Victoria and Tasmania Fishing Monthly - April 2015 by Fishing Monthly

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Features

Tackling the squid followers • Part I: Rules of attractant • The lure of Wendouree trout • Last minute Easter accommodation • Grab a crab and catch a craw • Soft plastics for dummies •

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Black Magic 130lb Tough Trace was used by Brandon Poynter to catch this excellent 28kg mulloway while fishing the remote beaches of Yalata in South Australia.

10 year old Aidan Teeuws used Black Magic 4kg+ Rainbow Braid to land this fine squid. Aidan was fishing in Port Philip Bay.

Brent Poile caught this impressive 102kg striped marlin on a Black Magic Freedom Grand Slammer lure that was rigged ‘ready to troll’ with Black Magic 400lb Tough Trace and a Wasabi 10/0 double hook shackle rig. Brent was fishing the continental shelf east of Narooma.

This 5.9kg snapper was landed by Dean Delaney while fishing in Western Port Bay using a Black Magic KL 6/0 hook.

Black Magic 60lb Supple Trace was used by Rex Sanders to catch this 20lb murray cod while fishing in the Murray River.

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APRIL 2015

April 2015, Vol. 12, No.4

Contents 12

From the Editor’s Desk... anglers plays and where this is headed. Recreational anglers always tout that we’re the best custodians of the resource – and we all know the love we have for our waterways – but we often lack tangible data to back up our claims. But I digress…. Catching a fish to eat is inarguable. Humans have been doing it for thousands of years. I don’t think that the act of fishing for food will be challenged – at least in the near future. Catching a fish for sport opens the door a little for green-bent people who spend more time on Facebook than alongside a river. Their argument is invariably tied up with animal cruelty – even though it’s been well proven that fish lack the nociceptors to feel pain. Catch and release fishing is a great way to maximise the value of the resource in a sustainable manner. So what if catch and release fishing became the way

that we collected data on our fish stocks? What if anglers themselves were the tools for keeping track of fisheries resources? Who thinks that in the days of ever-decreasing Fisheries Department budgets that there will be increased funding for ‘old fashioned’ style monitoring, with staff staking-out boat ramps? It’s happening already through the various states’ tagging programs, but I caught up with Stefan Sawynok recently to discuss the trajectory of Info-Fish Australia – his employer who has collected data on over a million fish. “Every fish that recreational anglers catch is important and can be used to paint a picture of a fish stock over time,” says Stefan, who, at the push of a couple of buttons, can create plots of size frequencies that show the movement of the stocks over time. Amazingly, Info-Fish

41 VICTORIA FISHING MONTHLY

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Australia can predict the quality of a fishery into the future, given enough data. Their “Crystal Bowl” project accurately and reconcilably lets the contestants in the Rockhampton Barra Bounty tournament (in Queensland) know how many fish they’ll catch! Personally, I see the Citizen Science angle an unarguable and tangible. When a greenie ear-bashes you about catch and release fishing being cruel, won’t you love the metaphoric cricket bat to beat them over the head with? I know that I will. Remember this if you’re ever asked to help collect data – be it by returning data for tagged fish that you catch or by actively being involved in tagging or collecting catch data. We can be the greatest assets to ensuring that the sport we love has a rosy future.

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CITIZEN SCIENCE – FUTURE-PROOFING CATCH AND RELEASE FISHING? Like most anglers, my mind is always busy. Busy trying to crack the patterns of the species I’m fishing for. What bait to use, what line, what rod and reel and where to catch them at certain times of the year. Some species turn up at certain times of the year and disappear at others. Like me – do you wonder where they go? That’s why I got into tagging fish. Catching mulloway in my home river, I wondered why I could catch 20 in one month and none in others. Were other people catching these fish? Did they move? Was I catching the same fish over and over? Tagging will eventually give me these answers, but in the process, I learned a lot about the role that tagging and data collection from recreational

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Tackling squid followers Part I: Rules of attractant The lure of Wendouree trout Tips for buying a new trailer Replacing the jockey wheel Mercury Verados 350 and 400hp Mercury propeller factory Testing Booth: Lowrance HDS7 Gen 3 Yamaha 130hp 4-stroke Replace your boat rego APRIL 2015

6 36 46 76 79 80 82 84 85 86

Tackling squid followers PORT PHILLIP EAST

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

With the danger of going into and over things that have been written in many different articles over recent years, it’s worth re-visiting the popularity and intense following that fishing for squid has for many anglers. While it’s fair to say that the majority of Victorian anglers still chase squid for a feed or when gathering bait, the pursuit of squid, or ‘egiing’ also has increased appeal for many dedicated fishers who have taken the

method, and the specific tackle that can be used to the next level. Probably the best part about fishing for squid is that it’s fun for anglers of all ages and levels of skill. It can also be done very well from simple and popular land-based areas, and even from state-of-the-art boats and kayaks, where the stealth and technology on board can be a big advantage. Catching squid would also have to be the best and most fun way to get kids involved in fishing, and they love nothing more than covering Mum, Dad and their siblings, as well as the boat and everything else with ink!

Purpose built squid rods and reels are worth the expense if you do a lot of squid fishing, especially from the bank. They can also be used for a variety of light tackle applications. Multi taper design, and even multi piece travel options make squid fishing a breeze for many anglers. EQUIPMENT All you need to go ‘egiing’ • Rod/reel/line/jig • Selection of jigs in a variety of sizes, depths and colours • Spare line, leader, scissors, pliers • Spray on scent (preferably with UV enhancement) • Egi spike, jig brush • Polarised glasses • Plastic bags, towel

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The popularity of squid fishing, and probably more importantly the constant availability of them as an inshore target species, has led to spectacular development in rods, reels and lines that are purposely built to catch squid. To go into depth on all of these advancements would fill this entire edition of VFM, but a few basic criteria sets these rods and reels aside from the rest. RODS True squid or ‘egi’ rods are constructed from a multi-taper blank. In simple terms, this means that the rod blank has various steps in its construction that allows the rod to aid in casting, line control, jig performance and most importantly hooking and landing squid. Most rods also have a line and jig size rating, which means you can match your rod to your jig size and location. Reels are normally 2500-3000 size and have shallow spools designed to be spooled with thin PE braid. This larger spool size allows faster and greater line recovery, and also aids in casting distance, which can be a real advantage when casting from the bank, especially in rocky areas. Spool handles are usually bigger too, allowing easy and faster turning when needed. LINE Your choice of line is just as important as the rest of the tackle, and a good quality PE line is a must. I prefer to use a high visibility colour, as this aids in detecting more subtle bites on the ‘drop’, or when your jig is not being jigged or retrieved. Most quality Japanese manufacturers have a true egi PE line in their range, and often the easiest way to pick them from the rest is a cool little picture of a Mount it!

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The majority of the author’s squid fishing these days is done from the bank, and while many of the squid you catch are relatively small, you can catch some ripper specimens at times, especially early and late in the day. squid on the label! PE or braid lines will float on the surface, which helps a lot in achieving a good vertical retrieve for your jig, but there are also sinking styles on the market too, which are preferred by some anglers fishing strong current and deeper water. The use of a good quality fluorocarbon leader is a must, I like to use about 2 rod lengths as a general rule, attached to the main line with a surgeons or slim beauty knot. Try to select a brand that has a little more stretch, allowing for some give in the line against the lunges of your quarry.

I keep all I need for a squid session in a shoulder bag and carry one rod. The most important add-ons are the towel for your hands and stubby holder full of freezer bags. Cleaning squid is a messy business, but do it where they are caught and look after your catch and they taste a million times better.

Squid tackle and accessories are endless and often very well designed and thought out, especially the storage boxes, tools and bags. Just like the better quality jigs, premium PE lines and leaders will greatly increase performance of your squid fishing tackle. ACCESSORIES Of course the spin off to all this flash tackle is the accessories that are on the market, and not just jigs, but all sorts of other cool stuff as well. It’s probably worth mentioning at this stage that you can catch squid on the most basic set up, and most inexpensive jigs, but the better quality gear, and especially the jigs will perform better and catch tastier calamari more consistently. To put it into dollar terms, for a few hundred dollars you can buy a rod, reel, line and all the stuff you need to hit the water and do some serious egi damage. A mate of mine has a theory on accessory sports,

and squid fishing definitely has a big slice of stuff that you don’t necessarily need. To make things easier, I have compiled a list of all the things I reckon you need (see fact box). Also, I try to carry all this stuff in a shoulder bag so I am completely mobile, but don’t worry you can cram heaps of stuff in a good small tackle bag! TECHNIQUES Once again, the list of techniques and ways to catch calamari will fill another edition of VFM, but there are a few very important factors that will put more squid on the bank or in the boat. I reckon the most important criteria is working

The range and colour selection of jigs at some tackle stores is massive. My advice is to stick to some key colours that you like and have them in a variety of weights and sizes.

Top Left: Quality replacement prongs makes restoring your best jig, or even inventing new lures of your own very easy indeed. A few drops of glue and you’re on your way. Top Right: The success of floating jigs at times has caused me to experiment with some surface lures and retro-fitting them with squid jig prongs. This idea is far from proven or tested, stay tuned for more information. Below: I like to alter the weight of my jigs to effectively fish different depths and tides and slow the sink rate of the jigs, even to make them float at times, for really shallow water. This can be done very easily with a small file, but be careful of those sharp prongs. out the pace and style of retrieve that suits the day you are fishing. Often the squid will respond to a fast wind or ‘burn’, and other times a more subtle and slower retrieve is best. The best advice is to vary your retrieve to see what works. Don’t be afraid to try something weird either. The depth that the squid are holding or feeding from is also crucial. This can be determined by scanning the reef from the bank or boat to locate your target, so a good

pair of polarized sunnies is a must. Squid will also give their presence away by actively hunting bait on the surface, and leave a boil or splash in the process. A quick covering cast as quick and as close as possible will often lead to a hook up. The sink rate of your jig is also very important. The rate of sink in metres per second is usually printed on the packaging when you purchase your jig and this is the best place to start. I do most of my squid fishing land-based in Port Philip Bay, and I prefer to have my jigs sinking as slowly as possible. To achieve this I file down the weight of the jig to get it just right. When the water is really shallow, a floating jig can also be pretty effective, but the squid can be a little tricky to hook as they will often let go of the jig when they feel the weight of your line. Recently I’ve been experimenting with this technique using topwater bream and bass lures with retro-fitted squid prongs, I’ll let you know how this goes next time. Lastly, I reckon the time of day is also very important. Low light in particular, and tide changes and fluctuations are all key elements of your squid fishing success. I prefer to fish just before dark as the squid move into the

shallows to feed, and this also coincides with when my kids are in bed, and I can whip down to my local platform for a quick session!

make awesome bait and a great fun to catch. Make sure you clean them in the saltwater from where they were caught, and if you are

Kids love catching squid, and a good balance outfit and some quality jigs will see them landing more squid and getting covered in ink more often! Everyone’s a winner! The humble calamari is a mainstay for many Victorian anglers, they taste great,

fishing for a feed dispose of them quickly with an egi spike or similar device, and only take what you need.

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Autumn will fire up for great Glenelg fishing WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

April brings us to the middle of autumn and with constant good weather the Glenelg River should continue to offer plenty of great fishing opportunities. March held true to form with fish spread right through the river, from the mouth to the upper reaches. With the mouth of the river remaining

mouth of estuary (an irregular occurrence for this time of the year), as well as further upriver around Pritchards, and higher. Bream have been abundant in the lower reaches on the incoming tide, as well as the upper reaches. While mulloway have been dominant from the mouth through to the mid section of the river around the caves, with the abundance of smaller fish a healthy sign of the state of the fishery and its positive prospects for

better than average mulloway. The open river mouth allows mulloway to freely move in and out of the system, and often sees them congregate together in greater numbers to actively hunt baitfish. Bait fishers should have no trouble catching bream on a variety of baits, but by far the standout at this time of year is crab or podworm. Lures will also account for plenty of fish, with soft plastics such as Z-Man Grubz, shallow and

Mulloway are abundant at the moment, and can be found actively hunting baitfish from the mouth to the middle reaches. running hardbodies and lightly weighted soft plastics remain the standout choices. Despite the water flow and increased tidal influence the river has stayed remarkably clear, making surface lures a great option for anglers chasing estuary perch in the upper

reaches of the river. Small poppers, walk-the-dog style stickbaits, or even dry flies are all very viable options to catch a trophy sized perch. First light, early morning or late evening are of course the standout times for throwing surface lures. For anyone seeking bait,

Nelson Boat and Canoe Hire can provide everything from fresh podworm to live mullet. They also have a great range of lures for sale in the shop so give them a call to order your bait or drop into the shop and Brett or Chris will get you sorted and ready to hit the water.

Estuary perch can be found throughout the Glenelg River at the moment and will eat a well-presented lure with gusto. open, and no signs of it closing anytime soon courtesy of the water releases from Rocklands, some of the normal patterns of fish movements have changed to challenge anglers and regular thinking on where and when to catch fish. Through March estuary perch were regularly encountered in the lower regions of the river, including near the

the future. April will follow the same pattern by all indications, and being prepared to move regularly on the river will be the key to finding fish. With the mouth remaining open the estuary will continue to fish well for bream on the flood tides, while the presence of constant tidal flows presents the best chance of hooking a

deep diving hardbody lures, and vibes, all producing fish. Taylors Strait has also been holding plenty of bream on the edges, with all the usual bream baits and lures catching fish. Further upriver the aforementioned baits will produce just like they do in the lower reaches, while for those keen to throw lures shallow

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APRIL 2015

Peak tuna action stays WARRNAMBOOL

Mark Gercovich mgercovich@hotmail.com

April is what is regarded as the peak of the local southern bluefin tuna season. Coinciding with the Easter holidays, many keen game fishers make their way down to the South West to tackle the tuna. However it appears someone forgot to tell the tuna

when they were supposed to arrive, as they have been a hot angling target throughout February! For the past few seasons the odd tuna has shown up in close around January and February, often for anglers on the hunt for yellowtail kings. This year, however, there have been prolific schools of fairly decent fish in the 16-20kg range showing up on the inshore grounds between Port Fairy and Narrawong. Usually

big numbers of inshore tuna aren’t seen until May and June. The fish have been hanging around the prolific schools of small baitfish. Like inshore tuna on small bait often are, they can be a little difficult at times, but some days have bitten their heads off with shelf style numbers being clocked up. Many other fish such as snook, slimy mackerel, salmon, kingfish and couta have also been encountered around these large bait schools. It can be a little annoying when some of these species keep jumping on the tuna lures when you are trying to get to the tuna school ahead of you. Like the extending tuna season, gummy and school sharks seem to be an all-year event. With the tuna being around early, there’s plenty of frames and offcuts that make a brilliant bottom bouncing bait. April and May always was a good time to target gummies, as it usually throws up some

Inshore tuna action in warm weather wearing shorts, now that’s something I can live with! calmer seas as we make the transit out of the summer weather pattern. The Hopkins River has remained closed over the past month. As per usual the fishing has slowed somewhat when the river is full and closed for a long period of time. The odd mulloway is still

being encountered and there has been some good perch taken on the surface on calm muggy nights. This month though it will have been manually opened or opened naturally and the fishing should be quite good. Easter full moons were always a good mulloway time so hopefully

that will prove to be true this season. April should also be a good time to start looking seriously for a good trout. As the spawning urge beings to creep in and that big cautious, wily brown might make the mistake you’ve been waiting for.

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What a great few months we have had in the fishing world of Portland! We have seen some great schools of kingfish cruising around as close as the harbour and Breakwater as well as patches all around the bay. Some of these schools where certainly the biggest I have ever seen and, as much as it was hard to hook up to them, just looking at them cruising past in huge numbers was amazing. Some of the local gurus certainly had the upper hand on the kingfish when they worked out which were the best lures or baits to take and they generally ended up being quite small lures or strip baits. A lot of non-weighted baits seem to have worked the best but it still took time to make them strike. The other great fishing in shallow waters has been the early tuna. There has been some great numbers around, especially from Julia Reef off the North Shore heading to the island. Some of these fish have reached 30kg but there’s still a lot around the 20kg mark. The small Williamson Tuna Catcher skirt has done really well on these guys. Some off them have also had tuna pop up 1km from the Corkscrew. They seem to be a bit harder to catch but some of the fishers have been cubeing pilchards, then floating a unweighted pilchard and scoring good tuna using this method.

Other great fish in the bay at the moment is some great whiting. Fishers are either drifting or anchoring for these great fish with some sizes into the 50cm mark, which are real kidney slappers, but mostly around the 40-47cm but still great fish. Drifting for these guys has seen some very good flathead mixed in, around the 40-25cm mark. There’s also some nice squid still about, along with schoolies, gummies and plenty of pinkie. The Breakwater has been a little quieter but there’s still pinkies around and the odd good shark caught at night. Deep water fishing is still well alive when the weather permits and trumpeter, snapper, blue eye and sharks are just a few of the great species being

taken. Bridgewater Bay area is still fishing well with big flathead, sharks flying, gurnards and snapper being caught. The Fitzroy and Surry rivers are fishing well for bream and the odd mulloway. Beach fishing had been OK around the area with school sharks, mulloway, pinkie snapper and some nice whiting too. APRIL The biggest thing about April and a few up coming months is the tuna season. We generally start seeing more people cruising into town ready to catch the mighty southern bluefin tuna. The few charter boats in Portland turn into at least 20 as the guys around the Melbourne area come down to help the influx of people wanting the charter

A nice little mixed bag ready for the table.

experience catching big fish. We also see a few times in the year the swelling of boat trailers into the boat ramps, which can exceed 300. Let’s hope the new ramp will make the lunching a little easier and quicker for the guys. For the fishers who don’t chase the tuna but are into big game we see some big makos in the area, especially around Cape Nelson Lighthouse. Along with them, some great table fish around that area also such as snapper, morwong, flathead and sharks just to name a few. April still fishes very well around the bay and we generally still see some great whiting, flathead and should start seeing some good salmon around, which are great on light gear. The Breakwater can sometimes still produce a big snapper, but this all slows down. We should start seeing some nice salmon off the Breakwater using bait, soft plastics and metal lures. The beaches start coming alive with salmon, which is great. Fishing lures into the surf and getting great hook-ups is exciting. Also, the surf produces some good schoolies and mulloway this time of year. • For all your bait and tackle needs when in Portland, look no further than Portland Compleat Angler, we have something for everyone. We can also help with weather and fishing reports, plus licences, regulation books and fish length stickers. You can contact us on (03) 5521 1844 or see us at 61 Bentinck Street next to the Gordon Hotel.

APRIL 2015

Head to the beach APOLLO BAY

Daniel Kent apollobaysurfshop@bigpond.com

The beaches have been fishing very well for salmon, snapper and gummy sharks with Aire River, Johanna and Station Beach the places to fish when the sea is flat and conditions are good. This time of year is when we see the wind patterns start to swing offshore creating plenty of opportunities for flat conditions and long nights on the beach. The salmon fishing right along the coastal beaches and rock platforms from Lorne to Port Campbell has been sensational, with schools of fish easily visible from land at times. Even schools of yellowtail kingfish have been sighted busting up from the heights of the Great Ocean Road cliff tops. Tales of yellowtail kingfish have been rife in

recent weeks, and follows the pattern from this time last year when plenty of kingfish were caught. Hot spots are Cape Otway Reefs, the back of Little Henty Reef, Cape Patton and Kennett River points. Trolling a spread of lures around the tidal and current lines can work, but casting at fish busting up on the surface is a sure fire way of getting a bite. I always carry a casting rod rigged and ready to throw because you never know when tuna or kings will turn up. Bluefin tuna are in good numbers just down the coast so it shouldn’t be long before they turn up in our neck of the woods. Last year was a bumper season with tuna ranging from 10kg to 135kg, and all signs are pointing towards another great season this year. There is plenty of bait frequenting the coastline and by the time Easter rolls around I’m sure the town

will be suffering with bluefin tuna fever again. The inshore reefs are still firing for King George whiting with fish up to 48cm in length being caught. Dean Candy from Ballarat reported excellent numbers from both Marengo and the back of the golf course and said the key was to deploy a steady berley trail along the reef edges. Silver trevally and cowanyoung will also respond well to berley laid in these locations so expect to catch a few of these guys as well. Plenty of flathead and snapper are making their way onto cleaning tables, with 35m deep water the prime depth to target. Mako sharks are another option worth chasing at this time of year and are best targeted in water 70m deep. Happy Easter and happy fishing and brace yourself for gridlock at the boat ramps because Apollo Bay is set to go tuna mad.

Casting lures at pelagic species such as yellowtail kingfish and bluefin tuna is what April is all about!

With schools of baitfish holding offshore it’s only a matter of time before the bluefin tuna season kicks into overdrive.

Stable weather to hit COLAC

Rod Shepherd

The autumn weather is beginning to stabilise allowing many boaters more time to access the briny. Many hardened anglers swear that autumn is the best time of the year to get out and wet a line. No argument from this little duck. Right along our coastline inhabiting local inshore reefs, yellowtail kingfish from rats to 3kg to hoodlums over 7kg are responding to knife jigs, trolled lures such as Rapala X-raps as well as dropping down juicy baits such as fresh baby squid. Popular spots have been the inshore reefs that almost enclose Killarney Beach just west of Warrnambool to Grannys Grave just off the mouth of the Hopkins River at Warrnambool. Lady Julia Percy Island that lies directly south of Yambuk is also a hot spot for those who have the watercraft to access the inner reefs that surround this natural fishing fad. Just offshore in depths of approximately 15m has seen plenty of schools

of southern bluefin tuna actively feeding, however most attempts to get these fish to attack baits and lures has fallen on deaf ears. By that I mean tuna ears! Knife jigs, trolled Rapala X-Raps and bait fishing have failed most but a select few have come up trumps sending out fresh whole squid baits unweighted and actually landing the odd fish. It’s a taste of things yet to come so don’t despair! In similar depths for those who failed to attract a tuna bite there has been plenty of pinkie snapper to 40cm being boated over or near inshore reefs. Please don’t get your hopes up on bagging out as many fish are barely of legal size, if that. Cut pilchard and blue bait has worked here. Some of our inshore reefs especially just off Killarney Beach just west of Warrnambool have held some impressive King George whiting. In fact, the fish have reached lengths of 51cm, which means close to a 1kg in weight. Land-based anglers have had a real chance of bagging fish like this and those who launch at Warrnambool and make their way around to this little hot spot are

definitely in with a chance. Don’t expect to bag out (daily limit 20), but some anglers have caught in excess of 6-9 fish, especially on dusk. Fresh pipi meat as well as thin, squid strips baited on a 2/0 bait holder hook have turned up results for a few keen fishos. Those who can get hold of a cray tail off local pro anglers and using hose stocking twine (to hold the bait on the hook) will certainly get an enquiry or two. So too will distributing berley into the wash on the top of the tide. The Hopkins River has seen bream to 40cm taking shallow diving minnow lures in the upper reaches simply by twitching close to weed beds and drop-offs. Peterborough Lake has been steady for bream to 38cm taking local live shrimp and ‘greyback’ minnow fished unweighted on top of the weed growth. Those who possess a drag net can legally use it here in the shallows to net the greyback. Pinning the hook through the top jaw of the bait without killing it has seen some excellent bream strikes.

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APRIL 2015

Action in autumn GEELONG

Neil Slater slaterbunch@optusnet.com.au

The freshwater fishing in the region has been pretty good over summer, with the blue green algae outbreaks we often get this time of the year failing to occur thanks to the relatively cooler summer.

Michael Evans has been catching plenty of redfin at Wurdiboluc Reservoir near Moriac over the past month, with this great sportfish coming on the bite in late February, and continuing to bite throughout March for anglers fishing the weed beds late afternoon and early morning. The redfish that Michael has been catching have been

full of good sized yabbies and minnows, giving bait anglers a good tip on their baits of choice if they choose to hit Wurdiboluc Reservoir in search of a few redfish. Wurdiboluc trout have been slow due to the dropping water levels, but should start to pick up over the next few months. A few trout have been on the prowl on the surface

April should see Wurdiboluc Reservoir fishing well for redfin. early in the morning and late afternoon, with the mudeyes the flavour of the month for bait fishing trout anglers. Rainbow trout to 1.3kg and the occasional brown trout to 3kg have fallen to mudeyes fished under a bubble float. Lures of choice for over the last month for redfin have been the ever-reliable Fish Arrow soft plastics in 3 and 4â&#x20AC;?, Pegron Tiger Minnows, Strike Pro Bob nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Spoon, and Daiwa Double Clutches. Andrew Partridge recently hit the Barwon

River to give his new kayak its maiden run and spent the day dragging a few diving minnows along the weed beds for good result, bagging a stack of redfin to blood his new kayak in grand style. SHORE BASED Land-based anglers have been having a ball on the trevally schools hanging around Cunningham Pier. While most fish are small, weighing 300g, there is the odd 600g fish getting around. Raw chicken and pipis have been the best bait and small single tailed

grubs in motor oil colour have done well for soft plastic enthusiasts. Corio Bay has been crawling with undersized pinkie snapper, and they love anything you throw at them and are especially keen on baits meant for whiting. A recent trip to Point Henry with work colleague Andrew Hill saw us drifting and flicking lures in 4-5m of water. Andrew caught a stack of undersized pinkie snapper on squid bait, plus a 40cm+ flathead caught on a vibe hopped across the bottom. I used a Berkley

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Gulp Minnow down deep and had stacks of hits but failed to stay connected. WHITING TIME Who likes whiting? Well you’re in luck because April is whiting time, and if February and March are anything to go by we could be in for a cracking April.

have been the best bait, with mussels coming in a close second, followed by squid. Rod Ludlow from Beachlea Boat Hire at Indented Head says that clients have been getting good bags of whiting between the Indented Head Boat Ramp and Grassy

A bag of Barwon River redfin to christen Andrew’s new kayak. Anglers fishing around Corio Bay with pipis and squid have caught whiting from legal length to 38cm, while there has been a few larger fish to 45 cm caught between St Leonards and Queenscliff. I fished out off Clifton Springs recently and picked up a handful of whiting using squid as bait. These fish were caught in about 4m of water just south of the mussel farms. I’m not alone with my whiting experience, with plenty of anglers getting amongst them, including a couple of anglers I recently chatted to at a cleaning table who had a good bag of whiting caught from Point Henry and Point Wilson. Pipis

Point near Portarlington. Rod notes that the rising tide has been best, but as long as the water is moving you should catch a few. The whiting have been caught very close to shore when the boat traffic is light, while the evenings have been red hot on the Prince George Bank lately. FLATHEAD CHALLENGE Phil Walters from St Leonards Angling Club says the 2015 Bellarine Flathead Challenge was a huge success with 66 competitors vying for the heaviest flathead. Phil says that some competitors found it hard to drift because of the light and variable winds off Clifton Springs, however off St Leonards the wind was ideal for drifting and catching fish. In total 39 fish were weighed in, and ranged in size from 180-860g. Australian salmon and yellowtail kingfish have made their presence known at The Rip and down along the Surf Coast. The most successful method has been deep jigging knife jigs, with fish from legal length to 70cm the most common

Plenty of quality flathead are kicking around Geelong inner harbour at the moment.

Jake took out the Bellarine Flathead Challenge with this 860g flatty.

sizes caught. Anglers fishing with heavy tackle have caught fish in excess of 13kg, both at The Rip, and out towards Torquay. Out from The Rip and Barwon Heads, salmon to 3.2kg have also been taking lures trolled for kingfish. Salmon have also been spotted tearing into baitfish on the surface, which really gets the blood pumping and the casting arm twitching. • Have you caught a few fish around Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula or the Surf Coast to Lorne recently? Send in a report to slaterbunch@ optusnet.com.au with ‘VFM’ in the subject field or give me a call on 0408 997348. Please include where (without giving away your secret spot!), when, what on and who caught the fish. Pictures are always great, but please make sure they are at least 1mb (file size). APRIL 2015

The bay of plenty PORT PHILLIP WEST

Brenton Hodges blhodgey@hotmail.com

As the seasons begin to change and daylight hours dwindle there’s still plenty on offer for anglers across the western flank of Port Phillip. During this transitional phase expect pinkie snapper, whiting, bream, mulloway and many other species to continue feeding hard in the lead up to winter. POINT COOK TO AVALON Late season King George whiting are definitely still on the agenda with some terrific bags taken from Avalon around to Werribee South, along with good numbers of flathead and squid. Bag limit catches of whiting averaging 33-38cm, with some pushing 40cm+, have succumbed to pipis and mussels. Jack Auld and his mates, George and Adam, managed some rippers while anchored in 3m of water off Wedge Spit. A berley pot filled

with chopped pilchards was used to help draw and hold fish in the area. The 20th Werribee South Whiting Classic, hosted by Werribee South Fishing Club, was held last month in near perfect conditions with overcast skies and a light breeze to ripple to the surface. According to club secretary, Phil Walters, 40 anglers entered the competition with more than half presenting fish at the weigh station. Russel Kerley took out the champion angler prize for the heaviest whiting at 505g, while his mate, Paul Dean, managed the best bag of five for 2.45kg. ALTONA TO WILLIAMSTOWN Flesh baits presented on the drift from Apex Park through to Altona Pier has been accounting for some quality flathead and they should continue to feed with intent across the shallow sand and mud flats for at least another month before tapering off as winter approaches.

While many of the snapper leave the bay shortly after spawning, those that remain tend to move closer to shore during autumn, often forming dense schools over surprisingly shallow ground. Baitfish profile and worm pattern soft plastics are proven performers on the resident pinkies, but don’t be surprised if a larger red latches on and heads for the horizon. Over the past few years the Easter weekend through to ANZAC Day has produced some impressive off-season snapper over the shallow reef just out from Williamstown Football Ground. Some lengthy snook, or short finned pike as they’re also known, have been a common catch in this area of late, particularly for those trolling diving minnows and metal lures. Likewise, Australian salmon have been active at times, with large schools spotted busting up bait between Point Gellibrand and Port Melbourne on the run out tides.

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Continuing his good form on the Maribyrnong River, Dale Baxter showed the boys from In Depth Angler how to go about luring a few resident bream from their lair. Check out these beauties! YARRA RIVER Bream have been taken on small diving minnows in the shallows near the mouth of the Yarra River at Newport, particularly during overcast conditions. The Williamstown jetties and yacht moorings have also produced some solid bream recently with both lures and fresh mussel accounting for fish to 36cm, with the occasional flathead and pinkie snapper thrown in for good measure. MARIBYRNONG RIVER The boys from In Depth Angler teamed up with Dale Baxter for a two pronged

at the top of K-Road cliffs recently in an effort to ensure anglers are adhering to the recreational fishing guidelines. The following summary, as supplied by Senior Communications Adviser - Marc Ainsworth, outlines some of the observations made by Fisheries Officers on the Werribee River of late. “The lower Werribee River is regularly patrolled by Fisheries Officers in both uniform and plain clothes. The area is operationally targeted at varying times of the day and night to check and maintain compliance. The compliance rate with

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Once again, Jack Auld gets the job done on the King George whiting, this time bagging out in just 3m of water at Wedge Spit near Werribee South.

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assault on the Maribyrnong River bream recently. With Darren Weda and Nathan Grass in the boat and Dale on his trusty pedal powered kayak, the resident bream didn’t stand a chance with some solid specimens succumbing to Cranka Crabs presented up against the bridge pylons and deeper rock ledges. Similar action on the bream can be expected over the coming months, along with the odd pinkie snapper and school mulloway which generally start to show up during April. WERRIBEE RIVER It’s been great to see Fisheries Officers stationed

regulations is quite high. Officers have only issued 6 infringements in the last month, mainly for exceeding the 2 rod limit, as it is classed as inland waters. Adherence to requiring a fishing licence or exemption, and only taking bream over 28cm, is high. The main issues that Officers have, and are encountering regularly, is the amount of litter being left behind, and the illegal camp fires maintained by the general fishing public who frequent the area.” FUTURE STOCKS In other news, the Werribee River has received 32,000 estuary perch fingerlings in an attempt to improve angling opportunities for residents west of Melbourne. The 1cm fingerlings, bred at a private hatchery in Narooma using brood stock collected from the Glenelg and Hopkins rivers in Victoria’s west, were released along various parts of the freshwater reaches of the Werribee River, both above and below the diversion weir wall. It will be interesting to see whether they survive, grow and contribute to the fishery over the coming years. BEEN FISHING? Reports and images are most welcome and may be submitted via email to blhodgey@hotmail.com.

Fisheries Victoria have released a total of 32,000 estuary perch fingerlings at various locations along the middle reaches of the Werribee River, both above and below the diversion weir wall. Hopefully they can grow to this size and beyond in years to come.

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Grab a jumper and keep going PORT PHILLIP EAST

Lee Rayner info@fishingfever.com.au

Cool weather and a few icy blasts have let us know that winter is on the way but for anglers fishing this part of the bay the coming months often produce some of the

most reliable fishing for winter species. Saying that, now is not the time to stop fishing, instead it’s just time to grab a jumper and get out there. MORDIALLOC TO BLACK ROCK While Mordialloc Pier always seems to fish well the past weeks has really seen it

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turn on the action for the landbased angler with good number of pinkies being caught of an evening with heaps of fish in the 30-35cm size, as well as a fair smattering of fish over the 40cm mark. Best of all, these guys will only get better and better as the water cools in the bay over the coming weeks. The slight drop in bay temperature has also seen good numbers of salmon being taken off the pier on small metal lures and baits of pilchard tail or whitebait fished on a paternoster rig. Adding to the salmon and pinkies have been the decent flathead that have been smashing baits with fish to 50cm being taken on more than just the odd occasion. If you’re like me however it’s the return of the squid that we have been patiently waiting for over the past months and after a few false starts due to some early winter blasts, which keep stirring the water up, it seems that we might now be on the verge of some decent squid action. Anglers have been getting them fairly consistently over the past weeks. Finally if you like to fish in the creek itself now is the time to get in there with small floats and a bit of berley in search of the yellow-eye mullet that are coming into the creek each day. Moving up into Beaumaris Bay, the squid are really making their presence felt with lots of anglers reporting plenty of little squid on offer, however as a bonus for those that are heading to some deeper water and fishing bigger jigs in the 3.5 size, they are getting squid to almost 1kg in weight, this is a great sign for the upcoming winter months. The trick to getting into the bigger calamari is to fish the deeper edges of places like the Parkdale Pinnacles and up towards Ricketts Point off the edge of the green sticks. In these areas use bigger jigs such as the 3.0 and 3.5 sizes with the Evergreen deep red, brown and gold and hot orange patterns and the Yamashita

live 3.0 in red or silver being exceptional. For the land-based anglers Beaumaris Pier will fire up over the coming weeks and months for squid and this will only get better through winter. However, if you prefer your own quiet bit of fishing then walk along the rock areas until you find a suitable spot and you should be able to get into plenty of squid. Up off Ricketts Point and through to Black Rock, it’s pinkie season with loads of them moving on the shallow reefs just waiting to gobble up a bait or soft plastic, which if you have ever wanted to try plastics this is the best stomping ground to do it on as the fish are aggressive and there are plenty to catch. Add to this the odd good whiting being around, and it’s always a good idea to have a squid jig out the back as they love to lurk around while the pinkies are on the chew. SANDRINGHAM TO ST KILDA Great reports have filtered in through this area over the past weeks with the area from the Anonyma Shoal through to the red marker buoys off the Hampton Rock Groynes producing some solid pinkies in the 1-2kg size for anglers fishing early in the morning. The closer in areas have still been producing the odd good catch of whiting, and while the numbers of fish may not be huge, the size of the whiting makes it well worthwhile. Add to this plenty of pinkies and a few squid and you have yourself plenty of action. At this time of year, off the end of the Sandringham breakwall is a great place to be chasing pinkies on first and last light as they tend to hold off this point before moving into the shallows. Off the Rock Groynes themselves I have had customers reporting good

The number of whiting may not be huge, but the size of them makes it well worthwhile. pinkies on occasions, along with squid and a few garfish, however the coming weeks should see the pinkie fishing really heat up in this area. I know I have probably mentioned it before, but boat anglers should be considerate to the land-based guys on these rock groynes. Give them a bit of space as they can’t move around as freely as the boaties. Further along, Brighton breakwall has been producing solid pinkies and some good flathead. There have also been reports from one of our super keen squid anglers, Ange, that he has been catching garfish off the breakwall. This has been confirmed several times with other customers at Fishing Fever reporting the same. Ange also reports that there has been plenty of salmon in the area, so it’s worth keeping a lure rod rigged and ready for when they come past. Up at Green Point and through to St Kilda Marina there have been some really great reports of squid and some solid salmon lurking about on the right day. Over the coming month, when the water will really cool off, is a perfect time to get into the big red mullet that love this region. ST KILDA TO PORT MELBOURNE Moving along from the St Kilda Marina, there have

been some solid reports from the pier flowing in from anglers finding success on the local flathead and trevally population. The best method has been to use a bit of berley in the form of mashed up pilchards, pellets and a bit of tuna oil. Then either throw balls of it out in the water and fish near that, or use a berley pot that hangs just under the surface, then fish a unweighted bait of pilchard fillet and allow it to sink through the water column. Off Kerford Road and Lagoon piers, the past weeks have seen plenty of anglers putting the effort in. They are being rewarded with some good catches of pinkies and flathead of an evening, while during the daylight hours, some days have proven to be very good for the schools of salmon that are patrolling the stretch of coastline between St Kilda and the mouth of the Yarra River. Over the coming weeks another great option for anglers is to fish either a large live or dead bait off the Station Pier. It’s the time of the year when the mulloway tend to move through this area before heading into the Yarra to harass the local mullet population.

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Desiree Hibbet from Lake Charm, Victoria went fishing on the Murray River Murrabit in search of her first cod. Using just cheese and a hook she managed to nail this beautiful 62cm specimen, much to the dismay of her onlooking boyfriend.

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Just as anglers’ expected PORT PHILLIP EAST

Wayne Friebe wfriebe@bigpond.net.au

Lower than normal temperatures have continued the trend from the end of summer right through to the beginning of autumn, as many of the bay’s anglers had expected. While this has provided some very consistent fishing along many of the inshore

areas and reefs in our part of the bay, the spin-off has been inconsistent and varied fishing in the deeper areas for the more popular target species. The prolonged hot weather we have become used to at this time of year, hasn’t happen so far – maybe a hot Easter is on the cards? The patchy snapper fishing has continued for the most part this month, but I reckon part of the reason for the lack of good snapper reports has been that

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less anglers are chasing them at the moment. Instead they are looking further afield, and who can blame them with several game and sportfishing options now available along the east and west coast, as well as other options closer to home as well. The lower water temperatures of this year have also made the snapper fishing harder work, but the most productive area still seems to be the wider grounds out from Mount Martha to Safety Beach in 20-22m. Most of the snapper feeding in these

areas are larger more solitary fish that graze across the mud bottom, and therefore respond well to a patient approach, quality bait and a nice steady flow of berley. As the water temperatures cool down even further as we move closer to winter, the reds will put on more condition, and become a little less active, but sometime spent on your sounder and the use of some fresh bait will certainly put some nice fish in the boat. Plenty of quality whiting have also been taken

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the crew down at Launching Way, there still has been plenty of action on mulloway and bream in the Patto over the past month. Most of the mulloway are being taken on live baits, and the boys have been putting in plenty of hours on the water gathering bait and fishing the prime tides and times in the river. Most of the fish being taken are averaging 3-5kg with a few larger models giving anglers a lesson or two on the local river structure when they are hooked. Seething schools of feeding salmon have also been a big feature over the past month or so, with a few kingies still hanging around them for good measure. Small 2-4” stickbait style soft plastics have been very effective as they closely match the bait the salmon are feeding on. Kayak anglers and boats with electric motors are most effective and they can follow feeding schools without spooking them. Conventional boat set-ups are best served to approach a feeding school from up-wind, as the salmon will generally feed into the wind.

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throughout the last month on the bay, and as per normal, the land-based anglers have been doing just as well as the boaties in many areas. Daveys Bay, Canadian Bay, Bird Rock, Woolleys Reef and Sunnyside have all been productive, especially during times of low light and even at night on the right tides. Whiting always

respond well to good quality bait, and fresh pipis, mussels, Bass yabbies and squid are all worth a try. A bit of berley also helps at times although this can also bring the ‘picker’ fish around as well. It’s a good bet to have a float amongst the action, especially in the more sheltered bays. Even though the gars have been a little patchy this year, they have been in good numbers and size when they finally show up. Steady and cooler water temperatures have kept the squid fishing very consistent all summer, and the last month has been no exception. I reckon that the average size seems to be much better this year as well, with plenty of kilo-plus squid being taken by anglers along various reefs and inshore areas, even from the heavily fished piers and rock areas. The clear and clean water, and the abundance of bait in these areas is a big help as well. I have been doing best on red, green and gold coloured squid jigs, and have even been catching a few on surface lures and unweighted jigs when the conditions are right! Talking to Shaun and

Some ripper salmon have been landed of late on lures and fly by some dedicated boat and kayak anglers, especially close to Mornington. Photo courtesy of Mark Bolger.

APRIL 2015

Peninsula fit for a king MORNINGTON PENINSULA

Dan Lee info@peninsulatotaltackle.com.au

It’s been a big couple of months on the peninsula with a huge amount of attention directed at the ‘new found’ kingfish fishery. This season many Melbourne and Peninsula

anglers have found themselves encountering the first local or Victorian kingfish. It has certainly created quite a buzz around the traps and has plenty of fishers pretty excited about the possibility of targeting and catching what is a genuine sport or game fish. KINGFISH The last few weeks has really seen a continuation

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Andrew Walters was ecstatic to land this genuine beast, a Melbourne kingy!

of the fishing that we have had since January. There have been plenty of rat kings taken on jigs in the rip as well as the occasional model up to about 10kg. However, some of the best action has probably come from offshore where the more adventurous anglers have been out searching wrecks and reefs to see if they can find their own patch of kingies. Late in February some good quality fish were found down around Cape Schanck and a little further to the east off Phillip Island around the Seal Rocks and in front of the Penguin Parade. Many of these fish were in the 12-14kg range and that’s absolutely awesome when you consider that most anglers hadn’t even dreamed of catching a kingfish in Victoria, let alone at that size! SQUID With all the attention on the kings it seems some of our bread and butter species have been forgotten over the last few weeks, however there has been some really good fishing for squid and a host of our other smaller species. Numbers and size of squid have been really good with plenty of calamari around

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Mark ‘Sully’ Sullivan and Mick Brittain with two quality kings taken at the Island. that 20-30cm length, which are terrific table fare. There have been plentiful of squid on the shallow grounds between Rye and Sorrento, as well as plenty on the patches off Tootgarook. FLATHEAD With a few good northerly blows we have seen a number of anglers offshore. There has been some good fishing for tiger and sand flathead in 30-35m of water off Sorrento. Inside the bay, we have heard of some good captures of flathead on soft plastic for anglers wading along our sandy peninsula shoreline. Picking a likely spot with a deeper gutter or weed bed edge is the key but has produced both sand and blue spot flathead on a quiet morning or evening. WHITING After a couple of ordinary years on the whiting, it’s good to see we have had a much more

Some of the best kingfish action has come from offshore.

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APRIL 2015

consistent season. We’ve seen reasonable captures coming from both boat anglers and in the last few weeks some good landbased fishing as well. Safety Beach and the stone wall at Anthonys Nose have seen the best land-based fishing, with pipis and mussel the most popular baits. Out in the boat, anglers fishing at the Sisters have had some success this month with the Rosebud Reef also continuing to hold fish. Further afield the grounds to the east of Mud Island have also seen some good reports. LOOKING AHEAD As we move into May, we will without doubt see a change in the seasons. For many, this will herald the beginning of the winter surf scene, which is certainly a popular part of the fishing calendar. But in the meantime, enjoy what will hopefully be a calm autumn period.

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Go grab a gummy at the Port WST PORT NTH

Adam Ring

With summer well and truly behind us now, unfortunately the fishing starts to wind down a little bit heading into the cooler weather. However, that’s not to say that the fishing is no good. The whiting reports have been a little bit patchy but there is still plenty of fish to be caught in key areas and

the gummy shark fishing has been the best we have seen in years. THE TOP END As I mentioned, there has been quite a number of gummies making their presence felt across the port and is typically a species that fish best when everything else seems to die down a little bit. The Bouchier and Boultons Channel are little gummy highways and those smaller fish have definitely started to show

Kevin Spalding with a big Warneet elephant fish.

up. The run-out tide is a clear favourite and although you rarely see any huge fish here you will have some sessions where the action is really quite hot where you seem to be winding in fish more often than not. We did have a couple of ripper reports on gummies from the top end ranging from table size to as big as 99cm. Pilchard and chunks of yakka and salmon have been standout baits. We are now in that time of year where the ugly old elephant fish starts to pop up in our reports. I’m sure that most anglers put these unique fish into the pest pile but I challenge you to get the whiting rods back out, chuck on half a pilchard and get stuck into them because they can be a lot of fun on light gear. You may as well enter your next session with this mindset because it can be hard to get away from them at times! The top end of the port isn’t typically a place spoken about to target them but there are loads of them on the mud banks around Grantville and Lang Lang and we have even had reports of them out from Warnett, so chances are you will come across one at

some stage. The calamari have been another species that have been a little bit patchy but most reports have been coming from either the Quail or Tyabb Banks. Artificial jigs in size 3.0 to 4.0 have been doing most of the damage. THE NORTH ARM It’s in the north arm of Western Port where the whiting fishing has been most consistent. Like always the Middle Spit has been unreal with many anglers still getting their bag of fish. It has been tough at times but with a little berley, plenty of short moves and a bit of patience the fish will come. There has also been some really good size to the whiting getting caught, which can really make up for some of the slower sessions. We received reports through the store from Theo Hatzis who has been dominating fish ranging from 42-48cm on pipis and his secret has been sitting just off the Spit in 10m of water. The charter boys have also been getting their bags from the Spit too, I was talking to Shaun Furtiere

A sample of the whiting caught on board Think Big Charters. recently and he is still seeing fish to 45cm quite regularly. Mussels and pipis are his preferred bait and the start of the run-out tide has been the best time. Hastings has been another consistent performer in the whiting stakes but has also had the added bonus of a few pinkies being mixed

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Young Georgia Bonnett with a 99cm Top End gummy.

in with the whiting schools. The pinkies have been a little bit on the smaller side and can become quite ravenous, so go easy on the berley. You need just that little bit to keep the whiting and better pinkies around but if you go too hard with it you will be releasing under sized fish more often than not. The whiting have been a pretty good size with the odd fish pushing 40cm but the averages say that most are sitting in the mid 30s. Pipi and mussel have again been the preferred baits. I’m not going to lie to anyone, the closer we get to winter the tougher the fishing is going to get but it’s very important to remember that we aren’t there yet! There is still plenty of good fishing left, even if we need to work just that little bit harder. I would also be having a red hot crack at the gummies because, like I mentioned earlier, it has been a great season so far so make the most of it while you can! Good luck and keep those reports coming.

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Get ready for ting time WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Summer may have gone but the fishing continues to get better and better. Last month may have seen a few unusual weather patterns sweep over Western Port, but in general, it has been pretty consistent with calm

weather allowing anglers to get out and about. Overall, the fishing has been quite consistent with whiting the prime target at present. These should continue on strong for the next few months, but for now they are widespread and actively feeding both in the deep and on the banks. The prime locations have been down along the Middle Spit with some

very large fish caught near Tankerton Jetty. From all reports the best time to catch them has been during the last two hours of the run-out tides. When the tide funnels down the eastern channel, whiting push down with the tide to this area and can be found easily with a little berley. Another prime spot is to set anchor on the edge of the bank a little south from the

There are a lot of whiting about, and many are of excellent size.

Stockyard Point maybe an excellent land-based location, but it is a long walk in and a low tide fishery only.

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Tankerton Jetty in around 2m of water. Once again, set a berley trail and the fish will come your way. That aside, the Tortoise Head Bank has been very consistent of late with most fish being caught during the last two hours of the flood tide and first two hours of the ebb tides. Consistent catches of whiting have also been coming from Coronet Bay with some of the larger models being caught amongst the thick reef at Reef Island. There have been a lot of solid whiting caught around here with some fish measuring a fat 49cm along with some nice rock flathead. Local angler Andrew Peterson managed a nice bag of 12 whiting including a 49cm specimen. Further down amongst the weed beds out from the Bass River entrance Terrance Wilder managed four whiting, one flathead and an estuary perch all on pipi baits. He was fishing the high tide in his kayak. Dickies Bay and Cleeland Bight have also been producing nice whiting. These areas are quite weedy and you will have to do some work to find the sandy patches. Once you do, the whiting will be hot onto your offerings. Whiting aside, we are now full blown into elephant season and although the bag limit may only be one per person, there is certainly no shortage of them at the moment. For consistent numbers, the better locations are in the Corinella region and at the corals near Rhyll. This soft silt muddy area is where you’ll find them in their greatest numbers but using a little berley in the water makes it much easier to find them. Don’t think for a minute that they are a boat-only affair either.

Land-based anglers can also enjoy the fruits of elephant season when fishing from Settlement Point at Corinella, Tenby Point, Lang Lang beach or at Stockyard Point. From all locations, you’re best to use a paternoster rig with size 3/0 circle hooks. These will allow the fish to securely hook themselves eliminating the risk of you missing the fish on the strike. Despite elephants being a scavenger, squid, pipi and pilchards are the top choices when it comes to bait selection.

Gummy sharks are also about in good numbers with Shaun Furtiere from Think Big Charters getting amongst them in the Western Entrance. Shaun and his clients have been doing very well with some cracking fish coming onboard. Squid baits have been working well. Offshore and the makos weren’t as prolific as I thought they might have been, in fact, they have been quite disappointing this season. A number of years ago they were quite popular but with slim results over the past five

The author with a nice calamari caught while drifting around Tankerton.

To page 27

A mixed bag surprise PHILLIP ISLAND

John Dalla-Rosa

When it comes to fishing, a change can be as good as a holiday, and that’s definitely the approach I’ve been taking with my angling of late. With my usual hunting grounds of Middle Spit and Flinders on the slow side I’ve been hitting some of my old marks on the eastern side of the bay, and with good result. My first trip back to my old haunts saw me catching a dozen fish, while the second From page 26

or so years every season, less people are putting in the effort. I guess when you’re spending all that money for one fish and only catching one in 4 or 5 trips, I can understand why so many people are heading east and west to go game fishing rather than straight out the front. I guess we can only hope that one day they will return in greater numbers once again. Lastly, land-based fishing has been quite productive for those heading

trip producing another solid bag of fish including whiting, gummy shark, and pinkie snapper. Most of the whiting were just schoolies (32-34cm), but 2 or 3 were good ones at 40cm+. So if you’ve been having trouble trying to find whiting, which is what I have been hearing from lots of anglers fishing Western Port, don’t be afraid to try some new areas, the results could surprise you. SURF BEACHES There isn’t too much action happening on the beaches at this present

time. Australian salmon are the mainstay at moment, as they often are, with 500g fish making up the bulk of the catch, with the odd 2kg fish thrown in for good measure. I fished Williamsons Beach at night recently for gummies, but didn’t get a touch. This doesn’t mean that there are no gummies to catch, you just have to be there when they decide to come in to feed on the sand crabs. SAN REMO AREA There have been a few reports of small schools of striped tuna out wide and some kingies off

out both during the day and night. There has been some good calamari being caught from the Flinders Jetty on the high tide. Size 3.0 jigs have been dominating the larger models. Fishing from the rocks to the east of the pier has also been a productive location to cast from. Anglers using 8ft egi rods have been able to make a fair cast to the drop-off where there has been a lot of calamari of late. Care must be taken when rock fishing at all times. Another under-rated

calamari fishery is off the San Remo Jetty. You only get a short window but fishing half an hour either side of the tides changes are the prime times. During the night is more profitable with good size calamari available. Catching them on artificial jigs in the 3.0 size and or on a baited jig is the best approach. The Port is alive and fishing extremely well, if you catch anything, you can always email in your reports with a photo to jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

Western Port has been producing whiting of late, including these three thumpers caught on a recent trip. Woolamai and Seal Rocks. Makos however have been very quiet, and I’ve only heard of a couple of small ones landed recently. Reasonable catches of flathead in 25-40m of water are being reported, along with catches of arrow squid and couta, while silver whiting are being caught by anglers fishing the 25m line off The Glasshouse. For anglers fishing upriver of the bridge, whiting are proving patchy with the willingness to

move around to find fish the key to success. The best areas have been Boys Home Channel, Dickies Bay, Bass River Mouth, Reef Island and Coronet Bay. Snapper have been hard to find, with the most consistent area being the location they call The Corals. Size has been on the smaller size with pinkies dominating snapper captures. There are also reports of gummies and the odd good snapper coming from the deeper water

off Elisabeth Island and Corinella. FLINDERS AREA Squid are still about for those wanting to target them, while good size whiting are about in numbers. My last two trips have produced a good number of fish, but covering lots of water and constantly moving was the key to finding and staying on fish. There are also a few snook about, but size wise they are not very big at the moment.

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Hot and cold on the fish front WELSHPOOL

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

This has been an on and off season in this part of the world. There have been patches of calm conditions and the fish have responded, with the result being good bags. I have received numerous calls and one happy boater was Glen Jackson who will often make the trek from Morwell with a couple of mates. They will usually put in at Port Welshpool that has a very good boat ramp and don’t mind paying the modest parking fee. On his visit last month they picked a great day with no wind, which is a real change for this part of the world, and headed out to the Franklin Channel. This turned out to be a good choice as they were soon into the snapper that were all around the 6kg mark, not huge but very acceptable. As well as the reds they bagged 4 very good size gummies and a couple of big flathead that made for a very good trip. The only complaint was that the weather was too

good in that the sun beat down on them and they had to go for the sunscreen, but it wasn’t really a complaint and Glen reckons they will be back again. Last month there were numerous other positive reports coming to me as far as the entrance or Singapore Deep. The wind in this area can come up from nowhere and boaters should keep an eye out for any change that can be sudden. If this happens then head for cover and waste no time. Having said all that, this is where big gummies and snapper are being caught with best results have come from the run-in tide and mixed in with them are good size flathead that make the effort worthwhile. When conditions have allowed, a trek out wide can be worth the effort, but make sure you have enough fuel to get back. This is where places such as Cliffy Island have been very productive for gummy sharks, big flathead as well a good numbers of kingfish. The local jetties have also been very productive with good numbers of silvers, mullet and flathead

among the fish that are making up pleasing bags. Visiting anglers and locals are very happy with their efforts and there are also eels and whiting adding to the excitement. Port Albert is around 22km away and Rob Killury says that the fishing has been great with whiting to 45cm being caught inside the entrance right up to the jetty. They are taking baits, which include Bass yabbies, squid and small strips of pilchards. Many anglers like pilchards as they believe that the oily content deters those annoying toadfish and that alone would generally be enough for most people. There have been very good size gummy sharks being caught on squid and pilchards. The jetties have been going well where silvers, flathead and mullet are in

very good numbers. Rob Killury, who runs the local general store, says that he has had plenty of successful fishers weighing in catches at the store where he has a gantry for the larger species such as sharks and scales for the smaller fish. He says that gummies in particular have been in very good numbers and in the warm conditions, as they should be, there will be very good fishing in the foreseeable future. Outside the entrance in the deeper water, there has been very good fishing with snapper and good size gummies along with flathead making the effort well worthwhile. For the benefit of visitors there is a very good multi-lane boat ramp that will take any size boat trailer and there is a website that has current and forecast conditions.

Gummies galore after summer NINETY MILE BEACH

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

We have had another month of tough conditions, with the weed being prevalent most of the time. A brief respite in the weedy conditions over the recent weeks has lead to some very promising reports and the hope of dynamite next few months. With wind and colder than average temperatures ,it’s been a difficult season and the problem has been the unpredictability of the weed and side wash. You just can’t tell when it’s going to be good, and unfortunately you just have to make the journey down there and find out because the weed can be there for

one tide and gone the next. Also, different areas of the beach have been very different from one another; this is why there are so many mixed reports. Some anglers are finding a little success at one beach while others aren’t. However, just when us beach anglers thought all was lost, March came and the weed disappeared and shortly after we had some of the best fishing reports we have heard this season. The big thing was the gummy sharks. I wouldn’t believe it unless I saw it with my own eyes, but after such a dismal season we suddenly got reports of anglers catching 2, 3, 4 and you won’t believe it, up to 10 gummy sharks in a single session! I’m not talking undersize bay gummies that we get plagued with some

Plenty of nice gummies have been landed over the past month since the weed disappeared. 28

APRIL 2015

Dad was proud of his children with their legal pinkie snapper that were caught on the run-out tide.

Clint Jones has been having a good run catching a few snapper off the surf at Golden Beach. nights, but legal size metre long gummies. Prime beaches have been Jack Smiths Beach all the way through to Loch Sport. The gummy sharks have been going so well, there has been no need for fresh bait, simply frozen squid legs and blue bait has been good enough. Blue and White surf poppers have been working well too. The snapper came on good again recently and some anglers were lucky enough to catch medium sized snapper during the late evenings down Golden Beach way. There are also a few big salmon to 1.5kg getting caught as well but they are in small numbers and when anglers are catching them they are generally catching only one or two. Over the next month

the weather should steady with any luck, making those fishing conditions much better. April is a really good time to fish the beach because you can catch nearly anything including sharks, salmon, flathead and elephant fish. It’s usually the time of year that you catch a lot of fish. The big salmon will come on strong and it’s definitely the time to break out the surf spin gear and your box of metal lures to spin for big salmon. • For more information, contact Will at Allways Angling in Traralgon on 5174 8544. You will get expert advice and great deals on fishing bait and tackle. Tune into Rex Hunt and Lee Rayner’s Off the Hook on 1242 to hear Will’s report on what’s going on in Gippsland!

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The royal visit to Inverloch INVERLOCH

Alan McFayden amcsayte@bigpond.net.au

We are now in what many boaters and land-based anglers believe to be the best time of the year. Anderson Inlet has been very popular and from the entrance and way up to the Double Islands there has been a very good variety

of fish being caught in pleasing numbers. I received a call from James Rackins who says that he and his crew regularly make the trek from Morwell and have GPS marks that rarely fail. James said that they tried near the entrance and managed a few flathead and eventually got onto a nice patch of whiting that were all around the 37cm mark. They had another few moves that were productive

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up as far as Mahers Landing but only managed a sprinkling of salmon and mullet and by this time they had enough fish to keep them going for quite a while. The area known as the ‘Bathing Boxes’ has been going well where land-based anglers have been catching very good size whiting, silvers, flathead and mullet. There have also been very good size gummy sharks being caught on baits such as squid and pilchards. The best results have been at low water on both sides of the tide, as this is when the flow is not too fast. No doubt the fish are still around at high tide, but it takes a bit more work. The area around The Snags is also well worth a visit and this area boasts of the biggest whiting that are to be caught inside the entrance. They have been caught in excess of 50cm and mixed in with them have been quality perch that have been caught on baits such as Bass yabbies, pipis and strips of pilchards. Fish in this area are dirty fighters when hooked up as they will head straight for the underwater furniture. If given a chance they will tangle up and there is little chance of freeing them and you will have to start all over again,

but the rewards can make it all worthwhile. Outside the entrance there are very good size whiting for those who know where to look. Dino Tiziani have been fishing the area all his fishing life and rarely misses out on a very enviable bag of whiting and says that Bass yabbies are among his favourite baits. Of course, for those who find it hard to get yabbies there are also alternative presentations such as whole pipis and strips of pipis. A short distance to the east is Shallow Inlet, which appears on the map as not much more than a splash but looks can be deceiving. This is nothing like Corner Inlet but really fights well above its weight and last month the fish were hungry. Andrew Starrett runs the local caravan park with wife Karen and they say that the whiting are in full swing where they are often caught up to the 50cm mark, which puts them well into the magical 2lb (1kg). Bass yabbies, pipis and squid have been the most successful of the baits and as well as the royals there are very good numbers of silvers, flathead and gummy sharks making a visit to the area a good idea. There is no constructed

Whiting like this ripper can be caught at Inverloch. Wonthaggi angler Alan Bentick is the happy angler. boat ramp at Shallow Inlet but the sand is generally firm where boats can be launched but local advice should be sought, as there are some soft patches that should be avoided. This was highlighted just last month where a visiting boater decided to launch off the sand. Unfortunately for him, he unwittingly chose a soft spot at low water and became bogged. Ignoring advice

to ring for a tow truck he decided to dig his way out of trouble but it appears that the more he dug the deeper his vehicle became. Eventually, it was freed two days later and being completely under water, the damage was well and truly done. The message here is loud and clear, that if you don’t know the area then ask for advice.

Marlin madness makeover LAKES ENTRANCE

Lucas Smith squidgy_man1@hotmail.com

Over the last few months the offshore fraternity have experienced possibly the most incredible fishing ever seen in the area. With warm currents and some epic bait schools it wasn’t long before reports of marlin sighting

bigfishgraphics.com.au 30

APRIL 2015

started to filter through the fleet. It only took a couple of dedicated crews a couple of days fishing and suddenly the cat was let out of the bag in a very big way. Reports of single boats raising a dozen or more striped marlin up to 120kg in a single afternoon suddenly became the norm, and it seemed every boat leaving the ramp was headed for the nearest rigs to experience what was described as the best marlin bite in Victorian history. Trolling lumo skirts and dead skip baits proved to be the

best method, while teasing fish up and casting live slimies at them also proved to be deadly. Many reports came from 40 miles or more out, although one was confirmed landed only 8km from the entrance, which just goes to show the fish are where the bait is. At this point in time there are still a few being caught and the bait is still thick, so don’t think you’ve missed your chance just yet. On the deeper reefs there have been good numbers of snapper in the 3-5kg bracket along with some solid

BJ Davidson with his Lakes Entrance marlin prior to release.

morwong and nannygai. Coota have been in huge schools and have forced boats to move when they become too bad. In closer has been a phenomenal run of smaller gummies and school sharks in the 15-25m depth range. Squid, pilchard, fresh slimy mackerel and salmon fillets are dynamite, and remember if you anchor up, a good berley trail is required. The surf beaches have been fishing incredibly well for salmon, tailor and after dark the gummies have been firing. Finding a good gutter is essential, and a little tuna oil and a few handfuls of diced up pillies thrown in, is as good a berley trail as you could get. Always fish the prime times like the top of the incoming tide, especially if it coincides with dawn or dusk. Fish the freshest baits possible and always have a metal lure rigged and ready in case one of the many salmon schools starts smashing bait within casting range. Pipi, squid and pilchards are the best baits but don’t forget a white soft plastic grub or green surf popper if the crabs are bad. Lakes Entrance has been fishing well, especially in Cunningham arm for flathead, whiting, garfish and trevally. When walking Continued page 31

FISHING FILL-ITS

From page 30

the jetties, you can see large schools of whiting feeding on the edges and, although most are just either side of legal, they are great fun especially if you are teaching your kids to fish. Pipi, peeled prawn and sandworm are best, while soft plastics are still accounting for some cracking big flathead and silver trevally along the deeper drop-offs and channels. Fish the pockets between the weed beds for best results. Natural mullet coloured shads or larger jerk baits work well, as big numbers of garfish are hanging around the weed beds and the flatties love eating them! Some quality bream and luderick have been caught around the jetties and boat hulls on live prawns and shrimp fished on a slack line. Luderick have been caught on the Kalimna and Bullock Island rock walls on the traditional method of green weed under a running float. The main channel has been fishing well for whiting (both school and King George) on the run-out tide near the red marker at Nyerimilang and the weed beds opposite Kalimna Jetty. Live shrimp, mussel, peeled prawn and cured sandworm all work a treat but be prepared to move a

few times until you find the fish as they can be like ghosts and disappear in seconds. Lake Tyers is still fishing incredibly well down on the bottom sand flats for bream and flatties on larger profile hardbody minnows and crankbaits. Bait fishing with peeled prawn or pilchard fillets is a sure fire way to put a good feed of fish on the table. The Glasshouse, Long Point, and Trident arm are good places to start your search and keep an eye out for surface feeding fish or bird activity. Large numbers of big garfish have been caught around the Mill Point boat ramp on sandworm under a float. If you catch one small enough put it out alive and have a go at some of the giant flatties and tailor that call this beautiful waterway home. The snags in the upper reaches have been fishing well for bream and gars just below the Nowa Nowa ramp but the water is a little dirty so a bread crumb berley trail is a must for bringing the garfish to you. It is with heavy heart that I announce this will be my final fishing report for this great publication. In my few years contributing I have met some great people and have thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the feedback readers have given me. Hopefully see you all out on the water.

Fisherman fined for tangled web of fibs A 56-year-old Stawell man caught fishing without a licence at Peterborough last year has pleaded guilty to multiple offences, including possessing unauthorised commercial fishing equipment. Senior Fisheries Officer Stephen Eddy said the man was ordered to forfeit seized commercial fishing equipment, to be of good behaviour for 12 months and pay $1,500 to the Court Fund. “Stawell Magistrates Court this week heard the man told Fisheries Officers he had a current licence but was not carrying it during a routine inspection in August,” Mr Eddy said. “A licence he later provided for examination proved to be falsely backdated and when Fisheries Officers went to his home to ask him about the apparent discrepancy, his troubles got worse. “At the property the officers noticed two Marine Sanctuary signs taken from Parks Victoria in the Otways and subsequently found a collection of commercial fishing equipment.” The man pleaded guilty

to taking fish from the Curdies River, near Peterborough, without a fishing licence, giving officers false and misleading information, making a false and misleading document and possessing unauthorised commercial fishing equipment. The court heard the man had three seine nets, one cast net, 10 yabby pots (opera house nets) and five mesh nets up to 75m long, all of which are classified as commercial fishing equipment.

He also pleaded guilty to dealing with property that was the proceeds of crime with relation to the marine sanctuary signs. Magistrate Peter Mithen said the accused had panicked when Fisheries Officers inspected him on the Curdies River. The Magistrate also said the offences were very serious but the accused was of good character and had previously held a recreational fishing licence.

Mr Eddy said in the wrong hands commercial fishing equipment could be destructive to waterways, potentially killing large numbers of fish and other wildlife species such as turtles and platypus. Anyone with information relating to the possession or use of illegal fishing equipment should contact the offence reporting line 13FISH (13 3474). – Fisheries

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Snags + bream = mayhem! GIPPSLAND LAKES

Brett Geddes b.geddes@bigpond.com

The last month or so has gone exactly to plan. The end of summer in most years is unofficially the seasonal start of prime time bream luring. This year has exceeded all expectations and the action is really starting to hot up. The catalyst to all this great sport has been the salt water now pushing into Lake Wellington. All the other signs are also there, like dolphins and jelly fish around Loch Sport and birds diving on bait up as far up as the Latrobe River. Bream are now holding high up in the water column and smashing surface lures. Bait anglers are also hooking plenty of bream and flathead in all the usual areas, but it’s time to talk about lure fishing, so let’s get started. SINKING HARDBODIES Snag fishing in the rivers

is what the Gippy Lakes are renowned for, especially after the legend of all bream luring, Bushy, weighed in 10 comp fish going just over 14kg in total, all caught on lures. This happened about nine years ago. Compared to soft plastics, hard bodies are much better suited to working in woody structure because they are less likely to get caught on timber and I rig them with ‘w’ hooks that ride through even dense snags and hardly ever hang me up. The other trick I employ is adding lead to my bibbed lure and I make them sink at a brisk rate so that I get into deep water before I even start my retrieve. Often my lure is eaten on the drop or my first wind of the reel and the slower and deeper I work my lure, the more I catch. This bream sport is not for the faint-hearted and the reason you need at least 10lb leaders is because when you feel a hit, pull your rod in

the opposite direction as fast as human reflexes will allow with a locked drag! Most battles will be won, but I guarantee you will go home after that mayhem shaking! The latest hotspots for this action include the upper Tambo and Nicholson rivers, the Mitchell River from the highway bridge right down into the silt jetties, McLennans Strait and even the lower Latrobe River. Over the last 5 trips that I’ve gone snag fishing, my score has ranged between 14-28 bream, with most fish between 37-42cm. I fished with comp anglers Peter Nord, Robert Lee, Michael Newman and Justin Conn recently and although we caught around 30 bream to 44cm, we all came away frustrated and narky from all the bust offs and dropped fish. Key words: “must use 10-16lb leaders”! For those of you more inclined to work plastics in the same snags then yes, they are working just as

well, but try to rig them snag proof. A Z-Man motor oil 2.5” grub is the go-to softy. BLADE TIME AGAIN Bream are also responding to blades a lot earlier this year and I’ve shown quite a few anglers how fish holding in shallow water will smash small metal lures worked at speed. Most times, I find that they attack my blades with spirit while those same fish turn their noses up at soft plastics and hardbodies. During the middle of the day, I’ve explored much deeper water and pulled in fair numbers of bream to 38cm and as always a nice by catch of flathead around 30cm. Speaking of duskies, they are a little elusive this year with big scores of them under legal size, so maybe we need to wait another 12 months for them to fill out a bit more. SURFACE LURING Now for the exciting news about surface fishing and it’s all about the bent minnows. I’ve been patiently waiting for this action and praying that it will be as good as last year and so far the signs are excellent. Mark Ramsay along with Dave and Jack Morris were the first to ring me with the exciting news with dozens of bream taking their

Yellowfin bream are turning up in big numbers in the Gippy Lakes area. lures off the top but at this stage nothing much over 32cm. I always get carried away about bream eating poppers and I realise I’m not the only angler doing it, but fair dinkum, if you don’t give this a crack you are missing out big time. Target bream with surface lures in the Mitchell River above the highway bridge and down near the Cut, the lower Nicho and Tambo rivers, Paynesville

or Metung jetties and especially the shallow lake areas right across the Gippy Lakes from Waddy Point and Loch Sport to Kalimna and Lakes Entrance. If you can sight fish bream high in the water then throw a surface lure at them. I will have a lot more on this subject next report, because from today onwards my sole purpose in life will be getting bream to eat my bent minnows.

Awesome in the Bemm BEMM RIVER

Robyn Sturgess

Snag fishing for bream is back in full swing, but don’t expect to win every battle.

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After an amazing four entrance openings last year, the entrance has now finally closed and the water level is rising. Anglers have enjoyed awesome fishing and weather. Flathead have been dominant in the channel on plastics, either very early morning or late afternoon. Luke Sibson of Warragul, who has nailed several good flathead recently, reported hooking a 57cm flatty, which he returned to the water. The surf is firing with salmon and tailor in abundance and it doesn’t appear to matter whether it is high or low tide. These fish are taking anything thrown into the water from bait, to spinners and hardbodied lures. After talking to a lot of anglers, these fish are now becoming a popular table fish. Preparation and cleaning is the key to making these fish very good eating. One of our locals has come up with a method of smoking these fish using red wine as a base, this throws a totally new concept to the eating of salmon. The river flows have

now settled down and the bream and perch are plentiful. There have also been flathead caught in the river as far up as Dollys Garden. During this time of the year we can expect to still

get gummies on the surf at night on the full moon as the water currents are still quite warm. All in all, we couldn’t ask for better fishing at the moment. The Bemm just keeps getting better!

Luke Sibson with a very respectable 49cm flathead taken on a soft plastic.

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Magnificent Marlo in paradise MARLO

Jim McClymont mcclymont@net-tech.com.au

Angling paradise is the best way to describe our part of the world, with the natural elements delivering anglers one of the finest fishing locations, and one of the best, yet least known, marlin fishing regions in Victoria.

While blessed with some of the best marlin fishing the state has to offer, the region lacks enough safe offshore access options, with only a single boat ramp at Cape Conran, and bar crossings on the Snowy River at Marlo, and at Lakes Entrance providing access to this exceptional fishery. Hopefully a ground swell of interest and support will see this improve for the better in

the future. The warm water currents that push down the east coast and into Bass Strait over summer have finally arrived and are bringing with it huge

been hooked and lost. With all the baitfish around there are plenty of kingfish for anglers to tangle with, and by all reports several fish over a metre have

Hitting the water at the crack of dawn will maximise your chances of angling success. Photo courtesy of Dale Baxter.

Marlo produced plenty of fish for anglers fishing the Marlo round of the Hobie Kayak BREAM Series. Photo courtesy of Dale Baxter.

The upper reaches of the Snowy River holds plenty of fish, including trophy sized bream and estuary perch. Photo courtesy of Dale Baxter.

schools of baitfish, and the mass of pelagic species that feed on them. Marlin are here in numbers feeding on baitfish, with many caught on lures and bridled fish baits, while many more have

been caught. Mako shark are also on the chew and attacking live baits, with fresh squid and frozen baits proving effective. For those who prefer a little less action it’s gummy shark galore, with most boats

managing to get their bag limit (2 fish per angler). Flathead have also been in abundance, as have gurnard, squid, barracouta, pinkie snapper, morwong, salmon and several shark species. The surf beaches are also firing with plenty of salmon, tailor, flathead and mullet on the chew during the day. This time of year gummy shark are running close to shore and anglers are taking advantage of this by fishing

in the late afternoon and early evening as the sharks follow the incoming tide into the gutters and channels close to the beach. The estuary is also firing with plenty of reports of anglers getting amongst the estuary perch, bream, luderick, mullet, trevally, flathead, salmon and tailor. Prawns are plentiful but lacking in size, with the estuary loaded with bait sized prawns.

Get out for kingies and gummies MCLOUGHLINS

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

What a month of fishing. I know it was a slow summer, but the past month has more than made up for it. OFFSHORE I’m going to start from Port Albert as we have had some major kingfish schools turn up offshore, which I’ve had the pleasure of chasing over the past few months. We have found really big numbers of school sized fish of 65-75cm and even hooked the odd monster that’s broken off 50lb Line. We have been using knife jigs for the most part, however trolling small skirted lures between 4-6” in size has been a great method to find the fish. If you find a school, drop in some

The author with a nice kingfish caught on a 200g knife jig.

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150-250g knife jigs, as they have been working a treat. Don’t think you have to go offshore, this year is the first year in about 4 years that the kingfish have come inside the inlets and we have heard of kingfish coming in as close as the jetties at Port Albert, down towards McLoughlins Beach and also Port Welshpool. Anglers snapper fishing offshore on the reefs of McLoughlins for snapper have also reported on schools of kingies around the 18m line. Speaking of snapper, they have been really good over the past month, with anglers fishing off McLoughlins landing plenty of snapper between 35-60cm and the odd big fish of 6kg. The reefs around the islands have been producing stacks of 30-45cm pinkies with plenty of anglers bagging out on pinkies when the weather is good enough. Pilchards have been by far the best bait, however there has been big schools of salmon and tailor in the entrances so anglers have been catching a few for fresh bait as well. GUMMY SHARKS This season has panned out to be as good as last season; anglers are bagging out on gummy sharks easily offshore anywhere from right out front of the entrances in 6m of water and out as far as 30m of water. Some anglers are opting to anchor and berley for a big gummy and there have

There are plenty of pinkies to 50cm being caught inside and offshore at the moment and it hasn’t been uncommon to get your bag of pinkies. been some crackers caught up to the 6ft mark recently, however most of the gummies have been around the 1-1.2m mark. Fresh baits such as salmon and slimy mackerel have been the best baits but angles are also catching their

fair share on squid and pilchards as well. As a by-catch to the offshore gummies, anglers are bagging out on some of the biggest flathead we get offshore with plenty of 50cm specimens being caught on the drift.

Kings gone, but don’t despair WEST COAST

Shane Lowery

April is the month that sees the farewell to the yellowtail kingfish season. Although there has been some great captures, the 2014-15 season has been a little hit and miss for spearos. The kings seemed to be there one day and gone

the next but the same old haunts did produce when the conditions were right. Wilsons Prom, Cape Liptrap and the Rip were the standout areas in the Melbourne area with Portlands, North Shore, Lady Julia Percy Island and The Crags being the best areas in the South West. Julia Percy and Wilsons Prom do both seem to hold kings in the latest part of the season so these

spots are still worth one last go even in April. On the upside, the departure of the kingfish

temperatures the thoughts of keen bluewater spear fishers collectively turn to albacore and southern bluefin tuna.

Craig and Bree Fox with some great Port Fairy crays.

Peter and Mac Riddle with Craig Fox holding some nice Julia Percy Island kingfish.

Jai Kaartinen-Price with a solid whiting and squid.

heralds the beginning of the peak tuna season. During February and March there were large numbers of bluefin tuna and kingfish in the Portland and Port Fairy area and at times the two species were mixed into the same schools. But as the kingfish move on due to dropping water

The most successful technique for targeting tuna as a spearfishing quarry is to tow teasers behind your boat to raise the fish. Once tuna are seen and clearly present, then a liberal flow of berley will keep the fish actively feeding at the boat. Using 130cm dual rubber guns or bigger, large

floats with a strong rope line or bungee line tethered to the gun are the order of the day. Once speared the tuna can take quite some controlling and it’s important to have a buddy in the water to help with subduing the fish, if needed, and to keep an eye out for your safety. It’s also a good idea to avoid the areas where the line fishers are trolling for tuna as they don’t expect to see divers in the water out on the continental shelf or even in the closer shallower waters. A diver below flag on your float and displayed on the dive boat is essential at all times. Inshore diving is also not to be overlooked at this time of year. Right along the Victorian coastline divers can expect to

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find species such as snook, sea sweep and King George whiting just to name a few. Salmon and trevally are also common captures in April too. Southern rock lobsters are still in season and abundant at this time of year and a feed of abalone is always easy to find. All these species are best found on the shallow reefs close to shore. Depths of 4-7m are the ideal hunting grounds. Areas such as Killarney near Port Fairy in the South West and Portsea, Queenscliff and St Leonard’s are all prime locations this month. Remember to make yourself aware of all size and bag limits of any species you target and to always dive safely and sustainably.

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Part I: The rules of attractant WESTERN PORT STH

Jarrod Day jarrodday@iprimus.com.au

If there is one thing we all want when embarking on a fishing mission, it is success. Whether you want to bring home a few

all love to do. And with one simple little addition to your fishing session, you can turn a dull day into mayhem in just a few minutes – with berley. Of all the more commonly targeted species in Victoria, many are schooling fish, which means

it happen. In saying that, berleying isn’t as simple as tossing out handfuls of fish offal within a few minutes of getting to a location followed by nothing for the following four hour long session; rather there is more of an art to berleying successfully than many

Berleying for snapper is very simple provided you can keep the trail going. Pilchards cut into 1cm cubes are ideal in Port Phillip Bay. fish for dinner, catch and release a trophy or just want to have a fun day out fishing with the kids, catching fish is what we

when you begin to attract them you tend to attract a school. For anyone wanting to just catch a fish, using berley will surely make

might think. Not all berley methods and ingredients are used on all of the same species. Different species swim and

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feed in different columns of the water and providing you understand your targeted species, adding berley to the equation will enhance success. In this two part series, I will be looking at the different berley techniques for popular species: snapper, whiting, sharks, garfish, Australian salmon and yellow-eye mullet. SNAPPER Snapper are a species that falls into the ‘schooling fish’ category and are quite easily attracted with berley. Anglers fishing in Western Port tend not to berley for snapper due to the force of the current and the fact that stingrays can be attracted. Despite the current, a little berley at the right times can be very effective. Around 30 minutes either side of a tide change is the prime time to berley so it sinks to the bottom. To do this, berley can be in the form of pilchard cubes and snapper pellets tossed over the transom and left to float down to the bottom. Another more highly effective berleying method is to use a Secret Weapon berley dispenser. The Secret Weapon can be filled, lowered to the bottom and emptied multiple times before the tide kicks in. Then as the boat swings with the tide, the berley will begin to flow along the bottom thus attracting the fish to the area. This technique can also be applied to Southern Port Phillip Bay from Sorrento to Mount Martha where there is also substantial current. From Mount Martha to the top of the bay, different methods are more productive. Due to the lack of current, small cubes of pilchard coupled with a few handfuls of snapper pellets tossed out at equal intervals is the most effective berleying technique possible. The only downfall to this technique is that

The Secret Weapon berley dispenser is weighted and will easily reach the bottom nearing the slack tide. Once on the bottom, give a little tug to dispel the berley. 5 RULES OF ATTRACTANT 1. When using berley keep the mix as fine as possible based on the species. 2. Always keep the berley trail at a constant flow. 3. Make the berley as fishy as possible. 4. Ensure you have enough berley for your session. 5. Never break a berley trail.

When attempting to berley in Western Port, use a Secret Weapon Berley dispenser. Load it with pellets and chopped pilchards and lower to the bottom.

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Onion bags and scaler bags are ideal to hold shark berley logs. The wave action breaks up the logs dispersing a smelly continuous trail.

you’re manually berleying. Unfortunately when manually berleying, you can forget to toss in more berley breaking the trail. When this happens, the fish can go off the bite and, until you work out the berley trail has been broken for a period of time, they might have swam off or gone to the next boat’s trail. The only way to ensure you don’t break the trail is have a continual pile of chopped pilchards on the bait board to twig your memory if you do forget. WHITING Whiting are a species that are easily targeted with the use of berley but a lot of anglers still enjoy the ‘old’ fishing technique of

anchoring, fishing for 10 minutes then moving some 30 minutes before repeating the process to find a school of fish. When fishing in shallow water, the noise from boat motors being started and switched off, anchor chains rattling when being lifted and lowered is enough to scare any fish from the area. Berley on the other hand can be a real game changer without having to move, rather it will bring the fish right to you.

With more and more anglers searching out whiting in both deep water and shallow water, berley can be used in both locations. Berley methods for whiting aren’t too complex but it is imperative that the right berley cage be used so the flow stays constant. Once filled with the chosen berley mix, place the pot on the sea floor and the current’s pressure will disperse the berley keeping

SPECIES SPECIFIC BERLEY MIX SNAPPER BERLEY MIX (Western Port/PPB south) 1 x 2kg bag of pilchards 1 x 1kg bag of snapper pellets Cut pilchards into 1cm cubes, fill Secret Weapon berley dispenser with mix, wait for slack tide and dump all pilchards and pellets behind boat before tide picks up. SNAPPER BERLEY MIX (Port Phillip Bay north) 1 x 4-6kg bag of pilchards 1 x 4kg bag of snapper pellets Cut pilchards into 1cm cubes (5 pilchards at a time), toss overboard with a handful or two of pellets every 5 minutes until fish are going, then lessen the flow of berley by tossing in same amount every 8-10 minutes. WHITING BERLEY MIX 1 x 2kg bag of Whiting berley pellets (tuna oil infused) 1 x 1kg bag of pilchards 1 x 500ml bottle of tuna oil Mix all ingredients together over night in a bucket mashing the pilchards up. Half fill berley pot when fishing and place on seafloor. Ensure berley bucket is weighted so it sits directly under the boat, not on an acute angle due to the current pressure.

SHAD TEEZ

a constant flow while the whiting move in on the trail. Every now and then, a shake of the pot is required as the holes in the pot will block up. When this happens, you’ll notice the whiting bite go quiet but with a little shake, they will return once the flow starts again. SHARKS Offshore shark fishing is becoming increasingly popular, and why not so when they are so easily accessible in our waters. Although we do have a wide range of sharks on offer, mako sharks are the most commonly targeted. One of the biggest assets to mako fishing is the use of berley but it is imperative you have enough. Most offshore shark fishing missions generally go for around 6-8 hours and berleying for this length of time does take its toll. Like any berley used for any fish, the fishier the better and, while I have heard of many weird concoctions being made and used, nothing can beat berleying with tuna. Most tackle stores will sell frozen tuna logs but those that fish at Portland during tuna season can always bring some back with them and mince it up into small logs until their shark session.

Although tuna logs are great, you’ll also need something a little chunkier, which is where pilchards or any old fish offal punched through the berley pot works a treat. Coupled with that, a tuna oil bottle hung over the side of the boat with a few holes in it to create a slick finishes off the entire setup. Again, this is one species you do not want to break a trail with so ensure whoever is on berley duty, does a top job. While you have the pilchards being put through, have two logs each in a scaler bag on either side of the boat. With any wave action, the logs will scrape on the bag and dislodge chunks keeping the trail consistent. Baits can then be set back into the trail at different levels of the water column while the waiting game begins. There are endless ways you can use berley and endless ingredients that can be used in it. All it takes is a little imagination, the right mix, flow and location and you’ll very quickly see the results unfold. Next week in Part II we will take a look at three more species, garfish, Australian salmon and yellow-eye mullet and how to attract them to your fishing area.

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APRIL 2015

Mallacoota sizzles MALLACOOTA

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

The town is still busy, and the caravan park is abuzz with visitors. The weather has been good despite the wind, and we have been lucky with the rain, missing the heavy stuff that fell further to the north. The fishing has been excellent in the lake, on the beach and offshore. The bluewater fishing has been a matter of picking the right day, as the swell has been up and the wind has also played havoc. The fish are there it’s just a matter of getting the conditions right to get out there amongst them. Caution is needed when heading out to sea from the

new boat ramp, as recent seas have knocked big boulders into the harbour, resulting in a number of boats doing major damage to propellers and legs of their motors. Flathead — tigers and sandies — are being caught, along with gummy sharks. The kingies will turn up again; at present they are further down the coast, but once that cold water starts pushing back up the coast, the fish will be driven north with it. The beach fishing has been good, with yellowfin bream and whiting caught, with the entrance to the lake fishing well on the high tide. Fresh bait, both worms and prawns, have been working well. The past week has seen plenty of salmon turn up, with fish to 1.5kg common. The main boat ramp in town has seen a big seal make

this area his home. He arrived around Christmas and is still there, so give him a wide berth, as he is a wild animal and can move pretty fast. Meanwhile, the front section of the lake is fishing well, with flathead and bream caught, with the run-in tide fishing best. There have also been some salmon entering the lake, and these have been caught from the John Bull marker back to the entrance. The Bottom Lake has been fishing well, with bait fishermen catching plenty of good size bream, with frozen prawns really working well. The Goodwin Sands area has fired up, particularly around dawn and dusk. While guiding on the lake, clients have had a ball, catching plenty of big bream on hardbody lures, while the

This seal has made the town ramp jetty its home since Christmas. soft plastics have worked well on the flathead. The key is being in the right place at the right time. This gets easier when you spend enough time on the water.

Fish are being caught right through to above Gypsy Point, with great perch fishing had by those in the know. A few good mulloway are being caught, but those putting in the time

are pretty secretive, and rarely let out the fact that fish are being caught. Good bass are still biting, with all the streams flowing well due to consistent summer rain.

April is a prime time to fish BERMAGUI

Darren Redman djsxstreamfishing@bigpond.com

Calm seas, plenty of fish and mild weather are the order for the middle of autumn. Just about all forms of fishing are at their prime, and this is my favourite time of year to fish. April usually means good sea conditions, allowing anglers to access a lot of offshore fishing. Game fishing sees a crossover of different species; yellowfin tuna, along with albacore and many smaller species are starting to appear in good numbers. Trolling or berleying will account for REVA G.T

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tuna, although by berleying you may attract sharks like makos, blues and tigers. While berleying, don’t be frightened to put a live bait out in a trail for marlin, so use heavier traces to handle them. Conventional means of targeting marlin is also working well, with plenty of fish on the Twelve Mile Reef and along the Continental Shelf. Mahimahi are hanging around the fish traps and are providing plenty of entertainment, while Montague Island has its share of kingfish in various sizes. Good numbers of bonito are there to keep anglers busy too. While trolling deep diving lures is a great way to catch bonito, try a small live mackerel hooked through the

nose for better results. Options arise for both the sport and reef fisher in the calmer conditions. The use of soft plastics offshore is producing interesting results out of Bermagui. Fishing in 15-20m water out from the headlands and bommies, and working from the bottom to mid-water, will effectively produce the best fishing, with kingfish, salmon, snapper and many other species falling to this technique. For many reef anglers this time of year heralds the start of the snapper season. Either drifting over the reef complexes (Goalen Head is the prime area) or by anchoring, both are producing good fish. Larger snapper are regularly encountered by berleying

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while on the anchor in depths of around 30-40m. Fishing baits like pilchards, mackerel and tuna strips at varying depths will produce the better specimens. Other reef fish are also in good numbers, with morwong, flathead, pigfish and perch coming from the deeper marks. Sand flathead are plentiful out from most beaches adjacent to Bermagui, with those to the south being the pick. Flat seas allow anglers easy access to rock platforms, which will give them the chance to try different techniques. Live baiting for game fish is one option; with deep water surrounding many of the rocky headlands meaning tuna, kingfish, sharks and marlin are all on the short list. Lure fishing for salmon, tailor, bonito and the like is also very popular, while for the drummer and groper fishers activity is also hotting up. Most beaches are fishing well, with good numbers of salmon, tailor, gummy sharks (on the moon) and the occasional mulloway. Smaller species like bream and whiting are also around, with beach worms, yabbies and striped tuna accounting for most. Use fresh berley

Autumn is the time for big luderick, and Wallaga Lake is presently full of them. like tuna and mackerel to keep the bream schooling close to shore. Excellent fishing is being experienced in most estuary systems, as fish feed to put on condition for the cooler months ahead. Luderick are being encountered on cabbage weed near the bridge and around the breakwalls. Lots of southern yellowfin bream have moved into the estuary, with yabbies and striped tuna fished in berley trails being extremely effective. Live mullet and lures are taking their share of flathead, and using yabbies over the flats on high tide will account for various

different species. The warmer water that pushes in from the ocean on the incoming tide stimulates these estuary fish into feeding more regularly. Brogo Dam is starting to cool, making fishing more difficult, although live crickets for those who want to fish baits is effective. Trolling lures around the weed beds that are starting to become exposed with falling water levels is producing good bass. Humid conditions will still permit fly fishers good fishing; again, around the weed beds late of an evening.

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Good marlin and everything else at Eden EDEN

Kevin Gleed captainkev@wildernessfishingtours.com

As we head towards another winter, the months ahead provide some of the best fishing around here. There are few visitors to the area, but this is the time for keen fishermen to enjoy the great fishing the

Eden area can offer. Those anglers with big boats heading out chasing game fish are well catered for with a big all-weather boat ramp at Quarantine Bay. At present there has been a great run of striped marlin. These fish are between 70kg and 130kg and have been caught to the north of Eden and south down towards the border. Fish have been taken on trolled

lures and live baits, and the successful anglers have found the bait and stayed in the area until the fish turn up. Striped tuna are out there and it shouldn’t be long before the yellowfin tuna put in an appearance, followed by the southern bluefin. Fishing for kingies has been slow so far this season, but a few good fish are starting to be caught, so hopefully the

Big bream are being caught — it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. coming month could see them really fire up. The fishing on the inshore reefs has been good, with catches of snapper to around 2kg, which is a great eating size. Good catches of sand and tiger flathead have also been recorded. Once the fish are found, keep working the area and you should end up with a good feed. Quality snapper are also being caught off the rocky headlands. If you’re keen to

Puddles with a nice flathead caught on a soft plastic.

catch a snapper off the rocks, it is important to be soaking baits at first light. Good drummer, blackfish and bream are also being caught from the same rocky headlands. A berley trail gets everything stirred up. Plenty of salmon have been caught from the local beaches, along with sand whiting and yellowfin bream. The local estuaries have been fishing well. A little

rain has kept things stirred up, with catches of whiting and yellowfin bream on fresh worms, nippers and prawns. Dusky flathead are still being caught, with anglers fishing with live mullet and soft plastics catching plenty of fish. The upper freshwater reaches are fishing well for bass, and with all the creeks and rivers flowing, things look good for the months ahead.

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APRIL 2015

Lots of ripper reds MERIMBULA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

The fishing around Merimbula has been nothing short of exceptional, with a host of species on offer using a variety of techniques. It really depends on what you want to target and where as to the results you will get. Those anglers venturing offshore have had a field day, especially the bottombouncing brigade, with snapper the word on everyone’s lips. The reds have been thick at times on the inshore reefs, with Long Point and Lennards Island

to the south being prime locations. A few locals I have talked to reckon it’s the best bite they have seen in years, particularly at this time of year. The snapper aren’t huge, averaging 1.5-2kg, but still good fish and ideal plate size. Most fish are falling to pilchards and fresh squid, though some switched on anglers are getting great results on soft plastics, especially down south in the shallower water. This type of fishing isn’t for everyone, but geez when they’re on, it’s a whole lot of fun. Mixed in with the reds are some solid kingfish, with fish to 5kg common, and at times lots of them.

Those anglers who have targeted the kings are having some serious fun with jigs and plastics. I’d suspect there would be bigger models upwards of 8kg beneath the school fish, with live bait a better proposition for catching them. All this action should continue for a while yet, with water temperatures hovering around 22°C. Further offshore, the game fishing fraternity have had their fair share of action too. Striped marlin are the main species being caught, with some crews getting 5 or 6 shots a day — great fishing in anyone’s books. The beakies are between 80-120kg and can be found from the

You gotta love bream fishing; it’s just the best, as the boys discovered on this trip.

Some great kings are getting around the local reefs, as Gezza found out recently. 50 fathom line outwards, but don’t underestimate the inshore grounds as they too are worth a look, especially for black marlin. Most fish are succumbing to trolled skirted pushers, though switch baiting has been popular when you can get the bait. There’s been the odd better yellowfin to 40kg caught when trolling for marlin, and as the season gets later expect albacore numbers to increase. There’s been great numbers of mahimahi also, which are great fun between marlin bites. Anglers fishing the rocks for pelagics like salmon, kingfish and bonito have done well of late, with Tura Head, Short and Long Point and the wharf inside Merimbula Bay all worth a look. Some of the kings have nudged 7kg, so good fish from the hard stuff, with live bait being the best option. You can expect

the bonito to be abundant for months to come now, with chromed slices and ganged pilchards a good way to target them. These little speedsters have made a welcome return over the last few seasons, which is awesome to see, as they are great sport and not too bad in the smoker either. In the estuaries, both Pambula and Merimbula continue to shine, fishing well for flathead, bream, whiting and blackfish. The flatties have really fired up with the warmer water, and a good feed is available on most outings. The fish are solid models around the 50cm mark, with the odd bigger female making her presence felt. Most are falling to soft plastics, with live poddy mullet and blades catching their share. With the water warm, the surface fishing has been excellent for bream and whiting, with Merimbula a

standout. I know of a few bream upwards of 43cm being caught lately around the racks, with whiting to 42cm also. At these sizes, on light gel spun in hard country, they are great fish with hours of endless fun to be had. If artificials aren’t for you, I’d be concentrating in the channels below the bridge, with fresh tuna cubes or yabbies the preferred baits. You will catch some nice bream, whiting and trevally around the boat moorings, with the flooding tide the best. Those fishing the beaches are also in for a treat, with salmon, bream, whiting and gummy sharks all possible. Any beach with a half decent gutter is producing, with Tura main holding a great gutter at the northern end. It’s been excellent for bream, with live beach worms the gun bait. If you can combine a rising tide on dusk, some good angling will be had.

An outstanding marlin season is expected NAROOMA

Stuart Hindson stuart@ausfishing.com.au

What a game fishing season it has been thus far, with a host of bluewater species showing up. This action should only get better as we head further into the month. Marlin is still the word amongst sportfishers, with some switched on crews getting 6-8 shots a day. That’s awesome fishing in my books, with a mixture of black and striped marlin, and the occasional blue turning up out wider around the second drop-off. Most beakies have been averaging 80-120kg, but the blues are certainly bigger. I’ve heard a few sob stories of late about the one that got away, but that’s fishing. The stripes have been found from the 70f line to the shelf, with the traps up off Tuross holding quite a few. There’s 40

APRIL 2015

a stack of bait around them, mainly slimy mackerel, so if you find the bait you’re in for some serious fun. Most crews are trolling skirted lures, but when you can get the bait, switch baiting is deadly — especially on the stripes. Trolling skip baits has worked also. The blue marlin have been a lot further out, where the water is a warm 25°C. I’d expect fish in excess of 350kg over the coming weeks, with more crews venturing wide with the right tackle to target these huge brutes. Trolling larger pushers up to 16” long is the go when targeting these bigger fish. This season has also been the best I can recall for big mahimahi; fish to 25kg have been consistently caught, with multiple hookups occurring quite regularly. There’s been some solid yellowfin tuna to 50kg being captured while trolling for marlin, with April usually the start of the tuna

Andy Kolber with a thumping silver trevally he caught while targeting bream.

season. Every year at this time some sizeable jumbos turn up, with fish to 90kg possible. Mixed in with the yellowfin will be albacore and a host of shark species. Closer to shore, Montague Island has been red-hot, with kingfish numbers awesome at present. It’s definitely better now than it has been in previous weeks, so the rest of the season looks promising for the brutes. The kings can be found anywhere, with the north and western sides being the most productive. In saying that, when the current is pushing north, a look at the southern end around Aughinish Rock is the go. The fish have responded better to live bait, especially the bigger fish, with 8-9kg models common. There have been plenty of kings taken on jigs and soft-plastics as well, though the size is definitely smaller, with 70-80cm fish the norm.

NSW South Coast If the kings are a little slow, there’s sufficient bonito to keep things interesting, as well as snapper. The reddie fishing has been excellent and that should continue right through winter. We usually get a few snapper at this time of year, but not in the numbers seen at present. Some are getting their bags each outing, which is great to see with the average fish nudging 2kg — good quality snapper. In the estuaries, Wagonga Inlet has been reasonably slow considering its reputation, but that should change over coming weeks. There certainly seems to be a lack of bait throughout the system, which may be a reason as to why it’s slow. Don’t get me wrong, you will still catch some quality fish there, but expect to work for them. The recent Flathead Classic saw 450 plus flathead caught and released, so not too bad I suppose — maybe I’m being a little harsh on the place. Those anglers who have done okay have fished early around tide changes, with some nice fish being captured. Most have fallen to live poddy mullet on the deeper dropoffs, and I’ve heard of a few mulloway taken on squid at night. Up at Tuross it’s a different story though, with bream, flathead, estuary perch, mulloway, whiting and blackfish all responding well at times. While guiding there we’ve managed a dozen

When we netted it, this 70cm flathead spat out the remainder of another flattie! or so mulloway over recent weeks. The fish are between 60-80cm, so not huge, but still great fun on light tackle. Some cracking flatties are coming from the shallower areas towards the entrance, with soft plastics fishing best. In the river itself, there’s a heap of EPs for the taking, with bream and whiting making the sand flats home. The rocks continue to fish well for salmon, bonito and smaller kingfish, with chromed slices and ganged pilchards catching plenty. This month may see some mac tuna

turn up, with the golf course rocks in town and Mystery Bay to the south the pick of the spots to fish. I’d be using live bait like yellowtail or slimy mackerel, with both locations holding a stack of bait. A little berley and you’ll have all the baits you require. If pelagics aren’t your scene, you should be able to get a feed of blackfish. The southern breakwall at the entrance has been a hot spot, with cabbage the gun bait. A few locals have done well there, with some solid bream being caught on tuna strips.

Again, berley is the key for more consistent results. On the beaches, it’s business as usual, with salmon in good numbers and most are holding fish. Anglers casting chrome lures through the suds are having a load of fun, especially on lighter tackle. If using bait, a paternoster rig will work, with bluebait and pilchards preferred. There’s been good reports of bream and whiting coming from both Brou and Blackfellows Beach to the north of Narooma, with live beach worms and pipis being ideal baits.

Gabriella Cusani with a black bream she caught at Werribee River on a tube worm bait, with her favourite little ‘just-like-dads’ fishing combo. Dad only baited the hook for her and assisted to land the fish. The fish was 41cm long and weighed 1120g whole. What a great effort!

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Tasty Tasmanian delights to get excited about TASMANIA

Kelly Hunt

There can be argument that April in Tasmania is when fishos start to drag the bottom lip, but hang on a minute! There is a lot to be excited about. Sure the weather gets a little cooler and that breeze has potential to cut you in half but there is some silver lining to be had with those

autumn clouds. Daylight savings is a distant memory but the days are still OK with settled weather and winds. This means that a crew that plans a trip around the forecast can have sensational days on the water and there are a number of species that will put a smile on the dial. OFFSHORE Anglers out there with a reasonable memory will remember that everything

Typical sized garfish from Georges Bay.

seemed to stretch out last year and the big albacore seemed to hang around for ages. Early signs suggest that this will be the same for season 2015. Albacore are a great species. They are good fun to catch and a superb fish for the table. Good-sized albacore can provide heaps of quality meat if looked after straight away. Yes, here we go again, “Bleed them straight away”, but don’t waste the blood. Those who have caught them before will know that tuna are the haemophiliacs of the ocean. Have some forethought and take a container that you can place a whole albacore in as it bleeds out from the two small incisions you have made to the rear of the pectoral fins. There are a number of benefits to this. Harvesting the blood is good value for two reasons. The first reason is that you will have some awesome berley for the next time you go mako shark hunting. Adding blood to a berley mix increases your potential of raising a shark 10fold. The second reason is that you don’t know when that next mako shark session may unfold. We have been nailing Albacore

Albacore of all sizes create smiles and taste really good! and come across one free swimming and it was a simple matter of circling around and putting the blood in the water and having the mako come straight to the back of the boat. We happened to be in a game competition so we put a hook out on 24kg gear and crunched a 70kg mako to the boat in short time and popped a tag in him! Conversely, you will be very popular with the family if you bring home

a feed of albacore and mako shark. Southern bluefin are thick in April and it’s the time of year old-timers start to whisper about jumbos. If you are down south trolling lures during April it is a good idea to prepare for the possibility of the fish of a lifetime. Check and double check all the gear you will use as it will haunt you for a long time if you lose a giant bluefin to gear failure.

Start at the lures and how they are rigged. Check the leaders for wear or any nicks and replace if needed. Take the time to get the kids out in the street and run 200m of line out and as it goes of and back on the spool, feel it with your fingers for anything that may cause a weakness. A jumbo bluefin will find any weakness. The hook up will be explosive and the pressure of the fish running and

INLAND FISHERIES SERVICE

River Derwent project nearing completion IFS

Tim Farrell

Installation of Anglers Access infrastructure, signs and riparian work is nearing completion on the River Derwent. The access team has been working between New Norfolk and Gretna in recent weeks (end of February) with works including construction of steps, footbridges and fishing platforms and installation of access and information signage. The project is scheduled for completion in late March with the Anglers Access brochure published in time for the 2015/16 angling season. APPOINTMENT OF A NEW FISHERIES OFFICER AT LIAWENEE On Thursday 29 January Mark Asplin commenced duties as a Fisheries Officer at Liawenee. Mark comes with over 15 years of fisheries compliance and 42

APRIL 2015

management experience with the Victorian Government. He will provide the Service with skills to support its activities not only on the Central Plateau but statewide where he will be rostered to undertake a range of fisheries activities. IFS GET OUT FOR CLEAN UP AUSTRALIA DAY The IFS has participated in Business Clean up Australia Day 2015 as has been the case for the last 8 years. This year staff and a number of volunteers worked on cleaning up the Angler Access sites between Bridgewater and Bushy Park on Tuesday 24 February. Over 50 bags of rubbish, 16 car tires, 3 televisions and a variety car parts were taken to the New Norfolk tip. The Derwent Valley Council provided free access to the tip site. Please keep our angling areas free from rubbish and litter, take home with you what you brought.

AUTUMN WORKING BEE ON THE LAKE SKINNER TRACK Lake Skinner has long been a popular destination for anglers, and in 2013 the track accessing the lake became part of the Southwest National Park and the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. It is a Class 4 track, which means that it is moderately difficult, and rough underfoot. The walking track passes through rainforest of myrtle, celery top pine, sassafras, King Billy pine and tall pandani to reach the glacial lake of Lake Skinner. It is a steep climb but well worth the effort, even if you’re not lucky enough to catch any trout. Sections of the track are eroded and very muddy. With funding from the Australian Government, Environment Tasmania has been repairing the track to minimise walker impacts along these boggy sections. Track work has been

undertaken by a track crew and volunteers using local materials and traditional techniques such as building cordwood and split log planking. There are many obvious benefits to use of local materials such as durability, sustainability and high visual appeal. Hand split timber for double planking over boggy sections looks much more natural than the more common treated pine. Want to get involved? Our working bee on the Lake Skinner Track in November 2014 was so popular that we plan to do a second working bee in autumn 2015. Contact Environment Tasmania on 6281 5100 if you would like to register your interest in a working bee on the track in autumn 2015, or just want to find out more about our walking track projects. For more information on Lake Skinner and directions on how to get there, go to the Walk The Huon website.

water pressure on the line will be intense. Take the time to double and triple check or you’ll be sitting there looking at each other wondering what the hell you’d just hooked! Being hooked up to a jumbo will ensure a good long tussle and during the fight this is a time for your crew to be on the ball. Once there is a solid hook up the crew can get their minds on the job. Get the camera on if you have them, find the leader gloves and place them ready to slip on. Locating the gaffs and positioning them so they are at the ready in an instant they are needed is a good idea. Once this is done the crew can relax and try and stay out of the vision of skipper and angler. The skipper will have his work cut out for him keeping the angle of line at the rear of the boat off the port side. Keeping the vision of the outboard and angler clear will help immensely. This is not a hard and fast rule but for most boats it makes sense. It is easier on the skipper to keep the fish in the right spot and give the angler every opportunity to win the battle. It evens up the boat

in having skipper on the opposite side to where all the action will take place. Working as a team and having gear in excellent condition will tip the scales in your favour and hopefully bring in a fish to hang on a set of real scales. INSHORE April does tend to see the mercury drop on average but the weather itself is still mild and the winds can be a lot more settled. The key to enjoying a longer fishing season is to have the right gear and prepare for all for seasons in one day. Good quality outdoor clothing and wet weather gear will stand the test of time. Comfort is the biggest factor when spending long hours in the elements and there are some great products out there. Being comfortable and warm while still maintaining some level of manoeuvrability will allow those anglers who like to get out and about to find some nice table fare inshore. Calamari April and autumn is the time when calamari come on strong again. They head inshore for two reasons. Firstly, the water temperature has

dropped, and secondly, it’s time for them to breed. Australian temperate waters allow something unique to happen within the cephalopod world. We in Australia are lucky to have multiple spawning runs, allowing us to target the big spawning adult

squid that are massing up over our shallows and weed beds. It just so happens that Tasmania is also one of the best places in Australia to target good numbers and cracking big squid. Back in the ‘old days’, squid were seen as by-catch and bait, but

Squid provide a great day out for everyone.

not anymore. Heaps of anglers are setting up to target these little beauties just as hard as any other species. Specialist rods and reels are being sought after to maximise the fun and effectiveness of a squid session. Rods with the perfect action and reels weighted just right to aid casting and getting a smooth and constant jigging action with the slightest of wrist breaks is top priority. Other squid aficionados like to impart a more aggressive action on the jig as they work over the broken ground and weedy areas. This calls for a rod with a stiffer mid-section while still having a supple tip. Squid jigs are an area that has really come on in Tasmania in the last few years. You can now get jigs from around $6 through to $26 and everywhere in between. The more expensive jigs will last longer when presented to squid after squid. It is surprising just how abrasive the candles of a good size squid actually are. Squid can also see some colours in UV that we humans cannot. The high-end squid jig manufacturers are aware

of this and have some special colours and dies within their designs. If you take a little UV torch into a tackle store and shine it on their range of squid jigs you will be amazed. Some of the detail and workmanship in the more expensive Japanese jigs are as at home in a jewellery box as they are a tackle box. When it comes to colours there are a myriad of options left and right of a few general rules. In the morning and evenings, gold is great. Gold hues and gold under foils get the job done. During the daytime, give the silvers, the holographics and the greens a run. In super lowlight conditions, either try the red body and foil colours, or go home as someone may be worried about you. Garfish As a great angling experience for adults and kids, garfish are a muchoverlooked Tasmanian species. Gar are found in and around Tasmania in numbers probably underestimated because we don’t take any notice. The southern sea garfish is the fish we find here in Tasmania. Southern garfish are a fish To page 44

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APRIL 2015

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From page 43

that schools up and fish are often found in sheltered bays and inshore coastal areas. They occasionally head into estuaries, and especially where seagrass meadows are abundant. This is why Georges Bay on Tasmania’s East coast is a hot spot. The bay is well known for producing monster gar and when conditions are right, in good numbers. The secret with garfish is berley and specific rigging. Berley is a must when looking to take a few gar for the table. It’s not berley like we would normally make, but a bucket with some light fine berley ingredients that will sit on the surface and slowly sink into the water column. There are a number of options for berley, but a some made of crushed bread and tuna pellets will get the job done. Try and find stale bread as it crumbles much better and doesn’t ball up in your hand. A little bit of fish oil spread onto the surface with some fine breadcrumbs sprinkled on top works very well. The breadcrumb gets suspended on the oil and will attract the gar to the surface, holding them in the area. Garfish, when caught on light gear put up a great tussle. A float rig with a small hook and another just with a small hook is the way to go. You should have one rod set up with float holding the bait 3ft under the surface and the other rod set up to have the bait sink naturally down into the water. I remember Pop tying a little bit of wool on his line as a bit indicator on

Fresh Tasmanian flounder is pretty hard to beat on the table. the free weighted rig. The float will let you know you have a bite, so watch them carefully. Typically a small size 10-12 long shank hook will suffice and for a float there are a number of small quill or ball floats at tackle stores fit for this purpose. The best bait is that made to mimic the berley, so anything pale works well. Small pieces of fish flesh and uncooked chicken work well as does unshelled prawn pieces. Yet again, squid is also a standout bait. It is pale and when cut into small slivers, stays on the hook very well. Flounder April is prime for a session on the flounder.

The water is cooling inshore and the sun is disappearing way earlier than in daylight savings. You don’t have to wait till 11 o’clock to head out to your favourite flounder spot. The reason why people gear up and wander around in water up to their knees for flounder is because its fun and they taste good! Flounder have an excellent flavour, have a fine textured, firm white flesh and low oil content. They are simple and easy to cook and go well when pan fried, baked, barbequed or grilled. The capture of these little beauties is a little different to your average fishing trip. The go is to

use flounder spears and waterproof spotlights at night. There are a heap of different set ups to suit each user so head into a tackle store and discuss, but it is heaps of fun. The other species you can see while sneaking about at night up to your knees are awesome fun as well. You can start by finding a large estuary or look for beaches that are flat and shallow. The best time to go is on still nights with an incoming tide. The flounder will come into the shallows to feed and if you walk slowly and keep your eyes peeled you will see them sitting hard on the bottom. There are two species in Tasmania you are likely to encounter, the greenback and the longsnout. The greenback is a more diamond shape while the longsnout is a rounder looking unit. These fish have the same bag limits and minimum sizes , but it always pays to check.

GET OUT THERE April is not a time for putting the gear away, but for looking for gear to complement what you already have. New species demand new techniques and slightly different gear. More often than not you will have a rod and reel that will work, but the terminal tackle may need a tweak. Head into a tackle store that has staff that fish every bit as hard or harder than you. They will hold a few key ideas and a couple of tips that will set you well on your way. Make sure you have some good warm weather gear and be prepared for every season. You don’t want to miss a hot bite just because of a little rain. You know that it may only last a little while and could come out brilliant again. Having the right gear will allow you to find fish, catch fish and stay on the water for longer.

Good quality clothing allows you to fish in comfort for longer.

HYDRO TASMANIA WATER STORAGE INFORMATION Water Storage Information as at 10th March 2015 Lake/Lagoon

Metres from full

Comment

Lake Augusta ...................................2.62 .......................................................Steady Arthurs Lake ....................................2.07 .......................................................Steady Great Lake .......................................15.54 .....................................................Steady Trevallyn Pond .................................0.80.........................................................Rising Shannon Lagoon ..............................0.10........................................................Steady Penstock Lagoon .............................Null ................................................ Unavailable Lake Echo ........................................8.59 .......................................................Steady Dee Lagoon .....................................0.27 .......................................................Steady Bradys/Binneys/Tungatinah .............1.92 .......................................................Steady Bronte Lagoon .................................0.97 .......................................................Steady Pine Tier Lagoon ..............................2.56 .......................................................Steady Little Pine Lagoon ............................0.71 .......................................................Steady Laughing Jack Lagoon ....................4.65 .......................................................Steady Lake St Clair ....................................1.78 .......................................................Steady Lake King William ............................7.38 .......................................................Steady Lake Liapootah ................................0.32 ........................................................Rising Wayatinah Lagoon ...........................0.70........................................................Steady Lake Catagunya ...............................0.63 ........................................................Rising

Lake Repulse ...................................0.16 .......................................................Steady Cluny Lagoon ...................................0.14 .......................................................Steady Meadowbank Lake ..........................0.07 .......................................................Steady Lake Pedder ....................................1.20........................................................Steady Lake Gordon ....................................34.87 .....................................................Steady Lake Burbury ...................................3.91 .......................................................Steady Lake Plimsoll ...................................1.95 ....................................................... Falling Lake Murchison ...............................12.55 .....................................................Steady Lake Mackintosh .............................3.54 ........................................................Rising Lake Rosebery .................................0.35 .......................................................Steady Lake Pieman ....................................0.91 ....................................................... Falling Lake Mackenzie ...............................5.46 .......................................................Steady Lake Rowallan .................................19.62 .....................................................Steady Lake Parangana ...............................0.45 .......................................................Steady Lake Cethana ...................................2.19 .......................................................Steady Lake Barrington ...............................0.38 .......................................................Steady Lake Gairdner ..................................2.49 .......................................................Steady Lake Paloona ...................................2.44 .......................................................Steady Woods Lake .....................................1.78 .......................................................Steady Whitespur Pond ...............................6.87 ....................................................... Falling Lake Newton ...................................4.79 .......................................................Steady Lake Margaret .................................4.41 .......................................................Steady

These levels are provided for an indication of lake level only and can vary from day to day. For more up-to-date lake level information please visit www.hydro.com.au/home/Tourism+and+Recreation/Lake+Levels.htm

APRIL 2015

Hot Spot

Catch a trout at Casey Fields Mitch Chapman

Casey Fields is located less than 5 minutes from the heart of Cranbourne and is a popular fishing spot for not only the locals, but people all around Melbourne. Trout in suburbia tends to do that. It’s a great pretty spot to take the family to wet a line and with plenty of activities and facilities close by, you

can see why it’s a drawcard for anglers of all abilities. PRIME TIME Without doubt the best time to fish Casey Fields is just prior to the school holiday period. The lake gets stocked normally about a week before school finishes with a good population of healthy plump rainbow trout. They average about 25-35cms in length and provide plenty of fun for all ages to enjoy, especially the kids. Dawn and dusk are ideal

times to target trout. Low light and cooler temperatures really gets them going. THE GEAR The lighter the outfit the more fun and success you will have. A 1-3kg spin rod is best suited for both bait and lure casting anglers. Matched with a small spin reel with some light 4-6lb line will be more than enough to get you out there casting the lake. For bait anglers, a small size 8 ‘mosquito’ hook fished under a float close to the reeds is a

Casey Fields is stocked regularly with rainbow trout about 25-35cm long, which is a great size to catch using a range of methods.

go to rig. If the weather is hot, the trout tend to seek deeper and cooler water, so fish a light running sinker rig with pink Powerbait on the bottom. Powerbait floats, so it will sit slightly above the bottom making an easy meal for any patrolling trout nearby. BAIT, LURES AND FLIES As mentioned above, Powerbait is a gun bait, but maggots can also turn the trout on. For lure fishers, a size 1 Celta or a small hardbodied lure is pretty deadly. Both these lures have weight so you can cast them out far and cover more water more effectively. Recently, I took the fly rod down there one night after work and got them on a range of flies with small Muddler Minnows and Matukas doing the damage. BEST METHOD Lure fishing is an effective method to catch good numbers of trout. Walk the outskirts of the lake and fish the pockets where there is a break in the reeds. Fan your casts and work the lure all the way to the bank. A lot of fish will follow the lure all the way to the bank and hit it just as you’re about to pull it out of the water. SABFOPT001

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Casey Fields is a great place to practise fly fishing and catch a couple of fish. MOTHER NATURE Casey Fields is a put and take fishery. There is nothing wrong in taking a few fish home for the table for the family to eat. Just remember to not overdo it and only take what you need so there are fish left there for the next excursion.

HOT TIP Using berley pellets will be the difference between 1 fish and 5 fish. Trout released into this waterway are from a farm and are used to getting fed on a daily basis. So the sound of pellets hitting the water when you throw them in will get the trout fired up and looking for where the pellets are coming from.

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APRIL 2015

The lure of Wendouree trout BALLARAT

Tom Maher

Lake Wendouree has quickly become a thriving fishery that has lured anglers from all across the state to fish for huge redfin and trophy trout.

part was seeing constant reports from the lake popping up on websites, such as Facebook, claiming big reddies, solid rainbows and huge browns all being caught regularly by the same people, the ones who truly had the place figured out.

the rowing course, I hooked up to my first (and personal best to this day) brown trout from the Wendouree, a beautiful 53cm fish taken on a Pontoon 21 CrackJack SR48 in bleeding tiger prawn. During the months following that session, I

hardbodied lures, and a slow/medium steady wind close to the surface to be the best with heavier lures like Tassie Devils. Also, don’t be too hasty while removing your lure from the water. Trout will often follow a lure right in to the bank and pausing the lure a few metres from the bank can sometimes entice a strike. A quick note on gear – you don’t need to use super heavy gear to successfully land fish in Wendouree. In fact, I caught my biggest trout there on a 1-3kg Shimano Starlo Classix Rod with a 2500 Shimano Sienna with 8lb braid – a very affordable budget combo that handled a big trout no problems at all. Nowadays I use a 1-3kg rod, 2000 or 2500 sized reel and 6lb braid with 8lb leader. Secondly, location is important when you’re fishing with lures. The vast majority of the lake’s shoreline is extremely difficult to fish with lures due to the shallow weed beds that you will

A typical selection of Wendouree lures. knowing where to cast and where the fish are likely to be holding. Last of all, time of day is everything. This is one of

for me, especially during spring and autumn. During the recent heat of the summer months I have found that the fishing

Small, stocked rainbow trout are a common catch when fishing with lures. However, being a shallow lake with the shore lined with weed beds, this popular destination can be a real challenge for everyday lure anglers like myself. I struggled to even see a fish when I first began targeting Wendouree trout. I spent countless hours casting various lures at every known location for zero results, not even a follow. The most frustrating

It wasn’t until a freezing cold August morning last year when I finally had my first taste of success at Wendouree. I spent two hours casting a small shallow diver in bone-chilling Ballarat weather for absolutely nothing, and I had pretty much given up hope and was about to head back home. However, with a half-hearted cast parallel to the rock wall at the start of

The author’s first, and personal best, Wendouree Trout. 46

APRIL 2015

rarely went fishless at the lake. Over that period of time, I constructed a set of basic rules to follow for land-based lure fishing at Wendouree. Firstly, lure selection. I have had the most success fishing with popular minnow imitations such as Pontoon 21 CrackJacks, Nories Laydown Minnows, or if you’re looking for cheaper options, 7g Tassie Devils. Remember to choose the shallow diving model for each of these lures to avoid snagging the shallow weeds in the lake. Regarding colours, I have found natural colours to be far more effective on brown trout while brighter colours will catch more rainbows. When you have the right lures, cast away. The more casts you put in and the more you move around, the more likely you are to find a fish. Try to place your casts along the sides of or in between visible weed beds for best results, as that is where the fish are likely to be holding. I have also found casting at areas where you can see fish rising to be very effective. Retrieves are an important factor when tempting Wendouree trout. I’ve found a medium retrieve with lots of twitches to be the most effective when fishing with

A solid Wendouree brown taken on a 7g Tassie Devil in brown trout early in the morning. constantly get caught up in. I recommend fishing either the start/end of the rowing course, viewpoint, or off the concrete bank between Pipers by the Lake and the Adventure playground on the western shoreline. Polarized sunglasses will significantly help you to spot the weed beds in the lake, and therefore give you the advantage of

the crucial mistakes I was making when I first started fishing here – I was always fishing either late morning or early afternoon. The trout will come in close to the shore to feed at dawn and dusk – so that’s when you should be fishing. The first two hours and last two hours of light on a cool, overcast day have always been the most productive

action has slowed down significantly - but some quality fish were still being landed so it’s definitely still worth trying. Overall, if you persist with these tactics, especially when the weather begins to cool down, you should be able to start pulling in some decent fish from Wendouree.

Your fishing licence fees at work Southwest angler access

Swan Bay solar light

Recreational fishing licence fees have funded better angler access to rock fishing spots at Boggaley Creek, near Lorne.

A new solar light has been installed above the boat ramp at Swan Bay, Queenscliff.

New steps now descend from the Great Ocean Road and are a big improvement on the steep and rocky track.

The AGDAC used fishing licence fees to deliver the project, which helps anglers safely launch and retrieve their vessels before dawn and after dusk.

The Association of Geelong and District Angling Clubs (AGDAC) delivered the project given the popularity of rock fishing along the southwest coast for species such as snapper, garfish, mullet and whiting.

More fish habitat The Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority has improved native fish habitat in the lower Broken Creek. Year one of the two year project is complete and 190 snags have been placed into the river between Numurkah and Nathalia. Increasing fish habitat with snags will benefit native fish populations, including Murray cod and golden perch.

www.vic.gov.au/fishinggrants APRIL 2015

Wimmera cools down but the action heats up HORSHAM

Trevor Holmes

Autumn is now well upon us, and it’s at this point that the serious trout hunters start to get excited at the prospect of the bigger trout feeding, and for longer periods of time. As the weed starts to die in our waterways and nutrients become scarce the bigger fish tend to work a little bit harder to maintain body mass. As the days become shorter, and the amount of daylight lessens

many anglers travelling long distances to chase Toolondo’s super sized trout. Rainbows have become virtually non existent as they seem to be less tolerant of high temps, while browns were wiling, but somewhat lethargic during this period, with windows of opportunity to catch them being first and last light when the conditions were less oppressive. Plastics imitating the local minnows and gudgeon have worked best, as have the ever reliable Celta range of lures. Trolling is now possible

Strike Pro Flatz Minnows. The odd bigger brown trout is a chance by the same method but is a better chance on a deep diving hard body. LAKE FYANS With Fyans currently sitting at around 75% it’s the early anglers who have done well here fishing first light to target bigger trout. Tassie Devils have once again been the best lure here with gold colours, holographic, and gold winged models producing well. Personally I prefer to run a couple of deeper diving lures in conjunction with the Tassie Devils as on many occasions I have hooked nice trout in the slipstream of the motor no more than 15m behind the boat. Seems these big fellas will trail a boat in hope of picking off a stunned

Regular Toolondo visitor Ben Young was once again rewarded for hard work on Toolondo with an early morning PB redfin taken on a Westin Swim in perch pattern.

Nathan Bromley visiting Toolondo from Geelong snared this nice brown late afternoon on a Fish Arrow J Huddle plastic. and the temperatures drop the cooling water temperature will see bigger fish move onto the shallower banks and edges to hunt smelt and minnows. This also usually sees the bigger redfin in the Wimmera come out to play and as the bigger fish school up we will see some great action in the shallower lakes. The deeper lakes in contrasts will generally see redfish become less active as they sulk during the autumn and winter months. Natives will become harder to tempt and anglers who normally chase them turn their thoughts to trout or redfin. Whilst we have seen the rescue of Lake Toolondo by the government we are now reliant on a wet winter with at least average rainfalls and run offs to top up the local lakes and rivers. Above average rainfall would be a godsend but at this point, long term predictions however aren’t instilling a lot of positive hope. Let’s all hope the fish gods smile upon us and deliver much needed rainfall to top up the lakes, and provide a bit more security for our future water supply. LAKE TOOLONDO Critical high water temperatures for trout were reached here in late summer and catch rates were well down on the norm. Surface temperatures of 25 and 26°C made life miserable for not only the poor old trout but for the anglers too with 48

APRIL 2015

on days where the wind is strong enough to push the floating weed to one side. Redfin have been a very pleasant by-catch with a few larger models now starting to emerge. Average size is around the 900gm, but the odd fish to 1.6kg have been caught of late. ROCKLANDS Still the favourite lake for many locals who target redfin, Rocklands is fast becoming a destination for native anglers with reports of Murray cod, and the occasional bass, starting to get around. Reports are filtered in of cod landed and released by those who specifically target them and I’m hoping in time we see this waterway develop into a great native fishery. The bass have been elusive but a few gun anglers have done very well on the rocky ledges near the wall bouncing plastics and vibes across the bottom. Carp continue to be a pest at Rocklands, their saving grace is that they provide plenty of sport for anglers, especially kids. Redfin have disappointed this year but I’m still hoping for a late run and schools to start showing up in the shallows before winter really kicks in. Trout will become more of a prospect as the weather cools, and the rainbows that were released last year have grown to around a kilo, and are freely hitting trolled lures such as Tassie Devils and

Another Toolondo buck brown landed by Marcus Berlyn on a 4” Fish Arrow J Huddle. or disorientated baitfish. This method will also produce big redfin at this time of year as the larger girls become very active hunting for an easy feed to pile on the condition pre winter. LAKE WARTOOK Delightful one day and a major disappointment the next is how best to describe this magnificent lake. Anglers often report some fantastic days of trout and redfin eating hitting whatever is put in front of them, only to return the very next day and not even see a fish. This is often the case in the warmer months because Wartook is so high above sea level, and heavily influenced by barometer levels during the warmer months. I like to fish a barometer of 1015 and above in during warmer months, and in autumn/winter my preference is for a dropping or rising level. A steady barometer here with consistent readings traditionally sends the fish quiet. Flat line trolling will come into its own in the coming weeks and we will see the resurgence of the big browns and the rainbows that Wartook is well known for. As with all Wimmera lakes the big reddies should become active prior to their winter sulk.

WIMMERA RIVER The river is at its healthiest for many years and this is being reflected in catch rates and the quality of fish. Whilst the pesky carp remain, numbers of native fish are thriving, and thanks to the work of Victorian Fisheries it’s only a matter of time before we see this waterway become a healthy and productive native fishery. With the river being accessible in many areas around Horsham, families, junior anglers and visitors alike are flocking here to enjoy recreational time with a high likelihood of landing a good table fish.

Golden perch stockings have been very generous and if managed correctly we will have a consistent and productive fishery that will attract many. Scrub worms and yabbies have been best baits here fished on the bottom and around structure, trees and snags. Goldens around a kilo are good fun on light gear and some anglers are also catching some nice redfin using the same technique. Hardbodies will tempt many goldens, but my preferred lure is a spinnerbait. There’s something about the flash and vibration of these that they can’t resist. Eel tail catfish and carp are also proving a common catch for anglers. TAYLORS LAKE With the water level at Taylors beginning to stabilise we should start to see the water clarity improve and the fish settle into normal patterns. Fishing tree lines and snags should produce the best numbers of fish, with golden and silver perch, as well as some smaller cod, suckers for yabbies and worms fished on the bottom and near structure. Bank angling is easy here and driving your vehicle to the water edge makes for a comfortable day sitting and relaxing between bites. Prime bite times are early and late in the day, but catching the occasional fish throughout the day isn’t unexpected. The

odd big redfin has been taken here of late, and only the other day I saw a fish caught near the dam wall on a scrub worm that would have been close to 2kg. SAFETY Over the summer period we did see a couple of visits to lakes and rivers by the guys from Maritime Safety Victoria checking for safety gear compliance, and making sure anglers were doing the right thing when it comes to PFDs. Remember these guys are only doing their job, namely making sure we are safe while on the water. Often I see anglers breaking the rules and not doing the right thing and it scares when I think about what can happen if things go wrong. Anglers wearing waders on lakes and waterways is one of my biggest concerns, and while wearing them will keep you warm and dry while launching and retrieve a boat, they shouldn’t be worn while travelling on the water. If you end up in the water there’s no guarantee your PFD is going to save you. In the water your waders will quickly fill up, while the air pockets in your boots will make your feet float pushing you under. So don’t wear you waders while travelling on the water, and don’t become statistic while out on the water. Happy angling and safe boating!

A 26cm bass the writer caught at Rocklands on a StumpJumper while targeting redfin.

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APRIL 2015

Socks up in the sun ROBINVALE

Rod Mackenzie codmac@bigpond.net.au

With the full crux of the summer/autumn sun sizzling down on the noggin of any would be fishos, it’s fair to say the cod bite has slowed

up at the same time as slowing the fishing down. With the change, many big cod have become a little more reluctant to strike a lure, and in all truth it’s probably a good thing. Amongst the larger cod that have been tempted by lures, several have ended up floating down the river

Besides the visual floaters, several anglers have risked the gauntlet, refusing to waste their catch and opting to take it home. I fully understand this, but the rules are black and white and inspectors have a no tolerance policy when it comes to Murray cod offences. It may not seem right to waste the catch, but it is the law. These summertime cod deaths were a problem I raised at the initial slot limit meeting before the new rules were implemented. Like all things Murray cod fishing, you’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. On a brighter note, good numbers of perch have been biting along the Murray, from Swan Hill through to Robinvale, Wemen and beyond. Most have been landed on bait,

Smaller cod have been on the chew in the shallower sections of river, with few if any casualties. with the humble river shrimp doing the damage. At this time of the year there is minimal cost for bait fishos, as the river is teaming with them. A $5 shrimp net will provide more

Gareth Lynch with just one of many solid golden perch that have been biting at most locations in the warm weather. to a trickle. Early January was unseasonably cool and the cod seemed to enjoy the break, chowing down on both bait and lure. These mild conditions produced as good a bite as I have seen for that time of the season. Since then though, the full ferocity of the sun has kicked the water temperature

belly-up in the summer heat. Remember, under the new slot limit system, all cod above 75cm must be returned, even if they are stressed and refuse to swim. Big cod going socks up is a genuine summertime problem that has few answers, other than to stop fishing deep water during the heat.

Glen Casey with a nice surface-caught cod taken on a 120 Koolabung Codwalker.

than enough fresh bait, with a couple of dozen translucent shrimp generally kicking about in the net with each pull. Several of these on the hook is a great bait for perch and cod when cast next to the timber. A single large shrimp pinned on the hook and lowered down and bobbed around the snags also works very well when rigged paternoster style. The sinker creates small puffs of silt as it bounces off the river bed, so any fish that come to investigate this movement runs smack into the shrimp that is hanging a foot or so above. The cod bite has been better in the shallow, faster flowing sections of river. Several good fish have been landed in the

Wemen area on both bait and lures, with no casualties reported, other than those that fit the slot limit that were kept for a feed. The lack of depth and more oxygen in the shallow, current-rich sections of river provide larger fish a greater chance during the heat. This is something anglers might want to consider when targeting big cod at this time of the year. As we head into March and the weather starts to cool, we can expect to see the cod come back on the chew. All up, the season is going well, with a great start, a little lull in the heat, and no doubt a good bite to come. It looks like there’s plenty of cod fishing action to go.

Mega action in mild Mildura temperatures MILDURA

John Menhennett goobyfish@hotmail.com

Mildura anglers have been able to enjoy a fairly mild summer with the odd weekend temperatures rising above the 40°C mark. Grape harvest is coming to an end, which should bring some normality back to the river level. However, it won’t be until after Easter that Murray cod fishing will

really fire up. Air and water temperatures have been mild lately, which has been ideal for native fishing. Extreme heat will turn the cod off the bite at times and in turn lowers their survival rates when pulled out of the water. These are the conditions where anglers need to employ safe fish handling when catching and releasing. Barometric pressures have been high for the most part of the past month, which has been

great. However, fishing has been fairly average lately on lures, particularly for Murray cod in parts of the Murray River. The Darling River has been producing some very nice Murray cod with most being caught on cast spinnerbaits and large hardbodies. A few reports of cod caught on bait upstream of Mildura have also been made lately. There have been a few reports of Murray cod to 80cm caught on trolled lures upstream. Quite a few frustrated anglers

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APRIL 2015

have even reported cod hitting lures of late but not ‘sticking’. This could be an indication that cod aren’t fully in the mood for feeding and are hitting lures in an aggressive predatory manner. A few nice yellowbelly have been caught both on the cast and large trolled lures in most parts around Mildura lately, the biggest going well into the 50cm range, caught on a large lure. Bait fishos are reporting good-sized and lots of shrimp in the river at present, which yellowbelly find very difficult to resist as an easy meal. Catches of catfish and silver perch being caught on worms around the Red Cliffs area have also been reported. There are still plenty of European carp being caught on bait and even a couple reported caught on lures. Even though carp are an unwanted species, they can still provide some fishing fun when the natives are hiding, particularly with the kids on light spin gear in the shallows. April usually provides the angler some relief from the intense sun and air temperatures usually experienced during

Mitchell Evans and Gavin Centofanti with a nice Murray River yellowbelly caught recently on shrimp and worms. Fish like this are quite typical for this time of year. summer. It is also the near start of a time when Murray cod start to move around into the shallows. Casting hardbodies and spinnerbaits into the timber will be the technique for success during April. Trolling will also still be successful for a while to come. With good numbers of shrimp in the system at present, bait fishing should also be quite

productive. Easter is a great time for fishing with the kids and catching some very nice Murray cod. Easter is also a great time of year to sit around a red gum fire after a good days’ fishing and enjoy being out in nature in one of the worlds’ greatest environments; the Murray river.

It’s prime Murray cod time YARRAWONGA

Tony Bennett codclassic@bigpond.com

Autumn — undoubtedly the best time of year to be in search of a mighty Murray cod or 2 around Yarrawonga/Mulwala’s cod rich waters. With Lake Mulwala being the home of the Murray cod, a bit of skill mixed in with a touch of patience and an ounce of luck should see anglers in with a great chance of tangling with 1 or 2. All fishing methods will produce cod at this time of year, with the average size being 40-70cm. For those who prefer bait fishing, you can’t go past a cod’s favourite snack, a tasty bardi grub. Following close behind are big juicy scrubworms, with yabbies being another great option. Chicken fillets, cheese, boiled eggs, and the list goes on for other secret baits that are always worth putting on a cod’s menu. Lure fishos have a plethora of options when it comes to weapons of choice. Whether casting, trolling or fishing the

surface, there are lures to suit every application. Trends are slowly starting to become cyclic, with a return to casting hardbodies being fashionable again. Going the other way, we’re seeing more anglers slow trolling spinnerbaits, where they have traditionally been seen as a casting lure. Undoubtedly the hottest fishing method and most fun at the current time if night-time surface fishing. Any calm evening can see as many cars and trailers lined up at ramps as in peak day periods. Poppers, paddlers and buzz baits all account for cod. If you are new to fishing the surface though, it may pay to have a few things in order before you head out. 1: A good torch or spotlight to help out any time it gets dark. 2: The ability to cast in the dark without things going pear-shaped. 3: Good knowledge of the area you intend fishing in case you have to get out of there in a hurry. 4: A selection of lures that may mix things up a bit if you aren’t getting action on a certain lure. 6: Nerves of steel! If you have never experienced the hit from a

surface-feeding cod, you are in for one hell of a surprise 7: Don’t strike and go slow, slow, slow. Fishing below the weir can be very rewarding if you are looking for fun. Where the lake will produce quality cod, the river below the weir produces cod in large quantities, but generally of a much smaller size. Bait fishing here will see the kids in with a great chance of tangling with fish on a regular basis. It’s a great way to keep them keen, as action should be near non-stop. Again, bardi grubs are the best bait, but cheese and smaller Euro worms will see you amongst the action. The recent Lowrance Da$h 4 Ca$h Super Series again proved a hit, with 83 teams competing. The decrease in minimum legal size limit helped add to the number of cod returned to scale for the weekend. Some 59 ‘legals’ were landed over the 3 4 hour fishing sessions, adding to the excitement and closeness within the event itself. Looking back, there has been a multitude of

cod captured and reported over the last month. To list everybody who has supplied us with reports would fill half this publication! The major highlight, once again, has been the surface action. Most who make the effort are encountering numerous strikes, with the average hookup rate being about 5 hits to 1 hookup. A couple of other special mentions, firstly to Sparra and Jordan Urquhart. These boys have been concentrating their efforts trolling spinnerbaits in the northern part of the lake with great success. Cod measuring 80 and 79cm, along with numerous others in excess of 55cm, suggest they have things worked out pretty well. Personally, I had a very enjoyable outing on the river with Mark and Isaac Pitches. A couple of hours saw 12 Murray cod, trout cod and silver perch added to the afternoon’s tally. I’m reliably informed that Isaac is now working hard on the old man for a new boat, fishing gear and the list goes on! • If you are visiting town,

Mark and Isaac Pitches with a double hook up of fun — a small Murray cod and a silver perch caught fishing below the weir. I urge you to call into Lake Mulwala Fish, Camp & Ski, the shop with the big green cod out the front (opposite the post office). We are your largest Murray cod-specific

shop in Yarrawonga/ Mulwala and specialise in all things ‘green’! For any information on the upcoming events or fishing reports, give us a hoy on (0357) 443 133.

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Nuts nights on natives SHEPPARTON

Nick Brown teamriverrats@hotmail.com

The full moon in early March was much anticipated for many local fishos. It was almost perfect fishing conditions both weather and water wise around the full moon. RIVERS The full moon saw plenty of local anglers heading out to the river for full night sessions and those who put the hours in were not leaving disappointed. Dozens of reports of 10-15 fish being caught in a night session both on topwater lures and deeper running lures such as hardbodies and spinnerbaits. The Broken River from Benalla to Shepparton produced good fish and many caught 2-3 legals a night and to

my pleasure all reports I received were from anglers practising catch and release, which is great. The waters upstream of Caseys Weir produced the most numbers of fish in March with the biggest reported to me being 85cm. The Goulburn River ran a bit faster than the Broken in early March and this made bait fishing harder but anglers just up sized there sinkers and still got good fish. Yellowbelly on scrub worms or trolling the new Old Mate Lures were the most successful methods reported to me and to local tackle shops. The Goulburn is a relatively easy river to troll if you launch at the main ramp and head upstream, you can find nice straights of 10-12ft, which turn into 18-22ft bends. In the past, trolling right down the

middle with green, black or purple lures has been dynamite. The catch rate of yellowbelly has been a bit of a surprise as they normally bite well prior to Christmas and drop off around the summer and autumn months. The average size yellowbelly is now hitting the 40-45cm mark in our rivers, which is a great sign. There is a lot more anglers releasing fish so that could be a reason why we are now seeing a lot more larger fish being caught. There was one report of a 54cm yellowbelly caught on shrimp in late February, which is a cracking fish. In April the number of fish being caught may start to slow down but I think this will depend one how much rain and how warm the weather stays.

Simon Tate and Jessie Vella got a double hook-up with a Catch Custom spinnerbait and a surface lure.

Mark Lawton with a nice cod caught during the night.

DAM LEVELS Lake/Dam % Full

Dam % Full

LAKE/DAM Jan Feb Mar Cairn Curran 50 48 45 Dartmouth 82 80 78 Eildon 75 69 64 Eppalock 55 52 47 Fyans 74 70 73 Greens 61 58 57 Hepburn 80 63 54 Hume 54 44 36 Lauriston 78 80 76 Malmsbury 35 34 31 Mulwala (Yarrawonga) 99 91 92

Newlyn 74 64 52 Nillahcootie 86 78 70 Rocklands 24 20 17 Taylors 20 26 19 Tullaroop 45 43 41 Upper Coliban 81 74 74 Waranga 24 20 21 Wartook 78 71 60 William Hovell 93 86 73

APRIL 2015

All levels correct at time of going to press. Damlevels can change at any time, so please check with local authorities to ensure safe boating and fishing.

The summer didn’t produce as much heat as I expected and it may cool off quicker than usual. Hopefully the weather’s good and we can all get some late season fish before the winter kicks in, we also hope the weather’s good for the upcoming Toolamba Fishing Club Fishing Classic to be held on Friday 3-4 April. If you’re not heading away over the Easter weekend I suggest you get out to Toolamba, the fishing club out there put on a great event aimed at family fun. There are heaps of prizes up for grabs, plus a live band and plenty of yummy meals to have while enjoying a fish on the Goulburn River. For more info get onto the fishing club via there website and let’s all keep supporting our local fishing events. Go to www.toolambafishingclub. websyte.com.au KIALLA LAKES The lakes are still very frustrating and exciting at the same time, one day you may not even look like getting a fish and the next you will get non-stop hits and land one or two nice fish. This has been the pattern the lakes have taken for the last couple of years. The water clarity is still very dirty and hopefully the Council will do something about the lakes as they are fast becoming a swamp like waterway. The only positive was a rare catch for some with two catfish being reported caught on live shrimp in lake number 2. CRAIGMUIR I have not received many reports in the past

month for Craigmuir, but the fishing is really good from what I hear and everyone who fishes it is keeping it a secret or its just having a quiet patch. If you fish the lakes and you are not a lure fisher, try to get your bait as close to the willow trees as possible. Fishing from a kayak will be the best bet but sometimes it’s hard to baitfish from a yak. I have seen people bob or jig yabbies or shrimp under the willows and having success. This method could work with the Mask Vibe Jackals or any type of vibe as well. SHEPPARTON LAKE All the talk about the Shepparton Lake has not been about fishing but a massive art gallery, I am not sure if it’s worth the cost but hopefully whatever they do does not affect the fishing. The trout will now start biting a lot more if the weather cools off. The trout are fun and easy to catch, just be patient and wait for them to rise either early morning or late afternoon. Once you see the small boil, cast your small hardbodies or vibes in that area. The trout will take lures up to about 60mm if they’re in the zone, but I tend to try matching the hatch and using smaller lures. Anything with a bit of gold or silver works great in the Shepp Lake. If you’re not after trout, then there will still be redfin and yellowbelly on the target list. Trolling the rowing lanes has been producing good numbers

of fish but be careful, as the rowers don’t like to turn and they move pretty quick, so if you’re in a kayak you may have to keep clear. If you’re in a boat you will be bigger than them so they normally move to the side. The Council are holding their fishing nights in the park in coming weeks so keep an eye out for this and get down there. It is a free event and is normally held on a Friday night between 6-8pm. WARANGA BASIN The wind has died down and the fishing has picked up, the redfin are again schooling up and feeding on large schools of baitfish. There has been plenty of reports of Rushworth locals getting out to the Basin during the middle of the day and bagging out with 40-50 redfin in a 3-4 hour session. The key is locating the schools and once you have done that almost anything will work. Bait, lures or even tinfoil wrapped around the leader has worked. One report was from a local resident who ran out of bait but had some aluminium foil from lunch, so he wrapped the leader in 1” or so of foil and jigged and bounced it off the bottom with great success. Trolling metal lures like you would for tailor in the salt is the cheapest and easiest option when the redfin are so aggressive. The only lures I would be using is TN50 Jackalls or a 10-15ft Codger in a red or pink colour.

A once great trout fishery is now in decline VICTORIAN ALPINE

Robbie Alexander

The high Victorian country is possibly the nicest part of the state during April, and the Kiewa and Mitta Mitta regions have it all. From high plains with

news on the trout front. In the far North East corner of the state there still is some great trout fishing to be had if you are prepared to think outside the square a little bit. Gone are the days when you could just pull up on the Mitta Mitta River at Eskdale, or the Kiewa

as Murray cod stocking increases from year to year and trout stocking in flowing waterways has pretty much ceased all together. Great for people who love fishing for native fish, but very, very sad for those of us that love to walk up a mountain river or creek casting a fly rod or

A magnificently coloured brown trout caught in the headwaters of a tributary of the Kiewa River on a white 40mm Metalhead soft plastic recently. Could there be a prettier fish?

This rainbow trout fell to a Strike Tiger nymph soft plastic recently in the Mt Beauty area.

is the Kiewa River. The Kiewa River has seen patchy fishing for a few years now. I remember last year in April I had a few fishless trips, and then one day in May, while fishing with my wife we had an absolute cracker of a day. Out of the woodwork, trout just rocked up everywhere. It didn’t seem to matter where in the river I cast my line, I just caught trout. April can be very much like that for all species of fish and trout are no different, as they move upstream and pair up in preparation for the upcoming spawning season. The water will be very cold in all of the trout streams during April, especially the second half of the month. Rainfall will be a huge player in how the fishing pans out during April. Decent autumn rainfall this year is going to be crucial to the trout migration and

were previously described as headwaters are now our trout fisheries, and sections above the headwaters, which are usually just trickles are the new headwaters. Eventually, the tree huggers will get their own way and Victorian trout fishing will be no longer. The far upper reaches of the Snowy Creek are always worth fishing, as well as the Lightning Creek. The mountainous section of the West Kiewa River is always worth a look and is one of the remaining half decent trout fisheries in the area. The East Branch of the Kiewa River is very heavily regulated and not recommended as a fishery in case the electricity companies decide to generate electricity, which involves releasing copious amounts of water, which could make wading treacherous. Rocky Valley Creek, which runs into the East Kiewa River just upstream of Lake Guy at Bogong

spawning. Last month the streams were all very low, so hopefully we get some rain. So, April is worth fishing for trout, but you must be prepared to look around to

A very spotty young brown trout from the Kiewa River system. Note the faint black circles on the side of the fish. They are called ‘par’ markings and are an indication that this is a young fish. stunted snow gums to lush cattle country and dairy farms, everywhere you look is superb. I would love to tell you that the fishing is also superb each year in April, but I just can’t. It used to be, once upon a time when the Victorian high country rivers were regularly stocked with small ‘top up’ stockings of trout, and trout were abundant. These days, in the rivers and creeks the trout are left to fend for themselves and sadly they are not faring too well against things such as global warming, increased fishing pressure and lower water tables. All that doom and gloom aside and there is some good

village is a decent river worth fishing, but can be quite awkward to wade. The Kiewa River downstream of Mt Beauty is nowhere near the trout fishery that it was even just a few years ago. Trout numbers have declined significantly, possibly due to the fact that

River at Dederang and walk upstream catching numerous amounts of wild brown trout. Sadly those days are gone

Will O’Connor with a nice brown trout caught in a tributary of the Kiewa River earlier in the season. Trout are a very fast growing species of fish, and if this fish is still in the system by the start of next season it will most likely be over 40cm long.

spinning for trout. These days, the successful trout fishers knows to head high into the hills. Areas that

find the trout as they are not as widespread as they use to be and you must also be prepared to expect the unexpected as you could catch heaps of trout or you could catch none. There’s not a lot to report on the native fish front for April. Allans Flat Waterhole is stocked regularly with golden perch (yellowbelly). The lower reaches of both the Mitta Mitta River and the Kiewa River are also stocked regularly, but with Murray cod. All of these places offer great fishing at times. During April both the golden perch and the Murray cod can be very hit and miss in all of those areas. With both species try and make sure you fish after lengthy periods of warm weather, or at times of a high barometer, making sure you focus on fishing during the

Murray cod are a common catch in the Kiewa River, particularly in the lower reaches. This one fell to a Bassman spinnerbait. April can be very hit and miss for cod fishing anywhere in North East Victoria. there are so many fishless trout streams in the region these days that many anglers are driven to fish the few rivers that still have a few trout in them, one of which

low light periods of the day. As stated, in this sub-alpine area the native fish tend to slow down with the cold water and can become very hit and miss. APRIL 2015

Cod fishing in Ovens cooking WANGARATTA

Robbie Alexander

April is a magnificent time of year anywhere in North East Victoria. We usually get quite stable weather during April

Early in the month when the water is still that little bit warmer is probably the best time to fish for cod, as the colder water towards the end of the month can really slow their metabolism right down and lead to really quiet fishing. This is all

ideal are two different things, and April is a very ‘hit and miss’ month. Downstream of Wangaratta it should be a similar story. The Ovens River should be low and reasonably clear. The fishing in this area will also

reaches of the Ovens River again. I really miss those glory days, and I really miss having any type of bread and butter fishing in the Ovens River. TROUT April can be a wonderful time of the year to target trout in the Ovens River catchment. The water temperature is always ideal. Water levels can fluctuate a lot though as these streams are all very dependent upon the weather. The hardest part of fishing for trout anywhere in North East Victoria at the moment is actually finding the trout. With so many fishless trout streams these days it is hard to find a creek or river that

A lovely coloured Murray cod caught in the Ovens River after dark on a Koolabung Codwalker surface lure. trout each year? The Ovens River may fish OK as it has been stocked. It is the only trout stream to be stocked with trout in the entire Ovens River basin.

to like the deeper water. My theory is that with the cooling evenings, the water surface temperature gets quite cold and the water down deep may be a bit warmer.

Brenton Richardson with a perfect specimen of a protected trout cod caught in the Ovens River system recently. The fish was released unharmed. with cool nights and mild days. Frost can become a common morning event during April higher up in the valleys. The fishing can be all or nothing, with red-hot bites or shut down fish. It is hard to predict exactly when the fish will bite, but one thing for certain is that during April, they will be on the bite at some stage! MURRAY COD Murray cod are the hardest fish in the Ovens River catchment to predict at any time of the year, especially during April. Long periods of stable weather can lead up to some really good cod fishing, whereas unstable weather with cold fronts crossing the region usually turn the cod completely off.

hypothetical and subject to change, but is a basic rule of thumb. It’s funny how I find April to be a really hard month to catch Murray cod around Wangaratta, yet at the same time some of my best fishing sessions have occurred at this time of the year. Of the two main rivers in the basin, the Ovens and the King, I prefer to fish the Ovens during April for no other reason than because I have had more success in the Ovens in the autumn months than I have the King. The Ovens River upstream of Wangaratta should be flowing really clear and will be ideal for lure fishing. That is provided we do not get too much rain before then. Looking ideal and fishing

be hit and miss throughout the month. I find bait fishing in the lower reaches of the Ovens River to be more productive than lure fishing during the autumn months. A bunch of worms will usually catch you something, whether it be a small cod, big cod, carp or even a yellowbelly if you are really lucky. Freshwater shrimp can also be a very good bait. In the past, I have found shrimp harder to come by during April, yet at these times they seem to be a better bait. I remember years ago when the Ovens River was stocked with yellowbelly, they always bit well during April and shrimp were the best bait. I would love to see fisheries start stocking yellowbelly into the lower

Pulled up for lunch at Lake Buffalo. Lake Buffalo is a beautiful place to fish during April. It is open to motorised boats of any size, although the top half of the lake (where this photo was taken) has a 5knot speed limit, making it ideal for kayak fishing. still has a few trout in it to target. Surely some of our fishing license revenue could go towards topping up the likes of the Buffalo, Buckland and King rivers with a couple of thousand

Left: There are a lot of small redfin in Lake Buffalo, but if you keep moving around and looking for schools of fish, there are bigger ones in there too... somewhere! This one was trolled on a Wildbait minnow. Right: Another small Lake Buffalo redfin. This one fell to a Metalhead soft plastic in axle colour. Note the large jighead, rigged for maximun casting distance from the bank. April can be a great time of the year to fish in Lake Buffalo. 54

APRIL 2015

There are trout in some other creeks and rivers, but they are like Indian trout, Apache here and Apache there. Only dedicated trout fishers catch trout in North East Victoria these days as they are the ones willing to climb down steep banks, get scratched to death by blackberry bushes and wrestle hungry tiger snakes to do what they love the most, fish for trout in a mountain stream. REDFIN Lakes Buffalo and William Hovell are the two standout redfin fisheries in the Ovens River catchment if you are looking for somewhere to head and go chasing redfin during April. April is the best time of the year to chase them in my opinion. In Lake William Hovell, I like to fish quite deep. I find anywhere between 20-30ft to be good during April as the redfin seem

I also attribute the deep water to the insanely clear water in Lake William Hovell. Over in Lake Buffalo, where the water is still very clear, but not that clear as Lake William Hovell, I like to fish in around 15-20ft of water. I have always found this to be a good depth in that particular lake. Both lakes will fish well for redfin during April. Small fish will make up most of the anglers’ catches, however if you are persistent enough you may find the bigger ones. Bigger redfin do exist in both lakes, but it can sometimes take a bit of work to find them. Try bobbing soft plastics under the boat or kayak, or casting them from the bank if you are land-based. If bait fishing, it is very hard to go past very small yabbies, they are dynamite redfin bait.

Murray might save the day EILDON

Andy McCarthy

What a disappointing summer it’s been at Eildon. The fishing has been the toughest in at least a dozen years and the usually reliable redfin virtually disappeared, taking our favourite table fish off the menu. The disappearing acted was an all redfin affair with yellowbelly performing a similar trick around Christmas, and hopes are high that they’ll start to make a reappearance in April. The saving grace is that there have been reasonable numbers of Murray cod getting caught, and I’ve heard of five fish over a metre being caught this year. Plenty of smaller cod

have appeared with a lot of 40-50cm fish being reported. My theory is that two things have contributed to the poor fishing of late. Firstly ,the increase in the amount of water being released into the Goulburn River has resulted in falling water levels on the lake. This constant decline has seen the water drop 5-8cm every day since they started releasing water into the river, and it’s a change that the fish don’t seem to like. The second contributory factor is the amount of boat traffic on the lake, with this year one of the busiest ever. An increase in boats, PWCs and other waterway craft and users is making Eildon busier than it’s ever been. Finding a quiet weekend is proving very difficult these days, and I’m

sure the increase in traffic is having an effect on the fishing. One thing that has improved of late is the number of larger brown trout lurking near the surface early in the morning sipping little moths and flies off the surface. If you’re heading to Eildon make sure you pack a fly rod because they seem to only have eyes for flies when hunting on the surface. I really expect the fishing to get better into April and May as the water maintains a decent level and the water starts to cool. Let’s hope it does anyway. The Goulburn River is at its best thanks to all the water that’s been released into it, and it’s currently in pristine condition with clear water, healthy weed beds, and plenty of quality browns

and rainbows eager to eat soft plastics and hardbodies. Gold coloured lures are the go at the moment, with the Gale brothers catching at least 10 fish per session on their last few trips, with the fish ranging in weight from 800g to 4lb. The fish are in pristine condition with their beautiful orange flesh making for excellence smoking and even better eating. The Pond has been fishing exceptionally well of late, with a recent release of fingerlings expected to grow fast and big over the next few years. These juvenile trout are primed to grown into 8-10lb mega trout, and will eagerly eat gold Wobblers, pink Tassie Devils, and mudeyes fished underneath a bubble float.

A nice early morning brown trout.

Skiers are now gone, so it’s back to the fishing BONNIE DOON

Andy McCarthy

Now that summer has left us, the majority of the non hardcore skiers and water sports enthusiasts will steadily decrease, allowing the fish to settle and hopefully come back on the chew. It’s fair to say that the northern end of the lake took the honours this summer, fishing a whole lot better than the southern end with most reports of reddies being from up this end. While the reddies are still not great numbers, if you are after a feed then the Doon end is your best bet. There’s still the odd report of yellowbelly being

The author with a feisty little cod taken in Bonnie Doon. caught in and around structure on spinnerbaits, but the trollers have also picked up a few

dragging Predatek lures in about 6m of water. On the cod side of things,

it has been very difficult to know when the fish are going come on the chew and

FISHING FILL-ITS

when they do, the window of opportunity is only very short. About 1-2 hours is about the maximum time they’ll spend on the chew so if you are not spending a lot of time on the water it all comes down to being lucky and being in the right place at the right time. The numbers have been fair, not outstanding, but good reports of fish from 60-70cm are common with the occasional big fish up to 90cm. There has also been some nice trout around, all browns, following soft plastics right up to the surface and eating the lure at your feet and they’re all very nicely conditioned and aggressive. Black and gold T-Tails are a standout along with the garry glitter Squidgies and Jackall Mask vibes. Recently, NSW Fisheries legalised bow fishing for carp and requests have been made for Victoria to follow suit. I

would love to get right into this, it would be great fun wise, and would also put a dint in the population of these disgusting pests, so I will get onto the guys from fisheries and keep you all posted as I try and help make it happen. Something I must mention, there are lots of stories from disgruntled anglers fed up with people trying to or actually trolling on the inside of them while they are casting a bank. It’s not rocket science, this is where common sense and common courtesy need to be applied, if someone is casting a bank you are trolling along give him a wide berth of at least 50-70m each side or ask if they mind (most would) because it may turn ugly. We are all out for a good time so think of others first and there won’t be any drama.

Fish tracking to keep bream healthy Scientists from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning’s (DELWP) Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) are working with local recreational fishers on a new project to preserve bream populations in West Gippsland rivers. DELWP Principal Research Scientist Jarod Lyon said: “The bream are being caught, tagged, released and tracked to discover how they will respond to environmental water releases in lower Latrobe River.” “Local anglers have been working with researchers to capture large bream for tagging,” Mr Lyon said. “The bream are

surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters, or tags. Each tag transmits a unique signal, so we can identify individual fish as they swim past receivers strategically located in Gippsland rivers.” “These transmissions provide important information on the fish’s preferred location and depth which enables scientists to determine if the water is suitable to sustain healthy fish populations.” “The anglers involved have individually named the bream they caught and released, which allows the individual fish to be identified and tracked for movement over time as they pass a receiver.” Local angler and President of the Sale Fly Fishing Club, Peter Murray said he’s excited to be part of the project.

“As a person who has loved fishing Gippsland rivers for many years, it’s great to be able to contribute to a project that will boost and sustain bream populations for generations to come.” Jarod Lyon said: “Environmental water releases have been planned by the West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (CMA) into the Latrobe, Thomson and Macalister rivers in the coming months. The delivery of the environmental flows is contingent on conditions at the time. Bream in the Gippsland lake system regularly move into rivers like the Latrobe to spawn and we believe that their eggs and larvae drift to seagrass habitats where young fish are protected from

predators,” Mr Lyon said. “The tracking project will allow us to measure the effects the environmental water releases have on the bream’s breeding cycles which will help to determine strategies to bolster bream stocks.” This research is funded by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder (VEWH) and the West Gippsland CMA. The VEWH prioritises environmental water releases into the Latrobe, Thomson and Macalister rivers as part of its Seasonal Watering Plan 2014-15, which aims to improve river and wetland health across the State. For further information or to get involved, please contact Jarod Lyon by calling the DELWP Customer Service centre on 136 186. – Fisheries

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More bass to be had in Gippy CTL GIPPSLAND

Will Thompson allwaysangling@bigpond.com

With mild fishing conditions, the bass reports have kept coming on strong, especially from anglers using hardbodied lures. This season has been a little different to last season for the same time of year, which has given us Gippy anglers who are new to the bass scene a little more knowledge. Last year by now, we were smashing plenty of bass on surface lures with the many hot nights we had. However, this year, the weather has been mild and the surface action hasn’t been as crazy. Anglers have still been catching plenty but mostly by using hardbodied diving lures. The faster flowing areas

Lachlan O’Mara holding up a nice Gippy bass.

are fishing well and it’s worth throwing a 35-60mm skinny shallow diving lure but in the deeper sections, 50mm hardbodies lures that dive to 1m+ have been sensational. The average size of bass has been a little better as well, and we are seeing a lot more bass of around 25-30cm. The lower Macalister has been a standout location to fish for land-based anglers and anglers are catching plenty of bass during the evenings on hardbodies and vibes. The surface lures are working on certain days but it’s best to see the fish rising before putting on surface lure. In Glenmaggie itself, there have been good numbers of bass to 25cm caught in the upper sections of the lake via boat or land-based, however last month the lake was dropping and access to this region is getting tougher.

Dylan Shaw caught this nice bass and plenty more while fishing with soft plastics at Lake Glenmaggie.

Perfect time to target trout YARRA VALLEY

Ian Loft ringwood@compleatangler.com.au

The upper and middle section of the river continue to develop into a fishery that will see it out to close season. In recent years its either been blown out with water or to warm. As it stands, it’s fishing very well for the little river that it is! The upper sections from Woori Yallock to Reefton are still producing trout to all methods with spinning and

fly fishing taking out the top honours. Small bladed spinner like Rooster Tails and Celtas fished in or near fast moving water will get results. At this time of the year the trout will take up position in or near these areas of high water flow because of the extra oxygen they produce, the food they congregate and the cover they provide. These areas at this time of the year are prime. Bait fishing in the deeper holes can produce trout although it might take longer to get a result. Fly fishing in this area is

an all-day affair at the moment. Fishing nymphs and indicators upstream during the day light hours will keep you busy while the late afternoon could produce a great beetle fall. Also look for termites and caddis as these two are also good local foods for the trout that will see them rising into the dark on most warm afternoons! The middle section of the Yarra has slowed up just a little over the last month with carp and eels really becoming quite a pest for the bait fishos. If you’re into catching carp and eels, by all means get down

to Wonga Park or Warrandyte in the early morning or late afternoon for some kid-friendly fun. These two fish will eat almost anything but the preferred baits are worms for the carp and yabbies for the eels, they love eating yabbies and as by-catch you might snag a Murray cod. It won’t be long before trout close season is upon us and the river starts to run high and dirty again. So while you can, make the most of the good water conditions and get into the Yarra River wherever and whenever you can!

This nice Yarra brown trout fell to a Berkley 3B Puppy Dog lure in pointer colour.

Freshwater season on the change MELBOURNE METRO

Ian Debar iand@gottabite.com.au

As autumn really starts to set in, local freshwater anglers will start to notice a bit of a change in fish behaviour. Cooler air temperatures influence the water temperature and the fish act accordingly. Fish like Murray

cod and yellowbelly are still readily available for anglers who specifically target them, but from around Easter on the cooler weather generally slows them down a little. Locally stocked urban lakes however have been producing a few rainbows for keen young anglers using suspended powerbait rigs, with Casey Fields and Karkarook being the pick. Remember to use berley when

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APRIL 2015

targeting these trout also as it will help to keep the fish around for longer, and could turn a zero fish day into a really good one! The odd redfin and trout has also been caught by lure fishers walking around the edges of the lake casting small soft plastics like ZMan Grubz and hardbodies such as the Strike Pro Pygmy, especially in any colour pattern with a touch of gold to it. Devilsbend Reservoir down on the Peninsula has been producing the odd trout amongst schools of smaller redfin for anglers recently. Local angler Adrian has been persisting with the reservoir and has been landing plenty of medium sized redfin on a variety of lures, including small soft plastics and shallow running hardbodies. Adrian has met other anglers fishing here who are not having the same luck, as they have been casting their

offerings straight into the thick weed that follows the shoreline. Most of the fish that Adrian has been catching have been caught in small ‘pockets’ of clearer water amongst the weed, and having the correct outfit to pinpoint your casts to this area will make the difference between a bite and none. The trout and redfin have been using these pockets as a good ambush point, ready to dart out and snap up a small galaxia or aquatic insect, or hopefully your lure. The reservoir has a very large amount of food for the trout and redfin, and lots of lure choices will imitate the various food items present. One of the tips for spending your time unhooking fish and not so much weed – try not to use a fast sinking lure. Your lure is more likely to foul up on weed if it plummets straight down into it, rather than slowly fluttering down around it. Just

A typical sized redfin from Devilbend Reservoir caught on a small naturally coloured soft plastic. Photo courtesy of Adrian Jurcut .

keep a keen eye on your line at all times, as some of the time the fish will hit your lure as it sinks haplessly down around the weedbeds. • If you have had some success in these areas lately send me a photo and go into the draw for your chance to win a HD Sports Camera valued at $129.99 . Email it to: admin@fishingcamping. com.au and include, angler’s

name, species, and the area you were fishing. For up to date fishing information, contact the guys at Compleat Angler in Dandenong on 9794 9397 or drop in and see us at 241 – 243 Princes Hwy, Dandenong, we are open 7 days a week. For all other latest fishing reports and to download information sheets, go to www fishingcamping.com.au

Bend it like Bendigo BENDIGO

Roger Miles codhuntertours@bigpond.com

The fishing in the Bendigo region remains good despite the large amount of fishing pressure that most locations have experienced over recent months. Fishing during the autumn months has a number of advantages. Temperatures have dropped and day fishing on the water is a more enjoyable experience than sweltering in 35º+ temperatures. During autumn we often experience more favourable weather patterns. The high pressure systems are often larger and slower moving. This has the positive effect of more days with reduced wind conditions. Another benefit is more favourable barometric conditions where the fish will feed more aggressively. The fishing in Lake Eppalock has continued to be good. The productivity should remain high for the next month but then we will see a decline in catch rates as water temperatures cool.

Golden perch continue to be the target species for many anglers. The average size being caught has measured between 40-48cm. These fish are in good condition and are providing great sport for those anglers chasing them. Casting the rocky shoreline and timber areas has been productive. Anglers need to be prepared to move around a lot in order to locate a concentration of golden perch as these fish seem to be moving on a regular basis. Casting lipless crankbaits has been the most productive method. Trolling small and medium size hardbody lures has also been working well. The results of redfin fishing have been average. The numbers of redfin being caught by anglers continues to be significantly lower than the previous few seasons. The majority of larger redfin continue to be caught in deep water. Fishing in depth ranges greater than 10m has been the most productive. Trolling deep diving hardbody lures has been working on the redfin. If a good school is located then casting soft plastics or jigging

ice jigs has been working well. The fishing in the Campaspe River continues to be spasmodic. Some days it has fished well and then other days anglers are struggling to get any interest from resident fish. Fishing productivity continues to be higher when the volumes of water being released from Lake Eppalock is reduced. During these periods the water clarity improves and the fish are feeding more aggressively. Golden perch are making up the majority of captures with small numbers of Murray cod also being landed by anglers. The productivity should remain high during April. Anglers should make the most of the current conditions because typically we will see a decline in catch rates from May onwards as water temperatures start to cool. The fishing in Cairn Curran has been average. Golden perch are still being caught but the numbers of these fish being caught has been low. Casting the rocky shoreline and timber areas with lipless crankbaits continues to be a good technique. Bait fishing around the standing

This great Murray cod was caught using a Bassman Spinnerbait. timber with small yabbies has also been working. The redfin fishing has been slow, with the occasional good school being located by anglers. The majority of redfin are being caught in deep water. Bait fishing has been working and jigging with ice jigs and soft plastics has been a good technique. Although the redfin as a general rule have been disappointing, I predict this location should produce some quality redfin over the coldest months of the year. Also we should see an increase in the numbers of trout that will be caught by anglers at this location over the next few months. The fishing in the Loddon River has slowed

down over the previous month. This is mainly due to the amount of fishing pressure this location has received. Golden perch continue to make up the majority of captures by those anglers fishing the deeper section of river at Bridgewater and Serpentine. If you are fishing in these areas the secret to success is to fish the structure that is not obvious, such as those submerged timber structures and areas, which are not readily targeted by anglers. The highest catch rates of Murray cod continue to be in the shallower sections of the river. These areas where access is limited and anglers need to walk long distances

are often the most productive. During April some of the largest Murray cod are often caught at this time of the year. Also the occasional very large golden perch measuring above 60cm will also be caught by some skilful anglers. So make the most of the conditions while they last as in the near future we will see a decline in catch rates. As always I remind anglers to do the right things and always gain permission if accessing the river through private property. Respect other people’s property always close gates and don’t scare any animal stock on the property and, most importantly, take any rubbish home with you.

Don’t miss out on holiday stream trout fun WST/STH GIPPSLAND

Steve Haughton steve@habitatcreations.com.au

April presents a perfect opportunity to take the kids out stream trout fishing over the school holidays in the West Gippsland region. Both brown and rainbow trout are actively feeding to build up body condition before they start heading upstream to spawn in winter so now is a great time to wet a line. There are some picturesque clean rivers flowing only 1 and 1/2 hours from the heart of Melbourne so if you live in the outer eastern suburbs you’re already half way there. The streams around the Drouin, Neerim South and Noojee districts hold a lot of stream trout averaging 250g, and while only small fish they are great fun for kids and anglers who enjoy light line trout angling. Remember these streams are not stocked and rely on natural spawning so only keep what you need and release what you don’t. The bigger the fish the more eggs they lay come spawning season so keep this in mind when deciding what fish to take home for the plate. There are some terrific recreational facilities along some of our key rivers in the district making them ideal locations for a day

Some great trout caught by Daniel Black downstream of the Tarago River. out with the family. All you need are the basics, a light 6-7ft, 2-4kg rated rod, 1000–2500 sized spin reel spooled with 6-8lb line, some simple tackle, including split shot sinkers and size 4-6 bait holder hooks, and some garden worms as bait, and you’re set to go. CLOSER TO MELBOURNE Picnic Point is on the Old Princes Hwy in Drouin West and is situated alongside the Tarago River. Some great fishing is to be had and there are some big fish swimming around, so you never know your luck. There is a deep hole that’s perfect for bottom or float fishing. While upstream of the hole there is a number of good runs ideal for casting a lure, drifting bait or practising your fly casting. Picnic Point has a large rotunda and free

BBQ facility, toilets and a playground, which is good backup if the fish aren’t biting on the day. Fisher Road Reserve is also on the Tarago River, and located upstream from Picnic Point. Fisher Road Reserve is opposite the Robin Hood Hotel in Drouin West, and features a recently upgraded fish ladder that connects two deep holes that are suitable for bottom or float fishing. Downstream of the fish ladder is a section of river that can be fished either from the bank or by wading. Popular with beginner anglers, this stretch of river once again suits the lure, bait or fly angler and holds a lot of good fish, especially this time of the year. There are no toilets or BBQs here but there are picnic tables and a small rotunda.

BEING RESERVED Rokeby Reserve is a small hidden reserve positioned on a great stretch of the Tarago River. The entrance is just out of Rokeby on Brandy Creek Road. If you park the car up the top it’s only a short walk down to the river to some picnic tables and a nice grassed area. Drifting baits, casting lures or nymphing with a short fly rod are the preferred options. There is the potential for some decent sized trout in this section. Latrobe River Reserve is in Noojee and extends for quite some distance along the Latrobe River offering great fishing access. The main picnic ground is off Loch Valley Road just up from the shops in town. There is a large rotunda with free BBQs, toilets and a playground. Upstream from

here there are picnic tables off McCarthy Spur Road, and offers great access to pull the car up alongside the river. The fishing here is at its best in mid-late autumn with plenty of trout moving about feeding. Baits, lures and fly are all successful techniques and this stretch of river suits both bank anglers and those who want to slip on a pair of waders. Anglers keen to flick lures over the coming months will find the most productive lures to be bladed spinners, floating minnow-styled

hardbodies, or soft plastic curl tail grubs. The ideal lure size is 5cm or less in these streams, with no particular colour a standout. The aggressive trout in these streams will smash anything that resembles the movement of a small fish or aquatic invertebrate. So if you match the hatch and put the lure in front of their face nine times out of ten they’ll eat it. • Feel free to send me a report or photo and happy to answer any questions too. Happy fishing!

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E:codhuntertours@bigpond.com

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Multiple choices close to home BALLARAT

Shane Stevens

Ballarat and district anglers are certainly blessed with the number of waters we have to fish with about 30 minutes from our CBD. If one water is not fishing well one of the others usually fires up, it’s just a matter of which water on which day the fish decide to bite and you have to be there to get the rewards.

rewards. Tom Kulczynski and Darryl Luttrell are two such anglers that have been scooping the pool recently catching plenty of brown trout on Couta Mud eyes fished under bubble floats ranging size from 900g1.5kg. The boys have been fishing all different areas of the reservoir, mainly on the steeper banks with the wind behind their backs and casting the bubble floats out over the ribbon weed close to the shore and letting them drift around.

Tom Kulczynski with a solid brown trout from Newlyn Reservior. NEWLYN RESERVOIR Newlyn Reservoir this month certainly turned on some excellent fishing with some magnificent brown trout and redfin being caught. Newlyn is one of those waters that sees plenty of angler numbers throughout the fishing season and you hear lots of reports, some good and some not so good. Anglers that have fished the water over a number of years seem to do very well and reap the

They have been catching lots of little pesky school redfin and the odd bigger specimen. Tom mentioned once you’re out past them the trout seem to be on the chew. Darryl’s best session was 4 fish caught and released and Tom’s was 3. Morning and evening are the best times but if you get an overcast day the trout have been on the chew all day. Tom, who keeps records of all his trips over the years, mentioned

that the fishing will only get better over the next few months as the water level continues to fall due to irrigation records show. LAKE WENDOUREE Lake Wendouree continues to shine whether it is during the day, in the evening, after dark or early morning. Anglers just keep catching plenty of trout and redfin. Lake Wendouree must be one of the most versatile waters in the district with anglers being able to fish from boats and the shore. Most angling methods work which I believe is the real winner for the anglers. You don’t have to be an expert to fish Wendouree and catch a fish. Wayne Atkinson and Dave are a couple of very keen fly fishers that fish Lake Wendouree after dark during the summer months out of float tube and catch plenty of fish. You can drive around at night sometimes and see red hazard lights flashing on the lake and it’s the boys out there fly fishing. The lights are so and boats can see them so they don’t run over them. The guys over the last couple months have been doing very well catching plenty of brown trout on a Black Rabbit Fur Fly pattern. A very slow ‘figure-8’ retrieve has proved to be a winner and the fish are averaging the 3-4lb mark. Warm balmy evenings are best. Wayne mentioned that any night when the moon is out and full hasn’t been

productive but the nights when there is no moon, it’s game on! The best nights effort has produced 3-4 fish per angler. Currently, yhe trout are mooching around feeding on big mud eyes before they hatch into dragon flies. Matt Greagan has been doing the yards casting and trolling lures on Wendouree and has been cleaning up the redfin. The reddies have certainly come on the chew with plenty around the 20-30cm mark with the odd clunkers at 40cm and over as well. Matt has been concentrating on trolling the main rowing channel until he finds a few fish and then he anchors up and starts casting either Norries hardbodied lures or the 4” Norries shad tail soft plastics. Matt mentioned that the overcast days and evenings are best, which seems to be the norm around the Ballarat District due to the shallowness of our waters. Nathan Ward, my nephew, has been catching some lovely brown and rainbow trout on mud eyes suspended under bubble floats. Nathan and a couple of his mates have been fishing after school from some of the many jetties located around Wendouree and the fish have ranged in size from 500gm-1kg. HEPBURN LAGOON Hepburn Lagoon just down the road from Newlyn Reservoir is still producing some magnificent brown and rainbow trout. The

Wayne Atkinson’s tempted this brown trout at Lake Wendouree on a black rabbit fur fly. water is getting harder to fish due to the water level continuing to drop because of irrigation and the weed is a massive problem. However, there are plenty of pockets of clear water on the southern shoreline to fish and a few on the north as well. Find the clear patches and you will certainly catch some fish. Powerbait has been doing the job catching the rainbow trout and mud eyes under the bubble float have been picking up the brown trout. Anglers casting lures need to find the clear water

spoons and wobblers are two of the best lures to use at this time of the year. Long casts, slow retrieves are the order of the day. The fishing around the district will start to improve as we are now in the autumn months, which is the best time of the year. Cool nights beautiful sunny days and light winds. The water temperatures will start to drop, which the trout in our shallow lakes prefer and really start to feed up and be very aggressive in readiness for their annual winter breeding season.

It’s time to get red-dy for spawning season CRATER LAKES

Rod Shepherd

Summer has been mild to say the least and it looks like autumn is following suit. The crickets are actively chirping, signalling an end to any more hot weather of which we have rarely encountered to date. Rainfall, largely due to low-pressure systems, which spawn thunderstorms, has been above average for summer. Therefore the trout have still been active in the shallows of our deeper lakes, especially in the mornings and the need for a boat armed with downriggers is still only yet another option, not a necessity. There have been multiple reports coming in regarding the captures of brown trout in at 1-2kg in weight out on Lake 58

APRIL 2015

Purrumbete. Boaters have been concentrating their efforts in depths from 6-10m but only several metres from the shore, hugging weed beds. Horans Point has been a popular spot for boaters to wet a line. The gun bait has been live mudeye sourced from local farmers’ dams fished suspended under a float down at 2-3m in depth. First light to just after sunrise has been the popular time to soak a bait. Speaking of Purrumbete, redfin to 450g are beginning to school up in preparation for spawning and can be located just out from the caravan boat ramp in depths approaching 10m. Jigging lures or bait has seen some cricket score catches come in. Some huge reddies do reside in this system but the main body of redfin are school fish and many are undersize. The bigger ones can be found when specifically targeting trout

with lures and plastics around the shoreline weed beds. I have seen (but not caught, yet) some absolute thumpers sitting atop the weed especially around the Homestead Bay area, but fish don’t get this big without being cunning and selective in what they choose to eat. Mount Emu Creek has been conducive for redfin to 700g, brown trout to 900g and by-catch such as tench to 1.6kg and, of course, eels. The headwaters of the deeper pools hold the trout and reddies with live earthworm fished unweighted the gun bait. As far as artificials go, shallow diving minnows such as Damiki Saemis and Pontoon 21 Greedy Guts lures have attracted hits. So too have Celta style spinners fished fairly quickly, keeping the spinner at a shallow depth. Even though it’s early autumn, periodically environmental flows are

One of many feisty redfin from Lake Purrumbete taken on a deep diver. released down this small but important fishery in the warmer months, thus stopping stagnation taking place. Lake Bullen Merri has Chinook salmon in excess

of 3kg still taking pilchard and blue bait but depths in excess of 10m need to be explored when static bottom bouncing. The odd rainbow over 2kg is also a viable take when fishing for ‘chooks’.

As long as the rainfall stays above average, lower than normal temperatures will make chasing trout in the South West a definite proposition until winter kicks in.

Early spawning trout action JINDABYNE

Steve Williamson swtrout@airlan.com.au

What an interesting season it has been so far and totally different to the previous year. With this year’s cooler temperatures and a lot more rainfall the trout have been a lot happier and it will most likely be an early spawning season if this weather continues. Traditionally, this month is when the rivers are usually very low but with so much water this year we have been experiencing some excellent fly and lure fishing, even in the mountain streams. Lake levels remained above 80% over summer but the level is dropping ever so slightly now as Snowy Hydro gets the level down to meet water allocations along the Murray River as well as to get ready for the snow melt next spring. With the water temperature already dropping a little, I think it will be an early start to the trout spawning season and over recent weeks we have already seen some good fish moving up the Thredbo River, which is also an indication it may be an early start to the spawn run but this will mostly depend on the amount of rain we get over the next month or two. The rivers are all in pristine condition after the rain and have also been fishing very well. If you are a lure spinner, you will find a variety of lures will work, but the best will be jointed minnows as the brown trout start to become really aggressive and territorial. Other lures like the Gillies Feathertail spinners or Celtas used in the shallower running water will be best early. A lot depends on rain at this time of year so it’s a little harder to predict what the season will bring. If we get rain you might start to try and work the faster runs with some deeper diving

lures or try a Gillies Bendback lure, which casts well when you need a little distance. On the lake the best lure spinning will be early and late in the day and places where there are steep drop offs with plenty of rocks will be the best areas. Bays like Rushes, Hatchery and Creel bay all fish well. As the sun rises, change to a Tassie and cast further out over drop offs, letting the lure sink before you retrieve with a slow wind. We will be starting to use pink and orange Tassies this month. Other lures to try are blades and while new to the trout fishing scene they are very good with gold or brown colours the best. Another lure that I have been catching a lot of fish on has been the Blue Fox minnow spin. It’s great for casting on the lake. Best areas have been down at the South Arm or

water cools and the fish start to feed around the edges, and this year with so much weed around the edges of the lake we should see some big fish caught. Try any of the streamer patterns such as Craig’s Night Time or a black Woolley Bugger. Olive green nymphs and shrimp patterns are also worth a try. The South Arm, Creel Bay and Hayshed Bay are all great places to try fly fishing. On the rivers there is still a little dry fly fishing on offer yet and it is still a lot of fun if you get a nice day with a few insects about. The Alpine streams are also still looking OK and plenty of small fish are being caught on dry fly also. Try a small Hopper pattern, Royal Wulff, Royal Humpy or a black cricket if you see fish rising and a caddis moth fly is also not a bad option either. As the month goes on and

later this month as the fish also move into spawning and aggression mode, but for now green and gold Tassies like the 111 Willys Special and maybe the Canberra Killer Tassie will be good. Most of the Rapalas I use at this time of year all have a little orange on them as well. The best way to attack the fish is top start off the morning by surface trolling lures and maybe a lead line at 2 colours out so the lure is about 3 metres deep. Later in the morning you can still target some of the browns by fishing close to the bottom in deeper water with the aid of downriggers. I find about 20ft of water is a good place to start. The Tasmanian Devil number Y48, the yellow wing Brown Bomber and the holographic Tasmanian Devil the best overall lures to use on the lakes over the past month,

APRIL ROUNDUP — THE BEST OF THE BEST! Best method:................ Surface trolling early and then using lead core lines at 30m out Best depth:................... Trolling at 35-45ft, deeper in the middle of the day Best lake lure:.............. Tasmanian Devil number Y48 or Y82 and 111 Willys Special Best lake area:............. Hayshed Bay and Waste Point Best fly method:........... Dry fly: Parachute Adams or black cricket, Wet fly: black weighted nymph. Best River:.................... Thredbo River above The Diggings near Banjo Patterson Park but as the month progresses, Waste Point and the Snowy Arm will start to fire. Bait fishing in Lake Jindabyne will further improve over this month and scrub worms and bardi grubs will still be the best baits. Teamed up with artificial baits that can be floated above the worms will help your catch rate considerably. Mudeyes are almost impossible to find now that the weather is cooling. The best bait fishing areas are Creel Bay, Hatchery Bay and Curiosity Rocks in the deeper water near the point. Some of the best lake fly fishing during the coming months will come as the

more early spawning brown trout move into the Thredbo River you might start trying a black nymph and if we get that heavy rain and a rise in the river we might see a start to use glowbugs and nymphs. For boat trollers, you may find the best fishing will still be early and late in the day. Fishing later where there are steep drop offs with plenty of rocks for the fish to hang out is a good ploy. Bays like Rushes, Hatchery and Creel Bay all fish well. Again, best areas have been down at the South Arm or near Banjo Patterson Park and Waste Point and the Snowy Arm later in the month. We will be starting to use pink and orange Tassies

Mary Redfern with a solid Jindabyne rainbow caught on a 111 Willy’s Special Tasmanian Devil. however this is the time of the year that we sometimes start to move into pink or orange colours. It’s also well worth running the Brown Trout, Spotted Dog Rapalas or the Pinkie Rapala as the trout become more aggressive. Of course, as reported if you are targeting the really big brown trout then you are best using really big lures like 9-13 cm Rapalas and I find the jointer Rapalas best as you can troll them a bit slower and still have good action on

the lure. Some of the better trolling areas this month will be Sids Bay through to Rushes Bay. Also try Waste Point or Creel bay for downrigging as there may be a few early spawning brown trout about but they will mostly be deeper at 20ft or so. If you want to know more about the latest in fishing conditions just check out our Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/LJTFA Until next month, hope you catch the big one.

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VR Fish Update

VRFish State Council meeting VR FISH

Dallas D’Silva

The VRFish State Council will take place in Ballarat on 14-15 March. A key theme of the regional meeting is trout fishery management. We will discuss the South West rivers closed season proposal from Scott Gray. Dr Taylor Hunt will provide a presentation on the status of the Trout Response Plan. We will also run a session aimed at informing the review and update of the VRFish Trout Policy. Trout are highly valued recreational species in Victoria and the fishery is facing a number of challenges. It is great to see the attention and support being given to the species by government (not just at Lake Toolondo) but also the plan to boost the Victorian Trout Opening Festival. The Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford will attend the VRFish meeting and we look forward to updating readers on the big issues. NEW FACTS AND FIGURES VRFish is overseeing another Ernst and Young study into the economic contribution of recreational fishing in Victoria. The project is funded by our licence fees and will provide up to date information that will support future advocacy and planning. A key outcome will be a new estimate of the number of recreational fishers in Victoria. The results will be out in the next couple of months and it will be very interesting to see what has happened to participation rates over the last 6 years since the last study was done. Keep in mind the Labor Government has a policy to grow the number of recreational fishers in

The VRFish State Council will take a closer look at trout fishery management. Victoria to 1 million by 2020! This policy is all about getting children and teenagers off the couch, away from their iPads and out into the great outdoors. The need for this is fully supported by VRFish. TOOLONDO WORKING GROUP MEETS IN HORSHAM The first meeting of the working group for Lake Toolondo has met. The group is chaired by former Labor Minister for Agriculture Joe Helper and membership covers fisheries managers, water regulators and recreational fishers. VRFish Board member, Rob Loats is representing our interests on this group. The special advisory committee will provide advice regarding future management options for this iconic recreational fishery. It is great to see the election commitments for fisheries being implemented in a timely manner. UPDATE ON LAKE TOOLONDO I had the pleasure of fishing with Trevor Holmes before the first meeting of the new advisory group that is chaired by Joe Helper, ex-Minister for Agriculture in Bracks and Brumby Governments.

Trevor’s knowledge of the lake and its history is something to behold. I must admit I was amazed at how good this fishery really is. The growth rates for these fish are off the charts. The data presented by Fisheries Victoria at the meeting shows there is no better trophy trout fishery in the State. The reason for this is known as a ‘trophic upsurge’ when the drought broke and the glut of food that became available when the fish were stocked back in 2011. It is also worth noting the environmental benefits from the water going into the lake, namely the abundant bird and insect life that is thriving. Trevor has reported brolgas returning to the lake! At this early stage there are lots of different options being looked at to deliver the Government policy about minimum water levels for the Lake. These will be scoped out over the next 6 weeks. It is great to see the Government getting on with delivering their election commitments and working closely with recreational fishers. Stay tuned for more updates in the next editions of VFM.

FISHING FILL-ITS

Macquarie perch study A study is underway in the King Parrot Creek to track the movement of Macquarie perch and identify breeding sites and potential barriers to fish migration. Joanne Kearns, Scientist with the Arthur Rylah Institute, who are contracted by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) to undertake the study, said 28 Macquarie perch were implanted with internal acoustic transmitters and external numbered tags in April 2014. “A series of acoustic receivers, or data loggers, were placed within King Parrot Creek and the Goulburn River to allow fish movements to be remotely recorded during this period,” Ms Kearns said. “This will allow scientists

from the Arthur Rylah Institute to investigate fish movement throughout the creek and connectivity with the Goulburn River. “The acoustic receivers were collected this week and we are now analysing the data to determine what these 28 fish got up to during the past year.” Christine Glassford, River Health Officer with Goulburn Broken CMA said the results of this study would help the CMA make informed decisions on how to best protect and increase the population of Macquarie perch in the King Parrot Creek. “It is anticipated that this information could assist in identifying breeding sites, locating potential barriers to fish migration within the

creek, and also help us understand how much Macquarie perch move between King Parrot Creek and the Goulburn River.” Ms Glassford said. Fish surveys within King Parrot Creek are also planned for April to continue the long-term monitoring of this important Macquarie perch population. Anglers are encouraged to report captures of externally tagged fish before carefully releasing them. Taking Macquarie perch from the King Parrot Creek or Goulburn River (or any tributaries) is prohibited. Please contact Christine Glassford in the Yea Office of the Goulburn Broken CMA on 57 97 44 00 for more information. – GBCMA APRIL 2015

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The first correct entry at the end of each month will win a Hawk Fishing cap, Hawk Fishing line, Hawk HB Lure, assorted Panther Martin lures and 3 packets of Youvella chemically sharpened hooks. SEND ENTRIES TO:

VIC Hawk Tournament Competition PO box 3172, Loganholme Qld 4129 VIC APRIL 2015

FINS SCALES & TALES by A. Both

SUBSCRIBER PRIZE The subscriber prize winner for February was B Milkic of Bundoora, who won a Z-Man Sportsfishing pack valued over $350 rrp. All subscribers are entered in the monthly subscriber prize draws. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – VTFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO WINNERS

BARRA COUNTRY by Brett Currie

BITE ME by Trisha Mason

The Find the VMC logo prize winners for February were: A Grant of Geelong West, S Davies of Craigieburn, T Hodgkinson of Kyabram, D Robinson of Carisbrook, M Loebert of Boronia, K Healey of Morwell, E Howarth of Cowra, F Oeszko of Braybrook, R Parry of Stawell, R West of Echuca, B Stokes of Morwell, G Parfett of Horsham, J Killian of Briar Hill, E Dix of Hamilton, B Rafferty of Maryborough, R Barns of Euroa, W Chapman of Pomonal, T Dron of Alfredton, B Sharrock of Bairnsdale, B Whyte of Myers Flat, I Lovel of Bealiba, G Bannister of Lorne, T Sweeney of Emerald, M Harvie of Rye, F Wilson of Hoppers Crossing, M Rowley of Bacchus Marsh, J Williams of Neerim South, B Shelton of Romsey, R Carson of Wheelers Hill, H Skeer of Millicent, B Metherell of Narre Warren South, K Voros of Korumburra, P Gigliotti of Coburg North, J Brumby of Nirranda, J Saunderson of Chelsea, C Smith of Traralgon, W Henley of Heathmont, T Tennant of Sandhurst, F Healey of Traralgon, K Morrison of Moama. Prize delivery takes up to 8 weeks. – VTFM

FIND THE VMC LOGO FEBRUARY LOCATIONS The answers to Find the Black Magic C-Point Hook for February were: 8, 18, 22, 31, 34, 42, 46, 71, 73, 77, 81, 96, 105, 108, 114. – VTFM

BUCKET LIST WINNER

GEORGE & NEV by Michael Hardy

Congratulations to Lindsay Price of Victoria, who won Pure Fishing Australia’s Bucket List Fishing Adventure to Princess Charlotte Bay! Lindsay and two mates will spend 5 days aboard the luxury Amokura, a 57’ Assegai with 2 x 20ft custom sportfishing vessels in tow. Complete with experienced guides, an on board chef and the spectacular scenery of the area. – FMG

FIND-A-WORD WINNER Congratulations to Peter Cobb of Berrigan, who was last month’s winner of the Hawk Tournament Find-aWord Competition! Monthly winners receive Hawk Tournament Tested Bayer Perlon IGFA line, assorted Panther Martin lures, Youvella hooks and a keyring. Prize delivery can take 8 weeks. – VTFM 1 62

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Grab a crab and catch a craw on a kayak BRISBANE

Justin Wilmer Find me on Facebook at Yaks On

I had a couple of quick stops to make on my paddle back to the small sandy beach where I had launched earlier in the day. On the paddle to one of my favourite flathead banks I had dropped a couple of crab pots along a mangrove edge near the mouth of a drain. Unfortunately on this particular trip the flathead had been plentiful but small and, with only one keeper for dinner, I was hoping that I might luck a mud crab to flesh out the feast. Slowing my paddle stroke, I allowed the kayak to glide up to the first float and began retrieving the pot. It felt heavy and I could feel movement in the pot, but unfortunately as it broke the surface I could see the large body and small claws of a female crab, which must be released in Queensland.

The second pot also felt heavy and as I lifted it into the yak I counted three crabs! Surely one was a buck (male) and legal size. I lifted the pot so that I could see under the crabs, making note of the abdominal flap on the underside of the crab. The female has a wider abdominal flap and on closer inspection I had two females and one big buck that would be joining us for dinner. You’re already loading the yak and fishing gear for your fishing adventure, so it’s pretty simple to add a couple of crab pots to the equation, or opera house traps if you’re fishing the freshwater. With the Easter weekend upon us, let’s load up and hit

the water to chase a few sand crabs (blue swimmer crabs), mud crabs and freshwater yabbies. A FEW TIPS TO GET YOU STARTED Regardless of the species you are chasing make sure you check the local rules and regulations, including minimum sizes and bag limits, as the authorities stress – ignorance is not an excuse. Commercially made measures are inexpensive and readily available in each state. It’s also important to research the apparatus that you are legally allowed to use, the number you can have in your possession and how they need to be labelled, with some requiring a light coloured float of a

A couple of solid mud crabs from a session at 1770 in northern QLD.

GEARING UP • Pots or traps • Ropes • Floats • Name Tags • Bait Clips or Bags • Baits • Measure • Hessian Bag • Icebox or Bucket with lid • Occy Straps • String if you tie your crabs • Zip Ties – handy accessory

Back in they go to grow bigger. Ronny releases a couple of undersized mud crabs.

Brett brings the traps aboard on the final run and loads his catch into the icebox. 64

APRIL 2015

minimum size, with your details clearly written on the float and also a tag with your details on the trap. These regulations can be located in your local fishing guides or online from your local fisheries website. Before heading out I like to bait all of my traps, to save messing around when at the mercy of the wind or tide. A bait clip or mesh bait bag and bait clip makes baiting up quick and easy, and a handy tip is to make these up at home the night before, or even load your bait clips in advance and freeze them in a plastic container ready for your next adventure. Once baited up I lay a hessian bag on the front of the kayak, or across the rear and sit the traps on this to minimise the chance of them slipping from the kayak while travelling. An occy strap is then handy to secure the traps in place, while also being quick and easy to release once you are ready to deploy your traps or when packing them up after the final check of the day. Before you get too excited and hit the water in search of these tasty morsels, take the time to consider where you will store them. My preferred option is an icebox in the rear well, as it keeps the catch cool and it’s easy to flip the lid open and drop the angry crabs or yabbies in. Other anglers I know prefer a bucket with lid or a wet hessian bag, but you will soon work out what works for you. If you are confident when it comes to handling and tying mud crabs, this is a good option and makes their storage and handling safer and easier.

One of the handiest accessories that I have discovered as a kayak angler is the humble zip tie. Whether it’s securing your traps, replacing a broken latch or acting in place of a bait clip, carrying a few zip ties of varying sizes will get you out of trouble on many occasions. Carrying a spare bait or two is also a good idea, just in case the toadfish and other bait thieves are in action. SAND CRABS (BLUE SWIMMER CRABS) Generally more plentiful and readily available, especially as you head south down the east coast, the sand crab is smaller than a mud crab but often considered sweeter and more desirable by many seafood lovers. They are generally located throughout sandy channels and feeding around the weed beds of our rivers and estuaries. Pots and drop nets are the preferred traps for targeting sand crabs, baited with fish frames or half a mullet. Traps can be checked at regular intervals, especially when using drop nets, as they allow the crabs to enter, eat and move on more easily than enclosed pots. A good idea is to drop the traps at varying depths until you locate where the numbers are concentrated. MUD CRABS As their name suggests, mud crabs are more commonly located muddy creeks and along mangrove-lined mud banks. If you look closely in these areas you will often see mud crab holes, resembling burrows in the mud, and placing your pots near these can be effective. Other key areas to target include the mouths of drains and narrow ends

Left: Gearing up for a crabbing session. Right: Male mud crab is easily identified by a narrow flap on the underside. Check your local regulations. of small creeks where the mangroves extend across the mud flats. Following periods of heavy rain, mud crabs are often flushed from their homes and catch rates can increase dramatically. The incoming tide seems to be the most productive, with the mud crabs leaving their holes to explore and feed. Pots and drop nets are again the preferred traps, with fish frames

and whole mullet cut in half the go-to baits. Mud crabs are a prized catch and are often expensive to purchase from seafood shops. They are also extremely powerful and capable of inflicting a lot of pain and serious injury, so if you are not familiar with handling a mud crab, either crab with someone who is or release any crabs you are not allowed to keep and then take the

others to the nearest bank to extract them from the trap and store them. FRESHWATER YABBIES If the sweetwater is your preferred environment then you don’t have to miss out on a tasty feed of crustaceans, with yabbies and shrimp readily available. Opera house traps are the preferred option and it’s important to note that the

funnels must incorporate metal rings of a set diameter to hold them open so that turtles are able to exit the trap should they find themselves inside. Baits are commonly debated, with some anglers swearing by tins of cat food with holes punched in them, while others prefer slightly boiled potatoes or broccoli, with rockmelon being another popular option.

During the day catch rates can increase in the deeper water, while at nigh the yabbies often move into the shallows to feed. Key areas to target include the edges of drop offs, weed beds and around structure such as timber. Regardless of your target species, the kayak is a fantastic vessel for targeting a feed of crabs or yabbies. It’s an

inexpensive option and you can launch virtually anywhere, access the small creeks and areas that some of these species call home and comfortably carry a few traps on even the smallest kayak. Next time you’re planning a kayak fishing adventure, take a moment to check out what other species are on offer and throw a couple of traps in. See you on the water.

Left: Brett with a feed of redclaw from his home waters of Lake Somerset. Right: Ronny with a nice blue swimmer from the drop net.

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Last minute Easter accommodation Lazy Acre Log Cabins Lazy Acre is spacious and quiet, offering excellent boat parking and is central to all town facilities. This Lakes Entrance haven has nine individual log cottages nestled around age-old gum trees and tropical gardens. Perfect for the family holiday. It’s just a short flat walk to eateries, clubs, retail sector, cruises and the beach. The two town boats ramps are a short drive away and offer good gradient, jetty and fish cleaning facilities. There are also other good ramps located around the lake system; giving you access to the largest inland waterways in Australia – the Gippsland Lakes and rivers plus access to the ocean for offshore fishing. Lazy Acre Cottage have all amenities: fully

equipped kitchens, lounge room with air con, TV and DVD, comfortable easy chairs to relax in, plus your own washing machine and choice of 1-2-3 bedroom. One cottage has wheel chair access (a map can be provided for ‘access’ fishing points). All cottages have linen supplied, a queen bed in the master room plus choices in a 2 and 3 bedroom cottage of another queen bed, singles or bunkbeds in second and third bedrooms. Five cottages have good boat parking right at your door with an easy drive-through exit for small to medium size boat. When booking, please mention if you a bringing a boat. The swimming pool is solar heated. If you don’t want to cook inside, you can cook up storm on the mobile BBQ at your door or in the

communal gazebo. The playground, cubby house and seasaw will keep the kids busy. Free Wifi is also available. After a big day’s fishing you can enjoy the heated spa (cost involved). The welcoming resident owner Helen is a keen fisher. Her passion is fishing and sharing her knowledge of the region with visitors. She is more than happy to offer advice on fishing methods, tackle and bait collection for the experienced fisher or novice. For the non-fishers or on a lay day, there is so much so see and do around Lakes Entrance, let Helen advise you. Surf anglers have several points to fish the 90 Mile Beach – salmon being the common species taken, with gummies on a full moon. The most common species of fish in the lake system is flathead, black bream, silver trevally, King George and school whiting, gurnard and luderick plus crabs, prawns (Dec-May) and mussels obtained very easily. It is best to book direct if you’re bringing a boat or for discounts on for longer stays or group bookings. For more information visit www. lazyacre.com or call Helen on (03) 5155 1323.

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park Set among beautiful gardens on the banks of the Shallow Inlet waterway, Shallow Inlet Caravan Park is the perfect location for family and friends to get away for that welldeserved break. Shallow Inlet Caravan Park is only two hours on the South Gippsland Highway from Melbourne, yet is far enough away to you to be refreshed by the clear air of the sea and relaxed by the quiet country life. The picturesque surrounds of Shallow Inlet

APRIL 2015

give the area great potential for a relaxing holiday as it is a hub for fishing, sea kayaking, windsurfing and bushwalking. Have a game of tennis while the children entertain themselves at the playground. There are many varieties of fish to be caught in the Inlet, including salmon, trevally, large flathead and King George whiting. We offer boat hire, as well as a beach launching service for a small fee. The en suite cabins are light and airy with all the conveniences of home, with a fully-equipped kitchen, dining table and chairs, colour

TV and comfortable beds. Outside you will find a gas barbecue and outdoor furniture. The peaceful atmosphere at Shallow Inlet Caravan Park belies the fact that Foster, Tidal River and the village of Yanakie are just a short drive from the park. Hosts Andrew and Karen Starrett and Park Manager, Bill, are here to ensure you get everything you need. For more information visit www.promaccom. com.au/shallowinletcp/ or email sicp@sicp.com.au, phone (03) 5687 1385.

Warrnambool Holiday Park This family-friendly caravan park is only a short walk to the Hopkins River, to do a spot of fishing, or a meal on the waters edge at Proudfoots restaurant. Continue past the river to the ocean and try your luck at catching sight of a Southern Right whale (June-September). Stroll along the Promenade and enjoy some spectacular ocean views. Base your family at the park and spend many days on a discovery tour of the wonderful town and region from wineries to cheese manufacturers. There are accommodation styles to suit everyone. The budget range of en suite cabins are practical and can sleep up to 6 people. The deluxe cabins are ideally situated overlooking the pool and playground plus the two room and two-bedroom family self-contained apartments can sleep up to 8 persons and have all linen supplied. For those wishing to camp, there are shaded grassed powered sites and, for a little more luxury, we have en suite powered sites, to suit vans up to 30’ overall. All the accommodation options provide aircon/

heating, internal bathrooms, kitchenette facilities and TV and DVD players. The undercover BBQ areas are a great gathering place to share your fishing stories or enjoy a meal together. The kids will be kept busy in the playground, games room, pool and on the jumping pillow. Bring the kids’ bikes and scooters and remember their safety gear too. Park owner, Steve, is the one to ask about all the hot fishing spots. His local knowledge of prime fishing spots coupled with their Fishing in Warrnambool guide will put you on the mark. The summer months see anglers punching the pot to catch mako sharks offshore, surf fishing for snapper at Logans Beach or try your luck at whiting and salmon and squid, off Killarney

Beach. Mulloway, bream and perch are found in the Hopkins River. Warrnambool is famous as a prime fishing spot, and the town and region offer visitors the opportunity to see Southern Right whales, take a stroll through Tower Hill, visit the 12 Apostles from the ground or helicopter flight. Walk through the treetops in the Otways National Park, enjoy a leisurely boat cruise along the Hopkins River and much more. You can fill your evenings with going to the speedway, seeing ‘Shipwrecked!’ the sound and laser light show, playing ten pin bowls, mini golf or seeing a movie in the town’s new 3D cinema. For more information visit www.whpark.com.au or call (03) 5562 5031.

Marlo Ocean View Caravan Park

The Marlo Ocean View Caravan and Camping Park is situated on the foreshore approximately 400m from the entrance to the Snowy River. The park offers open bushland type camping on large flat grassy sites with a mixture of both powered and unpowered sites. The park is about 9.5 acres and offers good clean amenities and camp kitchens and prices are at a very competitive rate. We also have a variety of site accommodation to suit everybody’s budget, starting from a basic van/ hard annexes with and without en suites, budget cabins through to deluxe 3 bedroom cabins with verandas to sit out and

enjoy the ocean views. All have ample room to park a car and a boat. Guests can now enjoy the newly built modern, spacious amenities facility, which includes laundry, disabled shower and toilet with a baby bath and change table. The Marlo area has so much to offer visitors, especially for water-lovers. Fishers can catch plenty of species inshore and offshore, such as bream, luderick, perch, tailor, flathead, leatherjacket, kingfish, tuna and marlin. The lower estuary is ideal for water skiing, jetskis, and excellent for windsurfing and kiting. For those that aren’t into watersports, there are some lovely bushwalking,

bird watching and general sight-seeing, as well as opportunities to go hunting. Our park is familyfriendly and encourage retirees to feel safe and at home. We are also pet-friendly, but some conditions do apply. We can offer special rates for those who want to stay longer and can also accommodate workcrews, fishing, 4WD and bird watching clubs. Speak to us about a combined accommodation/hire boat package. For more information visit www.marlocamping. com.au or email mcpm@ marlocampinng.com.au, phone 03 5154 8268.

Soft plastics for dummies PART ONE NSW STH COAST

Steve Starling www.starlofishing.com

Starlo launches a series of columns covering the absolute basics of fishing with soft plastics by looking at the all-important subject of how to best rig these highly productive lures. By now we all know that soft plastics are deadly lures, capable of catching just about anything that swims in any aquatic environment: salt or fresh, tropical or temperate, deep or shallow. Yet, in my experience, lots of anglers still seem to struggle with the absolute

basics of effectively rigging and using these lures. Believe me, getting this even 10% wrong can reduce your catch rate by up to 90%. Which is where this series comes in. Over the next few months I plan to go back to the core, underlying fundamentals of successful soft plastic fishing, beginning with perhaps the most important aspect of all: rigging them properly on a standard jighead. With the exception of some pre-rigged soft plastics and those with built-in, integrated weights and hooks, these lures are based around a modular system, with different components (the soft lures

or ‘tails’ themselves and the jig eads, weights and hooks or other delivery vehicles). These separate components need to be selected, matched and put together correctly for best results. Don’t be alarmed by this. Soft plastic fishing actually has a lot in common with bait fishing, so it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that rigging softies is a bit like baiting up! When you buy a packet of prawns or pilchards, they don’t come with the hooks and sinkers already fitted… soft plastics are no different. There are literally dozens of ways that soft plastics can be rigged, but we’re going to start this series with a method that

The author with a beautiful diamond trevally taken on a well-rigged, shad-style soft plastic.

Always begin by measuring the chosen tail alongside the jighead, taking careful note of the position of the bend of the hook against the back of the plastic. This spot will be the exit point for the hook.

Push the point of the hook into the dead centre of the soft plastic’s nose and begin carefully feeding the tail onto the hook.

works on most of our fish under the vast majority of conditions: It’s a rigging strategy the Yanks call ‘Texposed’ (a combination of the words “Texas” and “exposed”). What it means is to present a plastic on a lead-headed jig by pushing the hook point of that jig head into the nose of the soft plastic and feeding the rubber tail around the hook bend before bringing the point out on the mid-line of the plastic’s back. The result is the standard soft plastic set up we are most familiar with. As simple as this rig sounds and looks, it’s critically important to get it exactly right. One of the commonest causes of poor

fishing results with plastics is incorrectly rigged tails. Bent, twisted and off-centre plastics simply don’t swim properly. At their worst, they may spin in the water, looking completely unnatural and causing line twist. However, even tails that are rigged only a fraction out of whack and which lay over slightly on their sides when pulled through the water, or don’t quite wriggle right, can often put sharpeyed species such as bream, snapper or trout off biting. Following a couple of simple steps every single time you rig a soft plastic tail on a jighead will help to avoid these hassles, and although performing these steps properly probably

add an average of 20 or 30 seconds to the rigging of each soft plastic, that extra time pays huge dividends in terms of fish caught. The four steps to effective rigging of a soft plastic tail on a standard jighead are shown here. Study them carefully, read the captions with each photo and then go and rig a few softies. Regardless of the size, shape and style of the tails you rig, they should end up lying straight and true, just like the ones shown here… If they do, you’re well on your way to becoming a more successful soft plastics’ fisher! Next month I’ll be looking at rigging plastics weedless and snag-proof.

Continue feeding the plastic onto the hook and around the bend, keeping the shank of the hook as near to the middle or centre of the plastic as possible. Take your time!

Bring the hook point out dead centre along the plastic’s back at the precise location identified in Step 1 and give the tail a pull, twist and wriggle to make sure it lies dead straight.

Blue groper are hardly a common catch on soft plastics, but if you rig properly every time, you’ll soon start to rack up a growing list of species on these lures. APRIL 2015

What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

Pflueger Advanced Rod Technologies (ART) concept is based on using high performance carbon blanks, quality Fuji hardware and the finest in components and actions to deliver a range of rods for the serious Australian lure angler. Using 30-ton high modulus graphite combined with cutting edge blank actions the Pflueger ART concept was used as the foundation to develop the Supreme XT series. With actions to suit tournament lure techniques the Supreme XT series has been fitted with quality Fuji components. Fuji KR Alconite guides combine superior casting control and distance with tangle free performance. Fuji split reel seats are lightweight and functional, allowing full contact with the rod blank and maximum blank exposure for the ultimate in sensitivity and control. Finished with a stylish carbon wrap, camo EVA high density grip system and a carbon wrap stripper guide binding, the Supreme XT series delivers the finest in rod design at a reasonable price. Price: RRP $179 www.purefishing.com.au

The long awaited Suspending Classic is now available in the 120mm long and 10ft diving depth. The addition to the range will provide anglers with a neutral buoyancy lure in a saltwater environment that once cranked to the desired depth will hold longer in the strike zone and entice a more aggressive response from predatory fish. Suspending baits can also be useful when the bite is slow and a more subtle, natural presentation is needed. More weight has been added to the lure, which has also enhanced its sonic output, attracting more action in dirty water and will also provide a longer and more accurate cast. Suspending lures have the ability to hold at whatever depth they are cranked down to and this model has been tuned to hold in a saltwater environment, which is more buoyant than freshwater. The lure will come with a red suspending series sticker to make it easily identified. Price: RRP $15.95 www.jmgillies.com.au

PFLUEGER SUPREME XT RODS

KILWELL PACIFIC LURES

Kilwell, the iconic brand from New Zealand purchased the famous Australian game lure brand Pacific Lures a few years ago and are now re-releasing the Pacific brand with new designs and finishes. There are 3 models being released in Australia and the first, the Pacific Baitfish, features a natural Kauri Shell head. This lure features a Flat Pusher style head and tracts and runs straight so it can be placed anywhere in a lure spread. The second model is the Pacific Bullet. This is classic high-speed weighted bullet head that will work in any sea conditions. It features an inner of white feathers with a middle layer of X-Mas Mylar flash and a quality outer skirt. The third lure the, Pacific Teaser, is a prerigged high-speed tuna lure that features a combination rubber and feather skirt. The Pacific Teaser is rigged with a Maruto AJI #4 Stainless Steel hook, quality leader and is professionally looped and ready to go. Price: various www.jurofishing.com

DAIWA ZILLION TW 2015

Inspired by the reputation of its past, the new Zillion TW sets the direction for the future and embraces Daiwa’s newest and most innovative design technologies: Magseal,TWS and Air Rotation to set a new agenda in baitcaster brilliance. Headlining Zillion TW’s impressive design and performance is Daiwa’s Magseal technology. Delivering unrivalled protection in spin reels since it was first introduced in 2010, Magseal is a revolutionary system that involves magnetized oil that forms a seal that minimises dust, water and salt intrusion. This latest iteration of the Zillion name, takes the honours as Daiwa’s first low profile baitcaster to revel in the protection and performance of Magseal technology. Heralding a new dawn in baitcaster design, the new Zillion TW uses the pedigree of its past with innovation and technology of the future to deliver anglers a new age in performance, and a new age in excellence. www.daiwafishing.com.au

SUSPENDING CLASSIC 120

APRIL 2015

MUSTAD IN-LINE SINGLE

Mustad has released a new single hook design, the In-line Single 10121NPDT. This new single hook’s design is eminently suitable for our local hard hitting and fighting species, whether you are chasing trout on the troll or world record GT on the cast. With sizes ranging from 8 through to 8/0, the In-line Single has a big eye, a thick gauge and a short length to provide the maximum strength. The short shank does not allow the hook to bend or catch on the other hook, so you’ll be guaranteed good mileage out of each hook. These are absolutely perfect for retro-fitting lures for maximum hook-up potential, strength and durability, or even just for replacing hooks of a lower grade and strength. Mustad In-line Single 10121NDPT hooks have been tested in some of the harshest conditions on the planet to bring you quality, strength and durability. Price: RRP $12.95 www.wilsonfishing.com

STUMPJUMPERS NEW COLOURS

Born on the Victorian banks of the mighty Murray River in 1986. The first wooden StumpJumpers fitted the local cod fishing environment perfectly. They dug down deep, had great buoyancy to help them jump over the stumps (hence the name) and were as tough as nails. These days, with their plastic bodies and successful interchangeable bib system, these lures are some of the greatest cod catchers ever made. Now, StumpJumpers are adding 5 great new colours to their range, which includes tree frog, bull frog, copper head, jungle perch and silver shiner. StumpJumper have improve a range that was thought to be unbeatable and these colours are sure to fire not only in the cod scene but also on some of the other luremunching natives this country is famous for. StumpJumper’s new colours are now available at all good tackle outlets, so go out and grab some! Price: various www.jmgillies.com.au

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What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE DAIWA EXIST 2015

The new 2015 Exist improves on previous models with the introduction of innovations and unparalleled designs, combining Magseal, Magseal Bearings, Air Rotor, ATD and Zaion making it Daiwa’s most sensitive, technically advanced reel ever developed. Given the popularity of saltwater fishing, sealing a reel is a major goal. Reduced water penetration means no corrosion, longer life and better performance. If saltwater infiltrates a reel and dries, it crystallizes, and then erodes gears and bearings. In order to increase the durability of the reel, Daiwa made sealing the reel structure an absolute priority. Through years of research and development, Daiwa found the solution – a membrane of magnetic oil, which greatly reduces the penetration of saltwater. By using magnetized oil in conjunction with magnets, the oil attaches itself to the metal surfaces to form a seal. The new 2015 Daiwa Exist feels great, has drag to burn, offers unprecedented longevity and sets the NEW benchmark as the worlds most advanced tournament spinning reel. www.daiwafishing.com.au

8 9

MUSTAD DARTER JIGHEADS

FISH CANDY JELLY CICADA

Darter jigheads are not just another jighead, they are designed to glide on the fall and dart on the retrieve to allow the angler to present their plastics in a very natural and erratic way. Darter Jigheads add action to curl-tail grubs and paddle-tail soft plastics, and they make stick bait style plastics come alive. Worked with a rip and drop action or a slow roll, the Mustad Darter Jighead is as effective in the ocean and estuaries as it is in the freshwater lakes and rivers. With a comprehensive range of sizes with weights from 1.8g (1/16oz) through to 42g (1.5oz) available and using a Mustad heavy duty hook from size 2-7/0 with 34 different jigheads overall, there is sure to be a Mustad Darter Jighead to suit your fishing needs, whether you’re fishing in fresh or saltwater, inshore of offshore. Price: RRP $8.95 www.wilsonfishing.com

12 Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

The new Jelly Cicada by Fish Candy is made of soft and super durable 10X material, making it the only Cicada on the market in this Jelly-like material. This gives it a unique sound when it hits the water and gives the lure a natural feel when attacked by fish. The body is fully wired, making it strong enough to handle big fish. The hooks used are the world renowned Decoy hooks and are ultra sharp with high tensile steel that resist flex on hook up. The lure is pre rigged with the hook at the rear but another hook point is on the belly if that is your preferred position. In total there are 7 colours encompassing, glow, UV, translucent and the classic finishes for maximum silhouette exposure. These lures are sure to prove themselves to a wide variety of native fish including bream, bass, Murray cod, saratoga, barramundi and more. Price: RRP $18.95 www.river2sea.com.au

SAMAKI VIBELICIOUS THUMPER TAIL Samaki takes the Vibelicious to the next level with the new Vibelicious Thumper Tail. Samaki Vibelicious Thumper Tail hits the water with a bang; thumping to life as it drops to the depths its action is aggressive yet slow, enabling it to mimic a baitfish perfectly but in a slower motion, all whilst holding its position in the strike zone for a longer period. The Thumper Tail can be used for traditional vibe techniques but is also a deadly lure for slowly rolling over flats, creek mouths and heavy timber structure, not to mention angling it into drains in those unique situations. Combine its thumper tail action with its unique patent pending hook holding system, which allows you to cast and retrieve without the error of hook tail wrap or snag errors and you’ve got yourself the most innovative vibe on the market. The Vibelicious Thumper tail will change the way you fish with vibes. Price: RRP $19.95 www.bluefishimports.com.au

N.S BLACK HOLE AVENGER RODS N.S Black Hole’s new range of rods, the Avenger series, are made up of stylish rod builds, feather light blanks and a wide range of models from finesse bream to heavy barra, so you’re covered wherever you’re fishing. The latest additions to the range include 2 ultra light bream rods for finesse fishing and an extra heavy barra rod. All feature Fuji K guides for maximum castability without tangles and wind knots, wide X wrapping on the blank to reduce torsion and handles designed with a mix of EVA and cork, for a comfortable feel when casting all day. Made with quality to last a long time, these new rods from N.S Black Hole are sure to make an impact on the Australian tackle industry. The 3 rods include, S-702UL 7’0” 2-piece 3-6lb, S-762UL 7’6” 2-piece 3-6lb and C-661XH 6’6” 1-piece 12-25lb. Price: RRP from $310 www.ejtodd.com.au

BERSERK VIBE 70

The Berserk Vibe 70 is a 70mm 17g vibe with a distinctive rattle like no other. This lure comes standard with VMC Permasteel hooks, which are 1000 hours corrosion resistant. All Berserk Australia lures are built from quality imported ABS technology. We believe this is a major factor setting us apart from the opposition, making our lures less susceptible to distorting under high heat and High UV exposure ensuring this lure keeps it great tight wobble action longer The B Vibe 70 is available in 5 colours including tiger green, shadow and pink pearl incorporated with UV technology this ensures you have a colour for every situation. It has a fantastic tight action and after countless hours of testing in all situations in South East Queensland we have released the B Vibe 70 because it is fantastic on such a wide range of species. Price: RRP $19.95 www.berserkaustralia.com.au

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS! APRIL 2015

What’s New FISHING

S-FACTOR TUBE

It’s finally here! For years now S-Factor has turned a bad fishing trip into a good one by stimulating a bite from those finicky shut down fish. There was always one problem with the S-Factor – you could never get enough of the stuff! So it was only a matter of time before it was available to the public in a larger and more user-friendly portion. You no longer need to buy a packet of soft plastics just to get some anymore! Another great feature is that there will be no leakage from the tubes, meaning nothing will get smelly. Now available in a 35mL tube, this product will be flying out the shops and straight onto some lures before you know it! Word on the street is, for now there is only limited stock – so make sure you grab some now before they’re all gone. Price: Too new www.shimano.com.au

BERSERK LOCO 60

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

ATOMIC HARDZ 75 AND 85MM MID DEPTHS The Shiner range of lures has expanded with the addition of two new diving depths in the 75 and 85mm versions, which are perfectly balanced for the 2.02.5m depth. This makes them ideal for anglers chasing mangrove jack, barra and even threadfin up north close to the banks over shallow timber. One cast and a couple of cranks will have the lure quickly working at depth giving you more time in the strike zone. The 75mm model is capable of quickly getting to 2.0m while the 85mm will dive to 2.5m. Alongside the existing double deep models capable of depths up to 4.5m, these lures now compliment the range providing a versatile matched offering. The beauty of these lures is that they can also be trolled with mackerel being caught on both models. They will handle reasonable speeds and feature a tight wobble which sends out vibrations like a stricken baitfish. Price: RRP $18.00 www.frogleysoffshore.com.au

SPLIT RING PLIERS

The Loco 60 is a 45mm 6g floating crank bait that crash dives to a depth of 1.8-2m and comes standard with high quality BKK trebles. The Loco 60s are built from quality imported ABS technology. This is a major factor setting this lure apart from the opposition, making the Loco 60 lures less susceptible to distorting under high heat and high UV exposure. This ensures this lure keeps its great tight wobble action longer. It is available in 5 colours ranging from one end of the spectrum to the other with the tiger green, shadow and pink pearl incorporated with UV technology and this ensures you have a colour for every situation. With fantastic success catching bream, flathead, whiting, and bass on this lure all throughout testing in South East Queensland, we’re sure you’ll love it. Want Quality Go Berserk is their motto and this lure delivers everything you expect from a quality crank bait and more. Price: RRP $16.95 www.berserkaustralia.com.au

Black Magic has updated their split ring fishing pliers and the new version is available in gold and there are a number of great new features. They still have their tungsten steel cutters, which slice through braid and heavy mono with ease to make knot tying a simple to give you more time fishing. The stainless steel jaws remain unchanged and are still the best tool for opening larger split rings. The handles feature a new rubberised strip, making them far more comfortable to use and less likely to slip in the hand while changing split rings.With alloy handles, they retain their lightweight, which is under 180g, and each set comes with a carrying pouch and stretch lanyard. The new plier are also available in gold, which is a new colour. Black Magic have taken quality split ring pliers and made them even better, ensuring you can change split rings with limited hassle. Price: RRP $98.95 www.blackmagictackle.com

BIGFISH SQUID SHIRT

Squid fishing (or eging) has fast become a mainstream form of fishing across the globe especially since the introduction of high-tech rods, reels and egi jigs dedicated to this type of angling. The Bigfish Squid is the perfect shirt to chase your favourite squid in the shallow bays, reefs and weed beds. An added bonus for the egi fishers is not only will this shirt protect you from the sun and keep you cool at the same time, it’s already ‘inked’ so it won’t matter if you happen to get accidentally blasted with a squirt of squid ink! Every shirt in the Bigfish range is printed, cut and sewn right here in Australia. They are incredibly soft, cool, lightweight, UPF 50 and made from the highest quality Australian knitted polyester. They set the standard by which every other fishing shirt is judged! Price: RRP $89.95 www.bigfishgraphics.com.au

APRIL 2015

ZEST MICRO LEAF JIGS

The new Zest Micro Leaf Jigs are a fantastic little jig that have been designed in Japan for the popular growing sport of micro jigging. The Zest Micro Jigs are made to the highest quality, featuring a wire through the body. They are designed with a weight on the tail so that they sink effectively in the current and are scalloped out on the reverse side to increase the fluttering action on the drop, which makes the action of these lures irresistible to hungry predators. The Zest Micro Jigs are available in both 40 and 60g weights and are available in five awesome, life-like colours. Each lure also features a holographic finish and all come pre-Rigged with quality Twin Assist Hooks. These lures are a must have for the serious jigging angler, so make sure you grab a few to add to your arsenal before tackling the deep water. Price: RRP $19.99 www.jurofishing.com

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What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

TESTED: POSEIDON SERIES OMOTO REELS that would take her to task, but in the many lure sets and capture of tuna she did not miss a beat. We had an angler on board that had smaller hands and they remarked how comfortable the handle was for them. I have average size hands and also found the reel to be comfortable to use. Like any reel in this class the robust nature of design and size has some inherent weight involved, so lady and junior anglers will need a harness to control and fight any fish properly. The Omoto range come fitted with the industry standard harness lugs so this is not an issues. Leo took the Omoto Poseidon S80 II Speed for a couple of deep drops. Broadbill fishing definitely puts tackle through the ringer. Continuously dropping large baits to over 400m and retrieving not only works the angler but also the reel. He found the reel performed well straight out of the box. He also pulled the reel I supplied down and had a look (we can’t help ourselves). He liked what he saw and added a bit of

spooled line on these reels ready for action and while setting drag settings to 1/3 breaking strain we noticed the drag curve to be quite sharp. Drags on these types of reels work via a ramped surface effecting pressure onto the drag washers as the lever is pushed forward. In this instance, the ramp involved is quite steep. Care must be taken when setting reel into and out of free spool so not to have too much drag pressure applied. He used the reel over a number of weekends dropping baits deep onto a few new spots for broadbill. Unfortunately he did not get tight on a sword, but did manage to reel in some interesting bycatch. Ray’s bream are the food of broadbill in Tasmania and he wound up a number of those from 400m plus. The big surprise was his battle with a southern bluefin that he managed to hook on his broadbill bait. This fish was 35kg and down at 400m. The Omoto handled it with ease and did not raise a sweat. The same cannot be said for Leo.

Opening the box to the Omoto Poseidon S80 II Speed was a lot like finding treasure. I have played with quite a few reels over the years and it was nice to be asked to put some new reels through their paces. The reels are from JRoc Tackle’s overhead range from Omoto. I personally had not had anything to do with this brand previously, nor had I heard anything at all so starting with a clean sheet was perfect. When they arrived I was super impressed with the packaging and could not wait to get them in hand and get a first impression. The reels that I had been sent where the Omoto Posiedon S50 II Speed and the big daddy of the range, the Omoto Poseidon S80 II Speed. Lifting the lid on the boxes and the gold glow emanating from within suggested there was some quality anodising involved and this is crucial with any tackle that sees the lions share of its time sitting at the back of a boat in saltwater. The fit up and marrying of machined surfaces was also impressive and that had me looking in the package for what these guys retail for. At $579 and $590 I was nodding appreciatively. In hand these reels felt very

solid and robust and on turning of the handles they worked smoothly and have a very strong and loud clicker. The big 80 even more so, there would be no mistaking a fish taking line off her. Not what you would normally do when having a brand new reel in hand, but I thought I might have a look inside one of these reels. There is ample grease from manufacturer and the bearings looked of good quality and ample size. Time to close the reel up and try and catch some fish and give these Omoto reels a run through their paces. I kept the 50 as we were planning a couple of trips on the tuna, but I had other things in mind for the big Omoto 80. I am lucky to be cobbers with Leo Miller, the lord of the sword down here in Tasmania. I asked if he was keen to give the Omoto a run on one of his broadbill swordfish adventures and he was more than keen to help out. He was also impressed with the finish and quality and was soon spooling her up for her first big outing. We took the Omoto Posiedon S50 II Speed to Bicheno and gave her a work out on small tuna. We didn’t find anything

The Omoto performed faultlessly while winding the SBT from 400m. his special grease, as he knows full well the strain a large broadbill places on gear and closed her back up. He mentioned the anodising was thinner than some reels he has owned but I mentioned the price point of $590 and he was super impressed. When we

In conclusion, the positives of these reels are great value, robust design good ergonomics. The only negative is the sharp drag curve. All round these reels are fantastic and I thoroughly recommend them for heavy offshore work. – Kelly Hunt.

These jellybean albacore were no match for the Omoto we had set for a big yellowfin tuna.

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yak Hobie Ka ries Se BREAteMd by Daiwa Presen

A staggering 86 anglers from up and down the east coast of Australia descended on the sleepy, bream fishery of Bemm River in East Gippsland, Victoria for round one of the 2015 Hobie Kayak Bream Series presented by Daiwa. On the weekend of 7-8 February the small coastal township of Bemm River in the East Gippsland region of Victoria was the venue for round one of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series. Bemm River village is situated on the northwestern shore of the Sydenham Inlet, 441km east of the state capital of Melbourne. The natural coastal inlet, fed by the Bemm and Little rivers, stretches over sand hills to the shoreline of the Tasman Sea. The sleepy village, with a total population of 60 local residents saw 86 kayak anglers arrive on Friday night to put the system to the test over the course of the weekend. Bemm River has proved itself to be a healthy black bream fishery and Hobie Kayak Bream Series tournaments have featured ‘Bemm’ on the tournament calendar, year after year. The opening tournament for the 2015 season at Bemm was a qualifier for the Hobie Kayak Bream Series Australian Championship and 53 Victorian, 30 New South Wales, and 3 ACT anglers took part. An excellent haul of fish were taken over the two days with 200 legal size bream brought to the scales on day one with a total accumulated weight of 138.8kg. On Sunday when some were predicting that catch to fall away 207

Simon Morley comes from 12th to win legal size fish returned to the Daiwa Event Site weighing in at 139.16kg. Bemm River had kept its superb reputation intact. DAY ONE On the opening morning of the two-day tournament competing anglers pedalled off from the Power-Pole starting line in excellent conditions that held up throughout the day. Anglers were chasing bream with a bag limit of three fish, which were to be brought back to the Berkley Bump Tub for a live weigh-in. As the session came to a close, anglers threw their final casts around the Atomic Launch Site before returning their keytags, to indicate that anglers were safely back on shore at the Daiwa Event Site. Fishing throughout the day was excellent with 59 competitors getting their full bag of three legal bream. The fish were on the chew early and hit hard in the stable conditions and continued later in the day when a light of breeze provided cover with ripples peeling across the water under the clear blue sky. Upgrades were common and

Morley’s winning lure, the O.S.P Dunk. widespread in many locations across the Austackle Arena. At the completion of the day one weigh-in, Chris Burbidge from Victoria was the TT Lures Leader of the Day with a 3kg bag, closely followed by the 2.94kg bag

Visit www.abt.org.au for entry forms. For general enquiries phone ABT on (07) 3387 0888. 72

APRIL 2015

of Daniel Brady from Victoria and Josh Smith also from Victoria had a 2.67kg bag which placed him in third with one day to go in the event. Darren Evans was leading the Hog’s Breath Café Boss Hog Big Bream with the biggest fish of the day. DAY TWO In conditions that were similar to day one with clear blue skies and temperatures hovering around 35°C, anglers pedalled off from the PowerPole starting line, in a patchy, light breeze hoping to improve on Saturday’s catch. After two long days on the Austackle Arena anglers worked their way back to the Daiwa Event Site as the wind blew up and peaked at around 25m/h. All anglers returned safely back at the Daiwa Event Site and an impressive number of bags were placed on the scales for the day two Strike Pro Weigh-in. Simon Morley from Bulli in New South Wales snared the major prize for the event his first finish at the top of the Lowrance Leaderboard. Second place went to the current Australian Champion and day one leader Chris

Burbidge from Ferntree Gully in Victoria while Josh Smith from Tyers in Victoria, in his second tournament season, took the final place with his first ever podium finish. After his day one standing in twelfth position, Simon Morley, an Australian representative in the 2014 Hobie Fishing World Championship in the Netherlands, had a simple plan of attack, which was to hit the spot that had previously worked for him. After his initial plans for a repeat of last year at Bemm had to be ‘thrown away’ because of water levels, Morley had to re-think his efforts for the weekend. “I got fish early yesterday morning and when the area I was fishing shut down I pedalled directly across to near the entrance where the tidal water was coming in and I found a bank there with no weed on it. I put the O.S.P Dunk on, that a mate from fishin.com.au Adam Costa gave me, and first cast I got a fish and so I was pretty happy with that. Then I upgraded my fish three times just before I had to come in for the 2pm finish yesterday,” he said. “Today I went straight back there, because I knew there were fish and first cast I got a 40cm to the tip

Simon Morley took out first place in the Round One of the Hobie Kayak Bream Series, closely followed by Chris Burbidge and Joshua Smith. and I had my three fish by about a quarter past seven and upgraded once before 8 o’clock. I went back onto the same flat again and waited for the wind to come up, before that it was really still, I put another cast in and I got an upgrade so I was pretty happy with the day overall.” CHRIS BURBIDGE REELS IN SECOND PLACE Burbidge netted a full bag of bream on both competition days with an accumulated weight of 5.52kg just short of the tournament winner by 0.14kg, and giving him the slightest advantage in weight of 0.03kg over third place finisher Josh Smith from Tyers. Burbidge summed up his two days on the water at Bemm River. “I started yesterday off a point, I was using a Jackall Colt Minnow, I got my bag and then went out to deep water once the bite shut down. There I got some upgrades on a vibe. Today I tried the same thing but it didn’t work, so I came back over to the edge of a flat using a Jackall Squirrel and I got two good fish, eventually, using a vibe in the deeper water I got another 700g fish so that sort of sized my bag out with the three 700s. So yeah, it was a good day,” Burbidge said. “Bemm is a great spot, there are so many options. One option was sort of shut down on us, the river, just because we had big water come down about two weeks back. But there are just so

many options, you’ve got drop-offs, you’ve got flats, you’ve got an odd snag here and there. Although the

water is very low at this time of year, it’s a great fishery, a fantastic fishery”. – Hobie Cat Australasia

WINNING WAYS

Winning Ways

Morley summed up what gave him the winning edge in the tournament. “I found the fish yesterday arvo and went straight back there. I had to race back there because of the reverse start today and when I got there, there were two guys already fishing the spot. I just snuck in between them and put a cast in and wham-o, it turned out pretty good”. Morley has a specific aim he is trying to achieve this season. “I really want to qualify for the Hobie Worlds again, so I’ll be back down at Mallacoota giving it another crack and I’ll try to get to the other two qualifying rounds in Forster and Redcliffe to make the worlds”.

Winning Tackle

Rod: Daiwa Black Label Reel: Daiwa Certate 2000 Line: Sunline 4lb braid Leader: Sunline 4lb Lure: OSP Dunk

HOG’S BREATH BOSS HOG

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Simon Morley also took home the Boss Hog Big Bream cheque by bagging a 1.24kg brute. The BASS ELECTRIC SERIES fish was caught on the Sunday using an O.S.P. Dunk on the flats around the lake end of the channel entrance that had recently opened to the sea. HOGS BREATH BOSS HOG PAY TO:

Hogs Breath Boss Hog

FOR THE SUM OF:

One Hundred Dollars

DATE:

$ 100

Fishing Tournaments bass • bream • barra

TOP 10 KAYAKERS

Place

Angler

Fish

Weight

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Simon Morley Chris Burbidge Joshua Smith Jonathan Chen Clark Wilson Daniel Brady David Ayton Ronnie Sonter Matt Petrie John Whelan

6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 6/6 6/6 6/6

5.66 5.52 5.49 5.23 5.04 4.84 4.73 4.69 4.65 4.63

$2230 $1170 $750 $280 $260 $250 $230 $210 $190 $170

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au

yak Hobie Ka ries Se BREAteMd by Daiwa Presen

On February 21-22, the host township for the 2nd round of the Hobie® Kayak BREAM Series presented by Daiwa was the Victorian fishing mecca of Marlo. The small community is situated in the East Gippsland district of Victoria at the mouth of the Snowy River, and has become one of the more popular

Crosbie conjures up magic at Marlo by the clean, oceanic water that pushed into the system on a run-in tide, making for a tournament arena of contrasts and challenges. The challenging water meant the anglers had their work cut out for them each day, and despite the challenging conditions the arena fished well with many anglers successfully catching their bag limit each day.

At the completion of the Strike Pro Weigh-in Dave Hedge from the Central Coast of New South Wales was the TT Lures Leader. Weighing in a 3.52kg bag, Hedge led second placed, and eventual winner, Joel Crosbie, by close to 1kg. DAY TWO In contrast to day one, clear blue skies greeted anglers as they headed out onto to the Austackle Arena with hopes

65 anglers headed off from the Power-Pole Startline each morning. tournament locations on the Hobie Kayak BREAM Series calendar. Round two of the series saw a 65 angler field compete, made up of 46 anglers from Victoria, 13 from New South Wales, 3 from the ACT, and 2 from South Australia. In total, 191 bream, weighing 121.53kg, were delivered to the scales over the two days of competition, then released safely back into the waterway. The fishing was predicted to be difficult as the Snowy River catchment area had received a large amount of rain making the water a striking rust colour. This was contrasted

DAY ONE On the opening morning of the tournament, 65 anglers headed off from the PowerPole Startline with heavy cloud cover keeping the temperatures from reaching the predicted mid 30s. An unexpected sea fog rolled in at 12:30, making visibility difficult, but it dissipated as the session drew to a close. Contrary to angler expectations the arena fished surprisingly well, and after a slow start for the session Marlo’s big hungry bream came on the bite late in the session, with both the upper lake and the river mouth producing good size fish.

of improving upon Saturday’s catch. After two long hard days of fishing competitors arrived back at the event site with

For event winner Joel Crosbie it was a tournament that saw him initially try to follow a tried and true Marlo pattern, a pattern that he’d worked out through fishing multiple Marlo kayak rounds. “Given that I’ve fished nearly every tournament that has been held here, my usual plan is to go down and fish the front of the system. But that didn’t go to plan. I had to come halfway back, just down stream from the event site, and that’s where I found the fish. I sat in about 12ft of water and simply worked a blade across the bottom through the schooled fish. There was a massive school of fish there”. COREY GALLAGHER REELS IN SECOND PLACE Corey Gallagher from Ocean Grove in Victoria bagged out both days to claim a podium finish, and fell 920g shy of 1st place and claiming the win. Gallagher summed up his two days fishing the cloudy waters of the Snowy River estuary at Marlo. “I fished edges all weekend around the two islands and because of the colour of the water I threw plastics because I can fish them a lot slower. I used Z-Man GrubZ in UV

SPECIAL THANKS Thanks to Anthony and Maximus Di Corleto from Alpine Country Sale for providing dealer support at the event. With a BBQ, drinks and snack packs provided each day of competitors received catering like only the Hobie Fishing Series can, and is known for. Like all events in

the Hobie Kayak Fishing Series this round could not have gone ahead without the outstanding support of our generous sponsors Daiwa, Berkley, Atomic, Lowrance, RhinoRack, Strike Pro, Austackle, TT Lures, Yamatoyo, Ecogear, Power-Pole, Mortgage Corp, Hog’s Breath Cafe and ABT. – Hobie Cat Australasia

WINNING NOTES

Mortage Corp Monster Mover

The latest bonus for anglers in the Hobie Series is the Mortgage Corp Monster Mover Prize Pack for the most improved angler over the two days. The winner for this round was Paul Davison from Victoria who came from 50th at the end of day one to finish 21st at the end of day two and the tournament. Paul also received an accommodation voucher from the Marlo Caravan Park and Motel for his efforts.

Winning Ways

Crosbie had no doubts about what gave him the winning edge in the tournament. “The new prototype Strike Pro lure was what gave me the edge over the other competitors. We only have eight in the country and I was lucky enough to get my hands on two of them. The new blade has a polycarbonate belly with ball bearings in it so it actually rattles. It’s slightly different to your normal blade. It was just giving the fish something different to what everyone else was using”.

Winning Tackle

Rod: 7’, 204kg Strike Pro Nano Edge Reel: Tica Line: 6lb Strike Pro braid Leader: 6lb FC Lure: Strike Pro Astro Vibe and a Strike Pro Cyber Vibe

HOG’S BREATH BOSS HOG

TOP 10 NON-BOATERS

Crosbie with a brace of bream from his Marlo win. another good haul of fish, with a long cue of angles waiting patiently at the Berkley Bump Tub to hit the stage to weigh they fish. Joel Crosbie from Mirboo North in East Gippsland grabbed the top position on the Lowrance Leaderboard with his 6/6, 5.58kg tournament limit, while 2nd place went to Corey Gallagher from Ocean Grove in Victoria, and 3rd place went to Martin Fellows from Victoria.

colours. I just kept working the edges, staying patient and confident that the fish would come. I caught a good bag on the first day that had me sitting in 5th place. On day two I was hoping to hold onto that position, but when I landed a 1.3kg fish at the end of session I was confident that I’d move up the leader board. To move up to 2nd place and book a spot in the Grand Final was much more than I could have hoped for”.

Altona Meadows’ Peter Whelan took home the Hog’s Breath Café Boss HogBASS Big Bream ELECTRIC SERIES cheque after catching the tournament’s biggest fish on a black Strike Pro Cyber Vibe in the clean water at lower end of the system on day one. HOGS BREATH BOSS HOG PAY TO:

Hogs Breath Boss Hog

FOR THE SUM OF:

One Hundred Dollars

DATE:

$ 100

Fishing Tournaments bass • bream • barra

TOP 10 KAYAKERS

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

Angler

Fish

Weight

Payout

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 5/6 6/6 6/6 5/6 3/6 6/6

5.58 4.66 4.36 4.06 3.95 3.88 3.66 3.61 3.52 3.45

$1650.00 + Prize Pack $870.00 + Prize Pack $550.00 + Prize Pack $210.00 + Prize Pack $190.00 + Prize Pack $180.00 $170.00 $160.00 $140.00 $130.00

Joel Crosbie Corey Gallagher Martin Fellows Daniel Brady Chris Burbidge Ben Harrison Richard Somerton Clark Wilson David Hedge Scott Lovig

For full result listings, see www.abt.org.au APRIL 2015

Hobie announces 5th World Championship The fifth annual Hobie Fishing World Championship (HFW5), presented by Rhino-Rack™ and hosted by Hobie Cat® Australasia, will take place on Shang Lake in Changshu, China November 9-16 of this year. Located in the central eastern part of the country, Changshu is steeped in Chinese history, starting in 770BC, and will be a memorable experience for all attendees. Anglers from over 20 countries are expected to compete in China’s first-ever HFW for the chance to be crowned this year’s Hobie Fishing World Champion. All competitors will fish for Chinese perch, topmouth cutler and yellowcheek carp from identically rigged Hobie Mirage® Pro

Angler 14’s, provided by Hobie Cat Australasia and outfitted with Lowrance® Electronics and Power-Pole® MICRO™ Anchors. “It’s hard to believe that we are looking at our 5th World Championship,” commented Steve Fields,

Managing Director Hobie Cat Australasia. “Each event has taken Hobie fishing to a new level. Number five promises to continue the tradition and be a big eye opener to all the competitors as they experience new fish and a very old culture.”

A series of three qualifying events to be held in Australia will give anglers the opportunity to qualify for a coveted spot on the Australian team. Dates and locations of the qualifiers are listed on www.hobiefishing.com.au. The tournament will be

a traditional CPR (catch, photograph and release) format in which each competitor will enter his or her three best lengths in aggregate each day. The angler with the highest cumulative length over the three day period will be crowned Champion. Prizes will also be awarded to the top team representatives. Each participating country will be represented by at least one two-person team and combined measurements will be added to determine the Team Champion. Other event sponsors include the China Fishing Association, Changshu Yushan and Shanghu Tourist Resort, The Happy Fishing Channel, AOJI Ltd, Daiwa, YakAttack and FUGOO. Since 1950, Hobie has been in the business of shaping a unique lifestyle-

based around fun, water, and innovative quality products. From their headquarters in Oceanside, California, Hobie Cat Company manufactures, distributes, and markets an impressive collection of eco-sensitive watercraft worldwide, with subsidiaries; Hobie Cat Australasia, in Huskisson, NSW, Australia and Hobie Cat Europe, in Toulon, France and independent distributors; Hobie Kayak Europe and Hobie Cat Brasil. These products include an everexpanding line of recreation and racing sailboats, pedaldriven and paddle sit-on-top recreation and fishing kayaks, inflatable kayaks, fishing boats and stand-up paddleboards, plus a complementary array of parts and accessories. – Hobie Cat Austraslia

Fish for Life! Get on board and show your support The Fish For Life team will cross 3 oceans, 4 seas, 1 gulf, 1 bight and 2 straits. Including some of the most treacherous waters in Australia where hundreds of sea bearing folk have lost their lives to Mother Nature’s fury. We are sailing the seas over a 4 month journey to get our nation digging deep and celebrating life to raise much needed funds for Cancer Council Australia in every port of Australia. Fish for Life founders Mark Ratchford and first crew member Scott may endure 17m waves coming in from the southern ocean to waters and manage extremely difficult to navigate conditions across the top of Australia. In the mix, other dangers may include poisonous snakes, sharks, crocodiles and the dreaded sand flies just to name a few. It is going to be one hell of a ride! A passionate sea bound team with a dedicated ground crew will travel

1,507km across the Great Australian Bight, between Esperance and Ceduna, this challenge may take up to 50hrs straight only stopping to meet the tender vessel for a refuel. Our Skipper Mark and his crew will cross the notorious Bass Strait in the middle of winter enduring freezing and rough conditions, navigating through the hole in the wall at Guluwuru Island Northern Territory, and not to forget the risk involved in getting through the horizontal falls. It’s not all risk and danger for the guys, they will experience our nations wonders visiting some of the most picturesque locations on earth right here in Australia. They will enjoy the opportunity to explore deserted islands, the Great Barrier Reef, the Kimberleys and the breathtaking cliffs of the Great Australian Bight. Scott and Mark will also have the opportunity to fish areas that are not visited often by man. The variety of fish species caught along the way will vary from marlin

and tuna to bream and mullet, Fish For Life practices responsible release of fish and only keep fish to feed the crew whilst traveling. With the help of the fishing fraternity Fish For Life will raise the muchneeded funds to help cancer patients in every state of Australia. GET ONBOARD People need us and we need you to get on board and join us in this epic journey so together we can help as many people as possible. Setting sail from Melbourne in July we will soon be in a port near you! We are looking for supporters to head up our State Teams in WA, NSW, Tas, ACT, NT. If you want to get involved call Skipper Mark on 0412808798. Are you in business and want brand recognition across our great country we have plenty of great sponsorship opportunities are available to! The team will travel approximately 16,500km with days varying from as

little as 100km a day to the extreme of 1,507km straight while fishing and diving along the way.

On their wild sea ride around the nation our crew will attend fundraising events most nights at destinations

along the way to raise vital money for the Cancer Council to help those less fortunate. – Fish for Life

TOURNAMENT CALENDAR 2015 APR

DATE DETAILS 18-19 Apr

JUN

6-7 Jun 9-10 Jun

CONTACTS

R6 BREAM Kayak National Qualifier

Hobie Fishing

Paynesville

hobiefishing.com.au

Mercury BREAM Qualifier #3

ABT

Gippsland Lakes

www.abt.org.au

BREAM Qualifier #4

ABT

Mallacoota

www.abt.org.au

For listings please email jthomas@fishingmonthly.com.au 74

APRIL 2015

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Trailer Feature

Buying a new trailer for your pride and joy Whether you’re selecting a new trailer for your old trailerboat, or picking a new trailer for your new boat, you’ll soon be confronted with the massive amount of choice when it comes to optioning a trailer to get your boat to and from the ramp in one piece. Understanding the options available is pretty important, because not all trailers are suitable for all hulls. We’ll have a look at some of the choices here and what’s available.

FRAME TYPES

Historically, you could have three choices for your trailer frames – steel, steel or steel. Mostly it was galvanised (coated in Zinc) that was pretty good in withstanding a life in and out of salt water. But starting with some imported trailers and now available locally, bent I-beam aluminium framed trailers are available for most sizes of trailerboats. Of course, aluminium doesn’t corrode anywhere near as quickly as steel and an I-beam can be bent to a shape that suits trailer manufacture perfectly (see the cool Quintrex Trailer QR code hereabouts to watch it happen). Aluminium I-Beam trailers aren’t made from 100% aluminium. A lot of the cross members and gear that holds the skids or rollers are still steel, however these parts are usually modular and

trend is the use of alloy wheels on boat trailers. Historically, most trailers would come with steel wheels, which would work fine, but were subject to corrosion. They were also quite ugly. Nowadays most of the wheels you’ll see in a boatyard are alloy, and the range of designs is increasing each year. Don’t fall into the trap, though, of buying car mags and dumping them on your trailer – often the offsets are wrong and purpose-built alloy trailer wheels are more suitable for the marine environment. Every year, make sure that you crack all of the trailer wheel nuts and give the bolts a quick clean and a dab of grease before re-tightening them. This will mean that when you do have to change a flat tyre, the nuts will crack easily. There’s nothing worse than sitting on the side of the road, jumping up and down on a wheel brace to break the corrosion seal! We’ve all been there and done that and don’t want to do it again.

WINCH

I’m a big fan of keeping it simple whenever possible, so for me, a small boat should be wound on and a big boat should be driven on a trailer. If you need an electric winch to retrieve

your car. It’s minimal stretch and there’s no metallic daggers hanging off it while you retrieve, but you do need to be careful layering it onto your winch. Starve it of attention and it’ll bunch one side or another and tear after a bit of neglect. Still – if it

does break, you can always tie a knot to the boat hook to get you home. The best option, in my opinion, are the aftermarket polyethylene non-stretch trainer winch cords. These are no-splinter, no rust, no stretch and non-bunching.

Just wind them and let it lie where it lies.

LIGHTS

Like winch cables, for me, there’s no argument when it comes to what type of lights should go on the back of a boat trailer, and

Winching is sometimes the only option on rougher boat ramps or while bush-launching. can be replaced quite easily if excessive corrosion occurs. One of the big advantages of the aluminium frame is that it’s fully open to the air and can be hosed down easily at the end of the trip. Some of the steel box-sections in boat trailers can trap water and nobody wants salty water connected with their trailer frame for long periods.

WHEELS

Again a quite modern 76

APRIL 2015

your small trailerboat, then something has gone wrong somewhere with the design, or you’re fishing well into your later years (which is the definition of success in life). With a drive-on rig, the winch basically holds the bow of the boat firm while trailering and most of the force to load the craft comes from the outboard. With a wind-on setup, there’s more of a choice involved in what you use

to connect the winch to the boat: wire, webbing or GSP. Heavy duty multistrand wire has been used since the dawn of trailerboats to hook-up and wind-up. It’s cheap and strong, but it does fray and always seems to find its way into your fingers when you’re being the human level-wind while cranking the winch. A better option is webbing strap – the same as your seatbelts are made of in

Rollers can make launching in rough areas easier with big fibreglass boats.

Trailer Feature

what’s available? released, so there’s no excuse not to have them on your next trailer.

AXLES

BRAKES

that’s LED. We’ve all had our time pulling apart the old bulb and bell-housing trailer lights – usually the night before we go fishing, because for the hundredth time since we got them, they have succumbed to vibration and the elements. LED lights are less susceptible to both of these

failure-creators. They’re generally fully sealed – often all the way to the connecting plug and LEDs don’t have the delicate tungsten wires that rattle to death any time you hit a pothole or venture off-road. The best part about the LED technology is that it’s now ridiculously cheap compared to when it was

Stopping is important. Real important. Especially when you run into that Monday afternoon end-oflong-weekend traffic queue and you’re daydreaming listening to the cricket. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a maintenance free brake system – you need to constantly adjust and maintain anything of that complexity that dunks itself into saltwater a couple of times a trip. Mechanical brakes (where your tow hitch pushes a lever that activates your calipers via a length of wire) are simple to maintain if you are on top of your game. Over tightening them is just as bad as having the wire too loose. One results in not stopping, the other results in red-hot brake discs.

This quality aluminium I Beam trailer looks great and is extremely functional.

BUNKS OR ROLLERS?

Although we’re covering this last, it’s probably the most important decision when it comes to cradling your hull. Which one that is

MAGAZINES

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hull between the launch and home. Too few and there’ll be pressure points that will give after time. Too many and the trailer will cost you a mint.

TALK TO THE EXPERTS

If you think that it’s all too hard, talk to a specialist trailer distributor or manufacturer. They do this for a living and there’s a few advertising in this issue.

Built tough by the best boat guys in the business. Trailers can be optioned up with a swing away draw bar if you have size restrictions in your yard or garage.

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suitable for your boat may well come down to your launching conditions. If you always launch on deep ramps and can drive the boat on to the trailer, bunks will offer great support and security for your boat – especially glass boats. But if you like beach launching or need to wind up the hull, then rollers may be by far the best option. Make sure that you have enough rollers to adequately protect the

Hydraulic systems use feedback from the hitch to activate the calipers via a length of hydraulic pipe. To me, it’s a more accurate way of delivering the right pressure to the discs.

QXFMTR001

Single or twin? Apart from regulatory decisions (once the rig gets up around 1.4t, you must go double-axle), there’s plenty of reasons to pick a twin-axle trailer if it’s an option. I like the safety of a second axle. Get a blowout on the highway at 100km/h and the second wheel is a real safety bonus. Single axle trailers don’t have that margin for error. Additionally, I reckon that a twin axle trailer tracks more accurately and is less inclined to wander around on a rough bit of road. Of course, the twin axle rig may not suit if you need to manoeuvre around in a garage, because you can’t simply pull a twin axle around on itself unless you invest in a set of go-jacks. Twin rigs also cost a little more to tow – you’re dragging that extra weight and friction all around the place. If you’re stuck between the two and don’t have a reason to go for the single axle – get a double.

Swing up jockey wheels are standard across the range.

Extensively tested, undergoing a simulated 100,000km around a specialist Army ‘Torture’ test track. Constructed from rolled aluminium I-Beam creating an overall stronger frame with no weak points and less flex.

The first aluminium trailer suited for boats as small as 4.2m.

All Quintrex alloy trailers have drive on capabilities.

Our range has a proven lifespan 3 times longer than steel trailers (aluminium is extra resilient to rust and corrosion).

You love our boats, now you can love our trailers. The new range of Quintrex aluminium trailers are perfect for your current Quinnie or as an upgrade for your existing boat. We’ve built in some unbeatable features and created a range big enough to match a long list of old and new boat sizes. See the full range and find your nearest dealer at quintrex.com.au APRIL 2015

Trailer Feature 1

Bonanza Trailers for boats and other uses

When it comes to galvanised trailers, Bonanza Trailer have you covered - they supply quality galvanised trailers of all shapes and sizes to the public. Boat trailers are apart of this range and they have a model to suit most needs - from your basic small fold up trailer perfect for the travelling nomad, right through to your tandem axle models build for those larger offshore vessels and bass boats. As well as providing a range of boat trailers they also supply other trailer models to suit your needs such as box, flat top, car, bike and hydraulic models. Bonanza trailers stand by the quality and value for money of their trailers. They are located at Salamander Bay in the Hunter region of NSW and would love to talk to you about your new trailer and give you the best price possible. www.bonanzatrailers.com.au

Quintrex’s Offers new Alloy Trailer for 4m Tinnies and bigger

Quintrex’s newest trailer releases are some of the smallest aluminium boat trailers on the market, so you don’t need to compromise the quality of your tinnie boating package anymore. Quintrex Trailer Manager Sam Phelan said after moving into the Aluminium Trailer market it was clear there was a gap in the industry for cost affective alloy trailers suited especially for small aluminium tinnies around the 4.2m to 4.5m in length. “We have released the new 749kg and 1098kg alloy trailers late last year and we’ve had a really good reception from our dealer network with customers happy to upgrade to the benefits of alloy trailer for their boating package,” Sam said. “You can get these trailers as part of your new boating package or as an upgrade for your existing boat.” “Now with trailers specially built for boats 4.2m-4.5m in length, you’d be crazy not to make the switch as alloy trailers tend to have lifespan 3 times better than their steel counterparts,” Sam added. With a range of features, Quintrex trailers are easy to use and operate and

See how Quintrex I-Beam Trailers are made.

have been extensively tested to ensure they stand the test of time and the harsh conditions of Australian roads. Quintrex Alloy Trailers have been constructed from rolled aluminium I-Beam creating an overall stronger frame with no weak points and less flex and have been extensively tested, undergoing a simulated 100,000km around a specialist Army ‘Torture’ test track. The new 749kg and 1098kg alloy trailers feature swing up jockey wheels, adjustable skids and keel rollers while the 78

APRIL 2015

aluminium frame is long lasting and more resilient to rust and corrosion. To view the complete range of Quintrex Trailers head to www.quintrex. com.au or visit your local Quintrex dealer for more information. www.quintrex.com.au

Ausmarine Seatrail Trailers value for money

If you’re after value for money in a trailer you should definitely check out the Seatrail range. Ausmarine distributes and sells the full range of Seatrail trailers in both galvanised steel and aluminium frame models. Seatrail trailers range from small, lightweight folding models for small tinnies up to heavy roller trailers for 6.5m hulls with 2000kg ATM. Ausmarine can also have galvanised steel and aluminium trailers powder coated in different colours, a new option available should boat owners want to match their trailer to their boat or car paint. New to the range is the Seatraill 4.6m trailer that is designed to take boats to 4.7m with ATM of under 750kg (not requiring brakes), and is available with either skid or rollers. This model is available in both aluminium and galvanized steel frame. As well as producing a great range of boat trailers, Ausmarine also have a range of popular box trailers, car trailers and camper trailers. Accessories required for trailer upgrades and maintenance are also available. The range includes wheel bearings, spare wheel brackets, jockey wheels, LED lights, and spare wheels, all at very competitive prices. For the full range of Seatrail trailers starting from under $1000, and accessories go to www.ausmarine.biz or for more information call (02) 9792 6000. To find your nearest dealer follow the prompts on their website. While you’re on their website also check out their range of Seacraft aluminium boats from 2.1m – 4.5m and their range of 2-stroke and 4-stroke SeaKing outboards. – FMG

Bonanza Trailers 1

Quintrex Trailers 2

Ausmarine Seatrail 3 Trailers

www.ausmarine.biz

New Tinka Aluminium Trailers available

Tinka’s range of aluminium boat trailers are made of heavy duty aluminium I-beam using stainless steel fasteners, with no welds to crack. Tinka aluminium boat trailer range comes with adjustable front bunks and heavy duty aluminium rear bunks to suit a wide range of boat hulls. Tinka’s LED lights are fully submersible for hassle free lighting. Stylish alloy mag wheels make checking brakes an easy task. Independent torsion bar suspension with replaceable stub axles and acculube grease system makes trailering more comfortable. Rear guide posts are standard. Tinka aluminium boat trailer range is available for boats from 4.5-8.8 metres and for a maximum 4.45 tonne GTM. Contact: 07 3277 7322 Web: www.mayfairmarine.com.au

Tinka Trailers 4

Taking the wheel: choosing the right jockey SYDNEY

Christian Bold

Jockey wheels are used on 99% of all boat trailers, the question is though, which is the best one to use? And what do you need to look out for when buying one? With a tonne of choices, considerations, and options, there’s a lot to ponder when it comes to selecting the right jockey wheel for your trailer. TAKE YOUR PICK When purchasing a jockey wheel there is often a difference between what you want and what you need. Always purchase the jockey you need, not the one you want, and buying one that’s a little bigger than you need is a sound investment, both for now and into the feature. Doing so will ensure that the wheel you buy is more than capable of doing the job, and means it will do the job with greater ease and greater longevity. When selecting a jockey wheel you’ll need to know what size wheel you need, and also the carrying capacity of your trailer so you can match and select the correct jockey wheel for your trailer. While jockey wheels are available in varying sizes, the three common sizes are as follows: • 6” wheel with a maximum

350kg lifting capacity • 8” wheel with a maximum 500kg lifting capacity • 10” wheel with a maximum 600kg lifting capacity Wheel size and lifting capacity aren’t the only things to consider, the type of wheel is also important, with polypropylene, plastic, solid rubber, and pneumatic rubber, the big four when it comes to wheel construction types.

GRAB THE WHEEL So which jockey wheel and why? Most single axle trailers with a GTM (Gross Trailer Mass) of 1000kg would only need a 6” jockey wheel. If the trailer has a GTM over 1300kg, or a tow ball weight more than 10% of the total trailer/load mass then you might want to look at fitting an 8” jockey wheel. This is

Rusted jockey wheels should be replaced to avoid failure, which can be dangerous. more for practicality and ease of trailer movement, rather than necessity because of the GTM of the trailer. If you have a dual axle trailer I would recommend an 8” or 10” jockey wheel. These larger jockey wheels are a lot sturdier and will allow you to move the trailer with greater ease and without damaging the jockey wheel. Dual axle trailers are inherently difficult to turn, so the jockey wheel pivots and turns less, and plays less of a role when it comes to turning the trailer. SHOULD I STAY OR GO? Once you have established the size of jockey wheel that

Emmett Yawney caught this yellowtail kingfish at Mallacoota on a jig in 25m of water.

CHRISTIAN BOLD Christian Bold, also known as ‘The Trailer Guy’, is one of Australia’s leading trailer and caravan repair specialists. As the Director of Bold Trailers, he is a licensed motor mechanic, auto electrician and automotive body builder. Christian is also an AUVIS and e-safety examiner for the RMS. You can contact Christian and the team at Bold Trailers for any information regarding trailer and caravan repairs, maintenance, modifications, legal requirements, imported trailers, parts and accessories, and new

you need then you need to decide if you want a swivel bracket or a fixed mounted bracket. The swivel bracket allows you to have the jockey wheel permanently attached to the trailer, meaning you will never leave it behind. The fixed mounted bracket allows you to remove the jockey wheel from the trailer and place it in the boot of your car. Both work well and it really comes down to what you prefer. MEGA JOCKEY Now for all those die hard boaties who have to have the best on their trailer, let me introduce you to the Fulton F2 jockey wheel. In my opinion the Fulton F2 is the best there is when it comes to jockey wheels. The outer casing and shaft is made from anodised aluminium, while internal gears raise and lower the jockey wheel shaft. This makes the Fulton F2 jockey wheel fully serviceable. Compare to a standard spring loaded galvanised jockey wheel that is rendered useless once the spring is broken or the shaft is bent, the Fulton F2 is serviceable and repairable, ensuring a longer working life. The Fulton F2 jockey wheel comes in 2 models, a single, extra wide wheel model, and a double free spinning wheel model. The wheel is also on a separate bracket allowing it to spin independently from the shaft. This greatly increases stability and trailer manoeuvrability. The swivel bracket can be adjusted, allowing the height of your jockey wheel to be modified, enabling you can set the jockey wheel to the perfect height for your tow ball, car and driveway. The Fulton F2 jockey wheel retails for around $360, and despite the higher than average price is a good investment if you’re always replacing jockey wheels. The Fulton F2 jockey wheel is also my recommended jockey wheel, regardless of trailer size, for boaters with arthritic hands,

or those that struggle with traditional old school jockey wheels. The Fulton makes moving large trailers a walk in the park, making it ideal for women, children, and the elderly. Next time you’re looking

for a new jockey wheel remember to buy a quality over economy. A cheap jockey wheel may look attractive at the time of purchase but can cause you problems and will ultimately cost you more in the long run.

Galvanised jockey wheels are more corrosion resistant and will ensure a longer working life.

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and used trailers for sale. Their friendly technicians are always willing to help you to make the towing experience safe and enjoyable. For more great tips go to www. boldtrailers.com.au or phone: (02) 8544 8114.

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To find your local stockist visit www.diamonddeck.com.au Trade enquiries welcome 0437 864 077 Enquiries@diamonddeck.com.au APRIL 2015

Ground breaking 350 and 400hp Verados FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

You know that it’s going to be a pretty special product when Mercury Australia fly you to the Miami Boat Show in the USA to cover the launch of an outboard motor. And although Mercury did its best to keep the launch a secret, my Aussie mates were telling me that it was going to be a 400hp Verado added to the stable.

test boats at the show that we understood just what purpose this engine was built for. Like most of you, before I jumped on the big red and white plane, my exposure to Miami was limited to re-runs of Miami Vice and the Don Johnson’s pastel suits. In reality, Miami is like the Gold Coast on steroids – there are ridiculous numbers of waterfront properties, easy access to excellent fishing in water from a foot deep to thousands of feet and a real

boat porn at its finest. And Americans were buying. If you were to stand at the show and watch the deals being done, you’d have no reason whatsoever to believe that the USA is coming out of a recession. There were hundreds of boats and motors being sold. Talking to the boat manufacturers, there was little chance of getting an order built until the end of the year if you put your deposit down in February. Price ranges for these big craft ranged from a

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The.350.and.the.400R.Verados.are.built.on.the.same.platform... The.400R.generates.its.maximum.horsepower.at.7,000rpm.

Now.here.is.a.serious.fishing.boat..1400hp.anyone? They were nearly right. At an embargoed media launch the night before and at the public reveal on the first day of the Miami Boat Show, Mercury’s President, John Pfeifer, proudly revealed a 350 and 400hp outboard, achieved through a number of advancements to the existing 2.6L Verado platform. Boasting some pretty impressive technology inside and, importantly, mounting with a narrow footprint, it wasn’t until we were set loose amongst the

demand for big boats. Currently, the trend is towards centre consoles with multi-rig outboards. And I’m not just talking a couple of 50s on the back of a 16ft. Centre consoles, complete with under deck cabins in the 30-50ft class were littered around the show. Powered by twin, triple, quad and even five high-output outboards. Backing up this observation was the boat storage yard we’d drive past on the way to the show each day. Literally hundreds of big centre consoles. It was

SPECIFICATIONS Horsepower:..........................................350.and.400 Weight:.....................................................from.303kg Capacity:............................................................ 2.6L Aspiration:...................Supercharged.(water.cooled) Configuration:................In-line.6cyl,.4-valve,.DOHC Alternator:....................................... 70a.(belt.driven) Controls:........................................SmartCraft.digital Steering:................ Electro-hydraulic.power.steering Gearcase:........................................................ 1.75:1 CARB Star Rating:.................................................. 2 Colours:............ Phantom.Black,.Cold.Fusion.White,.. .....................................................Warm.Fusion.White couple of hundred grand for the smaller cousins to well over a million bucks for the

Yep..It.sure.does.look.like.a.near.100-mph.boat..And.it.rode. smoothly.across.wakes.that.would.frighten.you.in.a.20.footer. 80

APRIL 2015

pride of the fleet. Serious boats for serious coin. Mercury admitted that they didn’t have a class leading solution for these big multi-rigs. There was the 300 Verado, but

Yamaha’s V8 350 and niche manufacturer Seven’s 557hp were heavy and broad. Enter the 350 and 400R four-stroke Verados. Mercury identified the opportunity several years ago and quietly worked away on re-engineering the upright straight-six platform to create an four-stroke outboard that outputs more horsepower per kilogram than anything else on the market. Made in the USA with around 70% of the engine built in-house, the 350 is 62kg lighter than its competitor in the marketplace – Yamaha’s naturally aspirated V8 350hp 4-S (303kg v 365kg). Also, its 26” wide footprint on the transom means that you can fit them more easily to the transom. But it’s not until you actually get on the test boats

and take a ride that you can appreciate the quietness and the smoothness of these motors. SUPERCHARGED There’s one main reason that this 2.6L block can punch out nearly three times the horsepower than the larger bore 150hp Mercury new four-stroke, and that’s the supercharger. All Verados are

supercharged – from the 4-cylinder, 1.7L 150 Verado through to the 400, but the 2.6L 350 and 400 have a redesigned cold air intake and, importantly, a watercooled supercharging unit. More air and colder air makes for more horsepower. Incorporating the supercharger into the engine’s water-cooling pathway increases durability

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Top: It.might.look.weird,.but.while.using.the. Joystick.Piloting,.the.motors.work.either.with.or. against.each.other.–.depending.on.the.direction. you.want.your.boat.to.go..Including.sideways. Bottom: Docking.a.boat.with.Mercury’s.Joystick. Piloting.is.child’s.play..Forward,.back,.spin.–.whatever. you.do.with.the.joystick.will.be.mirrored.by.the.boat.

and efficiency. The new Verados also cool their internal oil with a counter-current heat exchanger – all designed to maximise durability. ADVANCED MID SECTION Mercury are pretty proud of their AMS or Advanced Mid Section on all of the 6 cylinder Verados. AMS has been designed to virtually eliminate any vibration from the motor that can get transferred through to the hull of the boat. Steering away from traditional, soft motor mounts, AMS is much more easily experienced than explained. And while sitting in the back lounge of a 1600hp powered quad rig (4 x 400R Verados), you’d get to feel every bang and shudder and don’t. These Verados are relatively quiet and ridiculously smooth, especially considering that there’s more horsepower on the back of one boat than there is in a small tournament Down Under. MINIMAL SERVICE COSTS Mercury is very proud of their ‘long bolt’ powerhead configuration which was designed to necessitate NO valve train service for the life of the engine. After around 500 hours, this becomes an expensive service on most 4-stroke outboards. During the factory tour in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin after the show, all of the Aussie media were intrigued with the level of detail and precision that the company put in to designing durable and maintenance free products. From a consumer point of view, it boils down to fewer issues over the life of the outboard to keep you off the water. “Our product quality is world class,” said Nicholas Webb, Director or Engine Product and Marketing for Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific Region, “and that’s better for

Mercury and better for the end user. It’s a win-win.” SMART ELECTRONICS With the load of electronics that boats powered by these Verados run – including multiple sounders, radar, bait tanks and lighting, Mercury has built in an Idle Charge System to sense electric load and adaptively alter the engine idle to ensure that there’s always the power necessary to maintain safe operation. Gone are the days when your crank battery is going backward when your outboard is going forwards. And Verados have always been digital (or fly-by-wire) in the 2.6L configuration, but they now boast the ability to use their full potential with some great add-ons. Like Joystick Piloting with an outboard is incredibly clever. Using a combination of minimum of twin engines, throttle and gear changes – all controlled through a joystick at the helm – you are able to drive your boat forward, backwards, sideways (literally) and to spin it on its axis. This makes the act of docking (which can be daunting for some boat owners) without bow thrusters a piece of cake. Within minutes, even an inexperienced boatie can be in total control of the attitude of the boat at slow speeds. This tech is yet to really take off in Australia, but as multiple engine rigs increase, you can bet that their owners will fall in love with the ease of manipulation with this one, simple control. Skyhook is like a spotlock on your electric motor, only it’s enabled through GPS the and outboards. Push the button and your craft locks onto its GPS position – great for fishing or while waiting to dock. THE 400R Producing 153hp per litre of displacement, the Verado 400R is the most

Top Left:.Robin.‘Dr.Mercury’.Senger.shows.the.advantages.of.the.Verado.‘long.bolt’.design..Namely.a. life-long.no.valve.train.service. Top Right:.In.a.stark.contrast.to.Miami.where.we.ran.the.boats,.Fond.du. Lac.in.Wisconsin.is.where.they’re.made..That’s.snow..Middle Left: Once.the.powerhead.is.completed,. it.takes.the.production.line.less.than.a.hour.to.put.a.Verado.together..And.the.production.quality.has. never.been.better..Bottom Left: Here’s.an.example.of.the.difference.between.the.current.200-300hp. Verados.and.the.new.models..The.supercharger.on.the.right.is.water.cooled..Bottom Right: Every. single.Verado.gets.water.tested.here,.checked.for.leaks.and.only.passed.if.it’s.running.perfectly. powerful outboard ever produced by Mercury. Being the first Verado to have the proven SportMaster gearbox as an option from its normal 5.44, the SportMaster gearbox comes with low water pickups, stainless steel guide plates and the AMS design to offer superior handling at speed. And trust me – you will

Seriously.–.there’s.no.racing.going.on.here,.officer.

get speed. Joy riding a Nau-Tek powered by four x 400Rs at the Miami Show Marina, we reached speeds in the high 80s. That’s miles per hour. Max speed on the trip log was mid nineties. White knuckle stuff. THE BOTTOM LINE If you can’t tell by now, we’re excited about the

way outboard technology is headed. Increasingly, systems are integrating more seamlessly, durability and ease of use is increasing and service costs are decreasing. These new Verados are, of course, ridiculously powerful and are price competitive compared with their competition in the marketplace.

If only petrol prices stay low, big outboard loving Aussie boaties have a bright future ahead. Aussie Verados in the 350 and 400hp models arrive at the end of April. • Declaration: The author travelled to the Miami Boat Show and Mercury factory as a guest of Mercury Marine.

This.Ranger.bay.boat.was.a.real.rocket.ship.with.the.350. Verado,.and.the.AMS.contributed.to.its.smoothness. APRIL 2015

Mercury propeller factory were cheaper and others top dollar, especially while I was running them across sandbanks and shallow water. After a tour of the Mercury propeller factory in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, USA, though, I was amazed at the process these guys go

FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

When you choose a propeller for your outboard, there’s several factors that come into play:

There’s a QR code hereby with a video that explains the whole process, but it’s a whole lot more than pouring hot metal into a mould. It all starts with an injection mould and some wax. Seriously. A rigid wax duplicate is moulded out of

Here’s what your Merc propeller looks like when it enters the factory. is it the right pitch and diameter? Will it fit the gearbox of my boat? How much does it cost? Are the blades the right shape for my hull? I didn’t think too much about why some propellers

through to make the best propeller possible for their outboards. And the process explains why your Mercury prop costs a grand while a competitor’s die cast blade may set you back only half that.

a special formula wax and repetitively coated with a fused silica based slurry until it forms its own mould that can stand the ultra high temperatures of the molten stainless steel. This typically takes 5-7 coats of the silica. When dry, the wax is melted out of the shell in a pressurised autoclave (with steam) and the moulds are ready for pouring. This is the cool bit. The moulds are heated up in an oven to the same temperature of the molten metal – around 2,000 Farenheit (1,100°C). A guy dressed in what looks like a bomb suit picks up the mould out of the oven and sets it down on a trolley for pouring. He has the world’s best gloves. His co-worker then pours the molten alloy into the mould and the newborn propeller slowly cools. The whole set-up glows bright orange. Mercury uses a couple of different grades of stainless alloy for their different propellers. The racing and bass boat propellers run a

These props are about to be sandblasted. higher grade of metal. Several hours later, when the propeller is cool enough, the mould is chipped

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Fond du Lac Wisconsin

USA

Fond du Lac is a city in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin, United States. The name is French for bottom of the lake, named as such because of its location at the bottom (south end) of Lake Winnebago.

The most impressive part of the process is where the pre-heated moulds are filled with the molten alloys. One guy’s job is to pull the heated moulds out of the furnace by hand. They’re some serious gloves!

Left: Bit by bit, the sand moulds are chipped away from the finished propeller. Right: Polished and ready to be hubbed and packed. Here’s a dozen of the thousands of propellers a year to come out of the building. 82

APRIL 2015

away and the workers get into the process of cutting, sandblasting, polishing and tuning these props to perfection. Every single propeller is balanced – by hand – to ensure that it transfers the power from your outboard to the water as efficiently as possible. “It’s about acceleration, it’s about speed, it’s about giving the customer that fuel economy – all done up here at Fond du Lac, Wisconsin!” concluded Robin Senger, Mercury’s Product Training Manager. Mercury claim that they make the best propellers on the market and it sure looks like they take every step necessary to make sure that each and every propeller that leaves Wisconsin and is shipped to the four corners of the globe is worthy of the Mercury name. • The author travelled to Fond du Lac as a guest of Mercury Marine.

the power to get you there

the reliability to get you back We’re proud to welcome the new generation of outboards – the mighty FourStroke Verado 350hp. Along with the power, performance and extreme reliability, Verado includes: - Awesome acceleration, superior torque and better fuel economy - The latest in Electro-Hydraulic steering providing car-like precision and feel - Exclusive ‘Fly-by-Wire’ Digital Throttle and Shift as standard for smooth, quiet, instantaneous shifting and throttle response - Compact engine that’s 56kg lighter than its nearest competitor - Maintenance Free Valve train for life, lowering cost of ownership - 3+2=5 Year Recreational Warranty

See your authorised Mercury Marine Dealer today. Alberton Alberton Marine

Echuca Eades Xtreme Marine

24 Sturt Street, Echuca Phone: (03) 5482 2333 | Fax: (03) 5482 2133 Email: info@xtrememarine.net.au

117 Northgate Drive, Thomastown Phone: (03) 9465 8787 | Fax: (03) 9466 1418 Email: triplemmarine@dodo.com.au

Melbourne Avante Marine

Geelong Moolap Marine

Warragul Warragul Marine

Bendigo Bendigo Marine World

Sorrento Nautical Marine

Mornington Wes Frost Marine

Melbourne BL Marine

Melbourne Regal Marine

Shepparton Boats and More

Tooradin P&J Marine Service Centre P/L

Morwell Crawford Marine

Melbourne The Marine Shop

39 Johnson Street, Alberton Phone: (03) 5183 2344 | Fax: (03) 5183 2219 Email: albertonmarine@wideband.net.au

345 Dorset Road, Boronia Phone: (03) 9760 2222 | Fax: (03) 9762 8565 Email: info@avantemarine.com.au

49 Midland Highway, Epsom Phone: (03) 5448 3988 | Fax: (03) 5448 3940 Email: sales@bendigomarine.com.au

612- 614 Plenty Road, Preston Phone: (03) 9478 1420 | Fax: (03) 9470 4638 Email: info@blmarine.com.au

207 Numurkah Road, Shepparton Phone: (03) 5822 2108 | Fax: (03) 5821 2908 Email: sales@boatsandmore.com.au

71-77 Chickerell Street, Morwell Phone: (03) 5134 6522 | Fax: (03) 5134 6455 Email: info@crawfordmarine.com.au

250 Portarlington Road, Moolap Phone: (03) 5248 3772 | Fax: (03) 5248 4633 Email: info@moolapmarine.com.au

139 – 141 Hotham Road, Sorrento Phone: (03) 5984 1666 | Fax: (03) 5984 1680 Email: nautical@surf.net.au

Melbourne Triple M Marine

172 Queen St, Warragul 3820 Phone: (03) 5623 6250 | Fax: (03) 5622 0623 Email: info@warragulmarine.com.au

3 Satu Way, Mornington Phone: (03) 5976 4622 | Fax: (03) 5976 4633 Email: sales@wesfrostmarine.com

514 Canterbury Road, Vermont Phone: (03) 9874 4624 | Fax: (03) 9874 6586 Email: sales@regalmarine.com.au

101 Tooradin Station Road, Tooradin Phone: (03) 5998 3107 | Fax: (03) 5998 3108 Email: pjmarine_services@bigpond.com

6 Holland Drive, Melton Phone: (03) 9747 0588 | Fax: (03) 9747 3999 Email: admin@themarineshop.com.au APRIL 2015

What’s New FISHING

FISHING PRODUCT GUIDE

SOUNDER REVIEW: Lowrance HDS7 Gen3 Lowrance have just released a brand new model to the HDS line up that is sure to turn some heads in the marine electronics game. I’ve been lucky enough to have a good play around with this new sounder and so far it has been exceptional. If you aren’t too clued onto fish finders or sounders, basically the past few years have seen an incredible jump in technology. Anglers have some amazing tools at their disposal now and fish finders are really making it easier. The implementation of Touch Screens, Side Scan and Chirp are just some features that have revolutionised the way we now fish. The HDS Gen3 is the latest instalment in the Lowrance HDS range. Sporting a similar look to the HDS Gen 2 Touch, this new model incorporates some handy

cable so adding the Gen 3 to my boat was a breeze. What has changed is that there are now more buttons on the unit that allow full control, implemented for those who like to have the option of both touch screen control and buttons as well. The HDS 7 Gen 3 now also comes with dual Micro SD Card slots, which is great if you are like me and want to record your own maps with Insight Genesis. One of the first things I noticed when using this sounder was that the screen was noticeably clearer and brighter. The biggest advantage of this is that the sounder screen is still easily readable even with the sun glare on it. Navigating through the sounder it was also obvious that it was a lot faster and the new menu layout makes it very easy to find your way around the unit.

Handy if you would like to run multiple units on the boat without spending extra for another one. All you need to do is

The new screen provides crystal clear images. Very helpful with picking up small details on Structure Scan.

The physical dimensions are almost identical to the previous model.

A nice personal touch, you can now add your own custom backgrounds to the main menu screen. new features and software and hardware upgrades. It comes in 3 variances, 7, 9 and 12” screens, basically they all work the same with the main difference being the screen size. The physical dimensions are almost identical to the previous model. This is handy if you do own a HDS Gen 2 Touch as it can make for an easy swap over! Both also use the same power and transducer

A nice personal touch, you can now add your own custom backgrounds to the main menu screen. The majority of the changes are the upgrades to the software and hardware. I had a lot of fun playing around with the new HDS Gen 3’s built in Wi-Fi. This serves a few purposes, one being that you can connect your iPhone, Smart phone or tablet to the sounder to view your screen.

The new screen provides crystal clear images, which is very helpful with picking up small details on Structure Scan.

I have been playing around with the Wi-Fi connectivity through my phone and an older iPad I had laying around at home.

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

APRIL 2015

download the app to your phone and connect the two via Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi also lets you connect to the internet via your mobile phone hotspot or your internet connection at home to download HDS Updates and Maps direct to your unit, this saves the need for having to transfer these to an SD card and then transfer the map or update manually. I have been playing around with the WiFi connectivity through my phone and an older iPad I have laying around at home. Another new addition to the Gen3 is the inclusion of Chirp sonar. Chirp has been around for a little while now and without going into too much detail it gives a really crisp clear sonar image, reduces clutter on the screen and reads better in deeper water. Of course we still have structure scan, which is my most used part of the sounder. The clarity on the screen is amazing.

A cool new feature that has been added is the ‘Multi-Touch’ screen. What this means is that you are now able to zoom in and out with the use of 2 fingers. Much like how you would on a Touch Screen Phone or iPad or Tablet. The new HDS Gen 3 models are now available to purchase from your local Lowrance dealer. There are literally too many features to write about so I highly recommend you check them out, well worth a look if you are in the market for a new sounder. In the past few months I have had this unit I have put it through its paces, from fishing deep water in Moreton Bay looking for reef fish and pelagics, to fishing a Bream Tournament in the Tweed River in shallow water. It hasn’t skipped a beat and is a powerful fish finding machine! I strongly recommend you have a play around with one of these, you won’t be disappointed! - Nabeel Issa

visit www.tacklejunkie.fish for the latest tackle news - AS IT HAPPENS!

Yamaha launch 130hp 4-stroke into Aussie market FMG

Steve Morgan s.morgan@fishingmonthly.com.au

At the recent launch of the new Yamaha 130hp 4-stroke outboard on the Gold Coast, Aussie dealers and media were pleased to discover that this new product wasn’t just a handme-down from America. In fact, the F130A won’t even be sold into North America, rather, it’s destined for release into the Japanese, European and Australian marketplaces. Apart from appealing to our parochial side, there’s plenty about this outboard that will raise the eyebrows of boaters in the 5-6m range. In Queensland alone, there’s 34,643 boats registered in the 5-6m class – a disproportionately large amount and outnumbering the boats either side of the size range. That alone makes this outboard not only an

fuel economy in the standard cruising ranges. On a variety of test craft on the launch day, the 130s demonstrated economies of between 2-3km/L burned. This was on rigs with weights between 1.1-1.6 tonnes. The 130 generates it maximum horsepower at the top end of its 6300rpm range. FLASH GAUGES Compatible with F30 through to F350hp models, the new Yamaha 6YC gauges

motor and fuel metrics, the one gauge can cater for single or twin installations. Although these look like a touch screen, they are operated with the soft buttons on the right hand side. And that’s a good thing – there are few iterations of the touch screen that are open-boat friendly – especially in the elements like dew and rain. SHINY PROPELLERS Yamaha users will

SPECIFICATIONS Model............................................................... F130A HP.........................................................................130 Capacity......................................................1832ccm Weight........................................... L.172kg,.XL.178kg WOT................................................... 5300-6300rpm Type..................... 4-stroke,.16.valve.DOHC,.in-line.4. Fuel induction...................................................... EFI Engine oil capacity............................................ 3.0L Alternator................................35A.(27A.@.1000rpm) Emission rating................................................ 3-star Fuel................................................ Regular.unleaded Warranty...........................................................4.year

Inset: Here.she.is.–.the.new.Yamaha.F130A..Main:.On.the.back.of.the.Quintrex. 530.Cruiseabout,.maximum.efficiency.was.at.3000rpm.at.3.09km/L.burned. stainless Talon range Yamaha propellers that suitable for Yamahas in 60-130hp classes will well received.

of are the be

Equipped with Yamaha’s Shift Dampening System (SDS), which helps eliminate the ‘clunk’ when moving between forward, neutral

jump on the plane than labour there. Also, I noticed that these engines have the distinct Yamaha tone.

Streaker’s.5700.Navigator.reached.maximum.efficiency. at.4500rpm.with.over.2km/L.burned. important ‘gap filler’ to Yamaha, but also of interest to lots of boaters – Yamaha loyal or not – who want to re-power their rig. At first glance, you may think that this 1.8L, straight 4-cylinder Yammy might just be an up-tuned version of the ever popular F115, but under the cowling, there’s plenty of points of difference. Probably the biggest of these is an ETV (or Electronic Throttle Valve). Although still a cableoperated outboard, the ETV converts the helm input at the outboard and works the throttle through the brain of the outboard (the ECM) to maximise responsiveness in the ambient conditions. Weighing in at the bottom end of this competitive horsepower class (nearly all other brands have models in the 130-140hp range) at 172-178kg, the F130A offers not only great power to weight, but impressive

are visually appealing as well as customisable and practical. Offering easy from-thehelm view of your major

be familiar with the black Yamaha stainless steel propellers that are often confused with alloy brands. The release of the polished

SeaJay’s.5.6.Striker.reached.just.under.70km/h.with.the.F130. and release, the new shape behaved beautifully on the water. It took some serious high-speed turns to break the blades free from the water. BUT HOW DID THEY PERFORM? After all of the technical discussion, the real test though, is out on the water. With a variety of popular hull configurations, the 130s continued the trend in all modern 4-strokes. They increasingly mirror the torque curve of old 2-strokes, meaning that you’re more likely to .

Yamaha’s.new.Talon.propellers.grip.the.water.like.….well.….a.talon!

Blindfolded in a boat for the first time, you’d pick it as a Yamaha, especially if you’d run anything from an F70 to a 150 in the past. Obviously quiet at idle and with the benefit of the shift dampening system, anglers will be pleased with the overall smoothness of the package. Yamaha hasn’t reached the #1 outboard brand status in Australia with blind luck, and they’ve done themselves no disservice here with an obvious gap-filler in their range.

For.more.information,. visit.www.yamaha-motor. com.au.or.scan.the.QR. code.hereby.to.see.the. video.of.the.launch.day. APRIL 2015

Avoid a fine and replace your rego numbers care. Rub too hard or apply excess metho for too long and you risk taking the gloss off the paint of a painted hull – and I don’t know how it would effect gelcoat. Try

AYR

Steve Farmer

Having officers of the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol inspect your vessel is always a little unnerving. Even if you run a shipshape boat, you always wonder what you might have forgotten or overlooked as they check through lifejackets and other safety gear. So, with the latest inspection over, I once again breathed the usual sigh of relief – and then the officer casually mentioned that a few of my rego numbers were getting a bit tatty, which could cost me a fine.

Slowly peel off one of the old numbers. of two (one for each side of the boat) and cost only a dollar or two per pack. Planing hulls must be fitted with numbers 200mm high on each side of the vessel. The colour of the numbers should have a sharp contrast with that of the hull. Now, start at one end and peel a number off, but only one. By replacing just one number at a time it’s easy to position the new one in relation to the numbers either side of it. Strip them all off at once and you’ll find it much harder to ensure the end result is neat, well-

This is definitely a last resort which requires much care. By the way, I think it’s worthwhile replacing all the numbers while you’re on the job and not just those that obviously need it. The intact numbers are probably just as old as the tatty ones and not that far off going to pieces themselves. With the vinyl number removed there’s a fair chance you’ll have a residue of adhesive and possibly a few bits of vinyl left on the hull. I used the soft rag dampened with methylated spirits to clean this off – with

Top: Clean off old adhesive with a soft cloth and methylated spirits. Above: When applying the numbers begin at the top, peeling off the backing as you go. Apply only just enough tension to ensure a smooth application.

With the number in place press it firmly all over to ensure it is fully adhered to the hull. Well you know how these things sneak up on you. After washing the rig down after yet another fishing trip you notice the numbers are flaking at the edges or cracking where they’re stretched around the clinker creases. As you push the boat into the shed, you make a mental note to replace them before hitting the water again, but those mental notes are forgotten almost as quickly as a bad fishing trip. Drag your ship out for the next outing and the numbers are still tattered – in fact, probably more so. Fortunately the officer didn’t give me a fine, but her casual remark certainly ensured the numbers were replaced within the week. And once it’s done you wonder why you procrastinated so long. 86

APRIL 2015

to restrict any rubbing to the area covered by the number. I replaced the numbers on both my larger, painted tinnie and my smaller unpainted tinnie and after cleaning the

Removing the old numbers and replacing them with new vinyl stick-on numbers is a simple and fairly quick job, which will ensure you don’t get a fine and it’ll spruce up the look of your boat. Here’s how I did it. I don’t claim it is the right or only method, but it worked for me so use it as a guide. To complete the job you’ll need methylated spirits, a soft rag, a little fine sandpaper and a plastic scraper. Yep, that’s all. The scraper can be made from a strip of stiff plastic with a chisel point filed on one end. Metal scrapers are readily available but may scratch the paintwork, fibreglass or aluminium. Of course you’ll also need new numbers, which are available at your marine dealer. They come in packs

Two down, four to go. Note how most numbers crack and let go in the folds of the clinker hull. spaced and aligned. If the number you’re removing is already tatty it’s likely you’ll be able to grab a corner and peel it straight off with steady pressure. If not, your trusty plastic scraper (or a fingernail) will allow you to lift an edge and get things started. If you have trouble removing the numbers, try applying a little heat with a heat gun. It may also be necessary to use the scraper at the same time. I didn’t have to do this so I don’t know how effective it is. Keep the gun moving and avoid applying too much heat in case you cook the number or burn the paintwork. Remember to check that there are no flammable materials or liquids nearby.

adhesive residue from the unpainted rig I noticed a little surface corrosion under a few of the numbers. To ensure a smooth finish and to reduce any future corrosion problems in these spots I used the fine sandpaper to carefully clean the corrosion off. Take care to lightly sand only the effected areas under the numbers so you don’t mark the surrounding hull. With the corrosion sanded off, clean the area again with the cloth dampened with methylated spirits. With the hull clean and dry you can now fit the new number. As mentioned

It’s worth replacing all the numbers. Some might look okay but they are just as old as the other numbers and are probably ready to peel off.

earlier, you can use the adjacent numbers to locate the new number, or there may be a ‘shadow’ of the old number highlighted by un-faded paint or shiny aluminium. This is the perfect guide for applying your new number. I started at the top of each number, peeling back a little of the backing. Don’t peel back all or even a large proportion of the backing or the number will end up out of shape and sticking everywhere except the right place. With the top edge of

the number stuck in place, slowly peel back the backing and apply the number to the hull. Apply the numbers with only enough tension to avoid creasing – definitely do not stretch the numbers as this may result in them being stretched out of shape and eventually cracking or breaking sooner than they should. This is especially important when sticking the numbers to an irregular surface. Many pressed aluminium and some fibreglass boats have clinker sides and other strengthening creases and it’s essential to

You may be left with a ‘shadow’ of shiny aluminium or un-faded paint where the old number sat. Use it as a guide when applying the new number.

Spots of surface corrosion were sanded smooth.

slowly follow the shape of the hull with minimal tension, ensuring the numbers get into these nooks and crannies. It is in these creases that the numbers are most likely to first crack and begin to peel. At the same time you must take care to maintain the correct shape of the numbers as you apply them, ensuring they don’t end up distorted at the bottom. You should also watch for any bubbles under the vinyl and try to smooth them out with your fingers as you go. Try to avoid having to lift the number off once it has

been applied. With the number in place, press it down firmly all over to ensure it is properly adhered to the hull. With the first number done, move onto the next. You’ll quickly gain skill and confidence and should easily knock over the job in a few hours on a Saturday afternoon. It may sound fiddly (and it can be) but with a slow methodical approach you’ll achieve a professionallooking job which will keep both you and the boating and fisheries officers happy.

On clinker hulls make sure the numbers are pressed well into nooks and crannies. Peel the backing off the numbers as you apply them.

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Sea Jay’s mighty 6.8 Pursuit GS BRISBANE

Wayne Kampe wkff@aapt.net.au

Big plate alloy craft always tend to impress me. It’s not just the overall interior size leading to plenty of comfort, the ample work room for those aboard, the sea keeping ability, the plethora of features mated to performance and stability. But when you take the time to sit down and think of all the work involved in putting together a fabulous boat like Sea Jay’s 6.8 Pursuit from mere sheets of aluminium… well, that’s what I call impressive! The Sea jay 6.8 Pursuit GS (glass screen) is a lot of boat in every respect. For anglers wanting a rig to take them far and wide offshore in search of game fish or quality bottom fishing it must represent a sound investment in a world of fishing pleasure. The 6.8 Pursuit is one of several craft in the ‘dedicatedto-offshore-fishing’ Pursuit

would opt for one) is through the rear opening and quite wide cabin hatch. There’s also a walkaround area beside the tall cabin, and while there are good hand-holds topsides I’d

regard. Also, when teamed with the Sea Jay’s overhead roof vents there would be ample ventilation during those steamy summer days. Both pleasure and marine

being wide and with strong arm rests as well. Both reach adjustable swivel seats were mounted on strong frames set up with 110L Eva Kool ice boxes below, the ice boxes

The Pursuit’s well-designed hull displaces water well to the side at entry point.

Helm and forward features are prominent in this image, including the large windows with their unrestricted forward and side visibility. having padding as well. Both skipper and mate had storage compartments and shelves

beside their seats, as well as footrests for best comfort underway. The Pursuit’s helm and dash layout was as simple as it was effective. Upper most on the vast dash area was a Furuno TZ 14 Touch sounder plotter, below it the Yamaha multi-function screen with its link to the 225 4-stroke astern, QL trim tab controls were to starboard, twin banks of switches lower and to starboard of the sports style wheel, the ignition key to port, and forward controls within easy reach to the side.

All controls and functions were easily monitored. PLENTY OF WORK AREA AFT With so much thought gone into the forward layout of the big Sea Jay Pursuit I was not surprised to note that the metre deep cockpit’s work area was just as well set up. All floor areas were carpeted ensuring that anglers could be sure of their footing while moving about. Toeholds under the full cockpit length side pockets were handy assets for busy anglers, as was the freshwater wash down

Poetry in motion – the 6.8 Pursuit underway. range, which are designed to maximise fishing and travel enjoyment as well as offering every feature any serious angler might need. Having been around for a couple of years, Sea Jay’s 6.8 Pursuit has undergone some progressive changes and the current model has several innovative features, including the one mentioned in the craft’s designation – a glass windscreen in lieu of a perspex one. IMPRESSIVE LAYOUT Stepping aboard the 6.8 Pursuit I was immediately taken by the high standard of finish all round. Given that Sea Jay have been building alloy craft for a quarter of a century this is, of course, not surprising. The neatly smoothed and rounded bowsprit was large, the anchor well also large. Access forward to ground tackle (note that provision for a winch is standard as most buyers 88

APRIL 2015

opt for the cabin hatch access in all but the calmest weather. Within the cabin itself bunks were deeply padded, room enough to stretch out for a snooze or seek shelter from bad weather with upholstery and general finish exhibiting the usual Sea Jay attention to detail all round. Ample storage area was located under the bunks, with provision for a marine toilet also on hand. At the 6.8 Pursuit’s helm area had ample headroom, whether seated or standing, with plenty of shade provided from the strong roof overhead. The glass screen and sliding side windows offered full visibility in all directions. I liked the concept of the sliding side windows; not all navigation takes place in ideal conditions and with a craft of this size it’s vital to have easy side visibility around marinas, ramps, and the like and the sliding windows certainly assisted in this

radios, the latter a Fusion stereo, were tucked up under the forward section of the cabin’s roof which was, in a nice touch, lined as well. Forward seating for skipper and first mate was exceptional with the seats

The Pursuit’s bait station takes up little room yet offers a lot of handy features for the angler, including a big live well.

Access forward is easy enough thanks to a well set up walkaround area, but most owners will no doubt tick the winch option when placing an order.

hose in the starboard pocket. Two rod holders per side were standard within the gunwales, complementing the eight set up at the rear of the cabin roof. A large bait station sat amidship against the transom and featured the craft’s big recirculating live well, a cutting board, knife holders plus another pair of rod holders. Triple batteries were located within the base of the bait station, off floor naturally. With such a large and well set up work area I would see four, perhaps five anglers working there in harmony with everything at their disposal.

Aft of the transom twin boarding platforms were check plated for ease of entry with a folding ladder set to port. PERFORMANCE, RIDE, HANDLING Recommended power for the 6.8 Pursuit ranges from 225-250hp, which saw the V6 225 Yamaha 4-stroke towards

at 2400rpm with the big Yamaha hardly murmuring astern. At 3000rpm I saw 12 knots (22.6km/h) recorded on the Furuno unit, 4000rpm saw 25 knots (46.6km/h), 5000rpm a speed of 32 knots (59.6km/h), 5,500rpm (full throttle) a speed of 38 knots (70.79km/h). Impressive performance, certainly, but

The ride was exceptionally good. With a bare hull weight of 1290kg, the big Pursuit was a solid plate craft and the ride showed it would take a lot to upset its clean and smooth running capability even in an offshore situation. Running hard in the Burnett River I purposely drove the rig over wash from

Mr Sea Jay, Col Glass, at the helm of the big 6.8 Pursuit. Note the smart use of the cockpit roof area for radio and electronics installation. top ratings in the power stakes. The 225 seemed to be doing things pretty easy at any rate, even with five aboard and 360L of fuel under the

the sheer power of the engine was what impressed me most. Instant response was the norm, which is so important in an offshore orientated

SPECIFICATIONS Hull length:.....................................................6.85 m Beam:...............................................................2.48m Length on trailer:.................................................9m Height on trailer:...............................................3.4m Hull construction:... 5mm plate bottom, 4mm sides Hull weight:................................................... 1290kg Hull deadrise:................................. 19.5º at transom Fuel:...................................................................360L Freshwater:.........................................................75L Engines:................................................... 225-250hp Engine fitted:.......................225 Yamaha V6 4-stroke Persons:..................................................................7 Towing:............................large 4x4 wagon or similar floor, and I gave it full marks for both smoothness and easy, seamless power. The craft planed at 10 knots (19.5km/h),

craft, that could well be crossing river bars or other less favourable areas on a regular basis.

trawlers and a couple of big Rivieras proudly up on the plane to see if the hull might slam or bang. Not a chance! Sea Jay have put a lot of work into their hull’s design with its 19.5º vee aft and there was hardly even a perceived bump. Handling was clean and very manageable for such a solid plate alloy rig. You cannot throw the rig around like a 4m centre console but for a big solid craft it was very easy to drive, as hydraulic steering and a feeling of easy balance made helming the rig a pleasure. As expected stability was quite exceptional thanks to the hull’s considerable overall mass and the rig just would not lean, which will make fishing or family boating even more enjoyable. FISHABILITY Given the on-board features and impressive layout

Top: Seating options include incorporating big ice boxes, which is a smart set up for an offshore orientated craft. Above: The Pursuit’ s forward area’s dash and side storage areas are well thought out. it’s obvious that a rig of this magnitude is going to be an exceptional fishing craft. Even the briefest of looks aboard her indicate that Sea

weekend cruising should a family group wish to enjoy its ample features. Finish throughout is exemplary, workmanship

41522111 or on the net at info@seajayboats.com.au for the location of a dealer. • Quoted performance figures have been supplied

Large side pockets offer a lot of storage room in the Pursuit’s cockpit, and has a saltwater deck wash as well.

The Pursuit was easily powered by the smooth 225 Yamaha V6.

Jay have gone to some trouble to ensure that everything is in its correct place. There’s no doubt the 6.8 Pursuit is primarily an offshore rig; with 350L of fuel under floor you could go a long way! Yet the craft was also very suited to bay or even

top shelf, pride of ownership assured without doubt. As reviewed, and with a Redco tandem trailer the rig would come home for around $102,000 depending upon what extras were chosen from the extensive list. Sea Jay can be contacted on (07)

by the writer in good faith. Performance of individual boat/motor/ trailer packages may differ due to variations in engine installations, propellers, hull configurations, options, hull loading and trailer specifications. APRIL 2015

What’s New BOATING

SAVAGE 575 BLUE WATER

Garmin’s new GPSMAP 7400xsv series of premium multi-function displays (MFD) combines powerful performance with a renowned interface to deliver a range of class-leading features in a fullynetworkable, simple-to-use package. Boasting a vibrant widescreen display with full pinch-to-zoom touchscreen capabilities, the GPSMAP 7400xsv series is offered in four sizes – 7407xsv (17.9cm/7”), 7408xsv (20.3cm/8”), 7410xsv (25.4cm/10”) and 7412xsv (30.5cm/12”) – to cater for all types of vessels from sportfishers to cruisers to yachts. For anglers, the GPSMAP 7400xsv series also integrates Garmin’s premier sonar technology – traditional HD-ID™ sonar, true dual 1kW CHIRP sonar, CHIRP DownVü™ and CHIRP SideVü™ – to deliver the clearest scanning sonar on the planet along with unequalled target detail and separation. Whether fishing a secret spot or cruising the coast, the GPSMAP 7400xsv series has cartography covered with a preloaded worldwide basemap, while a built-in 10Hz GPS antenna allows for faster and more accurate position tracking and updates (10 times per second). – Garmin

Savage, Australia’s oldest aluminium boat brand, has released the new 575 Blue Water – now the largest in the cabin range offering the perfect boat for the family or the keen fishers. With new 4mm bottomsheets, 3mm smooth side sheets. The 575 Blue Water has a spacious cuddy cabin that can still maximising deck space and wont compromise your fishing room. The Savage boat features a soft riding new hull design. The 575 Blue Water handles offshore conditions with ease providing a smooth and reliable ride every time. The 575 Blue Water includes a 95L fuel tank, rod holders and folding rear lounge all as standard. Keen fishers can option up with a berley bucket, live bait tank in the back deck, bimini and envelope and a rocket launcher to create a mean fishing rig. The 575 Blue Water is available as a complete boating package including boat, trailer and motor complete with a 3 year limited warranty. - Telwater

ULTRAFLEX GOTECH HYDRAULIC STEERING KIT

GARMIN PANOPTIX

Unlike anything you’ve ever seen on the water, Garmin Panoptix provides the ability to see all around your boat in real-time. Garmin Panoptix allows you to see the entire water column, and everything in it, in 3D! You’ll be able to see real-time moving sonar images, including fish swimming in front of or below your boat… even see them chase your lure in 3D! Panoptix has to be seen to be believd. Based on technology previously available only in the offshore commercial market, Garmin Panoptix is centred around a multibeam transducer that utilises phasedarray scanning sonar – creating multiple, simultaneous steerable beams in a single ping – to deliver incredible fishing-finding power. Garmin Panoptix will revolutionise the way we find fish and will make finding fish way more exciting. Standby for more on Garmin’s Panoptix sonar technology… this is just the beginning! – Garmin

MERCURY’S NEW 135HP 4-STROKE

Mercury Marine has added another category-leading engine to its range, with the release of its new 135hp 4-stroke EFI outboard. Designed to provide reliability and durability, no matter what is thrown at it, Mercury’s new compact 135hp 4-stroke also delivers boat lovers tremendous performance and outstanding fuel efficiency. “We’ve developed this model specifically from the feedback given to us by Australian and New Zealand consumers and dealers,” said Nicholas Webb, Director of Engines and Marketing, Mercury Marine ANZP. “They love our latest generation high cubic capacity, low weight 4-strokes and wanted the same technology to fit to 135 and 140hp rated boat transoms.” The compact 135hp 4-stroke EFI has a 3.0L, 4-cylinder in-line configuration, is low weight, has fewer moving parts, and has been designed to be incredibly reliable and durable – ready, willing and able to handle work in any conditions. – Mercury Marine

While several companies manufacture a low HP Hydraulic steering system, they do it at low cost resulting in poor performance and poor reliability. The Gotech system is designed to be durable with extended long-term reliability, achieving this by sharing the load throughout the system thus increasing the longevity. Once installed, you can expect zero feedback, a feature normally found in much higher rated systems - 150HP and higher. It is also designed to solve a problem in small to medium centre console boats up to 115hp, where a mechanical steering system is just not feasible, due to the amount of bends required to install a mechanical steering system. A Hydraulic System is perfect for this application, and the Gotech is at the pinnacle in the up to 115hp range. It uses a lot of features only found in a much higher rated HP hydraulic system. – Sam Allen Wholesale

APRIL 2015

STACER’S NEW 539 EASY RIDER

Featuring a new sleek, moulded dash and a larger bow and cockpit area than ever before the 539 Easy Rider is one stylish and comfortable ride. The 539 Easy Rider built with the EVO Advance Hull offers a smooth ride, cutting through swell with ease. With a ski locker, rear ladder and 95L underfloor fuel tank included as standard the 539 Easy Rider is perfect for water sports action. If you also enjoy a bit of fishing then the 539 Easy Rider has you covered with a sounder, rod holders and an optional convertible front casting platform. Complete with a bimini and envelope for cover from the sun and a sound system included as standard the 539 Easy Rider will be a favourite with the whole family. The 539 Easy Rider is available as a Stacer Ready 2 Go package complete with boat, motor, trailer and 3 year limited warranty for peace of mind. – Telwater

Please email contributions to: nicole@fishingmonthly.com.au

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Victorian Tide Times

POINT LONSDALE – VICTORIA JANUARY Time 0138 0818 TH 1424 2144

m 0.60 1.43 0.30 1.38

Time

0142 0818 SU 1419 2144

0.77 1.25 TU 1542 0.34 2325 1.34

2 0234 0917

17 0145 0819

3 0342 1026

18 0245 0929

4 0503 1136

19 0359 1053

5 0043 0619

20 0519 1215

6 0131 0718

21 0058 0634

7 0212 0804

22 0152 0736

8 0246 0843

23 0242 0830

9 0317 0917

24 0328 0921

0.73 1.32 SA 1423 0.36 2146 1.29

2 0418 1053

17 0313 0947

3 0023 0537

18 0429 1108

4 0119 0648

19 0032 0547

5 0207 0745

20 0130 0700

6 0247 0830

21 0223 0800

7 0320 0911

22 0311 0854

8 0351 0946

23 0355 0945

9 0420 1020

24 0437 1032

Local Time APRIL

0.73 1.29 0.32 1.31

0306 0946 SU 1556 2321

0.74 1.28 0.36 1.34

0211 0842 MO 1436 2213

0.65 1.37 0.37 1.29

0107 0738 FR 1338 2043

2015

LAT 38° 18’ LONG 144° 37’ Times and Heights of High and Low Waters FEBRUARY MARCH

0.64 1.32 0.36 1.32

0100 0725 MO 1315 2030

Time

0.64 1.34 0.31 1.37

0308 1000 WE 1535 2256

0.68 1.30 TU 1406 0.35 2135 1.34

2 0426 1113

17 0239 0947

3 0543 1219

18 0357 1105

4 0043 0642

19 0510 1213

5 0126 0628

20 0019 0611

6 0104 0707

21 0112 0705

7 0140 0743

22 0200 0755

8 0215 0817

23 0245 0842

9 0251 0852

24 0327 0927

0.73 1.19 0.60 1.27

0127 0820 TH 1350 2112

2 0234 0915

17 0153 0824

3 0340 1018

18 0247 0918

4 0457 1122

19 0355 1022

5 0050 0610

20 0003 0511

6 0145 0713

21 0104 0624

7 0231 0804

22 0200 0727

8 0313 0849

23 0249 0822

9 0347 0930

24 0335 0914

10 0419 1008

25 0418 1003

10 0450 1054

25 0518 1118

10 0349 0951

25 0411 1008

10 0328 0925

25 0410 1010

11 0448 1044

26 0500 1052

11 0521 1126

26 0600 1203

11 0421 1024

26 0453 1054

11 0404 0958

26 0452 1050

12 0518 1118

27 0541 1139

12 0555 1157

27 0013 0642

12 0454 1056

27 0535 1137

12 0442 1032

27 0537 1130

13 0549 1152

28 0622 1225

13 0005 0629

28 0056 0728

13 0528 1127

28 0617 1219

13 0522 1110

28 0627 1210

14 0623 1226

29 0031 0705

14 0042 0706

14 0603 1159

29 0034 0702

14 0609 1153

29 0042 0725

15 0028 0659

30 0117 0753

15 0122 0749

15 0020 0641

30 0118 0752

15 0030 0707

30 0135 0832

0.69 1.37 FR 1524 0.31 2247 1.39 0.76 1.32 SA 1630 0.32 2350 1.43 0.79 1.30 SU 1735 0.31 1.47 0.76 MO 1224 1.30 1834 0.29 1.52 0.70 TU 1320 1.32 1926 0.27 1.56 0.64 WE 1410 1.34 2012 0.27 1.59 0.58 TH 1455 1.36 2054 0.28 1.59 0.52 FR 1536 1.37 2132 0.30 1.59 0.48 SA 1615 1.38 2208 0.34

1.57 0.44 SU 1653 1.37 2243 0.38

1.55 0.42 MO 1730 1.36 2316 0.44 1.52 0.40 TU 1811 1.34 2351 0.50

1.48 0.38 WE 1855 1.32 0.57 1.43 TH 1300 0.38 1945 1.30

0.79 1.27 SU 1517 0.35 2256 1.32

0.83 1.25 MO 1623 0.33 1.39 0.82 TU 1135 1.26 1734 0.29

1.47 0.74 WE 1248 1.31 1841 0.24 1.56 0.63 TH 1351 1.39 1941 0.20 1.63 0.51 FR 1448 1.47 2035 0.18

1.67 0.39 SA 1541 1.53 2126 0.20

1.69 0.29 SU 1633 1.56 2215 0.24

1.68 0.22 MO 1725 1.56 2301 0.30 1.64 0.18 TU 1819 1.52 2346 0.39

1.59 0.18 WE 1917 1.47 0.48 1.52 TH 1312 0.20 2017 1.42 0.57 1.44 FR 1400 0.26 2117 1.37

31 0207 0845

0.67 1.35 SA 1453 0.31 2219 1.34

0.78 1.24 MO 1704 0.38 1.36 0.77 TU 1159 1.23 1809 0.38 1.40 0.71 WE 1300 1.25 1905 0.36 1.45 0.64 TH 1353 1.29 1955 0.35 1.49 0.56 FR 1439 1.34 2037 0.34 1.52 0.49 SA 1521 1.38 2115 0.35 1.53 0.43 SU 1559 1.41 2149 0.37 1.54 0.38 MO 1634 1.43 2223 0.40 1.54 0.35 TU 1711 1.43 2256 0.44

1.52 0.32 WE 1748 1.42 2330 0.48 1.48 0.31 TH 1829 1.40

0.54 1.44 FR 1229 0.30 1914 1.37

0.60 1.39 SA 1303 0.30 2005 1.34

0.67 1.33 SU 1345 0.31 2104 1.31

0.76 1.26 WE 1659 0.34 1.41 0.68 TH 1229 1.32 1816 0.31

1.49 0.56 FR 1337 1.42 1924 0.28

1.57 0.42 SA 1437 1.53 2022 0.26

1.63 0.29 SU 1532 1.61 2114 0.27

1.66 0.19 MO 1625 1.65 2201 0.30 1.65 0.13 TU 1716 1.64 2246 0.34

1.63 0.11 WE 1807 1.60 2330 0.41 1.57 0.14 TH 1859 1.53

0.48 1.50 FR 1247 0.20 1952 1.45

0.56 1.41 SA 1331 0.27 2046 1.38

0.71 1.25 MO 1515 0.43 2244 1.28 0.75 1.20 TU 1624 0.49 2345 1.28 0.75 1.19 WE 1737 0.50 1.31 0.70 TH 1241 1.22 1842 0.49 1.36 0.61 FR 1336 1.29 1934 0.47 1.40 0.53 SA 1424 1.36 2017 0.45 1.45 0.45 SU 1504 1.42 2055 0.44 1.48 0.38 MO 1541 1.48 2130 0.44 1.50 0.33 TU 1616 1.51 2202 0.45

1.51 0.30 WE 1651 1.53 2236 0.47 1.50 0.28 TH 1728 1.52 2310 0.51 1.47 0.28 FR 1806 1.50 2345 0.55

1.43 0.28 SA 1848 1.46

0.59 1.39 SU 1233 0.29 1936 1.41

0.70 1.27 WE 1511 0.41 2247 1.34 0.68 1.29 TH 1630 0.44 2357 1.38 0.60 1.37 FR 1753 0.45

1.45 0.47 SA 1326 1.49 1907 0.42

1.52 0.33 SU 1427 1.61 2006 0.40

1.58 0.22 MO 1521 1.69 2058 0.40 1.62 0.14 TU 1613 1.73 2144 0.40

1.62 0.12 WE 1701 1.72 2229 0.43 1.59 0.13 TH 1748 1.67 2311 0.46 1.54 0.18 FR 1835 1.59 2353 0.51

1.47 0.25 SA 1922 1.51

0.57 1.39 SU 1300 0.34 2011 1.42

0.63 1.31 MO 1344 0.44 2103 1.35

0.72 1.20 TH 1653 0.65 2352 1.28 0.67 1.25 FR 1808 0.65 1.31 0.60 SA 1315 1.33 1906 0.63 1.35 0.51 SU 1303 1.42 1852 0.60 1.40 0.43 MO 1343 1.50 1930 0.58 1.44 0.37 TU 1420 1.57 2005 0.56 1.48 0.32 WE 1456 1.61 2040 0.55 1.49 0.30 TH 1531 1.63 2115 0.55 1.48 0.29 FR 1609 1.62 2150 0.57

1.46 0.29 SA 1647 1.60 2226 0.59

1.43 0.30 SU 1728 1.55 2302 0.61

1.40 0.33 MO 1813 1.50 2343 0.63 1.36 0.38 TU 1904 1.45

0.64 1.33 WE 1245 0.45 2004 1.41

m 0.64 1.32 0.53 1.39

0.60 1.36 FR 1507 0.59 2219 1.41

0.51 1.46 SA 1631 0.62 2322 1.45

0.40 1.58 SU 1746 0.60

1.51 0.29 MO 1313 1.69 1846 0.57 1.55 0.21 TU 1407 1.76 1938 0.55

1.58 0.17 WE 1457 1.79 2025 0.54 1.58 0.17 TH 1543 1.77 2109 0.54 1.56 0.21 FR 1627 1.72 2151 0.55

1.51 0.27 SA 1709 1.65 2232 0.57

1.45 0.35 SU 1750 1.57 2314 0.61

1.38 0.44 MO 1832 1.49 2356 0.64 1.31 0.53 TU 1916 1.42

0.68 1.26 WE 1254 0.63 2004 1.36 0.70 1.23 TH 1346 0.71 2056 1.32

31 0207 0851

0.69 1.23 TU 1433 0.53 2159 1.29

 Copyright Commonwealth of Australia 2014, Bureau of Meteorology Datum of Predictions is Lowest Astonomical Tide Times are in local standard time (UTC +10:00) or daylight savings time (UTC +11:00) when in effect Full Moon Moon Phase Symbols New Moon First Quarter

Last Quarter

Tide predictions for Port Phillip Heads have been formatted by the National Tidal Centre, Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Copyright reserved. All material is supplied in good faith and is believed to be correct. It is supplied on the condition that no warranty is given in relation thereto, that no responsibility or liability for errors or omissions is, or will be, accepted and that the recipient will hold MHL and the Australian Bureau of Meteorology Australia free from all such responsibility or liability and from all loss or damage incurred as a consequence of any error or omission. Predictions should not be used for navigational purposes. Use of these tide predictions will be deemed to include acceptance of the above conditions. APRIL 2015

Nautical Marine Nautical Marine has been providing all your boating and marine needs since 1976, and continues to ensure that your days on the water are enjoyable and safe.

S TO M E R

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Boat Imports

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This new section in VIC/TAS 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 Victoria and Tasmania, this guide will direct you to reputable businesses in the area you’re searching. Advertisers wanting to be involved in this directory can call (07) 3387 0835 or email pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

RE-POWER & SERVICE EXPERTS NEW

Boat, motor & trailer packages!

Bait and Tackle West Coast Portland Bait & Tackle (03) 5523 5213

Boat Import USA 0435 476 177

Boat Hire Lake Eildon Cruises 0422 166 986 Boab Boat Hire Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boab Boat Hire Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Compleat Angler Portland (03) 5521 1844

Central

Holiday Rental

Hooked On Bait and Tackle Hoppers Crossing (03) 9748 3811 Fishing Fever Mordialloc (03) 9590 9899

West Coast

Peninsula Total Tackle (03) 5981 1994 JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 Complete Angler Ringwood (03) 9870 7792 New World Marine (03) 9709 8444 The Flyfisher Melbourne (03) 9621 1246

East Coast Always Angling Traralgon (03) 5174 8544

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Freshwater Complete Angler Echuca (03) 5482 1992 Complete Angler Shepparton (03) 5822 2180

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Naaj Marine 0421 955 371 Unique Marine Accessories (03) 5427 1802

Nautical Marine (03) 5984 1666

CMC Marine Sales www.cmcsales.com.au

Regal Marine (03) 9874 4624

Hunter Marine Boat Builders (03) 5032 2320

Streaker Boats (03) 9729 8288 Triple M Marine (03) 9465 8787

Marine Mechanics

Warragul Marine (03) 5623 6250 Wes Frost Marine (03) 5976 4622

Central Kris Oakley Marine Services (03) 9794 5524 JV Marine World Braeside (03) 9798 8883 JV Marine World Laverton (03) 9368 7100 The Outboard Workshop (03) 9783 0840 Oztec Marine 0431 459 266

East Coast Inverloch Marine (03) 5674 1502

Freshwater Boats and More Shepparton (03) 5822 2108 Boats and More Echuca (03) 5482 1992

Boat Modifications & Repairs Online Tackle Products

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Specialty Fishing Products www.specialtyfishing.com.au U-Make-Em Soft Plastics ww.u-make-emsoftplastics.com.au

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Fish Taxidermist 0428 544 841 Neptune’s Treasures 0419 643 654

WANT IN? EMAIL : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au 92

APRIL 2015

Lester Rd Yanakie WILSONS PROM E sicp@sicp.com.au

03 5687 1385

Shallow Inlet Caravan Park (03) 5687 1385

Fish Taxidermy

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FREE ADVICE ON WHERE THEY’RE BITING

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21 Marine Parade MARLO VIC

OCEAN VIEWS CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK

03 5154 8268

• Deluxe cabins HOSTS: Les & Kathy HEYNE • Cabins with ensuite • Budget cabins • Premium ensuite vans • Powered & Unpowered sites • Pet friendly • Undercover BBQ areas in Marlo • Large oval • Kitchen Largest park • Camp fires • Kiosk the beach to lk wa Short • Coffee shops

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Email : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au

Island Charters, Narooma (02) 4476 1047 or 0408 428 857 K9 Fishing Charters, Merimbula (02) 6495 1681 Merimbula Marina, Merimbula (02) 6495 1686 or 0427 951 080 Narooma Charters, Narooma 0407 909 111 O’Brien Charter Service, Bermagui 0407 214 124

Fishing Guides NSW South Coast Wilderness Fishing Tours, Mallacoota 0424 625 160 Aussie Fish Estuary Adventures (02) 6495 9902 or 0400 062 504

Able Fishing & Charters, Williamstown (03) 9502 3777 ACE Fishing Charters, Bonbeach (03) 9773 4183 Adamas Fishing Charters, Barwon Heads (03) 5254 3320

Marlo Ocean Views Caravan and Camping Park (03) 5154 8268

Big Red Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 1800 805 587

Victorian Alps

Blue Magic Fishing Charters, Rowville (03) 9759 5301

DARTMOUTH MOTOR INN THIS BUSINESS IS FOR SALE

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Calypso Fishing Charters, Tootgarook (03) 5985 8463 Geelong Charters & Fishing Trips, Geelong (03) 5275 7107 Katrina Louise Charters, Cheltenham 0402 828 140

• Motel style units • Self contained apartments & lodges - ideal for groups, fishing clubs etc

Kestrel Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 1783 Queenscliff Fishing Charters, Queenscliff 0458 504 058

• Nightly, weekly & corporate rates

Pro Red Fishing Charters 0421 442 775

1 Eustace St, Dartmouth VIC 370 P 02·6072 4233 E dartmouthmotorinn@bigpond.com

Rip Charters Fishing Trips, Sorrento (03) 5984 3664 Saltwater Charters, Queenscliff (03) 5258 4888

DVD’S -

Series 2 through 8

www.dartmouthmotorinn.com.au

$19.95 each GST INC. - with FREE P&H

Dartmouth Motor Inn (02) 6072 4233

Ask us about our LONG RANGE

Queensland Cairns Bed and Boat 0418 772 751

1800 228 244

FISHING

Chandlery & Accessories

ADVENTURES!

Anchor Right (03) 5968 5014 Techni Ice (03) 9783 1922

FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT WAYNE ON

0418 107 071

www.sharkmen.com.au

Boat Trailers

Sharkmen Charters, Carrum 0418 107 071

Central

St Kilda Fishing Charters, St Kilda (03) 9770 2200

BMS Marine (03) 9731 7269

Western Port Fishing Charters, Hastings (03) 9769 5544

East Coast

Charter Boats

Capella III Fishing Adventures, Port Welshpool (03) 5688 1585

East Gippsland

Far Out Charters, McLoughlins Beach 0428 401 819

East Gippsland Charters 0400 564 032

Prom Coastal Charters, Yanakie (03) 5687 1248 or 0429 935 583

West Coast

Razorback Bluewater Charters, Port Albert (03) 5183 2691

Sharkmen Fishing Charters 0418 107 071 Portland Fishing Charters, Portland (03) 5523 3020

Freshwater

Shipwreck Coast Diving & Charters, Warrnambool (03) 5561 6108

Angling Expeditions Victoria, Tawonga (03) 5754 1466

Central

Highland Trout Lakes, Ballarat (03) 5368 9574

South-West Fishing Charters, Portland 0418 306 714

Millbrook Lakes Lodge, Ballarat (03) 5334 0404

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Tasmania & Flinders Island Ausprey Tours, Launceston (03) 6630 2612 Gone Fishing Charters, St Helens (03) 6376 1553 Fish Wild Tasmania, Hobart 0418 348 223 Flinders Island Adventures, Flinders Island (03) 6359 4507 Trout Territory, Northern Midlands (03) 6397 5001

NSW South Coast Reel Affair, Merimbula freecall 1800 233 247 Espirit Charters, Bermagui (02) 6493 4104 or 0407 260 110

Gone Fishing Charters 0409 007 068

Freedom Charters, Eden (02) 6496 1209 or 0415 602 446

Off The Hook Fishing Charters 0419 554 916

Headland Fishing Adventures, Merimbula (02) 6495 1134

Charter Boat Picture

Tuna season has started well, with halls like this to look forward to. Christina and Dominic Branca with their first bluefin tuna and albacore.

WANT IN? EMAIL : pjung@fishingmonthly.com.au APRIL 2015

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