal lure or fly may be required to get the bite. If strikes aren’t forthcoming after numerous casts, it pays to try something different such as a stickbait, pencil popper or jigheadrigged jerk shad plastic.

You just never know what will take their fancy on any particular day.

CONCLUSION A few new species will become more prominent throughout September, but lots of other species are on offer as well. Tailor, mulloway, luderick, squid, bream, sweetlip, tuskfish, whiting and a host of others will still be available. The warming conditions will ensure that getting out into the great outdoors is much more enjoyable.

Longer days will require earlier starts to be out there at the crack of dawn, but as soon as the sun creeps over the horizon and the warmth of the day begins, the comfort of your bed will be forgotten and a hook-up will be the only thing on your mind.

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Superb snapper season BRISBANE OFFSHORE

John Gooding

It’s definitely been all about snapper over the past month or so, and plenty of quality models

the South Passage Bar to find snapper and we’ve had some good sessions on the 29s, 33s, 35s and out wide in 90m of water.

All our fish have been caught freespool fishing (floatlining) with pillies

seem to be widespread, with fish caught off the ‘Pin Bar, Caloundra, Mooloolaba through to Rainbow and in Moreton Bay. Depending on the moon phase, snapper have turned it on in some areas better than others, but most anglers fishing off the South Passage Bar are boating plenty of snapper at present. With a little luck, snapper will hang around over the next couple of months and even around Christmas good captures should be possible out on the wider grounds.

Remember, the key to catching snapper is to fish the lightest sinker and line

This group bagged out on snapper from the closer reefs.

A quality knobby that nailed a freespooled pilly. and juvenile snapper have hit the deck on board Outlaw Charters. We landed our bag limit most days, with fish in the 3-5kg range sprinkled amongst the catches. We haven’t had to travel too far from

and fresh strip baits. We’ve had some cool water push in of late and the water temperature has mostly been around 21-21.2°C, but I did see it down to 19.5°C for a couple of days.

As I mentioned, snapper

This snapper bounty came from the wider reefs.

size possible. Try to get away from the crowds and you will catch more fish.

They say technology has dented fish stocks with the advent of GPS, but I find sounders have the opposite effect. As soon as you get a few boats in one area with their sounders running, the fish shut down and you won’t get another bite, so you’re better off moving to another patch of ground.

This month will also see us start targeting amberjack again on live bait, as the water temperature starts to

rise a little. The 35s, 42s and isolated wrecks out wide will all be worth dropping a livie or a jig on. For now, snapper are the main focus for anglers fishing east of the South Passage, so get out and nail a few to bring home for the family.

• 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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Spring into action!

NOOSA

Peter Wells

Spring has just arrived and we are in that interesting period where we are still in the midst of our winter species, as well as starting to think about those species we’ll see as the waters warm.

Snapper numbers are

Good numbers of cobia, mulloway and pearl perch have been about with big red emperor and bigger Maori cod on the northern reefs. On the southern reefs, fishing has been great at Coolum, The Gneerings, Caloundra 12 Mile and Currimundi reefs. Plenty of snapper anglers have achieved their possession limit early in the trip when fishing the high

which is very popular for its realistic appearance.

Dropping your leader size will see better numbers, with most anglers opting for a 3-6lb leader when targeting these wary fish. If you like your baits, mullet and chook gut are great baits for bream, with fresh strips of mullet being pretty hard to go past as well.

Elsewhere in the river, the Noosa Sound has been providing some spectacular surface sessions lately with good numbers of tailor and trevally schooling up and smashing baitfish. Surface lures in the low light periods have been perfect, with popper and surface walkers also getting the job done.

Upriver, mulloway numbers have been great, with big soft vibes like the Jackall Transam and Samaki Vibelicious Thumper Tail

tide on the lead up to the full moon. Cobia and sweetlip numbers have been excellent with schools right through the coastal reefs. Floater baits seem to be the best approach to pick up fish mid water.

Fishing live yakkas or slimies on snelled hooks has worked well, with large pilchards on ganged 5/0 hooks as the best dead bait option.

The Noosa River has been outstanding over winter and is set for a great spring season as the waters start to warm. Bream season seemed to start a little late so there are still plenty of big fish on offer. This is the time of year when they school up in big numbers as they spawn and are willing to take a wide variety of lures and baits.

When targeting bream on soft plastics, jighead selection is quite important, as you want the lure to sink fairly slowly and stay in their face.

Another great option is the Crusty Crab from River2Sea,

many fish have been taken on plastics around 4” in curly and paddle-tails. There have been a few mangrove jack about, with larger fish around Cod Hole as well as the upper stretches of the river. Live mullet and large strip baits have been accounting for top captures.

On the beaches, the Noosa North Shore has started producing some better tailor schools. Quality greenbacks have been happy to take a well-presented pilchard, mullet fillet or bonito fillet. With the school sizes improving, metal lures have been a more popular option. Spanyid Raiders have been dynamite on tailor, with 20 and 40g sizes the big favourites. Don’t forget to upsize that leader when fishing for them, as they can get through some pretty heavy line.

For the kids, fishing the closer gutters has produced plenty of good dart. The best of them have been caught on the top of the tide. Whiting

the fishing has been equally good with some nice tailor making their way into the river. The best results have come from just before the high tide and from the traffic bridge down to the mouth.

Decent size whiting have

been taken around Goat and Channel islands, with freshly pumped yabbies or frozen beachworms proving the most effective baits. The stretch between Chambers Island and Cod Hole has delivered on species including golden trevally, jew and flathead, and

Justin Terney caught a couple of great snapper from the southern end of Sunshine Reef. One of them was just over 70cm. still very good with places like Sunshine, Chardons and North reefs all delivering for those in smaller craft.

The bigger boats have been heading to the Hards, the reefs off Double Island and the Barwon Banks. Bigger snapper have been the drawcard and some great fish have come from those outer reefs.

Fishing big soft plastics through a well-maintained berley trail has been one of the best approaches. The great thing about fishing this way is that the bait does not get picked to pieces before the bigger fish have a chance to feed. Some great examples to try are the ZMan 7” Scented Jerk Shad, ZMan 9” GrubZ and Berkley Gulp 7” Jerk Shad. Pink colours have been the best performers. There has also been a lot of squid in local waters so squid profile soft plastics have been working very well.

Kalani Love nailed this quality king from around Coolum Reef.

Anthony Thoma with a perfect mulloway taken from the Maroochy River on soft plastics. responsible for some great captures. Flathead numbers have improved. Plenty of fish have been taken in shallower water, as they congregate in these areas where the water is that bit warmer. Fishing the run-out tide with plastics or trolling shallow diving lures should see you secure a feed.

In the Maroochy River,

numbers have improved, being taken on freshly pulled worms and live yabbies.

There have been decent numbers of mulloway, with the best fish coming from around the new moon. If you do get the chance to wet a line on the full moon, try to fish between sunset and moonrise. A great option for chasing big mulloway is to use a slide bait rig, which are designed to first cast a large grapnel type sinker, then run a slider rig with a large live bait down to a stopper on the line. This will get you out beyond the breakers where bigger mulloway often like to cruise.

• Don’t forget to check in to www.fishingnoosa. com.au for all the latest up-to-date info on fishing and bar crossings. The knowledgeable teams at Davo’s Tackle World Noosa and Davo’s Northshore Bait & Tackle at Marcoola can provide you with the right equipment, bait and advice to ensure success!

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Jack Dekort landed this stonker flathead from the Noosa River.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

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HERVEY BAY BUCCANEERS

opinion

QLD Fisheries review As most of you are aware there’s a snapper and pearl perch review underway by Queensland Fisheries and if they get their way, we are in for unnecessary lengthy closures and or bag limit/ size changes.

They are basing their push for these measures by flawed interpretation of the data and not on what’s really happening in the fishery. Phone and boat ramp surveys, which never seem to involve fishers that are catching the snapper, are not worth the paper they are written on. Fisheries don’t have any idea how many snapper are being caught by recreational fishers. Believe me, there are many indicators that say the fishery is in a much better state than Fisheries believe with their Green agenda. The only data they really have is from the professional and charter sectors who have to report their catches. Both sectors show a reduced overall tonnage but that’s easily explained if you look at the facts.

CHARTER SECTOR Let’s start off with the charter sector. The reduction in overall catch of snapper in the charter sector is because we’ve had four major South East charter operators cease operating and have not been replaced. Tomcat and Nitro charters from southern bay both work out of Scarborough.

Both charters caught several tonnes of snapper between them most years and good amounts of pearl perch. These boats haven’t been replaced, so therefore there is a drop in overall tonnage.

This is my twentieth year in the charter business and my snapper catches (tonnage) have been relatively consistent over the years. Fisheries haven’t factored the reduction of overall effort into the fishery.

For example, Fisheries sees the charter sector were catching 15 tonnes but now they are only

catching 10 tonnes. They then conclude snapper stocks must be down without considering the shift in effort as well.

PROFESSIONAL SECTOR Up until a couple of years ago, large catches of snapper were recorded by the professionals working out of Mooloolaba from the Barwon Banks. They would anchor up and berley the snapper up under the boat and hundreds of kilograms would be caught.

This no longer happens anywhere near as much because sharks have become a big issue once the snapper come on the bite. Tonnes of snapper used to come from this fishery, but this is no longer the case due to the sharks. I’m on the Snapper Review Committee with three of the Mooloolaba pros and they have stated they can still sound over huge schools of snapper that move into the area seasonally but they don’t target them anymore because of sharks. This particular fishery accounted for a large chunk of the overall tonnage of the professional snapper catch, but now there is a shift in effort to other fisheries. It doesn’t mean there are less snapper, there are just less snapper getting caught in the pro sector. Queensland Fisheries, by protecting all sharks over 1.5m in length, are partly responsible for the explosion in shark numbers – you don’t have to be Einstein to work that out!

The last few snapper seasons off Moreton and North Stradbroke islands have been consistent but we had a cracker season last year. So far, we’ve also been having a great season this year. The fish seem to be widespread in the South East corner of the state, with good catches recorded from the border to Rainbow Beach, with plenty of quality fish also getting caught in Moreton Bay. I talk to plenty of anglers, some

charter, pros and recreational, and they are all catching good numbers of snapper. The people who have stated there are no snapper out there just wouldn’t know because they spend no time on the water actually fishing for them.

Over the years, Queensland Fisheries have sensibly reduced the bag limit on snapper from thirty to ten, then to 5 and finally to 4, including one over 70cm. In the past few seasons we have been starting to see the benefits.

Snapper 3-5kg have become a lot more common with a resurgence of better quality fish. However, on the other hand we have NSW Fisheries which have the snapper bag limit at 10 fish at 30cm, and snapper trapping 365 days a year. They say they are considering changes but that’s all talk at present. Because we share snapper stocks that move along the coastline, our proposed closures will just benefit them.

The length and quality of our snapper season also revolve around the weather and what current lines/water temperatures get pushed into the coastline. The years we get cool blue water push in close with 19-20ºC water temps, the better the snapper fishing.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m on the Snapper/Pearl Perch Review Committee, and QLD Fisheries it seems to most of us there, are not listening just ticking the consolation box.

Fishers as a whole need to make a lot of noise. Ring your local member, organise rallies, do whatever to get attention to this issue. If we don’t, we are going to end up with these unnecessary closures driven by political madness. John Gooding • The views stated in this article are the reflection of the author’s opinion and not necessarily the opinion of Fishing Monthly.

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Rod Thistlewaite caught and released this mulloway of about 110cm using live yakkas on the Gold Coast. After years of chasing a 1m grey ghost, Rod and his mate both joined the club in the same session!

SEPTEMBER 2019

39

Blessed bay bonanza HERVEY BAY

Dane Radosevic

What would you like to target this spring – flathead, whiting, barra, jack, snapper, mackerel, coral trout or maybe even a marlin? Well, they will all be on offer this month.

I love this time of year as the daily water temperature slowly starts to creep up,

although after a reasonably mild winter it probably will not be by much. I’ll take it regardless and let’s hope for some glamour conditions and fishing to suit.

Fishing the Great Sandy Straits this time of year leaves anglers no shortage of options. Flathead will be peaking in activity and are typically best targeted during the larger run-out tides, focusing on key

Josh ‘Yeti’ Power with a solid flatty that demolished a well-presented topwater offering fished in knee-deep water.

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ambush points such as rocky outcrops, creek mouths and drains. Structure often congregates schools of hardiheads or herring and the old motto, ‘find the bait find the fish’ applies, as flathead will lie in wait to ambush passing prey.

The gin clear waters often found throughout the Straits can make for some insane visual fishing, exposing fish on the move that can be targeted, and you can watch as a bucket-like mouth engulfs your offering as a fish suddenly appears from the bottom. This clear water can sometimes make fish a little spooky, so try fishing a little deeper, targeting the drop-offs or even a patch of discoloured water coming from a creek or drain on a run-out tide.

Fish will often lie along this distinct line of discoloured water, positioning to face upcurrent.

A variety of lures and various techniques will work as flathead are not typically fussy. Proven performers and a few of my go-to options are the Jackson Ebi Panic for super skinny water, Daiwa Double Clutch 95 as a fantastic all-rounder, which is extremely effective fished with an erratic jerk and pause motion; and the ZMan 3” MinnowZ in opening night, rigged to the appropriate TT jighead.

Summer whiting should increase in numbers around the moon due to the building tides and will be best targeted on the making tide, with an evening period often favoured by those in the know targeting elbow slappers. Freshly pumped yabbies or sandworms are great baits, however many anglers have been opting to target them with small stickbaits and poppers, favouring the translucent colour patterns that mimic a jelly prawn.

Grunter will be another welcome species gracing

The legendary boat Kekoa, skippered by Luke Fallon, has been getting amongst the hot billfish bite. Photo courtesy of Kelly Fallon. the deck in increasing numbers over the next couple of months and are quite easy to catch by hopping the appropriate soft plastics, such as the ZMan 2.5” Grubz in Bloodworm, or alternatively soaking a yabbie, herring, prawn or

get excited, as the mighty barra will be back on the cards after a dormant period over winter and they will be ready to fire! The main river systems, Mary and Susan, will be great locations to focus on as they both hold a large biomass

perfect laydown structure for barra, as do my personal favourite areas, rock bars.

Pay close attention to your electronics as the slightest jump in water temperature can often be the difference between inactive and active

Steve ‘Clarky’ Clarke scored his PB red emperor, weighing a whopping 15kg! The smile says it all – how good is Fraser Island?

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

www.fishostackleworld.com.au info@fishostackleworld.com.au 40

SEPTEMBER 2019

squid. With potentially clear water in the lower reaches, expect to find better quality fish coming from upstream in one of the many creeks or rivers throughout the Straits.

As the water temperature starts to climb and reaches around 23-25°C it’s time to

of fish. Scoping the river for the first mission of the season can be exciting, with the potential to find some newly developed structure such as fallen trees due to eroding riverbanks, which create great back eddies.

These fallen trees form

fish. You should also be observant for indications of nervous baitfish. Taking into account factors such as structure, bait, water clarity, temperature, tidal period and moon phase will increase the probability of catching fish when all

aspects are aligned.

Keeping an eye on your sounder while on the river, especially if running side scan, can often assist in locating schools of threadfin salmon schooled up or moving through the main river system. Working a soft vibe, using either a single or double hop to mimic a wounded or fleeing baitfish, is a proven method to catching this species.

Residents and travellers to Burrum Heads should experience good catches of mixed mackerel species and tailor from the river mouth and out towards the first marker beacon. Trolling various 100-120mm hardbodies such as Halco Laser Pro or the old school barra spoon behind a paravane is the local favoured technique to cover more water and find fish. Anchoring up and creating a berley trail of pilchard cubes will draw fish towards you while you soak a live herring or whole pilchard in the mix.

Be mindful of the size and bag limits on the various species of mackerel as they can all be mixed in.

If the trend continues, schools of grunter should move throughout the main river around the moored boats, which are often highlighted by the large number of locals anchored up in close proximity presenting a prawn, squid or herring in anticipation of that prized 60cm grunter.

They certainly weren’t uncommon last year and there were some outstanding captures, even by those fishing from the shore.

Land-based anglers shouldn’t be any less fortunate around this area, as quality flathead and queenfish can be taken from the old ramp and new pontoon on live baits and soft plastics. Pike are excellent baits in this

area and are quite easily caught on small 2” grubs or 50mm diving minnows in chartreuse colours worked along the rock wall. These baits are dynamite when carefully hooked through the snout and flicked back out.

The modification of the ‘new’ boat ramp boasts a short rock wall extension to block the oncoming waves, which has created a fantastic structure that now makes a considerable back eddie. This in turn attracts good numbers of barra and working live baits as mentioned above or slow rolling a large paddletail soft plastic should be their undoing.

As water temperatures start to increase so too should the activity from mangrove jack and barramundi. With four river systems to choose from – Burrum, Gregory, Isis and Cherwell – anglers can take their pick, focusing upriver to try and locate the warmer patches of water and distinct colour changes.

Due to the insanely clear water and continual pressure at the moment, inshore fishing under the cover of darkness has been producing the best results.

In the evening, good quality snapper can still be expected in close, however numbers will slowly start to decrease as water temperatures increase. Juvenile snapper should be a relatively easy target during the day around the various wrecks along with likely by-catch species such as grassy sweetlip, blackall, cod, parrotfish and trout on baits and plastics.

School mackerel are typically the most prolific species inshore this month, scattered throughout the southern part of the bay.

Gatakers Bay and surrounds should be very productive, along with the Urangan channel, Rayners, bait grounds and many of the reefs within the shipping

Brendan Blackburn caught this solid winter snapper while working a ZMan Jerk ShadZ in electric chicken off the back of a bait ball. channels. Bonito schools can be seen busting up as well, and often accompany large schools of herring as they move from one area to the next. Spanish mackerel never let an opportunity go by and have been haunting the schoolies, bonnies and baitfish schools locally.

Urangan Pier this time last year experienced an incredible run of school mackerel that drew large numbers of anglers to target these silver speedsters. A very effective technique used to target schoolies is spinning, using spoons in various weights from 25-50g, with the 35g option most popular with locals.

They’re best utilised by being flicked upcurrent of the pier and allowed to sink to the bottom, before a rapid retrieve back to draw the attention of a roaming hungry mackerel.

For a more laidback approach, jig a few live herring and flick them

out on various rigs. The unweighted option using a set of two 4/0 hooks ganged together, pinning the herring through the snout, flicked upcurrent and allowed to freely swim back with the current towards the pier is a deadly technique.

Alternatively, a slightly weighted option fished downcurrent of the pier to suspend your bait mid water can be used successfully.

The town beaches will start to increase in activity, especially around the building tides on the lead up to the full moon, and good catches of whiting and flathead should be available. Targeting areas such as the first channel of the Urangan Pier, the rock groynes and Scarness and Torquay jetties on the last of the making tide will be effective options.

Platypus Bay has been consistently producing for sport fishos targeting a variety of trevally species,

most commonly golden and tea-leaf trevally over the various reefs, with the odd big queenfish and cobia mixed in. Vertically dropping micro jigs amongst the located fish can be a very effective technique especially in a shut down situation, otherwise jerk shad and curly tail plastics will be your best bet.

Snapper numbers have been rather inconsistent throughout this area, with fish moving in and out quite quickly. This may be due to the decrease in yakka schools that frequent local waters throughout the cooler periods. In saying that, those who have stumbled across bait have found some quality fish mixed in and successfully targeted them on plastics and live baits.

The 25 Fathom Hole and the Gutters will still hold numbers of snapper, and searching until you locate the baitfish will

undoubtedly increase your chances of locating and catching your target.

A mixed bag should be achievable fishing the gnarly ledge country with sweetlip, hussar, Moses perch, cod, tuskfish, coral trout and the odd red all on the cards. The best results will come to those who have spent the time catching livies, preferably pike or yakka, to drop down the ledge face. Alternatively, tea bagging soft plastics will produce good results also, however large numbers of trevally, cobia and mackerel could potentially make it difficult to get your lure to the bottom.

The majority of reports coming in from out wide and beyond Break Sea have been fruitful, with some serious quality amongst the mix of reds, tuskfish, sweetlip (emperors) and jobfish from the shallower (sub 60m) country, and decent snapper and pearlies from the deeper shelf waters. Sharks have been an issue out wide at times, so be prepared to up anchor and move a few miles in the hope to lose them before getting back into the action.

The trolling scene has been pretty hot of late and should only continue to improve. Consistent numbers of juvenile black marlin either side of 100kg have been caught out the eastern side of Fraser and just south of the Cape, although as we know, these fish can be there one day and gone the next. Aim to cover as much water as possible to locate the fish. A few of the larger vessels testing the waters around the shelf area have experienced successful results, crossing paths with striped and blue marlin. If last year is anything to go off, this year is going to be another incredible season – fingers crossed!

SEPTEMBER 2019

41

Seas the day, it’s time to fish!

RAINBOW BEACH

Ed Falconer

There’s been a brilliant run of weather lately and we’ve had some great fishing to match!

OFFSHORE The offshore fishing has been nothing short of outstanding. There have been bags of pearl perch, lots of big snapper and all other species have been biting very well.

The odd thing is that floating baits and soft plastics have been distant seconds to a standard two hook dropper rig. I can’t say that I’ve seen this before, especially at this time of year.

Some of the quality pearl perch and snapper captures aboard the Keely Rose lately.

In close, there have been some good coral trout on offer, with small live yakkas proving the best bait. Big estuary cod have also been falling for the yakkas.

GREAT SANDY STRAITS Diver whiting are in big numbers and some good catches have come from around the Bluff Reef and Pelican Bay. Mud crabs have been potted lately. They’re not in big numbers at the moment but the quality is excellent.

However, it should still be quite easy to round up a feed of squid, as they seem to be all through the Straits.

SEPTEMBER September is always a favourite month here. The fishing should be very consistent, with quality catches of snapper, pearl perch and red emperor all likely.

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

Harry landed this thumping estuary cod on a recent trip.

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Discover Starlo’s Aussie Anglers’ Almanac

An understanding of fishing’s seasonal patterns and subtle variations is vital knowledge that can only really come with serious time spent on the water. However, there are also online aids that can help you untangle and better understand these all-important seasonal nuances.

Fishing Monthly regular, Steve ‘Starlo’ Starling, and his wife Jo have put an immense amount of work into creating a very detailed Anglers’ Almanac as part of their Fishotopia.com

website. Starlo and Jo report that they are already receiving wonderful feedback on the Almanac from fellow fishers who tell them that it’s making a big difference to their fishing

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On every day of the year, the Fishotopian Aussie Anglers’ Almanac offers a suggested daily routine, reminders of seasons and other important information.

across Australia, along with daily diary updates that provide far more specific suggestions on worthwhile fishing routines, maintenance schedules and a daily heads-up on hot patterns for that specific time of the year.

Many anglers are finding this information so beneficial that they’re making the Fishotopian Anglers’ Almanac the home screen on their computer or mobile device. Best of all, it’s completely free!

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Racking up the reef catches GLADSTONE

Dylan Christie

Last month offered some absolutely stunning weather and yet again offshore anglers were frothing at the bit to get out there and get stuck into reefies. They didn’t miss out either – so many quality captures have been rolling in from the outer reefs. The best thing about fishing in CQ is the diverse range of species on hand to target whether you’re inshore or offshore.

trout, however anglers here have switched onto another way to target these species that seems to be equally as effective, if not better. They often seem to produce a more quality class of coral trout.

Two different styles of lures have been the undoing of plenty of quality CQ trout. The Samaki Vibelicious Thumper Tail 30g 125mm is a large soft vibe lure perfect for depths anywhere from 5-40m, depending on the run. The Ecooda Live Shrimp 127mm comes

Jonty jigged up this monster pearly on a recent trip to the shelf.

OFFSHORE I am sticking to my word here and saying that without a doubt this has been one of the best years for coral trout I have ever seen. Fresh and live baits are great for targeting the mighty coral

rigged with a weedless jighead, however it seems that when targeting coral trout, it is better to take that hook out and rig it with a standard strong jighead such as the Berkley Nitro Saltwater Pro. The best part about

these lures is how simple they are to use. Both can be sunk to the bottom and hopped slowly up to roughly 1m off the bottom, and then you can use a shorter sharp hop, creating a bit more action. The by-catch from using this technique is amazing, with the amount of different species possible keeping you on edge, never knowing what you are going to pull next.

During the last few patches of good weather, cracking red emperors have been captured. If you’re new to targeting reds, a great rule of thumb is that big baits catch big fish, so hard baits like a hussar fillet, mullet fillet or cuttlefish are top options.

If you are targeting reds on the wider reefs, waters of 40m+ seem to be the most consistent. However, the biggest reds in our area come from only 25m of water inshore around the 12 Mile. It’s all about finding that isolated structure such as bommies, ferns, rubble or the latest craze, wonky holes.

Spanish mackerel have still been getting around in a big way, with plenty of fish in that 10-15kg size class. It always pays to be prepared for that monster fish to show up, especially if you are trolling baits.

Of late, schooled fish have been reported around the current lines at Bustard Head and some big fish have been caught at Rundle Island. If you’re heading to Rock Cod Shoals make sure you have a floater out,

because if they are around they will usually hone in on it pretty quickly.

The shelf has been quite good for anglers that like heading out wider, with some quality pearl perch and goldband snapper, as well as snapper and amberjack. Jigging for these deepwater species has been very effective. Generally fishers have been using electric reels, as it will hurt on conventional tackle because it’s a long way.

Wrecks are always on the cards for people heading out the front because there is a huge range of different species to target. Soft plastics and jigs are very productive for pelagic species like trevally, mackerel and cobia, especially when you can see them suspended off the bottom on the sounder.

Most times, you can find patches of bait on and around the wreck where you can use bait jigs to collect livies. Livies have been producing more quality fish such as nannygai, coral trout and even red emperor on the wider wrecks.

ESTUARIES With the days getting longer and water getting warmer, the great estuary fishing we’ve been having should only improve.

Calliope has still got some big bream and even the odd blue salmon coming through. With this warmer weather, barra and jacks have already started. The upper reaches are always worth a look on the larger tides and at neap tide, fish

Best barra is yet to come LAKE MONDURAN

Rob Howell

August really fired up and produced some of the best barra fishing we’ve seen all year. We can only hope the last month is a curtain raiser for what’s to come over the warmer months.

Barra of all sizes have been on offer. Fish around the 60-80cm mark have been common, then now the bigger 80-95cm models are starting to come on the chew. Once again, windward points and bays have been the places to find feeding barra, areas like Jacks Bay, Insane Bay, Heart Bay, Vegas, Two Mile Creek and White Rock have all been fishing well. Most of these areas will have a few ‘bite zones’ throughout them.

For instance, Jacks Bay is

huge with many points and bays throughout, which can seem overwhelming when trying to find the bite zone. There are a couple of tips to help you get started when looking for one.

Firstly, you need to follow the wind, then scan the banks using your side imaging sounder until you find where the barra are holding up.

Secondly, scan past the barra a few times to find where they are thickest, then by visually looking at the landscape or by using your sounder, pick out a feature. This feature could be a laydown tree or log, a bunch of spindly trees or even something as simple as a broken weed section along a bank.

These featured areas are the most likely places to catch a barra.

It’s encouraging to see anglers regaining faith in Lake Monduran’s ability to

produce good bite sessions with decent size barra. The lake has been through its ups and downs over the past 8 years with major floods hitting us every couple of years, which had lead to lost barra stocks over the wall. The lake’s level is finally dropping and with a predicted dry season ahead it will only drop further giving us a buffer zone in the event of another major rain.

Two of the Queensland’s biggest freshwater fishing comps are set to start on the 19 October at Lake Monduran. The Tackleworld Bundaberg Family Fishing Comp and the Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra Comp both begin on the same day.

The Bundaberg Toyota Golden Barra comp is set to be the biggest yet. The major prize for capturing the Golden Barra is a

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• Our team here at Lake Monduran look forward to seeing you in the near future for some barra action. For Charter, houseboat and accommodation bookings please contact us email info@lakem.com.au or call us on (07) 4157 3881 or my mobile 0410 599 147. Check out my facebook page for up to date barra info, Lake Monduran Guidelines Fishing Charters.

Blake with a beautiful inshore red emperor caught on a soft plastic. are more focused from Diamantina Island back to the mouth.

Toolooa Bends (South Trees) has continued to produce plenty of grunter with some absolute monsters taken on a variety of baits and lures. The mouth of Wild Cattle Creek is one for the kids, as it’s a great place for chasing whiting and flathead on a run-in tide, as the water flows over the sand bars where the yabby beds are.

HARBOUR On the points and rock bars around the islands, plenty of barramundi have been about with black jewfish and golden snapper, especially on the neap tide sets where you can easily fish slightly deeper water. If you can find concentrated bait, big fish won’t be too far away.

AWOONGA Everyone is so keen to see what this season

brings for Awoonga, with the absolute monster pulled from the dam back in July that was over 1.4m and 46kg.

It is a great sign to see a fish of that size, so let’s hope there are a few more beauties kicking around. There were fish being pulled from there consistently throughout winter, mainly on shallow diving hardbodies as well as larger 5 and 6” paddle-tails.

• For all the latest info on what’s biting and where, drop into Pat’s Tackle World at 23 Lord Street, Gladstone or give them a call on (07) 4972 3692. The team have their finger to the pulse to what is happening in the area, and are sure to point you in the right direction.

You can also find news, catch photos and special deals on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ PatsTackleworldGladstone) or check them out on Instagram (@ patstackleworld).

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43

A new season offers a new angling approach BUNDABERG

Jason Medcalf topwater@bigpond.com

August threw everything at us in regards to weather, so let’s hope September is a bit kinder.

The start of spring is flathead time and it should be worthwhile to target these great fish in any system. There is a lot written on targeting flathead and most of it will confirm that better results come from keeping your lure as close to the bottom as possible. To step it up a bit, once you have your feed of flathead why don’t you have a go at targeting them on surface lures?

It may sound a bit contradicting but the humble flathead is quite the predator, and will adapt to situations to get a feed. Like most fish in estuaries, they are very found of prawns and small fish, which you imitate when

surface fishing for them. I have been fishing surface lures in creeks for a long time, as it’s my favourite style of fishing, and I usually target mangrove jack, barramundi and the many pelagic species that grow in estuaries.

Over the years, I have caught plenty of flathead while casting to edges and I pretty much wrote them off as the odd aggressive fish that I stumbled across. Now, thanks to some very forward thinking from talented anglers that have spent time targeting flathead solely on the surface, I was motivated to take their knowledge and apply it on local waters. What I have found so far is that it is not only flathead that love chasing down small surface lures on local waters, so do a whole host of other species.

Flathead, bream and trevally seem to just love sitting over shallow weed beds, muddy edges and any other coloured bottom that gives them an ambush advantage.

Of course, these areas are home to prawns and small fish, so when a small lure imitating a fleeing prawn or fish is within its hunting zone you have a very good chance of tempting them. The lures I have had success with are the Bassday Sugapen, Halco Roosta Popper in 45 and 65 and Berkley Scum Dog. All lures have caught fish but the Sugapen really fired up the whiting when fished over the open patches of shallow water.

The technique is fairly simple though there is a lot of casting involved, so you will need a well-balanced outfit of around 7ft long and fairly light, with a 2-3 kg outfit suitable. Add some 6lb braid and for flathead, at least 10lb leader to start with. Consider going higher if the fish are really aggressive and taking the lure deep.

Cast long across weed beds and dark bottoms with drop-offs nearby and mix

This bream ate the Sugapen while searching for flathead. up retrieves until you find what is working. Sometimes it will be a steady quick

retrieve with the rod tip high and the lure skipping across the surface, and other times

they’ll react to a slower ‘walk the dog’ or popping style.

Either way, it’s an exciting way to fish and you will catch a lot of other species while working it out.

PLACES TO TRY The Baffle weed beds around the creek mouth have been one of my recent testing grounds. The Elliott River at Riverview has some nice rock bottom to cast over, which can be done from shore. Coonarr Creek also has great shore-based areas that can be fished via kayak as well.

There are worthwhile areas in the Burnett but you need to get in early before the main boat traffic starts.

The ferry crossing flats are well worth a look, especially at low tide. For southside anglers, Theodolite Creek at Woodgate is awesome and can be walked at low tide.

The Burrum River has so many areas worth a try that it’s on my list for this month.

Reel in Rocky reefies ROCKHAMPTON

Clayton Nicholls clay94_fishing@live.com.au

The weather is starting to brighten and with that, the fishing has begun to improve.

Hopefully as September progresses, it will only get better.

THE FITZROY Threadfin salmon have been playing harder to get this year. There seem to be at least some numbers of fish moving and holding on the high tide, unlike last year when the low tide held them better. Using side

Pat Egan with a beast of a threadfin salmon caught on a recent trip in the Fitzroy.

Chloe Gartner caught this beautifully marked coral trout on a quick trip off the coast.

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imaging to scan the deep edges of the river has been key to targeting barra schools around the joint, with quite a few active around Devils Elbow and occasionally holding on the sunken ship before the Elbow itself.

Jighead weight has actively changed from 3/8oz to 1/2oz or even 5/8oz because most have been targeting the fish on the top of the tide. I would go as far as 3/4oz when using bigger, more buoyant soft plastics like ZMans or Powerbait Hollow Belly.

When fishing for barras mixed into the rocks and sitting in the drains, a lighter weighted prawn imitation is a great starting point because the river is chockers with yorkies, prawns and mullet, with prawns seeming to be the overall favourite.

Up in town is certainly salty at the moment, with a few dolphins actively working bait. Dinner-

sized flathead have been caught by flicking shrimp imitations just off the old boat ramp under the bridge. If live baiting is your preferred method, the current prawn size of about 4” will be great for targeting salmon if rigged through the tail and sent out with a light weight.

INSHORE REGIONS The weather has been fantastic for anyone lucky enough to get midweek off and anyone getting out has been absolutely cleaning up on reef fish around the region. Better yet, the pontoons are back in action down at the marina. One thing to look out for is the amount of whales moving around. It’s best not to head anywhere at speed until daylight, otherwise you run the risk of being too close to them.

The tides and moon phases for the coming months should provide great reef fishing. Out east and south of Keppel has

held some good fish, but it’s not been nearly as good as punching north.

The islands have still had great quantities of baitfish, with many large schools holding over rises and little structure points. There have also been plenty of schools of bonito around, mostly near the Farnborough bommie. They make great Spanish bait.

ESTUARIES Flathead have been everywhere this month.

They have averaged 55cm but there are definitely some bigger models out there. We have landed them down in the port and town reaches while fishing rock bars for barra, bringing some welcome variety to the table. Flathead have been holding well on drop-offs and ledges but we have also pulled them off rock bars and other structure while fishing vibes and To page 45

Blue skies our spring reward STANAGE BAY

Peewee

Shout out to everyone that’s been fortunate enough to head out and embrace the fantastic weather we’ve had of late! The calm seas have taken some time in getting here, but now the fishing window is wide open.

Some great fish have been coming through the boat yard for show and tell. Supersized muddies are out and about, and the northern side of Quail Island should get you a decent haul. Local creeks have been plentiful with bream, steelback and blue salmon. Numbers

Stanage Bay’s beautiful weather has made for excellent fishing lately.

There’s plenty of reefies on offer, like this vibrant red emperor.

From page 44

big plastics.

On the beaches, plenty of whiting and blue salmon have been caught.

A number 2 bean sinker with prawn has done wonders on a light rod.

You don’t need anything fancy around here, as there aren’t any proper surf beaches unless it’s blowing 20 odd knots. A typical 2-4kg 7’ rod for estuary fishing will be

quite at home.

Fishing the sand flats at the last of the incoming tide and the first of the outgoing has seen anything from bream and grunter to flathead and trevally caught.

A light sinker accompanied with a size 2 hook and 6lb leader has been effective baited up with some freshly pumped yabbies.

CRABBING Crabs have started to pick up and there have been some good hauls taken

have been up throughout the recent months and even the odd barramundi has been caught.

The boat ramp works are progressing well, as is roadway maintenance. If these are our biggest setbacks, then I’d say life is pretty good!

Whales should be commencing their journey back up the coastline past Stanage Bay, so if your intentions are to go out wide please be cautious that they may be about. Some sightings have been reported but numbers will increase over the next couple of months.

If you’ve got the time, it’s worthwhile just having a whale watch day, as long as already. It definitely pays to keep an eye on your sounder when dropping pots to try and get them in warmer water if you can find it. In the morning, the river’s temperature has ranged from 16-21°C. Any frames from reef fish or estuary fishing will work well and there are always people giving them away on social media. You can’t really argue with free bait if it produces good crabs.

John Egan landed this huge thready from the Fitzroy River.

you remember to allow them their space.

Reef fish have been getting better and better, with some massive red emperor and cod coming through from locations in the Percy Isles and around the Marble Island group.

Hefty size sweetlip, coral trout and snapper have also been caught around Marble Island group. Hexham Island has been providing entertainment with a few smaller species such as stripeys, little rock cod and younger nannygai.

This year’s catches have been more consistent, but it’s been excellent to see the quality of fish coming in improve.

Fishing should be picking up to the south around Shoalwater Bay area, as it has had quite the dry spell from rough weather and the closure due to Exercise Talisman Sabre. The area being reopened should give anglers the chance at chasing some decent queenfish and mangrove jack.

So, load your hooks up with some nice fresh bait and give them some variety. If you’re finding success using new trends, please let us know so we can encourage others to give this a go. Any suggestions are always welcome so we can ensure everyone gets a turn at

This angler was very pleased with his awesome cod catch. catching the big one.

The boat yard also has some spare room at present if you’re tired of towing your prized possession in and out of the dirt road – not that your boat should be stored, given the top weather conditions.

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45

Winter is over and we’re getting back into the fun MACKAY

Keith Day habdays@bigpond.net.au

Spring is here, you beauty! September sees our weather patterns change completely from predominately S/SE winds to E/NE, which usually means light winds until lunchtime, then gusty afternoons, before dropping right out again just before dark.

Consistent conditions will be a welcome change from the odd calm day or two that have been teasing us for the last month or so, and give anglers are real chance to get among some fine catches.

These conditions mean that the large bait schools of hardiheads will stay close inshore and bring with them the small mackerels, and tuna. Apart from the smaller macks, there will be the odd large Spanish mackerel, cobia, longtail tuna and various trevally species hammering the bait. It’s a veritable bonanza of pelagics that anglers can catch either from small boats or the harbour wall.

For the small boat angler, the spots are almost endless, from areas to the North off Seaforth to islands out from Cape Palmerston South of Sarina.

Just be careful of the green zones off Seaforth, as they are not really very clear on the maps and the patrol officers keep a close eye on these areas. Spots are many and varied, but regular producers include Lonely Rock, and Fish Reef near Newry Island and Slade Rock and Slade Island just out from the harbour.

Basically, wherever the bait schools are, you can find macks and tuna and I have even caught them all along Lamberts Beach within a decent cast of the shoreline. Big doggies, spotties and longtails sure are fun in a couple of metres of water and the rooster tails from braided line and howling drags are great therapy for picking up the spirits.

Trolling lures is always a good way to find the fish and a couple of barra style lures running 2-3m down will find plenty of takers.

Keep an eagle eye on the sounder while trolling and if there is a show of bait on the screen, drop a jig, metal, vibe or softy in among the bait for an almost guaranteed hook-up.

Many anglers will anchor up at spots like the ‘run through’ on the ocean side of Slade Island and drift ganged hook rigged 46

SEPTEMBER 2019

Bankside snags, sooties and popper flies go really well together. Kim Palfrey hauled this one out of the snag in the background. pilchards down current with a small sinker to get the bait down a bit. Berley can be used, but remember to use only a little only, as you don’t want the bait and predators to be hundreds of metres from where you are fishing.

Don’t be surprised to pick up the odd trout, grassy lipper or cod when baitfishing, as they will often sit under the bait schools and mop up the pieces left over from the pelagic attacks.

Spring is not all about pelagic offshore, as the beaches, creeks and estuaries produce good catches of top sporting and eating fish, right up to the mighty barra.

Flathead will be a target species as they become more active, and the good run of bartails will be a mainstay of the creeks and estuaries. Like flathead anywhere, they respond to baits like yabbies, prawns, livies and strip baits as well as lures and flies. Many a flatty has been caught on lures by anglers chasing barra, particularly at the top of the tide and first of run-out around the sand banks and drop offs, down towards the open waters of the creeks.

The Pioneer River whiting should still be on the chew, with better catches being made of a nighttime, with a drift

upriver using fresh yabbies being a very pleasant way to spend a few hours away from the heat of the day. As usual, the best spots in the river tend to be between the ‘V’ and the highway bridge, with Cullen Island being a reliable spot.

Grunter or javelin fish, and both species of bream will also still be active in the creeks and along the beaches. Swallowtail dart can also be found along the beaches during spring and summer with either worms or yabbies being the favoured baits.

Spring also sees the ‘unofficial’ start of the barra and jack season, with warmer water and air temperatures prompting them to move around and feed more actively.

Check out the creeks in the NFZ as well as the old reliable ones like Constant, Reliance, Bakers and Rocky Dam creeks. Find the warmer water, some cover or bait and barra won’t be far away. Barra can also be found around the close-in islands and around the headlands, as any spearfisher can attest, with some absolute horses hanging around Flat and Round Top islands.

After going more or less into hibernation during the colder months, the mud crabs should be moving about and dropping a couple of pots in can often

save the day. Unfortunately, these days you almost have to sit nearby, as crab pot thieves seem to be getting worse. Use fish frames of oily species like mackerel

or tuna or a couple of pilchards in some ‘gutter guard’ or similar for bait, as the oil attracts the crabs to the pot. It could almost be called berleying for crabs, and the results generally are worth the effort.

On the freshwater scene, the warmer weather sees the dam and river barra way more active and there will be plenty of action at Kinchant, Teemburra and Eungella dams, with recent reports of lots of fish seen on sounders but generally there has been a reluctance to bite. The warm spring weather should see the action hot up considerably.

Look for the barra on the windward side of the dams at points on the ends of bays and inlets. There will also be plenty around the lilies and weed beds as well as the timbered country. While big paddletails will be very popular again this season, I really prefer surface lures or floating hardbodies that can be worked in and around cover.

In the river’s freshwater reaches, there has been the odd barra caught during the cooler months, but from now on sooty chasers in the river will often get a big ‘hurry up’ from the barra MAFSA stocks in the river each year.

Of course, the sooties will just keep on slamming lures during spring in both the dams and along

the Pioneer/Cattle Creek catchment. Early storms may see the sooties coming into roe, and if so, MAFSA will have the hatchery cranked up and ready for spawning an early run of sooties.

MAFSA members are really pumped about this sooty breeding season, as we expect to crack the one million mark for sooties spawned and released from the hatchery. That’s not a bad effort at all for a volunteer organisation!

Tackleworld Mackay and MAFSA are running a joint Gooseponds tilapia competition each month, with the biggest tilapia getting a $20 open order at Tackle World. Anyone can enter and it’s free. It is run via MAFSA Facebook and to enter simply catch your Gooseponds tilapia, take a photo with it on a brag mat or tape measure so it can be verified and send it to MAFSA Facebook page.

July was the first month and 8-year-old Georgia Gardner won with a 36cm tilapia. Remember, every tilapia taken out of the Gooseponds and killed is one less breeder of the noxious species.

So that’s a roundup of September action in Mackay, with plenty of options in the salty stuff and the freshwater scene, so come and join us in Paradise.

See you at the ramp.

Isabella Greenhalgh was super proud of her nice sickle fish caught drifting a prawn bait in the Pioneer River while fishing with her Grandad Ray.

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2019 zerek barra tour calendar

Springboarding from the successful Zerek BARRA Tour, ABT is excited about the 2019 calendar.

It’s only one event longer, but what a cracker it will be! The Venom Rods BARRA Australian Open will be launched in Lake Awoonga in September, and according to local Awoonga guide Justin Nye, the timing couldn’t be better.

As the water warms in September, Awoonga’s current barra crop will be feeding up big time, and the positioning of the event as a mid-week, live scoreboard barra spectacle means that you’re not fighting the weekend warriors for a crack at these fish.

Check out Justin Nye’s article inside to get a real head start on this event.

Justin spends more time on this lake than nearly anyone, and he has handed out some pretty useful info. ABT’s motto is ‘Who Shares Wins’, and he has shared for us all.

For several years, the Zerek BARRA Tour has been

DATE

LOCATION

EVENT

SPONSOR

SESSION TIMES

10-12 Sept

Lake Awoonga

BARRA Australian Open (Evening 3-day Event)

Venom Rods

2pm - 10pm

8 Nov

Kinchant Dam

BARRA Tour Round #1 (Evening Event)

Power-Pole

4pm - 12am

9 Nov

Teemburra Dam

BARRA Tour Round #2 (Evening Event)

Edge Rods

4pm - 12am

11 Nov

Peter Faust Dam

BARRA Tour Round #3 (Night Event)

Samaki

4pm - 8am

13-14 Nov

Peter Faust Dam

BARRA Tour Round #4 (Evening 2-day Event)

Wilsons

4pm - 12am

using the ABT Tournament Series app (powered by Track My Fish) to log and record catches, however the lakes on the traditional BARRA Tour are often out of mobile phone coverage.

Kinchant is the only one that has 100% reception, and that event is just as exciting for anglers following off the water as it is for competitors. Last year, the lead chopped and changed until the final minutes.

The Open will be the same. Featuring 100% cash paybacks as well as around $5,000 in Venom Rods prizes and a spectacular perennial trophy, we know you’ll want to be able to tell the story that you were there at the first BARRA Australian Open. With the BREAM and BASS Aus Opens firmly entrenched in the calendars, we know that the resurgent Awoonga event will be the start of something special.

The other lesson we have learned in the Zerek BARRA Tour is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. We have added a single rest day

between events 2 and 3, and that’s it. The waxing moon, the time of year and the lake rotation all stays the same for this epic barra trip that suits newbies and tournament veterans alike.

There’s no better way to fast track your barra learning curve than to spend time with those anglers who excel at it. In recent years, competitors have been proud to share their knowledge. Just take a look at the 2018 BARRA Tour Team of the Year. Geoff Newby and Phill Lyons do their thing extremely well, and they’re happy to share all of the gear and techniques that they use inside this magazine. We hope that you enjoy their take on the Team of the Year title, and it might just give you the confidence to give it a go.

Remember that all new teams are welcome to either of these events – it’s not a secret club – and the fishing looks to be as good as ever.

I hope to see y’all on the Tour or at the Open. – Steve Morgan, ABT Director

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FLAT SHAD 7" & 9"

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Zerek BARRA Tour’s top Four on the Floor MACKAY

Stephen Booth

Tournament anglers are unlike anything else you will find in the fishing world.

They are pedantic, intuitive and exceptional. They discover the best of the best in lures, and quickly work out alterations or additions to get the most from these plastic and timber offerings. Rarely

is a lure fished by a barra tournament angler ‘straight out of the box’.

Their penchant for tinkering goes against the efforts that lure designers and manufacturers put into their lures to get them right. However, clued-in manufacturers can learn valuable lessons from these switched-on anglers. Of course, the ultimate aim is to deliver a lure that anglers

The 5.5” Live Mullet was an immediate success for the Wells Brothers on Proserpine’s barra.

can literally take out of the box and tie on with absolute confidence, and that’s as it should be.

While bream and bass fishers are moderate tinkerers, barra tournament anglers are elite tinkerers. I’m yet to run across a barra tournament angler who has not changed split rings, swapped over hooks, boiled soft plastics or cut extra nicks into a tail – all in an effort to get that extra 1% they are striving for daily.

The reason is simple – that 1% may be the difference between coming first or last.

At Zerek we thoroughly test all our lures before they are released, as do most manufacturers. We are happy to say that anglers can use our lures straight out of the box and catch fish, but barra tournament anglers find ways to modify the lure’s set-up to meet their needs.

I don’t take any of this tinkering as a sign of poor design. I prefer to look at it as elite level anglers seeing something they really like in our lures, and taking the time to adjust it to suit their needs.

It’s a real win-win for us, as we get loads of ideas for our next lure and some very solid feedback from the players who set the trends in fishing.

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The big paddle tail and easily crushed body of the Flat Shad allow for great hook sets.

Very occasionally we will release a lure that is on point and needs no adjustment or retrofitting of components – a lure that everyone is comfortable using straight out of the box. The Fish Trap series, fitted out with 4x strong Mustad Saltism trebles, is one of the few lures that barra impoundment anglers can literally use straight out of the box!

However, this lure does not suit every application tournament anglers fish. Some anglers still cut into the body and remove grams of lead, others are experimenting with assist-style hooks, still others are using lure pens to change the colours to suit. Tinkerers will be tinkerers!

We’re lucky to have a number of very keen tournament barra anglers who choose to use our lures, and I’ve taken the time to talk to four of them about a particular Zerek lure and how they get the best from it in the heat of tournament battle. I deliberately asked them not to be afraid of telling me the whole story. I want to know

what changes they make to get that extra 1% in the end result. I want to know how the lure is best used and, more importantly, I want all of you to know these secrets too.

Let’s get into it and look

a habit of working out exactly how to get the best from a number of Zerek Lures, and their immediate love for the Live Mullet when chasing Faust’s big silver slabs was obvious.

This barra nailed the Zerek Fish Trap on a vertical presentation. at the four Zerek lures you must have on this year’s Zerek BARRA Tour.

WELLS BROTHERS ZEREK LIVE MULLET 5.5” Nick and Matt have made

“The Live Mullet showed up in 2017 and was an instant hit,” said Matt. “We were fishing and filming at Faust with Harro (Rod Harrison) just after they were released, and after a few good meteries

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The Zerek Flat Shad is a great search bait for barra in the impoundments.

abt

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

his words were, ‘Nice one boys, it’s a bloody game changer’.

“We first fished them on a rising dam, and the smaller profile was great for fishing

soft lure is amazing,” he said.

“Whether you fish it hard and fast or soft and gentle, the life-like tail will be pumping from the first turn of your reel to the last.”

applications, Matt said that they like to upgrade the treble to a size 1/0 Mustad 4x strong Saltism for that extra bit of sting and strength.

“The extra width of the

Robbie and Dicko caught this double header on Zerek Fish Traps vertically jigging them to a deep snag that had fish stacked all over it. right up in the shallows in the newly flooded grass and sticks.”

It was an epic first trip for the boys, and confirmed their initial thoughts that these lures would be a game changer.

Nick said that they like to fish the Mullet in depths ranging from 3-12ft, but added that it can also be very productive fishing deeper.

“The versatility of this

A medium to fast retrieve with a few quick rips of the rod gets the Mullet dancing around the water column and can help to get that reaction bite out of those lock-jawed fish. It’s really quite a sight when you first see the Live Mullet doing its thing in the water!

Although the Live Mullet can be fished straight out of the box for a lot of

1/0’s gauge can also help to pin those inquisitive, swiping fish,” Matt said.

In regards to colour, Nick said that their colours of choice for Faust are min min, fat betty, temmy and orange gill.

“These three colours have been standouts from day one,” Nick said, “and they have each delivered many of Faust’s magical meteries to the net.”

LOCHIE REED - FISH TRAP Lochie Reed is a gun at interpreting sounders and making the right lure and techniques choices from these observations and, over the last couple of Zerek BARRA Tours, has come to rely on the Fish Trap for a lot of work.

“When turning up to fish it can take some time to understand what’s happening with all the variables,” Lochie said. “The first thing I do is look for barra on the sounder and try to understand what they are doing, and then hatch a plan to catch them.

“The most critical element is what to cast at the barra to trigger a bite, and nearly always my first choice is a Zerek 95mm Fish Trap.

“Why? Versatility!”

The Fish Trap can be fished in many ways and at many depths, making it the perfect prospecting lure.

Barra can be fickle critters, and presenting a lure just right can be the difference between donuts or winning a competition. This is seen all the time on Tour, where one team can be fishing right beside another, throwing similar lures, and only one team is getting the bites.

“Fishing the Zerek BARRA Tour for the last few years has put into perspective how important it is to crack a

pattern quickly,” Lochie said.

“Running over a week and with events on three different dams, anglers need to be able to adapt to each dam’s requirements.”

Lochie said that the Fish Traps can be cast at weed edges to tempt barra in Kinchant just as easily as it can be vertically presented to barra in Peter Faust and Teemburra in snag piles. It is this versatility that allows barra tournament anglers to use the Fish Trap at all the venues the Tour visits.

“The Fish Traps are ready to fish straight out of the box,” said Lochie. “We

do experiment with them occasionally by changing hooks and rings to make them lighter or heavier depending on what we need to do, but on most occasions, they are fished as they come.

All in all, the Fish Trap is versatile, strong and easy to fish. With four different sizes, there is a Fish Trap to match whatever the barra are feeding on at the time, and at any of the locations fished.

“I wouldn’t even think about fishing the BARRA Tour without an assortment of fish traps in different sizes and To page 6

Faust barra love smashing the Zerek Live Mullet 5.5” whether that’s in the trees, over the weeds or over the flats.

FRENCH DESIGN FOR TOURNAMENT ANGLERS

4”

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8”

5”

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For the full Biwaa range please visit www.ejtodd.com.au abt

TAG 2019

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Tournament Angler Guide

From page 5

colours in my kit,” Lochie said.

TROY DIXON LIVE SWIMBAIT Troy ‘Dicko’ Dixon is a well-known identity on the Zerek BARRA Tour, and he uses the Tour to test many Zerek lures before release to the general public. It puts him in a position to really understand the lures and how to get the most from them.

The 8” Live Swimbait holds a special place in Dicko’s heart, delivering him a metre-plus barra on the very first cast with the lure while pre-fishing for the 2018 Tour.

This lure also delivered his largest impoundment barra over the 120cm mark! So it’s

fair to say this is a lure that can deliver on the big stage.

“The best time to use the Live Swimbait is when you see fish sitting off the bottom or holding mid-water,” Dicko said. “These fish are a little more active than the weed dwellers, and respond well to the big bait.

“When I see these fish on the sounder I will cast the lure towards the fish and allow it to sink to the just above the fish’s depth, and then start a slow retrieve with lots of pauses.”

It’s interesting to note here that the Live Swimbait sinks in freshwater at a rate of a foot a second without additional weight, allowing for fairly precise positioning of the lure

Dark lures are becoming a real game changer for impoundment barra and the green sunset colour in the Zerek Fish Trap has proven itself during testing and after release since May 2019.

abt.org.au

The blended frog patterned Fish Trap is a new colour that had immediate success on impoundment barra. in the water column.

Dicko added that the lure matches the hatch on many occasions, especially when the fish are eating bony bream.

The Live Swimbait is a lure that you can option up, but Troy rarely alters the lure further than changing the split rings by doubling them up. You can add chin weights, hooks on the dorsal surface, swap out for assist hooks, add blades – the options are endless!

“The bite is vicious so hang on,” Dicko said. “The barra really crunch this lure hard so hang onto your tackle as you could easily lose it over the side if you’re not concentrating.”

Park your boat on the floor it deserves!

As far as colours go, Troy recommends two colours, the mainly white FB (flying bear) and OBT (orange belly trout).

If you want to go for something loud and proud, he said colour T (temmy) would be great.

MICHAEL DETENON ZEREK FLAT SHAD Michael has fished the last two seasons of the Zerek BARRA Tour, and has been incredibly successful fishing the Zerek Flat Shad.

The Flat Shad is a unique lure that features side slits that allow the soft plastic to compress and expose the worm hook it comes rigged with, however some anglers fish this lure on a jighead rig and yet others add a stinger to the bottom of the worm hook.

The most recent upgrade to the Pro Series has seen the inclusion of an eyelet moulded into the worm hook weight to give anglers an easy connection point for their bottom stinger treble.

“The Zerek Flat Shad has been my impoundment go-to lure for some time now, and it is the lure I tie on knowing on any given cast I can catch a barra,” Michael said.

“My love for the 7” Flat Shad came about when I first started fishing competitions in the freshwater impoundments.

I knew a big paddle tail plastic was needed, and I wanted something that I could rip out of the packet and throw without having to boil it, cut it or mangle it in any way. The 7” Flatty was what I found, and it didn’t only look good to me, the fish found it looked

pretty good as well.”

Results came quickly for Michael and his team mates, finishing in the Top 10 in

several comps and bringing home a Top 5 Team of the Year finish last year.

While Michael says these lures catch fish straight from the packet, he has added a 1/0, 4x strong treble to the tow point on the bottom of the standard hook, and with that Michael reckons the Flat Shad is ready to go.

“They are just so easy to use, whether it is a weed point, a deep ledge or casting in amongst the trees,” he said.

“You let the lure get to the depth you want and just slow wind. There is no need for hops or twitches, and as you slow roll you can feel the big tail doing its thing right through to your rod tip.

“My confidence in these lures has grown so strong that on the last ABT Barra Tour I caught every single one of my

• Zerek Fish Trap

• Zerek Flat Shad

• Zerek Live Swimbait

• Zerek Live Swimbait

TACKLE All the lures mentioned can be fished on the following outfits.

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barra on the Flat Shad. The space mullet is the colour I tie on first, but I am never really worried about colour, as I have now caught barra on every single colour in the range.”

LAST WORD These days there are many lures on the market for barra impoundment fishing and we are lucky to have a quality range of fish-producing lures that are tried and tested in the heat of battle.

If you’re fishing the Zerek BARRA Tour this year, make sure you have these four on the floor!

Yes, More Brownie Points!

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A likely win for the lads BRISBANE

Geoff Newby

Over the years my teammate Phill Lyons and I had been pretty consistent on the ABT BARRA Tour. Although we had never won an event, we had a couple of second places and top ten overall finishes – at least until 2017, which proved to be a disaster for Team Likely Lads.

old (2007) we have been doing it since 2009 when there were over 30 boats and although fished with two anglers per boat it was an individual event.

The attendance gradually dropped to the lowest of 12 boats but this was due to the floods of 2010 when all the major barra dams were almost devoid of barramundi due to the fish loss over the dam spillways.

The format was changed in 2013 to a two-person team

A bright yellow and red Nitro heralds the approach of the Likely Lads.

We went into the 2018 Barra Tour not very confident, and our pre-fish experience was terrible. We spent over 40 hours on Peter Faust for one barra, around 30 hours on Teemburra for two barra, and 20 hours on Kinchant for a donut a couple of weeks before the tour started. During that period,

event, the dams gradually improved along with the team entry numbers and in 20018, 28 teams competed.

We have not missed a tour since and it is the highlight of the year for us and I would advise any angler

Leicester called the Likely Lads, so we adopted that name here.

We soon discovered that Australian comp fishing was very different. There are a couple of ways of barra tournament fishing: gunning and running, or hanging on a spot for the full tournament. The second option is the one we prefer. Different types of areas to fish are trees, bays and points, and we focus most of our efforts on points.

The sounder we use is a Lowrance HDS Carbon (now being upgraded to the HDS Live), and we have found it to be the perfect tool for finding fish, and most of all for finding spots in the first place. The insight Genesis mapping system is first class, with almost all dams in Queensland mapped with depth contours. This makes it easy to locate potential spots around the dams that could hold fish in the conditions we would find the barra.

ROUND 1, KINCHANT DAM Kinchant Dam isn’t like most of the other dams.

Basically, it has one tree and one really significant point. The dam is almost 50% rock wall, and fishing within 100m of the rocks is not allowed, but it is chockers with big barra.

Our spot was the bay

The author’s regular teammate and fellow compatriot Phill Lyons has many metre-plus barra under his belt to date. load of fish on the spot during the one pre-fish session, and although we couldn’t get them to bite, we thought we would have a better chance during the comp leading up to the full moon.

It was a very slow night; we only just managed our five fish bag. One was caught on a 120mm Rapala silver ghost X-Rap, and one on a 130mm black/ gold Squidgy Slick Rig. We also each boated a good size barra on a new lure that Phill found: a Molix Shad swimbait. It needs to be modified by upgrading the front hook and split

ring, and we used an Owner ST66 no. 4 treble hook, heavy-duty split rings, and removed the spinner blade off the back and fitted a second treble as a stinger hook. This yielded two more barra of 90cm and 85cm. That got us into the prize list in 6th spot, and we were happy with that as we had not been confident leading up to the event.

Phill uses an Ian Miller TCurve 1.73m, 6-8kg as his X-Rap rod, with a Daiwa Zillion baitcaster reel with Sufix 832 30lb braid and 55lb Schneider leader. His other outfit is an Ian Miller Toad rod with a Shimano

Stella FE 4000 reel spooled with Sufix 832 30lb braid and 28kg wire leader.

I used an ACM custombuilt 15-30lb Revelation swimbait rod, with a Daiwa Certate HD 4000 30lb spooled with Sufix 832, and 70lb Schneider leader.

ROUND 2, TEEMBURRA DAM We were more confident at Teemburra, as it’s what we call our home ground.

On the October full moon, Phill, myself and another mate had boated 35 barra off our first-choice spot.

We decided not to fish the dam during the week before the comp, and heard

• Berkley Giant Ripple Shad

we consoled ourselves with the fact that we were fishing at night on the wrong moon and it was very cold.

We are not the youngest team in the ABT barra tour.

We were already knocking on in years when we got our first boats, and we only tournament fish freshwater (dams). Although the ABT BARRA tour is not that 8

TAG 2019 abt

who enjoys barra fishing and has a competitive nature, to give it a go.

We both emigrated to Australia from England in the early 1990s. Although fishing was in our blood, lure fishing in freshwater was new to us. We had both been regular comp anglers on the match fishing scene in England, and there was a successful team from

towards the tower, located to the right of the boat ramp. We went straight to it and never moved all night. We decided to not use the anchor feature on the electric motor, as we think the barra have started to associate the noise with anglers, so once in position we dropped the 15kg lead plonker. We had found a

Fish of this calibre, and a truckload of determination despite an ordinary pre-fish, helped team Likely Lads to dominate the 2018 ABT Zerek BARRA Tour.

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Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au

that it was very tough from the visitors during pre-fish.

Before any comp we prioritise three spots, so if anyone gets in before us we have somewhere else to go. Our number one spot, Pinnacle Point, was open as we raced across the dam.

In we went, straight on the mark, and dropped the 15kg lead plonker.

Again, it was a slow start, but we expected that because we were fishing during the afternoon; the spot usually fishes better at night. Phill got a follow at the boat after

about an hour, but it didn’t eat the lure. Still, it made us feel better knowing that there were barra around.

We were seeing the odd fish but no numbers, then at 7:50pm we had a small 60cm barra that consumed a Berkley 160mm fire tiger Giant Ripple Shad,

which got us off the donut. Our first objective was complete.

Another fish followed at 8:20pm, an 83cm barra taken on the 13cm Molix Shad. The barra had the Molix in its mouth like a dog with a bone, and all three hooks were set.

With around an hour to go we said if we could get one more barra it could get us a top 10 place. We never expected to find the result we heard back at the boat ramp – that we had not only won, but the 83cm

HD 4000 spooled with 30lb Suffix 832, and 70lb Schneider leader.

Phill used an Ian Miller Toad rod with a Shimano Stella FE 4000 reel with Sufix 832 30lb braid, and 28kg wire leader.

ROUND 3, PETER FAUST DAM ALL NIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP Although we had a disastrous pre-fish, we had decided on our three spots at Peter Faust Dam. A point in the basin was our number one location, and two other spots were

• Squidgy Slick Rig

barra was the biggest barra.

We took home the top prize of $1400 and the Biggest Barra prize pack.

I again used the ACM custom built 15-30lb Revelation swimbait rod, with a Daiwa Certate

towards the river.

We had a good draw off at number three, and with not far to go we thought we would get on our number one choice, and we did.

It’s a very shallow point To page 10

The author is no stranger to the BARRA Tour, and his record of podium finishes at BARRA events is testament to his experience.

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abt From page 9

with a weed edge coming out from the bank about 2-3m, then another 2m of weed towers under the surface, then 1m deep out to around 3.5m where we were anchored.

We started as usual, with each of us using different lures and swapping every 15 minutes or so, casting to the solid weed edge and burning it off before slowing the retrieve in the clear water. After 90 minutes a good fish fell to a Squidgy Mongrel. It measured 109cm, and was a great start.

After that we got quite busy, boating barra every 20 minutes or so, and the lure doing the damage was the Berkley Giant Ripple Shad in fire tiger. Then at 8pm we boated our biggest barra of the night – a cracking 112cm fish.

We were starting to get the upgrades we needed. We had also had a lure swap, and started to get the better fish on the 13cm Molix Shad in black/gold. We finished up with 14 barra, and our best five measured 5.36m.

That converted to a weight of 80.83kg, and was enough for the number one spot.

The wind had been very strong in our face, so there were issues with backlash on

Tournament Angler Guide baitcaster reels, so we mainly used spin rods. I used the ACM custom built 15-30lb Revelation Swimbait rod with a Daiwa Certate HD 4000, 30lb Sufix 832, and 70lb Schneider leader with the Mustad quick change clip. My other outfit was

Toad rod with a Shimano Stella FE 4000 reel with Sufix 832 30lb braid and 28kg wire leader.

The main lures were the Berkley 200mm Giant Ripple Shad in fire tiger and the 5.5” Molix Shad swimbait.

• Molix Shad swimbait

a custom built Geoff Busbridge 12-20lb spin rod on a Rain Shadow blank, with 20lb Sufix 832 braid and 55lb Schneider leader with the Mustad quick change clip, with Transam vibes that picked some of the early barra.

Phill used an Ian Miller

LUCKY CRAFT ROUND 4, PETER FAUST DAM This was the start of two massive sessions for Phil and I. Coming into the fourth and final round, our nerves were jangling and our stomachs were turning somersaults. We were

BARRA? WE HAVE YOU COVERED 10

TAG 2019 abt

leading the Team of the Year table by three points, just ahead of the best barra team in the last four years – Craig Griffiths and Karim De Ridder. What a position to be in!

We decided to go to the point we had fished on

the night championship, settled in, dropped the anchor and started to thrash the water to foam. We had a great start, with Phill smacking a 100cm barra at 4:30pm (30 minutes in) on the Squidgy Mongrel. Our first fish, donut gone, and on the board.

Then we had a

abt.org.au disastrous hour or so, dropping around seven barra. We called a halt to the fishing, and sat and talked for a few minutes.

We decided that we needed to settle down and get back into the groove. The bite had changed from the night comp; we had been concentrating on hitting the weed edge, a short burn, drop and then a steady retrieve. This wasn’t working. We changed to a 45° angle cast towards the bank, but falling short of the weed fringe, concentrating on a longer cast and keeping the lure in the deeper water. The barra started to come at a steady pace, and we finished up with 10 barra for the session. Our best five total measured 5.05m and weighed 63.7kg, putting us in 3rd place.

Session 2 The first session was a good result, but we still faced a big threat from Team Edge Rods/EJ Todd. Craig and Karim had had a tough session, and were down the field in 12th place, 27kg behind us. However, if ever there was a team who could pull a rabbit out of the hat and make up the deficit, it was Craig and Karim.

The thought of winning round four had gone, and

all we could think about was catching a bag that would keep us in front for the Team of The Year.

We headed back to the same spot and concentrated on the angle cast, with the main lure being the green grunter Slick Rig. At 5.30pm our first barra hit the deck, and a steady stream of smaller barra followed. We had anticipated a very late bite of bigger fish, due to what happened the night before, and at 11:30 we were into a good fish that measured 113cm. Before we boated this fish we thought we would be safe with the Team of the Year title, but it would be tight for a 4th round victory as we had an 80cm barra in our best five bag.

We ended up boating 11 barra, with the best five measuring 4.87m and 59.69kg, and it earned us another 1st place finish in Round 4.

We had almost completed a clean sweep – three wins in the rounds and Team of the Year. We were $4,400 better off with two beautiful Ian Miller rods and a pile of trophies.

Greatest of all though was the accolade of being the ABT Barra Team of the Year 2018.

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Tournament Angler Guide

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Lake Awoonga Ver. 3.0 GLADSTONE

Justin Nye

As barramundi addicts, we sit back and think about Lake Awoonga in its glory days! ‘Pre-flood 2011’ is a conversation that’s passed around many campfires, boat ramps and tournament briefings. The stories of 30 fish sessions, and 1.3m beasts that go bump in the night, were enough to spike

any anglers’ adrenaline rush into overdrive!

However, as quickly as the conversation peaked, it plummeted back to Earth, with spillover comments bringing misery to the barra fishing fraternity.

Between 2011 and 2016, the lake’s levels remained reasonably high, with strong monsoon seasons being prominent, forcing several spill events during this period.

The record-breaking Australia

Day weekend floods of 2013 saw the spillway go over by an incredible 8m+!

In April 2016, Lake Awoonga spilled one last time, which had anglers far and wide watching with nervous excitement as the next chapter of the lake’s history unfolded. October 2016 saw an opportunity for myself to turn my recreational fishing obsession into a career of guiding in the Gladstone region. During

The result of a double hook-up on jerkbaits.

Gladstone Area Water Board hatchery broodstock. the summer of 2016/17 I recorded good numbers of 50-65cm fish, although larger fish were rare.

The 2017/18 spring and summer saw the lake gain momentum, attracting more anglers to try their luck.

Good numbers of 60-75cm fish were being captured, with some quality 80-85cm fish mixed in.

It was in August 2018 that I witnessed the rebirth of Lake Awoonga! An

reached maturity and were hungry! In the period from September 2018 to March 2019 I recorded almost 600 boated barramundi for clients onboard Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing, with an average size of 82cm.

HIGHEST STOCKED BARRA IMPOUNDMENT The flood events over the period of six years was heartbreaking, but it didn’t stop the tireless work of the Gladstone Area Water

team took over the reigns of the GAWB hatchery and developed a program that would allow them to get the best numbers of high-quality barramundi out of the facility they had in Gladstone.

Every Lake Awoonga barra is spawned from local wild-caught Central Queensland broodstock, and the fry and fingerlings are graded every 2-3 days to maximise numbers, which maintains the efficiency of

19

WORK HARD FISH HARDER. 12

TAG 2019 abt

Josh Butler caught this nice barra on a jerkbait. abundance of 70-90cm fish were spread throughout the lake, and their presence was mind-blowing. They had

Board in restoring the best impoundment barramundi fishery. In 2014, stocking guru Thomas Hayes and his

the program. Since the flood of 2016, there have been 1.12 million barramundi stocked into the lake, including

Tournament Angler Guide

abt.org.au 555,864 this financial year!

And there are huge things to come for the hatchery, as the GAWB have been allocated funding to build a state-of-

abundance of 85-95cm fish, which are the real deal when it comes to barra impoundment angling. These fish are 3-4 years old, and they are

abt

quick as a hook-up comes with these fish, it can all end just as suddenly if they get the better of your angling ability in tight country.

This fish was caught on a Molix Swim Shad. the-art hatchery at Lake Awoonga itself, which would have the capacity to produce 1.2 million fingerlings a year.

CURRENT FISH SIZES Currently, there is a clear defining presence of year class in the lake. From the top down you will see a large

ruthless at this size! They are known for blistering pace and acrobatics, and will give you the full run around wherever structure is involved.

The next year class is the 75-80cm models, which to the bass or bream angler will blow your socks off! As

Apart from bulk numbers of these 2-year classes, there are plenty of smaller fish in the 50-65cm bracket given the massive numbers stocked last year, and metre class fish will also be on the cards for September.

To page 14

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abt

Tournament Angler Guide

From page 13

TACKLE There’s plenty of highquality affordable tackle available on today’s market, so you can buy gear that’s up to the task without blowing your budget.

Having a variety of rod options is beneficial,

especially if you want to turn bites into hook sets on every occasion. Tactics can quickly change in a tournament situation, especially if the fish are responding to a different presentation from the one used during pre-fish. Adjusting the sensitivity of a rod choice will often result in better hook-up

abt.org.au

rates, particularly when throwing soft plastics and weedless presentations.

KEY AREAS AND TECHNIQUE If last September was anything to go by, experience tells me the fish will be moving around in large numbers in two distinct locations.

Various soft plastic presentations.

A healthy barra caught from a point.

The weed fence Look for direct or indirect windward facing edges, points or bays that have distinct weed fences, quite often with a small mix of standing timber. This weed creates a perimeter inside to the bank, which allows barra to herd the bait inside the ambush zone. These perimeters are often filled with chocolate coloured water as a result of east-northeast afternoon sea breezes.

Quite often when the word ‘weed’ is brought up, weedless presentations are the angler’s instant response. However, you shouldn’t be afraid to throw shallow hardbodies and standard jigheadrigged plastics into these areas. Practice variations in retrieve speed and aggressiveness, as ripping the lure through the weed quite often results in a bite.

It’s a good way to maximise your catch rates.

Standing timber bays and points Again, using wind energy, directly or indirectly, find a bay that has a good variation of standing timber, particularly in 3-4m of water. Look for distinct laneways or pathways to open water, which the barra may use to move in or out of that area. Often one obvious laydown or horizontal timber may be the ambush zone for several fish, so look out for this kind of structure.

Various techniques

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Tournament Angler Guide

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can be highly productive, so don’t hesitate to have a mixed bag of options rigged.

Suspending hardbodies fished aggressively with long pauses, standard slow rolling plastics and vertical jigging vibes can all be great options.

SCANNING TECHNOLOGY The use of modern-day sonar will enhance your ability to find fish during the pre-fish and during the tournament.

All the major brands have incredible technology, and it’s vital that tournament anglers these days are equipped with at least side imaging or

downscan sonar equipment.

During the pre-fish you should utilise these tools, mapping out contour lines and possible flight paths for daily barramundi movements. You will have a clear advantage if you can work out a pattern to their movements in the lead up to the tournament. It’s also important to keep an eye on the water temperature at this time of the year, as warm water honey holes can be a game changer.

MY HOT TIPS You should pre-fish as close to the tournament as possible; don’t pre-fish in July

with the expectations of the same scenarios in September.

The water levels, temperature range and trade winds will all have changed, resulting in significant barramundi mood swings.

You can expect to see fish move through in a series of windows, such as moon and tide events, along with other natural occurrences like last light. You must capitalise on these events to be successful, as the bite windows will come hard and fast and often be gone again in the blink of an eye! Those anglers who can turn five bites into five

TACKLE SPIN OUTFIT: •7’-7’6”, 15-20lb medium-fast for weedless plastics and lighter presentations, matched with suitable 3000-4000 spinning reel with plenty of drag capability and 20lb braid or PE. •7’-7’6” 20-30lb fast action for heavier plastic presentations like slow rolling and even vibing, matched with 4000 to 5000 spinning reel and 30lb braid or PE. BAITCASTER OUTFIT: • 6’6”-7’ medium-fast to fast action 15-20lb for soft plastics and topwater, matched to suitable 100-150 size baitcast reel with plenty of drag capability (be prepared to thumb the spool).

• 6’2”-7’ fast to extra-fast action, 15-25lb for heavier soft plastics and jerkbaits, matched to suitable 150-200 size baitcast reel with plenty of drag capability (again, be prepared to thumb the spool).

LURE FAVOURITES Suspending hardbodies: Duo Realis 100DR, Jackall Squirrels, Lucky Craft Pointers Plastics: 5” and 7” Castaics, Hollowbellys, Happy Rock Swim Baits and Willys, Slick Rigs, Molix Shad, Zerek Flat Shads and ZMan SwimmerZ Vibes: Zerek Fish Traps, Jackall Transams, Madness Shiriten Vibes and Samaki Vibelicious.

captures will no doubt be on the leader board at the end of the tournament. Be prepared to cast your arms off, and if you’re going to take a

the second. For example, if the wind is blowing from the east, these anglers will automatically direct their attention to the western side

flight paths can produce good numbers of fish, there will always be an ‘end game’ (feeding location) destination nearby, and quite often in the

Garry caught this barra on fly from a weed wall. break, don’t take it around a bite window!

My reference earlier to direct and indirect windwardfacing locations is a key factor. Most anglers will take the first option and disregard

of the lake. Although this is a likely location. It is not always the game changer, because barra will use wind energy down a point or bank as a flight path that can lead them to feeding locations. Although

most unlikely of places. With time and experience on the water though, you’ll know that these unlikely looking places are actually potential hotspots, giving you an extra edge on the competition.

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Cooking

The easy way to make a tasty fish laksa BRISBANE

Lynn Bain

Laksa is an Asian noodle dish with a warming spicy flavour. Using a prepared laksa paste and store bought noodles means that the following recipe is very quick and easy to prepare.

The noodles, laksa paste, coconut cream and fried Asian shallots are available in the Asian section of most supermarkets.

I have used fish fillets in this laksa, however please feel free to add other seafood, such as peeled

green prawns, prepared squid or mussels. Simply add the seafood to the laksa when you add the fish in the following recipe.

Ingredients • 200g rice vermicelli noodles • 1 tbsp cooking oil • 4 tbsp of prepared laksa paste • 2 cups coconut cream • 3 cups vegetable or fish stock • 500g fish fillets, bones removed and cut into 3-4 cm pieces • 2 tbsp roughly chopped coriander leaves • Handful of bean sprouts • 4 tbsp fried Asian shallots • 1 lime, cut into wedges • Coriander leaves, for garnish • 1-2 green shallots, finely sliced, for garnish

1

Prepare the noodles according to the directions on the packet. Drain well once cooked and put aside.

4

Add the stock to the wok and stir thoroughly. Bring to a gentle simmer and continue to cook for a couple of minutes

7

If you prefer an extra creamy laksa, add 1 extra cup of coconut cream to the laksa and delete one of the cups of stock.

Divide the cooked noodles between individual bowls and add fresh bean sprouts to each bowl.

2

Heat the cooking oil in a large saucepan or wok on a medium heat and then add the prepared laksa paste to the wok for approximately three minutes until fragrant.

5

Place the fish pieces into the laksa mixture. Reduce the heat to a medium low, maintaining a gentle simmer to avoid breaking up the fish pieces. Continue to cook for a further three minutes or so depending on the thickness of your fish pieces. When cooked, the fish should be able to be flaked with a fork.

8

Ladle the fish laksa over the top of the noodles and bean sprouts.

3

Add the coconut cream and stir well.

6

Add two tablespoons of roughly chopped coriander leaves to the mixture and combine gently. Be careful to not break up the fish.

9

Sprinkle the fish laksa with the fried Asian shallots, and add a wedge of lime to the side of the bowl. Add coriander leaves to garnish.

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Prized pelagics fire up WHITSUNDAYS

Mick Underwood

We are so blessed here in the Whitsundays.

Not only do we have a stunning backyard to live in with world-class vistas every which way you turn your head, we are also spoilt with the quality and variety of sportfishing options that we have on our doorstep.

The last few weeks has seen some patches of stable weather, which has allowed everyone to get out and about and chase a variety of fish. As is normal for this time of year, we’ve been able to enjoy some clean water as well, which has seen plenty of smiles from spear fishermen. Anglers who I’ve spoken to have mainly been targeting big fat painted crayfish and coral trout.

Out on the shoals, good numbers of nannygai and decent red emperor have been reported. In the same area, Holbourne Island and Nares Rock have been firing well for Spanish mackerel. They have been patchy in amongst the islands, and we either haven’t had the weather to get at them or they’ve been hard to find in their normal haunts around the outer edges of the islands.

It’s not all doom and gloom though, as the

The black jewfish bite has been a bit intermittent this month but anglers have still managed to snag a few. Dave Cronan caught this solid model. creeks is a similar sort of story at the moment. I have heard reports of lots of small to medium tea-leaf trevally getting caught but not much else.

That should change shortly, as we are on the tail end of the cold conditions and water temperatures have started to rise already.

With the change of seasons, we get to enjoy the end of the winter bite as well as the

fish that I see caught each season is just astounding.

In the more shallow fringing reef systems around the mainland and inner islands, the activity should start to pick up.

Species such as coral trout and sweetlip will start to feature more regularly on fishers’ menus. It’s about that time of year when I begin to chase tasty reef fish with hardbodies, as it’s

On the same grounds around the outer islands, there will hopefully be some champagne pelagic fishing to enjoy. The quality of this fishing will rely on a few variables being in our favour. The weather needs to be settled, which it typically is in September; we need the bait to be hanging around and clean water would also be handy. If all this aligns, we should be able to get

A quality metre-plus queenfish caught by 9yo Reef Underwood.

Gavin Leo wanted nothing more than to get his arms stretched and this 1.06m queenfish did exactly that!

Travis Crilly with a decent golden trevally that he caught on a soft plastic out in front of Cape Gloucester Beach Resort. It’s pretty cool when you can catch fish like this right on your doorstep. inshore pelagic fishing has been nothing short of sensational.

The outstanding performers by a long shot have been queenfish and golden trevally, with the quantity 68

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and the average size of fish coming aboard on another level. A few longtail tuna and piles of school mackerel have been mixed in with the captures.

The fringing reefs

around the inner islands and the mainland have not produced too many quality fish, but that is typical for this time of season when the water temperatures are at their lowest. Up in the

onset of the summer bite.

I’ll start with what we can hopefully expect in the estuaries this month. The barramundi and mangrove jack populations will be awakening from their winter slumber and starting to spring to life, and I know that there are plenty of keen local creek anglers itching to get into the action. We are lucky to have such quality local estuaries, especially with regards to chasing mangrove jack. The quantity and quality of the

a very successful ploy and piles of fun as well.

There should also be action out a little wider around the outer islands on the deeper reef, rubble and fern patches. Bites from species such as black jewfish and grunter will begin to taper off, but as they do other species will be lining up to take over, like golden snapper and largemouth nannygai. They are both highly sought-after species that pull hard and taste great.

some hooks set into Spanish mackerel, giant trevally, longtail tuna and maybe even a billfish or two.

Perhaps my favourite part of the beginning of spring is getting up on the flats and indulging in some serious sight fishing.

To me, this is the apex of sportfishing and although it can be incredibly tedious and frustrating at times, when it’s successful there’s no better feeling.

It doesn’t matter what To page 69

It’s time to tangle with transition species AYR

Steve Farmer

It might be a regular lament of North Queensland bluewater anglers, but this year the constant complaints about the windy conditions throughout winter might be well justified. There have only been a handful of days when boaties were able to comfortably and safely hit the bluewater in their annual quest for the schools of Spanish mackerel that migrate along the Queensland coast during the cooler months.

Fortunately, the estuary fishing has been above average lately, compensating bluewater anglers who are flexible enough to also enjoy the challenges of estuarine fishing when the southeasters blow.

Dyed-in-the-wool creek fishers have been pretty happy too.

Russell Sutcliffe was one angler who was certainly not complaining, although his impressive catch did require an overnight, weekend-long effort. Russell teamed up with a couple of mates in another boat and together they launched at Groper Creek Saturday afternoon.

From there they rode the slowly rising tide through the backwaters into the Burdekin River estuary where they spent the night fishing and grabbing the occasional forty winks.

Next morning Russell continued northwards, meeting his wife, Simone, and daughters 4-year-old Ellie and 20-month-old Izzy

Russell and Ellie Sutcliffe both caught grunter on a recent trip to Phillip’s Camp. at Phillip’s Camp boat ramp for a couple of hours of fun family fishing, before heading home to clean up and catch up on some sleep.

It was a big effort, but the fishing certainly made it worthwhile. Russell said the grunter were biting like schooled whiting and he could have filled the boat with quality fish. He finished the weekend with his bag limit of ten good grunter, with a number of fish measuring in the 60-70cm range. Most of the fish were taken in the Burdekin River at around sunrise Sunday morning.

Preferred baits were squid and prawns.

The family fishing time also added a few more fish to the icebox. Simone

scored two bream and Ellie landed a bream and two spotted grunter.

Little Ellie said her fish fought hard and she proudly weighed them in at the monthly club competition run by the Burdekin District Sportfishing Club that night.

THE MONTH AHEAD I always think of September as the changeover month when we kiss winter goodbye and welcome the comfortable, warmer months of spring that lead up to our next torrid summer.

The great thing about change-over months is that you’re in with a chance of tangling with both winter and summer species. For example, if you missed

out on a Spaniard because of those incessant southeasterlies, there’ll still be a few cruising northern waters this month, so don’t give up just yet. You just have to hope for some better weather! And from the opposite end, there’ll be increasing numbers of mangrove jack, barra and fingermark moving into local waters as the temperature climbs. In fact, I can recall some top jack fishing in September when it was still cool enough to don a jacket for that first early morning blast down the creek.

September can also produce good catches of the old stalwarts such as bream, whiting and flathead. And finding them isn’t hard.

Whiting and flathead love sand flats with drop-offs and yabby beds, while bream prefer snag piles or rock bars (not many of those in the Burdekin district) washed by a little current.

All three of these bread

and butter species will take baits such as yabbies and prawns, while flathead and bream also enjoy fresh slabs of herring or mullet. Small lures (either hard bodies or soft plastics) will also tempt this trio. Matching the lures with light, 3-4kg spinning outfits will give you casting distance and add a little excitement to the fight.

The same bait and lure recommendations can be applied to the smaller species of trevally that are adding a little spice to estuary fishing in some of our cleaner creeks lately, and over the next couple of months.

September is also the time of the year when many southern travelling anglers turn their heads for home, having enjoyed our relatively warm winter weather and the fishing that goes with it. They have pumped welcomed dollars into places such as Alva Beach, Groper Creek and Molongle Creek caravan parks and the district in general. Fishing-wise many are skilled and responsible anglers enjoying an active retirement doing the thing they love most.

From page 68

your angling interests are, September is prime time so make sure that you get out on the water and lap up some of what’s on offer.

• 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.

Lisa Aubrey with her biggest fish ever, a nice fat golden trevally.

Hardbodies have been killing it on the pelagics over the last few weeks.

Tom Black caught this 54cm flathead on a recent trip to the mouth of Eudlo Creek on the Maroochy River. He caught it on his sister’s rod while he was still baiting his own rod up.

He released the fish to fight another day.

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Waiting for the weather windows TOWNSVILLE

Dave Hodge

I’m not sure when the weather is going to start to be a bit kinder to us anglers. What seems like a good day or two on the weather report ends up blowing out, and this has made it very hard for

in mid July and, unaware of this event, went out in the bay to make the best of a small window in the morning with less than 15 knots of wind.

Bait was non-existent, and the tiny tidal movement for a full moon had me puzzled, but I went anyway. Eventually I did find some big fish on the sounder and managed to hook a barra that was between

Heading bush and walking the banks is a great way to escape the wind and catch a fish or two. That submerged log in the background held quite a few barra for the author. anglers up this way. When there is a chance to get out, the fish have been stacked up on many of the local spots, however, the sharks have been worse than ever.

I went for a run around the time of the solar eclipse

115-118cm, landing it quickly on the tackle rigged up for fingermark. On the next cast, an even bigger barra smashed the 7” Halco Paddle Prawn on the drop and, as it neared the surface about to jump, around 2.5-3m of a dirty rotten bull shark hit her at

speed! There were another 8 fish on the sounder of similar size, but there was no chance I was going to keep feeding the damn sharks, so I left them alone.

This scenario is being played out all the time now, and places like the Burdekin River have plague proportions of sharks since they’ve been put on the no-take list for the commercial fishers.

Getting way up on the brackish reaches has been a great way of escaping the crowds, and there have been plenty of fish to make the effort worthwhile. Jacks and barra are the obvious targets, and the typical lure selection has been very effective, especially with the winter water clarity due to the lack of rain.

Something that may help anglers decode which lure to use is to understand how fish’s eyes work, particular estuary dwellers like the barra and jacks. Lacking the ability to adjust light intake the way our human eyes do, these species often rise and descend in the water column to adjust the light intensity and ease of hunting. These considerations help to choose a lure that may be more effective on a certain day. Overcast conditions

sit higher in the water column, so strikes come soon after the lure has halted its forward momentum. Lures, like prawn imitations, will start to work from the time they hit the water, so angler reactions need to be fast and hook-sets solid.

Getting smoked in the snags by bigger fish is a relatively rare event, but hooking fish in cover does keep you on edge and heightens the anticipation levels.

When you locate a school of barra, you often need to sift through the smaller specimens until a bigger fish gets involved. It seems that even though they’re sitting together, the bigger fish are stirred into hunting by the actions of the smaller fish. Now I know that this is going to sound a little bit conflicting with many who believe it’s not worth casting unless you can see the fish on the latest generations of side scan electronics, however tightly packed schools of considerable sized barra can be tucked up in snags and often between the bank and ‘bank slips’ where the sounder just can’t interpret what’s available. Lone jacks that sit just under horizontal structure are not going to be picked up most times, but a

Escaping the wind often means heading inland away from the exposed coastline. Considered a sporting species only, chasing JPs won’t put food on the table, but they will scratch that fishing itch if you’re just needing to get out and catch something.

This beautiful 115-118cm big girl was landed and released in quick time on the author’s favourite golden snapper outfit. Sadly, the next barra was even bigger but got eaten as it neared the surface.

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with a little dirtier water will usually see them higher in the water; clear skies and clear water often see them sink down deeper where the light is less intense. There are of course exceptions to this rule, as we still sight cast fish that are up on top, but this is usually on the less light exposed banks that have a bit of shade for them to sit in.

Another piece of our puzzle solving has been to fish the shallower shady banks with lighter heads until around about 10am, which happens to fall into place with our clear water light adjustment theory.

With winding rivers and creeks, the fish will swap sides from time to time to chase the shade, and therefore making them easier to target. The fish

lure will usually draw them out, particularly on the last of the run-out tide.

Having the confidence to put your lures into areas that just seem like suicide is made possible with weedless hooks and plastics combinations these days.

Since the promotion of skipping plastics has become so popular over recent times, previously unreachable fish are much easier to extract.

Gentle deliveries, and the ability for an angler to effortlessly generate speed at water level is all part of a well-oiled casting machine.

Here a few little things that may make it easier for you to be able to match up an outfit specifically for this type of fishing.

The author’s son has consistently pulled fish on his customised ‘rainbow’ colour scheme soft plastic.

First of all, that all important rod tip that I often mention is probably the most important aspect of having control of the power output with minimum effort by the angler. Depending on how tall you are, a rod of between 5’6” and 6’ long will be easily managed, depending on your delivery angle. If, like us, you face towards the snags and rotate the rod tip towards the direction you wish to cast then the shorter 5’6” to 5’10” rods will be perfect. On the other hand, if you rotate your arm or wrist from the side, then you could find it easier to use the 6’ models. The most import rod design aspect for both lengths is a soft tip. Fast tapered rods give the necessary power to set hooks and extract fish once you’ve connected to a fish in tight cover.

When selecting a reel, choose a low profiled model with a very lightweight spool.

The lighter the spool, the less weight it takes to revolve it, which is an important aspect.

This comes down to quality and line capacity, and a reel that holds 300m of 30lb braid is going to be much more difficult to skip than a reel that holds 120m of 20-30lb. Once all that line is packed nice and tight on the spool, it takes a heavier lure to begin the spools rotating momentum and more hand, arm speed during the initial stages of the cast. More speed means greatly reduced reaction time, and this can lead to wayward casts, and of course that means more snags. As with cars and the Holden versus Ford thing, reels undergo a fair amount of debate, and I use several models from several brands to cater for each of our scenarios.

From ABU, I use the latest model ABU Premier and my son uses his blinged up ABU Ike. Both reels come out of the box with around

11kg of drag pressure and, with the free-floating spool, has reduced friction for casting the light weights.

From the Shimano stable, my favourite reel is the Chronarch, it is an awesome casting tool. It is incredibly tough and corrosion resistant with plenty of drag to fish the 25lb braid I have it spooled with.

From Daiwa, the expansive Tatula range gives you plenty to choose from, particularly for the budget minded angler. Starting at around the $250 price point and going up from there, there’s a model for most budgets.

No matter what the brand, it’s not the number of bearings that is important to take notice of, but the quality. As little as 3 bearings is enough, as long as those 3 are of good quality.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that a 11-ball bearing reel that only costs a $150 is going to be the bargain it seems at first.

Braid too is a consideration worth taking notice of. Some braids retain water with their open weave design, which makes the line want to stick to the spool during the cast, not peeling off freely. While this may seem trivial, line choice is quite relative to what we’re talking about.

Leader material is obviously another thing that comes into the whole welloiled machine of skipping the snags. An inconspicuous, tough leader is needed to be able to withstand those fish in the snags that can easily pop an inferior product.

Due to the weather influenced fishing activity levels of late, I think it’s the perfect opportunity to cover the main questions we get asked about tackle is best suited to the mentioned techniques.

Turning over a spring leaf CAIRNS

Garry Smith garrysmith@fishingmonthly.com.au

September can sometimes seem like a switch gets flicked and the wind and cold is replaced by balmy, warm conditions overnight.

Boy, Cairns fishos could sure use that scenario this year! The eventual increase in temperature will bring an awakening

jack and golden snapper will again be the centrepiece of fishing conversation.

The reef will become more accessible with the drop in winds and after eight months of very little fishing pressure, it should be on fire. Last year, there was an early coral trout spawning on northern reefs over the September new moon. It will be interesting to see if this happens again this year, coinciding with a subsequent

John Sellars, from Mareeba, donned the leader’s jersey and kept it for the duration of his recent trip, with his PB 96cm barra caught from around the Gulf. of the summer species that northern anglers just love chasing. Barra, mangrove

spike in trout catches.

Quality large-mouth nannygai and red emperor

should also be on the chew in deep water. Fish in the 5-10kg range will hopefully be the norm like last year.

Sharks have unfortunately continued to be a problem off Cairns, when the very limited opportunities have arisen to get out wide.

An overnighter is the ideal way to cover the gambit of bluewater options this month. Chase trout and Spanish mackerel in the late afternoon in the shallows, then move out into 40m+ water overnight before a few drops up shallow on the way home in the morning.

Spanish mackerel have been around when boats have been able to access them.

Some anglers have been so desperate that they have been braving horrendous conditions to find a few mackerel. I have even seen boats trolling in the lee of Double Island in a strong wind warning! Once there it’s bearable, but the run from Yorkeys Knob and back must have been atrocious.

Inshore waters should hold a wide range of target species as well, with mackerel, trout, large-mouth nannygai and golden snapper all top of the list. Look for any small structure on the bottom that is holding bait and you are in with a chance.

Rocks as small as a washing

machine can hold trophy fish so don’t dismiss the smallest speck on the bottom. Larger rubble patches are also worth a good look.

If you don’t have a heap of marks to choose from, find your own secret spots by spending a few sessions trolling for mackerel with a close eye on the sounder.

Mark every likely location and then come back another day and spend some time fishing them. There is no better way of building a good bank of quality waypoints.

Night fishing is the best for inshore, but dawn and dusk are also highly successful for large-mouth and golden snapper. Live baiting is the way to go but the more sporting minded have had plenty of success jigging soft plastics, soft vibes and micro jigs.

The pathetic weather this year has pushed a larger population of Cairns and Tablelands anglers into the cape and gulf and on the whole, reports have been great. Barra catches in particular have been excellent on most reported trips. The greatest success has gone to the flicking brigade, although the time honoured trolling of deep diving hardbodied lures has also produced the goods for some.

Like father, like daughter – Georgie Sellars cast off her barra fishing career with a 91cm beauty.

Some destinations have been heavily hit. I spent a week fishing the tidal reaches of a remote gulf river last month and was amazed at the number of boats. On one occasion there were five other boats in sight, trolling a 150m stretch of the river. You don’t even get that concentration of fishing boats in Trinity Inlet!

Estuary fishing will warm with the water temperature. The first run of calm, warm days will see the place light up, so be ready to take advantage of conditions as they arise. Any jump of a degree or more in water temperature will signal a flurry of summer

species. Look for patches of warmer water with structure to find barra, mangrove jacks and golden snapper.

Queenfish, trevally, salmon and grunter will also be on the prowl so there should be plenty of options.

It has been a bumper year for mud crabs, especially in Cairns Inlet, but things will likely slow this month. However don’t discount this option, as it has been a way better than average year for these crustaceans.

September is one of the best fishing months of the year, so make sure you put aside some time to spend on the water.

Spell of good weather is on the horizon PORT DOUGLAS

Lynton Heffer www.fishingportdouglas.com.au

It has been a prolonged winter with very little relief from the constant southeasterly trade winds.

It will be recorded as one of the windiest seasons in recent years. It has proven to be a challenge for any sized vessel to

establish a consistent run out to the reef, especially for the smaller boat brigades.

Nevertheless, September generally sees a more stable weather pattern for Far North anglers.

The bulk of the success out to the reef has been aboard much larger vessels, and the fishing has proven to be very consistent. Whether catching nannygai or coral trout, there’s been some

terrific hauls on the books.

A month or so ago it was all about the coral and bar cheek trout. Big, plump models between 4-6kg were the norm and numbers were very healthy. Then they went on the quiet and became finicky and skinny looking in appearance. Those in the know believe they went into preparation for an early spawn this year in our local waters. However, the small

Early mornings on the coastal reefs have been producing a good smattering of Spaniards.

and large mouth nannygai picked up the reigns and powered on in big quantities and sizes. Some days there numbers were incredibly thick and the threat of surpassing bag limits was a reality. Some boats had to drive away from the bite in fear of approaching these restrictions. When you add the likes of spangled and red emperor, Spanish mackerel and trevally species, there weren’t many quiet days on the reef. The only problem is not everyone got to enjoy these spoils.

Game fishing boats have also had to contend with some ordinary conditions but at least the Spanish mackerel on the outer reef have turned reels over on a regular basis. Unfortunately the opportunity to explore the small black marlin grounds has been very limited due the winds. The positive is that they’ll still be around for a few more weeks and a spell of good weather will see them a prime target.

Closer to home the best opportunity for the trailer boats has been early morning on the coastal reefs and patches. They have been entertained with spotted and school mackerel, bar cheek

The bigger tides have seen the mud crabs on the move. trout, nursery sized nannygai and a smattering of Spanish mackerel. However these days have been limited and now we’re hoping for fairer weather ahead.

The alternative has been to explore the calm waterways of our estuaries and creeks. The fishing became notably tougher as winter extended but that is due to change very quickly.

Water temperatures hovered around the 22ºC mark and the main catches were big hump-headed bream, mangrove jack, fingermark, smaller GTs and estuary cod.

Numbers were down a bit but as the days get longer and warmer they will improve quickly.

The barra will also wake up and feed more actively and always a bucket list catch for many.

On the upside it has been a good period for catching mud crabs and the bigger tides saw them on the move.

We are all looking to see the back end of winter and the next month or two is always an exciting time to wet a line in the tropics with all species looking to fill their bellies.

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Inshore fires up at Hinchinbrook HINCHINBROOK

Ian Moody info@ianmoodyfishing.com

Recent weeks have seen some top quality fish for my clients come aboard our boat. We snuck out when we were gifted with calmer weather, and found that the wonkys and inshore marks have been holding solid Spanish mackerel above 15kg, largemouth nannygai up to 10kg and big gold-spot cod.

our lines were constantly biting us off.

On another recent charter, we managed to finally get out the front to the wonky holes south of Hinchinbrook Island, which I haven’t been to for almost a year due to rough weather and bad timing. Some of them are still fairly quiet, but I found others quite well replenished since the floods earlier this year. After punching into 20 knots, we finally reached a favourite wonky and immediately hooked up to a

kept, we found their stomachs full of greenback herring. I had caught greenback near the boat ramp upon departure to use as live bait, so this showed we had matched the hatch perfectly.

Gold-spot cod have been caught on wonky holes in good numbers and size. The first cod we caught that day started off the fight fairly easily, before all of a sudden taking us to the bottom quite fast. After ten minutes, we had gotten nowhere. I

It helps to always have a Barotrauma needle/tool on board to help get released fish back to the bottom fast when fishing deeper waters.

It has been remarkable to not encounter many sharks lately, which has made a welcome change. I have found they love those rougher days where the wind is up and the ocean turns a light green colour. Nothing hurts more than losing a trophy fish to the taxman and once that happens, it’s best to move on to avoid feeding the sharks.

Barramundi in the channel have been very hot and cold over the last month. I haven’t had much

Heath Kimber landed this thumping large-mouth nannygai.

September should hopefully see us with good weather conditions. Previous years have always fished well for a lot of species. I’d expect mackerel to continue and the wonkys to keep on firing. Golden trevally should make more of an appearance, with a few caught on my

They usually aren’t fussy and will take plastics as well as live baits fished close to the bottom.

• There are only a few months left for the barramundi season so now is the time to get in and secure your spot. To book a charter, you can email us at

A client was happy to score this lengthy Spaniard.

While vibing for golden snapper recently, we foul hooked a nice Spaniard that tested the spin outfit and my client’s arms! Once on board, it wasn’t too much longer before another was hooked, only to bite through the line and gain its freedom. It became quite difficult to keep on trying for a golden snapper when Spaniards swimming through

quality nannygai close to 10kg, followed by a few more before we left that area alone and headed off to another.

Most inshore wonkys around the Hinchinbrook area don’t hold large numbers of fish, but instead hold small numbers of larger size fish.

Taking too many from the one spot can destroy them for future trips. With the two fish that we

was nearly convinced it got sharked, but after a while it suddenly came back our way to the surface where I carefully lifted it aboard. We could see a wound on her back that was not a shark bite but a love bite from another cod of similar size or larger.

I have seen them attack their own species when they are hooked up a few times now.

Quality nannygai, like this one Natalie Kimber caught, have been holding in wonky holes in small numbers. opportunity with them, as my focus has been out the front with the other species lately.

charters recently. Areas like Garden Island, Gould Island and Cape Richards are general hotspots for them.

info@ianmoodysportfishing. com. You can also find more information at www. ianmoodysportfishing.com.

Heating up in the Zone CAIRNS

Dan Kaggelis dkaggelis@gmail.com

There is never a better time to fish the Trinity Net Free Zone than the early months of spring. A combination of warmer water and clear running creeks due to a spell of rain sees the best conditions of the year, especially for lure fishers.

I love these conditions for hitting the creeks, as

not only are the fish super hungry after their winter hibernation, but the clean water makes lures highly visible to fish.

The Cairns Inlet in the middle of town will be the best place to target a big barramundi. The snags will be holding plenty of smaller grade fish, which are best targeted using suspending hardbodies like Jackall Squirrels and Lucky Craft Pointers. Flick them into snags and rip them down, then let

Jacks will be hammering lures in the clear, warmer water.

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them sit for a while suspended in the water column. This will give the barra plenty of time to hone in on your lure. Give it a couple of twitches and the fish will usually slurp it down pretty quick.

If you aren’t getting any joy using this method, switch over to a weedless plastic, preferably a paddle-tail plastic around the 3-4” mark fished tight to snags and slow rolled back to the boat. The Molix RT Shad fished on an Owner Flashy Swimmer 5/0 or 3/0 worm hook has been a standout option for barra fishing this way. If you are chasing the bigger class of fish, you will need to find submerged snags or bends in deeper water. Having a quality sounder will help you locate these areas. Prawn style plastics and vibes are always worth trying for these larger fish.

While barra have been on the bite, the jacks have started firing up and will be excellent targets on the low tide if you’re flicking lures into snags. Target snags that are in the water at all stages

Big barra will be out and about on the headlands, especially when the sea is calm. of the tide. Systems like the Barron River, Half Moon Creek and Thomatis Creek have plenty of good jack snags and will be worth a fish this time of year. The trick is to get those lures as tight as you can to the snags and back waters, sometimes even throwing them into areas that give you little chance of success. Sometimes it’s better to get some kind of

bite than no bite at all.

On the headlands, the calmer weather will provide live baiters with the perfect opportunity to target those bigger coastal barra, jacks, salmon and golden snapper.

The big tides will be the best time to get into these areas and wet a big mullet or herring. It’s best to fish a range of dead and live baits over a range of depths

to target different types of moving fish. This way you can target bottom and topwater fish at the same time.

I love this time of year for fishing the headlands, especially during those calm weather spells when most people hit the reef.

These are the best times of year to fish these spots, so don’t miss out!

Get ready for barra and jacks LUCINDA

Jeff Wilton jeffwilton83@hotmail.com

I love September for many reasons but above all others is the warmer weather following winter. Most of us here in the northern parts of Australia don’t deal well with the cold, and although we understand that in comparison to the rest of the country it actually isn’t cold at all, for us anytime we need to wear a jumper or even two when we jump in the boat for an early morning session is a sign something ain’t right.

HINCHINBROOK CHANNEL Expect plenty of boats out there chasing the iconic Hinchinbrook barramundi, as they will be starting to get active again after a cold winter. I meet plenty of travelling fishos every week at the ramp and most seem to struggle getting hooked up to these fish. Hinchinbrook is a tough place to fish, especially for visitors, as it’s such a huge waterway with hundreds of creeks and fishy looking areas. It is very easy to feel lost and confused as to where to actually start fishing. To make it easier, you should spend some time with a good map and make a

around searching. It is very common to fish a stretch of a creek without a single bite and suddenly the fish turn on and there is activity everywhere. Search for baitfish and some sort of structure and you’ll have found a great place for barra to feed. Don’t ignore shallow water, as they are not shy to get in and feed with their backs out of the water sometimes.

The above tips suit live bait fishing for barramundi as well. Collect plenty of good live baits and anchor up ready for the tide change.

If I live bait, I always target them during the first four hours of the run-in and try

Hinchinbrook barramundi will become active this month, so get ready!

The water temperatures will be rising and this means our showcase tropical fish will be getting active. Barramundi and mangrove jack encounters will become more frequent with fewer casts between fish. To add to this, our winter speedsters will still be about, feeding up on the massive bait schools around the reef, wrecks and islands.

plan before you hit the water.

Choose a stretch of water you plan on fishing and stick to it. Barramundi are normally easiest to catch around the last three hours of the run-out tide and first three hours of the run-in.

The reason I recommend you stick to your chosen location is to ensure you’re actually fishing at the best time instead of moving

to catch fish as they move past me feeding.

Some good schools of blue salmon are about and should stick around for another few months. These fish normally can be seen swimming in big schools over shallow sand bars, especially on the high tide. If you can cut the motor and sneak up using the electric motor or the tide, you can have a great

time catching several of these fish before they get spooked.

A fast retrieved soft plastic or hardbodied lure will attract bites.

JETTY, ISLANDS AND REEF Fishing will be going off in the bluewater and hopefully September will bring calmer weather. It has been a terrible few months but if the weather follows the patterns of the last few years, the wind should relax a little and offer some bigger windows to get out there.

The sugar loading jetty should be still dishing out plenty of punishment, with queenfish and golden trevally smashing bait amongst the pylons. Chasing these fish is not for the faint hearted, as queenies in particular will smash a fast burned soft plastic and proceed to melt drag off your reel as they run for the safety of the pylons.

Queenies can and will change direction in the blink of an eye, which can make fighting them intense, and if the angler is not paying attention bad things can happen.

Great catches of Spanish mackerel have been reported, especially from boats slow trolling garfish around the reef passes. Finding these fish is

Schools of blue salmon can still be found and are a lot of fun. relatively simple and the best way to start is to sit down and have a good look at some Navionics maps. Reef points that will be hit with strong current should hold baitfish, which attract predatory fish like mackerel, tuna and trevally.

A NEW VENTURE I am currently studying to complete my Coxswain certificate and will be starting a guiding and tuition service from clients’ vessels around Lucinda. While I am still sorting out the finer details, this is customisable to your needs. It can cover simple navigation and knowledge of the area

Bonito

through to species-specific techniques. The waters here are expansive and I hope to offer a service that will give anyone thinking of visiting a better understanding of the area and most importantly, confidence in their skills.

Getting away from the crowds and trekking into the streams in search of jungle perch and sooty grunter is also a service that I will be offering. If you’re interested, don’t hesitate to get in touch with any questions via email fish-onnq@outlook.com or mobile 0408 618 402, and follow my Facebook page, Fish-on NQ.

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73

Awaiting calm weather COOKTOWN

Justin Coventry

The wind has not stopped blowing and fishing reports have not been encouraging, but reports of the odd barramundi being caught off the rock wall near the wharf has given us hope for better fishing this month.

up to Cooktown and the place is deserted. It won’t be hard to tell that locals have gone to chase reefies, as boat trailers will line the main street near the boat ramp. Hopefully my next report will feature a return to reef fishing.

To escape the weather, my kids and I recently took a camping and fishing trip out to Cape York. The

Joshua Coventry landed this impressive 72cm barramundi.

Groper have been feeding near the local seaside café but there have not been many pickings from anglers off the wharf, since it has been so slow. September should see increasing numbers of mackerel coming into the river mouth. Mudcrabs have been caught in reasonable numbers and have been a decent option when fishing was slow.

The southeasterly winds have shown no sign of weakening yet so here’s hoping they calm down this month. If they do, don’t be surprised if you come

temperature was still cold but at least the rain had stopped. The rivers were higher than in previous years due to the cyclone and the fishing was different. The kids had a great time with catching cherabin in pots as well as sooty grunters that inhabit the upper reaches of the Cape York rivers.

The upper reaches are good for kids, as there is no visible sign of estuarine crocodiles. You can never discount the possibility of them being there, but at least you can enjoy the shallow parts comfortably as they stretch for hundreds of metres either way. The kids were able to walk the edges to deeper drop-offs and fish for sooty grunter that waited in ambush for anything that ventured into its territory.

They are amazing fun and just as aggressive as barramundi. They can provide great experience for kids to learn to cast and hook these plentiful strong freshwater fish.

James caught this barramundi on small 10lb handline with a small cherabin on a 1/0 hook.

James nailed this sooty grunter in the upper reaches of a Cape York river.

The author managed to catch a decent barra in between the kids’ captures!

Further downstream, the dark holes didn’t disappoint, with barramundi flying through the air trying to remove trebles from their jaws. In these waters, metresized fish are rare but strong healthy fish of around 70cm can be encountered regularly.

When they’re hungry,

it’s not uncommon to catch several fish off a snag or run-off drain.

They sometimes return to take a different offering so changing up your lures can result in multiple hook-ups.

The kids and I had a blast on one snag for hours, with ten fish from 60-70cm all released back in good

condition. We release all our fresh water barramundi to conserve stocks but also because quality of freshwater barramundi can be hit-or-miss. Returning them allows the fish to not only survive to fight another day but to hopefully have the chance to breed and build up future stocks.

The kids were so thrilled with the fishing we experienced and it was very impressive how they landed big fish on small gear. My youngest, Jonathan, caught a 66cm barramundi on his small rod with a small soft plastic grub lure that he had used to catch sooty grunter.

This shows that you still have a chance even if you’re under gunned.

The kids all caught the barramundi fever by the end and I’m sure my fishing gear will be getting raided regularly. This is why it’s important to look after stocks for future generations to enjoy and only take what you need.

September Spanish mack are on the attack CAPE YORK

Tim O’Reilly wildrivercompany@gmail.com

Nothing gets the heart racing quicker than Spanish mackerel screaming off in the opposite direction to a trolled lure. These darkbarred silver flashes of tasty morsel really know how to travel fast.

Mackies, as they are affectionately known, in the far north are one of our most prolific sportfish topped off by being possibly the easiest to please on the pallet.

The flesh recovery is brilliant and they are really easy to process and clean, being a torpedo shaped, finned barrel of long, firm, proportioned fillet. This also makes Spanish mackerel a highly sought-after fish for the 74

SEPTEMBER 2019

commercial fishing sector.

Cape York is full of shoals, reefs and rocky islands, which are all perfect haunts for mackies. Finding bait and pressure points or intersecting currents are some of the crucial elements to catching these fish. Fishing early morning, late afternoon or when the moon is up are other defining factors.

When tidal run or current help to push and funnel bait up against structure, mackerel will sometimes congregate. At other times they will hover above a shoal or sunken reef, paying only a casual glance at passers-by.

But when that moment to feed kicks in, look out for any stray baitfish traversing the tide. The lunging strike can elevate these toothy predators 30ft in the air, jaws flailing at a garfish or wolf herring unfortunate enough to be seen from below.

One of the most pleasing

Cape York is full of shoals, reefs and rocky islands, which are all perfect haunts for mackies. aspects of mackerel is their willingness to accept many forms of fishing. Trolling lures, skirts and baits are some of the most popular

ways to target them, but drifting dead and live baits, flies, plastics, jigs and metal slices are equally as effective in differing situations. In the

case of almost all of these techniques, gear losses will be high and a section of wire going down to the hook are crucial to prevent snip-offs.

Today while fishing in isolated shoal country up near the tip, we had three little reef pickers devoured in front of our eyes. Following that, the metal jigs were tossed out and cranked vertically.

These promptly came back without assist hooks and Spaniards in the 15kg+ range were at the back of the boat looking for something to eat before taking off again.

We started trolling a lure spread in the vicinity and soon the shortest line went off with a skipping garfish and wog-head set-up. This large specimen made it into the boat after some sizzling runs only to be lost to a careless handle by me boat side. You don’t win them all but I will be back out tomorrow and whenever possible between now and October chasing mackies.

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Trout

Dust off the fly tackle, get out the spin gear should be with the angling fraternity when it comes to finding exactly where trout are holding or feeding in a stream.

At the start of the opening season, the trout should be settled and going about their business as usual. With

BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Trout season opening is a big event on the calendar for many NSW freshwater anglers. The first Saturday in October, when the season opens, will also attract the attention of many Queenslanders who will be heading to the highland streams of New England for their trout fix.

RAINFALL IS A BIT SCARCE This year things may be a bit tough up in the high country as the regular winter rainfall has been a bit patchy.

Some streams have received the benefit of excellent rainfall, but others have been missing out. Nevertheless, low stream flows don’t necessarily mean small numbers of trout but what it does mean is that the fish might be pretty wary – or more wary than usual.

Anglers invading trout domain with lack of stealth, heavy foot falls, waving rods and other things will send trout scurrying for cover. Even a

76

SEPTEMBER 2019

For both methods, it is important to assess carefully where fish might feed, where they might rest up out of the main flow or where they might be hiding. New England trout like to feed mostly in the faster water where bubbles

Never be put off by the fact that some New England streams can be a bit discoloured. The fish will still find the fly or lure without much trouble.

When it all comes together there are some fabulous trout to be taken in New England waters.

The Ebor fly box: the third row from the left holds Royal Wullf dry flies, the next row a selection of Adams dries. sloppy cast causing a fly to land somewhat ungracefully or a tiny plastic on the finest of braid or mono plopping down, can send a trout diving under the bank to a favourite hideyhole. Anglers that succeed during low water will be the ones that take things mighty slow and assess situations very carefully prior to making a cast into calm or relatively undisturbed water. They are also prepared to wait to see if the fish are on the job before committing to a cast or streamside movement.

On the other side of the coin, a four month closed season has provided a buffer from angler attention, giving the fish respite from disturbance. The advantage

turn, this kick starts trout activity. Mayfly hatches should commence when conditions are favourable.

They like it when things are fairly balmy, not too much cold breeze about, and maybe with some cloud cover

winter’s cold bite fading and the weather warming, the insect activity should be starting to increase and, in

providing low light conditions.

FLY OR LURE? As a dedicated fly angler it’s not too hard to work out

and current flow give them cover, and it’s easy for them to maintain station and grab any food the current brings

During the early season in skinny water, the angler is casting well up into the head of the pool so the trout are not alarmed.

The use of a net ensures the fish can be returned to the water safely.

the method I employ for my trout angling! However, a lot of anglers enjoy their finesse lure/plastic work and a lot of trout are caught by anglers using fine spin tackle.

In the hands of a competent angler, either method works very well. Fly anglers using a light 5 or 6wt outfit do better when streams are low and fish are finicky, and the plastic or lure anglers get results in the deeper water or areas of increased stream velocity.

Fly anglers should use very fine leaders and tippets, tiny flies plus delicate presentations to get their best results from skinny water fly fishing, most of which will require a floating fly line and rod length tapered leader.

their way. A dry fly, such as an Adams (size 14) or Royal Wulff (14 or 16) drifted through a run at a pool’s head can often bring a fish undone when water is clear but shaded, or during daylight or dusk’s low light conditions.

A free rising fish will usually have a crack at either of these flies, so long as it’s presented as gently as possible just to the side of the perceived rise.

Later in the season, as we approach summer, grasshoppers and beetles join the menu list and are great fun to use on both moving fish as well as ones hiding in a quiet lie off to the side of the main flow. Be on the lookout for a hatch of flying

Trout ants during spring too, as a fall of these critters can bring up every trout in the water.

If you can get hold of one,

as things can be up in the high country – cold, misty, and miserable. Well, don’t stay cooped up inside, put on

the wet fly and have some casts anyway. Throw out a size 6 Woolly Bugger, red and black Matuka or over

sized nymph (size 10) that is attached to the fly line’s leader, and it’s game on!

A good tip is to rub the leader with mud to ensure the tip section sinks and work these offerings back down the current with some attention to the action – a stop means a fish has taken your lure.

STAY WITH THE LIGHT SPIN TACKLE Fishing top country waters with spin tackle requires a degree of finesse and dedication when using fine gear. Low water levels

might make things tough, but fine and far off should work. Keeping back from the water when casting and aiming well upstream will be the best game plan. A good friend, who has caught more trout on lures than I have had hot breakfasts, swears by these two offerings: 4-6lb braid on an Ecogear Grass Minnow S or an Ecogear B.T (bream/trout) 40.

As with fly fishing, windy or bleak conditions will often cause the trout to lose all caution and feed

voraciously.

Upgrading the tippet to 3kg might be necessary to prevent break offs.

So that’s some hints for the New South Wales trout season, which is just around the corner. Don’t forget to organise your fishing licence, make sure that you get permission to enter private property and pack plenty of warm clothing and the thigh waders. The elevation is 1500m+ so there will be some fairly cold nights and chilly early morning starts.

Fishing a beautiful pool on a trout stream, like this one, makes the drive to the New England area worth the time and trouble. a flying ant pattern (size 16) is a boon for a New England dry fly box. If, however, you don’t have a flying ant pattern but the flying ants are on the water (and the fish are going crazy over them) try a size 16 brown nymph on a fine tippet (1.5kg) just gently twitched near a fish and see if it works, as it has done for me at times!

DURING THE HARD TIMES So what do you do if conditions are not so user friendly? Maybe there’s some rain about or it’s as bleak

In a big open pool, such as this one, the main fish activity will be at dawn or dusk. A wet fly can provide some action at other times.

Landing a larger fish requires a net; trout are feisty fellows and will jump to the last.

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77

Big bass bonanza TOOWOOMBA

Jason Ehrlich fishability1@bigpond.com

The run of big impoundment bass is well and truly underway. We have already seen some monster fish caught over the last two months. Some of these giants have been over 60cm long and in unbelievable condition.

Over the winter months, bass put on condition as their bellies fill with roe.

For impoundment fish, they will never go through with the whole breeding ritual as bass need brackish water to do their business. However, the fish still carry on with breeding type activities, such as schooling up in big numbers. Often you will find

a lot of similarly sized fish holding together. If you strike the jackpot and locate the large fish, you are in for some sensational fishing.

Metal lures are likely to produce the big fish and big numbers. Spoons in the 20-30g weight range are perfect for covering plenty of water. These heavy lures can be fished deep and in front of the fish very effectively.

Their flashy appearance simulates the bony bream, one of the main food sources for this time of year.

While bass may have stolen the spotlight, barra will be firing up even more.

It has been a good winter on Awoonga and Monduran so as the days warm even more the fish should be prepared to bite more. Over the cooler months, the fish

SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND CRESSBROOK CLOSEST TOWN: CROWS NEST There have been some crackers caught at

Cressbrook. Big bass to 50cm fork length have been turning up, but don’t expect it to be easy. A few of these better fish have been mixed in with

13

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can be very shallow. If you find healthy weed beds, try flicking weedless rigged soft plastics in to them. Bays of warmer water are perfect for this. Barra bunker down in the deep pockets where they are well hidden from smaller fish. When one swims past, the barra are quick to dart out and ambush it. This type of aggressive bite can work well in the anglers favour as the fish hit hard and turn quickly often setting the hook.

It is not just the bass and barra firing up this month. Spring signals change in most freshwater species. Dust off those rods and reels and stock up your tackle boxes. The next two or three months of fishing are going to be unreal. Until next month, buckled rods from The Colonel!

16

14 31

Weipa

17

28

34

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Toowoomba

BRISBANE

IMPOUNDMENT DAM

spring breeding urges will draw them back together where they can be caught in numbers.

Out in front of the shallow boat ramp has been a great area for smaller fish.

There are a few over 40cm mixed in with the tiny ones but don’t expect big numbers unless there is a big change in fish movement. These fish are well out in the middle where a point extends out into the dam from the eastern side of the ramp. The drop-off of this point and even out in the deeper water around it is a good place to try to tempt a few. Casting spoons over the schooled and scattered fish

Gold Coast

22

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

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the smaller fish and those up to around 40cm. There is the occasional area that seems to produce better quality but with all the fishing pressure, these spots are now hard to find. It seems the big models are spread out. Hopefully the

Adrian Ehrlich caught this monster bass (55cm fork length) on a Gang Banger spoon on the Wivenhoe flats.

Gympie

12

25

Cairns 1

26

19

33

20

Townsville 2

3 4

Proserpine 6 Mackay

5

32

Rockhampton

Emerald 29 7

10

Highlighted dams are covered in this issue

Gladstone

30 8

Bundaberg 9

11

Maryborough

Roma

is a good way to get the bites.

If they bunch up under you in deep water, the fish should respond well to a more vertical drop and wind technique.

There were better quality bass up the Beams Creek end of the dam. Make sure you travel through the no fishing section around the tower and start your search at the first of the red buoys. It was a bit confusing last month as the yellow buoys for travelling were in place but a lot of the red buoys, which designate the start of the fishing area, are missing. The points in the first half of this arm can be very productive. You need to put a bit of time in on the sounder

BRISBANE

to pinpoint the fish holding locations, but once they are found expect some quality fish. Spoons have been the standout lure again.

Sounding up bass can be tricky if they are sulking close to the bottom.

Hopefully spring should have them lit up and more active. This is the prime bass fishing month where the bites seem to last longer before the fish disperse after having too much pressure.

When hard to find, look for smaller shows of fish.

Often they will be tight to the bottom. Rather than being found up on the flats formed by longer points,

QLD AND NORTHERN NSW DAM LEVELS Dam............................ % Full

        

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

JUN JUL AUG 5 5 5 72 71 70 6 5 5 28 27 26 95 96 95 101 99 97 47 45 43 72 71 69 0 0 0 33 33 33 9 8 6

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

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

9 9 9 39 38 38 3 3 3 100 102 100 19 18 17 9 9 9 93 93 92 93 90 87 100 99 99 84 76 69 5 5 4 102 104 101

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

Maroon 76 75 73 Monduran/Fred Haigh 78 77 76 Moogerah 58 55 52 North Pine/Samsonvale 69 69 68 Peter Faust/Proserpine 80 80 79 Pindari 6 5 5 Somerset 76 77 76 Teemburra 100 101 100 Tinaroo 96 94 92 Toonumbar 67 67 63 Wivenhoe 56 55 54 Wuruma 85 85 83

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 13/08/19

(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.)

78

SEPTEMBER 2019

they will be on the drop-offs resting close to the bottom at a particular depth. The key to finding these fish is to pinpoint the depth they are comfortable and spend more time searching similar ledges.

Parking on top of bottom hugging fish can be a hard way to get them to bite. An ice jig dropped quickly into the fish may draw the desired response but I find it better to sit around 20m away from them. I park the boat out in deeper water and fish up onto the point and work the lure down the ledge. The bigger fish tend to come from the bottom as the lure follows the contour. Once it gets out into the deeper water, the bites will often come from under the boat. Fish break away from the drop off and come to sit below the boat where they suspend. Once off the bottom, they are much easier targets.

• For all your fishing supplies and the latest reports on the surrounding dams, call in to see Fish’n’Bits in Alderley 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.

and now we are in the prime month to target them at their best. Spring gets the bass fired up and the bite times will last longer and there should be more days when they are willing to chew all day long. The big brutes will still be there. Fish over 50cm long can weigh over 3kg at this time of year and their ridiculous size needs to be seen to be believed.

Spoons have been dominating catches with 20-30g versions proving most deadly. The Gang Banger, Halco Twisty, Nories Wasabi, Slow Blatt and PML range have all performed well. When the fish are on, they aren’t too fussy. It is all about finding them and then presenting the lure to them the way they want it. Don’t be afraid to add some aggressive rips to pull the lure off the bottom at this time of year. Mix in plenty of slow to medium paced winds and keep dropping that lure back to bottom every few metres to keep it in the zone.

Small blades around 1/4oz have also been a good lure so far this year. These smaller blades are great for hopping along the bottom. In the shallower water on top of the flats, they can pull some giant fish. Out deeper where

Wivenhoe is one of the few good lakes to go trolling at the start of spring. The big open flats out in the middle to the north of Billies Bay is a great area to go searching for fish. You can locate schools on the troll and switch to casting.

SOMERSET CLOSEST TOWNS: ESK, KILCOY The home to the best numbers of big bass in Australia has been producing some giants. There have been several fish over 4kg caught already this year

the fish suspend, they are more likely to pull the smaller models. Bigger, heavier blade baits around 1/2oz can be cast and retrieved in a similar fashion to the spoons. Mix it up tossing both lures to see what the fish want. Both lures give off plenty of flash but

There have been some fine bass specimens caught at Cressbrook Dam. They have been hard to find but if you strike a good school you can catch them one after another. sometimes the subtle action of the spoon dominates over the strong vibration given off by a blade bait.

Schooling fish should be easy to find if you are prepared to move about.

Numbers of bass were found at Red Rock and Happy Clappers last month. These fish were already starting to move to the Pelican Point side of the channel. Last year, they stayed out wide on the point and were often found in 40 feet of water. Have a good sound around and located them. That is the secret to fishing Somerset. Spend the time to find the fish and you will be rewarded. Bay 13 was great last year but so far the schooling fish haven’t turned up. Don’t ever rule out old productive water as the fish will be moving, especially if they are copping a flogging with heaps of fishing pressure.

Further up the lake, the eastern side of the river bed and adjacent flats have held plenty of bass from opposite the island at Kirkleigh to the north. This section of water had been holding a lot of the giant fish so keep this in mind if you are chasing a trophy specimen.

• Somerset Fishing has their store based at the area above the day use boat ramp. The store is open over holidays and otherwise from Friday to Sunday. Orders can also be made online via the website www.somersetfishing.com.au .

They have an excellent range of gear suited to fishing for bass and golden perch.

WIVENHOE CLOSEST TOWNS: FERNVALE, ESK Last month, Wivenhoe went crazy after a run of good warm days. The fish had been turning up out on the flats occasionally but were very hard to find. Lure trollers were getting a few as they were so scattered but now it seems they have come together and schooled in good numbers.

The dam dropped around a

metre over the last month and this has brought some of the flats between Hays Landing and Platypus Cliffs into play.

At just under 10m deep, where they meet the drop off to the old river bed, they are now the perfect depth to hold the bulk of Wivenhoe’s bass schools.

Hopefully they hang around for quite a while this year.

The mornings have been most productive when the fish head up on top of the flats. Here they seem to move around quite a bit so be prepared to do some searching to find them and move on again when they do. As the bite slows, get closer to the old drop off as the fish tend to retreat to this area.

Spoons have been hard to beat with 20-30g offerings being a standout. Cast long and keep them close to bottom by retrieving for up to 10 turns before dropping them back again. At times the fish will lift high in the water column and you can get away with up to 20 turns to bring the lure higher into them. When you hit an active patch, the action

can be insane. Remember the location and get more lures straight back to the same area to keep them excited and chewing.

Blade bait and soft lipless vibes are great for hopping the bottom. If the fish are holding tighter to the bottom and hard to fool on a spoon, this can be the answer. I like to troll these at 1.5 km/h and take a few slow winds and then drop the lure the same distance back to ensure it keeps contact with the bottom.

Wait until summer time and this technique will blow you away with efficiency. Now is a good time to play with it as it is already drawing plenty of strikes when the fish are hard to cast up.

Keep in mind there is a 6 knot speed limit on this lake and you need a 4-stroke or low emissions outboard.

• The guys at Charltons Bait and Tackle at Redbank are the boys to see about Wivenhoe, Moogerah and Maroon.

Their impressive wall of lures is enough to make any freshwater angler drool. Call

in, stock up and get a few tips on where to head before your next trip to the lakes.

MOOGERAH CLOSEST TOWNS: BOONAH, RATHDOWNEY Bass are schooling at Lake Moogerah. Check the usual haunts like The Spit, which is the point running from the boat ramp towards the dam wall. The eastern banks from here are also worth a close investigation.

Just before the timber, the flats wide of The Palms are worth a search. The palm trees up on the bank are a giveaway to this location.

Just move wide of the scattered trees and you will be in the right area to start looking.

While the bass may not be as huge as some of the other lakes, they are fat and won’t be as pressured.

Spoons will be great for catching heaps of fish when they are willing to play. If they are tight lipped and won’t chew properly, try using a 1/2oz jighead rigged paddle-tail plastic or a 1/4oz blade bait.

MAROON CLOSEST TOWNS: BEAUDESERT, BOONAH Maroon Dam will start to change a little. There will still be fish on the weed edges willing to eat soft plastics and suspending jerk baits. The schools outside the weed should attract more of the bigger fish. The better quality ones often prefer to roam the weed edges alone but at this time of year, the breeding urge should see them bunch up.

Pay close attention to the sounder when working the weed edges and explore any 6-10m flats and the longer points.

The schooling fish will eat spoons, blades, mask vibes, and soft plastics could also be worth a try. Don’t be afraid to mix it up this month To page 80

Some of the Somerset bass have been giants. This fish was ridiculously fat and would have been close to 4kg. It picked up a G2 spoon off the bottom when the author wasn’t ready for the bite.

SEPTEMBER 2019

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From page 79

and fish a mix of the deeper water techniques as well as those suited to pulling fish from the shallower weed beds.

• Charltons bait and Tackle at Redbank can help you out with all the gear and spots for catching Maroon’s bass.

Known for a smaller class of fish, the dam has been turning up quite a few surprise catches over the last few years with fish over 50cm becoming more common.

NORTH PINE (LAKE SAMSONVALE) CLOSEST TOWN: BRISBANE, LAWNTON, PETRIE The dam slowed down a lot last month. There were still bass being caught but the ridiculous numbers tapered off and with that so too did the size. Spring is the month the fish should really be schooled up and this could be the reason the fish are hard to find. Even with the boating permit area

SUNSHINE COAST REGION MACDONALD CLOSEST TOWNS: TEWANTIN, NOOSA Matt Williams recently sent a pile of pictures through showing some excellent bass he caught on spoons. Some of the fish must have been nudging 50cm and were in excellent condition. When the schools are found, the action can be hot and slow winding or hopping spoons through the fish is the way to go. Soft plastics rigged

on 1/4 and 1/2oz jigheads can also work well at times.

Matt reported good catches coming from Bass Bay and the start of Borer Creek. There were also whispers of good fish coming from out the front of the Botanical Gardens and from the nearby ramp all the way over to the wall. It will be interesting to see if these fish join forces and create a mega school. If this does occur, they will take a bit more to

DARLING DOWNS GRANITE BELT REGION COOBY CLOSEST TOWNS: HIGHFIELDS, TOOWOOMBA Cooby Dam remains closed due to the outbreak of blue-green algae.

Unfortunately the great fishing isn’t likely to come back on line until mid-spring when things warm up again.

• Keep up to date on the Toowoomba Regional Council’s website or the Fish’n’Bits Facebook page for updates.

LESLIE CLOSEST TOWN: WARWICK The dam is in a sad state as far as water level goes. The nearby town of Warwick is on very high water restrictions and households have been given a water usage limit to try and stick top to prolong the remaining water.

Anglers have still been

allowed to access the lake and, provided you launch from the harder banks where there are plenty of other wheel tracks, you will be fine. Venturing out into other areas is likely to get you bogged to the axles.

Golden perch have been chewing right through the winter months. The action was hit and miss with some days near impossible and others producing plenty of bites. Hopping small blades is a great way to get the bites in the cold months. For some reason the fish seem to like bigger vibes too. The Transam and Jackall Mask Vibe and similar style lures work very well. There is a lot of bigger baitfish in the lake so maybe that is why the golden perch like the bigger vibes.

Murray cod are also more likely to eat the soft vibes as well. There were reports of yellowbellies

and the newer kayak-only section, there is a lot of dam that is inaccessible to anglers.

If the bulk of the schooling fish have moved in to this section of the lake, it would be the reason the bass seem so scattered and harder to locate in the remainder of the dam.

Last year, ridiculous numbers of fish were being caught from the point at Bullocky Rest. Obviously the fish were holding on the point in bulk numbers and maybe

they are making their way back there again this year. This is a land-based spot so the only way of knowing is to have a crack and toss some lures out there.

Spoons are a great lure for this time of year and the ability to cast them into the next postcode certainly helps when fishing from the shore. Try lures like the 20-30g Halco Twisty and Gang Banger G2.

When fishing from the shore, don’t be afraid to fish up

to 10lb braid and 15lb leader.

It is heavier than what I would recommend when fishing from a boat and will reduce your casting distance but it may help you get a few more lures back. There is the odd submerged tree out in front of points and they are hungry, especially when you have a fish darting around on the end of your line. The ability to straighten the fine gauge hooks that hang up should see you get more lures and fish back

in. Some of the fish in this area last year were massive so touch bases with Tackle World Lawnton to see if the hot run has started.

• Tackleworld Lawnton is an ideal port of call for all your fishing needs if fishing the lakes on the north side of Brisbane. The guys can point you in the right direction and help you experience some awesome fishing close to the heart of Brisbane and even further afield.

find but the effort will be worthwhile.

BORUMBA CLOSEST TOWNS: IMBIL, NOOSA Fishing at Borumba should also hit a new level of awesomeness this month.

The spring bite should be in full swing. Often there will be heaps of smaller bass schooled throughout the basin of the lake. Check the longer point and flats they form for any sign of schooling bass. The top end of the dam closer to the timber often holds the better quality fish. It may take

some searching and playing around but somewhere these bigger fish will be holding together in good numbers and be feeding up big time.

Spoons, blades, tail spinners and soft vibes are just some of the reaction style lures to feed them at this time of year. All these lures are well suited to the deeper open water where the fish will be found.

Numbers of bass further up the lake will be lower due to most fish schooling between the boat ramp and The Junction (where

the Kingham and Yabba arms meet). This section of water will be better suited to chasing some saratoga.

It can be a bit tough at the start of spring as any fish carrying fry won’t be interested in feeding. Toga are mouth brooders and as soon as they are finished carrying the young it will be game on as they will be hungry. Spinnerbaits, beetle spin rigged plastics, jointed swimbaits and chatterbaits are great for fishing the structure-lined edges up the Kingham and Yabba arms.

Earlier in the day, you can

play with surface offerings to tempt them as well.

You will often see surface feeding toga rolling on top in the mornings. Smart anglers will head to areas where the wind is most likely to have blown any insects and bugs overnight.

• Davos at Noosaville has all the gear you’ll need to tackle the fish at Borumba and Lake MacDonald. The store caters well for fresh and saltwater anglers.

They can be found in the Homemaker Centre on the corner of Mary and Thomas Streets.

caught by anglers casting spinnerbaits. This was quite surprising as they tend to be more of a summertime lure. The fish, however, were coming on a spinnerbait that was running a set of assist hooks under its skirt.

In recent years, we have all worked out how effective assist hooks are at converting the taps of golden perch into hook ups.

Murray cod numbers should also start to increase this month. Locate ledges and structure to fish bigger spinnerbaits for these fish.

Trolling with the electric motor at around 2km/h is a great way to cover heaps of water with more than one lure out. Try to work good structure and the drop offs wherever possible. When roaming, the cod seem to come from more open areas but when they are resting up, you need to put the lure right on their nose to get the bite.

• 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 The dam is starting to come good after the fish kill and roll over in winter. There were reports of Murray cod and golden perch caught on

live shrimp and worms last month so things are looking promising. You can usually get enough shrimp from the shore overnight if you use a baited shrimp trap.

The water will take some time to clear up so luring will be very tough. With the level very low, the dam is better suited to tinnies and kayaks.

Take extra care launching and navigating if you are in a bigger boat.

• The Coolmunda Caravan Park is only around 1km away from the lake. The park

is just off the Cunningham Highway but far enough away from the noise of trucks to get a good night’s sleep.

It offers camping sites, cabins, caravan facilities, tennis courts, a swimming pool, BBQ shelter and a camp kitchen. 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.

Gary’s Marine Centre

3201 6232

217 Pine Mountain Road, BRASSALL 80

SEPTEMBER 2019

Cody Layt caught his PB red emperor of 7.4kg on a recent fishing trip offshore using a strip bait.

WIDE BAY AND SOUTH BURNETT REGION BOONDOOMA CLOSEST TOWNS: PROSTON, KINGAROY The fishing has been excellent at Boondooma.

Big numbers of bass and golden perch are being caught on lures in half of the lake. Schooling fish are being found around the points across from the boat ramp near the dam wall buoy line. Further up the lake, check out The Barbers Pole and The Junction area.

It has been a typical spring bite where you need to find the schooling fish to have success. Put the time in

and you are sure to catch.

Trolling isn’t an effective method at this time of year as the fish aren’t scattered all over the lake.

Blade baits, spoons and ice jigs are battling it out for the title of being number one. Play around with lure selection as some days the fish prefer one over the other. Even a simple change in the way you fish the lure can make a huge difference to results.

• Boondooma is a great place to camp right near the water and sit by the fire while enjoying the view. The

CAPRICORN REGION AWOONGA: CLOSEST TOWNS BENARABY, GLADSTONE Last September the barra fishing was out of control. I must admit we were lucky enough to find a couple of sweet spots that were absolutely loaded with fish and that is where the bulk of the bites came from. In between fishing those, we managed to get

bites in almost every similar location we tried. The fish could be wiser now after seeing a lot more fishing pressure over the last year but I would be heading to the lake with the same plan.

In winter, some fish will stay out in the deep trees where they are caught for the warmer months. These fish can be hard to fool as the trees are a staging area where they chill out and

Blake had a good taste of September barra in the weed beds last year. He worked out even in the weed there can be small feeding stations where the fish seem to bite better. This was one of several fish caught beside spindly sticks in a deeper pocket in the weed.

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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-PETERSEN CLOSEST TOWNS: MURGON, GOOMERI Bjelke is fishing differently to most of the other lakes. This is most likely due to the very low water level. All the action has been coming from the bottom end of the dam and aren’t exactly interested in feeding. To lure these fish, you need to identify where they move to successfully catch them. We have found submerged treetops or smaller bushy trees seem to attract the fish looking for a feed. When you watch a suspending hardbody twitching in these trees you can see why. The barra would do their rounds and check the trees (especially during peak bite times) for any signs of bony bream.

Finding these feeding stations will boost your catch rate on these fish.

Not all the fish are out deep. I believe the bulk of fish head to the weed beds for warmth over the winter months. Here in the weed, they can hide and hunt smaller fish. There is plenty of weed in Awoonga so how do you identify the stuff which is likely to hold fish? I like the western side of the lake for my weed fishing. All the way from the boat ramp to up past Dingo Island is worth exploring. Narrow down the healthier weed beds that are lush and green rather than the brown dying ones. Look for baitfish up in the weed – the more life the better. I push right up into the weed where it allows and look for broken patches to fish through. Often while doing this, you will spook barra, so keep an eye out as you electric motor around inside the weed beds. Areas where you spook fish will be worth revisiting.

The bays where the wind blows into are ideal.

IS HERE!

Every Saturday 5.00pm on

the fishing has slowly been improving. Try finding fish between the ramps, at The Quarry and around the bend towards to pumping tower.

The fish can be tricky to spot on the sounder as sometimes they will be tight to the bottom and not schooled up like on the other dams. Let their mood dictate which lures you will use. When they are hugging the bottom, vertically jig ice jigs or hop small blades across the bottom. If the fish lift up and look more active (it is spring after all) fish your lures to suit.

Work blade baits with more aggressive lifts or wind and hop tail spinners and

spoons through them.

You can start a day off by tossing blades, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits at the dam edges. This can pull a bass or golden perch before you head back to the middle of the dam and the deep water of the old creek bed.

Between the boat ramps holds plenty of fish and they have been biting a little better. Smak ice jigs and blade baits hopped on the bottom are likely to score the most fish. If they do fire up a bit more, try using spoons as well.

• 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) 41627555.

• 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.

A weedy Awoonga bay like this will be perfect for catching barra this month.

These spots can even become a bit discoloured if dirty water pushes into them providing ideal feeding conditions for barramundi. Next it is a case of identifying if the fish are still right up inside the weed beds or starting to make their way to the outside. The only way you can do this is to pick apart all the weed pockets with lures.

It is still a bit cold for fast presentations so frogging the surface will be out. Rig up weedless soft plastic paddle tails in the 100-125mm size range on weighted worm hooks. I like the 4/0 and 6/0 hooks as I find the weight and gape of the hook is ideal for fishing

thick weed. When working my plastics through weed, I opt for a 7” spin rod loaded with 20-30lb braid and topped off with a 60lb leader. This lighter braid cuts through the weed. If you fish too heavy, the thick line drags through the weed increasing the weight and eventually you pull or straighten the hook.

• Justin Nye from Gladstone Fly and Sportfishing runs fishing charters on the lake. He caters to the needs of the angler and can do fly or conventional tackle trips to target the lake’s barramundi. He successfully guides clients onto fish right through the year and has a good understanding of fish movements. It is hard to

beat time on the water and this is a great way to learn more about this lake and its fish. You can contact him on 0429 223 550 or visit the website gladstoneflyandsport fishing.com.au.

• Mark from Awoonga Gateway Lodge always has a few productive secret spots to share. The Gateway lodge is on the way in to the dam after turning off at Benaraby.

The accommodation is great with plenty of boat parking space right beside the comfortable air conditioned, selfcontained cabins each with its own veranda. To book in a stay give Mark or Lyn a call on (07) 4975 0033.

OUTDOOR & FISHING SHOW

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Bash the best barra LAKE TINAROO

Warwick Lyndon

September is a great time to be fishing Tinaroo.

The first month of spring usually means elevated air and water temperatures and the fish in the lake start to become more

active. This tends to make barramundi far more likely to attack a wellplaced lure or bait, and some red-hot sessions can be had as a result.

Spring is one of the best periods of the year to target these fish because they can go off as the temperatures rise. To increase your

The author with one of the many barra landed by anglers at Tinaroo last spring.

chances, make sure you plan your trips around the wellknown barra bite triggers.

Just like in the salt, these fish respond well to certain stages of the solunar cycle, times of day and tides. Plan to fish the lead up to the new and full moons and if you can find a tide change that occurs around dawn or dusk, your chances of landing a Tinaroo barra should greatly increase.

Of course, you also need to be fishing where barra are actively searching for food, and there is an array of likely spots around the lake. In spring, this tends to be around timbered areas, steep points and within shallow bays. A side scanning sounder will take much of the guesswork out of locating the fish, but you still have to catch them!

You can start to upsize your offerings as barra become more active, allowing for a greater range of lures. My favourite spring lures are bigger vibration baits and large soft plastics, although surface lures and swimbaits also start to get thrown a lot this month.

Large sooty grunter are often encountered at this time of year. Last spring,

Young local Jack Centofanti has been tangling with some quality Tinaroo barra.

I landed several fish over the magic 50cm mark.

This year some great fish have already been caught, with reports of good-sized sooties coming from the standing timber and rocky points throughout the lake. Productive lures for sooty grunter include small vibes, bibbed minnows, soft plastics in the 3-5” size range, medium sized hardbodies and the humble spinnerbait. Sooties can also be caught on a range of

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flesh baits, and will attack most presentations with gusto if you put them in the right place.

A reminder that the biggest competition held on the lake, the annual Tinaroo Barra Bash, will occur from 8-10 November. The Tableland Fish Stocking Society runs this great event and all funds raised go towards stocking the lake with more fish. This event presents a fantastic opportunity to gather

some friends or family and have a crack at the many prizes on offer. Online registrations are open and you can get all the details at tinaroobarrabash.com. au. I will provide more information and advice on preparing for the Barra Bash next month.

• If you want to keep up with my FNQ adventures, you can like ‘Wazza’s Fishing Page’ on Facebook or subscribe to ‘Wazza’s Fishing’ on Youtube.

A top favourite: Toyota Prado BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

We’ve all seen the Toyota ads where a figure jumps up at the end of it and exclaims, ‘Oh, What a Feeling!’ It’s a pretty catchy jingle and, after spending some time with the Prado GXL auto, I found they were right!

The Toyota Prado created a feeling of smoothness and of general confidence that everything is where it should be. It certainly fulfilled the requirements of easy driving in spades.

Despite being powered by a modest 2.8L common rail turbo diesel engine, with its 130kW and 450Nm output, we still see more Prados towing everything from boats

The Toyota Prado is easily recognised, as the design has not changed much in recent years.

2.8L engine also had a revised ECU calibration. The current set up saw a compatible pairing of engine and 6-speed auto unit. Around town in the cut and thrust of day-to-day traffic the diesel auto wagon had ample get up and go for all conditions.

For a vehicle with

city and country work. The Prado actually returned low 8s per 100km on the highway at 100km/h. On a trip to Warwick, via Cunningham’s Gap, it averaged 8.8L per 100km, which is remarkably good for a vehicle of this size and mass. Its low range, with centre and rear diff lock

which would help with the impressive statistics.

I hooked up our 4.5m fibreglass centre console rig to the Prado. Even though I could feel the 1050kg craft on the tow bar, the Prado made a good job of towing it. However, I’m not sure how the 2.8L powered SUV might fare with a 2.5 tonne caravan on the draw bar.

Nevertheless, I’ve certainly seen a lot of Prados doing just that on our major highways.

Highway or city driving, the Prado provides an enjoyable driving experience. This is due to only a few lock to lock turns of the steering wheel in car parks, and confident direct steering when moving along the M1 at 110km/h.

The Prado’s ride will be the deal-making factor for a buyer. It is perfect for family use, long range towing and even work purposes where smooth, unfussed travel is part of the daily grind.

This car just glides over nearly any obstacle put in its path and, although there’s a

The front seats are wide, well-shaped and very supportive, with adjustable height and lumbar support. incredibly smooth ride out in the cow track-rutted paddocks and so-called tracks. Secondly, was the vast amount of dry land between water holes in the

An early morning run to the boat ramp saw the Prado towing the author’s fibreglass boat pretty easily. to horse floats or caravans.

MODEL UPGRADED Prospective Prado buyers can choose between the basic GX (6-speed manual or 6-speed auto) or move up a notch to the well set up GXL (also in 6 gear manual or auto). The very upmarket VX and Kakadu models sit at the top of the Prado tree with all their extra kit, but at considerably more dollar outlay. I found the reviewed GXL’s host of great features and luxury appointments made this car great value for money.

All the current Prado range underwent a slight performance tweak by increasing the tow capacity from 2500kg up to 3000kg last year. The four-cylinder

full-time 4WD, the Prado turned in excellent fuel consumption. I calculated overall figures of less than 10L per 100km for a mix of

capability, is on tap at the flick of a control switch.

A tank capacity of 150L ensures a pretty healthy range between fuel stops,

On the banks of the Macintyre River, the Prado impressed with its exceptionally good ride off road.

The dash layout is simple to navigate with everything easily identified and user-friendly. noticeable amount of lean on sharp corners or twisty roads at speed, the Prado never feels un-composed or out of sync.

These SUVs have a formidable off road reputation, however I did not have the opportunity to engage low range or one of the two diff locks (centre and rear) during my time with the Prado.

I took the GXL for a run out past Goondiwindi for some cod fishing where two things really astonished me.

Firstly, was the Prado’s

Left: Toyota put some thought into the third row seating design. The seats are large enough for adults yet tuck under the floor when not in use. Right: Dropping the second and third row of seats will give 1800mm of extra storage.

mighty Macintyre River. This is a drought of monumental proportions with native trees losing leaves along many sections of the river. Luckily, dust intrusion into the Toyota was a non event, but do be cautious that not all SUVs have this capability.

NO LACK OF EQUIPMENT The all bells and whistles GXL Prado comes with practically everything an owner might want.

Starting with keyless entry (transponder in the pocket and a hand near a door handle will unlock the vehicle), push button start up, privacy glass, leather trimmed steering wheel, tri zone climate control, lane departure warning, pre collision safety system, radar guided cruise control, LED headlights with auto high beam, daylight running lights plus fog lights, 8.0” touch screen plus a very clear reversing camera. It also includes Sat/Nav Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB connectivity plus a 9 speaker audio system.

On the exterior of this

large wagon were roof rails, side steps and a wide tailgate for easy loading.

As a seven-seater, the Prado has designed the third row very well. These seats tuck down out of the way when not required but are easily raised when necessary.

It was easy enough to access the third row with the near side rear seat readily sliding forward. With the third row set up, luggage space is greatly reduced to a measly 120L – space for shopping bags only. When the third row is tucked down and the second row is also lowered, there’s a storage space of 1800mm long and 1100mm wide between wheel arches.

All three rows of seating are serviced by air vents, which is a nice touch.

SUMMING UP After getting to know the Toyota Prado GXL auto I can understand why so many people outlay the $60,000+ to own one. The GX manual price starts in the low sixties, and the GXL auto comes home around the mid to latter end of the sixties; depending upon trim, the VX and Kakadu is a big step up again.

Overall, the Prado was a great car to drive with everything just right. Seating, visibility, use of cabin space and general storage seem to tick every box. I can understand why I see so many of my grey haired compatriots at the wheel of a Prado – these vehicles are just so good at what they do.

Its warranty is three years or 100,000km, which is not particularly outstanding as some competitors have 5-7 year warranties these days.

Servicing is pretty good at $240 per service for the first 3 years or 60,000km, with service intervals every 10,000km or six months.

And yes, it was a pretty good feeling!

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Schwerin pulls Somerset sneaky Jake Schwerin is from the Toowoomba area, which pretty much makes him a local to Lake Somerset.

Being able to fish this impoundment regularly definitely gave him an edge over the rest of the 52-boat field.

Coming into the Friday pre-fish, Jake had one key area in mind, but he didn’t throw one cast at it on practice. He did a few sneaky passes checking with his Hummingbird Solix Side Scan, making sure they were still there from a few weeks beforehand, and he was happy to find out they had not moved. Jake said he didn’t fish this spot because he didn’t want to arouse any suspicion, or give anyone reason to think the area was worth looking at.

On day one Jake made the quick run to his spot, which was within eyeshot of the start, just inside the timber at Kirkleigh. The area he was fishing ran into an old creek bed. Jake said this spot was the key to his win, as the fish had a nice flat to feed and deeper water to retreat to if need be.

On arrival, the ledge of the flat was stacked with

BOATER WINNER’S GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Edge Rods Black Widow 703 Daiwa Steez 2004 Toray F4 0.8 braid and Toray Power Game 10lb leader O.S.P. HD Shad Tail 3.1” (dipped tail) with 5/8oz Smak jighead

BOATER 2ND PLACE GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Boater and non-boater winners Jake Schwerin and Bronson Tilley display the sort of bass that helped them to take out their respective divisions. fish, so he dropped his trolling motor, hit SpotLock, turned his sounder off, and proceeded to knock their lights out! Between him and his non-boater Bronson Tilley, they caught 20-30 legal fish and upgraded half a dozen times. If the bites stopped, he would turn the sounder back on to see if the fish had moved, and if they had he would sound along the drop-off to find them, before repeating the process.

Jake was fishing a 5/8 Smak jighead rigged with a 3.1”

O.S.P HP Shad Tail with a chartreuse dipped tail, making long wind-assisted casts and letting it hit the bottom. He would then give the plastic ten or so winds before opening the bail and letting the lure hit the bottom again.

Schwerin repeated this process all day. His tricks definitely worked well for him, reaching his limit of four fish very quickly, and he finished the day with an impressive bag weight of 8.79kg, putting him in first

place with a lead of 2.74kg.

Day two had Jake heading out with non-boater Tom Deer. The pair went straight back to the area that was so productive the day before.

The weather conditions were very different, with the wind already blowing quite hard due to a cold snap from the south, and this had changed the way the fish were biting.

Schwerin noticed the fish were sulking on the bottom.

The only way he could get a bite was to dredge his plastic along the bottom, and

Daiwa TD Black Wicked Weasel Daiwa 2500 LT Caldia Sufix Nano Aqua Camo 8lb braid and 8lb FC Rock leader Nories Wasaby Metal Spoon 18g in colour vr313

even then they were taking biting very timidly. The pair didn’t let that worry them, and by putting their heads down and grinding it out they managed to catch a fish every hour or so.

Jake knew he was in with a good chance of taking out the 2019 Somerset Sufix BASS Pro with the lead he had from day one. He was the last to weigh on Sunday, only needing 1.87kg to take the win, and Jake made his way up to the stage with his limit of four fish with a weight of 5.95kg and a total of 14.74kg, smashing the

rest of the field to take the win of the 2019 Ecogear sponsored Somerset round.

Scan the QR code to see Jake Schwerin Interview.

BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Jake Schwerin 2 Anthony Thorpe 3 Nick Price 4 John Ciancio 5 Mark Parriott 6 Charles West 7 Keeghan Painter 8 Lloyd Brown 9 Steve Chang 10 Jordan Stoddart

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize Money 8/8 14.74 $3000 7/8 10.56 $1750 + $250 Evinrude Bonus 8/8 9.47 $1500 6/8 8.82 $1250 + $500 Garmin Big Bass 8/8 8.73 $1000 6/8 7.83 $900 6/8 7.55 $800 6/8 7.43 $700 6/8 6.92 $600 5/8 6.39 $500

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888 84

SEPTEMBER 2019

It’s clear that Somerset is still the premier big bass lake in the country.

Thorpey says the fishing was ‘fully sick’ Anthony Thorpe is from the Newcastle area, which is a long way from Somerset Dam. He had only fished this dam once in a competition, and one other time socially.

Before the tournament, he’d caught one fish in two trips, so coming into Friday’s pre-fish he was not overly confident.

He got a few bites but struggled to hook anything in the pre-fish. He did land a fish at Red Rock of around 32cm, but he was a little worried. He had a quick sound over the Kirkleigh flats and saw what looked like better fish. This area became his game plan for the fifth round of the 2019 Sufix BASS Pro Series.

On the first day, he had a loose game plan, but wasn’t confident and knowing there was a cold front coming dampened his spirits further.

Despite this, Thorpey started off strong, filling

his four-fish limit within an hour and a half, and this had him feeling a little more confident. He caught his fish on a 18g Nories Metal Wasaby spoon in colour VR 313 by just dredging it along the bottom. His non-boater Luke Sticklen caught their kicker for the day, which saw their bag of four bass weigh 5.23kg.

The second day had Thorpey choosing to stick to his day one plan, and he headed straight back to the Kirkleigh flats. On arrival he noticed the fish seemed more active and were sitting higher in the water column, even though the weather was a lot worse than the first day.

To get them to bite he noticed he had to speed his retrieve up a bit. Anthony caught three nice fish straight up, but the rest of the day was a grind, with he and his boater catching no more fish. Despite this, his

Anthony Thorpe travelled a long way to fish the Somerset leg of the Sufix BASS Pro Series, but went away $2,000 richer! day two bag of three fish was heavier than his day one bag of four by 100g! Day

two’s bag weighed 5.33kg, and a total of 10.56kg, securing him second place!

All action for Bronson Bronson Tilley was pleased when he got paired with local Jake Schwerin, as Jake had an awesome plan to head up in the sticks and fish a nice flat that he sounded up the day before, and no one else had fished there in the pre-fish.

On day one they pulled up and sounded around for 5 minutes until the sounder lit up with around 25-35 fish on the Side Scan, and they decided to switch the sounders off, so as not to spook the fish, and hit Spot-Lock on the electric.

Bronson fished with a 5/8oz Smak Jighead with a baby bass coloured Charlie Brewer Slider that Jake supplied him with. After five or so casts, Jake was hooked up and as Bronson was netting his first legal fish for the morning, he too hooked up. All the boys were doing was slow rolling the plastics along the bottom. By doing this, they were getting double hook-ups and caught around 15-20 fish within 30 minutes, and upgrading

Bronson Tilley fished hard through a tough weekend to come out on top, and took home some great prizes for his efforts. their bag twice.

It then went quiet, so they stuck around for a bit and as the day went by, they upgraded a few more fish.

Bronson landed the biggest of the day, going 51cm to the fork and weighing 2.53kg, which was a new Somerset PB for its captor.

The team then headed in to weigh their bag of

four fish, and they noticed that not many people had a bag over 5kg. With their bag weighing a whopping 8.79kg, it put Bronson and Jake in first place.

Day two on Sunday came around, when Bronson was paired with Greg Burke.

Greg and Bronson took off in 23rd place and headed up towards Pelican Point,

where Greg got his bag on Saturday. The boys pulled up and found no fish what so ever, so they thought they would give it 20 minutes in case a school swam through.

The guys struggled ‘hard core’, as Bronson put it, with the wind in this spot blowing over 35 knots, and they couldn’t manage in the wind without a Spot-Lock.

The boys then decided to go up to Kirkleigh flats and try to hide from the wind for a bit. By the time they got up there it was around 10am, and Bronson stuck with what caught all his fish on day one, which was the 5/8oz Smak jighead with a baby bass coloured Slider. Again, he was fishing this presentation with a slow roll and letting it sink back down every so often.

Bronson hooked up and landed a 2.02kg bass, and that was it! Greg had run out of battery for the electric motor, so they decided to call it and head in. As it turns out, Bronson’s 2.02kg fish was enough to secure him first place, with a total weight of 10.81kg!

Bass Pro Series presented by

Scan the QR code to see Bronson Tilley interview.

NON-BOATER WINNER’S GEAR Rod: Reel: Line: Lure:

Samurai 201 Daiwa Certate Finesse Custom 2506 Sufix Nano Camo 10lb braid Charlie Brewer Slider in baby bass (dipped tail) with 5/8oz Smak jighead

GARMIN BIG BASS John Ciancio managed to land the biggest bass for the tournament, weighing in a 2.66kg beast! The fish was caught around Kirkleigh working an 18g Nories Wasaby Metal Spoon up a creek bank ledge.

NON-BOATER RESULTS Place Name 1 Bronson Tilley 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Tom Deer Allan Price Leaon Walker Darren Greenstreet James Browning Jason Sheehan Steve Muldoon Matthew Martin Nathan Huggett

Total Fish Total Weight (kg) Prize 5/8 10.81 Bassman Spinnerbaits Prize Pack + $300 Sufix Bonus 8/8 10.24 Fishtec Prize Pack 8/8 9.19 Tackle Tactics Prize Pack 7/8 9.14 Sufix Prize Pack 6/8 8.30 Daiwa Prize Pack 5/8 8.22 Sunline Prize Pack 6/8 7.83 Keitech Prize Pack 6/8 7.15 Lucky Craft Prize Pack 5/8 6.81 Ecogear Prize Pack 6/8 6.60 Shimano Prize Pack

This short-wheeled model got some chuckles back at the ramp.

SEPTEMBER 2019

85

Bass Electric Series presented by

Lucas makes it two wins from two comps The fourth round of the Casino Outdoor and Disposal BASS Electric Series saw 32 anglers heading north to the hot and sunny Lake Gregory near Bundaberg.

Dale Lucas managed to compile a 2/2 limit for 2.34kg, in the process also catching the biggest bass for the tournament, a 1.58kg chunk, and secured his second win in as many tournaments!

Lucas had been pre-fishing the lake leading up to the event and located some quality fish in the back end of one of the arms. With this in mind he headed straight to this location on the comp day,

he was confident that he’d be able to find a decent limit of fish. The pre-fishing paid off, with Dale landing his kicker fish in a matter of casts hopping on Ecogear ZX35 through the weed towers.

No long after filling his limit, he decided to move out deep, and he sounded a flat where the majority of the anglers were fishing.

It didn’t take Lucas long to catch what would be a vital upgrade on 10g Palms Slow Blatt.

He opted to throw these lures on a Atomic Arrowz rod matched up with a Daiwa Caldia 2000 spooled with 14 Majorcraft Dangan braid matched with 8lb Yo-Zuri leader.

Dale Lucas scored some good fish early to claim his second win in as many tournaments.

Good bag for Joey Coming in second was BASS Electric event organiser Joey Urquhart, compiling his 2/2 limit for 2.15kg.

Urquhart had pre-fished the day before, finding some good fish shallow and deep. With the edge he wanted to fish still being in the shade on the morning of the comp, he headed straight there.

After throwing jerkbaits for the first hour and missing a few fish, Urquhart opted to head

out to a deep flat where he located good fish in pre-fish.

On arrival he tied on a 20g Palms Slow Blatt and landed his first fish on the first cast, which was not long followed by his second. He patrolled up and down the same ledge that was about 150m long, searching for a big upgrade.

He chose to tie on a larger 80mm Deps spoon and was soon rewarded with what would be his kicker fish.

Although the fish was quite

RESULTS

long, it didn’t have much condition, but was enough to allow Joey to hold on to a top two finish.

Urquhart chose to use a ValleyHill Raison Jaburo 65ml matched with a Daiwa Exceller LT 2000 spooled with 8lb Sufix Nano Aqua and 8lb Sufix Super 21 leader.

For his efforts he took home $260.

We look forward to seeing you all at round five at Lake Wivenhoe where the race for AOY will heat up!

Joey Urquhart has been consistent this season, and managed a respectable bag at Lake Gregory.

Place

Name

Total Fish

Total Weight (kg) Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Dale Lucas Joey Urquhart Brett Renze Allan Britcliff Aaron Kemp Adrian Wilson Mark Mckay Liam Dutton Graham Dodds Nathan Swanson Nick Nutley Mark Palazzi Jordan Renze Rebecka Oconnor JordanStodart Wade Walker Stuart Hansen Denis Shaw Paul Philllips Luke Albone Pete Bostock Tim Steenhouse Jermery Wakeland Bob Butler Daniel Kelly Dale Morgan Mitchell Micheal Glenn Swanson Les Barber Sue Barber Brian Rutledge

2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2 0/2

2.34 2.15 1.99 1.91 1.89 1.81 1.81 1.77 1.73 1.65 1.61 1.60 1.52 1.46 1.44 1.43 1.41 1.21 1.20 1.16 1.09 1.09 0.93 0.82 0.72 0.49

BOATS FOR SALE on PHOENIX 618 PRO Location: NSW

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Being the first to weigh-in, he had to wait through all the anglers to weigh their own bags before he could be crowned champion. Dale had some nail-biting moments as other great bass were weighed in, but eventually got the satisfaction he deserved.

For his efforts he took home $380 and a bonus $150 for landing the biggest bass.

$380 $240 $160 $140 $100 $80 $80 $60

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BASSCO TORNADO Location: VIC

$70,000

LEGEND BASS BOAT Location: QLD

$86,000

CHAMPION 188 Location: VIC

$29,000

SEALINE CUSTOM PHANTOM Location: QLD

$45,000

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2019

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

7-8 Sep

ABT BREAM Round 7

abt.org.au

Gladstone

8 Sep

ABT BASS Electric Round 5

Wivenhoe Dam

14-15 Sep

ABT BASS Round 6

Richmond River

14-15 Sep

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 8

Port Macquarie

20-22 Sep

ABT BREAM Queensland Open

Moreton Bay

21-22 Sep

Bowen Family Fishing Classic

Ross McCabbin on 0428 776 653

Bowen’s Front Beach

or bowenfamilyfishingclassic@yahoo.com.au

21-22 Sep

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 9

hobiefishing.com.au

Albany

23-28 Sep

Baffle Creek Family Fishing Festival

Baffle Creek

28-29 Sep

ABT BASS Electric Round 6

Borumba Dam

5-6 Oct

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 10

St Georges Basin

12-13 Oct

ABT BASS Electric Australian Open

abt.org.au

Wyaralong Dam

QLD

18-20 Oct

Variety Bass on Fly

Jeremy Wakelin

Lake Borumba

0447 741 709 or redlaughter@optusnet.com.au

19-20 Oct

ABT BREAM Round 8

abt.org.au

Port Stephens

23-24 Oct

ABT BASS Grand Final

Lake St Clair

26-27 Oct

ABT BASS Australian Open

Glenbawn Dam

8-10 Nov

Tinaroo Barra Bash

Lake Tinaroo

29 Nov-1 Dec

ABT BREAM Grand Final

Gold Coast

7-8 Dec

Hobie Kayak Bream Series Round 11

Marlo

abt.org.au

abt.org.au

hobiefishing.com.au

abt.org.au

familyfishingfestival.com

abt.org.au

hobiefishing.com.au

abt.org.au

abt.org.au

tinaroobarrabash.com.au

abt.org.au

hobiefishing.com.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.

SEPTEMBER 2019

87

Flathead Classic checklist URUNGA

Dayne Taylor

September means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To some it can mean the beginning of spring, and the end of those terribly cold months just passed, to others it can mean the beginning of having to mow your lawns more regularly for the next 4-6 months or so, but most anglers know it as the month leading up to the Gold Coast Flathead Classic.

September usually means start of all the prep, along with ramping up the pre-fishing to a few times a week for the more serious competitors. It’s also a time to be putting together some kind of plan or strategy for you your team members.

I am by no means a Gold Coast flathead fishing guru, but if you have never entered or are a seasoned veteran to this great annual competition you might find some useful information in this article regarding the rules, all the ins and outs of how the weekend flows and unfolds, and also some tips and tricks

briefing goes down, and also the process of filling out, recording fish captures and then returning your capture sheets each day of the competition.

PRACTICE/ REGISTRATION DAY Most traveling teams and even the locals use the registration day for a last

gone out on the pre-fish day and wacked some solid fish and then struggled for the next few days? Plus, there is no trophies for the pre-fish winner!

A great tool to use on the practice day is your sounder by marking things like bait, weed beds, reefs, depth changes and drop offs and

Catching flathead 40cm and above is the aim of the game. even marking tracks in and out of all the flats, creeks and canals in this massive system on the practice day will save you so much time over the next few days of fishing.

Around 4pm your whole team will need to make their way down to the clubhouse on the Broadwater to register.

You will need a printed copy of your entry confirmation to make the process run smoothly and quickly. Its at this point you will receive your team’s bag filled full of goodies thanks to all the great sponsors of the event, along with your shirts and all the relevant paperwork including your score sheets, angler ID tags and measure mats for the next few days.

After you have done this you can settle in and grab a cold beverage or two while enjoying the company of many likeminded anglers before the official welcoming, dinner and the briefing. You will also get the chance to see the first lot of random draw giveaways.

You could possibly head back to camp on the first night a winner!

CAPTURE SHEET It is important to fill this in correctly every time, as it determines your individual and team’s score. This sheet is for each team to record their captures each day. Fill in the name of each angler in the space on each sheet before you commence fishing each day to avoid any confusion.

Should you catch more than 25 fish per day, simply enter the data on a new score sheet.

There will be plenty provided by the committee.

Failure to fill in all the totals on each form at the end of the day and for all anglers to sign the daily sheets will result in that capture sheet being rejected, and no one’s wants that!

You will often find fish of this size sitting in less than 1ft of water. Picture courtesy of Hayden Elks. that have worked for me in the past. I’ll also divulge a few likely locations to start in your quest to break down this somewhat daunting and massive waterway.

The 2019 Gold Coast Flathead Classic is set to be a huge fishing event, with a massive pool of prizes worth over $450,000 set to be given away. With a whole range of team types catering for both senior and junior anglers, there is something for the whole family to get involved.

First up I will go through the process of how the registration day and 88

SEPTEMBER 2019

chance re-con mission. They scout out the system for things like water clarity, how the tide and wind affects your chosen fishing locations, and it’s also a great idea to time your runs between locations you wish to fish over the next few days. This will save being late back to hand in your score sheets and also help you better plan your strategy for hitting certain flats or areas at specific tides and times.

I know it’s hard to resist sometimes, but try not to fish to much on the practice day.

How many times has someone

The author with a nice flathead caught upriver on the new Berkley PowerBait 4” Nemesis.

The shallow flats hold great fish, but succumb to fishing pressure easily.

On day one and two you can return your score sheet back to the clubhouse between 4-5:45pm, and between 2-4.15pm on the final day. You will be required to have your photographic evidence of your catches handy if requested by the committee, so don’t forget the camera or SD card each afternoon.

INTO THE FISHING The second half of my information column is all about the fishing. Like I mentioned earlier, I am no Gold Coast flathead guru, nor do I claim to be, and there is a stack of people much more qualified to have that title. But here’s a few things that have worked for me in the past, and some info and tips I have picked up over my years of targeting dusky flathead and fishing the beautiful Gold Coast system at the Flathead Classic.

I’ll try and break things down into scenarios and locations, all the while making suggestions on lure choice, times and tides and so forth.

Before we get into the nitty gritty stuff, it’s important for everyone to know that first cast each day is from 6:30am, it’s not a bad idea to hit the water early, travel to your first location, set up your drift and organise your rods and tackle ready for lines in at 6:30am sharp.

By this stage you should have worked out with your team a few likely locations and in particular your first spot to kick off your three days of competition. This location might not be your number one choice, or the place you think you are going to have the most success, as this will all depend on factors such as tide, current,

wind and time of day. Your first location could be a deep drop off in the main channel where the very first sign of the run-out tide forces bait into a hole where the flathead lie in wait ready to ambush. Or it could be up on a shallow flat at the top of the tide 20km away where you caught some flathead on topwater lures. Either way, only you and your team can decide where to get things started each day.

Tech Flathead are unlike other species, as they are hard to locate using modern technology like a fish finder or sounder. However, you can use this technology to your advantage to help locate area’s they usually inhabit.

With the aid of GPS/Map functions we can mark any noticeable drop offs where bait may be getting pushed, or even a broken patch of reef in deeper water, creating a source of structure to hold bait and place to escape and sit out of the current. It’s then up to you as an angler to offer the right baits to entice any flathead that may lay there in ambush.

If there is one accessory I couldn’t leave the boat ramp without these days, it would be the electric motor. The ability to position and move your boat to suit the location you are fishing is priceless. I also love the electric anchor, which is perfec t for holding a spot in fast moving water or somewhere the wind may be pushing you away from. If you don’t have one yet, you need to seriously consider putting one on before the Flathead Classic, and it will also improve your fishing experience in general.

Tackle Being a tackle junkie,

I probably have way too many specific rods for specific situations and lure types and styles. Everyone has a personal preference, but here is my basic guide to get you by and cover a couple of situations.

Take more than one rod.

Worst-case scenario is you end up breaking your one rod, and your day is ruined, and potentially your comp.

A fast action rod around 7ft long in the 6-12lb range is great for casting plastics of all sizes. It can also double

and fluorocarbon leader in the 6-15lb range to suit and you’ll be ready to go.

On the water Possibly the most visual and exciting way of fishing for flathead is chasing them in the shallows. This could be the sandy edges of the canals, the muddy banks of the Nerang River, or the clean tidal flats found from Wavebreak Island right up to around North Stradbroke Island. There is a multitude of ways to entice a flathead in these locations, so let’s

A U S T R A L I A

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Good fish handling and care will result in a much healthier released fish.

Everyone enjoys a topwater bite from a flathead, and this is a particularly effective method in shallow water. as a handy deepwater rod for casting heavier lures such as vibes and or heavy plastics.

The other type of rod I recommend is a similar length and weight, but a lot slower action (softer) rod for casting or trolling lures with smaller hooks like crankbaits, little plastics and even topwater lures. Match these up with a 2500-sized reel and some braided line

start by pointing out the different sources of natural bait and the types of lures to mimic them.

Small poddy mullet and other baitfish like herring are a staple for flathead, and they can be found in all these locations, and are usually plentiful and found in good numbers. A 3-4” paddletail soft plastic such as the Berkley Powerbait Hollow

Belly or ZMan MinnowZ rigged on a jighead to suits a great replica. A great hardbodied replica is a small shad style shallow crankbait, and the ever-faithful Zerek Tango Shad is a great option, and they even come in some great baitfish colours.

Other great baits I recommend using to mimic yabbies, prawns and shrimp, are lures such as the Berkley Gulp or Powerbait Nemesis, Shrimp and Jigging Shrimp.

The Bassday Sugapen will imitate a fleeing prawn if you like fishing with topwater.

All these lures work great when they are cast right up in the shallows and retrieved steadily with a slow roll back over a small drain, ledge or drop off. You will generally find the bite will come right as the lure passes over from shallow to the deep water, where the flathead are waiting for bait. You can also troll right along these edges and drop offs, and this can be a really effective way of covering ground and finding

The Flathead Classic is a family-friendly event, and bound to create life-long memories.

active feeding fish.

In the deeper waters such as the main channels of the rivers and the seaway, I tend to use brighter colours and lures likely to attract more attention with their action.

Soft vibes like the Berkley Shimma Fork and Shimma Shad along with the Zerek Fish Traps are a good bet.

Slightly larger soft plastics like the Berkley Gulp Jerk Shads, Jigging Shrimp and Nemesis in both Gulp or Powerbait formulas are all great for fishing deeper water areas. Depending on the current, you will need to vary your jigheads and lure weights to suit, remembering that these are a bottom dwelling fish, so you need to be finding the bottom and keeping contact with it regularly to increase your catch rate.

A regular smear of a fish attractant like Pro-Lure Scent or my favourite SAX Scent on all your lures never hurts either. It may encourage a fish to hang on a little longer, so it’s always worth considering.

I strongly suggest you jump online to the Gold Coast Flathead Classic website, and under the ‘rules’ drop down tab across the top of the page you will see ‘boundaries, etiquette and safety’. Make sure you familiarize yourselves with this map and all the out of bounds areas highlighted in red. These are the no fishing zones, and potentially could lead to disqualification if you are found to be inside these areas.

Otherwise, good luck if you have entered! Be sure to enjoy this great event, as it really is a top-notch week of fishing and the committee and sponsors involved in making this event all do a wonderful job of bringing it all together!

See you there soon!

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It’s a Family Tradition

A U S T R A L I A

Phone: 0410 173 060 basscataustralia@gmail.com SEPTEMBER 2019

89

WHAT’S NEW FISHING EQUALIZER TWIN PIN PRO

1

The Black Magic Equalizer has grown a reputation around the world for being the ultimate fish fighting gimbal and harness, and now it’s even better.

With the advent of different fishing styles and the growing popularity in bent butt rods, Black Magic has introduced a new Equalizer, called the Twin Pin Pro (patent pending).

The change is simple yet significant, offering a great advantage to anglers who use both bent and straight butt rod types.

As the name suggests, the Twin Pin Pro has two pins, one in the traditional recessed position, and a new pin in the front of the rod bucket. Now, anglers have maximum leverage whether using a straight butt or a bent butt rod, without the need for an adaptor. Simply choose the best pin for your style of rod and you are fishing without restrictions.

Head to the Black Magic website to see more information, photos and a video of the Twin Pin Pro. www.blackmagictackle.com

OKUMA HELIOS SX SPIN RODS

2

Taking on all comers and reigning supreme in the Best New Rod category at the prestigious 2018 EFFTEX tackle trade show, the eye-catching Okuma Helios SX spinning rod is now available in Australia.

There are three models in the range, covering many of our most popular light spin applications.

Helios SX rods offer anglers high end components, ultra-light feel, crisp actions and incredible value for money. Features include 30T Toray carbon construction, creating slim blanks and fast actions, Japanese EVA split grip design, comfort grip ergonomic reel seat and Seaguide Gun Smoke SS guide frames with zirconia guide inserts. All up, it delivers classy looks, quality components and proven performance at an affordable price.

The range consists of the following models: HSX-S-702L (light action, 7’0”, 2-piece, 1-3kg, 1-8g casting weight), HSX-S-702ML (med light, 7’0”, 2-piece, 2-4kg, 3-15g) and the HSX-S-702M (medium, 7’0”, 2-piece, 3-6kg, 5-20g).

Price: SRP $109.95 www.okuma.com.au

STRIKE PRO X-BUSTER

3

The Strike Pro X-Buster is a deadly swimbait with a superior quality and finish.

This jointed swimbait replicates a bony bream to perfection and is deadly on barramundi and Murray cod. It has an outstanding side to side action, and you can crank, rip, twitch, pull, jerk or troll it. Just remember to give it a good pause; it glides deadly to the left or right and it stays in the strike zone.

This lure is extremely strong, with a tensile strength of 35-40kg, and it comes fitted with extra strong split rings and trebles so it’s perfect to use straight out of the packet for large species.

The X-Buster is 17cm long, weighs 80g and suspends at approximately 4ft. It also features extra loud in-built rattles for added attraction, allowing the fish to home in on the lure in murky waters.

The X-Buster is available in four natural baitfish colours and is a must for the serious swimbait angler. www.jurofishing.com 90

SEPTEMBER 2019

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BASSDAY BACKFIRE 4 Bassday’s expertise in the surface lure market is second to none, with the SugaPen one of the deadliest surface lures available.

Their newest creation, the Backfire, was originally designed for catching black porgy on Lake Hamana in Shizuoka, but it has proven itself in our local conditions already. And like the SugaPen, it’s sure to be a favourite for keen anglers.

The Backfire is 65mm long and through wired, making it strong and dependable. It weighs 7.5g and casts exceptionally well for a small lure. The large cupped face is capable of both dramatic pops, and small subtle, ripple inducing pops, when using a slow and light touch.

The slim profile produces little wind resistance. The action is that of a classic popper and will be excellent for bass, bream and other surface feeders. It works best with a ‘pop, pop, pause’ technique.

The new model comes in eight colours, and all but one have been designed exclusively for Australia. To find out more visit the Bassday Australia website, or Like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BassdayAus. www.bassday.com.au

DAIWA KIX LT

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Combining many of Daiwa’s latest technologies with stylish looks and contemporary design, the Kix LT delivers on both performance and price.

The Kix’s impressive design and strength begins with its ultra strong, ultra corrosionresistant alloy body providing a rock solid foundation for the reel’s long list of features.

Daiwa’s LT Concept delivers lightness and toughness while Tough Digigear provides flawless internal gearing, with its high-precision cutting technique achieving perfect gear meshing and ultra-smooth performance.

MagSeal protects from the elements, while Air Rotor, ATD, LT’s Longcast ABS spool, Perfect Line Stopper, Air Bail and EVA knob combine for superior performance, power and precision.

The new Kix LT is available now in six different sizes. www.daiwafishing.com.au

UPGRADED FG WIZZ

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The FG knot is the best braid-to-leader knot because it has the slimmest profile of any other knot, allowing you to reel it through your guides and use longer leaders. It’s also stronger than any other braid-to-leader knot.

This tool leaves your hands free to tie a slim, uniform and reliable FG knot every time, quickly and easily. There is no need to use your teeth or your rod. The FG Wizz is compact so you can take it anywhere.

This Aussie invention is hand-made by angler Ray Fewell.

“The original FG Wizz has been selling well, and everyone who has one loves it,” Ray said.

“If there has been any criticism at all, it’s the fact that it doesn’t handle heavy braids and leaders as well as the lighter sizes. That’s because the stems get drawn together at a faster rate.

“The new version is more versatile, holding heavy leader better in the back bobbin when finishing the knot.”

To see how easy it is to use, look up ‘FG Wizz’ on YouTube.

Price: SRP $44 www.fgwizz.com.au

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6 visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

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MAJOR CRAFT N-ONE 7 EGI RODS The Major Craft N-One Egi Series are all 8’6” lengths that cater for small 0.4 jigs all the way up to larger 3.0 and 4.0 jigs.

The rods are all spin, using a nano-alloy and carbon blank construction to reduce weight. They also incorporate the CrossForce technology used elsewhere in the Major Craft range.

These rods are a delight to use, with a super sensitive tip and an incredibly light weight, which allows anglers to impart jig movement with minimal effort and less fatigue. The guide train is all Fuji SiC, arranged in the KR Concept pattern, and ergonomics are at the centre of the build with carefully constructed composite EVA grips. The rod uses gold winding checks and black, gold and red bindings for a bold look.

There are three models, the NSE-862EH (8’6”, PE 0.6-1.5, 3.0-4.0 jig size), NSE-862E (8’6”, 0.4-1.2, 2.5-3.5), and NSE-862EL (8’6”, 0.4-1.0, 2.0-3.5).

For more information visit the Major Craft Australia website or Like them on Facebook. www.majorcraft.com.au

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RAPALA TOURNAMENT 8 SHIRTS

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You can fish all day in comfort with the new Rapala Tournament Fishing Jerseys.

These quick drying, 100% polyester shirts make a day on the water comfortable, and have a UPF 30+ sun protection rating to protect you and your kids from the sun’s harmful rays.

These jerseys are available in adults’ sizes small to XXXL and kids’ sizes 2 to 14. For more information visit the Rapala Australia website, or check them out at your local tackle store today.

To find out more about these and other products in the Rapala apparel range, check out the Rapala Australia website or like them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapala. australia), or Instagram (@rapalaaustralia). www.rapala.com.au

SHIMANO SLX DC

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The Shimano SLX DC offers smarter, more efficient lure casting under a variety of conditions.

Shimano’s Digital Control braking system automatically activates and controls brake force at every moment of the cast. A microcomputer controls the spool rotation by measuring and adjusting its speed, at 1000rpm/second, during a cast and little to no thumbing of the spool is required. It doesn’t require a battery, as the system re-charges itself as the spool rotates.

Four adjustable settings enable anglers to fish a wide variety of lures in all weather conditions, without having to constantly fiddle with internal brake settings. The DC system can also accommodate various casting styles and even different line types, with setting 1 providing the least amount of brake control and 4 providing the most.

The Hagane Body helps to ensure that the reel is extremely rigid and durable, so all movement results in smooth, yet strong cranking power. There’s an enlarged 48mm Throw Handle across three right-handed models, with gear ratios of 6.3:1, 7.2:1 (HG) and 8.2:1 (XG), and one left-hand (7.2:1 HG).

With a maximum drag output of 5kg, the SLX

DC can provide great stopping power.

Price: from SRP $339.95 www.shimanofish.com.au

SALTIGA 12 BEX UVF 10 PE+SI Made with UVF (Ultra Volume Fibre) and Evo Silicone, Saltiga 12 BEX UVF PE+Si Line is the ultimate high-density braid, exhibiting supreme abrasion resistance and ultimate strength.

With 72% improved abrasion resistance, 20% more strength, an 18% more slippery surface and 30% less line stretch compared to 8 braid premium PE lines, Saltiga 12 Braid UVF is the ultimate in line technology.

A reduced diameter provides an ultrasmooth surface for less friction/resistance on the guides and spool rim allowing for longer smoother casting, less noise, minimal water penetration and incredible sensitivity.

Saltiga 12 is the ultimate heavy duty jigging and casting line for big gamefish, and is colorcoded in 10m, 5m and 1m increments to allow full line control. It’s available in a range of sizes from PE0.6 (200m spool) up to PE8 (400m spool), and you can see all the specs at Daiwa Australia website.

Price: from SRP $99 www.daiwafishing.com.au

OKUMA EPIXOR SQUID RODS

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A dream rod for egi anglers, Okuma Epixor squid rods feature stunning aesthetics, top quality components and slim blanks with crisp actions.

Balanced for long casts and imparting action into jigs, with plenty of power down low for casting and control, combined with tips that can bring jigs to life in the water and control the surges of hooked squid, while reducing the chances of tearing jigs free.

High end components are used in the manufacture of these rods, including 40T Toray carbon blanks for a light and responsive rod, finished with Fuji K guides and Fuji reel seat.

Okuma Epixor Squid rods are available in 7’6” and 8’3” two-piece models, rated PE 0.61.2, with a casting weight of Egi 2.5-4.0. For more information head to the Okuma website, or look them up on Facebook (www.facebook. com/okuma.australia).

Price: SRP $179.90 www.okuma.com.au

NEW FISH TRAP COLOURS

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Anglers who love the Zerek Fish Trap will be excited to hear that seven new colours have arrived.

The new colours have been developed with the assistance of gun anglers across Australia and with the help of tackle stores. Needless to say, Zerek has delivered an exceptional new range.

Within the range are the following colours: BF – blended fog, GC – ghost carp, GH – gold herring, GS1 – green sunset, PS1 – pink sunset, SH – silver herring, and SS – sunset.

Initially available in the 95mm size, these colours will be rolled out into the 65mm and 110mm sizes in the coming months.

The Zerek Fish Trap features virtually indestructible TPE construction matched to forged split rings that hold the Mustad 4x strong Saltism treble. www.wilsonfishing.com

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

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Perfect timing for flathead season

The flathead season on Australia’s east coast hits its peak in Southeast Queensland in late September, and the action filters its way south as water temperatures increase in December and January. Anglers all the way to bottom of East Gippsland in Victoria, and the southern coast of Western Australia, head out looking to tussle with a flat fish.

Those of you who follow the Tackle Testing Booths in the magazines and the www.tacklejunkie.fish website know I love targeting flathead. When the team at Rapala Australia wanted to do something flatheadrelated, I was on board straight away. Much of what they sent me was newly released in 2019, and I could see that the lures were likely to catch their fair share of flathead. For now though, let’s start with the rod, reel, line and leader.

Rapala Australia’s portfolio of brands cover all the bases for you to catch flathead.

The author’s chief product testing assistant, Nicholas Willett, has had a lot of success using paddle tail plastics this season.

This flathead took a liking to a 4” 360GT Coastal Mangrove Minnow.

The Rapala Maxwell rod that they matched with a Rapala R-Type reel immediately intrigued me. The Maxwell rods are available in nine different spin configurations, two of which are new for 2019. The rod to be tested was the 7’ 2-piece, 2-4kg model (MXS702L). Maxwell rods fit into the finesse spectrum of rods – super lightweight, quality Fuji KR Concept

guides, skeleton reel seat with an EVA foregrip and composite cork rear grip.

They are a fast taper configuration.

The Rapala R-Type 25 reel they matched it with is a new size within the R-Type Spin range, added in 2019. It and the R-Type 35 have been added to the three other sizes available this year. These reels have 6+1 ball bearings and the new models have a 5.2:1 gear ratio with a 6kg drag rating.

A big part of the Rapala Australia portfolio is the Sufix range of lines. I was provided with a 10lb 150yd spool of Sufix 832 Advanced Superline in coastal camo colour to put on the reel, and some Sufix Super 21 fluorocarbon leader to go with it.

Both lines are recognised for their abrasion resistance and sensitivity.

The Sufix 832 is an interesting concept.

It is an 8-strand line with 32 weaves per inch of line. The line itself is a blend of 7 HMPE fibres and a GORE performance fibre. The GORE fibre assists with abrasion resistance while the HMPE fibres provide the strength and sensitivity. The Sufix Super 21 complements the main line, providing a strong, supple and invisible leader to fish with.

VMC COASTAL X JIG HEADS AND STORM 360GT COASTAL SOFT PLASTICS The Coastal X jigheads and 360GT Coastal soft plastics were a new release for 2019, following on from the highly successful Storm 360GT Searchbait range.

The VMC Coastal X jigheads range from 7-14g and come in 2/0-4/0 hook sizes. I would call the hook medium heavy, certainly fine enough to get through the top lip of a flathead.

Storm 360 Coastal plastics come in a number of profiles and sizes, and you can find more information in the fact box hereabouts. Each style has eight colours.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS The combination of the Rapala R-Type

reel and the Maxwell rod is a good one.

It is well balanced, and although the reel feels a little heavy compared to some out there, it is spot on for the rod.

Initial impressions of the rod where that it is quite soft or very tippy, whichever way you want to say it. I did have concerns that casting a 3/8oz or 1/2oz jighead and plastic may be a challenge, and that the initial power required to set the hook on a larger flathead may not be there. Loading the rod correctly (not the wiggle test) alleviated this concern. As tippy as the rod may be, there is plenty of power from two thirds of the way down the blank to deal with the above lures and to drive that hook home.

The VMC Coastal X jigheads are also a little different. Their medium heavy wire covers the best of both worlds – fine enough for quick hook penetration with the strength to give you peace of mind if you need to dictate terms while fighting a fish. I would have loved for the 3/8oz to come in a 4/0 hook (like the 1/2oz) not just 2/0 and 3/0. It just has that hook point a little further back when you are fishing 4” and 5” plastics. I did love the concept of a second eyelet under the head. You can run a blade or add a treble or stinger hook, something that shifts the odds just a little

STORM 360GT COASTAL PLASTICS Type

VMC Coastal X jigheads have a second eyelet so you can add a blade, treble or stinger hook. The author has chosen to add a stinger to the tail of this 4” Storm Coastal Shrimp.

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Coastal Shrimp Coastal Mangrove Minnow Coastal Manta Tail Coastal Largo Shad Coastal Trick Tail Minnow

Size

Colours

Plastics per packet

3” and 4” 3” and 4” 4” and 5” 3” and 4” 5”

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PRODUCT GUIDE more in your favour.

The 360GT Coastal plastics range has five styles, of which I selected four, and they are a good variation on traditional proven profiles. The Coastal Shrimp and the Manta Tail were my initial favourites. I also like the colour range, as I have always been a fan of contrast colouring, whether it’s layers or tail contrast. Each model has enough natural and ‘out there’ colours to meet most anglers’ needs.

IN THE FIELD It has been an interesting three months testing the gear and plastics on my local flathead. Lower rainfall and longer than expected warm weather has my local haunts fishing a little differently from previous years. Smallish (3-3.5”) baitfish profiles have been the go.

I expected the 3” Coastal Shrimp and Mangrove Minnow to be the standouts,

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too many fish that don’t like a feed of prawns. Also coming in 3” and 4” sizes, the larger size seems bigger than it is. I did use a stinger hook set-up with it on those occasions when the fish weren’t in full smash ’em mode. It has proven to be the downfall of plenty of flathead, and has its fair share of bycatch as well.

Flathead haven’t been the only fish to take a liking to the 3” Storm Coastal Shrimp. This nice little snapper smashed one in the new penny colour.

The Rapala Maxwell rod fully loaded during a cast. and I was half right. The Mangrove Minnow paddle tail comes in two sizes (3” and 4”) and is quite a slender profile. What was unexpected was how hard the tail thumps.

The feedback through the rod in amazing considering the profile of the plastic. This has translated into some good fish being caught, but not as many as I expected it to. The season has been about finesse, and maybe the Mangrove Minnow was a bit full-on for some of the fish.

The Coastal Shrimp, however, has exceeded my expectations. The profile suits any style of retrieve, and I don’t know

The Coastal Manta Tail and Trick Tail Minnow are a jerkshad configuration with different tail set-ups. Flathead love this style of plastic, and this proved to be the case with both lures. The Trick Tail Minnow is a 5” plastic where the Manta Tail is available in either 4” or 5” sizing.

Flathead are not afraid of a large plastic, and the Trick Tail Minnow has caught its fair share of fish, but the Manta Tail has been winner between these two plastics.

Like the Coastal Shrimp, the Manta Tail has accounted for some fun bycatch as well.

The Rapala combo has been ideal for targeting flathead. The reel has a smooth drag and the rod is easily powerful enough.

The combination of the Sufix 832 braid and Super 21 leader with the outfit is next level. The feedback through the rod from the line is second to nothing I have tested.

You feel everything that is happening at the end of line, which is exactly what you want when you’re fishing plastics. The

No wonder the author is a fan of the New Penny 3” Coastal Shrimp!

Although all the Storm plastics tested caught fish, the author’s favourites were the 3” Coastal Shrimp and this plastic, the 4” Coastal Manta Tail.

This mulloway was a welcome by-catch. It was caught on a 4” Storm 360GT Coastal Manta Tail in the kickin chicken colour.

marketing for the Superline in particular is all about abrasion resistance, and I can’t fault it. More importantly for me, they are great to tie knots with. You can deal with your line being rubbed through, but not your knots giving way.

FINAL THOUGHTS As an overall package, Rapala Australia has done a great job, and anybody who likes chasing a flathead or two should check out these products. The standouts for me were the Storm 360GT Coastal Shrimp and the Coastal Manta Tail. The Sufix 832 Superline is amazing too.

Although I did like the coastal camo colour that I tested, I would probably steer towards the neon lime colour, as my aging eyes need all the help they can get.

You can check out these products in your local tackle store, on their website at www.rapala.com.au or like Rapala on Facebook to get all the updates on their new products.

– Peter Jung

The author didn’t expect to catch this on a 360GT Coastal Shrimp.

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A perfect combination of touch, power and looks It would be the understatement of the millennium to say that product developer/fishing nerd Tommy Slater and the team at Daiwa Australia have been busy in 2019.

some time working out exactly which rods I’d get the most use out of.

I initially asked for one of each model (16 total rods), and once the laughter on the other end of the phone stopped we settled on one

setting means little to nothing once you’ve actually strapped a reel to it, chosen a lure and set off to put a REAL bend in it.

As crazy as my old mate Jimmy Reid from ABT can be, he’s got nothing on a wild bass who’s decided your Mazzy Pop looked good for afternoon tea and is heading back to the gnarly snag he calls home.

In the three months or so I’ve been fishing the TD Zeros I’ve been most impressed by how well they’ve thrown lures of all different shapes and sizes. Using everything from Bent Minnows and iWavers through to

Throwing jigs into tight cover was easy with the TD Zero baitcaster.

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A wild fish that was extracted from a nasty snag thanks to the abundant low end power.

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various bass jigs, crankbaits and vibes, they’ve handled everything asked of them with ease.

And when I put those lures in the right spots and actually hooked a fish or tiger squid, the fun really began.

Ask any angler or experienced tackle store employee, and they’ll say that previous Daiwa rod ranges had too many versions of the same rods. The livery, cosmetics and price points would all change, but most of the lengths, weights and actions were very similar. This has really started to change in the last 12 to 18 months, and the TD Zeros are a perfect example of that change.

The two models I’ve fished with so far (I’m still holding out hope the other 14 models will show up any day now) both have actions that are different from older Daiwa models I’ve got in the rack. If you were to just read the numbers though, you’d assume they’d be very similar to fish with.

The spin rod has a light action and a fast taper, making it perfect for light lure work, so I’ve primarily used it for casting surface lures across flats for bream and whiting. The extra rod length means I can cast a long way without a lot of effort and once connected, the fast taper surrenders the tip of the rod without giving away power. This means you are less

FOR EXTR

spin, and one BC option.

You can’t knock a bloke for trying right?

In the end I settled on the 6102MLB for the baitcaster and the 732LS in the spin, with the bulk of my fishing being done in skinny freshwater and my local estuaries targeting bass, bream, squid, jacks and so on.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS Unboxing is always fun, and holding both of these rods in the hand was no exception.

Yes, they’re very pretty and everything is styled perfectly from the hook keeper to the ergonomic Daiwa reel seat and EVA grips, but the first thing you notice is just how light they are in the hand.

As you all know, the natural thing to do with a new rod is to put a bend in it, and so every person who walked through our office did exactly that and everyone remarked how nice the new tapers were and how much power you could get out of a light set-up.

ON-WATER PERFORMANCE Of course, how a rod performs in an office

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Constant releases of new ranges of line, accessories, reels and rods has created plenty of work for them, and have given us mere anglers plenty to drool about as new press releases were rolled out and videos of them in action dropped on YouTube.

One launch that really took my fancy was the re-vamped TD Zero range.

The Zero name has been stickered on Daiwa rods for a long time now, but the 2019 version is the boldest and most ambitious version ever, with a range of spin and baitcast options to suit just about any light tackle angler in the country.

Striking colours, unique handle designs, a balanced combination of Fuji stainless steel, titanium and SiC anti-tangle guides and the inclusion of a rod sock make the 2019 model an instant and impressive upgrade from previous offerings.

When I was asked if I’d be keen to put them to the test for Fishing Monthly readers I said YES! very quickly. Then I had to spend

CO

Close quarters bassin’ means you better have quality gear on your side.

likely to pull small hooks out of lips, but you can maintain control during the fight. It was matched with an older model 2506 Luvias and felt very well balanced in the hand.

The baitcaster has now accompanied me on many boat and kayak trips on dams and skinny bass water, and has been tasked with fishing everything from Soft Shells and Shinmushis in the timber at dawn to spoons, jigs and vibes on schooled fish while the sun blazed above. I paired it with one of the new Tatula 150H reels and it’s been a dream to fish with.

BANG FOR YOUR BUCK The RRP on the TD Zero range is $299, which is about the middle of the road in today’s fishing retail market. There are plenty of rods that sit either side of this price point, but there aren’t too many that offer as many options in the range and come packed from tip to butt with so many premium features.

The 16 models cover everything from ultra light finesse fishing through to heavy work you’d expect to encounter in far north QLD or the Territory, and if all the models are as well built and thought out as the two I’ve been playing with, they’ll handle it easily.

PICK ONE UP As I’ve mentioned, the rods do have particular actions that may be a little different from Daiwa rods you’ve used in the past, so I’d highly recommend getting into your local tackle store and putting a bend in one.

A red hot looking rod with a free Daiwa rod sock for under 300 bucks is well worth it.

– Rupe Gaden

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The state of fishing tournaments At Track My Fish, we have been busy with tournaments pretty much every weekend since January 16, with more than a few weekends requiring a presence in more than one event. While we run some from home base, we get around to a good many of them providing on the ground support to the tournament organisers.

Every now and again, someone has the thought that fishing should be an official sport, often as a

relatively unskilled fishers, catching a good fish will get recognition be it from family, mates or on social media.

In other words – now there is a base to work with if you were going to build the sport.

I thought this might be a good time to take a step back and have a look at the tournaments we are involved in and where fishing is up to from a sports perspective and where it might go.

STANDARDS ARE STILL FEW AND FAR BETWEEN One of the things that defines most sports is the

see first-hand the variance in vessel capability, electronics and gear. Nobody is going to win bream series like the ABT or Berkley Super Series without one of the variants of bass boats from the US, which is a pretty sizable investment given the dollars on offer. Similarly in the barra circuit, electronics plays a pretty big role in success. At the community event level that is less of an issue, but only because they typically tend towards simpler rules like biggest fish wins.

In places like the UK and Europe, peg fishing

less accessible sport.

Most sports have addressed this problem by providing a peak body that drives the standards, provides recognition and progression paths. I have been involved with many, and probably the closest to fishing is martial arts like karate and taekwondo. Both of these martial arts provide a myriad of stylistic and philosophical differences and are every bit as fragmented as fishing.

In order to resolve the need for standards and to bring kids through their system, they broke into two systems, traditional and sports. The traditional maintains all the values and variation you would expect, the sports path offers a consistent set of rules. This allows the sport to bring kids into competitions with a clear path of the skills they need to develop in order to compete.

Let me say – they didn’t get there on any easy path. It took a lot of compromise.

COACHES SHOULD BE A THING Back a couple of years ago, one of the locals that

preparation and even if they are, nobody has a perfect view of the action. As an athlete, feedback, statistical assessment and a different point of view are important parts of problem solving.

That is where coaches come in.

At a lower level, coaches form the base for developing the next generation. All coaches perform that role slightly differently based on interest but there is one thing that is consistent among all of them – all coaches are focused on progression of their charges.

Fishing has kids clinics in varying forms, some commercial, some volunteer but they are simply focused on introducing kids to fishing.

Only a small segment of them are focused on taking kids through the gears in terms of skills, and all too often that is left to the invested parent or for the kids to work it out themselves in their teens.

Note – that is easier in the rural areas than in the cities but it happens in both.

By the way, I see this independent development

event styles means events are not just competing for participants they are competing for sponsorship dollars, often from smaller outlets and local businesses.

More organised sports negotiate sponsorships at a peak body level and bring to bear the size of their base. Recent controversies in cricket over the number of participants should be noted by fishers – Cricket Australia has a playing base the equivalent of two states of fishers.

The difference is the peak body is able to offer a public face at the highest levels, a spectacle that shows off the best athletes and the public good of co-ordinating the grassroots. Fishing offers none of that.

I have great sympathy for the challenges the sponsors have. Increasingly we are being asked to help out with promotion and I can see why.

HOBIE WORLDS AND BERKLEY SUPERSERIES Speaking of spectacle, the Hobie Worlds and Berkley Superseries gave us the chance to work closely with

Fig.1. Participation in fishing based on Fisheries Queensland surveys. means of funding something.

Personally I think that’s an idea long overdue pursuing, as I have seen first-hand some terrifically skilled fishers that qualify to me under the term athlete. The challenge though is to work through the currently fragmented nature of fishing competitions and consider how you could build a network.

Another interesting stat out recently in Queensland was an uptick in the number of fishers. After a decade of serious decline, fishing didn’t just rebound, it’s back to levels not seen since the mid 1990s. I think there is a couple of reasons for that.

Firstly, there is a generational change: Gen X was a much smaller group overall so was never going to replenish the stocks of new fishers, while the millennial generation numbers as a group are much closer in numbers to the baby boomers. Second, we have seen the rise of larger retail chains that more visibly promote fishing. Lastly, it is one of the few ‘sports’ left that recognises an angler’s achievements. Even for

standardisation of the rules and the process by which people come into the sport.

Sports like the football codes, athletics, cricket have consistent rules, limitations on equipment and everyone plays on the same pitch.

I can speak with expertise on the lack of standards for fishing, as I am the guy who gets to put together the scoring system. Our scoring engine has taken nearly two years to develop and every time I think I have all the bases covered, someone comes up with something new. Overall we have a crazy number of scoring arrangements, including 43 separate scoring algorithms, which breaks out into thousands of combinations once you consider species, fisher class, fishing categories (eg. kayak vs beach) and a range of bonus systems and even ways to resolve ties.

THE DUCKWORTHLEWIS SYSTEM HAS NOTHING ON FISHING! Scoring is just the beginning. As we get around to a lot of events we get to

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS

Total Average no.

Class of Event Total of Participants Club 1075 56.6 Community 5355 281.8 High End C&R 4611 164.7 Length Weigh in 222 37 Live Weigh in 1098 91.4 Photo Only 541 60.1 Traditional Weigh in 3684 736.8 96

SEPTEMBER 2019

has provided something of a standard by physically constraining the fishing area of fishers, but that works in the smaller geography on offer.

At this point, I don’t think that fishing could really get much further away from standards. Fishing competitions regularly seek to provide a point of differentiation in attracting competitors, often through their scoring systems – i.e. the chance to win.

Rather than providing a progression path to skill, competitions all too often work against each other.

One area where standards are both possible and not too far away is the kayak segment. The equipment is relatively standardised, athleticism is rewarded and there is no easy way to gain an advantage other than skill. Having been involved with local kayak events and recently the Hobie Worlds, the level of difference is far less than most sports.

IGFA also have a pretty consistent set of rules, though gamefishing is a far

Fig.2. Comparison of categories by event type. wanted to win the Rocky Barra Bounty turned to Johnny Mitchell, a renowned fishing guide who provides training in fishing skills.

The investment paid off with victory.

I have often wondered why more don’t turn to coaches. In my experience competing in fishing isn’t just a skill thing, there are tactical elements and psychological elements as well. Fishers play mind games all the time. All high-powered athletes forge their own identity on the field but they don’t do it alone. Nobody is an expert in all areas of

VARIANCE IN FISHING COMPETITIONS

Avg. Number of Class of Event Prize Categories Club 4.57894737 Community 7.95 High End C&R 3.67857143 Length Weigh in 2 Live Weigh in 2 Photo Only 2 Traditional Weigh in 25

of skill as being one of the key strengths and appeals of fishing – there is no way to progress other than under your own steam. All the same, this is a limitation in developing fishing as a sport.

Is it impossible to set up a coaching clinic system?

Not in my view, although it’s challenging in some areas in terms of accessing a ‘playing field’. In the long run we have enough people who have the ability, and it’s probably funding that is the issue, which comes back to standards.

The only way to get funding through the sports commission is to have a national body and standards.

EVENTS NEED TO THINK ABOUT THEIR SPONSORS Another area where fishing probably falls short of other sports is in how they deal with sponsors. The lack of a formal structure and the plethora of fishing

Nicholle Smith and Steve Morgan on livestreaming.

We developed the plugin content that shows scores and stats during the live feed, which makes it easier to contextualise what is going on. Steve and Nicholle did a brilliant job on the Hobie Worlds, putting on a show that was compelling and enjoyable. I think they not only did themselves proud, but put a professional face to a sport that has been largely amateur in all respects.

Steve and Nicholle took the presentation of fishing up a few notches and helped to provide useful insights into the skill and dedication of its participants.

Not to mention – they made fishing fun, which is critical to growing an audience.

You should check out the Hobie Worlds video on the Hobie Worlds Facebook page.

There is still quite a lot of To page 97

I’m really not feeling the need for speed BRISBANE

The Sheik of the Creek

I don’t get the competition about boat speed. Or should I say this unhealthy infatuation with how fast your boat goes. Surely there are other ways you can measure how effective or useful a boat is?

It’s become a little bugbear of mine because I’ve broken a six-month drought, and reinvested in a craft (of sorts). It’s not a bad little beast, and entirely opposite to the last one, which was very, very good to travel in through any chop but was less stable than Mark Latham standing on one foot in a dodgem carrying a beanbag. This one doesn’t tilt at all, even with Doughers standing on one side, but it hits little waves like a Kia Rio hits a water buffalo.

That’s not to say that I’m upset with my buy, because I judge my boats on how much they cost initially, how much I am forced to spend on them From page 96

work to do on the waterside of the sport. Events like the Tour de France follow the action throughout the day, which can be done because the leaders all group together, but it’s much harder with fishing because everyone scatters. Then there is the limitations of mobile signals. Nonetheless, these are challenges that have to be overcome to deliver a product that will gain a wider audience.

In the long run, audience is what delivers value to sponsors and funding for the sport.

I think livestreaming has to be where the content/ presentation of events is developed because it’s the cheapest medium that you can still create a professional product in. Unlike television, the potential livestreaming audience is not limited in format.

WHAT’S THE SCALE OF THE FRAGMENTATION CHALLENGE? I wanted to put some actual data around the variance in fishing competitions. All up we have seven classifications for events we use at present: • High End C&R – competitions like the Barra Nationals that attract top fishers specifically for the prizes/recognition of skill for Catch and Release.

• Community – open to general community, can have both high and lower skill fishers but the format is some

to keep them floating and moving, and how much I get on selling. So far I’m not doing very well really.

I’m the Wayne Swan of boat buyers. But I have high hopes for this one.

One thing I have learned through my years of boat speculation is to invest early and invest hard, because once the Minister for Finance, Alcohol and Tobacco learns what you’ve spent, you’ll be red carded quicker than you can say, “But it keeps the grandkids safer!”

So within minutes of signing off on the boat, I was down at the local chandlery getting a new sounder.

And this one is probably worth the bumpuckering price I paid for it. You can’t watch Netflix on it...well actually you probably can but I haven’t worked out how. It pretty much shows you everything under the boat if you know how to interpret the signals. Which is a bit like saying Bob Katter makes sense if you can interpret the signals.

But I’m pretty sure that once I learn what all the garbled noise and blobs of

coloured rubbish mean I will understand much better. The sounder that is, not Bob. But overall, it’s a great investment and once again

I have to say that it’s judged very harshly against the other Dudd boats just because its a little slower than them. I can’t understand what this

preoccupation with speed is. It’s petty and childish.

And Pommer’s suggestion that you can improve top end speed by increasing

your prop size is crazy.

But possibly worth a try… maybe that trawler prop on Gumtree might be worth a shot.

form of catch and release.

• Club – run specifically for members of a fishing club. Tends to have highly skilled fishers but focused on recognition within the club.

• Live Weigh In – events like the ABT with fish stored in live wells, weighed at a central point then released.

• Length Weigh In – Variant on the live weigh in where fish are measured.

• Photo Only – Artistic or Glory photo competition.

• Traditional Weigh in.

I extracted a sample of the past twelve months of events from our network that fitted that list.

Note in the near future we will be doing offshore and gamefishing events which will add to the list above of variants.

BREAKDOWN OF PARTICIPATION As TMF started out in

high end events, that has been our staple but over the past six months community and club events have more and more been a part of the mix. We added Traditional Weigh Ins in March, so we have only run a small number of events there, so it has to be noted that the results for that class are likely skewed.

It should also be noted that the Traditional Weigh Ins we have participated in would be considered community events in terms of attendance.

Nonetheless as you would expect typically community events are the most well attended, followed by High End. Of the Traditional Weigh Ins we have worked at though, there have been big numbers.

This may be due to the fact that this format is dying off and so people rally around

the fewer events that are out there.

The more important takeaway from my point of view is just how fragmented the tournament scene is and in the long run I don’t think that’s sustainable.

EVENT CATEGORIES Another measure we have of these groups is event categories, i.e. how many prize categories are on offer.

This analysis excludes one common category – random draw/random length as these are essentially raffles by another name. Having said that, I would say on experience that almost all community events, and even many high end events have some form of random prize.

As a rule, the more serious the competitions the less categories are on offer, with a greater emphasis on placings and prizes for

placings. In my mind that’s a good thing from a sports perspective, though in most sports placings rarely are considered past third from an official perspective.

The more interesting breakdown comes in how those categories are assessed.

While there are an endless variety of systems, the number of fish is the dominant feature of all systems with three common formats: Best Fish (single), Best Bag (fixed number of fish), Open (number of fish).

Overwhelmingly single fish categories dominate when considering the number of categories on offer. The one surprising value for me though was that the bag format was more common in high-end events that are unlimited. That is a great example of the mind playing tricks on me, because my perception from on the ground was the complete opposite.

The first measure was looking at how many categories are on offer – but how about participation in those categories? As there is more single fish categories on offer, you would expect those to dominate. Against expectation, while they do at the community/traditional weigh in level, they don’t in almost all other event types.

That suggests to me that in the more sports events fishers prefer to focus on categories with numbers.

The unexpected takeaway is bags dominate

in terms of participation at the sports level in events we work with.

MOVING FORWARD If fishing is to move forward we have to pick a set of rules, have a better system for bringing in people, provide a centrepiece for the best fishers and a peak body capable of negotiating not just with government but sponsors as well.

The real question though – is it time? My personal answer, almost certainly!

The era of the sole amateur is going away in most sports, and having seen the skills of fishers across the country, the time has come for proper official government accredited recognition of that skill.

I would be first in line to do the scoring and be part of a national tournament series that takes juniors through the ranks to compete with the best the country has to offer. I have already done that for more than one sport and I would consider it the achievement of a lifetime to do it for fishing.

Does that mean the traditional tournaments need to go away? I don’t think they ever will. There will always be a traditional fishery but there should be a choice for competitors on their progression path.

What would that national sport look like? That is a question I have been thinking on for some time, but you will have to wait a month for the answer.

Fig.3. Comparison of participation in event categories.

SEPTEMBER 2019

97

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This section in QLD Fishing Monthly consolidates the trades and services in your area that are relevant to your fishing and boating. Whether you’re a local looking for more options or a travelling angler fishing around the state, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching.

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Boats & Guided Fishing Tours Directory NORTHERN NSW

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99

FUN PAGE AND COMPETITIONS AUSTRALIA’S TOP FISHING LOCATIONS

CAIRNS CAPE YORK HERVEY BAY PORT STEPHENS PORT LINCOLN GIPPSLAND LAKE JINDABYNE GREAT BARRIER REEF WHITSUNDAYS MURRAY RIVER SYDNEY HARBOUR

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Name: Address:

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QLD SEPTEMBER 2019

Phone (day):

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

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FIND-A-WORD

Congratulations to Alan Svaikauskas, who was last month’s winner of the Find-aWord Competition!

Monthly winners receive a Fishing Monthly prize pack. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – QFM

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE

The subscriber prize winner for July is J Guild of Runaway Bay, who won a pair of Tonic Tango Sunglasses.

All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – QFM

Tivoli, M Baker of Gorokan, R Treacy of Frenchville, L Rojahn of Banyo, L Betts of Kendall, B Adams of Bongaree, J Handley of Pacific Haven, R Benson of Boondall, B Devine of Pialba, B Frankel of Urangan, B Newton of Trinity Beach, C Scott of Currumbin Waters, R Tendolle of Bunjurgen, A Svaikauskas of Grasstree Beach, W Clark of Riverview, G Mason of Kalkie, J Rogers of Tambo,

S Theofanes of Home Hill, D McClurg of Boondall, T Grice of Caboolture, M Mason of Bongaree, W Petersen of Rockhampton, B Johnson of Woodgate, I Wogandt of Riverheads, B Freier of Ningi, K Martin of Dalby, M Couchman of Roma, K Aldridge of Rockville, J Routledge of Kepnock.

Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks.

– QFM

LAST MONTH’S ANSWERS

FIND THE DAIWA LOGO

100

SEPTEMBER 2019

GUESS THE FISH?

This month’s Guess the Fish Answer: Chinaman Fish

The answers to Find the Daiwa Logo for July were: 11, 14, 19, 23, 26, 30, 37, 38, 41, 47, 56, 58, 83, 88. – QFM The Find the Daiwa Logo prize winners for July were: N Stoker of Miallo, D Hall of Glenwood, E Boettcher of Tivoli, C Couper of Chinchilla, M Hever of Childers, G McGrath of Avoca, E & V Jackson of Long Flat Via Gympie, L Pirlo of Modanville, E Lezuchowski of Darra, C Layt of New Auckland, G Watter of Ripley, Z Steinhardt of

Answer:

boats & kayaks

In the skipper’s seat

Inside story...

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Editor Steve Morgan checks out the 490 Centre Console with 70hp Suzuki 4-stroke!

Check it out on page 110.

102 Cabbage Tree Point kayaking opportunities

Troy Brown drops the yak into a very unique piece of water in Queensland’s South East in search of a range of estuary species!

106 To SUP or kayak?

Justin Willmer looks at when to SUP and when to kayak, and the pros and cons of both.

108 Used boats: what to look out for

Wayne Kampe discusses things to be aware of when you consider buying a used boat.

SEPTEMBER 2019

101

Flatties and more from Cabbage Tree Point BRISBANE

Troy Brown

The iconic Jumpinpin area is a well-known fishing hotspot for boaters and shore-based anglers alike. For kayakers this area holds even more promise, with astounding fishing available within casting distance of the

great distances to their final fishing destination, without realising incredible fishing is possible within metres of the carpark. The limited speed of a kayak works to our advantage in this situation.

In a kayak, we don’t have the luxury of travelling long distances quickly, so we must learn to assess our surroundings and make the best of every moment on the

is where to fish. I mostly let the tide decide, as I prefer to use the tide and wind to my advantage where possible.

Both sides of the ramp will most likely place you on top of fish, so using the tides during your outward and inward legs will make for a more comfortable trip.

Determining which side of an island or tributary to investigate is a harder

Bream are the most frequent by-catch found when targeting flathead. launch point. The ramp at Cabbage Tree Point is an ideal position to commence your exploration of this prodigious fishery, with plenty of parking for cars and trailers plus the option of launching from the ramp or a wide stretch of sandy beach.

Most boaters will travel

Shallow flats with sudden drop-offs are perfect environments for these fish, particularly when working these areas at high tide.

On low tide many of the stretches inhabited by these fish will be completely exposed, so the fish move into deeper water where they are harder to target. Although flathead are predators, they thrive in the shallows where minimal effort is required to ambush their prey.

Moving south, you can drift towards the Rudy Maas ramp but I prefer to work the other side of the small island and the deeper hole at the bottom of Tabby Tabby. The deep holes surrounded by mud and sand banks attract a variety of species. This area is known to hold jewfish, trevally, cod and the odd squire, but drifting the flats will provide regular catches of flathead and bream. Any area you find a flathead is typically worth working over, as these fish tend not to be discovered in isolation.

The smaller fish that plagued the area during the colder months have started to be joined by larger females.

My recent near misses included two monsters lost

water. Not once when I’ve launched my boat have I ever considered fishing within site of the ramp. When launching my kayak at this same spot for the first time, my opening cast was directly opposite my parked car and resulted in a 50cm flathead.

The toughest decision when leaving the ramp area

Chris Gartner caught this bream while fishing for flatties. are not fussy about your retrieve method. Using the natural drift caused by wind or tide is usually sufficient to impart a lifelike action on grub or paddle-tail soft lures, and subtlety is key when practicing cast and retrieve. The aggressive lifts and hard-winding antics you see on fishing shows are best left for offshore speedsters, with our humble flathead preferring a more gentile bait presentation.

There is a staggering array of soft plastics on the market, so choosing brands, types and sizes can be difficult. As a rule of thumb, larger fish will sometimes take smaller lures, but smaller fish will find it very difficult to engulf oversized plastics. If you are chasing big flathead only, using a larger 4-6” plastic will certainly give you a greater chance of catching

trophy fish but it will reduce your overall catch rate significantly. I tend to cast smaller versions such as the 2.5” ZMan GrubZ or 2” Keitech Easy Shiners on small hidden weight jigheads. My jigheads are usually around 1/20-1/28oz, as the shallows don’t require heavier weights to get into the strike zone. My bottom bouncing rig is typically a little bulkier, with 3-4” paddle tail or grubstyle plastics and heavier jigheads, so that I can keep the lure on the bottom over the deeper drop-off.

Hardbodied lures can be equally as effective as soft plastics, and sometimes even deadlier in skilled hands.

Slow trolling a diving lure will find a large number of fish, with any lure capable of nosing down into the sand likely to attract a strike. I

The author with an average Cabbage Tree flathead. Larger specimens are regularly found, but 50cm fish are the norm.

Cod are abundant in the deeper holes surrounding the muddy flats.

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SEPTEMBER 2019

choice, but over time you should take the opportunity to discover as many of these areas as possible.

Regardless of how far you wish to travel, this area is all about flathead fishing.

There are some exceptional trevally, cod, jewfish and even snapper on offer, but the ’Pin area is a renowned flathead fishery. If heading north from the ramp, I like to work the shallow flats all the way down to the powerlines before the Logan River mouth. Apart from a small stretch near the prawn farms that must be avoided, this section is possibly the most prolific flathead ground I have encountered.

while netting fish that were too ‘green’, one of which would have easily been in the mid 80cm. Regardless of how many of these awesome fish I catch I still find myself making rookie errors while landing them, as excitement overrides good sense.

Water clarity is typically low around these muddy banks, so you can drift your kayak almost directly over a flathead without spooking the fish. I usually have one rod simply ‘dead sticking’ on the channel side of the kayak, while I cast a plastic into the shallows and retrieve across the flats.

Roughly 50% of fish come when the rod is sitting in the rod holder, proving flathead

The strong currents are easier to handle with the aid of an electric motor. Lucas Mulligan knows that unless you work the tides to your advantage, wind and tides can make for a tough journey.

have a multitude of bargainbarrel lures that are ideal for this purpose and many seem as effective as popular higherpriced options. Casting lures require a better investment in quality, as many of the cheaper lures may have an effective trolling action but are not designed for long or accurate placement. My personal favourites are the Atomic Hardz Crank 38 for casting and the Berkley Flicker Shad for trolling.

Confidence is a key factor in lure fishing, so if you find a lure that works for you, stock up and learn how to work it under different conditions.

Fish don’t seem to care about brands.

of a hook-up on light line.

If you prefer to boost odds in your favour, beefing up your leader will lead to more boated fish. The low clarity of water in this area means heavier lines are less visible, plus flathead seem less cautious than other species like bream. Once hooked, the violent headshakes are a telltale sign that a flathead is on the line, so take particular

not snagging treble hooks.

The rubber nets are gentler to fish and easier for anglers.

Wet your hands and any towels used to hold the fish and ensure they are well supported if you are taking a photo before release. I favour the plastic lip grips with a locking mechanism, as they firmly grasp the fish without tearing their mouth.

If you are fishing the

There’s even snapper at Cabbage Tree Point!

It’s important to release the larger female flatties so they can breed and we can continue to enjoy fishing.

If you prefer to fish with bait, there is a clear winner through the whole Jumpinpin area. The humble saltwater yabby is abundant on the local flats, so it is logical that it is the diet staple of local fish. Some nearby areas prohibit bait gathering, but if you cannot easily get to an area to collect live yabbies, they are easily obtained from local bait stores. They will easily out fish most lures, so it is a good option if you are not confident using soft or hardbodied imitations.

Gearing up for tackling Jumpinpin flathead will depend on your personal preference. Fishing light is

certainly more enjoyable, but will sometimes lead to heartbreak on bigger fish.

My favourite casting rig for chasing most estuary species is an ultra light 1-3kg rod spooled with 4-6lb braid. I also use a 2-6kg outfit with 10lb braid when trolling or ‘dead sticking’ deeper channels. Logic dictates a heavier breaking strain fluorocarbon leader attached to these braided lines, but I prefer to keep everything as light as possible, typically matching leader to main line.

Recently, this has cost me some superb fish, but I prefer to lose a fight occasionally while enjoying the excitement

Chris enjoys the variety of species at Cabbage Tree Point, but this is one of the more unlikely catches! care as the fish is brought close to the surface. On light line, ensure the fight is out of the fish before trying to net them, as otherwise they will either drop the hooks or violently rub through the leader material.

When handling flathead, I prefer a knot-free net, which has the advantage of

Cabbage Tree Point area for the first time, consider joining a local kayaking group to fast track learning how to fish this incredible system. Social groups such as the QLD Hobie Crew, Kayak Fishing Queensland and Yak Hunters are full of friendly members who will be happy to join you on the water.

STACER OUTLAW Stacer’s Outlaw range is available as a tiller steer, side or centre console layouts.

The smooth plate sides and EVO Advance Hull make this boat stand out on the water.

Each boat is packed with fishing essentials and built with tough 3mm bottom sheets and side sheets.

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BUCCANEERS

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PHOENIX POWERSPORTS

www.phoenixpowersports.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

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WHAT’S NEW BOATING OVERBOARD ALERT 1 SYSTEM

TITAN OUTBOARD LOCK

The new ACR OLAS (Overboard Location Alert System) product range includes the ACR OLAS Tag for attachment on your wrist or lifejacket.

The technology works by detecting a break in the ‘virtual tether’ from the mobile device to the OLAS MOB system within eight seconds of someone falling overboard. The phone stores the GPS location, sounds a loud alarm, alerting the crew to the man overboard incident before the OLAS app then aids the recovery with directions to the stored GPS location. The Tag’s universal silicone strap can be used by crew, children and animals, and is ideal for daytime cruising. An alternative option is the OLAS Float-On, a water-activated USB rechargeable torch, which is easy to attach to a lifejacket and is ideal for boating at night.

Introducing the latest 5.0 Bluetooth technology, the ACR platform also features the OLAS Core Base Station and OLAS Guardian, a wireless engine kill switch, for boaters who require extended functionality.

Keep an eye out for ACR OLAS in selected chandlery outlets later this year. www.acrartex.com

The Titan Outboard Motor Lock has been cast for strength and durability.

This lock comes in two sizes, and features an easy-to-use locking system that comes with two keys. It has a brass locking mechanism for long-lasting performance, and easily mounts over the mounting clamp handles for cut-resistant protection. It has been cast from aluminium alloy, and its Marine Grade black paint provides superior rust resistance, withstanding over the 500 hours of salt spray testing. Standard stainless steel cap locks are installed.

The smaller model has a 12mm bold, a 14mm slot size and measures (L)280mm x (W)50mm. The larger version has a 16mm bold, a 17.5mm slot size, and measures (L)280mm x (W)50mm.

Price: SRP $90-$100 www.titanmarineproducts.com

REPOWER PROMOTION

2

Mercury is offering a free rigging kit worth up to $1,575 with the purchase of a new 4.5L, 6.2L or 8.2L MerCruiser package.

The kit consists of Mechanical SC1000 SmartCraft rigging kit, a single panel control, two control cables and one trim harness. Those wanting the premium experience can use the bonus value and upgrade to Digital Throttle and Shift (DTS) and simply pay the remaining difference.

These MerCrusier engines have been designed and built for true customer value, with a proven durable marine design, smooth and quiet boating experience, greater performance with increased power and torque, exceptional fuel economy at cruising speeds, and improved access to maintenance touchpoints.

Mercury MerCruiser engines and drive systems are designed, tested, and built exclusively for the marine environment. They have ultra-responsive acceleration, impressive manoeuvrability and superior durability. The large displacement of a Mercury MerCruiser means it will barely break a sweat while it delivers all the well-mannered power you want.

The offer runs until 27 September 2019. www.mercurymarine.com

MAGMA KAYAK HOLDER

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No more cluttered decks or damage to expensive kayaks and paddleboards from inadequate transport. Magma’s new adjustable, all-angle, rod holder-mounted kayak/SUP rack fits into any standard paired set of rod holders to safety transport your water toys.

This convenient storage rack easily attaches to any paired set of standard straight or angled rod holders to crate a strong and reliable rack system. Made of 100% 304 marine stainless steel and 365 hand-anodized aircraft quality aluminium, each arm has two strong welded tie-down loops and is covered with a durable UV-protected polyethylene foam pad to protect your water toys from damage.

These racks are designed to hold almost any kayak or one or more SUPs, wakeboards or surfboards. Magma’s LeveLock all-angle adjustable mounting system, along with the Pow’rGrip adjustable quick release rod holder system, allows the racks to be quickly installed and adjusted without tools.

Price: SRP $430 www.magmaproducts.com 104

SEPTEMBER 2019

PRODUCT GUIDE

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MOTORGUIDE CABLE5 STEER TOUR PRO The MotorGuide Tour Pro is the industry’s first true cable-steer motor with GPS anchor. Tour Pro models combine Pinpoint GPS, the most accurate GPS anchor available, with traditional pull-pull stainless steel cables for smooth, responsive steering.

The Tour and Tour Pro motors are both built for tough conditions with a full 360° breakaway mount with integrated bounce buster and a rugged 2-piece shaft with metal outer column and composite inner shaft. Both models include a no-flex metal foot pedal that provides the most solid steering in the market.

The new motors will include MotorGuide’s Zero-G lift assist system, which requires half of the effort compared to the competition, as well as the new Katana propeller – a Mercury designed two-blade weedless prop that delivers more power and up to 30% better battery efficiency than previous props.

Both models also offer options for MotorGuide’s new HD+ universal sonar with both traditional 2D views and high-definition down-looking views compatible with most major fishfinder brands.

The Tour and Tour Pro will be available in the first quarter of 2020. www.mercurymarine.com

NAVIONICS SONARCHART SHADING

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Navionics has released SonarChart Shading for its Platinum+ cartography products for Australian waters.

Embedded within the satellite overlay content layer, SonarChart Shading provides a detailed rendering of the seafloor. Varying shades of blue reveal changes in depth, highlighting channels, drop-offs, and other structures that give users better situational awareness and clear, visual cues to identify fish-holding structure.

SonarChart Shading can be viewed on the same GPS chartplotters that are compatible with Platinum+ satellite overlay and with the same options, including selectable overlay on land, land and shallows or full overlay.

Adjustable transparency allows customers to view the new imagery blended with either the SonarChart bathymetry map or the Nautical Chart.

At closer zoom levels, SonarChart Shading is replaced by the actual satellite imagery over water, allowing boaters to see a bird’s eye perspective of sandbars, marshes and backwater channels. In addition to SonarChart Shading, Platinum+ will offer updated and optimized high-resolution satellite imagery. www.navionics.com

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Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

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To SUP or kayak?

BRISBANE

Justin Willmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

Winter has turned on some fantastic weather for fishing and hopefully you have had an opportunity to get

thoughts and sometimes the solution just pops into your head… once you make some space for it.

With this in mind, I keep an eye on the weather and tides and grab any opportunity that I can get my hands on… often despite both the weather

and tides that I’m paying attention to! If it’s glassy I’ll slide the SUP in, and if it’s blowing then I’ll drop the kayak or boat in and if the weather is horrible, I’ll often still have a crack land-based, just to throw a few casts.

It’s the SUP that I really

A magic morning for SUP fishing. Calm conditions are perfect for this style of fishing.

The green lantern coloured ZMan 3” MinnowZ getting the bite. out and chase a few. It’s a busy time of year for those of us in the fishing tackle industry, with the ICAST Fishing Tackle Trade Show in the USA and AFTA in Australia, along with new product development and releases, new catalogues and everything else that goes with it. Fishing Monthly is a great place to keep up to date with the latest releases, both in the magazine and via their Facebook page, so stay tuned for more exciting new releases.

When we’re busy, many of us will often shelve the fishing for a while, however I find that this is when we most need to get out, relax, defrag and chase a few fish.

Even a couple of hours casting can help you get a better perspective on what you’re working on, clear the

SEPTEMBER 2019

easily retrieved and leashed to the deck or additional floatation attached.

It’s in weather and tide where I did learn my lessons hence the title of this article. If you want to give SUP fishing a go, you can hire them or borrow one from someone.

To get the most out of the experience, add an icebox with rubber feet to the deck in case you wish to sit down, but more importantly, check the weather! My decision on whether to SUP is almost entirely based on weather.

I check on Seabreeze and other such weather programs and I am looking for winds under 5 knots for a sustained period, preferably blowing in a direction that will be at my back on the way home. I also make note of the tides and try to use them, rather than battle them for the entire session.

Mornings are often the prime time for SUP fishing, before the afternoon sea breezes that commonly blow in many regions. With a glassy morning on the forecast, I readied my gear the night before and launched at sunrise

of drains, I had landed two small flathead, a small bream and an aggressive but small whiting. The session was panning out as I had expected, with little bait and fish action, however the weather was amazing, and so I decided to make the most of it by spending more time stand up paddling than I normally do. I explored a large shallow weed flat, spotting schools of big mullet, paddling and cruising with stingrays, as well as spending time with a couple of small turtles. Talk about unwinding… I was getting a good dose of vitamin sea!

My time on the water was limited and I was keen to take home a feed of fresh fish for my wife and I, so I thought of the times previously when I had written ‘eat the bait’, in relation to species such as gar, mullet, squid and in my local waters, yellowtail pike. Yellowtail pike hold over the weed beds where I live, hunting prawns and baitfish through the cooler months. I knew where they would be holding and that I was guaranteed of catching

Just undersize but where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

The kayak is a better option than the SUP in windy conditions.

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love to get out on though, when the weather is good.

There’s a sense of freedom on the SUP, with minimal gear, that sense of floating and gliding, and just standing on the water. You almost just blend into the environment and become a part of it, with fish cruising beneath you, with virtually no noise, no fuel smells, an elevated view to observe wildlife and the environment and when you do hook a fish it’s a unique experience fighting, landing and handling them from a stand up paddleboard. I guess

it’s the sense of freedom that surfers, hikers and other lightweight adventurers seek.

There is adrenaline filled moments and then there are those moments where you just feel at peace with the world.

I know, it all sounds a bit romantic and I haven’t mentioned falling in, dropping things overboard and battling the wind and tide. Touch wood though, I haven’t fallen in or dropped anything in the water and I always ensure important tools and accessories are either leashed or have an accessory float attached to ensure they will not sink if they find themselves in the water. I always test newly attached accessory floats in the shallows prior to launching so that items can be

Boat hulls are a good producer of bream, trevally, tailor and other species. to beat the boat traffic and make the most of the weather.

I was expecting a slow bite, as I was just after the full moon, the tides weren’t great and there hadn’t been a lot of bait around, however it was more about getting out there and making the most of a spectacular morning.

After an hour of drifting and casting plastics along the weed edges and into a couple

a dozen for a feed, so a short paddle had me on the spot and casting.

These slimy, smelly and toothy critters can’t resist a ZMan 2.5” Slim SwimZ, slow rolled on a 1/8-1/4oz 1/0 jighead. The head weight ensures the paddle-tail swims on the drop and a simple slow roll (slow wind), or slow roll with the occasional pause or a few twitches, will get their

attention. It is often a fish a cast, with half landed and half managing to free themselves or occasionally bite you off.

Most of my yellowtail pike fishing is done in a metre or two of water and when landing them I just swing them in, grab them firmly and then store them on ice.

I quickly had a dozen in the icebox and decided to head for home, making a few casts at boat hulls on the way back. I have pulled plenty of bream from boat hulls on the Gold Coast, however I had only recently started paying attention to the boat hulls in my local waters. I usually make a cast along the mooring rope and try and trace the rope down to the bottom so that my lure is working the mooring and lower section of rope. The next cast is to the front corner of the boat and swum back along the hull.

I’ll then make another cast to the middle of the boat hull, bringing the lure past the back corner of the boat and finally a couple of casts around the outboard and eddies at the

flathead. In the cooler months the flathead fight especially hard, although and I was surprised when a flathead that measured a couple of centimetres under legal was in the net and released. This was quickly followed by another small flathead.

Instead of being frustrated, I remembered that the smaller fish often school with bigger fish. Sure enough, a cast right to the weed edge, a couple of hops and I was battling what felt like a better quality

The C-Tug Trolley from Railblaza makes launching and retrieving simple. and lost a powerful fish that may have been a trevally, before moving onto the second hull and pinning a bream, right on the back corner where I tend to hook most fish.

It was time to call it and it had been a fantastic day on the water, despite the lack of

fish, however my previous experiences told me to make a call based on the weather and kayak fish instead.

It turned out to be a good call, as the wind would have been blowing me away from the bank that I wanted to fish… a much more difficult

Chasing yellowtail pike means scales, slime and smell everywhere, but a feed for dinner. stern of the boat, or around the propeller on inboard motors.

It pas to work both sides of the boat, even though the shady side often produces the most fish, and it’s also worth letting the lure hit the bottom in the shadow of the boat, as this has produced plenty of flathead that lay in the shadow and ambush prey.

At the first hull I hooked

It took about 20% of the time to drift back as it had to drift down and I managed another legal flathead on the way back, which I kept for my folks, as I wasn’t sure when I would be back on the water again… although I knew I would make a couple of hours somewhere.

These two short sessions had been enough to keep me sane and improve my state of mind, focus and productivity.

Remember to look after yourself and if your love is

big fish. That night we turned a less popular table fish into some delicious fish cakes and salad, with sweet chilli sauce, before it was back to work, recharged and with a fresh set of eyes.

The next window of opportunity that arose saw a less than favourable forecast, with winds to blow up quite early. I had planned to SUP

A solid flatty comes up yakside, ready for the net.

assignment on the SUP. In the kayak I could position my drift angle for casting and so that a few pedals would quickly and easily return me to a cast distance from the edge.

With a few hours available this session was to be my classic edge bite session, with a 2.5” paddle-tail on a 1/4oz jighead and a 3” paddletail on a 3/8oz jighead. The lighter jighead was for the slower tapering edges and the heavier jighead was for steeper channel edges and working the lure effectively when the wind picked up. At the end of the day you need to stay in contact with the soft plastic and hop it effectively, so the added weight makes this much easier, especially when targeting flathead, and you want that soft plastic hitting the bottom regularly.

The water was clear in the shallows and a green colour deeper, so I opted for a natural, more translucent

green colour, as opposed to a dark silhouette colour or fluoro. Again, the moon and tides weren’t in my favour, but I had the time and was happy to drift and flick, enjoying the serenity and confident that I would bump into at least one legal fish for dinner if I covered enough water and made enough casts.

It’s often the same anglers catching the fish or posting a quality capture on social media… remember it’s also often these anglers that are the ones spending time on the water, going the extra mile and making plenty of casts. Regardless of the sport that you take up, be it golf, tennis or football, it’s time on the course, court or field where you learn the most and for us as anglers our arena and training ground is on the water.

After a hundred metres of bank I had no fish and not even a bite. Not to worry.

The bank structure and depth changes as you move along it and I wasn’t trying to catch cricket scores, rather just trying to enjoy the time on the water and land one for dinner.

It wasn’t long before the lure was nailed as it sunk down after a couple of hops, the rod buckled over and I was into what felt like a reasonable

A second quality flathead for the short kayak edge bite session. flathead. It was soon in the net and then onto the lip grips to make handling safer and easier for a photo and dispatched into the icebox. I had my fish for dinner and the tide had begun to turn to carry me back home!

The return drift was wind and tide together, creating a fast drift that required the heavier 3/8oz jighead to cast ahead of the drift and effectively control and stay in contact with the soft plastic.

fishing, a few casts off the bank somewhere is better than nothing. The busier that you find yourself, the more important it is to make time, step back and clear your mind, making you happier, more productive and maybe even a better person to be around!

I’m no doctor, however I can definitely recommend a solid dose of vitamin sea… or lake… or river.

See you on the water.

They’re slimy and smelly but they’re also pretty good smoked or turned into fish cakes.

SEPTEMBER 2019

107

A used boat can make sense BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

A boat provides immense possibilities when it comes to accessing fishable water, so it’s not surprising that so many anglers are keen to either upgrade an existing rig or to bite the bullet and bring home their first boat. This

USED CAR VS USED BOAT To start off with, you should know that there’s a world of difference between buying a used boat and a used car. Used cars don’t carry a legacy of a working life in a very hostile environment, an environment that demands a lot of care and continual appraisal of quite a few different systems to

providing a service manager ’s appraisal of an engine’s hours, compression rating of cylinders and (this is the gold standard) a record of service through the engine’s life is going to do very well when it comes to a sale. If you came across such a craft, it would be well worth considering. Dealers have these sorts of rigs at times,

Once the engine cover is off it’s easy to check for water leaks (the white powder is salt) plus any residue in the bottom of the pan around the block. is particularly true at this time of year, with summer on the horizon!

Big boat shows have a huge number of excellent craft on display, which is great, but this can provide a financial reality check if you’re on a strict budget.

A decent boat involves a decent amount of money!

These days, even so-called ‘cheap and cheerful’ tinnies are no longer exactly cheap thanks to the ban on fitting new carby-based 2-stroke engines. Your choice is restricted to either a 4-stroke engine or one of the direct injection 2-strokes, and both have more impact on the hip pocket than the old 2-strokes.

So the question begs asking: does a used boat make sense?

maintain top performance, along with a trouble-free existence.

A used boat, of course, might be young enough to attract a maker’s warranty, but the boating industry seems to have different standards regarding warranty provisions when compared to car manufacturers. Cars come with a whole-of-unit warranty, whereas boat warranties are often broken into trailer, engine and hull, with seemingly different factory backing for each component.

And when it comes to the used product, log book service records are virtually a prerequisite to selling a car, but don’t seem to be necessary for boats.

That said, a seller

SEPTEMBER 2019

Low emission two-stroke outboards, like this 15hp Mercury are great engine options for modern boats.

FIND THAT BOAT You can find lots of used boats from private sellers on sites like gumtree.com. au, boatsales.com.au and tournamentboats.com.au.

These springs tell the story of failure to wash down carefully after use. There are fair lashings of grease on the hub, so perhaps the bearings were greased now and then.

This prop has only faint shiny sections on the tips of the blades and the skeg is unmarked. Some very slight wear and tear is evident, but the rig has not been subjected to too much hard work.

108

as will the very occasional private seller.

Of course, most boats are offered for sale without service records or expert appraisal, and boats with smaller engines usually come without any indication of engine hours, unlike cars, which have odometers. And sometimes a boat that has already changed hands once might have been fitted with a new hour metre to record the new owner’s use.

With all that in mind, how can you ensure that your dollars are wisely spent? Let’s look at a few things to safeguard your investment.

CONSIDER WITH CARE The most important task is to narrow the field down to exactly what size and style of boat will best suit your needs. I have written articles on this in the past, and you can find them at wp.fishingmonthly.com.au.

When it comes to used boats, you have the option of buying one with a 2-stroke outboard. Existing 2-stroke outboards aren’t illegal, and they’re lighter than equivalent 4-strokes and are very easy on the

transom. Moreover, they require fewer trips to the service department and have that characteristic ‘get up and go’ 2-stroke response right through their power band, making them an excellent power source.

True, 4-strokes are certainly quieter at idle.

Fuel injected E-Tecs also have great 2-stroke power, the lowest emissions of all, plus a reputation for frugal running. Still, a 2-stroke engine purchased in the last few years which is properly maintained will still represent good value for money, so it’s worth considering.

Then you have the boat yards with their rows of rigs ready to roll. There’s certainly no shortage of options for the potential used boat buyer.

As with buying a used car, a visual inspection is a must, and first impressions are very important. If the boat looks highly presentable there’s a good chance it has been well looked after, and would be a worthwhile buy.

After that first impression, it’s time to look for all the clues as to how the owner has treated their rig.

From the ground up It’s good to start from the trailer and work up.

If the trailer looks good it’s a fair indication that the owner has taken steps to maintain it, and will probably have treated the engine and hull in a same manner.

There are plenty of telltale signs as to how well the trailer has been looked after. The rollers or skids should be in good order, and the winch greased and free with a clean strap. If there’s a wire rope on the spindle, there shouldn’t be any rusted sections.

In addition to this, the galvanised sections of a trailer are a good indication as to how much TLC a boat has been subjected to. The more exposure to saltwater a trailer gets, the greater the likelihood of discolouration and maybe even corrosion if steps are not taken to wash it off. A trailer that has been washed down soon after use will resist deterioration far better than one which has been shoved into the shed with saltwater still dripping off it. And if the owner has been religiously washing their trailer, it follows that they’d be religiously washing their boat at the same time.

Leaf springs on a trailer will show signs of corrosion pretty readily, as will the nearby brake components (if it’s a braked trailer), so either will be worth a look.

Next, it might be an idea to check the manufacture dates of the engine and trailer to see if they roughly correspond, which can give you an idea of the over all authenticity of the rig, as presented. All hulls,

engine, and trailers carry identification plates which are displayed prominently, but don’t be too alarmed at seeing a few months difference in manufacture as all engines are imported, which involves transportation times.

to cover a used craft, along with an engine assessment sheet. That mans that a boat in a dealer’s yard, especially if warranty still covers the engine or hull, is a good bet. A reputable dealer will certainly provide after-sales service

as fine white powder from dried salt, or oil leaks.

There’s a tray around the base of every engine block which, hopefully, will be clean and free of residue.

A bit of clean grease around mobile components and linkages are signs of regular maintenance and will be encouraging.

Before start-up, have a feel of the block to see if it’s warm. If so, you know it has been given a bit of a prior rev to ensure that it starts readily. While this is not necessarily bad, it must be remembered that the engine won’t be warm at daylight on the ramp. For this reason, a cold start-up would be far preferable.

A look at the engine’s skeg (the lowest part of

Now there’s a prop that has had some polishing on the sand. It’s obvious that this rig has had some hard work in its life.

Those wheel nuts give an insight into the owner’s careless treatment of the rig.

Give the engine a onceover Whether the craft is privately sold or in a dealer’s yard, it’s essential to look at the engine.

Service history is the gold standard, and some sellers do have them. Dealers will usually have a check sheet

for a rig purchased from them, and won’t simply fob off a service issue that might arise.

Whether it’s a private sale or at a boat yard, ask to have the engine cover (cowling) removed. With it off it’s easy to look for water leaks, which show up

I.D. and compliance plates on the trailer, boat and engine should give an accurate assessment of a rig’s age.

the engine) is important.

Ploughing through sand removes paint, and while the skeg can be repainted, wear and tear will still tell the story. You can also tell a lot from an alloy prop with some paint off, or shiny bits or small nicks showing through. All of these signs paint a picture of what sort of life the boat has likely had, and this may or may not be consistent with the owner’s story. A bit of colour off a prop is no big deal, but dings or nicks in it are sure signs the engine might have been

force fed some sand in its life, thus promoting possible overheating.

With the engine running and cooled by a water source, it’s possible to give it a quick flick in or out of gear to see if the gears mesh correctly. You can expect a small noise at engagement, but be wary of loud jarring sounds or crunches.

There you have it – some starting points for assessing a used boat. In my next article I’ll tell you want to look for in the interior of a used boat, both glass and alloy.

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www.wp.fishingmonthly.com.au SEPTEMBER 2019

109

Aquamaster 490 Centre Console with Suzuki 70hp - SC

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Main: Aquamaster’s 490 Centre Console is a great all rounder and a blank canvas for those wanting to step up from a simple tinny to a boat capable of broadening your fishing horizons. With packages starting from the high $20,000s, you can fit it up to suit your style of fishing.

Above: Powered by Suzuki’s 70hp 4-stroke outboard, it’s a frugal rig. At maximum economy of 3.4km/L it gives a theoretical range of well over 200km with a 70L underfloor fuel tank There’s also a bug anchor well to turn this into a rig that you can fish into the night and bag a PB snapper on a livey on a shallow reef.

Aquamaster is a well established (if not heavily advertised) aluminium boat brand that have been punching out fully welded hulls for the last 30 years. They were an

RPM......Speed.(km/h)........... Economy.(km/L) 700 ...........................4 .................................7.1 1000 .........................6 ................................ 4.7 2000....................... 10 ................................ 3.8 3000....................... 17 ................................ 2.8 3500 ....................... 27 ................................ 3.3 4000....................... 34 ................................ 3.4 4500 ....................... 40 ................................ 3.3 5000....................... 47 ................................ 2.6 5700 ....................... 52 ................................ 2.1 SEPTEMBER 2019

time. Additionally, there’s a stack of room for all the camping gear you’d want for a weekend away with the lads.

For more information on Aquamaster boats, visit Australian Marine Centre, 3491 Pacific Hwy, Slacks

SPECIFICATIONS

PERFORMANCE

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s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

Most people I know go through boating phases. We graduate from being a bank angler to a tinny and then to bigger and bigger boats. We then tend to downsize when we get older. Aquamaster’s 490 Centre Console is an ideal rig for those who feel limited by a tinny. When there are too many days that are just a little too rough to go and run the crab pots, or when you’re tired of running for cover then the afternoon sea breeze kicks in…

Sometimes an extra metre of boat and 50hp of outboard will let you stay out and fulfil your fishing desires.

Priced from less than $30,000, the basic Aquamaster Centre Console is a fantastic blank canvas for those wishing to fit out a 5m centre console to be their next fishing boat. With a narrow console for true 360º access and a flat floor that runs from the bow to the transom, there’s capability for this boat to be a great crabbing platform, a super tuna chasing craft or an electric motor fitted rig for casting at snapper in season.

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Steve Morgan

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On the water, these Aquamasters feel solid.

There’s no noise where it shouldn’t be and this hull rode and trimmed nicely at all parts of the rev range.

It’s no rocketship with the 70 fitted, maxing out at

FMG

original adopter of the upswept bow – a feature that many other manufacturers have thought was a great idea since.

They have a couple of dealers, including Australian Marine Centre in Slacks Creek on Brisbane’s southside.

AMC’s Rod Elliott took us for a drive in the first Aquamaster I’d tested for Fishing Monthly.

“These are a fully welded boat that we have absolutely no problems with,” Rod said at a calm morning’s meeting at the Raby Bay boat ramp.

“There are eight centre consoles in the range and they vary from 4.2m to 6m.”

We think that he won’t be the sole Queensland dealer for long.

Arriving on a single axle Redco trailer, the test rig weighed in at around 1000kg,

meaning that there’s not many vehicles around that won’t tow it. And that single axle coupled with a folding windscreen means that you’ll shoehorn it into plenty of suburban garages.

Length......................................................4.90m Beam........................................................2.20m Hull.weight ..............................................400kg Depth .......................................................1.05m Fuel ..............................................................75L Max.HP ..........................................................90 Bottom.sheet ............................................3mm Side.sheet..................................................3mm Capacity ............................................ 5 persons 52km/h, however if speed is your thing, you’re allowed to drop a 90 on it. Economical cruising speed was at 4,000rpm and 34km/h where the 75L tank gives over 200km of theoretical range.

Fishability is great in this hull configuration. The narrow console gives full 360º access – ideal for when a longtail tuna is circling the boat for the 20th

Creek, 07 3808 7333 or go to amcboats.com.au or aquamaster.com.au. The test rig was priced in the low $30,000 range.

Also, check out the video boat test by scanning the QR code on your smartphone, or by visiting the Fishing Monthly Magazines YouTube channel. You can see this rig in action there.

Moreton Bay’s near-shore islands like Peel are easily within the reach of this boat, even on days much rougher than the test day.

There’s no denying that there’s mountains of room in this boat and the narrow console gives great 360º access.

Aquamaster maximise their internal space by having no false transom. The result is the widowed battery box – no biggies.

Looking back from the bow you can see that it’s easy to walk around the console. It’s always a balance between protection and access.

The transom is high enough to make this boat well capable of handling rough water.

Aquamaster have opted for a narrow console to maximise accessibility. There’s dry storage underneath and room to mount a big sounder on a bracket up top.

With a reasonable shallow transom deadrise, this centre console is definitely not built as a true nasty-water boat. You’d need some more vee and another tonne of hull to claim that.

It does, however, offer decent stability and some limited nasty-water performance.

Suzuki’s 70hp 4-stroke is one of the most frugal outboards in its class. It’s an ideal match for this hull, even though it’s rated to take 20hp more.

There’s some wet, underfloor storage under the front deck. Don’t leave your keys and mobile phone in here.

The console windscreen folds over for boat storage, which will let you get this boat into a smaller garage.

There’s a big, inbuilt anchor well up front with a bollard and roller.

There’s a few built in rod holders scattered around the gunwales.

This is definitely a ‘console for’ard’ rather than a ‘console back’ rig. It gives you a bigger cockpit space.

Simple side pockets keep your accessible gear off the floor.

SEPTEMBER 2019

111

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

49

50

4.55

3.87 3.7

Yamaha 51

52

53

54

55

56

57

THE MERCURY 50HP WILL GET YOU THERE SOONER, ACHIEVING THE HIGHEST TOP SPEED IN ITS HORSEPOWER CLASS.

*Based on Mercury’s 50hp model. Information based on manufacturers’ claimed horsepower.

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KM/L

BEST

4.51

Suzuki

50.21

Yamaha KM/H

56.33

3

3.5

4

4.5

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.